Born In Light, Forged In Darkness

Chapters

Trial One: Birth (R)
Trial One: The Library (R)
Trial One: Steel and Will (R)
Interlude One: What Is Lost (R)
Trial One: Growth (R)
Trial One: Face Off (R)
Trial One: A New Face (R)
Trial One: Preparation (R)
Trial One: Execution (R)
Trial One: Rage (R)
Trial One: Friendship (R)
Interlude Three: Introspection (R)
Trial ?: Home, Sweet Home (R)
Interlude Five: Vindication (R)
Trial Two: Training (R)
Interlude Six: A New Home (R)
Trial Two: Gambit (R)
Trial Two: Confrontation (R)
Interlude Seven: Change [R]
Trial Three: Power [R]
Trial Three: Recon
Trial Three: Ultimatum
Trial Three: Assault
Trial Three: Defence
Trial ???: Overwhelming Power
Trial Four: Emergence
Trial Four: Assault on the Obsidian Spire
Trial Four: Towerfall
Interlude Eight: Hybridization
Trial Five: The Dark Forest
Trial Five: Testing Mettle
Trial Five: Ponyville
Trial Five: Infiltration
Trial Five: Flight
Trial Five: Answers Long Overdue
Trial Five: The Tale Continues
Trial Five: Wild Goose
Trial Five: An Unexpected Meeting
Trial Five: An Overdue Conversation
Trial Five: Gifts Unbidden
Trial Five: Smash-
Trial Five: -and Grab
Trial Five: On The Run
Trial Six: The Unassailable Past
Trial Six: The Feared Future
Trial Six: Measurements and Recon
Trial Six: An Old Friend
Trial Six: Posession
Trial Six: Cruel Discovery
Trial Six: Going Loud
Trial Six: A Job Well Done
Trial Seven: Pyrrhic Victory
Trial Seven: Crossed Wires
Halloween 2020 Crossover Special
Trial Seven: Aid and Indifference
Trial Seven: Laughter
Trial Eight: Pawns
Trial Eight: Crash Site
Trial Eight: A Rare Rescue
Trial Nine: Home Again
Trial Nine: As Below
Trial Nine: Like a Wolf
Trial Nine: Among Tigers
Trial Nine: Blood Tithe
Trial Nine: Edge Of Divinity
Trial Nine: Blood and Gold
Trial Nine: Twisted Machinations
Trial Ten: Contracts and Obligations
Trial Ten: Farm Fresh
Trial Ten: Exposé
Trial Ten: The Dead Get Deader
Trial Ten: Capitulation
Trial Ten: Rhetoric
Trial Ten: Forethought
Trial Ten: The Grootslang
Trial Eleven: Contacts
Trial Eleven: Hostiles
Trial Eleven: Non Lethal
Trial Eleven: Bludgeon
Trial Eleven: Diplomacy Is-
Trial Eleven: -For The Weak
Trial Twelve: A Short Siege
Trial Twelve: An Even Shorter Meeting
Trial Thirteen: Allies
Trial Thirteen: Snowfall
Trial Fourteen: The Narrow
Trial Fourteen: The Duel
Trial Fifteen: Push [R]
Trial Fifteen: A Very Old Friend [R]
Trial Fifteen: Rotted Saviors [R]
Trial Fifteen: Entropy Killer [R]
Trial Fifteen: Black Friday
Tests Can Be Hell (R)
Interlude Two: Desperation (R)
Trial Three: Success
Trial Five: Home
Trial Five: Truth and Reconciliation
Trial Eight: Sibling Scuffle
Trial Ten: Complications
Trial Fifteen: A Secret Millennia In The Making [R]

Trial One: Birth (R)

Dog groaned and rubbed her head with a hoof. Light was assaulting her eyes and prying her from her rest. Reluctantly she slowly rolled off the stone that served as her bed to the cold hard stone that was the floor. Squeezing her eyes shut tighter, she tried to escape the light that was no doubt coming from the torch above her bed. As Dog lay there she could hear the faint crackle of the fire and feel the heat it threw off. She didn't know what time it was but it hardly mattered, whatever time it was still too early for the lights to be on.

She pulled all her limbs tight against her chest and threw a hoof over her eyes to block the harsh red glare of the torch. After a few seconds spent fruitlessly trying to ward off the accursed light that assaulted her eyes, Dog gave up. The feeling of wrongness and strange itching at the back of her mind that told her to run had returned to plague her and had made sleep impossible. Though she was getting used to it the feeling remained a constant annoyance.

With hooves that still burned with an intense agony, Dog pushed herself up and looked around, yawning wearily as she did so. Dog remembered from yesterday that if the torch was lit it meant her father wanted her, giving her a sense of urgency that pushed the last vestments of sleep from her mind. She was vaguely aware of the fact that she was still exhausted but that couldn't be helped.

She shook her head and pushed herself up, smacking her cracked and broken lips as she did. Thirst was the first thing on her mind and she quickly looked around the room to find if there was some way to satiate it. She knew vaguely that the thirst she felt could be remedied with water but where she would find it was beyond her. Dog had been given some liquid yesterday, was that water? She thought about it but concluded that something about the strange liquid her father had made her drink was not water. For one it had made her woozy and although it had made her no longer hungry or thirsty it had tasted vile and Dog had nearly thrown it up.

She simply shrugged and walked over to the door to her room. She hesitated a moment before raising her hoof. This was going to hurt... She knocked twice at the ancient, black metal door, her hoof crying out in pain each time.

As she waited she hugged her hoof to her chest and tried not to cry, father always scowled when she cried.

A few seconds later a faint click could be heard from the door as it opened slightly, allowing Dog the chance to push the door the rest of the way open and step out of her room. She cast a wary eye back and forth along the hall.

Fear filled Dog’s bones and she trembled at the memory of the things she had seen stalking hallways all over her father’s home.

Various golems and bound demons had greeted the terrified Dog as she had been shown around the tower yesterday. Though even then she hadn't seen much, her father stating he only intended to test Dog’s legs and show her his various other servants including that huge demon called Balem. He was terrifying with a cackling laugh that made Dog’s skin crawl every time she heard it.

The mere thought of that dreaded word, test, just the thought made Dog’s skin crawl, and a strange mixture of fear, and the distinct feeling of loss to swirl within her. Making matters worse, she had failed her father’s test yesterday. Her hooves had given out and she had to have been carried back to her room and deposited roughly by a stone servant on the floor where she had been left a crying, bleeding mess.

At the thought of her failure, a sudden surge of determination built in her chest as she stood in the doorway. She wouldn't fail again! With determination burning in her veins, she took a triumphant step forward only to get a grim reminder of why she had failed the last time. A small spike of pain lanced up her leg, originating from her hoof. It wasn't as bad as yesterday night but it also had not improved by much.

Grimacing to herself Dog took another step, then another and another. Putting one hoof in front of the other Dog swallowed her pain and moved towards the end of the hall where she was told to wait if her father ever summoned her.

As she walked she passed by a few other doors that were similar to the one that barred entry to her room. All of them were of the thick black steel like hers was with the only exception being the strange, barely visible lines and symbols that floated across the doors. She had been told they were magical constructs called glyphs and had also been told that the most visible one was used for manipulating sound. She had more questions after that but a harsh glare was enough to remind her of her place.

She wasn't sure why they needed glyphs that manipulated sound placed over the other doors but her father had said they were to stop any noise coming from inside the rooms. Dog puzzled over it as she walked to the end of the hall where an even larger and somehow blacker set of double doors stood. She knocked twice like before, grimacing as the impact made a spike of pain shoot up her hoof.

After a few seconds, the doors clicked and swung outwards.

Dog quickly squeezed her way through the crack in the double doors, assuming rightly that the towering set of metal doors were too heavy for her to open fully. Once inside she looked around and noticing there was no one else there, trotted over to a nearby bench before plopping down.

The room she was now in was small and when her father had guided her through it he had barely fit inside when both doors were closed. Thankfully Dog wasn't as big as her father and had no problem with the room save for the fact that the single bench was a little too high which meant she had to get up on her hind legs and pull herself up and onto it.

It was a little warmer than the cold stone floor though so it was worth the effort in Dog’s opinion.

Dog glanced at the identical set of steel doors that were on the opposite side of the room she had entered. They sat closed and motionless for the entire time Dog stared at them. Giving up quickly Dog dangled her legs over the side of the bench and kicked them back and forth as she looked down. There was a little bit of pain but not nearly as much as when her hooves touched the ground, the feeling of her legs swinging through the air was a pleasant one and helped her relax.

A frown creased her muzzle as she inspected herself, everything seemed the same as yesterday, the same bandages that covered every inch of her body in their strange spongy grasp. It was neither comfortable nor uncomfortable and Dog wasn't sure if that was because of the supposed burns she suffered but had not seen or whether or not the bandages were supposed to feel like they were constantly scratching and poking her all over.

Maybe if Father allows it Dog will ask him later. Mentally congratulating herself for remembering her own name. It seemed like an odd thing to celebrate for her but after forgetting it yesterday she had received swift punishment and was now vigilant to ensure it didn't happen again.

Dog kicked her hooves back and forth, her mind wandering as to what her father might want.

He had mentioned some trials that would come in the future. Maybe they would be starting already. Dog wasn't sure what the trials could entail but they sounded a lot like a test which made her nervous for some reason.

As she mulled over the possibilities, the door opposite the one she had entered through clicked and opened to reveal a faceless bipedal golem looking down at her.

The golem towered over the filly but Dog didn't care, she remembered that these kinds of creations were simple servants and wouldn't harm her. Although the sheer fact that they were easily four times the size of her did unnerve Dog a little bit, she refused to show such fear.

The golem turned and Dog quickly hopped off the bench and scrambled after the construct, knowing that punishment would inevitably come if she didn't answer her father’s summons with all due haste.

Her little hooves could barely keep up with the long, loping gait of the golem but she managed it despite the pain.

The stone beast walked briskly through narrow passageways and spiraling sets of stairs, guiding Dog to a place her brief tour the day before did not cover. Dog did her best to try and memorize the route while watching her surroundings but it was all a blur as she did her best to keep up with her guide.

Several exhausting minutes later the golem stopped before a large wooden door, leaving the panting Dog to nearly fall to her belly as pain and exhaustion wracked her tiny body. Even the short trot here had been too much and she could feel something wet come from her no doubt bloodied hooves.

Dog groaned and nearly allowed herself to fall to the ground and rest when the golem reached forward and pushed the huge set of double doors open, revealing a massive octagonal room that stretched up for at least thirty feet before stopping at a domed roof. From the floors to the roof everything was painted a harsh red color that reminded Dog of blood.

Wasting no time, Dog trotted into the room after the golem, all the while casting a curious eye around the open space. She wasn't sure why but the color bugged her eyes and made her feel strange. She couldn't say why it felt strange but it was off-putting and made her nervous.

Her train of thought slammed to a halt when the golem servant left the room and firmly shut the wooden door behind it.

Dog jumped and looked back to where the golem had stood a moment before only to see the same red wall that now surrounded her. Panic welled inside her, she was trapped in this weird room with no way out, but why?

She ran over to where the door had been moments before and looked to see if there was anything that would indicate it was there or how to make it come back.

Much to her dismay all Dog saw was a flat featureless red stone wall. She raised her hoof to strike it in anger but thought better of it, the pain it would cause would no doubt be worse than any boon granted by the bit of catharsis.

A moment later a bright flash of light came from behind her. Spinning around quickly, Dog readied herself for anything only to see the tall, smirking form of her father looking down at her. She smiled a little.

“Hello, father,” Twilight greeted.

“Good morning Dog,” Tirek replied, only to frown. “Your first lesson will begin now and it will be all about respect.”

A startled yelp escaped Dog’s lips as her back legs were stuck in the same position while the front half of her body was forced down, making her bow low to the centaur.

“You show me proper respect and refer to me only as master, you are a dog, dogs have masters. Maybe one day you will be allowed to refer to me as father but that day is not today. Understood?”

Dog gulped, trying to push down the pounding pain and dizziness that assaulted her after the quick introduction her forehead received with the floor. “Yes, master.”

She stayed bowing for a few seconds before the pressure that had been pushing the front half of her body down disappeared and she warily stood up.

The centaur remained impassive, his tone even. “Secondly, you are to refer to yourself in the third person as Dog.”

Dog cocked her head to the side a little. “What do you mean, uh master?”

“I don't have the patience to teach you semantics right now, there will be a book helping you with that back in your room.”

Dog nodded once, rubbing her forehead with a bandaged hoof, willing away the throbbing pain still assaulting her.

“Next… what are you doing?” Tirek’s eyebrow raised slightly as he looked down at the filly holding her hoof in the air.

“Raising my hoof, I had a question,” Dog answered, innocently.

The centaur seemed bewildered, but amused in equal measure. “Go ahead, Dog.”

“Um well, I was wondering if I’m supposed to have this weird feeling.” Dog scrunched her muzzle, trying to think of how to describe it.

The centaur seemed to understand the filly’s thoughts and nodded knowingly. “Yes, it is a strange sense of wrongness coupled with an itch you can't scratch.” The filly’s eyes went wide and she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, that's normal for you. Once you have killed your first demon and claimed its power it will go away. More about that later.”

The filly wilted, clearly enjoying the outpour of information the centaur had volunteered. Her master seemed amused by the filly’s love of learning and grinned as Dog’s wide inquisitive eyes studied the room while the centaur pondered what best to say next.

The centaur stroked his chin with a hand until he noticed a now familiar black bandaged hoof raised into the air.

“Yes, Dog?”

“I was wondering master, what are the trials you mentioned before?” The filly looked down, trying to bury the strange nervousness that plagued her.

“I will not tell you anything about the next trials before you have completed the first, which will be the hunting and killing of a fully-fledged demon," Tirek announced.

From the way her master said it Dog knew it would be difficult, though she didn't quite understand as to why.

“What's a demon, master?” Dog asked.

“We are demons as well as any creature you see on this plane. There are many planes of existence and the one we reside on is Tartarus, the plane of the damned.” The centaur grimaced at the last part of his short speech and glared down at the filly with her hoof raised in the air once more. “What?”

“Why do I have to do trials?”

“Simple, right now you are weak and small and pathetic,” Tirek declared, each insult making the filly shrink a little more. “But with each trial, you will grow stronger and better suited to serve your master and one day I may even train you in magic. If you survive that is.”

Dog didn't comprehend why but she suddenly felt excited and filled with a burst of energy. “Yay!” She jumped in a circle, ignoring the pain in her hooves as she joyfully bounced around.

The old centaur laughed. “Good, now today you must rest.” The filly stopped bouncing and frowned. “You need the rest and to heal more. Enjoy your day of relaxation as this will be the last one you will ever receive. From tomorrow on, no matter how hurt you are you will always have to complete your chores and duties. Understood?”

The filly beamed while nodding enthusiastically. “Yes, master!”

“Good, now… what are you doing?” The centaur looked down at the filly who had wrapped all four legs around his right foreleg and was squeezing slightly, despite the pain she felt from the act.

“Oh um, I don't know. For some reason, I felt like I should,” Dog quickly stopped hugging her master’s leg and grinned sheepishly.

Tirek merely grunted and waved a hand wreathed in a blue wavering aura of power in front of the filly. “Sleep.”

The filly wavered for a few seconds before falling over onto her side, snoring soundly before she even hit the stone. Gently the centaur reached down and grabbed the filly by the barrel and scooped her up. Noticing that her eyes were closed and her breathing regular the centaur smiled wolfishly. Everything was going according to plan, so long as the magical sleep helped fix up the worst of her wounds she should be ready tomorrow. Though he mourned the loss of a single day, he had accounted for a certain amount of failures so his plan was still running within acceptable parameters.

Though he cursed the fact that he could not simply heal the filly all at once it couldn't be avoided. Tartarus blocked any true healing or holy magic from affecting anything on the plane making a quick recovery nearly impossible.

He mused idly while he trotted through the halls, making his way toward the dungeons and his pet dog’s kennel. All the while every door, no matter their size, swung open for him as if they had a will of their own.

The huge steel doors parted before their creator respectfully and closed behind him without a word or action from the centaur.

As he passed by the occupied cells that came before his dog’s he waved a hand over the seals holding back the screams of agony coming from their occupants. Noting that they would wear off early the next morning he grinned and entered the last room in the hall.

A familiar stone bed resided in one corner which the centaur quickly deposited his black bandaged load onto.

The centaur lingered for a moment, standing over the still-slumbering form of his newest pet. He leaned down and gently ran a hand across the filly’s muzzle. A twisted smile slowly spread across his face.

Yes. He thought. Things were going perfectly according to plan and soon, so very soon, this worthless lump of weak and pathetic pony flesh will be sculpted into the perfect tool. Then my revenge will be complete and that fool Celestia will regret not simply killing me when she had the chance.

Though his plan would take decades it would be well worth it and if everything went the way it should, he would have the perfect servant and pupil that may one day come to rival even the princesses of her home plane.

Even with his victory relatively close, Tirek felt no anxiety, after all, he had suffered nearly two thousand years in this supposedly hellish place. What was another twenty?

His smile widened to show his teeth.

Oh yes, this was going to be perfect.

Author's Note

If your wondering why this one came out before first law then you will be happy to know that the second chapter of first law as well as the rewrite of the first chapter will be coming out in the next day or bit. Just need the chance to look over them one last time and you will be happy to know that the rewrite added 20 or so pages and the update itself is 18 pages long so lots of stuff real soon!

Editing done by the wonderful everfree pony!
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DIOKYO

and

Trial One: The Library (R)

Dog had not known what a restful slumber was her entire life, but with that being said she still felt like her last sleep was shaping up to be a good one. For one, she had hardly noticed the cold stone that served as her bed for reasons beyond her imagining. More importantly, was her father’s magic coursing through her veins and keeping her asleep to push her body’s ability to heal well beyond the limits that it should normally have.

That was until the screaming started, then it became the worst wake-up she had experienced. At first, it sounded like only a single being but as Dog blinked and became more aware she noticed the screams were from a plethora of individuals and varied wildly. Between the harsh barking howl of some otherworldly creature, to the high-pitched wail of what she assumed was a female of some kind though the unnatural reverberation that came with the scream told Dog that it was not from a demon like her. Several other yells of pain intermingled with the rest but they were hard to pick out and Dog chose not to spend any more time paying attention to them.

She groaned and rolled over, putting her hooves over her completely bandaged ears, only to recoil preemptively in agony. Only that harsh sting never came… She covered her ears with her hooves again only to receive a slight jolt of pain from her still sensitive appendages after she applied pressure but that was it.

Though her pain had dulled somewhat over the last day, what joy she might have felt from that realization was marred by the screaming that had woken her.

She rolled over and lamented she had nothing to stuff into her ears save her hooves, so that was just what she did. For a moment it worked and sleep came rushing back only to be dismissed the instant her hooves fell from her ears and the cacophony of agony returned.

Dog sighed and rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. What had she done to deserve this? The crawling beneath her skin had returned as she slowly awoke, her senses and faculties coming back to her along with her lifelong companions, pain, and confusion.

She sighed and slowly got up, putting her hooves under her and walking around the small square cell that served as her room. The slightly raised stone section that served as her bed sat where it did before, unadorned and barren as always. The singular torch that burned low didn't hurt Dog’s eyes and meant her father did not need her. Its light was just enough to illuminate the room and pique Dog’s curiosity.

She had only passed by the chest near the door earlier but never had a moment to inspect it, now that she had the time her curiosity got the better of her. She walked over and reached out a black bandaged hoof out to touch it. The wood was a strange reddish black that was so reflective it reminded Dog of metal. What little reinforcement came in the way of several silver slips of metal around the edges, laced over the box at regular intervals. The lock on the front wasn't so much a lock as it was a simple flat, unadorned piece of metal akin to that which covered the other parts of the box. The only reason Dog knew it was a lock was the fact that it was where a lock would be and because there was no other way of opening the chest.

Dog gently touched the wood only to recoil in shock as an otherworldly scream the likes of which she hadn't heard yet pierced her curiosity-filled focus.

The scream sounded like someone yelling through three mouths at the same time in three different languages but with the same singular voice. Dog quickly clamped her hooves over her ears and whimpered. After a few long, agonizing seconds the scream eventually tapered off and blended back into the background screaming.

Dog panted, her pupils the size of pinpricks, panic coursing through her veins. The fear that the last scream put into her was on a level far beyond anything she had ever experienced. She felt as though her very soul was in danger and she had to run but with no way out of the room there was nothing she could do.

Slowly her breathing returned to normal and Dog tentatively lifted her hooves from her ears. Hearing only the now usual set of screams she breathed easier and returned her attention to the chest in front of her.

She placed a hoof on the spot where the locking mechanism should be, only to receive a mild shock. Not much but enough to sting a little and make Dog hold her hoof to her chest, gripping the limb and trying to will the pain away. Slowly the pain receded and Dog lost interest in the chest. It didn't seem to want to give up any of its secrets quite so easily and she didn't feel like receiving another shock again anytime soon.

Sighing, Dog trotted back over to her bed and sat down, putting her hooves over her ears to block out the majority of the screaming. As she sat there, she realized some of the screams pierced even what little protection her hooves provided, seemingly echoing inside her head.

Dog groaned and flopped down onto her side, miserable beyond belief.

She frowned and wondered why her father had done this. Had she upset him somehow? Did she say something wrong? It was the hugging thing, wasn't it?

For several long minutes, she lay on the cold stone until the torch above her head flickered and grew brighter. As the light grew her spirits lifted. Father wants me!

Dog shot out of bed, eagerly running over to the door and knocking twice, completely ignoring the slight tinge of pain that accompanied the action. She hopped from hoof to hoof, the seconds crawling by painfully slowly.

“Come on, come on, hurry up!” Dog muttered angrily.

As if listening to her request, the door opened slightly, allowing Dog to push through the crack and take off down the hall, pointedly ignoring the fact that the screams had become even louder. By the end of the hall tears filled the filly’s eyes and despite a part of her that wanted to help the screaming individuals the agony of the horrendous noise was too much so she simply put her head down and plowed onwards to the end of the hall.

Once there she banged on the door twice while jittering impatiently. The omnipresent cacophony of agony surrounded and encapsulated Dog, making her vision swim and empathetic pain course through her. Tears wetted the bandages beneath her eyes and Dog silently begged the door to open faster.

Only when Dog was tempted to turn back to her room to escape the horrid sound did the door open, allowing the filly to squeeze through the cracks in the double door and into the room beyond.

Once inside the doors slammed shut behind her, sealing her off from the sounds of pain. Her limbs splayed out in all directions and she fell to the ground sobbing, unable to control the flood of emotions. Now inside the silent room and away from the tortured cries she suddenly felt guilt well up inside herself.

She didn't know what kind of demons those were, their names, or what they had done but her heart wept for them anyway. Imagines of demons just like her swam through her mind. Was her father punishing them? Why? What had they done to deserve to be what sounded like the most pain Dog could even imagine? An even worse thought slowly worked itself into her mind. She didn't want to think about it but was forced to wonder if her fate would be similar if her father wasn't satisfied with her.

She spent several long minutes in relative silence, crying in misplaced guilt, her tears quickly absorbed by the bandages around her eyes. Eventually, her tears stopped and she forced herself to stand, she would ask her father about the other demons and what they had done. Surely there would be a good reason… right?

Dog’s thoughts were interrupted as the door across from her opened to reveal a now familiar stone golem, who, after being noticed, quickly turned and began walking away, assuming its charge was following close behind it.

Dog’s frantic hooves quickly caught up to the golem just in time to see it turn sharply down an unfamiliar hallway. Dog opened her mouth to ask it where it was taking her but quickly realized the futility of such an act. The thing had no mouth to speak an answer nor even a brain to come up with one.

Instead, she followed in silence, quickly getting used to the large construct’s loping, powerful gait. Within minutes they had crossed a good distance and Dog’s legs began to burn, though not nearly as bad as the day before. The entire time the harsh clack of her bandage-covered hooves and the heavy steps of the golem were the only sound besides Dog’s labored breaths until all sound save her breathing suddenly vanished.

Looking down Dog breathed a sigh of relief. It was rare to see a rug anywhere in her father’s spire but having found one of the rare sections that had been carpeted was a blessing for her hooves. This pleasant turn of events so captivated Dog that she ran right into the now unmoving form of her guard, bouncing off his stone leg and falling back on her rump with a sudden squeal of alarm.

Dog rubbed the part of her forehead that had just become intimately familiar with the back end of the golem and grumbled quietly to herself. She needed to be more aware of her surroundings and made a mental note of doing just that.

The slow creak of wood brought Dog’s attention up to where the golem was pushing open a door, revealing a sight that brought a tear to Dog’s eye and a smile to her lips.

Books! Hundreds and hundreds of books lined the walls of the room just beyond the golem. Before she could even think her hooves were already under her, carrying Dog into the room where she spun in a slow circle, looking up and down the circular room she was now in.

The shelves on the walls stretched up at least twelve or so feet before coming to a stop at the beginning of the next floor. The second level was a lot like the first, round and stretching the entirety of the library, only this time the shelves stretched up twenty or so feet into the air before meeting the ceiling, necessitating the use of several sets of rolling ladders positioned intermittently around the room. A small staircase sat opposite the entry to the library, allowing access to the second floor.

Several tables littered with scrolls, maps, and various strange artifacts were the only other things on the main floor. They included pieces of armor, bottles filled with strange liquid, maps of places Dog had never heard of, and a litany of other curiosities that all tried to grab her attention. However, none of those things could ever compete with the strange sight of a single empty bookcase set just to the right of the entrance to the library.

Dog cocked her head and slowly walked up to the barren bookcase. As she got closer she realized it wasn't completely empty, where the piece of furniture would normally hold several hundred books there sat only six, but before she could inspect the curious tomes a sharp crack of electricity made Dog jump and spin around in fright. Her tiny forehooves raised as if to strike whatever had appeared behind her.

“Oh, it's you master,” Dog muttered.

Dog let out the lungful of air she had been holding and wiped her brow even though her bandages had already absorbed whatever sweat may have been there. Dog bowed quickly, remembering protocol after the panic left her system.

Tirek looked down on the demon with a troubled expression. “How was your sleep?” He asked, in a strangely unsure tone that lacked any of the normal confidence he seemed to have in spades.

Dog frowned. “Pretty good until all the screaming woke me up,” she remarked.

She bit her lip and pawed nervously at the ground for a moment before working up the courage to speak and stand back up.

“Why are they screaming master? What did they do to deserve that?" Dog inquired.

The unsure tone and strangely kind face slipped from Tirek’s face, replaced by one of satisfaction and confidence. “That my pet, is a good question, one you shouldn't worry about. All you need to know is they deserve all the suffering they are experiencing and you should shed no tears for those fools who would cross me," Tirek proudly declared.

Dog seemed unsure of her master’s assertion but refused to voice such doubts aloud.

The centaur merely ignored the uncertainty on his dog’s face and made a mental note of her apparent overactive sense of empathy. Clearing his throat brought Dog’s attention back to him.

“We will now begin your first lecture, you may take a seat," Tirek remarked.

Dog’s face lit up and she scampered over to the closest seat and quickly fell into it.

“The first thing you must learn to do is how to win. I know it sounds vague but keep these steps in mind and no matter the task I give you, you shall overcome it. Understood?” Tirek asked, frowning at the black bandaged hoof waving in the air. “Yes, Dog?”

“Can I have something to take notes on master?” Dog asked.

Tirek’s frown deepened.

“No," Tirek stated.

Dog frowned and looked down at the table in despair.

“I will get you something next time, until then you must simply remember it,” Tirek acquiesced.

Dog’s face lit up and Tirek couldn't help but frown slightly less.

“Now then, let's begin," Tirek began again. "First you must know your enemy, which means finding out as much as possible about them. This works for other tasks as well and not just battle.” Tirek stopped pacing when he noticed a bandaged hoof back in the air. “Yes?”

“Like building a boat?” Dog asked innocently.

Tirek scratched his head and stopped, having to think about that for a moment.

“I suppose," Tirek admitted. "To build a boat you need to learn all about sailing, carpentry, and the materials you might need to build the boat. Much akin to defeating an enemy you must first learn everything about them, their weaknesses, their strengths, and how to use one and negate the other. Planning is essential but all plans no matter how good need to be flexible so that you may have room to improvise.”

Tirek stopped and sighed, noticing a now familiar hoof being waved in the air with enthusiasm only a filly could summon.

“Yes, Dog. What is it now?" Tirek tiredly asked.

“But if all plans need to be improvised then what is the point of planning?” Dog inquired.

Tirek sighed, it wasn't a bad question and though he could understand why she may ask it, the fact that he was being interrupted for the second time had begun to wear on his nerves. The centaur took a step forward and gave the filly a light smack upside the head, the gentle impact barely ruffling her dark bandages.

Dog sniffled and looked up at Tirek with big puffy eyes. “What did I do?” Asked the filly.

Tirek looked away from the sniffling demon and rolled his eyes. “You are smarter than that, think about it. Why might a plan be perfect but still need to change?” Tirek declared.

Dog sniffled and sat back into her chair, willing her tears away as she contemplated her master’s question. “An outside factor?” The filly asked, her confidence raising slightly and she looked up to the centaur. “Right?”

“Good, go on," Tirek urged.

“Something unforeseen might change things and need to be adapted to but the plan should still work?” Dog continued.

“Exactly," Tirek proclaimed. "Having a plan of attack in any situation is important but if you stick to it too rigidly then unforeseen events may disrupt things. Next time think about it before you ask.”

Dog bowed her head low. “Yes, master.”

“After that it is execution, following through on your plan and lastly study. Think about what happened and analyze where you succeeded and failed and how to improve. Keep this simple method of thinking and the trials will not be as difficult as you first thought,” Tirek concluded.

The centaur looked down and happily noted there was no leg raised in question. “Now, any other questions?” Tirek offered.

Dog rubbed her hooves together nervously.

“H-how long do I have to keep the bandages on? They feel funny," Dog mumbled.

“Until you kill your first fully-fledged demon. Only then will that nagging feeling go away and the bandages can come off,” Tirek answered.

The filly frowned, the idea of killing anything making her feel guilty before she had even done anything.

“Now then, onto the rules of the library,” Tirek spread his arms wide. “You are allowed to read absolutely none of the books you see here.”

The huge grin that had been threatening to spread across Dog’s face suddenly vanished.

“...except, those six over there,” Tirek added.

The centaur pointed to the nearly empty bookcase beside the door where the lonely few Dog had seen earlier still sat.

“Awww,” Muttered the filly.

Dog kicked the stone floor in disappointment and winced from the shot of pain that lanced up her hoof.

“Ouch, stupid floor,” Dog grumbled as Tirek looked on in amusement.

His desire to chastise the filly was overruled by the punishment the filly had inadvertently dished out on herself. A small grin of amusement spread across his face, which he quickly wiped away as he walked towards the books, the tiny bandaged filly following closely in his wake.

The centaur pointed to the leftmost book which had a blood red cover, the words The Planes by Steel Testament were emblazoned in gold along the spine. Dog’s eyes lit up at the strange and fascinating-looking book.

“That is a basic book on the planes of existence, you will start with that one and memorize it. You will leave the second chapter for last, and there will be a test,” Tirek stated.

Though the addition of the word test made Dog tense for a moment her enthusiasm refused to be quenched.

“Next is a book on basic magic,” Tirek continued.

The filly turned her attention away from the red and gold book to an equally large book that was blue and purple with pink swirls throughout. It was simply titled the The Basics of Magic by Starswirl. Dog couldn't tell why but after she read the spine she couldn't tear her eyes from the enchanting tome.

Tirek reached forward and pulled the book from the shelf, turning it to show Dog another strange-looking lock that seemed identical to the one on the chest in her room. Dog frowned.

“How do you open it?” she asked.

The centaur smiled.

“Magic," he stated simply. "Once you figure out how to open it you will be able to read it and use the things inside the chest in your room.”

Tirek pulled the book away from Dog’s face just in time for her tiny hooves to grasp at the space it had occupied a second earlier.

“But that will not be for a long time,” Tirek declared.

Then, just to add insult to injury he put the book on the highest shelf, far from the grasp of the diminutive filly.

Dog pouted and crossed her hooves in annoyance, drawing a snicker from the aged centaur. The filly’s pout grew when she heard her father laugh at her.

“Why can't I read it now fa-master?” Dog asked.

Tirek merely leaned down and poked the filly in the nose.

“You are not ready. But you will be one day, and when that day comes you will be able to read almost everything I own," Tirek proclaimed.

The filly’s eyes lit up and she jumped back to her hooves.

“Really?” She asked.

The centaur merely nodded and turned his attention back to the remaining books, ignoring the girlish squeal of joy his protege made.

“The next three are general knowledge textbooks penned by myself or a close associate,” Tirek declared, sweeping his hand across three large black-clad tomes.

“Is that why there is no title or author?” the filly asked, only to raise her hoof after she had already asked her question, blushing nervously for her momentary forgetting of protocol.

Tirek either didn't notice or didn't care.

“Yes," he answered. "You will need to complete these three after the book on planes, they will also be the least challenging. You need to learn the basics of magic, medicine, healing, history, psychology, and more if you are to make an apt pawn.”

Dog was also either oblivious or didn't care about the demeaning way her master spoke of her, merely enjoying the fact that she had so much knowledge at her hoof tips.

“Is there going to be another test on those books?” she asked, tentatively.

“Yes," Tirek declared.

Dog withered slightly but took it in stride, assuming at this point that pretty much everything would end in a test of some kind.

“What's the last book about?” Dog inquired.

Tirek plucked the aforementioned tome from the wall and walked over to a table where he was joined quickly by a scampering Dog.

“The last book you will read is this one and it is all about demons both great and small,” Tirek declared.

The centaur opened the book to the first page that proudly displayed the text Demons, the Damned and Tartarus: A Guide. By Scarlet Fury in bold black lettering, followed by a small collection of thanks, given to several individuals whose names sounded similar to the author’s.

“Demons, the Damned, and Tartarus…” the filly whispered to herself as she read the title in a tone of hushed reverence. “Can I see?”

She reached for the book, her tiny hooves barely able to cross the table.

“You may look at it, but you will have to wait until you have finished the three textbooks and the book on the planes before you can read this one, understood?” Tirek declared.

The filly nodded and Tirek turned the book over to her before sitting back and observing where her curiosity took her.

The filly pulled the book in front of her and began flipping through the pages seemingly at random, skimming occasionally and stopping at any drawings or diagrams interspersed throughout the text. The filly grimaced at one particularly detailed drawing of a bisected three-legged demon, she quickly flipped past the picture, unaware of Tirek’s frown of annoyance.

She is much too squeamish and much too empathetic for her own good. He made a note of that but otherwise pushed aside the thought for later and resumed his observation of the filly’s curiosity.

Dog had just flipped back to the table of contents and was running a hoof down the list of chapter names.

“Why do the chapters each have names like pride, envy, wrath, and stuff?” The filly asked, looking up at the centaur in wonder.

“Because those along with sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust are the most basic types of demons. Or at least that's how demons are categorized,” the centaur answered, a frown crossing his face. “The fools think that we are so easily categorized that they lump us together in some idiotically dogmatic manner.”

“Why is that master?” Dog asked, looking up at the centaur with big, curious eyes.

“They are egotistical children that believe their sins somehow made this plane as if the mere act of going against their own laws somehow spawned a whole plane of existence,” Tirek answered.

The centaur clenched his fists in annoyance but stopped himself before his rage got the better of him.

“Unfortunately that method of categorization works for the most part," Tirek reluctantly admitted.

“Why do you say that?” Dog pressed.

Tirek pointed to the bottom of the list where there was a small chapter titled ‘Other Anomalies’ with four subcategories. Shades, fear, despair demons, and imps.

“Tell me Dog, why don't those four fit with the above chapters?” Tirek answered.

Dog paused and looked from the sub-chapters to the top and back. Though she couldn't recall where or how she learned it Dog knew the top were sins, while the bottom did not fit in that category.

“They aren't sins?” Dog asked, her voice small and tentative.

The centaur merely nodded.

“And yet there are just as many kinds of fear and despair demons as any of the so-called ‘prime’ demon types," Tirek proclaimed. "The fools let their arrogance color their knowledge and pollute it with their baseless self-absorbed assumptions.”

"What kind of demon are you master?” Dog asked quietly, suddenly unsure of herself.

Instead of being offended by the sudden question the aged centaur merely smiled.

“I would fall under the fear demon category. Though I am much more powerful than the glorified shades the book lists,” Tirek answered with a hint of pride.

“What… what kind of demon am I?” Dog continued.

“You are merely an imp," Tirek answered.

Dog didn't know why but the way her father said that seemed like an insult.

“But worry not, an imp is one of the most powerful demons in Tartarus,” Tirek continued.

The filly looked up at her father, confusion evident across her face.

“But the book said they are the weakest," Dog pointed out.

“Power comes in many forms Dog, one of them is in adaptability. Though you may not read it in any book, imps have a special ability that no other demons have,” Tirek proclaimed.

The centaur leaned in close and flipped to the page to a drawing of small filly-sized bipedal imp next to a four-legged version snarling at the reader, their blood-red skin contrasting against their short black hair, horns, and spade tail.

“You and this little guy both share one thing in common. You can both become any one of these," Tirek declared.

With a flourish of his hand Tirek’s magic flared into life, a soft grey aura surrounding the book and flipping the pages until a large dual page-sized picture displaying the various heights of the ‘prime’ demons all standing next to one another coming into view.

To the leftmost was a tall, relatively thin demon with a large head crest that covered where its eyes would be. Its body was sleek and muscular, though not thin it was not overly muscled, striking a perfect balance between power and appearance. It wore long multicolored robes that accented its crest and body perfectly, turning the entire creature into a towering being that radiated power and form. Dog didn't even have to glance at the label to know it was a pride demon. Everything about it seemed to scream this, from its elegant yet powerful body to the clothes it wore, even the bone-like crest on its head seemed to scream pride.

Next was a strange four-legged creature that although much shorter than the pride demon, was also much, much wider. Its low body covered almost as much ground as the pride demon was tall. Its gangly limbs ended in sharp talons and thick green scales covered its body, clashing with the collection of bones, trinkets, and scraps of fabric that was strapped across its body seemingly at random. Its head was vaguely draconian, with a motley assortment of thick-plated scales, and a large dagger-filled mouth that contained a serpentine tongue. Along its back ran a line of spines that jutted out of its body and gleamed in the artist’s rendition, making them seem as sharp as its razor-sharp teeth. Dog knew instinctively this green monster was an envy demon.

After that was an enormous red and purple-skinned monster that easily eclipsed the pride demon in height and the envy demon in width. Two enormous sets of horns grew out the sides of its head that both pointed forward. Its hooved feet were set wide apart as if it were ready to launch itself at the reader at a moment’s notice. Its large upper arms hid a smaller second pair that poked out from under the larger set. The smaller ones were clawed, unlike the larger pair that had huge fingers that were both balled into fists. Its face was twisted into a snarl of rage that displayed sharp, serrated teeth.

Dog forced herself to look away from the intimidating picture. However, she had to admit that it was an excellent drawing as it seemed to send an intense wave of rage after just looking into the thing’s glaring beady red eyes.

Gluttony was perhaps the strangest yet, where pride and wrath had humanoid - a word she picked up from her father - features, and envy had lizard or dragon-like features, gluttony was far more alien. The closest Dog imagined was of a bloated snake creature in a way like how her father was a horse creature. That wasn't nice to think about Dog knew, but it was the closest approximation she could think of.

Gluttony had a vaguely humanoid upper torso but the lower half of a snake creature. Though the others were clearly male or in envy’s case at least a creature that didn't have clear sex characteristics, gluttony seemed like neither or perhaps both, Dog wasn't sure. It had a large roll on its chest, one she thought of as breasts, but due to the other rolls of fat, she wasn't even quite sure if that was indeed a sign of gender. Either way, she quickly tore her eyes away from the creature after her mind moved on to the disgusting bulge straining against the inside of its skin as if trying to push out of the creature’s brown flesh.

Sloth was… strange. It was simply an oversized slug with a shell on its back, though it was definitely disgusting it also seemed the least intimidating. Strange liquid dripped off its body and though it had a pair of horns they seemed vestigial, too small to hurt anyone with. Its arms were small and slimy and blended into its body. Right as Dog was ready to write off the slug monster as the least intimidating demon so far something stopped her and drew her attention to its shell where she noticed that a multitude of faces distorted in agony was etched in. Dog stuck her tongue out in disgust and pulled back, glancing at the next demon in the lineup.

Greed was a lot like pride in a way, but the figure seemed almost more… cultured? Dog wasn't quite sure but the fact it wore clothes was already a stark difference from most of the others. Where pride’s clothes blended into its body and accentuated every facet of its physique, greed’s was gaudy and used gold almost exclusively. The color was everywhere, from its robes to its jewelry to its scaly skin and the color of its eyes. It was almost the tallest, just behind wrath but it was far skinnier and far more serpentine. It stood on its hind legs, its thin hands clasped before it, a knowing smirk on its lips.

Again the artist’s ability to render the demon was astounding, Dog couldn't help but feel as though the demon was ready to leap out of the page and offer her something she couldn't resist. She shuddered and looked away, glancing over the last demon in the line up only to almost immediately look away. The purplish pink skin and exposed breasts and genitalia made Dog’s cheeks burn hot and her hooves shuffle nervously.

Noticing that his pawn had looked away from the drawing Tirek grinned, observing the mixture of curiosity and disgust raging behind those small magenta eyes.

“So, what did you think?” Tirek prodded.

Dog remained quiet for several moments, almost straining her master’s patience before speaking.

“Why aren't there any like me?” She asked quietly, shuffling her hooves nervously and looking away from her father.

“Oh but there are a few like you, those are just the most common. Here, I’ll show you,” Tirek answered.

The centaur grinned as he flipped the pages with a wave of his hand, his magic bringing the page he wanted all on its own.

The large double-paged illustration was replaced by a small one and a subchapter of pride entitled Superiority. The creature was four-legged like Dog, and hooved like her as well however that was where the similarities ended. The demon before her was taller, much taller, almost as tall as her father. Its head was identical to her own save for the fact that a spiraling white horn grew from the center, it was large, almost as long as one of the creature’s legs, and was polished to a brilliant shine.

Dog turned up her lip in revulsion, something about the creature disgusted her on a primal level. The smug sense of self-confidence rolled off the demon in waves and Dog couldn't help but feel repulsed by the sensation.

Noticing her disgust Tirek waved his hand only to stop.

“Actually… I think I know exactly what demon might catch your eye," Tirek muttered.

Dog turned a quizzical eye to her father but remained silent, noticing that the aura surrounding the book had grown and the pages fluttered rapidly until it flipped past the section on lust demons and kept going. The instant the pages stopped Dog gasped, her breath stolen by the prettiest individual she had ever seen in her short life. A beautiful mare draped in fine silks that revealed long shapely legs and wide, generous hips, her eyes looked into Dog’s, promising untold pleasure if only she submitted. Though she knew the mare was a picture she couldn't help but blush at the look she was being given.

Despite her shame Dog couldn't help but continue staring at the beautiful creature, committing her appearance to memory. Dog’s eyes traced down the demon’s body once more and though she could see the demon had a large pair of tests between her back legs, they were thankfully hidden by the creature's legs and silks, though only slightly, as if teasing the viewer. Other than that she wore nothing save for an enormous book that was bound around her neck by a sturdy black chain. Two long black horns grew from either side of her head and Dog couldn't help but imagine a ram’s horns when she saw them, though the demon’s were slightly larger and more pointed. Squinting slightly Dog also noticed that the demon’s horns had a thin spiraling line of glowing purple that snaked around the horns and drew the eye from base to tip.

“Oh wow, she's so pretty,” Dog whispered reverantly.

The imp reached up and placed a tiny hoof on the picture, ensuring her father couldn't change the page.

Tirek however had long since taken a back seat and instead of flipping the page, gently pushed the book closer to the wide-eyed filly.

“Do you like her?” Tirek asked.

Dog nodded, not looking away from the page as she read the title of the sub-chapter aloud.

“The keeper of secrets, is she a kind of… lust demon?” Dog remarked with a grimace not quite sure why she was taken so aback by the assumption she had made.

“Yes, sort of," Tirek answered. "The author who wrote this may be arrogant in assuming there are only seven true types of demons but the classification is somewhat effective when you realize that cousins of the lust demon share some similarities.”

Dog sighed morosely.

“The keepers do not share their cousin's need for the essence of mortals," Tirek explained. "You see Dog, Lust demons, or succubi and incubi steal the essence from other creatures, some in a more literal sense and others in a more… carnal sense.”

Dog wasn't sure what that word meant but she felt dirty having merely heard it.

“Ew, I’m not sure I like her as much now,” Dog muttered.

“That is where the comparison ends however as the keeper desires only one thing…” Tirek continued.

The centaur leaned down and pointed at the title of the sub chapter.

“... and it's right in their name. Do you know what it is?” Tirek teased.

Dog’s eyes lit up and the feeling of disgust fled from her mind.

“Secrets? Or perhaps knowledge?” Dog answered.

“Both are correct," Tirek declared. "They have a soft spot for secrets as their name implies but they also desire knowledge in almost any form. They are formidable foes and quite adept at the art of magic. Are you sure you are going to pick her?”

Dog’s nose scrunched up.

“Pick? What do you mean?” Dog asked, glancing to her father.

“I have decided that the fully fledged demon you must kill will be a keeper of secrets," Tirek stated. "After it’s dead you will take its power for your own so that you may progress to the next trial.”

Dog frowned and gently ran a hoof over the demon she suddenly felt guilty for. Tirek noticed his pawn’s sudden shift and frowned in disgust. I thought her empathy would be entirely gone after her little accident burned away most of her mind.

“What is wrong Dog?” Tirek asked.

“I don't want to kill her,” Dog whispered.

Tirek groaned and ran a hand down his face.

“You aren't actually going to kill that keeper. There are hundreds of them," Tirek explained.

“I know but… I still don't want to kill her,” Dog muttered.

The filly ran a hoof down the page, a soft blush running across her face.

“She's pretty," murmured the girl.

Tirek let out a sigh but decided to put the problem aside for the day, he would work on getting rid of that annoying last vestige of empathy soon enough but that would take time. Which, he now had in spades.

“We will talk about this more later. For now, go back to your room and take the first textbook with you. I expect it to be completed by the end of the week and the rest by the end of the month.”

“Month? What's that?” Dog asked.

Tirek gently rubbed his temples at his student’s continued questions.

“I might have to bring out more latent memory unless I plan on putting her through grade school,” Tirek mumbled to himself before looking down at a now quite confused little filly. “Nothing. A month has thirty days, it's the second today so you have 28 days to finish.”

The filly nodded.

“Good, now off you go," Tirek ordered, gesturing toward the door.

The bandaged filly trotted over to the bookshelf and grabbed the indicated book, tucking it under one leg. Just as she was about to reach for the door she stopped, drawing the centaur’s ire.

“What is it now?” Tirek demanded.

Dog looked down, unsure of what to do or say.

“I was wondering if I could read a little more about the keeper and the other demons?" Dog asked tentatively.

The down-turned face coupled with those big watery eyes swayed something in the old centaur and he suddenly found himself speaking words he would not have said a moment ago.

“Okay, but only for tonight. After that, you have to save studying that book until you have finished the rest," Tirek acquiesced.

Before Tirek had a chance to regret his sudden decision Dog had run up and wrapped all four legs around one of his own and was rubbing her face into his leg.

“Thank you, father!” Dog proclaimed.

While Tirek was mired in confusion and rage the filly scooped up both books and scampered out of the room.

Once the filly was gone the dam broke and Tirek stomped a hoof in frustration.

“What in the hell is going on?” He bellowed at no one.

The centaur took a deep breath and began pacing, pushing away the strangeness that had just occurred and moving on to potential fixes to his dog’s empathy issue, his mind already running through potential solutions. Mind magic was out, it could suppress memories and bring them out but suppressing feelings and emotions only made them bubble out of control. Other types of emotional manipulation could work but in the end, he didn't want to just make her unable to feel empathy. He wanted the filly to be the one to kill her sense of empathy.

He would need something brutal, something that would break the filly out of her habit of empathizing with the weak. With a clap of his hands, he was back in his divination room, a cramped room with a large black orb sitting on a small pedestal of bones. The orb was roughly the size of the centaur’s head and was made up of what was for what was basically an imp’s gallstone. The consumed magical residue got backed up by an accidentally ingested holy spell, stopping the imp from digesting the rest of the magic and ultimately killing it but not before producing the single most sought-after divination item in all the planes.

Sometimes Tirek almost missed the old days when he didn't have the best equipment, the most experience, and a wealth of knowledge and assets at his beck and call. Though it did make things simpler and quicker the challenge wasn't great.

Shrugging the odd thought away the centaur placed his hands over the orb and focused his power on the center, imagining a tall purple and green pride demon that was a little different and stood slightly taller than his cousins, he was also slightly thinner and had a penchant for gossip and chocolate. The last factoid ensured Tirek had free access to any seemingly useless trivia the demon came into contact with. Like the location of something small and fleshy that may have fallen into Tartarus. Something that would hopefully make for a good sacrificial lamb that could be used to help break his pawn’s bad habit of caring.

The darkness within the orb parted, revealing the aforementioned pride demon with a particularly nasty whip dagger in hand. He stood posed above the partly flayed body of a screaming creature of some unknown variety. Noting the almost bored expression on the demon’s face, Tirek smirked and discarded the usual protective charms that hid him from prying eyes.

Instantly the demon’s eyes lit up and his arm went slack mid-strike.

“Ahh if it isn't my favorite former Equestrian. How did you know I was bored out of my skull?” Asked the whip-wielding demon.

The oddly lumpy, three-armed creature secured to the table twitched and let out a low moan of pain, drawing a snarl to the demon's face and a swift kick to the creature’s midsection.

“Quiet worm, important people are talking,” spat the pride demon.

Tirek merely smirked at the display.

“Not getting anything out of this one?” Tirek prodded.

The other demon’s smile faltered.

"Either that or he truly has nothing worthwhile for me and needs to go back to the pit," the pride demon remarked.

The creature stirred somewhat and coughed, crawling weakly toward the door.

“Get in here and toss this worm back in with the rest," spat the pride demon.

Instantly the door opened and a small dark purple imp scampered in and quickly dragged the crying and bleeding creature away, its head never raising from its obediently lowered state.

With the creature gone the pride demon straightened its blood-splattered robes with disdain and turned its attention back to the floating black orb that had intruded on his day.

“Now then, what were we talking about?” he asked.

“I was hoping you had news of a strange and much-desired commodity that may be found or acquired," Tirek began.

“Oh my, this is much more interesting a conversation than what I was having a moment ago, much more room for profit too,” the pride demon exclaimed.

The pride demon snapped his fingers and a larger heavy-set imp scampered in and crouched down into a vaguely chair shape which the demon promptly sat on.

“Do go on," the pride demon urged.

Tirek snickered at the casual display of power that pride demons were so known for.

“I need something innocent or at least innocent-looking," Tirek declared.

The demon laughed haughtily, one hand in front of its small mouth.

“That is quite the thing to ask for in Tartarus, this may take time and may require quite the reward," remarked the pride demon.

Though internally Tirek was brimming with disgust at the fact that necessity had brought him back to dealing with this one, he had long since learned to hold back any display of emotion when dealing with other demons and forced his face to remain neutral.

“Of course," Tirek began. "I wouldn't dream of coming to you empty-handed. I have come across a rather rare supply of three-hundred-year-old yak chocolate that had been stored in glacial ice. One of a kind and supposedly the best ever made. Think of it as a signing bonus for taking on this task on my behalf.”

The demon’s eyes lit up and a thin deep purple tongue ran across where the demon’s lips should be.

“Color me intrigued,” the pride demon declared, standing up suddenly and kicking his imp chair hard in the side. “Get out and seal the door behind you.”

The imp wheezed once before scampering off towards the door, closing and sealing it behind it.

“I think I have just the thing in mind," began the pride demon. "It shouldn't take long to procure though it may require greasing a rather unseemly palm.”

The pride demon’s mouth distorted into one of disgust but that quickly vanished.

“But consider it done Lord Tirek," the pride demon exclaimed. "When next we speak I will add a dash of rainbow to your day.”

The pride demon dipped low, into a wide sweeping bow that made his numerous robes billow in a display of wealth, his rings and trinkets attached to his clothes glinting in the soft torchlight.

Tirek snarled and dismissed his divination spell, making the orb return to its normal flat black coloration. He had to admit that pride demons were at least consistent, making it a necessity as he was one of the few good pawns in the usually useless and haughty bunch. That didn't mean he enjoyed their overly flowery speech or constant double-dealing, however.

Discarding the thought he waved his hand back over the orb, the small bandaged form of his newest and most intriguing pawn appearing through the mists. She sat quietly on the ground, a book splayed out in her black bandaged legs, reading the tome intently, ignorant to everything around her.

The centaur caressed the crystal ball with a wicked sneer. After he got rid of her misguided sense of empathy and perhaps if things went as he planned, his pawn might even get her own pawn. The best minions had their own minions after all and slaves always made everyone’s lives easier.

Dog’s ears suddenly flicked and her hoof stopped mid-page, marking where she had left off.

“Is someone there?” She asked the empty room.

Tirek cocked his head at the sudden outburst, checking over his spells to ensure he was still invisible. His senses extended over the orb and just after he was sure that everything was perfect she spoke again.

“Master is that you?” Dog inquired.

“What the?” Tirek muttered.

Tirek waved a hand over the orb and dispelled his spying spell, making the small cell and the tiny filly vanish from sight.

After taking a moment to calm himself he smiled suddenly, his smile quickly grew and grew until his face could no longer contain his mirth and it spilled out of his mouth in a diabolical laugh.

For nearly a minute he roared in laughter, pounding the table with his fist. This was beyond perfect, she had power far beyond her control. Power enough to accidentally see through a spell even a greater pride demon could not. She was the perfect pawn and perhaps eventually even more.

Tirek had to stop himself from planning too far ahead, such nebulous plans did nothing to help him here and now, and besides, he had a new mystery to solve, one that had been bothering him since he spoke to his accomplice.

The pride demon’s words had left a mark on the centaur, though the strange riddle-y method of speaking was par for the course for this particular demon it was stilted, off, as if he inserted words that shouldn't be there. But why?

Dash and Rainbow were the two words that really stuck out but what did they mean? Flipping the words around didn't help, what would Rainbow Dash even mean? Unless they meant...

The aged centaur stopped stroking his chin and mumbled to himself.

“No, it couldn't be. The word structure sounded similar to a pony name which would mean... there is another Equestrian down here?” Tirek asked the empty room.

Author's Note

First law chapter three will be out shortly I just really enjoyed writing this one.

This update is supported by.

DIOKYO

and

Tanis

and an unnamed third patreon.

Trial One: Steel and Will (R)

Dog lay on her back, tossing a small stone she had found on the last walk back to her room. The rock sailed up into the air, almost brushing against the ceiling before falling back into her waiting hooves where she readied it for its next trip to the ceiling and back.

Her textbook lay forgotten beside her bed, lying closed with a simple bookmark resting on top. She didn't need it anymore, having spent the majority of yesterday reading and then rereading the entirety of it with ease. It was relatively simple for the studious young girl, but it had taken its toll. Having memorized the entire textbook in a day made her want to do little else than toss her stone, which she named Tom, up and down while the information settled in her brain. Worst of all were the math and history sections as they demanded she commit the dates and formulas to memory lest she forget something important.

The rock brushed against the ceiling, just barely touching it once more before landing back into Dog’s outstretched hoof. The screaming had become background noise to the filly by now, barely noticed above her own thoughts, save for that one creature whose wail seemed to make her very soul vibrate out of her body. That was always disturbing, no matter how many times she heard it.

As she tossed her pet rock up once more, she idly ran through her memory, mentally testing herself for any bit of information that seemed wrong. I will not disappoint Father, I will learn everything! Well, maybe not everything, she admitted to herself. But everything he told her to learn, of course.

A sudden knock came from the door, stealing Dog’s attention and making her rock land squarely in the middle of her head.

“Ow.”

She rubbed her face with a hoof, looking cross-eyed at the spot the rock had landed, or at least trying to anyway.

Shaking her head, Dog quickly remembered the golem no doubt on the other side would need a command.

“Please enter!” Dog shouted.

The please part wasn't necessary, but there was some part of her that felt guilty about commanding the golem without at least being polite, even though it lacked any intelligence.

The great steel door to her room opened to reveal the usual dull grey bipedal golem standing outside her room. With the door open, the screams poured in, making Dog shudder involuntarily, the barrier to her room at least dulled them somewhat.

The rumbling sound of the golem’s voice drew the filly from her cringing.

“Lord Tirek will be arriving in five minutes to see how far you have gotten in your textbook," announced the unthinking creature. "Also you must consume this vial of medicine.”

The golem placed the aforementioned vial on the ground and without even so much as a goodbye, the golem closed and locked the door, leaving Dog alone with her thoughts.

The filly blinked a few times before her eyes went wide.

“A test? Oh my gosh, I have to review everything!” Dog shouted.

Her uncoordinated hooves grabbed the book and opened it to a random page, her eyes scanned the page in seconds. As she flipped to the next page she stopped, slapping a hoof to her oddly empty forehead.

“There is no way I can read the entire thing in five minutes! I need to think of another way," Dog muttered to herself.

The filly’s eyes squinted and she stared at the book for a moment.

“Or can I?” She thought aloud.

She shook her head. No, there was no way she could read the entire thing and retain anything. She might be able to finish about twenty-six percent of it, but not the entire thing.

She stopped and placed the book back down, slapping her forehead after realizing she had nearly forgotten her medicine. Scampering over to the door she scooped up the small glass vial and tossed aside the cork and downed it quickly. Her father said it was to help with the burns but she wasn't convinced. The vial tasted horrible and made her insides feel all turny but didn't seem to help with the burns. Putting the vial aside beside the rest of the empty ones she quickly got back onto her bed and popped back open the book.

She flipped to the table of contents... or at least tried to anyway. She wasted a precious eleven seconds trying to turn the pages with her dumb, uncoordinated hooves that didn't seem to know how to turn a page. Once at the table of contents, she placed a triumphant hoof on the page and began to skim down the list of chapters, trying to find a chapter or subject she might have forgotten. Nope, she had read the whole book cover to cover, twice, and she hadn't missed a thing.

Whew, that was one worry gone. With a grin she set about reviewing every chapter from start to finish, thinking about everything she learned from the chapter and then skimming the sections she wasn't confident in. She had finally reached the last page when the door to her room suddenly opened without warning.

“Aaaaaaaaah!” the filly screamed, falling backwards and tossing the book at whoever had come through her door unannounced.

When she peeked out from behind her hooves, she gasped.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry father!” Dog exclaimed.

Tirek’s eye twitched and the book that had nearly collided with his face threatened to bend under his powerful fingers, the spine warping and the cover threatening to split. After a long second he tossed the book to the ground and took a deep steadying breath, telling himself over and over that no, he should not physically reprimand her. It would be over kill.

With his anger back under control, the centaur looked down at the shaking filly looking up at him with big, pleading eyes. For a split second, he considered the possibility that she had not lost all her magic and she had somehow managed to charm him with those giant puppy dog eyes of hers, but the moment passed.

“It's okay. Now then, did you finish your medicine?” Tirek asked, to which the filly nodded.

“Good, how far did you read?” Tirek inquired further.

The centaur smirked, expecting a few chapters, maybe five if he was lucky.

“Oh, uh, I finished it," Dog answered.

The room was quiet for a moment as the centaur’s mind raced to catch up. The filly gulped.

“Was I not supposed to?” She asked hesitantly.

“No, actually, that's perfect,” Tirek stated.

Good thing I finished all the tests before I even had her start reading. With a snap of his fingers, a small pile of papers appeared before the filly, along with an ink pot and quill.

“You have one hour to finish the test," Tirek declared.

With a second snap the book was gone. To think she was able to absorb all that in a day… I knew she was smart after reading the entire book on the planes in the same day but this was much denser reading material.

The centaur raised an eyebrow. “Why are you still shaking?”

The filly’s teeth clattered as she tried to speak, forcing her to stop and gulp. “T-t-t-tests are scary.”

The centaur rolled his eyes and sighed. I guess this was bound to crop up eventually.

“Look, Dog, you are going to have to complete many tests, and you can't complete them properly if you can't hold a quill, right?” Tirek offered.

Dog shook her head and shivered. “N-n-no.”

"That means you must conquer this fear and complete this test. I know you will succeed. See you in an hour," Tirek remarked.

The centaur slipped into the hall and firmly shut the door behind him, the soft click of the lock a grim reminder of the finality of it all.

Her father was right, she couldn't give up just because she was being a big scaredy cat! The fear made her teeth chatter and her hooves sweat, images of swirling purple destruction, and a phantom pain from her forehead distracting her.

With slowly mounting courage the filly gripped the quill with her hooves and began to fill out the test as best she could. First was math. Though she had worried she had forgotten something, it seemed as though it was unfounded as she quickly flew through that section with ease, the numbers and equations coming to her mind as if it were second nature.

With that out of the way, she breathed easier, flying through the history and science in no time at all. She had wished there would have been more history to read up on, but her father’s book had only detailed the very beginning of existence and some of the theories around it. Though it did touch briefly on the early history of Tartarus, it ended right before the start of an event called the First Incursion War. There were so many interesting conflicts, grand events, and larger-than-life individuals, and the book stopped before she could even get to it. When she had read through it the first time she had nearly thrown the book in anger.

Science took her mind off things and helped her understand some of the stuff her father had mentioned, like the states of matter and how magic interacted with the world. That last part had again left her wanting more. Though she couldn't use magic herself, being only a lowly imp, she felt drawn by it, as if there was a part of her that yearned to learn how to use it. In the end, she merely wrote it off as just a silly dream of having special powers, but something about that felt hollow.

The rest of her subjects were easy; Intro to Law and Contract had sounded scary, but it turned out to be a matter of memorization for the most part, though she had been intrigued. It seemed as though almost every demon was bound by a particular set of laws that no one knew, not even them. The oldest demons in existence knew these laws but rarely exploited them lest the truth be revealed. If she knew the laws that governed all demons, she could potentially rule Tartarus. The book had stated that was a fool's errand very early on however, and listed many an aspiring demon lord that had begun their search for the ancient laws only to vanish after digging too deeply for their own good.

Even with the book’s firm warning, she was still intrigued by the prospect. She knew through her book on demons that Tartarus itself was an enormous plane of existence, having been made larger to properly hold the souls that flowed there from the other planes, making it nearly the largest plane in existence and thus virtually impossible to govern. The law section had hinted at an ancient figure of legend who had created the laws to rule Tartarus, having learned the hard way that trusting demons to follow his orders was nearly impossible. It was also said that this mysterious first lord might very well have been a myth and merely a way to explain the laws’ existence.

The rest of the chapter was interesting as well, detailing how to write a contract with a mortal and how to best fool them, though again it did not complete this lesson, stating advanced techniques would be given in the next volume. Interesting though the rest of the chapters might have been, particularly the brief mention of magic, it paled in comparison with the untold power that binding mortal souls could produce for the demon.

By now she had finished the test, having rounded out the short quiz with a small section that tested her knowledge of words and sentence structure. Something her father had said was important for any filly to learn as a small vocabulary leads to a small mind... or at least that's what he said, anyway.

Dog wasn't sure how much time she had left, but since her father had not returned she assumed she still had at least a few minutes. Quickly she went over her work, double- and then triple-checking everything. Breathing a sigh of relief, she put the pages down, then pushed them into a nice neat stack with the quill and ink set far to the side, lest some tragedy happened and her test be ruined.

At the beginning of the test, her hooves weren't quite up to the task of writing, but by the end of it, her penmanship was at least consistently legible. A sudden knock on the door drew the filly’s attention up. It was a single hard knock, her father most likely. He had stopped simply teleporting into her room; the last time he had, he interrupted her use of the bucket in the corner of the room. However, he still did barge in after a short warning.

“C-come in!” Dog called.

The door opened, revealing her father wearing a set of thick-rimmed reading glasses.

“All done?” He asked.

Despite the looming fear of failure Dog smiled, there was something about the glasses that made the grizzled old centaur seem downright… cute.

“Yes, when can I start on the next textbook?” she asked eagerly.

Tirek lifted an eyebrow and smirked.

“It seems as though you are progressing faster than I thought. I will need to write the next tests which will take a few days. In the meantime I have something else planned for you," Tirek replied.

With a snap of his fingers, he summoned several large pillows and gently lay down on them, taking Dog’s completed test in hand and, with a quick adjustment of his spectacles, began to read.

Several long minutes were spent in increasingly anxious silence. Dog had been confident in her work when her father had first entered, but now that he was here she couldn't help but try and read his facial features in an attempt to discover how she did. Every time he frowned she winced, every time the corners of his lips turned upwards she tried her best to contain her enthusiasm. Finally, she could bear the silence no longer, and just as Tirek flipped to the next page she spoke up.

“What will the next textbook cover, father?” She pressed.

The centaur said nothing for several moments, making Dog quake in fear, assuming she had done something wrong.

“The next textbook will cover the rest of the laws of Tartarus, contract law, and Tartarian history. The one after that will contain the last of the basic stuff like math, and science, as well as cover the basics of the soul and magic,” he replied, all the while calmly marking the last of her test.

Dog couldn't help but grin; finally something more challenging, and a conclusion to those darn cliffhangers the first textbook had set up! She was so excited she couldn't help but do a little happy dance on her bed. But wait, Father said that wouldn't come right away. She stopped mid-dance and plopped back down. Augh, she hated waiting.

Thankfully for her painfully short attention span, Tirek had quickly run through the last of the test and, after some brief mental math, he smiled.

“Good, you passed with flying colors. Though you should reread the algebra chapter,” Tirek stated.

A huge smile bloomed across the filly’s bandage-clad face and she couldn't help but squeal in joy, hopping around her bed with a huge grin on her face. Tirek rolled his eyes and let the filly jump around for a few more seconds before shushing her.

“Yes, yes, you did good, but it is not the time to celebrate. I have more training lined up in a few minutes," he informed.

Dog stopped jumping and frowned. More training? Already? Well, she supposed she was done with the first textbook rather quickly so it made sense, though she still felt as though she deserved something for her success.

“Father?”

“Yes, Dog?”

“Can I have something nicer to sleep on? Or something more to read?” Dog asked suddenly.

She gulped, looking away from her father’s stern gaze.

The centaur’s anger flared for only a moment before he remembered who he was dealing with. She had done well and her accommodations were less than comfortable. He considered accepting her request for only a second before shaking his head. The abysmal accommodations were all part of her training; she must become tough, strong, and able to endure hardship or else she would not make a good pawn in his game.

“No,” he answered.

Dog’s face fell.

“Not yet,” Tirek quickly added. Why did I say that? He thought.

Like a light switch being flipped back, her face lit back up.

“Really?” Dog asked, wide-eyed.

“After you have completed your first trial I will find you a better bed and more to read,” Tirek confirmed.

The filly’s eyes shone and she looked ready to launch into another one of her ‘hugs’. Cutting that off at the pass, Tirek lifted a hand to silence the filly’s enthusiasm.

“But that means you are going to have to train hard and learn quickly, understood?” Tirek stated firmly.

“Yes, master!” Dog proclaimed.

“Good, now it’s back to the gym," Tirek declared. "If you are going to survive your trials you are going to have to learn how to wield a weapon. Though you lack my dexterous digits, I’m sure that with practice your hooves will be more than a worthy substitute.”

Dog nodded excitedly, hopping off her bed and dashing over to the door, where she stood impatiently, shifting from hoof to hoof. Tirek stood up much slower, his back cracking as he reached his full height, wincing at the loud crack, and limped over to the door.

“Are you hurt, father?” Dog inquired.

Tirek waved a dismissive hand at the filly.

“No, no, I am merely old and I’m afraid I have done too much sitting lately, is all,” Tirek answered.

The centaur opened the door and entered the hall. The screams became louder, but he hardly seemed to notice. Dog, on the other hand, winced, her ears falling flat against her head. Though it wasn't quite as bad as it once was, the sounds of screaming still made her feel strange. She knew she wasn't the one in pain, but something about hearing a being in such pain made her feel a modicum of their agony.

Stowing the thought aside, she quickly caught back up to her father who was waiting by the door at the end of the hall, eyeing her curiously with a frown across his face.

“Come along, Dog, we have much to do,” He urged.

The filly scampered up to her father, following close behind.

Several minutes passed in silence, with only the clack of their hooves breaking the monotony of traversing the tower. Though Dog was tempted to ask questions about the halls they passed and the things they saw adorning the tower’s walls, she sensed as though her father was disappointed in her for some reason. So she merely stayed quiet, ruminating silently on what she might have done.

Her father finally stopped before a familiar door. Pushing the portal open, he walked inside the large circular expanse that marked the gym. Dog marveled once more at the huge empty space, her mouth hanging open in wonder as she puzzled once more about how the tower and this room in particular were built.

This time it was slightly less empty, though, and a tall suit of armor stood in the center of the room. It was easily on the level of her father and was similar in form. It had two large metal hands that hung lifelessly at its side, but where Dog and her father had four legs, this one had two, and instead of hooves it had metal-clad feet.

Dog took a step forward, eying the strange metal creature up and down. The first thing to draw the filly’s eye was the sword belted securely to the creature’s hip. The sword was long and elegant but also plain, obviously not meant for show. It was a simple weapon meant only for one purpose: to kill.

The creature’s armored body was no different; simple, overlapping plates covered it completely from head to toe and obscured any being that might be beneath all that metal. The helmet itself seemed to be the only part of its body that had any kind of unnecessary detail. Metal horns spiraled out of either side of its head and though there were no eye holes in the armor, there was a grille where the creature’s mouth would be.

Dog shivered at the sight. The armor seemed empty for the most part, as nothing was visible beneath the grille or the very few cracks in the armor she could see. Even then she felt as though she was being watched by whatever lay within the armor, looking down at her with disdain after having evaluated her and finding the imp wanting.

“This is Cervantes, and for the next year, he will be your teacher and opponent. Today, however, he will be simply testing your strength and natural aptitude with a weapon,” Tirek stated.

The centaur crouched down and ran a hand across the still shivering filly’s back.

“Don't worry, for now, he will not attack you and will only block. You have nothing to fear," he whispered in a low tone.

Noticing the strange position he was in, the centaur coughed and stood back up.

“Now then, follow me to the armory and we will get your weapon picked out," Tirek remarked.

Dog nodded to her father, her eyes never leaving the strange biped that stood impassive in the center of the room. As they walked to a seemingly random wall of the gym, Dog couldn't stop looking at the creature. Finally, she managed a smile and a wave.

“Hello,” she whispered, unsure if her words could even be heard.

The creature’s head cocked to the side in a way that made Dog giggle. She was reminded of the creatures called wolves she had read about. So occupied in watching the strange metal creature she was that she ran right into her father’s back leg and landed in a heap on the ground.

“Do try and pay attention, Dog,” Tirek tiredly remarked.

“Sorry,” Dog muttered.

Turning back around, Tirek raised a hand to the wall where it glowed briefly with a faint blue light before something clicked and the wall split down the middle, opening to reveal a large, dark room. Stepping quickly, Dog followed in her father’s hoof steps, wondering what marvels lay just beyond the veil of darkness.

Once inside, Tirek stopped and spoke.

“Luminous," he proclaimed.

Dog was about to ask what that word meant, but her curiosity was quickly shoved away and replaced by awe. A bright light shined down from far above them, illuminating rows and rows of weapons of all shapes and sizes, arranged all around them and ascending several stories high.

The ones high above her twinkled and glinted in the light and, even though she could hardly see them, Dog could feel the power some radiated. The ones closer to her seemed strange though, and they did not glint in the light like the others. Leaning closer, Dog could tell their blades were dull and they were all made of a brown material that reminded Dog of wood. Training weapons. Instantly popped into her head, but before she could ask whether or not her assumption was true, the ground she stood on suddenly lurched and rose into the air.

Looking around, Dog basked in awe. Her textbook had touched on the subject of war and weapons in general, including a brief introduction to the different types, but what she saw before her easily eclipsed everything she had read. Hundreds of weapons of all shapes and sizes surrounded her.

“Welcome to the armory,” Tirek announced with pride.

“Wow,” Dog murmured.

On and on the weapons went, and for a minute they stood in silence, slowly rising until Tirek stopped seemingly at random and gestured at a collection of short swords and daggers that hung along the wall.

“Now, first we will choose a weapon you will learn and eventually master," he declared. "Over time you will come to master other weapons as well, but the one you choose first will stay with you from this day until the last of your trials are complete. Do you understand, Dog?”

The filly tore her eyes from the weapons and looked up at her father.

"Yes!" She eagerly replied.

Tirek nodded and waved a hand across the various blades before him. Picking up a short sword in one hand, he began listing off the various pros and cons of the weapon, and though Dog knew she should listen, it was all stuff the textbook had already covered, so after listening for a while she slowly tuned him out.

The short swords were interesting; they were usually stocky with interesting pommels and fancy blades. The daggers were strange; they all seemed designed for cruel intent, having barbs or hooks, or glowing with a sickly green aura. No doubt many of them were enchanted to make up for their relatively short reach.

Above her, just out of reach, extended a plethora of longer swords, bent ones she recognized as scimitars, and many other exotic varieties. She noticed her father had gone off on another tangent while holding a strange scimitar that seemed to generate an aura of cold. Her father referred to it as ‘Icingdeath’ and though Dog knew she should probably pay attention, she found her eyes always drawn away from the centaur. Noticing he was no longer checking to see if Dog was paying attention, the filly turned, letting her attention wander.

Eventually, her eyes wandered all the way around to the wall behind her that was adorned with much stranger and esoteric weapons. Cleavers, sword-breaking daggers, swords that became whips on command, and a hundred other miscellaneous weapons covered the wall, but one above all grabbed Dog’s attention and held it firmly.

There, just barely within her reach, was a large cleaver that was beyond anything Dog had ever seen. It was nearly as long as a short sword but much, much heavier, the thick blade had several large spikes along the back. Three pristine gold rings were attached to the thickest part of the blade and rested against the flat side of it, contrasting the rust the rest of the weapon seemed to be covered with. Even the thick wooden grip seemed as though it were ready to fall apart if used.

Glancing around, Dog noticed that every other weapon seemed in pristine condition as if they had all been polished mere minutes ago. All except this rusty cleaver with the perfect gold rings. Realizing she had been staring for far too long, Dog spun around to face an annoyed-looking centaur looking down on her.

“Eep!” She squeaked.

“I see you have noticed an oddity in my collection. Do you know what it is?” He asked, voice calm and even.

“A cleaver, master?” Dog replied.

“Yes," He stated. "It is a demon-forged blade, with the soul of an ancient entropy demon trapped within. Since you decided to ignore my lesson, this cleaver is going to be your weapon from now on.”

Dog grimaced in disgust and took a step away from the item in question.

“Blech, do I have to? It's all rusty and gross," she muttered in disgust.

“It may look useless, but I assure you that, like most first impressions, yours was wrong. Now take it off the rack and give it a practice swing," Tirek ordered.

Dog took a hesitant step forward and looked up at her father, hoping he was only joking. Noticing he had the icy calm look he usually did, Dog sighed and reached for the weapon. As her hoof got closer, she could tell there was something strange about it before she even touched the cleaver. The air around it felt... dense. Dog couldn't describe the feeling but whatever it was, it made her skin crawl and the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

She wavered, mere inches from the weapon before reaching out and grabbing it. The instant her hoof met the rotten wooden handle, time seemed to stop and a voice crept up the back of her spine.

“What a curious creature the half-breed has brought me. Why, you even have the stench of innocence in you,” the unseen person whispered.

The voice crawled across her back from left to right, coming from right above her ear,

“Tell me, little one, what do they call you?” It asked.

Its hushed words felt like maggots crawling in Dog’s ears.

“Um, Dog, mister weird voice,” Dog answered.

Dog gulped and tried to move, but found that other than her mouth, every other part of her refused to move.

“Really? Well, that is too funny. Tell me, child, what do you most desire in this world?” Pressed the unseen speaker.

Books jumped out as Dog’s first response, but she quickly brushed that away. Books were nice, but they weren't that important.

“Making father proud," Dog confidently declared.

The voice laughed a bubbly, dripping laugh that clung to the inside of Dog’s ear.

“You are an amusing little creature,” the voice remarked, scuttling across Dog’s head to rest across her brow.

“Uh, thanks?” Dog muttered.

“Tell me one more thing, child, and I will bother you no longer. What would you give to see your master happy?” Asked the voice.

“Anything,” Dog responded instantly.

“Oh, we are going to have a lot of fun, I can feel it,” the speaker remarked.

The voice skittered back along Dog’s back before vanishing, its sickly presence suddenly gone and time once more flowed like normal. Even then Dog still tested her legs and, finding that she could move, she let out a soft sigh. That had been strange, but nothing bad seemed to have happened.

“Well, go on. Give it a swing,” Tirek said with a smirk.

“Um, okay,” Dog murmured.

The imp gripped the cleaver tighter in her hoof and swung a quick overhead chop with it. The cleaver glowed with a wretched green aura as she swung, but it quickly vanished when she finished the arc.

Looking back up to her master Dog grinned.

"Was that good?” She asked, innocently.

Tirek slapped a hand against his forehead and let it slip down his face. Of course that old fool would decide to spare the child and ruin my planned lesson on being too curious around pointy things. The centaur sighed and, noticing the child’s downcast features, began panicking.

“No, no, that was good, really. I was just thinking of something else, is all," he lied.

Dog’s eyes lit up and she clutched the large cleaver to her chest, grinning from ear to ear. Tirek mentally reprimanded himself for the sudden shift in emotion. She is a pawn and nothing more, quit looking at those cute little eyes already!

Waving his hand, the pillar they stood on slowly began to recede into the ground, lowering the pair back to the bottom floor. The trip down was spent in silence, though Tirek could tell that was about to change.

Dog was practically vibrating out of her bandages, squeezing the cleaver tight to her chest.

“Did you see that, father? It got all glowy and shoom,” Dog began, swinging the cleaver again, adding extra sound effects as needed. “It’s still icky but that was pretty cool, huh, father?”

Tirek rolled his eyes.

“Yes, Dog it was very uh, ‘cool’ as you said," he reluctantly muttered.

Dog giggled and continued to hug the cleaver to her chest, ignoring the rising smell emanating from her new weapon. Soon enough they were back on the main floor and back out into the gym, where Tirek took a deep lungful of air, more than a little happy to be out of that cramped room trapped with that wretched cleaver.

Tirek walked out to the center of the gym, Dog close at his heels.

“Alright, Dog, I am going to leave you to train with Cervantes. I want you to land a single hit on him, do you think you can do that?” Tirek asked.

Dog nodded enthusiastically, gripping her cleaver tightly.

“Good, make me proud Dog,” Tirek proclaimed.

The centaur turned to the armored creature and nodded once. “You know what to do.”

The armor nodded back and drew its sword, getting into a defensive stance, one foot back with its sword poised to intercept. Dog looked up at the massive armored figure and the blade it held that was easily as long as Dog’s entire body, then back to her cleaver and finally to her father.

Tirek noticed the filly’s apprehension but chose to ignore it. She will fail eventually, and learning how to fail is essential. I’m sure Celestia wouldn't mind me taking a page from her little playbook. Tirek smirked and strode out of the room, stopping at the door and turning to the filly and the armor.

“Well, what are you waiting for? You only have an hour," he flippantly added.

Dog’s eyes shot open and as Tirek turned to leave he could hear the distinct clash of steel. Tirek closed the door behind him and readied a remote viewing spell. An hour would be plenty of time to check back on his little informant and see if his hunch was true.

Back in the gym Dog panted, regripping her cleaver and eyeing her opponent carefully. In the time since her father had left she had tried every kind of attack she could think of and every single time the bipedal suit of armor met them perfectly or simply sidestepped her clumsy attacks. She knew she was ill-equipped to fight such a large creature anyway, but there had to be a way to win, right? Maybe if she tried to get closer.

Dog charged forward, her cleaver held high, but the biped merely stepped back out of the filly’s range, easily able to backpedal faster than Dog could run on three legs. The filly stopped, maybe backing him into a corner would help? Readying herself once more she launched into a charge, trying to herd her opponent towards the nearest wall.

The armor seemed to see this coming and nimbly sidestepped just enough to stay out of Dog’s range and away from the wall, ensuring the filly would never be able to corner him.

Giving out a frustrated groan, Dog stopped and eyed up her opponent once more. Time for a new strategy, and then another when that failed. Eventually, she gave up and simply hammered on his defenses until she got tired. Her eyes surged open as an idea occurred to her.

Three minutes later she landed in a sweaty heap once more, plan ‘throw the cleaver while screaming at him’ having failed predictably. Almost an hour had passed and Dog lay in a pool of sweat, legs splayed in all directions, her tongue hanging from her panting mouth. All the while victory was as far away as it had been from the very first moment the test had begun.

The hoof she wielded her cleaver with had long since gone numb and had been switched out for her off hoof, which had not helped matters in the slightest. She had almost hit the creature’s shin, but that had been pure luck after she had figured out that he wouldn't strike back, so she had launched herself at him and tried to strike with her hooves as well as her cleaver. Though close, the creature had ultimately noticed the desperate gambit in time and simply pushed her away with the flat of his blade.

After that the creature seemed on guard to that type of attack and had remained even more elusive, ensuring the filly couldn't get close enough to do that again. Huffing in annoyance, Dog struggled to stand once more.

“Let me guess, you’re still not going to help me at all, are you?” Dog asked the strange voice she had heard earlier.

When the creature didn't respond, Dog merely huffed in annoyance and flopped back down.

“Our master is returning in five minutes.”

Dog blinked and looked up at the armored creature who had just spoken.

“What? You can talk?” She asked.

When the creature didn't respond, Dog snorted and stamped her hooves, trying to return feeling to her weak and tired limbs. An odd tingling suddenly emanated from her core and spread to her legs, which slowly filled with strength. But it was barely enough to stand, never mind fight once more.

Her father’s words echoed in her head endlessly while she stared defeat in the face.

“Make me proud," he had said.

She was going to fail the first real test her father had given her. Sure, the paper test had not been easy, but he had given her all the answers in the book, and what few he didn't were relatively simple. This was far different and if she didn't move now she would fail him.

The filly stamped her hooves and snorted like a charging bull, trying to will more strength into her tired body. Her core pulsed and a shot of strength extended outwards, filling her body with enough to stand and fight once more. Though the feeling was odd, she didn't question it. Wherever it came from or whatever had happened didn't matter, she had the strength to fight and the will to succeed.

Hefting her cleaver once more, she glared up at the seemingly empty helm of her opponent.

“Two minutes,” her opponent whispered, hoisting its weapon back into its stance.

Letting out a primal cry of rage, Dog charged. Though to her ears it was intimidating, to the ensouled armor and any other that was listening it was little more than the furious squeaking of an angry child.

Dog leaped into the air, using her momentum to carry her and her weapon forward. Cervantes brought his longsword up to parry, but Dog reversed direction suddenly, trying to sneak past the longsword, but unfortunately, she simply didn't have the reach. By the time the cleaver had slipped past, the creature had twisted his longsword and the crash of steel against steel signalled another failure.

The blow robbed Dog of momentum and knocked her to the ground where she struggled to rise once more. Aftershocks from the block sent tingles up Dog’s leg but she brushed the thought aside. With her attention no longer on the clock, Dog launched into a series of increasingly desperate attacks. The ringing of steel became near constant as the filly tried to make up for inexperience with sheer ferocity.

Cervantes was still more than a match for the filly and easily deflected every attack with grace and unnatural speed. Just as she was about to give up she felt the faint creak of a familiar door opening to the gym.

With one last cry of rage, the filly gripped her cleaver in both hooves and brought it down in a chop. The sight would have been amusing to most, but Cervantes could tell something was different. Though the armor’s senses paled in comparison to a living creature’s, they were especially sharpened when it came to detecting magic and he could tell something was building within the filly. However, with no way to know what, he simply brought his sword down to block the same way he had a hundred times before.

Sword met cleaver the same way they had a hundred times before, but this time, the cleaver did not simply bounce away. When their blades first met, Dog had been forced back by Cervantes’s unnatural strength, but now she was able to meet his block without stumbling or stepping away from the strike.

Taken aback, the animated armor didn't have time to readjust before the filly threw an unparalleled amount of power into the blade and, for a second, nothing happened. Then, with a resounding snap, Cervant's long sword broke at the point Dog’s cleaver had met it. Now without resistance, Dog’s weapon lurched forward and clanged against the armor’s shin, only to bounce off and send the filly into a heap.

Cervantes stood there dumbfounded, looking closer at the broken blade, then back at where Tirek now stood. They exchanged a confused shrug and both looked down to the filly that lay huffing and puffing on the ground.

“I did it!” The imp proclaimed.

Dog pointed a shaky hoof up at her opponent.

“In your face!” declared the triumphant Dog.

Tirek clapped his hands together, making Dog’s eyes bug open as wide as possible.

“Father? Did you see that?” She asked, voice filled with a mix of excitement and exhaustion.

“I did, and I must say I am most impressed," Tirek admitted.

The magic that was stymied by the loss of your horn is adapting incredibly quickly. You are just an endless barrel of surprises, aren't you, my little pony?

“Tell me, how did you do it?” Tirek asked.

Dog grinned from ear to ear and picked herself up on shaky hooves.

“I saw he blocked the same way every time, always with sword down right to left, deflecting my hit out and away. Then I noticed that after a few minutes, his sword started to get rusty. After three hundred and thirty swings it broke!” Dog explained.

Tirek blinked and looked at Cervantes who brought the sword up, revealing the now rust-coated end of the broken blade.

“Huh.” Tirek mumbled dumbly.

She had recognized she was outmatched and couldn't get through his defense, but rather than give up, she had used that fact to her advantage. Tirek’s opinion of the filly went up an order of magnitude at the realization.

“Oof.”

Dog flopped back to the ground, her hooves too weak to hold her up. She smiled weakly up at her father.

“Are you proud of me?” she asked with a slight twinge of apprehension in her voice.

“Very,” Tirek stated, leaning down and booping the filly on the nose. “You have done an amazing job and I think you deserve a reward. How does ice cream sound?”

Dog’s eyes lit up.

“That sounds awesome! I’ve never had ice cream but I read that it’s sweet and delicious,” Dog exclaimed happily.

She struggled to stand but quickly flopped back into a heap.

“Cervantes, you have failed me," Tirek stated, the armor wincing visibly. "And your punishment will be to carry around Dog until she feels better. Is that understood?”

The armored giant looked from Tirek down to the filly and shrugged before putting his broken sword back in it's scabbard and scooping up the filly in one enormous hand.

The filly seemed apprehensive at first, but when her former opponent didn't squeeze her into a pulp she settled down. It felt kind of nice, the metal gauntlets that were his hands weren't as cold as she thought they were, and the way she was held was rather pleasant. Relaxing in his grip, the filly looked up at her father with huge expectant eyes.

“Ready, Dog?” He asked.

“Ready, dad!” Dog proclaimed.

Tirek smiled, turning towards the door and chuckling. I should probably reprimand her for that, but she did so well I suppose that can be part of her reward.

Tirek stopped as his hand met the door handle. Where in Tartarus am I going to find ice cream? Even if I do, what would the flavors even be?

Tirek shrugged and held the door open to Cervantes and Dog who walked through, Dog giggling all the while.

“Why, thank you, sir," she exclaimed.

Tirek smirked and proceeded after the filly.

“Not a problem, little one. Now, what kind of ice cream would you like?” He asked.

The trio continued deeper into the tower, their voices growing distant as Tirek tried to convince the filly that she could not try every single flavor in the same day, all the while Cervantes became increasingly confused by the odd back and forth. Eventually, they turned the hall and vanished from sight, leaving the few denizens of the tower who had seen the exchange scratching their heads in wonder.

Author's Note

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Interlude One: What Is Lost (R)

Celestia sat hunched in a chair much too small for her godlike proportions, but she did not complain. In fact, she rather enjoyed the change. Every chair she sat on was perfectly sized and had the right density of pillows for her posterior, so it was rather refreshing to be forced into a too-small, too-hard, little chair not meant for her. Plus, it helped her stay focused on what she was about to say to the two parents, who were about to receive the worst news of their lives.

One of her guards, whose name was… Silver Strike? Yes, that was it, poked his head in and leaned towards the princess.

“Are you sure about this, Your Highness? You are going to cut your meeting with the dragon ambassador dangerously close," he offered.

“They will wake in mere moments," Celestia remarked. "I should have more than enough time. That and old Billow’s Breath owes me a favor or five anyway, so he can wait.”

The guard glanced at his partner by the door, who just lifted a silent eyebrow at the young upstart.

“Yes, ma'am," he muttered.

He turned and stood back at attention outside the door.

Celestia glanced out the window, idly noting that the sparse rainclouds she had ordered for the day were where she had asked them to be. There was something about grief and rain clouds that went so well together as if a pony’s mind subconsciously believed that the weather itself should reflect their mood and took solace in the very sky crying with them.

Something stirred and the soft shuffle of thin hospital bedding reached Celestia’s ears. She arched an eyebrow, curious. They shouldn't be ready to wake for another few minutes. Glancing over at the bed, Celestia watched as Twilight Velvet began to shift under the covers, grumbling something and trying to escape the cloth confines.

Gently, Celestia lifted the covers from the mare, placing them low enough for the patient to keep her decency and enough that they were out of the way of her forelegs.

“Ah!” Velvet cried, suddenly sitting bolt upright in her bed.

With wide, panic-stricken eyes she looked around, instantly calming when she saw the ever serene face of their monarch and ruler.

“Be calm, my little pony," Celestia began. "There is no one going to hurt you here. You are in Canterlot General, it's only been a couple of hours and your husband is fine as well.”

She gestured to her right and using her magic pulled back the curtain dividing the two beds.

The mortal mare settled into her bed slightly, letting out a sigh of relief. She lay there, still and quiet for a few moments, gathering her bearings before opening her eyes and speaking.

“When is he going to wake up?” She asked.

“In a few more minutes, the drugs that help with transitioning back into a pony work best when the subject is under, I’m afraid," Celestia explained.

The princess smiled weakly and pointed to the IV still attached to the mare’s right forehoof, same as her husband.

“It wouldn't harm him to wake him up early, would it?” Velvet asked.

Celestia shook her head. That seemed to ease the mare even more.

“Honey, are you there? It’s me, Velvet, it’s time to wake up," whispered the mare in a soft, gentle tone.

Celestia raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The drugs were strong and she doubted Velvet could accomplish anything, but then again, Celestia had already been surprised once already.

Velvet frowned and summoned her magic, using it to tweak the stallion’s nose.

“The souffle is burning," Velvet teased.

Instantly the stallion rocketed up,

“No, not my souffle!” He shouted, drawing an awkward giggle from the two mares.

His startled gaze flitted across the room until it landed on Celestia.

“I’m so sorry, Your Highness," he hastily apologized.

His face burned with embarrassment and he ducked into an awkward sitting bow in an attempt to hide his shame.

“Calm yourself, my little pony, you and your wife have done nothing wrong,” Celestia said with a smile.

His embarrassment vanished and he rose, just now realizing what had happened.

“Where are we?” He inquired.

“Canterlot General, sweetie,” Velvet offered, reaching out with her hoof and taking her husband’s in her grasp.

“Oh, how? Wait. What happened to Twilight?” He asked.

Their hooves gripped each other tighter, memories of the last few moments before becoming potted plants running through their minds.

Celestia sighed and stood up.

“I will get to that in a moment," Celestia began. "First you should be aware of the side effects of your transformation. First, you may have a sudden urge to stand motionless while bathed in sunlight, this is normal and to be expected and there is no harm in a little extra sunbathing while your body gets used to being a pony again. You may also need to watch your water intake as you will have an intense desire to drink far more than you should. Other than that, you should be fine.”

Velvet’s lip curled in annoyance.

“Yes, that's all well and good, but where is my baby?” Velvet pressed.

“Calm down, dear, she was getting to that,” Night Light offered.

“Thank you, Night Light," Celestia replied, turning to Velvet. "I just wanted to get the less important news out of the way first.”

Velvet gripped her husband’s hoof tighter, her limbs tensing as anger began to course through her.

“Yesterday during your daughter’s entrance exam, she was taken by an extraplanar entity of unknown origin," Celestia declared.

“Taken?!” both parents yelled.

“Yes, though we know not which, you have my assurance that I have placed our best minds on it and every expert on the field has been contacted in order to assist in our investigation," Celestia exclaimed. "In the meantime, I would like to extend the use of our staff, the treasury, and as many days off as you two need.”

Celestia’s frown deepened and she stared into the grief-stricken eyes of Twilight’s parents.

“I know this is infinitesimal next to your daughter, but it's all I can offer you at this time," Celestia concluded.

“Well, that's more than what you had to do. Isn't that nice, dear?” Night Light asked, tentatively turning to his still-tense wife.

Velvet released her husband’s hoof and sneered up at the serene alicorn.

“Bullshit," Velvet spat.

Celestia took a step back as if physically struck.

“I’m sorry, what?” Celestia muttered in shock.

“I said bullshit! You know exactly where she went!” Velvet shouted.

The alicorn resisted the urge to roll her eyes and merely sighed.

“If we knew where she was, we would tell you. A tear in the fabric between planes could lead to literally anywhere," Celestia explained.

Velvet tossed aside her blanket, and threw off her husband's hoof.

“No," Velvet defiantly proclaimed. "You are the princess, flares in unicorn children are rare, but you must have seen hundreds in your lifetime. Surely you must have devised a way to track them down if such a thing were to happen.”

“I apologize for my wife, we just need time-” Night Light began.

Celestia raised her hoof, silencing the stallion.

“That's quite alright, Mr. Sparkle," Celestia offered. "Anger is a common emotion in events like this.”

The alicorn turned to the mortal mare.

“Flares are rarer than you realize and rarer still are the ones that are powerful enough to tear apart the planar fabric," Celestia explained. "Why, I could count on all four of my hooves how many times I’ve seen or heard of such a thing happening and I have but one time witnessed it myself before your daughter."

Rather than be defeated, the mare pushed on, getting out of bed and standing on quaking limbs.

“Then you admit it’s happened before,” she exclaimed through clenched teeth, willing away the weakness that plagued her body. “What happened to the others? Did you leave them to rot as well?”

“Honey, please calm down, she is doing everything-” Night Light tried to intervene.

“Tell me, Celestia!” The mare stomped her hoof, partly in anger, partly to try and dismiss the pins and needles that began to haunt her limbs. “Tell me my baby is possibly dead, stars only know where.”

Celestia sighed deeply and ran a hoof down her face.

“Travelling the planes is difficult, yes, but I have been able to retrieve one such unicorn in the past," Celestia began. "But that was an exceedingly rare case amid an already extremely rare set of circumstances.”

Velvet stomped forward, forcing her shaking body to move.

“Where did she go? How did you track her?” Velvet demanded.

“I'm afraid that's classified, if knowledge of how to traverse the planes or what lies beyond the veil ever got out, it would be a disaster. Ninety-five percent of known planes are either overtly or covertly hostile to ponies. Most prove fatal to the traveler within seconds of reaching their destination," Celestia replied.

Celestia gritted her teeth, though it was necessary to be a little harsh, she feared she may laid it on too thick.

Velvet’s quaking hooves stumbled and she fell to the ground, her teeth grinding, but unable to find an outlet for her grief-fueled anger.

“What should we do, Princess?” Night Light asked.

“Hope," Celestia replied simply. "I know it sounds cliched, but it’s far from over and I would urge you to continue living your lives and holding on. When we find her, everything can go back to normal, but only if she still has a home and a loving family waiting for her.”

Celestia smiled weakly. “Other than that, put a little faith in our best mages, I have personally tutored several of them and they will work tirelessly to bring Twilight home safe and sound.”

Night Light’s features softened and he let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. The thought of so many talented ponies and the princess herself all looking was a pleasant one. Despite the context of it all.

Velvet spoke, her gaze not lifting from the ground, her body still trembling with a mixture of many warring emotions, “I have one last question.”

“Yes, Mrs. Sparkle?” Celestia answered, raising an eyebrow at the mare.

“Why were the walls on fire when I came to?”

Celestia’s hoof twitched and she pushed it hard against the ground, hoping no one would notice.

“Magical fire can burn almost anything in existence, it must have been summoned by accident during Twilight’s flare," Celestia answered, the alicorn mixing truth with a small white lie.

The mare snorted and lifted her gaze, meeting Celestia’s eyes and forcing the alicorn to reconsider her less-than-straightforward approach.

“I have seen magical fire and it was nothing like what happened back there!” Velvet retorted.

“Dear, please-” The angry mare spun and glared at the stallion, forcing him to gulp and sit back down.

“Flaring unicorns are sometimes able to construct and cast wholly new spells on the fly, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case," Celestia continued. "We have no idea how or why this happens.”

“What were those strange bodies then?” Velvet demanded, stomping closer to the alicorn. Her weakness rendering the angry stomps to little more than a regular walk. “What manner of creature were they?”

Celestia’s hoof twitched in her golden shoe, but she did not falter. Within her mind, she made a note to the dispel unit about the importance of taking individuals from classified areas before removing the spells cast upon them and allowing them to come to before administering sedative.

“They were imps," Celestia answered.

Velvet’s angry stomping stopped and she glanced at her husband, who merely shrugged.

“Imps?” Velvet asked.

“Yes, minor demons that are called forth by an immense expenditure of mana,” Celestia remarked nonchalantly.

The mortal mare scoffed.

“You expect us to believe there were demons in that room? They are just an old mare’s tale!” Velvet proclaimed.

“They are frighteningly real, though exceedingly rare and nearly impossible to summon to Equestria for reasons I cant get into," Celestia continued.

“Yet they were here, how?” Velvet asked the anger slowly returning to her.

“Like I said, Mrs Sparkle, they were summoned by the mana burst put off by your daughter. Or perhaps even spawned by Twilight herself through a random spell,” Celestia stated. “We cannot know for sure.”

“So you are saying there's a chance that demons took her?”

This time Celestia did roll her eyes.

“I am not saying that, you are," Celestia pointed out.

The alicorn rose to her full height and stared down at the smaller mare, who didn't flinch under the monarch’s intense gaze.

“Did you trade her over to a demon?” Velvet demanded.

Celestia’s serene smile and kind countenance cracked and she gritted her teeth.

“Mrs. Sparkle, I have entertained your paranoia out of respect for what has happened, but you are trying my patience with this line of inquiry. If you would like, you may speak to my top mages, but I’m afraid I have better things to do than sit here and listen to your wild accusations," Celestia stated, the alicorn glaring at each of them in turn. “Now if that’s everything?”

Even Twilight Velvet wilted under the sun’s intense gaze, a slight sweat breaking out along her spine. Before she could regain her composure, Celestia turned to leave without another word but stopped at the door and reconsidered.

“I will send your son in on my way out," Celestia stated. "Last I saw, he had finally been coaxed into eating something in the cafeteria.”

The alicorn took a step but hesitated. I’m sorry. Just say it, damn it, Celestia, say the words. Her lips refused and with regret she walked out the room, leaving one parent confused and the other irate.

The pair sat in silence for nearly a minute, unsure of what to do or what to say.

“I can't believe you would say such a thing! To the princess no less. What were you thinking?” Night Light accused.

The mare wilted and made her way back to the bed.

“I... I… wasn't. I just thought she could be startled into giving us more information,” Velvet gulped and slipped back into bed, unable to face her husband. “She is hiding something.”

“What would she stand to gain from not telling us everything?” Night Light pressed.

“I don't know,” Velvet muttered.

She sunk into her bed and turned towards the wall.

Night Light sighed and tugged her chin with his magic.

“Look at me, dear," he urged.

Reluctantly, she turned to him.

“Even if she might be hiding something, what would it matter? We can't traverse the planes and fight demons and monsters from other worlds," Night Light exclaimed.

“I can't believe you would even say such a thing!” Velvet shouted, the mare yanked her chin from his magic and fixed him with a stern gaze. “It does matter! Even if I can't leave this plane to go look for her, it would still be withholding information from the two ponies, who need to know the most!”

“That's not what I meant. I am just trying to put things into perspective,” he pleaded.

A sudden knock broke them from their argument, making Velvet growl.

“We will talk about this later," Velvet muttered.

Night Light sighed. “Yes, dear.”

After an intense glare, Velvet turned to the door and regained her composure.

“Come in," she offered, her voice returning to normal.

The door creaked open to reveal a rather awkward-looking nurse.

“Is it alright for Shining to come in? I heard yelling," asked the slightly confused new arrival.

Night Light smiled calmly. “Yes, it's fine, just a minor disagreement.”

The nurse smiled and pushed the door open the rest of the way to reveal a pensive Shining Armor. The second he saw his quite alive parents, he gasped and ran to his father’s bed.

“Dad! Mom! You are okay!” He excitedly proclaimed.

He squeezed his father tightly, startling the old stallion with his surprisingly strong grip.

“Oof, careful son, your mother and I are still recovering from being turned into plants," Night Light remarked.

Shining Armor hugged his mother with slightly less enthusiasm, making sure not to hurt her.

“Where's Twily?” He asked, his tone quiet and soft, as if he expected the worst already.

His father winced, while his mother grit her teeth.

“She was taken," Velvet murmured.

“Your sister had an… episode and was foalnapped by a creature from another plane,” Velvet explained.

Night Light shot his wife a dirty, accusatory look, which she merely ignored.

Shining Armor gasped, tears quickly coming to his eyes. He tried mightily to subdue his sadness and choked down his sobs, turning away from his parents. A royal guard wouldn't cry, he thought to himself. He wiped his hoof across his face and sniffed hard.

“It’s going to be okay, the princess will find her and bring her home before you know it,” Night Light proclaimed.

The stallion patted the bed and scootched over.

“Come here, little Armor," he offered.

The teen sniffed and shuffled over to the bed.

“I’m not little,” he said with all the indignation he could muster.

“You are right, you are a big, tough royal guard, who doesn't let anything get him down," Night Light exclaimed.

The colt jumped up and sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at his dangling hooves. Night Light looked over at his wife pleadingly, indicating their son with a tilt of his head.

“Why don't we go out for supper? Are you hungry, Shining?” Velvet asked.

“Sorta. They had some waffles in the cafeteria, but they made me think of Twily,” the colt muttered, pausing to snif miserably.

“Let's get out of this stuffy hospital and go to that place on third with that weird name that you liked," Night Light offered.

The stallion then hopped off the bed, stumbling for only a few seconds before regaining his bearings.

“You mean Chateau Blue? I thought you said that was too expensive,” Shining offered, hopping down as well.

Velvet followed suit.

“Well, Celestia did say we had access to the treasury…” Velvet remarked.

Shining Armor stopped abruptly and with a guilty whisper asked, “Are you sure the princess would be okay with spending all her bits on pizza?”

Velvet blew a raspberry and shrugged.

“Who cares," she mocked.

Shining Armor and Night Light shared a pensive look before quickly trotting to catch up with Velvet’s quick pace.

Night Light sighed wearily and stepped through the entryway to his house, over the small mountain of letters that lay undisturbed for several days. His gaze lingered on the many tiny slips of paper and, though a part of him was tempted to look, the rest of him didn't want to be reminded again and so he passed them by without another thought.

He turned and made sure to firmly close the door before activating the deadbolt and dropping the freshly installed bar over the door. He wasn't sure why he even bothered with the deadbolt when Velvet had insisted on installing an enormous bar across the inside of the door. Sure, he had talked her down from the nearly foot-wide oak bar she had chosen, electing for a slicker-looking dark wood that at least didn't clash with the door, but it still was quite off-putting, to say the least.

He hardly even noticed the hum as the protective wards Velvet had placed upon the entrance activated. He slowly lumbered into the large room that housed the living and dining room and noticed that his son sat at the dinner table, reading an enormous tome of a book that was easily larger than anything else the colt had tried to read.

He raised an eyebrow at that and trotted up to the colt.

“What are you reading?” Night Light inquired.

“One of Twily’s advanced magic books. Celestia let me keep all of her textbooks at home,” he replied, without looking up.

“Why did you ask that, wouldn't they be safer with the princess?” Night Light asked.

“Twilight is going to need someone to tutor her on her lessons if she is going to keep up,” Shining Armor stated.

The colt tilted the book up, blocking his view from his father and signaling the end of the conversation.

Night Light frowned and made his way to the kitchen. Shining Armor had grown headstrong over the last few weeks and though he had taken to his father’s advice of hope, he had done so with such a naive intensity that Night Light couldn't help but think it might be unhealthy. The colt had abandoned most of his friends in an attempt to learn as much as he could about becoming a royal guard while also trying to learn Twilight’s admittedly vastly more advanced magical textbooks.

Night Light shook it off and poured himself a cup of orange juice and after a quick glance around the corner to where Shining still sat, he swiftly pulled out one of his secret flasks and added a dollop to his juice, then shrugged and added a second.

Today had been particularly difficult, with the kind words and offers of assistance having slowly disappeared, replaced by a strange self-serving interest that disgusted the stallion. The ponies that spoke to him of condolences had already given up hope on Twilight, he could hear it in their voices. They weren't there to truly offer condolences or sincere offerings of help, but were more like crime scene vultures, the disturbed and the strange, hoping for a glimpse of carnage or the haunted expression of a broken pony.

They disgusted the stallion to no end, with their callousness, their perversity, and worst of all, the bizarre satisfaction they took from the interaction. He dropped his cup into a steadily growing pile of dirty dishes, shrugging at the slowly growing mountain of ceramics. The maid Celestia sent over every Wednesday would complain, but he couldn't muster the effort to make her job any easier.

He could feel the soft burn of the alcohol in his throat, soothing his aches and pains as it slipped into his belly. The booze was nice and certainly took the edge off, but if he truly wanted to relax, he had but one last thing to do. He glanced up at the stairs and sighed deeply, he would have to go talk to his wife, something that had grown more difficult as time passed and her obsession grew.

He reached out and grabbed the letter he had set aside yesterday when he hadn't had the nerve. Now, he had to do something, Celestia’s emissary had grown impatient and had even threatened to cut assistance. He knew it was a bluff, one that Celestia herself would never follow through with, but it had been enough to jar the stallion out of his growing numbness and give him the courage to climb those dreaded steps.

One hoof followed the other and soon enough he found himself at the second story, home to his office, and his children... err, child’s room. He turned at the landing, noting the steep stairs that went up to the now frequently used third floor that had become his wife’s study. No, ‘study’ wasn't the right word, ‘laboratory’ was much more fitting.

The wood creaked beneath his hooves and he winced, not sure if his hoof was about to fall through or not. Hastily climbing the rest of the stairs, he made sure to duck his head when he reached the top. The third story had been intended as a child’s room, but the original owners had run out of money and the Sparkle family had not had the bits necessary to make it anything less than an infrequently used attic with exposed studs and a single grimy window overlooking the street in front of their house.

All around him was the clutter from Velvet’s many experiments and study materials. The original junk that had cluttered the attic had been moved out only a week ago, stuffed into Twilight’s now slowly filling room. Gone were the Hearth’s Warming decorations packed to the rafters, gone too were the baby pictures and mementos, all put into old cases of various sizes.

In their place were various piles of alchemical ingredients, spell components, and books. Oh, so many books the likes of which Night Light had never even heard of before. Titles both mundane and bizarre jumped out at him, within one pile were several books on the history of famous magical mirrors and ones with great long titles that Night Light presumed were from some sort of medical journal or a transcribed scroll of ancient origin.

Amidst the chaos sat the mare herself, her back facing the stallion, intently staring at something in her hooves that he could just barely see. Mad scrawlings and notes littered the floor around her and she clutched a strange red letter in her hooves, an odd even deeper red seal with a black hammer on it.

“Hey, honey," Night Light greeted.

The words felt forced and sounded worse. It wasn't that he didn't love her, but she had rapidly changed since Twilight’s disappearance, her obsession consuming more and more of the mare he had fallen in love with.

Her eyes went wide and she tucked the red letter into a stack of papers, causing the entire precarious tower to topple into a heap. She didn't seem to notice or care and turned to her husband, smiling widely at him.

“Hey, handsome. Do you need something?” She offered.

No ‘how was your day?’, no ‘how is Shining doing?’, no inevitable request for him to make supper once again. Night Light pushed the accusatory thought from his mind, his wife had changed, but he would always stand by her, in sickness or in health.

“Yeah, I was hoping you would know why the crown was billed for over four thousand bits for uh…” He began, pausing to peer down at the open letter in his hoof. “Services Rendered, to be paid to a one Maul and co.”

Velvet gulped and pushed a small pile of notes and news snippets off to the side.

"That was for a rare book I had been looking for. Mister Maul is facilitating its delivery," Velvet answered.

The stallion raised an eyebrow.

“And that cost four thousand four hundred bits?” He pressed.

“It is a very rare book," Velvet stressed.

Night Light sighed.

“You can't keep charging everything to the princess. She is going to look into your spending soon enough. You also got another letter from the editor, he said you still have not sent back the second draft of some Daring book?” Night Light inquired.

Velvet snorted quite unladylike.

"That book was trash, so I put it where it belongs and Celestia owes us.” Velvet proclaimed with a sneer. “Or did you forget what she took from us?”

Night Light should be hurt, shocked, and annoyed, but he didn't have the patience for such taxing emotions.

“I know as well as you do what happened to Twilight. Besides, Quick Quill threatened to pull any assistance if there were any more…. anomalies billed to the crown," Night Light answered.

The mare settled back slightly, some of the anger blowing out of her.

“It won't happen again." Velvet replied.

Night Light blinked, that had been surprisingly easy, he thought to himself.

"Thanks, say, what book did you order-” Night Light began, only to be cut off.

“Hey, I’m getting pretty hungry. Did you want to order in again?” Velvet asked.

“Uh, sure. I’ll call it in, the usual for you?” Night Light replied.

She nodded and he made his way back towards the stairs.

“Okay, but this isn't over. Tonight we are going to talk about this book, okay?” Night Light stressed.

She smiled fakely.

“Of course, honey," she answered.

That night Twilight Velvet did not return to bed.

Author's Note

Edited by the Everwonderful, EverFreePony!

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Trial One: Growth (R)

Tirek sighed and pinched his brow with two large fingers. He had made Twilight refer to herself as Dog in the third person, but he had quickly grown tired of it. It had been intended to break her down further and remind her of her place, but the foal was so… blank that she had no concept for anything other than being Tirek’s daughter/slave. Something that was so unshakable and so ingrained that any further attempt at reminding her of this fact was a waste of time.

Now after several months of her constantly saying it, the word ‘Dog’ had grown strange, meaningless, and annoying in the extreme. He had of course put a stop to it several weeks ago, but the thought still annoyed him to this day, and, looking back, Tirek couldn't help but wonder what the hell he had been thinking.

Regardless, he had bigger things to worry about, namely the irritatingly late pride demon that had claimed he would show up an hour ago. Of course, the demon was not so foolish as to actually walk into Tirek’s tower. Still, he had allowed the centaur to construct an aspect of him, allowing Tirek to summon an avatar of the pride demon. This gave them the chance to converse as if they were in the same room without the awkwardness of looking down on the demon from the crystal ball.

Not that Tirek didn't look down on the pride demon.

The centaur paced the darkly lit, drab stone room in a slow, meandering pace. The walls were covered in thick black curtains, which easily hid the exit and made any attempts to see out of the room through magic or traditional means impossible. Plus they really tied the room together with the obsidian walls, roof, and floor, but that was only an unintended bonus.

Resting on the ground across from Tirek was a small statue of the pride demon, standing only a few inches tall and smirking up at the demonic centaur. They had agreed to meet to discuss the transfer of the mystery Equestrian to Tirek’s possession, but still, the demon did not show and with each tick of the clock, Tirek’s patience slipped away. Worse yet, the deal had become muddied since their first interaction and Tirek could tell the pride demon was stalling, trying to weasel as much as he could out of the centaur without agreeing to anything.

Usually, this back-and-forth with a fellow demon was an interesting game of chess that he looked forward to. The offers and counter offers as both parties tried to get into each other’s head, using all manner of tricks and underhanded tactics. This particular demon did not play chess so much as he forced his opponents to play fifty-two pick up.

Not like this would bother Tirek, after all, he took immense joy in beating lesser-minded beings and enjoyed it when they tried to change the game on him, but this was different. When this demon played his games, he played them like an impudent child would. Constantly demanding they restart right when Tirek thought he had him beat. Simply declaring that negotiation had to begin again when he realized that he had given up more than he wanted. Worse yet, he would suddenly put pieces back on the board and vehemently deny they made any such arrangement to the contrary.

Still, this would not usually be enough to get under Tirek’s skin. Playing the fool was an annoying tactic, yes, but it was only ever a matter of time before the other player stopped playing the fool and became the fool. This time Tirek sensed there was more happening under the surface of this foolish demon’s simple game and, not knowing what that was, irked the centaur immensely.

He was wasting time, bidding until something would happen, but what? And more importantly, why?

Tirek grumbled, continuing to pace back and forth while his well-oiled mind turned, trying to figure out what the pride demon was trying to get at. His train of thought was derailed when smoke began to billow from the small statue and its eyes began to glow.

Instantly the centaur shifted into a proper posture, one that showed his dominance, and his annoyance while standing tall and collected.

The grey smoke built until it was as tall as the pride demon was, and then it began to fill out, gaining definition. Distinct shapes began to form in the smoke and Tirek could feel the demon peering from within his smokey avatar. He had not gained much definition to his face, yet Tirek knew the smug demon was smirking, a laugh barely contained within his grinning face.

Despite his instincts yelling at him to not display any emotion, he couldn't help but feel his lips crinkle into a look of disgust, which only made the demon’s grin widen, gaining enough definition for the rest of his features to be visible as well.

“Well well, so nice of you to join me, old friend,” the demon remarked, bending down into a wide, overdramatic bow that sent his garish outfit fluttering.

“Why do you feel the need to waste my time?” Tirek replied tersely.

The other demon chuckled.

“I assure you it was not my intent, please accept my humblest apologies, I had merely found myself caught up with a more pressing matter," the pride demon remarked idly.

The obvious barb was not lost on the centaur and his jaw clenched tight as he tried to not show any more signs of his anger.

“What, pray tell, was that?” Tirek pressed.

“Just playing with a new toy, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about,” the demon replied flippantly.

“No, I do not. Now, are we going to get down to business or are you going to waste even more of my time with your incessant dithering?” Tirek demanded.

The smokey demon grabbed the spot where its heart would be and took a dramatic step back.

“Me, waste your time? Surely you have me confused with someone else, my dear friend! I was merely curious as to what your plans were," the pride demon exclaimed.

“And what did you find out?” Tirek snarled.

The smokey demon chuckled and threw up his hands.

"Very little, you are much better at the game than I. There was one, teensy thing I did find out, though," the pride demon teased.

Tirek gritted his teeth, barely holding back his rage.

“Dog," he spat.

“Precisely. Your little pet Equestrian is the talk of Tartarus, but I can't figure out why you need another one. The suffering of an Equestrian is unlike anything imaginable but you don't seem the type to…” the demon ran a thin, serpentine tongue across his dagger-like teeth. "Indulge.”

The centaur’s grip lessened and despite the anger still thundering through his veins, he managed to relax slightly, knowledge of Dog would do little to help his demonic enemies for they were not her target.

“Does it matter why? All you need to know is how much I’m willing to pay," Tirek replied.

“Normally yes, but you intrigued me, Tirek, and I find myself asking questions like; is the centaur just into that type of thing? Or perhaps he's trying to start his own herd over there. So many questions that I do not know the answer to," the pride demon mused aloud.

Tirek rolled his eyes.

“Again, does it matter?” Tirek pressed.

The demon of pride shrugged nonchalantly.

“Good, now about payment-” Tirek began.

The demon’s smug expression fell away.

“No, I don't think our little agreement will work, I want more," the pride demon declared.

“More?” Tirek asked incrediously.

“Yes, more," the pride demon retorted. "The Equestrian’s suffering is potent and I couldn't help but have a taste and I admit, I don't think I can go back.”

The demon smirked and took a step towards the centaur.

“I could be persuaded though…”

Tirek’s eyes narrowed.

“What would it take?” Tirek demanded.

“Oh, not much, you see I’ve realized that I haven’t broadened my tastes in a while and-” the pride demon began.

“Get to the point,” Tirek snapped.

“Fine," the pride demon muttered. "I want to taste the suffering of your pet Equestrian, introduce a little variance into my diet. I heard yours is innocent and mine is tainted by evil and grows more foul by the day.”

Tirek paused, confused by the oddly benign request. He entertained the idea for only a moment before his mind caught up with him and outright refused such a demand. He was not in the habit of showing such weakness to a fellow demon. In addition, the mere thought of harming Dog made a spike of anger rise within him for some reason.

“No, I don't think I’ll do that," Tirek retorted. "Her compliance is necessary for my plan and I will not put that in danger just because you have grown fat.”

The demon gasped and looked down at its midsection.

“Now that's just mean. But seriously, how about this,” the pride demon began again, his hands clasping together. “Instead of giving her to me, why don't you extract her suffering, bottle it, and then send it over?”

Now that was an offer worth considering, but again as soon as he imagined hurting Dog, he felt a spike of shame ram into his brain.

“No, I don't think I will," Tirek stated. "Memory magic isn't perfect and any disruption in loyalty will be potentially disastrous to my plans.”

The other demon laughed once more, doubling over and slapping his knee. After a few seconds, he slowly got back up, only to catch a glimpse of the rage in Tirek’s eyes.

“You are serious, aren't you? The old Tirek wouldn't have hesitated to jump on that bargain, I didn't even ask for anything else," the pride demon exclaimed.

“The old Tirek got locked in Tartarus for his arrogant assumptions, I will not allow such a thing to happen again," Tirek stated firmly.

With a wave of his hand, the smokey demon began to dissipate, with his irritating smirk being the last thing to go.

The centaur stomped hard enough to send a tremor through through the room and he desperately felt the urge to throw something breakable against something that wasn't. With nothing other than the statue in the room with him, he simply stomped out the door. After ducking under the curtain and through the hidden door, he stepped into the brightly lit hallway, one hand leaning against the wall.

The cold stone seemed to add some sort of reassurance to the angry centaur and he felt his rage slowly begin to cool. He would have to think of some other way to get his prize, though, after all this, he was hesitant to even bother. Backing down now would be another sign of weakness and Tirek refused to allow such a slight to go unanswered.

Besides, maybe forcing Dog to kill a fellow pony would finally break her of her foolish naivete and end her insufferable optimism.

He shook his head, that irritating demon had annoyed him more than he cared to admit and it was coloring his perception. Tirek waved off the golem standing nearby with a serving tray stacked with the food he had wanted. He didn't feel hungry anymore, there were too many thoughts circling in his head and he needed time to sort them out before he could enjoy a nice meal. More than that, he also needed to reassess Dog’s progress, if his enemies knew of her existence, one may try something and he had to know if she was ready for that eventuality.

In the past few months, she had read through numerous other texts, passed all her tests, and had even begun to show progress in her physical development. It wasn't much yet, but the rate of her advancement intrigued the centaur and if what his seer had said was correct, she may very well become as physically strong as him.

The thought left the demon feeling oddly emasculated, but he brushed that thought aside, fear demons did not need to be strong, but then again, neither did a keeper, and yet here they were. The ensuing stomping Tirek did was childish, petty, and utterly enjoyable to the still-annoyed centaur.

In the library, Dog sat at her usual table, a small mountain of books spread out before her. She didn't really feel like reading though, as she had spent most of the day studying and had started to grow antsy. She didn't know why, but this hunger felt different than the other times, even after taking her medicine she still felt restless and achy, her body needing something, but she wasn't sure what that was.

She knew her father would be by soon and she knew that he would know what was wrong with her, so in the meantime, she had allowed herself to be distracted by her cleaver.

“Come on, kiddo, think about it! You could become the super strong demon your old man wants you to be," it mocked.

Dog frowned, looking down at the seething, green-tinted cleaver that rested on the table before her.

“I don't know, daddy always says never to agree to something that isn't on paper," Dog remarked.

“I don't have any hands, kid!" The demon blade retorted. "Besides, just imagine how proud he'd be to see you become a full-fledged demon instead of the worthless imp you are now.”

“Father says I’m the strongest kind of demon around! Don't be a meanie head or I’m going to put you back in the box when we go back to my room," Dog warned.

“Chill out, kiddo. Just remember, the offer is always open,” the blade offered once more.

Dog snorted as the cleaver dulled, its voice growing distant.

“What offer?” Asked the deep baritone voice of her father.

“Bwah!” Dog shouted, jerking and nearly falling from her chair.

“You weren't in your chambers,” he remarked.

Dog quickly righted herself and smiled up at her father.

“Master! I was just doing some studying," Dog hastily exclaimed.

Tirek glanced at the small mountain of books and raised an eyebrow.

“So it seems, something tells me you got distracted again," Tirek pointed out.

Dog blushed and scratched the bandages over the back of her neck.

“Uh, maybe a little? I studied all morning, honest!” Dog proclaimed.

The centaur chuckled.

“I believe you,” he replied.

The fear demon sunk into the seat across from her and placed a vial of medicine before her.

“What did he promise you this time?” Tirek asked.

“To make me into a real demon," the filly answered, pouting all the while.

Tirek’s eyebrow slowly raised.

“And you said?” Tirek prompted.

“I told him he was stupid,” Dog spat, crossing her forehooves over her chest. “I’m going to be a real demon just like you someday without his stupid help.”

“Good dog," Tirek beamed. "Now take your medicine, I have some tests I want to run before you can get back to your studies.”

He pushed the vial a little closer to the filly, motioning for her to take it.

She grabbed the bottle in both hooves, popped open the stopper, and downed it in one gulp, careful to not let the vile liquid touch her tongue. She had grown rather good at the act of gulping down the foul medicine after tasting it a few times. Even her hooves had become more dexterous over time and she no longer looked like she had never used them for anything other than walking.

The filly shivered briefly and shook her head, a drop or two having touched her tongue, leaving the foul taste in her mouth. Tirek waited for a few seconds to pass before reaching down and gripping the filly’s muzzle in his fingers. Dog was confused but unafraid, allowing the centaur to open her mouth wide and to pull aside her lips so he could gaze within.

Just like he had hoped, her old flat teeth had been replaced by a row of razor-sharp ones that could tear the flesh from the most hearty of beast without breaking a sweat. Her tongue had also narrowed slightly, becoming thinner, losing the thick powerful look characterized by a creature who consumes a great amount of plant matter. Her gums hadn't adapted nearly as quickly though and there were small cuts all over where her teeth didn't quite rest properly. Tirek frowned but dismissed his worry, it wouldn't be long for the rest of her body to adapt.

Smiling to himself, he pulled his hand from Dog’s mouth and gave her a small nod, which made her smile wide, displaying her sharp teeth for all to see, which Tirek knew was also a good sign. If she had more memories of her past life she might find her new teeth to be unsightly or frightening, but she relished the changes, knowing that with each modification she was becoming closer to the demon her father intended for her to become.

“How does it feel, Dog?” Tirek asked.

The filly squirmed a little, finding trouble putting her thoughts into words.

“It's strange, master, my insides get all squirmy sometimes and my mouth hurts a lot," Dog answered.

“Hmm…” Tirek muttered, leaning closer.

He waved a glowing hand across Twilight’s muzzle.

“Better?” Tirek asked.

The filly opened and closed her mouth a few times, looking up at him with increasing wonder.

“Yes! Thank you, daddy!” Dog happily proclaimed.

He quickly put up a hand to stop the inevitable.

“No hugs, please," Tirek intercepted.

Dog wilted a little and nodded, sending a small stab of guilt into the centaur’s heart. Those adorable eyes were really starting to get to him no matter how much he tried to ignore them. He shook off the effect of her cuteness, only to notice something odd and he leaned in close once more, peering intently at the filly’s eyes.

Her eyes had remained unchanged by the potent mutagen she had been consuming, or at least he had thought so. The sclera had darkened slightly, the iris had also grown darker and… stranger. Tirek couldn't help but feel drawn into their depths and there was a certain regularity to them that demanded contemplation. Her pupil had grown thin, elongating while also becoming less defined like it was ink mixing with the surrounding area.

The true meaning of the change was lost on Tirek, but he knew it had to be significant as the eye truly was the window to the soul and changes therein could help identify the nature of her alterations.

“Master?” Dog asked cautiously, her eyes beginning to water, the filly unwilling to close her eyes while her father was still peering intently at them.

“Ahh, nothing, Dog. You can blink now,” Tirek muttered somewhat guiltily.

Dog sighed and did just that, wiping the small tears that had budded in the corners of her eyes.

With that strangeness out of the way, he beckoned a hand towards the door and the patient attendant who stood there. Dog smiled as the being approached.

“Hiya Pythias!” The filly exclaimed, waving her bandaged hoof towards the creature that approached them.

Pythias smiled back, though her stitched lips made any other communication difficult. She reached down, her purple and gold robes flowing over her painfully thin form. Though it would seem difficult for her to do with a black band of cloth tied over her eyes, the seer expertly deposited a large covered tray on the table, her thin, bony fingers having struggled with the load. When it was finally deposited she rose back up to her full height which was just barely taller than Tirek and bowed low to the centaur.

“I have one last thing for you to do before you return to your duties,” Tirek remarked, gesturing towards Dog. “I need you to check over Dog and tell me if she is ready for the next step.”

The seer nodded and turned towards the filly, extending her long bony fingers.

Dog grinned from ear to ear, sitting straight in her chair while just barely holding back the excitement that came with her father’s question. The next step, the next test, the newest lesson, they were all her favorite words, as it meant a new challenge, and another chance to prove herself even if one of those words was still a source of anxiety. For now, she simply remained stock still while the seer reached down towards the filly, her palms glowing a soft gold.

Her hands hovered all across the filly’s form, brushing across the filly’s fur only once. From rear to head, the seer scanned until finally she was done and the light from her palms went out. She looked up to her master and merely nodded once.

“Excellent," Tirek proclaimed. "Write up a full report of what you found and leave it on my desk.”

As the seer turned to leave, Tirek snatched the short chain hanging from the seer’s thick iron collar and pulled it hard.

“And next time you will not touch her, understood?” Tirek demanded.

The seer nodded eagerly, her hands raised in supplication.

Tirek held her there for a moment longer, staring angrily into the space where her eyes should be. Finally, he released her and pushed her towards the door.

“What was she scanning for, master?” Dog asked eagerly.

“I needed to find out if you were ready for real food and the next phase of your training," Tirek answered. "You have gotten stronger, smarter, faster, and more adept with a blade, but there are other things you must learn and parts of you that must change.”

Dog cocked her head slightly.

“You mean like my teeth, right?” Dog asked.

“Kind of, there are many more physical changes, but not every change is going to be skin deep,” Tirek replied, the centaur chuckling at the joke that was utterly lost on the filly. “Regardless, you need to eat something solid in order to build up your strength for what comes next.”

He pushed the tray a little closer, moving aside the books before pulling the top from the tray and letting the curious filly see what lay beneath. Dog gasped and recoiled slightly, shocked by the pile of meat that had been revealed. She couldn't tell what animal the meat was from, but there were clearly several different kinds, most had large and obvious bones but others did not, she made a note to eat slowly just in case.

“Go on, eat up. You will need it,” Tirek commanded.

Dog gulped and picked up a large slab of meat with her bandaged hooves, slowly inching the meat closer to her lips. She hesitated, looking up at her father for guidance, only to receive a glare in return, causing her to gulp and sink her sharp teeth into the meat.

For a few seconds nothing happened, and Tirek was tempted to reach out and poke the filly, a little concerned by the blank expression on her face. Then all of a sudden she lurched forward and took a huge bite from the cooked flesh, sinking her teeth deep into the meat and causing a small spurt of juice to shoot from it.

Some primal part of the filly burst forth and she quickly devoured the first chunk with all the gusto of a starving animal. Tirek stifled a laugh at the filly’s enthusiasm, clearly a liquid diet had left her wanting more and she was making up for the lost time. It wouldn't be long before she picked clean the second piece and moved on to the third, her pace finally slowing enough for her brain to catch up with her.

“Ack!” Cried the young demon.

The filly pulled the meat away from her face, just now realizing that in her mad consumption, she had stained some of her books with meat juice.

Tirek pulled the books away, wiping away any liquid with a hand and gesturing the filly towards her food once more. Dog reluctantly continued her feast at a much more sedate pace, her mournful gaze lingering over the books she had besmirched. In truth the books were more or less worthless, Tirek had been careful to use only duplicates after he found the filly face down in her textbook, a large drool stain forming around her face.

“Do you remember why you should never accept a deal from a demon?” Tirek asked.

The filly swallowed her food a little too quickly, nearly choking on the chunk of meat that was briefly lodged in her throat.

“I didn't agree, honest!” She protested.

Tirek chuckled and shook his head.

“And I do believe you. This is just a good time for another lesson," Tirek explained.

Dog’s shoulders slumped and she tapped her bloody chin.

“Hmm. Is it because we always lie about what the deal entails?” Dog asked back.

The centaur frowned.

“That is not always the case, sometimes you could understand fully what the deal entails and still get the short end of the stick," Tirek explained. "A smart demon hides the things they don't want you to find in plain sight. That's a little off topic though. The right answer to my question is that a demon always gets more than they give. If a demon ever offers you something, you know he is getting more out of the deal than you are.”

Dog’s eyes seemed to light up.

“I think I get it. But what if he offered you like whole lot of stuff and he only wanted a little thing?” Dog replied.

“Then you can bet your hooves that one little thing is actually worth more than everything else,” Tirek answered, gesturing back towards the last of the meat pile. “Finish quickly and think about what I have said. Also, remember. Smart demons make offers, dumb demons accept them.”

The elder demon tapped his nose twice.

The filly nodded and eagerly dove into the last piece of meat, hardly caring that this one was far less cooked than the rest. Her sharp teeth tore through the tender flesh with brutal efficiency and slurped down the blood without a care in the world. All the while she made happy little noises, squealing with delight as she felt her belly fill with succulent meat, the empty hole in her stomach gradually being filled with flesh.

When every last scrap was consumed the filly belched loudly, blushing at her rude display of poor manners.

“Excuse me,” she whispered.

Far from offended, the old centaur just chuckled.

“Looks like someone was hungry. I’ll have to leave the bones here so you have something to chew on while you study. I find it helps with concentration," Tirek remarked.

“Thank you," Dog replied, blushing hard all the while.

The centaur shook his head and stood up.

“Now that is done, let us go take the next step in your ascension," Tirek proclaimed.

Tirek walked towards the door, noting the tiny pitter-patter of hooves close behind him.

The seer stood just outside, waiting for them, her head bent in supplication with a note held aloft in her upturned hands.

“Why did you bring me this? I told you to leave it on my desk," Tirek demanded.

The seer shivered in fear and raised the parchment higher. The centaur sighed and reached for the paper, leaving the filly to look up at the pair curiously. When neither adult would look her in the eye or fill her in as to what her father was reading, she grew bored and slipped in close to the seer, grinning up at the scarred creature.

Smiling was a painful experience for Pythias, but she couldn't resist doing just that, the adorable smile of the filly was too much, even with her sharp teeth visible beneath her smile. The seer reached down subtly, noting the centaur’s attention was completely devoted to the scroll he was reading. Her long slender fingers slipped lower until they caressed Dog’s bandaged ears, gently petting the filly.

Dog let out a small sigh of relief, enjoying the feeling of the seer’s delicate fingers so much she felt her back left leg begin to twitch. The seer, emboldened by the centaur’s lack of attention, continued to pet the demonic filly, reaching down a little further and scratching that one spot under her chin that Dog liked so much.

A deep chuckle broke the moment they shared and the seer quickly pulled her hand up, trying to ignore Dog’s adorable, pouting face.

“This is better than I could have hoped. Again you have bested my expectations, Dog,” Tirek announced.

Dog spun around and beamed up at her father, her wide smile faltering after a few seconds.

“Wait, what did I do this time?” She asked.

Tirek chuckled and dismissed the seer with a wave of his hand.

“You, my pet, have taken quite well to the medicine, so well that it should be only a month before you can be grafted,” He announced.

He tapped his chin, his gaze suddenly becoming distant.

“Although that will change our time table…” He muttered idly.

“Father, what does ‘grafted’ in this context mean?” Dog asked inquisitively.

Tirek suddenly shook his head.

“You will find out soon, for now you have a test to complete," Tirek stated.

The filly shivered unconsciously, though not as bad as she had all those months ago, the word test still making her tense up.

The centaur continued trotting down the hall, followed by his diligent pet who kept a respectful distance from the pleased demon. Together they trotted down the now-familiar set of halls that led towards the gym. In the time since Dog’s introduction to her weapon, she had received several more lessons from the enigmatic creature named Cervantes. His teachings had been much more difficult than Tirek’s but ultimately were just as rewarding.

The creature either could not speak frequently or simply chose not to do so, leaving Dog to merely guess as to what she was being taught. As such there was quite the learning curve that came with figuring out the small non-verbal cues he gave off. Dog was nothing if not a fast learner and after a few weeks, they had come to understand one another to the point that neither had to speak for the filly to fully understand the lesson.

Tirek was baffled by this, Cervantes was not a creature designed with conversation in mind and he had hoped it would force more of the anger and frustration to bubble to the surface of Dog’s mind. Yet the two had come to an understanding, even after Tirek had expressly forbid the monster from even attempting communication with the filly after the first time.

Though the outcome had not been expected, it had been somewhat anticipated. The old centaur had long since given up traditional expectations with the filly. She was smarter than he had thought, faster, more loyal, and generally shattered his expectations and Tirek had grown used to being surprised by her advancement.

Which was why they were here now.

Tirek had raised his expectations considerably and had high hopes this next challenge would be difficult without being impossible. Something the demon was finding increasingly hard to do after Dog effortlessly aced his early tests.

Together the pair had stepped into the gym, Dog took the chance to stretch and yawn while Tirek relayed orders to an awaiting Cervantes. The filly knew what a visit to the gym meant and had begun going through the various stretches and activities that would ensure she was limber and ready for whatever her father had planned.

After she had finished her warm-up routine she looked over to her father who had directed a large obsidian golem carrying an enormous cage beneath a thick black cover. The centaur gestured toward the center of the room and the golem obliged, dropping the iron cage where Tirek had indicated before standing a respectful distance away.

Dog trotted up to her father, smiling up at him.

“What's in the cage, father?” She asked.

Tirek waved Cervantes away before leaning down.

“Don't worry about that right now, Dog, first I have to ask you something," Tirek began.

Dog nodded, plunking her butt down and staring up at her father, waiting for him to speak.

“Do you know why I’m trapped in this tower?” Tirek asked, gesturing around them.

Dog shook her head.

“Long ago I wanted to take the magic of the evil person who ruled my home and after I succeeded, she saw me as a threat," Tirek began.

“She?” Dog asked.

“Celestia,” Tirek hissed, his hands curling into fists. “That fool alicorn thought I would come for her next and rather than discuss the matter, she struck in the dead of night like a coward. Even with the element of surprise on her side, she could not defeat me and was forced to banish me here, hoping I would die of old age.”

Dog blinked, confused.

“But demons can't die of old age," Dog remarked.

Tirek smirked.

“She did not know that, for in her hatred of demons she had inadvertently made knowledge of us scarce.”

Dog growled and stomped her hooves.

“I hate her, if she were here, I would bite her!” Dog proclaimed, gnashing her teeth in emphasis.

The centaur chuckled and patted Dog’s head, not sure if the implied book burning or the slight against himself had more enraged the filly.

“Good girl, but she is strong, and an alicorn is not to be trifled with," Tirek warned. "First you must defeat an enemy more your size and eventually you will become strong enough to exact revenge on our enemies.”

“Just tell me what to do, father! I will kill them all!” Dog declared boldly.

“Today you will face your first real foe and when it lies broken at your hooves, you shall consume his soul and become stronger.” Tirek proclaimed grandly.

Tirek waved his hand toward the obscured cage, prompting Cervantes to toss aside the blanket and reveal what lay beneath.

Dog gasped, startled by the appearance of a strange four-legged imp sitting inside the cage. It wasn't much larger than her but had three long claws at the end of each foot and its deep scarlet skin had a hard, leathery appearance to it. Its eyes were narrow and slitted and its features more wolflike than the average imp. Dog knew this creature was a simple feral imp, a mass of Tartarus energy that had only recently congealed into its own sentience.

It was only semi-intelligent and was barely capable of anything more than mindlessly consuming souls until it would eventually grow powerful enough to evolve into a regular imp. Its only defenses were its leathery skin, its sharp teeth, and clawed feet. Not a problem, Dog thought, reaching for her trusty cleaver.

She blinked and looked to the slot of bandages it usually rested only to realize she had left it back in the library.

“Looking for something?” Tirek asked.

Dog spun around to see her father holding her cleaver, which was angrily trying to get to its owner only for the centaur to completely ignore the annoying cries of the trapped demon along with the magical assaults said trapped demon attempted. The filly smiled and reached her hoof up.

“Thank you, father," she proclaimed.

The centaur pulled the cleaver away at the last second.

“This task would be far too easy if you had help, this test must be completed alone,” Tirek exclaimed.

The filly blanched, glancing over at the pacing imp nervously.

“A-alone? R-r-right," she stuttered. "I can do this.”

“Go on,” Tirek urged.

The centaur gently pushed the filly closer to the cage, gesturing towards the door of the cage.

Cervantes stood silently next to it, one hand around the door to the cage, the other on the sword at his hip. The imp inside the cage stopped its slow pacing and stood ready, its lips curled back and a low, unearthly growl emanating from deep within its throat.

Dog took a deep breath and straightened her spine, her father was watching and she would not slink along the ground like some lowly beast. She would charge in there with all the pride of a conqueror.

Every step closer bled that bravado though and by the time she neared the door, she was seriously considering begging her father for help or to at least push back the test a few days, until she received more training in unarmed combat. He had faith in her though and after one last glance back at her increasingly impatient father, Dog stepped into the cage.

The heavy iron door slammed shut behind her with a resounding clang, leaving her alone with the imp, trapped in a narrow space with little on her side save for her wits.

Dog gulped.

Author's Note

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Trial One: Face Off (R)

The imp was surprisingly cautious, giving the filly a wide berth and nervously glancing up at Cervantes, who still stood nearby. With a wave of his hand, Tirek commanded the greater demon to stand back, bolstering the imp’s resolve and making a cruel grin slip across its features.

Dog tugged nervously at her bandages, her eyes wide as she stared at the increasingly confident creature across from her. The imp could taste her indecision and it lunged at the filly, only to stop and pull back, gauging the reaction of its opponent and the other demons in the room.

Tirek was impassive, seemingly bored with the display, drumming his fingers along his side. Cervantes had not so much as flinched, which was quite the opposite of Dog’s reaction. She jerked back, raising her forehooves and nearly toppling over due to the sudden charge coming to an equally sudden stop.

The imp knew this creature was food, but its primitive consciousness also knew the other demons in the room could easily slay it. Was this a test? Or simply their twisted way of feeding it? Either way, the imp instinctively knew that the soul bound within the flesh of the being before it would more than satiate its hunger and may even allow it to gain the power it needed to grow into a more powerful form of demon.

With its resolve steeled, the imp leaped forward once more, leading with a right leg raised, claws gleaming. Dog reacted the same way she had before, raising up and positioning her forehooves to be brought to bear against her opponent. The imp saw this coming and struck prematurely, its swing not aiming for the base of its opponent's body but rather Dog’s forelegs, testing her speed.

Dog was quick enough to realize her mistake and pushed back and to her right, pulling her left foreleg in close and bringing the other hoof straight forward, pounding the imp in the shoulder. The demon spawn recoiled, surprised by the filly’s strength and swiftness, clearly, this creature was not the easy prey it had thought.

The imp scrambled backward, never losing track of its enemy. When it had neared the edge of the cage, its eyes narrowed and the two opponents slowly began circling one another, both attempting to analyze the other’s weaknesses with varying degrees of success.

Knowing her father was looking on and grading her performance, Dog knew better than to rest on her laurels. She charged forward, a snarl on her lips. The imp was nearly caught unaware by the sudden charge, the filly’s surprising speed leaving confused for a split second. When the filly reared back and launched a right hook, the imp only barely managed to duck out of the way, the swish of wind passing over its head signaling just how close her blow had been.

With her body now exposed, the imp quickly pulled back even more, its back leg brushing the cage as it got just enough room to swipe at the filly’s face. Rather than keeping the same stance, Dog allowed her momentum to carry her to the right, the imp’s claws swinging through now empty air. Holding the motion, the filly turned all the way around and delivered a devastating buck to the imp’s exposed midsection, sending it flying against the bars where it impacted with a heavy thump, slightly rocking the cage.

Not letting her opponent a single second to rest, the filly charged and kicked the imp in the chest as it tried to rise, driving it back to the ground, where it lay, wheezing for breath. Pulling her hoof back for another punch, the filly hesitated. She could see the creature's fear in its eyes and knew it was not the fear of a lost meal, but rather the fear all mortal beings held for their very life.

The imp had no such reservations however and as soon as it noticed Dog’s moment of hesitation, it slashed her hard across the barrel, its claws easily piercing Dog’s bandages and the flesh underneath, but somehow not going nearly as deep as they should.

“Ah!” Dog cried, stumbling back as she clutched the wound with a forehoof.

Thick blackened blood poured from the gaping wound and the filly looked down, noticing that it didn't feel that deep, little more than a centimeter or two in depth and twice that in length. With the filly reeling and distracted once again, the imp launched into another offensive, aiming to end this fight quickly lest the strange creature gather its bearings and beat the imp to a pulp.

The imp’s sharp claws whistled through the air, carving deep gouges in Dog’s face and causing another gout of blackened blood to spray the cage. Dog abandoned her midsection, using the now free hoof to deflect the next strike before it could connect with her neck.

Outside of the cage, Tirek frowned deeply, his fists clenched at his sides. What in Tartarus is that filly doing? She is better than this! Such a test was meant to give confidence, not put her in danger!

Beside him, Cervantes stood seemingly impassive, but a careful observer could tell he had grown nervous, his hand tightening around the blade at his side. He glanced over at his master as if asking silent permission for what they both knew he wanted to ask.

Tirek’s frown deepened and he shook his head. She needs to learn this, ruthlessness is not just a good tactic to sow fear, but how one stays alive in a fight to the death. Hard though the lesson may be, it is necessary. Turning away from Cervantes, Tirek glanced down at the cage where Dog had her back pressed against the steel bars and a wide, terrified expression on her face.

Still, she did not call out, beg, or ask for relief but neither did she strike back, even when given the chance. Tirek’s knuckles grew white as his patience began to run out.

“Do not fail me, child, strike back and end this whelp!” he commanded.

Dog knocked aside another wild blow of the imp with relative ease. The imp itself had realized by now that it was outmatched even when its opponent was wounded and with desperation added speed to its blows, but it still wasn't enough. Dog gritted her teeth and knocked aside another clumsy hit, then, utilizing the opening it granted, delivered a blow to the imp’s chin, sending it reeling backward.

Her resolve steeled, the filly leaped forward, intent on ending the fight here and now, only for the imp to glance up at her once more, that same fear in its all too mortal eyes. Dog pulled her hoof back and put a little distance between her and her target, her hoof nearly slipping on her own blackened blood that stained the impromptu arena.

Tirek sighed and turned away.

“What a disappointment,” he muttered.

Dog deflected a rising strike from the imp, the din of the fight suddenly fading away, replaced by the solemn hoof steps of her father as he walked away in utter disappointment. She had failed the one person who cared for her, failed so utterly that he couldn't bear to even look at her.

Something snapped within Dog and the next time the imp threw another wild slash, it found its leg suddenly twisting painfully, a powerful blow impacting its elbow and rendering the limb numb. It had mere milliseconds before it felt a second hit impact its ribs, cracking something beneath its leathery skin and sending it tumbling back to the ground in a broken heap.

The imp looked up at the filly, summoning those same tearful eyes as before, inwardly grinning maliciously as it knew what was going to happen. Or at least it thought it did, but its assumptions and jaw were shattered by a jab so powerful that it knocked the imp into the air and onto its back.

It couldn't even raise its clawed feet in defense before it felt the full weight of its opponent land directly on its midsection, shattering its ribs and pulping its internal organs in one vicious strike. A pathetic wheeze was all it was capable of before its opponent used its shattered midsection as a springboard, jumping into the air and landing with an audible squelch in the imp’s destroyed stomach. The filly’s hooves crushed bone and organ alike with impunity as Dog’s weight slammed into the imp’s body over and over.

The imp managed a few weak slashes but they were ignored completely despite the now numerous cuts that covered its opponent’s body. Dog didn't care that she was bleeding, that the world was growing distant, or even the pain that wracked her body, all she cared about were those three words. What a disappointment. They rang through her head endlessly and only after she felt her opponent grow still did the words cease and reality began to assert itself once more.

The filly wheezed, falling to her knees amidst the scattering of gore that was the imp’s body. Its eyes were open wide, but they saw nothing, and its mouth hung open but it did not breathe. Shattered rib bones poked up through its devastated chest, spilling blood and eviscerated organs across the cage and intermingling with the already copious amount of blood that had spilled forth from Dog’s own wounds.

Dog turned, glancing over at her father with wide, hopeful eyes.

Tirek seemed impassive, his gaze distant and unreadable, only when the filly felt despair begin to swallow her did a small smile spread across her father’s face.

“Good job, quickly now, consume its soul before you succumb to your injuries," Tirek ordered.

“How do-” The filly began, only to be interrupted by a fit of coughing during which a wad of congealed blood shot from her mouth.

“Focus your will, remember your lessons. Will is the absolute power in Tartarus, merely will your body to consume it and its soul will be yours," Tirek answered.

Dog looked back down, only to find that there were now two imps, both of which were spinning, along with the rest of the world. Swallowing her trepidation, Dog focused. She imagined the imp’s soul lay below her, small and afraid, and above it stood the brave and powerful Dog. Pushing aside the last remaining bit of her indecision, Dog took a breath and consumed.

She could hardly see what was happening, too focused on the strange feeling of her body pulling at the imp’s very soul, but Tirek and Cervantes could see clearly the bloody form of Dog with her mouth open wide. Thin black tendrils slowly extended from the imp’s body, reluctant to leave its mortal form even after it had expired. The filly wavered for a moment, the black tendrils pulling back a few inches and drawing a surprised breath from the old centaur.

Dog shook her head and breathed deeply, steadying herself and focusing utterly on the task at hoof. With power she didn't know she had, the filly tore away at the strings binding the imp’s spirit to its body, causing the black tendrils to extend completely from the imp and slip past Dog’s lips. As the soul entered her body, Dog could feel every moment of the imp’s short and brutal existence flash through her mind.

It had been cruel, sadistic, and torturous with the few meager scraps of essence it had managed to find amidst the dregs of Tartarus. It had toyed with the corrupted souls and delivered great suffering to the beings trapped in the lowest levels of Tartarus. At the same time as the memories flowed through her mind, Dog also felt a strange vitality begin to fill her.

Her world stopped spinning as her less serious wounds began to close and a new, altogether different purpose filled her. No longer was she only appeasing her father, but now she was striking down and consuming a cruel and sadistic bully, just like the kind of bully that put her father in this prison.

The filly’s eyes filled with magenta light and suddenly the black tendrils began to writhe with panic, feeling their very essence torn from existence itself. Despite its own imminent demise helping to fuel its desperate flailing, the imp knew its fate was sealed and there was nothing it could do. It was now utterly broken and in the face of such raw power, it could do little but submit.

The tendrils grew slack and thicker, eventually revealing the very core of the imp’s soul that rose up and out of its body. It was a great writhing mass of pain, agony, and despair the likes of which would shatter the mind of any normal being. Thankfully Dog could no longer be described as such a creature. The demonic essence of the imp filled and fueled her, changing her body even more than Tirek’s magic and medicine had, twisting her form while also healing all but the worst of the damage wrought on her and imbuing her with strength she had never dreamed of.

The soul vanished into the filly’s mouth, every last trace of its lingering, inky corruption gone completely. With the soul consumed, Dog’s mouth snapped shut and though there was nothing left of the imp’s soul, the flaring magenta light did not fade. The light twisted, becoming darker by the second until it was nearly black, only containing the faintest trace of the vibrant purple it had started as.

When the light inside her began to dull and Dog’s eyes flickered open, she found herself floating several inches above the ground before suddenly gravity decided to reassert itself and she landed in a heap on the ground. “Oof,” she muttered, rubbing her head with a no longer bandaged hoof. “Augh, what happened?”

Tirek threw open the cage and pulled the stunned filly out and into a sudden and brief hug.

“You have succeeded in your first test and taken the first step on the path to power!” Tirek proclaimed.

The filly beamed up at her father, her eyes going comically wide as she realized just what he was doing. Before he could let go of the filly, she had wrapped all four of her legs around his midsection and squeezed him back, nearly knocking the wind out of the surprised centaur.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so happy!” Dog squealed in delight.

Tirek grabbed the filly’s midsection and pulled her off of him, the tiniest of blushes crossing his face.

“Yes, well, we have much to discuss now that you have achieved your first real milestone,” Tirek muttered.

The centaur placed the filly back on the ground where she squealed and did a little dance, hopping around in a circle.

“I did it! I can't believe I did it! I’m so happy I could explode!” Dog proclaimed.

The filly suddenly turned around, her wide eyes staring up at her father’s.

“Oh no, that's quite enough hugs for today, young lady," Tirek interrupted.

The filly wilted, making his heart nearly skip a beat. The centaur sighed and bent down, reaching the filly’s level.

“Maybe just a head pat," Tirek reluctantly agreed.

“Yay!” the filly squealed before standing perfectly straight and grinning madly, her sharp white teeth reflecting the dim glow of the arena.

Tirek sighed and gently patted the filly’s head, hoping it didn't feel as awkward for Dog as it did for him. Judging by the expression of sheer joy and the happy little growling thing Dog did with her throat, Tirek knew his fears were baseless.

A small, serene smile spread across the centaur’s face and he even gave the filly a small scratch behind the ear before realizing once more what he was doing and quickly stood up.

“Ahem, now then for a quick pop quiz," Tirek began.

“But I didn't have time to study!” Dog proclaimed, spinning in a slow circle. “There isn't even anything to write with, how can I-”

Tirek gave the filly a firm glare, silencing her panicked line of questions. “You cannot fail this quiz. Now, what did you learn after you consumed the soul, and what differences have you noticed about yourself?”

“Um, well…” The filly muttered, tapping her chin.

Dog tried to recall all the chaotic feelings and sensations that had all assaulted her at the same time. Though she was fairly certain she was forgetting something, she had at least been able to remember most of what had happened.

“It tasted funny, really spicy, but also really really bad," Dog began.

Tirek chuckled. “What else did you feel when you consumed it?”

“I felt like… it was guilty, that it deserved its fate and then all its memories flashed before my eyes, I was the imp as it crawled around on the lower circles, hunting and scrounging for scrap essence," Dog remarked, a scowl crossing her face and she couldn't help but bare her teeth. “It was a big nasty bully, like that Celestia lady! After I knew that, I had to eat it all. So I just… did.”

She blinked and looked up at her father.

“Is that a good answer?” She asked.

“It is very good. The ability to see the memories of the soul is a rare one for demons to have and it will serve you well if you remember to use it. Even more impressive was your consumption of the entire thing. I never though-” he stopped, rephrasing the sentence, “I knew you could do it.”

The filly beamed, grinning from ear to ear, only to suddenly look down at the end of her muzzle.

“Look, father! My bandages fell off! Does this mean they can stay off forever?” Dog asked.

Tirek grinned, magically brushing off the few strands of bandage still clinging to the filly, their enchantment broken under the imp’s assault. The filly unaware that those same bandages had softened the blow and likely saved her life only saw them as an obstacle.

“First, tell me what you feel has changed since you consumed the soul," Tirek stated.

“Right,” Dog muttered.

The filly inspected every inch of her body that she could see before running her tongue over her teeth and gently touching the end of her muzzle.

“It seems as though my skin has grown harder, though not quite as leathery as the imp’s," Dog began, lifting a leg in emphasis and showing it to her father. “The flesh feels soft but when I touch it, it seems to harden a little. It’s also a very deep purple color.”

“All very good answers so far, keep going.” Tirek beckoned.

The filly pulled open her lips, revealing her now longer and somehow even sharper teeth.

“My teeth got bigger and sharper, but they don't seem to cut my mouth or my tongue. There is also a pressure, right here,” Dog explained, pointing to the spot on her forehead a few inches above and between her eyes. “It feels kinda funny and hurts to touch. Other than that the scratch on my nose didn't heal completely and I can feel a lump under my tongue.”

“Right here," Dog continued.

The filly opened her jaws wide and pressed her tongue against the base of her mouth, causing a small greenish jet of liquid to shoot several feet before landing on the arena floor and beginning to sizzle.

Tirek blinked.

“Well, that's interesting. You seem to have the ability to spit acid," Tirek remarked.

Probably a side effect of her proximity to that damnable entropy demon residing in her cleaver. Tirek thought.

“Is that… is that bad?” Dog muttered.

Tirek shook his head.

“Unexpected, but not unappreciated. Make sure to use your new power sparingly and carefully. Don't want to accidentally melt a book," Tirek warned.

Dog gasped, taking a step further away from her father and covering her mouth with a hoof.

“That can happen?!” She muttered in fear.

The centaur chuckled.

“No, it looks like it has to be triggered, still. Do be careful when you are in the library," Tirek exclaimed. "The enchantments I placed on the books should protect them from most damage, but if I find a single drop of acid on any of my books…”

He let the threat hang, knowing full well that Dog would automatically assume the worst possible punishment.

Sure enough the filly gasped.

“You might take away my books! I promise I won't spit any acid while in the library!” Dog proclaimed.

“Good. Now were there any other changes? Do you perhaps feel a little strange, or maybe a crawling beneath your skin?” Tirek pressed.

Dog shook her head.

“My tummy is all rumbly and I can still taste the ickiness, but other than that, I just feel like I just had a full night’s sleep," Dog murmured, only to pause and shoot her father a wide, confident grin. “What's next, father?”

Tirek shrugged his massive shoulders.

“Now you get to do whatever you want," Tirek answered. "Do you wish to train more with Cervantes, or would you prefer to read? I might have some new books to add to your shelf.”

The filly’s eyes went wide and she bounced in place.

“Oh, that sounds fun," Dog exclaimed, only to stop. “But I got so much energy… Can I read after more training?”

“Of course you can, in fact, starting now, you will have two hours a day to do whatever you want. You will also have your own worker golem who can help you study and train,” Tirek declared.

The centaur gestured towards the entrance to the arena where a small two-foot-tall bipedal golem stood, its arms at its side and its relatively plain and expressionless face staring forward. Its body was of a simple grey stone that Dog didn't recognize and it lacked any of the detail or enchantment that Tirek had done for the rest of his inorganic servants.

“It's really plain-looking.”

“Are you insulting my present?” Tirek gasped, placing a hand over his heart and making a dramatic expression of pain.

“N-n-no! I was just wondering if I was allowed to change it," Dog hastily replied.

"Of course you can, just ask me before you do so," Tirek remarked with a chuckle.

“Absolutely!” Dog announced.

“One last thing, before I let you train. Do not forget that you are only allowed to go from your room to the gym or library. The golem will remind you if you are wandering somewhere you shouldn't,” Tirek stated, the centaur turning to leave only to stop suddenly. “Oh, and Dog?”

“Yes, father?”

“I'm proud of you," Tirek proclaimed.

The centaur quickly left, beating a hasty retreat and leaving a grinning Dog dancing in circles and making more of those strange growling happy noises.

“Yes yes yes! Did you hear that, Cervantes? Father is proud of me!” Dog shouted.

The filly spun around and grinned up at the armor demon, whose eyes seemed larger, containing an almost palpable sense of joy just beneath his obscured features.

He looked down at the filly and pointed to his sword, then his fist, a questioning expression on his unmoving features.

Dog shook her head.

“Fists please!" Dog replied. "I need to train more just in case Father tests me again like this.”

Cervantes nodded once before striking a battle-ready pose and waiting for Dog to do the same. Which Dog promptly did, leaping into her preferred stance the same way they always did when they sparred, only this time she wore a wide, confident grin.

Tirek had stopped just outside the arena, his breathing unnaturally heavy and his brow weighted with worry. What had happened back there? First, he was actually worried, then he even hugged her? The centaur shook his head vigorously before starting to make his way toward his war room, pointedly ignoring the odd look his seer gave him as they passed each other in the hall.

The centaur brushed past his guards and walked through the intricate, winding halls of his tower, hardly noticing his passing servants, his mind consumed by the worry brought about by his moments of weakness. What were these strange feelings brewing within him? They brought up long-dead memories and the centaur grit his teeth at the sudden surge of images. Waving a hand over his face, he used his magic to rid himself of the incessant thoughts, allowing him to focus entirely on the task at hand.

That task would take all his cunning and a significant amount of favors to accomplish and would demand every ounce of will he could bring to bear. Even with such a multifaceted plan it had had to start somewhere, and that somewhere was meeting with his general and receiving her full report. Tirek pushed past one last set of guards and down one last narrow hall bereft of doors save for a single one at the very end.

The centaur effortlessly glided through the numerous protection charms, wards, and enchantments, every spell recognizing him as the lord of the tower. He brushed aside the heavy iron doors, pushing the massive metal objects aside as if they weighed next to nothing.

The room he stepped into was not overly large, little more than an above-average meeting room with a round table in the center of the circular domed room. A single red crystal hung from the middle of the ceiling, adding a sparse amount of light that neither of the room’s occupants needed to see. The table was large, enough to seat ten individuals of Tirek’s size with ease, its usual polished obsidian top replaced by a bird’s eye view of what looked like a castle, deep within the hellmarshes of Tartarus.

Peering over the map was a large pony-like creature, though even then it carried only a passing resemblance to the ponies of Equestria. She was easily as large as Tirek, her entire body bearing thick orangish gold scales, a serpentine tail nearly as long as her entire body twitched this way and that, displaying its owner’s intense concentration. Her head bore similar draconic attributes, her large teal eyes had the slitted pupils of a dragon, and her mouth was filled to the brim with serrated, dagger-like teeth that were so large that several poked out from her mouth at odd angles. Brighter orange spines cascaded from her forehead down along her back, ending at the point of her tail. The only parts of the draconic pony’s body that truly stuck out were her lack of claws, replaced by brass-colored hooves, and two large ram-like horns that grew from both sides of her head, with their ends pointing forward.

The draconic pony opened and closed her mouth periodically, so focused on the picture that she hardly even noticed the entry of her master. Tirek closed the door behind him, causing the large pony-like creature to jump several inches and spin around, fixing Tirek with a glare until she realized just who she was glaring at.

She instantly sunk into a low bow.

“Sorry ‘bout that master, just startled me, is all," the demon remarked, slowly rising back to her hooves. “Please, forgive me.”

Tirek waved his hand dismissively and made his way over to the table.

“You are forgiven. This time," he remarked.

The draconic pony breathed a sigh of relief and waved a massive hooved limb over the table, causing the picture of the castle to encompass the entire top of the table.

“Right, well, boss, what do ya wanna know? Seems like you were right on just ‘bout all accounts," the demon exclaimed.

“Go over everything. I don't want a single thing left to chance,” Tirek ordered.

“Right," the golden demon muttered.

The draconic pony nodded before placing her hoof near the center of the castle, where a beam of red emerged from a tower before growing into a shield that encompassed nearly the entire castle, save for a small guard house that was left outside.

“The shield-generating matrix isn't actually in that tower, but rather a sub-basement hidden away at the south side," she began. "The guards are lazy, their patrols so irregular that it could only be the result of poor discipline. Sometimes they leave the walls unguarded for almost an entire day.”

“Good, they are mostly pride demons, correct?” Tirek knowingly inquired.

The large pony demon nodded.

“Looks like it, some are wearing glamours that make them look like other demons, which would be a good strategy. Unfortunately for them, they keep forgetting to apply them until they are outside, or they just take them off whenever they get bored. Buncha amateurs, boss,” the draconic pony added with a snort.

Tirek smirked. “Even better, and the shield?”

The other being frowned.

“It's just as you feared, covers every nook and cranny, and is strong enough to keep out a demon lord, if only for a while,” she muttered, her frown deepening. “I don't think we should take his word for it though, boss, there is no way that shield covers every inch of that castle. The dirty little rat is probably lyin’ to us, hoping to get something out of ya by holding onto that bit of information.”

The centaur chuckled and shook his head.

“If you trust your spymaster, then you don't have a very good spymaster. But seriously, he will do his job, he knows what's at stake if he fails," Tirek declared.

The other demon gulped and looked back down at the castle.

“Right, boss. So uh…” the demon pony muttered while scratching her head. “How we gonna get in there? Don't tell me you tricked that overblown bag of wind into inviting you in?”

“Ha, no. Not even he is that foolhardy,” the centaur remarked, gesturing towards the other demon’s horns. “First, tell me how are your magic lessons coming.”

The other demon gulped and pawed the ground nervously.

“I, er, well.” She sighed. “Not good, boss.”

“No matter. Tell me what you know of demonic spells," Tirek pressed.

She blinked.

“Uh, they were made by demons?” She answered, scratching her head awkwardly. “They also usually use pain and suffering as a catalyst and are one of the strongest types of magic, trumping even holy and dark magic and rivaled only by celestial magic.”

Tirek nodded slowly.

“Do you know of the weaknesses of demonic spells?” He continued.

The demon scratched her frilled chin awkwardly before shaking her head.

“I don't know, boss," the other demon admitted.

Tirek waved his hand over the table, creating two beings, one was a large bipedal demon, the other a small, innocent-looking pony filly. Snapping his fingers, the two shapes were suddenly engulfed in black hellfire.

“Demonic magic was created to fight demons and celestials," Tirek began. "Those creatures either blackened by sin or untouched by even the temptation of sin, unlike mortals who can feel the temptation but have the will to turn away.”

Eventually, the flames died down, revealing a blackened pile of bones and dust where the demon had stood and a relatively unharmed filly.

“It was never meant to target mortals but it worked well because most of their kind have succumbed to the temptation of sin at least once, enabling them to be affected by our magic. But there exist beings out there that have committed no great crimes, nor succumbed to the sway of sin. To them, hellfire is a summer breeze, and it is with one such individual that we shall slip inside that fool’s tower and bring him ruin!” Tirek proclaimed.

The other demon’s scaley brow furrowed and she looked down at the table thoughtfully.

“You aren't thinking of sending her in there now, right, boss?” the pony-like demon murmured.

Tirek shook her head.

“She is still too weak, but soon, very soon, she will not be," Tirek answered.

“Right, pardon my words, master. I should not have assumed," murmured the other demon.

Tirek growled and gestured to the door.

“Remember to watch your tone next time. Now go," ordered the centaur. "Seek out the rat and tell him to maintain watch of the fool’s castle. I want to know the instant something changes and especially if he moves her. I expect you to be ready at a moment’s notice. Is that clear, Pear Butter?”

“Like crystal, master,” the other demon growled.

“Good, now leave me. I require solitude to think of my next step," Tirek proclaimed.

The draconic demon bowed briefly before ducking out the door, her heavy hoof falls trailing down the hall and out of earshot, leaving Tirek alone in the war room, gazing down at the still image thoughtfully.

“Soon your innocence will be removed, but not before we get a little use out of it first,” Tirek muttered to himself.

A frown suddenly creased his face and a hint of doubt wormed its way into his thoughts. Is this truly necessary? I could use… He shook his head and clenched his fists. No, this is completely necessary.

Now, to begin the next phase of the plan.

Author's Note

Edited by the Everwonderful, EverFreePony!
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Trial One: A New Face (R)

Tirek sighed and drummed his fingers on the large, round table that dominated his war room. The floating image of the pride demon who had been a constant thorn in his side for months now was looking down at him with a smirk on its smug face. Normally the demon lord wouldn't show such weakness in the presence of another, but the image was just a recording and Pear Butter knew better than to view an annoyed grunt as true weakness.

The draconic demon across from him stiffened slightly. “Should I continue, boss?”

The centaur’s brow creased and he gently massaged his temples, preparing for the inevitable.

“Let's get this over with," Tirek muttered.

“R-right,” Pear murmured, lowering her head, her horns glowing a bright gold.

The image began to move once more, a harsh cackling laugh instantly audible before slowly fading.

“I must admit," remarked the pride demon. "Your offers were tempting, but it seems as though there is someone even more interested in the Equestrian than even you.”

The already smug face somehow managed to become even smugger.

“To think you would try and bribe me with chocolate and baubles while he offers me so much more," the pride demon continued. "I would be offended if it wasn't so amusing.”

The image strutted towards some unseen goal but never moved from the center of the table.

“Now I know what you're probably saying and I want you to know that it was a good attempt and you shouldn't feel bad. You could never truly compete with a superiority demon, after all, you're a what, fear demon?” Th holographic image remarked, rolling his hand as it searched for the word. “Or whatever.”

The image laughed heartily, nearly doubling over. He slowly calmed and wiped a non-existent tear from the corner of one eye.

“Pardon me, but I just now realized how funny this is. Two former Equestrians bargaining for a third former Equestrian and in the end the superior one, won!” the pride demon exclaimed.

Tirek’s eyes narrowed and he made a mental note of doing more research on superiority demons, as none came to mind. Other than someone he had not thought of in centuries, but that was incredibly unlikely.

The pride demon smirked down at Tirek.

“I suppose I should expect some sort of attack from you soon, shouldn't I?" he mused. "They don't call you Tirek the Slighted for nothing.”

“Should I stop it, boss?” Pear Butter asked.

“No, let it go,” Tirek commanded.

The other demon nodded, glancing worriedly at her master, whose fists were clenched tightly at his sides, while he slowly ground his teeth together. She then looked to the door, briefly considering fleeing and making some excuse, but ultimately knowing better than to try.

She turned back to the image of the pride demon just as it finished walking over to something.

“As an apology for my rather rude remarks, I figured I’d show you something interesting," he continued.

Curiosity slowly replaced rage and Tirek could hear the faint sounds of whimpering coming from the object the pride demon was standing next to. It sounded childish, young, and faintly familiar… His eyes went wide and for a second panic gripped him, a sudden urge to seek out his favorite imp filling his mind before being quashed. It couldn't be her, but if not her, then…

The pride demon flipped open the lid of what looked like a small cage and instantly the whimpering was gone, replaced by a high-pitched growl that was only occasionally punctuated by a half-suppressed sob. The demon extended his hand into the mostly unseen cage and deftly scooped up whatever was being held within.

“As you can see, this strange little thing is not quite so innocent," he remarked. "Why she just might be the only Equestrian I’ve heard of to arrive here naturally.”

Tirek stared in shocked awe as the demon displayed the rainbow-maned imp who had two short horns sprouting from each side of its head which curled in on themselves before pointing forward. The demon’s hand gripped the imp tightly, pinning the imp’s tiny leathery wings against its back. They fluttered occasionally as if trying to break free of the demon’s iron grip. The imp’s face was covered with bloody tears and despite its apparent pain, it struggled with all its tiny might, gnashing its small sharp teeth and flailing its hooved limbs to little effect.

“A curious little creature, isn't she?” The pride demon asked, slowly spinning the imp around like he was showing off a prized dog and not a sapient creature. “She has all the hallmarks of an imp and yet her form remains relatively intact from what she had in life, instead of it being discarded like most souls that find themselves here. It seems as though Tartarus doesn't know what to do with this thing.”

The filly’s fur was gone, replaced by a thick, leathery hide of blue. Her mane was clearly falling out and large chunks were already missing from her head. As Tirek looked, he noticed various bruises and cuts sporadically covering the filly’s body as if she had been experimented on tortured, or both. Still, though the injuries looked painful, the filly struggled regardless, headless to several cuts reopening and dripping thick, blackened blood.

“Let me go, you big stupid jerkface!” she yelled in the same warbly, reverberating tone of an imp.

The pride demon rolled its eyes, more amused than insulted.

“Though a little on the young side, it's got quite the fight in it. Don't you, my little Rainbow Splash?” The Pride Demon teased.

“It's Rainbow Dash, you big doo doo head!” The imp yelled, thrashing to minimal effect in the demon’s hand.

“Yes, well, strange though it may be, I never would have thought it would be worth as much as old Star- yowch!” The demon looked down at the imp, whose teeth had sunken into the soft flesh of an errant finger. “You vile cur!”

The demon pulled back its hand and whipped the imp into the cage before slamming the lid shut and shouting at an attendant just outside of the frame.

“You, send this miserable wretch back into the pits where it belongs!” he yelled before turning to a second attendant, one that was assumably behind whatever he had used to record this message. “Cut the recording and remove everything after I said ‘The cat’s out of the bag’.”

The image flickered out, leaving a giggling Pear Butter and curious, but amused Tirek sitting in the dark room. Once she saw the faintly entertained expression on her master’s face Pear Butter burst into laughter, her deep reverberating voice filling the room as she pounded her hoof against the table. Tirek let out a slight chuckle of his own, which was only partly due to the apparent stupidity of his rival’s minions and mostly due to the infectious nature of his own minion’s laughter.

Pear Butter wheezed and toppled off her chair, falling to the ground with a heavy thump that shook the floor. Tirek withheld the most of his laughter and with all the seriousness he had left, he commanded his minion,

“Stand!” Tirek ordered.

Pear Butter hopped to her hooves, her panicked expression melting as she noted the faint smile constantly trying to creep across her master’s face.

“Yeah, boss?” Pear Butter replied.

“As… entertaining as that was, I want you to remember the implications of this," Tirek remarked.

She cocked her head.

“Implications?” She inquired.

“Yes," Tirek stated simply. "If he has another buyer secured and it is who I think it is, then we will have to move quicker than anticipated.”

“Right,” she exclaimed before ducking into a slight bow. “What do you need me to do, boss?”

“Gather Dog and Cervantes and meet me in the training room, we will need to redouble our efforts to get her in fighting shape.”

Tirek could sense a sliver of doubt in his minion, but she did her best to keep it from showing on her face.

“Right, boss. Is that all?” Pear Butter pressed.

“Yes, in the meantime I need to find my seer and discover the identity of this superiority demon.” Tirek muttered, already deep in thought.

Pear Butter nodded.

“As you command, my master,” she muttered.

The demon then obediently did as she was told, leaving the aged centaur alone with his thoughts.

The fear demon let out a deep breath, deflating slightly now that he did not have to appear strong before one of his servants.

“Just what I needed, another wrench in my plans," he muttered.

He settled into the pillows he had set aside before the recording and gently began massaging his temples in slow, methodical movements.

“This is such a mess,” he lamented quietly.

His goal had been nebulous at best, acquire another Equestrian or an innocent-looking creature, make Dog kill and eat it, in order to break her of her naivete. It had numerous problems but wasn't wholly impossible or unnecessary. Then when he had discovered that there was indeed another Equestrian down here, he had entertained thoughts of making another soldier like Dog. Said plan had even more holes than the first as he knew nothing of this Rainbow Dash creature or her capabilities.

All of his plans and ideas had been wiped away the moment the pride demon turned his back on the centaur and chose to cross him. Then, plans were irrelevant, his goals for the Equestrian rendered moot, for his pride had been sullied. The centaur snarled and slammed his hand against the table.

No one fucks with me, no one! he thought to himself before surging up to his hooves and making for the door.

He pushed his way through the portal, a smile slowly crossing his face. He may know I’m coming, but he has no idea what I will bring to bear against him. The fool has slighted me for the last time. A cruel smile spread across his lips as his imagination whirled with images of his revenge.

Yes, this was a perfect opportunity, he reasoned.

He had weapons to test, servants to train and it didn't even matter what he got out of it, so long as that fool suffered for his arrogance. He rubbed his hands together and smiled. Contracts between greater demons were a complicated process even when both parties were already in agreement, which meant he would have time to set up something truly fitting for the arrogant prick who had wronged him.

I know just the thing to put him in his place, Tirek thought with a cruel smile.

Now in a significantly better mood, Tirek pushed open the doors to the training room. There he stood for a moment, taking in the sight of Dog and Cervantes sparring while Pear Butter stood off to the side, a pensive look on her face. In the center of the room Dog had launched into a series of blows, her hooves striking in rapid succession. Despite her speed, Cervantes easily deflected or blocked them and danced around the filly before launching a foot straight towards the filly’s unprotected midsection.

Dog was narrowly able to roll out of the way, opening herself up to a second kick which knocked her airborne. Pear Butter winced slightly, only to catch a glimpse of Tirek and instantly straighten, wiping her expression clean. Cervantes noticed Pear’s expression and followed her gaze, instantly snapping to attention, with his hands at his waist.

Dog landed in a heap but quickly leaped back up and was ready to launch into another attack before she noticed Cervantes’ expression and followed his gaze as well. When the pair’s eyes met, Dog squealed excitedly before sprinting over to her father and grinning up at him.

“Hello, father!” She proclaimed.

Tirek smiled faintly.

“Hello Dog. How goes your training?” He asked.

The filly winced, rubbing the side that had recently been kicked.

“Not great," she admitted. "Cervantes says he's going to have to be tougher on me and he's just too fast.”

Tirek chuckled.

“Yes, Cervantes is quite the quick opponent, but I’m sure you will figure it out, in time," Tirek proclaimed.

Pear Butter cleared her throat suddenly, grabbing the attention of the two demons.

“I, uh, was hoping to talk to you about that, boss," Pear Butter exclaimed.

Tirek raised an eyebrow.

“And what, exactly were you hoping to talk to me about?” Tirek replied.

The gold and yellow demon pressed her hoof into the ground and twisted it awkwardly.

“Not to say you don't know what you are doing or nothin’, but I was gonna suggest maybe having Dog here spar with someone with four legs?” Pear Butter answered.

“And why, exactly, should we do that?” Tirek asked simply, already catching onto the wrath demon’s intentions.

The demon gulped and glanced down at the filly, who in turn looked up at her with a mixture of curiosity and wonder.

“Well, learnin’ how to fight two leggers is all well and good, but little Dog here has to figure out most stuff through trial and error," Pear Butter began, the demon rubbed the back of her neck, finally mustering the courage to look Tirek in the eye. “I just figured I could probably show her a thing or two without having to do things the slow way, is all.”

Tirek tapped his chin, looking from Pear Butter to Cervantes slowly. The armor demon betrayed no emotion at first, but Tirek’s perceptive eye picked up the smallest amount of relaxation coming from the armor demon’s loose arms.

“That is a decent suggestion, why would you make a better teacher than my other quadruped servants?" Tirek asked.

Pear Butter gulped once more.

“Well, I have experience fighting all sorts of things," Pear Butter answered.

Tirek tapped his chin thoughtfully, considering his servant’s words carefully and easily catching the unspoken suggestion. She will have to learn how to fight other quadrupeds as well.

“I had hoped to work on fundamentals a little more before we launched into the real training, but I suppose we no longer have the leisure of time,” Tirek began, turning to the gold demon and nodding. “You may take over her training until the operation, but, you will be working with Cervantes. Hopefully, you can teach him some things about fighting as a quadruped, in case he has to do so again in the future.”

“I won't let you down,” the wrath demon said with a smile

Tirek nodded simply.

“See to it that you don't," Tirek declared.

Though a warning, it lacked any of the venom or will that such a statement would usually have.

Dog nervously glanced at the wrath demon before turning to her father.

“Do I have to?" She whispered. "I like Cervantes…”

For a second Tirek could have sworn the armor demon smiled, despite the obvious impossibility of such an act.

“Don't worry, Cervantes will be with you the whole time," Tirek stated.

“Still…” The filly muttered.

Dog gulped, looking nervously up at the much larger, wider, and far more intimidating gold demon.

Pear Butter grinned, unaware that the act exposed even more of her many, many teeth.

“Aww shucks, lil filly, ya got nothin’ to worry ‘bout from me. Now, why don't we launch into our first lesson and show yer old pa a thing or two," Pear Butter offered.

Dog nodded slowly, following the four-legged demon towards the center of the gym. The two turned and faced one another, while Cervantes and Tirek took positions outside the ring, both looking in with varied degrees of interest. Pear Butter flashed the filly another disarming smile.

“Now, I want ya to hit me," Pear Butter declared.

“Hit you? Why?” Dog asked in confusion.

“Just do it little one, don't worry, you won't hurt me,” Pear Butter replied.

Dog’s eyes narrowed and just as Pear Butter hoped, the imp took the bait. The filly’s form lowered and she suddenly surged forward, her lightning-fast speed carrying her over to the demon in a blink of an eye. The filly pulled back a hoof and slammed into the larger demon’s chest with all her might.

“OW!” Dog recoiled in pain, cradling her bruised and bloody hoof.

The larger demon snorted and shook her head.

“Girl, you just tried punching a wrath demon in the chest, there was no way your little imp hooves were gonna do much. Try again," Pear Butter offered.

Dog looked down cautiously, fearing the worst. Her hoof was in bad shape, but surprisingly wasn't cracked, the blood had come from a small cut on her leg where she had brushed against the underside of one of the wrath demon’s scales by accident. The filly backed up slowly, keeping her injured hoof up and taking extra care not to accidentally use it.

This time the tiny demon eyed her opponent carefully, studying her closely. Her thick scales covered nearly every inch of her body with only small gaps near where her limbs bent and even then, the space not covered by scales was protected by thick leathery hide. Her eyes were large, almost as large as Dog’s own, but even there the demon’s protection did not seem to end as whenever she blinked, the lid that covered the vulnerable orb appeared to be made of the same thick leather that linked her joints.

“Good, that's what I like to see,” Pear Butter remarked.

“But I didn't even hit you yet?” Dog muttered.

“Exactly, you took the time and analyzed the situation.” Pear Butter began, tapping her head. “You’re using that noggin’ of yours. Tell me filly, where would you have struck next?”

“Well I was thinking your eyes or something, but that sounds kinda mean,” Dog murmured with a blush that lit up her lavender cheeks.

“You were spot on, little one!" Pear Butter declared. "I mean you don't hit hard enough for that to matter much, but the eye woulda been your best shot.”

Dog nodded slowly, taking her new teacher’s lesson to heart.

“How will I know where to hit though? Not every demon has eyes," Dog inquired.

The golden demon’s smile grew and a spark of pride ignited in her chest.

“Now see, there's the problem. Whatcha gotta do is-” Pear Butter began.

Tirek tuned out the conversation and turned to leave, trusting that his general could handle things from here. As he left the gym behind him, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of jealousness and he glanced over his shoulder at the smiling faces of Pear Butter and Dog who were eagerly discussing some facet of Pear’s lesson. The pair stopped and both laughed, causing that spark of jealousy to burn hot in Tirek’s chest.

With a shake of his head, he pushed the feeling away, there were enough things to worry about without making up more. Besides, though they may have both come from Equestria, that didn't matter anymore and beyond that, Pear Butter was nothing if not loyal. No harm could come from allowing the pair to get familiar, right?

Tirek brushed aside any such trivial thoughts and trotted down the hall, intent on resuming his attempt to find out the identity of his newest rival. As well as replaying that crystal a few times, he needed a good laugh.

Dog panted hard, glaring up at the unphased form of her newest teacher. The wrath demon grinned wickedly at the imp, showing off her sharp teeth.

“Don't tell me you are giving up already, why that last punch couldn't hurt a fly," Pear Butter remarked.

“Stupid scales!” Dog shouted bitterly.

The filly then collapsed to the floor in a heap, her limbs splaying in all directions and her forked tongue lolling from her mouth.

Pear Butter shook her head and slowly sunk to the floor, curling her legs up under her.

“You did good, little one," she whispered in a soft tone.

Dog shot her a dirty look, but she was too tired to actually put any effort into the act.

“But I didn't even manage to do anything!” Dog exclaimed.

Pear shrugged.

“True, but ya did better than most, ‘sides, you got most of the techniques down pretty good, ya just gotta get stronger and practice more. You’ll beat me in no time," Pear Butter replied.

Dog frowned, staring at the ground.

“Still…” She muttered.

Pear Butter’s hearts felt heavy in her chest, the filly’s moping reminding her of a distant memory from another life.

“Hey there, little one, don't be down,” Pear Butter whispered, lifting the filly’s head until their eyes met. “Ya just gotta practice and you’ll be fine.”

“I guess, but Father wants me ready faster, and I…” Dog began, stopping to sigh and look down at the floor. “I don't know if I can do it."

Poor little thing, boss sure does put a lot of pressure on her… Pear Butter thought to herself.

“He wouldn't do that unless he knew you could handle it, or unless you think he's wrong?” Pear Butter prompted, raising an eyebrow at the filly, who instantly leaped up.

“No way! Father is smart and strong and super-duper wise. If he says I can do it, then I can!” Dog proclaimed.

The filly’s expression could have been described as fierce if she wasn't so darn adorable.

Pear Butter laughed heartily, a deep and powerful sound that rattled Dog’s very bones.

“Exactly!" declared the wrath demon. "So keep your chin up, little one!”

“Yeah!” Dog announced, raising her hoof triumphantly, only to wince when an overtired muscle in her leg was accidentally pulled. “Yowch.”

Instantly the older demon was next to the filly, a concerned look on her face.

“Are you alright?” Pear Butter asked.

She reached down and gently brushed the filly’s other leg out of the way in order to get a better look.

“Hurts,” Dog whimpered.

Pear Butter frowned.

“Does it hurt to move or just all the time?” Pear Butter pressed.

Dog paused and moved the limb only to instantly wince.

“When it moves," answered the filly.

“Looks like you did manage to pull something after all," Pear Butter exclaimed. “I told you not to try such a risky move.”

Dog looked down, shame weighing her down. The sight pulled at her heartstrings and Pear rolled her eyes, lying down fully next to the filly.

“Well, hop on," Pear Butter prompted. "We’ll go get ya some ointment for that and take ya back to yer room.”

The filly blinked, looking over to the other demon cautiously, eyebrow raised.

“Really?” Dog whispered.

Pear chuckled.

“Of course! Don't you worry about fallin’, I used to do this plenty of times," Pear Butter replied.

Dog’s smile spread to encompass nearly her entire face.

“Okay!” The Imp declared excitedly.

Her injury forgotten and joy found, Dog leaped onto the demon’s back and settled into a nice spot while still cradling her injured leg. The larger demon cast a glance over her shoulder, inspecting her charge.

“Y’all set back there?” Pear Butter asked.

Dog nodded eagerly.

“Yup!” Answered the filly.

“Alright then, hang on," Pear Butter replied.

The well-muscled demon slowly rose to her full height, careful not to unsettle her injured passenger.

Dog’s smile wavered when she glanced at the ground, only now realizing just how high up she was. The filly gulped, her ears pinning to the back of her head and her three good legs squeezing the larger demon’s midsection tightly.

“Ya’ll right?” Pear asked, concern worming its way into her voice.

Dog nodded.

“You’re really tall," Dog muttered.

Pear Butter smirked.

“Don't you worry now, I’ll go nice and slow for ya," Pear Butter replied.

Dog sighed.

“Thank you," muttered the imp.

As she rode on the wrath demon’s back, Dog slowly relaxed. Every time it felt as though she might fall, Pear Butter shifted her weight slightly and Dog was secure once more.

Dog’s nervousness slowly bled away, replaced by an intense curiosity. When the large golden demon had first appeared, Dog had been scared and intrigued in equal measure, her questions stuffed away amidst her fear of a new face. Now that those fears had been laid to rest, Dog couldn't help but wonder about the strange demon.

Pear had been withdrawn and quiet at first, but during the middle of their training, the wrath demon seemed to open up, as if Dog had passed some unseen test. Now she was openly humming a tune that Dog didn't know the name of as she trotted down the hall.

Dog’s ears twitched and she looked back to see her personal golem following diligently behind them, its stone eyes fixed on Dog’s own eyes. Dog made a note of painting an iris or something on the golem’s eyes as it was difficult to tell where it was looking.

They passed by several other servants of Tirek, all going about their duties in near silence. Though Dog had always been a little intimidated by the motley assortment of demons that served her father, now that she sat astride a wrath demon, they all seemed so much smaller. She giggled as they passed by a bronze golem that Dog had been forced to look up to until now.

Her grip on the gold demon’s back lightened and Dog grinned.

“Pear Butter?” Dog asked.

Pear Butter’s mind was elsewhere, in another place and time where she had known peace, and only after Dog repeated herself did the wrath demon truly hear her. Pear Butter shook her head, freeing herself from the rather potent, cloying memory.

“Hmmm? Yes, little one?” Pear Butter replied.

“What do you do for my father? Surely if you were a trainer like Cervantes I would have seen you by now," Dog asked.

The former pony hummed thoughtfully, wondering how exactly she could put her position tactfully.

“I’m a uh... planner," Pear Butter answered.

Dog cocked her head. “A planner? Of what?”

“Well, sometimes when yer pops wants something, I get to help him get it and sometimes that thing is tricky to get, so we need a whole lotta demons to work together. Which, let me tell you, isn't easy," Pear Butter exclaimed.

Dog giggled, trying to imagine a bunch of demons to work together but failing utterly.

“What kind of things?” Asked the filly.

The demon shrugged its massive shoulders.

“All kindsa stuff. It would be easier to tell ya what I don't get, but even then, that's a long list,” Pear Butter remarked, chuckling darkly.

The filly on her back cocked her head and was about to ask another question when they rounded a corner and her golem suddenly spoke up in a strangely boyish voice.

“You are entering a restricted area, please leave or I will contact Lord Tirek," it stated.

Pear Butter stopped and rolled her eyes before taking a step back and kneeling low to the ground.

“You just wait here little one, Mama Pear is gonna get ya the ointment and be back in a jiffy," Pear Butter offered.

Dog nodded and then slipped off the surprisingly slippery demon’s back and stumbled to the floor. She then shuffled off to the side of the hall, stepping next to her golem.

Pear Butter gave her a brief look before proceeding down the hall, her heavy hoofsteps disappearing into the labyrinth that was their home. Left alone with only her golem for company, Dog inspected the animated statue closely.

Its limbs were blocky, its fingers barely defined enough to enable it to manipulate things. An idea leaped into her mind and already Dog had something to add to her list of improvements.

Paint eyes.
Carve fingers.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully while giving the impassive golem a once over. Despite its plain exterior, Dog could see something amazing hiding just beneath the surface. Her recent ride on the back of her new friend had given her a burst of inspiration and though it would take some study and practice, her little golem would become way more useful and, more importantly, way cooler.

The filly plopped down on her butt and rubbed her hooves together and laughed as deeply as she could, trying in vain to mimic the grandiose laughter of her father. Only for it to come out somewhere between a squeak and a giggle.

“-Haha-owch!” Dog winced, hugging her injured leg to her chest, grumbling to herself.

“Ya hurt yourself again, little one?” Came a voice from down the hall.

Dog leaned around the corner to see the smiling face of Pear Butter approaching her, some gauze and a bottle of ointment clutched in one hoof. Dog shook her head.

“No, just forgot about it,” she replied sheepishly.

The demon trotted over and lay down next to Dog.

“Well, hop on," Pear Butter offered. "We’ll get ya fixed up once yer back in yer room.”

The filly nodded and eagerly hopped onto the larger demon’s back, being careful not to use her damaged muscles. Now secure once more, Dog let out a giggle as the demon stood up. Then, a sudden idea filled the filly’s head and she couldn't help but wonder if it might be true.

Tirek was her father, that much she knew, but the centaur had never told her who her mother was, could it be…

“Um, Pear Butter…” Dog muttered.

“Yeah?”

“Do you know who my mom is?” Dog asked hesitantly.

“Err, I don't know. Maybe you should ask your pa that one,” Pear Butter replied.

Dog’s face fell, a frown creasing her lips. She may not be my mom, but there was something in the way she said that makes me think she knows who is. Dog silently thanked her father for all the lessons on social manipulation and made a note to pay attention more next time. Apparently, they were more useful than she believed.

“Are you sure you don't know?” Dog pressed, trying to put as much cuteness as she could into the question.

The larger demon gulped awkwardly and took the next turn a little too quickly.

“You should really ask Lord Tirek, I think he’d like to be the one ta tell ya," Pear Butter replied.

Resorting to titles, that's not good. She must have been told not to tell me. Dog made a note of asking her father the same question later, evidently, it was something he wanted to reveal. With one question down, she launched into her next one.

“Why do you look like me?” Dog questioned.

The earth demon stopped and glanced over her shoulder at the filly.

“You mean the fact that we’re both four-leggers, right?” Pear Butter replied.

“You mean quadrupeds,” Dog corrected.

“Yeah, what you said,” the wrath demon replied, turning back around, and continuing the long walk back to the filly’s room.

Dog frowned, she was obviously avoiding the question again, and the imp could feel the tenseness in the demon’s back muscles.

“Is that something else you are not allowed to tell me?” Dog asked.

The larger demon sighed. “Yeah…”

For a long time, the pair were silent, with Dog trying to figure out some way to weasel the answers she wanted out of the wrath demon, while said demon tried desperately to think of a convenient lie that the clever filly wouldn't instantly see through. In the end, they both gave up, Dog deciding to respect her father’s wishes and Pear Butter realizing there was no conceivable perfect answer she could give.

Striking that question from her mental list as well, Dog launched into her next question.

“How did you end up working for my father?” Dog asked.

“I don't work for him, I serve him," Pear Butter corrected.

Dog cocked her head.

“What's the difference?” She asked.

“You really don't know?” Pear Butter asked, glancing over her shoulder.

Dog shrugged.

“I know father has lots of demons working for him, some under contract and stuff," Dog replied.

The larger demon turned back around and continued walking.

“Well, for one, your father is my master, he holds my very soul. Even if he didn't though, I’d still follow him,” Pear Butter stated.

“Really, whysat? Also, how does he have your soul? You look fine…” Dog muttered in confusion.

Pear butter chuckled darkly.

“I signed it over to him after he saved me, which answers both yer questions, I think," Pear Butter stated.

“Saved you? From what?” Dog asked, her eyes lighting up. “Was it a greed demon? Those things look scary…”

“Nah, nothing like that," Pear Butter began. "When I got here I didn't know what was going on or where I could find food or shelter. So when this nice-looking pony came up and offered to feed me and take care of me, I was ready to sign on the dotted line but then yer father came bursting in and told me what that contract really entailed.”

Dog’s eyes sparkled and she leaned even closer.

“Like what?” Dog pressed.

Pear grimaced.

“Something terrible, something so bad I gave my soul to your pa as thanks for savin’ me from it," Pear Butter remarked.

The filly frowned and crossed her hooves, and though she was tempted to push her line of questions, something about the finality in the demon’s voice made Dog reconsider. She fell back into her spot, hardly noticing as they passed through another checkpoint and neared her room.

“What happened before that?” Dog inquired.

“Before what?” Pear Butter replied.

“Before you came here? Where were you before?” Dog continued to question.

Dog knew there were other planes, but she had never met anyone who claimed to have traveled to one, the topic was a strangely sore one for Tirek and Dog had only managed to get vague responses from the centaur.

The larger demon stiffened and her voice lost some of its relaxing charm.

“What's the most valuable thing in the whole world?” Pear Butter asked back.

“Uhh…” Dog scratched her head. “My father?”

“Family is about the most important thing there is," Pear Butter agreed. "Sometimes ya gotta do the unthinkable for family, sometimes ya even gotta burn for ‘em.”

Pear Butter shook her head, the somber cloud hanging over them vanishing in an instant.

“Enough of that hooey, we’re almost there," the wrath demon offered suddenly.

As if on cue, they walked into the prison and were instantly assaulted by the sound of screaming. Dog relaxed at the sound, having grown strangely used to it over time, Pear Butter, however, stiffened, her jaw clenching tightly. The wrath demon muttered under her breath before briskly trotting over to the door to Dog’s room pulling it open and slipping inside.

The screams dulled slightly but were still clearly audible through the steel. Pear Butter winced.

“Is there any way to make it quieter?” Pear Butter asked.

Dog pointed to a small rune next to the door.

“Over there. Father installed a rune that makes them quiet for a while," Dog answered. "He put it there ‘cause there was one really loud demon who wouldn't let me get any sleep.”

Pear Butter eagerly pressed her hoof against the rune and sighed audibly when the screams dulled until they were barely perceptible.

“Oh, thank the stars,” Pear Butter muttered before kneeling down and allowing the filly to slip off her back.

Dog hopped off and gave her carrier a quizzical look.

“Why thank the stars? There are no stars in Tartarus," Dog pointed out.

“It's just an old saying where I come from. Now then, let's see that leg of yours," Pear Butter ordered.

Dog nodded and lay down on her now blanketed bed of stone. Pear Butter pushed down a smirk at the sight of the blankets. They were either red or black and one even had a smiling face of a demon in the middle. Though a little morbid, the picture was so cartoony that it was almost cute.

Dog followed the other demon’s eyes and smiled brightly when she noticed what Pear Butter was looking at.

“Oh, do you like Mister Scarlet too? I think he's cute, but don't tell Father," Dog exclaimed. "Cervantes had to sneak it back into my room after I got caught sleeping with it in the library again.”

Pear Butter giggled at the sight.

“He's very cute," Pear Butter agreed.

“He's super soft too! Here, touch him!” The filly eagerly proclaimed, pushing the warm blanket towards the wrath demon, who brushed her hoof against it.

“Oh wow, that is soft. What is it made of?” Pear Butter asked, genuinely curious.

Dog shrugged.

“I dunno, it's comfy though.” The filly tucked the blanket back under her, making sure to obscure the face of the grinning cartoon demon.

“Now then, let's see that leg.” Pear Butter knelt a little closer to the filly and gently lifted the injured leg, being careful not to accidentally pull it. “Now this might sting a bit, but don't move. Can ya do that fer me?”

Dog nodded slowly.

“Alright, now hold still," Pear Butter ordered sternly.

The wrath demon pulled the limb as straight as it would go before she felt Dog begin to tense. Then, utilizing her golden magic, she reached out and took the small bottle of ointment and gently began to spread it out over the imp’s leathery skin in slow, methodical circles. Once done, she tucked the bottle away and while keeping the filly’s limb as straight as possible, gently applied the tensor bandage.

“There, all done. How does it feel?” Pear Butter asked.

Dog wiped away a stray tear and gently pulled her injured leg against her chest.

“Better now, thank you," murmured the filly.

Pear Butter smiled warmly.

“Aww shucks, ain’t nothing. Now, ya gonna ask me any more questions before I go?” Pear Butter inquired, stretching her legs.

“Who says I even have any?” Dog replied, pouting.

“Ya ain't foolin' nobody there little one. I can almost see all those questions swirling behind your eyes," Pear Butter retorted.

Dog’s face scrunched up and she briefly wondered if wrath demons could actually do that, only to realize that the older demon had been joking with her. The filly sat up and folded her tiny hooves over her equally tiny chest.

“What’s the next lesson going to be about?” Dog asked.

“Oh uh…” Pear Butter muttered, scratching her head. “I noticed your form needs improvin’, so we gotta get you working on a style that works for your body type.”

“But Cervantes says my stance is good!” Dog proclaimed.

“He said what now?” Pear Butter muttered, shaking her head. “Nah, that ain't what I mean, I think. Your stance is good, but it mimics the fighting style of a two legger. Something you ain't.”

Dog grumbled, but admitted defeat.

“Alright, then what?” Dog asked.

The large demon shrugged.

“Dunno yet, we’ll have to see," she admitted.

Dog gasped.

“You don't have a lesson plan?” The filly exclaimed in shock.

“Lesson plan?” Pear Butter waved her hoof dismissively. “Nah, I just gotta wait and see where ya need improvement, then go from there.”

“I suppose that makes sense…” Dog reluctantly admitted, still a little baffled that her new teacher didn't have a plan.

The pair continued to chat for a considerable length of time. Though chatting may be a stretch as most of the ‘conversation’ was Dog asking a seemingly endless stream of questions. Most of which Pear Butter either wasn't allowed to answer, didn't know the answer to, or generally wasn't sure how to put the answer into words the filly would understand.

Time flew by as both demons conversed, and as the minutes passed the older demon couldn't help but be amazed at the little imp. Despite her size, she was fast and strong, but most importantly, she was intelligent. Pear Butter had heard the accounts of the filly’s intellect when she had first arrived and had been amazed. Now, she was absolutely blown away.

The wrath demon had always known Tirek was brilliant, the dumb don't survive in Tartarus for long and only the most intelligent make something out of such a miserable existence. Even with knowing just how brilliant her master was, she would have never have guessed that his brilliance extended to the field of teaching and yet here the filly sat, as brilliant as her ‘father’.

She wasn't quite as good when it came to social cues, but that seemed to be her own disinterest, though Dog had casually lamented the fact that she had not paid attention to her father’s teachings in that regard.

More than that, she was also well-learned in demonology, contracts, and dozens of other subjects. By the time Pear Butter left much later, she would remark to a fellow servant that she felt as though her mind was a sponge to the filly, to be squeezed of every drop of knowledge and added to her own. Now though, there was a comfortable silence as the wrath demon lay on the ground, her hoof extended while the imp pored over it, poking and prodding the limb.

“Does it hurt when I do this?” the imp asked, applying a little force to the bottom of the scale.

“Nah," Pear Butter replied. "My scales are pretty tough, so long as you ain't trying to peel em off me there ain't much that could hurt me.”

The filly’s face tightened and she stared at the scaled limb, her questions finally silenced. The larger demon’s eyebrow raised and when she reached the count of ten in her head, her smile widened.

“Wow, you went ten seconds without asking a question. Did you finally run out of ‘em?” Pear Butter replied.

“Kinda, I was just thinking…” Dog murmured.

Pear Butter raised an eyebrow.

“Watcha thinking of?” Pear Butter inquired.

“Well…” Dog began.

The imp tapped her hooves together nervously, her gaze lingering on the floor betwixt her hooved limbs.

“Promise you won't get mad?” Dog asked.

The wrath demon cocked her head.

“Why do you say that?” Pear Butter replied.

“Just promise, please?” Dog asked.

The filly looked up at the older demon with the wide, watery eyes of a doe.

Pear Butter’s lips moved before her mind could even catch up with her.

“Of course, little one, go on," Pear Butter encouraged.

“Well… I remember you calling yourself ‘Mama Pear’ earlier and that got me wondering. Do you have any imps of your own?” The filly asked, wide-eyed and curious.

Pear Butter’s face scrunched up for a second before she exploded with laughter.

“Of all the ways to ask that question," Pear Butter exclaimed in amusement.

She laughed deeply and slapped her hoof into the floor hard enough to send the filly airborne for a moment.

Dog remained silent, curiously watching the larger demon’s face. Emotions of joy were the most obvious, but there was a small hint of something darker lurking at the edge of her features. The way her forehead remained tight as if her laughter didn't reach that far, the way her jaw remained clenched, some unseen emotion keeping her muscles coiled. The filly couldn't help but wonder what could have caused such a conflicting state to occur.

Eventually, the demon’s laughter died down and she wiped a non-existent tear from her eye.

“To answer your question. Yes, I have little ones of my own. Though I’ll never see ‘em again," Pear Butter answered with a snort. “And I’m thankful for that.”

“But why?” Dog demanded to know.

The filly hopped to her hooves, striking a determined expression.

“I’m sure you’ll see your family one day, Pear Butter!” Dog proclaimed.

The demon shook her head slowly.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I know in my heart I will never see them again,” Pear Butter muttered. “Which is for the best.”

“No!” The filly declared, stomping her comparatively tiny hoof. “I know you want to see them again.”

Pear Butter chuckled and placed her hoof on the imp’s withers.

“Calm down, little one," Pear Butter warned.

“You said it yourself, family is the most important thing!" Dog all but shouted.

The wrath demon sighed and slowly shook her head.

“Alright alright, you got me. I do want to see them again, even if it's just to sing my little ones to sleep one last time," Pear Butter tiredly admitted.

Dog’s victorious smile faltered somewhat.

“What does sing mean?” Dog asked.

Pear blinked, only to laugh.

“He teaches you how to bend the fabric of reality, but not what a song is!” Pear Butter exclaimed.

Dog cocked her head.

“It's nothing, child," Pear Butter replied. "You sing songs, and a song is just a bunch of words spoken in a way that sounds…”

She scratched her head awkwardly, searching for a word.

“Musical," Pear Butter concluded.

“Can you sing me a song?” Dog asked.

The imp looked up at the wrath demon, her already large eyes seemingly growing even larger.

Pear Butter scratched her hoof awardly, tearing her eyes from the filly’s nearly hypnotic stare.

“I don't know, the boss might not like…” Pear Butter began.

She glanced over at the filly once more and instantly felt her resistance melt away when she noticed the filly’s eyes had begun to water.

“Alright," Pear Butter muttered in defeat. "But then you gotta lay down and get some sleep. You had a long day.”

The filly nodded, squirming under her covers and looking over at the wrath demon with wide inquisitive eyes.

“I’m ready," Dog declared.

The wrath demon smiled faintly, breathed deeply and began to sing.

Lullaby, and good night, in the skies stars are bright.
May the moon's silvery beams bring you sweet dreams.
Close your eyes now and rest, may these hours be blessed.
'Til the sky's bright with dawn, when you wake with a yawn.
Lullaby, and goodnight, you are mother's delight.
I'll protect you from harm, and you'll wake in my arms.
Sleepyhead, close your eyes, for I'm right beside you.
Guardian angels are near, so sleep without fear.
Lullaby, and good night, with roses bedight.
Lilies o'er head, lay thee down in thy bed.
Lullaby, and goodnight, you are mother's delight.
I'll protect you from harm, and you'll wake in my arms.
Lullaby, and sleep tight, my darling sleeping.
On sheets white as cream, with a head full of dreams.
Sleepyhead, close your eyes, I'm right beside you.
Lay thee down now and rest, may your slumber be blessed.

Pear Butter smiled faintly, noticing the filly was already fast asleep, her chest rising and falling peacefully. The wrath demon remained sitting for several long seconds, merely watching the imp as she slumbered before remembering her many duties and slowly rising from the cold stone floor.

She sighed, wanting nothing more than to have kept sitting there, watching the filly as she slumbered.

The demon turned to the door and glanced at the rune next to it. She could tell the array was already beginning to lose its charge and though she was bound to respect her master, she couldn't help but mutter her disapproval under her breath. She angled her head towards the rune and channeled what little magical might she had left at her disposal, feeding all she had into the rune.

Though her breathing became ragged due to the magical exhaustion, Pear Butter’s head was held high, a proud smile on her face. She may have wasted all the mana she had before her daily magic lesson, but it was well worth it.

She cast one last glance over her shoulder and smiled faintly.

Very well worth it. She thought.

Author's Note

Edited by the Everwonderful, EverFreePony!
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Trial One: Preparation (R)

Tirek placed a weary hand on the wall, leaning on the stonework as he massaged his temples, in long, slow movements.

“Stick to the plan, Tirek, we can still make this work,” Tirek muttered to himself.

The centaur breathed deeply and stood up straight, forcing his body to appear more confident than he felt.

With well-planned movements he trotted into the war room, only this time there was no air of joviality. The centaur had a plan to enact, pieces to put into place, and ultimately, a pride demon to kill. Even when everything around him seemed to go wrong, the stubborn centaur would never give up, especially now with his own pride on the line, and the potential for many gains to be had.

“Pear Butter, what is the status of our communications with that worthless pile of flesh?” Tirek snapped suddenly.

The wrath demon recoiled slightly, surprised by the anger in her master’s tone.

“Not good sir, he keeps denying our attempts to establish a link with his ‘palace’,” she answered, adding air quotes around the word palace as the castle he resided in was nothing compared to a true palace.

Rather than be annoyed by this turn of events, Tirek merely nodded, as if he had foreseen this outcome. “Contact him again and tell him that I have his toy. Use those exact words and we will have our audience.”

Pear Butter nodded, her horns alighting with power as she cast a rudimentary conversation spell. After several seconds of the demon sitting quietly with her muscles tense with anticipation, her eyes suddenly shot open. She smirked before nodding slowly and dismissing the power from her horns.

She shook her head and looked over at Tirek, a smile on her lips.

“I don't know how you did it, but he's willing to set up an emergency meeting. Though he wants it to happen at his fortress within the next forty-eight hours with only a single representative and two guards," Pear Butter remarked.

Tirek smiled a wide, cruel smile.

“I knew he would say that," Tirek declared. "Though I was hoping he would allow a larger security detail. The fool is too paranoid for his own good. Little does he know this will play perfectly into our hand.”

The wrath demon nodded eagerly, wanting to speak, but knowing better than to interrupt her master when he got into one of his moods.

“Good. I want you to put together a security detail that will be able to deal with this threat if things go sideways,” Tirek began, his visage darkening as he looked at Pear Butter with steel in his eyes. “I am sick and tired of this fool, when it hits the fan I want you ready to not escape, but rather to put this sorry sack of demon meat out of commission permanently. If not, do as much damage as possible, steal everything that isn't nailed down, and get out of there with your life. Your top priority will be whatever it is that allows him to make that shield of his, how you do it and the specifics are up to you. Do you understand?”

The wrath demon’s grin grew to disturbing proportions, the promise of shedding blood and possibly destroying an opponent that had messed with her master was like music to her ears.

“You got it boss. Anything else I should know?” Pear Butter asked.

Tirek smirked.

“Yes. You will be my emissary," Tirek stated.

“Err, what?” Pear Butter muttered, scratching her head awkwardly. “You sure about that boss? Even when I was mortal I wasn't exactly known for mah diction if you catch mah drift.”

The centaur laughed heartily at the overplayed accent.

“I know, but this deal is going to require a rather... blunt touch," Tirek exclaimed.

Pear Butter snorted.

“Well, I can certainly do that. Any tips before ya send me out there?” Pear Butter asked.

“This demon is a creature of desire and habit, be cagey about giving up this ‘toy’. Seem interested at first, then uninterested once he starts talking details. He tends to overcommit if you pull back your initial deal,” Tirek began, the centaur steepled his hands and smiled. “I want to get as much as possible out of this fool before I destroy him and you will be my agent in this endeavor.”

The wrath demon grinned in unrestrained joy.

“You got it, boss. That everything?” Pear Butter inquired.

“That is all," Tirek answered. "Oh and before you set up the team, make sure to stop in with Dog at the gym and ensure Cervantes has followed your lesson plan.”

“Absolutely,” Pear Butter declared.

The wrath demon then stood and quickly trotted away, slipping out the door and down the hall with a little more speed than normal.

Tirek smiled a wide, crooked smile and began to drum his fingers together.

“All according to plan," he muttered to himself.

Dog waved her hoof enthusiastically, hopping up and down as she did.

“Bye, Miss Pear Butter! Good luck on your mission!” Dog shouted.

The wrath demon smiled back, her mind awhirl with emotions she had not felt in years.

“See ya later, squirt! Oh and make sure to watch that left flank of yours, don't want ol’ Cervy there kicking yer sorry hide again, now do we?”

Dog pouted dramatically, sitting on her butt and crossing her hooves over her chest.

“It was one time!” She whined.

Pear Butter chuckled and walked out the door. She gave the filly one last wave over the shoulder before leaving the gym, embarking on her goal that lay on the other side of the tower and after that, into the wastes beyond.

Dog spun back around and looked up at Cervantes.

The armored demon nodded slowly, striking a pose that saw his body and posture become much, much lower to the ground. It was awkward, but he was nothing if not flexible and easily adapted to the lower stance.

Dog struck a similar pose, lowering her body slightly and coiling her muscles, readying herself for the opening move. Her mind spun with possibilities that her new teacher had given her, techniques and ideas that had at long last made the armored demon feel like a true opponent.

The filly leaped backward, her lightning-fast movements barely enough to keep up with her only slightly slower opponent. An armored first shot down to where she had been standing a moment earlier and narrowly missed her head. Due to Cervantes having to compensate for Dog’s diminutive height, the imp had a potent window of vulnerability to exploit and only milliseconds to do just that.

Using her powerful equine legs, she launched herself forward, landing on the armored demon’s arm and sprinting up toward his head. Cervantes was no slouch and even the unconventional tactic wasn't enough to make him flinch. Rather than shake his arm like he assumed the filly wanted, he pulled it forward, bringing his head down to meet the filly’s charge. So intent on delivering a spar-ending headbutt, Cervantes was left utterly unprepared when his attack once more met nothing but air.

The filly had used the fact that the demon’s vision was imperfect, with a trio of spikes on his brow making it hard for him to see up. Exploiting that opening, she had launched up over his helmet. Once airborne and behind her target she lashed out with a kick directly to the back of the armored demon’s neck. The attack didn't carry a lot of weight behind it due to the odd angle, but it didn't have to, as the armor creaked under the comparatively light blow.

Now off balance and overcommitted, Cervantes was forced to move forward and spin around, hoping to protect his more vulnerable back. A move Dog saw coming and when she landed, she quickly spun and sprung off the ground, once more using her powerful back legs to launch her like a bullet. The tiny combatant slammed into the back of the other demon’s knee, making his already perilous balance ever more off-kilter.

When the filly landed once more, she turned and hoped to see the armored demon wildly off balance, exposing some manner of vulnerability to exploit. Only for the demon to have rolled to the side and sprung back to his feet.

“Oh come on!” she whined, her advantage once more snuffed away by the biped’s more fluid movement.

Cervantes moved to lash out with a fist, only to stop unexpectedly and bow to someone behind Dog.

Dog quickly spun around, her eyes going wide.

“Father!” The filly proclaimed, grappling his leg in a tight hug while beaming up at him.

Tirek chuckled, reaching down and patting the filly on the head.

“That's quite enough of that, I have something important to tell you," Tirek exclaimed.

The filly hopped backward, her wide eyes beaming up at her father.

“Yes, father? Oh, is it about a mission? Do I get to help Miss Pear Butter?” Dog asked, her voice full of hope.

The centaur smirked. Clever girl, he thought.

“In a way you will," Tirek exclaimed, kneeling down and getting to about the same level as the filly. “Tell me, Dog, how went your secret training with our resident spymaster?”

Dog frowned suddenly, scowling at the thought.

“Okay,” she muttered.

Tirek lifted an eyebrow at the less-than-enthusiastic remark.

“What did you learn?” Tirek prompted.

Dog snorted angrily.

“How to sneak properly, stay out of sight, utilize line of sight and stuff like that. Why?” Dog retorted.

“Good, because you are going to need those skills tomorrow," Tirek answered.

Dog’s grumpy expression suddenly washed away as realization dawned on her.

“You mean I get to help Miss Pear Butter after all?” Dog inquired.

“That's correct, in fact, I have a very special mission in mind for you,” Tirek answered, reaching down and ruffling the filly’s mane. “How’s that sound?”

The filly beamed, leaning into the centaur’s hand and grinning madly.

“Sounds great father, what do you want me to do?” Dog inquired.

“I will tell you more soon, for now, you must finish today’s training, after which we will review the stealth training, as well as some other aspects of your knowledge base,” Tirek exclaimed.

The centaur stood, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

The filly nodded eagerly, turning back to Cervantes and striking another low combat pose.

Cervantes glanced at Tirek, and after receiving a nod of affirmation, struck a similar pose.

“Begin!” Tirek proclaimed.

Dog groaned, rubbing her temples as she tried to get her brain working once more. It was bad enough that her father had tested her extensively the night before, but he had also done so after one of the most rigorous training sessions Dog had ever gone through. Evidently, he wanted her to be ready for something, but what?

He had been relatively quiet on what exactly her mission was, and how it would help Miss Pear Butter on hers, but Dog remained optimistic that she would be useful. Even if her father seemed hell-bent on giving her jobs that would put her as far away as possible from any potential action, she was still hopeful that she could do something of use, even if he hadn't said much about her mission.

All he had shared with her so far was the fact that she would be in the front, but not allowed to engage anyone, doing what her father called ‘reconnaissance’. The filly had never heard that word before, but she had been excited as it sounded big and important, only to discover that it just meant sneaking around and reporting on what she saw. This realization made her rather disillusioned with the whole thing.

The filly wiped the last of the sleep from her eyes and looked out over the library, wondering where to start. Her father had been vague on when they were going to meet, at which point she would presumably be filled in on her mission and more specifics, so in the meantime she had chosen to wander the stacks as she waited.

Her eyes glanced over hundreds of titles, and though wandering through her father’s section of the library had always intrigued her, today it just felt boring. She was going on a mission soon and though she wasn't going to help as directly as she liked, she was still being trusted with something important to her father. Her excitement was palpable, but it was because of just that excitement that she found it hard to focus on something as mundane as reading. Compared to the excitement of leaving the tower and going out into some unknown area of Tartarus, even the secret books her father didn't let her read were uninteresting.

After glancing past the section on blood magic and necromancy, the filly let out an anguished cry of absolute boredom. She wanted to get out there already!

She continued to pace the stacks, glancing at titles only to turn away at the last second, uninterested in anything that wasn't the mission she was about to go on.

So consumed was the filly that she hadn't even noticed someone else in the library until she nearly ran into the individual’s legs. Dog took a step back and looked up, a grin growing on her face.

“Pythias!” the filly squealed, reaching her hooves up towards the thin seer.

Pythias was clad in her regular hooded robes, the book she had in her hand put aside the moment she saw the filly. The skinny bipedal humanoid grinned despite her stitched lips, crouching down and running a hand through the filly’s mane and down her back.

Dog couldn't help but shudder in delight, loving every second of the delicate attention she was the recipient thereof. The seer stood suddenly after only a few pats, a contemplative look on her face.

“Huh, what's wrong?” Dog asked, looking up at the female.

The seer walked away, waving a hand to the filly in an attempt to get her to follow, which Dog eagerly did, keeping close behind the robed female as she walked deeper into the library.

“Where are we going?”

The seer ignored her entirely, merely slipping through the stacks and towards some unseen goal further in. Finally, after what felt like forever, she suddenly stopped in front of a set of bookshelves in Tirek’s section of the library. At the top of the shelf was a small marker indicating the section they were in, and it had but two simple words upon it.

Memory Spells.

The shelf itself was slightly smaller than the others and had only a few tomes resting on it, which was intriguing in its own way as Tirek’s collection was quite expansive. The seer scanned the titles and quickly found what she was looking for, a smile spreading across her face once more. Reaching out a hand, she put a little of her own power into the appendage, gripping the tome tightly and yanking it from the shelf as though it had been nailed in place. The seer breathed hard through her nose, her hand clutched tightly against her chest, a thin waft of smoke coming from the injured appendage.

“Why did you do that?” Dog asked innocently, confused by the strange turn of events.

The seer leaned down a strangely serious expression crossing her scarred and deformed features. In her haste her hood fell, revealing a scarred head that had been wiped clean of hair save for a few errant threads of gold and red that poked out randomly.

Pushing the book into the filly’s chest, the seer nodded, trying to get the filly to take it. Dog blinked but reluctantly took the book, trusting the seer. The imp was surprised when suddenly the seer’s hand began to glow before gently laying over Dog’s head. When the thin humanoid’s hand connected, a bridge was formed, and Dog was instantly assaulted by visions of a great castle, and a large mirror nearly twice the size of her. Then the visions were gone and a single thought was placed into the filly’s mind.

Study the book in secret, it will make your father proud.

Dog recoiled, falling onto her rump and staring up at the seer with fear and confusion.

The burst of magic seemed to have had an effect on the seer as well and two thin trickles of blood dripped from beneath the blind she always wore, emanating from where her eyes should be. Before she could ask any questions, the emancipated seer stood suddenly, put a finger over her stitched lips, and walked away, tossing her hood back up.

“Hey wait, I have so many questions!” Dog yelled after her, clutching the book to her chest with a hoof and running with the other three.

The distinct clank of the seer’s iron collar and heavy iron chains could be heard from just around the corner and Dog was hot on her trail. With a triumphant smile she leapt around the corner, only for her jaw to hang open when there was no seer in sight.

“But what am I supposed to do with this?” she asked the empty library, holding up the strange book.

The filly frowned, and for a second she considered simply telling her father, but then the seer’s words flashed through her mind once more and she felt a grin slip onto her face. If studying this book in secret would impress her father, then why shouldn't she do just that? Surely there was nothing wrong with that, right?

The filly shrugged, figuring that Pythias wouldn't have shown her the book if she wasn't supposed to have it. Her father must have just forgotten to tell her how to remove the book without hurting herself.

Realization quickly dawned on her, and she remembered that her father was supposed to be here soon. Pythias had been quite insistent on it being a secret though so, thinking quickly, she sprinted over to her comparatively small section of the library and slipped the memory book behind a set of atlases of foreign planes. The smaller spell book easily fit behind them and with a confident nod, Dog turned back around just in time to see Tirek walk into the room, a small smile on his face.

Dog breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly trotted up to the centaur.

“Hello father!” she greeted warmly, beaming up at the larger being.

The centaur nodded, ruffling the filly’s mane with a hand.

“Good morning, Dog. How have your studies been?” Tirek inquired.

The filly pawed the floor nervously.

“I’m a little too excited for reading, can't concentrate," Dog admitted.

The centaur smirked.

“That's to be expected. I suppose you are ahead enough of your studies that you can afford a few days off," Tirek declared.

Dog grinned wide, her eyes sparkling.

“Thank you, father!” She shouted in delight.

“Don't thank me yet, little one, I have more news about your mission," Tirek warned.

The filly nodded, quickly scampering off and returning the atlas she had first pulled out to its proper spot before sitting down on a pile of cushions. Tirek slumped into a similar pile of pillows across from the filly, his expression a little more serious than Dog’s wide-eyed look.

“I told you before how you will be on reconnaissance, yes?” Tirek began.

The filly nodded.

“You are going to meet with Sisyphus near the enemy’s base. Once there, he is going to brief you on your mission and the possible dangers, after that, you will use this information to sneak into the base, disable a shield that protects the fortress, and then sneak back out. Understood?” Tirek explained.

The filly’s already wide eyes grew even larger and she nodded eagerly.

“Yes, father!” She replied.

“This is going to be dangerous," Tirek warned. "So I want you to remember everything you learned and don't ever forget that these demons won't hesitate to kill you.”

Dog nodded obediently.

“And I am not allowed to die,” she repeated.

“Right,” Tirek muttered.

The centaur grinned and trotted over to the filly, resting a hand on her head.

“You are important, little one, do not waste what I have given you," Tirek exclaimed.

“Of course not, father!” Dog proclaimed.

The filly grinned a wide, fang-filled smile, pressing her head up against her father’s hand.

“Good. For we have much work to be done," Tirek concluded.

Author's Note

Welcome to the begining of the next arc! Sorry its a little on the short side but I had to break it up or the chapter would have been like 30 or so pages long. Anywway, the next chapter is done and is being edited now, expect it soon!

Trial One: Execution (R)

Dog eagerly bounced from left to right, shifting her weight from one side to the other as she stared intently at the door before her. The room she was in was relatively small and had been used as little more than a storage space near the main teleport array, but the filly didn't mind. Normally Dog would marvel over every little thing in the room, from the small collection of arming crystals for bizarre crystal-based weapons higher on the shelf to the more rudimentary arms and armor near the bottom. Even the more mundane items would usually catch her attention, like the various small jars filled with minor souls or essences lining one shelf near her right.

Despite all those curious items, Dog was intent on staring unblinkingly at the door in front of her.

“Come on, come on, come on!” She muttered to herself, continuing to hop from one hoof to another.

She had been sent here to don her armor and weapon and load up on supplies, but she had finished doing that ten minutes ago and her father had yet to come retrieve her. Thoughts of the impending mission flashed through her mind, making her bounce from hoof to hoof even faster as a wide smile spread across her face. This was it, her first mission and her only regret was that she couldn't bring her cleaver with her, and was forced to bring a more mundane dagger.

The filly squealed in delight, imagining all the praise that her father would give her and if she was lucky, maybe even a new book, or homework!

Her fantasy was brushed aside when she noticed the door beginning to open, and with speed that would have impressed her combat teacher, Twilight leaped up at the door just as it opened.

“Oof.” Tirek stumbled back, temporarily taken aback by the sudden impact against his midsection.

“Father!” Dog yelled.

The old centaur laughed, looking down at Dog who clung to his torso with all four hooves, her wide eyes peering up at him with complete adoration. With a reluctant sigh, he pushed down the mote of annoyance that wormed into his thoughts and forced himself to pat the filly on the head.

“Now now Dog, what did I say about hugging?” Tirek exclaimed without an ounce of venom.

Dog pouted and fell from the centaur with a soft thump, her butt impacting the ground. Her wide-eyed expression fell away, replaced by a mask of disappointment.

“To ask first,” she tiredly replied.

“Exactly,” Tirek stated, his small smile slipping away. “Now Dog, how did the armor fit?”

Dog blinked, looking down at the armor she had nearly forgotten about. It was slim and fit her perfectly, small plates bound by straps covered her most vital places while leather armor of unknown origin covered everything else. It was plain in comparison to the extensively enchanted armor the rest of the guards and soldiers in her father’s employ wore, being little more than black leather and grey plates.

“It's fine,” she remarked with a hint of sadness.

Tirek rolled his eyes, already seeing this coming.

“Yes, well, when you have earned your place, you will receive your own set of proper armor, for now, be happy that you have any at all. How does your weapon feel?” Tirek pressed.

“Yes father, its fine, father,” The filly grouched, shifting slightly to display the dagger belted to her barrel.

Tirek’s eyes narrowed, trying to figure out if the filly was being snarky or not. In the end, he just shrugged, unable to muster the effort.

“Come Dog, we have final preparations to attend to before I send you on your way," Tirek proclaimed.

The filly nodded eagerly, following close in her father’s hoof steps.

Together the pair passed by several halls filled with the hustle and bustle of activity. Numerous demonic servants skittered between the legs of large golems, ferrying arms, armor, magical components, and items that Dog didn't even have names for. Evidently, this was a larger mission than what the filly had first assumed.

The pair turned and entered a barracks of some kind that contained demons of all shapes and sizes. Though most seemed to be more warlike demons like hate bearers, rage demons, and the odd war specter, Dog could still see a select few demons she would not have assumed would serve her father in such a capacity. Small, four feet tall clawed imps, scurried around a tall floating demon with a strange crest around the back of its head. Though it had wings, it didn't seem to need them and they lay dormant along its back while it floated impassively in mid-air.

Dog oohed and awed at the sights, sticking close to her father’s heels. Most demons gave Tirek a wide, respectful berth, and the few that did not received a harsh glare for their small act of defiance. Those who were on the receiving end of the fear demon’s ire shrunk away, muttering apologies in the demonic language that Dog had not had the chance to learn as of yet.

Amidst all the activity, Dog saw the glint of a gold scale in the sea of mostly blacks, greys, and reds that seemed to dominate most of the demons. The filly’s eyes lit up as she recognized the familiar appearance of the wrath demon standing amidst a small throng of various other demonic creatures. She spoke animatedly, locked in some sort of heated argument with an imposing armor demon that appeared to be a mess of interlocking spiked plates with no way to tell where its face was supposed to be.

Dog grinned and was about to launch into a greeting when Tirek suddenly spoke.

“Come Dog, we have no time to waste and neither does Pear Butter, so do not distract her," Tirek warned.

The imp pouted but did as she was told.

“Yes faaather," Dog whined.

Tirek rolled his eyes, noting that he would have to have a talk about being respectful when she spoke to him. In the meantime, he had more than enough on his plate.

The pair exited the barracks, made another quick turn, and after a brief set of stairs and passing by an imposing set of golems, they arrived in the teleportation room.

“Wow,” Dog muttered.

Standing there, she felt her eyes drawn up and around the room, marveling at the intricacies that seemed to cover every square inch therein.

The space was dominated by glowing runes and strange arrays of magic, the only living thing inside being the blindfolded seer standing dutifully off to the side, her hood up and her torso bent, bowing low to her master.

The area was a wide, circular room that seemed comparable to the library in size, except this room was relatively empty. Sure there were braziers standing every few feet near the wall, coloring the room with an eerie red glow, but save for the sources of light the space was empty of all furnishings. What really drew Dog’s eye was the intricate weave of spellcraft that seemed to cover every inch of the space. In the middle of which center was a massive spell array that hummed with such power that it made Dog’s hooves itch and her teeth vibrate just looking at it.

At the center was a dull blue circle, surrounded by an incredibly detailed rune array that Dog couldn't even begin to guess the purpose of. Around the blue center array were formed several secondary runes and symbols, stretching from the array at the center of the room all the way to the walls. These were much more numerous and the lines inlaid in the ground were usually a deep red or imposing black, all of which glowed with a strange light.

The filly shivered as she looked at the runes, and something told her that they contained enough power to tear her form asunder without expending even the smallest degree of its stored energy. From there the runes and symbols crawled up the walls and roof, growing smaller and more numerous as they did. If Dog had to guess they were designed for a more specific purpose while the larger ones were for more obvious things like stopping unauthorized teleportation or acting as defensive wards in case the first failed.

“Come along, Dog,” Tirek commanded.

Dog nodded obediently, continuing to stare in awe at the masterwork of magic and engineering on display.

The fear demon stopped a few meters from the center-most array, keeping a wide berth from the blue lines. He stooped low, gripping Dog’s chin and pulling her away from her wide-eyed staring.

“I need you to pay attention now, Dog," Tirek stated sternly.

The filly nodded slowly.

“Good, what I am going to tell you is very important,” Tirek stressed, prompting Dog to gulp and stand a little straighter. “I am going to cast a spell on you that will ensure I will be able to keep an eye on you. It may feel funny at first, but that will pass, ignore it.”

“It's not going to hurt, is it?” Dog asked.

“It might," he admitted, wincing as he did so. "It won't be much though. First I need to tell you more about your mission, so listen closely.”

The filly nodded eagerly, inching a little closer to the much larger demon.

“You will be arriving near my spymaster, who will give you instructions from there. I want you to respect him as if he were me, understood?” Tirek stated.

The filly nodded resolutely, flashing her father a winning smile.

“Yes sir!” Dog proclaimed.

“Good. Now prepare yourself, child.” Tirek concluded, his expression growing grim as he rose to his full height.

Dog pushed down the sliver of doubt that tried to worm into her mind, maintaining her wide and proud stance even as her father’s hands began to glow.

Bright demonic sigils expanded from her father’s wrists and his palms lit up with a deep red light, then in a flash of it was all gone, and the pain began.

The filly clenched her jaw and resisted the urge to fall to her knees, a sudden and intense feeling of her organs being compressed and turned into jelly nearly knocking her off balance. She would not be laid low by such minuscule pain and refused to give up, maintaining her stance and even forcing a smile onto her face while every one of her nerves cried out in agony. Slowly the pain began to dissipate, becoming bearable, then finally disappearing altogether.

The filly slowly opened her eyes and looked around, testing each one of her hooves before sighing and standing up straight.

“Is that it?” she asked nervously.

“That is all, for now," Tirek muttered weakly.

He then turned suddenly, startling the seer that had taken up a position near the door.

“Pythias!” Called the fear demon.

The seer nodded and eagerly scampered up to the centaur before bowing low once more.

Tirek waved a hand at the teleport array at the center of the room.

“Have the array ready to fire and indicate to me when it is ready to do so," Tirek ordered.

The hooded humanoid bowed low once more before walking over to the array, her hands glowing a soft teal light.

The centaur studied the seer’s actions for a few seconds and after determining she was doing exactly as commanded, turned once more to Dog.

“Now child, I want you to know that this may be a difficult challenge, but I have faith in you," Tirek began, his voice ringing with worry for a moment.

Dog grinned, beaming proudly.

“I won't let you down, father!” She proclaimed.

“No matter what, remember that I am proud of you," Tirek exclaimed.

The aged centaur then reached forward and pulled the filly into a tight but brief hug, leaving the imp breathless and confused.

“F-father?” Dog muttered in confusion.

Tirek swallowed hard and stood tall once more.

“Now get ready to show me what you have learned," Tirek ordered, his voice devoid of the usual stern authority that it usually did.

The imp nodded eagerly once more.

“I am going to kick so much butt, father!” Dog proclaimed.

She flashed her father a winning grin before bouncing over to the array and standing beside the seer.

Pythias bowed low, her hands losing their blue glow and lowering to her sides.

Tirek glanced at the array, noting that it was glowing much, much brighter, the entire thing filled to the brim with potent energy and positively humming with power. He waved his own hand over the array, using his magic to check that the proper location was implemented. He took a slow step back, his hands losing their trademark red glow.

“Good, stand upon the platform, Dog," Tirek ordered.

The imp gulped and scampered over to the center of the room, standing in the exact middle of the array with a huge beaming smile of absolute confidence.

“Ready father!” Dog shouted.

The glow returned to her father’s hands, only this time it grew and grew until it flashed suddenly. When his magic surged, so did the magic within the array, bathing the room in a bright blue surge of magic and forcing Tirek to look away for a moment.

When he looked back, the array was empty. The centaur’s right hand lit with a prepared spell, causing a small prism of light to form several inches above his outstretched palm. Inside the crystal was a rather confused and slightly singed Dog, stumbling from hoof to hoof as her eyeballs rolled around in her head. After tripping and falling on her face she shook her head vigorously and took a deep breath of the sulfuric air.

With her bearings returned, she looked around until her eyes flashed with recognition and she scampered off towards the distant form of Tirek’s spymaster. With a sigh, the centaur dismissed the glow, and with it the view of his favorite minion.

“Make ready to transport Pear Butter and the rest of the emissary team. I don't need to remind you what would happen if you spoke about what you saw, now do I?” Tirek proclaimed, lifting his eyebrow and staring at the emaciated creature.

The seer shook her head vigorously while bowing extremely low.

“I didn't think so,” Tirek muttered.

The centaur then turned back and stalked away, leaving the seer to slowly rise once more.

Pythias sighed, running a hand over her mostly bald head. When she looked at her hand, she noted a few stray strands of red and gold hairs clung to it. With a miserable snort, she shook her hand free of the offending strands. She turned back to the array and activated her teal-colored magic once more, only to hesitate a moment as a thought occurred to her.

The spell Tirek had used was… strange to say the least and the seer had grown used to studying demonic magic enough to know that it wasn't meant to do something as benign as simply watch a target. Furthermore, though the spell was mostly a mystery, she could tell that at least one part of the component was meant to record what it saw. What did that mean and what purpose could the aged centaur have in recording the exploits of a filly?

She shook her head and willed more power into her palms, determined not to raise the ire of her master twice in one day.

Outside the room, Tirek walked in the direction of the library, his thoughts consumed by strange and cloying questions. So occupied was the centaur that he hardly even noticed when Pear Butter approached him until she cleared her throat.

“Y’all right there, boss?” she asked hesitantly.

“I am fine," Tirek stated a bit too firmly to sound natural. "Do you need something, Pear Butter?”

“Was just wondering what the hold up was, is all, the boys are ready to go on your orders," Pear Butter replied.

Tirek glanced over the assembled troops with bored disinterest.

“Good, Pythias is warming up the teleporter as we speak. Make ready for your departure and remember your lessons," Tirek warned.

Pear Butter nodded, watching as the centaur slipped away, hardly noticing the demons all staring at him. The wrath demon shook her head and stomped her hoof, gaining the attention of her subordinates.

“Alright, you sorry bunch of worms, you ready to be bored to tears?” Pear Butter boomed.

A chorus of groans, soft chitters, and gelatinous squelching met the question, making Pear Butter chuckle.

“Chin up, something tells me the boss man has more plans in store for us, so no slouching, capiche?” Pear Butter pressed.

The assembled demons all nodded or made the equivalent of such an action as they lacked a head or neck.

“Let's go raise a little hell," Pear Butter remarked with a smirk.

The filly eagerly leaped over small rocks, dodged around boulders, and bounded her way up the steep incline. Her eyes fixated on the crouched form half-hidden behind a boulder just up ahead. Dog knew this shape well and though she was not glad to see him, she was glad to have completed the first of her father’s instructions for her.

As she neared she could tell the demon was no longer clad in the wildly colorful robes she had last seen him in, but rather a slim, form-fitting set of black and red leather armor that clung tightly to his muscled form. Numerous daggers were belted to his body, among other equally as numerous weapons the likes of which Dog didn't even have names for.

She leaped over one last boulder and stopped a few paces away from the crouched figure, throwing a hoof against her forehead in a triumphant salute.

“Reporting for duty, Mister Sisyphus!” Dog proclaimed.

“What did I tell you about being silent?” the figure hissed without turning around.

Dog gulped and lowered her stance slightly.

“Sorry sir,” she whispered back.

The figure sighed and turned around, revealing an angled, goatlike face with twin horns growing from just above his brow and grew backward, extending over a foot behind his head on either side. His face was much, much more pointed than a normal goat’s however and a shaggy mess of black hair covered the majority of his features, leaving only a single shining yellow eye and his pearly white teeth visible.

Sisyphus sneered at the filly but seemed to lose his bluster quickly, his anger turning into a sigh.

“Please tell me you remembered at least one of my lessons," he muttered.

Dog pouted in that adorable way that only the very young could.

“I did!” She proclaimed, only to wither slightly. “I’m just excited, is all.”

The demon crossed his arms over his chest and fixed Dog with a steady glare.

“Well, take a second and reign that in, or we both might not make it back," he warned.

The filly gulped.

“Yes sir," Dog murmured.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply a few times before reluctantly opening her eyes once more and nodding to the larger demon.

“Good,” he said simply, then motioned for Dog to join him at the small ridge he had been looking out over moments earlier.

Dog restrained her urge to hop over to him and instead followed his lead and silently slipped between the two large boulders that obscured them from sight. She trotted in close to the larger demon and restrained her enthusiasm at the sight that she beheld.

Directly beneath her was an expansive wasteland of blasted stone and sand, broken only by the occasional hill or valley that seemed to dot the landscape at random. This barren land extended from one horizon to another, fading into distant mountains to her right and rising steppes to her left. She could only spot a single piece of the wasteland that seemed to be unnatural and it lay smack dab right in the middle.

A huge stone castle complete with walls, towers, a keep, as well as a massive red shield that covered the entire thing.

“Wow,” Dog whispered, marveling at the sheer size and scope of the enormous shield.

“And you’re going to bring it all crashing down,” the other demon added.

“Uh, I thought father told me I was going to do reconnaissance," Dog murmured.

“You are, in a way,” Sisyphus remarked. “Your father didn't want to get you too excited but he planned for you to be the key to his entire plan.”

The filly’s eyes went wide.

“Really?” She muttered.

“Indeed, but only if I think you can handle it,” he said sternly.

Dog clamped her mouth shut and stowed the happy giggle that had almost slipped past her lips. “I can do it,” she announced as sternly as she could muster.

“Good, because this is going to be difficult. There are several patrols, traps, detection spells, and numerous other minor things that you will need to surpass in order to reach the crystal that powers the entire shield," Sisyphus explained.

The grim look on the demon’s face hardened Dog’s resolve and she nodded resolutely.

“Should I start with mapping out patrol routes or do you want me to begin with clearing the surrounding area for secret entrances and hidden defenses?” Dog asked.

The older demon slowly smiled.

“Actually I’ve done all that for you,” the other demon answered, poking a blackened nail into the filly’s chest. “You just have to follow the plan I’ve set aside. Think you can do that?”

Dog winced and rubbed her chest.

“Yes sir,” she mumbled.

Sisyphus smirked and stood back up, leaning on one of the boulders.

“Alright, first thing you have to know is-”

Dog lowered her head, sprinting across an exposed patch of land before leaping behind a large rock. The filly wiped a sheen of sweat from her forehead and forced her breathing to normalize. Alright, minefield and detection spells are behind me. It's a straight sprint a hundred meters to the shield.

The filly puffed out her chest and breathed deeply, filling herself with confidence. Three, two, one, go!

She turned and with a burst of speed, began sprinting towards the enormous red shield that spread out before her. Between her and it was an empty expanse that was bereft of the usual clutter of variously sized rocks and debris. It was flat, perfectly so, allowing the scanning spell she knew would be coming around in thirty seconds to work more efficiently.

With that in mind, the filly broke out all the stops and poured herself into the simple act of sprinting as fast as possible. A hundred meters was a simple task to complete in the allotted time, but where the difficulty came in was breaking past the barrier in that amount of time and it didn't help matters that she couldn't bring along her trusty cleaver.

Dog remembered well the warning she had received from her father the day earlier, that full demons could not pass through it, but imps, like her, could. Even still, she would need a good running start, then summon the single bit of magical power she could muster and focus it just as she hit the shield. The filly whizzed through the empty expanse and with only a metre between her and the shield, launched into the air with all the power her tiny legs were capable of.

Once airborne, she pulled back a hoof and channeled the power as her father instructed, making her hoof glow with a magenta light. Her calculations were complete, her timing perfect, and her power channeled, she collided with the shield with all the force her body could muster.

She expected resistance, she expected the shield to fight back or to stop some of her forward momentum. However, unfortunately for her, none of those things happened.

“Whuh?” she cried, her body twisting in the air, unable to compensate for the force she exerted, having not met any resistance.

Her tiny hooves flailed wildly to little effect, her body bouncing off the ground and rattling her already shaky nerves even more so. Hooves went in every direction, and all sense of up and down was temporarily lost as she flipped end over end, bouncing into rocks and debris until finally coming to rest against something very, very hard.

“Ouch,” the filly muttered, rubbing the back of her head.

Her training screamed at her to snap to attention and she reacted quickly, jumping into a defensive stance and surveying her surroundings. No attack came, no alarms blared and nothing moved along the walls above her. With a sigh of relief, she relaxed her stance and got a better look at her surroundings.

Right behind her were the enormous stone walls that surrounded the pride demon’s castle, in front of her Dog could see the scanning spell pass over the spot where she had been only seconds earlier. Around her were a few chunks of mortar and stone that had come loose from the wall and been allowed to simply remain there, the opening free to use for anyone who could fit through it.

The entire thing reeked of arrogance and laziness, but more than that, it also smelled of sweet sweet opportunity.

With a confident smile, the filly picked her way through the debris, doing her best to stick close to the wall, and out of the potential sight of anyone upon it.

Her hooves were a blur as she worked her way through the cracked and broken ground, dodging around larger chunks of fallen masonry with ease. She rounded a tower and bolted up a small incline before dashing around one last corner and behind a large piece of a fallen parapet. The stone was just big enough to hide the filly from view, but that was not why she had chosen to dive behind it.

With a shove of her hooves, she pushed aside the large chunk of stone to reveal a narrow crack in the wall where there used to be a storm drain. It was exactly where Sisyphus had said it was, and sure enough, they hadn't bothered to do anything to cover it up other than toss a broken piece of stonework in front of it.

The imp would have laughed at their foolishness, but she didn't want to give herself away.

The old storm drain was partially collapsed, and was really only big enough for Dog to crawl through, anyone bigger than her would find themselves stuck in the narrow passage. Only someone similar to Dog’s diminutive size would have a hope to slip through and for once in her life, she was quite thankful that she was so small. With the last tug, she fell out the other side where she was able to see a good majority of the interior structures.

Recalling all the instructions Sisyphus had given her, she knew that the squat, square stone building to her right was the barracks. It contained the majority of the pride demon’s troops and also contained an armory, a summoning circle, and numerous other rooms that would aid in the defense of the castle. Despite the proximity of the barracks, Dog wasn't worried as she knew she had roughly four minutes before anyone would pass by her location.

Besides the barracks, there were numerous other minor structures, the pride demon’s keep that also served as his palace, but more importantly, there was a narrow, twisting tower that sprung up on the eastern side of the courtyard. It was ten or so stories tall and was dwarfed only by the palace itself. The walls of the tower were as black as night and no windows dotted its exterior, only a single door at the base of the tower served as any point of entry. Most important of all these features was the one at the very top of the tower, where a large beam of blood-red light shot out of the top of the tower and connected with the apex of the shield.

That was her goal, and if the spymaster was to be believed, a relatively easy one at that.

Even after entering the castle grounds, Dog couldn't spot a patrol or even any movement. All save for a group on the walls to the right, but they kept their eyes firmly trained on the small winding road that led towards the palace and out into the wasteland beyond, ignoring everything else. Over the next few minutes, she was able to see a few patrols winding throughout the compound, but they kept their eyes firmly trained outwards, all but ignoring the interior of the castle.

Dog searched the courtyard for the barracks, remembering the spymaster’s words.

After two pain demons and a hate demon leave the barracks and turn towards the keep, you will have exactly one minute and twenty-one seconds to get into the tower without being seen. Stay fast and silent and you will slip right under their noses.

The filly’s eyes narrowed and she peered intently at the barracks door.

Sure enough, right when Sisyphus said they would appear, the demons emerged. The three hulking creatures didn't even scan their surroundings before turning and lumbering off towards the palace, a grimace on their twisted features.

When the last demon turned, she acted, leaping into a sprint and taking off like a shot toward the tower.

Her hooves began to glow a faint purple and her already incredible speed surged to new and incredible heights, surprising even her.

“Whoa,” she mumbled, nearly overcompensating and tripping over herself.

The filly had learned to adapt quickly though and even with the sudden change of speed, she was able to adjust accordingly. Mere seconds later she was already near the door to the tower, her hooves skidding on the ground as she tried to regain control of her momentum.

After nearly tripping over her own hooves several more times, the filly finally skidded to a stop mere millimeters from the door itself.

Pushing the sudden strangeness from her mind, the filly focused on her next objective.

The door itself was strangely simple in design, appearing as nothing more than iron-wrought wood of some unknown origin. Dog knew better though, and with a few taps of her hoof, the door’s true nature was revealed.

A wall of flat, reflective metal shimmered into existence, replacing the simple and unassuming door with something much more intimidating. Dog was not dissuaded however and simply reached into her bags and produced a long thin length of carefully bent copper wire.

Having memorized where the door handle would normally be, the filly reared up, and using her mouth to hold the wire, she carefully inserted it into the part of the wall where the handle would be. There was a moment of resistance, but the filly knew just what to do and adjusted her wire a little lower, watching as the copper length slipped into the wall like it was passing through a liquid.

With only a slight application of force, the wire slipped into the door itself, sliding all the way until Dog’s lips were nearly pressed against the door. Lockpicking had not been an easy skill to learn, especially when she didn't have hands or magic like most other demons, but she was confident in her abilities. Relying solely on her mouth and tongue, the filly maneuvered the copper wire up and down, back and forth until finally she hit the spot she was looking for and the door clicked softly.

Pulling out the copper wire, Dog stowed it back in her bag and grabbed the door, pulling it open just enough for her to slip through before quickly pulling it closed behind her.

With the door now closed, the illusion reactivated, making Dog snicker silently to herself.

What kind of idiot puts a mundane lock on such an extraordinary door?

The filly shook her head and took in her surroundings, noting that everything was as Sisyphus had said it would be.

A long, narrow hall stretched out before her, at the end of which a single solitary demon stood watch, staring right at the door she had just entered through. Dog knew better though and after a few seconds a long, low snore rumbled through the hall.

Whoever put a sloth demon on guard duty is a big stupid head, Dog thought to herself.

The demon was large, easily towering over the filly by a good seven feet, and between his arms, armor, and sheer bulk he easily weighed around a ton, but what was the use of all that if he wasn't awake?

Dog rolled her eyes and focused on the task at hoof, scanning the hallway between them and easily finding the traps Sisyphus had told her about. Three invisible wires, a set of runic trap spells, a hidden teleportation array that no doubt led to a cell, and finally a simple set of pressure plates.

The filly would have to praise the spymaster after she completed her mission as his directions were truly impressive. To think he had gathered all that information just through watching the compound, truly a trickster demon was not something to be underestimated. Dog wondered if she could convince him to teach her such secrets, but she knew better than to hold her breath on that one as he was anything but open at the best of times.

Looking back down at the hallway, Dog easily picked out a path that would ensure she would be able to skip most of the traps, with minimal effort. With a nod, the filly leaped over a tripwire, crawled under another, dodged left around a rune prison, and over a pressure plate. Coiling her muscles into a tight ball under her, Dog launched herself at the wall and spring-boarded off, allowing her to leap over the last of the traps and land majestically on the other side.

Letting her momentum carry her, the filly ran around the unmoving form of the sloth demon, shooting him a raspberry as she passed. The demon merely let out a long, rumbling snore, which made Dog giggle as she walked by. The imp rounded the end of the hall and jumped up the steps that led to the second floor, eager to push on.

The stairs were large, obviously not made for an imp like her, and she was forced to jump up every single one. Thankfully her armor extended over her hooves, muffling the sound somewhat. She had long since gotten used to being stealthy even while jumping up stairs however as nothing in her father’s tower seemed built for someone her size anyway.

Leaping up the last step, Dog looked around the room, expecting the next room to be the ‘small, measly laboratory’ that the trickster demon had said would be there. The imp’s jaw fell and instead of the lab being small or measly, it was far, far different. The lab easily dominated the entire floor, with only a single room and a set of spiral stairs not serving as lab space.

Much to her annoyance however, it seemed to have not been in use for a long time and a thin layer of dust covered everything other than the most direct path from this floor to the one above. Dog glowered silently, only barely holding back an urge to dust the laboratory, or at least to save some of the no doubt moldering books she could see.

With a sigh, she forced herself to look away from the sight of two entire shelves of dusty tomes and turned to the path ahead. Each step was like a stab to the heart and when the filly reached the stairs, she cast a sad look over her shoulder. Her gaze lingered on the slowly rotting tomes, the equipment, and even the unloved and forgotten quills that lay strewn across a table.

“I’ll come back for you,” she whispered softly, wiping away a tear.

With a heavy heart, the filly turned away and began the arduous task of ascending the next flight of stairs. Leaping from one step to the next, the filly hesitated a moment, her ears swiveling as she heard the distant sound of movement.

Peeking over the last step, the filly saw the distinctive flash of steel and ducked back down. The sound of heavy footsteps continued just as slowly, plodding further away from the filly. Slowly, carefully, the filly looked over the lip and saw the armored shape of a pain demon leaning on the wall just ahead.

The tall, spindly four-armed demon was staring intently at a painting that adorned the wall across from him. The image depicted some kind of battle, with demons of all shapes and sizes locked in heated combat with a bipedal, helmeted creature clad from head to toe in green bulky armor. In one hand it had what Dog knew to be a gun, while the other grappled with an imp who was held aloft, the creature’s hand crushing the life out of the imp. Various demons surrounded the creature, attempting to overwhelm him, but the creature himself stood proudly on a hill of demon corpses, unperturbed by the fact that he was surrounded. Stranger than even that was a figure in the distance that looked like an airborne skeletal demon wielding what looked like a trumpet.

Dog blinked. That's weird.

Evidently, the pain demon thought similarly and snorted before continuing down the hall, one set of hands placed firmly on the hilt of the blades hanging from his hips.

The hall before her was relatively narrow, and lined with doors with only a small alcove at the center breaking up the perfectly straight hall. The words of the spymaster came unbidden to her mind. If you don't know what's behind a door, don't use it. The filly looked down, noting that the floor was marked by the pain demon’s heavy steel shoes.

From just a quick glance at the location of the marks, Dog was able to discern that he had been tasked with walking up and down this hall endlessly, as the marks trodden the centremost part of the hall and rarely deviated. How could she manage to get past him if it was a simple straight hallway? A second glance at the alcove and an idea was born. There, off to the side, was a tall statue of some unknown demon with a clawed hand raised in triumph, but more importantly, behind it was just enough space for Dog to fit.

With a smirk, the filly crept over the last stair and scampered over to the alcove, keeping her eyes glued to the back of the pain demon who was walking slowly to the other side of the hall. The filly slid to a stop and wiggled her way behind the statue just in time to catch a glimpse of the pain demon as he reached the end of the hall.

By the time she had wormed her way behind the stone statue, she could hear the distinct sound of the demon’s footsteps as he turned around and walked back down the hall. Thinking quickly, the filly stifled her breathing and shrunk down as small as she could, not daring to even peak from behind her hiding spot for even a second.

The heavy plodding footsteps stopped suddenly, making a lump of panic well in Dog’s throat. The sound of the demon inhaling through his nose made that lump double in size and for a second she feared that she may be caught. Only for the demon to continue inhaling before horking a massive loogie on the floor and continuing past.

That was close, Dog thought to herself.

Before he had a chance to get far, Dog slipped out from behind her hiding spot and scampered off towards the stairs leading upward, knowing that the next floor should contain what she was looking for.

Sure enough, she made it to the stairs before the pain demon reached the end of the hall, allowing her just enough time to hop silently up the stairs. With a wide confident smile, Dog jumped from one step to the next before hopping up onto the landing of the next floor, her smile now encompassing her entire face.

There, at the center of the room lay her objective, a jagged red crystal roughly the size of her entire body. It floated above a pedestal at the center of the room. An enormous beam of blood-red light poured out of the top of the crystal before being fed into a set of glass mirrors and siphoned further up the tower and through a hole in the ceiling.

All around the pedestal were numerous rings that glowed faintly with power. Wards, spells, runes, and magic Dog couldn't even name were spread out all around the crystal, guarding it from any would-be intruder. The pedestal itself was little more than a circular tube of obsidian that morphed into a clawed hand that was the perfect shape to hold the crystal if it were not floating just about it.

Besides the magical defenses, and the pedestal itself, the room was empty, with no clear way to reach the upper floors. Not like that mattered to Dog however as she had exactly what she was looking for. Now it was time for the hard part.

Dog pulled out a sheet of paper and a small bag of items from a pocket and placed them down before her. On the paper was a long list of steps, warnings, and precautions she would have to heed in order to breach the magical defenses that shielded the crystal. The bag contained all the necessary components that would ensure she could even bypass those defenses.

The filly grinned and cracked her neck.

“Time to make father proud," Dog whispered to herself.

Dog flopped out onto the floor, breathing heavily from the sheer mental and magical exhaustion she felt. It may have taken her nearly an hour of constant work and a complete emptying of her very limited magical stores, but it was done and her prize was within reach.

The last ward shimmered briefly before falling away, fading into oblivion.

With that done, there was nothing left between Dog, the crystal, and all the glory that would come with its capture.

Despite her exhaustion, Dog smiled triumphantly, already imagining all the compliments her father was going to pay her. You did it Dog! You are the best daughter in all of Tartarus! She couldn't help but feel a surge of energy rising inside her. This is going to be awesome!

With thoughts of all the nice things her father was going to say when she got back, Dog reached forward and gripped the crystal in both hooves.

The enormous red power source felt oddly light in her grasp and the second she touched it, Dog felt… warm? She blinked, looking down at the crystal in confusion. The warmth had grown and continued to grow until it became too hot to hold.

In a moment of panic, she tossed the crystal into the air, only to immediately regret it as Sisyphus had told her to bring it back to him in one piece. Not like it mattered though, as the second it left her hooves the crystal began to flake, with large chunks tearing away, and by the time it hit the ground it had been reduced down to little more than a speck of what it once was.

“No, no, no!” she cried, desperately trying to catch the crystal flakes as they blew away, disintegrating into nothing.

Reaching up she grabbed a few stray flakes of crystal, only to open her hooves and find that they too had been reduced to dust.

“No!” She cried in defeat.

What did I do wrong? She looked down at the instructions, reading them over again before coming up once more, with nothing. It doesn't say anything about this! I did everything I was supposed to!

She looked around, frantically trying to find any piece that had survived only to come up with nothing.

“Father is going to kill me,” she muttered.

“Not if the boss doesn't first,” said a voice, filled with dark mirth.

Dog spun around, leaping back into a defensive stance, but her opponent was faster, far faster.

“Hrk!”

A hand wrapped around Dog’s throat, and she found her legs dangling high above the ground before she could even get into her stance.

Before her was the pain demon from earlier, only his thin skeletal features were alive with energy. Her forehooves gripped his bony fingers, and her hind hooves tried to push off his wrist, but all was in vain as the demon was far stronger.

The demon’s smile grew as did Dog’s panic and he seemed relished in the increasingly desperate attempts to remove his hand from her throat.

“Shh,” he whispered, his strange, rattling voice filling the imp with dread. “This is not your final end little one, the boss will decide when that comes.”

The filly’s eyes went wide and she pounded her hooves against his hand with renewed aggression, desperate to be free. Even her best was not enough and soon the imp found her vision beginning to grow blurry, and her strikes becoming weaker and weaker until she hung limply in his grasp, her eyes bulging as she looked on in terror.

Until even her sight faded away, leaving her in a world of darkness.

Author's Note

Trial One: Rage (R)

“Augh, we are getting nowhere slowly.” Pear Butter groaned, her enormous head thumping into the meeting table.

From across the round table, a familiar pride demon drummed his fingers on the table, his face an impassive mask of annoyance and arrogance. Behind him were his two bodyguards, both of whom were a mountain of meat and metal. They stood easily over nine feet tall and each had what would be a two-handed sword belted to each hip. Their bodies were covered with spiked black plates, leaving only a narrow slit for their glowing red eyes to see out of.

Across the room, Pear Butter’s guards stood in a similar state of impassive apathy. One was a tall, lizard-like demon that wore thin plates across his already naturally plated hide. A pair of slim daggers was belted on either side of his body and a simple open-faced helm of burnished silver rested on his head. He yawned long and slow, his jaw dislocating large enough to swallow a creature roughly half his size before slamming shut.

Beside him a thin waspish insectoid demonette stood silently, her compound eyes staring off into the distance. Her form was covered in a tight-fitting purple, black, and red set of robes, her only visible weapon being a thin dagger belted to one hip. Her two lower arms gripped an enormous red tome with midnight black pages to her midsection, which was rendered redundant by the fact that thick chains wrapped around the book, up one of her upper limbs and coiled under her robes, quickly disappearing. Her wings buzzed at her sides, displaying the annoyance she felt as she watched the events unfold.

“Are you quite done?” the pride demon asked simply.

Pear Butter peeled her face off the table and sighed.

“Yes," Pear Butter muttered.

“Good. So where do you stand on putting the midnight compendium on the proverbial table?” The pride demon inquired.

The wrath demon sighed and ran a hoof down her face.

“That's not possible, as I’ve told you a thousand times now. We want the Equestrian, you want this mystery thing the master has. I’m here to trade those two things, and that's all I’m authorized to give up," Pear Butter retorted.

The pride demon scowled.

“And like I’ve told you, this isn't how demons negotiate, I need more than a simple one-to-one trade. Give me something, dammit," he complained.

Pear Butter gritted her teeth, her body growing an extra inch as she felt rage course through her. “And I told you that I can't do that. What part of can't don't you understand?” She growled back.

The pride demon pushed himself back and ran a hand down his elegant deep blue and black robes, making the outfit ring softly as the many bells tinkled an unsettling tune. “I see,” he muttered, before slowly standing. “Tirek obviously sent you to waste my time.”

“The master did no such thing, just give us what we want and we will give you what you want!” she yelled, slamming her now enormous hoof down with enough force to cause a spiderweb of cracks to form on the stone table.

The pride demon scowled at the crack, then back up to the wrath demon.

“Well, now you must give me something more. That was quite an expensive table, you know,” He remarked with a smirk, running a finger across its surface. “Made by dwarven artificers, then infused with their own souls after its completion. It cost me quite the pretty penny, you know.”

Pear Butter scowled before glancing back at the insectoid demon she had brought with her. The four-armed demon simply shook her head, causing Pear to turn and scowl right back.

“Bullshit! If this was dwarven it wouldn't break like the dime store crap that it is,” Pear Butter declared.

Then to accentuate her point she slammed her hoof down onto the table, breaking off a small section.

The pride demon sighed, pressing his fingers against his temples.

“Fine, the table doesn't really matter, but you have slighted me in my home and I expect something. Surely you understand at least that much," the pride demon declared.

Pear huffed, small embers shooting out of her mouth and bouncing across the table. Slowly the wrath demon relaxed, shrinking in size until she finally fit back into her chair. She turned to the lizard demon, who nodded and grabbed a bag of something from a hidden pocket before tossing it at the demonic pony.

Pear Butter caught the bag and tossed it halfway across the table.

“Fine, here's payment for your worthless fucking table. Now can we, please, just get this done? There is no reason this has taken over three fucking hours!” Pear Butter exclaimed.

The pride demon waved a hand towards the bag, his bluish magical aura reaching out and pulling it to him. Once in his grip, he loosened the string and looked inside, he gave the bag a quick bounce, counting its contents before tossing it over his shoulder. The guard to his left grabbed the bag out of the air and tucked it away in one swift movement.

“The table is settled...” He exclaimed with yet another smirk. “I still expect something more, but!”

He held up a finger, interrupting the angry tirade Pear Butter was milliseconds from launching into.

“It doesn't have to be a thing, per se," he concluded.

“What do you mean?” Pear Butter asked hesitantly, prompting her guards to share a confused and wary glance.

“You may not be authorized to offer me anything, but that doesn't mean you can't offer me certain… services,” he remarked cryptically, running his finger across the table in a slow, deliberate motion as if petting something.

Pear Butter’s eyes narrowed.

“What exactly do you mean?” She pressed.

“Well…” He began, dragging his finger back across the table before smirking. “I have heard many rather overblown legends of just how enjoyable an Equestrian wrath demon is and I would be more than happy to make the trade provided you accompanied me for an evening.”

Pear Butter’s entire body trembled, her horns sparking with power as her rage boiled over.

“You want me to what?” she growled, her body growing nearly three feet in the span of a second.

Her guards shared another wary look, with the insectoid demon already flipping through her book while the lizard demon gripped a dagger and eyed the exits. Across from them the pride demon merely smirked, leaning on the table while his guards both had their hands on their blades, eying the wrath demon cautiously.

“I just want a bit of company for a night of revelry,” the pride demon stated, splaying his fingers. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

The wrath demon’s chest pumped like the bellows of an enormous forge, causing the room to rapidly heat as embers poured out of her mouth and bounced across the table. Her eyes which had grown completely red twitched as she seemed on the verge of agreeing, yet couldn't seem to be able to convince herself. Going anywhere near the creep was anathema to everything Pear Butter stood for, but she had been sent here to make a deal, and this seemed to be the only way said deal was going to happen.

Slowly her body shrunk until after several tense moments she returned to her normal size, her eyes returning to their familiar gold.

“I w-”

Whatever she was about to say was cut off when the door suddenly slammed open to reveal a thin bony imp wearing nothing more than a simple loin cloth. The wretch scrambled over to the pride demon’s side and began whispering to the larger demon in a low tone, his eyes glancing towards Pear Butter and her guards occasionally.

After another tense few moments the pride demon nodded and the imp scampered away, the door remaining open behind him. The blue and black demon smirked, and stood suddenly, dipping into a slight bow.

“My apologies, but it seems as though something more important has come up. Let us take a moment to break from the negotiations, I greatly look forward to your response, Miss Pear Butter,” the pride demon exclaimed.

He then turned and left, leaving behind his two guards who stood impassively next to the door, watching the remaining delegation closely.

Pear Butter sighed and ran a hoof over the scales on the back of her head.

The lizard demon raised an eyebrow at his boss.

“Were you about to…”

The wrath demon shrunk, staring down at the floor.

“I don't know what I was about to say,” Pear Butter admitted.

She got up and turned to the door behind her.

“Let's find some refreshments and come back to this in a minute. I need to cool down," Pear Butter concluded.

The guards shared another glance before nodding, with the lizard demon taking point and opening the door, together the trio stepped out into the hall beyond.

Doors lined the hall, and the trio made their way to one near the end on their left seemingly at random. Pushing it open, they were greeted by a rather opulent lounge furnished with several lavish couches, piles of pillows, and a central table stacked high with food and drink. The guards took position on either side of the door while Pear Butter collapsed into a pile of pillows and grabbed a jug of something that looked like water before throwing the entire thing back in a single mighty gulp.

The wrath demon winced and ran a hoof down her throat.

“Doing that always gives me wicked heartburn," she muttered to herself. “Go figure.”

The guards both chuckled before the insectoid demon’s pocket suddenly lit up, unearthly red light pouring out of her robes. Reacting quickly, she pulled out a familiar-looking crystal and after a simple flick of her thumb the crystal stopped blinking. Instantly the face of their master appeared above her outstretched hand. He looked haggard, and weak, and stared off into space with a haunted expression on his face.

“Pear Butter, I have terrible news,” he began.

The image shifted to a distorted and hazy image of a room lined with hundreds of cages, in the corner a large armored demon walked towards them, a small purple bundle tucked under his arm.

“Dog has been captured. They are either going to kill her or sell her at which point she may as well be dead. My men won't be able to get there in time and it doesn't look good," Tirek concluded.

The image showed the demon throwing the bundle into a cage and slamming it shut before walking away and laughing.

Pear Butter gritted her teeth, barely holding back a growl of rage, her body having already grown to the point that she towered over her subordinates, flames crackling just behind her lips. She looked down at the insectoid demon and pointed a hoof at her.

“IS THIS RECORDING REAL?” Pear Butter demanded to know.

The insectoid demon waved a glowing hand over the crystal and nodded, causing the wrath demon’s fury to surge once more, thankfully Tirek cut in before she was able to say anything.

The centaur shook his head slowly, suddenly appearing much, much older.

“Avenge her, Pear Butter. I know you are angry with me as well and frankly… I can't blame you,” Tirek muttered.

He looked off to the left as if he was unable to meet Pear Butter’s gaze.

“WHAT HAPPENED?”she yelled, her voice shaking the very stone walls.

“She was supposed to be training with Sisyphus under his direct supervision while holding a teleporter crystal and being under my watch,” Tirek exclaimed, shaking his head. “I don't know how this happened, but clearly we have been betrayed.”

At the utterance of the word betrayed, Pear Butter’s body surged to new heights, her head crashing into the ceiling and long spires of bone burst out of the center of her spine and cascaded in both directions, from the base of her tail to the brow of her forehead. Both guards exchanged one last glance before ducking out the door, eying the ceiling nervously, the insectoid demon leaving the crystal on a table before beating her retreat. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a booming crack was heard, accompanied by the rain of a thousand thousand pieces of glass.

Pear Butter paid her fleeing minions no mind, her gaze focused on the small Tirek head still floating above the table.

“You can trust me, Master, I will avenge her!”Pear Butter boomed, her body growing until her head pressed against the ceiling, causing it to crack. “This sniveling weakling will be crushed along with the worthless hovel he calls a home! I will dash his body against-”

The centaur looked up at her suddenly with a steely gaze.

“Give him hell, Pear Butter," he ordered.

Then the transmission ended, leaving the wrath demon alone with her rage. She quickly brushed aside the strangeness of the sudden ending, figuring that the centaur merely needed to get back to other plans.

Images of all the time spent with the purple filly came unbidden to the demon’s mind, further fueling her anger. The spines on her back grew until the ones on her head pierced the thin wooden ceiling. Flames poured out of her mouth and nose, her eyes became a sea of magma and her horns sparked, glowing with an intense golden light. Memories of teaching the foal how to fight, of when she was able to sneak away and help the filly with her homework, which had usually ended with the filly instead teaching her about whatever she was learning, filled her mind. Pear Butter's already thick scales grew thicker still, glowing with a cruel and twisted yellow illumination.

The demon threw back her head and collapsed what was left of the wooden ceiling, allowing her to surge several feet taller, the stone beneath her hooves cracking under the strain of her titanic weight. Her breath grew quick, the flames bursting from her mouth burning so hot that they turned blue. The couches erupted in flames, along with the pillows, and a second later, the entire rest of the room save the stonework.

The now eighteen-foot-tall demon breathed deep, her form continuing to grow with each passing second. The memories had slowly begun to fade, leaving her with the smiling face of the purple imp resting in her mind, only for that image to be replaced by a sudden flash of a similar-sized foal with butter-yellow fur and red mane. This filly did not smile, her eyes were closed, her features slack and her body still.

Pear Butter did not know who this filly was, but the sight of her sent a surge of such potent rage that her form doubled in size in the span of mere moments. Stone cracked and shattered, wood splintered and exploded, and all around her, the world burned.

The demon threw her head back, channeling every last bit of rage and confusion into an exhalation of fire that burned straight through the ceiling, erupting from the roof of the palace and shooting hundreds of meters into the sky. Her rage-filled voice screamed a single word.

“Nebuchadnezzar!”

Nebuchadnezzar ran a hand over his blue and black robes, strutting silently to the other side of the building, following the nervous-looking imp. They had just left the meeting room, and the pride demon was eager to witness for himself what he had heard. At his brisk pace, it didn't take long for them to reach their destination, which was a small nondescript room flanked by a pair of burly armored demons.

Stepping inside, the pride demon glanced around the room, noting the shape of his bulbous leather-clad master of torture standing nearby. The bloated demoness wore tight leather stretched over her obscenely fat body, barely containing the creature’s immense weight and making it spill out through the cracks. In her bulging hand was a large orb roughly the size of the demon’s head. At the sight of her master, she bowed slightly, her large lips spreading into a wide grin.

“Ahh, is this our little invader?” he asked, leaning towards the orb and peering within.

The demoness laughed cruelly.

“Yes, my master. This little wretch fell for your decoy crystal," she exclaimed with a smirk. “The simple fool.”

Nebuchadnezzar smiled, watching as the purple imp slowly roused from unconsciousness and began talking to the rainbow-maned imp in the cage next to her.

“Interesting," he exclaimed. "This will be a most powerful bargaining tool for Tirek. Either that or one hell of a gift for my favorite superiority demon.”

He took a step back and chuckled, only for his laugh to be interrupted once more by the same imp crashing through the door. The demon turned on his heel and scowled at the pitiful creature, rage boiling through his veins.

“What is it now?!” The pride demon demanded.

The quivering imp extended a hand that held a blue blinking crystal.

“It-t-t’s that crystal, boss! The one you said was for emergencies," he replied.

“Give me that,” The pride demon snapped, ripping the crystal out of his underling's hand. “Ahh, it looks like our old friend Tirek wants to call.”

The demon rolled the crystal around in his hand.

“I wonder what I could get in return for that miserable imp he's been dragging around these past few months," the pride demon mused.

The demon lifted the crystal and channeled a bit of his power into it, causing it to light up and display a three-inch tall visual representation of Tirek’s head. The hologram turned until its eyes met Nebuchadnezzar’s.

“Come to beg for the release of your pet horse?” The pride demon taunted. “Because I doubt you have anything our mutual friend wouldn't beat.”

Tirek shrugged, a small smile growing across his lips.

“Oh no, I’m not here to beg at all. In fact, I was hoping to hear you say just that," Tirek replied.

The pride demon’s smirk vanished.

“What in the hells are you rambling about?” Demanded the pride demon, bringing the crystal closer to his face and snarling at it. “I hold all the cards now, you fool!”

“Really now? Tell me, do you have an impenetrable shield protecting your fortress?” Tirek asked, the smirk never leaving his face.

“I...” The pride demon began only to stop.

The pride demon turned expectantly to the enormous demoness who waved a hand over the crystal ball, revealing a view of the entire castle from high in the air, complete with shield.

“The shield is fine, what are you getting at?” The pride demon demanded.

"Wait for it," Tirek teased.

“Wait for wha-” The demon’s sentence was cut off by the sound of a massive crack filling the room, accompanied by the rain of a thousand thousand pieces of glass.

Nebuchadnezzar spun to the torturer, his eyes blazing with fury.

“It-it's gone,” she muttered.

Sure enough, the orb revealed that the shield had indeed been broken, fragmented pieces of magic tumbling all over the castle grounds and breaking into smaller and smaller chunks before vanishing entirely. The pride demon spun back to the smirking face of his centaur enemy.

“What did you do?” The pride demon snarled, ignoring a distant rumble that shook the castle walls.

“First, you must answer a simple question,” Tirek began.

The image leaned a little closer as if Tirek was about to share a secret with the raging demon.

“Do you know what the scariest part of an Equestrian wrath demon is?” Tirek asked in a low tone.

“What does that have to do-” Nebuchadnezzar stuttered.

“They have access to nearly limitless rage and are actually able to sense the location of their target even across the very planes,” Tirek explained, opening his hands, palms up. “Did you know that?”

The pride demon blinked.

“No, but what-”

“M-m-master, look!” the torturer stuttered, pointing to the crystal ball.

Nebuchadnezzar spun back to the crystal ball, his eyes going wide as he saw a great pillar of fire shooting up into the sky.

“What the fuck is that?” He demanded.

A second later a wave of heat exploded all around them, lighting the tapestries that hung from the walls on fire.

Tirek cackled, his head thrown back as he laughed long and hard.

“Did you really think this wasn't part of my plan, that I would honestly make a wrath demon my negotiator? Your schemes and plots have always been small, but even I didn't think you were stupid enough to betray me," Tirek mocked. "Though I suppose you are an ant after all, and now, you will be crushed like one.”

The pride demon spun on his heel, throwing open the door and grabbing the nearest guard.

“Summon everyone, I need-”

The pride demon’s sentence was cut off by a booming voice that was so loud that it made his very bones rattle, and what it said made his blood turn to ice.

“Nebuchadnezzar!”

“Oh, gods above,” the pride demon whispered, only now realizing what the distant crashing had meant.

He could hear the shout of orders and the screams of the dying, his entire castle shaking with each titanic step of some enormous creature.

The demon sprinted back into the room and grabbed the crystal that had fallen from his grasp, Tirek’s head still in the throws of laughter.

“How does she know my name? TELL ME!” he screamed, gripping the crystal in both hands.

“Equestrian wrath demons are rare, Pear Butter is the first in over eight hundred years in fact. This means that their abilities have not even been thoroughly cataloged. It seems as though a significantly angry one can even know the true name of its target,” Tirek mused idly. “Curious, but in the end, you are nothing more than a pride demon after all, a creature with such an easy, blatant weakness that I almost feel bad for exploiting it… almost.”

Another crash was followed by a tremor that shook dust from the stone walls and made the ceiling rattle. The demoness across from him slipped out of the room, tossing aside the crystal ball and sprinting as fast as her enormous legs could carry her. Nebuchadnezzar didn't even notice, too stunned to look away from Tirek’s face.

The centaur sighed.

“Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, you lacked the necessary intellect to serve as anything less than a test for my pets after all,” Tirek exclaimed.

“Bullshit!” the pride demon cried desperately. “I captured your pet, I played your general like a fool and you just lucked out or got help or, or something!”

Tirek rolled his eyes and tsked.

“You may have been playing her, but I was playing you and just about everyone who works for you no less. I mean, honestly, the two things I want were placed in adjacent cages and you didn't even question it,” Tirek declared, chuckling darkly. “Though I suppose if anything, I was overestimating you. In the grand scheme of things you were playing checkers while I was playing chess.”

“Call her off!” Nebuchadnezzar yelled, shaking the crystal in both hands. “Call her off or I’ll kill both of the horses!”

Tirek only shook his head.

“Do you really think I haven't accounted for this reaction?” Tirek asked.

Another rumble, this time much, much closer shook the entire room, the slowly growing heat now becoming hot enough that the demon began to sweat, the carpet beneath his feet beginning to smoke.

“CALL HER OFF!” The pride demon screeched, shaking the crystal.

“Goodbye, Nebuchadnezzar, I hope you enjoy oblivion,” Tirek remarked, before vanishing.

The pride demon gripped the crystal tightly, pouring more and more power into it, only for the now lifeless crystal to remain just as lifeless. “Answer me, dammit!” he screamed.

Splintering boards and exploding stonework drew the pride demon’s gaze upwards where an enormous gold face stared down at him.

The wrath demon’s mouth was easily larger than the hall the pride demon now stood in, her breath so hot that everything save for his magically reinforced robes erupted in flames after a single exhalation. Nebuchadnezzar slowly looked up, his gaze lingering on the numerous teeth each as large or larger than he was. Despite his trepidation, he couldn't help but feel his eyes drawn further up, towards twin pools of liquid hatred. Those same portals to a realm of contempt glared down at the demon, betraying no emotion besides unbridled rage beyond even the pride demon’s comprehension.

His mouth opened, a lie already on his lips, but the wrath demon was faster.

Her jaw surged forward, clamping down over the entire section of the hall he stood in.

His enchantments popped instantly, unable to resist the immense heat that pressed down all around him. His spells fizzled before they could even finish casting and all his preparation and backup plans were rendered useless as they simply melted. Within moments his flesh began to liquify and slide off his body, his cry of pain lost in the roar of the inferno.

The last thing he felt was his very soul being torn asunder, his essence being pulled apart and swallowed by the burning demon.

Until his every sense was negated and his very soul was obliterated.

Author's Note

Trial One: Friendship (R)

Dog felt life begin to slowly return to her. The moment the majority of her senses came back, they warned her of the fact that she was being held upside down by a foreleg, dangling several feet above the ground. Remembering her training, the filly remained silent and unmoving, pretending to be unconscious as she looked around as best she could.

The ground below her appeared to be little more than broken rock and dirt that made up a primitive trail. The creature holding her leg seemed to be the pain demon from before, as she felt the distinct feeling of his skeletal hand around her limb. The room itself was filled with a quiet bubbling and was strangely hot. The filly couldn't tell where the gurgling noise and heat were coming from until her head passed mere feet over an open flow of molten stone.

The filly clamped her eyes shut, suddenly very thankful her hide had started to come in, or else she would have been roasted from the heat alone. Feeling the heat pass over her, the filly opened her eyes and tried to stealthily look around without bending her neck. Something gray passed close by, drawing the filly’s attention up to the distinct appearance of many bars in a row. This meant cages and capture, and not a swift death.

Good, she thought to herself, this means I’ll have time to figure a way out of here. She had already deduced that there was likely no way she was going to beat a fully grown demon in a fight, so for now she merely waited and watched as best she could

She could only catch the odd glimpse of the cages’ occupants, and judging from how quiet it was, either those occupants were scared shitless, or dead. Either way, it would make the eventual prison break both easier or harder, depending on how she looked at it. Less variables, but also fewer potential allies, which was fine by her, as she only really knew one contract and she doubted any demon would agree to be her familiar. Plus it wasn't likely a demon was going to help her without a contract. Her studies had just begun, which meant she hadn't gotten past the part where Tirek told her all the ways a contract could screw her over.

Still, it was nice to know that she had at least one contract in her back pocket, and if she did manage to find a demon desperate enough to be her familiar, it would be quite the boon once she got out of here. Her train of thought was interrupted by the hand around her leg shifting slightly.

“Here we are, new meat. Get nice and cozy ‘cause you are going to be here for a while," her captor remarked cruelly.

Dog smirked. Not likely.

Her little bit of arrogance was knocked aside when she was roughly tossed through the air, her entire world spinning end over end until she slammed into the other side of the cage with a clang. She had somehow managed to flip upside down and slid down the bars before crumpling into a heap with a pained moan.

The pain demon laughed its cruel harsh laugh and slammed the cage door shut, locking it firmly.

“Oh, I can't wait to see what the boss does to you,” he remarked before turning and walking away, laughing the entire time.

Dog stuck her tongue out at the retreating demon, before scampering back up and surveying her surroundings.

Sure enough, her earlier assessment had been correct. She was in a massive underground room filled with numerous cages, lava flows, and a path that ran straight down the middle. Though the cages were enormous, they were also relatively close together, allowing her to survey the entire room, and noting that behind her cage was an enormous pool of lava that bubbled and hissed. She scrambled forward, standing in the center of the cage and carefully eying the lava for signs of movement. When the molten stone didn't reach out and bite her, the filly breathed a sigh of relief and once more scanned the room, this time focusing on the cage occupants.

Further down the line, she noted several imps, a large badly beaten greed demon, and a severely mutilated succubus that lay in the center of her cage, breathing slowly and staring at the ceiling. Dog winced at the sight before turning back to her own cage, only to notice a small blue shape in the cage next to her. The filly’s eyes went wide and she scampered up to the edge of the cage, hopping onto her hind legs and peering intently into the cage beyond.

The other imp was small, smaller than even Dog and it had a patchy rainbow mane, two short horns on either side of its head, and a pair of leathery wings on its back. Its dark blue hide was pockmarked with blemishes that gave the distinct impression that it had been tortured, making Dog wince in sympathy. Its entire form was curled into a tight ball, a hooved limb occasionally scratching at the patchy mane, prompting another few hairs to fall out.

“Hey!” Dog called. “Do you know where we are?”

The other imp suddenly went stiff before curling in tighter, clamping its wings firmly against its back. Dog frowned, confused by the odd reaction, and wondering what she had done to prompt such a response. Dog frowned when she realized it must still be terrified by the suffering brought upon it by these jerks her father disliked so much.

“Do you know what part of the castle we are in? Or even a direction like north or south?” Dog asked, pleadingly.

The imp growled and scooted even further away from Dog, curling tighter.

Dog sighed.

“Come on, give me something. I’m trying to figure out a plan here," Dog remarked.

The imp growled a low threatening growl but refused to turn around.

With one final sigh, the filly sprawled out in defeat.

“The one other imp I meet and it doesn't know how to talk. Just my luck,” Dog remarked glumly.

The blue imp went rigid again before peeking out from behind a wing, gasping as it finally looked upon the prison’s newest arrival.

The gasp brought Dog’s attention back up to the strange imp, her own eyes going wide as they met.

“Whoa!” They both exclaimed.

The blue imp scrambled to her hooves and sprinted over to the bars.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice trembling as she dared to hope that this was not another trick.

“I’m Dog, who are you?” Dog replied.

The other imp cocked its head.

“That's a weird name. I’m Rainbow Dash,” The blue imp winced suddenly, scratching a particularly nasty bruise on her face. “I mean Reek.”

Dog lifted an eyebrow and scanned the room once more, noticing there were no goons around.

“You don't have to use the name that jerk gave you,” Dog offered, extending her hoof to the other imp. “It's nice to meet you, Rainbow Dash.”

The blue imp looked over her shoulder, before extending a shaky hoof towards the other imp’s, clopping them together.

“It's nice to meet you too, Dog," Rainbow Dash offered.

Flashing her new friend a wide smile, Dog pointed to the other filly’s horns.

“How did you get those?” Dog inquired.

Rainbow Dash brushed a hoof over one of them, wincing as she did.

“I don't know, they just kinda grew," Rainbow Dash muttered.

“That's so cool,” Dog exclaimed.

“C-cool?” Rainbow Dash asked hesitantly, pulling down the hoof she had been using to try and hide her horns.

“Yeah!” Dog yelled back. “Father says he doesn't know what kind of demon I am, but horns mean you already know!”

The other imp gulped.

“W-what kind of demon am I?”

Something about the way she asked made Dog raise an eyebrow.

“Why are you sad? I wish I knew what kind of demon I am gonna be,” Dog declared.

“I’m not supposed to be a demon, I am a pony!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed with a frown.

The filly winced, touching the horn growing out of the right side of her head.

“Or I was anyway..." Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Weird.” Dog shrugged.

“I don't know what kind of demon you are, but please don't be sad, I’m sure my father knows what kind you are!” Dog exclaimed. “I wonder if you are going to be a vengant.”

Dog tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“That would explain the odd horns," Dog concluded.

“I guess that's kind of cool…” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself.

A faint smile crossed Rainbow Dash’s face and Dog could faintly hear the other imp whispering “Rainbow Dash, the vengant” under her breath, as if testing what the words felt like upon her lips.

Dog smirked, leaning against the bars of her cage.

“You know, apparently they are super tough and go super duper fast,” Dog explained, pointing to Rainbow Dash’s wings. “Bat wings make it super easy to turn and stuff, making vengants really hard to escape.”

Rainbow Dash opened one wing hesitantly, grimacing only slightly as she looked at the leathery appendage.

“Really?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Uh-huh,” Dog replied, nodding along. “My father says they are the best bounty hunters in Tartarus.”

At the mention of Tartarus the other filly winced, but her curiosity was piqued.

“Why do you keep saying father?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Why not?” Dog asked incredulously. “That is what my father said.”

“How did you and your dad end up down here and where's your mom?” the blue imp asked incredulously.

Dog scratched her head.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I was born here, and dad...” Dog muttered, pausing to grimace. “He was put down here by some mean lady.”

The imp quickly bounced back though, grinning widely.

“But Pear Butter is kind of like my mom and she works for my father," Dog offered.

Rainbow Dash blinked.

“Huh," muttered the blue imp.

Unperturbed, Dog jumped back up.

“Where are your parents? Oh, are they in one of these cells too?” Dog asked.

The blue imp winced.

“No. They are back in Equestria. They abandoned me, just like everypony else, just like Fluttershy…” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“What happened?” Dog asked.

Rainbow Dash tried to speak, but couldn't seem to find the words, blood-red tears beginning to stream down her face. The filly crumpled inwards, curling into a ball, and weeping openly.

Dog hopped down, frowning at the sight of the clearly distressed imp, she had to do something. What could she possibly do to earn the imp’s help and prove she wasn't going to abandon her like the others apparently had? The filly’s eyes went wide and she clopped her hooves together, an idea forming in her mind.

Conjuring up her innate magic, she forced a thin scroll into being before placing it against the ground. Noticing there wasn't anything to write with, Twilight winced and used her sharp hooves to scratch herself, drawing a slight trickle of blood. With some replacement ink now on hoof, she began to hastily scrawl down the contract as best as she remembered it, and in no time at all, she backed up, a wide smile on her face.

“Hey!” she called, waving the newly forged contract. “Rainbow Dash.”

The imp sniffled, peeking out from behind a limb.

“W-what?” she whimpered.

“I am going to break out of here, but I need your help,” Dog continued.

The other imp winced, making Dog wave the contract.

“I know you don't trust me but don't worry, I wrote a contract!” Dog proclaimed.

“A contract?” the blue imp asked incredulously. “What's that for?”

“It means if you sign it, I won't abandon you if you help me.” Dog declared with a grin. “It's a familiar contract that means we enter into an agreement where you help me out and in return, I give you something you want.”

“Something I want?” Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Uh huh, anything.” Dog frowned. “Well, within reason anyway.”

The blue imp seemed to really think about it, her first reaction being a friend, but that seemed like a lame thing to ask for. A best friend though…

“I made up my mind," Rainbow Dash declared.

“Oh good, because my blood is starting to dry.” Dog dipped her hoof into the slowly healing cut and positioned her hoof over the line, ready to write. “And what do you want?”

Rainbow Dash seemed to hesitate, but she shook her head as confidence filled her. She wanted a best friend, one that would never give up on her, and never leave her, unlike her.

“I want you to be my best friend, forever! No matter what!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Dog looked up at the other filly’s intense look and nodded, a smile slowly crossing her face.

“I always wanted a B.F.F! This is going to be great!" Dog proclaimed.

The filly squealed happily, quickly adding a few lines to the contract.

Turning it over, Dog hoofed it to Rainbow Dash.

“Just sign at the bottom. Oh, but you gotta use blood though, it's the only way the magic works," Dog explained.

Rainbow Dash glanced down at the surprisingly long sheet of paper and attempted to read all the rather complicated-looking words written in blood. She tried not to think about it, but between the rather unpleasant writing material and the hard-to-understand hoof-writing, she couldn't make heads or tails of the strange contract.

Dog watched as the other filly turned it to the side before flipping it around, then finally turning it back straight.

“There isn't a problem, is there?” Dog asked nervously, suddenly doubting her hoofwriting.

“Uh no. Just give me a second,” Rainbow Dash replied awkwardly.

The blue imp wasn't so sure she wanted to do this anymore, the entire situation seeming a little too good to be true. The other filly seemed young but had a calm air about her as if the lava pools and getting locked in a cage were just another day for her. Rainbow Dash wondered if this was another test, what if this strange purple imp was put here just to give that jerk's face another reason to torture her?

Rainbow Dash glanced up at the smiling face of the other imp, her gaze lingering over her incredibly sharp teeth, strange eyes, and purple hide. On one hoof she did remind her of a pony, as she hadn't seen many demons with as bright of skin. On the other hoof, it seemed unlikely that another filly just happened to pop up here right when the beatings usually began.

“Why are you here?” Rainbow Dash asked pointedly.

Dog blinked.

“My father tasked me with bringing down the shield that guards this place, but I failed…” Dog muttered.

Her forlorn expression vanished after she gave her head a firm shake.

“But I can't give up yet, father always has a backup plan," Dog declared.

Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, figuring that the bright red thing she had seen while outside was this shield the other filly spoke of.

“So what happens if I sign this thing? What does a familiar mean?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“It's kind of like a best friend, we stick together and hang out and stuff. We also share power in a way, oh and if you sign it, we could also talk to each other at any time!” Dog exclaimed, grinning at the other filly.

Rainbow Dash admitted that did sound good, but this being a familiar thing still sounded kind of fishy, and it did involve demon magic… She pursed her lips and stared down at the sheet of paper, muddling it over.

“Well, while you think about it, I’ll try and get us out of here,” the filly announced before hopping over to the cage door and beginning to fumble with the lock.

The other imp watched closely as the purple filly wiggled the tip of her cloven hoof into the keyhole, trying to pick the lock as best as she could with nothing more than a hoof. Dog approached this seemingly impossible task with such confidence that Rainbow Dash felt a small spark of hope well inside her. If helping this filly by signing a contract got her out of here, well… being a familiar didn't sound that bad, and it did mean they were friends forever.

The thought nearly brought a tear to her eye and she felt her breath hitch in her throat as she thought about it. Sure, her best friend would be a demon, but wasn't that what she was now? Would that really be that bad to be a demon’s friend forever?

Her train of thought was interrupted by a sudden rumble that shook the entire cavern, causing loose rocks to fall from the roof, and the molten stone to bubble violently. The purple filly stopped, straining her ears as if she were listening for a voice just outside the room.

Rainbow Dash perked up, forgetting about the contract for a moment.

“What was that?” she asked nervously, glancing up at the ceiling and listening as tiny rocks bounced off the top of her makeshift cell.

“I don't know, but it kinda sounded like Pear Butter…” Dog remarked.

“That's your stepmom, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Dog nodded slowly.

“But she sounded weird, and really, really angry," Dog murmured absently.

Rainbow Dash gulped, glancing around as a second rumble shook the room.

Their collective gaze was drawn across the isle where an enormous stone had come loose and crushed an empty cage in a single earth-shattering clang. Their eyes went wide, and the fillies exchanged a brief panicked look, with Dog turning and frantically working at the cage door, her hoof jammed into the lock. Rainbow Dash considered doing the same but she didn't know a single thing about picking locks, or even locks in general for that matter.

Clutching the contract tightly to her chest, Rainbow Dash watched as Dog worked faster and faster, her gaze drawn up to the roof every few seconds.

Another rumble shook the room, this one more intense than either that had come before, causing the magma to bubble and pop, splattering over the back of Rainbow Dash’s cage. A second later a harsh grinding sound echoed from above them and an enormous boulder fell on the corner of Dog’s cage, crumpling the side without destroying it utterly.

Seeing her chance to escape the purple imp slipped through the bent bars and ran up to Rainbow Dash’s cage, her hoof jamming itself into the lock.

“Don't worry, Rainbow Dash, I won't leave you behind!” Dog declared.

The blue imp whimpered, glancing to the back of her cage that was now covered in angry red magma. The heat was intense but somehow it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be and the filly scooched further up the cage, watching Dog work. The longer she watched, the more Rainbow Dash’s heart fell. The other filly clearly wasn't sure what she was doing, and her increasingly desperate expression made panic surge in Rainbow Dash’s chest.

What if she just leaves me here? Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide and she glanced down the center aisle, noticing other chunks of the roof coming loose and crashing down around them. She could just leave right now. She looked down at the contract, realization dawning on her. Best friends don't leave each other behind.

She brought her hoof up to her horn and poked it through her leathery skin, causing a thin trickle of blood to run down the limb. Using her other hoof, she applied some blood and started signing her name, only for another thunderous boom to knock the sheet from her hooves.

The cage lurched suddenly, the ground welling up at the forefront of the cage, causing the entire thing to tip back and begin to slide toward the bubbling magma. The blue filly only barely managed to scramble forward and grip the front bars, desperately trying not to fall into the bubbling magma. In her other hoof was the half-signed contract she had managed to save.

“Sign the contract! I might be able to get you out if you do!” Dog yelled, pointing to the scroll.

Rainbow Dash, who was now nearly completely vertical, tried to hold on but found she couldn't do so while also signing the contract. She glanced at the batlike wings on her back before sighing and unfolding them, giving the leathery wings a test flap before letting go of the cage. The strange wings were different from her feathered ones and she nearly tumbled into the magma before getting the hang of it and managing to hover in place.

“Alright! You can do it, Rainbow Dash!” Dog cheered.

Rainbow Dash grinned despite the molten stone slowly creeping further up her cage. She used one hoof to hold the contract against what used to be the floor of her cage while the other hastily scrawled her name. Just as she was nearly finished another thunderous boom filled the room, shaking everything and causing the cage to sink faster.

With panic flashing in her heart the blue imp scratched the last few letters of her name.

“There!” she yelled, holding up the contract.

Just as Dog’s hoof touched the contract, the ends of the paper began to burn with a strange black flame that slowly consumed it.

“It worked, just hold on, Rainbow Dash!” Dog cried, banging her hooves against the lock with all the force she could muster. “Once the magic is complete, I can get you out of there, I think.”

Rainbow Dash glanced over her shoulder where the magma was now mere feet away.

“You think?” she yelled back.

“I haven't gotten that far in my studies okay?” Dog retorted.

Dog bit her lip and watched as the last of the contract finally disintegrated, the ashes of which flowed into both imps’ bodies. As the last bits of ash suffused into the imps, a thin black line suddenly appeared between them, connecting one heart to another. Strange sensations flowed through both imps and for a second Dog wasn't sure it had worked before all of a sudden she heard something.

Please save, please oh please! I swear I’ll do whatever you say, just save me! the voice cried.

Dog looked down, feeling instinctively that the voice was the strange blue imp’s thoughts echoing in her own mind. Dog brushed the thoughts away for now, focusing on the fact that the other filly had mere inches of cage left before she too was swallowed by magma. The last remnants of the filly’s mane were aflame, and Dog knew it was growing unbearably hot for the other imp.

She needed to get her friend out of there, and although she felt like the magic of the contract would help, she didn't know how. Then, a feeling not unlike a tug came from her chest, directly her attention downward. The black line that connected them tugged again and this time the purple imp answered, tugging hard on the strange connection.

Rainbow Dash was suddenly overcome with the strange sensation of weightlessness, coupled with the odd fact that her back legs were no longer scalding hot. Glancing down she noticed they weren't even there anymore, and the rest of her form was quickly following suit, turning into a strange black mist that flowed upwards, towards her new friend. More and more of her form dissolved until all at once the rest of her body evaporated, flowing into Dog’s body.

The strange black mist suffused her form, slipping past her eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. Filling the inside of her body with a strange and utterly alien sensation of fullness. Dog brushed aside the feeling for now, hopping off the cage just as it sunk into the red-hot magma. Sprinting down the aisle and towards the exit, the filly got the distinct feeling that there was a second person watching from behind her eyes, the other filly’s voice echoing in her mind.

What the hay is going on? Am I in your body? What happened? Rainbow Dash yelled inside their head.

I saved your butt, now be quiet before we get us both killed! Dog thought back, shutting down the other imp’s panic.

Sprinting up the stairs, the filly dodged around falling debris, hopping up stairs before exiting into a far more well-reinforced room, one that lacked the distinctly natural look of the last. All around her were various tools of torture, including strange racks, knives, and many other things Dog didn't have the time to look at. She could feel the other imp’s terror, but she could also tell that Rainbow Dash had been here before, meaning the exit was right…

Dog sprinted across the room and threw open a door at the other side, revealing a spiral staircase going up. Leaping upwards, the filly narrowly managed to dodge a piece of falling debris, and she could hear the entire room behind her begin to collapse under the weight of the destruction. Running up the stairs, the pair ignored everything, screams of dying demons, the crackle of flames, and the rumble of something massive above them.

Eventually, they emerged into a large room filled with demons of all shapes and sizes, some grabbed weapons, others cowered in corners, all while larger ones tried to shout orders, none of whom had caught sight of them yet. Not wanting to deal with such an overwhelming force, the merged pair turned and glanced to the right, noticing a low window that had already been shattered.

Coiling their legs under them, they sprinted towards it and leaped into the air only for their surprisingly heavy body to not make the distance and begin to fall. Come on! Dog cried.

I got this, Rainbow Dash replied back.

The smoke billowed out of their back, forming into a pair of wispy black leather wings, which pumped hard, bringing them back on course and allowing them to fly through the window. As they passed through the window, their wings dissipated, leaving Dog to tumble to the ground, rolling over herself before landing with a thump with her face in the dirt.

She shook her head and hopped up to her hooves, glancing around at the ensuing chaos. She wasn't sure if any of the demons had seen her though, which meant she had to move and move quickly, but where?

She looked around, only to stop and stare as her jaw hung open.

In the distance, on the other side of the courtyard was a massive Pear Butter easily standing over the tallest structure in the castle. Enormous bonelike spines lined her back and head, while even more gigantic jets of flames sporadically burst from beneath the few damaged scales that Dog could see. Her eyes crackled with such a rage-filled intensity that Dog flinched at the sight.

The now massive Pear Butter reared back and breathed deeply before slamming into the ground and causing a massive tremor before unleashing a blast of flame that was so focused it looked more like a beam. The flames exploded through the castle grounds, tearing through stone, flesh, and dirt like a hot knife through butter. Chunks of stonework exploded, raining down from the heavens and destroying even more of the castle as numerous demons cried in terror and pain.

That's your mom? Rainbow Dash asked.

Dog nodded dumbly. Kinda.

Awesome! Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Dog watched as a group of winged demons tried to attack the enormous rage demon, only to be smacked aside with relative ease, splattering them across the ground and other structures.

“Whoa,” Dog muttered to herself.

The sound of boots coming from behind them drew the filly’s attention back down to reality. Instinctively, the filly pressed herself against the building, making her profile as small as possible and hoping the demon didn't notice her.

A second later the pain demon from before sprinted around the corner, an enormous blade in his two dominant hands while the smaller set both wielded daggers. Its eyes were wide and it looked around half in a panic.

“Oh fuck, oh fuck,” it muttered to itself.

Just as he was about to look down at where Dog was hiding, a shape emerged from behind the four-armed demon, shortly before a hand burst from the demon’s armored chest. The pain demon’s weapons clattered to the ground and he turned, finding the grinning form of Sisyphus looking down at him.

“Our deal-” he tried to say.

Sisyphus smirked.

“Has been completed, it said nothing about what happened after,” Sisyphus remarked.

The trickster demon tore his hand back through the pain demon’s body, making it crumple to the ground.

Is he your dad? Rainbow asked.

Dog shook her head. No, my father is way cooler.

Cooler than even him? Whoa. Rainbow Dash thought.

The trickster demon looked down at the imp and smirked.

“Ahh, I see you two are safe and sound, good. I had hoped this fool hadn't bungled the plan too badly," Sisyphus exclaimed.

“What plan? What's going on?” Dog asked nervously, glancing around.

Sisyphus ignored the filly’s question and pulled out a small crystal, which lit up and created a familiar floating head. That's my father! Dog thought, pointing to Tirek’s head which had appeared above the crystal.

You are right, he is way cooler, Rainbow Dash thought back.

The trickster demon bowed slightly.

“I have your daughter and the package," Sisyphus declared.

"Good work, Sisyphus,” Tirek stated, his head swiveled down to Dog, a wide smile crossing his face. “Well done, Dog, your mission is complete, prepare for the jump home.”

“But I didn't shut down the shield. I failed!” the filly cried.

Tirek smirked, tapping his nose.

“I always have a backup plan," Tirek reminded.

Your dad is awesome! Rainbow Dash added.

He sure is, Dog replied.

Sisyphus leaned down, gently scooping the filly up.

“You got heavier, what did you do, eat rocks?" He teased.

“N-no!” Dog stuttered.

The trickster demon snickered.

“Get ready, this isn't the most pleasant way to travel," he warned.

“What do you-”

A sudden flame erupted from the ground beneath them, consuming all three of them in an instant, leaving behind only a small fire that continued to burn for a second longer, before it too vanished.

Author's Note

Edited by the everfreepony!
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Interlude Three: Introspection (R)

“The last worm in the city…” Twilight Velvet muttered to herself, tapping her desk idly as she reclined in her chair.

“A noble house?” She asked no one in particular, only to shake her head. “Too obvious, and more than one rotten house in this city.”

“Literal worm then perhaps?” she muttered aloud, shifting her papers around, only to stop. “No wait, there was more than one city dump last I checked, and more than one sewage treatment facility.”

She frowned.

“A bait shop?" She continued. "Too obvious, and probably more than one. Though fishing isn't something many ponies would bother doing as only unicorns can digest the complex proteins found in meat.”

The mare sighed, adding it to a very small list of potential places she needed to check out. Pushing out of her chair, the mare stood up and began pacing, only glancing briefly at the various experiments that she was still running in her little attic study. Her gaze lingered over the letter at the edge of the desk, her thoughts returning to the promises Celestia had made within and about the spell, she swore would find her little girl.

“Celestia maybe?” she asked the empty room, to no response. “No, that's too obvious and it seems as though he has regular trouble with the law as is.”

Turning in place, the mare sighed before shaking her head.

“I’m getting nowhere slowly. I should put this all on hold and see about finding some lunch,” Velvet muttered.

The mare blushed and pressed a hoof against her forehead.

“And stop thinking out loud so much," she added.

With a shake of her head, she went from experiment to experiment, turning off the heat or shutting off the spell and ensuring nothing backfired while she was occupied. In seconds her small array of curiosities was off and her experiments were set aside, for now. She sunk back into her chair, her hooves gathering up the papers and books that littered her desk, piling them into orderly stacks. When suddenly her hoof brushed across her list of possibilities and an idea suddenly popped into her head.

“What about literal but not quite literal?” she muttered to herself. “There is only one tequila manufacturer left in Canterlot!”

The mare slapped a hoof to her forehead.

“Of course! We even stopped there briefly during the wine and spirits tour we went on during our honeymoon and it even had a tasting lounge," Velvet continued. "Though it wasn't exactly a stellar location I remember the booze being good and they even gloated about the fact that they still use the worm as that was traditional.”

Twilight shook her head and muttered about her own foolishness before adding the tequila plant to the bottom of the list and circling it a few times.

“Oh, this is perfect,” she muttered.

With a swift grab of her telekinesis, she retrieved the sheet of paper, as well as the most important book of her collection, and stuffed them into a pair of saddlebags that lay nearby. Throwing them over her back, the mare popped open the ladder leading to the second floor and hopped down. With a swift use of her magic the ladder and hatch to the attic were sealed, ensuring no one but her would be able to open it without getting a considerable jolt of magical backlash.

With quick excited steps, she ran down the stairs, careening to a stop at the bottom and about to turn towards the front door when a voice suddenly stopped her.

“Going out to pick up food again? I was about to start lunch," offered a voice.

Twilight sighed, turning towards her disapproving husband and frowning.

“I was just going out for a little while, don't worry, I’ll be back before sundown,” she replied quickly, hoping that was the end of it.

“Hold on a minute," Night Light exclaimed. "We've been putting off talking about the mare you assaulted for long enough and I will not wait another minute to hear your side of the story.”

The mare ground her teeth together.

“Now is not the time, I need to do this, Night Light. It's for our daughter," Twilight earnestly proclaimed.

The stallion blinked, raising an eyebrow.

“What is for our daughter? Is not talking to my wife who savagely beat a mare half to death for no reason for our daughter?” He asked, his eyes narrowing. “Because something tells me Twily wouldn't exactly advocate for such a thing.”

“She-” The mare started, only to catch herself, forcing a deep breath into her lungs and calming considerably. “It was a misunderstanding that got out of hoof too quickly. I was in the wrong, and that's it.”

“A misunderstanding?” Night asked, shaking his head. “Honey, you nearly beat a pony to death in our front yard. The medics had to keep her skull together with magic on the way to the hospital.”

Twilight winced.

“If Celestia wasn't there to heal her, she very well might have died on that gurney," Night Light pressed.

Twilight Velvet clenched her jaw, forcing herself to breathe, only to find it wasn't working this time.

“Just give me a second,” she muttered, raising a hoof.

Night sighed, watching as his wife huffed and puffed, barely able to keep her anger in control.

“You constantly seem as though you are about to explode at any moment. What has gotten into you lately?” Night Light asked.

“It's just stress," Twilight growled. “She was trying to egg me on, and I gave in like a fool.”

The stallion eyed her cautiously, noticing that her shoulders seemed to slump, and her jaw was no longer clenched.

“Did she say anything about fast tracking Shining Armor for officership?" Night Light pressed. "A recruiter caught me in the halls and mentioned that-”

“No,” Twilight growled, looking up at her husband with an intensity that instantly set him on edge. “We can't do that, we can't let her have him.”

“This isn't up to you, Velvet!" Night Light retorted. "I asked our son what he wanted and he has already accepted the offer! He wants to become stronger so he can protect other fillies like Twilight. Now you want to just take that from him?”

“Twilight isn't gone!” Velvet yelled back, trotting up to his face. “You keep talking about her as if she were already dead and buried. How could you do that to her before we even have a body?”

The stallion sighed, shaking his head.

“I know she isn't dead, but I also know that this is something the colt wants to do. He has a solid chance to achieve his dreams, do you really want to take that from him?” Night Light asked.

“I…” Twilight began, only to pause and sigh. “No, I just don't want him to go. She's taken one foal from us already.”

“Well, you are doing a good job of pushing him away all by yourself. I hardly think Celestia’s help is even needed in that regard,” Night Light remarked with a sigh.

“What do you mean?” she asked hesitantly.

Night Light raised an eyebrow.

“You didn't even bother going to his acceptance ceremony, remember? For the junior cadets, it was yesterday," Night Light pointed out.

Twilight Velvet shook her head slowly.

“No, that's next week," Twilight retorted.

“That was yesterday, Twilight,” Night Light stressed, gesturing towards the door. “Just go, Velvet, go do whatever it is you were going to do, and don't bother coming back until you are ready to abandon this nonsense. Because as it stands right now, you are tearing apart what's left of this family.”

Righteous indignation rose in her chest, yet it couldn't seem to reach her lips and with a resigned sigh, Twilight turned to the door, head held low.

Outside, the air was cool, and the evening breeze caressed her fur, reminding the mare that winter was approaching and it wouldn't be long before fall left them. The past few months had not changed the old street very much, and the mare felt almost a little angry at that realization. In her mind things should have changed, her world had changed, her outlook on everything had been forever altered and it only made sense that the world should change with it.

With a sigh on her lips, she lifted her hooves and trotted down the street, heading for the seedier part of Canterlot, and the last worm therein.

The less reputable parts of Canterlot were, well, not very seedy compared to most places. Sure, a few buildings might be run down with no hope of repairs but a pony could probably count all of those dilapidated structures on their hooves. More than likely the area itself simply held businesses that, though not illegal, were not as nice as others. Those in the business of making hard alcohol, weapons, or funeral parlors and crematoriums and the other less-than-pretty businesses found their home here.

All of these businesses were legitimate but were not the kind ponies liked to see during their morning commutes and most workers therein weren't exactly proud of what they did. This meant that those necessary but unsightly businesses were pushed up against the mountainside as if the city itself wished to hide the fact that they existed at all.

Over the centuries since the city had been founded many attempts at expansion had been made, either by building outwards and extending the plate that held Canterlot or by building upwards. Expansion in any other direction was impossible either because the plate and the sewer system crisscrossed beneath almost everywhere, making basements a rare commodity in Canterlot.

Even still, a few enterprising nobles had gathered the capital necessary to carve out the mountainside itself, with the intent of creating small secondary steppes where buildings could stand taller than the rest of Canterlot. This hadn't worked though, as the council caught wind of it and instituted some pointed bylaws making such tall towering structures illegal.

Thus when it came time to build their new district they were forced to dig into the side of the mountain, without creating the steppes, increasing costs and driving away investors.

This left us with today, where only a small section had been cleared and only the businesses that needed the lower overhead of the much-maligned new area now resided. Twilight Velvet wasn't sure why she had remembered the tour guide’s spiel at this particular moment, though if she had to guess, it was probably the nerves.

The mare gulped, looking around as she quickly trotted through the section of the city, wary of any pony who trotted too close. With one eye perpetually going back to her bag to ensure it had not been pilfered. She knew logically that Celestia wouldn't abide crime and that this area really wasn't so bad, but compared to her home in the noble quarter this may as well be the worst ghetto in Manehattan.

Walking past a group of youths lingering near a corner, the mare clutched her bag and trotted swiftly to the other side of the road, much to the amusement of the young ponies who laughed at the paranoid mare, pointing hooves in her direction while making lewd remarks. Now she remembered why they did not stay long during their little booze tour, despite how surprisingly good the tequila was.

Ducking down another side street, Twilight Velvet kept her pace brisk and her eyes up, and her head constantly swiveling this way and that as she made sure to keep mental tabs on anypony who seemed like a miscreant. This meant that the panicked mare was looking all over the place until she finally rounded the last bend and saw the distant sight of the building she had been searching for.

A crematorium sat on one side, its large smoke stack nearly invisible, as it had been painted the same color as the mountainside itself. On the other side sat a large warehouse that looked older than even the city itself, despite the impossibility of such a thing.

Down the road to her destination were several other businesses and houses interspersed seemingly at random, with a few houses looking like converted shops and vice versa. Clearly, the local zoning jurisdiction didn't seem to care so long as they got paid, which made sense to Twilight, given the area’s less-than-sparkling history. It was perhaps not a surprise that she also saw a lot more than just ponies lingering near the buildings that lined the route.

Griffons were easily the second largest minority, right after earth ponies. Minotaurs seemed surprisingly common, and the noble mare even caught sight of a few Saddle Arabians, though they seemed like tourists for the most part and kept to themselves.

Though it was just after noon, it felt later, with the mountain making the entire section of the city shrouded in deep shade. With the shadows lengthened, and the area already not having the greatest reputation, it made for an intimidating scene, to say the least.

The crowd thinned near the tequila factory itself, with only a handful of griffons standing outside, near a side exit reserved for employees. A half-destroyed picnic bench sat half on and half off the curb, where a few of the griffons sat, playing cards.

At the sight of the group of toms the highborn unicorn nearly stopped, tempted to just turn around and leave without finding the answers she sought. The image of her daughter’s face entered her mind before she could do so and startled her out of her reverie. The mare gave her head a shake and reminded herself that she should both be unafraid of other races, as well as brave enough to seek out the answers she longed for.

This was, after all, in the service of finding her daughter and righting a wrong.

With her head held high, the mare approached the door to her left, over which the word ‘Lounge’ was printed in dull green neon letters.

The mare gulped, casting one quick sidelong glance to the group of griffons, who barely gave her a passing glance, before walking inside.

The room she entered was small, nearly claustrophobicly so, with a thick cloud of smoke that seemed to cling to everything. There were several booths lining the sides, and the small bar at the far end of the room was dominated by a hulking minotaur sipping a tiny glass and leaning on the counter. Behind which was a large steely-eyed griffon who was in the midst of scrubbing a glass that already seemed perfectly clean.

Other than that there was only a pair of other patrons, who were crowded into the far end of a booth and huddled in close, intense conversation. The pair would be strange anywhere else, as one was a griffon and the other a ruddy green-coated unicorn, both hunched over a map of some kind. The pair glanced over at Twilight before shifting a little closer, and speaking even quieter.

The mare bit her lip and walked up to the two beings at the bar, trying to give herself a wide berth from the minotaur, only for the sheer size of the creature to make such an action impossible. She gulped, looking up at the bartender and smiling awkwardly.

“H-hello," Twilight greeted.

“What are ya lookin fer?” the griffon asked gruffly, not looking up from his cup.

The mare blinked, noticing the many scars that covered the old tom’s face, as if someone had bashed him over the head with a glass bottle on more than one occasion.

“The last worm in Canterlot?” she asked back, suddenly unsure of herself all over again.

The minotaur turned to her, revealing the fact that it was in fact a she, albeit a very masculine female at that. Her hair was cut short, and a heavy vest obscured her more obvious female features from any passerby.

“So, you are the chickie Raff was talkin' about,” the minotaur rumbled, in a voice that was only vaguely feminine.

“Y-yes?” Twilight muttered back, clutching her bags tight against her chest.

The griffon nodded, picking his glass back up and jerking a thumb over his shoulders.

“Go on through. He's been waiting for ya," he encouraged.

The mare lifted an eyebrow, noticing that there was a door in the corner, having been hidden by a booth when she had first walked in.

“Thanks,” Twilight Velvet muttered, getting off her seat and trotting over to the door.

She could almost feel the minotaur’s eyes on her backside, while the griffon didn't seem to care one way or the other, having turned back to his glass. With a shiver rising up her spine, the mare gripped the door handle and turned it, stepping into the room beyond.

A round table sat at the center of the even smaller room she had walked into, which seemed a little too big for the room, leaving only just enough space for a group of individuals to sit around. In the room two ponies, one familiar, and one new, sat, playing a card game Twilight Velvet had never seen before.

Several piles of cards littered the table, and each player held a mitt full of them while eyeing the other player intensely. The familiar ash-coated stallion chuckled, turning towards the newcomer, and grinned.

“Well, would you look at that, the prodigal mare finally makes an appearance,” the stallion announced, removing his hooves from the table before laying his cards down. “I must say you are looking absolutely ravishing this fine afternoon.”

He trotted up to Twilight and placed his lips on her leg, just above her hoof, drawing a blush to Twilight Velvet’s face.

“I’m sorry, I didn't know you were waiting for me,” Twilight muttered awkwardly, noticing the rather intense gaze that the other pony was giving her.

The unfamiliar pony was a mare, tall, with dark blue fur and a somehow even darker blue mane, she wore a simple purple vest and had a teal scarf wrapped around her neck. She seemed content to merely glare in silence, allowing Raff to step in and speak for her.

“Ahh, this is my associate Tight Fit, a rather up-and-coming designer here in Canterlot,” the stallion announced, gesturing to the previously unnamed mare, who nodded slightly. “We were actually just talking about you.”

“Indeed,” Tight Fit began in a surprisingly deep and captivating voice.

“Your… experience is a most curious one,” the mare remarked, placing her cards on the table and standing.

“I assume you desire privacy with your new friend?” she asked, glancing over to the stallion.

He nodded.

“If you would be so kind. I would also appreciate it if you let Iron Hammer know that we should not be interrupted," Raff remarked.

The mare nodded, stopping as she neared Twilight Velvet, casting a curious glance over the mare’s body before smirking and trotting away.

“What was that?” Twilight asked awkwardly.

The stallion sighed and rolled his eyes.

“She can be a little dismissive of ponies who don't wear any clothing, though for whatever reason she doesn't seem to have complaints about me and my top hat,” He remarked with a chuckle.

He then began gathering the cards up and setting them off to the side before sitting back in his spot and gesturing to the seat across from him.

“Please, sit. We have much to discuss," he offered.

“Um, thank you,” she muttered, sitting in the still-warm seat and pulling up her chair.

The stallion’s wide grin was a little unnerving, but Velvet didn't seem to sense any actual ill intent from him and allowed herself to relax, placing her bags on the table.

“Why exactly were you talking about me?” Twilight inquired.

The stallion smiled a wide, confident smile.

“It was like my companion mentioned, simple curiosity I'm afraid. It's not every day that a noble ends up in the tank, and even less often where that same noble actually gets charged with anything,” Raff exclaimed.

“It's not like I was innocent,” Velvet muttered.

“Oh, but many far more guilty nobles have been thrown into the tank, and fewer still actually see their day in court,” Raff exclaimed.

He poured the mare a glass of brownish-yellow liquid and pushed the cup towards her.

“For your nerves," he offered.

She glanced down at the liquid, easily deducing that it was most likely tequila.

“Err thanks," Twilight muttered.

She picked up the cup and took a cautionary sip, only to find it wasn't nearly as intense as she remembered it.

“Ahh, that's the good stuff. Watch out though, it kicks like a mule, so take it slow. Most ponies don't have a stomach for booze I’m afraid,” He relented, pouring himself a glass of the stuff as well before taking a deep sip and sitting back on his chair. “But getting back to the topic at hoof. I must admit that I was more intrigued by the fact that you seemed able to earn the trust of my dear friend Maul.”

“Why do you say that? He is a bookseller after all,” the mare asked, taking another sip of the smooth alcohol, and noting the faint burn that lingered at the back of her throat.

“Oh he is, he is. But," Raff exclaimed, raising a hoof. “He only ever sells such a book when he knows the buyer will end up eventually talking to me.”

He shrugged. “But, he is a mystic, so I suppose it does make sense. It's not like this was the first time he's surprised me," Raff declared.

“A mystic?” Twilight Velvet asked curiously, scooching her chair a little closer. “He didn't look like it. I thought minotaur mystics used fetishes and totems to channel their magic.”

“They do, Mister Maul merely keeps such information on a need-to-know basis,” Raff replied, tapping his nose. “Not everyone is as understanding as you or I.”

“That's fair, I suppose. My fellow nobles aren't exactly known for their acceptance of other cultures,” Twilight remarked.

“Quite right, I’m afraid.” Raff chuckled. “Though I have a feeling you will see him again soon, and maybe then you can inquire more about his passion.”

“How would you know that?” Twilight Velvet chuckled. “Are you a mystic as well?”

“Maybe, or maybe I just trust such an event will come to pass,” Raff began, a smirk on his face as he leaned across the table. “Kind of like how you trust me.”

The mare rolled her eyes.

“I do not trust you, we've hardly even met," Twilight retorted.

“Oh? Then why would you come to the seediest part of Canterlot, enter a bar that you knew didn't cater to your kind, and proceed to not back down even after my little entourage tried their best to intimidate you?” Raff teased.

His smirk widened and he leaned back in his chair, kicking up his hooves.

“Face it, missy, you trust me to give you something you don't have, and that you know you can't get anywhere else. That's trust," Raff pointed.

He chuckled at the baffled expression on Twilight Velvet’s face and pulled his hooves from the table before leaning across it, a wide smile on his face.

“But trust is a two-way street, so tell me, little noble. What would you do to bring back your little girl?” Raff inquired.

“Anything,” she said, without hesitation.

He lifted an eyebrow.

“Now that's some bullshit if ever I heard it,” Raff exclaimed, rubbing a hoof against his ear. “I should remind Iron Hammer to not defecate indoors.”

“I would do anything to get my girl back, how dare you!” She shouted, pounding a hoof on the table. “You know nothing about me!”

The stallion merely sighed.

“There is always something a pony isn't willing to do. For example, would you hurt an innocent being for the information you seek? And not a tiny little paper cut, when I say hurt, I mean hurt.” Raff emphasized.

Twilight gulped, imagining the mare she had beaten looking up at her with fear in her eyes.

“No.” She sighed reluctantly.

“Then don't say anything if you wouldn't do anything,” Raff remarked simply.

Then just like that his serious expression was wiped away, replaced by his trademark smile.

“I do appreciate the trust, but you are going to have to come back when you really mean what you said. ‘Cause missy, answers like the kind you seek don't come for free," Raff warned, waggling a hoof at the other pony.

“I know there would be a cost, but surely I wouldn't have to do something quite as reprehensible as that, would I?” she asked awkwardly, nursing the last of her drink.

Raff shrugged.

“Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that it would take that level of determination to find what you seek, but right now you got hope," Raff pointed out. "Despite your disagreements, you think Celestia’s little spell will find your filly and that makes you unwilling to do what might be needed.”

“How did you know about that?” Twilight asked pointedly. “The project was supposed to be a secret.”

Raff tapped his nose again and smirked.

“I’m in the business of knowing things," he replied. "Like for example I know that her spell is supposed to be completed soon. I also know that it's supposed to be able to find your little filly no matter what plane of existence she's on. I also know that despite your distaste, you will go to see the spell completed and you will trust that ol’ Celestia will make things all better.”

The mare’s grip tightened on her drink. “What else do you know about her spell?”

“I know it won't work, for one.”

“How could you know that?”

“Like I said, it's my business, and I’m very, very good at what I do,” Raff retorted, smirking at the mare across from him. “For example, I also know that she will suffer some form of strange interference and her spell will not find what you seek.”

“Are you saying you know more than Celestia’s top mages?” Twilight shot back, scoffing at the stallion. “I find that hard to believe. Celestia isn't exactly in the business of letting talent slip between her hooves.”

The stallion’s expression grew dark for a moment before he shook his head.

“No, she most certainly does not like letting talent escape her grasp, that much is certain. We have something else though,” Raff teased, pausing to pour himself and Velvet another drink and raising his up. “We have determination, ingenuity, and above all that, will. So when your princess fails you for the last time, come back to us, when you are ready to mean those words.”

The stallion smirked at Twilgiht's continued hesitancy. Though uncertain, she still grabbed the drink once more, pulling it close to herself.

“To will,” he announced before throwing back the drink in a single gulp.

Twilight Velvet sipped her own drink cautiously, the stallion’s words making her realize just how much she truly did trust Celestia despite their history.

It wasn't like Celestia had earned herself a lot of trust, but neither had this strange stallion and something about him told the mare that he wasn't exactly a good person. But if Celestia’s best failed, then who could she possibly turn to? Clearly, this was bigger than one pony’s attic laboratory could manage and no amount of quiet study and testing was going to be able to replicate what the sharpest minds could, no matter how long she went at it.

Lifting her drink, the mare threw back the last of the liquid before standing.

“So, if I do come back, who do I ask for?” Twilight inquired.

“Riff Raff is what most individuals know me as, and I find the name suitable for the time being," the top hat-wearing stallion exclaimed. "When you return and join our little club, I will tell you my true name. Until then, I wish you the best.”

It was clear the conversation was over, and she wasn't exactly going to get anything else out of the strange stallion, no matter what she did. Twilight frowned, turning to the door and slipping out the exit.

As she left Twilight didn't look at the leering minotaur, the distracted griffon, or anyone else. Not even the bands of ponies and other beings lingering outside or in the streets drew her attention, her mind consumed by a singular question.

Could she really come back to this place?

They were obviously criminals, ones that had the resources and strength to come close to matching the princess’ own mages. Clearly, they were powerful, and they had to do something to bankroll so many ponies and other creatures. Necromancy, demon summoning, or perhaps something more mundane like trafficking? All were possibilities.

Though she knew the logical thing was to report what she had seen to someone of authority, another, smaller part of her reminded the mare that they also might be the only ones who could truly help her. No matter what they were, or what they did, they clearly had the power to assist her and were obviously interested in recruiting her.

By the time her old street was in sight, she had made up her mind. If Celestia found her little girl, and Riff Raff was wrong, she would report him to the princess, and see justice be done.

If he was right though…

Author's Note

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Trial ?: Home, Sweet Home (R)

Dog’s vision continued to swim until finally, her body decided to start existing again. A second later she felt her hooves slam into the ground shortly before the rest of her followed. Her body turned sideways, and though she tried to stay standing, her clumsy hooves were unable to find the ground anymore. She was vaguely aware of Rainbow Dash feeling the same sense of vertigo and confusion as her, but Dog didn't have the time to console her friend as she was busy trying to figure out which way was up.

A pair of gentle hands wrapped around her midsection, picking her up off the floor and prompting the filly to stop kicking her hooves randomly. Her senses returned slowly, starting first with her sense of smell, which alerted her to the fact that her mane was either on fire or had recently been so, as the stench of burnt hair was palpable. The next sense to return to her was her hearing, which told her that she was currently yelling what sounded like completely incomprehensible nonsense.

“Ah what va la ka tona!” Dog yelled.

She felt her mouth forcibly closed by a gentle hand, giving her time for the rest of her faculties to return and her eyes to no longer be useless and reveal the sight of her slightly amused father looking down at her.

“Bwuh?” Dog muttered.

Nice one, Shake Spear, Rainbow Dash remarked.

The centaur chuckled, pulling Dog in for a brief hug before suddenly placing her down on the ground and clearing his throat. A slight blush crossed his face before his normally calm and neutral expression returned. He looked down at her a second longer, his gaze lingering over her eyes as he stared deep into the freshly changed orbs.

“I see you have a passenger,” he remarked.

“Oh uh, yeah?” Dog responded weakly. “Is that okay?”

Tirek nodded confidently.

“You have done everything I had hoped you would," Tirek proudly proclaimed.

Dog was about to disagree when Tirek’s hand came down and gently ruffled her mane, making her already messy hair even worse than before.

“I-” Dog began, only to look up at her father with a mixture of awe and confusion. “I failed though. The shield-”

“The shield was a decoy, and when you took it down it enabled us to find where the true shield generator lay," Tirek replied with a smirk. “Or did you really think I wouldn't have thought of such a thing?”

“N-no!” Dog yelled.

“I didn't think so,” the centaur remarked, glancing past the filly. “Sisyphus, did you find our mole?”

The trickster demon stepped forward, his trademark smirk still plastered on his face.

“I believe I have, sir. She will be coming through the portal in mere minutes," Sisyphus answered.

“Good,” Tirek exclaimed, his expression growing dark. “Make sure she is bound the instant she comes through.”

Sisyphus bowed low, making the gesture far grander than necessary.

“Yes, my master," he grandly proclaimed.

Tirek nodded, before turning down to the filly, who was looking around in wonder, only now realizing where she was. The portal room was far busier than she had last remembered and as she watched, the center of the room lit up and one or more demons would appear. Some were wounded and limped out of the circle to be treated by a pair of grinning pain demons that stood off to the side. Others appeared with appendages filled with treasures ranging from armloads of gold, to paintings and more esoteric but obviously magical devices that varied wildly in appearance.

Whoa, Rainbow Dash thought as they watched a pair of rather large war demons clad in blackened plate mail appear at the center of the room, an enormous trunk that was as long as Dog’s bed held between them. The demons grunted, before shuffling away, even the enormously powerful creatures struggling to carry what was inside.

Whoa is right, Dog thought back, watching as another pair of demons instantly replaced the first pair as soon as they were clear.

“I am not surprised that arrogant fool kept all his wealth in one place,” Tirek remarked. “It looks like hiring a few extra pairs of hands is going to pay off after all.”

“You hired other demons?” Dog asked nervously. “But what about the forces you have here?”

“I can't leave the tower defenseless, even if it's only for a matter of hours,” Tirek replied simply. “Besides, though mercenaries are expensive, they are also expendable, and if there's one thing you can count on them to do, it's loot everything that isn't nailed down.”

The centaur broke out into a chuckle as he watched a rather large greed demon appear in the center of the room, an ornate mirror that still had bits of the wall it had been nailed to still clinging to it.

“And somethings that are still nailed down," Tirek added.

Dog and Rainbow Dash both chuckled as they watched the greed demon trundle away, all while giving nervous sidelong glances at anyone who stared too long at his prize.

Tirek shook his head.

“Anyway. Do you know how to release your familiar?" Tirek inquired.

“We went over the contract before but didn't have time to get into the details before the mission," Dog answered.

“Understandable," Tirek remarked with a frown. "I had hoped we would have more time to go into the inner workings of demonic contracts before this happened, but I suppose now is as good a time as any for your first lesson.”

“First lesson on what?” Dog eagerly inquired.

“We’ll get to the actual lesson on contracts and familiars soon. For now, we will learn how to release your familiar. First, extend your leg outwards, and project the image of what she looked like out into the world,” Tirek explained, the centaur extending his arm out from his body. “Like this.”

Dog nodded, following suit before imagining what she remembered Rainbow Dash looked like. The filly could feel the demon within her begin to shift beneath her skin, grey smoke beginning to emanate from Dog’s extended hoof.

“Now what?” Dog asked.

“Now you must force that image into reality,” Tirek stated, thrusting out a hand and silently urging the filly to imitate him. “Channel your magic into your hoof and out into the world.”

The imp followed her father’s example, summoning her magic into her hoof and thrusting it out the same way Tirek just had. After a second of nothing happening the grey smoke clinging to her hoof suddenly shot out before her, billowing out of her body and into the space between her and her father. Rainbow Dash’s startled mental yelp was the last thing Twilight heard before the other demon’s body forced itself into existence.

The demon blinked, looking around a second before gravity decided to exert itself, sending the bat-winged demon clattering to the floor.

“Oof,” the imp muttered, rubbing her head with a hoof as her eyes rolled around in her skull.

Dog chuckled, while Tirek looked on in barely contained amusement.

Rainbow Dash gave her head one final shake before she looked around with her own two eyes.

“Whoa. This is even cooler than it looked through your eyes!” she exclaimed excitedly.

Tirek chuckled, watching as the newly reformed imp trotted around, staring at every demon that passed her by, as well as every other strange and wonderful sight she beheld. She was about to poke a rather exceptionally large sloth demon when she suddenly stood bolt upright and flew within inches of Tirek’s face.

“Does this mean I can't die?” she asked, a wide smile on her face.

“Rainbow Dash!” Dog hissed. “You have to be more respectful than that!”

Tirek frowned, but couldn't quite contain the amusement he felt.

“You should listen to your mistress," Tirek urged.

Rainbow Dash gulped before landing next to Dog and bowing her head, following her mistress’ lead.

“S-sorry sir," Rainbow Dash murmured.

The centaur shrugged.

“Since you apologized you will not be punished, this time,” Tirek exclaimed.

The small, bat-winged demon gulped, bowing a little lower.

“Now, to answer your question," Tirek began. "You sort of can't die.”

Dog blinked, looking up at her father in confusion.

“What do you mean, father?” Dog pressed.

“If she recalls herself or you recall her in time, she cannot die,” Tirek explained. “So long as her soul remains intact, that is. If the soul is damaged or destroyed, then she will die permanently.”

Rainbow Dash pumped a hoof in the air. “Awesome!” She exclaimed.

Tirek chuckled, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, it is quite awesome, as they say," Tirek remarked.

“Wait,” Dog declared, holding up a hoof. “Would that still work on other planes of existence?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?” Tirek answered.

“That means, that instead of her soul being bound to Tartarus like other demons’ it's instead bound to me then, right?” Dog asked quizzically.

“You are correct,” Tirek declared, smiling pridefully. “The process of making another demon into your familiar essentially ensures that upon death, their soul will return to you, rather than Tartarus like other demons who perish on the other planes. With the only difference being that you must consciously recall their soul.”

Rainbow Dash blinked, looking from Dog to Tirek.

“Wait, so if I die anywhere else I just poof and go back into Dog?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Pretty much,” Dog responded, earning a small nod from Tirek.

“Demons can only be killed when they are here, in Tartarus,” Tirek declared with a shrug. “The magic of this plane ensures that those who come here can only be killed here.”

“Does that mean-” Dog began, only for Sisyphus to appear beside them, interrupting their conversation.

“She's coming sir, would you like to do the honors, or should I?” the trickster demon asked, already knowing the answer.

“I will handle this personally,” Tirek rumbled.

The centaur glanced down at the pair of demons staring up at him in confusion.

“I need to take care of a traitor. I will be back in just a moment. Don't go anywhere," Tirek ordered.

Dog and Rainbow Dash both nodded in unison, watching closely as Tirek trotted up to the center of the room.

The centaur glanced briefly at the hooded figure standing to the side, sparing Pythias only a slight nod before turning back. The seer nodded back, her expression becoming grim as she waved her glowing hands over the center of the room.

A second later there was a brief flash before a large, gangly-limbed greed demon appeared in the middle of the room. She was tall, taller still than even Tirek, and wore the stark black leather armor that most of Tirek’s more secretive servants wore. The demon appeared with a smirk already on her face, and a chest full to the bursting with treasure in her slim, scaly fingers.

Upon seeing Tirek’s face the demon’s smirk vanished, and her slitted pupils went wide.

“T-Tirek, I can explain! It was- mph!” She tried to interrupt.

Tirek waved his hand and made a thick muzzle appear around the demon’s face, followed closely by a set of irons that bound her hands and legs, forcing her to drop the chest, the coins to spilling out over the floor. The centaur placed a hand on the greed demon’s shoulder, gripping the suddenly smaller creature tightly.

“Do not resist and I may make your end a swift one," Tirek whispered in a low tone.

The greed demon’s already wide eyes went wider still. For a second the air was tense, and a few of the other demons had stopped to watch Tirek as he faced down the lanky demon. Then, all fight seemed to flow out of the creature and she slumped, allowing Tirek to guide her off to the side, where he conjured another set of chains, complete with an iron ball.

Now thoroughly immobilized and unable to use her magic, the demon slumped to the ground, staring at her feet in silence. Sensing that the action was already over, the room seemed to move once more, with everyone going about their business as if nothing had happened.

Tirek gave the greed demon one last glance before turning away.

“You are lucky there is someone else who will want revenge even more than I,” Tirek remarked with a dry chuckle. “Cherish these final moments, traitor.”

Rainbow Dash leaned towards the other filly.

“Wow, your dad’s hardcore," Rainbow Dash whispered.

“I suppose that's one way of putting it," Dog admitted.

Tirek trotted back up to the pair.

“Now then, did you have any other questions?” He offered.

“I did," Dog replied, only to shrug. "But now I can't remember.”

“Yeah, I have a question,” Rainbow Dash picked up, grinning madly. “How did you summon those chains and stuff? My dad always said unicorns are the only ones who can use magic.”

Tirek raised an eyebrow, before glancing at Dog, who facehoofed.

“Excuse her, father, I haven't had the chance to teach her the basics," Dog apologized.

“See to it that you do,” Tirek commanded. “A familiar that does not even know how to use its own magic is of no use to anyone and may be more burden than a help.”

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash yelled, only to have Dog’s hoof stuffed in her mouth.

“I will, father," Dog declared.

Rainbow Dash glared at Dog until she finally removed her hoof, then, right as it seemed like she was going to continue to complain, she suddenly stopped and blinked.

“Wait, I have magic?” Rainbow Dash whispered in a low, conspiratorial tone.

“Duh, you are a demon," Dog retorted, rolling her eyes.

The demon winced a little, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Right… A demon, forgot about that," Rainbow Dash murmured.

Tirek raised an eyebrow at the reaction but said nothing, turning his attention back to the center of the room.

“Ahh, here comes Pear Butter," Tirek stated.

Dog’s eyes went wide and she spun around.

“Where?” She demanded.

“Give her just a second. She’ll be coming through momentarily,” Tirek answered.

Rainbow Dash leaned closer to Twilight.

"That's your mom, right?" Rainbow Dash inquired.

The other imp shrugged. “Sorta," Dog admitted.

Tirek glanced down at Dog and chuckled, giving his head a slow shake.

In the middle of the room, the normally gently glowing runes and circles began to grow brighter and brighter, straining to teleport the next target. Rainbow Dash gulped, looking down as she noticed that even the circle beneath her was alight with power, while Tirek just smirked and Dog didn't notice.

A second later Pythias winced, shielding her face from the crack of lightning that erupted in the center of the teleportation array.

For a moment Dog was forced to do the same, shielding her eyes from the intense explosion of light. While the filly and her demon friend both recoiled from the light, a dull boom accompanied by the floor shaking nearly knocked them off their hooves.

Dog was the first to recuperate, and looked up in shock at the massive creature now standing in the center of the room. Gone was the Pear Butter she had known before, replaced by a slightly less monstrous version of the one that she had briefly glimpsed in the courtyard mere minutes ago. Only this time she had sustained significantly more damage, with many of her scales being either bent, broken, missing, or otherwise covered in a multitude of different beings’ blood and viscera.

The massive, nearly twenty-foot-tall demon nearly brushed her head against the ceiling, and with wide panicked eyes she looked around, searching for something.

“She's down here,” Tirek shouted, grabbing the massive demon’s attention.

Rainbow Dash felt her legs give out as the great demon’s fearsome gaze came down on her like a hammer blow, knocking the strength from her body. For a moment she wasn't sure if she was going to pee herself or not, but the pure, unfiltered hate in the great demon’s eyes faded the instant they landed on Dog.

The great demon sighed, seemingly shrinking a few feet at the sight and reaching out a hoof toward the grinning filly.

“I’m glad you are okay!” Dog shouted, running up to the demon’s extended hoof, only to be stopped by Tirek holding up a hand.

“We will have to hold off on the tearful reunion a moment longer, I’m afraid,” Tirek interrupted.

The fear demon didn't even flinch when Pear Butter glared down at him, merely pointing a finger toward the bound and shivering form propped up against a nearby wall.

“I have secured the turncoat in our midst, and saved her for you," Tirek offered.

The glare lessened and Pear Butter nodded.

“Thank you!” she boomed, her voice rattling the very bones of the two smaller demons who heard it.

That mirth didn't last long and the great demon turned to the cowering form of the bound and gagged greed demon who was desperately trying to crawl away. She didn't make it more than a few feet before Pear Butter’s head lowered mere inches away, causing her to freeze in terror. The wrath demon’s hot breath billowed over the bound demon, causing any loose pieces of clothing to catch alight, drawing a panicked scream from the greed demon.

That scream didn't last long though as Pear Butter simply leaned down and snapped her jaws shut over the entirety of the unfortunate creature leaving only the hand she had been using to try and pull herself away with. The great demon hummed in approval, crunching loudly as she snapped the poor demon’s bones with her titanic jaws.

Tirek waved a hand and dismissed the bindings, knowing that at this point the only thing they would do was give Pear Butter indigestion. Without the gag binding the greed demon’s lips, everyone in the portal room could hear the brief and anguish-filled scream that slipped past the wrath demon’s lips.

Frowning, Pear Butter breathed deep, her chest glowing hotly as the heat built inside her. Clamping her lips together tightly, the wrath demon flashfried the demon in her mouth a small trickle of smoke slipping out her nose. With her meal now thoroughly toasted, the demon winced at the taste before chewing once more, before finally swallowing whatever was left of the poor creature in a single gulp.

The wrath demon sighed contently, a greenish aura emanating from her stomach, healing some of the worst of her wounds. Pear Butter wiped her lips before leaning down and smiling at Dog, who was busy giggling at the terror-filled expression on Rainbow Dash’s face.

“Who is this?” Pear butter asked, jerking her nose towards the teal demon.

Dog smiled widely, striking a proud pose.

“She's my familiar, Rainbow Dash!” Dog declared.

Pear Butter raised an eyebrow, glancing from Dog to Rainbow Dash, silently judging them as her form began to slowly shrink in size. By the time she spoke again she had nearly returned to her old size, standing a head above Tirek.

“Good work,” she announced, smiling at the filly.

Dog beamed. “Thanks, Pear!” Dog replied.

The wrath demon let out a slight shuddering sigh, glancing at Tirek.

“Is that all you need from me, boss?” Pear Butter inquired.

"Yes,” He replied, waving a hand at the other demon. “You have done well this day, Pear Butter. The distraction you provided was key to ultimately saving Dog’s life.”

Pear Butter smiled widely, before bowing low.

“Thank you, sir," she exclaimed.

The centaur smiled back before gesturing to the nearest exit.

“Go. Get your wounds tended to. You and Dog will have a chance to catch up soon," Tirek offered.

Pear Butter leaned down and nuzzled the filly.

“You heard the boss. I’ll see you soon, okay?” Pear Butter whispered.

“Okay!” Dog yelled, pumping her hoof in the air.

Rainbow Dash gulped when the now much smaller wrath demon’s gaze lingered over her.

“N-n-nice to meet you,” Rainbow Dash muttered, extending a shaking hoof.

Pear Butter smirked and gently bumped her hoof against Rainbow Dash’s own, an act that still had enough force to nearly knock the smaller demon over.

“I will see you, very soon,” the wrath demon whispered before turning and nodding to the pair of pain demons lingering nearby.

Together the three demons walked away, the two pain demons escorting Pear Butter to a place where they could better deal with the damage she had received.

Rainbow Dash gulped, watching Pear Butter disappear around a corner.

“Your mom is terrifying,” Rainbow Dash muttered, shaking her head slowly.

Dog giggled.

Tirek returned shortly thereafter, waving away a trio of sloth demons all carrying a large treasure chest between them. Approaching the smaller demons, Tirek smiled.

“Do you know what this means, Dog?” Tirek asked.

Dog blinked before shaking her head.

“It means you have finally become more than just a dog," Tirek declared. "You have earned the opportunity to choose your name.”

He smiled, watching as unfettered joy spread across her face.

“And, earned yourself a new room, one with far more comforts. Though that will take a few days to prepare," Tirek explained.

“Oh my gosh!” Dog yelled, jumping into the air before grabbing Rainbow Dash’s face. “Do you know what this means, Rainbow Dash!?”

“Mwhat?” The other demon muttered back.

“I’m one step closer to being more than just an imp!” Dog proclaimed.

Tirek chuckled.

“You will be much more than an imp, in time.” He slowly stood up, placing a hand against his back as it cracked and popped. “Now then, let us go somewhere more private and enjoy some food while we discuss what you shall change your name to.”

“Thank you, Father," Dog proclaimed.

“Err yeah, thanks,” Rainbow Dash added, only to earn her an elbow to the gut. “I mean, thank you, sir.”

Tirek rolled his eyes and with a snap of his fingers, they all vanished in a puff of smoke.

A second later they appeared in a rather small, surprisingly homey room dominated by a long, food-filled table. Tirek reacted first as he was well used to his method of teleportation, grabbing his spot at the head of the table and levitating over a plate filled with bread.

Dog reacted next, hopping up onto the small mound of pillows waiting for her next to her father and eagerly filling her plate with a little bit of everything. Rainbow Dash responded last, and sat next to Dog, only to recoil when she noticed what the spread was dominated by.

“Meat?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in a mix of shock and horror.

“What about it?” Dog asked before biting into a large steak, her sharp teeth shearing straight through the meat without the need for knife or fork.

Rainbow Dash watched in awe as the filly tore through the steak in seconds, swallowing the barely cooked meat with what looked like delight. Rather than be disgusted, Rainbow Dash merely shrugged, figuring it was best to follow her new mistress’ lead, and bit into a second slice of steak.

Tirek watched the two younger demons dug into their meal, while he filled his cup with wine.

Rainbow Dash’s initial uncertainty vanished completely when she felt the meat hit her tongue, her eyes going wide.

“Thish ish reary goob!” She exclaimed.

Dog shot her a glare.

“Manners, Rainbow Dash!” Dog hissed.

The teal demon rolled her eyes, prompting Dog to wince and bow her head to Tirek.

“I’m sorry for her, father," Dog apologized.

“Don't worry about it. Eat and enjoy, and when you have had your fill, we will talk more,” he dissmised, sipping his wine and watching the pair eat.

It didn't take long for Dog’s hunger to get the better of her and she began to eagerly tear through the meal with reckless abandon, matching even Rainbow Dash’s voracious hunger near the end. Together the pair of hungry demons managed to demolish several of the plates before finally beginning to slow down, with Dog carefully picking out one of each item while Rainbow Dash continued to wolf down as much of the meat as she could in as little time as possible.

When finally the pair stopped completely, Rainbow Dash lay on her side, a hoof on her belly and a moan on her lips.

“I think I ate too much,” the demon whined, crumpling into a ball as her stomach rumbled, unused to the amount of food now within it.

Dog rolled her eyes. “I told you to slow down," Dog reminded.

“Yeah, but it was so goood,” Rainbow whined once more.

The imp chuckled, turning away from her familiar and towards Tirek.

“I’m sorry for the delay, father," Dog apologized once more.

The centaur merely nodded.

“You earned that much at least,” Tirek replied.

The centaur smiled, pouring a glass of wine for the filly before levitating it over to an empty spot before her.

“As well as a drink," Tirek offered.

Dog smiled widely, reaching out and grabbing the slim glass with both hooves before bringing it nearly to her lips, only to stop herself form merely gulping down the drink and forcing herself to slow down and sip the alcoholic beverage. Dog’s face twisted into a disgusted expression as the liquid slid over her tongue, the filly trying to force her face into a more respectful look while stifling the urge to cough.

“Thank you,” she muttered while pounding a hoof against her chest.

The elder demon laughed loudly, watching as Dog passed the glass to an inquisitive Rainbow Dash who made an even more screwed-up face when she tasted the blood-red liquid.

“Blech, what is in there? How is it so dry? It's liquid!” Rainbow Dash complained.

Tirek’s deep laugh nearly shook the walls and he extended a hand towards the filly.

“If you don't like it, I can take it back. Maybe get you something better, like juice perhaps?” Tirek offered.

Dog pulled the glass away.

“I like it!” Dog professed, to which Tirek raised an eyebrow. “Really!’

“Suit yourself,” Tirek replied, watching as Dog slowly chugged down the last of the drink before smiling widely.

“See?” Dog coughed. “It's good!”

Tirek shook his head and chuckled.

“If you are done, I suppose we should get on with choosing your new name," Tirek offered.

“Yes!” Dog shouted.

The filly’s smile grew to encompass nearly her entire face, her body almost vibrating off of her pillow.

Rainbow Dash merely cocked her head.

“Why is a new name so important? Sure Dog is kinda lame, but it's not that big of a deal," Rainbow Dash asked.

"You really know nothing about demons, do you?” Dog asked right back.

"Not really," Rainbow Dash admitted. "Those jerks didn't exactly explain anything after capturing me."

“I’ll teach you, don't worry,” Dog declared with a smile. “A demon’s name is important as it changes the demon’s very being and powers. It cannot be changed often, and requires the use of a soul but with the change comes a variety of benefits.”

“Neat,” Rainbow Dash remarked before her stomach rumbled and she crumpled back into a heap with a moan.

Dog and Tirek both rolled their eyes at the sight of the stuffed demon.

“Have you given your name any thoughts?” Tirek asked.

“I have thought of a few,” Dog admitted, tapping her hooves together nervously. “But I’m not sure if I should.”

“Why not? Is the name not cool enough? ‘Cause I got like a bajillion cool names,” Rainbow Dash added, smirking. “Like uhh…” She tapped her chin. “Batmare!”

“Isn't that a comic book character?” Dog replied.

“Yeah, so?” Rainbow Dash shot back. “She's totally cool, almost as cool as Daring Do.”

“You read Daring Do?” Dog asked excitedly.

“Totally,” Rainbow Dash answered, only to frown. “Too bad I never finished Daring Do and The Temple of Doom.”

“Don't worry, we got that one," Dog replied.

“Wait what?” Tirek muttered. “Since when does the library have fiction?”

"Didn't it always?” Dog asked back.

Tirek scratched his chin and muttered to himself.

“I really need to get someone to categorize the library again. Pear Butter or Pythias might be giving you unapproved books again," Tirek muttered, mostly to himself.

“So, what do you think, Batmare?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“That doesn't sound like the name of a demon," Dog retorted.

“My name is Rainbow Dash and I’m a demon,” she pointed out.

“True, but I want to become a keeper of secrets,” Dog proclaimed.

“Ahhh, you are thinking of taking a dead name then?” Tirek asked.

“Yes!” Dog proclaimed, only to squirm uncomfortably in her chair. “Though I’m not sure if I should.”

“Why not?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Those that take dead names often have to fight for the right to do so, as any other demons who have taken that name will take it as a personal slight,” Tirek pointed out.

“Yeah,” Dog muttered with a sigh. “But I think this name is obscure enough that it could work.”

Rainbow Dash jumped up.

“Well, what are you waiting for? What is it?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“Kanathara,” Dog whispered.

Tirek’s smile grew.

“Kanathara, Whose Hooves Shatter Mountains and Whose Voice Lulls the Sun," Tirek remarked. "I always knew you were more ambitious than you let on. Still, I did not believe you would choose a name with such… implications to it.”

“Implications?” Rainbow Dash asked while scratching her head. “What kind of implications? Also, what kind of name is Kanathara anyway? Sounds like you asked for a can of flowers in a Manehattan accent.”

Dog rolled her eyes.

“Kanathara was an ancient keeper of secrets who lived centuries ago and was so powerful that she supposedly almost destroyed a star," Dog explained.

“She was ultimately betrayed by one of her own,” Tirek finished.

“Y-yes,” Dog stuttered. “But I have learned from her story and I will not let her fate become mine.”

“See that it doesn’t,” Tirek replied.

Rainbow Dash blinked. “So what happens now?” Inquired the bat-winged imp.

“Pythias!” Tirek yelled, turning to the door.

A second later the rather timid-looking seer slipped into the room, deftly closing the door behind her. Once inside, she bowed low before handing over a small vial with a swirling white essence within. Tirek glanced briefly at the vial before nodding, dismissing the seer.

Pythias however did not leave and glanced over at where Dog and Rainbow Dash sat, her sightless gaze lingering on the purple imp who waved at her.

“Hiya, Pythias!” Dog offered.

The seer smiled weakly, pain radiating from her stitched lips as she smiled, waving back.

“You are dismissed,” Tirek said curtly, gesturing to the door.

Pythias spared one last, sad glance at the purple imp before sighing and leaving, earning her a sharp glare from Tirek, who eyed her suspiciously.

Rainbow Dash leaned a little closer to Dog. “Who’s that?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Pythias,” Dog whispered back. “She works for my father. She's a seer.”

“Huh,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The winged imp scratched her head awkwardly, staring at the spot the strange seer had been only moments earlier.

“She looked familiar, sorta," Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Now then,” Tirek announced. “Are you ready?”

“I am, Father," Dog declared.

Tirek’s gaze tightened, and he stared intently at the imp before nodding, and handing over the vial.

“Remember what I told you," he reminded.

“Visualize the name, make it a part of me,” Dog repeated dutifully.

"You are ready," Tirek admitted.

Rainbow Dash watched closely as her friend uncorked the vial and brought it swiftly to her lips, where she paused a moment. Just as the teal demon was about to ask what was going on, she felt a sudden build-up of energy inside her friend, punctuated by a slight glow that began at the imp’s stomach and rose to her lips.

When the dull purple glow reached her lips, the filly tossed back the vial, swallowing the essence and forcing it down her throat and into her gullet.

“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash mumbled, feeling the strange sensation as if she were the one swallowing the contents of the vial.

With a forceful gulp, the imp swallowed the last of the soul, her eyes closed tightly shut as her entire body seemed to clench. After a few seconds of silence, the imp suddenly gasped, a hoof reaching out to Rainbow Dash, who dutifully held on, keeping the imp standing.

“T-thanks,” Kanathara muttered in a voice slightly deeper than the one she had only a minute ago.

“You alright, Dog- I mean Kanathara? Your voice is all funny,” Rainbow Dash asked, giving her friend an odd look.

The imp shook her head. “I’m fine, it's the effect of the naming ceremony," Kanathara explained.

Rainbow Dash nodded, holding the imp’s hoof until her strength returned and she could stand on her own four limbs without issue. Tirek nodded slowly, watching closely as Kanathara stood on shaky hooves, a smile slowly spreading across her face.

“Good. You have made another important step, my daughter,” Tirek declared, a hint of emotion slipping into his voice. “For now, you must rest and recuperate your strength.”

“I’m not that hurt!” Kanathara whined. “I can still train.”

The old centaur smiled, placing a hand on the imp’s shoulder. “You have done enough for now. But-” He held up a finger, preempting his daughter’s continued complaining. “-if you heal quickly, I will allow you to wander the halls and read, under your golem’s supervision of course,” Tirek explained.

Kanathara slumped for a moment before perking up. “Yes, father. I will endeavor to become strong enough to not fail you again,” Kanathara declared.

The imp then stood and bowed low before the centaur.

Rainbow Dash found herself bowing as well, following the imp closely.

Together the pair turned and left the room, Tirek smiling widely as they left.

“See that you do not. My daughter," Tirek remarked.

Outside the door Rainbow Dash frowned, glancing over at the rather intense-looking imp.

“Hey Kanathara-” Rainbow Dash began.

The demon was silenced when the imp’s golem approached and bowed slightly.

“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash muttered, taking a step back and glancing at her friend, wondering if this new creature was an enemy or not.

Kanathara merely nodded.

“We are going back to my room," Kanathara declared.

The golem nodded once before turning and walking down the hall, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash following close behind, with the imp barely able to keep up with the golem and her friend. Still, she did not complain, merely trotting faster in order to keep up.

Rainbow Dash could feel her friend’s thoughts going a million miles an hour and chose to hold back the comment she had been about to utter, knowing better than to interrupt Kanathara when she got like this.

Rainbow Dash winced, covering her ears with both hooves.

“How can you sleep with this noise?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara shrugged.

“You get used to it,” she muttered weakly, trotting over to the stone slab that was her bed and lying down.

Rainbow Dash frowned at the sight of what passed for a ‘bed’ around here. Still, she couldn't complain too much, as sleeping in a cage for the last few months had made her realize just how valuable having a little privacy truly was.

The demon trotted over to the bed and lay down next to Kanathara.

“Uh, hey. I was wondering about something,” Rainbow Dash muttered, nearly losing her nerve when her friend turned suddenly, now forcing her to face the intense imp.

“Yes?” Kanathara asked.

“Err, why exactly do you need to get strong anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not like it's a big deal or anything, getting tough is cool and all, but I was just wondering why?”

The imp blinked for a second, cocking her head.

“I suppose you wouldn't understand," Kanathara remarked.

“Wouldn't understand what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

The imp frowned, gesturing to the demon’s body.

“You are a full demon already, while I’m just an imp. You have power, even though you don't know how to use it, it's still there," Kanathara prompted.

“I guess? Being a demon still kinda sucks though...” Rainbow Dash mumbled, only now noticing that she was slightly larger than her friend, though not by much.

The imp looked at her friend a moment before frowning.

“I knew you wouldn't understand,” Kanathara muttered.

She then turned over, scooting away from the other demon.

Rainbow Dash stared for a moment before sighing.

“I’m sorry," Rainbow Dash whispered.

For several minutes the imp was quiet, and just when Rainbow Dash had given up hope, Kanathara whispered, “I forgive you.” back.

With a wide smile on her face, Rainbow Dash reached out and gently pulled the smaller creature into her grip, holding her friend and mistress close. After a few seconds, Kanathara finally relented, her muscles relaxing as she melted into the embrace.

“Father expects a lot from me,” Kanathara mumbled.

Rainbow Dash remained silent, nuzzling the top of her friend’s head while simply listening.

“And I don't know if I can do it,” Kanathara continued. “I’m just not strong enough.”

“Yet,” Rainbow Dash added. “You aren't strong enough, yet.”

Kanathara snorted.

“Thanks for the pep talk, Rainbow Dash," Kanathara muttered sarcastically.

The other demon rolled her eyes.

“I mean that in a good way. If you say it like that, it means it's just something you haven't gotten yet. Rather than something that you cannot reach," Rainbow Dash explained. “It's something my dad always said.”

“Your dad sounds like a smart person," Kanathara offered.

“He is…” Rainbow Dash muttered, her mind suddenly going out to the family she had left behind.

The demon expected tears, sadness, or something at the thought of those who weren't with her anymore, but it seemed as though she had cried all her tears, leaving behind only a dull ache in the pit of her gut. As she lay there, wondering what she was going to do with what was left of her life, Rainbow Dash inevitably found herself staring at the filly in her hooves. A smile slowly crossed her face as she continued to stare, remembering fondly everything the creature had done for her.

Maybe I can make a new family, she thought to herself before slowly drifting off to sleep with the first member of that new family held tight in her embrace.

Tirek sighed, placing his now empty wine glass on the table before turning to the door.

“Enter,” He commanded.

The door opened to reveal the familiar face of Sisyphus who was grinning wider than usual.

“You called, my master?” He asked.

Tirek waved a hand dismissively.

“Dispense with the formalities, you know why I contacted you," Tirek dismissed.

Sisyphus bowed low.

“Yes, sir,” Sisyphus replied, the trickster demon straightened his simple black leather shirt and stood tall. “Everything is in order, the decoy has been placed and the magic I acquired during our little trip back to your tower is working as intended.”

“So, it will fool her then?” Tirek asked simply.

“Oh, it will do more than that,” Sisyphus replied with a smirk. “With your naming ceremony complete and the magic I extracted essentially spoofing any would-be tracking spells it will be impossible for anyone to find her.”

“Good,” Tirek declared, slumping slightly in his pillows.

“Oh and sir?” Sisyphus offered.

“Yes Sisyphus, was there something else?” Tirek asked.

“Yes, actually,” the trickster demon remarked with a chuckle, sitting down next to the fear demon and extending a hand. “I left a little gift for any who would attempt to divine the position of your favorite pawn, one I think you'd rather enjoy.”

Tirek lifted an eyebrow.

“Well, go on then," Tirek urged.

The trickster nodded before spreading his hand wide and allowing his magic to form into the image of the now smoking ruins of the castle Tirek’s forces had finally finished looting. The image zoomed in, focusing on a small particular chunk of dirt near the center of the courtyard. Wherein a single vial was placed, accompanied only by several words that surrounded it.

Tirek’s eyes narrowed as he read, a smile growing on his face as he did. By the end of it, the old centaur could barely contain his mirth and he looked over at his subordinate with a wide smile.

“That is hilarious," Tirek stated.

Sisyphus dismissed the spell and smiled back. “I thought you would enjoy that," replied the trickster.

“Oh yes,” Tirek agreed, chuckling darkly. “I can only imagine the look on her face when she sees your little parting gift.”

Sisyphus sighed dramatically. “I almost wish I could be there when she finds it," he mused.

“I’ll send you a recording," Tirek offered.

“You are too kind, sir," Sisyphus replied, smirking right back at his master.

Author's Note

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Interlude Five: Vindication (R)

Twilight Velvet stared into the mirror, her lipstick levitating mere millimeters from her lips. Her gaze was drawn into her teal orbs, thoughts wandering down strange and unnerving paths. What if this actually does work? What if she was right the entire time, and she never stopped looking for her?

The mare was forced to put the lipstick down as the powerful thoughts swirling in her head overtook her for a moment. She wondered what she would do if she had been wrong this entire time if she could even admit that she had been incorrect, and if Celestia turned out to be right.

Velvet looked up into her eyes, and to the dark circles that lined them.

“What would I even do if Twilight was brought back to us?” Velvet muttered.

It hadn't been long, only a couple of months, yet it felt like years had passed, so many in fact that she felt like an entirely different pony than the one that had watched nervously from the sidelines as Twilight took that fateful test. Velvet stared down at her hooves, noticing how they were caked with reagents and dust, remnants of her experiments, and her time spent digging through old booksellers in search of lost knowledge.

It occurred to her that she would have never let her hooves get this dirty if Twilight had been around. The mare had always been sure to keep a clean appearance in hopes of ensuring Twilight and Shining Armor took on those traits. Yet here she was, her hooves a mess from her self-imposed ‘work’, her mane, tail, and complexion now in worse shape than they had been in years.

The mare had learned several dark secrets and taught herself quite a bit about magic over the last few months and she began to wonder just what she would do with that knowledge if it wasn't needed after all. The rest of the public viewed demons as myths and stories, but she knew they were real, and that knowledge would stay with her for the rest of her days. Could she just ignore it, if Twilight came back? Could Velvet pretend like she didn't know that demons could potentially invade their reality at a moment’s notice if they had enough reason to?

Even her house had changed, becoming nearly a fortress of wood and brick protected by layers and layers of protections she had applied over the months. Would she just take those down if Celestia was right and this had indeed been only a freak accident?

Twilight Velvet shook her head, forcing the thoughts away and lifting the lipstick to her lips. She wasn't sure what the answer to any of those swirling questions was, but what she did know was that they would not need to be answered for a while. Which would at least give her enough time to think of a plan in case such an eventuality were to come to pass.

For now, she had an important meeting at the castle, and though she had her doubts, she was not going to blow this chance to see her daughter again.

After applying the lipstick she added a little eye shadow, masking the bags under her eyes in a way that would at least make it seem intentional.

Taking a step back the mare smiled at the sight she beheld, noticing that although her look was a little darker than usual, it was appropriate given the circumstances at least.

With her makeup done, she levitated a small hoof bag over her shoulder and trotted into the bedroom she hadn't slept in for several weeks.

“Ahh, there she is. Are you ready?” Night Light asked.

Twilight Velvet nodded, giving the stallion a once over before whistling.

“You clean up pretty good, Mister Light," Velvet remarked.

The stallion smirked, straightening the bowtie around his neck.

“Why thank you, Madam Velvet. I do believe the slightly darker look works well with your complexion,” Night Offered in return.

“And to answer your question, I am almost ready," Velvet replied with a giggle. "I just have to check on something.”

Night Light frowned.

“Please tell me you are not leaving another experiment on while we are at the castle, I would appreciate not coming home to the fire department trying in vain to bust down our front door again," Night Light groused.

“Don't worry, dear," Velvet placated, the mare holding back a wince. "I am fairly certain I turned everything off and was just going to double-check.”

“Alright, but don't take long. The carriage is supposed to be here in a few minutes,” Night Light warned.

The mare nodded, turning to the door.

“I know. It won't take more than five minutes at most," she answered.

The stallion smiled, trotting up to her and stopping her with a hoof against her shoulder.

“Thank you by the way," Night Light exclaimed in a soft, gentle tone.

She lifted an eyebrow. “For?”

“For giving this a try,” The stallion muttered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I know you and Celestia have had your disagreements, but I am happy to see you giving this entire thing at least a chance.”

The mare stiffened briefly but ultimately forced her muscles to relax.

“I am too," she replied softly. "I really do hope that she is able to find Twilight and we can start putting this entire mess behind us.”

“Me too,” Night Light murmured

Night Light gently pulled his wife closer, planting a chaste kiss on her cheek.

Velvet giggled, gently pushing her husband away.

“Oh stop it you," Twilight Velvet shot back playfully.

“Hey babe, do you think after this we could maybe…” Night Light trailed off, only to smirk. “Catch up and maybe share some cocoa by the fire?”

The mare smirked back, planting a kiss on her husband’s lips.

“We’ll see. For now, let's go see if the old nag can pull this whole thing off,” Twilight Velvet exclaimed.

Night Light sighed.

“I’ll go make sure Shining Armor is ready," he offered.

Twilight Velvet stepped into the hallway and deftly pulled down the staircase to the attic, her spells automatically detecting her magic and disabling the countermeasures she had put in place to stop anypony other than her from entering. The mare swiftly trotted up the steps and into the attic, glancing around at the boxes her experiments and literature had been piled into. She opened a few of the cardboard cubes and checked her list, before sighing and, putting the paper down on her now empty desk and looking out through the small circular window that overlooked her street.

It seemed silly now that she thought about it, packing all of her stuff up like this when Celestia might just end this whole sordid affair in a matter of hours. But, on the other hoof, Velvet couldn't be sure the alicorn could or would follow through, thus she was here, making sure her things were packed and ready to be shipped to wherever Velvet ended up after joining Riff Raff’s silly group.

The mare’s gaze lingered over the picture frame that poked out of a box.

“What are you doing out of your box?” Velvet muttered.

Just as she was about to poke the picture back into the box she stopped, and instead pulled the picture out, staring wistfully into the past.

“You were so smart, even back then,” Twilight Velvet muttered, staring deep into the image of her holding her newborn daughter, tears still streaming down the new mother’s face.

It was one of her fondest memories, and one that had stuck with the pony ever since, reminding her that she had gained the unique challenge of raising a son and daughter. The filly Twilight merely lay in Velvet’s forelegs, staring at the world around her as if studying what was going on with those big inquisitive eyes of hers.

Velvet sighed, pushing the picture back into the box and making her way out of the attic before closing the hatch once more.

Trotting down the stairs, the mare stopped.

“Am I forgetting something?” she mumbled.

She looked over at the mirror at the bottom of the stairs and found that although her visage was a little more dour than usual, nothing was truly amiss. Shrugging, the mare trotted down the last of her stairs and turned the corner, making her way towards the entrance and the sound of her son and his father arguing.

“Why do we have to dress up like this?” Shining Armor whined, tugging at the tie around his neck. “Celestia said it wasn't an official meeting.”

“It's just a tie," Night Light retorted, rolling his eyes.

“And hair gel!” Shining Armor pointed out.

“And hair gel," Night Light tiredly admitted.

“You know in my day no matter the reason for attending the castle, we always wore our absolute best,” Night Light added. "That meant full suits. We had our coats brushed, our hair styled, our hooves filed, the whole nine yards."

Shining Armor blinked, dropping his hoof from the tie around his neck.

“I suppose this isn't so bad…” muttered the colt.

“Are you ready, hun?” Night Ligh asked, turning his attention from his son to his wife.

“Ready as I’ll ever be," Twilight Velvet replied with a small smile.

The stallion turned and opened the door, allowing the rest of his family to leave before he closed and locked the wooden barrier behind them, stepping back and watching as the various spells and wards flickered into existence.

“You know, you are going to have to tell me how to turn that on and off. I don't want to accidentally turn the mail delivery pony into a frog or something," Night Light remarked.

“Don't worry, he wouldn't get turned into anything,” Twilight Velvfet replied, only to pause and tap her chin. “Other than a pile of ash of course.”

Night Light narrowed his eyes.

“Velveeet," he warned.

Twilight Velvet stuck her tongue out at the stallion.

“I’m kidding. He would get a shock at most, but not much more than that," Twilight Velvet explained. "Oh, and I left all my notes on the house’s wards on your end table just in case.”

“Thank you, but why? You were fine being the only one who knew how to use them until now. What changed?” he asked.

“It's like you said, it's safer if we both know how they work," Velvet lied.

Night Light nodded, joining his wife and son by the curb.

“So does this mean you are back together now?” Shining Armor inquired unexpectedly.

“Where is this coming from? We never broke up,” Night Light pointed out.

“But you two didn't sleep in the same room for a long time and you were really angry at each other too,” Shining responded.

“Honey, I know we were angry but that doesn't mean we were getting a divorce or something,” Twilight Velvet kneeled beside her son, looking him in the eye. “Adults can disagree but still love each other.”

Shining Armor frowned, looking from his mother to his father before shrugging.

“I’m just glad you're back together again," he declared suddenly.

“Enough of all this doom and gloom talk," Night Light dismissed. "What do you think of a pizza party once your sister is back?”

“But I thought they were just finding her...” Shining Armor asked, a smile slowly growing on his face. “Does that mean she's coming home today?”

“Night Light, are you sure it's a good idea to get his hopes up like this?” Twilight Velvet interrupted, shooting her husband a concerned glance.

The stallion chuckled nervously.

“You are right dear, there's only a chance, but come on!" Night Light exclaimed, throwing up his hooves. "We got Princess Celestia on our side! If she finds Twilight, I’m certain she is going to bring her home.”

Twilight Velvet’s jaw clenched, and she bit back her retort, holding it in after she saw the joy and hope on her son’s face.

“I think we should get ice cream!” Shining Armor announced. “Twilight always gets ice cream after she finishes a stressful quiz.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” Night Light smiled. “Right, honey?”

Twilight Velvet nodded, forcing her muscles to relax and her body to calm.

“I think that's a great idea, but it's missing something," Twilight Velvet replied.

"Like what?" Asked Shining Armor in confusion.

“We should get our ice cream at Donut Joe’s,” Twilight Velvet answered. “You know how much your sister loves that place and he does serve sundaes and the like there."

“Oh, good thinking, Velvet,” Night Light added.

“Yeah! Oh hey, look!” Shining Armor exclaimed.

Following her son's hoof, Twilight Velvet saw the distant shapes of a pair of pegasi flying down the street, carrying behind them a chariot just large enough to transport a trio of ponies within.

“Would you look at that, Celestia's really rolling out the red carpet for us,” Night Light pointed out.

Twilight Velvet was less impressed and was instead staring intently at the weapon-bearing pegasi that pulled their chariot.

“She sure is…” Twilight Velvet mumbled.

The pair of ponies slowed as they approached the road, landing a few houses down and slowly pulling up to the Sparkle residence a few seconds later. All around them, neighbors and random ponies alike stopped and stared as the closest pegasus guard gave the family a quick visual inspection.

“Mr and Mrs Sparkle?” he asked curtly.

“And our son, Shining Armor," Night Light added, patting the young colt on the head.

The guard gave the lone child present a once over as well, smirking slightly as the colt forced himself to stand tall and proud under the pegasus’ scrutiny.

“Good to see. Now then, please step inside the carriage," ordered the guard.

His partner turned and flashed the family a slightly more friendly smile.

“And please keep all body parts you want to keep inside said carriage," he added.

“Of course. Why don't you take the front, Shining?” Night Light offered, before stepping into the carriage, and squeezing himself against one side, allowing his son to eagerly trot up to the front of the carriage where he peered over the side.

“Thanks Dad!” Shining Armor declared.

Twilight Velvet stepped in last, her gaze lingering on the lack of rail or anything that would keep them from falling out the back.

“Because that looks safe...” the mare mumbled, before enacting a quick spell that would keep her family inside the carriage in case the entire thing turned over.

Her husband rolled his eyes at the unnecessary spell, while Shining Armor didn't even seem to notice, as he was too busy talking away with the more personable guard who was graciously answering his many questions.

“Are you alright, dear?” Night Light asked in a low tone.

“I’m fine, just making sure nothing happens is all,” Twilight Velvet

shot back, staring intently at the guards pulling the carriage.

“Alright. Hold on for a minute, take off can be kind of bumpy sometimes,” the friendly guard yelled before turning back and taking formation with his partner.

Twilight Velvet frowned but said nothing, merely clutching the side of the carriage a little tighter while Shining Armor hopped onto his back legs and gripped the front, eagerly watching the pegasi as they began to trot faster and faster. The pair quickly reached the desired speed and extended their wings, flapping hard to get the elevation they needed. In seconds they were off the ground and a minute later they were above the rooftops, making a beeline for the castle.

A few minutes later the family was being carefully herded through the castle and towards an ill-used subbasement absolutely swarming with guards. They couldn't go more than a dozen feet before being met by another checkpoint either magical or mundane, to the point that even Velvet was a little impressed. It was obvious that they held security in high esteem, though she had yet to be convinced that they kept magical knowledge in such a lofty regard.

A grim-looking grey-coated unicorn mare with piercing golden eyes approached from down the hall, stopping only when they were a few feet apart and flashing the pair a graceless smile that seemed painful for her to even make.

“Greetings. My name is Iron Throne. I’m to be your escort into the sanctum,” she announced in a tone that smacked of more command than a friendly hello.

Twilight Velvet merely nodded her head slightly.

Night Light smiled.

“Good afternoon," he greeted.

Shining Armor saluted, trying to match the intense gaze of the guard.

“Good evening, ma’am," Shining Armor exclaimed.

The guard chuckled at the sight, saluting the colt back.

“Cute kid,” Iron Throne muttered before jerking her head towards a side hall. “Follow me, and do not leave my side.”

Velvet’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

The guard snorted. “There is a lot of classified stuff down here and I would hate to have to lock up some old mare who couldn't follow simple instructions, now hurry up. I will not leave Her Majesty waiting.”

“You don't have to worry about us. Right guys?” Night Light offered, trotting alongside the guard assigned to them.

"No way," Shining Armor declared, shaking his head.

Twilight Velvet merely snorted, trotting after her son and husband as she looked around, keen to spot anything out of the ordinary.

Time passed quickly, and the trio and their guide quickly made their way deep into this strange section of the castle, passing through numerous empty hallways and even more numerous closed doors. The entire area seemed deserted until they passed by a hallway wherein a guard was holding back a rather annoyed-looking lab coat-wearing mare who glared at the trio, before whispering something to the guard, who rolled his eyes.

Twilight Velvet snorted her irritation, having figured that they must be secretly keeping the researchers and other ponies that worked in these halls somewhere else to ensure they didn't speak to her or her family. Not like she would blame Celestia, Velvet would have done the same, but there had been a part of her that had hoped to be able to find out something while she was so deep in Celestia’s secret wing of the castle.

Annoyed that she would go home empty-hoofed, Twilight Velvet shook her head and instead focused on the strange guide they had been given. She was taller than the average mare, and bigger by a large margin, to the point that she looked like a stallion, at least from the back, but she stowed such thoughts away for now, as it didn't exactly matter ver much.

She sighed, trotting morosely beside her husband who was still looking around in wonder.

Thankfully it didn't take long for the trio and their guide to reach their destination, stopping before a large double door at the end of a seemingly random hall.

“Here we are,” the guard announced before turning around.

“A few rules before we go in, though,” Iron Throne continued, her gaze narrowing and looking at each member of the family in turn. “You are not to touch anything save the floor or your provided seats at any time. Understood?”

“Yes ma’am," Shining Armor saluted.

“Got it,” Night Light added, while Twilight Velvet merely nodded once more.

The guard’s gaze lingered a moment on the older mare.

“There are going to be a lot of ponies inside this room and as such you are to stick directly behind me at all times unless explicitly told otherwise," Iron Throne continued. "Celestia has established a viewing box for you, once we reach it you are not allowed to leave until the spell is completely over.”

Noticing that the family seemed to understand, Iron Throne turned and pushed open the door, revealing a room bustling with activity.

Ponies trotted to and fro, some old, wizened, and clearly experienced in the magical arts while younger-looking mages flitted about carrying stacks of paper, quills, or other components. Although at first glance it seemed a chaotic scene, Twilight Velvet quickly noticed that the flow of movement was well organized, and no one was rushing around, as everyone seemed to understand exactly where everyone was going.

The room itself was large, easily big enough to fit a baseball field, the walls of which were rounded, and went up easily fifteen or so feet. The center of the room was dominated by a large pillar upon which a glowing crystal ball sat, where Celestia and an aged mare stood, speaking animatedly while occasionally gesturing to the crystal ball or the glowing sets of runes that surrounded said pillar. The mare was old, easily in her late seventies, her gold and yellow fur having lost some of its luster, while her orange eyes remained as fiery as a young mare’s.

Twilight Velvet gawked silently at the sheer artistry on display, staring in awe at the numerous interlocking spells that all fed up the pillar and into the crystal ball. Even from where she was standing Velvet could feel the thrum of energy, the many spell matrices making the very air thick with mana.

“Over here,” Iron Throne exclaimed, interrupting Twilight Velvet’s fascination.

The trio followed the guard over to a small booth set aside from the rest of the action of the room. Stepping inside, they all took a seat on the raised steps and looked down on the various ponies as they went about the business of completing the spell.

“Ooh, comfy,” Night Light muttered.

Twilight Velvet chuckled at her easily amused husband before reluctantly admitting to herself that the provided seats were rather comfortable.

“What are all those spells, Mom?” Shining Armor asked, peering at the center of the room.

“I have no idea," Twilight Velvet admitted.

“This is a little beyond my paygrade, but at least one of them is a remote viewing spell, but it has way too many access lines,” Night Light pointed to a small section of runes in the rightmost corner. “It's feeding into nearly every other part of the spell.”

“Wow,” Twilight Velvet muttered, her doubt slowly bleeding away as she looked around the room.

Celestia stopped and glanced over at the pair, waving a friendly hoof at the family.

So caught off guard by the spell work, Twilight Velvet found herself waving back before catching herself and pulling her hoof down, an act that earned her a chuckle from her husband.

“It is quite impressive, isn't it?” He whispered.

“It certainly is… large,” Velvet muttered.

Celestia gracefully trotted up to the booth, smiling at the three ponies.

“Thank you for joining us today," the alicorn greeted. "I know it's unorthodox to be here during the actual casting, but I deemed it appropriate after certain… events.”

The alicorn shook her head.

“But that is not why we are here today. We are here to welcome your daughter back to Equestria, hopefully," Celestia hastily added.

“Hopefully,” Twilight Velvet muttered darkly, refusing to look the alicorn in the eye.

“We are very grateful you invited us here today, Your Majesty,” Night Light added.

“Do you think you can bring my sister back?” Shining Armor asked nervously.

“I do indeed,” Celestia stated confidently. “To that end, I have brought with me a compliment of my finest soldiers.”

The alicorn gestured toward the other end of the room, where fifteen fully armored ponies of mixed race stood silently.

“These mares and stallions are well versed in dealing with demons and outfitted with the best weapons and armor the royal armory has to offer," Celestia explained.

“What makes you think you will be able to find her in the first place?” Twilight Velvet asked.

“Dear I-” Night Light began, only to get cut off by a smiling Celestia.

“Don't worry about it. I know you have your doubts, Velvet, but I can assure you this is the finest divination circle in Equestria and possibly the world.” The alicorn smiled confidently, gesturing to her right, where the elderly mare from earlier now stood speaking in hushed tones with a younger stallion. “My old protege Dawn Star has been hard at work on this array for months now and I can state confidently that if Twilight Sparkle is on one of the known planes, we will find her. After that, it would be child’s play to recover her.”

Shining Armor sighed, relaxing into his seat as did Night Light, who smiled faintly.

“That's great to hear, though I thought Dawn Star retired,” Night Light remarked.

“It didn't take much convincing to get her interested in your case, if nothing else she could never resist a challenge," Celestia replied.

“How long is this going to take?” Twilight Velvet asked flatly.

“Only a few more minutes. We are merely running through last-minute safety tests,” Celestia answered.

“Well, get on with it then,” Twilight muttered, shooing the alicorn away.

Celestia pretended not to notice, merely nodding once to Night Light.

“It was nice to meet you again. And you as well, Shining Armor," Celestia offered.

The colt beamed, standing a little straighter in his seat while Night Light smiled.

“Thank you again, Your Majesty," Night Light declared.

The alicorn smiled and left, leaving a rather ticked Twilight Velvet to glare at her backside.

“Do you have to be so antagonistic?” Night Light hissed, leaning toward his wife.

“Do you have to be such a kiss-ass?” Twilight Velvet shot back.

Behind them, their son sighed, putting his head in his hooves.

“Not again,” he muttered.

Night Light glanced back at his son.

“Let's not ruin this moment," Night Light offered.

“Fine,” Twilight Velvet murmured half heartedly.

Twilight Velvet turned from her family and towards the center of the room, where Celestia and the Dawn Star now stood.

The trio remained silent as they watched the mages finish setting up, placing several braziers at seemingly random points. Once over a dozen of the things were set in very specific locations, a stallion went around, lighting them with an odd spell that made the entire thing briefly shine with some strange inner illumination before the top of the brazier lit with a deep purple glow.

It didn't take long for Celestia to conclude whatever business she had, the alicorn turning and trotting over to the anti-demon team she had referenced before. Dawn Star, now alone in the center of the room, lit her horn and spread wide her hooves, bracing herself for something.

A second later a thick shield was erected between the exterior of the room, where the various attendant mages stood, and the Sparkle family sat, and the interior of the room, where Dawn Star, Celestia, and her team stood waiting. The alicorn herself was watching her former protege silently, her gaze focused on the mare’s horn as she drew from deep within herself, summoning such a surge of magic that every unicorn in the room felt their horn itch.

Shining Armor brushed his horn absently, wondering what exactly was going on, and though he wanted to ask a question, he knew better than to speak during such a tense moment.

Placing a hoof against the shield, Twilight Velvet gave it a light shove, finding the spell work to be beyond compare and well above her limited understanding. Forced to watch, the mare wanted to remain cold, and distant, to observe the happenings closely, studying their every move. Yet she couldn't seem to muster the strength needed and was sitting at the edge of her seat, chewing on her hoof like she was in high school all over again.

“Come on, come on,” Twilight Velvet muttered, watching as Dawn Star slowly went through the motions that would activate her array.

Night Light placed a hoof on his wife’s leg, and for a moment she considered brushing it aside, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do so. She needed something to ground her, thus she grabbed hold of the offered limb and squeezed tightly. Together the pair watched on in confused anxiety as magic seemed to ebb and flow.

Sections of the floor lit up at random, with one small area flashing briefly before dulling to the same light red glow as Dawn Star’s magic. This process repeated, until finally the entire massive array was glowing with the same faint red light. The aged mare stopped suddenly, placing a hoof against her head as she breathed deeply, stumbling for a moment.

Celestia took a step forward, but Dawn Star held out a hoof, stopping her before she took another step. Unheard words passed between them before the old unicorn stood once more on confident hooves. Taking a breath, the unicorn lit her horn again and this time focused the entirety of her attention on the orb before her, forcing it to glow with every color of the rainbow before finally settling on the same deep red the rest of the room was lit by.

“Dear, could you maybe relax a bit?” Night Light whispered.

Twilight blinked, looking down at her husband’s hoof that had grown pale as it was now starved of blood. The mare pulled back her hoof in shock.

“Sorry dear," Twilight Velvet murmured.

Her husband shook the hoof, barely able to hide a wince.

“Don't worry about it, we are all nervous. Right, Shining Armor?” Night Light offered.

The married couple looked back at the colt who had somehow managed to stuff both hooves in his mouth and was now chewing away at a ridiculous pace.

“Shining Armor,” Twilight Velvet hissed. “What have I told you about chewing on your hooves!”

“To not?” he asked weakly, before frowning. “You were doing it too!”

“Just don't put them both in your mouth, you look ridiculous,” Velvet shot back before turning back to the center of the room.

Dawn Star had hopped up onto her back hooves and was now gripping the pedestal tightly while staring deep within the orb, her eyes wide and swirling with a strange energy. She remained this way for a few more seconds before she gasped, turning to Celestia.

“I got something!” Dawn Star shouted excitedly.

“So soon? Where is it?” Celestia asked.

“She's in… Tartarus,” Dawn Star muttered, her face straining as she gazed back within the orb. “In the lower circles, near the spawning grounds and the endless wastes.”

Celestia’s features grew dark and she glanced down to the leader of her little team, who in turn nodded grimly, pounding a hoof against his chest. Assured that her squad was ready, the alicorn turned back to her former protege.

“Do you have a fix on her position yet?” Celestia pressed.

Dawn Star shook her head.

“Not yet, but she isn't moving,” Dawn Star replied, the mare gritting her teeth, straining against some unseen force. “But there is some sort of interference fighting me.”

Velvet’s jaw fell open, her hoof falling to the ground.

“N-no,” she muttered.

Rif Raf’s words rang in her ears. I also know that she will suffer some form of strange interference.

For a moment the mare was forced to face the grim possibility that her strange accomplice had been right all along, but it was only for a moment, as Dawn Star suddenly gasped.

“I found her!” she shouted.

“Where?” Celestia asked, taking a step closer. “Where is she, Dawn Star?”

“She's in a castle of some kind, it's coming into view now!” The older mare shouted back.

“Bring it up!” Celestia commanded.

Dawn Star nodded, her horn glowing brighter than ever before as she forced the spell to change and project the image outwards.

The room was suddenly filled with the strange red light, which slowly dimmed and coalesced into an image that was both strange and yet was also oddly familiar. The image showed a ruined castle in the middle of nowhere, shards of jagged rocks poking out of a seemingly endless wasteland. As the seconds ticked by they slowly descended into the castle, looking on in confused horror as they noticed enormous hoof prints in the dirt, the size of which could crush an entire house with little effort.

“What could have done that?” Night Light muttered in shock.

That was not the end of the devastation, however, as what little stonework that had not been destroyed through sheer force had been slagged by some immense heat which had even turned sections of the sandy dirt to glass. Worse than the destruction wreaked by the unknown monster were the corpses that littered the ground. Initially hidden by the red stone of the castle and orange sand, everyone in the room was suddenly made aware of the hundreds of bodies that lay draped over every foreseeable surface.

Twilight Velvet could feel her breakfast begin to rise in her stomach, and she instinctively reached back to cover her son’s eyes only to find that Night Light had done the same.

Realizing her husband had the issue well in hoof, Twilight Velvet turned back to the grisly spectacle, watching as they slowly descended into the center of the killing field.

“Hurry, Dawn Star!” Celestia yelled. “She could be in danger.”

“R-right,” the aged mare muttered, shaking her head as she made the spell speed up.

Together the room watched as the image slowly closed in on a small section of dirt near the center of the courtyard, where several words could be seen printed in the dirt, accompanying a strange vial of some kind. Twilight Velvet leaned forward, straining to see what the words said, only for a vein in her forehead to bulge when realization settled in.

The room went silent, as everypony looked on in a mix of confusion and shock, just about everyone wondering why the words ‘Tit for Tat, Celestia’ were written in the dirt. The alicorn herself stepped forward, her rage barely contained by the thin mask of calm indifference she tried to wear.

“Zoom in closer. I need to know what is in that vial,” she commanded sternly.

Dawn Star nodded, her horn glowing brighter as she brought them in even closer until they could see the small green-colored vial resting on the ground. It was tiny, a little larger than an eye dropper and though plain in appearance, it contained a swirling magenta magic that grabbed the viewer's attention.

“Should we deploy?” Celestia’s team leader asked nervously, glancing from the alicorn to the strange vial.

“No,” Celestia replied sadly. “It's a trap.”

A second later, as if on cue, the vial itself exploded, leaving behind no trace of it, or the writing. Dawn Star recoiled, bringing the image back and allowing them a better view of the area.

“What do we do, Your Majesty?” she asked nervously.

“Give me a second,” the alicorn muttered, tapping her chin for a second before nodding. “Survey the area. We have to make sure she isn't here and the interference didn't knock us off course.”

Dawn Star nodded and turned back to the crystal ball, but Velvet could see from here that the aged unicorn didn't hold much stock in the alicorn’s words. As time slowly ticked by, and their slow survey of the area brought up more corpses and blasted ruins, the mood of the room slowly fell.

After several minutes had passed, Dawn Star sighed.

“There is no one here, Your Majesty," the seer exclaimed.

Celestia gritted her teeth and stepped forward.

“May I?” Celestia asked.

“Sure, but I don't think you are going to find anything," Dawn Star declared.

“Humour me," Celestia replied.

Dawn Star shrugged before taking a step back and allowing Celestia to hastily step into the void she left behind, her horn alight with power as she linked her own magic to the crystal ball and the connected array of runes. Instantly the light changed from the unicorn’s dull red to Celestia’s bright yellow, the image suddenly gaining in clarity and focus.

Individual grains of sand could be picked out now, and yet despite this increase in clarity Celestia’s scan of the area brought up nothing Dawn Star’s hadn't. She didn't stop there, and after a second of concentration cast the same spell Dawn Star had used in order to find the filly in the first place. This time the caster did not waste a single iota of strength and dumped more than enough power into the spell, causing the floor to glow brightly with golden power.

The image blurred and disappeared, replaced instead by a featureless void. With a grunt, the alicorn pushed more and more power into the spell, and for a second the image seemed to shift, showing the inside of an empty grey room but it didn't last long and the void quickly returned.

With a ragged sigh, the alicorn let her magic peter out and for darkness to reign, before it too faded away, leaving the room stunned and silent. The spell, now devoid of a power supply, began to dull until it faded entirely, with even the braziers flickering until finally fading entirely as well.

“Your Majesty?” Dawn Star whispered.

"This is most unfortunate," Celestia muttered.

Twilight Velvet’s temper, which until now remained at a low simmer, suddenly boiled over and she leaped out of her seat, and threw herself against the shield separating her from the alicorn.

“You bitch!” Twilight Velvet screamed. “I knew it! I fucking knew it!”

The alicorn glanced sadly at the raging mare, ignoring the insults being thrown at her.

“Take them away, I will speak to the Sparkle family when they have calmed down," Celestia muttered half-heartedly.

Dawn Star nodded, turning back to the small group of guards standing next to the door.

“Velvet calm down!” Night Light cried, trying to pull his wife back from the shield.

“No! This bitch sold Twilight to literal demons, Night Light! Fucking demons!” the mare screamed, jabbing her hoof at the morose-looking alicorn. “And now she doesn't even have the fortitude to tell us the truth. Even when it's staring us in the face!”

Iron Throne trotted up to the trio, and sighed wearily, knowing what she had to do.

“Ma’am please come down from there," Iron Throne ordered.

The irate Twilight Velvet ignored the guard entirely and continued to pound her hooves against the shield.

“I will not leave until that arrogant bitch tells me what she got out of selling my Twilight to literal goddamn demons!” Twilight Velvet screamed.

The alicorn’s sorrowful expression fell away in an instant and she stomped over to the angry mare.

“You really are this stupid, aren't you?” she muttered with such distaste that even Velvet stopped and stared.

“Yes, I said it. You are an idiot,” Celestia spat. “A simpering fool that genuinely believes her own insanity. Do you really think this foal is really so special that I would trade her to a demon?”

The alicorn scoffed.

“She is powerful, yes, but so are hundreds of other foals. If deals with demons were truly my goal, there would be a thousand better ways to go about it," Celestia exclaimed.

“Then you admit it!” Twilight Velvet shot back.

“I admit only that I was a fool to believe you would see reason,” Celestia shot back. “You claim to know more on the topic of demons than even a several thousand-year-old alicorn who has more experience in a single hoof than your entire family was ever been beholden onto.”

“I-!” Twilight Velvet started only to find her mouth forcefully shut by Celestia’s magic.

“If I really did this horrendous thing you accuse me of, would I then spend tens of thousands of bits building an array capable of piercing even the most powerful of wards?” Celestia asked incredulously, throwing out a hoof and gesturing to the room. “Would I spend months of my life personally training a task force of demon hunters for the express purpose of bringing your daughter back?”

Velvet sat silently, glaring at the alicorn looming over her.

The alicorn slowly shook her head.

“You truly have gone mad.” Celestia sighed, dismissing the shield. “Well, go on. I’ll give you one shot, one attempt to convince this room that I am the evil tyrant you seem to believe I am.”

Twilight Velvet felt the grip on her muzzle disappear and she lifted a hoof, rubbing the bruise already forming. She looked up at the alicorn, then back to her husband, who was nervously looking back at her, mouthing the words ‘don't’. Then, she stopped and really considered what she would say, what stunning bit of wit she could use to show just how deluded Celestia truly was. Only to shrug, and throw all such thoughts out the window and instead choose to slug Celestia across the face with every ounce of strength she could muster.

Celestia recoiled slightly, blinking in shock at the mare, who was now cradling her broken hoof and cackling madly.

“What? Did you really think I’d play your game?” Twilight Velvet spat. “You are more arrogant than even the most haughty of the nobility.”

“Velvet!” Night Light hissed.

“Mom…” Shining Armor whispered, shaking his head.

“Hate me all you want," Twilight Velvet dismissed. "I will bring Twilight home, no matter the cost.”

Celestia sighed and took a step back.

“So be it,” Celestia muttered before turning to the still-stunned guard standing next to her. “Lock her up. She’ll have her day in court.”

“Typical,” Twilight Velvet snorted.

The mare then extended her hooves out and sat quietly, waiting for the inevitable. When no irons were clapped over her forelimbs, she turned to Iron Throne who was still looking at her in shock.

“Well? Get on with it already," Twilight Velvet prompted.

“R-right,” Iron Throne muttered, retrieving a pair of cuffs from her armor before placing them on Velvet’s hooves. “You are under arrest for the crime of assault?” she asked, looking up at Celestia.

“Though I could have you hung for such an act, I am not nearly as petty as you seem to believe I am.” Celestia shook her head. “Aggravated assault.” She fixed the mare with a stern look. “I am running low on patience, this is your last chance, Velvet. Do not blow it.”

Twilight opened her mouth to speak but found herself enveloped in the yellow light of Celestia’s magic before vanishing, the last thing she saw were the faces of her disappointed family before they were replaced by the dull grey bars of a cell. The mare snorted in irritation, realizing she hadn't been given the chance to get the last word in before being whisked away.

“Typical,” she muttered.

Now alone, with little to do other than stare at the slate grey walls, Twilight Velvet pondered just what the ramifications of her actions may be. That didn't last long though as she merely snorted in irritation, dismissing such thoughts as irrelevant. As soon as she was out, she would find Riff Raff and join his little club, everything else were merely minor details.

A few minutes of silence later the mare finally grew bored enough to look around, noticing that her cell was small, little more than a few feet across, barely enough room for a small bed and toilet, without a privacy screen. Falling onto her cot, the mare stared up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her hoof while wondering if someone was going to come down here and take off the now unnecessary hoof cuffs.

Just as the adrenaline began to fade, a sudden movement near the other end of her cell drew the mare’s eye.

“Who’s there?” she muttered, only to stop and stare. “Riff Raff?”

The titular stallion stood on the other side of the bars, a cane in his hoof and a smile on his face.

“Despite her words to the contrary, she does indeed intend on throwing the proverbial book at you,” Rif Raff remarked with a smile.

The mare stood on shaky hooves and limped her way over to the bars of her cell.

“I assumed as much. Why are you here though?” Twilight Velvet inquired.

“Why, to retrieve our most famous new member, of course!” the stallion announced, throwing out his hooves. “Do you think we would leave one of our own rotting in some prison cell?”

“I-” Velvet grinned. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me yet. My little club is going to ask a lot of you. Are you sure you are up to it?” He asked, leaning in close and raising an eyebrow.

“I don't care,” Velvet answered, smiling. “So long as I save Twilight I will do anything you ask.”

“You mean those words, don't you?” He half asked half stated, his smile wide and a hoof extended. “Then please, allow me to be the first to welcome you to the blackguard. My name is Blood Tithe, but you can call me whatever you want.”

The mare chuckled, gripping his hoof tightly.

“What do I call you, sir, lord or... what?" Twilight Velvet inquired.

“Gods above no,” Rif Raf exclaimed with a chuckle. “Other than certain rituals we have no titles, but when we do partake in such rituals, you may call me, master.”

Author's Note

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Trial Two: Training (R)

Kanathara gripped her cleaver tight in her hoof, feeling the familiar sensation of the demon within pressing against her mind, probing her psyche and finding her will as unbreakable as ever. The imp growled, shaking the weapon and giving it as harsh a glare as she could manage.

“Cut it out!” she exclaimed.

A wave of apathy rolled from the weapon. Oh come now, you should know how our little game goes. Besides, it was just a little test, and I know how much you like those, the entropy demon’s slippery mental voice announced.

“I am stronger than ever. Why did you think that would even work?” Kanathara demanded to know.

Another wave of apathy came from the cleaver. You may be stronger physically, but mentally… The demon let the word hang, and the filly could tell that the demon was smirking, even though he did not have a face or even a physical form.

The imp groaned and raised the weapon, staring into the blade.

“Will you cut it out long enough to let me train?” Kanathara stated firmly.

Don't expect me to stay quiet. One day you will realize what a good deal I’m offering you, and on that day you will take it, the demon thought back, his mental presence sliding back into the weapon and leaving Kanathara relatively alone in her head.

“You alright, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking down at the filly with concern.

The other demon had changed over the last two weeks, having grown another inch or two taller and losing most of her hair, resulting in Rainbow Dash ultimately giving up and shaving the rest off. The sight of a bald demon that had only a thin stub of a tail was a strange one, but in the grand scheme of things Kanathara was happy her familiar was growing into her new form. Rainbow Dash's injuries had finally healed completely, and more than that her horns and wings had grown along with the rest of her.

All of which made the mere imp angry for a reason Kanathara couldn't understand.

“I’m fine,” Kanathara replied, standing a little taller. “The stupid entropy demon can't keep his thoughts to himself.”

I have a name, you know.

“I don't care what your name is,” Kanathara shot back, earning her a second of shocked silence.

Yowch, someone is growing into her fangs, he thought with a snicker.

“Errr, alright then.” Rainbow Dash grinned, revealing her row of pointed teeth. “So are you going to go another round with Servantes or do you mind if I go first?”

“I got this,” Kanathara stated.

The imp then pushed her way past the other demon, striding as confidently as she could up to the armor demon who was wielding a similarly sized cleaver in his right hand.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, but ultimately took a step back, not wanting to anger the filly anymore than she had apparently already done.

Servantes lowered his stance and pretended to stretch, an act that Kanathara quickly mimicked, loosening her legs before giving her neck a crack.

“Ready," Kanathara stated.

Servantes nodded, waiting a moment before lurching forward and launching into a powerful overhead swing.

Too much strength, won't be able to block. The filly thought.

She then leaped to the right, trying to take advantage of the opening by swinging her own cleaver at Servantes’ side, but the demon was quick and despite the awkward stance, managed to pull his body out of the way.

Back and forth the two cleaver wielders went, both seemingly intent on killing the other while simultaneously knowing that none of their strikes would truly hit one another unless they screwed up. Kanathara was quickly lulled into a state of half-awareness, her thoughts, though fast, were only barely able to keep up with the pace of their sparring.

Following up a parry with another strike, Kanathara smiled, believing she had finally managed to take advantage of a large enough opening, only to once more find she was too slow, and Servantes was somehow able to bring his own cleaver down, nearly knocking the imp’s weapon from her hoof. With a grunt she barely managed to keep her hold, forced to roll out of reach as she adjusted her grip.

You know if you took the contract with me, you would be fast enough to land a hit on him, the entropy demon prodded.

“Not now,” Twilight grumbled, his distraction forcing her to give ground and leaving her dangerously off balance.

Servantes delivered a boot to her stomach, exploiting the opening before diving forward, delivering another powerful overhead strike. From the sidelines Rainbow Dash winced, watching as her mistress rolled with the blow, dodging out of the strike and coming up strong, cleaver in hoof and a grimace on her face.

“You got this, boss!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

Where usually the encouragement would give the imp the drive she needed to push on, now it only seemed to make her even angrier, and she took out that anger via several hard overhead strikes, bringing her cleaver down repeatedly against Servantes’. The armored demon struggled for a moment, his own cleaver nearly bending under the assault, only to push back after the last attack, shoving Twilight onto her back hoof.

Reacting quickly, the imp stepped back, making sure to cover the opening before Servantes could kick her ribs again. Sure enough, the armored demon’s stance fell back slightly, evidently repositioning from the kick he had been ready to deliver.

Look at your familiar, she is fast, strong, and becomes even more so with each passing day, yet she hates what she has become, the entropy demon pointed out as Kanathara glanced past her friend. You could have all that and more, think about it!

Kanthara growled, jumping back a few feet and narrowly avoiding a sweeping strike that should have been easily dodged.

“Shut up already, let me focus," Kanathara demanded.

Servantes stopped suddenly, taking a step back and cocking his head slightly.

Knowing the look well, Kanathara took a step back and sighed.

“Sorry Servantes, he's more uppity than usual," Kanathara explained, wiggling her weapon in emphasis.

The demon nodded and extended a hand, palm raised.

The imp shook her head and took a step back.

“No, I need to deal with this before I do any more training,” Kanathara muttered, turning to an excited Rainbow Dash. “Go on, Dash, you can have a turn.”

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash pumped her hoof and leaped forward, using her wings to launch her halfway across the room. “Ready to get served, Servantes?”

The armor sighed, his shoulders sagging, drawing a snicker from Kanathara.

“You should have known that was coming after the first time,” the imp quipped.

Shaking his head, Servantes tossed his cleaver aside before balling his fists, motioning that he was ready.

The imp turned around, ignoring the clang of metal against hoof as the two combatants met at the center of the room. Kanathara had no attention to give to the two, however, and instead focused on the cleaver in her hoof.

“What is this deal anyway?” she whispered.

Simple, you give me a portion of your soul, and I make you a fully-fledged demoness. She could feel the demon’s smugness in the way his slimy voice rolled around in her mind. It's not even all of your soul, just enough to let me manifest and get out of this twice damned cleaver.

Tapping her chin, the imp considered it for a moment, before one of the many lessons her father had instilled in her returned to the forefront of her mind. If it sounds too good to be true, it is, if it sounds mutually beneficial, it is not.

“I don't need your help becoming a demon, father said I will ascend soon,” she shot back, yet despite the power behind her words, they were hollow.

Yeah, right, the demon replied smugly. You wouldn't have even escaped that cell without the help of sheer luck. So unless another rock is going to make you a demon, I’d give that dream up, if I were you.

Kanathara sighed, levitating the weapon in her weak aura while she made her way over to the open armory.

“That's quite enough out of you today," Kanathara stated.

Just do me two little things. One, while you watch those two spar, pay close attention to your familiar, the entropy demon began. Watch closely as she becomes faster, stronger, and smarter. Two, when you realize she is going to surpass you in a matter of weeks, try not to cry too much. I can't have my wielder turn into a total pus-

Kanathara threw the cleaver the last of the way, his voice cutting off mid-toss.

“Stupid jerk,” she spat angrily, slamming the door shut and stomping her way back to the gym.

In the circle, Servantes and Rainbow Dash were in a heated dance of feints, counterfeints, and narrow attempts to grapple their opponent. Despite Rainbow Dash’s increases in speed and strength, she wasn't quite up to the same level as Servantes, and several bruises now spread across her face and chest, serving to further cement this fact. Rainbow Dash’s stance was becoming looser with each blow she took, yet the demon held on, gritting her teeth as a kick sent her reeling backward.

Pumping her wings, the demon leaped over a sweeping kick only to catch a fist to the gut, sending her tumbling head over heels, the wind knocked out of her.

Kanathara assumed the demon would land in a heap, unable to right herself due to the sheer strength of the blow, only for Rainbow Dash to land with all four hooves under her, a grin on her face. The demon smirked, spitting a wad of black, tar-like blood on the floor.

“Is that all you got?” Rainbow Dash mocked.

Servantes raised a metaphorical eyebrow, his stance now loose as he simply stood there, waiting.

A second later Rainbow Dash’s shaking legs gave out on her, sending her sprawling to the floor.

“Ow,” she muttered, a hoof grabbing her bruised midsection.

Her mistress shook her head and walked over to the bruised and bloody demon.

“You are lucky Father taught me what little healing magic works in Tartarus and that I can even muster the energy needed," Kanathara pointed out.

The winged demon groaned, her other forehoof going up to a rather large bump growing on the side of her head.

“Thanks, boss. I almost had him this time," Rainbow Dash groused.

As Kanathara cast her spell, and forced the demon’s body to begin repairing itself, she ignored her familiar’s cries of pain and instead eyed Servantes up and down. As usual, he remained impassive, standing with his hands loose at his sides, waiting for what his charges would do next. His armor remained relatively undamaged, though now that Kanathara was looking, she noticed how his helmet had a significant dent on the corner, just below the jaw, a blow that would have been quite damaging if there was anyone in the armor.

“Ow! What the hay boss?” Rainbow Dash winced. “You didn't have to push that hard! It was just a few bruises.”

Kanathara blinked, giving her head a shake and taking a step back.

“Sorry. I uh, had to make sure there wasn't anything lasting," Kanathara muttered.

The demon stood up, looking down at her mistress.

“No biggie," Rainbow Dash dismissed. "You taking another turn or are we going back to study?”

“I think I need a break for a little bit,” the imp responded, nodding to the armor demon. “Thank you, Servantes.”

The bipedal demon bowed low and remained in such position until the two other demons turned and began to walk to the door, with Kanathara taking point and Rainbow Dash limping along behind her, hoof still pressed against the sole remaining bruise on the side of her face.

“So did you put that stupid cleaver in his place yet, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked, trotting up beside the imp.

“Uh, yeah,” Kanathara muttered. “Totally.”

“Cool. That guy sounds like a grade-A jerkwad anyway,” Rainbow Dash declared with a smirk. “So what are we doing next? Studying more spells, or learning how to beat up any stupid demon that gets in our way?”

“No," Kanathara murmured half-heartedly. "I’m tired, I just wanna lie down for a little bit.”

The other demon stopped, raising an eyebrow as Kanathara reached for the door handle.

“That's not like you, boss. Something bugging ya?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“I…” The imp began, only to shake her head and open the door. “No, it's nothing.”

Rainbow Dash frowned, but otherwise remained silent, following Kanathara through the door and into the hall, where the ever-present form of their stone companion stood. At the sight of the short-statured golem, Rainbow Dash frowned.

“Why do we have to keep this guy around again?” she asked, pointing a hoof to the golem.

“Father wants to make sure we don't go somewhere we are not supposed to,” Kanathara responded, turning to the right and walking in the direction of their room.

“Well, that's stupid,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “You are super responsible. We don't need some stinking golem dragging us down.”

The shorter demon chuckled.

“That may be, but it is not our place to question the will of Father," Kanathara declared.

That seemed to shut the other demon up long enough for them to reach their room, after passing by a few other demons that paid them no mind. Unlike the last space they occupied, this one was on the same level as the gym, only squirreled away in a relatively unused section of the tower reserved for those minions that had earned their own room, and the privacy that came with it.

The door was a simple wood of unknown origin, the burnt oak color clashing with the harsh black iron that held the door together. Pushing her magic into the lock, Kanathara grunted as she felt the familiar pull of the mechanism before the door cracked open.

Revealing a medium-sized room that was just large enough for a bed, a dresser, a weapon and armor rack, a chest, and a mirror. The walls were bare and simple, little more than stone painted a pleasing copper color while the floor remained a bare grey.

“Awesome,” Rainbow Dash declared, pushing her way past her friend, running into the room, and jumping on the bed. “Do you want to play more games? We can even play that chess game you like so much.”

Kanthara paused, only to shake her head, using her limited magic to close the door behind her.

“No, I just wanna get some rest. You don't have to sleep as well though," Kanathara replied.

“I guess getting some sleep would be for the best," Rainbow Dash muttered.

“We do have a big day tomorrow,” Kanathara remarked offhandedly.

“So can I sleep with you again or should I take the floor?” Rainbow Dash asked nervously, glancing up at the large queen-sized bed sitting in the corner of the room.

The imp sighed and made her way over to the bed.

“You can sleep with me again, but you are not being the little spoon again," Kanathara declared.

“Yes, bossss," Rainbow Dash whined.

“Hey, none of that sass.” Kanathara retorted.

Chuckling, Kanathara gave herself a once-over with a cleaning spell before turning to Rainbow Dash and doing the same.

The other demon shivered.

“That will never not feel weird," Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Oh, quit being a baby,” Kanathara smirked. “Or would you rather go back to sharing a bath?”

Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue.

“Ew, no," Rainbow Dash exclaimed in disgust.

“I didn't think so,” Kanathara declared.

The smaller demon hopped up onto the bed and pulled back the sheets, only to be nearly knocked over by an enthusiastic Rainbow Dash who hopped up next to her.

“Sorry, boss. Still getting used to the extra size,” Rainbow Dash remarked before taking up her spot closest to the wall.

Kanathara rolled her eyes.

“Alright, ya big lug. Now you better not knock me off the bed, or else you will be sleeping on the floor for a week,” Kanathara declared, though the assertion carried little real weight.

“It was one time!” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Yeah, one time you nearly knocked me across the entire room,” Kanathara exclaimed, settling into her spot and pulling the sheets up around her neck. “And watch those hooves, they are getting sharp.”

“Yes, boss,” Rainbow Dash groaned, pulling the sheets up to her neck and sighing contentedly.

Together the pair lay there quietly, Rainbow Dash trying to calm down from the day while Kanathara lay motionless, attempting to dismiss the cloying thoughts of jealousy and resentment she could feel still lingering inside her. Yet despite her best attempts, she couldn't help but continue to think about what the entropy demon had said to her.

It was clear that Rainbow Dash was still unenthused about her current existence and anytime the topic came up, she desperately tried to brush it off. Worse yet, Kanathara was eternally plagued by jealousy, making any attempt at resolving the issue a delicate one, and so it was that they were forced to lay there, both awkwardly occupying the same bed, painfully awake.

Until finally the situation came to a head when she noticed that the other demon was staring at the mirror, having caught a glimpse of her reflection within. Kanathara sighed, feeling her friend’s misery keenly. She opened her mouth to speak, intent on helping Rainbow Dash get over this feeling, only to find that she lacked the words necessary to convince even herself that this was a good idea.

So she settled for something more direct, namely, wiggling backward, slipping between Rainbow Dash’s limbs, and pressing her back against the other demon’s stomach. They lay there for a few minutes longer until finally, Rainbow Dash seemed to slowly release the stress she had been holding inside her, pulling Kanathara closer and resting her chin on her friend’s head.

“Thanks,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“What are friends for?” Kanathara asked rhetorically.

The other demon tensed briefly before suddenly breaking the silence.

“So uh, what are we doing next? Plan-wise?” Rainbow Dash asked awkwardly.

Kanathara shook her head and sighed, ignoring the strange conversation change.

“I need to get stronger. I only succeeded in my last mission due to sheer luck,” Kanathara exclaimed, her jaw clenched so tight she could barely talk. “And I will not leave success up to chance again.”

“Well, now you got me!” Rainbow Dash announced proudly, squeezing the smaller demon and nuzzling her cheek. “So don't worry, boss, I got your back all the way.”

Kanathara sighed, wrapping her forehooves around one of Rainbow Dash’s.

“Thanks, Rainbow, but I can't help but think about that memory spell that Pythias showed me. It has to be important, right? Why else would she show it to me if it wasn't?” Kanathara inquired.

“I don't know, boss," Rainbow Dash admitted. "How would some memory spell help us fight jerks? It's not like you can convince them they don't know how to breathe or something, right? You can't do that, can you?”

“No," Kanathara replied, rolling her eyes. "A memory spell cannot make someone forget how to breathe.”

“So, if it can't do anything cool like that, then why bother?” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

“I…” Kanathara began only for images of her failures suddenly flashing through her mind. “I need to get stronger. It has to give me something, some way to become better.”

“Yeesh.” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I get it, boss, you wanna be strong.”

“You don't get it, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara hissed, squeezing her friend’s leg a little tighter. “I’m just a weak little imp. I need to become a demon or next time I won't be able to count on luck getting me out alive.”

The larger demon sighed, pulling her friend close and squeezing her gently.

“Sorry, boss," Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Don't worry about it, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara dismissed.

The imp blinked. “

Hey, Dash, can I ask you something?” Kanathara whispered.

“Sure thing, Kath,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Don't ever call me that," Kanathara stated.

Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue.

“You are no fun," exclaimed the larger demon.

“Can I ask you a question or not?” Kanathara shot back.

“Fine, fine,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Ask away, boss lady.”

“I was wondering…” Kanathara began, her hoof running down Rainbow Dash’s foreleg slowly, building up the courage to speak. “How did you really end up down here?”

The larger demon instantly tensed, her entire body growing tight.

“Do I have to say? It's not a fun story," Rainbow Dash warned.

“I have to know,” Kanathara stated.

The imp pushed herself out from Rainbow Dash’s grasping limbs and turned to face the familiar fully.

“What if you stabbed someone in the back or something? I would want to know," Kanathara urged.

“I would never do that,” Rainbow Dash shot back instantly, only to recoil. “Err, I wouldn't do that to you or any other friend anyway.”

Kanathara sighed and pressed a hoof against Rainbow Dash’s chest. “If it's that touchy a subject, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.”

“I suppose you have the right to know,” Rainbow Dash muttered, after a long silence. “You did save my life, and you also apparently own my soul or whatever.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes, but remained silent, pulling Rainbow’s hoof into her own, much smaller one.

“Take your time, Rainbow," Kanathara urged.

“I uh…” The demon muttered, pausing to rub the back of her neck awkwardly. “Geez, well, it all started with my friend when we were in school.”

“Leave her alone, you jerks!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

The two colts shared a glance before looking down at the huddled form of Fluttershy, who was curled up in a ball between them, wings and forelegs covering her head. The first bully, a tan pegasus with brown hair, scoffed, throwing his bangs over the side of his face.

“What are you going to do about it, Rainbow Crash?” He mocked.

The other orange-furred and white-maned pegasus smirked, giving a swift kick to Fluttershy’s exposed midsection, drawing a cry of pain.

“Yeah, Crash, what are you going to do? Bleed on us?” He teased.

“What did she do to you anyway?” Rainbow Dash demanded, her jaw clenched tight.

The larger colt flicked the mane from his eyes again.

“She was spying on us, like usual," he exclaimed.

“If the dumb butter bitch didn't want to get kicked around, maybe she shouldn't spend so much time trying to piss us off,” the other colt added.

“You were pulling the feathers out of Steve’s wing!” Fluttershy yelled.

“Shut it, Flutterfail!” the first bully screamed in her face. “That bird shit on my hair, it had it coming.”

Rainbow Dash looked from her friend to the bullies and back again before turning around and opening her wings.

“Leave her alone or I’ll tell the teacher," Rainbow Dash warned.

The second bully rolled his eyes.

“She's like, super far away, you are never going to reach her before we do," he retorted.

“You both know I’m faster than you, plus she's straight up on that cloud.” Rainbow Dash pointed up at a seemingly random cloud. “Even if you think you are faster, you both know I’m lighter and will reach her before you.”

The two bullies shared a wary glance before the second one stepped forward, only to be stopped by the first.

“Let her go, Gale," he whispered.

The tan-colored bully ground his teeth together.

“This isn't over, Rainbow Dash," he growled.

The prismatic pegasus smirked.

“No, it definitely isn't," Rainbow Dash retorted.

“Come on, let's get out of here," bully one urged.

And with that, the bullies left, jumping off the side of the cloud and disappearing below them.

Rainbow Dash’s wings sagged and she turned to her friend, noting how one of her eyes had nearly swollen shut, though luckily that seemed to be the extent of the damage.

“Are you alright, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Y-yeah,” Fluttershy sniffed, slowly pulling herself up with the help of Rainbow Dash.

“Come on, we better go see the nurse,” Rainbow Dash declared.

The prismatic filly turned and tugged at her friend’s hoof, only to stop when she didn't follow.

“I c-can't.” The timid filly pulled her hoof away. “They said they would kill Steve if I told anypony.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow.

“You mean the bird?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in confusion.

“Y-yeah," Fluttershy murmured.

The pair stared at one another for a long moment before Rainbow Dash sighed.

“You should at least get some ice on that, come on, I think the cafeteria lady will give us some," Rainbow Dash murmured half-heartedly.

“T-thanks, R-R-Rainbow Dash,” the other pegasus stuttered.

“Don't thank me yet," Rainbow Dash replied.

She launched into the air with a pump of her wings, followed closely by a confused Fluttershy.

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked.

“You’ll see," Rainbow Dash answered.

“Okay…” Fluttershy whispered.

“After that, I decided to get some well-earned revenge!” Rainbow Dash announced, her eyes flaring dangerously.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow.

“How did you manage to do that? Those two sounded like they were bigger, and a heck of a lot meaner than you," Kanathara pointed out.

“Yeah but…” Rainbow Dash smirked. “You of all ponies should know how much brains count.”

“I’m not a pony though,” the other filly pointed out, making Rainbow Dash wince.

“Err, yeah,” Rainbow Dash muttered, only to shake her head. “Anyway. So, I was getting my revenge by pranking and bullying them back.”

She stood up on the bed, spreading her leathery wings wide.

“I figured out their schedules and cornered them when they were alone, ‘cause I knew those cowards wouldn't put up much of a fight when they were all by themselves,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, her eyes gaining a glowing, evil intent behind them as she spoke. “I kicked their sorry flanks, pranked their lockers, dunked their heads in the toilet, and more. I did it all, I made those stupid bullies regret ever touching Fluttershy.”

Kanathara, eyes wide, leaned forward.

“And then what happened?” Kanathara pressed.

The demon wilted visibly, her wings returning to her side.

“I kept punishing them, cornering them after class, and giving them both a set of nasty shiners. What I didn't know is that Gale had brought a knife to school," Rainbow Dash continued, her confidence waning.

“I’m beginning to hate this Gale guy more and more," Kanathara remarked.

“Yeah…” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Rainbow Dash fell to the bed, pulling the sheets back up to her neck.

“So what happened next?” Kanathara pressed.

“I died,” Rainbow Dash declared. “I guess it's taken me a while to figure it out, but…”

She shook her head.

“So it all started when I cornered Gale’s nitwit friend in the washroom and-”

“T-take it!” the former bully stuttered, holding out a hooffull of bits.

Rainbow Dash scoffed, knocking aside his hoof and sending the bits flying across the bathroom.

“I’m not here for your bits, you jerk. I’m here for revenge," Rainbow Dash growled.

Gale gulped, taking a step back and looking for an exit, only to find none.

“B-but you got what you wanted! We haven't bothered anypony in weeks! We even apologized to Fluttershy!” He exclaimed.

“Did you apologize to the bird you mutilated?” Rainbow Dash asked, stepping forward.

The other pony shied away, taking another step back.

“We tried! But we couldn't find it. Miss Blue Wind says it’s probably already healed by now," he replied.

“Then I guess there is a reason to keep wailing on you jerks,” Rainbow Dash declared with a smirk. “Maybe I’ll pluck your wings just like you did to that poor bird.”

“N-no please!” The colt exclaimed, tucking his wings closer to his back, stepping back until his back hit the wall. “I’ll scream! There has to be someone nearby.”

“Go ahead, that's not going to stop me from knocking your teeth out,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

The filly lurched forward, hoof raised, only to catch the former bully looking to her left.

Thinking quickly, Rainbow Dash spun around and bucked Gale in the face, knocking him out cold and allowing her to face this new potential threat. A threat in the shape of a knife-wielding former bully with a shaggy tan coat and a short cut mane. In his trembling hoof was a pocket knife, his face a mask of barely contained terror and indignation.

“Leave him alone!” He yelled, raising the knife up.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, taking a step back and keeping away from the weapon.

“What are you doing, Cloudy? Where did you get that knife?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“It's mine, I got it for my birthday,” The former bully muttered, waving the knife wildly. “And I’m here to get you to leave us alone.”

“So you can bully more poor ponies?” Rainbow Dash’s asked, her eyes narrowing. “I don't think so.”

“We stopped that weeks ago, you dumbass!” he yelled, tears building at the corner of his eyes. “We stopped… You were right, it doesn't feel good to be bullied, we were wrong.”

“Bullshit,” Rainbow Dash spat. “You are just giving me this sob story because you are finally getting a taste of your own medicine. Well, I don't buy it.”

The former bully blinked.

“W-what. B-but I-” He stuttered.

“I don't care,” Rainbow Dash declared with a chuckle, taking a step back and placing a hoof over the slowly reawakening Gale’s face. “I’m gonna keep beating the snot out of you jerks until you've made up for all the ponies you bullied.”

“Get away from him!” The knife-wielding colt suddenly surged forward, thrusting the knife at Rainbow Dash’s midsection.

Surprised by the sudden boldness, Rainbow Dash couldn't move before the knife was suddenly embedded in her chest, mere inches from her heart.

“W-what?” She muttered, looking down, only now noticing the red blood that ran down her coat.

“Oh goddess, I didn't mean to- I thought...” The colt muttered, stumbling back, landing on his backside, his eyes going wide.

And then her world became red, and the filly flew forward, slamming into the colt and knocking him onto his back. Before she knew what was happening she was punching him in the face over and over. Teeth gave way to gums, cheekbones shattered, eyeballs ruptured and flesh was torn. Rage swept away her pain, replacing it with righteous indignation, which in turn swallowed the filly’s desire to even save herself.

Over and over her hooves struck true, but with each punch, she grew weaker and their blood mingled into a growing pool beneath them. When the colt finally stopped moving, she looked up, a smirk on her face, a smirk that quickly vanished, replaced by one of shock.

“Fluttershy?” she whispered weekly.

The shocked expression of her friend was the last thing she saw before blood loss stole her sight, making her slump against the still form of the former bully.

“And then I wound up here,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shrug.

Kanathara sniffed, wiping away a tear. “Why didn't she try and help you? Those bullies deserved it.”

“I-” Rainbow Dash began, only to pause, and reach out, pulling her friend close. “I don't know, boss.”

The smaller demon wiped her face on Rainbow Dash’s chest, squeezing her friend back.

“I would never do that," Kanathara muttered.

Rainbow Dash sniffed, wiping away a tear she hadn't noticed was there.

“Thanks,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Author's Note

(Updated for better grammer and spelling)
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Interlude Six: A New Home (R)

Riff Raff chuckled, tossing his hat across the room where it landed perfectly on the spoke of a hat rack. He then turned and tossed off his jacket, which expertly landed on a different spoke of the same rack. Now bereft of clothing, the stallion smiled and turned to the mare that had been following him for the last several minutes.

“Now then, would you like the grand tour?” he asked, waving his hoof toward the door Twilight Velvet knew lead to the factory floor. “The first half of which will be rather mundane, I must admit.”

The mare shrugged, hefting her saddle bags into a more preferable position.

“That's fine,” Velvet exclaimed.

“Excellent,” Riff Raff declared.

The stallion clapped his hooves together and turned to the door.

“I won't bother to inform you of the bar, as you are now quite familiar with my humble little watering hole," Riff Raff began.

He chuckled, slipping forward and pushing open the door that lead further into the structure.

“Here is where the non-literal magic happens," Riff Raff declared.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, walking close behind the stallion as he stepped out into the factory floor. Vats, stills, pipes, and copper dominated every perceivable spot in the room, filling every last inch not occupied by a worker, of which there were many.

“Wow,” Twilight whispered to herself, shocked by just how new everything looked. “I admit I may have judged your operation overly harshly.”

The stallion stopped and smirked at the mare.

“That is the point, my friend,” he replied, waving a hoof over his operation, grinning all the while. “This isn't all cover, you know, we do make the finest tequila in all of Equestria, which means we need the best machines, and above all, the best employees.”

The pair took a step back, allowing a minotaur carrying a load of boxes to walk past, followed quickly by an older griffon who was holding a clipboard and was busy muttering to herself. Twilight’s gaze lingered on the pair before turning to the surrounding factory, making her realize just how few ponies worked here. Sure, there were a few unicorns here and there, even a pegasus or two and a hoofful of earth ponies but the majority were either minotaurs, or griffons, with even a few yaks mixed in.

“You certainly have a very eclectic workforce,” Twilight pointed out.

“Of course, of course,” Riff Raff replied, his grin growing ever larger. “Canterlot is not the kindest when it comes to employing what it deems as less desirable beings. Which I for one find just plain stupid.”

He motioned for the mare to follow him and began trotting across the factory floor, making a beeline for a small office set off to the side.

“There is so much talent and skill that these big wigs are missing out on all because they can't see past the horn’s on their head," Riff Raff remarked dismissively.

A griffon working at the bottling line shouted, “You tell ‘er, boss!” at the passing pair.

“I will, my friend!” he replied back, waving to the griffon.

“Fascinating,” Twilight remarked idly.

“My point is simply that talent has many forms, and some beings have skills that even magic cannot replicate,” Riff Raff declared.

The stallion pushed his way into the small, plain looking office which had a simple desk, a set of massive metal filing cabinets and a smaller desk near the door. Behind this relatively out of the way bit of furniture was a demure pegasus stallion with a teal mane and sky blue fur.

“Bluey!” Riff Raff announced happily. “How have things been in my absence?”

The smaller stallion looked up from the book he was reading and raised an eyebrow.

“You were only gone a few hours, nothing has changed," the other male declared confusedly.

“Ahh, good to hear, good to hear,” Riff Raff proclaimed, wrapping a hoof around Twilight’s neck and pulled her close. “Blue Gale, this is my newest associate, Twilight Velvet.”

“Nice to meet you, miss," Blue Gale offered, nodding slightly to the newcomer.

“It's a pleasure," Velvet muttered awkwardly.

“I wouldn't go that far,” Blue Gale remarked, turning back to his book and ignoring the pair entirely.

Riff Raff removed his foreleg and chuckled.

“Don't mind him, he's just mad I didn't let him take Friday off," Riff Raff dismissed.

Twilight chuckled, noting the dirty look the pegasus shot them as they walked to the back of the office.

“So it seems," Velvet murmured.

“Now then, let's get this tour really started,” Riff Raff announced. “Bluey, lock the doors and use illusion number thirty-two please!”

“Aye, boss," the pegasus receptionist dutifully replied.

The demure male turned to the wall and tugged on a random board, pulling it open and revealing a small hidden area that contained several switches and tiny levers which Blue Gale seemed to pull at random.

A second later the air flickered and a silhouette of Riff Raff appeared behind his desk while a second more feminine one appeared on the other side, sitting across from the strange shadowy projection. Twilight blinked, instinctively looking for whatever was projecting the illusion. Finding none, she turned to Riff Raff, who was smiling wide enough to make the Cheshire Cat blush.

“You can't find it, can you?” He teased.

“No, it's quite well done,” Twilight remarked. “I assume it is to keep up the illusion of this being a meeting to any who may try to peer through the smokey glass of your door?”

“Quite, but it doesn't work if we are still standing here, so let's hurry this along, shall we?” Riff Raff half stated half offered.

Without waiting the stallion clopped his hooves together before pressing one of them against a seemingly random brick in the wall, while the other pushed a drawer.

A second later and the enormous filing cabinets swung inward, revealing a small passage that ended with a spiral staircase. The area was lit by a single torch burning within, revealing a simple, narrow stone passageway devoid of intricacy.

“Come, come, we mustn't tarry now,” Riff Raff remarked from within the passage, jerking his head towards the staircase at the other end of the hall. “Can't leave it open for long, you know.”

“Err, right," Velvet murmured.

Twilight trotted after him, noting the way the filing cabinets swung back into place, cutting off any outside light and leaving them with only the single torch to guide them.

“Right then, as we descend into the true workshop, I suppose I should tell you a little more about myself.” Riff Raff grabbed the torch and walked to the end of the hall.

“Of course, if you don't mind. I don't want to pry, but I kind of figured there was more to the whole strange heritage and weird name,” Twilight Velvet Exclaimed with a small chuckle. “No offence.”

“None taken, none taken at all,” Riff Raff dismissed while trotting down the stairs, followed closely by an eager Twilight Velvet. “You have every right to be suspicious, and in this case your assumption was correct.”

“Does that mean what I think it means?” Velvet pressed.

“That depends. Do you think it means that my family used to worship demons about eight generations back, and before that supported the Nightmare’s bid for supremacy of Equestria?” Riff Raff asked with a smirk. “‘Cause if so, you’d be right.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow, eying her guide in a new light.

“That certainly… explains a lot," Twilight Velvet remarked.

“All that is long behind our family, but stigmas have a way of sticking around long after the fact,” Riff Raff muttered. “I apologize for not telling you the whole truth, but you must admit it isn't exactly something you would go around just mentioning to everypony you meet.”

“That's fair, I suppose,” Twilight admitted. “I still have a hard time mentioning my family used to be true nobles, and that isn't half as bad as demon worship.”

“You know I was going to ask about that,” Riff Raff began.

The stallion stepped down from the last step and trotted into a strange room that was about a dozen feet at its widest and had a massive door across from them.

“I’m assuming there is a story behind your family’s change of status?” Riff Raff prompted.

Twilight looked around as she spoke, noticing that the walls were flat black stone that lacked any tool marks.

“It's not as interesting as it sounds to be honest. Somewhere along the line a great great uncle thought it would be a good idea to invest in a company that went belly up. After that we are nobles without land, money or power. We were little more then average citizens in all but title,” Velvet explained, only to pause and take an unconscious step back as her eyes adjusted to the gloom and truly noticed just how bizarre the door was. “What is that?”

Riff Raff chuckled, waving a hoof toward the towering mass of quivering red and black flesh in the shape of a door. A large face dominated the door, and though the mouth and eyes were closed, Twilight could already imagine just how terrifying they must be.

“Oh, her?” He mused, taking a step forward. “Twilight Velvet, say hello to Oluuraal, our gate keeper.”

The eyelids on the door slowly opened, revealing two massive eyes with square, goat like pupils of the deepest black. The surrounding iris was a stark orange color, surrounded by an off red sclera, making for a disturbing sight that set Twilight’s entire body on edge.

“Ahh, a new convert I see,” the door spoke, revealing a row of flat, vegetarian teeth and a serpentine tongue. “Squeamish, but still brave, I like her already.”

The voice itself was strangely smooth, almost comforting, but had a slight tremor to it that negated how pleasant it otherwise sounded.

“Not only that, but she has quite an interesting tale to tell," Riff Raff prompted, gesturing to a now rather nervous Twilight Velvet.

The door gazed down at the mare, its strange eyes burrowing into the poor pony’s soul.

“Oh, does she now? You must tell me sometime. It does get quite boring being a door," mused the demonic gate guardian.

Riff Raff smirked, turning to Twilight Velvet and motioning her to join him closer to the door.

“Come now, she won't bite. Unless you are not allowed to be here. of course. Then you should watch those chompers of hers," Riff Raff prompted.

The mare gulped, and took a step forward, looking up at the strange portal with a mix of trepidation and curiosity.

“What are you exactly?” Velvet inquired.

The door seemed to shrug, its black iron hinges groaning as its mass twisted slightly.

“I am a simple demon who guards this silly creature’s little hideout," the guardian answered.

“You take all the fun out of having a secret base, you know that, Oluuraal?” Riff Raff remarked with a smirk.

“I have to find my fun somewhere,” the demon replied smiling a wide, strangely polite smile. “Now then, I assume you wish to go to your office, yes?”

“That I do, thank you," Riff Raff replied.

The door closed its eyes.

“As you wish," it intoned.

Then, before Twilight had a chance to ask another question, the door opened to reveal a surprisingly normal looking office. A regular desk sat before an average chair, while an standard book shelf waited for its upper reaches to be filled with books. The wall behind the desk was dominated by a large window that revealed a good chunk of lower Canterlot.

"I assume that's an illusion?” Twilight asked, gesturing to the 'window'.

“Maybe,” Riff Raff declared, the stallion smirking as he took a seat behind the desk. “Now then, let's get down to business, shall we?”

Twilight nodded and took a seat across from him.

“I should start by telling you that obviously the name I’ve been using is a pseudonym,” Riff Raff put his elbows on the desk and pressed his hooves against his chin, leaning forward. “My birth name is Blackguard.”

“Black Guard? I think you mentioned that already,” Twilight murmured.

“I may have, more importantly its pronounced like Black Gerd, it's Prench,” Riff Raff exclaimed with a chuckle. “Funny to think that the Prench side of my family is one of the stranger parts of my heritage.”

“That is kind of funny,” Twilight admitted.

Blackguard shrugged.

“In a family tainted by demons and the Prench, I’m just thankful I got a weird name and weird eyes and not horns or something,” Riff Raff declared, pausing to sigh. “Poor aunt Marelda.”

Twilight chuckled, only to wince.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn't have laughed at that," she hastily added.

“Don't be, don't be,” Riff Raff dismissed. “Never be sorry for laughing.” Blackguard sat back in his chair and clapped his hooves together. “Now then, I should dismiss some rumours before we begin.”

“Please do. Celestia has said some rather, inflammatory things about organizations like yours over the last month,” Twilight Velvet offered.

“Ahh yes, she would, wouldn't she?” Blackguard mused aloud. “To be completely honest with you, we do study things like necromancy and demonology. But-” he raised a hoof in emphasis, “-at least in the case of necromancy, it is mostly for the benefit of the little guy. For necromancy is the basis for just about all healing spells, or at least unicorn healing spells, it gets kinda fuzzy for other tribes’ magic.”

“Wait… What?” Twilight exclaimed in shock. “In class they always said that healing was a school all on its own and that it was tied with holy magic in some way.”

“Ahh, but that's just it, isn't it? They said it, but could they ever prove such a link?” Blackguard retorted, the stallion sitting a bit further back in his chair, a wide smile spreading across his face. “True holy magic isn't something any old pony can cast, in fact there is a rumour that only alicorns can truly comprehend that kind of magic. In actuality healing magic is just necromancy with so many limiters and other things tacked on that even the most well studied mage can't tell its true origin.”

“Which explains why Celestia only lets those in her inner circle to ever have access to the higher tiers of healing magic,” Twilight Velvet continued, her eyes going wide.

The stallion shot forward in his chair.

“Exactly!" He proclaimed excitedly. "Which in turn, explains why only the very rich or very ‘important’ are the ones that you ever hear of being the recipients of such spells and why earth ponies and pegasi are almost never the target of such magic.”

“Wow,” Twilight Velvet murmured, slowly shook her head. “That makes a lot of sense actually.” A frown creased her lips and she leaned forward. “But demonology is another thing entirely, how exactly do you justify study into such an… unpleasant field of study?”

“Simple,” Blackguard replied with a wry smile. “But let's start this explanation with an easy little question. How do you defend against a demon?”

Twilight Velvet blinked.

“Uh, magic? Shields, banishment spells, and cold steel?" Velvet half asked, half stated.

“Most true imps can eat magic and larger demons are almost completely immune to magic and most conventional weapons,” Blackguard replied. His eyes sparkled and he leaned forward. “And there are some demons that are even healed by consuming magic, while others are completely invulnerable to physical attacks.”

“Fascinating,” Velvet remarked. “And I assume it gets worse?”

“I knew you were a quick one.” He smiled. “Do you think Canterlot could weather a demonic invasion?”

“I want to say yes,” Velvet muttered, the mare tapped her chin, deep in thought. “The army is located here, and the city itself has many, many defences in place.”

“True,” Blackguard admitted. “But do you think Ponyville could? Or Manehattan, or even Vanhoover? All cities without walls, with only a small militia for defence, most of whom have very little knowledge of magic at all?”

“They would be obliterated,” Twilight remarked, stunned to silence.

“Celestia says that her warding system is able to keep out demonic incursion, necessitating the army being based here in Canterlot in order to defend it, but well.” He chuckled darkly. “We all know how well that worked out.”

“Yeah…” Velvet muttered, realization slowly dawning on her.

“Now, we aren't saying that's due to her working with a demon… but," Blackguard teased.

“If the shoe fits,” Twilight finished.

Blackguard nodded.

“We don't have any other working theories right now, but it's the one that makes the most sense in our eyes,” Blackguard declared, steepling his hooves. “We hope to create solutions to these potential problems before they arise, but without any support from any of the traditional schools, things have been slow going.” The stallion stood up suddenly. “Now then, would you like to go deeper?”

“Just one question,” Twilight interrupted.

“Go ahead," Blackguard encouraged.

“Do you have some sort of ultimate goal to all this, or is it simply to help?” Twilight inquired hesitantly, eyeing Blackguard closely.

“Honesty should be rewarded with honesty, and honestly that's pretty much it,” Blackguard declared with a shrug. “There is so much out there that we don't know that could be helping both ponies and other creatures alike, yet we are held back by dogma and paranoia. I simply wish to shine a light on the dark corners of the world while trying to help as much as I can along the way.”

Twilight Velvet’s eyes narrowed and she stared intently at the stallion as he stood there smiling away. After a long, tense moment, she sighed.

“I believe you,” Twilight Velvet proclaimed, rising from her chair. “Now what?”

“Now we get you a geas and some new ink,” Blackguard declared, the stallion smirking at Velvet's shocked expression. “Oh, how I’ve missed that look!”

Twilight sighed.

“I assume from your reaction that this is not as serious as I first thought it was?” Velvet inquired.

“Nope!” he exclaimed. “All the geas does is stop you from revealing anything about our operations. It does not make you do anything against your will or turn you into a zombie or something.”

“That is… a relief,” Velvet muttered, only to raise an eyebrow. “I assume I can read the spell first?”

“Of course! In fact we have a scroll with the spell on it waiting for you in the inking chamber.”

“Let me guess, that's just a room where the tattoo is done?” Velvet inquired further.

Blackguard frowned.

“Oh come on, not another anti-drama creature. There are already enough sticks in the mud around here," Blackguard whined, the stallion stomping over to the door. “Do try and live a little, we only get two lives you know?”

“I… wait,” Twilight Velvet murmured. “What did you say about the lives thing?”

“Oh that? You’ll figure that out later, for now we have something far more important to discuss!” Blackguard proclaimed.

The stallion then clapped his companion on the shoulder and spun the mare towards the door.

“Oluuraal!” he yelled.

The seemingly normal wooden door suddenly twisted and contorted, revealing the door demon’s smiling visage.

“Hello again. I assume you two are off to get some ink done, yes?” The guardian answered.

“Quite right, madam. Now if you would be so kind," Blackguard offered.

“Of course,” the guardian replied.

The demonic door’s eyes closed and the door cracked open.

Revealing a simple waiting room more reminiscent of a hospital than a tattoo parlour. A bored looking earth pony mare covered from head to hoof in tattoos sat behind a plain white desk. At the sight of the two new arrivals her stark blue eyes lit up, and the orange coated mare hopped out of her desk, her long green mohawk jumping up into place.

“Hey, boss! Finally here for some more ink?” She asked, only to smirk. “Or are you just here to see my lovely face?”

Blackguard rolled his eyes and walked up to the counter.

“If I said neither, would you slap me?” Blackguard teased back.

"Most likely," the tattoo artist deadpanned.

“In that case I’m here to see your lovely face, and get our newest hire a key,” he announced, gesturing a hoof to an awkward looking Twilight Velvet.

“Nice to meet you,” Velvet mumbled, extending a hoof awkwardly.

The tattooed pony raised an eyebrow, looking from Blackguard to Twilight Velvet and back.

“She isn't as stuck up as the last one, is she?” The tattoo artist inquired.

“Oh no, absolutely not," Blackguard dismissed. "Though I don't know anyone who is quite as stuck up as old Purple Heart.”

“True.” The tattooist chuckled.

She then clopped a hoof against Twilight’s before taking a step back and pulling out a rather strange tattoo gun that had a large black crystal wedged where the ink normally went.

“Alrighty then," the artist began. "Take a seat in the room over there and we can get this started.”

“I’ve never had a tattoo before, is this going to hurt?” Twilight asked.

As the mare spoke, she walked inside, only to find that it looked like a completely normal tattoo parlour, complete with a rather comfortable looking reclining chair.

“That depends on where you choose to get it,” the mohawked mare replied, sitting in a swivel chair and donning a pair of gloves that covered her hooves. “Around the joints really sucks, same goes for the face and anywhere near your genitalia.”

The older mare blanched.

“Well, I don't think we have to worry about that last one," Twilight Velvet muttered.

“Spoilsport,” Blackguard shot.

“I am not putting a needle anywhere near my delicate bits," Twilight Velvet hissed.

“Fair enough,” the tatooist remarked.

The other mare then swivelled back around and activated a lever at the base of Twilight’s chair, forcing the other pony to lean back.

“Most folk get it placed somewhere that means something to them,” the artist declared, revealing a small candle made of red wax and glowing with a blue flame tattoo right above her hoof. “My job is tattooing people, so I got mine done right above my working hoof.”

“Where did you get yours?” Twilight asked, turning to Blackguard. “If you got one at all, that is.”

“Oh, of course. What kind of leader would I be if I didn't do something everyone else had to.” He raised his right hoof, showing the soft underside, wherein the same candle was tattooed.

Twilight Velvet winced.

“Yeesh, that looked like it would hurt," murmured the noble mare.

“Oh you should have seen it, he cried like a little baby when I did it,” the tattooist remarked with a snicker.

“I did not. Due to the placement we had to use a different method of tattooing, one that was remarkably more painful,” Blackguard declared, only to smirk. “At which point I cried more like an adult.”

Twilight couldn't help but laugh.

“Well, just give me a second to think about this," Twilight Velvet declared.

“Take all the time you need, I have a few more things to do before we begin anyway,” the tattooist remarked, turning away once more.

Twilight sighed, relaxing into the chair and thinking closely on what the other pony had said. Somewhere important. What did this all even mean to her? Was it a means to an end? A way to get back Twilight, and that was it? Or had it become so much more ever since she first realized the true depth of Celestia’s deception?

As she thought about it, she couldn't help but realize just how important this had become to her. She had abandoned her family, her husband, her job, her way of life. This was it now, this was all she had left. Her quest to get back her daughter was the only thing she could truly call her own and the second she abandoned that, she would have nothing.

“My neck,” Twilight spoke suddenly, pointing to a spot just below her right cheek. “Right here.”

“Yeesh, that's gonna be a tough one,” The mohawked mare remarked. “Not for me, mind you, but for you.”

“Are you sure about this, Twilight?” Blackguard asked in an uncharacteristic bout of seriousness. “It's not like that's something you can really hide.”

“Yes,” Twilight Velvet declared. “I want a reminder of why I’m here, something that will look back at me in the mirror and tell me why I’m doing all this.”

The two other ponies shared a shocked expression, with Blackguard shaking his head.

“Alright, but don't say I didn't warn ya," Blackguard declared.

“Ya got balls, lady,” the mohawked mare exclaimed. “Oh and my name’s Black Drip, but you can just call me Drips, everyone does.”

“Thanks.” Twilight frowned. “I think.”

“Now then, we better get this going before you have a chance to regret this,” Blackguard proclaimed, bowing slightly to the tatooist. “Go right ahead, miss artiste.”

“If you need me to stop hold up your hoof or something, ‘cause until this is over you can't say a single word,” Black Drip rolled closer, raising her tattoo gun. “Oh and a word of warning, this is gonna feel really weird.”

“Wait, what?” Twilight Velvet asked.

“Hey, what did I just say?” Black Drips retorted.

Twilight gulped, watching as the gun began to make a high pitched whirring sound, followed closely by an odd, constant hissing noise.

“Alright then, let's get this show on the road,” Black Drip whispered as she leaned in, the gun slowly descending towards the older mare’s neck.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow,” Twilight repeated with every step as she walked into the waiting room, followed close behind by Blackguard and Black Drip.

“I told you it would hurt,” Blackguard remarked.

“You did good back there, Twilight,” Black Drip remarked. “I’m impressed.”

“Thanks,” Twilight whispered. “And I’d appreciate it if you just called me Velvet, Twilight is my daughter’s name.”

“Can do. Now if ya don't mind, I gotta clean up and such.” Black Drip clopped hooves with Blackguard before giving Velvet a nod. “Remember what I said about the healing process.”

“I will, thank you,” Velvet replied, turning to the stallion. “Now then, about this geas.”

“Oh, don't worry about it, it's not nearly that bad,” Blackguard remarked dismissively, waving his hoof. “Like I said, the whole thing will be laid out when we get there, just one more room left before I can set you free.”

Velvet sighed, following Blackguard up to the door.

“So does this mean I can summon Oluuraal now?” Velvet inquired.

“Oh yeah,” Blackguard exclaimed, smacking a hoof upside his own head. “I nearly forgot. Just say her name loudly and at the door and you will summon her.”

Velvet turned to the door, noticing how right now it looked like little more than the average wooden barrier.

“Oluuraal, I have need of you," Velvet stated confidently.

Once more the demon returned, manifesting within the wooden object, and reforming in the blink of an eye.

“Ahh, hello again, young one. I see you have accepted the key. Off to meet with Crimson Lance now?” Asked the gate guardian.

Velvet raised an eyebrow and turned to Blackguard.

“That we are, so if you don't mind bringing us there, I’d appreciate it,” he replied.

“Absolutely,” Oluuraal proclaimed with a small smile. “Oh and welcome to the fold, young Velvet, I will be watching your career quite closely.”

The door cracked open, revealing another surprisingly normal room that once more looked more like a hospital than some underground lair of necromancers and demonologists. Stepping through, Velvet quickly realized that this time things were quite different, and walking into the room revealed the fact that there were several ponies and other beings running this way and that. Some carried boxes while others simple clip boards, though one and all seemed intent on going somewhere in a hurry.

“Ahh, old Crimy, still running everyone ragged I see,” Blackguard remarked idly.

Velvet remained silent, looking around the large room and noting how they seemed to be at the centerpoint of some great hive, with several hallways going in all directions while in the centre of the room a large pile of boxes and other seemingly random items were piled. Near the centre was a tall, painfully thin unicorn stallion with a scraggly crimson mane, and a yellow gold coat that looked like it hadn't received a brushing in months.

“Let me guess, that's Crimson?” Velvet asked, noting the tattered lab coat that barely covered his cutie mark, which was of a needle, the end of which had a single drop of blood dripping from it.

“Got it in one,” Blackguard replied. “Now, what do we have here?”

The stallion stepped forward, the mass of creatures moving around him and keeping a respectful distance. The taller stallion in the tattered lab coat didn't even notice them, too engrossed in the hushed conversation he was having with a short griffon wearing a tricorn of all things.

“Hey, Crimy! We got a new hire here for ya!” Blackguard announced, startling the other stallion from his conversation.

“One moment,” the stallion whispered to the griffon before turning to Blackguard, his expression darkening the instant their eyes met. “I thought I told you I was going to be busy for the remainder of the day.”

“Ah, it won’t take more than a few minutes,” Blackguard dismissed. “Just gotta do a quick geas. I had the whole thing set up beforehand, we just need you.”

The slim stallion looked from Blackguard to Velvet, his expression growing somehow more sour by the minute.

“Ahh, I see,” he muttered. “I suppose this isn't one of those times you are going to take no for an answer, is it?”

“Nope!” Blackguard replied.

“Fiddlesticks,” the stallion cursed, before turning suddenly. “Well, best to get over this quickly. I assume we are using the same room as usual?”

“You know it!” Blackguard answered.

“Come along then,” Crimson replied, not even waiting for a response before turning and walking down one of the halls, seemingly at random.

Blackguard followed quickly behind, who was in turn was followed by Velvet, who was forced to trot in order to catch up.

“Here, you can read up on the spell while we walk,” Blackguard offered, hoofing Velvet a remarkably small scroll that a random passerby had in turn passed to him.

Unfurling the spell, Velvet was quick to realize that it was as small as it seemed on first glance.

“I would have assumed there would be more,” she pointed out.

“Geases aren't complicated spells, they just need an expert to cast them without complication,” Blackguard replied nonchalantly.

“Complication?” Velvet asked nervously.

He shrugged.

“If you do it badly, the recipient might end up forgetting how to breathe or something like that. That's rare though, usually it's just small stuff. Not like you have to worry about any of that with Crimy doing the job, isn't that right!” Blackguard proclaimed.

The taller stallion sighed audibly.

“Yes, Mister Blackguard. You do not have to worry about that with one such as I," Crimson tiredly replied.

“See? What I tell ya. He's the best," Blackguard stated confidently.

“Wonderful,” Velvet muttered.

As they walked, Velvet studied the spell, noting that it looked exactly as Blackguard said it would, with the addition of a few lines that seemed to be added solely for protecting against miscasting.

“Wow.” Velvet shook her head. “This spell work is impressive.”

“Why thank you,” Crimson replied, before stopping at a random door and holding it open. “I wrote it myself.”

“Truly artful,” Velvet replied, unbothered by the implications of such magic.

“Why thank you again,” the tall stallion remarked, gently nudging the mare into the centre of the room, where a lavish red couch sat. “Now then, are you ready?”

“I am-” Velvet tried to say, before suddenly being hit by a spell that knocked her clear into unconsciousness, and into the couch.

“Ready...” Velvet muttered, hoof going to her head. “What happened?”

“The geas was done,” Blackguard announced from beside the bed she was currently lying in. “Sorry about that, it doesn't work if you are actually ready for it. The body's natural defences complicate matters.”

“Er...” Velvet muttered.

The unicorn mare looked around, noting that she was in a new room, one that had large bed, chest of drawers, and a smaller, squat chest. The walls were the same black stone as the rest of the rooms she had been through over the last few hours.

“I assume this is my room," Velvet offered.

“You are correct,” Blackguard replied, waving a hoof around. “These are your wonderful accommodations and if you take a step outside, I’m sure anyone around would be happy to help you find the bathrooms, cafeteria, etc etc.”

“Huh,” Velvet murmured, lying back in her bed and idly noting how surprisingly comfortable it was. “Is there any schedule or something I should be aware of?”

The stallion shrugged.

“Not really, we’ll get that kind of thing figured out once you get your strength back, which should be in a day or so. Until then you just rest up and wander around, get to know everybody!” Blackguard encouraged.

“Thank you, by the way,” Velvet added.

“No my dear, thank you,” Blackguard replied, rising once more and trotting over to the door. “Now if you will excuse me, I have some other matters to attend to.”

“Of course.”

And with that, he left, slipping through the door and vanishing as it closed behind him.

Leaving Velvet alone in her room, staring up at the ceiling, thoughts running a million miles an hour.

“Well, Velvet, you've done it. You've been thrown in with a bunch of what seem like rather pleasant cultists," Velvet mused to herself.

The mare sighed, rolling over and staring at the wall, her thoughts drawn to the one question that mattered most. Was it worth it?

It took many long, silent minutes but eventually she knew the answer.

For despite it all, this was simply the only way she was going to get the answers she sought.

Or at least, that's what she hoped anyway.

Author's Note

(updated for better grammer and spelling)

Trial Two: Gambit (R)

Kanathara stopped just outside the door to the gym, placing a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder and making her stop.

“Are you sure you are up for training today? We have a couple of days off saved up," Kanathara warned.

Rainbow Dash frowned, brushing off her friend’s hoof.

“I know, but you said it yourself, we have to get stronger, and this is how we are going to do it. No point crying over what ya can't change, right?” Rainbow Dash retorted.

The smaller demon sighed.

“I guess," Kanathara admitted. "Just promise me not to push it too hard again, I don't want to see you get hurt. Or spend all evening patching you up again.”

The vengeant smirked and pushed open the door.

“No way, this time I’m gonna beat him. You’ll see," Rainbow Dash boasted.

“The only thing you are gonna beat is your head against the wall," Kanathara shot replied, rolling her eyes.

“Today’s the day. I can feel it,” Rainbow Dash shot back, a wide, cocky smile crossing her face.

The larger demon held the door open, allowing her mistress to enter before swiftly trotting up beside her. In front of them, Cervantes stood waiting, Kanathara’s cleaver in one hand and an eager, almost impatient look on his featureless face. Thankfully Kanathara and Rainbow Dash knew him well enough to interpret the subtle twitches and small shifts in the darkness where his face could be, allowing them to tell that he was more than ready to start.

“Hey, Cervantes!” Kanathara yelled, waving a hoof.

“Sup, dude!” Rainbow Dash added.

The armor nodded, an act reserved for the very few beings he actually respected.

“What's the plan for today?” Kanathara asked, noticing that he had no other weapons on him.

“Yeah, don't tell me you are going to fight us empty-handed again, that would be boring,” Rainbow Dash whined, groaning audibly.

The armor shook his head and conjured his magic, his gauntlets glowing with a deep purple light that bordered on black. A second later a long, oddly plain-looking spear appeared in his outstretched hand. It was of average length, with the only unique part being a white and black band tied around the spearhead which held tight a long red feather. The shaft was the deep brown of some unknown tree and the tip was a dull grey and completely ordinary.

“Huh,” Kanathara muttered, watching close as the armor demon twirled the weapon in one hand before slamming the butt against the ground.

“Neat,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed excitedly. “Does that mean you are going to start getting serious?”

The larger demon nodded once more, tossing the cleaver into the air, where it was swiftly grabbed by an eager Kanathara who ran a hoof along the flat of the blade, inspecting it closely. Thanks for the catch, kid, the entropy demon remarked. That guy is just plain cold.

“You are as sharp as ever," Kanathara remarked. "Get ready.”

“So who's first?” Rainbow Dash asked eagerly, hoping from hoof to hoof anxiously.

Cervantes pointed to each of them in turn before extending his hand and motioning for them both to advance. Rainbow Dash nearly jumped out of her hooves with excitement, slapping Kanathara across the shoulder.

“Hell yeah, boss! We finally get to show Cervantes what a great team we make," Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

The imp however was less convinced, the memory of their last, less-than-perfect fight playing out in her mind. Images of Rainbow Dash’s dramatic sweeping attacks filling her mind and reminding her why it was so difficult to work with the excitable demon.

“R-right,” Kanathara muttered, gripping her cleaver tight in her hooves. “Let's go.”

“Alright, let's try the over-under again!” Rainbow Dash yelled, before jumping forward, not staying in one spot long enough for Kanathara to even respond.

Leaving Kanathara to race after the vengeant, trying to get into position in time. “Wait up!” Kanathara yelled.

The larger demon didn't hesitate, leaping into the air and flying forward with a straight kick to Cervantes’ chest. Or at least that was the intention, as the demon simply smacked her hoof away, making her tumble to the side, her momentum ruined. Forced to dodge out of the way of her own ally, Kanathara ran to the right, offering a weak passing strike as she did. A strike so weak that Cervantes easily stepped out of the way and even managed to bring the back of his spear down against the blade, knocking it from Kanathara’s grip.

“Augh, keep him busy!” Kanathara yelled as she rolled out of the follow-up strike, her eyes searching for any sign of her lost cleaver.

“On it, boss!” Rainbow Dash yelled back, diving from above. “Let's see how you deal with thi- whoa!”

The vengeant was forced to stall herself mid-flight lest she fly directly into Cervantes’ spear, knowing full well that he was too fast to simply roll around it and continue her attack. Thankfully Kanathara didn't have far to go, and she quickly found her cleaver and hefted the blade up, ready to re-engage.

“I got it!” she proclaimed, running back over into the fight.

Rainbow Dash couldn't offer a word in response as she was locked in a vicious battle of striking limbs and thrusting spears. The sheer speed the armor demon was capable of meant that his weapon was a blur, moving so quickly that it sometimes appeared as though two or even three spears were thrusting at her at a time. Rainbow Dash was quickly pushed back, forced to dodge and try to escape the reach of the long weapon.

Seeing her opening, Kanathara ran in, dashing towards the armor demon’s exposed side and sweeping low with her blade, aiming for his knee in the hope of handicapping the lightning-fast demon. Again she was amazed by his speed and situational awareness as he twisted his body to the side, out of the reach of the cleaver and Rainbow Dash’s snap kick that would have impacted his chest, putting the two younger demons on a head-on collision that was only dodged by Kanathara squeezing herself flat against the ground and sliding across the floor, narrowly zipping under the vengeant’s hoof.

She in turn received a punch to the side of the head, sending her tumbling to the ground a few feet away.

“Did you get the number of the carriage that just hit me?” Rainbow Dash muttered, stumbling back and forth, her legs shaking, and barely holding her up.

Kanathara growled, intent on attacking, only for Cervantes to be on her in an instant, taking advantage of just how off-balance she was. A series of thrusts forced Kanathara to the right, making her commit all of her strength and attention just to keep out of the range of the deadly spear, abandoning any attempt at striking back. Over and over she was pushed back, until she was sure her butt was about to meet the wall, only for the demon to suddenly shift his weight to the right, and his last strike to come up short.

Thinking she caught a small break, Kanathara dove forward, slashing in a wide powerful arc and intending to hit the larger demon’s chest. Only for her instructor to surprise her yet again, this time with a move that was growing familiar. Shifting out of the way, Kanathara instantly caught the distinct sight of a charging vengeant leading with her right forehoof, a battle cry on her lips. That cry turned into one of confusion when she found her opponent had been replaced with Kanathara, who knowing what was coming next, threw herself to the side with all the force she could muster.

Again Rainbow Dash was struck, only this time she seemed to have prepared at least a little, and instead of getting a solid blow to the dome, she took the armored fist to her jaw, knocking it at a weird angle but keeping her up. Thus allowing her to have the frame of mind necessary to dodge the flurry of follow-up strikes that were right behind her.

After dodging and weaving for a few moments, Rainbow Dash managed to escape the range of the deadly spear, rubbing her jaw awkwardly and grimacing.

“Eh, anara, an ou elp e?” she asked, pointing to her broken jaw.

With a sigh, Kanathara summoned her magic and focused on casting one of the few healing spells that worked in Tartarus. Cervantes wasn't exactly going to let her get away with leaving herself open like that and he sprinted forward, spear thrusting towards the exposed spell caster. Something Rainbow Dash saw coming, as she threw herself between her friend and her teacher, tossing out a series of short punches and kicks that were easily dodged, but forced the demon to face her. Now unable to get around the whirling mass of hooves, Cervantes was forced to focus his energy once more on the vengeant, keeping her at length while offering up a series of short shallow strikes that occasionally nicked the flying demon.

Pushing Kanathara to once more take the back seat in the fight as she stopped the worst of the bleeding. The spell casting itself was easy, simple even, to the point that Kanathara was beginning to grow bored with the act of healing her friend. Sitting outside the fight, the imp found herself growing more and more impressed by how fast the pegasus turned demon had become. Though she was still too rash and brazen to truly land a solid hit on the demon, she was beginning to be able to keep pace with the brutal teacher.

Something Kanathara couldn't say of herself.

Not yet anyway, the entropy demon added.

The imp sighed, her magic dulling as the spell was completed.

“What do you want, jerkface?” Kanathara muttered.

The name is Clausius, and I’m simply here to remind you that the offer and the contract are still open, the demon began, his thoughts whispering close in the filly’s ear as if he were mere inches away. You could become the big, strong, demon you want to be in a matter of minutes.

There was a part of the imp that wanted to push him away like always, to remark offhandedly about his efforts being in vain, but she found that part of her was growing smaller by the second. Her gaze lingered on the two fighting demons, her mind barely able to keep up with the blur of attacks, blocks, feints, and parries that rung out so quickly that the clack of hoof against the wooden shaft of Cervantes’ became near constant.

What could I even offer to such a fight? Kanathara thought to herself, her mind conjuring up angles of attack, or support that could be possible during such an intense bout, only to come up empty. They move so quickly, I would just get in the way.

Yesss, the entropy demon hissed. You are too slow, too weak, and cannot offer anything to such a fight as you are right now. But imagine you were not the small, pathetic creature you are now and were instead a powerful and fully-fledged demon! The power at your fingertips would be more than enough to turn the tide in your favor.

Once more Kanathara found herself wanting to resist, but unable to actually muster any of the effort necessary to go about doing just that.

“I can't… father says-” she tried to retort.

That deals that seem too good to be true, likely are, Clausius finished. But that's just it, likely, is not always and sometimes there are demons out there that crave freedom so badly that they are willing to let a genuinely bad deal go through just for the chance to get out of this damned cage!

Kanathara paused, considering the implications of her possible actions. He sounded genuine, his hatred for his position being undeniable, yet it was also not the only thing he wanted. If freedom was all that he desired it wouldn't be too difficult to give him what he wanted, but there was still a part of the contract that saw the filly signing over a piece of her soul while still giving him the freedom he wanted. The imp didn't know what exactly would happen when someone else owned a part of her soul, but she knew it couldn't be good.

With a sigh, she pushed back, extending the cleaver to hoof’s length.

“No, I can't,” she muttered, all her determination nearly disappearing under the intense and nearly all-consuming need for power that gripped her.

Suit yourself, but remember, I’ll still be here, waiting, with my contract open and my offer on the table, the entropy demon whispered back, his presence receding from her mind and slipping back into the blade.

Shaking her head, Kanathara turned back to the battle and quickly realized that Rainbow Dash was growing tired, her strikes slowing down and her breath coming in labored gasps.

The vengeant ducked out of another strike, accidentally opening herself up to a boot to the face, an action that would surely knock a few of her teeth out. Rainbow Dash gritted her poor teeth and winced prematurely, ready to feel the steely impact of the armored demon’s foot meeting her mouth. When it didn't come she cracked open her eye and found that Kanathara was right there, holding the armored demon’s foot and weapon in her magical grip.

“Hurry! Strike now!” The imp commanded.

Not needing to be told twice, the vengeant bounced back and swung her hoof towards Cervantes’ side. The attack was ultimately rendered useless when the armor demon broke from the imp’s grip and brought up his spear to block, the demon’s hoof impacting the wooden weapon and being forced back.

Now standing shoulder to shoulder with Kanathara, Rainbow Dash grinned wide, bumping her hip against the smaller demon’s.

“Good to see you are back. Ready to teach this guy a thing or two?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Oh yeah!” Kanathara exclaimed, the fully-fledged demon missing the undercurrent of worry in the imp’s tone.

“Alright, here we come!” Rainbow Dash declared, spreading her wings and hooves wide before launching into another attack.

Back and forth they went, over and over, with both minor demons trying and failing to land anything substantial on the armor demon, and only succeeding when it came to not hitting each other in the process. By the end of it, they were both left gasping and exhausted, with the imp falling first, her body unable to even hold her up anymore. A short while later Rainbow Dash joined her, flopping down on the ground next to her friend and breathing a long, tired sigh.

“We did good,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara was less convinced of this apparent fact, and merely frowned, watching Cervantes as his hands glowed and the spear vanished, the armor demon slowly walking up to the pair.

“I think that's a little generous…” the imp replied.

Rainbow Dash merely shrugged. “Cervantes thought we did alright, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

The armor demon stared down at them silently for a moment before half shrugging, half nodding. The intention was clear, they weren't quite up to snuff, but they had evidently impressed the demon in some small way. Cervantes tapped the side of his head, before pointing down at the pair, telling them in his own way, that they needed to study the forms and written material he had given them.

“Yeah yeah, we’ll do the reading.” Rainbow Dash whined, rolling her eyes. “Sheesh.”

Kanathara sighed, pushing herself slowly to a standing position and turning to the door.

“Come on, Rainbow Dash, we better get moving," Kanathara encouraged.

“Hey, wait a sec!” Rainbow Dash yelled, quickly catching up to the shorter-legged demon. “We haven't even had lunch yet, can't we hit up the chef before hitting the books?”

“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash, but I need to see this sooner rather than later,” Kanathara remarked, pushing her way through the door and stepping out into the hall.

The vengeant kept pace easily, frowning when she noticed that the small golem that followed them around nearly everywhere could be heard following close behind once more.

“Augh, this guy again. When is your dad gonna get rid of him? We are totally responsible," Rainbow Dash continued to complain.

“I’m totally responsible,” Kanathara corrected. “You, however, are less so.”

“Doesn't matter, I’m with you all the time anyway,” Rainbow Dash retorted, the vengeant hastily trotting ahead of her mistress and eyeing the other demon curiously. “So, what are we reading up on today? Don't tell me we are going to study that boring fighting forms book again. Talk about a snooze fest.”

The imp rolled her eyes, turning down a corridor and dodging out of the way of a succubus locked in a heated conversation with a short, round demon that Kanathara couldn't categorize.

“No, we are not going to be studying the forms book, I wanted to check out that book today,” Kanathara remarked, emphasizing the word with a distinct look.

One that Rainbow Dash instantly and unfortunately understood.

“Oh come on, not again!” Rainbow Dash whined, throwing her head back and groaning. “He's so annoying and I think he's starting to figure out that I’m not actually illiterate.”

“I need to look at that book again,” Kanathara repeated.

The imp stopped before the door to the library, jabbing her hoof into the vengant’s chest.

“So get it done," Kanathara ordered.

“Fiiiine,” Rainbow Dash whined, brushing the imp’s hoof away. “But after this, we are going to get food and I’m gonna eat a whole plate of burgers.”

“As long as you don't get any pickles,” Kanathara relented, taking a step back. “They make you gassy and I do not want you stinking up the bed again.”

The vengeant blushed hard, silently fuming, but unable to disagree with the imp, resigning herself to merely following her mistress as they made their way into the library.

Before they could enter the stacks, Kanathara turned and nodded to the larger demon, signaling that she was ready and that her plan was going to be set into motion.

Rainbow Dash sighed and turned to the golem, frowning at the flat, neutral expression on the animated object’s face.

“Alright boxy, you need to get me a whole bunch of books," Rainbow Dash began.

The golem stepped forward, dutifully readying itself to receive orders and acquire the required books.

“First I need a copy of The First Firmament” Rainbow Dash began, only to frown and stick out her tongue. “The First Firminent.”

“The First Firmament!” Kanthara corrected.

“Yeah, that!” Rainbow Dash declared, clipping her hooves together. “Then I’m gonna need that copy of The Battle of Red Mountain. Oh, and all four parts of Aarondil’s journal!”

Just as the golem was getting ready to move, Rainbow Dash reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Oh and you better grab the entire Encyclopedia set, there are plenty of pretty pictures in there," Rainbow Dash added.

Kanathara could barely contain a giggle, the golem’s shoulders falling slack for a moment, and almost garnering some pity from the imp.

Turning away, Kanathara made her way deeper into the library, seeking out the hidden book she had snuck into the ill-used fiction section of the library. This area was small and tucked away near the back where the clean, even rows had been abandoned for a small circular nook that was filled to the brim with heavy tomes.

Using her limited magic, the imp riffled through the books, quickly seeking out the one she wanted and pulling it out from behind the weird 'Unstoppables!' comics that filled a whole row of the bookcase. Kanathara shook her head, perpetually confused by just how eclectic some of her father’s books were.

With the spell book now in her hooves, Kanathara gently caressed the cover, feeling the raised letters. Memory spells and you, by Last Axiom. It was a weird book, written by a weird being with a weird name, but it was also remarkably easy to read, the writer clearly being gifted in both the field of memory spells and in the art of teaching.

Flipping past the introduction and the beginning few lessons that she had already mastered, Kanathara made her way closer to the spot she had left off.

“Clear mind, already mastered,” she whispered, flipping the page.

“Perfect recall…” The imp stopped, biting her lip and thinking hard. “Yeah, I already got that one.”

“Memory erasure, minor. I’m pretty sure I did that one…” Kanathara frowned. “I think.”

Shaking her head, the imp quickly started to cast the spell, only to stop when she realized that she wasn't sure what she wanted to forget. Now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure what memory she could forget and then confirm she forgot. As she sat there baffled, she quickly realized there was no way to truly test this spell without help, as she couldn't remember the thing she tried to forget in the first place. Planting her hoof firmly into her forehead, the filly sighed before pushing on, flipping a few more pages before catching a title she hadn't read before.

“Memory unlocking.” Kanathara paused, pondering the usefulness of such a spell.

Just as she was about to flip past it and simply ignore the entire thing, her curiosity got the better of her, and she read the introductory paragraph.

The memory-unlocking spell is a strange one, as it opens one’s own mind to itself. This is both incredibly easy and unbelievably difficult. It is advised that you have another individual cast this spell on yourself, as when the spell is completed the caster needs to hold concentration while the target guides the spell itself. As you are no doubt already aware, it is difficult to do both at the same time, though not impossible. Be aware that-

“Blah blah blah,” Kanathara muttered to herself. “You are as long-winded as ever, Axiom.”

Skipping down a bit, the imp continued to read on.

This spell can fully unlock memories that have been suppressed either purposefully, subconsciously, or through magical means. It may also be able to recover memories that were forgotten naturally, or forgotten after a traumatic event. However be advised that these memories are difficult to recover, and the spell may only be able to grab bits and pieces at a time. Extended and long-term use of this spell by an expert is the only way to recover memories that your mind may not wish to have recovered or have otherwise been too damaged.

“Spooky,” Kanathara whispered. “I wonder if I’ve ever forgotten anything important.”

Coming up with nothing, the imp was about to pass on the spell entirely, before she suddenly remembered her promise to herself. You will get stronger! she thought to herself, reaffirming her commitment. And that starts with learning every spell you can get your hooves on!

With her will now resolute, Kanathara dove nose-first into the book, eagerly absorbing the knowledge found within. Several minutes later, the imp set the book down on the floor, a wide smile on her face.

“This spell is super easy!” she exclaimed excitedly, happy to have another spell under her belt. “Alright, now I just gotta lie down, focus, cast the spell, and then try and remember anything I may have forgotten. As ridiculous as that sounds.”

The imp lay down on her side, knowing that losing consciousness was the first step of the spell, and was not an avoidable one. After finding a comfortable position on the floor, Kanathara closed the book and pushed it away a little, not wanting to accidentally knock it over and ruin the pages.

And last, but not least, she focused on the spell itself, the theories and diagrams flashing through her mind. For several more minutes, she lay there on the cold floor, checking and rechecking her mental math until finally, she was certain that everything was exactly the way it should be.

Sure that everything was perfect, the filly summoned her magic, the faint ethereal glow of her spell shifting towards her head, and focusing almost entirely on the point just between and above her eyes.

“Here goes nothing,” she whispered, closing her eyes and activating the last part of her spell.

The imp’s vision shifted, replacing the dull room with a swirling mass of colors, lights, and sounds that blurred together into a dense fog of sensations that sent Kanathara’s mind reeling with the sheer weight of it all. Keeping her concentration steady, and her magic flowing, the demon pushed onwards, intent on finding out something she may have missed. Though without a goal or idea, her search was more like aimless wandering. Within what felt like minutes, the imp was now quite certain that this entire spell had been a waste of time, as she had neither a goal nor any idea how to find these forgotten memories.

She wouldn't give up that easily though, the demon was sure there was something she had missed, a lesson, or a bit of wisdom that her father had given her that would help her on her journey to power. With such a nebulous goal it was hard to truly push on, and the demon continued to wander aimlessly for a little longer before ultimately stopping and rethinking her approach.

Memories flashed her by, yet none of them truly felt forgotten, and pretty soon the imp concluded that her memory was nearly perfect.

Looking around, she found that the fog was no longer quite as dense, and everything she saw or experienced was strangely mundane. Images of nights spent with Rainbow Dash cuddled tight in the imp’s hooves, breakfasts devoid of content or meaning, and a hundred memories of the small, uncomfortable bathroom that was right next to her room.

Wait, that's it! she thought to herself. This isn't the real world, there are more than two dimensions!

Looking down she found that the fog deepened, and darkened, stranger memories lurking just beneath. Yet even there she remembered vividly most of what she saw, confusing and dissuading her. Images of rough lessons with her father and Cervantes flashed before her, followed by the nights she spent awake, wracked by doubt and confusion.

There were no truths down there, nothing to learn or gain.

Straining her sight, she peered deeper still, willing her perception to pierce the bank of dark clouds just beneath and gleam what lay beneath even that.

For a moment she thought that was it, the proverbial bottom of her memories, and then a glimmer of something even darker caught her eye. The strange light lay beyond that bottommost bank of dark, cloudy memories resting even deeper than the filly’s darkest memories. Whatever it was reflected a strange, almost unlight that would be impossible in the real world. Yet here, in the filly’s mind, it was as real as the memories that surrounded her, catching her attention and captivating her curiosity.

What are you, I wonder, she thought.

Knowing that the spell wouldn't be able to last much longer due to her magical reserves no doubt waning at this point, she pushed on. With her limitations in mind, she dove down, pushing past the cloying memories and the dark thoughts associated with them.

Painful, unpleasant things filled her head, and for a moment Kanathara wanted nothing more than to quit and go back to training. Only the lure of some forgotten gem kept her from pulling back and giving her the strength she needed to reach the source of the glimmer. Breaking through the fog bank, the imp was surprised to see a great field of strange black gems, each one containing a memory of something Kanathara knew she didn't remember.

Looking around, she quickly found that the field was without end, her perception stretching off in every direction, with every conceivable space littered with more and more of the odd objects. Though some were smaller than others, they were all roughly the same size and seemed littered around almost randomly, as if dropped from a great height.

Without anything to truly guide her, and no idea what lay within the gems, Kanathara gripped one of them randomly. The imp noted that it was smaller than most, but also that it felt almost warm and rather pleasant to the touch. Pushing on, the imp pressed her mind against the dark gem, willing the memory within, out of the gem and back into the rest of her mindscape. For a moment nothing happened, and just when she was about to give up, a sudden rush filled her.

It started with a wave of pleasant aromas, books, pens, the scent of homework, and beyond that the faint scent of flowers that the imp had never smelled before. Pushing deeper than that, she was bombarded by strange emotions, of worry, guilt, panic, and finally calm which was preceded by the kind of glee that only came after achieving something amazing.

Not knowing where to start, she pushed towards the source of that glee, mentally shoving her way through the tangled emotions and sensory experiences that connected randomly. Focusing on sight, Kanathara managed to conjure the image of a smiling white alicorn who was holding out a letter of some kind.

The imp paused, baffled by what she was seeing. Kanathara had been there, she had seen the great enemy, the pony that had locked her father away, and not only that, but the imp had been happy to see her, ecstatic even. She had only ever known Tartarus, but clearly, this memory was not from there and was instead on one of the material planes.

She pushed those thoughts away, instead focusing on the calm that came with the experience and trying to imagine whatever had given her that feeling.

Her vision shifted, and the image of the smiling alicorn was replaced by a much older-looking pony, namely a unicorn with an off-grey coat and large, expressive teal eyes. Her smile was faint and was a mix of excitement, that was bellied by a calm that radiated into the imp’s very soul. Her mane was a mix of purple and white stripes, cut neatly at the front, just above her eyes, and flowing down her neck, curling at the end. Her cutie mark was three simple purple stars, though they were mostly out of sight, as the unicorn was holding Kanathara tightly, whispering something the imp couldn't hear.

Focusing on the sound, the demon tried to will that particular sense to come to her, yet it refused to obey her call, forcing herself to dip into some of the last remaining magic she had left. With magic now coursing through her, the imp pushed on, deeper, and deeper, searching for the words she knew she should be hearing.

Just when she was about to reach it, she felt the mindscape shift suddenly, as if it were sliding out from under her. No, not yet! Kanathara thought, desperately holding onto the memory and pouring everything she had into grasping even a few of the fleeting words.

“I’m proud of you,” the unicorn spoke suddenly, her words filling the filly with a feeling of complete and utter calm, the likes of which Kanathara had never thought she had experienced.

And then, it was gone.

The world returned to the imp like a hammer blow, her senses returning all at once, turning her mind to mush and muddling her perception to the point that she was pretty sure she could taste sound, and it tasted angry.

“Kanathara, get up right this instant!” Tirek called out, his voice wavering, an undercurrent of worry cutting through the angry tirade he was in the middle of.

“Wuh,” Kanathara muttered, her limbs flailing in all directions as the imp struggled to remember how to stand.

“Oh, thank the stars,” Tirek mumbled under his breath. “Take your time, remember how to breathe, how to walk, and when you are able, stand.”

The imp lay there, following her father’s advice and letting that information flow through her, until finally she seemed able to stand, and did just that, rising up to find herself in the small fiction section still. Her father was standing over her, the memory book in his left hand, and a terrified-looking Rainbow Dash held around the torso by the centaur’s massive right hand.

“I told you she was going to be fine, see!” The vengeant exclaimed, gesturing to the still stumbling imp.

“You are supposed to protect your master, not let her do stupid things like this!" Tirek shouted.

“B-but,” Rainbow Dash began, only to wince when the centaur squeezed her midsection.

“But nothing! If she dies, you die, if she goes nuts, you go nuts. If you are not going to protect her out of benevolence, at least do so out of selfishness! Now get back to your master’s side and do your damned job for a change!” Tirek bellowed, half dropping, half tossing the vengeant, and watching closely as she limped over to Kanathara’s side.

Which gave the imp something to lean on, enabling her to stand tall and easily once more. Giving her head one last shake, Kanathara looked up at her father, finding that his rage had only diminished a small amount, a faint glimmer of happiness flashing through his eyes. A flash that was gone just as quickly as it appeared, leaving Kanathara with the distinct impression that she was in a lot of trouble.

“Er, I can explain?” the imp offered weakly.

“You had better,” Tirek began, the centaur raising the memory spell book for emphasis. “Because I want to know exactly how you came to get ahold of this.”

“Uhh…” Kanathara began.

The imp suddenly clamped her mouth shut, her first urge being to simply tell the truth, while a second, stronger urge told her to do something else entirely.

“I was just walking along, tugging on a few books that looked interesting when this one just fell out,” Kanathara lied, the imp sniffing and looking down at the floor in fear. “I thought it was a test, a way to read ahead a little bit.”

For several long seconds, the centaur simply glared down at her, his gaze boring into her as his mind seemed to consider this new information.

“You and your familiar will go without dessert for a week and until such time that I can trust you not to do anything foolish you two are not to leave one another’s side. Understood?” Tirek ordered.

Kanathara blinked, looking up in wonder. “R-really?” Kanathara exclaimed in shock.

“And no reading from the fiction section for a whole month!” Tirek’s eyes narrowed and he pointed to his daughter’s familiar. “That goes double for you.”

“Aw, come on! That's the only part of this place I like!” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Complain again and it's four months,” Tirek added, his eyes narrowing, daring the filly to speak up.

Rainbow Dash grumbled silently, keeping her comments firmly to herself.

Rising back to his full height, Tirek sighed, running a hand down his face.

“Now, Kanathara, I know you want to read ahead, but I must remind you that everything not in your section is not for you to learn yet," Tirek commented.

The imp nodded weakly. “I know, father," muttered Kanathara.

“No, you do not,” Tirek retorted, taking a step back. “Now then. If you ever feel as though things are going too slow, simply ask me for more reading materials. I will not and would not, under any circumstance do something as silly as to hide the knowledge you are expected to learn in such a manner.”

“Yes, father,” Kanathara whispered.

Tirek glared at each of the smaller demons in turn before nodding once.

“Good. Now off you go," Tirek ordered. "Food has been delivered to your quarters, I expect you to be rested up and ready for a long day of training bright and early.”

“Yes, sir!” Both demons replied.

The centaur stared down at them for one last second before turning and stalking away, leaving too very confused fillies alone in the library.

Only when they were absolutely sure he was gone, did they relax, with Rainbow Dash leaning over and elbowing Kanathara in the shoulder.

“Nice going, boss, I didn't think you had it in you," Rainbow Dash encouraged.

“Had what in me?” Kanathara asked.

“To lie about the book!” Rainbow Dash replied, cocking her head suddenly. “Why did you do that anyway?”

“I don't know,” the imp muttered. “He was just so angry and I didn't know what to say so I just blurted it out.”

“Well, either way, that was some real quick thinking,” Rainbow Dash offered, motioning towards the exit. “Now come on, I overheard your dad saying something about it being spaghetti day before you woke up.”

Kanathara followed close behind her friend the imp, not sharing her familiar’s excitement that came with the announcement of spaghetti night. It was good, of that the imp was sure, but the unanswered questions swirling inside her mind robbed her of all enthusiasm to eat her father’s famous spaghetti and red sauce.

Who was that pony she saw and why did the imp feel as though she knew her, personally? What was the context of the meeting with Celestia? Why did Kanathara feel so happy to see the evil alicorn so close?

So many unanswered questions, so many conflicting thoughts and feelings, all of which swirled endlessly in her mind, mixing with the clawing desperation that came with the realization that she was simply not good enough.

That her power wasn't enough, and that the one thing she imagined being able to give her a leg up, was now gone.

Maybe I should speak to Clausius again… she thought to herself, the gears in her mind turning as she weighed the pros and cons. One thing is certain, I can't remain as an imp forever, I need something to give me an edge. Something he might be able to give me.

Author's Note

Trial Two: Confrontation (R)

Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged a desperate look, both panting with exertion, their bodies heavy and their limbs slow to respond.

“R-ready?” Kanathara asked.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash replied breathlessly, pushing herself into a standing position and forcing herself to prepare for what was coming next. “I’m ready.”

“Alright, this time fan wide, stay high,” Kanathara commanded, hefting her cleaver up and readying herself. “On three.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, testing her wings, and flexing her limbs one at a time. “One.”

Kanathara shook each leg at a time, working out the kinks she could feel growing in her joints. “Two.”

Cervantes spun his spear in one hand, striking a battle-ready pose with one foot out front and his spear held tight at the ready.

“Three!” Kanathara shouted.

The two smaller demons jumped into position, with the winged one of the pair leaping into the air and flying to the left, while the imp remained low, moving to the right. Cervantes wasn't about to let them get away with such a maneuver though, and at the last second shifted to the right, forcing the two former ponies to change position lest they run into one another.

While Rainbow Dash swooped in a different direction, trying to maintain her flanking maneuver, Twilight was driven back by a series of lightning-fast thrusts she was only barely able to keep out of the way of. The harsh clack of spear tip against cleaver was near constant, forcing the filly to wield the large, bladed weapon more as a shield than as a knife. Rainbow Dash poured on the speed, zipping around the armored demon and moving to kick at his exposed head.

Only for the demon to surprise everyone when one hand let go of the spear and formed a fist, knocking aside the vengeant’s hoof with a simple motion. For a moment both assaulting demons sat there stunned, neither moving to attack or gain a better position, merely watching as the armored demon shifted his grip to the midway point of the spear and gripped it tightly.

The pair exchanged a look of shock before Kanathara gritted her teeth and nodded, signaling that they weren't done yet. The imp started her assault by delivering an overhand chop, not aiming for the demon’s body but rather his weapon, hoping that the loss of his other hand would enable her to knock the spear out of his grip. A thought that was proven wrong when he hardly even flinched, blocking just as easily with one hand as he had with two.

Rainbow Dash was trying something similar, using her wings to hover while her forehooves delivered a series of rapid punches aimed at Cervantes’ helmeted head. Once more the vengeant found her attacks blocked with such speed that the flying demon was almost convinced he had a third, hidden arm that he had only just now decided to use.

Both minor demons took a step back, with the vengeant flying out of reach and shooting her mistress a confused look as if asking for direction. Kanathara, to her credit, wasn't overly shaken, and she knew that this was just another part of the test, one that she also knew she had little chance of passing.

With a resigned sigh, she clenched her jaw and cleaver tightly.

“Keep trying to flank, strain his reach," Kanathara ordered.

Rainbow Dash nodded, her friend’s dour mood rubbing off on her.

“Alright, boss,” Rainbow Dash tiredly muttered, raising her hooves and eying the confident armor demon cautiously. “This time for sure.”

“This time for sure,” Kanathara repeated with even less enthusiasm.

“Augh,” Rainbow Dash groaned, gripping her bruised foreleg tightly. “I could have sworn that was going to work.”

“Every time you try that bicycle kick thing he just punches your legs out from under you,” Kanathara admonished.

“Yeah, but that was when he was using two hands,” Rainbow Dash shot back.

The glow of Kanathara’s magic faded as the last of Rainbow Dash’s wounds closed.

“Just give it a rest already,” Kanathara remarked with a tired sigh.

“Oh, cut it out with that quitter talk,” Rainbow Dash retorted. “My dad always told me that you only lose when you quit, until that happens you are still in it.”

Kanathara growled in irritation, exposing her sharp teeth.

“And my dad always said that if you don't make any progress, you should focus your effort in other directions," Kanathara shot back.

“Hey, you are totally getting better!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, turning to Cervantes. “Right, dude?”

The armor demon stopped mid-stride, turning back to the pair and looking down at them in silence. He raised a hand, palm down, and shook it back and forth, indicating that his opinion was about the same as Kanathara’s.

“See?” The imp groaned. “Why even bother?”

“Where did the ‘we need to get stronger Kanathara’ go?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, opening her hooves wide. “‘Cause I want her back, not this whiny sad sack.”

The imp growled, crossing her hooves over her chest.

“Oh, she's here alright. I just don't think there is a point to this whole thing. I mean can you honestly say we've gotten better, like at all?” Kanathara bitterly declared.

Rainbow Dash turned to Cervantes once more, only to notice he had made his way over to the door and was ignoring them completely.

“Hey, Cervy! Get back here and help me cheer up the boss!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

The armor demon didn't even turn, merely opening the door and stepping through.

“Aw fiddlesticks,” Rainbow Dash cursed.

“Give it a rest, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara remarked with a sigh, looking down at her cleaver. “I’m never going to be useful.”

“That is so not true!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, leaping into a battle stance, hooves ready. “Come on, I’ll prove it to you!”

“If you think punching me in the face is going to help my self-esteem then you are sorely mistaken," Kanathara whined.

The vengeant’s eyes narrowed.

“I wouldn't do that," Rainbow Dash muttered. "Now come on, get up and show me the stances you learned. I saw you studying that dusty old book last night, I know you got the last ones memorized.”

“Fine,” Kanathara muttered, standing up. “But only because I want to show you just how worthless I am so we can settle this argument once and for all.”

“Augh, whatever, just fight me already,” Rainbow Dash complained.

The imp placed her cleaver aside and stepped forward, her hooves glowing as magic flowed through them.

“Alright just go slow, I’m even more useless with my hooves than I am with my cleaver," Kanathara muttered.

“Just follow my lead and watch what I do. Fighting without a weapon really isn't that difficult, just imagine that your hooves are your weapons," Rainbow Dash declared.

The imp looked down at her comparatively smaller limbs with disdain.

“Fine," Kanathara spat.

Rainbow Dash jumped up onto her back hooves, using her wings to help her stay balanced.

“I’ll start slow and go faster, alright?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Yeah, whatever, let's just do this already,” Kanathara replied dismissively.

Without waiting a second longer the winged demon surged forward, throwing a right cross aimed at Kanathara’s head. The strike was a slow one, giving the imp ample time to duck to the right and swing her own hoof in an identical attack. Which was followed up by a nearly identical dodge that saw Rainbow Dash hop out of the way of the attack before kicking with her back hoof.

Blocking that strike wasn't difficult, but even though it was slow and obvious, the larger demon had more power than anticipated and Kanathara was knocked back under the force of the blow. Now no doubt sporting a bruise, the imp began to get angry, throwing a haymaker aimed for the other demon’s midsection, intent on knocking the wind out of her.

Rainbow Dash was no slouch and despite the filly throwing everything she had into the punch, she easily sidestepped it, slapping the back of the imp’s hoof and sending her careening off balance. Unable to stop herself, Kanathara tried to land with as much grace as possible, something rendered more or less moot when she got a kick to the midsection. Which made her reflexively curl up into a ball, her forehooves covering her head.

The vengeant however, did not follow up the strike, and instead returned to all four hooves, shooting her mistress a disappointed look.

“You know if you are that easy to rile up, you are going to be at a real disadvantage in a fight," Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Uncurling from her position and standing up, Kanathara merely threw up her hooves in exasperation.

“What else am I supposed to do? I don't know how to fight!" Kanathara shouted in frustration.

“What, why not? We trained together all the time. I even watched you fight with the cleaver a bunch,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Well, why don't we fight with cleavers then? If you're so good at everything!” Kanathara yelled, walking up to the other demon’s face.

“It's not my fault I’m good at stuff!” Rainbow Dash yelled back. “Fine! You wanna fight with cleavers, let's fight with cleavers!”

“Okay!” Kanathara exclaimed.

Kanathara took a step back, giving Rainbow Dash one last glare before turning and walking towards the weapon room, intent on following up on her half-threat. The imp angrily stomped all the way over to the storage area before throwing open the door like a petulant child and vanishing within.

Rainbow Dash’s expression fell and she glanced down at the entropy cleaver still lying on the ground.

“Okay, she's gone," Rainbow Dash whispered.

A light green mist began to seep from the blade, slowly growing into a miniature entropy demon roughly six inches in height. His small, smokey stature walked down the end of the blade before looking up at the vengeant, spreading his long, taloned hands wide.

“Hello again, Rainbow Dash. I hope you gave my offer some thought. I can't keep hiding our little conversations forever, you know," teased the entropy demon.

“I did,” Rainbow Dash muttered, tucking her demonic wings away from sight. “And I’m not sure I could do that to Kanathara. She's my friend, and I can't just turn my back on her like this.”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, it's not a betrayal,” the entropy demon replied, running his hand through the long goatee growing from the end of his chin. “It's just a temporary leave of absence that will see you carrying me out of this horrid place.”

“I don't know…” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The vengeant rubbed the back of her neck and eyed the open door cautiously, catching the sound of cursing and falling weapons from within the room.

“I still think I should talk to her about this…” Rainbow Dash murmured halfheartedly.

The entropy demon stepped forward, his legs vanishing as his form flowed down the blade and up into the air, allowing him to look the other demon in the eye.

“Remember what I offered you. Freedom from her control, a return to the material plane, and most importantly, your old body back,” the creature of entropy repeated.

The green, smokey construct cracked a wide smile, his eyes glinting in the low light.

“Do you really think she's just going to give you all these things or even let you go back?” Clausius mocked.

“N-no,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“So, make a choice,” the entropy demon declared, extending his hands. “Help me do one little thing and get your old life back, or spend eternity chained to this wretched imp.”

The vengeant nervously bit her hoof, glancing from the cleaver to the door and back again.

“I can't, she saved me and-” Rainbow Dash began.

“Do you really think that was anything less than a setup? I mean come on, Rainbow Dash, you’re dumb but not that dumb,” Clausius remarked.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked.

In the distance the sound of clattering weapons returned, only this time it was punctuated by an excited “aha!” from within.

“She just happens to show up right as the attack is happening, happens to not know the limits of the contract, that boulder happens to knock your cage into the lava and free her at the same time,” the entropy demon continued, shaking his head. “Down here there are no coincidences, only schemes. Now choose or I am retracting my offer.”

“I-”

“Shatter the blade and free me, or I am going to tell that wretch about our conversations!” Clausius all but shouted, gesturing to the door to the armory. “You don't have much time left!”

Rainbow Dash hesitated, a hoof raised over the blade, her gaze flickering from the door, to the weapon and back again. Thoughts of her old life, of her family, friends, and loved ones flashed before her eyes. She missed them so much, and though that feeling had dulled somewhat since her months spent in Tartarus they were still poignant memories. Down here she had nothing but Kanathara, no family or loved ones save for the imp, all while trapped in a body that would no doubt make the former pony’s mother scream in terror.

With hope welling in her chest, the vengeant raised her hoof high in the air before plunging it down against the flat of the cleaver. The force of the blow was powerful, and with the entropy demon actively weakening the cage that bound his soul, it was enough to shatter the metal weapon, sending shards careening across the floor.

In the distance, Kanathara dropped the weapon she had been carrying, her jaw falling slack as she witnessed what had just occurred.

“What have you done?” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, boss, but I’m not like you. I’m not a demon, I’m a pony and Clausius is going to help me get that back,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“N-no,” Kanathara stuttered, stumbling back as the small smokey being began to cackle, his form shifting and growing as green smog billowed out from the broken remnants of the cleaver.

“Yes, yes!” the entropy demon cried, his form becoming more and more solid by the second.

Thick corded arms emerged from the flowing mass of green vapor, followed closely by a muscled chest and two powerful legs. Last but not least was the goatlike face of the goatee-sporting demon, twin ram’s horns growing from either side of his head.

“Finally, I am free!” he shouted, raising his hands into the air and laughing madly.

“No, this can't be happening,” Kanathara stuttered, stumbling back as the entropy demon’s form began to grow more solid, losing some of his smokey appearance.

A change that was halted midway up his torso, drawing a snarl from the demon, whose solid legs and torso quickly reverted back to their smokey form, the demon unable to hold a physical body completely.

“Damn, that fool imp has consumed more of my essence than I thought,” Clausius growled, pointing down at the vengeant. “Rainbow Dash, it is time for you to sign the contract with me, serve as my vessel, and smuggle me out of this hell hole and all of your petty little dreams will be realized.”

Rainbow Dash gaped, her gaze drawn to the heartbroken look on her former friend’s face.

“I-I,” she stuttered, unable to look away.

“Quickly now, before that armored moron comes back and kills us both,” Clausius pushed, stepping close to the smaller demon and glowering down at her. “We have no time for your blithering, you must sign or your betrayal won't mean anything.”

“No, wait!” Kanathara exclaimed. “You can't trust him! He's just using you!”

“Like you are using her?” The entropy demon shot back, rolling his eyes. “I am offering her something you cannot and would not give her.”

“I didn't know she wanted any of that,” Kanathara muttered weakly.

“Because you were too busy with your own obsession to notice,” Clausius remarked with a sneer. “You and Tirek truly are two peas in the same pod. So single-minded that you don't notice what's happening right in front of you.”

“I’m sorry, Kanathara,” Rainbow Dash muttered, taking a step forward. “I can't stay here.”

“Rainbow Dash, you idiot, there is no going back!” Kanathara yelled, stopping the other demon as she reached for the entropy demon’s outstretched hand. “Your soul cannot be changed back to the way it was, he may give you the body you want, but you will always be a demon.”

“W-what?” Rainbow Dash stuttered, looking up at Clausius. “Is this true?”

“Of course, it's true, you idiot,” Clausius sneered. “A soul cannot be uncorrupted, demonhood is a one-way street. Not that it matters, as I can still give you back your old body and that is what you care about most isn't it?”

“I-I don't know.” Rainbow Dash hesitated, pulling her hoof back.

“He's just using you!” Kanathara shouted, taking a brave step forward. “I can't promise your old body or life back, but I can promise to try and bring you back to Equestria!”

“R-really?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Yes, really! Father is sending me back there after my training is completed and you will be coming along!” Kanathara shouted, stomping her hoof. “So put down that contract and step away from him!”

Clausius growled, gripping the vengeant’s hoof in his hand.

“Listen here, you little worm. She is using you as a tool, that is it. What part of binding your soul to her service for all eternity don't you understand?” Clausius pressed.

“It was the only way to save you!” Kanathara replied. “I didn't know it would be forever! Please, Rainbow Dash, don't do this. Don't leave me alone.”

“Alone,” Rainbow Dash muttered weekly, looking down at the contract before her. “I-I can't sign this.”

“Fool!” Clausius boomed. “Then I will simply tear out your soul and use this husk as my vehicle to escape!”

The entropy demon’s hand began to glow with cruel intent, magic pouring down his arm and into the fingers that still gripped Rainbow Dash’s foreleg. Instantly a sharp stabbing pain equivalent to thousands of needles suddenly jammed into the vengeant’s limb, making her cry out in pain and terror. Her one remaining free foreleg punched forward over and over, passing through the green ghostly form and doing nothing to stop the continued pain that coursed up her limb.

The winged demon was dimly aware of the feeling quickly disappearing from her hoof and a glance down at the limb nearly made her stomach turn in revulsion. Skin, muscle, and tendon were now sloughing off her body, the ghostly green smoke pouring into the opening her flesh left behind. Only a panicked flapping of her wings was enough to free her from Clausius’ grip, saving the last meager scraps of flesh still clinging to the leg.

Rainbow Dash didn't make it far before she tumbled to the ground, crying and bleeding as she gripped the limb in a panic.

“Oh no, please Celestia no, this can't be happening,” she muttered, tears running down her face.

“Rainbow Dash!” Kanathara yelled, sprinting over to the fallen demon and erecting a barrier over them both. “I can't heal this, you need to return to me.”

“Fool! Nothing can stop me for long!” Clausius yelled, his smokey form crashing into the shimmering barrier, and making Kanathara wince in pain.

“W-what?” the vengeant muttered, looking up at her former friend in shock. “B-but I-”

“We can talk about that later, quick, before the injury becomes permanent!” Kanathara ordered.

Rainbow Dash nodded, her form quickly losing all definition until all at once, her body became not but smoke, which flowed into the imp’s body, filling her with vigor and pain in equal measure.

I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash whispered.

I forgive you, now rest while I deal with this jerk, Kanathara shot back, her body rising back into a standing position.

“Alright, you sentient fart, prepare to die!” Kanathara shouted.

The entropy demon pulled back, gazing down at the imp with naked amusement.

“Oh, that's rich coming from the powerless imp," Clausius mocked.

“I am not powerless!” Kanathara shot back, only for the words to ring hollow as she said them.

“Not even you believe what you say,” Clausius replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “Just think about what you’re doing. I am a fully-fledged entropy demon with thousands of years of experience manipulating fools like you. Do you really think you even have a snowball’s chance in Tartarus to defeat me?”

“I do!” Kanathara yelled back, but yet again her words sounded more like an empty gesture.

The entropy demon merely shook his head.

“Look at you, I’m not even trying, and you are already struggling to maintain your silly defense,” he prodded, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he leaned in close to the imp’s shield. “How about I make you the same deal I made her? Simply get me out of here, and you can have it all back, no strings attached, no ownership of anyone’s soul.”

“Never!” Kanathara shouted.

The entropy demon merely rolled his eyes.

“Think about this for more than two seconds," Clausius retorted. "I am offering you the chance to not have your shield broken and your body hollowed out in order for me to wear it like an undersized suit. I feel like I’m being more than generous here.”

“And once I have this new body of yours what's stopping you from simply killing me then?” Kanathara shot back. “You aren't nearly as smart as you think you are.”

“True, I could simply kill you then,” the smokey demon muttered. “I’m honestly bouncing between destroying you and then devouring your soul and enslaving you for a couple of millennia.”

Clausius leaned down, poking a finger against the shield.

“I think I’ll just turn you into a lamp or something, that way you can show off that bright mind of yours forever," Clausius mocked.

“Fuck you!” the imp yelled.

Clausius recoiled, blinking.

“Wow, I didn't even think you knew that word. Such a naughty little demon," Clausius teased.

“Aaaaa!” Kanathara cried, dropping her shield and charging the demon, horn alight with power.

Before he had a chance to move, the entropy demon found a wall of ice shards shooting at him, piercing his form and flying straight through, having accomplished nothing.

“Really? That's the best you got?” he remarked with a tired sigh. “Killing you is going to be a mercy.”

Clausius’ hand grew in size, and he moved to grab the charging filly, intent on simply squeezing the life out of her. Kanathara was not so easily caught however and just when the fist closed down around her she vanished in a flash of magic, reappearing behind the entropy demon, horns still glowing.

“Hey, jerkface, over here!” Kanathara yelled, loosing another spell with destructive intent.

A searing ray of fire erupted from the filly’s outstretched hoof, shooting straight through the smoke demon and shooting across the room before finally fizzling when it hit the wall. Her opponent cried in pain, his body contorting as he twisted around to look at his target.

“That actually hurt," Clausius exclaimed. "You will pay for that!”

The imp’s eyes went wide as the demon surged forward, his movements nearly twice as fast as a moment ago. He was toying with me! Kanathara realized, narrowly managing to leap out of the way of the enormous demon’s grasping hand.

Her small hooves clattered across the ground, sprinting hard to dodge the repeated attempts to grab her. Knowing she couldn't do this forever, she conjured her magic once more and shot another ray of fire at the entropy demon, only for her attack to pass harmlessly through a hole that appeared mere milliseconds before.

“You may have found an attack that works against me, but you and I both know that won’t help you,” he confidently announced, slowly floating towards the smaller imp. “You don't know any other fire spells, and everything else you have will do nothing to slow me down.”

His body grew and grew as more and more smoke seemed to billow from his chest, making him rise until such a point that his height eclipsed hers several times over, his head cresting the eight-foot mark.

“Oh no,” Kanathara muttered weakly.

“Every second spent free of that weapon is another second spent regaining my power,” he announced, laughing madly. “Soon it won't matter how fast you can run as I will simply be everywhere.”

The imp stumbled back, raising her hoof and firing ray after ray of heat, each one passing harmlessly through a hole that opened up on the entropy demon’s body. Her magic waning, Kanathara turned and ran, looking towards the exit, which was unfortunately blocked by the now massive form of her opponent.

“There is nothing you can do,” he declared.

Kanathara stumbled backward, her mind searching for any solution to the problem now towering over her.

Fight on! Dont give up!Rainbow Dash yelled within their shared mind.

“I can't, he's too powerful,” Kanathara muttered, falling to the ground.

Augh, why do you always think of power like that? Use that big brain of yours for once and think outside the box! Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara’s eyes went wide as she realized just how narrow her thoughts had been. She had assumed mastering some weapon would be the only way to get stronger, but that wasn't who she was. At the end of the day, her two greatest strengths were not her strength and speed but rather her wits and magic.

Clausius reached down, his great hand gripping the imp tightly and bringing her up to his grinning face.

“Good, you have come to your senses at last. So tell me, little filly, how does it feel to lose, yet again?” Clausius mocked.

“I don't know. Why don't you tell me!” Kanathara shouted, her forehoof wiggling out of his grip and glowing with magic.

Magic that the entropy demon recognized right away.

“Really? You are going to try and use a memory spell at a time like this?” He scoffed. “Or do you wish to simply die thinking of your mother?”

“No, not my mother,” Kanthara remarked with a smirk. “Yours!”

“What?” Was all the entropy demon could mutter before the imp’s hoof suddenly pressed against his nose, his mind instantly being flung back deep into his memories.

His form rippled, losing its consistency and allowing the imp to escape his grasp and land back on the ground. Gritting her teeth, Kanathara pushed on, shoving him deeper and deeper into his own millennia worth of memories, miring his thoughts in the deepest, darkest reaches of his psyche.

Yeah, that's it! Rainbow Dash yelled encouragingly.

The distant gaze of the entropy demon flickered for a moment.

“How did you do that?” he muttered weakly. “That spell isn't supposed to work like that.”

Kanathara smirked, watching as his body shrunk and shrunk until he was the same size she was.

“It wasn't supposed to work that way until I changed it!” Kanathara proclaimed, her smirk growing. “All it took was a friend to remind me of the value of lateral thinking.”

The demon muttered incoherently, his eyes glazing over as his body fell to the ground, only barely able to keep a semi-stable physical form.

Kanathara grinned and summoned her magic into her forehoof, willing another beam of fire that would surely destroy the weakened demon. Energy gathered power flowed through her, and then when the spell was nearly completed it fizzled out, the last of the imp’s magical reserves now gone.

“Oh no,” she muttered, shaking her hoof. “Come on! Just a little bit more!”

Raising her hooves over her head, Kanathara brought her forelegs down on the wispy demon several times, only to once more find that her attacks had no visible effects.

“Thats not fair!” Kanathara shouted.

Clausius twitched, his body growing larger by the second as he slowly pulled himself from the depths of his memories, an angry grimace slowly crossing his face.

“What do I do?” cried the imp in desperation.

Eat it! Rainbow Dash replied.

“But Father said not to eat the souls of fully-fledged demons!” Kanathara yelled back.

Do you have a better idea? Rainbow Dash deadpanned.

The imp bit her lip, looking down to the pained, and angry expression on the entropy demon’s face, watching as it grew more angry by the second, his body becoming larger and more intimidating. If she waited any longer he may well regain his strength and with little other option Kanathara glanced over her shoulder, considering the possibility of just running away. The exit was nearly across the room, however, and her logical mind easily figured out that the demon would be back to full strength by then.

Leaving her only option being one of the few things Tirek had expressly told her never to do.

“Fuck it,” Kanathara muttered.

Pressing forward, the imp opened her mouth wide, the depths of her throat glowing with a faint purple light that grew with each passing second. Wispy tendrils of green smoke were pulled into the filly’s maw and were quickly swallowed. The entropy demon seemed to sense this change, however, and he began to twitch with increased fervor, his body trying to pull itself away from the soul-devouring imp.

Summoning the last dregs of her magic, Kanathara pushed everything she had into the act of stealing the other demon’s soul, the glow in her mouth growing brighter and brighter. Large swaths of the green energy vanished down the filly’s throat, making her guts turn as her body rebelled against the action she was taking. Hooves gripped the cold floor and the filly braced herself, fighting against the will of the other demon, who was now gaining awareness, an arm scrabbling randomly on the floor.

By then the entire bottom half of the entropy demon was gone, with his left arm swiftly being sucked into the tiny imp’s belly, making his body twist to the right, desperate to escape.

Come on, boss, you can do it! Rainbow Dash cheered, looking through her master’s eyes.

“Don't do it you fool,” Clausius mumbled, his lone hand scratching along the ground. “You’ll destroy us both!”

Undeterred, Kanathara pushed on, knowing full well that anything less would mean death for both herself and her only friend. The other demon’s arm vanished into the filly’s mouth, his body now beginning to lose nearly all consistency and disintegrate before being swallowed almost completely.

The entropy demon’s eyes suddenly snapped open, awareness clear in the strange orange orbs. Reaching with his only remaining hand he gripped the filly’s jaw, trying to close it, when that failed he summoned his own infernal magic, which promptly petered out as his fingers vanished into Kanathara’s maw. A second later the rest of the limb joined them, leaving the entropy demon as little more than a writhing torso and head.

“Stop, dammit stop. Our souls will be obliterated!” he cried, desperately shaking himself this way and that. “You… bastard.”

And with that final, half-whispered curse, the last of the demon vanished into Kanathara’s mouth.

“I… did it,” the imp muttered, raising a weak hoof into the air and shaking it victoriously. “Yay me.”

You alright, boss? Rainbow Dash asked, a hint of nervousness worming into her voice. Something doesn't quite feel right.

“Yeah, totally!” Kanathara announced suddenly.

After several agonizing seconds, her limbs stopped their incessant shaking and allowed her to rise to a standing position once more.

“I feel great!” Kanathara declared.

Really? ‘Cause something definitely doesn't feel right here, Rainbow Dash groaned. I don't even have a mouth and I feel like I’m gonna toss my cookies.

“No way, we’re totally fine!” Kanathara exclaimed, taking an awkward step forward. “See? Totally fine."

The second step turned out fine as well, however the third did not and she toppled to the ground.

“Oh, hello floor,” the imp muttered, rubbing the cold ground with a hoof. “I haven't seen you in a while.”

We are so fucked, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Chill out, Rainbow Dash, we’re gonna be fine,” Kanathara replied, gaining a wide, dopey grin. “See? Cervantes is right over there.”

Sure enough, the armor demon was, sprinting across the gym with such speed that he nearly crossed the entire room in a heartbeat. A heartbeat that quickly vanished. The imp’s face once more met the floor, and the twin souls fell silent with their body following suit a moment later.

Author's Note

Interlude Seven: Change [R]

Twilight Velvet sighed and ran a hoof down her face, gazing lazily into the mirror that adorned the wall of her private residence. The room, though small, had grown on her over the ensuing days and weeks that she had spent in the hidden laboratories of Blackguard’s base. Over that time Velvet had become intimately familiar with the layout of the dormitories, as well as learned the names of her neighbors, or at least the ones who would speak to her anyway. Not like she could really blame them for being so tight-lipped as most were wary of her due to her noble status, nevermind the way in which she was recruited sounded a little too convenient for some. Though with that being said, there were others who simply smiled knowingly after being told the story that ended with her induction, convinced that Blackguard himself probably set up the entire thing just to get to Velvet.

She wasn't sure how true that was, but she doubted she would get an answer to such a question, or even if such a question was really relevant anymore. She was a part of this strange group now, for better or worse, and her new tattoo was a fresh reminder of just such a commitment.

Something that she still found strange, and glancing down at the tattoo, the mare smiled despite the fact that it still felt a little odd to even have any ink at all. Never mind the fact that it was a strange design in a strange place, the red candle with the blue flame being quite intimidating now that Velvet thought of it. Her skin had healed well, and even after only a few short weeks she no longer even had to apply lotion to the area.

Shrugging off the weirdness of the situation, Velvet turned and glanced up at the clock, only to curse at the sight of the strangely normal timepiece. “Dammit all,” she muttered under her breath, turning and trotting over to the door at a hurried pace.

The mare quickly opened the door and closed it behind her before making a break towards the stairs down and after that one of the closest laboratories. A few random ponies and even a griffon were meandering through the halls, all of which Velvet ignored completely.

The floor below her was almost the same as the one above, with numerous rooms at even intervals. The only difference here was the fact that each room was deeper than the dormitories above and held small personal labs for those who did not need a considerable amount of space for their tests. It was in one of these smaller, more intimate rooms that Velvet’s target stood tapping her hoof impatiently, staring at the other mare.

She was a little older than Velvet herself, as evidenced by the crow’s feet at the edges of her eyes, the grey tips at the edge of her short-cut brown mane, and her brown wings. Her grey eyes were tired and though they showed a hint of irritation, that emotion was stifled somewhat by an undercurrent of concern evident in the pegasus’ aged orbs.

“Velvet, I know you are still new here, but I must insist you be on time. Testing requires a unicorn, and I can only do so much background work before I run out of things to do,” the pegasus remarked with a sigh, shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, Gentle Breeze,” Velvet began, ducking into a slight bow. “I don't have an excuse, but I hope you can accept my apology regardless.”

The older mare stared at the other pony for several long seconds before sighing and turning away, revealing the grey gust of wind cutie mark on her hips. “It's fine, I’m just concerned that you are not taking this seriously.”

“Oh, I am,” Velvet began, stepping closer. “It's just… My life has changed so much recently that I find myself staring in the mirror and wondering how I got here. I know it sounds kind of stupid when I say it like that, but-”

The other mare nodded slowly, knowingly. “I understand perfectly, my dear. Sorry for doubting you.”

The unicorn sighed, smiling gently. “Thank you, Gentle.”

The older pony snorted dismissively and waved a hoof at the large summoning circle all laid out before them. Candles burned with a gentle blue at the tip of each point of the star within, the fresh blood used to paint the circle filling the room with the scent of copper. A sight and smell that were becoming increasingly normal to the former noble pony who smiled at the sight of a well-constructed circle.

“What did you have in mind today?” Velvet asked, gesturing to the ritual circle before them. “It looks like you are ready to summon an arch demon with such an impressive setup.”

Gentle Breeze chuckled and slowly circled the ritual area, eying it closely for faults. “I’m not that ambitious. I was actually hoping to test an idea I had that I am tentatively referring to as demonic resonance theory.”

Velvet lifted an eyebrow. “You are still working on that? I thought the higher-ups told you it was disproven.”

The older mare laughed mirthlessly. “Those shits don't know the first thing about summoning or even demons for that matter. Their opinions matter about as much to me as my husband’s.”

The unicorn walked over to a small stand that held only a simple scroll. “I’m assuming this is part of the test we are running today?”

“Yes. We are going to be summoning a minor imp for the purpose of scanning it and sending it back,” Gentle Breeze murmured, leaning close to the circle and inspecting a particular rune. “After summoning a hoofful of imps of various types and dispositions we will start to build up a data set that should help my theory. Or at least, theoretically anyway.”

“Alright, just tell me when to begin,” Velvet remarked, taking her position near the scroll.

The next several hours were spent summoning, scanning, and subsequently dismissing imps, most of which took one look at the well-prepared ponies, and merely sat there, waiting to be dismissed. Others raged and fought, while fewer still tried to deal their way out of dismissal, both to no avail.

A screaming, clawing, and thin red rage imp slowly went up in smoke, the demonic creature fighting for every second spent on the material plane and desperately resisting the dismissal spell that was dissolving its body. Velvet frowned and covered her ears, watching on in irritation as the creature finally dissipated to the point that its voice box no longer worked, and only its head and hands were left in the room. A few more seconds, and even that was gone, allowing both mares to breathe a sigh of relief when that occurred, with Gentle Breeze gently shaking her head and rubbing the inside of her right ear.

“What a loud little bugger,” Gentle muttered.

“Quite,” Velvet agreed, before turning to her companion. “What's the next one?”

Gentle paused, lifted a pair of glasses closer to her face, and squinted down at a list on a table nearby. “It looks like an entropy imp is next. Be wary though, these are some of the most slippery imps in Tartarus.”

“I wasn't aware of that,” Velvet remarked.

“Oh yes, they can be quite convincing, and their very aura eats away at the summoning circle no matter how many defenses you put up,” Gentle began, applying a few extra runes in the circle with a liberal application of blood from a nearby bucket. “They are craftier than they let on too.”

“Interesting.” Velvet shook her head and readied her next spell. “Ready?”

The pegasus plopped the bucket back down on an empty table and walked over to the edge of the circle. “Ready when you are.”

The unicorn lit her horn and began to cast the familiar spell used to summon forth an imp of her choosing. Though not the most difficult spell by a long shot, Velvet had been casting it over and over for the better part of the day, and as such she took a little longer to complete it, her internal mana beginning to wane. The last part of the spell took the longest, with Velvet having to alter the parameters of the spell to seek out a particular imp type of her choosing.

Without hesitation, she cast the spell, with a bright flash of her magenta magic. The light of her horn shot out in all directions, only to be captured inexorably by the ritual circle, which in turn activated, performing the second and most important part of the spell. Runes flickered with magic, and in the center of the circle, a deep magenta light began to build and build until suddenly flickering out at the last minute.

“What the hell,” Velvet muttered.

Gentle Breeze lifted an eyebrow and glanced down at the circle. “I felt you do the spell correctly. What does a scan say?”

Velvet lit her horn and cast a quick, cursory scan over the area, detecting any residual energy that lingered within the area. “It looks like the spell was countered,” Velvet began, her horn still glowing. “But it did so in a strange way.”

“Why do you say that?” Gentle inquiered, eying the circle with newfound curiosity.

“It was like the counter simply demanded more power than the circle was capable of putting out.” Velvet shrugged. “I’ve never heard of such a counterspell before.”

Gentle Breeze frowned deeply and sighed. “Well, it looks like that's it for today then.”

Velvet blinked. “Surely we can just keep trying right?”

The pegasus shook her head and trotted over to the corner of the room wherein a mop and bucket were waiting for her. “That kind of counterspell to a summons is only possible by a powerful entity, one with a base of operations and a significant amount of resources. Who may very well be irritated that we just tried to summon a minion of theirs.” She shrugged and grabbed the mop before tossing it at Velvet. “Besides, our circle is fried.”

The former noble looked down, only now noticing that there were several trickles of black smoke wafting from the now burnt and blackened blood that stained the ground. “Oh, for the love of…” She sighed. “Let me guess, I have to clean this up?”

“And while you do, you are going to tell me what's really bothering you,” Gentle remarked, plopping down on an office chair and watching the younger mare as she began to clean up the circle.

“It's that obvious, isn't it?” Velvet muttered while she used her magic to mop the floor.

“You actually hide it quite well. But I’m a mother of three girls, and if there is anything that young mares do well, it's keeping secrets,” Gentle Breeze replied with a wink.

“True,” Velvet muttered, focusing on her task for nearly a minute while she thought of the correct words to say. “To be honest, I’m worried about the first mission that Blackguard is sending me on.”

Gentle shrugged. “I wouldn't be. He wouldn't send you on something that he genuinely believes you would fail to accomplish.”

“I guess,” Velvet muttered, glaring angrily at an exceptionally burnt spot that refused to be removed no matter how hard she scrubbed. “Celestia knows Maul, and knows I got a book from him in the past, she could very well be watching his shop.”

Gentle Breeze raised an eyebrow and scooted a little closer, the wheels of her chair screeching across the floor. “That does sound a bit difficult, but if he's sending you out there he probably has a plan.”

“He does,” Velvet murmured, staring at the floor as she continued to scrub away at the stubborn circle. “I also have to stop by the house, as I left some important research materials in the attic.”

“I thought you said you used teleport runes on them?”

“I thought I did as well, but it turns out something went wrong somewhere along the lines, and the spell fizzles every time I cast it.” Velvet sighed, scrubbing the last of the blood. “I didn't exactly leave home during pleasant circumstances and I doubt they would give me a warm welcome if I just showed up asking for some of my old stuff.”

“Do you need to bring along a weapon?” the older mare asked, her tone suddenly very serious. “I know Quick Drop knows a few offensive spells.”

Velvet shook her head. “No, I don't think that would be necessary. They may not understand, but I doubt they would be violent.”

Gentle Breeze eyed her friend closely for several seconds before snorting and rolling back a few feet. “Well, if you ever change your mind, I sharpened my short sword.”

“That thing you cut up your abusive husband with?” Velvet asked, draining the blood and water mixture into a bucket.

“The very same!” Gentle announced proudly. “I call it my pig sticker, and it's light enough I bet even a unicorn could use it.”

Velvet blanched, hiding her look of disgust as she put away the mop. “My husband may not be the bravest of ponies, but I don't think he deserves to have his testicles removed with a short sword.”

Gentle snorted. “Bah, all stallions are pigs. Mares are better anyway.”

Velvet rolled up several notes and bapped the pegasus on the head. “Down girl.”

Gentle Breeze stuck out her tongue. ”You are no fun.”

Velvet rolled her eyes and made her way over to the door, only to be stopped by the gentle hoof of the older mare touching her shoulder. “Are you sure you are ready for this?”

Brushing off the hoof, Velvet smiled reluctantly. “I think so.”

“Well alright, ‘cause if you really want I’m sure Blacky could give you some extra help. Maybe even get one of those real sneaky types from a few floors down to get in there and knock your family out so you don't even have to deal with them.”

“Really, Gentle Breeze, it's fine. I probably won't even see either of them as all my stuff was left in the attic away from the rest of my family,” Velvet replied dismissively, pushing open the door and walking away.

“Well, if you ever change your mind, I got all evening off tomorrow!” Gentle Breeze yelled after the now blushing mare.

“I'll let you know, Gentle, now goodnight,” Twilight Velvet shot back a little more forcefully than she first wanted to.

The brown and grey pegasus watched as the younger mare’s pert behind bounced down the hall and disappeared into the stairwell, prompting the older pegasus to sigh. “You are far too fun to tease,” Gentle mused.

Twilight Velvet growled in irritation, looking out from the alley she was hiding within. The books resting in her saddlebags had grown heavier over the past hour and a half she had spent running through the side streets of Canterlot. The guards following her did so at a safe distance, and Velvet wasn't sure if they were even actively following and if they were trying to catch her or simply tail her. All she knew was this was something she was going to have to deal with one way or another and that she had a mere minute or two before they managed to catch up with her.

Twilight Velvet’s eyes suddenly went wide when she noticed a group of middle-aged mares trotting down the road, their bodies pressed close to one another as they looked out at the surrounding dark streets with worried expressions. The rest of the street was nearly dead, with only a few homeless ponies, and a duo of drunks being out at such an hour. Noticing that this very well might be the only chance she got, Twilight Velvet steeled herself and donned the mask of a concerned citizen before running out of the alley and towards the group of mares.

For a second one of them seemed ready to panic, only for recognition to flash before her eyes. “Twilight, is that you?” a younger, lanky unicorn mare with a bright orange coat and a yellow mane asked.

“Yes, it's me, Fire Sun, but I can't talk right now. A stallion has been following me for several blocks. You have to hide me,” Twilight Velvet whispered, glancing over her shoulder and down the road to where the guards would be emerging at any moment.

“Don't worry, Twilight. You can count on us,” Fire Sun replied back, turning to her group of mares and nodding to a dark green coated mare with a long black braided mane.

Who parted from the group just enough to allow Twilight a spot to hide in the center of them. The green-coated mare lit her horn and leaned in. “I’m going to cast a simple camouflage spell. It won't work on anyone close though.”

“Please, hurry, I think he's coming,” Twilight pleaded.

The green mare nodded and cast the spell, causing Twilight Velvet’s form to shimmer a moment before disappearing completely, only visible to those within a few feet of her. Sure enough, the guards turned the corner several seconds later, only to see a group of well-to-do unicorn mares shuffling away, nervously trotting in the direction of the noble district.

Twilight Velvet breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed that one of the guards was loitering near the alley she had been in a few minutes earlier while the other was questioning a homeless pony that she was ninety percent certain had not been paying attention when she had emerged from the alleyway. Now outside the realm of danger, Twilight Velvet eyed up her companions, only now realizing that she recognized almost all of them.

Fire Sun and the dark green coated mare whose name eluded her were part of an art society that Velvet had considered joining while the other three mares were ponies she knew through the various noble social circles. Like the green mare, their names eluded her, but she knew their faces and also knew that they were either younger heiresses yet to be married or in the case of the singular older mare, a spinster who seemed to have given up on the dating scene.

“What are you girls doing here so late?” Twilight whispered.

Fire Sun frowned, shooting one of the younger, pink-furred mares a glare. “Somepony said there was going to be a rare exhibit in lower Canterlot, but forgot to mention it was by invite only.”

The pink-furred unicorn growled in annoyance. “I told you I didn't know that! The stallion said it was open for the nobility which I thought was us.”

“Like whatever, Candy Heart,” the other younger mare commented flippantly, tossing the bangs from her eyes. “You are such a ditz.”

“A better question is what are you doing here?” Fire Sun asked, their quicker pace beginning to slow as they turned a corner and approached one of the gates that led to the noble district.

As usual, it was guarded by a pair of slack-jawed, and bored-looking guards who gazed out over the crowd with complete disinterest. Twilight did a quick mental calculation and figured that they were probably far enough away to not notice the camouflage spell, allowing her a moment to think of a convincing lie.

“I’ve been trying to avoid my husband’s coworker and went to a friend’s house. Unfortunately, she had to leave unexpectedly,” Twilight lied, silently cursing her weird delivery and weak excuse.

Thankfully, three of the five mares didn't seem to give it much thought, and merely nodded along, eying the pony they were hiding with newfound respect and pity. Fire Sun and the green-furred mare, however, didn't seem to buy into the lie completely, sharing a questioning glance.

“How does that explain why you were trying to sneak away from the guards?” Fire Sun asked pointedly.

“Yeah, and what's with the bags?” Green coat added.

“Look, girls,” Twilight pleaded. “I can explain everything but I really must get home and tell my husband. If Night Light doesn't hear back from me soon he's going to worry.”

“Wait, I thought you were like, avoiding him?” Candy Heart asked, scratching her head.

The other, somehow even pinker mare elbowed her friend. “It was his coworker, you ditz!”

“Wait, that doesn't make sense either,” the older mare interjected.

Velvet sighed, running a hoof down her face. “Look, my house is just a few blocks that way and I really have to get going. How about we meet back up for tea tomorrow and I can tell you the whole, unvarnished truth. Okay?”

The entire group seemed to look at Fire Sun who ground her teeth a moment before sighing and shaking her head. “Fine. But I better not find out I was just made an accessory to some crime!”

“Yes! Thank you, Fire Sun,” Twilight cheered before turning and trotting briskly away.

The now slightly smaller group paused and watched the other mare leave, with Fire Sun’s face scrunching up the longer she stared. “Like, are we splitting up here? ‘Cause I totally do not want to walk home by myself.”

Fire Sun frowned and shook her head. “Don't worry, Candy Heart, me and Calliope will walk you back.”

The green-coated mare nodded. “Don't worry dear, we’ll take care of you.”

Candy Heart breathed a sigh of relief, before raising her nose into the air and trotting away. “Come on, we better get going.”

“Yeah…” Fire Sun muttered, following behind her friend while glancing over her shoulder at the street Twilight Velvet had disappeared down. “I didn't think Twilight Velvet lived on Woodrow or had a tattoo. Did you?”

Twilight Velvet breathed another sigh of relief, leaning heavily against a lampost nearly a block away from home. The brisk trot here hadn't been so bad, but the pony had been ill-prepared for her sudden jaunt across the entire town, never mind the sprint that was made necessary after being spotted by an overly curious guard. Add to that the large book in her left saddlebag and the slightly smaller one in the right and it was obvious why the older mare was struggling to catch her breath.

Can't rest yet, Velvet. We must get the rest of our materials, she reminded herself, giving her head a shake.

Looking down the street, Twilight noticed that there were thankfully few ponies out at such an hour and the two she could see had their heads down and were heading away from her. Meaning she had the perfect opportunity to get into her home without causing a commotion with any of her possibly concerned neighbors.

The mare frowned as she began to slowly creep towards home, her mind imagining how her sudden disappearance may have disrupted the local neighborhood. Thankfully either the news of her disappearance hadn't reached the ponies she rarely interacted with, or more likely, the rumours were so varied no one knew the truth. Given just how robust the Canterlot rumor mill was, Twilight Velvet had absolutely no doubt it was the second one, and for once the unicorn found herself thankful that everyone in her neighborhood was unrepentant snoops, as it gave her just enough distance from the truth.

The mare felt a small smile slowly spread across her face and she couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of it all. She had just gotten her butt pulled out of the fire by a bunch of ponies she could only vaguely remember, all because the rumor mill was probably going into overdrive, giving her just barely enough grey area that most ponies didn't know or believe the fact that she had basically joined what looked on the outside like a terrorist organization.

That jovial expression quickly fell away when she passed a row of lawn gnomes which were all staring intently at the passing mare, making Twilight shiver and trot a little faster. Having passed the creepy lawn gnome house, Twilight Velvet knew it wasn't much further, and she stopped and peered over her old neighbor’s fence, scanning the windows of her house.

The main story windows were dark, with the only light being a faint flickering coming from the second story window furthest to the left. This meant Shining Armor or Night Light had been left on the bathroom candle, and judging from how low it had gotten already, he had done so a while ago. For a moment Twilight Velvet almost began to walk towards the door, the mare mentally preparing herself for the eventual confrontation she would have with her son over his improper use of their emergency candles.

Only to stop when she realized her old life was over, never to return.

She couldn't just walk into that house anymore, she couldn't be the Twilight Velvet she had been for the last decade. She was a new, different Twilight, one who couldn't simply walk into her old house.

The thought filled her with a sudden, deep sadness that seemed to come from deep in her chest. She didn't allow herself to feel that way for long though, and she quickly pushed past it, mentally distancing herself from the difficult-to-answer questions and the sadness they brought on.

Lighting her horn, the mare quickly re-asserted the lingering camouflage spell, adding her own bit of magic to the spell in order to ensure it stayed active for another few minutes. With that done, she ran up to the edge of her property, only to light her horn again and deactivate the first series of wards that warned anyone in the house of an intruder.

Over the next several minutes Velvet carefully maneuvered her way through the series of traps, wards, and various spells that she had erected to defend her house. The irony of having to now work back through them from the other side was not lost on her, and her only saving grace was the fact that Night Light had evidently not bothered to change them.

That stallion can be such a sloth sometimes, Velvet thought to herself, her mind conjuring images of all the times her husband had tried and failed to complete a spell as complicated as the one used to ward their house from intruders. It was obvious to the mare that Twilight took more after her mother than after her father, which was evident not only in her magical output but also in the filly’s mane style and general coloration.

The spells and defenses meant to keep out intruders and alert the occupants to anyone wishing to sneak inside quickly fell to the intelligent mare, leaving only the physical aspect of actually climbing up to the attic. Which was all the way up on the third floor, wherein she would have to climb through a window only an inch or two bigger than her head.

Twilight Velvet sighed, cursing under her breath. “Dammit all,” she muttered.

She had never been the most physical of ponies, and her advanced age hadn't helped her in that regard. Worse yet she didn't know enough magic to truly help her in this situation as her teleportation skills were lacking at best and self-levitation was right out the window. The most she would be able to do to help her ascent would be to make the rope sticky and activate the teleportation wards as soon as she reached the attic itself. She just thanked whatever deity was listening that she was able to bring along one of the single-use teleportation pads that she had bribed a fellow ‘researcher’ for.

With the thin slab of stone firmly placed between the book and the exterior of her bag, Twilight Velvet sighed, and pulled out the rope and grapple from her bag. At least I can levitate it up there. Twilight thought to herself, hoisting the grapple and rope in her magic and gently levitating it up to the third-story window.

The mare stopped and glanced over to the street, only to breathe a sigh of relief when she noticed that the sound she had heard was only a cat. “Calm down, Twilight,” she muttered to herself, turning her attention back to the window.

With her wards and spells all down, it didn't take much for the window to be jiggled open, the simple latch slipping from the hook and allowing Twilight Velvet to pull the entire thing open. Gripping the grapple tightly, the mare tried to remember how strong the ledge had been, only to frown when she realized she had no idea.

“Well, only one way to find out,” Twilight Velvet muttered to herself, setting the claws of the grapple on the lip of the window sill and giving the rope a firm tug.

The entire thing seemed to clip perfectly into place, the rope holding firm even after the unicorn gave it a few more test tugs of varied strength. After one last nervous glance up at the window, the mare sighed and resigned herself to a difficult, and exhausting climb.

Note to self: Learn teleportation magic.

With the clear challenge of climbing a rope without the use of any real magical assistance, or really even limbs capable of the task rearing its ugly head, Twilight considered backing out. Only to stop when she realized that was not something she could logically do. The spells on the house were now thoroughly dismantled, and this change would get noticed eventually, she would be the top suspect in such a crime, meaning it was now or never.

With one last aggravated growl, Twilight gripped the rope in her forehooves, lit her horn, and began the difficult task of climbing into her attic.

Several embarrassing minutes later Twilight Velvet heaved herself through the window, her body not quite crashing to the floor, but that was only because she had left her side hit the ground, meaning it was little more than a dull thump. This would have been a smart move if it was one made via conscious decision, but Twilight Velvet hadn't really thought that through, and simply allowed herself to land on the floor after nearly falling off the window sill.

Slowly, the mare rose into a standing position, her ears swiveling this way and that, intent on seeking out any sound that may indicate that her husband and son were awake and coming to investigate the disturbance. When no sound came, Twilight Velvet looked at her surroundings a little closer, noticing that other than the ladder to the attic being down, everything was where it should be.

The hesitant pony slowly peered over the edge of the steps down, finding that it was as dark and empty as everywhere else. With a sigh on her lips, Twilight Velvet turned back to the task at hoof, quickly setting out the return teleport plate, and running through a mental list of items she would need to bring back with her.

Making sure all the teleport runes were in place took little to no time, as did ensuring that they were functional. What took a little longer was going through each box, and making sure everything was still there.

Sure she could have probably skipped this part, but she really did not want to have to make a second trip, and it was definitely that and not the lingering feeling of regret and nostalgia that was holding her back. However as time passed, Twilight Velvet couldn't help but admit that those feelings still coursed strongly through her.

There was a sense of sadness and regret that filled her bones, a feeling that her anger and resentment couldn't quite beat out. Leaving the unicorn feeling oddly nostalgic, and thus in little hurry to finish her task in a timely fashion.

So caught up was the mare in her impromptu stock-checking session that she didn't notice the click-clack of a small pair of hooves climbing the stairs up to the third story.

For a moment nothing happened, and it was only when Twilight Velvet turned in order to check the last of her boxes did she realize that she was no longer the only one in the cramped attic. The two ponies’ gaze locked on one another, with Shining Armor eying his mother with concern and irritation while Velvet was simply too shocked to muster any real emotion.

“Shiny?” Velvet muttered weakly, nearly dropping the glass tube she held in her magic.

“Hello, Mother,” Shining replied coldly, a wisp of magic growing around his horn. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m just getting a few things and…” Twilight Velvet blinked, noticing that the spell building around her son’s horn was an offensive one. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure I can protect this house.” His eyes narrowed. “If it comes to that.”

“Oh, Shining Armor. I would never do-” she began, only to be cut off by the colt stomping angrily.

“Bullshit!” he spat. “You left us! Now you sneak back just to steal from us!”

Twilight gritted her teeth, containing the anger she felt building inside of her. “Shining Armor, I am not stealing anything. These are my experiments, my books. I am simply coming to get them.” Noticing that his spell was beginning to waver, Twilight Velvet lit her horn and gripped the colt’s own in a telekinetic aura, stopping his spell. “Furthermore, I will not tolerate being threatened in my own house.”

The colt continued to glare at his mother for a few seconds before shaking his head and forcing her aura to release his horn. “Fine,” he muttered, sitting on the floor and crossing his hooves over his chest. “But you will answer my questions.”

“You have five minutes mister, then you better get back to bed. It's a school day tomorrow,” Twilight Velvet admonished, subtly positioning the teleport pad under her hooves.

“Where did you get that tattoo?” Shining Armor asked, pointing at the new ink his mother had gotten.

“It's part of a new job I got,” Twilight replied, gesturing to the tattoo. “It's necessary to get around my new work.”

“Right. Work,” Shining Armor muttered, his glare intensifying. “Why did you abandon us?”

The mare frowned. “I had to make a tough call, one that might get your sister back.”

“Celestia said you joined a cult,” Shining Armor shot back.

“It's not… like that,” Twilight sighed. “We simply don't follow some of her more stupid rules, that's it.”

“She said you would say that,” Shining replied.

Twilight ground her teeth together silently, staring down at the adamant colt. “You are a smart colt, and I raised you to be better than this. No matter what she says, or what she does, you must admit that something about this entire thing doesn't add up.”

“That doesn't mean Celestia is the bad guy!” Shining Armor replied, pointing an accusatory hoof at the mare.

“It may not,” Twilight muttered. “But what I do know is that she is hiding something. I don't know what it is, or why she's hiding it, but she's keeping something from us. You must have seen it by now. The way she doesn't quite seem to trust any of us, the way she keeps certain information away from not only the public but from the family that has lost so much.”

The colt’s features darkened. “Maybe.”

“Don't you think we have a right to know what's going on? Our Twilight is gone, abducted by literal demons and we still don't have the right to know?” Twilight growled. “Who gave her the authority to say what we can and cannot know?”

Shining Armor shook his head slowly. “You just don't get it, mother. Celestia is a good pony and she must have a reason for keeping this information from us. She wouldn't do something like that without a reason. Without a purpose.”

Twilight’s jaw clenched, and she only barely managed to contain the rage burning hot in her breast. “That's bullshit, Shining Armor! Who else but us deserves to know? Who else but the ones who have lost the most?”

“I don't know,” Shining Armor whispered, suddenly looking up at the mare with renewed intensity. “But what I do know is that she has been trying, really really hard to find Twilight and help this family. Unlike some ponies.”

“How could you say-” Twilight began.

“You should go,” Shining Armor interrupted.

The older mare’s mouth opened and closed several times, but her anger stopped her from being able to formulate an organized thought or sentence structure. With her voice suddenly gone, and rage burning hot in her breast, Twilight Velvet turned, lit her horn, and with tears in her eyes, activated the teleport runes in the various boxes that littered the room.

Without turning back around, Twilight Velvet held her head high. “I know you don't believe me, but this is necessary. These ponies have resources Celestia doesn't and if nothing else, we will have that much more help in finding her.”

“What would Twilight say if she knew what you were doing?” Shining Armor asked.

“She would say this was necessary,” Twilight Velvet whispered before she herself vanished in a flash of light.

An instant later the mare was standing alone in her private room, surrounded by the various boxes containing her supplies and experiments. “This is necessary,” she whispered to the empty room.

Author's Note

The next chapter is already up on patreon, and this update was also veiwable for over two weeks on that same patreon. So if you want to see updates and preveiws before anyone else consider dropping a measly 3 bucks and joining the early release squad!

Trial Three: Power [R]

Reality was a funny thing, really. It was elusive when it wanted to be, evading Kanathara’s mind like some sort of exceptionally slippery fish. At times the imp might catch a glimpse of something she felt was solid, and real, only for it to twist shapes, change colors, or simply cease to exist. Dreams, memories, forms, and thoughts blurred together until reality itself was something of a distant memory.

Throughout it all the imp felt as though she was at war with something inside her, a force, both primal and terrible that was desperately attempting to rend her very soul. It was a powerful opponent, that much she was certain, as it both managed to keep her subdued and confused while taking away her ability to focus on it. Over time the filly abandoned any and all attempts to reach for a concrete reality and instead rode the waves of strangeness as they carried her from one moment to the next.

This adaptability seemed to catch the force off guard, and it reacted with confusion at first, and then, when it was already too late, anger. Kanathara seemed to have beaten it, though she knew not how she had managed such a feat, or even why they were fighting in the first place. Memories that were not hers began to wash over her as the other entity bled out its essence, and indeed its very soul has been rent asunder. Now, while it was on death’s door, its collected experiences seeped out of it, and into the mind of the one who had beaten it.

At first, the imp drank deep of these memories, only to quickly find that she did not have the mental capacity to hold it all, and thus she gave up on the impossible task of taking it all in and instead began to sift through it. She analyzed the memories for meaning, and intent, and only gathered the bits and pieces the original entity thought were important. The force was not quite as dead as she thought though, and in its death throes, it thrashed and wailed.

Curses in tongues Kanathara didn't know were shouted through the twisting nether they found themself in. Though pain was a fleeting thing in this realm, it did indeed exist and this was something the filly knew for quite a while, her form being wracked with agony stemming from the entity’s actions. The curses, the flailing, it all had its effect, and Kanathara knew there was little she could do but bear it as she continued to expunge herself of the entity’s fleeting essence.

All the noise and pain died with the last of the creature’s essence, the final curse coming out more as a desperate, pained whimper than the defiant cry Kanathara had come to expect. With the last, flickering string of memories fading into oblivion, the filly pulled back and analyzed what she had gained.

A great well of power seemed to now reside within her, and yet she couldn't seem to draw from it. The well was so deep, so torrential in its potential, that the filly knew at once that she could not draw on it without being overwhelmed. Though that made her angry at first, the imp cursing its physiology once more, that anger slowly died as she realized this was not a problem she would always have.

In the future she would be stronger, she would be more, and for now, she would be patient. She had beaten back a fully-fledged demon with little more than her wits, and her friend, who had betrayed her.

The filly lingered on that fact, but couldn't bring herself to truly hate her familiar or even really dislike her. Kanathara should have known better, after all, she had seen the signs at the edge of her vision, and yet she had simply dismissed them out of hoof, her lust for power overriding any urge to speak with her friend. Rainbow Dash’s reasoning and desires also could hardly be faulted, and though she felt as though they were silly reasons, Kanathara recognized that opinion was coming from a perspective informed by the knowledge that there was no going back from demonhood.

Something Rainbow Dash hadn't known.

With a sigh, the filly continued to float through the void, absently working her way through the last of the creature’s essence and memories and filing most of it away for later consideration.

Time, which up until now had been a fleeting thing, began to reassert itself, and Kanathara quickly grew bored with the abyss she floated within. Squeezing her eyes shut, the filly tried to imagine herself waking up, getting out of bed, and getting back to her training.

At first, nothing happened, then she heard something. A distant sound that made little sense as it had echoed within the void for so long that it had long since been rendered unintelligible.

The sound continued though, varying in pitch, volume, and substance, until finally, after what felt like forever, Kanathara began to understand it. The conversation was a hectic one, with three separate voices all speaking one after another, one was relatively calm, with only a hint of worry, another was so filled with worry that Kanathara couldn't help but pity the voice’s owner. The last was the strangest, as it lacked any such concern, and was instead filled with pure confidence, stating things in a calm, centered tone of voice that unfortunately did little to assuage the worries of the other voices.

After the voices, Twilight began to perceive light, and with it her body.

The void was disappearing, slowly fading away, the swirling mass of colors, emotions, memories, and thoughts becoming more and more solid as reality seemed to come inexorably into focus. This was a slow process, however, but Kanathara was nothing if not patient in this moment, knowing full well that rushing would do little to help her during whatever predicament she may soon find herself in.

The voices could now be heard and understood fully, though Kanathara paid them little mind. The light became more and more present, until finally the imp could feel every one of her limbs, and most importantly, her eyelids. Opening her eyes, Kanathara yawned suddenly, extending her limbs in all directions and stretching out in a long, exaggerated motion.

Joints popped, voices fell silent, and just when Kanathara felt as though the ensuing silence was becoming awkward, the rambunxious voice of Rainbow Dash suddenly spoke up.

“I told you!” the demon exclaimed in an irritated tone.

“You say that like she wasn't just at death’s very door until a few minutes ago,” the voice of Pear Butter growled back.

“Be silent,” Tirek commanded, making the other demons hold their tongues and wait patiently as the imp blinked several times and looked around.

Kanathara was on a bed, it was not small, but it was different, with unused straps hanging from the sides, and numerous tools both of a surgical and torture-based nature were suspended overhead. Looking around the room revealed that she was in one of the private medical rooms, the large space being more or less filled by a nervous Pear Butter, a sheepishly grinning Rainbow Dash, and a rather irritated Tirek.

Who wore a simple red and gold robe that Kanathara recognized as one of his more relaxed outfits. His gaze was harsh but was also tinted with worry, and he stared down into the filly’s eyes for several seconds before he nodded suddenly. “You are back,” he stated, a tiny, ghost of a smile coming to his lips. “I hope you enjoyed your rest.”

“Permission to speak, boss?” Pear Butter asked hesitantly.

Tirek nodded, gesturing to the filly. “Go right ahead, Pear Butter.”

The wrath demon all but sprinted up to the bed and scooped the filly up, pressing the imp against her chest. “You had us so worried! When I heard you were injured I just about squished that poor little Cervantes fellow. Are you alright, how are you feeling?”

Kanathara chuckled weakly, gently tapping the wrath demon’s shoulder in order to get a reprieve from her deadly grip. “I was fine when I could breathe,” Kanathara whispered.

Pear Butter blushed hard and gently lessened her grip on the filly’s midsection without letting go completely. “Better?”

“Better,” Kanathara replied, looking up at the still-nervous face of her surrogate mother.

“Are you sure you are alright?” Pear Butter whispered, gently placing the filly back into her bed.

“Really, I’m fine,” the imp replied.

“Okay. But if you start getting dizzy, feel sick, or get any weird aches or pains you are coming right back to medical. Got it?” Pear Butter replied sternly.

Kanathara chuckled, gently wiggling her way back under the thin covers. “I promise.”

“See? What did I tell you guys?” Rainbow Dash announced, stepping forward and gesturing to the imp. “I knew she was going to be fine.”

Pear Butter glared down at the smaller demon but refused to say anything, her jaw clenching and unclenching before she finally let out a tired sigh and took a step back. “I suppose you were right. This time.”

Kanathara stopped and blinked, only now noticing that something seemed to be off with her familiar. The bald bat-winged demon had gained a slightly darker scaley exterior that had also changed her wings, and talons to the same darker greyish-black color. A strange, ethereal fire seemed to be burning on her head, though it was unlike any fire Kanathara had ever seen. At the base, it was a deep black, and at the top it was a vibrant crimson, fading from one color to the next, her new tail held similar colors and properties as well. She was also larger, her eyes mirrored her flaming mane, as the sclera and iris had merged into one mass of black, while the pupil had lengthened into that of an old dragon’s, having also changed color, becoming a deep red.

Overall she was much more intimidating, her wings having become larger, as had her fangs, two of which now poked out of either corner of her mouth. The sight would have made Kanathara envious but she had a newfound understanding of patience and knew that her own transformation would come soon.

“Wow, Rainbow Dash. You look great,” Kanathara mumbled, her voice croaking due to disuse.

The familiar beamed under the praise, no longer having the hesitancy she had every other time Kanathara had complimented or even mentioned the familiar’s looks. Indeed she seemed to revel in the attention, flexing her wings and striking a pose, her three-toed talons stretching and showing off the impressively sharp edges on them. “Yeah, I am pretty cool, but that's not all that's changed,” Rainbow Dash remarked, casting Kanathara a sidelong smirk.

The imp blinked, cocking her head. “I am not sure what you are talking about. Did your magic change as well?”

“I mean a little.” Rainbow Dash shook her head and pointed to the filly. “But that's not what I am talking about. Just look at yourself, boss.”

Kanathara blinked and looked over to Pear Butter who was smiling and holding a small mirror aloft with her weak magic. In it, there was a small, strange-looking imp that had changed quite a bit since the last time Kanathara had seen her. She now had dark purple leathery skin, eyes that now resembled that of a goat, having gained a disturbing, square pupil, as well as what looked like a pair of small horns that were beginning to bud out the side of her head at around where her temples were.

“Whoa,” Kanathara muttered.

Tirek chose that moment to take a step closer, smiling widely at the filly. “You have both done very well, and, incredibly poorly,” he began with a chuckle, the centaur shaking his head. “I am frankly as impressed as I am disappointed.”

“I am sorry, father, I just-” Kanathara began, only for Tirek’s stern expression to silence her completely.

“If it wasn't for Pythias’ warning, I may very well have not made it there in time,” Tirek remarked, gesturing to the room’s other occupant who had been standing so far back that Kanathara hadn't noticed her until now. “You may wish to thank the seer, as you owe her your life.”

The imp struggled to her hooves and ducked into a low bow. “Thank you, Pythias.”

The seer smiled gently, giving the filly only a simple nod in return.

“Before we speak of punishment and the future, you will also be happy to know that you've grown quite a bit stronger,” Tirek exclaimed, gesturing to the filly. “As your changes would insinuate, you are stronger, and have an increased magical potential as well as gained the unique designation as an entropy imp.”

Kanathara sat back down, her shaking limbs reminding her that she hadn't used them in what felt like days. “But I’m still an imp.”

Tirek chuckled. “You are much more than a simple imp. Indeed in some ways, you are more powerful than an average demon. Imps with subtypes are rare, and as you know, entropy is a rare and potent subset of abilities that I am sure you will find useful.”

“Booyah!” Rainbow Dash yelled, pumping a hoof into the air. “I told you the boss was amazing!”

“She is quite something, isn't she?” Pear Butter muttered proudly.

Kanathara didn't have a chance to revel in the compliments for long though as something suddenly hitched in her throat. The filly gagged, trying to hold down the strange burning sensation rising in her throat. Whatever it was resisted these attempts, however, and with one last retching noise, Kanathara spat out a wad of what looked like tar.

Tar began to burn through the metal table next to her bed.

Tirek’s frown morphed into one of curiosity as he watched the tar-like substance sizzle and pop, the metal beneath it becoming weaker and weaker by the second. The various demons in the room looked on curiously as the substance burned its way through the metal and made an audible splat as it hit the stone ground.

“Shouldn't we do something about that?” Rainbow Dash asked, pointing to the blob.

Tirek shrugged. “It shouldn't be enough to eat through the floor, so…” The centaur’s line of thought suddenly stopped as the blob hissed loudly, the floor beginning to smoke. “Actually, Pear Butter, do you remember that shield spell I taught you?”

“On it, boss,” Pear Butter replied, conjuring a golden circle of force around the blob and lifting it off the ground, revealing the fact that it had sunk nearly an inch into the stone floor. “Uh, where do I-?”

Tirek waved his hand and teleported the blob away, answering Pear Butter’s question before she could even speak it. “That is most intriguing,” the centaur remarked, turning to a blushing Kanathara. “Do you think you could summon such acid again?”

The imp paused, and focused her magic inwards, quickly realizing that she could feel another mass of tar ready to be expelled whenever she so needed it. “Uh-huh.”

“Fascinating,” Tirek muttered, tapping his chin and looking down at the filly curiously.

“So does this mean we are getting the bigger room after all?” Rainbow Dash asked suddenly, flapping her way up to the bed and grinning.

Tirek sighed. “I suppose I did mention that, didn't I?” The centaur uncrossed his arms and shrugged. “You two are progressing faster than anticipated, and I suppose you have earned that much.”

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping a hoof in the air triumphantly.

“But,” Tirek began, raising a finger and stopping the minor demon before she had a chance to get too excited, “you both will be expected to help on missions, as well as going through extensive, and difficult training, which will count as your punishment.”

“That doesn't sound so bad,” Kanathara muttered.

“You will have new teachers, a series of tests, as well as a practical exam that will be overseen by myself and Cervantes,” Tirek concluded.

Rainbow Dash shrunk, her wings folding onto her back. “Well, that sucks.”

Kanathara, on the other hoof, didn't seem to mind and had just now realized the implications of the centaur's words. “Wait, does this really mean we can start going on missions for you?”

“Soon,” Tirek replied. “You are not quite ready to join anything big, but you will be expected to contribute where you can, when you can.”

The imp nodded slowly. “And the room? It wouldn't happen to be near the dungeons by chance, would it?”

Tirek raised an eyebrow. “No. Why do you ask?”

The filly frowned. “I just got used to the sound of screaming while I was falling asleep and the new room is too quiet.”

“Now that you mention it, that does explain why it was so hard to sleep,” Rainbow Dash added.

Pear Butter chuckled. “Aw shucks, if that's all you two need to get a good sleep then I’ll flay a prisoner outside your door every night for a week.”

“You would do that for us?” Kanathara asked, her eyes growing large.

“If your old man will let me, of course,” Pear Butter replied.

This meant that the centaur was now under the gaze of two furiously pouting young demons, melting the centaur’s will and causing him to sigh and run a hand down his face. “Fine, but only for the first week. After that, you will have to use recordings or just get used to it.”

“Yes!” the two demons yelled, high-fiving one another.

“But remember. Training will be far more intense now, and I will be expecting far more from you two, Kanathara especially,” Tirek added, pointing a finger into Kanathara’s chest. “Increased power comes with increased responsibility and trust me when I say you will be tested quite thoroughly.”

The imp stood up, puffing out her chest and putting on a brave face. “I won't let you down, father.”

“Good, because after that you may very well be ready for your graduation test,” Tirek explained, a cheeky smirk crossing his face.

“Wow,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “What does that mean, boss?”

Kanathara shook her head. “I don't know.”

“It means you might be finally ready for your first true challenge, and the next level of your training,” Pear Butter added, smiling down at the pair. “I just know you two will pass with flying colors, just don't rush it. Got it? This isn't a race and I’m sure your father would understand if you took your time and did things correctly.”

Kanathara nodded. “Yes, mom.”

Pear Butter recoiled, blushing furiously. “Oh my gosh,” she whispered under her breath, suddenly turning to Tirek. “She called me mom!”

The imp blushed as well, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly. “That isn't bad. Right?”

Tirek seemed on the verge of reprimanding the filly and Pear Butter equally, only for their combined cute looks to dash that thought. “Yes, I suppose that's fine,” he muttered.

The wrath demon squealed like a filly and suddenly hugged the centaur. “Oh thank you, boss!”

The fear demon sighed and rolled his eyes, brushing off the golden demon. “Yes, yes. Now if you are ready to get up, Kanathara, your golem will guide you to your new room where you can rest properly.”

“Yes, father.”

“You sure, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked nervously. “If you are not feeling up to it I can carry you back.”

Kanathra nodded. “Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. I feel much better now.”

Despite her mistress’ assurances, Rainbow Dash remained close by the imp’s side as she made her way off the bed and out the door. The rest of the room’s inhabitants all funneled outside, with Pear Butter nearly floating out of the room, her grin lighting up the room. “Oh, and Kanathara,” Tirek began, “good job.” The centaur reached down and gently ruffled the filly’s mane, before turning and leaving behind a beaming imp.

Pear Butter also paused and gave the filly another squishy hug. “I am so proud of you!” The wrath demon pulled back and held the filly at arm’s reach. “Now you better get plenty of rest. Got it?”

“Yes, moom,” Kanathara whined, crossing her hooves over her chest.

The wrath demon let out another girly squeal of delight before placing the filly on the ground and leaving as well, waving over her shoulder and glancing back every few steps. Kanathara sighed and nodded to Pythias, who was the last to leave, doing so after exchanging one last weak smile with the imp.

With no knowledge of where this new room was, Kanathara sighed. “Rainbow Dash, where is our room?”

“I don't know, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied with a shrug.

The imp turned and found their golem standing a few feet away, waiting patiently. “Do you know where our room is?”

The golem nodded, turned, and began walking away, leaving the two demons to shrug and follow the animated pile of rocks as it made its way deeper into the tower, towards their unseen goal. The regular hustle and bustle of the castle halls was no longer present, leaving the two demons to walk silently through the long passageways. One was calm and patient, her mind filled with thoughts of her most recent change and what it might mean for her and her familiar. The other walked awkwardly, a step behind the first demon and glancing down at her occasionally, nervousness getting the better of her.

Kanathara was not oblivious to this change, but merely filled that information away for now, waiting patiently for the time when they would have some peace and quiet before addressing that particular issue. In the meantime the imp merely kept an eye out on their new surroundings, noting that they were getting fairly close to the library.

Then, just as they were a single hall away, the golem stopped and began ascending a small, hidden staircase Kanathara had never seen anyone use. Without stopping, she quickly followed the small creature, ascending the stairs with a nervous Rainbow Dash in tow.

Several flights of stairs passed them by relatively quickly, and when they finally emerged, it was into a small landing that led to a large metal door that lacked a handle or ornament. The only reason Kanathara even knew it was a door was due to the small matt laid just outside.

“Uh, is this it?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking around at the small ten-foot by ten-foot area that the three beings were standing in.

The imp rolled her eyes and gestured to the door. “How do we get in?” she asked the golem.

The stone creature lifted a rocky hand and pressed it against the door, before looking at the imp, not so subtly telling her to mimic the action.

When Kanathara did so, the door immediately lit up with pale purple light, illuminating several runes and spell matrixes inlaid in the door. A second later the light dulled, and the door opened soundlessly, allowing the imp to push it the rest of the way open. The weightless door swung open easily, giving the pair of demons a view of the much larger and more luxurious room.

“Wow,” Rainbow Dash muttered, looking around the room and noting that the pair’s few possessions were already here, placed atop a nearby chest of drawers.

“Wow is right,” Kanathara echoed.

The room was a lot like their old one, only doubled in size, and with the addition of a small area near the door that had a rack for weapons, another for armor, and a third for normal clothes. It also had a small area that had a simple table, two chairs, and what looked like a stove, as well as some cabinets and a fridge.

“Ooh neat, a fridge,” Rainbow Dash muttered, trotting over to the the appliance and quickly opening it. “Daw, there's nothing in there.”

Kanathara chuckled, shaking her head. “I think we are going to have to get the food delivered here first.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Rainbow Dash muttered, closing the door and giving the thing a kick. “Still would've been nice to get some water or a steak.”

The imp turned to the golem standing nearby. “You may wait outside.”

The creature didn't move at first, looking from one demon to another, seemingly unsure of its next actions. That was until Rainbow Dash flew over to it and glared into the spots where the creature’s eyes should be. “You heard the boss. Get lost!”

Only then did the golem leave, walking outside and closing the door behind it.

“What an idiot,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snort.

“Hey, don't call him that. He's just doing his job,” Kanathara remarked half-heartedly, hopping up onto one of the beds and plopping down in a comfortable spot.

The other demon frowned and followed suit, sitting on her own bed and glaring at the door. “Well it's true, that thing is a constant barb in my flank. You would not believe how annoying that thing was while you were out.”

“Speaking of which. How exactly did you re-manifest anyway?” Kanathara inquired.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I don't know, to be honest. I just kinda woke up on the floor next to you in the hospital with a pissed-off Pear Butter breathing down my neck.”

“Hmm, odd,” Kanathara remarked, tapping her chin.

“Yeah so…” Rainbow Dash tapped her forehooves together awkwardly, her flaming mane dying down to little more than a simmer. “About that whole… thing.”

“I forgive you,” Kanathara stated simply, settling down on her bed and giving a little wiggle, enjoying just how incredibly soft the bed sheets were.

“I-but you-what?” Rainbow Dash muttered. “I betrayed you! I did the one thing I never said I would do and... and… I betrayed you!”

“I know. And you feel terrible.” The imp shrugged, sighing contentedly as she extended her hooves in all directions. “So I forgive you.”

“B-but you can't do that!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, hopping up on the bed. “I don't deserve it.”

Kanathara rolled onto her side and eyed the imp curiously. “What would you propose then?”

“I don't know! Punish me or something,” Rainbow Dash remarked, falling to her knees, tears budding at the corner of her eye. “Please give me a chance to make it up to you.”

The imp frowned, and glanced between the other demon and the stove, suddenly getting an idea. “You are going to make our meals from now on. Also, you will have weakly reading assignments.”

The other demon frowned and ground her teeth together, but in the end, couldn't argue against the words of her master. “Fine.”

“Good.” Kanathara yawned and wiggled her way to the top of the bed, slipping between the covers and sighing contentedly. “Now would you mind turning off the light and letting me get some sleep?”

The other demon nodded, hopping off her own bed and snuffing the enchanted candles that were all over the room. Once done, the demon hopped into her own bed and while grumbling to herself, crawled under the covers and remained still.

For a while Kanathara merely lay there, enjoying the peace and warmth that washed over her. That was until she heard Rainbow Dash grumble a little louder, hop out of her bed, and noisily shove the two beds together. The imp rolled her eyes, knowing very well what was coming next. Sure enough, her familiar slipped under Kanathara’s covers and wrapped her hooves around the imp’s form, holding her closely.

“Going to protect me from my dreams now?” Kanathara whispered.

“I just want to make sure you don't fall off your bed or something,” Rainbow Dash replied weakly.

The imp rolled her eyes and sighed. “You are such a goof.”

In no time at all, Kanathara found their comfortable spot and settled in for a long night of rest. Only one thing held her back, however, and that was something she knew would remedy itself in short order, all she needed to do was wait.

As she predicted, it took only a few minutes before Rainbow Dash rested her head on Kanathara’s, a content sigh slipping past her lips. “Thank you, my mistress.”

The imp grinned, squeezing Rainbow Dash’s hoof tightly. “It was just a moment of weakness. Something easily forgiven.”

“That's not what I meant.” Rainbow Dash sighed, squeezing the smaller filly tightly and snuggling a little closer. “Thank you, for coming back to me.”

Author's Note

Trial Three: Recon

Rainbow Dash stretched out like a cat, her large batlike wings flaring wide as her claws extended as far as possible. Both had changed significantly over the years, with her wings becoming large enough to support the mare’s fully grown body and easily able to surpass the size of all but the largest of winged demons. Two small claws donned the top of each wing, serving as little more than a way for the vengant to grab things easier while the nearly four inch long talons that extended above each hoof served as her primary damage dealers. The large hook like claws gleamed in the low light of the arena, her flowing mane and tail doing more to illuminate the demon than the ambient light in the room.

The vengant’s back cracked audibly, making the demon sigh contently as she worked out the last of the kinks, a wide smile allowing all to see her sharp teeth, two of which now visibly extended beyond her lips, joining her long serpentine tongue. Her black and red eyes sparkled with the pleasure of finally managing to get rid of the lingering pain in her back. She sighed, and gave her entire body a wiggle, running a clawed limb through her long fiery mane. A mane, which went from black at the base and red at the tips, fading from one color to the other. The mare smiled, and glanced down at the greyish black scales that covered her body, her gaze lingering on the many scars and marks left behind from the many, many missions she had been on over the years.

Each one was a point of pride for the vengant, a sign that she had grown stronger, and served her mistress better.Who was currently standing next to her familiar, the imp rolling her shoulder as her magic seeped into her leathery skin and healed the damage Cervantes’ last attack had done.

She too was larger, though she was still not even half as tall as the powerfully built vengeant who towered over most lesser demons, her long, lanky limbs ensuring she could glower down on any that threatened her diminutive mistress. Kanathara on the other hand had not changed much, her eyes still resembling that of a goat, with the square pupil within glowing faintly with a soft purple light, a sure sign that her magic had become more powerful. Her mane was longer, and tied into a tight braid that draped down the right side of her neck, numerous charms and other strange objects bound within it.

The horns that had only begun to bud from the sides of her head nineteen years ago, had long since grown to their full length. They extended from the sides of her head and twisted around themselves before jutting forward, appearing as a cross between that of a ram’s and a bull’s with the points of her horns extending to the point that they poked out beyond her muzzle. Her body had much fewer scars, the mare not valuing the less unpleasant physical signs of her success like Rainbow Dash had, preferring to keep small symbols of her many victories in the form of the charms that were tied into her braid.

Other than that, she was still much the same as she was all those years ago, her hair still a dark mix of purples, a stripe of pink and a stark black, while her skin was now nearly completely black, making her square purple pupils stick out even more than they would otherwise. Her tail was also done in a similar manner as her mane, and was braided in order to keep it from getting in the way. Not everyone could have hair made of fire after all, and Kanathara knew from experience just how disastrous an unkept mane and tail could be during a fight.

“Ready?” Kanathara asked, her magic winking out as her horns lost the trademark shimmer of the imp’s deep purple magic.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “When you are, boss.”

The two younger demons looked forward to where their trainer stood silently, a relatively plain longsword in each hand and an amused expression on his completely featureless face. The armor demon had several small shallow dents and scratches across his body, having suffered no changes to his overall being over the years safe for the addition of two stripes on his right pauldrum. One was a deep purple while the other was a vibrant crimson, and they represented the fact that he was no longer a teacher of many, and only tutured the two demons he now stood across from.

His body lowered, one foot extending in front of the other while his left arm jutted out as far and as low as possible, his right pulled back until his fist was next to his head, his blade pointed down at the two demons. This strange style was not a new one, and at first glance it looked ridiculous, but Kanathara and Rainbow Dash knew better than to underestimate it and its wielder. The odd standing position allowed the demon to block most attacks before they got anywhere close while the other was able to strike quickly, and without mercy. A style only capable of being used by a being without biological joints, and one who would never, ever tire or have to worry about straining himself in any way.

A mere glance between the familiar and mistress was all it took to signal the use of their newest, and oldest strategy.

With a great flap of her titanic wings, Rainbow Dash lifted from the ground and took to the air, the vengant able to fly over a dozen feet up in a single use of her leathery appendages. Her claws extended, her serpentine tongue weaving past her lips and reflexively tasting the air, and finding there was no fear, or any emotions at all coming from the armor demon. This was to be expected, but Rainbow Dash knew well that in the heat of the moment Cervantes sometimes let slip with an emotion or two and it was that tiny, almost imperceptible opening that she was looking for.

Kanathara lit her horns once more, and in the span of only a few seconds, cast numerous protection charms, and boosts on herself and her familiar. Speed, defence, strength, reaction time, and more were all increased considerably by the magically adept mare, their bodies glowing briefly as the enchantments settled. Their already enhanced demonic limbs grew stronger still, though both knew this would do little to truly bridge the gap between themselves and the millenia old armor demon.

Though it wasn't a perfect replacement for several eons of experience, it was all the young demons could do to try and reach past that nearly insurmountable divide that lay betwixt them and their opponent. All they knew that would come of these enhancements would be a slight increase in time between the battle’s beginning and their eventual loss. Despite this, they were not put down by the fact that their loss was inevitable, rather they were excited for a chance to push their luck and try to go for a record.

“We got this, boss,” Rainbow Dash announced, her mane and tail whipping excitedly in an unseen wind.

Kanathara set her jaw and nodded. “Stick to the plan.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Don't I always?”

The imp snorted, and lit her horns, taking a step forward and signalling the beginning of their attack. “Never.”

An explosion of lightning ripped across the room, flying directly at the armor demon. Who, with a twist of his wrist, sent the bolt flying to his right where it dissipated harmlessly against the wall of the gym. Within an instant of that happening Rainbow Dash was on him, having surged across the room, claws streaking towards his chest. Once more, the armor demon was faster than his opponent, twisting out of the way in a manner that would be impossible for an organic creature to accomplish.

Wrists snapped backwards, deflecting the demon’s clawed attacks before his entire body contorted, driving his armored foot up and into the exposed gut of the vengant. An attack she only saw at the last second, her wings pulling her mostly out of the blow, leaving only a small bruise rather than the shattered ribs that she would have received had she not retreated.

Acting on instinct, the demon extended her wings wide and buffeted the armor demon with a blast of wind, making Cervantes leap back lest his footing be lost. An opening that Kanathara exploited by loosing a crimson beam of concentrated fire directly into his center of mass. With most of his body airborne, there was little the armor demon could do, or at least, that's what Kanathara had hoped anyway.

Rather than have his chestplate vaporized by the condensed beam of heat, the demon suddenly extended one hand down, using his blade to vault himself directly upwards, and out of the blast. The imp wished she had the time to simply sit and view the battle from a distance, because that was a move as elegant as it was perfect.

Utilizing his upward momentum, he managed to turn his entire body around in mid-air in time to bring down a double bladed slash across the surprised vengant’s face. Scales hardened, and the young demon brought up her forelegs, using her enchanted limbs to hold back the blades, but not the force behind them.

The vengant was left spinning, her wings flapping haphazardly in order to keep her out of any follow up attack.

With the winged demon able to keep her height advantage, and Cervantes now falling back to the ground, he was unable to deliver any such follow up. Not like he had planned to, his blades were already a blur blocking the numerous colored projectiles Kanathara had sent his way. Each bolt made a distinct fizz pop sound as it impacted the demon’s weapons, the imp’s attacks having been rendered harmless before his feet even hit the ground.

Once they did, he rolled down and to the left and out of the way of Rainbow Dash’s swooping attack that had threatened to hit his exposed neck. The young vengant was sent sprawling once more as a blocked blade sent her careening to the right.

Kanathara ground her teeth together and teleported in order to put Rainbow Dash between herself and the armor demon, knowing full well that his plan was the same as usual. Split up the demon from her familiar, then isolate the spell caster, forcing her to fight a hand to hoof, and inevitably lose.

Rather than simply teleporting directly behind Rainbow Dash she also teleported several feet into the air, the momentum she had when she began her run carrying her several feet up and allowing her to fire off a trio of lightning bolts without having to worry about hitting Rainbow Dash. Lightning bolts that forced the armor demon to stop his relentless attack on the still off balance vengant.

With time to get her hooves under, Rainbow Dash pushed herself back and up, giving her head a brief shake in order to swiftly dispel what felt like a minor concussion. She knew her opening wouldn't last long though, and the vengant brought up her forelegs just in time to block a trio of attacks that would have cut her neck wide open had she not. One wing pumped harder than the other just as the last strike connected, and the winged demon spun, kicking one of the blades from Cervantes’ hand and sending it flying across the room.

Only for the flying blade to be caught by a leaping Cervantes a second before Kanathara’s telekinetic grip could take hold. Now airborne once more, the armor demon knew he was vulnerable and with a flick of his wrist he blocked several raking claw attacks Rainbow Dash had made. Next, he squeezed his body as tight as possible as he aimed his feet at the ground, narrowly dodging two thin beams of necromantic energy that whizzed past either side of him.

Now on the ground, the armor demon twisted his hips and used his lack of organic body to his advantage once more by kicking backwards, right where he knew the vengant would follow. A startled cry and the crunch of something wet beneath his heel told him his assumption was correct. Then, suddenly, he dropped both of his weapons and used his hands to push himself straight off the ground just as a wave of force rolled over the floor, the imp trying and failing to take advantage of the strange position he had been in.

Cervantes cartwheeled forward, picking up his weapons as he did all while dodging a stone spike which erupted from the ground where he had been standing a second earlier. The armor demon knew instantly what was happening, and knew that the imp was putting a barrier between him and her familiar in an attempt to recoup before he was able to strike again.

Something he would not allow.

A second later, just as Kanathara began to heal the shattered nose of her familiar and stop the flow of blackened blood that covered her forehooves and face, the earthen spike exploded under the force of a powerful kick. Before she even had a chance to register what had just happened several rocks were whipped at Kanathara’s head, forcing her to summon a shield. The debris exploded against the dense purple wall, creating a thick haze of dirt and shattered stone.

Kanathara’s eyes went wide and she lit her horns, trying to hold up her shield while casting a teleport spell. With her attention divided she wasn't able to hold up her shield fully and a split second before the teleport fired a sword arced through her barrier, cutting through the magical wall like it was little more than butter.

The long, elegant blade arced toward the top of her head with all the speed of a lightning bolt, stopping only when it was mere millimeters from the mare’s unprotected head.

With a sigh, Kanathara dropped her spell casting and sunk to the floor, breathing heavily. “You win this time, Cervantes.”

“Whuh?” Rainbow Dash muttered, looking around. “Where is he- oh, fuck.”

The vengant slowly lowered herself to the ground, the armor demon’s second blade never leaving the younger demon’s throat. “You win again, Cervantes,” Rainbow Dash muttered angrily.

The armor demon stood back and smiled, placing the blades in the sheaths at his hips and dispelling the dirt still hanging in the air with a mighty clap of his hands.

Both of the younger demons blinked, their vision now clear of debris, allowing them to see the armor demon standing there with an expectant look on his face.

“I should have teleported us first, then caltropped and healed,” Kanathara muttered. “Or utilized a thicker blocking spell rather than just a spike.”

“And I should have known you were leading me into something,” Rainbow Dash said with a sigh. “Attack the truly exposed, not just the easy target.”

Cervantes looked from one demon to the other before slowly nodding, and looking past the mares and towards the door.

Alerting both of the other demons that someone had just entered the room.

“You fought well,” a deep voice announced, a slight hint of pride slipping into his tone. “You truly have come a long way compared to all those years ago.”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “And we have longer still to go before we can lay a scratch on ol’ Cervy over here.”

The armor demon bowed low, an arm across his stomach.

“You have done well, old friend,” Tirek complimented, giving the other demon a nod.

“Not that I’m unhappy to see you, father, but why are you here?” Kanathara asked, looking up at the fear demon inquisitively. “You don't usually oversee our training.”

“Can I not come visit my daughter whenever I please?” Tirek remarked with a pout. “Is she too old for her father to see her anymore?”

Rainbow Dash snickered. “Pretty sure you have to put in a request a week earlier with how thoroughly scheduled the boss lady has our days.”

Tirek and Rainbow Dash laughed while Kanathara blushed, shooting a glare at both of the other demons. “A good schedule is the sign of an orderly life, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara remarked.

“And all work and no play makes Rainbow Dash a dull girl,” the vengant replied with a smirk.

The imp smirked, and lit her horns, causing Rainbow Dash to blink as her nose was surrounded by a field of glowing purple energy. Energy that grabbed and twisted it back into place before healing it. “Gods dammit,” Rainbow Dash half-yelled as she gripped her face. “Warn me before you do that!”

This time it was Kanathara’s and Tirek’s turn to snicker at the vengant’s pain.

“So, why are you here, father?” the imp asked after they had exhausted their humour at Rainbow Dash’s pain.

“Mostly to check up on you. A father must take every opportunity to pamper his daughter after all,” Tirek remarked, turning away from the imp before she had a chance to ask what he meant.

Beckoning with a hand, Tirek prompted a familiar golem to pad across the floor, its features having long since been sculpted into the appearance of a baby dragon. Its short clawed hands were outstretched and carrying a large platter covered with food, as well as a bottle with a glowing, swirling mass of energy that Kanathara recognized as a soul at the center.

Her mouth watered and she watched closely as the golem crossed the room and placed the platter on the floor before them before taking a step back. Even Rainbow Dash had gotten over her pain, the pleasant aroma of a bloody steak making her forget all about her formerly broken nose.

“Oooh, is that what I think it is?” she asked, floating over to the platter, her long tongue hanging from her mouth.

“If you think it's authentic beef, served blue with a side of freshly plucked eyeballs, then you are correct,” Tirek remarked, only to slap Rainbow Dash’s hoof away as she tried to reach for the small plate of eyeballs. “Remember your manners, filly.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and spoke in unison with Kanathara, “Thank you, father.”

Tirek nodded. “Good girls. Now eat up, we have a meeting to get to after this.”

The imp gasped, the pickled liver she held falling out of her aura and splatting against the platter. “Really? Does that mean you have another mission for us, father?”

“Maybe,” Tirek replied coyly, gesturing back to the plate of food. “That depends on how well you eat of course.”

The imp and her familiar both set to work devouring everything in sight, inhaling all the piles of meat with reckless abandon, splattering the area in blood as they chewed noisily. Tirek chuckled as he watched the two young demons tear into their meal, his mind going back to the last nineteen years and all of the trials and tribulations the pair had faced together. Missions that many of his more senior demons had qualed at had been completed by these two young Equestrians, earning them a unique place in the echelon of his minions.

More than that they had also grown significantly over the last nearly two decades they had been in his care. He no longer fretted over attachment, the small part of the centaur’s mind that had long since given up and admitted defeat being quickly joined by the rest of him over the last nineteen years. They were simply too cute, and with his power, and skills he had bestowed upon them, he no longer had to fear that they would be taken from him suddenly.

And they truly were powerful.

Each demon possessing a unique ability that made them invaluable as a team, and a dangerous asset alone. The many kills and victories they had under their belt was a testament to this fact, though even if Tirek knew not of their successes, he would still be able to feel their growing power at a mere glance.

Rainbow Dash’s power felt like a barely contained explosion, ready to emerge at a moment’s notice and destroy all that lay before her in raging inferno. In contrast Kanathara’s powers felt more subdued, her soul’s raw power smaller than the true demon’s, though Tirek knew her cunning and intelligence more than made up this difference.

He no longer fought the urge to smile as he looked down over the demons he had helped shape into the creatures he saw today. Even as the two demons glared at one another, the platter clear save for the small soul jar in the center, Tirek still felt pride.

Though that pride was diminished somewhat when the two demons ultimately ended up sharing the soul, rather than fighting over it, or simply taking turns on who got to consume it.

The glowing wisp of energy emerged from the jar, and shot straight up, only to be caught by Kanathara, who pulled it back down and began to inhale just as Rainbow Dash did the same. In the end, the soul was pulled in both directions, its essence being torn in twain and consumed by the demons. As more and more of the soul vanished past the mares’ lips, the demons drew closer and closer until finally when the soul disappeared, they were but millimeters apart.

Tirek rolled his eyes and coughed, bringing the young demons back down from the high they were experiencing and making them notice the awkward position they were now in.

“Err, sorry father,” Kanathara muttered, a blush crossing her features.

Rainbow Dash gulped, and awkwardly hid herself behind her mane, which had moved itself down in order to cover her blushing cheeks. “Yeah, sorry boss.”

The centaur chuckled silently to himself. “It's good to see you two bond, but do try and do that behind closed doors, or at least out of view of your parent.”

Both female demons blushed a little harder at that, making Tirek snicker.

“So uh, are we going to the meeting yet?” Kanathara asked.

“Well I was going to ask you a few questions about how far you two have come, but I think I’ve already answered all of my own questions,” Tirek remarked, pushing himself back into a standing position.

“Wait, another meeting...” Rainbow Dash’s eyes suddenly lit up and she hopped up. “Does that mean you finally found that superiority demon from all those years ago?”

Tirek smirked. “That particular endeavour is going better than it has in a decade, and I think we are finally ready to start moving against him. We just need to take a few of his pieces off the board before we can truly knock him down a peg or three.”

“Fuck yes,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping a hoof in the air.

Kanathara chuckled at her familiar’s antics. “Does this mean our final test is finally coming?”

“It might be,” Tirek replied coyly. “You are not trying to move out already, are you?”

“No way father!” the imp yelled back. “I have yet to slay all your enemies after all.”

“Atta girl.” The centaur leaned down and ruffled the filly’s mane. “Who's my little killer?”

“I am!” Kanathara declared, her entire body leaning towards the centaur as he rubbed her head.

Rainbow Dash pouted and tramped over to the centaur’s side. “And what about me? I’ve killed like a bajillion demons by now.”

Tirek rolled his eyes and began to pet the vengant as well, his hand running down her back, carefully avoiding her flaming mane and tail. “Yes, yes. You’ve done admirably as well.”

“Aww yeah,” Rainbow Dash murmured, the former pony arching her back like a cat as Tirek’s hand ran down her scaly exterior.

For a moment Kanathara simply stood there and enjoyed the attention she was receiving, something about the act of getting petted calming her more than almost anything else did. That was until she realized the depth of Tirek’s statement. “Wait!” she yelled suddenly, turning and staring Tirek in the eye. “Does that mean you're finally going to send me on my quest to kill Celestia soon?”

The centaur stopped and pulled back his hands, a strange expression crossing his face. It was oddly reserved, and almost nervous in a way and it made Kanathara wonder what exactly it meant. “Not yet anyway,” he muttered, before giving his head a shake and rising to a full stand. “Regardless, that is a discussion for a later date. Now, we have a meeting to get to.”

“Daww, you just had to go and ruin it,” Rainbow Dash whined.

The imp rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever. Now stop stretching out like some sort of overgrown feline and get ready to move.”

The vengant snorted in irritation, but couldn't muster the effort to put any actual hate into the action. With a shrug, she gave herself a shake, the last of her wounds having just finished healing naturally. With a belly full of food, and a promise of bloodshed, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash trotted excitedly behind Tirek, whom had already turned and left, leaving Barb the golem to clean up the last of their mess by itself.

Something neither demon cared about in the slightest.

The trio made their way quickly through the halls, demons and other creatures ducking into doorways or moving to the side in small shows of respect for the master of the Ebon Tower. Rainbow Dash strode pridefully behind Tirek, her larger status allowing her to stand almost halfway up the centaur’s midsection. Kanathara was anything but prideful, and though she felt small walking behind the two enormous demons, she didn't feel inadequate, only annoyed that their longer legs made it so she had to basically run to keep up.

Soon, she thought to herself. Soon, I will be as tall as them, and maybe even taller still. The final test is coming, I just know it.

With the possibility of her graduation looming over her, the imp felt a familiar sense of hope she hadn't experienced in many long years. A hope that made her steps lighter and her worries almost non-existent, after all, she was finally going to take the last step, and become a true demon, one who would be able to finally enact the revenge her father so craved.

Kanathara leaned down and glanced through the legs of her father and familiar, looking forward and quickly realizing that she had zoned out for longer than she first thought, having robotically followed the pair deep into the tower. For at the end of the hall stood the familiar black iron doors that contained the debriefing room.

Memories of all the other times Kanathara and Rainbow Dash had been there flashed before their minds, reminding them of past glories and possible future victories.

The imp barely even felt her hooves touch the floor, nearly floating in excitement as she followed behind the two larger demons.

With a wave of his hand Tirek opened the doors, the slight glow around his digits fading as quickly as it first appeared. As the black iron doors opened inwards, Kanathara caught a glimpse of the demons within. To the right of the door, waiting dutifully was the sewn seer, her familiar red and gold robes standing in stark contrast to the robes she used to wear all those years ago.

Gone was the collar she had worn, as well as her frail frame, replaced by a much more robust physique that although not as well-muscled as Rainbow Dash’s or even Kanathara’s was a far cry from the emaciated body she used to have. A vibrant purple and black scarf covered her mouth and neck, obscuring her sewn lips, yet even still Kanathara knew the seer was smiling.

The imp felt a wave of pride well from within her when she looked upon the seer, proud that she had subtly convinced her father to allow the seer more freedom, and even getting rid of that ghastly chain she had been forced to wear. With more food in her belly, and even the occasional soul, the demon had been allowed to grow, though that mostly meant vertically, the biped now easily standing taller than even Tirek. Her long arms now ended in long clawed fingers, her skin having become a burnt gold at about the same time her cloven hooves and large horns had come in.

The hoofed feet that Kanathara had assumed would be difficult to walk on proved a small challenge for the bipedal demon. Though her horns seemed far worse a challenge than her change in locomotion however, the large growths emerging from the forefront of her head and curling up and over her head before extending back beyond several inches. The seer had confided in Kanathara that it was annoying to try and sleep on her back, but her evolution had also come with assurances that she no longer even needed to unless she desired the chance to dream.

Beyond the seer was Pear Butter, who was seated at the table and had looked bored until the second she had turned and seen Tirek, Rainbow Dash and Kanathara. Then, her eyes lit up, and the large golden scaly demon ran up to the imp, scooping her and vengant up in a deep, bone crushing hug. “That was a wonderful match with Cervantes! You both did great!” she commented, pulling back long enough to check over the now winded demons. “You didn't get too hurt, did you?”

“No, mother,” Kanathara whined. “And I’m almost twenty, you can't keep picking me up like this.”

“Of course I can! I am your mom after all,” Pear Butter shot back, giving the mare a wink.

Rainbow Dash groaned, and let her body dissolve into shadow, the vengant appearing several feet away. “What did I tell you about hugs?” the demon lamented.

Pear Butter rolled her eyes, and placed the imp back down on the floor. “Pretend all you want, but I felt you hug back.”

Rainbow Dash blushed. “Whatever,” she muttered, looking away.

The large wrath demon snickered to herself as she trotted back to her chair to Tirek’s right.

Kanathara smiled, happy to see that Pear Butter was as normal as ever, the years having done little to change the powerful quadrupedal demon. Sure she was a little taller, had a little more bulk to her, and had finally managed to master the limited magic she could do, but other than that Pear Butter remained the one thing in Kanathara’s life that seemingly refused to change overly much.

Though now that she thought about it, she could have sworn that the look Tirek and Pear Butter had exchanged seemed a little more heated than normal. Their arguments had long since stopped, and the imp had the sneaking suspicion that their relationship had been one of the few things that had changed over the years. Something neither of them would confirm, or most tellingly, deny.

Kanathara giggled as she took a seat to Pear Butter’s right, with Rainbow Dash quickly standing beside her, not taking a seat and merely waiting at her mistress’ beck and call. It was then that Kanathara noticed the last of the room’s inhabitants, the devilish goat demon Sissyphus. Who was leaning against the wall, the demon balancing a knife on his fingertip as he looked down his nose at the demons gathered around the long obsidian table.

Noticing that everyone else was sitting already, he flicked the dagger up, and caught it in its scabbard, before pulling up a seat to Tirek’s left. The trickster demon had changed the least of anyone over the years, though Kanathara knew that was only physically. The demon had grown to become strangely well trusted by Tirek, having taken on numerous perilous missions for the fear demon over the years, while also doing overwatch for most of the excursions Kanathara and Rainbow Dash had gone on in the last decade and a half.

“I see you brought back the brats,” Sisyphus announced, a haughty smirk plastered to his face, as usual. “Let me guess, I’m going to be playing babysitter again, aren't I?”

Tirek sighed. “Would you keep the comments for the end of the briefing at least? You are getting more predictable with each passing year, Sissyphus.”

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash snickered to themselves while the trickster demon actually seemed shocked for a second, before he shook his head and sat back in his chair, an oddly contemplative expression on his face.

“With the usual banter out of the way, let’s get on with the reason we are all here, shall we?” Tirek offered, gesturing down to the center of the table, his hand aglow with power.

A second later and a small tower as well as the surrounding area suddenly popped into existence. The miniature representation of the next mission area slowly turned in the center of the table, giving everyone a clear view of the small fissure the tower was built within, as well as the many chunks of the structure that had fallen off it. The blasted landscape around the tower was relatively barren, with the tower itself being nestled relatively close to the side of a cliff that nearly surrounded it. It looked abandoned, the blasted grey stone having been scorched black in some places while in others great holes had been punched through the entire building.

There was no road up to the entrance, nor a single path in sight for that matter. It was a small thing, but Kanathara noticed that there were no tracks leading to the tower from any direction, further supporting the idea that it was truly abandoned.

Rainbow Dash leaned forward, a hoof on her chin. “Looks abandoned, but like, too perfectly. Like someone wanted it to look abandoned.”

“Good eye, Rainbow Dash,” Pear Butter complimented.

“My thoughts exactly,” Tirek added, leaning closer. “Something would have taken up residence there, be it a minor demon or a small group of imps, the structure should not be abandoned after such time.”

He pointed a finger to the floating image, the tower itself growing slightly larger in response. “Your target is in there. Scouts have been able to find evidence that this superiority demon is hiding something important within that tower, and I want it secured.”

“Yeesh, you still keeping up that grudge from twenty years ago?” Sisyphus asked.

Tirek snorted irritably. “Some no name demon from the lower circles tried to take something of mine, of course I am going to hunt him down.” The centaur smirked. “Besides, I have acquired information that he has something worth taking. Kanathara, do you remember what I told you about the number of keepers that can exist?”

“That there is a finite number of them, meaning if I were to become one, I would need to take the body and soul of one already living,” Kanathara replied, cocking her head. “Why?”

“Because this foolish demon has a keeper in his possession and it is your target for this mission. After that your training will be nearly complete.” Tirek smiled. “You will have but to study the magic that only a full demon can access and then, your ascension will be complete.”

“And then we can kill Celestia?” the imp asked expectantly.

“That's… something we can talk about later,” Tirek muttered, shaking his head. “Don't get too caught up in the future, Kanathara, you have yet to pass the last test of your ability, and arrogance has killed many a demon before.”

The imp sighed and crossed her hooves over her chest, muttering darkly to herself.

“I don't think we have to worry about that, boss,” Rainbow Dash interjected. “Kanathara is one of the most humble demons around, I’m sure she's just eager to strike down your greatest enemy.”

Pear Butter smiled faintly. “And I’m sure Tirek appreciates that, but I think you should heed his words. Unless you put one foot in front of the other, you are bound to trip over yourself.”

The vengant took a step back and frowned, remaining silent.

“Besides, you haven't even seen what you are up against,” Tirek announced, pointing back to the image of the tower which had been replaced by what looked like a twisted and malformed earth pony of truly massive stature. “We don't know what type of demon it is, but suffice it to say it's not something to be trifled with.”

Kanathara peered closer, studying the hulking monstrosity closely. Its legs were as thick as tree trunks, and its neck was nearly non existent, its small beady eyes peering out from the disturbing mass of muscle that was its body. Thin strands of gold and orange hair seemed to pepper the creature’s face and head at random, with the only part of its mane that was still intact being a single short braid of hair falling from the left side of its head. The rest of its body was a faint teal, and covered in patchy short hair. It lacked a tail, though it did have what looked like the warped version of a cutie mark in the form of a trio of interlocking triangles aligned in such a way that they made a fourth triangle within the arrangement.

“Does it have any abilities we know of?” Kanathara asked.

“Other than looking ugly as sin?” Rainbow Dash added.

“None that we know of,” Tirek replied. “You are to give this creature a wide berth until you've had a chance to discern its weaknesses.”

“Got it,” The imp replied.

“Do we at least know the name of this superiority demon?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“I’m not wholly certain, but I have a strong suspicion that it's a former pony by the name of Starswirl the Bearded,” Tirek replied, conjuring an image of an old grey bearded unicorn stallion and replacing the monstrous pile of flesh that had been there a moment earlier.

“Oh, I remember him from my lessons!” Kanathara added. “He was a really good pony magician, and wrote the first treatise on demonology! Or at least the first Equestrian treatise anyway.”

“That is correct, Kanathara,” Pear Butter commended. “And though we know not how he ended up down here, or what he looks like now, we know he is strong, and capable of commanding not only a keeper of secrets, but also whatever that thing is.”

“All we do know,” Tirek continued, “is that the keeper, the beast, and Starswirl were all members of an organization called the Pillars, and they were generally considered heroes of Equestria until they vanished during the lunar rebellion a thousand Equestrian years ago.”

“The schools told us they passed away due to natural causes at about that time, but there wasn't any real explanation to back that up,” Pear Butter added.

The trickster demon snorted. “Probably sacrificed his buddies to gain eternal youth or something and fucked it up somewhere along the way.” The goat demon waved his hand at the screen. “That guy just screams power mad, even as a pony.”

“True,” Pear Butter muttered.

“Well, whatever the reason, he's here, and has been a thorn in my side for too long,” Tirek exclaimed. “That is reason enough to dispose of him, the fact that he has a keeper is just a pleasant bonus.”

“So is this history lesson gonna help us figure out where this mysterious keeper is or what?” Rainbow Dash asked, only to get a glare from Kanathara. “What? Someone had to ask.”

Tirek rolled his eyes. “As I was about to say, we have come to believe that not only is that thing, Rockhoof, a former Pillar, but this keeper is a former mare by the name of Mistmane.”

The centaur pointed back to the center of the table where the image of a shapely unicorn mare in the prime of her life now stood. It took a whole second for Kanathara to even notice that she was indeed a demon, and not only that but a keeper of secrets. Her mane was a long flowing teal, floating on an ethereal wind that made the hair cascade around the intimidating ram horns that sprouted from either side of her head. Her long shapely legs easily made her the tallest quadruped the imp had ever seen, though more striking than her height was her sheer beauty.

She was truly a sight to behold, with the imp unable to stop her eyes from following the deeper blue lines of power that circled her horns, and cascaded down her body, weaving into a complex pattern of sigils and symbols most of which Kanathara couldn't even begin to comprehend. Power seemed to radiate off the image in waves, with the imp’s eyes perpetually drawn up her body and then back down again, following the mare’s many curves, which were only partially hidden by the wisp-like tattered cloak that partially covered her.

The last thing she noticed was the large book bound around the demon’s neck by a set of black chains. The book and chains were so out of place that it was a testament to the demon’s beauty that Kanathara didn't notice it right away but now that she did she couldn't help but recoil. It was an ugly tome, the pages of which seemed to drip a steady stream of black goo. The cover was a twisted mass that made it looked like it was made from the leather of several different creatures. On the spine were several strange glowing red glyphs that made the imp feel uneasy to even look at.

“Damn, she's hot,” Rainbow Dash muttered, only to look around. “What? You can't say I was the only one thinking that.”

Pear Butter rolled her eyes while Kanathara only nodded weakly.

Tirek sighed, waving his hand over the display and making it once more show the tower and the surrounding area. “Your goal is to secure the keeper and bring her back here. Sissyphus will guard the extraction point, you will move out in two days’ time. Understood?”

Both Kanathara and Rainbow Dash both saluted the centaur. “Yes, father!”

“You can count on us, boss man!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

“Good. Now I think you two have some last minute training to do, isn't that right?”

The two younger demons both nodded. “Don't worry, father, we will be ready,” Kanathara announced confidently.

“See to it that you are,” Tirek replied, his tone grim. “For this is a test of everything you have learned in the past nineteen years.”

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Trial Three: Ultimatum

Mistmane sighed heavily, running a hoof down Rockhoof’s cheek as she lounged on a small mound of pillows that served as her couch, bed and only real comfort in the otherwise relatively bare stone tower. “I don't know how, but Tartarus feels even more dreary than usual,” she lamented, looking out one of the few windows that weren't simply cracks in the wall.

The mountain of malformed muscle currently serving as her arm rest grunted noncommittally. “I wouldn't have even imagined it was possible. It's Tartarus after all, yet there are clouds overhead that remind me of rain,” she pointed out.

Rockhoof opened one eye, looked out the window, noticed there were indeed clouds and grunted once more, closing his eyes.

“They are probably left over from whatever experiment Starswirl had been cooking up now that I’ve traded one prison for another,” Mistmane commented.

Rockhoof growled deeply, motes of dust vibrating across the ground from the sheer volume of his disgust.

“Yes, I know he is cruel, and although we do have more privacy here, it is still rather disconcerting to have him out of my sight for so long,” the keeper of secrets pointed out. “I may not be able to do much, but at least I could try to dissuade the deluded bastard before he did anything too stupid.”

Rockhoof snorted dismissively.

“He's a vile, repulsive little worm of a stallion and there is no telling what he's up to now that I am not there to keep tabs on him.” Mistmane paused, tapping her chin as she thought back to the last few days she had spent in the other prison. “I wonder if he was going to launch that attack he had always talked about. Now that would be entertaining to see. Two of Equestria’s greatest demons in a grudge match of the century.”

Rockhoof breathed in and out quickly, the sound being the closest approximation to laughter that he was capable of.

“Yes, that would be rather amusing, wouldn't it? Maybe they would do us all a favor and kill one another,” Mistmane mused, a small smile gracing her tender features. “The war would put back the demon population for a generation or two.”

The enormous beast Mistmane was half-leaning on smiled as much as he could and began to laugh once more, only for his nose to twitch. A deep guttural growl escaped the beast’s throat and he looked up to the window with hate in his eyes.

“Oh? Do we have visitors again?” Mistmane sighed. “I hope it's not the same imps as last time. I’m getting rather tired of them constantly escaping with missing limbs. Pretty soon they are going to be little more than torsos and that would just be sad to see, even for an imp.”

Rockhoof rose suddenly, shaking his head as he made his way over to the window and pointed his nose to the right in the distance.

Mistmane rose along with him, following the behemoth’s gaze down to where she saw nothing of note. Lighting her horns, the demon summoned her magic and pulled forth a mote of her essence, guiding it up into the air and around the bend in the rocks. Seeing more nothing, Mistmane’s face scrunched up and though she considered merely scratching that up to Rockhoof’s faded mental state, she decided to trust him and cast another spell. This time the spell did what it was supposed to, and revealed an obscured cave hidden several miles away.

“My oh my, that's no mere imp,” she mused aloud. “Whomever it is, they are quite adept at illusion magic, not as good as me, but still good.”

Pushing the mote of magic closer, Mistmane’s eyes glazed over completely, the demon peering intently at the cave, but only after she made sure her essence was thoroughly hidden from normal and magical sight. Looking closer, the demon was able to see a shape deep within the cave, the bipedal demon illuminated by the deep red of the portal it was holding open.

“Most curious,” Mistmane muttered. “This is more serious than some imp looking for a place to roost.”

Rockhoof snorted irritably, agreeing with her.

“Let’s see who we are dealing with this time, hmm?” The mare’s eyes narrowed. “I sure hope it's not that slimy Greedo character again, I would have hoped he would have learned his lesson the first time.”

The behemoth snorted and stamped his hoof, sending a small tremor through the stone structure.

Mistmane blinked “Oh right, he's dead for good this time, isn't he?”

Rockhoof nodded.

“I never can remember how many of his enemies are dead and how many of them are dead dead,” Mistmane remarked as she watched the trickster demon force the portal wider. “Wait, something's happening.”

She watched closely as through the portal trotted a large, four-legged scaly ashen-colored demon, her glowing red eyes studying her surroundings critically. “A vengant, interesting. A full grown one at that, if her mane is anything to go by. Quite the wing span too, though I wonder who your master is, little Equestrian.”

A second later her question was answered when a second Equestrian trotted through the portal, this one dramatically smaller than the long-legged vengant. Mistmane blinked, the disguise on her remote viewing spell flickering as she was taken aback by the sight. “An imp? But how could a mere imp collar a vengant?” Mistmane remarked curiously. “This grows more and more intriguing by the moment, don't you think, Rockhoof?”

The behemoth merely snorted as Mistmane leaned against him, her eyes still distant as she watched the scene unfold.

“Surely there must be more to this motley crew than two Equestrians and a trickster demon,” Mistmane whispered to herself.

As if on cue the portal snapped shut, and the trickster demon stepped back, dusting off his hands before leaning against the wall.

“Well I’ll be,” the demoness muttered.

Rockhoof rolled his eyes and looked up at her expectantly.

“No, you cannot crush them,” Mistmane remarked with a chuckle. “They could be useful, you know, that imp especially.”

The great mass of twisted flesh cocked his head as much as his lack of neck would allow.

“Because, Rockhoof, Equestrians have one thing other demons do not. Something that may just help us escape Starswirl’s wretched clutches once and for all.”

The beast snorted once more, as if asking the mare to elaborate.

“Kindness, my dear Rockhoof.” Mistmane smiled. “Even Equestrian demons are capable of it, and that is the only thing that's going to get us out of here.”

“-so don't think you can boss me around, kiddo,” Sissyphus remarked at the imp standing before him.

Who simply rolled her eyes at the demon. “I wouldn't dream of it,” she remarked.

“Good, because I’ve been informed I have to guard this stupid gate with my life and I don't need you abusing the fact that you can yell at me in my head with your freaky telepathy spell,” the trickster demon continued.

“You know if you really want to help us, you could just ask the boss to put someone else on guard duty,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Sissyphus sighed and ran a hand through his slick black hair. “I would, but the boss wasn't exactly a fan of me skipping out last time, so I would need to be told explicitly by little miss horns over here.”

Kanathara smirked and started walking away, a hoof tapping away at her chin. “Hmmm, getting a favor from Sissyphus. Now that would be a useful thing, what do you say, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash chuckled, glancing over her shoulder at the slightly nervous trickster demon. “That would be rather useful, wouldn't it?”

“You two are the worst,” Sissyphus replied.

Kanathara snickered. “You know the rules, Sissy. Nothing is free down here, and that goes double for good deeds.”

The goat demon frowned. “Aw come on, you don't have to do this, guys. Remember how I helped you back in the fourth layer?”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Yeah, and I remember when you didn't help out two months before that when we were dealing with that pit spawn.”

Kanathara chuckled, stopping at the edge of the illusion. “You have to admit, Sissyphus, you don't really give us much reason to help you out.”

“Fine, fine,” Sissyphus muttered. “But don't come crawling to me when you get in too deep and need your old pal Sissyphus to pull you out by the ankles.”

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Isn't that right, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked, taking her position next to the imp.

“You are damn right,” Kanathara replied, puffing out her chest. “You remember the plan, RD?”

“Scout the area, stay back, don't reveal our hand until we know what we are dealing with.” The vengant nodded. “I remember.”

“Good. Because I really don't want a replay of-” Kanathara began, only to be interrupted by an angry, and embarrassed huff.

“That was three years ago, boss! I told you it wouldn't happen again,” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Sorry, sorry.” Kanathara smirked, bumping her hip against Rainbow Dash’s leg. “You sure you got room in there?”

“Oh I think I do,” Rainbow Dash shot back with a smirk of her own.

“Oh what are you? Succubi?” Sissyphus remarked with a gag. “Find a room, or invite me. Either way get it over with.”

Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out at the other demon. “Don't look now, Sissy, but I think your turning green with envy.”

“Yeah whatever,” the goat demon muttered.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “Remember, patience is the watchword of the day.”

“Yeah yeah. Let's just get this waiting over and done with already. I’m itching for a fight,” the vengant replied.

The imp giggled, her form slowly losing consistency as her now smokey appendages dissipated into a plume of ash that circled around the vengant’s hooves and slipped beneath her scales. The larger demon shuddered at the sensation, feeling a sudden weight settle into her guts as her mistress’ essence coiled within her own. It took mere seconds, but by the end of it the vengant was left with a strange heat that had begun to build between her legs.

“We are going to fuck, so much when we get home,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

And you are going to brush your teeth before and after, Kanathara shot back. Seriously, it feels like you haven't bothered in weeks.

“Oh pisha, you like it when we get a little dirty,” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk.

Just get moving already, before I decide to have you whipped, Kanathara exclaimed.

“That is so hot,” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself as her own form began to lose consistency, twisting and warping as it shrank smaller and smaller.

Until finally the vengant was gone, replaced by a small ash-colored bat with large fangs poking out from either side of its mouth. Its leathery wings beat silently, and it remained in mid-air for several more seconds as a glow emanated from within it, twisting its form further until it looked like little more than a wisp of smoke.

Is it ready? Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara did a quick scan of their body. Looks like it.

With the spell cast, the now invisible bat took off, emerging through the illusionary wall and ascending into the sky on soundless wings. To any regular passersby they would be completely invisible, their body obscured by an intricate invisibility spell, the sound of their wings rendered utterly silent due to sheer skill alone. Even their scent would be all but undetectable, hidden behind a minor charm that made the slightly ashy scent that clung to their body non-existent.

Though they flew confidently through the air, sure that they could not be detected by magical or mundane means, Kanathara instantly felt a strange sensation creep up their back. She couldn't place it exactly, the feeling being akin to one she got when being watched, yet it wasn't quite that same spine tingling sensation she knew from experience.

It was a lingering, unnerving feeling that made the imp distinctly aware of the fact that she wasn't wanted here. Strange though it may be, the longer they flew through the air and made slow circles around the tower and the surrounding area, the more it began to fade. Until finally, upon the eighth circle, it became little more than a distant feeling the imp had to focus on in order to summon it.

You felt it too, huh? Rainbow Dash asked.

Yes. It felt like we were being watched. Did you see anything? Kanathara replied.

Images and memories flashed through their mind until finally the imp was sure that they had seen nothing that would have explained this alien sensation. There were no enchantments lying hidden beneath them, either on the tower itself or on the surrounding area. A few imps could be seen scrounging through the wasteland, but they were on the very edge of their periphery. As Kanathara thought about it, she quickly realized that fact was odd in itself.

Shouldn't someone have tried to move into this tower? Rainbow Dash thought, picking up on her mistress’ line of thinking instinctively.

Yes. Souls tend to linger and gather around familiar sights and locations, and this is the only vaguely normal structure for miles in any direction, the imp thought back. Stranger still is the fact that I can feel several weak souls below us, yet the bottom feeders seem to be giving this place a wide berth.

Seems like someone has trained them to stay away. I even saw a few that seemed injured, some even missing limbs, Rainbow Dash offered, showing her mistress the things she had seen while on one of her wider loops.

Very odd. Bring us closer to the tower, slowly. I want to test something, and see what we are truly up against here, Kanathara commanded.

They nodded their head and began a lazy, circling descent towards the tower, their wings carrying them down from the ashen clouds they had been lingering near.

Eventually they were able to get close enough to the tower to reach out and touch it, something Rainbow Dash urged them to do, if for nothing else then to at least dismiss the paranoia currently running rampant in their mind. Kanathara reluctantly gave into the suggestion, allowing their body to land on what was left of the battlement atop the very tip of the tower. When nothing happened, they looked around, getting a better look at their surroundings.

Behind them a small wooden door lay shattered, a boulder sized hunk of rock crushing it, and subsequently blocking the hole. A closer look told them that the stairs down were sealed tight by smaller rocks and debris that filled the space, meaning it would not, and could not serve as an easy ingress point.

We could turn to smoke? Rainbow Dash offered.

No, I have a feeling it's sealed completely. Continue getting a closer look, and pay attention to the windows and door. I have a feeling those areas will give us a clue on how to get inside without being detected, Kanathara thought back.

On it, boss.

Rainbow Dash turned their body and leapt from the piece of stone, swooping down and around the tower in slow circles. Though it took several minutes to do completely silently, the pair were able to thoroughly inspect the other entrances, only to find that the holes they had thought they saw during the debriefing turned out to be little more than illusions, revealing solid stone walls behind. Windows they had thought entered into the tower were either illusions as well, or simply entered ruined roms with no way of accessing deeper into the tower itself.

Odd, Kanathara murmured, their mind running over the facts as they sat in one such window, a confused expression on their face.

Why bother putting up such illusions in the first place? Rainbow Dash asked suddenly. If the rooms are sealed then what's the point?

Exactly, Kanathara agreed. It makes very little sense, unless they are trying to draw our attention and funnel us towards a specific entrance.

True. Should we check out that big obvious door or that one window we missed a few floors up?

Door first, then window, Kanathara replied.

On it.

They pushed hard off the stone and leapt into the air, flying down until they reached the massive set of doors that barred entrance to the first floor. The wood had long since become twisted, the iron hinges covered in the red rust that was found throughout the circles of Tartarus. Getting close, they extended their magical senses through the large cracks in the door, detecting no magic, traps or anything else beyond the wooden portal.

This is getting spooky, Rainbow Dash commented.

For once, I agree with you on your spookiness assessment, Kanathara replied.

The imp pushed a little harder, trying to feel out for even the faintest lines of magic that may lie dormant within the tower. When she came up emptyhoofed Kanathara relied on her probing spell to push deep into the tower. Though the path was winding, and snaked through shattered rooms and up winding staircases, there was indeed a way up to the third story. Running out of distance on her spell, Kanathara gave the last staircase one long look before pulling the spell back and dismissing it completely.

Nothing, Kanathara remarked.

Other than whatever is on that third story, Rainbow Dash pointed out.

True, but we won't know what's up there unless we go through this half destroyed maze, or up to the window, Kanathara replied.

Then window it is.

Just remember to take it slow. I got a weird feeling about this whole thing.

Rainbow Dash didn't bother to respond, letting her confidence speak for her as she took to the sky once more. This time was even shorter than the last, with their body quickly ascending to the third story window that lay directly above the door they had peaked within. Hovering next to the window, they peered over the very corner thereof, hesitant of the possibility of any traps or demons that may be lying in wait just inside.

Kanathara didn't even have a chance to summon her magic before she felt their eyes being pulled forwards, where the keeper of secrets sat on the floor, a brush running through her mane as she stared at the wall across from them. The position allowed the pair to study the keeper closely with little fear of being seen, the other demon’s back being to them. Though they were vaguely aware of the fact that the room had several objects like a desk, a pile of pillows, and a few other things, their eyes felt latched firmly to the back of the keeper, the pair unable to tear their gaze from her.

Her beauty was beyond compare, and though Rainbow Dash couldn't help but desire her, Kanathara felt only a rising tide of envy within her. She had the long, shapely legs that the imp had always desired, limbs so lengthy that she would no doubt stand as tall as her familiar, and perhaps even taller still. The way the keeper sat allowed them to see this for themselves, as her back legs lay sprawled out and extended completely. Her body was lithe, though even at a glance the pair could tell there lay corded muscle just beneath, the latent succubus magic allowing her to appear perfectly feminine while still containing all the raw power of a fully fledged demon.

It was perhaps this fact that Kanathara most envied, the beauty, the grace, the height, the strength all of it was fascinating by themselves but the fact that she contained it all without any one thing clashing was utterly enchanting. As they continued to look they were able to catch a glimpse of the side of the mare’s face, and the origin of the glowing tattoos and symbols that covered the mare’s body.

The image could not do her justice, and instantly the pair felt smitten by the sight of her beautiful face, though again, Kanathara was smitten not by lust but by envy at the sight. The symbols and tattoos were also perfectly matched to the mare’s body, seemingly drawing their eye up and down her form, guiding them from one curve to another until they felt lost.

It took a firm shake of their head for the pair to tear their eyes from her body, and towards her surroundings and several more attempts before they were able to look away for more than a second or two.

Finally, when they felt the pull on their gaze dwindle, they looked around the room a little closer, their eyes flashing as Kanathara’s magic infused their being with the ability to see that which was hidden from them. The imp would have assumed there would be lines of magic hidden just below the surface of the stone, yet their gaze did not illuminate anything out of the ordinary. Not even the most basic of detection enchantments glimmered under their sight, making a creeping sense of dread to crawl up their spine.

Why are you afraid? This is perfect! Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She's completely defenceless, now is our chance to strike.

Do you remember the very first enchantment class we ever took? Wards, and magical defences of any kind leave behind traces, as they need mana to stay active. Even wards that are supposed to lie dormant for years or even decades need at least a little power, or else they fade away in minutes, Kanathara explained.

Yeah, and? Rainbow Dash pressed.

There is none of that here, not even the most simple and basic of alarm spells. Nothing in that room has any magical properties at all, not even the crystal ball on the desk over there. It's little more than a paperweight.

Yeah, aaaand?

That's weird. There has to be something hiding the enchantments from my sight, no one would put her out here unless they wanted her captured, or used as bait, Kanathara replied, making Rainbow Dash grow silent as they contemplated what they saw.

What if we caught them during some remodeling or something? I know it's farfetched, but it's really the only explanation for the complete lack of defences, Rainbow Dash offered.

That is true… I don't know if we should risk it. Let's check for illusions first and go from there, Kanathara concluded.

Their eyes began to glow once more, before fading as the spell took root and allowing their gaze to pierce any illusion that they saw before them. Only for the pair to become even more confused when nothing in the room was an illusion, not Mistmane, not any of the equipment or house hold items. There wasn't anything in the room that was visible to their magical senses and invisible to their mundane ones.

With a confused look on their face they dismissed the spells and flew up and away, Rainbow Dash craving movement as they thought about the predicament before them. Kanathara’s logic told her this was a trap, but Rainbow Dash’s emotions told her that this was an opportunity, something to be exploited before it passed them by.

As they continued to fly, and silently communicate, their thoughts intermingling as they worked out what exactly gave them pause for concern, the tower remained exactly as they left it. No shadows moved below them, no candles or beacons lit, and not a single sound came from the ruined structure.

After many minutes had passed, the pair finally came to the conclusion that either it was a trap so complex they would never see it coming, or an opening that they could exploit. Either way, they both agreed that the only way to find out would be to go in there and assume it was both a trap and an opening. Their defences raised while they snuck up on the mare, intent on subduing her quickly and ending things before they could even truly begin.

Wings flared and the pair began a swooping descent towards the window, their magic intermingling and allowing them to cast multiple rapid fire spells that would hopefully give them the edge over whatever encounter was about to occur. Kanathara focused this time on speed, and evasion, raising their reaction time well beyond that of a normal mortal. With these enchantments completed, and the dice cast, they tucked their wings in and flew towards the window at a breakneck speed.

Wind whipped about their body, the pair soundlessly flying directly into the window. The second they entered the room and their wings opened fully, they noticed something was off, and with their increased dexterity they twisted out of the way of something large that crashed down behind them. Turning in mid air, the pair separated from one another, with Kanathara skidding across the floor, horns glowing, while Rainbow Dash leapt off the ground,claws extended as she flew towards the still prone Mistmane.

“Nice try bitch, but your slab of meat is too slow to catch us!” Rainbow Dash growled, her talons descending towards the seemingly defenceless keeper of secrets.

“I’m counting on it,” Mistmane whispered.

In an instant, Kanathara understood everything and she lit her horn, intent on casting a teleportation spell and pull them out of the trap she only now saw. It was too late however, and with a blinding flash of light the entire room suddenly lit up, the demons both temporarily blinded, before feeling their bodies accelerate towards the floor, pulled there by some unseen force.

By the time Kanathara had cleared the spots from her eyes she found herself firmly secured to the ground, glowing golden glyphs binding her and her familiar to the stone with no chance of escape. The bands that covered them were as thick as the imp’s hoof and after pushing a little magic into her horns, Kanathara found that binding also subdued her magic, making her unable to muster a complete spell, causing her magic to fizzle in an eruption of sparks.

Beside her, Rainbow Dash growled and thrashed against her bindings, her body half smoke, half solid, the vengant unable to fully demanifest. “Don't bother, Rainbow Dash, she's got us,” Kanathara muttered, before turning to Mistmane. “You somehow made the binding enchantment invisible, didn't you?”

The keeper blinked, slowly turning to the pair, an eyebrow raised. “And how, pray tell, did you figure that out?”

The imp chuckled, her face calm despite the fact that she couldn't move, and couldn't cast any spells. “I didn't, until you confirmed it. Now that you have, that means the matrix feeds off of the illusions, doesn't it? That's how it stays invisible until it fires.”

Mistmane slowly placed her brush down on her desk before getting up and turning to the imp, a wide smile on her face. “You are smarter than he's given you credit. It took him weeks to figure out my little trick.”

“And it was the activation that drew from the illusion enchantments, treating them as little more than batteries.” The imp concluding, smirking up at the keeper, who was quickly joined by Rockhoof, who stood patiently by her side.

“Right again.” The keeper smiled a little wider and clopped her hoof against the floor. “Truly, you are every bit the prodigy they claim you are.” Her smile slipped a little as she looked down on the bound form of the imp. “Almost, anyway.”

Kanathara shrugged. “I’m sure you have a back up plan for our back up then, hmm?”

The keeper chuckled as she strolled around the bound imp’s form, Rainbow Dash having fallen silent as she stared at her mistress and the keeper. “What the hell is going on?” she asked angrily.

“Give us a moment, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara commanded, before nodding to Mistmane. “You were saying.”

“Ahh yes, your trickster demon.” The quadruped slowed to a stop and levitated several pillows over, which she promptly used as bed, and sprawled out upon them, showing off her generous curves. “No plan really, just a plain old hostage situation. He comes here, I kill one of you, keep the other as leverage.”

“Simple, but effective,” Kanathara concluded. “I will keep him at bay.”

You sure about this, kid? Sissyphus thought back, Kanathara having just telepathically filled him in on the situation.

I am more than sure of this, Kanathara replied.

I’m assuming you have a plan then? Sissyphus asked back. ‘Cause something tells me the old man ain't going to be pleased that you got your ass captured and lost your target.

“I do have a plan. In fact, that plan is going very well,” Kanathara remarked with a smile.

“Err, what is the plan anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“The plan is to sit here and listen to what Mistmane has to say,” Kanathara replied.

“Quite the prodigy,” Mistmane complimented, stretching her long shapely legs before falling into a slightly more comfortable position. “You obviously know by now that capturing you takes far more effort than simply vaporizing you and your pet.”

“I am not a pet,” Rainbow Dash hissed.

Mistmane lifted an eyebrow and glanced over at the imp. “Is this true?”

“It's a partnership.” Kanathara shrugged as much as her bindings would allow. “Not like it matters, as I assume this is the part where you monologue or give us some sort of faustian bargain.”

“Actually neither.” Mistmane chuckled and waved a hoof at Rockhoof, subtly commanding the mountain of muscle to relax, and take a few steps back from the bound duo. “Starswirl is the monologuer, and I don't rightly like faustian bargains myself. They tend to have too many hidden clauses and are generally too cruel for my taste.”

She stood suddenly, and stalked over to the imp. “I much prefer mutually beneficial arrangements.” Mistmane raised a hoof just as Rainbow Dash was about to laugh in her face. “And I mean that quite literally.”

“You are kidding, right?” Rainbow Dash turned her head to her mistress. “Please tell me she's kidding, no demon is that naive.”

“Unless she doesn't plan on existing long enough for the other side to betray her.” Kanathara smirked. “Isn't that right, Mistmane?”

The keeper of secrets stumbled for a second, her eyes going wide. “Well bravo. How exactly did you figure that out?”

Kanathara smiled proudly. “You are obviously not here by choice. A keeper of secrets commands vast quantities of magic and has access to spells that no other being in all the planes has. You could have an army of demons and other creatures under your command, or an entire vast archive hidden away within the depths of whatever circle you wanted. Yet you are here in this dusty hole, tucked away like you were little more than an afterthought, or some old photo album to be forgotten of.”

Rockhoof’s eyes narrowed and his muscles bulged, yet he didn't move an inch, merely glancing back to Mistmane as if asking permission.

The keeper, however, merely nodded sadly. “Starswirl is either using me as bait for you, or is simply trying to get me out of his hair in order to stop my attempts at meddling in his affairs.” She shrugged. “Or both.”

Rainbow Dash blinked, and looked from Kanathara to the keeper and back again. “I am so confused.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I’ll explain it all in a second.”

“So, will you help us?” Mistmane asked, smiling as serenely as she could muster.

“Let me guess, you want someone to break the bindings he has on you?” Kanathara began.

“Yes.”

“He didn't rely on a traditional contract, and probably used a binding ritual that connects you to him. Which is why you need someone with the ability to use entropy magic,” Kanathara concluded.

“Right again, young miss.” Mistmane gestured to the beast standing next to her. “Rockhoof’s programming is too basic and so long as you do not attack me, or him, he won't defend us until it's too late.”

“Which is why you need me to break the bindings and kill both him and you in rapid succession,” Kanathara half asked, half exclaimed.

“That would be ideal.” Mistmane sighed. “But I feel like there is a caveat coming.”

“You would be right.” Kanathara’s joviality suddenly vanished, her face becoming an unfeeling mask. “I am not leaving until I have your body and soul in my possession.”

Rockhoof ground his teeth together audibly, the creature’s body rippling with barely contained rage.

Mistmane sighed, and placed a gentle hoof on the beast’s back, making him relax slightly, though not enough to stop him from grinding his teeth. “You want my power. That is… understandable.” She turned and slowly began a lazy circle around the bound demons, her polite tone falling away. “Unfortunate, but still understandable.”

“So, do we have a deal?” Kanathara asked, following the keeper as much as her position on the floor allowed.

Rainbow Dash nervously looked between the two unbound demons, before finally to Kanathara. “Are you sure about this, boss? This definitely feels a little weird.”

“I agree, Rainbow Dash.” Kanathara sighed. “But it would get us what we want, while also giving them what they want and maybe a nice mutual agreement would be nice for a change. The soul sure tires of this endless taking.”

“It does, doesn't it?” Mistmane mused. “That's a refreshing opinion to hear out loud. I must admit it's not one I’ve heard outside my thoughts in a great many years.”

Silence reigned over them as Mistmane slowly trotted back to the forefront of the imp, a small, almost hesitant smile climbing to the edges of her lips. “If it means freeing not only myself, but my dear Rockhoof, I will bear this burden.” She bowed low suddenly, sweeping a hoof out before her. “My power, is yours.”

With a subtle pulse of magic, the bindings were gone, and the duo pushed their way into a stand. Rainbow Dash did so slowly, looking around the room and expecting something to happen, while Kanathara dusted herself off and straightened a few of the totems that had been bound into her braid. “May I draw up the contract?” she asked.

“I don't suppose you would simply trust me to keep my word?” Mistmane replied, a smirk on her lips.

A single serious glance back told the keeper all she needed to know. “I expected as much,” she remarked sadly. “Go ahead, but make it quick. I have managed to destroy the more obvious methods that Starswirl has used to keep tabs on me, but I expect he will find out about this little transaction sooner or later.”

Kanathara nodded and beckoned over her familiar, who dutifully approached, keeping her gaze latched onto the massive pile of muscle staring down at her hatefully. “Yeah, boss?” she asked.

“Can you summon the paper and pen like I showed you?”

Rainbow Dash nodded and did just that, her hoof turning to smoke only for it to reform a moment later with a long scroll, pen, and inkwell now in her grip.

With a nod of satisfaction, the imp turned and sat down on the floor, her magic pulling open the scroll and beginning the arduous process of writing up a contract capable of getting them both what they wanted, and allowing no wiggle room for either party. Minutes passed, and though Rockhoof and Rainbow Dash remained locked in a long staring contest, Mistmane had long since gathered up the rest of her pillows and lay there lazily, looking from Rainbow Dash to Kanathara.

Finally, after nearly a half hour of furious scratching, Kanathara stood up, and levitated the paper towards the keeper of secrets. “There, that should do it,” she announced.

Mistmane blinked as she noticed the sheer density of writing that covered nearly every inch of the paper, leaving only just barely enough room for two signatures at the bottom. “This is very impressive,” she muttered in partial disbelief, her mind barely able to illuminate the twists and turns that the dense verbiage made.

The imp smiled proudly. “Thank you, Miss Mistmane. I think it is necessary for all demons to master the art of the contract if they wish to survive for very long and I intend on living a very, very, long time.”

The keeper of secrets shook her head slowly as she continued to read for several more minutes. When she was done she couldn't help but chuckle as it dawned on her just how truly powerful the imp’s contract was. “I bet you would be able to bind a god with such a contract. You have my respect,” Mistmane complimented.

Kanathara beamed, her cheeks becoming a shade redder. “Why thank you.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and snorted. “Yeah whatever. Now are you going to sign it or what?”

With a flourish of her magic, the keeper summoned a pen of her own, signed her name and made the pen disappear. “It is done. Just remember to free Rockhoof first. If I am under any kind of pain or distress, his programming will activate, and all our plans will be for naught.”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “He doesn't look so tough.”

Mistmane lifted an eyebrow and chuckled darkly. “Oh, my young naive little creature. He could have turned you to paste in an instant if I had let him.”

Rainbow Dash leaned towards her mistress and whispered in her ear. “I totally could have taken him.”

“I guess we will never know for sure,” Kanathara remarked offhandedly, clearly disinterested in the entire conversation. “Now then, how do we start?”

“Simple, you stand there and-”

As the demons began to plot and plan, a shadow on the wall lengthened, growing longer and longer as it stretched towards the window, until it broke away from the small, forgotten end table and slipped through the opening. A second later and the shadow had slipped down the side of the tower and had began to slink off towards a distant cliff face away from the view of any who may look down from the tower’s walls.

Once completely out of view, the shadow began to lift from the ground, revealing the form of a lanky unicorn with a short bowl cut mane, whose entire being was made entirely of darkness made real. The demon shook its now three dimensional body, shedding the last of vestiges of irritation that came with remaining hidden for so long.

His eyes opened to reveal twin orbs of the deepest blue, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “So you finally did it, Mistmane, you found a pawn willing to kill both yourself and poor old Rockhoof.” The shadow demon chuckled to himself as he began to trot deeper into the cliffside, ensuring no one could see him.

“Starswirl is going to just love this.” He smirked, calling forth a mass of swirling grey energy around his horn, a random shadow along the wall suddenly twisting and revealing a hole to somewhere far from the tower. “Come to think of it, I should have thanked that foolish keeper. Mistmane has given me the chance to prove my worth once and for all, and hopefully seal my final ascension.”

The shadow demon cackled madly to himself as he slipped through the portal and vanished.

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Trial Three: Assault

“Okay, so the enchantment is visible, as is the binding line,” Kanathara remarked offhandedly. “What was next?”

Mistmane pointed down at the dense glowing line that emerged from her chest and went straight north, disappearing through the solid wall. “Focus on it with all the entropic energy that you can control and begin tearing it apart.”

“I may have some of the abilities of an entropy demon, but I can't wield the full power of one, you know,” the imp commented, gritting her teeth as she stared down at the line. “Furthermore, I don't see Rockhoof’s. Shouldn't we deal with his first?”

Mistmane shook her head, her long hair tumbling over itself. “His connection is secondary to my own by the looks of it, meaning you are going to have to free me first, and then work on his.” The elder demon pointed at a small, almost imperceptible part of the line that was not teal like the rest and was instead an off-yellow. “See?”

The imp frowned, and nodded, mentally noting just how difficult this was going to be. “You sure don't make things easy, do you?”

“Nothing worth doing is easy,” Mistmane commented, smiling as she watched Kanathara focus her magic on the line and begin worming her influence through the cord of connections that bound the keeper to her mysterious master.

Behind them, Rainbow Dash sighed, grinning and tapping her right forehoof against the stone floor, staring intently at her mistress. “She's pretty cute when she focuses, eh Rockhoof?” she asked, elbowing the mountainous creature that stood next to her.

The creature snorted derisively, hoping that his conversation partner understood just how little he cared about the tiny imp.

“I knew you had good taste, Rocky, I mean look at her, that tight little butt, that adorable scrunched up face.” Rainbow Dash smirked, her tail swishing a little faster than usual.

Kanathara blushed, and shot her familiar a glare. “Would you quit looking at my butt? I’m trying to work over here and you are distracting me.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled to herself, and kept on staring anyway. “Sorry boss, you know I can't lie to you, but don't worry, I’ll keep my comments to myself and Rockhoof.”

Kanathara grumbled silently to herself, the blush remaining on her face for nearly an extra minute as she got back to working on the enchantment.

Meanwhile Mistmane was busy holding back a giggle at the brief back and forth she had witnessed. “Oh my, you two are just adorable,” she remarked, finally breaking down and giggling to her heart’s content.

Kanathara grunted, keeping her concentration on her spell, unwilling to split her attention at such a crucial juncture. “What about this one?” the imp pointed out, gesturing towards a particularly thick line that was bound in runes of various sizes.

“Focus on the smaller supporting enchantments first, the big ones are much easier to deal with after you weaken them,” Mistmane commented, watching closely as Kanathara’s magic began to pick apart the weak points of the enchantments, until the entire thing dissipated suddenly, dissolving into nothingness.

“Huh, that's different,” Kanathara commented.

“Yes, Starswirl is rather thorough with his enchantments.” Mistmane frowned, her jaw clenching tightly. “It's the only real area of magic that he truly excels in.”

“Wasn't he the one that figured out the fundamental imperative?” Kanathara inquired, never wavering from her fixation on the line, and the many defencive spells that kept the keeper of secrets bound to the archmage.

“When he taught magic, he forced all his students to sign over any discoveries they would make while being taught, it’s where most of his quote unquote achievements came from,” Mistmane remarked, only to sigh. “That arrogant old prick is good at two things, trickery, and enchantments, and fortunately this falls under both of those things.”

Kanathara grumbled silently to herself, trying to continue her work, only for her curiosity to get the better of her. “How did he end up down here anyway?” she blurted suddenly, keeping her gaze locked on the binding enchantment she was working on.

“It's a long, and sad tale I’m afraid, one that I do not wish to tell. Though I suppose if you do end up taking my soul, you will have the ability to witness the event for yourself,” Mistmane remarked idly, running a hoof through her mane and sighing.

The imp’s glare intensified on the enchantment that barred her from her goals, briefly filing away a reminder to look into the mare’s soul once she claimed ownership of it. Though a part of her simply wanted to figure out how exactly this Starswirl individual had managed to trick somepony as upstanding as Mistmane was there was also a part of her that wondered what exactly the mechanisms for such a transformation were. She wanted to pretend like this was merely a morbid curiosity on her part, but she couldn't help but wonder what she could do with such a power in her arsenal of tricks.

“So, how long have you two been together?” Mistmane asked suddenly, lounging idly in her bed of pillows and forcing Kanathara to grumble and adjust her spell work, crouching in order to stay close to the bundle of fibres.

“Eighteen years,” Kanathara replied quickly, her face screwing up tightly as her magic continued to worm its way through the enchantment, pulling it apart and revealing layers upon layers of spell work that had been just beneath the surface. “There's no end to it, is there?”

Mistmane shook her head. “No, there has to be an end somewhere, I don't think Starswirl figured out how to make a truly unlimited enchantment and his self-repairing ones don't work on living targets.”

“He made self-repairing ones?” Kanathara gaped. “I’ve been trying to do that for years, how did he do it? Was it the-”

Mistmane chuckled, smiling at the enthusiasm from the imp. “I have no idea how he managed it, though again, you may wish to peruse my memories, you may very well find what you are looking for.”

“Hmm, I suppose that will have to do, though I would bet a good number of souls on the solution lying in the submatrix cohesion equation. That area of study seems the most likely to reveal something of value,” Kanathara remarked idly as she continued, her magic pulling apart another strand, the magic that held it together dissipating quickly.

“Maybe…” Mistmane shrugged and leaned a little closer, her nose mere inches from Kanathara’s. “Tell me truly, little imp, how long have you been together with her?”

“I just told…” Kanathara’s spell fizzled as she looked up into the mare’s eyes, a blush suddenly overcoming her features. “That's none of your business.” She mumbled before turning quickly back to her work.

“Oh, I would say it is my business, considering you are going to be the ones to kill me and my husband very soon,” Mistmane remarked, smirking as she noticed the imp’s blush grow ever brighter.

“Your husband?” Kanathara asked, jerking her hoof in the direction of Rockhoof, who was listening to Rainbow Dash who was rambling on about something he was clearly uninterested in. “That lunk?”

“He was not always that way, obviously,” Mistmane replied sadly. “Some beings are simply too loyal for their own good.”

“True…” Kanathara muttered, her gaze lingering on Rainbow Dash for several seconds.

She continued to stare until the vengant noticed the attention and suddenly flashed her mistress a winning pose, one that saw her right foreleg and left back leg extended and flexing, showing off her impressively muscled physique. Kanathara blushed profusely and turned back to the task at hoof, her face becoming surprisingly red for someone who had dark, leathery flesh. Behind her, the imp could hear Rainbow Dash laughing, and Rockhoof breathing heavier while Mistmane chuckled in a more polite tone.

“Oh you two are absolutely adorable,” Mistmane murmured. “You remind me so much of these two young fillies we met in Manehatten back when…” Her voice petered out suddenly and the keeper shook her head. “My apologies dear, this old mind wanders sometimes.”

“Don't worry about it, my father does that all the time when we are alone,” Kanathara remarked, smirking at her own boldness. “He only does it when it's just me and him, but sometimes he forgets anyone else is in the room before he starts going on another one of his rants.”

“You mean Tirek actually did have a kid, and with a pony no less, interesting...” Mistmane remarked with a wide smirk, as if she already knew what Kanathara would say before she said it.

Rolling her eyes, Kanathara remained fixated on her work, refusing to let the mare distract her. “You know very well that we are not truly related by blood. I would think Starswirl’s spy network could figure out that much at least.”

“Oh he has, though I’m curious as to what you think of the old centaur,” Mistmane exclaimed, leaning in closer and whispering to the imp, “You know he used to be quite the terror back in the day.”

Kanathara gritted her teeth and glared at the keeper. “You will not disrespect my father in my presence, or I will ensure that your end is as painful as physically possible.”

Mistmane recoiled as if struck, the switch from someone she thought of as a mere child to a true, full blown demon happening so suddenly that the shift very nearly gave her whiplash. “I’m sorry dear, I shouldn't have said that. I’m afraid it's hard to stop poking my nose in where it shouldn't be after two thousand years of doing just that.”

Kanathara glared intensely at the mare for several long seconds before sighing and looking down, resuming her work once more. “You are forgiven, but do not let it happen again as there are two things I will not hear ill of and that is my father, and my familiar.”

The keeper glanced up at Rainbow Dash who was vividly describing some past battle that apparently she and Kanathara had participated in. The vengant waved her hooves around as she continued her story, heedless to the fact that Rockhoof was no longer paying any attention to the other demon. “You know…” Mistmane began, only to get another glare from Kanathara and raise her hooves defensively. “I promise I am not trying to pick at anything, I was merely going to compliment you.”

“You better,” Kanathara murmured, her horns glowing brightly as she tore another thread away.

“As I was saying.” Mistmane cleared her throat and shuffled her body slightly, finding a slightly better spot from which she could rest easier. “You should probably work on laying traps or securing the perimeter. I already have a spell in place that would stop them from simply coming through the walls or the window, but I’m afraid I have been compelled to not do the same when it comes to the front entrance.”

“I’m already on it,” Kanathara muttered, leaning closer to the thread and pulling apart one final enchantment, causing one of the minor binding strings to dissipate, and bring a smile to her face. “In fact, the spell should be done any second, after that Rainbow Dash will work to secure the bottom floor.”

“Interesting,” Mistmane murmured, realizing that the duo was more skilled than she had first anticipated.

As she watched, wisps of black, smokey magic emerged from the ground and gathered in Kanathara’s hoof, creating a perfect recreation of the bottom two floors in three dimensions. “Ahh, there we are. Here, Rainbow Dash, come take a look,” Kanathara commanded, gesturing to her familiar.

Who reluctantly concluded her story and flew over to the imp, landing on her right side. “Both have been mapped completely?” Rainbow Dash asked as she leaned forward, looking closely at the visual representation of the tower’s bottom two floors.

“The spell came back without issue,” Kanathara remarked with a shrug. “It should be complete, though I think there is something off about the first staircase, make sure you give it extra attention when you check it out.”

“Will do, boss,” Rainbow Dash remarked, before turning and flying away, disappearing down the spiral staircase in the corner of the room.

Kanathara grinned as she watched her familiar go, her gaze lingering on her tight flank muscles and long, flowing fiery tail. When she turned back to Mistmane, that smile vanished the instant she saw the other mare’s smirking face. “What is it now?” she deadpanned, already expecting some playful jab or otherwise irritating comment from the keeper of secrets.

“Oh nothing, dear, nothing at all,” Mistmane replied defensively, before leaning in, her smirk growing ever wider. “I’m merely curious about why you are so kind to your familiar, you do know that she is bound to follow your every command to the absolute letter and nicety isn't entirely necessary, correct?”

“It is,” Kanathara replied instantly.

The keeper raised an eyebrow at the imp, looking at her closely as she continued to chip away at the binding spell. “Have you never commanded her to do anything she did not want to before?”

Kanathara shook her head. “A few times, but that's only because she was being whiny, or she wanted me to.” The imp grinned, a small blush crossing her features. “It's only natural for us to work together and be friendly with one another as we are bound to one another for all eternity after all. If she was working against me and only followed my orders out of obligation, it would make things difficult, and constantly looking over one’s shoulder is tiring. Why not get someone else to do it for you?”

The elder demon continued to look down on the imp, contemplating her words carefully. “You say that, but something tells me your kindness is not purely out of logical necessity.”

The younger demon shrugged. “Of course, demons who try and pretend like they are little more than pure, undiluted evil are fools, sentient beings cannot be entirely evil, or entirely good, sentience grants choice and choice grants the ability to become what you desire. Be it good, or evil,” the imp remarked, her face screwed up into an expression of tight concentration.

“I admit I’ve never been interested in philosophy before, but that is rather interesting way of looking at it,” Mistmane remarked.

“Besides, unit cohesion is better when trust is built, and you can rely on one another. Which is why I am more of Rainbow Dash’s team leader, rather than her uncaring mistress,” Kanathara muttered, her attention fixated on a small bundle of defensive enchantments that resisted her efforts.

“Well put, my friend,” Mistmane congratulated.

“Now if you don't mind, I need to concentrate,” Kanathara muttered, her eyes narrowing as her horns glowed brighter still. “Though I have the ability to wield entropy, I am by no means an entropy demon.”

“True, this is going to be a costly, and long procedure most likely,” Mistmane explained.

“What are your estimates on the arrival of Starswirl’s forces? Would I have time to release you at least?” Kanathara inquired, her magic twisting and writhing throughout the band of magic, working its way beneath the first layer of enchantments and tugging at its underlying strings.

“I don't know, I could not so much as look at the binding enchantment before now, so I know not how long it would take. In the end, it matters little though. The dice is cast, and one way or another, someone is going to die, and I pray it is not you,” Mistmane replied solemnly, sharing a nervous glance with Rockhoof, who was busy staring out the window, a contemplative expression crossing his face.

“This Starswirl fellow doesn't sound nearly as decent as the books make him out to be,” Kanathara remarked with a snort. “Was he always such a jerk?”

Mistmane couldn't help but chuckle, a laugh that even Rockhoof joined in on. “Oh, he was always a miser. He never shares, doesn't give anything without a fight and holds grudges longer than I think even your father does.”

That drew a smirk from the imp, who despite being focused on the binding enchantment still laughed. “Oh, now that's rich. My father has been trying to get back at Starswirl for nearly twenty years for merely attempting to purchase Rainbow Dash before he could.”

“Which gives you a little context as to why Starswirl hates you and your father so much, given that in his mind you two stole something he already considered his,” Mistmane explained.

Kanathara sighed. “Don't tell my father I said this, but sometimes I worry that his ego and his grudges are going to end up killing him for the final time.”

The keeper chuckled and made a zipping motion over her lips. “My lips are sealed.”

“With that in mind, do you expect Starswirl to throw the usual rabble at us first, and the more elite members of his army shortly after?” Kanathara inquired, grinning as another nearly invisible line of magic snapped and vanished.

“Most likely,” Mistmane replied with a shrug. “He is surprisingly predictable at times, and has a habit of using any circumstance as an excuse to accomplish something else entirely. Knowing him, he will probably use this as an excuse to knock down one of his lieutenants and give him a taste of humility or to test another that is rising through the ranks.”

“Hmm, we’ve dealt with that before,” Kanathara murmured before reluctantly pulling back her magic and focusing on casting a different spell. Once it was complete, the imp summoned the replica of the bottom two floors, analyzing them carefully before opening her connection with Rainbow Dash. “Activate guerilla plan six. We have an ego to knock down or a newbie to quash.”

Oooh I love plan six, Rainbow Dash thought back, shivering with excitement. It's a good thing we restocked our little pocket dimension, something tells me this is going to use up most of the traps we built the other week.

“Most likely,” Kanathara remarked. “Let me know if you need any of my magic, until then you know what to do.”

I love it when you boss me around, Rainbow Dash thought back, giving Kanathara the distinct impression that she was touching herself lewdly at that very moment.

Blushing slightly, Kanathara shut off the connection and went back to her work once again, doing her best to ignore the amused expression that Mistmane was levelling at her. “Don't say anything.”

“I was just-” Mistmane began, only for Kanathara’s growl to cut her off.

With a shrug, Mistmane sat back and watched as the imp tugged at the wrong part of the enchantment and received a nasty shock that sent her skidding back across the ground. “Dammit, that hurt,” the imp muttered, rubbing her smoking chest.

“I was going to warn you,” Mistmane remarked, sticking her tongue out at the imp.

She sighed, and trotted back over to the keeper, her chest already having healed the minor damage she had received. Sitting back down, Kanathara grumbled angrily to herself and lit her horns once more, pulling at the stubborn enchantment and making sure to properly destroy its defences before trying to pull it apart at the seams. “It is as you feared, I am afraid,” the imp remarked with a slight sigh. “Rockhoof’s bindings are beneath yours, meaning you will have to be freed first.”

“That will cause issues, as he will be bound to protect me to the full extent of his abilities even if I am free,” Mistmane murmured, glancing over to Rockhoof and allowing her gaze to slowly run over his giant, muscle-bound form. “I will only say this once, my young friend. Do not underestimate my husband. He was a powerful warrior in life, and down here that power has been increased tenfold. The only weakness he has left is the fact that he is bound to strict rules that guide his actions.”

“I understand, Mistmane, and don't worry, I already have it all worked out,” Kanathara replied confidently, her magic tearing asunder a large bundle of connections. “And so far, everything is going according to plan.”

Rainbow Dash’s forelegs slowly solidified once more, black smoke seeping out of the stone ground and rejoining the rest of the demon’s body. The vengant smiled down at her latest trap, noting that it appeared perfectly natural and was almost undetectable save for the small opening between two of the floor tiles. With a shrug, she turned and moved deeper into the tower, keeping one eye on the solitary door that lead to the outside.

The demon turned and flew past more of her handiwork, noting that everything seemed to be in order, and that what little spellwork she had wrought, was perfect. Status? Kanathara’s voice demanded suddenly, popping into the vengant’s head.

“Things seem fine down here, I have the first floor almost completely trapped, but we are running out of supplies,” Rainbow Dash replied robotically, her attention focused on her hoof and magic as she took stock of the pocket dimension she was rifling through.

Will you be able to trap the rest of the tower and have enough spears left over to harry them when they get here? Kanathara inquired, her attention clearly divided between the conversation and whatever she was doing.

“Oh yeah. I made sure to make a ton of shadowbolts ever since we ran out that last time,” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk, the demon hefting one of the ashen spears in her hoof. “I’ll have about thirty of the things left over, depending on how things go with the second floor.”

How are your shadow pits working? Kanathara asked, her interest peaked.

Rainbow Dash smirked and thought back to the trap she had just finished setting. “Perfectly. After I figured out how to get past the stone, it was a simple matter to hollow out a few feet of dirt beneath it, I even got some practice in with that little extra dimensional trick we were working on.”

Excellent. I can't wait to see it in action, Kanathara announced excitedly.

“I personally can't wait to see the look on their face when they step into a pit trap on the second floor, they are going to be so surprised.” Rainbow Dash snickered as she hefted a trio of the black spears and got back to work setting up the next trap near the bottom of the stairs.

Me neither. Do you have any other concerns? Kanathara asked, all joviality vanishing from her thoughts.

“Yeah, I was hoping to borrow some of your power and reinforce Mistmane’s shield,” Rainbow Dash muttered as she rammed the spear into place. “She seems trustworthy, but I just want to make sure she can't bring it down without us knowing.”

Agreed, her mistress replied, before the familiar’s body suddenly coursed with foreign energy, making her grin as the magic pulsed through her.

“Alright then, let's get to work!” Rainbow Dash announced with a smirk, leaping off the ground and making a beeline for the third story.

So you are just going to let them come and use the bottom floors as a killing tunnel? Sisyphus asked, his thoughts ringing in the young imp’s ears.

“Yes, that is exactly what I’m going to do,” Kanathara replied impatiently, not having the attention to answer back in the form of her own thoughts. “Starswirl is arrogant, and taking advantage of arrogance is our expertise.”

I guess, but it just seems like the tower of flesh all over again, Sisyphus remarked with a haughty chuckle.

Having incredibly sharp, dagger-like teeth made grinding one’s teeth together difficult, but that didn't stop Kanathara from doing just that. “This is not like that time. We have more experience, more traps, and allies.”

Well, I’ve already given little Rainbow all the extra supplies I’ve got on me, so I’m heading back to the portal. Sorry kid, but you know how your old man gets with orders, Sisyphus announced, his tone implying that he was still very much wishing to get relieved from his reluctant guard duty.

The imp refused to rise to the bait though, and merely shut off the connection between herself and the trickster demon, refusing to even listen to another word the goat demon had to say. “They should be coming shortly, it's been nearly an hour at this point,” she murmured, her gaze still fixated on a much smaller, but still quite complete binding enchantment. “Does Rockhoof see anything?”

Mistmane lifted her head from her pillow and let out a yawn, looking over to the window where Rockhoof had remained for the last hour, the twisted former pony staring out over the wasteland, unblinking. “Do you see anything, darling?” she asked.

For a second the massive creature didn't move or say anything before slowly nodding his head and gesturing with a large, gnarled hoof down to somewhere near the base of the tower.

“They are coming,” Mistmane replied, staring closely at Rockhoof and deciphering what he meant from the way he grunted and moved. “They are rallying a good distance away. Do you see it, Rainbow Dash?”

The keeper turned to her right, where Rainbow Dash was sitting next to her, smokey black sphere sitting atop her outstretched hoof. “I do,” replied the familiar as she gazed within the orb, where many variously sized demons were all piling out of a portal and getting into a rough marching order. “Their cohesion is weak, and they have a lot of imps, as you expected, mistress.”

Kanathara nodded. “Stick to the plan, I will need another half hour before I’m able to free Mistmane, and another hour or two after that to get to Rockhoof.”

“I don't know if we have that kind of time, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied, a frown creasing her face as she continued to watch the assembling troops. “We've seen this before, and chances are after the first wave is gone, they will send someone actually capable.”

“I know,” Kanathara replied sternly, looking up at the vengant. “We will cross that bridge when we get there.”

Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, knowing that phrase was code for she had a plan, one that she would tell Rainbow Dash when the time came for it. “Got it, boss.” Her eyes lit up when she turned back to the orb. “The flyers have launched, they will be checking the shield and the window first no doubt.”

“Notify me if they manage to break through, otherwise remain silent while I work, it's getting trickier the further down I get,” Kanathara all but whispered, her attention so focused on her task that her words trailed off at the end.

“Got it.”

The flame-haired vengant watched as a few of the winged imps, and other minor demons flew towards the tower, some silently, others yelling battle cries or random obscenities in a language she could not understand. In the tower, the vengant smirked, studying the loose, almost random formation they flew in, a formation that completely fell apart the moment they neared their target.

“Fools,” she muttered as the first of the imps crashed into the shield, splattering against the formerly invisible barricade that stretched over the window.

The rest of his fellows were not so quick to follow the first few imp’s demise, and spread out, landing all over the structure and testing where the barrier was weakest. The dull thump of flesh meeting shield resonated from all around them, the demonic creatures entering wherever they could. Claws, hooves, fire, and spell met shield, and though it sounded chaotic from within the tower, the shield itself did not crack or strain a single iota.

“It seems as though your reinforcement was unnecessary,” Mistmane remarked pointedly.

Rather than be annoyed by the less than hidden jab, Rainbow Dash shrugged. “It never hurts to be prepared.”

“Yes, well, I suppose I can't blame you for your warriness, still, I’m glad I was able to display my trustworthiness first hoof,” Mistmane exclaimed.

The vengant nodded solemnly, unbothered by the comment. “If it stays up for as as long as you say it will, the commander will most likely end up using the winged demons as cannon fodder in the end.”

“One can hope,” Mistmane remarked, watching closely as the imps and other demons continued to pick away at the shield.

Below them, the rest of the demons waited patiently just outside the front door, having assembled into a loose formation that saw most of the low level demons and imps in the front. The implication was clear to the vengant, and as she watched, she noticed that several of the larger, more well-armed demons at the back were already growing antsy. One war demon covered head to toe in plate mail went so far as to tear the head from an imp that had bumped into him.

“Idiots. They are doing my work for me,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snicker, watching as the commander, a bright red greed demon whom was half snake, reprimanded the war demon for his insolence.

Just when it seemed like an argument was going to break out, the snake-tailed demon backhanded his charge to the ground and barked at his troops, reforming their formation and preparing to charge. At the middle a trio of pit fiends raised their lashes and brought them down on the backs of the back row of imps, causing a panicked stampede of demons to make a break for the door. A second later and the flying demons were almost all recalled, only a trio of them being left behind in order to keep trying to find a weak point in the shield.

Rainbow Dash’s gaze focused on the door, where the first imp had thrown open the portal, allowing the avalanche of minor demons to flood down the hall. At their back the pit fiends continued to push the imps forward with curses and pain, driving the minor demons into a frenzy and causing them to surge forward with even greater ferocity.

As the vengant watched, she noticed how her hidden pressure plates seemed to do their job and none of her traps went off, until they reached near the end of the first floor where an enormous spike-filled hole opened up, swallowing nearly every last imp. The pit fiends had evidently been a little too eager in their efforts, resulting in a wave of imps too blood drunk to even notice what was happening until nearly every last one of them had fallen into the hole. Being unable to see past the imp in front of them, the ones in the back shoved the ones in the front forward, causing just about all of them to end up impaled on the spears Rainbow Dash had placed.

So successful was the vengant’s trap that some that had fallen had managed to survive, the corpses of their brethren creating a cushion for their landing, as the rest of the imps clogged up the spikes that had killed those that came before them. The result was a morbid array of bloody bodies clogging up the killing pit, on top of which several very much live imps stood, partially crushing their fellows.

Rainbow Dash cackled to herself, noting how despite the fact that her spikes were now entirely embedded in demon flesh, her trap was still killing enemies, as the ones on top trampled the ones on the bottom, desperate to escape their fate. “Gods above, these guys are even bigger idiots than I thought,” she remarked, much to Mistmane’s continued disgust.

“Though I hold no love for Starswirl’s minions, don't you think it's a little cruel to relish in their death?” remarked the keeper, looking over the shoulder of the vengant and into the smokey orb.

“If they caught me, they would likely rape me while torturing me to death. I feel nothing for the fools,” Rainbow Dash remarked idly.

Defeated, Mistmane sighed and took a step back, forced to admit, at least to herself, that was likely what would happen. Settling in next to Rockhoof, Mistmane leaned heavily on the former pony, sighing to herself. “I miss Equestria, Rockhoof,” she whispered.

The mountain of mutated flesh nodded slowly, watching closely as Rainbow Dash erupted in laughter when an imp that had nearly escaped the pit trap fell back and landed on the lone spike not covered utterly in demon flesh. He murmured back.

With nearly every imp killed, or otherwise confused and in disarray, the pit fiends looked back to their commander for orders, wondering if they should continue to drive the few remaining imps forward, or stay back and summon more. Whatever answer they would have received was rendered moot when the war demon from earlier brushed his way through the lines, his rage burning hot as he made a beeline for the door, ignoring orders to stay back.

A mighty booted foot kicked down the door, exploding the old wood into a shower of splinters. The great armored demon roared a deafening challenge that shook the floor before raising his shield and putting his head down, charging deeper into the tower.

Mistmane glanced to Rainbow Dash, who she assumed would be annoyed or at least perturbed by the sudden change in tactics, only to note that she seemed completely calm, and even, strangely gleeful. Glancing over the vengant’s shoulder, Mistmane just barely caught a glimpse as the war demon stepped on a pressure plate and instantly received a spear straight through the side of his neck and out the other side. The keeper’s jaw hung open as she watched the creature’s momentum continue to carry it forward, tearing its head from its shoulders and causing its body to stumble forward a few more steps before toppling to the ground in an earth-shaking thump.

“How did you know?” Mistmane murmured, gesturing to the shadowy orb. “You placed the spear there as if you were expecting someone to charge down the tunnel at that exact speed.”

“Duh,” Rainbow Dash remarked offhandedly. “You mentioned that he was going to send someone with something to prove.”

Mistmane frowned, realizing the logic of the statement was sound, though cruel nonetheless. “What is going on?” she asked, noting that the pit fiends had summoned a small horde of imps that were now proceeding down the hall at much more sedate pace.

“They are probably going to stop and feast on the war demon,” Rainbow Dash remarked, wincing when exactly that started to happen, the imps’ serrated teeth tearing through flesh as their tiny clawed hands tore off the dead demon’s armor.

Mistmane continued to watch as nearly the entire war demon was consumed in a single minute, his head having been fought over by a trio of imps who ended up fighting one another to the death only to get crushed by a pit fiend who scooped up the head and ate it himself. “They probably summoned them straight from the lower levels,” Rainbow Dash began, pointing to one such imp. “They are scrawny, starving, and none too bright. They will probably send the imps down while marshalling their forces for a more careful charge.”

“It appears as though you are correct, that strange greed demon seems to be drilling them right now,” Mistmane remarked, pointing to the edge of the orb where just such a scene was playing out.

“Excellent, now the real fun begins,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a smirk, the vengant licking her lips eagerly as she watched the first group begin to march towards the door, and, their doom.

Author's Note

Trial Three: Defence

Rainbow Dash cackled at the top of her lungs, the demon rolling around on the floor and generally being so loud that Kanathara had to stop what she was doing and smack her familiar upside the head. “Be silent, I’m trying to concentrate, and Mistmane is making this hard enough already.”

“Sorry dear, I’ll stay in one spot now,” Mistmane remarked, plunking her butt down on a pillow and remaining stationary, rather than pacing back and forth like she had been for the last few minutes.

What in the endless hells is she laughing about anyway? Sisyphus asked. I can just about hear her from here.

“Augh, her stupid nut buster trap worked,” Kanathara remarked dryly.

“It worked perfectly!” Rainbow Dash announced, pointing to the floating grey orb, where a pit fiend was crumpled into a fetal position, both of his hands clamped between his legs. “I think I heard them pop!”

Though Sissyphus said nothing, Kanathara could tell he was wincing right now, along with Rockhoof, who had a strained expression on his face, his back legs pressed a little tighter together. Refocusing her magic, Kanathara pulled at one of the last strings that still bound Mistmane to Starswirl, only for her magic to sputter out a second later. With a growl building in her throat, Kanathara popped another mana potion and downed it before tossing it aside where it joined a small pile of similar bottles.

“Yo boss, you should watch it with those things, you are going to get a mana hangover again,” Rainbow Dash remarked while wiping a tear from her eye.

“I don't have much of a choice, now do I?” Kanathara growled, her magic glowing brightly once more. “Now give me a status report.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, all of her joviality vanishing in an instant. “The imps have been rendered more or less irrelevant, and three out of four pit fiends are either down for the count, or dead.”

Good thinking with those pressure plates by the way. I must say, I’m impressed, Sisyphus added, making Rainbow Dash smirk proudly.

“They will likely enforce order once more and begin working their way down under the shield,” Kanathara remarked idly, her attention focused on the task at hoof. “Be ready to begin harrying them the moment that happens, provided you remembered to bring along the heart seekers.”

“Of course I did,” Rainbow Dash replied. “I even brought along the foot seekers too!”

Kanathara sighed as Rainbow Dash laughed. “That wasn't funny the first ten times, and it's not funny now. What are the enemy numbers looking like?”

Rainbow Dash leaned forward, peering intently into the orb. “One pit fiend, three lesser war demons, a sloth demon, an anarchy demon, two hatred demons and the commander, none of whom are injured save for the pit fiend.”

“They will send in the hatred demons first with the sloth as a backup. You know what to do, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara replied in an even, monotone voice, the thread she had been working on disappearing the second she gave the order.

Rainbow Dash saluted. “Right, I’m on it, boss.”

Don't get too blood-drunk this time, Kanathara thought at the familiar, shooting the flame-headed demon a sly smirk.

Rainbow Dash grumbled silently, glaring at her mistress as she pulled a spear from their pocket dimension. You are lucky, you are so cute when you are focused.

The two shared a brief laugh before Rainbow Dash clacked the butt of the spear against the ground. “Right, I’m off,” she announced, before her body, and the spear she was holding, melted into smoke and slipped through the cracks in the floor.

The two towering hate demons slowly walked down the hall, their shields raised before them, a glowing red magic wrapping around their sides and coating the floor, protecting them from anything that their nearly seven foot tall tower shields could not. The demons themselves were absolutely covered in armor, though their twisted, and malformed bodies resulted in some plates being strapped to them at weird angles. Still, the eight foot tall demons were an imposing sight, and despite their armor looked shabby, it was still layered well, and was protected by demonic magic, reinforcing it and keeping it in place as the twin hulks of red demonic muscle walked down the hall.

Behind them the floor gave out suddenly, revealing a spike trap that the hate demons didn't even bother to glance at, as they were too focused on a strange smoke that now gathered at the end of the hall, right near the stairs up to the second floor. The two demons reacted instantly, raising their shields and locking formation just as the smoke coalesced into the form of a vengant, spear already raised.

“Hey dumbshits, catch!” Rainbow Dash yelled before winding up and whipping the spear down the hall.

The hate demons braced themselves, one foot going back in order to stop any of the excess force that may bleed through their shields, yet none came and before they even had a chance to look around in confusion, they fell. Spears pierced straight through armor, the weight of the great demons being used against them, driving spear points through their plate mail, and the squishy organs beneath. Behind them, their backup clutched wildly at his midsection, grabbing at the spear that had pierced all the way through him and destroyed both of his lungs, and took out a good chunk of his heart as well.

Blood gurgled out of his throat, before cascading down his face and finally his chest, joining the great river of red that flowed from his gaping chest wound. A second later and he toppled forward, dead before he even hit the ground, his magic fizzling and stopping the healing spell he had begun to attempt.

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash pumped a hoof in the air. “I knew all that practice was going to come in clutch.”

Yes, I am quite impressed that you managed to make it ethereal when it passed through the hate demons, they were standing quite close together, Kanathara remarked, drawing a grin of pride from the vengant.

“Heh, like there was ever any doubt? I am a beast!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, stomping her hoof triumphantly.

Well beast, don't look now but you got some fliers coming at you, Kanathara pointed out before the connection closed once more.

Rainbow Dash yelped and dodged out of the way of a bolt of red magic, using the central pillar of the spiral stairs as cover while she reached into the shadow pocket and grabbed a special spear she had been saving for a moment just like this. Gripping the familiar spear tight in her hoof, Rainbow Dash waited patiently, counting down the seconds until the fliers had over committed themselves before hopping out of cover, hoof raised.

“This is almost too easy,” Rainbow Dash remarked as she threw the spear with all the might she could muster.

A winged imp at the forefront of the pack paused in mid air, wondering why the strange pony thing had only thrown a single spear, yet still wore such a triumphant look on her face. A triumphant look that made much more sense when the spear split apart in mid air, becoming dozens upon dozens of tinier ones in the blink of an eye. The demon didn't have time to dodge, or enough time to so much as consider its life choices before said life was over, its body turned to shreds in an instant.

Behind him dozens of other demons met similar fates, with only one or two managing to get away from the deadly hail of spears unscathed. Those few who had gotten hit, yet still survived, didn't live much longer, as Rainbow Dash had already begun to throw smaller, more precise spears down the hall, killing the survivors before they could so much as twitch. The singular demon who survived did the smart thing and remained in the hole he had found himself in, standing on the heads of two dead hate demons and doing his absolute best to hide his breathing.

Not like that helped much, as Rainbow Dash knew exactly where he was, though there wasn't much she could do about it at the time. Instead of going after him she sat down on the stairs and reached up, clopping her hoof twice on each stair, making it sound like she had left the floor entirely.

Sure enough the demon poked its horned head up from the hole and found that he had been tricked a second before a spear pierced his skull and blew the entire top half of his head off. The force of the strike sent brain matter splattering across the ground, the body falling with a thump to the spear pit below, no doubt impaling the already dead demon.

“Idiot,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The vengant didn't need to summon her orb to know what was coming, as she could hear the shouting from her current position, the demon unable to pick out the actual words, but understanding enough from inflection alone. “Oh, he is pissed!” Rainbow Dash remarked, snickering as she heard more shouting from outside.

Nearly a minute later, and the shouting stopped and two large armored demons filed into the room. The one at the front appeared to be another hate demon, while the one in the back was a true armor demon, the joints of his armor emanating an off-blue smoke.

“Hello there, where did he find you two?” Rainbow Dash remarked, only to shrug. “Not like it matters, as this changes nothing.”

As she hefted a spear, she noticed that the first demon had activated a gem of some kind, and then lifted the massive black tower shield. Rainbow Dash hardly even had time to wonder what the gem did before the demon sprinted over the pitfall trap, unbothered by gravity.

Grinding her teeth together angrily, Rainbow Dash threw the spear she had at the ready, putting all the strength she could into the throw. The explosion and rain of demon body parts she had expected to see never came, and instead the spear deflected off his shield and went wide, embedding itself deep in the stone wall.

The vengant’s mane and tail glowed brightly, waving in an angry, unseen wind as the demon hefted another spear. “Come on, just die already!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she loosed another, aiming for the demon’s head, only for it to go high when the demon ducked at the last possible second.

He had already managed to clear nearly half the hall by then, the armor demon no doubt right behind him. With few options left to her, Rainbow Dash grumbled and drew forth a much larger, much thicker spear. “I was hoping to save you for later, but this would be a pain in the ass to deal with,” she muttered, taking position and aiming for the dead middle of the demon’s shield.

With a grunt of exertion the spear took flight, flying straight and true the entire way down the hall before hitting the shield with such force that it temporarily deafened the vengant. The demon’s shield exploded into splinters, its enchantments not even able to flare before the gem at the middle evaporated under the sheer force of the blow. The hate demon himself also didn't even have a moment to react and wonder where his shield went before he too exploded, his top and bottom half having been separated, organs spilling out of his tumbling torso.

Somehow, the armor demon behind him had seen this coming, and had jumped over the spear that even now flew straight and true. More surprising still was the fact that he had not only dodged it, but leapt off the confused face of his former ally as the top half of his body tumbled to the ground, using the hate demon as a springboard to launch himself at the vengant. A move that fortunately for Rainbow Dash, she knew how to deal with, having been taught by far better than even her current opponent.

The spear she had been ready to throw had been dropped and braced against the stair, the tip angled at the armor demon’s chest. Despite this apparent advantage against him, the armor demon knew that his chest plate was the strongest point of his defences and even if it was braced, it would still snap against the diamond-hard metal.

Or at least, that's what he assumed would happen.

His assumption proved wrong as the tip slid straight through his chest plate, only to resolidify once it had entered the seemingly empty void within the armor. An empty void that Rainbow Dash knew actually housed the creature’s essence and life force.

The shock of her trick was once again unable to be appreciated by her opponent, as he was dead before the spear even burst from his back, the armor falling apart the second it no longer had an alien will to hold it together.

“Boo yeah, another one down!” Rainbow Dash declared, kicking the ornate and now inanimate metal helmet down the hall and into one of her pitfall traps.

“Oh shit,” the vengant muttered before leaping into the air and dodging a bolt of midnight magic that had sprung forth from one of the many hands of the anarchy demon that now stood at the end of the hall.

Dodging out of the way of the second, third, and fourth shot proved easy for the lightning fast demon, and she raised her next spear triumphantly, ready to end this next threat before it even had a chance of firing again. Her weapon flew through the air, its tip pointed at the creature’s throat and ready to remove his head from his body.

Such a thing never happened though, as the spear shattered in mid air, impacting an unseen shield that rippled under the strain. Growling to herself, Rainbow Dash ducked, dodged and weaved around the flurry of bolts that rained down around her. “Gods dammit,” she muttered. “Now you come out and play, sheesh.”

Behind the many limbed dark blue demon stood the sloth demon, hands raised and horns glowing as now visible shield coalesced before his ally. “You probably figured out my little trick, but let's just test that little theory and see if you are as dumb as your buddies were.”

Hefting another one of her special spears, Rainbow Dash ducked and weaved until an opening revealed itself. The spear was thrown, and it streaked across the hall, becoming smoke a second before hitting the shield, only to dissipate like vapour against water. “Dammit, you aren't as dumb as they were.” She sighed, watching as the now solidified bits of her spear rained down all over the floor. “Fuck.”

Taking to the air, Rainbow Dash was forced to watch as the two demons strode forward, the rest of their fellows close at their heels, one of whom was wielding an arm-load of boards that were long enough to bridge her pit traps. “Well shit, haven't you just thought of everything, eh?” she murmured, falling back further into the staircase and occasionally peeking around the corner.

“Let’s see if you really did think of everything, hmm?” she whispered, her hoof dissolving into smoke before slipping between the cracks of the wall.

The attacking demons, now without anyone to oppose them, strode forward confidently, with the anarchy demon keeping his many hands up and ready should the need arise. Like his cohorts, he also walked over the pit traps, trusting only in the wall of force summoned by an ally. Only for it to once more fizzle when a hoof reached up from the ground and punched the sloth demon in the groin, making his spell falter.

Rather than die like the rest though, the anarchy demon was caught by the demon behind him, who swiftly put his own shield between him and the spear that would have ended his life.

Back at the stairs, Rainbow Dash cursed to herself, knowing full well that they had learned all they would need to know in order to get past her traps, at least for this level anyway.

Smirking to herself, the vengant fell back, slipping up the stairs and leaving the demons to their work, chuckling evilly to herself all the while.

Kanathara watched the orb out of the corner of her eye, noting the demon’s slow progress and the equally slow whittling Rainbow Dash was managing to accomplish with only spears and her wits. A combination that worked surprisingly well, as demon after demon fell to her tricks, until at last she ran completely out of projectiles.

Watching the scene unfold a floor beneath her was not the only thing the imp was doing though, as she was still plugging away at the binding enchantment, having worked down the numerous lines of glowing magic until only a handful remained. She needed only a few minutes more and the keeper, her prize, would be free and all hers for the taking. That was of course, if things worked out as she planned, something she hardly expected to actually happen.

The thick cord of enchantments, sub-enchantments and yet even smaller, hidden defences she had been working on came apart in a dramatic fashion, filling the air with colorful sparks that dissipated quickly. Though she wanted to grin, or yell, or celebrate in some manner, Kanathara knew she didn't have the time, or even the mental faculties necessary to do such a thing.

Instead, she spared a second to glance over at her familiar, who now was weaponless save for her non-throwing spear which she wasn't using at this time. With nothing left to aid in the defence of the tower save her wits, the vengant had resorted to making lewd comments and yelling insulting gestures. Flying at her enemies only to pull back when she got close, all while insulting both their intelligence and martial ability. Which seemed to work well for at least one opponent, who ended up walking literally right into another trap that saw a trio of spears erupt from a wall and perforate his body.

That didn't work for much longer though, as the commander regained order of his forces soon after and closed ranks. With little to do, Rainbow Dash hovered nearby, harrying them as much as possible with small bolts of magic, and cruel words.

Taking her attention from the orb, Kanathara looked down only to realize that there was only a single large line of spells that bound the keeper to master. With a wide, almost feral grin on her face, Kanathara tore into the enchantment, unbothered by the massive complexity that opened up before her.

Though this one was by far the worst of the many spells that bound the keeper, the imp tore through it faster than nearly any other, energized by the sight of her familiar’s victories, and her own victory being so close at hoof. She could almost taste the power she would earn from becoming a keeper, hear the praise heaped upon her by her mother and father, and taste the sweet, sweet soul that was nearly hers for the taking.

In no time at all she had managed to pierce the last enchantment, and had thusly freed the keeper from her master. The reaction was instant, and Mistmane stumbled back several feet, clutching her chest as Rockhoof looked on in confusion. A second later and her horns lit up and she tried casting a quick spell only for it to fizzle at the end.

“Dammit, most of the compulsions are still there. Starswirl must have placed them under Rockhoof’s bindings.” Mistmane remarked with a sigh. “I won't be able to help much, but let's see if I can do something at least.”

The keeper lit her horns and stuck out her tongue, staring intently at Kanathara, who didn't have time to react before her body suddenly filled with vigor. Though her mana did not refill and remained nearly empty, the weakness that had clung to her body was now gone, replaced by the feeling one only gets after a long rest. “Wow, thanks. Next time warn me though, I was a half second from teleporting away from you,” Kanathara exclaimed pointedly.

“Sorry about that, dear, I was a little overwhelmed by the whole thing,” Mistmane remarked, only to look over the imp’s shoulder and gesture to the orb. “It seems like your little friend’s last spike trap worked, a shame there are still a couple left.”

The imp spun around and looked into the orb and found that there was only a single pit fiend, two lesser war demons and the commander left below them. Kanathara glanced down at the floor, realizing that she was nearly on top of the exact spot where the anarchy demon had fallen to his death. Filing that information away for now, Kanathara shook her head and looked up at Mistmane expectantly. “Is there any other way you can contribute?”

Mistmane frowned and continued to try and cast spell after spell in rapid succession, testing the limits of her newfound freedom and finding that most spells were impossible to be cast. “It seems like even trying to give you more mana is impossible, the most I can do is cast a low level restoration spell, so I could potentially heal your familiar if she's injured, but then again, it wouldn't exactly do much.”

Kanathara sighed and rubbed her chin. “That's something at least.”

Just as the imp began to try and formulate a plan, Rainbow Dash emerged from the stairs, a trio of spells following after her and going wide, impacting the ceiling. “That was close,” she muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. “They are close, but I slowed them down at least.”

“How long do we have before they are on us?” Kanathara replied quickly, a plan already forming in her mind.

“Two minutes, tops,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Hit her with the spell, we need every advantage we can get,” Kanathara commanded, turning to Mistmane.

Who dutifully nodded. “One restoration spell, coming right up.”

The vengant grinned as she felt the small dents in her scales as well as the odd cut here and there fade in seconds, leaving her feeling well-rested and ready for a fight. “Alright then, that's what I’m talking about, keep it coming.”

“That's it, I’m afraid,” Kanathara remarked with a sigh. “We are just going to have to take them with what we have here.”

Because someone won't let me help, Sisyphus remarked pointedly.

Kanathara lit her horns and shut off that connection entirely, making sure the whiny goat demon couldn't interrupt again. “Mistmane’s magic can't positively affect us, or negatively affect the enemy, so don't expect much from those two.”

“It doesn't have to affect them for me to help out you know,” Mistmane exclaimed with a smirk, sauntering up to the duo. “Trust me, once the battle is joined, I will be able to help.”

Kanathara snorted. “Defensive action plan gamma. Ready, Rainbow Dash?”

“Got it, boss!” Rainbow Dash declared, raising her spear before leaping into the air.

By the time Kanathara cast the few buffs she was still capable of, as well as activating all of the charms braided into her hair, the first of their enemies had already emerged from the twisting stairwell. The tall, lanky red demon raised his long, serrated whip and bellowed a cry of rage, staring daggers at Rainbow Dash. The demon was taller than the average pit fiend, standing at nearly eight feet and sporting a pair of large red horns that emerged from the front of his forehead and curled up his skull before pointing forwards again. Though he lacked the heavy armor of the war demons, what he did wear was incredibly well-made, and displayed the bulging muscles it only barely contained.

Behind him were two haggard war demons that were nearly identical, both wearing a set of stark black steel plate mail that covered nearly every inch of their bodies, tower shield in one hand, bastard sword in the other. Only the different seals on their shields differentiated the two massive demons. Behind them emerged the final demon, and the shortest out of the lot of them.

Though he stood a good head or two smaller than his minions, the naga-like greed demon was by far the most well-armed and intimidating of them. A long, jagged greatsword was gripped in one hand while the other carried a wicked-looking short sword that glowed a soft green. His armor was perfectly tailored to his serpentine body, and not an inch of his flesh was left unprotected, every last plate covered in enchantments that glowed faintly in the soft light.

“Well well well. The time has come at last to end this,” he announced, his voice dripping with cruelty and promising a painful, horrifying end without the demon actually having to do so much as hint at such an end. “I am going to enjoy this immensely.”

“Ah Greedo, you weren't dead after all,” Mistmane exclaimed with a smile, taking a step forward. “I thought for sure Starswirl had tired of you after your last failure, or was it rebellion? I can never remember.”

Rather than rise to the keeper’s slight, the greed demon merely chuckled. “Oh Mistmane, you have no idea what he has planned for you after this.” He raised a metal-clad finger, cutting off the comment Mistmane had been about to breathe. “Trust me, you think you do, but you truly don't. What he is going to do to you will go down in history as a cruelty that even devils shirk from.”

The keeper tried to keep a straight face, but it was clear to Kanathara that she was legitimately disturbed by the demon’s remarks. “You haven't won yet, you overgrown garter snake!” Kanathara yelled, pointing her hoof at the demon.

“Pfft, two Equestrians are nothing to me, but…” he smirked, leaning closer, “I suppose others have said just that, which is why you are going to die first, and quickly.”

The pit fiend lurched forward, his whip raised and a snarl of rage already on his lips. His booted feet thundered across the ground as he charged the duo, while the two war demons spread out, ready to encircle them completely. All while the greed demon stayed behind, a smirk on his face, as he watched the battle begin.

Whip met spear as Rainbow Dash surged forward, keeping to the air and forcing the fiend to attack a target he was unprepared for. Something that was difficult enough without using a whip as his main offensive weapon. With little in the way of solid footing, and no level playing field, Rainbow Dash easily began to overpower the fiend, forcing him to back up rapidly, and giving him no time to pull back for another strike. Yet each time the vengant seemed to get close enough to truly drive her advantage home, one of the war demons stepped in and ensured she wouldn't be able to.

Kanathara meanwhile found herself in a tight fight with her much larger opponent, a height disparity that both helped, and hurt the imp. The fact that he had to nearly lean all the way down in order to strike at her meant that his attacks were clumsy, and rarely actually got close to hitting the imp. It also meant that he had such a long reach that she couldn't close the distance without risking a boot to the face. Something she was hesitant to risk, considering his boot was nearly as big as she was.

Adding insult to injury, the second war demon seemed more than capable of dipping between both fights, shoring up the pit fiend’s defences while simultaneously aiding in the other war demon’s attacks. This alone made the fight difficult enough, and that was without paying attention to the greed demon who lurked just behind his minions, the armored creature waiting for something.

Though what exactly that was, Kanathara didn't know, as he had more than ample opportunity to strike at her, should he desire. Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, Kanathara kept her eye on him, but otherwise paid him little mind, focusing instead on the rising tide of acid that built at the back of her throat.

Deflecting a blow of the war demon’s sword with her magic, Kanathara dove forward, noting that the deflection had worked perfectly as the demon had assumed she was defenceless as she hadn't used her magic yet. The imp’s short legs carried her under the demon’s guard and allowed her to launch a wad of acid directly at the demon’s face.

Her opponent recoiled and tried to raise his shield but he simply wasn't able to move fast enough to avoid it. Just when Kanathara felt a sense of elation at killing an opponent, she noted that a green aura suddenly surrounded her acid and contained it long enough for it to be tossed aside and out of harm's way.

“Ah ah ah, can't have you killing my soldiers quite yet,” the greed demon remarked, snickering as Kanathara was forced to dodge and weave out of the war demon’s counter attacks.

Counter attacks that he made sure not to overcommit to like he had until now, enabling him to keep the imp on the defensive and unable to reach him.

Grumbling to herself, the imp spared a glance at her familiar, hoping that the winged demon could find an advantage that she could not. Alas, she seemed as deadlocked as her mistress was, the pit fiend slowly getting used to fighting an aerial target and not having to rely on the war demon quite as much. Something that only meant more trouble for the imp, as she had to fend off two attackers who were rapidly driving her towards the wall.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Kanathara noticed Mistmane lurch forward, throwing herself in the way of an errant whip strike and giving herself a deep gash along her flank. Kanathara didn't even have time to wonder why she had done this as a second later Rockhoof came down hard on the pit fiend, a one two combo of hoof strikes knocking the fiend to the ground before bringing his entire weight down on the demon, turning his upper torso into paste.

Rainbow Dash blinked and flew back a few feet, startled by the sudden assault and destruction of her opponent. “Maybe I couldn't have taken you,” she muttered, looking down to where Rockhoof merely snorted in derision, glaring at the war demons.

Off to the side, Mistmane hissed as she pushed magic into her horns and began the slow process of rebuilding her shredded flesh. “Gods above, that hurts,” she exclaimed, the ragged flesh slowly knitting itself together as she pushed more and more magic into the spell.

For a moment the cadence of battle was interrupted, the greed demon cursing under his breath and barking orders to his two remaining minions and forcing them to split up, giving Kanathara the breathing room she needed. That interruption didn't last long however, as the two remaining war demons adapted quickly, splitting off between the two and focusing on their opponents.

The fast, sweeping strikes that Kanathara had come to expect were gone, replaced by short jabs that kept her on the tips of her hooves. It was evident that they didn't want a repeat of last time, and had adapted their styles to simply exhaust their opponents, the greed demon being smart enough to notice that the duo had already begun to slow despite Mistmane’s restoration spell.

This was in part due to the fact that they had no spells to counter the war demon’s casting. Strikes enhanced with magic and rendered nearly too fast to see needed to be blocked or dodged the old-fashioned way, without the help of magic. This meant they needed to work twice as hard while their opponents could take their time, relying on their undiminished mana pools to give them the edge they needed.

Even still, the two young Equestrians weren’t without their own tricks and they managed a few counter attacks of their own, though the actual good of such attacks was negligible considering the fact that they couldn't add their magic or full weight to the blows. Kanathara in particular found herself more or less useless, her short hooves and small stature meaning she could do little against the massively armored demon that even now bore down on her.

It got to the point that she found herself getting pushed back against the wall once more, her entire attention being focused merely on keeping herself out of the way of her opponent’s blows. This meant that she could hardly even react in time before she noticed the greed demon’s great sword sweep down, the jagged edge ready to cleave her in half.

With a panicked yell she forced the last of her mana into a desperate teleport that moved her only a few feet to the side, nearly tumbling into Rainbow Dash who had swooped down in an attempt to drive her spear into her opponent’s elbow. Forced to dodge both her mistress, and her opponent’s blows, the vengant abandoned her attack and flew back, focusing instead on keeping both war demons occupied while Kanathara recovered.

Their thoughts flowed back and forth between them, the demons coordinating perfectly to ensure she was covered while enabling the young imp to stumble back to her hooves and regain her bearings. Shaking her head vigorously, Kanathara growled at the greed demon who had fallen into the back line once more, his eyes flashing cruelly as he waited for another opening to present itself.

To the side, unnoticed by most, Mistmane sighed, her flank now smooth and unblemished save for a jagged scar she didn't have the time to heal just yet. “I guess I’m going to have to help once more,” she murmured, only to be stopped by a mournful groan that emanated from Rockhoof’s throat. “Oh, I’m sorry dear, truly I am, but it must be done.”

Now fighting over top of one another, the vengant and imp used every trick they knew of just to keep alive. Techniques they had perfected over the last eighteen years were stretched to their limit under the constraints they now found themselves under. Though they had gone without magic before, they always had at least one escape plan or trump card to play, unlike now where they had nothing but their wits and raw physical ability. One of which paled against the strength of even a lesser demon like the ones they now faced.

Kanathara cursed herself for not taking the opportunity earlier to restock on mana and pop one of her rarer potions. Regrets and worries would have to wait for now though, as their back had officially hit the wall, meaning they were running out of time.

We may have to leave the keeper behind and slip out the window, Kanathara remarked as she leapt to the right, dodging a sword strike that would have seen her bisected.

There is no way that the greed demon wouldn't see that coming, are you sure about this, boss? Rainbow Dash replied, deflecting a sword strike with her spear before driving the demon back a step with a jab at the throat.

It might be our only- wait a second, Mistmane is moving, Kanathara thought back, noticing that the keeper was indeed doing something, namely casting a spell, one that was familiar to the imp.

A second later and her unspoken question was answered when Mistmane appeared in a flash of light directly in front of a devastating cut that had been intended to remove Rainbow Dash’s wings from her body. The keeper winced prematurely, raising her hooves and using her own body to block the blow she had seen coming.

Neither vengant nor keeper had a chance to react before one found themselves knocked out of the way by Mistmane and the other found herself with one less hoof than she was born with. Bright teal blood splattered across Kanathara’s face and body, and she looked on in horror as the keeper’s limb pinwheeled through the air, splattering the area in her strange, otherworldly flesh.

A thunderous roar of hate was all the war demon heard before Rockhoof was upon him. This time the demon had enough time to turn and raise his shield, though that did little to actually help him as the enchanted equipment crumpled like tissue paper under the hoof of the former hero. His sword was knocked aside next, with the force of the blow being so great that Kanathara could hear his shoulder tearing out of its socket.

The imp could tell the other war demon wanted to join in, wanted to defend his fellow, but a harsh glare from his commander made him reconsider that move. That was until Rockhoof chose to be unexpectedly cruel and sweep the legs out from under the demon whom had struck Mistmane. With his opponent prone before him, the great twisted equine brought his forehooves down hard on the war demon’s thighs, flattening them.

A howl of rage and pain filled the air and the war demon gave up all attempts at restraint, throwing himself at the equine in an attempt to drive him back. An effort that his fellow quickly joined in on, offering Rainbow Dash one last sweeping strike to drive her back before spinning around and echoing his fellow demon’s cry of rage.

From the side Kanathara could hear their commander muttering more curses to himself, but without a clear danger before her, the imp put such mutterings from her mind. “Mistmane, what the hell were you thinking?” She cursed, glaring down at the keeper who lay on her back, gritting her teeth as she slowly forced her magic to regrow the lost limb.

“I was thinking--urk--that you two needed some help,” she muttered, her short limb twisting as new flesh bubbled up from the stump and took the place of the now missing hoof.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Don't get us wrong, we appreciate it, but wow, you didn't need to go that far.”

“Trust me--unf--I didn't mean to go--dammit--that far,” Mistmane muttered, her limb slowly regrowing and taking shape.

A final wet splat signalled that the slaughter was over, and the war demons now lay very, very dead. Both creatures were missing limbs, and in the case of the second offender, a head and most of his upper body. Rockhoof seemed no worse for wear, with only a bruise on his cheek and a short cut along his barrel showing that there had even been a fight at all.

“Well, isn't this embarrassing,” the greed demon remarked, glancing at his dead allies and up to Rockhoof, who merely snorted. “Something tells me this is not a failure I will be letting down anytime soon.”

Rainbow Dash smirked, standing tall. “Yeah! That's what you get, you sentient green turd demon!”

Rolling his eyes, the greed demon sighed. “I suppose I’ll have to get my scales dirty after all.”

The snake demon raised his off hand and made a pulling motion, his magic gripping both vengant and imp and yanking them forward, away from the keeper and her protector. With her hoof still regrowing and her magic occupied, Mistmane was forced to merely sit and watch as her would-be saviors were dragged off into a fight she knew they could not win.

Rainbow Dash lurched into the air, while Kanathara skidded to a stop, nearly slipping on a pool of teal blood. With his goal accomplished, the greed demon dismissed his magic and gripped his weapons tighter, readying a strike against the vengant who was already upon him and was stabbing away with her spear.

Kanathara was about to join Rainbow Dash, only to stop when she noticed something familiar about the spot they were in, and a glance over at the still floating ash grey orb confirmed those suspicions. With a smirk on her face, Kanathara quickly relayed her orders to Rainbow Dash who did her best to hide the mirth that threatened to break past her mask of neutrality.

With that done, Kanathara joined her familiar, dashing around the greed demon as he battled with the aerial demon. His great sword was faster than what one might assume, and every strike forced Rainbow Dash to jump back, the wide arcs and massive blade making her abandon several attacks before they could truly be launched. What the shorter blade lacked in length it more than made up for in speed, and the greed demon used it to dizzying effect, thrusting fast enough that Kanathara could hardly keep her footing for more than a second.

Yet through it all, they made sure to not give an inch, keeping the greed demon in place as he struck at them. The demon’s speed was terrifying, and though they had the advantage of attacking from two very different angles, the vengant and imp found that they could do little as he was simply too fast for them. Yet even when this realization sunk in, they fought on, confident of victory for a reason the greed demon could not understand.

As Kanathara leapt out of the way of downward cut, she launched a glob of acid at the greed demon, her face showing no surprise when the glob was stopped in mid air and fell to the ground. The greed demon paid this little mind, as he drove his great sword repeatedly at the vengant’s midsection, scoring several shallow cuts as the winged demon hastily flew up and out of his reach.

“Do you really think you have a chance?” barked the demon, smirking as he watched Rainbow Dash pull back a hoof and realize it was covered in her own blood. “You can't even land a hit on me and without Mistmane there to throw herself in the way, you have nothing.”

Rainbow Dash bit her lip and growled, playing the part of a bitter, angry demon perfectly. “Just shut up and fight me, you arrogant prick.”

“Keep him back, I’m sure his enchantments are about to give out,” Kanathara yelled, spitting another wad of acid at the demon.

This attack, like the others, slid uselessly down the invisible wall of force that protected the greed demon, who laughed at the apparent futility of their actions. “My enchantments were made to allow me to fight in any condition, against any foe, your poison spit is nothing to my magic!”

The demon drove his point home with a series of lightning fast strikes that very nearly forced the pair back, something they only barely resisted, having summoned every last drop of speed they could muster and accepting several shallow cuts in order to not allow the greed demon from the spot they had chosen for him. Wings beat, and hooves shifted rapidly this way and that, only barely keeping the duo out of the way of the flurry of blades.

On the other side of the room Mistmane ly in a pool of her own blood, her magic slowly regrowing the last of her severed limb, her tattoos flowing over her body and down the newly grown flesh, connecting once more. “What in the hell are those two doing?” she muttered, watching as Kanathara continued to spit acid while Rainbow Dash struggled to keep him in place.

Rockhoof shrugged his massive shoulders, though his eyes betrayed his apparent indifference as he stared closely at the pair, following every strike and counterstrike closely.

As they watched, the three demons continued their shifting, changing dance for several minutes, with Kanathara and Rainbow Dash earning a multitude of injuries for their efforts, all of which were small, or shallow, but had begun to accumulate as their blood now ran freely from numerous wounds. Their movements slowed, their strikes seemingly taking more and more effort despite the fact that Mistmane’s horn was alight, the keeper now continually channelling her low level healing spell at the pair. In the end this renewed vigor did little to help them, and with each new wound Mistmane closed, two more appeared shortly after.

“I think I might be able to use a shield spell to hold him at bay, on my signal run for the window!” Mistmane yelled, her horns glowing brighter as she readied the spell.

“No!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “We don't run, and we aren't about to start now.”

“Your soul is mine, Mistmane,” Kanathara declared, before grunting and ducking out of the way of another sweeping strike of the greed demon’s great sword. “And I intend on collecting it this very day!”

“Spout all the worthless drivel you like, all you've successfully done is bleed on me.” The greed demon sneered.

“That's not all we've done,” Rainbow Dash replied cryptically, smirking at the greed demon’s confusion. “We've also kept you here.”

Before he had a chance to ask a question, or figure out what the vengant meant, Kanathara cursed and leapt forward, raising her hooves high in the air before bringing them down hard against the ground. A resounding crack filled the room and for a second nothing seemed to happen, the greed demon standing motionless as he slowly looked down. A second crack prompted him to panic and he surged forward, only for Rainbow Dash to swipe wildly across the demon’s face, forcing him to stand and block.

This was enough time though, and after a third crack, the floor shattered, Kanathara’s acid having weakened the aged stone to the point that it collapsed completely. With a yell of rage the greed demon plummeted through the floor, falling past the corpses of his allies and into the spike pit that Rainbow Dash had first set up nearly thirty minutes ago.

Leaving nothing to chance, Kanathara peeked over the side of the hole, her powerful eyes piercing the dust and debris that hung in the air. “He's still alive,” she muttered, mouth agape.

“Not for long,” Rainbow Dash shouted, leaping down the hole, spear at the ready.

Below them the greed demon coughed and sputtered, several spears piercing his chest, torso and tail as well as his right arm, none of which seemed to have fatally wounded him as even now he was using his free hand to free himself. “Oh no, you don't,” Rainbow Dash muttered before whipping her spear down at the greed demon’s exposed head.

The spear never hit its target however as the snake demon raised a hand and summoned a green shield that deflected the spear and sent it clattering uselessly into the pit. “Fool, I am not so easily defeated!” he growled, blood spurting from his lips with every word he spoke.

“I didn't expect it to!” yelled the vengant a second before she flew directly into his helmeted head, the metal of which easily resisted her claw attack, though the same could not be said of his neck, which now bend at an unnatural angle.

“Boo yeah! Did you see that, boss? Was that a great one liner or what?” Rainbow Dash declared, puffing out her chest and smirking up at her mistress.

A mistress that merely rolled her eyes and pointed down. “He's still not dead.”

“What, really?” Rainbow Dash looked down and groaned as she noticed his neck slowly realigning itself as his body twitched. “Augh, I hate regenerators. Whatever, at least they taste good.”

The vengant flew down in order to allow her to tear the helmet from his head, revealing his hate-filled eyes and blood-filled mouth. The insults he usually threw had devolved into little more than choked gasping, the demon spraying blood with each word he made.

“Yeah yeah, hate, death, and vengeance,” muttered Rainbow Dash as she turned his neck to the side, forcing him to expose his unprotected throat.

With a crunch the vengant bit down hard on the exposed flesh, making the demon’s already blood-filled mouth to fill entirely with the bright green liquid. A second bite, followed by a third and fourth were enough to sever the greed demon’s head from his body, his neck now entirely non-existent.

Chewing noisily, Rainbow Dash grabbed the demon’s head and flew up to her mistress. “Do you think he's dead this time, boss?”

“I don't know, why don't you ask him?” Kanathara remarked, snickering as she pointed to the head, whose lips were still moving, and whose eyes still glared daggers at Rainbow Dash.

“Man, you really don't know when to quit, do you?” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Ah well, I might as well take a break and have a snack, I earned it after all.”

With that the vengant clamped down on the greed demon’s skull and began to squeeze with her powerful jaw muscles, his eyes went wide as he felt his skull begin to lose out against the vengant’s maw. Then, his expression was gone, his skull having shattered and his brain now partially in his attacker’s mouth.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and punched her familiar in the shoulder. “Chew with your mouth closed, Rainbow Dash.”

“Wuheva,” Rainbow Dash muttered, bits of brain and bone spitting out of her overfull mouth.

“Augh, I’m surrounded by barbarians,” Kanathara sighed, slowly turning to a stunned Mistmane and an expressionless Rockhoof. “What?”

“Err, nothing dear, nothing,” Mistmane replied quickly, standing on her newly regrown limb. “We are just thankful you survived, isn't that right, darling?”

Mistmane’s elbow likely wasn't even felt by the enormous former earth pony, but it still prompted him to nod his head and grunt, agreeing with his wife.

The imp trotted over to the shadow orb, gazing into its depths and quickly scanning the tower. Finding no hidden enemies, she nearly breathed a sigh of relief, only to find her gaze drawn to the very floor she was standing on. “Hey, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara began. “Do you feel anything odd right now?”

“Other than indigestion?” the vengant replied with a smirk, only to notice that her mistress was unamused. “Oh, you are serious uh…” She tapped her chin and shook her head. “Not really. Why?”

“It just feels like we are being watched, is all. Mistmane, do you know of any other ways Starswirl could be spying on us?” Kanathara asked, turning to the keeper of secrets.

“I don't… wait.” Mistmane stood up and cast a quick flash spell, blinding nearly everyone in the room save for Kanathara who could tell what spell it was the second she began casting it. “Aha!”

Kanathara looked over to the corner of the room where the solitary shadow remained, a lone end table being the only thing that still cast shade now that a giant ball of unnatural golden light bathed the room in its strange glow. The shadow recoiled slightly before rising up, becoming solid and taking the shape of a short, demure unicorn stallion who wore a ragged cape on his shoulders.

“Bravo Kanathara, you are every bit the genius they say you are,” the shadow remarked, clapping his pitch black hooves together as he trotted forward. “Truly you are the crown jewel of Tirek’s army.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Kanatahra exclaimed, taking a step forward and baring her teeth. “Tell us why you are here and I just might let you live.”

“You know that would be scary if you were, oh I don't know, scary,” replied the shadow, smirking at the imp’s attempt at intimidation.

“What are you doing here, Stygian? You've already lost. I’m free, and soon so will Rockhoof,” Mistmane declared, stumbling forward on her new hoof. “Starswirl has failed.”

“Oh you would believe that, wouldn't you?” Stygian began, trotting closer to the mare. “But the way he sees it, this is a perfect opportunity to take four pieces off the board in a single move.”

“What in the hells are you talking about?” Rainbow Dash muttered, gesturing to the shadow demon. “Could we get at least one enemy who speaks plainly?”

“How about this for plain. Kanathara, did you notice anything strange about those bindings? Anything that perhaps looked counterproductive?” Stygian exclaimed as he leaned forward, his smirk growing ever larger.

“I…” Kanathara blinked, her eyes going wide. “Wait, there were protections woven into the bindings, protections that ensured that the bound-”

“Would not be able to be dominated by mind effects. Effects that are now lifted!” Stygian declared triumphantly.

In an instant his form vanished, replaced by the sliding shadow that shot directly at the keeper of secrets. As Mistmane began to cast a spell, Rockhoof surged forward, stomping at the shadow repeatedly, yet all he seemed to do was make the tower rumble as the shadow flowed right around his strikes.

Streaking across the floor, the shadow continued to be undaunted by the resistance both Rockhoof and Mistmane put up, the other two demons too far away to help. Spells fired, and lightning bolts, fire and continued physical attacks all proved fruitless, the shadow unbothered by any attempt to injure it.

In a last ditch effort Mistmane cast a spell that granted her long leathery wings and launched into the air. An act that was as valiant as it was worthless, as the shadow merely exploded from the ground and reached up, grasping the mare’s newly grown hoof and quickly sliding up her body.

The keeper gasped in pain as the shadow sunk into her flesh, the demon’s essence shoving its way into the former hero’s body as it clawed its way closer to the keeper’s brain. With her final spell sputtering uselessly, Mistmane’s face suddenly fell and she looked sorrowfully at Rockhoof. “I’m sorry, darling. Please know that I will always love you,” she whispered as the edges of her eyes began to darken, blackened tentacles reaching towards her iris.

Below her, Rockhoof belowed in anguish, tears falling down his face as his hooves failed to reach the still airborne keeper.

“What the hell?” Rainbow Dash muttered, stopping mid-flight as she watched the keeper’s body begin to thrash in mid air.

“Quick, strike now!” Kanathara yelled, jabbing a hoof at the keeper. “While its defenseless.”

“Right,” Rainbow Dash muttered before surging towards the still-writhing demon.

Spear raised, and poised to pierce the demon’s body, Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could.

The vengant never reached her target, as a shimmering wall of teal force suddenly sprang into existence between her and the keeper. It was everything Rainbow Dash had not to slam face first into the barrier, though that didn't stop her spear from doing just that, the weapon shattering on impact.

Peeling herself off the invisible wall, Rainbow Dash flew back, quickly reestablishing her understanding of the situation.

“Fools!” bellowed the now completely black keeper of secrets. “The binding can be used again! You have only delayed the inevitable.”

Rockhoof’s jaw hung open and he looked up at the keeper with wide, terrified eyes, silently mouthing the distraught words he could no longer speak.

“This feels amazing!” The keeper extended a hoof in front of its face, flexing her hoof and causing a shimmering field of teal magic to course from the limb. “Such power, and yet she never used it. No matter, if she won't, I will, and the first order of business will be to kill Misty’s stupid pet mud pony.”

If Rockhoof was scared of his potential end, he didn't show it, and he merely stood there, wide-eyed and despondent, tears still flowing down his grotesque features.

“Hey asshole! Tentacles off my keeper!” Kanathara yelled, jabbing a hoof at the pitch black monster.

“Wait your turn.” Snarled the demon, glaring at the imp before turning its attention to Rockhoof once more. “Him and I have some unfinished business, don't we, shovel face? Prepare yourself fools, for tonight you will meet your final death!”

Author's Note

Trial ???: Overwhelming Power

“But master, they were expendable! You said so yourself,” Stygian pleaded, his shadowy hooves raised defensively before him.

The superiority he plead to loomed over the shadow demon, his grey hoof raised, and his curved horn glowing a bright white light that lit up the impromptu torture room. The room around them was small and bereft of any decoration as the meditation room was all but empty, with only a few faded tapestries covering most of the walls and three large circles of alternating gold and blue inlaid in the floor. Everything else was made of a stark white marble imported from an entirely different plane of existence, the polished stone making up the domed ceiling that rose high above them.

“It doesn't matter if they were expendable or not, they were not yours to sacrifice,” snarled the taller stallion, whose lips curled back to reveal a row of dagger-sharp teeth that glinted in the low light.

His finely combed and well-manicured hoof slammed into the shadow demon’s cheek, knocking him to the ground. “Furthermore, you were tasked with taking them both back, or at least Mistmane, yet instead of teleporting away and bringing me my prize you stayed and tried to exact your petty revenge!” Starswirl shouted, his voice growing louder and louder as his curly mane began to straighten and stand on end, the grey and white locks becoming a fiery red.

“I’m sorry, master, but-” Stygian began, only to get another punch to the jaw, sending the shadow demon back to the floor, where he received another punch across the face, followed by a third, and then a fourth.

“You failed, again! Do you know how many times this has happened?” Starswirl yelled, his long and intricately decorated gold and blue cape flowing behind him on an unseen wind.

“N-no,” Stygian stuttered.

“Fifty-seven times, Stygian! Fifty-seven times you've failed me, and this time you have not only failed, but also lost me two of the pillars!” Starswirl bellowed, his pale blue eyes narrowing, his pupils elongating and becoming more draconic as his iris turned from a baby blue to a burning red.

“B-but, master, you said-” Stygian blubbered.

“I know what I said, but they were still important and with Flash, Somnambula and Meadowbrook all dead we are the last of the pillars!” Starswirl shouted.

“Why does that matter, sir?” Stygian muttered weakly.

“Because I had yet to finish my experiments on the other pillars, and I refuse to experiment on myself... But you…” Starswirl muttered, his mane falling back into place as his body morphed back into the more normal appearance of an aged stallion who was unnaturally tall, and with a long curved horn.

Stygian gulped. “Master?”

The larger stallion shook his head suddenly. “No, that would be useless, the elements abandoned us both.” The stallion sighed. “No matter, the research had hit a dead end anyway.”

The shadow demon slowly picked himself off the ground and brushed himself off, his body slowly inflating to fill in the damaged sections that had been punched in by his master. Though his body healed quickly, and easily, he remained relatively low to the ground, watching, and waiting for the other stallion to speak before Stygian uttered so much as a sound.

The superiority demon blinked and looked down, frowning at the other demon. “This changes little, and I suppose it was good that she perished before she was able to utter any secrets of ours. Her soul has likely suffered too greatly for her memories to be recoverable either.”

Stygian nodded eagerly, but knew better than to speak.

“Still, do not think this is the end of your punishment, you little failure.” Starswirl sneered, the stallion leaning down and jabbing a hoof into the shadow demon’s chest. “You have given our enemies a considerable power boost, one, which, although unlikely to change the fate I have set for them, should not be theirs to have at all.”

Stygian kept his jaw shut firmly and recoiled slightly, the smaller stallion wanting nothing more than to shrink into a nearby shadow and slip away through the cracks in the walls.

“Now then.” Starswirl stood straight, and began stroking his goatee with a hoof, staring off into space. “With that loose end out of the way, we have a rare opportunity in our hooves.”

“Master?”

“Though useful, Mistmane was clever, resourceful, and always managed to throw a wrench in my plans no matter how deep the hole I put her in.” Starswirl’s jaw clenched and he glared at something only he could see. “With her gone I can finally begin moving in earnest without worrying what new trick she is going to pull on me.”

Stygian cocked his head but remained silent, watching as the stallion thought deeply on the subject at hand.

“Were they able to acquire her spell book?” Starswirl asked suddenly.

Stygian shook his head. “No, I took it before anyone noticed. It's currently in your office on your desk.”

The superiority demon nodded. “Good, though she knew a lot, at least we have her spells and they do not. Though I would have loved to get my hooves on that stallion of hers again. Every time I left those two alone for any extended period of time, Mistmane always managed to surprise me by adding another ward to the many layers of Rockhoof’s defences,” Starswirl mused aloud.

“Yes, he certainly was… difficult to kill,” Stygian muttered through gritted teeth.

“And so loyal and powerful, I really should set aside time to replicating the spellwork I did on his binding enchantment.” Starswirl chuckled. “If only I could chain all my minions with such restraints, this little scenario would never happen.”

Stygian shuddered in disgust, imagining the powerful superiority demon at the head of an army of dead-eyed demons bound to do his every will. “You would be unstoppable,” Stygian replied weakly.

“I would, wouldn't I?” Starswirl smirked, only to shake his head suddenly. “Still, loyalty and strength aside, he was surprisingly strong-willed, it's better that he's gone now. He is indeed dead, correct?”

Stygian nodded vigorously. “Oh yes, I made sure to linger long enough to confirm his death. They didn't even notice me watching them say their final goodbyes.” The shadow demon snickered to himself. “The fools.”

A sudden hoof to the jaw sent the shadow demon sprawling to the ground, an angry superiority demon looming over him, teeth bared and eyes glowing harshly. “If you were half as good at killing as you were at sneaking, all of our enemies would be dead!”

The stallion’s rage vanished quickly this time, with the taller demon taking a step back and placing a hoof over where his heart would be, his breathing slowing. “Get up, Stygian, we have much to discuss and I refuse to speak to you while you are busy pissing yourself.”

“I can't actually do… Yes, sir,” Stygian muttered, rising slowly on shaky limbs.

“The nightmare’s release is drawing nigh, but we have time left to remove Tirek. How many of my soldiers are ready to move?” Starswirl asked, not even looking at the shadow demon and instead staring off into space, the stallion rubbing his chin, deep in thought.

“Seven thousand strong, sir, not including the cannon fodder which number in the tens of thousands, give or take a few thousands or so, depending on how hungry the troops are,” Stygian replied.

“Good, and my generals, have they assembled?” Starswirl inquired.

Stygian nodded. “Amon, Belial, Grigori, and Maricha await your command, Rusalka has sent a messenger ahead of her arrival and Vepar is indisposed, but has sent his finest soldiers in his stead.”

“Good, good.” Starswirl muttered. “Vepar was the weakest of the bunch, so his loss is negligible. As soon as Rusalka is here, notify me immediately so we may begin operation Stormspire.”

“Yes, sir,” Stygian replied instantly, ducking into a slight bow.

“I will have to run the numbers again tonight, maybe redo the simulations to take into account the fact that they have a keeper,” Staswirl remarked idly before shaking his head. “Regardless, we have work to do, and one last ritual to complete. You will accompany me in three hours’ time after I have had a chance to gather the necessary supplies.”

“Sir? I thought Nightmare Moon’s return could not be sped up,” Stygian half asked half stated.

Starswirl smirked, looking down at the shadow demon with barely contained contempt. “Her arrival is all but set in stone, but our arrival is not. We will need to create several hard points between Tartarus and Equestria if we will have a hope of overrunning the ponies and ensuring that our mistress is successful this time,” Starswirl declared, the stallion hissing angrily when he spoke the title of the creature that held power over him.

“Sir? I thought she was going to raise a rebellion again, or perhaps resurrect the forces she buried in the shimmering hills,” Stygian inquired.

“I care very little of her actual plans, she will receive the help of my armies whether she wishes it or not.” Starswirl snorted. “Her arrogance cost us greatly last time, and this time I have ensured that there are elements in place that will make sure we are able to succeed despite her idiosyncrasies.”

Stygian held back the biting remark that was on the tip of his tongue, the shadow demon only barely keeping himself from uttering something he would no doubt regret. “A solid plan, sir, but why are you telling me all this?”

“Partly to keep you in the loop, partly to gloat, I must admit.” Starswirl chuckled. “You are one of the few creatures whom truly understanding the scope of the task before us, and knows its great difficulty.”

“Worse yet, the ponies have begun to prepare themselves for our arrival,” Stygian remarked with a frown.

“True,” Starswirl remarked with a shrug. “But they fail to grasp the true power of the army that even now moves on their prim and perfect lands. Equestria will be ours, but first, I have one last job for you, one last chance to prove yourself before we return to Equestria and do the will of our dark mistress.”

“Anything, my master,” Stygian replied quickly, ducking into a short bow.

“The spies have confirmed that they have managed to break through the majority of Tirek’s wards undetected, thus giving you enough wiggle room to scout the areas that my spies have not been able to.” Starswirl smiled. “This will be your last opportunity to earn your final transformation and acquire the power you have sought for so long, my familiar.”

Stygian couldn't help but grin despite the demeaning words leveled his way. “You will know every secret Tirek’s tower holds before the morrow, this I swear.”

“See to it that I do, or else I will do worse than simply slap you around until I grow bored,” Starswirl replied with a sneer.

Stygian gritted his teeth and held back another biting remark that wanted desperately to spill past his lips. “Your will be done,” Stygian whispered, before his form lost all semblance of cohesion and bled into the floor, vanishing from sight.

Leaving Starswirl to stand in the midst of his meditation room, a small smile on his face. “Ahh, I can hardly wait for my revenge. Finally, Tirek, you will get your just deserts.”

Kanathara was adrift on a seemingly endless sea of darkness that stretched out into infinity. The imp floated on her back, the cold bite of the water dulled somewhat by her tough, leathery hide and the heat that burned deep in her core. After all, demons at their heart were born from hellfire, and Kanathara was no exception to this rule.

She wasn't sure when she had returned to consciousness, or how, only that her last memories were of being submerged in the latent magic of the keeper, her soul sent adrift in the massive currents of power that had been at Mistmane’s beck and call up until the moment of her death. Now, that power was unbound and was slowly seeping out of the keeper’s body without a will to be dominated and controlled.

The imp looked up at the sky, only to find not the endless, featureless darkness she had assumed she would, but instead saw stars, plenty of them. As she gawked, she quickly realized that these stars were a part of the now dead keeper’s memories, the soul that burned in the imp’s stomach giving her a taste of the dead demon’s mind and what the keeper had seen.

For a moment, her mission was forgotten and Kanathara looked up in wonder, amazed by the sheer detail of the sky that lay before her. Tartarus had no such night sky, only an endless cloud cover that stretched from one horizon to another, somehow letting in the cruel light of the endless fires, but still obscuring the sky at the same time. Now though, now the sky was open to the imp, allowing the young demon to stare up in wonder.

That was until she felt a shift in the tide she floated upon, alerting her to the words her father had spoken many days ago. “Work quickly. As soon as the keeper dies her magic will begin to dissipate and you will need to absorb a certain amount of it or else the transformation will be incomplete.” Tirek had spoken sternly, though his grim expression was marred somewhat by a faintly guilty look Kanathara had noticed in his eye.

She refused to think about that for now though, as she had a job to do, and not long to do it if she hoped to finally receive the power she had first craved nearly twenty years ago. With a grunt, she tensed her muscles, only to realize that she had no idea where to start.

The ocean that surrounded her was her mind’s conceptualization of the keeper’s power, and yet it somehow needed to be inside her. Well, in a way it needed to be, she doubted she could physically drink an ocean.

Closing her eyes, the imp simply allowed herself to lay in the ocean of power, eyes shut tight as she thought of how best to tackle her situation. It needed a vessel, a home, a place for it to reside, and what was an imp if not a vessel for such a power. She felt a large grin spread across her face and she chuckled darkly despite the monumental task that lay before her. One way or another, this power would be hers, the only question left was how best to claim dominion over it.

This problem was in her mind, she decided, as it was simply a puzzle waiting to be cracked, and out of the mire of confusion, Kanathara grinned, an idea coming to mind.

She was not small, not anymore, she was a keeper of secrets, not a mere imp, not a bottom feeder or lowly mana eating creature that lurked in the bottom levels of Tartarus. This was all hers by right, as was Mistmane’s very soul, and she would claim what was hers, no matter what.

Kanathara’s eyes snapped open, and she dismissed the chaotic miasma of confusion and scattered thoughts that had clung to her for the past few minutes, and instead focused solely on being able to take what was hers by right of conquest. Standing up suddenly, the imp forced the ocean of power to gain a solid surface, her will bending the laws of this place to suit her desires. With that little test out of the way, she focused on imaging that she was no longer an imp, forcing her mind to carve away her now cramped, and too small flesh.

Leathery hide peeled off her body like she were being flayed alive, thick strips of flesh vanishing the instant they separated from the imp’s form. Revealing only darkness beneath, at the heart of which shone a blood red sun that pulsed angrily with barely contained power. The stripping of her flesh elicited no cry of pain from the imp, as she knew that this was all merely a conjuration of her mind, which was simply trying to actualize the action Kanathara felt her soul start to go through.

Her skin peeled away from her legs and up her torso, until finally it reached her neck and face, swiftly ending at a point between the imp’s eyes. The discarded flesh vanished, leaving behind a faint purple outline of magic in the shape of a hooved creature, that contained the same blood red heart. She paid no mind to the loss of her horns, mane and flesh, for they were all transitory, a mere reflection of her weakness, and inability to grasp true power.

She no longer needed her talismans that gave her strength beyond a mere imp, speed beyond the bottom dweller she had been for the past twenty years. Not even the loss of the horns she had been so proud of brought her a hint of regret, for she knew there would be a far grander apotheosis just on the horizon.

One she willed herself to reach, pushing herself towards her desired goal faster, lest she be unable to reach it at all.

Thinking back to Mistmane’s appearance, Kanathara first remembered the demon’s flowing ethereal mane. Focusing on her own scalp, Kanathara gripped her will like a weapon, and used it to pull at her very essence, forcing her ethereal being to stretch and contort. A long, flowing section of herself was forced thin and long, falling from her scalp like a great wave that hung over one side of her face while the other side was empty of hair.

The simple magenta color was not enough for the imp though and she mixed it with a deep black reminiscent of the night sky that hung above her. She watched on in glee, as her mane became black at the base, and purple at the ends, betwixt which flowed a sea of stars caught in the gentle glow of twilight.

With that out of the way, she focused on her horns, only to stop herself just before conjuring the twin ram’s horns she had seen on the keeper. She herself had similar horns when she were an imp, and though she was tempted to emulate the keeper’s appearance, they were not intimidating, or radiated the type of power Kanathara wished to emulate, two things she desperately wanted her new appearance to have. And so she thought of something else entirely, focusing on the point where she had seen a unicorn’s horn grow from, and focusing her will on that same point.

Her being stretched and contorted once more as it was pulled out of her, the glowing magic that was her soul taking on the shape of a long sharp horn. It wasn't enough that it was sharp though, she wanted it to be unique, striking, and able to make her enemies stop and stare in a mix of awe and fear. So instead of making it straight and long like a unicorn’s, she bent and altered it into a shape more unique than that. The magic became slightly thicker, and flatter, and grew straight from her head until it bent forward and then back once more. With a horn more akin to a khopesh, Kanathara looked up and smiled, noting that although it was longer than any unicorn horn, it was not unwieldy, or appeared too large for her new proportions.

With a smile, she focused next on her legs, forcing the stumpy, pathetic limbs of an imp into the long, shapely legs of a demon who could count succubi as their distant cousins. Remembering the way that Mistmane’s body drew the eye in, and guided it along her curves where the viewer got lost, Kanathara focused on that and sculpted her form thusly, emulating the image that lay in her mind’s eye. Unbeknownst to her, the ocean below her was growing smaller and smaller, the enormous body of power being pulled into the imp’s form and fueling her changes.

She became taller, her body elongating and losing the childlike appearance she had been forced to live with for the past twenty years. Painstaking attention was given to ensuring that her new proportions were perfect, and that she was every bit the strikingly beautiful creature she had seen in the book nearly twenty years ago. Flashes of that very first keeper appeared before her eyes, making Kanathara grin wider still, her confidence surging.

She would be more beautiful, more adept, and all around more powerful than even Mistmane, this she was sure of.

Next came her fur, which was the same lustrous magenta and black as her mane, her body eagerly adapting the equine appearance with ease. Something that Kanathara chose not to think about for now, as she was busy assessing her new fur. Only to frown when she realized that having an identical coat and mane color made her mane seem less impressive and she forced her fur to change until it was a deep black with only the barest hint of purple left at the tips.

Nodding to herself, she began to draw the symbols of power into her flesh, the glowing lines of pink flowing this way and that without Kanathara having to even think about it. Though she considered stopping herself, she ultimately chose not to, the now former imp correctly reasoning that this was simply a part of the process. Though one thing she did change was that she encouraged the power to flow over her face and neck as well, something Mistmane apparently had not allowed.

Though the power at first resisted, it seemed to find her suggestion agreeable, and subsequently swirled up either side of Twilight’s cheeks before criss crossing over her muzzle and meeting at her horn, completing the circuit. When that happened the mare nearly jumped out of her newly formed flesh, the burst of power that surged through her making her body tremble with both joy, and anticipation. She already had more power than she could have dreamed of as an imp, and she was not yet finished.

Focusing on the last part of her transformation, Kanathara fought vigorously against the natural tug of the flowing power, forcing it to create not the ugly tome she had seen around Mistmane’s neck but rather a slim, black one. It's cover bore only the demonic word for power, which glowed a bright red on the face of the thin black book that now floated beneath her neck. Knowing what was coming next, Kanathara influenced the magic to flow in a different way, so that it conjured forth not black, but silver chains which worked perfectly with her new body.

Glancing down at that new body, Twilight smiled, only to realize that she had yet to create her eyes, which she ultimately decided would be a bright magenta unmarred by the black that intermingled in her mane and fur to varying degrees. Her pupils were slitted like that of a dragon and when she looked into her own eyes using the altered perception of her mindscape, she saw not the eyes of a weak imp, but the gaze of a powerful keeper, who was every bit the adult she appeared to be.

With a confident nod, she glanced around her, noting idly that the ocean was gone, leaving her standing there alone in a now featureless void.

“It is time,” she announced.

Author's Note

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Trial Four: Emergence

Existence was wetter than Kanathara remembered, and it clung to every last inch of the keeper’s body, her unnaturally soft fur completely matted with the unseen visera. Darkness stuck to the mare’s eyes as much as it did to the rest of her being, leaving it a mystery of where she truly was. Or at least it would be a mystery, if Kanathara hadn't been informed exactly what was going to happen after her transformation had reached its final phase.

Reaching forward, she groped blindly in the dark, strangely squishy depths, searching for the end of this dark tunnel and her exit back to reality. By the time she found that wall of resistance, she felt her lungs begin to burn with a fervent need for oxygen, making the demon quicken her already desperate pace. Wasting no time, the mare pulled back and slammed her hoof into the barrier, over and over again, until finally she felt the wall begin to give. With panic growing in her chest, and newfound muscles she hadn't known existed, Kanathara punched once more and was able to crack the wall and usher in a shred of light and the first sound she had heard in what felt like a small eternity.

A gasp, one of shock, and trepidation in equal measure, the holder of said voice could not be determined, but neither did Kanathara care, as she could feel her body begin to suffer under the prolonged absence of oxygen. She needed to escape before she could even hope to contemplate who was there.

Realizing she now had a long, sharp horn attached to her head, Kanathara aimed the center of her head at the gap she had made in the darkness and thrust her horn into the breach. The crack widened and Kanathara reached up and pulled it open with her hooves, the mare feeling the faint trickle of air moving past her horn. With her exit so close, hope bloomed, and Kanathara pushed forward with renewed vigor.

A second resounding crack announced that she had managed to break through the barrier in full, and she emerged back into reality gasping and wheezing.

Sight was a blur, as was sound and touch, every one of her senses rendered irrelevant as her chest heaved, the mare’s body desperately refilling its stock of life giving oxygen.

You are alive! thought the distinct mental voice of Rainbow Dash.

Not so loud, Kanathara whined, reeling from the sudden mental shout that threatened to give her a migraine.

S-sorry, Rainbow Dash replied in a much quieter tone.

When finally her lungs seemed satisfied, and had taken their due, Kantathara’s senses returned to her one by one.

First was her sense of touch, which returned just in time to remind her that she was absolutely covered in a thick slimy substance that felt incredibly unpleasant, and strangely cold. The substance clung to every last part of her body equally, even the bottom half of her which had yet to emerge from her cocoon. Next came hearing, her ears flattening against the back of her head the instant she was able to perceive the cacophony of sound that surrounded her.

Three different voices were speaking intermittently of one another, each one asking each other a question or gently prodding the keeper of secrets for answers. Answers that Kanathara didn't have, as her voice had yet to fully return, and only managed to come back after she coughed up a wad of the slimy stuff and spat several more times after that, clearing her mouth and throat of the horrible drek.

“One at a time,” Kanathara cautioned, raising a gentle hoof and attempting to get the voices to slow down.

The voices became silent, allowing the keeper to sigh, and rub the slime from her eyes, enabling her to crack open the now healed organs. Though she had been wary of potentially becoming blind due to the damage she had suffered when defeating the shadow demon, those worries were rendered moot the instant she opened her eyes. Light poured in, and though it stung her retinas and made her flinch back slightly, Kanathara refused to close her eyes, as she beheld a sight that she had never experienced before.

Sure, what she was looking at was just a torch, and a wall, but there were so many things, so many details that she had never seen before, leaving the keeper of secrets breathless. An experience that would be pleasant had she not been suffocating mere seconds earlier. The details she beheld were strange and numerous, though the most prominent change was how there was a soft flickering light that surrounded the low burning torch. This second flame was a deep blue and wrapped around the fire and curled upwards, proceeding to rise a foot higher than the flame itself before finally dissipating into nothing. This same aura seemed to encompass all things in the room that were magical in nature, from a fountain pen Twilight remembered was enchanted to never run out of ink, to Tirek himself.

The centaur was staring down at Kanathara in a mixture of anticipation and worry, the demon appearing far older than the keeper remembered. The large horns that emerged from either side of his head standing just as tall but somehow looking a lot less intimidating than normal, as if they had wilted under the stress that was etched into his facial features. The ring he wore in his nose was gone, and the beard that hung to the underside of his chin seemed longer, and greyer than normal, a theme that spread to his mane as well.

His dress was similarly plain, the centaur wearing only a loose cloak that allowed him to ring his hands together nervously without getting in the way of the fabric. “Kanathara, are you okay?” he whispered in a low tone, leaning in and extending a hand towards the keeper of secrets.

“Just a second, father,” the keeper replied before looking down and realizing she was still half inside the withered husk of a very dead Mistmane.

With a firm tug she pulled the back half of her body out of Mistmane’s shattered chest cavity and gave herself a slight shake, her muscles flexing for what felt like the very first time. Conjuring her magic took even less effort, and the keeper quickly cleansed herself of the filth that had clung to her up until now. With that done, she sighed and looked down at the centaur with a smile on her face.

“Did it work?” Kanathara inquired.

The centaur nodded slowly. “See for yourself,” he offered, lifting a hand and conjuring a mirror from which the keeper could see her new form.

Ignoring the squeal of delight coming from her right, where she knew Rainbow Dash was, Kanathara peered into her reflection carefully, and critically. The flowing ethereal mane which had been her first creation was just as she imagined it, the fake bit of hair bobbing gently on an unseen wind, with a starry expanse within. The color of her mane was perfect, as was the color of her fur, the keeper having all of the features she had wished herself to have, including a tail that matched her mane.

She had the same long legs, curving bladed horn, piercing gaze, and svette figure that she had craved for nearly two decades. Something Rainbow Dash eagerly took note of, whistling and hooting from the side lines.

“Go Kanathara, work it girl!” hollered the demon from the side of the table.

Kanathara blushed and put down the leg she had been stretching and was about to reprimand the demon for her brutish behavior, only for a certain golden demon to do that for her. “Save the dirty talk for behind closed doors, you horn dog,” Pear Butter exclaimed before cuffing the smaller demon upside the head with one of her massive hooves.

Making the younger demon wince and rub the spot that had been smacked. “Alright alright, sheesh,” she muttered before looking up at Kanathara and smiling. “You look great by the way.”

The keeper of secrets grinned. “Why thank you, Rainbow Dash, you look wonderful as always.” Kanathara frowned, and cocked her head slightly. “In fact, you seem a little taller than usual.”

The vengant flashed her mistress a wide, confident smile while striking a pose that showed off her long, powerful limbs and even wider wingspan. “A whole three inches in a night no less. Hurt like a bitch, but I’m finally gonna be taller than Pear Butter soon!”

The wrath demon rolled her eyes. “I doubt that. You may be a little taller but you still got a long ways to go, missy.”

Rainbow Dash kept her cheeky grin plastered to her face as she looked up at the wrath demon. “If this keeps up, I should be able to top you in under a week!”

“Wait, why is that anyway?” Kanathara asked, turning to Tirek.

“A familiar and master are inexorably tied, as you two know,” Tirek began, the centaur crossing his arms over his chest. “One’s growth is tied to the other’s own potential, which is how you became such a powerful imp, and why Rainbow Dash was not able to grow to her full height until you ascended to a keeper of secrets.”

Kanathara nodded slowly. “That makes sense. Sorry I’ve accidentally been keeping you short, Rainbow Dash.”

The vengant shrugged. “Anymore of a height difference and it would make our fun times awkward.”

Pear Butter smacked the vengant upside the head once more, this time harder, making the other demon stumble forward. “I said keep it behind closed doors,” reprimanded the taller demon.

“I’m trying, but you two are still here,” Rainbow Dash muttered while rubbing the back of her head.

Tirek sighed. “Regardless. How do you feel? How is your magic? And your new horn?” The centaur frowned and took a step forward, the back of his hand running down the keeper’s side. “You don't feel any irregularities in your body, do you?”

Kanathara smiled and caught the centaur’s hand and squeezed it gently. “I’m fine, father, the transformation took a lot out of me but I feel good, better than good even.”

The elder demon frowned and gave the keeper another brief onceover, before nodding. “You look fine. Do you mind if I give you a quick scan?”

The keeper nodded her assent, and allowed the centaur to wave his glowing hands over her body, scanning her form. After several tense moments, wherein even Rainbow Dash seemed to grow nervous, Tirek opened his eyes and smiled. “Everything looks good, it's just too bad that they were able to steal Mistmane’s spellbook or else you would have complete knowledge of all her spells.”

Kanathara’s eyes went wide and she looked down to where her own spellbook hung from her neck, only to realize it wasn't there. When she was about to ask where it was, the book suddenly appeared in her outstretched hoof, it and the chain that bound it to the keeper’s neck responding to her intention. “Oh, there it is,” Kanathara muttered weakly, flipping through the book and finding that every spell she had ever been taught had been recorded within. “Interesting.”

“How about your memories, dear? I know absorbing another demon’s memories can be difficult, and though I’m glad you never had to deal with that problem all those years ago, a keeper’s soul is much more significant than a mere burnt out entropy demon’s,” Pear Butter inquired, stepping closer and smiling gently.

Kanathara scrunched up her face as she tried to wrack her brain for any memory not her own, something she was adept at given the small amount of memory spells she had acquired and subsequently mastered over the years. “I don't think I have any,” she muttered, her eyes closing tightly. “Wait, there are a few but they are… scattered.”

“Odd, but not out of the realm of possibilities,” Tirek muttered, the centaur scratching his chin while deep in thought. “She must likely kept a good number of her memories inside her grimoire, making it difficult for others to remove them, or see them.”

“Does that mean all of Kanathara’s memories are in this book thingy?” Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing to said book thingy.

The keeper shook her head. “No, only the spells I’ve learned are inside. I don't see any memories in there.”

“You can shunt memories into the book and make them unable to be torn from your mind should you need to, but I would advise against this as pulling apart one’s mind is a recipe for disaster,” Tirek explained.

“No matter how good the chef,” Pear Butter added with a wink.

“Right,” Kanathara replied. “I won't do so unless absolutely necessary to keep information from enemy hands.”

“Atta girl,” Tirek announced. “Now then, I have several important projects that require my attention. I will speak to you at dinner tonight, my daughter.”

“Goodbye, father, and best of luck with your projects,” Kanathara replied, giving the centaur a wave as he bowed slightly before turning and walking away.

Leaving the keeper of secrets in the company of her familiar and the wrath demon.

Kanathara stared at the now closed door, her mind wandering to what project was so busy he had to leave. As if reading her mind, Pear Butter walked up to the keeper and wrapped a hoof around the smaller demon’s shoulders. “You know, he stayed by your side for the last twenty four hours without so much as leaving to eat,” she whispered.

Kanathara blinked and looked at the large golden demon in shock. “R-really?”

“Oh yeah, even I took a break in order to catch some shut eye, but not your old man, he didn't move a muscle the whole time,” Rainbow Dash announced with a hint of pride. “Now that's loyalty, let me tell ya.”

“Wow,” Kanathara muttered, her gaze lingering on the door for several long seconds before she slowly shook her head. “What's next?”

Pear Butter smiled and shook her head, taking a step back from the other demon. “You two will relax until you are feeling adapted to your new body, then we will make sure you've gotten used to your new magic.”

“Oh and Tirek put just about every book on our side of the library!” Rainbow Dash declared excitedly. “There was only like, two books not left on your side, boss!”

“That is amazing,” Kanathara declared, a wide smile crossing her face. “Can I go relax there?”

The larger demon chuckled. “Oh child. You can relax wherever you find it most convenient.”

“Yes!” Kanathara yelled before hopping off the table she had been laying on and landing on the ground in a heap, her legs not cooperating with her desire to stay upright. “Ow.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and gently helped her mistress to her hooves. “Take it slow there, boss. You just grew a whole new set of legs, ya know.”

“Right, just give me a second,” Kanathara muttered, the demon pushing herself into a standing position, managing to stand there for a few seconds, and then subsequently toppling right back over and getting caught by Rainbow Dash. “On second thought, you can carry me there.”

The vengant rolled her eyes. “Sure thing, boss, give me a sec.” Rainbow Dash leaned down and gently slipped under Kanathara before standing up once more. “Ready, boss?”

“Yes, to the library, my faithful steed!” Kanathara announced while pointing to the door.

Pear Butter did her best to stifle a giggle, only to fail. “Do try and get some relaxation in, you two. Something tells me Tirek is going to want you back into the training room as soon as you got your hooves under you.”

“I’ll make sure she gets some sleep and doesn't pass out in a book again,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Shh, noble steeds aren't supposed to talk,” Kanathara shot back.

Rainbow Dash snorted irritably as she began to trot to the door. “You are lucky I enjoy it when you are on top or I would have left you on the ground, missy.”

“Hmmph, like you would miss an opportunity to have me on top of you while also bossing you around,” Kanathara replied smugly.

The vengant’s cheeks burned with shame, and she trotted silently into the hall, a blush spreading across her face. “Touche.”

“Wow, that was intense,” Rainbow Dash announced, wiping a bead of sweat that had begun to collect upon her brow.

Kanathara muttered what sounded like an affirmation, but was little more than a grunt, the keeper of secrets unable to manage words while she lay on the floor, legs splayed in all directions. The vengant chuckled at the blob that was her mistress, prodding the other demon in the side and noting the way that she didn't so much as move even after being poked.

“You alright there, boss?” she asked.

Apparently regrowing an entirely new body from little more than magic is not an easy feat, Kanathara thought at her familiar, after she found her mouth was no longer cooperating with her.

“True,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “Thanks for the work out by the way, Cervantes.”

The armor demon bowed low, the few bumps, dents and scorch marks evident on his metal body fixing themselves before their very eyes.

“Once I get my new body in order, you are finally going down,” Kanathara announced from her spot on the floor, jabbing a limp hoof in the armor demon’s general direction.

Who in turn shrugged in a manner that made both other demons imagine that the faceless creature was smirking under his helmet.

“Yeah yeah, come on, boss, we better head back to the room and shower up. Don't want you falling asleep while you are all gross and stuff,” Rainbow Dash announced while helping to hoist the keeper back onto her own four hooves.

“That does sound nice,” Kanathara admitted. “But it's still a little too early to head to bed. Besides, we have to go to supper soon.”

“I guess so, plus, it's been days since we did it and I can't wait to see what your new body can do,” Rainbow Dash whispered in her mistress’ ear.

Kanathara blushed and playfully batted the familiar’s shoulder. “Oh stop, we’ll be in the shower soon enough.”

Cervantes shook his head as he watched them go, before turning to his own duties, most prominent of which was dealing with his dented and damaged swords.

Leaving the two females to trot out the door and head towards their room, and more importantly the shower that promised them a relief from their sweat, as well as their lust. As they trotted the strangely quiet halls of Tirek’s tower, their conversation fell inwards, with the demons conversing using telepathy, as neither of them wanted to involve anyone else in their heated discussion.

By the time Kanathara’s legs were no longer wobbly, they had made their way nearly the entire distance to their room, and were excitedly thinking about what they would do with their evening after dinner with Tirek was done. That was until the familiar shape of a robed seer stepped out of a side hall and looked down upon them with wide, wild eyes. Her usual gold and red robes were gone and in their place was a simple black one that obscured almost the entirety of her long, lanky body. Only her cloven feet and clawed hands were unobscured, with the hood hiding most of her facial features save her golden eyes.

Kanathara instantly knew that look and put a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder, forcing the vengant to slow down. “Something is wrong,” she whispered.

The seer walked swiftly up to the pair and bowed slightly, her alien features tight with worry, most of which were partially hidden by the hood and the purple and black scarf that was pulled tight over her mouth. The seer took a knee, and extended a clawed appendage towards Kanathara, beckoning the other demon to do the same.

Rainbow Dash frowned and barely held back her objection to what she knew was coming next, but the vengant knew she had little say in what was about to happen and kept her mouth shut.

Kanathara raised a hoof and placed it upon the seer’s open palm. “Speak to me, my friend,” Kanathara whispered, before opening her mind and allowing the seer’s presence to find root in her psyche.

We must speak alone, and quickly, you must come with me, was all the seer thought before pulling back and rising once more.

“Our room is just up ahead, it should be secure there,” Kanathara replied.

“You could have just pointed us towards there first,” Rainbow Dash groaned.

The seer shook her head and pointed forward, to where a pain demon ran sprinting down the hall, a greatsword clutched in his dominant hands. A second after he disappeared around a corner, the seer tugged them both forward, pointing to the door further down.

“Why was it important that we don’t run into him?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

The seer sighed as much as her stitched lips would allow, and rolled her eyes.

“Trust her, Rainbow Dash, she's never led us astray before,” Kanathara reassured, the keeper easily keeping pace with the other demon, with Rainbow Dash close on her heels.

“Fine, but if this is another one of those near miss timelines where we narrowly avoid some fate only she knows, I am going to be so pissed,” Rainbow Dash growled.

The seer stood off to the side and gestured towards the door, prompting Kanathara to use her magic to open the portal and allow the trio to all pile into the small room. Now without any potential spies around, Kanathara lit her horn and ensured it stayed that way by activating the anti-spying arrays she had placed upon the area, and as an afterthought, used a magical cleansing spell on herself and Rainbow Dash. Something the seer would no doubt be quite thankful for, if she was not so troubled by whatever possible future she had seen.

Now kneeling once more, the seer presented both of her open palms, the bronze colored flesh of her open hands bearing many scars and beckoning the other demons to repeat the motion Kanathara had done seconds earlier. Noticing that not one, but both of her hands were open, Rainbow Dash groaned and took a step back. “Nuh uh, no way. It's bad enough when you think in Twilight’s head but I am not letting you in mine.”

“Rainbow Dash, this is important,” Kanathara hissed, her own hoof already in one of the seer’s open palms. “She would not ask us to do this if it wasn't.”

The seer nodded slowly, maintaining eye contact with the vengant the whole time.

Rainbow Dash stared into the other demon’s unflinching gaze for several seconds before sighing in defeat. “Fine, you win this one, Pythias.”

The seer smiled as much as her stitched lips would allow, and gently wrapped her long, clawed fingers around Rainbow Dash’s forelimb, before closing her eyes. Both quadruped demons winced when they felt a sudden pressure at the back of their minds, though it quickly vanished, and left only a strange unpleasant feeling of pinching that neither creature could quite place.

When all three demons opened their eyes once more, they quickly realized they were in a near identical room to the one they had been in a moment earlier, save for the fact that this one was nearly completely pitch black. Each demon could only see about a foot in any direction, with the only real change being that the seer’s lips were no longer sealed by black string.

“Something terrible is about to happen,” whispered the seer in a strangely normal voice that felt utterly alien from the creature’s disturbing exterior, as if her voice hadn't changed from when she was thirteen, though her body had.

“And let me guess, we are going to stop it?” Rainbow Dash asked sarcastically.

“We can't,” Pythias declared sadly.

“Then why are we here then?” Kanathara pressed.

“Though the events that are about to unfold are impossible to stop, the effects can be mitigated and important lives saved,” Pythias continued, squeezing the other two demons’ forelegs. “There are important pieces that must be maintained if we are going to survive the coming conflict.”

“What coming conflict? What can't we stop? Speak plainly dammit,” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“I cannot,” Pythias replied sadly. “Telling you of what the nature of the conflict is will make you want to stop it, something you could not do in over a hundred thousand possible timelines.”

“Well, maybe this is the one hundred thousand and first timeline,” Rainbow Dash continued.

“Silence,” Kanathara commanded. “We will hear out what she has to say, and give her a chance to explain herself, isn't that right, Rainbow Dash?”

The vengant groaned. “Fine, but she better speak normally for once.”

“I will endeavour to do just that,” Pythias conceded before shaking her head. “But I must give you more background information if this is going to make any sense.”

“Go on, we trust you,” Kanathara prompted.

“Thank you, my friend,” Pythias replied before sighing, her shoulders falling slightly. “You know very little of Starswirl, and though I regret I cannot get into very much detail, I know you two will be able to fill in any blanks I may leave behind.”

“Fire away then,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “We can handle it.”

“As you have no doubt already guessed, he was once mortal, and wished to obtain the secrets of immortality with the help of a demon,” Pythias began. “The court mage quickly became the queen’s fool when he was tricked by a primeval, and aided her in nearly obliterating all life on his home plane. He is bound to serve her when she returns, something that will be happening all too soon for the residents of said plane. More than that, his ambitions have also grown from becoming a mere immortal, to ruling over an entire plane after it has been cleansed by his foul mistress.”

“Wow. That is a lot to take in,” Kanathara murmured. “Let me guess, his mistress doesn't know about his new aspirations?”

“She is a being beyond the comprehension of mortal and immortal alike,” Pythias replied slowly. “As we are incomprehensible to the grass we tread upon, so is she so high above us that her reasoning cannot be understood by our minds.”

“Yeah yeah, ancient evil beyond time and space, doesn't care about what her minions do. Where do we come in?” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

“For that to be truly understood, you must witness an important moment,” Pythias replied cryptically, before the mindscape shifted and the trio now kneeled next to what looked like the site of a great battle.

Behind them was an enormous forest from which a veritable horde of demons was pouring out, each one waving its weapon of choice as they threw themselves headlong into a long and deep line of golden-clad ponies. Though the quadrupeds were managing to hold them back with overlapping fields of fire, magical spells of all kinds, and clever tactics that utilized their more harmonious command structure, it was still a tough battle, as demonic might was more than enough to make up for their lack of coordination.

Directly before them stood an old stallion who had a long flowing grey beard and mane. His blue eyes shone dangerously under the lip of royal blue bell strewn wizard’s hat, an angry expression having spread across his features. “Stars damn it. You said I would have time to gather a rebellion and capable minions before you would unleash your horde of mongrels!” he yelled, the stallion stomping angrily up to the alicorn who stood implacably nearby, the stallion’s long flowing nightclad cape jingling as he walked.

“You have more than enough time to gather all the minions you require,” the tall, imperious alicorn announced, her voice so smooth, and calm that it almost completely hid the undeniable malice that was lurking beneath her surprisingly sultry tone.

“But now you will have to fight the entirety of Equestria, when we could have divided the ponies first.” Starswirl growled, his long, perfect horn glowing with a faint white light. “Luna was able to bring over a dozen city states to her cause before you threw off all pretense of being her.”

The starlike mane and tail that billowed from behind the pitchblack alicorn was the only sign of her anger, as they flickered back and forth on an unseen and raging wind. “We have no need for weaklings in our ranks, this plane’s denizens have neither the strength of arms of a demon, nor the aptitude for magic either mundane, divine, or demonic.”

“Yes, but even if you are able to best them all on the fields of battle they will regroup, gather more allies and turn this little incursion into a full scale war which will see your demons fight against not only the ponies but every other sentient race on the plane,” Staswirl continued.

“You say that like I care,” the alicorn remarked, turning slightly and raising an eyebrow at the flummoxed stallion.

“B-but we could have killed Celestia and taken Canterlot in a single foul swoop had we held back and marshaled our forces,” Starswirl stuttered.

The alicorn sighed and turned back to the battle, watching closely as another alicorn rose from the ranks and called down a beam of the purest sunlight which obliterated a fifty foot patch of demons utterly. Though the demonic line wavered for a moment, the demonic creatures didn't seem to care for their losses and continued their assault almost completely unabated.

“You are a smart creature, Starswirl,” the dark alicorn remarked almost whimsicaly, as if the statement was a joke. “You are surrounded by ponies who could be the very pillars of your new powerbase, provided you utilized them correctly.”

“I suppose…” Staswirl muttered, the stallion rubbing his chin as he too gazed out over the battlefield. “But that doesn't dismiss the fact that we could have won already.”

The alicorn sighed and shook her head. “When I kill Celestia and doom this world to an ice age, the likes of which will expunge this entire world of life, do you think it's going to be a fast process?”

“I... what, but you said you were just going to take over,” Starswirl stammered, stumbling back a step. “You said you would make me an alicorn.”

“Oh and that contract will be upheld, and I will indeed grant you the form of an alicorn, but that will only happen after I kill Celestia and turn this wretched plane into a frozen hellscape,” the alicorn remarked idly, as if she were mentioning what her evening plans were, rather than discussing the annihilation of an entire world.

“I-but you…” Starswirl closed his mouth and frowned, noticing that the seemingly endless waves of demons weren’t quite so endless as they once seemed to be, and the last screaming horde of them were being cut down, only to be replaced by a much smaller group of reinforcements. “I have preparations to attend to,” he announced suddenly.

“Remember, dear Starswirl, you are bound to serve me until I have reached my goal, and I will need generals, and the elements your former friends still hold,” the alicorn replied.

“Yes… my mistress,” Starswirl muttered before disappearing in a flash of white light.

The alicorn looked out over the battlefield for a few seconds before turning back toward the trio and smirking. “You should know better than to look into the void, seer.” She smiled. “For it may just look into you.”

With a jerk, Pythias pulled them out of the vision, and brought them back to the dark room they had been in mere moments earlier.

“What the hell was that?” Rainbow Dash demanded, the vengant’s eyes flicking back and forth, as if she expected the alicorn to burst out of nowhere at any second.

“I was not aware that she could glimpse through time itself,” Pythias muttered weakly. “Truly she is an entity beyond our very understanding.”

“And she and or Starswirl will attack us?” Kanathara inquired.

Pythias shook her head. “Starswirl is already planning on it, and I’m fairly certain that she considers noone truly worthy of being named her enemy.”

“Okay what's the plan then? Kill Starswirl and his goons before they bring her back?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Or do we just tell Tirek and let him come up with a plan?”

“That does sound like the best course of action,” Kanathara agreed.

The seer sighed. “Your father is… complicated, but suffice it to say he is too arrogant to believe that he could truly be assaulted in his own home.”

Though the keeper wanted to dismiss such a notion out of hoof, she knew better than to pretend like there wasn't a nugget of truth in such a statement. “That does sound like father…” she muttered.

“What do we do then?” Rainbow Dash pressed. “Surely there is something we can do.”

“There is nothing either of you two can do,” Pythias deadpanned. “You must follow the flow of battle and not resist the temptation to deviate.”

“That's bullshit,” Rainbow Dash declared. “That's dumb, defeatist bullshit.”

“It is unfortunately true.” Pythias shot back, her voice not tinged with anger, but rather sad reluctance. “I have foreseen the possibility of violent resistance and it always ends with all of our horrifying deaths.”

“So we just pretend like nothing is going to happen and then just do what we feel is natural when shit hits the fan?” Kanathara asked.

“There will be a moment, where you will be tempted to resist, to strike out on your own and abandon the pleas of your father, but you cannot do this,” Pythias declared, her golden gaze piercing the veil of Kanathara’s doubt like a knife. “You must follow him, even when he is no longer able to look you in the eye.”

Kanathara nodded slowly. “Fine. But I have one question.”

Pythias smirked. “I am doing this because we are not so different from one another.”

“So we are both from Equestria,” Kanathara declared.

“And your next assumption is correct as well. I want to go home, as I have unfinished business, and a wrong that must be righted,” Pythias replied sadly.

“Fine,” Rainbow Dash announced, throwing her hoof up in defeat. “But after this is all over, we are going to have a very long and very frank discussion.”

“That is acceptable,” Pythias capitulated, her hands releasing the other demons’ hooves and leaving them unsteady as the seer rose to her full height once more.

The taller demon nodded once before turning and leaving before either other demon was able to muster a response.

Now alone once more, the two demons sat on the floor with Kanathara staring off into space while Rainbow Dash fidgeted awkwardly. “Are you sure this is a good idea, boss?” the vengant asked nervously. “This seems fishy.”

“She has an ulterior motive,” Kanathara muttered before shaking her head. “But it is not opposed to ours. We will trust her, for now.”

“If you say so,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara smirked, and smacked her familiar across the shoulder. “So are we still going to hit the shower or what?”

Author's Note

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Trial Four: Assault on the Obsidian Spire

Both mistress and familiar lay in a tangle of limbs, one snoring loudly, the other breathing silently, her mouth wedged into the crook of her familiar’s neck. Their increased size had made the normally unproblematic sleeping arrangements awkward at first. But since personal space wasn't exactly a concern of either demon, that particular problem was solved quite quickly.

Rainbow Dash continued to snore as she squeezed the long pillow that she clutched tightly against her chest. An action that the demon currently squeezing her like said pillow did as well, Kanathara’s legs wrapped around the now only slightly larger demon. Their sleep had been turbulent, as evidenced by the fact that the blanket had been torn to shreds and only one normal sized pillow had survived, though that was only partially, as it was currently impaled on Kanathara’s horn. Not like either cared, as they had gotten used to sleeping on the cold hard ground, and at least now they still had a bed to sleep on.

In the end their sheer exhaustion had won out and both mistress and familiar had fallen into a deep slumber. One that brought forth dreams, both mundane and nightmarish, the shared mindscape of the two demons ultimately turning their slumber into such a wild event. Anxiety over the seer’s cryptic words and exhaustion from the change and subsequent training session warring in their shared mental space.

That was until a deep rumble knocked Rainbow Dash from the bed, and accidentally brought Kanathara with her. Though Rainbow Dash didn't wake when she landed face first into the ground, the ensuing smack of her mistress landing firmly on her back did just that.

“Who, what, where?” muttered the vengant as she stumbled into a standing position and began to look around in confusion.

“What was that?” murmured Kanathara from atop her familiar’s back.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I don't know.”

“Bring me back to bed, I’m still tired,” Kanathara commanded, resting her head on the back of Rainbow’s neck and sighing contentedly.

“R-right,” muttered the winged demon, who began to crawl carefully back into bed only for another tremor to knock her to the ground and dislodge the keeper from her back.

“Augh great, something serious is going on and I wake up with a headache. Typical.” Kanathara groaned as she pulled herself from the floor.

“Do you think it's the thing that Pythias was talking about?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Kanathara gave her head a shake, dislodging the morning cobwebs which clung to her mind. “Maybe. Store all the spears and weapons while I scry the immediate area around the tower.”

Rainbow Dash snapped a quick salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

With the vengant now digging through their weapons cache and tucking away any useful items she found, Kanathara turned her attention inward, and focused on summoning her magic once more. The well of power residing deep inside the demon eagerly gave the keeper all she needed to perform the scrying spell, the vast supply of power now coming easier to the keeper’s call. Thankfully Kanathara had practiced with her magic a few times the previous day otherwise she was certain she would have accidentally pulled too much and made her spell fizzle by accident.

With a fizz pop, the spell was completed and a small square of deep purple magic coalesced before her, showing the demon her own room from a slightly higher perspective. With the first step completed, she pushed the scrying spell further outwards, toward the exterior of the tower where she presumed the enemy lay.

Her spell glided easily through the wards and defences of Tirek’s tower, and though Kanathara initially considered this to feel normal, after a while it began to feel a little too easy for her liking. Filing away that bit of information for now, Kanathara pushed onwards and was rewarded with an exterior shot of the tower from high above even the tallest spire.

The entire structure was a single massive obsidian spike that rose up from the base of a cliff, splitting off at several points into secondary spires Kanathara knew were used as lookout towers and vaults which contained the defensive matrices and offensive spell cannons. Of the four important ones Kanathara knew of, three were smoking, and one was entirely missing, the exposed row of stairs now visible after the top had been sheared off by some unknown force.

Her eyes going wide and her mind reeling, the keeper of secrets angled her scrying spell and glanced out over the great expanse of wasteland that stretched beyond the tower’s walls. The fields below, Kanathara knew, should contain numerous rebouts, defences and other minor structures the fear demon had ordered built over the years. Though there were indeed many of said structures, some were either destroyed, smoking, or were being besieged by forces that had somehow gotten inside without having to pierce the outer walls.

Pulling back from the spell, Kanathara stepped back. “He's already attacking, they’ve taken the first set of castles and managed to push well beyond. They’ve even destroyed all four spires.”

Rainbow Dash paused as she was placing a black spear into her dimensional pocket. “Give it to me straight, boss, how fucked are we?”

“Father has a few tricks beneath the tower, but I doubt he’ll even have a chance to use them before they are upon us. Furthermore I didn't see any armies massing outside, they are likely gating in from somewhere,” Kanathara explained before turning to the door. “Either way we need to reconvene with father immediately.”

“Right,” Rainbow Dash replied, as she tucked the last of her spears into their personal pocket dimension. “We are loaded to bear, boss.”

“Good, because something tells me we are going to need every last weapon we have before the day is over,” Kanathara replied grimly before pulling open the door. “Let's get moving, before shit really starts to hit the fan.”

Both demons trotted out into the hallway and began to sprint in the direction of the command centre, knowing that Tirek would be there by now. The second they made it a few feet from their room, they were inundated with demons sprinting this way and that, each one trying to reach either safety, or the fray, depending on their orders. Though most gave the two quadrupeds a wide berth, the two demons had to dodge around various appendages of the many demons who were either too wide to move quickly, or simply didn't care about their master’s progeny and her familiar.

Not like the two Equestrian demons truly cared either way, as they were more than capable of slipping around a few of the slow demons and maneuvering through the ever present mess of demons running this way and that. Fire demons carrying boxes of weapons, pain demons shouting orders, greed demons stowing their meagre possessions before joining their squad, the tower was alive with movement and noise filled the air to the point that Kanathara and Rainbow Dash were forced to use telepathy to communicate.

Thankfully their mad dash to the command centre didn't take long, and both demons were able to quickly bypass what miniscule security had assembled by then without issue, enabling them both to slip past the large double doors and into the massive dark room with ease. Inside they found that the normally dark room was brightly lit, the large black chairs and enormous stone table illuminated by numerous torches that lined the walls. The veritable flood of magical energy from the various light sources and the enormous holographic display nearly overwhelmed Kanathara’s new senses, but the demon held firm and resisted the urge to shirk away from the sight before her.

“What's going on?” Rainbow Dash asked the second the door was closed behind her.

Blinking through the stars in her eyes, Kanathara looked around the room and found that most of the usual members of Tirek’s inner circle were here. Sisyphus was off to the side having a hushed, yet frantic discussion with a small holographic display of a fellow trickster demon who was currently missing an arm. Pythias was clutching her head and mumbling to herself, evidently in great pain as her eyes flickered this way and that, no doubt viewing the many possible futures that awaited them.

Pear Butter and Tirek sat on the far side of the table, both demons gesturing to a different point at the massive display floating before them while conversing on an unknown topic. A few other minor generals and demons Kanathara hardly cared about sat at various spots around the table. Some were in heated discussions with each other, or unseen minions while a few simply sat there dumbfounded, glancing worriedly at the display of Tirek’s holdings, which were rapidly shrinking.

“I don't think anyone heard you, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara remarked.

“I figured as much,” grumbled the vengant.

Together the duo trotted the length of the table, picking up random bits of conversation as they went. Though they tried to ignore the chatter of the other demons, it was hard to block out the dire reports they were receiving and the frantic, expletive-riddled sentences many demons spat. By the time they had walked across the room and approached Tirek, they had already gained a significant understanding on just how far the enemy had pushed. In addition to a greater understanding of the general confusion that surrounded everything, including the fact that the enemy was seemingly coming out of nowhere.

“Father,” Kanathara announced, bowing slightly to the fear demon.

Tirek nodded slowly without looking away from Pear Butter. “Have the squad regroup and make their way back to rally point zeta. I’ll have the mages meet them there in order to assess the damage to the wards in that area. Getting our defences back online is our number one priority.”

“Yes, sir,” Pear Butter replied, before turning back to the table and waving away the display and conjuring forth a much different image, one of a disheveled group of demons who had evidently taken part in a minor battle already.

“Ahh, my daughter, it is good to see that you are well,” Tirek began. “As you can see we are having a small issue with that wretch Starswirl.”

“Respectfully, I wouldn't call this just a small issue,” Rainbow Dash interjected.

Tirek sighed. “It looks worse than it is. Our forces are largely undamaged and if we can bring our wards back up their reinforcements will be cut off. This issue will be sorted in a matter of hours, of that, I am confident.”

Kanathara glanced back to Pythias, who stood closer to the wall, her clawed fingers clutched so tightly together that she could see a thin trail of blackened blood dribbling down her hands. “I must agree with Rainbow Dash on this one, father, this must be part of a larger plan. One I fear begins with the wards being brought down and ends with our demise,” Kanathara added, turning back to her father.

“Your opinion is noted, child,” Tirek declared. “Balam is personally heading up the defence of the tower itself, and nearly two thousand years of preparation have gone into this tower’s defences. Though I admit the loss of the spires is considerable, I have precautions in place to ensure that such an attack will not be a death blow.”

“Fine, where do you need us?” Kanathara capitulated.

“I require someone to go and assist with the reconstruction of the wards but that can wait for now as I’d like your opinion on something first,” Tirek remarked, waving his hand over his own personal display and conjuring an image of some kind of black blur nearly completely hidden at the corner of a room. “What do you make of this?”

Rainbow Dash and Kanathara both leaned forward with identical looks of concentration. Looks like that shadow prick whose butt we kicked a few days ago, Rainbow Dash thought.

Indeed. I’m surprised he was able to heal so quickly, he must have a gift for getting the crap beat out of him, Kanathara thought back, a small smirk on her face.

Totally, Rainbow Dash agreed, smirking right back.

“It's likely the shadow demon we fought before, Stygian I think his name was,” Kanathara remarked, pointing to the distinctly pony-like muzzle evident on the creature’s face. “You can tell that he was once a pony, and even see a bit of his horn here.”

“Would you look at that,” Tirek muttered, whilst scratching his chin. “I knew he survived your fight with him, but to be back so soon… he must have a knack for getting the shit beat out of him.”

Kanathara chuckled. “I was thinking the same exact thing.”

“Well, that answers how they were able to get into the outposts and the first line of defence, but the wards in the tower itself should be enough to resist any incursion by a shadow demon,” Tirek explained as he waved his hand over the display and dismissed it. “I’ll assemble a second team to inspect the primary warding room and-”

The doors to the room flew open, admitting a crazed looking succubus who was clutching her shoulder in an effort to stop the blood that even now spurted from her stump of an arm. The red skinned female sprinted over to Tirek, clutching her stump with increased desperation as blood soaked her leather armor and dripped down her body. “Master, the wards, they've been compromised!” she screeched.

The succubus stumbled near the end of her sprint and was only caught by the swift and gentle hooves of Rainbow Dash who made sure to place the demon back on her feet once more. Tirek frowned and eyed the demon carefully before nodding. “Which wards? And what do you mean by compromised?” he asked.

“All of them, everything is compromised!” shouted the succubus.

“But that's impossible,” Pear Butter interjected. “We should be made aware the second they go down, it's part of the failsafes.”

“That's just it, they aren't down, they’ve been altered to allow foreign creatures to enter the base unimpeded but haven't been destroyed outright,” the succubus explained, jerking her head towards the heart of the tower. “The mage group you sent tried to kill me as soon as I found them messing with the wards, they are trying to ensure no one is able to teleport away.”

“Do you know if they were able to block planar gating as well?” Tirek pressed, the centaur surprisingly calm after being told that nearly all of his defences were down.

“No sir. They didn't seem to know that was a possibility given that you need an outside source to summon a demon to another plane,” the succubus explained, her face becoming lighter by the second, her legs beginning to shake as blood continued to pulse from her stump arm.

Beside her, Kanathara frowned, the dull ache she had felt at the back of her mind since the moment of waking suddenly increasing to become a painful itch which she could not dismiss. Though her wince of pain was enough to grab Rainbow Dash’s attention, who shared in a small degree of that pain, it wasn't enough for Tirek to turn to the keeper as he was busy scratching his chin and looking down on a new display.

“Seek a healer, we will need every fighter we have,” Tirek murmured, waving away the succubus who dutifully nodded before limping away, her steps becoming larger and more uncoordinated the further away she got.

“What's going on?” Kanathara muttered, the keeper shaking her head vigorously in an attempt to dismiss the strange itching sensation that continued to plague her.

“We are likely minutes away from a full scale assault on the tower,” he murmured, before turning to Pear Butter. “Notify all stations, have them brace for incursion, lock down everything,” the centaur commanded before spinning and turning to Sisyphus and jabbed a finger at the trickster. “Have your best squads sent to the central warding room and wipe out the mages already there, we have traitors in our midst.”

Sisyphus nodded dutifully, even the ever sarcastic trickster demon not able to muster a witty response to his master’s command.

“We are as ready as we are going to get, boss,” Pear Butter remarked as she pulled her hoof from her ear.

By then the rest of the room had devolved into frantic shouting as the subcommanders and lower members of Tirek’s inner circle were all barking their commands and getting ready for the eventual assault. Meanwhile Kanathara’s strange itching sensation was growing increasingly painful by the second, the keeper now feeling as though part of her very being was getting tugged at.

“Father, something is wrong,” Kanathara interrupted, the keeper swaying on her hooves for a moment, only to be steadied by a vigilant Rainbow Dash.

“Hmm what…” Tirek muttered before glancing down at the keeper and lurching forward suddenly. “How long has this been going on?” he asked, one hand glowing while he waved it over the demon’s head.

Kanathara winced and gripped her head in both forehooves, prompting Rainbow Dash to step up and wrap a hoof around her mistress’ shoulder, steadying her. “It started just after we woke up, but it's been getting worse over the past few minutes. The boss thought it was a headache at first, something not worth mentioning,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“You are being summoned,” Tirek remarked grimly, his hand glowing brighter still. “By two separate sources no less. The anti-summoning arrays are undamaged, most likely due to the fact that they are in a different area of the tower and are low on the list of priorities for our enemies.”

“Wait, you are being summoned?” Pear Butter asked, the wrath demon growing an inch or two as she stomped over to the keeper. “Where are they summoning you to? Can you tell the location yet?”

Kanathara winced again, the splitting pain in her head subsiding enough that she was able to shrug off Rainbow Dash’s hoof and stand on her own. “I can't quite tell, but it feels like Equestria. I don't know how they would summon me, noone should know my true name.”

Tirek sighed and shook his head. “It might be one of Starswirl’s minions, though why they would try and summon you away while also not taking down the array is… confusing.”

“Maybe it's just a fluke?” Rainbow Dash offered. “Someone just happened to figure out her true name at the same time the attack began?”

A loud crash, followed by a deep rumbling made the demons stop for a moment before Tirek shook his head and broke the silence. “Regardless, we have no time to ruminate on the many possibilities and neither can I use our backup on you while you are being summoned already. Kanathara, do you remember how to obstuficate the summoning location?”

The keeper nodded weakly, still standing on uncertain footing. “It's been a while, but I remember the lesson.”

“Good,” Tirek declared, the centaur gripping his daughter’s shoulder tightly. “If things go poorly I want you to not resist the summoning, and also to use that lesson I mentioned to arrive far from either summoning location.”

“But then we’ll be stuck on that other plane though,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“True, but there is a good chance you’ll end up in the Everfree and- wait, do you remember your lessons about Equestria?” Tirek pressed, squeezing the keeper’s shoulder and keeping her wavering gaze on him.

“I remember that the Everfree is a locus for mana which is why it's likely that I’ll end up there,” Kanathara replied weakly.

“From there, north of that is Ponyville as you likely remember, and south of the Everfree is the Ghastly Gorge, where I have established a safe house,” Tirek began, only to be cut off when Rainbow Dash snorted irritably and stomped her hoof.

“You say that like we’re gonna lose!” growled the vengant. “They haven't even begun their assault on the tower yet!”

“They have, and they are doing a damn fine job,” countered Pear Butter, who shook her head grimly. “Their forces are already regrouping around the base of the tower, while reinforcements spill in from our lost outposts.”

“Goddammit,” Rainbow Dash yelled, the vengant’s fiery mane billowing on an unseen, raging wind. “We need to get out there already!”

“I have a more important job for you,” Tirek replied sternly, releasing his grip on the keeper’s shoulder. “I doubt that Sisyphus’ forces will be able to retake and manage to fix the wards, I need my best demoness on that task, do you think you two can handle that?”

“Hell yeah!” Rainbow Dash declared. “Just point us at ‘em!”

“I think we can manage that, father,” Kanathara added in a much calmer tone.

“Good, it's in floor six, subsection three, north of the library,” Tirek continued, flashing the pair a brief smile. “Think you girls can make it there without teleportation?”

Kanathara wanted to declare that she was on it, but something made her stop and stare up at her father, a suspicion niggling at the back of her mind. Confused, but curious, the keeper of secrets sent her thoughts back to memories of that particular area, only to realize that wasn't where the ward room was. Sure it was a spell room, one that officially Kanathara shouldn't know about, but it contained the planar summoning array, not the defensive wards.

The keeper looked up into her father’s steely gaze and noticed that he flinched slightly when their eyes met, the centaur unable to meet the other demon’s gaze for a split second. Suddenly Pythias’ words came unbidden to Kanathara’s mind, reminding the demon of what they had spoken about not long ago. You must follow him, even when he is no longer able to look you in the eye.

Nodding slowly, the keeper of secrets gritted her teeth and stuffed down her doubt. “Yes father, I am confident that we can take back the ward room and repair it without the use of teleportation.”

Rainbow Dash eyed her mistress carefully but said nothing, the familiar able to tell enough from the link they shared to alleviate most of her worries. “Yeah, we got this, boss man,” she added in a slightly less confident tone.

The centaur sighed for a second before catching himself, his features stern and unreadable once more. “Good, Pear Butter and I will remain here. Remember to keep an eye on this room once your are at the ward room for if it were to fall into enemy hands, I will enact my backup plan to bring down the tower and escape to Equestria.”

“Be safe, my dear,” Pear Butter added, squeezing both of the smaller demons in a bear hug before gently setting them back down. “Remember, don't go looking for fights, you’ll find more than enough without having to go out of your way.”

Rainbow Dash stretched briefly, causing her spine to crack as her body healed the light damage the worried wrath demon had accidentally done. “Don't worry, Pear Butter, I’ll take care of her.”

Kanathara snorted as she popped a vertebra back into place. “You say that like you won't need rescuing again.”

“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow Dash muttered before turning and stretching her wings. “So how are we doing this? We ghosting down there?”

Kanathara shook her head. “We’re vulnerable to magic in that form, we need to move quickly and stealthily, don't get bogged down in fights we don't need to get tangled in.”

“You got it, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied dutifully, shooting the keeper a quick salute.

“Good, remember what I told you and we’ll all make it out of this alive and hopefully with all our limbs and organs this time,” Tirek remarked with surprising levity, winking at the keeper.

Kanathara blinked, only to chuckle unexpectedly. “You got it, dad. See you soon.”

Tirek nodded, while Pear Butter flashed the pair a wide smile and a salute of her own. “Kick some ass for me out there, little lady.”

With a smile, the two younger demons turned and sprinted away, leaving the elder demons standing there awkwardly, fake smiles plastered on their faces. That was until their younger counterparts had left the room and made it obvious that they weren't about to return, then their expressions fell away and left behind grim looks of fear and worry. Another explosion rocked the tower, sending an eruption of dust across the table and causing a few of the less battle-hardened of Tirek’s inner circle to flinch from their duties.

Turning to the side, Tirek turned to Pear Butter and tapped the side of his head, prompting the wrath demon to nod knowingly. Contact the Equestrian summoners and ensure they are ready to summon you, me and Pythias the second the array comes down, he commanded.

Pear Butter busied herself, pretending to study a map of the tower while she contemplated her master’s command. Are you sure? We will lose nearly every one of our forces here, she thought back.

Tirek barked an order at one of his underlings and began to pace behind his row of sub commanders all while his attention was elsewhere. If we bring any more with us than that they will be able to trace us, we will need time to rebuild, my reserve forces will merely have to do for now. He replied while simultaneously commanding a group of demons to attack a fortified position at the entrance of the tower, knowing full well they would fail and that the opening they would create would be miniscule at best.

Yes, my master, Pear Butter thought back. Is it wrong that I am almost looking forward to losing?

Tirek nearly chuckled aloud as he glanced over the shoulder of a pain demon and back to Pear Butter who was busying herself by micromanaging the defence of the library floor. No, I must admit I am almost looking forward to it as well, maybe this is for the best.

Don't say that, you might make an old mare want to settle down again! Pear Butter shot back, shooting the centaur a heated look.

Ha, yeah right, Tirek scoffed. Let's focus on making this fool bleed first.

That wasn't a no, Pear Butter pointed out.

Tirek grumbled to himself but said nothing, a small, almost invisible blush spreading across his face while witnessing a group of hateborn tear apart his soldiers. Kill enough of them and I might just think about it.

Pear Butter’s grin grew to encompass nearly her entire face, the wrath demon positively beaming. Your will is my command!

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Trial Four: Towerfall

So are we going to talk about the fact that you know he's sending us in the wrong direction? Rainbow Dash remarked dryly as the demon tucked in her wings in and dove through a hole in the makeshift defences erected by their enemies.

Behind her, Kanathara leaped into the air and extended her legs forwards and back, slipping through the same hole. Pythias mentioned that we would have to follow his command even when he couldn't look me in the eye, and he did just that.

Rainbow Dash grunted as she catapulted off the face of a succubus and launched a torrent of hellfire into the face of an unsuspecting hatred demon, causing the towering pile of muscle and metal to collapse to the ground, its body twitching as its skull dripped onto the floor. Still, you have to admit, this doesn't feel right, and I’m not just talking about the fact that we are getting summoned to Equestria somehow.

Kanathara frowned as well, idly bating aside a fireball tossed her way before launching a lance of hardened magic directly through her attacker’s face. I don't like it either, but she's always tried to help us for some reason, and I have a feeling she is finally going to tell us about her past, the keeper thought back as she erected a wall of magic, shielding her familiar from a sloth demon who had been about to plunge a serrated dagger through the vengant’s back.

Thanks, Rainbow Dash replied before spinning around and kicking the weapon from the demon’s hand and following up the spin with kick so powerful the demon’s head rotated completely backwards. Still, I just wish we could fight without having to worry about traps and other bullshit for once. Just a straight up fight with no hidden clauses and no stupid surprises.

Careful, Rainbow Dash, Kanathara began, before pausing to conjure a box of glowing purple magic which she used to squish a cowardly gluttony demon into a fine green paste. You just might get what you wish for.

“Yeah yeah, even you have to admit it would be a nice change of pace,” Rainbow Dash remarked as she trotted up to the succubus who had been trying to crawl away.

“Wait, I give up! I can give you-” the succubus screeched, before Rainbow Dash’s hooves caved in her skull and ceased her desperate cries of mercy.

“Just shut up and die already,” Rainbow Dash muttered, the vengant taking a step back to wipe the brain matter from her hooves.

“We have to keep moving,” Kanathara reminded, the keeper giving her own body a brief shake before sprinting down the hall. “Every second we waste is more enemies in our way.”

Rainbow Dash sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah, I’m on my way. I just got a bit of bone stuck in my hoof and-”

Whatever the vengant had been about to say was cut off by an earth-shaking roar, which reverberated in the demons’ very bones, making both stop and stare in the direction it had come from. “Wow, they must be giving even Balam a run for his money,” Kanathara murmured, the keeper remembering well the voice of the massive demon.

“Sheesh, I don't even wanna know what's able to keep up with him,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara nodded dumbly before turning and proceeding deeper into the floor, both demons sprinting down the surprisingly empty hallways. The sounds of fighting which had been nearly omnipresent up until this point suddenly fell away, leaving behind only an eerie silence that made both demons glance nervously to their sides every few seconds. Though the halls were littered with the dead from both sides, most corpses were fresh, indicating that something had come through recently but hadn't stopped long enough to loot the fallen.

The fact that a demon hadn't looted an unguarded corpse made the hairs on Kanathara’s neck stick up and the keeper wasn't sure if it was a good sign, or a terrible one. “Wait, you hear that?” muttered Rainbow Dash, the vengant stopping in the middle of an intersection and rising to the tips of her hooves.

“I don't… wait, I do,” Kanathara muttered, her sharper senses picking up the distant sounds of battle from somewhere ahead.

“Come on, it's in the same direction as the array, we might be able to get some backup,” Rainbow Dash announced before breaking into a sprint and leaping into the air.

Kanathara nodded, her hooves keeping pace with the short, rapid flaps of her winged companion. Though normally the keeper of secrets would take the time to silently marvel at the vengant’s amazing talent of flying in such cramped space, Kanathara had far too much on her mind to stare at her familiar’s butt this time.

“Up ahead, to the right,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“I hear it, lead the way, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara replied.

Both demons poured on the speed, each one pumping their limbs as hard as possible as they neared the source of the cacophony of steel on steel. “Must be a lot of them fighting, that's a ton of parrying going on,” Rainbow Dash remarked idly as they turned one final turn.

Kanathara’s response died in her throat the second she saw a great mass of demons all arrayed before her, each one armed and armored and seemingly waiting in line, their back to her. Though some did so patiently, there were others who were attempting to tear their way through friend and foe alike in order to ensure they were able to reach the fray as soon as possible. Little was viewable through the thick mass of demon flesh, though what they were able to see gave both quadrupeds hope, and a sliver of fear.

The corpses of their enemies littered the floor, in addition to many, many bodies who bore the horned seal that marked them as her father’s soldiers. That fear didn't last long though, as there were enemies just ahead, and they had the element of surprise. Close burst spear, I’ll follow with a fireball, Kanathara commanded.

Rainbow Dash nodded, summoned forth a black spear which had a far thicker head than normal and pulled it back, waiting for the signal. When that signal came, both spear and spell alike flew towards their enemies, with the spear being the first to reach the enemy demons’ line, showering the closest of them with numerous shards of obsidian. The perforated demons had little chance to react before the fireball detonated in their midst, severing limbs and ending lives in a twenty foot area around its epicentre.

The result was immediate, with the remaining demons not engaged in melee already spinning around and immediately charging over the corpses of their fellows. For a moment Kanathara silently wished she was fighting something that gave a shit about their friends, as it would have made the fight she knew was coming far easier. The keeper lit her horn and began casting another spell while Rainbow Dash plunged forward, another spear appearing in her grip a second before it was plunged straight through the belly of a rotund mancubus. A wound which would normally be little more than a minor injury had the spear not severed its spine and left the massive demon unable to use its arms or legs.

Though the fat creature temporarily blocked the hall with its inert girth, the reprieve granted by the impromptu wall didn't last long as a towering revenant tore its way through the mancubus’ body and sprinted directly at the pair. The blood and viscera of the mancubus hung from the revenant’s skeletal body, not slowing the demonic creature in the slightest as it raised an enormous greatsword and leaped directly at the airborne vengant.

The attack which would have been blindly fast to most was nothing to the vengant though. She pulled her body out of the way of the blade by flying backwards and launching herself off the wall. With all this newfound momentum Rainbow Dash surged forward, behind the revenant’s guard and directly into the creature’s neck, using her forelimbs to tear through the creature’s exposed throat. As the skeletal corpse fell to the floor a trio of imps of various elemental association ran screaming past their dying comrade, each one making a beeline for the keeper at the back of the fight.

Though Rainbow Dash had the speed to deal with the trio, a mental command held her back and turned the vengant’s ire towards a towering hate demon covered head to toe in intricately branded red plate mail. With a smirk on her face, the winged demon lurched towards her next target, trusting fully in her partner’s ability to fend for herself.

Kanathara was instantly able to recognize that the imps were bright blue, teal and blood red, indicating that they were likely ice, lightning and blood imps respectfully. A mental nudge was all it took to change the ball of lighting she had been ready to cast into a spray of deadly acid, ensuring that she was able to remove all three threats in a single foul swoop. Something that was easily done after she released the spell and conjured a small wave of acid that swept over the screaming imps and turned the tiny demons to soup.

The keeper smirked inwardly, silently amazed their fights had been as easy as they were so far. Apparently this was enough of a temptation for fate to intervene however, and from behind the grinning keeper slunk a long and unnatural shadow.

The shadow creature paused just long enough to berate its own poor luck, for it didn't have the time to dominate and kill the keeper itself. With a sigh, Stygian stretched his perfectly flat body over a nearby wall, and silently wished the demon he brought forth from the dark of its own body the best of luck before slipping away.

Leaving a very tall, and confident pride demon standing behind the unwitting keeper, undetected and with the element of surprise firmly in his hands. Thankfully for Kanathara, the pride demon wasn't as quiet as it thought it was, as its foot kicked a spare sword it hadn't noticed, alerting the keeper to its presence a second before it cursed and launched a simple firebolt at her. Ducking out of the way, Kanathara erected a hasty wall of force that diverted the next two firebolts before shattering when a trio of lightning bolts exploded across its glowing exterior.

Grunting in pain, the keeper of secrets backpedalled rapidly, putting distance between herself and the approaching pride demon. Who was more than happy to toy with the surprised keeper by raising some of the dead that littered the floor and conjuring a wave of static electricity that made the other demon’s hair stand on end. With her muscles twitching randomly and no longer obeying her call, Kanathara focused all her magic on creating as strong a barrier as possible, holding back the trio of half melted imps that slammed into it.

As well as an explosion of heat that vaporized the dead imps and made Kanathara’s wall crack. “I need some help over here!” she yelled.

“Kinda busy right now,” Rainbow Dash replied, ducking under the swipe from a sickle before pulling her hooves out of the way of a mace.

“I can't wait to bring your head back to the boss,” the pride demon taunted, his long flowing black robes now tainted with singed viscera and the blood of his allies. “I wonder if I can keep you alive while you are only a head? I can't wait to find out.’

Kanathara tossed a weak trio of mana bolts at the pride demon while doing her best to reinforce her shield spell. The mana bolts she had hoped would give her time to react were utterly ignored by the other demon, who simply stepped through them, an amulet around his neck glowing brightly as the spells dissipated the second they touched him.

With a sneer, the pride demon lurched forward, fingers spread and palm glowing brightly with a sickly green light. Though Kanathara’s knowledge was great enough to be able to tell what attack was coming, it was not so great that she was able to come up with a counterspell in what little time she had. Relying solely on her own vastly larger well of power, the keeper poured everything she had into her shield a second before a ray of acid impacted it and sent a shudder down the keeper’s spine. The effect was immediate, and the shield began to crack and splinter under the force of the spell, pieces of hardened magic flying off and dissipating into nothing.

“Help!” Kanathar screamed, forced to put everything she had into merely keeping the ray at bay.

“Your ally is occupied, you are alone, and you will die alone,” the pride demon taunted, stalking slowly forward as he conjured forth another duo of undead demons.

Though her own defence was desperate and untenable, the keeper had a larger reserve of power than most, and though the blow had initially crippled her defences, she was able to keep her shield from being damaged further by brute forcing more mana into it. With a desperate plan forming in her mind, Kanathara glanced back at Rainbow Dash just in time to notice the vengant being knocked back by a mace strike to the torso.

The keeper winced in shared pain, but knew better than to despair, as her familiar’s scales were more than enough to damper the majority of the blow. More interesting than even Rainbow Dash’s desperate fight was what was happening beyond her, where Kanathara saw a trio of enemy demons desperately fighting a whirling mass of shining metal and only barely keeping it at bay.

Spinning back to her own opponent, Kanathara noticed that he had raised his other hand and was about to conjure a second ray of acid. With panic fueling her spell casting, Kanathara quickly erected a secondary barrier, only for a sudden tug to make it shatter as her concentration wavered. No, not know! cried the demon.

Despite her cry, the summoning continued unabated, making the demon’s head pound and the pinching sensation to return with a vengeance. Unable to deal with everything that was going on, Kanathara’s shield fell and she tumbled to the floor, only dodging the beam of acid by pure chance.

Behind her, Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide. “Kanathara, no!”

With desperation fueling her attacks, the vengant thrust forward over and over, attempting to overpower her attacker or at least drive him back enough to allow her to aid the fallen keeper. The multi-limbed demon she fought against did not relent however, accepting the shallow blows with ease, the creature trusting in its armor which was more than enough to take the strikes.

The pride demon smirked triumphantly and dismissed the ray of acid before conjuring forth a glowing orb of the stuff which he hovered over the fallen keeper’s body. “Now then. Let the experiment commence,” he announced.

At the very moment the demon’s twisted desires were about to be fulfilled, they were dashed as a dagger flew between the vengant and her opponent and directly into the shoulder of the grinning pride demon. With a cry of rage the demon’s spell went wide and landed a few feet away from the writhing keeper of secrets. The pride demon hardly had the time to turn towards his opponent before two more daggers forced him to dismiss his offensive spells in favor of defensive ones.

The metal weapons clattered against the quickly conjured shield and saved the pride demon from having his eyes replaced with blades. With a wave of his hand he commanded both revenant and mancubus alike to shamble before him, erecting a wall of undead demon flesh between him and his unseen opponent.

Kanathara was barely able to look up at her savior before a blurred, vaguely metallic form leapt over her and engaged her former opponent, leaving a limping Rainbow Dash and a very dead hatebound in its wake. Both vengant and keeper alike could do little but watch in shock when the blurred form of a familiar armor demon rocketed past them both, his sole remaining arm raised high and clutching a long katana in his iron grip.

With two short slashes the undead demons were bisected and out of his way, opening up the pride demon to Cervantes’ wrath. Though the cruel pride demon was able to raise a shield of his own and launch a counterattack, both actions did little to help it, as the flat of Cervantes’ blade turned aside the bolt of fire before coming down with enough force to shatter the shield.

Stumbling backwards, the pride demon threw up both his hands and attempted to cast a wave of force, only to find that his hands were suddenly no longer connected to his body. The demon didn't even have the chance to beg for his life before his head was removed from his body, and Cervantes stood over his twitching form.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Woah is right,” Kanathara agreed, one hoof pressed against the side of her head. “Thanks for the assistance, Cervantes.”

The armor demon wiped what little blood was on his blade using the dead demon’s black robes before kicking over the body and turning around. Giving the two demons a good look at his damaged form and making them both wince in shared sympathy.

Dents, missing pieces and holes littered the demon’s form, exposing the glowing soul energy within. Though nothing seemed life threatening, the demon was also not only missing his left arm but a good chunk of the grill from his helmet as well, leaving him in a pitiable state.

“You good, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked, offering the still slumped keeper a hoof.

“Yeah I’m fine, the summoning spiked again but it's not as bad now,” Kanathara remarked with a grimace.

“Good, ‘cause I think Cervantes wants us to move,” Rainbow Dash replied, gesturing to said demon.

The armor demon grabbed a spare sword from the ground and tucked it into an extra sheath before pointing down a side hall.

The keeper sighed, and used her familiar in order to get into a standing position once more. “Alright, let's get moving before more of them show up.”

Cervantes took point, with Kanathara close behind him, and Rainbow Dash behind her, the vengant keeping an eye on their rear while her own minor injuries slowly healed. Though Kanathara noticed that most of Cervantes’ injuries were healing quickly, some weren’t able to, making the keeper of secrets begin to wonder if his body was beyond the point of repair. Stowing away that bit of worrying for now, she kept close on the bipedal demon’s heels, glancing nervously around the empty halls.

The sounds of battle were still present, but had receded into the distance, allowing the three demons to relax, albeit only slightly. Still, the reprieve was a welcome one, giving them the time they needed to heal almost completely from the minor injuries they had sustained by the time they reached their destination.

Which was a large ornate steel door with a small circular window at Cervantes’ head height. The armor demon jogged up to it and waved his one remaining hand over it, prompting the metal door to glow faintly before becoming inert once more. Cervantes turned and gave his charges a confident nod before taking a step back, and out of the way.

“I think it's secure,” Kanathara translated. “Can you get it open Rainbow Dash?”

The vengant scoffed. “Of course, just stand back and let me handle this.”

The winged demon reached up and yanked hard on the handle, only for the metal door to groan but otherwise remain in the same exact spot. “Gimme a sec,” Rainbow Dash muttered before rubbing her forelimbs together and tugging once more.

This time her efforts were rewarded with a grinding sound followed by a shrill screech and the opening of the metal door. “Ow,” Kanathara muttered, the demon rubbing her damaged ears.

Rainbow Dash popped her head inside and looked around only to take a step back and shrug. “Looks secure, boss.”

“Well that's something at least,” muttered the keeper.

The grinding sound of metal on metal made both younger demons turn to Cervantes who was now crouched between them, his sword away and his hand extended. He leaned forward and pulled Rainbow Dash into a short hug, before doing the same to Kanathara, both other demons offering a weak squeeze in return before taking an awkward step back.

“What was that for?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“It doesn't matter what it's for,” Kanathara replied with a faint smile. “Thank you, Cervantes, for everything you've done for us over the years.”

The armor demon rose back to his full height and pretended to wipe a nonexistent tear from his eye before pointing to the open door and turning away.

Kanathara smiled and nodded one last time, turning to the door and stepping into the next room. Rainbow Dash followed close behind her mistress, the vengant giving the armor demon one last salute before the steel door slammed shut behind them.

“Well, what do we do now?” Rainbow Dash asked as she looked around the room.

The center of the room was dominated by a large magical array that vaguely resembled a tree due to its many branches. Long skinny arms extended from a central mass at random angles, long wires emerging from the base and extending to the tips of the arms where they connected to glowing circular objects. Though Kanathara had a good idea how the entire structure worked, the finer minute details of how the object functioned was beyond even her understanding. All she knew was that if this thing was destroyed, they would be able to be summoned away from the tower and to any other plane of existence, binding the summoned demon’s soul to that plane temporarily.

“Wait, this thing doesn't look busted,” Rainbow Dash remarked angrily, giving the base of the array an angry kick.

“I know. Father sent us here as a last resort,” Kanathara began with a sad sigh. “He will no doubt ask us to destroy it the second the tower is lost, enabling us all to escape to another plane.”

The vengant grumbled silently and plunked down on the floor, her forelimbs crossed over her chest. “Well, I don't like it. This whole stupid thing is stupid.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes and sat down beside her familiar, the keeper of secrets resting her head on her friend’s side. “I know, Rainbow Dash, I know. Hopefully soon you’ll get the honorable fight you’ve been looking for.”

“I better,” grumbled the vengeant, before perking up suddenly. “Wait, Cervantes!”

The winged demon surged back to her hooves and leapt over to the door, the vengant’s face instantly plastered against the small window.

Though the armor demon was alone for now, Rainbow Dash could see the familiar black shape of a certain shadow demon flitting down the hall, no doubt readying to summon forth another wave of enemies for him to face. Cervantes himself seemed to note this, but didn't ultimately seem to care, the armor demon turning back to the window and giving Rainbow Dash a salute before falling into his one handed stance and awaiting the arrival of his enemies.

“I gotta help him!” Rainbow Dash declared before she began to tug at the door, only to find that all of her vaunted strength did nothing against the object.

“He probably sealed us in here,” Kanathara remarked with a sad sigh. “Father no doubt gave him orders to defend the door until he either loses the tower, or figures out a way to best Starswirl.”

“I will not sit here and watch him fight alone dammit!” Rainbow Dash growled, before her form dissipated into a smokey cloud which pressed against the edges of the steel door.

Kanathara sighed and watched as her familiar tried in vain to slip through the non-existent cracks in the door. After watching the smoke cloud struggle for a minute, Kanathara rolled her eyes and stood up. “You are not going to get out that way,” she stated.

The angry cloud reformed into the familiar shape of the vengant. “Augh!” she yelled before leaping back up and staring through the window. “I hate everything about today.”

“Me too,” Kanathara replied sadly.

The keeper turned away from her friend and towards the array, and more specifically the base of it, wherein she focused her magic and conjured forth a large explosive rune which was primed and ready, should they have need of it. With that done, she settled down against the far wall, sitting on the cold stone floor and letting her mind wander.

“He's fighting more of them you know,” Rainbow Dash replied morosely. “There are only a few but I can see that stupid shadow prick coming back.”

“I’m sure father will figure things out before Cervantes falls. Besides, he's the best fighter around save for maybe Balam, he’ll probably bring him back to Equestria with us,” Kanathara remarked with as much hope as she could muster.

“I guess,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The silence of the room quickly settled in once more, the sealed door obscuring the tense battle happening only a few feet away. After giving her head a shake, Kanathara remembered her father’s last words and began to cast her scrying spell once more, silently hoping she wasn't too late.

It took only a moment for the keeper to conjure the magical eye, and a second longer to push it through the wall, enabling her to observe the whirling mass of metal death that was Cervantes. Even with an arm missing the armor demon was more than a match for his opponents as he spun, kicked, slashed and otherwise dodged nearly everything while still managing to strike back at his numerous enemies. Though Kanathara wanted to watch the armor demon work, she knew it was a wasted effort, as there was little she could do to help, and remaining here would only hurt her heart in the end.

Pushing the scrying spell upward, Kanathara urged the magical eye onwards, until the spell pierced the correct floor and showed her the large double doors of the main command room. Doors which were now lying inwards, having been blown off their hinges by some unseen force. Outside the room were numerous dead and dying demons of both sides, while enormous glowing hoofprints could be seen wading straight through the middle of the bodies.

With worry weighing heavily in her heart, Kanathara pushed onwards, willing her scrying spell to enter the room and quickly look around. What she found did not give her the hope she so craved, as she beheld the scene of a bloody and devastating battle.

The command table was utterly destroyed, as were most of the chairs, which littered the floor in the same way to the many corpses that were scattered everywhere. Though most bodies were of enemy demons, a good chunk of Tirek’s command staff lay all across the room, their bodies having been torn limb from bloody limb. Though the keeper was able to tell that Pear Butter, Tirek and Pythias were not among the slaughtered, the room’s destroyed state did much to stifle the hope she held.

Through it all were the glowing hoof prints that lead from the entrance to the room and through the back of the room, where a wall had been destroyed. Opening the command room to a second space, a space where Kanathara could hear the sounds of battle rage within. Rushing after the glowing hoof prints, Kanathara hardly even noticed the fact that the ceiling was also partially melted from the same great heat which had left behind the prints.

Slipping through the hole in the wall, Kanathara instantly noticed the new area as a minor training room for the officers of Tirek’s army, the tall ceilings and wide open space large enough to fit a towering Pear Butter who had grown significantly since last Kanathara had seen. Though enormous, and clearly enraged, the demon hadn't lost herself in the haze of anger like she had nearly twenty years ago, and continually put herself between a slightly taller Tirek, an unconscious Pythias, and an enormous and strange-looking demon which stood across from them.

The creature had hooved feet and had the vague shape of a minotaur, with the bottom half of its body hair replaced by flames. From its knees upward natural armored plates grew from its flesh and covered nearly every inch of it save for its enormous clawed hands and eyes. Even its mouth was obscured behind a pair of plates that slid closed over the rest of its facial features, save for the massive horns which grew from either side of its head and pointed forward. Between these plates erupted a steady stream of fire hot enough to make even Pear Butter keep her distance.

“A baron…” Kanathara whispered in fear.

The massive creature was clearly injured, missing several fingers, a horn, and one of its eyes had been gouged out but that was nothing compared to the numerous injuries that both Pear Butter and Tirek sported. Injuries that Kanathara didn't have time to inspect as the baron let loose a primal cry of rage and leapt forward, grappling with Pear Butter who despite her superior size seemed to genuinely struggle with the smaller creature.

While the two fought, Tirek remained off to the side, the centaur casting some sort of spell that required a long time to complete. While he did this the baron scrambled and scraped to get past Pear Butter, knowing full well that the completion of Tirek’s spell would mark his doom. Yet even with desperation fueling his attacks the baron of tartarus was unable to brush past the wrath demon who kept him locked firmly in place. In the end Pear Butter suffered numerous small injuries but was successful in her attempt to keep the baron pinned until Tirek finally let loose his spell.

With a crack boom a bolt of black lightning erupted from the centaur’s fingers a second after Pear Butter lurched back, barely avoiding the strange bolt of lightning streaking towards their enemy. Where Kanathara assumed the bolt would harmlessly dissipate across the creature’s plated exterior, the bolt blew apart the baron’s body, sending viscera flying in all directions.

Pear Butter limped over to Tirek and seemed to whisper something to the centaur, who was clutching a deep wound in his right arm. With a sigh, the centaur seemed to agree with her before waving a glowing hand and casting a short spell.

“The tower is being abandoned, destroy the array and rendezvous with us in Ghastly Gorge,” Tirek commanded. “Quickly, before we are overrun and the tower implodes on itself.”

The voice of her father emanated directly from the array itself, meaning he had cast the spell on the structure well in advance, the centaur having apparently seen this eventuality coming. Kanathara sighed and shook her head slowly, the demon crawling back into a stand and trotting over to her familiar.

“He's about to be killed, you know,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“I know,” Kanathara replied.

“I’m sorry about being so angry today.”

“Don't worry, Rainbow, I understand.”

The vengant sighed and fell from her perch. “I guess you want me back, eh?”

Kanathara nodded, prompting the vengant to dissolve into a mist and slip under the keeper’s flesh. The second that was done, the demon considered checking on Cervantes and perhaps watch him get executed, only to think better of it, as at least this way, she could pretend like the demon would be saved by what she was about to do next.

“This better make sense, Pythias,” Kanathara murmured, before activating the rune.

The very second the rune detonated, the keeper of secrets was pulled away from this plane, along with several other demons in the tower. A second after that happened the entire tower imploded inwards on itself, unmaking the entirety of the structure and killing everyone still inside it an instant after detonation.

Far from the scene of devastation, two beings landed on a plane unlike the one they had known for almost two decades, unaware of the fact that they would never again return to Tartarus.

Author's Note

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Interlude Eight: Hybridization

Velvet tapped her hoof impatiently against the stone floor, her gaze lingering on her many assistants running to and fro, each one completing some task she had given them. The room they were in was large enough to allow her fifteen minions to sprint around like headless chickens without them running into each other. Something that Velvet was immensely happy for as she did not feel like explaining how one of the ponies serving under her had gone blind or lost a limb due to their own stupidity.

The obsidian walls of the room made the bright red light coming from the many magical fires along the perimeter reflect across the room, giving the scene an even eerier light. Something the blood stained floor, sacrificial altar, and the many robed cultists already gave the room. Not like any of that bothered Velvet one bit, as she had been the one to paint the floor with the blood she had acquired from an ancient red dragon, while she was still a member of the same cult her minions were a part of.

Unlike the rest of the creatures in the room she had ditched the robes, as the heavy cloth was simply an easy way to enhance the cultists with cheap and effective armor while also making them look alike, and thus easier to sacrifice if necessary. Not like Velvet had ever been forced to do so, as the mare had made it her mission not to become like the other lieutenants she had met while in Blackguard’s little club. Where they sacrificed whatever was necessary to reach their desired ends, Velvet ensured those who served her lived as long as was feasible.

Which was one reason she was able to trust her underlings for such an important task and not micromanage them quite as much.

“Hey, watch it, Pale Moon. Those jars contain the blood of a wrath demon and will explode if dropped,” Velvet barked, pointing down to a skinny stallion carrying several jars of viscous red liquid.

“Sorry, mistress,” the stallion apologized before stopping and placing a few of the jars off to the side and carrying the rest to the other side of the circle where an older mare was using her wings to add the finishing touches to a defensive ward.

“Everything is going well so far,” a voice announced to the mare’s right.

Velvet didn't have to turn to know that the deep, rumbling voice was coming from her second-in-command, a large copper-furred earth pony stallion. “Good work, Copper Coin. I want those defensive wards perfect. We don't know what potential tricks Tirek has in store for us,” Velvet replied without turning, her gaze fixated on the duo working on the aforementioned ward.

“You worry too much, boss,” Copper Coin replied. “Last I heard Tirek was getting his shit pushed in by some rival demon.”

Velvet snorted. “Only the dead underestimate their enemies, Copper, I thought you had learned that much since your last mission.”

The stallion snorted and flicked his auburn mane from his eyes. “I mean yeah, but this is different. His base is under siege, he lost a good chunk of his outposts last I checked and a good chunk of his forces are tied up elsewhere. This mystery assailant of his timed everything perfectly.”

“Still, I will not allow this ritual to be disrupted under any circumstances,” Velvet declared before turning to the stallion. “Now get back to the scrying orb. I only want to hear from you again when you are able to get a visual on the target, understood?”

“Yeah yeah, I’m on it,” muttered the stallion, threw up his hooves in defeat and trotted back to the small area in the corner of the room wherein a crystal orb was already viewing the battle occuring on a different plane.

Velvet snorted and shook her head, silently doubting if the stallion’s raw skill was worth his difficult attitude. In the end she brushed aside that thought for now and turned back to the duo working on the wards, idly noting that they had done a decent job, and had even managed to complete said job before the first rune was completely dry.

Good, that will add some extra oomph to the spell, Velvet thought to herself, the unicorn glancing out over her servants.

Each one seemed to be completing their assigned task with ease and success, meaning she had little to do but stand upon her raised platform and worry. Worry which mainly stemmed from a concern for her underlings’ safety, as summoning a keeper of secrets was a challenge fraught with risks. There was also a larger, yet more hidden worry for said keeper, whom Velvet desperately hoped remembered her after all this time.

“Don't worry, baby, mommy’s coming,” she whispered to herself.

As she continued to scrutinize her workers and worry about what the future held, Velvet couldn't help but think back to her more recent past, and the changes that she had undergone over the time since she had come to this place. Though her daughter’s changes were far more drastic by a considerable amount, the mare had not gone unchanged during her time spent in the service of the ever mysterious Blackguard.

She had more aches, pains, joint problems and scars than before for one, as her features were crisscrossed with lines from an explosion that had gone off a bit too close to her face. In addition fur no longer grew within three inches of her left forehoof after she had been attacked by a fire demon who had broken containment. Other than that, age and stress would have taken their toll, had the mare not also been the benefactor of some of the cult’s many advances in the darker arts.

Infusions of demonic power gave her the vigor of a mare half her age, while a deal with a succubus had given her the looks of one as well, something Velvet hadn't intended on, but was thankful for nonetheless. Magical training, increased aptitude and years of study and practice had also increased her magical reserves to the point that her horn had even grown another inch or two while also curving ever so slightly.

All were changes she found acceptable, given how many of her colleagues had lost limbs, eyes, ears and other body parts due to the sheer danger of their research subjects.

The mare was drawn from her musings when the door to her ritual chamber opened to reveal the familiar form of her organization's leader. “Blackguard, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Velvet asked, watching closely as the ever suave stallion strutted into the room, a second stallion following close behind him.

“Oh, just coming to see how my most prominent lieutenant's ritual was coming along,” he began, the stallion whistling when he looked out over the massive, nearly twenty foot wide ritual circle in the center of the room. “Whoowee, that's a big one. Are you sure you got enough sigils crammed in there?”

Velvet frowned at the stallion’s attempt at levity. “Yes, I’m sure of it. This will ensure the greatest likelihood of success in this dangerous endeavor.” She snorted and glanced back to the strangely blurred stallion who followed him. “And who is this?”

“Oh him? He's a uh… Hmm.” The stallion turned and scratched his chin. “An observer from the higher ups who was intrigued by your resonance theory work and wished to see the end result of your nearly decade of study on the subject.”

The black furred stallion nodded and continued to look out over the bustling room with a naked and keen interest.

Velvet’s frown deepened as she recognized the distinct dark, nondescript appearance of the second stallion. No features were readily apparent, and even the memory of the stallion was hazy, leaving Velvet with no real concrete images of the stallion’s already blurred form. The illusion spell he was using was standard for Blackguard’s benefactors who came down to observe what their donated bits were being used on, something that did not happen frequently to Velvet, given the esoteric nature of her studies.

“It's nice to see someone who appreciates the less flashy fields of study,” Velvet remarked slowly, her gaze never leaving the stallion.

Blackguard shrugged and trotted up the short few stairs leading to the platform Velvet stood upon. “He's just a curious sort of pony who likes to think he knows everything, isn't that right, boss?” Blackguard yelled.

The second stallion snorted derisively, but said nothing.

Blackguard snickered and bumped his shoulder against Velvet’s. “So, you ready to start this thing or am I going to disappoint one of our biggest donors?”

“We’ve already begun actually,” Velvet replied evenly, gesturing to the center of the room. “The sigils work on their own without the need of auxiliary spell casters, but now that all of the last minute backups are in place, we will begin in earnest.”

“Ahh excellent, excellent, maybe we’ll get another shipment of bits if you give us a good show!” Blackguard declared loud enough for his companion to hear.

The companion who merely snorted again and began to slowly trot around the exterior of the room.

Blackguard shrugged. “So I heard about Celestia’s summoning, you got a plan to beat her to the prize?”

Velvet’s eyes narrowed and the mare had to hold back the urge to curse at the mention of the alicorn. “I believe my work with resonance theory should be more than enough to get Twilight before they can. After all my work with the underlying metamagical nature of interplanar beings should be a complete unknown to that solar tart.”

Blackguard nodded vigorously. “Well I’ve made sure news of your discoveries stayed in house so to speak, so I doubt that old nag knows anything of the sort.”

Velvet nodded and reluctantly turned her attention from the mystery stallion and towards the pony at her side. A stallion that hadn't seemed to age a day since they met, and wore the same cocky yet optimistic smile he always seemed to have plastered on his face. “It shouldn't be long now, I should join my assistants,” Velvet announced.

“Of course, of course. By all means,” Blackguard replied, bowing slightly and waving a hoof out over the crowd.

The mare nodded slowly before turning and doing just that, leaving a suddenly frowning Blackguard alone on the podium. The stallion kept a close eye on the mysterious pony he had brought with him as well as Velvet, ready to jump into action to help one of them, though at the moment, he knew not which. “And so it all comes down to this,” muttered the stallion.

Celestia tapped her hoof impatiently on the railing of the small raised section that allowed her to look out over the hustle and bustle of numerous ponies busy laboring over her summoning circle. The alicorn’s circle was nothing like Velvet’s, as for one, it was not reliant on blood rituals and was generally nicer to look at and more configured towards containment rather than anything else. The room they were in was also significantly larger, more open, and even had windows, though they were fake, and meant only to make the room seem less oppressive.

The ponies in the room were also far better equipped than their more demonic counterparts. Unlike the few guards present in Velvet’s summoning chamber, Celestia’s circle was guarded by a small contingent of the most heavily armed and armored ponies to have trod the streets of Canterlot in over two hundred years. Their armor was a brilliant blue and gold, with interlocking plates so thick and so perfectly interlocked that there existed no kinks to exploit, or flesh to see. Their weapons varied, ranging from hammers, axes, swords and others, with the only consistent variable being that they were large and heavy.

The assistants and summoners also tended to be older, and a little less self-taught, though they lacked the raw experience that Velvet’s team had. They were also significantly less expendable and generally weren’t ready to throw down their very lives if such was demanded of them. Though these differences were significant, neither party truly knew the other’s strength, only that they were both competing for the same goal.

“Shimmering Sphere!” Celestia barked, turning to a teal-maned and silver-furred mare staring off into space. “What is our enemy’s progress?”

The robed and distracted mare shook her head, dismissing the glazed expression that dominated her features until said point. “They have already begun, but have not committed all their pieces,” she remarked in a tone barely above a whisper. “They await our move, their bishop held back and awaiting a clumsy strike.”

Celestia frowned and continued to tap away at the railing. “That is unfortunate. I assume you have not been able to determine any specifics by chance?”

The mare shook her head, her eyes staring off into the distance, unblinking. “They shield themselves well from prying eyes, and though fate sees all, she tells little.”

The alicorn sighed. “We will have to go in regardless and pray that my assistance is capable of giving us the edge we need.”

Shimmering Sphere didn't nod or say anything, the mare’s gaze so distant that a passing observer would swear she was completely blind.

Left with nothing to do but worry, the alicorn watched as her summoners triple-checked the glowing wards. Their own summoning had begun moments earlier, but with both parties waiting for the other to move, they were left in an awkward stalemate. One that Celestia wasn't sure if she should break, or wait for an opening, though her heart demanded action.

“Soon, dear Twilight, soon,” she muttered to herself, her gaze lingering over the polished marble that covered nearly every surface of the room.

The sound of a door opening brought her attention down to her left where a large armored stallion, who was missing his helmet, was trying to hold back an older stallion, both of whom were instantly recognized by the alicorn. “Dad, please, this is a very delicate operation, even one thing out of place and we may miss the best chance we’ve had in years,” the younger, taller stallion explained in an exasperated tone.

“I am not a foal, Shining Armor,” the second declared sternly, placing a firm hoof on his son’s pauldrum. “Would you deny me the chance to see my daughter brought back from Tartarus itself?”

“No, you know I’d never,” Shining Armor muttered sadly, running an armored hoof down his face. “If you are here though, you will be under my command, got it?”

“You got it, Captain Armor,” the elder stallion remarked with a smirk and a salute.

“That will never not be weird,” Shining Armor shook his head. “Just follow me, Celestia will know the best place for you to stand.”

The alicorn had to hold back a chuckle as she pretended not to notice their presence until the sharp clip clop of their hooves grew close. Only then did she turn and look at the approaching stallions, giving each one a nod in turn. “Ahh, Captain Armor. I assume our perimeter is secure,” Celestia stated.

The armored stallion nodded confidently. “The paladins have reinforced the guard at every major defencive point. Our best seers are also searching the city for any arcane fluctuation.”

“I doubt the effort will be anything less than a waste. Though in this instance, I hope to be made a liar,” Celestia remarked before shrugging. “And who is this old stallion?”

Said old stallion snickered and lightly punched the alicorn in the shoulder. “I only saw you last week, or did you finally get alzheimers? Should we call Raven to escort you back to the home?”

Celestia snickered and pulled the stallion in for a brief hug. “It is good to see that you’ve gotten more sleep since last I saw you.”

Night Light pulled back and sighed. “It's strange, last week I was so nervous about today that I couldn't even lay in bed, but now that it's so close it feels more… real for some reason.”

Celestia nodded, eyeing the stallion carefully, her calculating gaze noting that although the older stallion had lost a little weight and had small bags under his eyes, his health wasn't overly diminished. His appearance also hadn't changed much over the years, sure he had gotten a little taller, and a little slimmer, in addition to the normal signs of aging like wrinkles, but other than that he was the same stallion he was on that fateful day.

“You need to eat more, you are going to waste away before we can even bring Twilight back,” Celestia quipped, poking the stallion in the torso. “You’ll have to stay in the castle for another weekend and let chef Crispy Flake work her magic or she won't even recognize you.”

The stallion groaned, clutching his belly. “Augh, don't remind me, last time I visited Shiny I think I put on like ten pounds.”

Shining Armor rolled his eyes and stepped up to the alicorn, his hardened gaze locking onto the taller pony’s. “Ma’am, I think we should get ready to move soon. Where would you like my father to stand?” he asked, his tone losing all joviality the second he spoke to the alicorn in a more professional manner.

“He will accompany me on the podium until my assistance is necessary for the summoning, after which point Mister Light will remain here,” Celestia declared before turning to the aforementioned stallion. “If that is acceptable with Mister Light?”

“For the love of… Please just call me Night, or Night Light. Mister Night makes me feel old, besides, I divorced Velvet years ago, so please just call me Night Light,” the stallion remarked tiredly.

“Has Princess Celestia told you about our adversary?” Shining Armor asked Celestia as much as he did Night Light.

“Err no,” Night Light muttered. “I know I’m not exactly in the need to know the group, but I’d like to have at least an inkling about this Tirek I’ve heard so little about.”

Celestia sighed. “Captain Armor, please double check with my summoners while I regale your father with an embarrassing and sad story.”

Shining Armor nodded, slammed a hoof into his chest and trotted away, the enormous bulk of his armor hardly making a sound despite its sheer size.

Both alicorn and unicorn alike watched the armored stallion go, wondering where the time went. Though his father was happy for the colt who had grown up without a mother, Night Light had long since figured out that Celestia had more or less filled that vacant roll, giving Shining Armor the guidance and the direction that the young stallion had so craved. Now at the tender age of twenty-two Shining Armor was the head of his own order of knights that served directly under the princess, and was about to achieve a goal he had been trying to complete the majority of his adult life.

Unlike Night Light, Celestia’s attention was held by the stallion’s physicality, her eye drawn to the bulky yet near silent armor he wore, and the enormous claymore that was strapped to his back. The armor itself was gold and lined with blue to help make the paladins stick out from the guard, something made easier by the fact that they all wielded such large weapons, and wore the symbol of a burning orange sun on their right shoulders. Such iconography was avoided by the royal guard, who preferred to think of themselves as servants of the people, rather than of the crown itself.

The alicorn shook her head, tearing her gaze from the significantly taller, more muscular and all around more well built stallion who was every bit the commander he carried himself as. “Now then,” Celestia began, “I need not remind you, but everything I say here today is not to be repeated anywhere else, understood?”

“Absolutely, Your Highness,” Night Light replied instantly.

“Good.” Celestia sighed and leaned heavily on the railing. “I must start this sad tale with a bit of a disclaimer I’m afraid, as it's not a pleasant one, nor was it one of my finer hours.”

“You can't be right all the time,” Night Light concluded with a shrug. “You are just a pony after all.”

Celestia smiled faintly as she looked out over her assistants, noting that Shining Armor was now speaking animatedly with her head summoner. “We were at war, and Equestria was in need of strong allies, ones whose loyalty was beyond reproach,” murmured the alicorn, her confidence building slowly as she spoke. “We found one in the twinned kingdoms of the centaurs and the gargoyles.”

“I read about them back in highschool, they have quite the fascinating culture,” Night Light added.

“Indeed they do, it's a shame what has become of them.” The alicorn breathed deeply and stood a little straighter. “Back then they were new to the international scene, and had been one of Equestria’s trading partners for but a few short decades before I began my search for dependable allies. In them I found both a steadfast spirit and a remarkable generosity, two things that were appealing to a nation at war. Their people joined our army eagerly, desperate to prove to the world that they were not a mere protectorate state of the ponies and that they could stand on their own.”

Celestia smiled faintly, the alicorn staring off into the distance, completely unblinking. “And they did just that, with one such centaur becoming a close friend and confidant through that bloody struggle. After the war was over I had hoped things would return to normal, but that was not meant to be and not long after things were over and they went home, I received word that my close ally had been butchered in his own home by his own flesh and blood no less.”

“How horrible,” Night Light muttered aghast.

“Hold your judgements till the story’s conclusion, my friend,” Celestia counseled. “You may very well regret those words.”

Night Light frowned, the stallion hopping up and leaning upon the same railing Celestia was draped over. “So what happened after that?”

“I did what I thought was the honorable thing,” Celestia began, her voice growing quieter by the second. “I flew down there, fought the usurper and locked him away in Tartarus for a thousand years, thinking that such a sentence would spell his doom. He did not however perish in Tartarus but rather due to the artifact he used to kill his father, became a demon and adapted to the punishment I had attempted to inflict upon him.”

“So you punished a demon,” Night Light stated, lifting an eyebrow. “Let me guess, this ally was not the stalwart companion you remembered?”

“Indeed he wasn't,” Celestia whispered. “The man had grown cruel, paranoid, and unhinged and though I am uncertain if I did the right thing I know that regret blinds many, and I cannot afford for it to cloud my judgement at such an important time.”

Night Light stared long and hard out over the ponies, his gaze inevitably drawn to his son, who was directing the flow of traffic about the room with the careful ease of someone who had been born to lead. After over a minute of silence the stallion nodded confidently. “One way or the other, what's done is done, and we can only look forward.” Night Light pushed off the railing and looked up at the alicorn. “Tell me one thing, Princess.”

“Of course, I owe you that much,” Celestia replied.

“Has he…” The stallion gulped. “Has he done anything to my Twilight?”

The alicorn opened her mouth to speak only to stop herself as she realized how loaded the question was. Memories of watching as Tirek and Twilight debate philosophy into the wee hours of the night, and speak animatedly on their theories of magic warred with all the times the centaur had commanded her to do terrible things which she had been all too eager to do. After a long while Celestia nodded.

“As you know, she's a demon, which is a condition not easily remedied,” Celestia began, the alicorn unable to look the stallion in the eye. “We may be able to craft a complex shroud capable of hiding her appearance and give her the therapy necessary to assist Twilight in dealing with her trauma, but aside from that…” The alicorn shrugged weakly.

The stallion nodded. “Is there no hope of her living a normal life again?”

Celestia shook her head slowly. “I’m afraid it's likely that her memory until the point of her capture has been wiped. Though this can be fixed, the process of giving these memories back is not without its own hurdles.”

Night Light sighed and placed a hoof on the alicorn’s shoulder, making the larger pony look down at him nervously. “It will be enough that she is back. We can figure out the rest after she is safe from those monsters.”

Celestia smiled and placed her own hoof over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Night Light. For all your patience and understanding. I can't imagine how this has been for you over the last ten years.”

The stallion pulled his hoof back and shrugged. “You were never at fault, Celestia, sometimes you can do just about everything right and still fail. That's just life.”

“I wish you were right, Night Light, truly I do,” Celestia murmured before bowing and turning away. “If you will excuse me, it seems as though my assistant has need of me.”

Now alone, and with little else to do, Night Light frowned as he watched the ritual begin in earnest. “And so it all comes down to this,” muttered the stallion.

A thump followed by a groan signalled that Kanathara had survived her journey through the planes of existence, the demon groaning as she lay sprawled out on the ground. “Why does my everything hurt?” she murmured weakly.

From between the pores of her skin billowed a deep black smoke which coalesced into the familiar shape of Rainbow Dash. Who immediately landed and lay sprawled out next to her mistress. “Wow, that sucked,” muttered the vengant.

“You are telling me,” Kanathara replied weakly.

“Is it supposed to feel like we got pulled apart like taffy only to get smooshed back together in the end?” Rainbow Dash asked, her hooves clutching her stomach.

“I think it's due to the fact that we were being summoned by two different groups and then chose to go to neither of them,” Kanathara explained.

“Great, now what?” Rainbow Dash asked, turning to the keeper of secrets.

Who sighed and looked around, noting that they were deep in what looked like a verdant forest of some kind. Everywhere she looked was more and more greenery, the demon quickly deducing where they were. “We are in the Everfree and by the looks of it is nearly evening.”

“So, what's the plan then?” Rainbow Dash pressed, the vengant giving her head a shake and rising into a stumbling stand.

“We’ll have to see, but if were on the north end of the forest we might have to head to this Ponyville place to rest and recuperate before heading back through the Everfree and towards the safe house,” Kanathara reasoned,rising alongside her friend.

“Alright then, you ready to move?” Rainbow Dash asked eagerly, the vengant already flaring her wings.

“Ready.”

Author's Note

Trial Five: The Dark Forest

The sounds of cloven hooves were nearly completely silent as the two demons crept through the underbrush. Until Rainbow Dash stopped suddenly, and held up a hoof. “Wait a sec, I’m going to check something,” she whispered.

Kanathara nodded and took a step back, allowing Rainbow Dash to leap into the air, the demon pumping her wings and deftly slipping through the dense treetops that obscured the sky. Without her friend watching her back, the keeper looked around, noting the odd, though still not intimidating appearance of the twisted forest.

Having walked through that same forest for an hour at this point, the keeper of secrets was able to deduce that there was indeed some truth to what she had read about it as it did indeed seem touched by Tartarus. Trees seemed to twist in strange, unnatural directions, creating faces, and fingered appendages that reached out at passers-by, as if attempting to grasp at anyone who walked too close. Though the keeper had been able to figure out that the trees were not possessed, or were indeed nothing more than odd trees, the sight of them still bothered her for some reason.

Pushing aside those thoughts for now, the demon took another step back, giving her partner all the room she needed to glide into a soft landing, her body becoming fully corporeal once more. With smoke slipping off her body, Rainbow Dash nodded and pointed in a seemingly random direction. “We aren't far from Ponyville now, only a few more hours at most,” she announced.

“Excellent, and it seems like it's not even noon yet,” Kanathara added.

“Indeed,” Rainbow Dash agreed.

Without another word, they both turned and began to trot in the direction which they knew Ponyville lay. Though their faces were grim, a small part of the two demons couldn't help but be intrigued by the recent change in scenery. It felt oddly homey in a way that Tartarus never did, as if they were meant to be here, and did not truly belong in their abyssal home plane.

“Have you been able to figure out where they were trying to summon us?” Rainbow Dash asked as she ducked under a branch.

“I think it was from Canterlot, though my estimation isn't perfect. I’m fairly certain both summonings came from in or around the city,” Kanathara explained.

Rainbow Dash nodded, and flattened a bush with her hoof, allowing her shorter companion to traverse the landscape with greater ease. “Well, that's something at least. Any information at this point is going to be important.”

“And we’ll have a lot more of that once we are able to meet back up with father,” Kanathara added.

“Maybe he’ll even let us in on what the hell the plan is now.” Rainbow Dash snorted.

This time it was Kanathara’s turn to nod slowly, her senses turned forward, and towards the distance. “Do you hear something?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I didn't notice any movement up ahead, but I wasn't paying close attention to it. Do ya want me to check it out, boss?”

Kanathara frowned and shook her head. “No, stay by me. We don't know what we are up against and I refuse to be seperated at such an important point in time.”

“Good thinking,” Rainbow Dash commended.

Together the pair of demons trotted over a small ravine, and around a small glen before coming close enough to the source of the sound to hear more. Snarls, grunts, and obscenity laced abyssal filled the air, making both demons raise an eyebrow in suspicion. Ghost us in there, Rainbow Dash, Kanathara commanded.

With a nod, the vengant allowed her body to be filled with her mistress’ essence, which flowed into her in a steady stream of black and purple smoke. After giving her body a shake, the vengant crept low through the underbrush, her form becoming less and less visible until she was merely a shadow crawling across the forest floor. Slipping soundlessly through the relative darkness granted by the thick canopy, Rainbow Dash and her passenger approached a small open area.

Wherein a small gathering of imps were clustered in the middle of and, surrounded on all sides by, snarling wooden wolves six times their size. The imps were small, and though not malnourished, they seemed different from most of the ones Kanathara and Rainbow Dash had encountered. They had a wild, almost chaotic side to them, as their forms were twisted, with some limbs not as long as the other, or sporting an incorrect amount of fingers. One even had two heads, which each gnashed at the closest wolf while spitting different insults.

Natural imps, strange. The book stated they were rare, yet here's a whole group of them, Kanathara thought, drawing their eyes towards the largest imp which stood a head taller than the rest and sported a thick black hide pockmarked with scratches.

The hell is a natural imp? Rainbow Dash thought back, bringing their attention to the wolf closest to them. And more importantly, what are those things?

The wolves continued to circle the imps, barking and nipping at any that strayed too far from his fellows. Who in turn stayed group tight around their leader, some nervous, others seemingly barely able to contain their rage. The largest wolf sat further back from the rest, his body almost completely hidden beneath the foliage of a great oak, merely watching as the pack circled their prey.

Timberwolves, Kanathara hissed. Mana eaters that feed on anything from the life force of the living to the demonic energy that holds our bodies together.

Woah, that’s metal, Rainbow Dash thought back, watching closely as a wolf got a little too close, only to get a gout of fire shot at it, making it recoil with a whimper.

Fire works well against them, but they cannot truly die, as they are both not truly alive, and a form of poltergeist, albeit one spawned by the death of an animal spirit, Kanathara continued. As for the imps, they are called natural as they don't originate from Tartarus, but are rather formed from a mass of chaotic energy and given the spark of sentience by a bit of demonic magic.

Okay, so they are just imps that pop into existence wherever there is a ton of mana, and a bit of demonic influence, Rainbow Dash concluded.

Pretty much, Kanathara agreed. They usually don't live long, as they are relatively easy to kill when compared to all of the more quote unquote natural creatures that inhabit this odd forest.

Wait, I think something’s happening, Rainbow Dash pointed out a second before the so far hidden alpha made his presence known by stomping out of his hiding spot and letting out a howl so powerful that it made even the two demons shiver in fear, even though their body was mostly incorporeal.

The signal was heard loud and clear by the pack, who all leaped into motion as one, attacking the group of imps and tearing into them. The imps fought valiantly, but their leader wasn't able to offer much in the way of assistance due to facing off against the wolf's alpha. The result was brutal, with wolves pulling imps from the main group wherein they were messily devoured by other timberwolves whom had yet to join the chaotic melee.

In almost a minute the imps’ numbers had been decimated, and only a few wolves had been reduced to kindling. Each side fought with surprising efficiency and skill, though it was obvious that the wolves both had numbers and size on their side, turning the fight in their favor instantly. Resulting in a blood bath, which saw imps torn screaming limb from limb, wherein their bodies dissolved into smoke, which was in turn consumed by the closest pack members.

We should go, they may very well turn on us next, and though I like our chances, we can't get bogged down in pointless fights, Kanathara pointed out.

Too bad, Rainbow Dash lamented, I really wanted to see how the fight between those big guys is going to end.

The big imp is eventually surrounded and torn apart, Kanathara deadpanned. Now come on, we still have a mission.

Right, right, Rainbow Dash replied, before turning away from the fight and beginning to take a wide route around the scene of the fight, keeping to the shadows all the while.

Sure enough, the wolves seemed completely distracted by the fight, and paid little heed to the swirling mass of shadows which circled them before slipping away. The sounds of fighting dissipated until finally nothing could be heard save for the odd cry of pain or death. Emerging out on the other side and a good distance away from the fight, the pair stopped by a dense section of brush.

Kanathara emerged from her familiar as a mass of black and purple smoke which coalesced into the familiar form of the keeper of secrets. After giving her body a quick shake, she nodded, and began to creep through the bush, Rainbow Dash close at her side. The pair remained as quiet as possible as they slipped from one dense pocket of trees to the next, their eyes peeled for danger.

Kanathara stayed focused on not running into any unexpected patches of dangerous flora, utilizing her near complete memorization of the assassin’s guide to poisons to help keep them safe. Rainbow Dash on the other hand made sure to keep her eyes peeled for any larger threats that may threaten them as they trekked through the dark, twisted forest. Minutes passed, and after a particularly long stretch of little danger, and not much going on, Rainbow Dash paused and whispered to her mistress.

“Should we take wing?” she asked.

Kanathara shook her head. “We lack cover up there, and though we will make better time, I heard there is greater danger above the treetops than below.”

“Huh, what like giant fly traps or something?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Yes, actually, and wyverns, sky fishers, and various other hazards,” Kanathara explained.

“And those are worse than what's down here?” Rainbow Dash pressed, eyebrow raised.

“Up there we can't slip away into the darkness like we can down here. Never underestimate how useful good cover is,” Kanathara continued.

“Fair enough. Though I wish we had time to fight a few of these things, I bet hydras taste delicious,” Rainbow Dash announced with a wide, hungry grin.

The keeper of secrets licked her lips. “And we could dine on one for days and still not finish it all.”

“That settles it, as soon as this whole thing blows over we are taking a vacation here,” Rainbow Dash announced.

Kanathara snickered and motioned for them to continue. “Sounds like a good idea there, alpha mare. For now though we should keep going, we can't afford to run into any monsters quite yet.”

“True,” Rainbow Dash murmured, taking her place just in front of her mistress. “Do you know why there are so many though? Seems a little weird for a forest to be so filled with predators and so little prey.”

Kanathara grinned. “Finally getting curious, are we?”

“I mean, yeah,” Rainbow Dash whispered, as she lifted a tree branch for her partner. “There must be some reason there are so many of them so close together.”

“It's the mana, I think,” Kanathara whispered back, slipping under the branch and trotting next to the other demon. “It’s able to bring forth both minor Tartarus demons, as well as natural imps. Meaning there is always an abundance of prey, no matter how much they are hunted.”

“And all the mana would infuse them with wild magic, making them grow bigger and weirder.” Rainbow Dash added.

“Exactly,” Kanathara remarked. “The imps get their nutrition from the very air, and the predators eat the imps, meaning what few natural prey species are around don't get overhunted.”

“Hmm,” Rainbow Dash hummed softly to herself as she wiggled through a pair of thorn bushes, unbothered by the spikey plants brushing against her scaled flesh. “I like this place more with each passing minute. Ya think that some of these magical beasties eat mana as well?”

“Probably.” Kanathara shrugged. “It would explain how massive hydras could exist without eating everything in sight. Their diets would have to be supplemented with mana from the environment.”

“We are so coming back here some time,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed giddily. “Just think about it. We set up a small tower, or post up in a cave and just spend all day and night fighting and fuc-”

“Shh,” Kanathara hushed suddenly, her body suddenly low to the ground.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, you can't seriously be annoyed by a swear. We’re demons for crying out loud.”

Twilight shook her head. “I don't care about your sailor mouth. Look, did you see that?”

Rainbow Dash strained to see through the relative darkness of the forest and through the dense foliage. There, just beyond the wall of trees that lay immediately before them, was what looked like a small swamp which came out of nowhere. The chaotic forest seemed to care very little about how a swamp of that size and depth would naturally occur, as one moment there was forest, the next, watery marshlands. Knowing that her mistress wouldn't have stopped just to point out something so small, Rainbow Dash continued to look and watch closely.

Sure enough, a few seconds later they saw a small mound that lay a hundred or so meters away shift suddenly, the dirt and grime covering it slipping away and revealing a scaley green hide just beneath. Recoiling, Rainbow Dash turned to the keeper of secrets, leaning in close. “Is that a hydra? Or some sort of big ass lizard?”

Kanathara shook her head and lit her horn. “I’ll find out in a second, stay frosty while I scry ahead.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and adopted a defensive stance, her wings flared and her head held high, swiveling this way and that as she kept a close eye on their surroundings.

Meanwhile, Kanathara had cast the scrying spell she had been thinking of, making her eyes turn black and her vision to swim. Then, all at once reality came back to her and she was looking down at herself from several feet in the air. To Rainbow Dash, who had experience spotting the simple observation spell, it appeared like a two inch wide eyeball with a square pupil which was blood red. To the uninitiated, or those who were not demons however, it would be invisible, the only evidence of its presence being a strange sense of foreboding that comes over anyone the eye looked upon.

The eyeball spun around in the air, and zipped off in the direction of the strange mound, starting from on high and getting closer. Sure enough, after a minute of watching, Kanathara noticed the mound move and shift, revealing a tangled nest of heads just beneath a layer of dirt and muck. The creature seemed agitated though, and after a few more seconds of observation, began to uncurl itself, its heads splitting apart and slowly waking up.

Dismissing her spell, Kanathara stood suddenly and gave her body a shake, getting rid of the vertigo that plagued her. “Wow, that's a big one,” Rainbow Dash remarked, whistling as the creature seemed to grow slowly in size as its body uncoiled itself from its small depression of mud it had been slumbering in.

“I wasn't aware they were nocturnal,” Kanathara remarked, watching closely as the titanic creature shook itself free of the last bit of detritus still clinging to its body.

“When you are that big, I think you can sleep whenever the heck you want,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snicker.

Kanathara chuckled. “Very true.”

In front of them, the great two-legged beast stretched and let out a rumbling groan from all five of its massive heads. Its long, dark green scaled body twisted as the creature woke up and began to survey its surroundings. The enormous snake-like heads each sported a pair of green slitted eyes, and a maw filled to the brim with razor sharp teeth. Black fins ran from a point between the eyes of each head and back across its skull and down its neck to where they met along the creature’s spine. The beast itself was easily taller than the tallest tree in the Everfree, towering over the two demons and rising to an impressive five storeys tall.

“We should kill it,” Rainbow Dash declared with a grin.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “We are not killing it, we have a mission, remember?”

“Yeah, but you haven't tested out your new abilities yet,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “I bet you could finally cast all those spells you couldn't do before.”

Kanathara opened her mouth to speak, only for no words to come out, and she sat there silently for a moment. “You know, that is a good point.”

“See? And I haven't tried out my own new abilities, plus I know you are hungry,” Rainbow Dash continued, poking her mistress in the stomach.

“I am quite famished…” Kanathara reluctantly admitted.

“Well? Are we doing this or what?” Rainbow Dash pressed, a wide smile crossing her face. “We’re hungry, it’s food. We need to gauge our own improved abilities before we get in a real fight, and it will serve as good practice. What else is there to consider?”

Kanathara watched as the hydra stretched out each one of its heads and began to turn away from the duo, stomping slowly deeper into the bog. “Oh fine, but you distract the heads, I’ll take out its body.”

“Heck yeah!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping a hoof in the air. “Meat is back on the menu girls!”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “You better start distracting it. It's getting away.”

“Right,” Rainbow Dash replied, the demon snapping off a quick salute before launching into the air and flying directly at the beast’s many heads.

Shaking her own head, Kanathara sighed, and began to summon forth a small amount of mana to cast a simple offensive spell. While she did this she paid close attention to how the natural ebb and flow of her internal mana, feeling the changes that her body had gone through as her horn coursed with power. “Never change, Rainbow Dash, never change,” she muttered.

The vengant herself hardly made a sound as she flew towards the beast, a wide grin on her face. As she neared the back of the centermost head, she inhaled sharply, her breast glowing brightly as it filled with hellfire. At the last second, the hydra stopped, only now noticing Rainbow Dash’s presence, though it was too late to do anything about her.

As it began to turn its monstrous body around, the vengant landed on the head, gripping either side in her cloven hooves, and let loose a torrent of hellfire directly between the beast’s eyes. The gout of black and red fire exploded from her maw and impacted the creature’s flesh, instantly incinerating the scales on top of its head and melting straight through the soft flesh beneath. A cry of surprise and pain echoed through the swamp, the head beginning to thrash as it felt the muscle around its skull melt and slough off its body.

It wasn't able to do much however, as by the time it began to shake its long neck, Rainbow Dash pushed the last bit of fire from her belly, through its skull and into the beast’s exposed brain, making the entire head suddenly fall slack. The bellowing cry of pain turned into one of panic and confusion as the head fell uselessly against the ground. Something Rainbow Dash was ready for, as the vengant leapt from the falling head and utilized its momentum to duck to the right and swoop around close to the creature’s body.

Heads twisted this way and that, one checking the status of the dead one, while two others tried to follow Rainbow Dash, only for the demon to prove far too fast for them to track. The last head turned right around, diligently scanning the area for any other would-be attackers. Sure enough, it was able to spot Kanathara just before she unleashed her own attack in the form of a great fireball that flew towards the hydra’s middle point.

Impacting the central part of the creature’s back, the fireball exploded into an eruption of red and black flames, the hellfire piercing the creature’s scaly hide and burning the flesh beneath. Scales flew through the air, and the blast of the fireball was so large and so intense that it even boiled off all the water around the creature in a large area. Which also had the adverse effect of getting a little too close to Rainbow Dash, who had to pump her wings hard in order to get out of the way.

Sorry, Rainbow Dash! Kanathara thought to the familiar.

That was crazy! It was huge! Rainbow Dash thought back, seemingly unbothered by the fact that she nearly flew into her mistress’ magic by accident.

The small shockwave that rippled from the point of impact was further evidence of how destructive the spell was. In addition to that, the entire hydra listed forward for a moment, all four remaining heads letting out a wail of pain as they struggled to cope with the most recent attack made against it. Flesh peeled back from the point of impact, and white bone jutted out from the mass of blackened flesh, exposing the creature’s spine.

Though injured, and quite badly at that, the beast did not initially fall and its natural regenerative properties already began to go into overdrive, though it struggled to heal the flesh damaged directly by the hellfire. Two of its heads seemed dazed and confused, too wracked by pain and loss to muster much resistance. The other two remaining ones swiveled deftly, locking onto Rainbow Dash and lurching in her direction. With speed most would consider impossible for a creature of its size, the beast’s heads snapped down at the vengant, intent on biting her in half.

Only for one to miss, and the other to get a mouthful of smoke, with Rainbow Dash quickly rematerializing out the other side, a big smile on her face. These guys are tougher than I thought, and fast too! she thought excitedly, weaving around the heads before latching onto one of the confused hydra heads and punching one of its eyes out.

Kanathara watched as her familiar tore the huge eyeball from the creature’s head and took a messy bite out of it. Causing the beast to roar in pain and anguish once more, the wounded head biting and snapping at the air randomly, frenzied by its injury, but completely unable to hit the slippery demon. Away from the initial fighting, Kanathara considered her options, and came to the conclusion that she might as well enjoy this and really flex her new magical muscles.

Summoning forth a burst of power, she teleported across the swamp, closing the distance and dropping her directly behind one of the beast’s legs. Already ready, the keeper of secrets delivered a solid kick to the hydra’s knee, making the limb crack audibly and pitching the entire creature forward. The result was immediate, as the heads began to panic, its injured leg moving to keep it up, but ultimately failing to hold the beast’s massive weight.

Though it tried to bite at the vengeant as it fell, the demon was more than capable enough to keep herself out of harm's way and even take a bite out of one of the hydra’s heads. Grinning through a mouthful of gore, Rainbow Dash chewed loudly as she flew back and enjoyed her impromptu meal, merely watching as the creature hit the ground. Wow, this is really good, Rainbow Dash remarked, enjoying the gamey, yet also oddly sweet flavor to the creature’s flesh.

Damn, I’m strong, Kanathara thought to herself, before turning around, rearing up and bringing her forehooves down on the back of the hydra’s knee, shattering it completely and making the whole limb go limp. Like, really strong!

Hey boss, watch ou- Rainbow Dash tried to think, only for her thoughts to be cut off by several hundred pounds of hydra hitting the side of Kanathara’s body and sending her flying.

Pinwheeling head over heels, the keeper wasn't able to muster the necessary concentration to teleport in any direction before her body become intimately familiar with the broadside of an oak tree. Wood and bone cracked, bark and blood flew, and the demon realized she had forgotten the most important rule of combat, always keep an eye on your enemy.

“Ow,” Kanathara muttered, as she slid down the tree and crumpled into a heap.

Pain erupted from seemingly every part of her body at once, though she had enough experience with agony to know that nothing serious was hurt. Pulling herself off the ground, Kanathara quickly began to mend the worst of her injuries, using her magic to heal her damaged bones, while leaving her natural healing factor to take care of the bruises and cuts that covered her. In seconds, she was back up to full fighting potential, and spun around to get a bearing on where the fight was.

Only to stop and blink when she saw Rainbow Dash dive bomb the still exposed and only partially healed back of the hydra with such a force that she sonic boomed right before hitting the creature. The impact was immense and struck the hydra with such power that blood erupted from the mouths of the remaining heads. Almost unseen and unnoticed was Rainbow Dash herself, who exploded out the other side of the hydra, emerging out of its chest absolutely covered in gore and entrails.

Her eyes seethed with rage, and in her hooves was a massive heart nearly the size of her own head. The titanic organ pulsed once, then twice, before the demon leaned down and took a massive bite out of the thing, stopping it from beating a third time. Above her, the hydra seemed to struggle with its imminent death, one head still looking for prey, while another continued to bellow and snap at nothing. A third hung still, while the fourth looked down at its own back in fear and dawning horror while the last merely stared straight ahead, its jaw hanging open.

Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, it collapsed all at once, its entire body going limp, and its corpse hitting the ground with enough force to make the ground tremble for a full second after it fell. While that was happening, Rainbow Dash had slipped away, and crossed the distance to her mistress, heart still in hoof. As she drew closer, the scent of brimstone hit Kanathara like a hammer blow, her familiar’s eyes having turned black as dark smoke billowed out of the sides of her mouth.

With each step, the smoke and hate flowing off her seemed to dissipate, her eyes returning to their more natural state, and a smile even crossed her face. “Oh, thank Tartarus you are okay,” she remarked, only to smirk and extend her hoof. “Want a bite? I saved you most of it.”

Kanathara chuckled and shook her head. “You know, you could have just read my mind and found out if I was okay,” she remarked.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “My blood demanded vengeance,” she announced dramatically. “Plus seeing you get hit like that really pissed me off.”

“Fair enough, and yes, I would like a bite.” Kanathara snatched up the heart and took a huge chomp out of it, chewing the muscled flesh noisily and grinning. “Thish ish good.”

“I told you,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Let’s go try its other major organs out. Oh and you have got to try its scales, they are actually kind of good, like crunchy peanuts or something.”

Kanathara nodded and swallowed, following the other demon as they crossed over to the downed hydra, surveying the damage. Blood flowed out of the massive chest wound like a river, turning the water that flowed around the body a bright red. A vengant sized hole could be seen going straight through the creature, Rainbow Dash having evidently severed the beast’s spine, blew out its lungs, and removed its heart in a single attack.

“Nice one by the way, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara remarked. “How do you feel?”

“Strong,” the familiar replied simply, shrugging at her mistress. “I don't know how to explain it but I feel denser, more resistant, and generally stronger and tougher than before.”

Kanathara nodded as she tore out what looked like a liver and bit into the organ. I have more mana, and my internal magical systems are finally complex enough to let me cast truly powerful magic. If we get the chance to test ourselves more, we should take it.

Provided we meet up with the big boss first, Rainbow Dash added as she bit a chunk out of one of the hydra’s necks, chewing noisily.

Together the two demons continued to fill their bellies with still warm meat, each enjoying the taste of something fresh and raw. They also both considered the most recent changes they had gone through, contemplating the fight and openly wondering if they had finally reached their personal peaks. Though Kanathara dissuaded such a notion out of hoof, as they had yet to truly master their newest forms completely, meaning they had at least a good bit to go before they topped out.

Plus, they didn't even have any weapons, or armor at this point, having trained without the use of them for the most part. Sure they had used some weapons at times, and had a small selection they had both mastered, but both demons knew they would only become more powerful if they had adequate armaments.

“Poaching is class one felony!” a deep, distinctly female voice yelled. “Step away from the hydra and raise your hooves above your head!”

The two demons popped out of the hydra’s gaping back hole, their lips locked as they made out while covered from head to hoof in gore. They both blinked, and took a step away from one another, glancing over to where two armored mares stood at the edge of the swamp.

One was tall, with a wide brimmed stetson on her head, which contained her short, neatly cut hay colored mane. What little fur was visible beneath her armor was a bright orange, though the patches were rare as the thick silver armor covered nearly every inch of her save for her head. On her hooves were enormous greaves meant to assist the wearer in delivering powerful kicks and punches, a weapon that appeared quite dangerous on the massively muscled earth pony. She wore a grim expression on her face and seemed ready to charge at a moment’s notice.

Beside her stood a slightly less grim earth pony with the poofiest pink mane either demon had ever seen before. Her fur was equally as pink, and visible only on her face, as the rest of her body was covered in a thick leather which hid her tail and most of her body from sight. The leather itself was dense, and layered, with daggers, bolts, and other tools strapped at various points on the mare’s body. In her hooves was an arbalest of mammoth size, the crossbow already primed, and pointing directly at the two demons. Though not quite as serious as her green-eyed companion, the pink pony’s bright teal eyes contained a fire which initially shocked the two demons.

Though both demons were easily taller then either pony, they were solid, obviously trained, and were equipped for just such a moment as this.

“Err what?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, scratching her head with a hoof. “Who the hell are you?”

The orange pony stomped forward and held her head high. “We are members of the Everfree Rangers, and by the power invested in me by Princess Celestia, I, Applejack, hereby place you under arrest for the unlawful poaching of a protected animal!”

“We weren’t poaching it though, we were just eating it,” Rainbow Dash replied, turning to Kanathara. “Or does eating it fall under poaching?”

Rolling her eyes, the keeper of secrets brushed aside her familiar and took a step out of the gore. “Look, this is all a misunderstanding,” she began. “Why don't we-”

“Twitchy eyes, twitchy eyes!” the pink pony announced suddenly.

Instantly the orange pony ducked low, her eyes narrowing. “Demons, I should have known. No real pony would eat meat.”

“Hey now, let’s just take a moment and breathe, okay?” Kanathara began, diplomatically raising her hooves above her head. “Just because we are demons doesn't mean we can't have a civil discussion, right?”

The two mortals exchanged a look, with the pink one frowning and the orange one shaking her head. “No can do, pardner. Equestrian law is pretty strict. Any demon found in violation of any crime greater than a misdemeanour is to be killed immediately.”

“Sorry, maybe we could have been friends in another life,” the pink one offered, with a slight shrug.

“Well, there goes the diplomatic approach,” Rainbow Dash remarked dryly. “You take the pink one, I got the fat one.”

“Hey, I am not fat!” Applejack shouted, only to spit. “Light ‘em up, Pinks!”

“You got it, boss.”

Kanathara sighed. “I suppose we did need some more practice.”

With that, the battle was joined.

Author's Note

Trial Five: Testing Mettle

Kanathara sighed. “I suppose we did need some more practice.” No names, nothing spoken, you know the routine, she added, sending the telepathic message to her familiar and friend.

Right, you got it, boss, Rainbow Dash thought back as she shot off the ground and exploded into the sky.

The vengant was fast, so fast that the pink pony didn't even bother trying to track her the second it was made apparent that she was not Rainbow Dash’s target, instead training her crossbow on Kanathara. Noticing this, Rainbow Dash built up speed and launched into a divebomb directed at the heavily armored earth pony, who was scrambling into cover granted by some nearby trees. Though her armor must have weighed a considerable amount, it didn't seem to slow down the orange mare and she easily managed to get into the shade of a great oak.

Thinking herself safe with Rainbow Dash’s line of sight broken, Applejack almost let her guard down. That is, until the vengeant ripped through the treetops and barreled into her side, knocking her off her hooves and sending the pony flying. Utilizing not only her normal sight, but also her ability to track heat signatures, Rainbow Dash had an easy time keeping an eye on her target through the canopy in order to deliver a devastating blow.

Yet even with such a powerful blow being delivered to the side of the armored pony’s body, she didn't so much as wince in pain, her armor taking the majority of the hit. She even managed to stay upright and skidded to a stop a dozen feet away, gaze locked on her opponent, and seemingly no worse for wear. Rainbow Dash, wary of the pink pony who had last been seen nearby, flew up and through the treetops, a smirk on her face.

Several seconds earlier, Kanathara lurched forward, eyes locked on the pink pony while she dashed towards the closest crater, from there hopping from cover to cover. Between her natural demonic agility and her inherent magical ability Kanathara was easily able to cross the majority of the distance without exposing herself significantly. She did have one problem though, namely the fact that there was still a small amount of space between her and her target that was utterly flat.

Her first instinct was to simply teleport the distance, but she wasn't sure if she could trust her spellcasting quite yet. As it was obvious she hadn't adjusted completely to the most recent change she had undergone. So it was that she growled silently and merely sat there a moment, thinking of what she should do while she felt Rainbow Dash continue to fight and the pink one continued to track her movements with that enormous crossbow of hers.

The winged demon snickered to herself, watching with her enhanced sight as the armored pony kept trying to catch a glimpse of her through the treetops before Rainbow Dash dove back down and hit her again. “Come down here, you winged rodent!” Applejack yelled, shaking her hoof at the sky.

Rolling her eyes, the vengant silently decided to oblige the mare, while also giving her another hit for good measure. Tucking her wings tight against her body, she dove towards the ground, breaking through the trees at an incredible speed and opening her membranous wings mere feet from the ground and turning her entire body directly at the orange mare.

Applejack was faster than anticipated once more however, as she spun around and was able to meet the vengant head on. Hoof met hoof, scale met steel and neither was found wanting. Together the two beings clashed, the pair briefly sliding a few feet before ultimately coming to a stalemate with their forehooves pressed against one another’s. Rainbow Dash grinned from ear to ear and laughed aloud, her back hooves resting against the ground, her body braced and ready.

“That was pretty cool. I like you,” Rainbow Dash complimented.

Applejack opened her mouth, only for nothing to happen for a moment. “Err, you too, that was close.”

“Yeah, I’m quite impressed you were able to stay standing. Though you won’t stay that way for long,” Rainbow Dash remarked, beating her wings mightily and disengaging from the earth pony so fast Applejack nearly fell over.

Once again the earth pony reacted quick enough to avoid damage, her forehooves hitting the ground and allowing her to adjust her stance before coming right back up to block against a flurry of blows. The sound of cloven hoof meeting polished steel filled the tight confines of the impromptu arena, with neither attacker nor defender able to get a leg up on the other. They continued this dance for several long seconds, hoof meeting greeve, and neither giving an inch, before Rainbow Dash thrust both hooves forward. Forcing Applejack to intercept them with her own, leaving them right back where they had been a few seconds earlier.

Rainbow Dash’s smirk was gone, and she frowned at the earth pony in an exaggerated fashion. “How did you cheat to become as strong as me, is it the armor?” she asked, eyes narrowing.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “It ain't cheatin’. I’m the strongest pony in town already. This armor just helps against demons. Plus I was trained to fight you jerks so I know how to leverage that strength properly.”

“So the armor helps you cheat and you were trained by a bunch of holier than thought losers. Big deal.” Rainbow Dash scoffed.

Growling, Applejack shoved forward, making Rainbow Dash skid backwards in the mud. “The paladins are not losers, mah brother ain't a fool!”

“Oooh, now she’s serious,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a smirk. “Let’s do this!”

Kanathara ducked back down after firing a flurry of mana bolts at her enemy, keeping the pink pony locked down and unable to assist her ally. The overcharged bolts were simple and not aimed overly well, as the spell’s main purpose wasn't to injure, but rather suppress and create a wall of smoke. Which the demon made use of by dashing forward out of cover and towards her enemy, a grin spreading across her face when she realized that she could no longer see the pink earth pony.

Kanathara’s smirk quickly vanished when the pink pony surged out of the smoke, charging straight at her with the arbalest raised. For a moment, their eyes met, and the demon could no longer see that same fire in her opponents eye, the pony’s movements slowing noticeably. Even her attack seemed oddly telegraphed, allowing Kanathara to duck out of the way of the bolt mere milliseconds before the enormous projectile would have removed her head from her shoulders.

Hitting the ground hard, Kanathara forced her body to becoming partially intangible, becoming half smoke, half demon and allowing her to continue forward at the same speed despite having to throw herself into the dirt only a second earlier. The reaction turned out to be the correct move however, as a trio of smaller bolts fired by a much smaller rotating hoof crossbow impacted the soft mud where she had been a moment earlier. Steeling herself, Kanathara fired off a quick burst of magic missiles at the mare, hoping to keep her off balance long enough to close the distance.

Hopefully you are not as skilled hoof to hoof as you are at range, Kanathara thought to herself, as she closed the last few feet between her and the pony.

Who hopped, ducked, and cartwheeled out of the way of the spells, her every movement bouncy and akin to that of a circus performer rather than a member of a well-maintained military. The demon didn't dwell on this long however, as she conjured forth another spell, holding it until she grew close enough for it to be super effective. When that happened, Kanathara stopped, reared back, and let loose her spell just as the pink pony landed from the end of her last cartwheel.

Though Kanathara assumed she had caught the pink pony in a vulnerable moment, she was surprised to see no fear in the pony’s eyes. The short-ranged flame burst spell exploded from the tip of her horn, morphing into a massive eruption of fire that exploded outwards in a cone before her. Kanathara leaped back the second after the spell fired, raising her hooves defensively and conjuring a light shield just in case.

A move that ended up saving her as another bolt bounced off the shield, followed by a second, and a third, which cracked and finally shattered the flimsy defences. Knowing that wouldn't be the end of the attack, Kanathara leapt to the side, putting a tree between her and her opponent before peeking out the other side. The pink pony dropped down out of the treetops and tossed aside the hoof crossbow she had been using before pulling forth a pair of daggers.

Noticing that the ranged fight was now officially over, Kanathara quickly cast two enchantments on herself. One hardened her flesh against piercing damage, the second made her forehooves glow white hot, making even a glancing blow possibly lethal. Jumping out from cover, Kanathara found the pink pony was waiting for her, daggers raised defensively.

They met in the middle of a small clearing, each attacking one another apprehensively, unsure of what other tricks their opponent might hold. As time passed and each began to score minor, inconsequential hits, Kanathara realized that her opponent had no more tricks, other than apparently having a slightly lesser healing factor when compared to the demon’s own. The glancing blow she had been counting on never came however and whenever Kanathara seemed able to hit something, it turned out to be a dangling tool or a particularly dense section of armor.

The demon also knew that her opponent must have in turn figured out that Kanathara was unable to cast any serious spells while this close, yet still didn't seem to put any serious effort into the fight. Whatever minor wounds they were able to inflict on one another closed quickly and Kanathara found herself falling into a strange lul mid-fight. She couldn't bring herself to commit to it, as it was obvious her opponent wouldn't do so either. More than even that, the pink pony also seemed oddly unsure of herself, as if she were second guessing her own actions.

Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth while they continued their delicate dance of stabs and punches, Kanathara suddenly asked a question that had been on her mind since the moment the pair of ponies had appeared, “How did you find us so quickly?”

The pink pony shrugged while deflecting Kanathara’s hoof with one of her long, slender daggers. “Ranger patrols are pretty common due to people occasionally wandering into the forest and concerns having been raised over ponies poaching the denizens of therein for experiments, or just exotic pets.”

“Interesting. Do ponies try and keep hydras as pets?” Kanathara asked as she ducked out of a stab and delivered an attack of her very own.

“You’d be surprised the dumb ideas some ponies get in their heads,” replied the pink pony as she ducked low and attempted to sweep Kanathara’s legs out from under her.

Kanathara turned her limbs to smoke at the last second, rendering the pink pony’s attack a wasted effort. “Oh, that doesn't surprise me one bit. Every species has its less intelligent members. Let me guess, the armor gives you the healing factor and allows it to fix itself?”

The pink pony nodded as she pulled back out of the reach of Kanathara’s punch. “Yeah, it does other stuff too obviously, but I can't tell you that.”

“But you can give me that other information?” Kanathara shot back as she swatted aside one of the pink pony’s blades.

“You already figured that out anyway,” replied the pony dismissively.

A few dozen meters away, both vengant and earth pony were locked in a chaotic melee that was far more intense than the nearly sedentary fight happening nearby. Rainbow Dash went flying through the air, having been thrown by the earth pony with enough force to send the demon straight through a small tree. Hopping up quickly, Rainbow Dash laughed, a huge smile on her face. “Your throws are worse than your insults,” she shouted before leaping back into the fray.

Where Applejack was waiting, hooves raised and ready to fight. “Well, at least my throws aren't as bad as your breath,” retorted the pony.

“I beg to differ, here, let me show you!” Rainbow Dash inhaled deeply and exhaled a cloud of smoke directly into her opponent’s face.

Making Applejack recoil, the mare coughing and sputtering as the dense black smoke filled her lungs and vision alike. “Stars above that's foul, I’d ask what you eat, but I don't want to know.”

Rainbow Dash smirked as she lined up a buck directly into the mare’s chest. “Have a nice trip, see you next fall!” she shouted as the earth pony was knocked head over heels.

Grumbling to herself, the pony picked herself up and threw something strapped to her midsection just as Rainbow Dash was attempting to close the distance and deliver a follow-up attack. The vengeant managed to bring up her wing in time, making the bag of orange powder to explode acorss the leathery appendage. Rainbow Dash stopped dead in her tracks, the demon cursing and sputtering as she shook her wing in an attempt to dislodge the stinging powder.

“Don't feel so good, does it, demon?” Applejack spat, the earth pony already charging the vengant.

“Who would have though getting covered in weirdly scented baby powder would hurt this much?” Rainbow Dash replied, the demon turning to smoke and lurching to the side just in time to dodge the charging pony.

“It is not baby powder, you idiot, it’s pure earth!” Applejack shouted.

“Pfft, whatever, it’s just some dumb trick. You can call it whatever you want to call it,” Rainbow Dash shot back as she flipped around and righted herself once more, the powder now gone.

Noticing that her attacks were doing little, and she was getting nowhere slowly, Applejack ground her teeth in annoyance and spared a glance over at her partner. Who was in a slow, almost half-hearted fight with the keeper of secrets, who in turn seemed only half-interested in what was going on, the two talking animatedly about some seemingly random topic. “Goshdarnit, Pinkie Pie, fight already! They are bloody demons for crying out loud!”

“Hey, we have names you know!” Rainbow Dash shot back before spitting a gout of flame at the orange pony.

Who raised both hooves before her, activating another enchantment on her armor and forming a glowing wall of golden light before her, stopping the flames dead in their tracks. “I don't want your name, I just want you to die!” Applejack shouted back.

Recoiling from her attack, Rainbow Dash scowled as she came under her opponent’s defences and delivered an uppercut to the orange pony’s chin. “You know that seems a little excessive on your part,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Growling, Applejack wiggled her jaw as she kept up her defences and deflected the next few attacks from Rainbow Dash. “Demons are the anathema of life itself, your deaths will make the world a better place!”

“Ouch, that hurts you know. We weren’t planning on attacking anypony, just-” Rainbow Dash began, only to get a face full of orange powder, causing her to recoil and close her eyes on instinct.

Giving Applejack the opening she needed to spin around and deliver a buck so hard it sent the vengant flying through the air and straight through a rose bush, followed by a young oak tree. “I’m not done with you yet!” Applejack shouted as she charged at the spot Rainbow Dash had disappeared.

Sensing her familiar’s injuries, Kanathara growled and reared back suddenly, conjuring a beam of light directly into her opponent’s face and making her stumble back, temporarily blinded. Ignoring the pink pony’s cries, Kanathara turned and caught a glimpse of Applejack as she sprinted towards a still stumbling Rainbow Dash. In a flash of light, the keeper of secrets disappeared, and reappeared directly in the path of the armored ranger.

“What the-” was all Applejack could say before a wave of force made her stumble, and something heavy suddenly shoved her into the ground.

Horn glowing brightly, Kanathara forced the ethereal hoof down hard against the orange pony’s back, making her armor creek as it began to buckle under the strain of the magical construct. “You shouldn't have done that,” she whispered, eyes narrowing as she closed the distance.

“Fuck you,” Applejack spat, the pony attempting to resist the magical construct, failing utterly.

With a primal growl of rage, Kanathara’s horn glowed brighter still and she prepared to crush the pony into paste using pressure alone. Only for five words to suddenly pop into her head and leave her unable to kill the struggling pony.

Don't forget to be kind.

Instead of increasing the force, Kanathara turned and erected a second magical construct in the shape of a simple flat wall of force. One that blocked the pink pony before she could reach them, making her smack into the purple wall and slide to the forest floor in a cartoonish fashion.

“Dash, get up, we are leaving,” Kanathara whispered.

Stumbling to a stand, the vengant shook her head and looked around. “We’re doing what now?”

“Leaving,” Kanathara hissed.

Rainbow Dash blinked and looked over to see that not only was one enemy rendered unable to move but the other was continually running into magical walls conjured by the keeper of secrets. “Sure thing, boss, which way?” Rainbow Dash replied with a shrug.

“Anywhere, just go,” Kanathara replied.

Nodding, the vengant spread her wings and accepted the flow of purple black smoke into herself. Once that was done she shot through the canopy, narrowly dodging a thrown dagger, and another pouch of powder which sailed harmlessly through where she had been a moment earlier. Bursting through the canopy, Rainbow Dash immediately turned, and flew close over the tops of the trees, weaving one way one moment and another in the next.

Within thirty seconds they had lost their pursuers, and after another minute, when Kanathara was certain that they had put enough distance between the two groups, ordered her to land. Here is good, Kanathara indicated, mentally pointing Rainbow Dash in the direction of a small collection of densely packed trees.

Rainbow Dash did as she was commanded and swooped low, diving between the tree branches and deftly landing in the midst of the trees. The instant her hooves hit the ground, Kanathara emerged in a billow of smoke, the keeper of secrets quickly reforming once more.

“So, what was that all about?” Rainbow Dash asked, eyebrow raised.

Kanathara snorted and kicked the ground hard enough to send a chunk of dirt flying through the air. “I just remembered a promise I made, that's all.”

The vengant raised her hooves defensively. “Hey now, that's fine by me. The fight was a lot of fun before Applejosh got all mad after finding out we weren’t easy prey.” The vengant smirked and threw a hoof over her mistress’ shoulders. “Besides, I wouldn't want to lose such a great sparring partner.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara whispered, nuzzling the underside of the demon’s jaw.

“Daww, don't get all mushy on me now, aren't you the least bit curious as to why a tiny town like Ponyville has a whole anti-demon militia?” Rainbow Dash replied, while blushing hotly.

Kanathara nodded. “I suppose it is rather strange, though I think it makes sense considering how dangerous the forest is. It’s too large of an area to simply build a wall around and it would be a constant concern.”

“That sounds logical. If I was some mortal, I wouldn't want to live next to a demon-infested forest without certain precautions being in place,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Plus, since the bottom feeders are out, that means some bigger demons may come along eventually as well,” Twilight continued.

Nodding, Rainbow Dash sighed heavily. “Well either way, I’m exhausted from all the fighting and that damn summoning. We need to find a place to crash, and fast.”

“You’re telling me.” Kanathara snorted. “You weren’t the one who had her essence pulled at for hours by some assholes from another plane of existence.”

“True. Want me to take over the walking?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“It isn't a four poster bed, but I suppose you will have to do for now,” Kanathara remarked with a chuckle.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as the keeper of secrets turned to smoke and once more slipped inside the vengant’s body. “Right, now let's see if we can find us a town,” Rainbow murmured.

Launching into the air, Rainbow Dash flew out from the small group of trees they had been using as cover, and broke through the canopy. Flying up into the sky, the vengant did a quick scan of the horizon, and, after finding the telltale signs of civilization and turning in that direction, dove back down. Noticing that the trees were becoming less numerous after only a few minutes of flying, Rainbow Dash chose not to land, and instead weaved around the trees as she continued towards town.

With a deftness few could replicate the vengant utilized all of her skill to fly through the last bit of forest at a breakneck pace, dodging any branch or tree that got in their way. With all the swiftness of the wind, the pair slipped through the trees, and landed near the edge of the forest. Kanathara materialized once more, and crept low to the ground as the pair approached the tree line, only to stop when the keeper felt as though something was off.

“Wait a second,” she murmured, before grabbing a stone and tossing it straight ahead, for seemingly no reason.

Rainbow Dash was about to ask what was going on, only for the rock to glow briefly before dulling once more and landing on the other side. “What the heck is that?” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Looks like a shield spell that’s been altered to selectively repel intruders. Though what it’s keeping out is unknown,” Kanathara explained.

“It's probably demons,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “Here, see?”

The vengant leaned forward and touched the shield, only to receive a massive dose of electricity and be sent flying for what felt like the sixth time today. Sighing to herself, Kanathara placed a hoof against her forehead and carefully timed her breaths as Rainbow Dash healed and stumbled back over to the other demon. “Okay, so that probably wasn't the smartest idea ever,” Rainbow Dash muttered, smoke emanating from random points on her body.

“Ya think?” Kanathara deadpanned.

“Well, it was better than doing nothing,” Rainbow Dash shot back.

“I guess,” Kanathara conceded. “At least we know it's definitely meant to keep out demons.”

“So, what do we do now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Frowning, the keeper sighed. “I’m not sure.”

Author's Note

Trial Five: Ponyville

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully as she continued to pace in front of the shield spell, the demon occasionally stopping and glaring at the barely visible pink wall only to mutter something and continue pacing.

“So… any ideas on what to do?” asked Rainbow Dash, who was balancing a rock on her nose.

“There was a shield spell a lot like this one outside the castle you were being held in,” Kanathara replied, gesturing to the wall. “It wasn't perfect either and had its weak points, but was surprisingly strong nonetheless.”

The vengant frowned, and let the rock fall from her nose. “So, do we just punch through it or what?”

Kanathara shook her head. “No. There is an alarm sub-enchantment placed on the shield, one that may have already been triggered when you touched it.”

Rainbow Dash winced. “Sorry about that.”

Sighing, the other demon rubbed her chin. “There isn't much we can about that now. We just have to move forward with that knowledge in mind.”

“So, does that mean you have an idea?” Rainbow Dash pressed. “‘Cause if I set off some sort of alarm, I’d feel a lot better if we got the hell out of here.”

“That won't be necessary,” Kanathara stated, standing tall, mere feet from the shield. “I have an idea, one that will hopefully get us inside and disguise us at the same time.”

“Oh right,” Rainbow Dash muttered, looking down at her scaly hoof and clearly demonic appearance. “That might be a good idea.”

“Hold still,” Kanathara commanded, turning to her familiar.

Who instantly stiffened, standing perfectly still as her mistress turned to her, and began to channel her magic into what felt like a powerful spell. Energy swirled and twisted about the mare’s long horn, contorting and changing from the red and purple of her natural energy until it was a lighter, more blue color. Then, all at once, the energy exploded into a shower of sparks, which twisted in the air, latching onto Rainbow Dash’s tough hide.

“Ooh, tickles,” remarked the vengant, who lifted a hoof and noted that it was changing colors, becoming lighter by the second.

Within a minute, those sparks had spread across the entirety of the demon’s body, gradually lightening her coloration until she no longer looked like a demon. Extending a wing, Rainbow Dash noted that the leathery membranous appendage was replaced by a feathered one. Feathers that were a light teal, a color that spread to her hooves, and the rest of her body.

Rainbow Dash felt odd and looked down at her hooves, the pony turned demon remembering her time spent as a mortal being. Though it had been brief, and long ago, it still made her feel oddly nostalgic, while also quite unpleasant at the same time. The mare blew a stray hair from her face and frowned, plopping down on the ground and crossing her hooves over her chest.

“I already hate it,” she stated.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “You can stand being colorful for a day or two. We need information, and a place to stay and rest.”

“Information?” Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head. “I thought Tirek had spies on this plane.”

“He does, or did, but evidently he hasn't kept us abreast on what all has happened here. As this is new,” Kanathara stated, gesturing to the shield spell.

“Hmm, I guess you are right. So what do we do then?” Rainbow Dash continued.

“Ask around, listen in, keep an ear out for information,” Kanathara replied dismissively. “It's not like we are trying to figure out where Celestia sleeps, just what is happening in the area, and hopefully something about these paladins we heard about.”

“Good idea. If those ranger dopes were only partially trained by them, I’m hesitant to find out how tough the paladins themselves are,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara smirked and jabbed a hoof at the other demon. “What is this? The great Rainbow Dash no longer spoiling for a fight? Maybe getting electrocuted finally knocked some sense into you.”

The vengant stuck out her tongue at the other demon, revealing that it was short, flat and not nearly as long. Something that made her stop and look down at the disappointing appendage. “I can't even blow a proper raspberry at you,” she grumbled. “This sucks worse than I thought.”

Sighing, Kanathara lit her horn. “Oh, don't be such a baby. Now stand back while I use the spell as well.”

Rainbow Dash did as she was told, the demon watching closely as her friend and lover was slowly replaced by a very similar being who had light purple fur and a three toned mane and tail of mainly sapphire blue, a moderate purple and a light raspberry color. Her eyes lost their sinister color and shape, becoming the same violet that could be seen in her mane.

Like Rainbow Dash, fur now covered her entire body, and she had a pony-esque mane and tail, losing the more demonic aspects of her appearance. Though still taller and physically larger than most ponies, the pair no longer looked like demons, but were instead ponies, albeit big ones at that. Kanathara sighed, as she ran a hoof down her now shorter, more rounded horn with barely contained irritation.

“Okay, you were right, this does suck,” she remarked, only for her frown to deepen. “And does feel really weird.”

“I know, right?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara sighed. “Let's just get this over with. The illusion should be good enough to fool the shield spell, but remember that if we lose the illusion, we’ll be stuck inside so don't let anyone cast any dispel magic on or around you.”

“Got it,” Rainbow Dash replied, snapping off quick salute.

“Good. ‘Cause this spell is one part illusion, one part demon magic, meaning if I have to cast it while inside the shield, it will likely set off another series of alarms,” Kanathara continued.

“Don't get caught, don't lose the illusion, don't get dispelled. Anything else?” Rainbow Dash asked, the demon turned pony stretching her legs.

“I won't bore you on how the spell works, but basically there is a layer overtop of you that is coded as pony, which should fool it,” Kanathara explained. “I don't know if this will become important, but I thought you should know, just in case.”

“Alright then, ready?” Rainbow Dash asked, returning to a more relaxed standing position.

“Indeed, also, now who’s paranoid for spending years making up this spell?” Kanathara shot back with a smirk.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I just said that because you weren’t coming to bed.”

“Predictable.”

The two turned and began towards the shield spell, neither stopping for a second when they reached it, and passing right through without any resistance. Though Rainbow Dash had faith in her mistress’ spellcasting, she still breathed a little easier once on the other side. Something that Kanthara did as well, the keeper of secrets silently amazed that her spell worked, given that she had never been able to test it before.

“I forgot just how bright my mane used to be,” Rainbow Dash muttered, her eyes straining to look up where her rainbow-colored mane covered her forehead.

“I can't wait to get rid of it. Your real mane is hot as hell,” Kanathara quipped, smirking at her own joke.

Rainbow Dash snickered. “Too true. Plus you don't have to comb fire.”

“We had best get this done and quick then. I want to be back in my real body as soon as possible,” lamented the keeper.

“You and me both, girl. All these bright colors do not suit you one bit,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Kanathara snorted. “Thanks for the pickmeup, Rainbowhead.”

The vengant shrugged. “You know me. I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.”

“Let’s just get moving, and keep an eye out for any guards,” Kanathara commanded as the pair continued to trot across the small open plain that surrounded the town on three sides.

“You got it, boss,” answered the other demon, who took the lead, trotting slightly ahead of the shorter demon.

“Hold up a second,” announced Kanathara suddenly, the demon pulling aside her familiar.

Raising an eyebrow, Rainbow Dash looked around, noting that although there were a few guards around, they didn't seem to be overly active nor paying any attention to them. The ponies of Ponyville also didn't seem suspicious, though a few still stared at the pair of tall, foreign-looking disguised demons. Their gazes mostly lingered on the pair’s blank flanks, or piercing eyes, which, although normal in appearance, weren’t totally disguised by Kanathara’s spell.

“What is it?” asked Rainbow Dash, who leaned a little closer, ensuring no one overheard them.

“Watch those guards for a second. Isn't there something weird about them?” Kanathara pointed out, subtly gesturing to the pair of guards who trotted slowly down an adjacent road.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow and watched as the male pegasus and female earth pony talked amongst themselves until they passed by a random stallion, whom they stopped. After briefly exchanging hellos, the new stallion pulled forth a small packet of papers from seemingly nowhere. After handing it over to the female guard, she studied the papers intensely while her male counterpart continued to make small talk.

A few seconds later and the papers were handed back, an apology given, and goodbyes exchanged. After that, the guards continued on their way, trotting out of view, and making Rainbow Dash grumble in annoyance. “I don't suppose you got a spell to replicate some papers by chance, do ya?” asked the vengant.

Kanathara shook her head. “I don't even know what kind of papers they are, if they are enchanted, or what kind of information they contain.”

“Bugger,” muttered the other demon. “So, what's the plan?”

“Keep calm, and when near a pony, don't speak out loud,” Kanathara explained. “Other than that, we’ll need to keep an eye out for an inn, and if we get faced with the possibility of running into a guard, duck into a shop.”

“Got it. Which way next then?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We’ll continue to sweep the less populated streets before heading deeper into town,” replied the keeper.

“Alright, lead the way,” offered the vengant.

Kanathara nodded and did just that, trotting out front, and down the road.

Minutes passed relatively quickly after that, with the demons able to pick up quite a bit of random information as they walked. They town was abuzz with news about the Summer Sun Celebration being hosted here, an event prestigious enough that preparations were already being made despite it not coming up for awhile. A few carts they passed were unloading supplies, including fresh flowers for a local florist and a fresh stock of honey for a small bakery they passed by.

The demons’ stomachs rumbled in unison at the sight of so much honey, but they refused to indulge in their hunger quite yet.

Though they were able to dodge most of the guards deftly, and without raising suspicion, at about the half hour mark, their luck began to run out. “Pair coming in behind us,” whispered Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara frowned and looked around the road, noticing that down the street there was another pair of guards coming towards them. Neither pair seemed to have done this on purpose though, so Kanathara knew them ducking into a shop wouldn't raise suspicion. Unfortunately for them, they were in the middle of a residential street, one that had few shops, all of which appeared to be behind them.

“Aha, in there,” Kanathara pointed out, gesturing to a strange shop in the shape of a carousel in the middle of a row of houses.

Rainbow Dash nodded, and walked in that direction, pretending to eye up the dresses, and armored clothes in the window. Kanathara quickly joined her, and was genuinely surprised by the strange mix of both clothes and armor. So it was with genuine curiosity that the pair made their way inside, making fake small talk all the while.

Once inside, Kanathara looked around, and noticed that it was completely empty save for a middle aged mare near the back of the store. She looked unimportant though and was holding up two nearly identical dresses, both of which were, in the demon’s opinion, ugly as sin.

Look at the display model and watch for the guards, don't make your presence known though, Kanathara commanded mentally before turning towards a seemingly random rack of dresses.

A quick nod was all that was needed to tell the keeper that her command was received and understood, the vengant turning and carrying it out a second later.

Now without her familiar nearby, Kanathara decided to try and satiate her curiosity which had begun to burn the second she noticed how unique this shop was. The shop itself evidently didn't see a lot of business, but judging from the prices, the owner didn't need a lot of attention to survive. The keeper of secrets flicked past dresses one after another, scanning them visually, until she found a dress that stuck out from the rest.

It looked normal, but there were plates just beneath the surface, sewn into the fabric, and hidden by an intricate stitching pattern that made the slight bulge less obvious. It also had several enchantments woven into the fabric, making the piece of clothing equivalent to a suit of plate mail. It was masterful, for a pony anyway, as Kanathara had seen better demon-made armor before, though not one quite as aesthetically pleasing as this.

“I see you are interested in our war maiden line of dresses,” a calm, pleasant voice suddenly announced from behind Kanathara.

The keeper cursed her curiosity for probably the millionth time in her life and quickly erected a smile before turning around. “We don't have such things in my homeland,” Kanathara replied, while looking the mare up and down.

She seemed to be in her mid twenties, or early thirties, though her exact age was difficult to pin down due to how much make-up the mare wore. Though not excessive, it was artfully done, hiding the small signs of age, while also making her positive qualities that much more obvious. Her mane was a luscious indigo, which was curled to perfection, as were her eyelashes. This theme of care and perfection extended from her horn, which was polished and filled immaculately, to her hooves which were dainty, and evidently well-cared for. Even her royal white fur was brushed with the utmost care, drawing the eye towards her cutie mark which was of three bright teal gems.

“Oh? Do they not have armored clothes where you are from?” asked the pony, who looked up at the demon with bright, curious eyes.

“They do, but they are far less… subtle than this,” Kanathara remarked, remembering well the few times she had seen a demon who wasn't wearing either normal clothes or outright armor.

“Hmm, that is unfortunate,” lamented the mare. “The best part of such clothes is their subtlety after all. The blend of form and function that protects and enhances. Though I’m afraid that I don't have any that would fit a pony of your stature.”

Kanathara blinked, only now realizing that she stood a good head taller than the pony. “Oh, I was just looking. I noticed your display and was intrigued,” Kanathara replied suddenly, a little shocked over how great the height difference was.

They are gone, Rainbow Dash interjected.

Kanathara ignored her comment for now and pointed to the plates hidden along the collar of the dress. “What type of metal do you use here? It seems awful light if you are trying to protect such a vulnerable area,” asked the keeper.

The mare blinked, evidently taken off guard by the question. “It has been quite a while since someone had the knowhow to ask such a pointed question before. But I suppose the customer deserves to know. It is silver steel, and is quite durable, I assure you.”

“Interesting,” muttered the demon, who prodded the dress, only for her thoughts to be interrupted by Rainbow Dash walking up behind her and throwing a foreleg over her shoulder.

“You ready to go, or did you see another dress you liked?” asked Rainbow Dash, who pecked the keeper’s cheek affectionately.

Blushing furiously, Kanathara glared at the other demon. What did I tell you about making up cover stories on the fly? Warn me next time!

But that’s far less fun, shot back the vengeant, who extended a hoof. “Name’s Swift Breeze, this is Night Sky, and you are?”

The pony blinked, and looked up at the even taller demon who loomed over them both. “I er… my name is Rarity.” The mare smiled, and took Rainbow Dash’s hoof in her own. “And welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique.”

“That's quite the catch phrase,” Rainbow Dash complimented, shaking the mare’s hoof confidently and making the smaller being wince under the strength of her grip.

This is our chance to plumb for more information. Follow my lead, Kanathara mentally commanded, not waiting for her familiar to talk back, and merely trusting in her ability to know where to take the conversation. “So, what's with that dome thing outside? Is it some sort of protection for this Summer Sun Celebration?” Kanathara remarked.

Rarity shook her head. “No, I’m afraid it’s been up for a great many years. It was built by the Rich family, who took it upon themselves to protect the town after Celestia revealed the existence of demons.” The pony shivered suddenly. “And to think, their were monsters in those woods for as far back as anypony can remember. I’m amazed we survived without the shield or the guard, even if the former does make everything a little pink.”

“Oh, it doesn't hurt the eyes by chance, does it?” Kanathara pressed.

“No, it's completely harmless to ponies. Though if you spend too much time outside you tend to get a rather odd tan.” Rarity remarked. “You will know what I’m talking about when you meet Pinkie Pie.”

The demons both tensed up slightly upon hearing the name. “Who is this Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow Dash asked, the demon doing her best to keep her voice steady.

Rarity smiled, ignoring or not noticing the intensity behind the vengant’s voice. “She's the unofficial town greeter. If you are new to Ponyville, she’ll welcome you, eventually. But don't worry, she's harmless, and will probably throw you a party if you stick around long enough.”

“Well, we were hoping to learn more about your town, weren’t we, hun?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash, who turned to Twilight expectantly.

“That we were,” Kanathara replied.

“Well, I may not be as good a greeter as Pinkie Pie, but I would be happy to tell you anything about our fair village,” Rarity replied with a wide, genuine smile.

“We were curious about these demons we’ve been hearing so much about. It seems as though ponies are quite scared of them,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “Back home, we don't have as many issues with these… creatures.”

“Where exactly are you from by chance? If you don't mind me asking, of course,” Rarity quickly added. “I must admit I’ve never met a pony as tall as you before, Swift Breeze.”

The vengant smirked. “Both of us have some Saddle Arabian in us, which also explains our lack of cutie mark, I’m afraid.”

Kanathara grinned, pride welling in her chest, as well as a little bit of shock as she wouldn't have guessed that Rainbow Dash had been paying much attention to that particular lesson they had received. “Add to that a heartier diet than most ponies, and most folk we know are taller than your average pony,” Rainbow Dash added.

“I see,” murmured Rarity, who looked both demons up and down. “That is quite something, why I bet your partner here would be nearly as tall as Celestia herself.”

Kanathara gritted her teeth upon hearing that particular name, but quickly quashed the anger that threatened to rise in her chest. Thankfully Rarity seemed to notice this shift in mood, and hastily moved to change the topic. “To answer your question, the Everfree is filled with monsters and demons, but around ten years ago there was an issue in Canterlot, and Celestia formed an order of paladins to help train the guard in order to combat them better.”

“Really, are they strong?” pressed Rainbow Dash.

“Oh yes, and smart, and kind, and they are lead by the most handsome stallion I’ve ever seen.” Rarity sighed dramatically, looking off into the distance dreamily. “Commander Shining Armor is every mare’s dream husband, it's almost too bad that he's marrying a princess.”

The keeper of secrets felt something tug at the back of her mind upon hearing that name, though she didn't know the significance of that at the moment. “So after this… incident, knowledge of demons was made more readily available and the paladins were formed?”

Rarity nodded. “Pretty much. I was fairly young at the time so it didn't seem quite so strange, though now that I look back at it, is quite odd that we weren’t taught anything about demons in school.”

“That is quite odd,” murmured Rainbow Dash, whose expression seemed off, her mind distant and unfocused.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” Rarity asked.

Kanathara shook her head. “No, that's all, thank you very much.”

“We appreciate it,” added Rainbow Dash.

The fashionable pony scoffed and waved a dismissive hoof at the pair. “Don't worry about it, darlings, I’m just doing my part. Do come back if you ever need a dress and don't forget, we do custom fittings.”

Rainbow Dash smirked, and bumped her hip against Kanathara’s. “Hey, maybe we could get her to make you a dress for our wedding.”

The smaller demon blushed furiously and glared at her familiar. “If anyone would be wearing a dress, it would be you, miss frills.”

Rarity used the brief moment of silence to slip between the mares, a card in her hoof. “Well, if you ever do get around to tying the knot, don't hesitate to drop by. We have an extensive collection of wedding dresses available for mares of all shapes, sizes and styles.”

“Thank you, but I think we’ll be leaving for now,” Kanathara replied, brushing off Rainbow Dash’s foreleg.

The vengant smirked and was about to offer another jab, only to find the card Rarity had held suddenly stuffed into her mouth. Wow, rude, commented the mare.

Rarity chuckled nervously and took a step back, allowing the two demons to pass her by, with Kanathara hastily pushing her familiar out the door before pausing on the threshold. “Thank you again for your hospitality, and trust me, if we ever need a dress, we’ll be back.”

The fashionista could only nod weakly as the strange pair left her shop, distinctly aware of the fact that the tall pegasus had swallowed her card.

“What an odd pair,” she murmured.

“Oh, what was that dear?” asked the pink, middle aged mare.

“Nothing Cheerilee, just a pair of strangers exploring the town,” Rarity replied, trotting over to where the earth pony stood. “Now then, how can I help you today?”

The older pony blushed and raised the dresses she was looking at. “I was just hoping to buy a dress for an upcoming date, you see Big Mac and I-”

We should have asked that Rarity pony where the nearest inn was, Rainbow Dash exclaimed, as they ducked through an alleyway, before emerging back out onto a guard free street.

We don't need her to tell us where it is. Besides, I’ve got a fairly good idea of its location, Kanathara replied, hastily tugging along her familiar as they weaved through traffic, making their way closer to the heart of the town.

Though there were more guards here, it wasn't difficult for the quick-witted keeper to dodge them, given just how many ponies clogged these more central roads. It still took a few minutes, but sure enough, they found what they were looking for when they came to a stop outside the oddest building either demon had seen since coming to this plane.

“This is weirder than Rarity’s carousel,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Quite,” agreed Kanathara.

Before them stood what looked like an amalgam of a bakery, a bar and an inn. To the left, was the bakery half, which appeared to be a three story tall gingerbread house, decorated with plenty of fake candy. The only reason either demon knew it was a bakery was the sign out front that read Sugarcube Corner: Bakery and Confections. Though the gingerbread theme ended at the rightmost part of the building, where a hall attached it to a rather plain, brown structure that was also three stories tall.

It had a seperate sign out front which read, Twisted Taps’ Bar and Inn.

The rather plain and boring building beside the whimsical gingerbread house was quite jarring, but nonetheless drew the eye quite well. “This place is weird, boss,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Quite,” agreed Kanathara, who strode forward. “Well, we better get moving.”

“Right, lead the way.”

Author's Note

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Trial Five: Infiltration

Rainbow Dash extended a hoof, stopping the other demon before she could reach for the door. “So uh, how are we supposed to pay for a room?” she asked.

Kanathara stepped off to the side and shrugged. “We can negotiate with the owner, maybe do some dishes, fix something or cast a spell of some kind. I don't believe there are many adept wizards or sorcerers around here.”

“Worst case you can use some of that special magic on him,” Rainbow Dash remarked, wiggling her eyebrows as she did.

The smaller demon groaned and glared at her familiar. For the last time, a keeper of secrets is not a succubus, we are just in the same family as them.

Still, you could do it, right? Rainbow Dash asked back.

Kanathara grumbled. I suppose I could, but I would rather we find a cave to sleep in than be forced to use that particular ability, replied the keeper.

“Well, let’s just hope they have something easy for us to do,” Rainbow Dash remarked before opening the door for her mistress.

Who strode confidently through the door and into the establishment beyond.

An establishment that seemed fairly plain, and relatively empty, given that it was not even evening yet. Along the back wall was a long bar, behind which was a kitchen and an office of some kind. To the back right were stairs up, and along the walls were booths that looked surprisingly comfortable. To their left was the hall that connected the bar and inn to bakery, signs covering the door, and indicating that no food or drink was allowed past that point.

There were a few ponies milling about, most of whom didn't bat an eye at the pair of tall, well-built mares who trotted up to the counter. Where they saw a middle aged unicorn stallion with a grey coat, and a brown mane, who was using his magic to clean out a glass. As they approached him, the male looked up, only to do a double take when he realized just how tall they were.

“Whoowee, you two sure are big. Where ya from?” he asked, his voice slightly gravely from must have been years of smoking, shouting, or both.

“Saddle Arabia,” Rainbow Dash replied quickly. “Just checking out the town that will be holding the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration.”

“We hope to be back for the celebration itself, but we wanted to take a look for ourselves first,” added Kanathara.

The stallion nodded and put aside his mug. “Plenty of strange folk passing through recently. Kinda figured you were here for that, even though you are a fair bit early.”

“Oh? Do many creatures come all this way for the festival?” Kanathara inquired.

“Yupper doodle,” declared the stallion. “This year is a big one, what with it being the thousandth one and all that. If you are looking to book a room ahead of time, you are going to have to act quick, I don't have many left.”

“Actually, we were hoping to get a room for tonight only,” Rainbow Dash clarified. “We are still on the fence about whether we will return for the festival itself. Aren't we, hun?”

Kanathara blushed slightly, as her familiar used her feathery wing to pull the keeper tight against her side. “Uh yes, but I’m afraid we underestimated just how expensive the train ride here was and we don't have any money left.”

“Ahh, well that's too bad,” muttered the stallion, who pursed his lips. “I might be able to help ya if it’s just for a night, plenty of rooms left after all.”

“We could cook, clean, or do dishes if you’d like,” offered Kanathara.

“I got something in mind, just give me a moment,” replied the stallion, who turned and disappeared into the kitchen, only to return a minute later with a smile on his face. “It’s as I thought, our regular bouncer is going to be late again. If you two wouldn't mind taking over the door for a two and a half hours or so, I’d give ya the room for free.”

“That sounds fair, though I’m surprised you’d do all that for us,” Kanathara exclaimed.

The stallion laughed heartily. “My original bar got burnt down by demons and my brother Carrot helped me build this place, so I’m just passing on the kindness. The name’s Twisted Taps by the way, a pleasure to meet you two.”

“I’m Swift Breeze, and this is my partner Night Sky,” Rainbow Dash announced proudly, squeezing the keeper tightly with her wing.

“It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Mister Taps, but I’m curious as to why you would trust us watching your bar,” Kanathara inquired.

The stallion shrugged. “You two seem like you can handle yourselves. Plus it usually doesn't get too rowdy in here. Not till later when my regular will be done with her family thing anyway.”

“That’s fair. Do you mind if we check out the room first?” Kanathara replied, extending a hoof.

“Oh, of course,” answered Twisted, who pulled a key out from under the bar and deposited it into the demon’s hoof. “Room thirteen, third floor, and don't worry, I don't need your help for another few minutes or so.”

“Thanks, we’ll be back shortly,” Kanathara exclaimed, before turning and shrugging off Rainbow Dash’s leg.

“Yeah, thanks,” added the vengeant, who followed close behind her mistress.

So are we really doing this? ‘Cause it seems like a good way to blow our cover, Rainbow thought as the pair of demons trotted up the stairs.

Kanathara shrugged. This place doesn't look like it gets very busy. Besides, he didn't need us for very long. I doubt we’ll run into many ponies.

Alright, if you say so, boss lady, Rainbow Dash remarked as they walked into their room.

“Not bad,” Kanathara muttered, as she looked around.

A small attached bathroom complete with a shower and tub made the keeper grin from ear to ear, while a balcony made Rainbow Dash feel a little better about their accommodations. Other than that there was a small table and two beds with an end table between them, which had a lamp standing on it. The walls were drab brown, with only the odd spattering of coloring here or there, not like either demon minded, as it at least smelled clean.

“Not bad,” Rainbow Dash remarked before falling into one of the beds. “Comfy too.”

“And the bathtub is actually large enough for your fat ass,” Kanathara pointed out.

The vengant chuckled and struck a sexy pose. “Speaking of which, are you gonna use that or what?”

“Maybe. He did say we had a few minutes and we are both sweaty from the flight over,” Kanathara answered, while eyeing the bathtub.

“Too bad dematerializing doesn't clean off everything,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

The keeper chuckled. “It's a good thing it doesn't, otherwise you’d never bathe.”

“Hey that's not true. I would still join you, whenever you took a shower,” Rainbow Dash shot back.

“Well then, let’s see just how big this tub is then, shall we?” replied the smaller demon, who ducked into the bathroom.

“Hell yeah, now we’re talking.” Rainbow Dash shouted gleefully before leaping off the bed and sprinting toward the other room.

Kanathara strode confidently down the hall, her familiar cuddled up next to her, nuzzling her constantly. “Have I ever told you that you are the prettiest person I’ve ever met?” Rainbow Dash whispered dreamily.

“Only every single time we have sex,” replied Kanathara with a smirk. “And I never tire of hearing it.”

“Good, because something tells me I’m never going to tire of saying it, or talking about that thing you do with your-” Rainbow Dash began, only to have her mouth magically shut by an embarrassed keeper of secrets.

“That stays between you and me, you goober,” Kanathara whispered harshly.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I love teasing you.”

“I know, but you are going to have to cut it out. At least while we are in public,” the keeper explained, as they turned the corner and traversed the last flight of stairs.

“Fine, fine,” Rainbow Dash replied with a frown. “I can't wait to get out of here, and out of these, well, you know.”

Kanathara sighed. “I know, but think about it this way. It's only for another seven or so hours. It's not like we need a full night’s sleep after all.”

“True,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “That would suck.”

Together, the demons trotted down into the main area, which was significantly more lively than when they had been there only a few minutes ago. Several groups of young ponies were sitting at booths, eating, and sipping tall glasses filled with frothy liquid. In the corner a jukebox belted out a muted song, the enchanted object being the few spots of color in the bar that weren’t ponies.

“Ahh, there you are. Good timing,” exclaimed Twisted Taps, who emerged from his office with a smile on his face.

“I apologize for the tardiness,” Kanathara announced.

The stallion shrugged. “Not a problem. I kinda figured you two would want the opportunity to wash the dust off your hooves.”

Kanathara paused, waiting for the comment she assumed was coming from Rainbow Dash, only to turn and notice that she was doing her best to restrain the lewd remark she was itching to release. Rolling her eyes at her familiar’s antics, Kanathara turned towards the door, where a stool had been placed. “I assume you want us to stand by the main entrance then?” she asked.

The stallion nodded. “Yup, the other door is locked now, so you don't have to worry about anypony coming through there. Other than Pinkie Pie.”

“She works here?” Kanathara inquired, her voice falling slightly.

Twisted Taps nodded. “Oh yes, she usually does the late shift in the kitchen. Speaking of which, my regular might take a little bit longer, so if y'all want dinner as well, I’d throw that in if you wouldn't mind staying a bit longer.”

The two demons exchanged a glance, and though Kanathara wanted nothing more than to deny the stallion, her rumbling stomach convinced her otherwise. Apparently hydra just goes right through ya, who would have guessed, mused the keeper.

“That's alright, but it had best not run too late. Our journey was long, and we are both quite tired, isn't that right, Swift Breeze?” Kanathara asked expectantly.

“Oh yeah, super tired,” agreed the demon.

“Well, I don't think it will go that long. She's an honest pony, and if she says it won't be much longer, that's just the way it will go,” Twisted Taps assured, before perking up when a group of ponies approached the bar. “I better get back to it. You girls settle in, and if you need something just holler.”

Rainbow Dash snorted as the stallion walked away. Like we’d need anything from you.

The keeper couldn't help but agree, though she kept those thoughts to herself. “Come on, we better get into place.”

The disguised vengant nodded and did as she was told, settling into one of the stools, only to hear it groan under her weight. “Damn it all to Tartarus,” she muttered, getting off the stool.

“Fat ass,” teased Kanathara.

“Hey, you love my ass,” Rainbow Dash shot back, raising her snout proudly.

“Doesn't make it any less fat,” replied the keeper, a smirk on her face.

The two exchanged a few rather heated glances while they settled into place, and no sooner had that happened before the second door opened, and a pink pony strode in. Her mane immediately stood out,and made both demons think back to the scuffle they had gotten into only an hour or so ago. Alarm bells began to sound in Kanathara’s head, only for the demon to quickly quash that thought.

They were clearly very confident in their shield spell and the keeper was a master spell crafter. Even if she saw some similarities between them, the pink pony would surely conclude that their appearance was merely a coincidence. Or at least, that's what Kanathara kept telling herself anyway.

The pink pony only made it a few steps, before she stopped mid-stride and turned toward them, her gaze narrowing and her frown vanishing. Kanathara tried to look unbothered, as did Rainbow Dash, but neither demon could stop themselves from being just the slightest bit worried. The pink pony’s glare continued as she trotted up to them, eyeing them closely, as if studying their features and committing everything to memory.

Her nose twitched, and her ears flopped, but she said nothing, until Rainbow Dash grew irritated and turned to her. “Can we help you?” she snapped.

“Yeah! You can tell me what you are doing by the door,” replied the pink pony, pointedly.

“We are taking over for mister Taps’ usual security until they arrive,” Kanathara announced. “Do you have a problem with that?”

The pink pony opened her mouth to speak, only to not say anything for several long seconds. “No, I guess I don't.” Her glare vanished, replaced in an instant with a wide smile and an outstretched hoof. “My name is Pinkie Pie, it's great to meet you! Where are you from?”

The sudden shift in mood nearly gave the demons whiplash and Kanathara had to take a second before she realized the pink mare wasn't messing with them. “Saddle Arabia. I’m Night Sky, and this is Swift Breeze.”

“Nice to meet ya,” Rainbow Dash muttered, restraining herself from commenting about the weird face that had just occurred.

The pink pony shook each demon’s hoof in turn, grinning all the while. “Whowee, you two sure got some tough grips. No wonder ol’ Twisty put ya in front of the door instead of the stove.”

“Yes, well he sure seems to be a good judge of character that stallion,” Kanathara expressed, sharing a weak shrug with her familiar.

“I better get to the kitchen before the orders start rolling in. Let me know if you need something and I’ll make sure to make it extra super special!” Pinkie Pie declared with a smile before turning and bouncing away.

You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m starting to miss demons and their lack of humour, Rainbow Dash thought as she watched Pinkie Pie bounce into the kitchen and vanish. She's got a nice ass though.

Kanathara snorted. You are just saying that ‘cause it might be even bigger than yours.

Rainbow Dash grinned. And?

Just keep your eyes above the neckline or you are going to be spending the night on the floor, snapped the keeper.

Alright, alright, sheesh, Rainbow Dash griped.

Time soon began to fly, with a respectable amount of ponies coming into the tavern during that time. All of whom eyed the large, disguised demons carefully, only for those same ponies to quickly accept them and hardly pay them a second glance. Evidently the denizens of the town were used to strangers, as after a brief hello, they no longer seemed to care about the new security and instead focused on simply getting a drink or food.

Which was nice, as that meant Kanathara’s paranoia was quickly assuaged and she stopped looking over her shoulder constantly, waiting for the guards to burst in. At around the second hour mark, not many more ponies entered, though one of the larger mares who came in earlier seemed to be eyeing them strangely. She was tall, broad-shouldered and barrel-chested with a wine colored mane and tail, and fur that was a few shades lighter than that.

On her flanks were a pair of bunch of grapes as well as a strawberry, along with a couple of old scars. Something that covered the mare from hoof to nose in sporadically, crisscrossing the mare’s body seemingly at random. Evidently she hadn't had the easiest life, and her nose looked like it had been broken more than a few times, judging from the way it bent slightly to the right.

“What's her problem?” whispered Rainbow Dash, who leaned in close to her mistress.

“I don't know, but keep an eye on her. I’m getting some weird vibes from her,” Kanathara whispered back, watching closely as the pony in question downed the rest of her drink and began to stomp across the room.

“Nevermind, it looks like scars mcgee is coming to us,” Rainbow Dash muttered, before rising to her full height and facing the incoming earth pony. “Hey, what do you need?”

Instead of answering with words, the pony wound up and clocked the disguised demon as hard as she could. Which meant the winged demon hardly so much as flinched, her head turning slightly, and a frown crossing her face. Kanathara just snickered and shook her head, silently amazed that the earth pony had even done that much.

“You’ve fucked up,” Rainbow Dash growled before surging forward.

The sucker punch pony just smiled and brought up her hooves to block, deflecting the first few blows before taking a solid one on the chin. “Damn girl, you kick like a mule,” remarked the pony, who turned and spat out a wad of blood on the floor, causing Twisted Taps to grumble.

“A mule? Now that's insulting. I must be losing my edge fighting nothing but losers recently. Here, let’s try that again!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, before throwing herself forward once more.

This time the pony couldn't deflect more than a single strike before the demon managed to bypass her defences and begin raining blows across the smaller being’s face. Using her wings to keep her vertical, while leaning forward, Rainbow Dash had little trouble delivering punch after punch directly into the earth pony’s face. Left, right, right, left, cross, uppercut, and just like that, the pony was up on her back hooves, disoriented and confused.

The vengant took a second to do a few fake punches into the air before winding up and delivering an uppercut straight to the underside of the pony’s jaw, knocking her over and out cold. The ensuing thud caused by her body hitting the floor made the tables around them shake and drew the attention of everyone who wasn't already watching. With all eyes on her, Rainbow Dash smirked and raised a hoof in victory.

“And the crowd goes wild, ooooh, ahhh,” she mimed, pretending like everyone was cheering for her, when in reality she was getting either confused or angry looks.

Kanathara just rolled her eyes and used her magic to drag the K.O’ed pony outside, and tossed her onto the curb, unbothered by the way her jaw was bent, and both eyes were swollen shut. Once she was back inside, she noticed Twisted Taps was now cleaning up the pool of blood, and the trail that led to the door.

“So does that happen often or something?” asked the demon, noticing the strange array of looks from the other patrons.

“Berry’s a regular, and likes to tease the security. Probably picked a fight ‘cause your partner here is bigger than her,” Twisted Taps muttered, shooting the disguised demon a glare. “And she's getting the looks ‘cause Berry is well liked, and generally doesn't mean no harm. Plus that was just plain disrespectful,” Twisted added under his breath.

“Sheesh, tough crowd here,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shrug. “So, when’s your regular getting here?”

“Now,” stated a familiar female voice. “Or at least I would be, if I didn't have to leave right away in order to drag a certain someone to the hospital.”

The demons turned to see a stetson-clad earth pony stand by the door, a grimace on her face, and a cigarette in her mouth. “I’ll be by in a few, Taps. You can dismiss these jokers, I don't think anyone else is going to be starting any trouble tonight,” announced the pony, before she turned and left.

Kanathara took one look at the crowd and grabbed her familiar by the ear. “Come on, Rainbow Dash, we are going to bed. Now.”

“Ow, ow, sheesh, I’m coming, I’m coming,” whined the vengeant as she was pulled along.

Twisted Taps watched the pair leave before sighing and grabbing his rag. “Gods above, Berry. I told you this would happen one day. You just had to mess with new ponies in town.”

The stallion grumbled as he cleaned up the blood, a process that took far longer than first anticipated, as their turned out to be quite a bit of it. Eventually he was joined by a confused and slightly sad Pinkie Pie, who handed him a fresh rag.

“Here,” she stated simply.

“Thanks,” Twisted replied, before turning back to his task.

“So, what happened? I only caught the end of it,” Pinkie Pie asked.

The stallion shrugged. “Berry decided to mess with the newest help and ended up getting more than she bargained for. The poor, dumb bastard.”

The usually upbeat pony winced and glanced at the stairs. “Do you think she will be okay?”

“I think so,” stated the returning Applejack, who took the rag Pinkie Pie offered, and used it to clean the blood off her side. “Doc said she might talk a little funny after this, and probably won't be able to see much for a few weeks. But she’ll live. Thank goodness the hospital is so close by, and Mister Bone Saw was right there.”

Twisted sighed and took the rag from the earth pony. “Well either way, I’m glad you are here now. I’m not sure how I’d feel if I left those two in charge of the door after that,” remarked the stallion, before he turned and left, making a beeline for the kitchen.

“So, who were those two? They seemed familiar,” inquired the farm pony, who gestured to the stairs where the two demons had disappeared.

Pinkie Pie bit her lip. “I don't know, but they remind me of those demons we saw in the forest.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “The resemblance is uncanny, but no demon can get past the shield.”

“Y-yeah,” murmured the pink pony, who was staring at the spot where the two demons had disappeared. “I’m pretty sure it's just a coincidence, but that pegasus was fast, real fast. Plus the unicorn said a name that sounds familiar.”

“Oh, what was it?” Applejack inquired, the pony taking the last bit of her cigarette and shoving it into an ashtray.

“Well, you remember when Fluttershy moved here and told us what had happened to her friend?” Pinkie Pie hastily explained.

“Yeah, and? Where's this going, Pinks?”

“It's just, one of them said her friend's name. Rainbow Dash,” Pinkie Pie whispered, leaning in close. “What do you think it means, Applejack?”

“I think it's all a big coincidence like you said,” Applejack replied tersely. “Ain't no way a demon got past that shield. Plus that pony is dead and has been for like ten years or something.”

Pinkie Pie nervously chewed her lip while her gaze lingered on the stairs. “I guess, but I can't shake this weird feeling that there is something going on.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Well, your hunches haven't been wrong before. Tell ya what, in the morning we’ll head over to Fluttershy’s after stopping by the ranger’s outpost. We’ll see if we can't get to the bottom of this together.”

“Thanks, Applejack,” whispered Pinkie Pie, only to find herself wrapped in a tight hug.

“Now don't go overthinking this,” Applejack began, squeezing the other pony tightly. “I already delivered our full report to the rangers and the paladins, who said their big head honcho is already on his way.”

“Already? Did he say why?” Pinkie Pie inquired, gently disengaging from the hug, and taking a step back.

Applejack shrugged. “He didn't say. Just mentioned something about some threat or something, and said he was bringing a whole whack of paladins down with him.”

Pinkie Pie frowned. “I don't like this, Applejack.”

“I know, I know. But trust me when I say that the second those boys arrive, it’s game over for any demon lurking around here. All we gotta do is hold the fort till they arrive and not provoke nobody,” Applejack declared, before giving her friend’s shoulder a light punch. “You better get back to Taps before you start getting a bunch more orders.”

“Yeah, you are right,” Pinkie Pie muttered weakly, the pony turning and sullenly trudding back into the kitchen.

Applejack watched her friend go, maintaining her bright smile until the second Pinkie’s pink butt disappeared. A frown quickly crossed the earth pony’s face, and she shook her head and spat. “Once the cavalry's here, then you are finished. No amount of hostages or potential collateral damage will save you from meeting your final end. Till then you had best not cause any trouble,” she whispered, before taking a seat on her stool, still frowning deeply.

Until she unexpectedly fell over, her chair bending at a weird angle and sending her to the floor. “Gods dammit, I knew I should have laid off the apple cider.”

Author's Note

Trial Five: Flight

The two demons all but crawled down the steps of the inn, their hooves almost completely silent as they crept through the seemingly empty building. As quiet as death, they stalked through the bar area, making sure no one saw or heard them leave. After making it to the front door, Kanathara paused and lit her horn before leaning close to the opening, her ear pressed against the wood. A small ping later and she was able to tell that the street just outside the door was almost completely empty save for a pair of ponies walking far to their right.

After nodding to her familiar, the keeper gently pushed open the door and slipped through the crack, followed closely by Rainbow Dash who silently shut the portal behind them. Outside, the early morning sun made the buildings cast long, deep shadows, perfect to hide two demons who didn't want to be seen. The early hour meant that almost no one was out and about and though there were no crowds to hide within, there were also far fewer prying eyes.

Slipping down the road, the two demons ducked from one alley to another, until they managed to sneak their way towards the edge of town. There, they were forced to stop and wait as a trio of guards lazily patrolled the street, allowing the duo time to look around. Rainbow Dash frowned as she was forced to sit there and do nothing, prompting her to search the area for something of interest.

Look, she thought suddenly, pointing down the other end of the alley.

Kanathara waited for the guards to pass before turning towards where Rainbow Dash was pointing. Where a short, squat stone building she hadn't noticed before could be seen a block over. Outside stood two familiar earth ponies, one of whom seemed half asleep while her partner was speaking animatedly to a third pony who stood in the door. The keeper nodded her assent and slipped a little closer, slinking through the shadow-filled alley and towards the ponies.

Once in position, Kanathara frowned when she realized that the stone building was no doubt a headquarters of sorts for the Everfree rangers and she cursed her poor luck for missing it the other day. The building itself wasn't terribly intimidating, there were no windows and the entire thing seemed to be built like a small keep rather than a normal building. It was even complete with a short tower that rose from one side of the building and allowed someone to oversee the town. How she managed to miss such an odd sight was beyond the demon, though she certainly made a note of its location now. She slunk as close as she dared in order to hear what was being said.

“Look, I’m just telling you to keep your eyes peeled. It's not complicated,” Applejack remarked with a snort.

The pudgy, brown stallion that stood in the door seemed unmoved by her request. “And I’m telling you that the rangers can't act on the hunch of some random pony.”

“She isn't a random pony,” Applejack shot back. “She's been a member for over five years for crying out loud.”

“I’ve been a what now?” Pinkie Pie muttered, only for her head to slump almost immediately, and the pony begin to snore audibly.

The brown pony sighed and Kanathara turned away, pulling her familiar along with her. What they are doing is unimportant, we must leave immediately lest they have the chance of following us back to the hideout, she reminded.

Rainbow Dash gave the two earth ponies another look before nodding and turning away, hot on her mistress’ heels. I know, but something tells me we are going to run into them again soon.

Well, let's hope you are wrong, because I am not liking how many guards there are this early in the morning, Kanathara shot back, the demon having noticed that a second trio of guards had just passed them by.

That does seem… excessive, especially for this hour of the day, Rainbow Dash murmured as the pair slunk down the road, ducking from cover to cover as they went.

Kanathara frowned as they neared the end of the road, and she looked out at the field that opened up before them. Great, just great.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow and slowly trotted up to her mistress who had ducked behind a dumpster near a restaraunt. Those aren't regular guards, Rainbow Dash pointed out.

No. No they are not, Kanathara thought back grimly.

Peeking out from their hiding spot, the two demons were able to spot the several dozen heavily armed and armored golden ponies who were scattered over the field. Though all over the place, they were mostly centered on the point that the demons had entered the town, which was far to their right. Several other paladins were lazily patrolling the area though never straying too far from the central mass at the field’s edge.

Those must be the paladins, Rainbow Dash concluded. They look tough, like really tough.

Kanathara’s frown deepened as she watched them move about the area. Their armor was well-enchanted and expertly made, with the ponies walking easily and at a relaxed pace while in full plate mail. Just looking at it made the young demon’s eyes hurt from the sheer amount of light magic that imbued it, Kanathara quickly concluding that there must be dozens of enchantments placed upon their metal armor.

Their weapons seemed to vary wildly, from dual short swords to warhammers the size of small trees. It was evident that they had great freedom to choose what they took as their personal armament, which also meant they were likely specialized in fighting individual demons and not a horde or army of them. The gears of Kanathara’s mind churned with possible solutions to this issue, though none seemed particularly likely to work given just how great her enemies’ numbers were.

That was until Kanathara noticed something strange amidst the field of featureless armored ponies where a single pony seemed to grab her attention. A male unicorn had taken off his helmet, and was facing the town, an odd look on his face. It was an expression of concern and nervousness, that made the young demon stop and stare for a reason she couldn't fully explain. He was taller than most of the paladins, with broad shoulders, a wide frame and an impressive horn but that wasn't what drew Kanathara’s eye.

It was his bright teal eyes and short cropped blue mane, as well as the insignia on his shoulder pauldron that marked him as above the rest of the paladins. Kanatahara’s gaze lingered on the strange and impressive unicorn stallion, a faint sensation of deja vu lingering at the back of her mind as she did so. His appearance was familiar and not at the same time, as if she knew not him, but a younger version of him.

“Boss,” Rainbow Dash whispered, poking the keeper in the shoulder.

Shaking her head, Kanathara dismissed whatever urge had temporarily overtaken her and turned back to her familiar. “What is it?”

Rainbow Dash gestured towards their left. “There's a cottage near the edge of the forest. It might be able to offer us some cover and allow us to get past these golden dopes.”

Kanathara nodded. Then that's where were going to go, she declared.

The keeper of secrets took the lead, her body low to the ground, and her eyes opened wide as her head turned back and forth, scanning her surroundings. Her body shimmered as soon as she took a step out from the cover of the buildings, her enchantments flaring to life and obscuring her from sight. A second later and the same occurred to Rainbow Dash, turning the pair into little more than a blur that blended perfectly with the field of green that surrounded the town itself.

Knowing that the enchantment wouldn't last long due to the demon being blocked from using the majority of her spell power, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash dashed straight for the cottage. Even with their demonic magic and abilities sealed for the most part, they were still able to make it across the field in no time, stopping once they were in the shadow of a short bridge and ducking just beneath it. Kanathara breathed hard, the keeper of secrets still not totally at home in her new body, especially after her rough transition to a new plane.

“They aren't following us,” Rainbow Dash whispered, leaning back down from her perch. “They didn't even notice us.”

“Good, we can't let them follow us back to the hideout. I don't think the enchantment would have lasted much longer anyway,” Kanathara muttered.

Rainbow Dash nodded as she plopped down next to the other demon. “It’s weird that they got here so quickly.”

“There's no way that they were alerted only by the shield,” Kanathara replied, the demon pursing her lips. “They must have gotten wind of us earlier somehow, perhaps from the rangers.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I don't think so. They seemed surprised to find out that we were demons and were convinced we were poachers until they physically saw us.”

“Hmmm,” murmured the keeper of secrets who shook her head suddenly. “Regardless of the reason, we need to get out of here, and quickly.”

“Ready when you are,” Rainbow Dash announced.

Kanathara nodded. “Hopefully after this I can practice my magic more so we can stand a chance against those big metal jerks.”

“Hopefully we won't be forced to run again,” muttered Rainbow Dash with an indignant snort. “All of this tail turning is starting to piss me off.”

The keeper chuckled. “Don't worry. After we get back to the safehouse, we’ll do some more training and make sure that we don't have to run anymore ‘tactical retreats’ anytime soon.”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Good. Now let's get out of here, this place is starting to make my scales crawl for some reason.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “Why? Is something wrong?”

The vengant flapped her wings nervously. “It's nothing. Just nerves, I guess.”

“Really? The demon who flew directly at a spirit of vengeance screaming bloody murder is suffering from nerves?” Kanathara deadpanned.

“I told you it's nothing,” Rainbow Dash hissed with unexpected venom. “Let's just get out of here already.”

The keeper frowned, and looked her friend up and down, noting the way that she seemed ill at ease, and was glancing nervously over the slight rise next to the bridge every few seconds. “Right. Let’s go,” announced the keeper.

Rainbow Dash reacted instantly, leaping up the rise and dashing towards the cottage and the forest beyond. Kanathara was a second behind her, taking a slightly slower pace and keeping her eye out for enemies. Though she saw no gold-clad ponies nearby, she did notice a sign she hadn't seen before, one that indicated that the simple cottage they were heading towards was in fact an animal preserve and veterinary hospital. A claim backed up by the many bird houses, chicken coops, and other animal houses placed all around the property.

No animal sounds greeted them though, and there was only the barest hint of motion at the edges of her vision. Animals hid in their homes, ducking out of sight the second Kanathara turned to look at them, including a bear who hid inside a small house set next to the cottage itself. So surprised by their strange surroundings, Kanathara didn't even notice that her familiar had stopped until she ran face first into her butt.

Falling to the ground in a heap, Kanathara looked up at her friend, only to realize the vengant didn't even notice her presence. “What the fuck, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara hissed.

The vengant said nothing, merely standing stock still as she stared at… something.

Getting off the ground, Kanathara brushed her hooves and searched for whatever had mesmerized Rainbow Dash. Only to stop and stare when she found herself watching a butter yellow pegasus as she hummed and poured out a mix of food into numerous bowls. She was tall, graceful and with a sleek figure that made Kanathara feel a mixture of desire and envy. Three butterflies adorned her flanks and long pink hair hung from her head, framing her face perfectly.

For the moment she was unaware of her animals’ sudden shift in attention and was completely focused on getting the feed just right. Thinking quickly, Kanathara ran in front of her familiar and glared up at her. “Rainbow Dash, snap out of it. We need to move,” she demanded.

Rainbow Dash gulped and glanced over Kanathara’s shoulder. “But it's Fluttershy. She has to know I’m alive.”

Kanathara grumbled and grabbed her friend’s face in her hooves. “We need to move. Now. Do you hear me? The guard could be coming this way as we speak.”

“J-just let me talk to her,” Rainbow Dash pleaded. “She needs to know I’m okay.”

“You are not okay,” Kanathara shot back. “You are a demon, not a pony.”

“B-but,” Rainbow Dash stuttered, only for the rest of her words to be cut off by the clang of metal being dropped.

“Rainbow Dash?” asked a nervous voice.

Kanathara growled and grabbed the vengant by the face. “Look at me. We need to go.”

Rainbow Dash ignored her, and looked over to where the pegasus sat, her eyes wide, food lying everywhere. “Fluttershy, it’s me. Rainbow Dash,” she whispered.

The keeper of secrets was about to slap her familiar across the face until she caught sight of something unfortunately familiar in the distance. Two ponies were trotting directly towards them from the direction of town, and though they didn't seem to notice the demons’ presence quite yet, that wouldn't last for long. “We have company,” Kanathara hissed.

Rainbow Dash stumbled forward, a hoof tentatively rising towards her childhood friend. “You are okay. Thank goodness.”

“I watched you die…” Fluttershy whispered. “How are you here?”

“That doesn't matter,” Rainbow Dash replied hastily. “What matters is that I’m back.”

“N-no. You can't be here.” The pegasus shut her eyes. “I took my medication this morning. You are just a figment of my imagination. You don't exist, this is all in my head.”

The vengant stumbled a step and was interrupted before she could say anything else. “Rainbow Dash. Get over yourself. We need to move,” Kanathara whispered harshly.

The vengant frowned. “Just let me convince her I’m real. She needs to know I’m real.”

Kanathara growled and tugged on her friend’s leg. “We can come back. She won't be going anywhere.”

Fluttershy covered her head with her hooves and began to shake. “This isn't happening, this isn't real,” she began to repeat over and over, tears building at the edge of her eyes.

“I’m real, Fluttershy. It's me. I’m back,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her hoof touching the butter pegasus’ shoulder and making her flinch and begin to cry in earnest.

“Remember what the doctor said, Fluttershy. The hallucinations can feel real, but it isn't real. It’s all fake,” Fluttershy whispered to herself between sobs.

“Rainbow Dash! Leave her!” Kanathara shouted.

“I can't. Not again. Don't you see? This is my chance to tell her-” Rainbow Dash began, only to be interrupted by a shout from behind them.

“It’s them, Pinkie! Get the paladins, I’ll hold ‘em here!” exclaimed the angry voice of Applejack.

Kanathara groaned and spun around just in time to see the earth pony stomp out her cigarette and straighten her hat. “I do not have time for you,” Kanathara grumbled.

“And I don't want you torturing poor Fluttershy, so I guess neither of us are going to get what we want,” replied Applejack with a snort.

“We are not- that wasn't...” Kanathara groaned. “Come on, Rainbow Dash, we have to go this instant.”

Rainbow Dash didn't even seem to notice her friend’s words and continued to shake Fluttershy. “I’m real, Fluttershy, please just look at me. I swear I’m real!” she cried, burning tears streaking down her face.

“P-please leave me alone,” Fluttershy blubbered weakly.

“Look at me, Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash yelled, the demon lifting her former friend from the ground. “Look into my eyes and know that I’m real.”

“That's enough of that,” Applejack declared, before charging directly at the pair.

Growling in irritation, Kanathara focused her magic, and shot a beam of energy at the approaching pony’s center of mass. Though the earth pony was quick enough to try and dodge out of the way of the bolt, it still managed to clip her hoof, sending a wave of numbness through her body. The mare could only curse as she fell facefirst into the ground, her hooves no longer cooperating with her.

“Consarnit, I knew I shoulda worn my armor,” muttered the pony, sprawled out in the dirt.

Kanathara took one look at the downed mare, considering her options. She could kill her and be done with it, but the keeper of secrets had precious little time left, something that was confirmed by the heavy thumping of hooves approaching from her left. A glance in that direction confirmed her suspicions, as over a dozen paladins, headed up by a certain pink pony, were all charging in their direction.

Stifling a curse, Kanathara lit her horn and cast another stun spell on the earth pony, dropping her completely. Knowing she had very little time left, the keeper of secrets turned and grabbed her familiar, forcing their eyes to meet. “I command you to take us away from here as quickly as possible,” she demanded, her voice brimming with power.

For a moment it seemed like the vengant was going to fight the command, her face contorting with a mix of emotions before straightening suddenly. “Augh, fine!” she shouted, before picking up the keeper and all but throwing the other demon onto the center of her back.

Hooves beat against the dirt, kicking up clods of earth before Rainbow Dash took wing and leapt into the air.

Behind her, the shy pegasus opened her eyes tentatively, her gaze drawn up to the rainbow maned pony as she soared through the shield just outside her home. The second she passed through that pinkish barrier, her body melted away, revealing a demon with black scales instead of skin, great batlike wings, and a mane and tail made of hellfire. Despite the abrupt change in appearance, Fluttershy could still see the underlying similarities between the two. From the style of her flaming hair, to the way she moved, flew and simply carried herself. It was all the same as the pony she once knew, right down to the way she flapped her wings harder than necessary.

Fluttershy could only sit there in shock as her mind struggled to process what had just happened. Conflicting thoughts and emotions roared within her, hooves trembling and mind scrambling to come up with an answer for what she had seen. All those thoughts came crashing down the second she felt a warm hoof touch her shoulder bringing the world back into focus.

“Are you okay, Fluttershy? They didn't do anything to you, did they?” asked the familiar voice of Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy shook her head weakly and looked up. “It’s Rainbow Dash. It was really her. She's alive.”

Pinkie Pie pursed her lips as all around her paladins began to charge into the woods, not slowed in the slightest by the wall of wood or the pink barrier. Some taking wing, some running, most gripping their weapons while others cast spells and tried to catch up to the fleeing demons. The only pony who seemed to notice Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie was their commander who slowed to a stop, lighting his horn as he did so.

“Are you hurt? Do you require aid?” he asked tersely.

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no. I’m fine,” she whispered.

“She's just shaken, Commander Armor,” reiterated Pinkie Pie.

The unicorn nodded and let his spell fizzle. “You should probably bring her back to the outpost just in case. The demon could have cast any number of spells, none of them good.”

Pinkie Pie nodded, the mare gently rubbing her friend’s back. “How does that sound, Fluttershy? Would you like to go down to the outpost with me for a little bit?”

“Oh, I don't know. I still had so many chores left to do,” muttered the pegasus who looked down at her dropped bag of food and gasped. “Oh my. I made such a mess.”

Pinkie Pie smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll come help after we are done in town.”

Fluttershy nodded weakly. “Oh um, okay. I should probably bring my medication with me if we are going to stay for very long.”

Shining Armor smiled grimly and clasped the earth pony on the shoulder. “You did a good thing here, Pinkie. I’m leaving Fluttershy and Applejack in your care if that's alright with you. I need everypony I have for the fight ahead.”

Pinkie Pie sighed. “Yes sir. I can handle these two.”

“And please, if you wouldn't mind delivering your report directly to me at the earliest convenience, I’d appreciate it,” Shining Armor half commanded, half asked before turning and sprinting away.

After a few seconds he disappeared in a flash of light, teleporting into the Everfree and leaving Pinkie Pie with a very confused Fluttershy and a very out of it Applejack. With a sigh, she gently patted the flustered pegasus on the shoulder. “Why don't you get your medication and I’ll see about helping Applejack up. We can meet at the bridge, okay?”

“Oh um, sure. I just need to bring this bag back first,” Fluttershy remarked before trotting off, the bag of food slung under her.

Pinkie Pie frowned as she trotted over to Applejack, and pulled the heavy earth pony onto her back. “You girls just always have to fight, don't you?” she whispered.

Applejack muttered something incomprehensible, her lips and vocal chords still suffering the effects of Kanathara’s stun spell.

“Shh, don't talk,” Pinkie Pie whispered back as she turned and began to trot towards the small bridge that seperated Fluttershy’s home from the rest of Ponyville. “Just lay back, and relax. I’m sure someone at the outpost will be able to help undue her spell.”

The usually upbeat pony sighed. Why does nothing ever turn out right?

Author's Note

Trial Five: Answers Long Overdue

Trotting into the next room, Kanathara found herself in an open area that had once served as a summoning chamber and was now a makeshift hospital. Beds lined the walls and filled most of the space, pain demons walking between them and administering what primitive healing they were capable of. A good number of the bed bound demons were already dead however, and another chunk were on death’s door or missing several limbs. Evidently the escape had not gone well, though Kanathara didn't see Tirek or Pear Butter anywhere.

A fact that could be very good, or very, very bad.

Pythias waved them on, pointing to one of the doors on the other side of the room.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash muttered as she looked out over the gathered demons. “Is this all that's left?”

Pythias nodded slowly and held up eight fingers.

“And by the looks of it that number is going to shrink,” Kanathara added grimly.

“Damn. This blows,” Rainbow Dash remarked as she walked past a particularly nasty war demon who was missing both his arms and his legs.

Ignoring the moans of pain and growls of rage, Kanathara and her familiar trotted across the room before pausing at the indicated door at the seer’s insistence. “What is it, Pythias?” Kanathara asked.

The seer winced and signalled for the keeper to walk softly.

“I understand, you can let us in now,” Kanathara replied.

Nodding, the bipedal demon pulled open the door and stood off to the side, allowing Kanathara and Rainbow Dash access.

Upon entering the two demons found themselves instantly uncomfortable, the smell of demonic blood even heavier here than it was in the last room. Steeling themselves, they trotted inside, the door closing behind them, and leaving them alone in what at first glance looked like a bedroom. A curtain of hanging fabric cut the room in half, the visible side being a sitting area of some kind, while Kanathara assumed the other half was where the bed was located.

The sound of soft groaning combined with snoring made Kanthara perk up and she shared a confused glance with Rainbow Dash, who shrugged. Trotting across the room, Kanathara pulled open the flap and peered within, quickly finding that her first assessment was right, and that her parents were indeed within. Tirek lay half slumped over the side of a large four poster bed, bandages covering a good chunk of his body, while a large, vaguely pony-shaped lump was visible in the center of the bed.

Rainbow Dash peeked her head inside and shared a confused look with her mistress before shrugging and motioning for them to walk in. Unsure of what to do, the keeper slowly crept inside, her body low to the ground, as she inspected the shape. She could tell that it was likely Pear Butter who lay there, but everything seemed off for some reason.

“Father, are you alright?” Kanathara whispered.

The centaur’s head jerked up from the bed, and he wiped his face with a hand before turning to face the keeper of secrets. “Kanathara, thank the gods new and old you are alive,” Tirek exclaimed, revealing that gauze covered a good chunk of his face as well as one eye.

“What happened to you?” Kanathara asked.

Tirek blinked, a hand going up to his face which was covered in plenty of bandages, most of which were red from collected blood. “It is nothing. This will all heal in time,” he remarked dismissively. “If you want to worry about anyone, worry about Pear Butter.”

Rainbow Dash leaned over the keeper’s shoulder and winced. “Yikes. Is she going to be alright?”

Kanathara winced as well, only now noticing that Pear Butter’s forelegs were both missing, and most of her body was covered in either bandages or casts. “Has her regenerative abilities been hindered by something?” Kanathara added.

“I don't know, and yes,” Tirek replied in turn. “And to answer your next question she's currently in a coma. When she wakes she should be able to regrow her legs, as well as heal the other wounds. But we are going to need time and souls.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything we can do?” Kanthara requested, her gaze lingering on the pained, yet sleeping demon lying before her.

Tirek shook his head. “Rest now. I’m sure you are as tired and hungry as the rest of us. We can start figuring out what is left as soon as we are in better shape.”

“I don't suppose it would be possible to ask you about something, eh?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Maybe we should avoid this topic for a little while,” Kanathara interrupted with a glare.

“What topic?” Tirek asked.

“Boss here was going to ask about you and Celestia,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara sighed and threw up her hooves. “I admit I’m curious, especially now that you are no longer bound to Tartarus.”

Rather than be angry or dismissive, Tirek seemed sad. He rested a hand on the sleeping demon’s chest. “It's a long story, one that I had hoped to tell you when you were a little older.”

“But…” Rainbow Dash added expectantly.

“But now is as good a time as any,” Tirek admitted. “Though I would caution you against putting words in my mouth again, Miss Dash.”

The vengant shrugged. “Someone had to press the issue. You and Kathy over here suck at this whole talking to each other thing.”

“Augh, I hate it when you call me that,” Kanathara muttered.

Tirek chuckled. “I suppose you are right. For once.”

Rainbow Dash huffed and crossed her forelegs over her chest, the keeper plunking down on the floor in order to pout properly.

“So how did it all start anyway?” Kanathara asked hesitantly. “You never really told me much about your time before Tartarus.”

The fear demon nodded slowly. “It was a long, long time ago. In some ways it was a lifetime ago.”

“Well duh, you gotta die to go to Tartarus,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Tirek rolled his eyes. “What I mean is that it feels like I was an entirely different being back then. In both mind and body.”

“So what happened?” Kanathara pressed.

Tirek rolled his body slightly, allowing him to rest a little easier, wincing as he did so. “First off, what do you know about centaur and gargoyle society?”

“Very little,” Kanathara replied.

“Diddly,” answered Rainbow Dash.

Tirek nodded slowly. “Our history and culture are largely ignored by the wider world, and records are sparse, but I’ll give you the short version.”

“Cool, ‘cause there ain't enough pillows here if you are going to give us the long version,” Rainbow Dash quipped.

Kanathara growled and punched the vengant in the shoulder. “Be quiet, Dash,” hissed the keeper.

Rainbow Dash rubbed her shoulder. “You didn't have to hit me you know.”

“Quiet, both of you,” Tirek barked. “I will not repeat myself so you better listen.”

Kanathara nodded and sat attentively before the centaur while her familiar flopped onto the ground and sprawled out like a bored cat.

Seeing that the two demons were ready to hear his tale, Tirek cleared his throat. “Our two species both came into being near the edge of the great expanse, an enormous desert and wasteland bereft of life. We, the centaurs were able to supplement our appetite by consuming magical energies, while our gargoyle neighbors were able to slumber for great lengths of time, conserving their energy for when times were tough. Even with our adaptations and unique abilities the land was harsh and difficult to survive in. Escape was also impossible as we needed to pass through the very heart of the desert to do so.”

Tirek stared off into the distance, his mind evidently conjuring images of that harsh and inhospitable land. “I was told it was a hard life, but we endured nonetheless, both species keeping our distance from one another out of a mutual respect. All that changed when the Maw emerged and began to swallow up whole villages.”

“The Maw?” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Now that's a cool name.”

Tirek chuckled darkly. “The great wyrm was some sort of cousin of the old dragons, though it had no arms, legs or wings, it retained the old dragon’s hunger and ferocity. Able to pass through solid stone like it was little more than water, the Maw consumed whole families before disappearing beneath the earth. In time our numbers dwindled, and the survivors of both societies were forced to fight the beast together, or die apart.”

Waving a hand, Tirek conjured an image of an enormous wormlike creature clad in scales of night with great, sword like teeth. Shadowy centaurs one tenth its size stood upon the ground before it, firing spells up at it, while gargoyles rained arrows from above. “Eventually, it was the power of our chieftains and a pair of weapons they forged that brought down the beast, and ushered in an age of prosperity.”

A glowing gargoyle and Centaur stepped out from the pack, and together dove towards the great wyrm, slaying it and standing atop its body. “After its death, the formerly barren land began to bloom with new life, the blood of the wyrm filled with a potent, life-giving magic.”

The corpse of the wyrm sunk into the illusionary ground and caused trees and grass to appear on the spot of its death. “With our two tribes no longer struggling for survival, and a deep friendship born from the fires of combat we went out into this new world hand in hand. The first kings of old ruled the land kindly and fairly, allowing our two peoples to prosper for the first time in our history. Upon the birth of the king’s first born sons a year later, a tradition was founded, one that would see these two young beings raised as brothers.”

“That seems like a delicate situation,” Kanathara added.

Tirek nodded. “It was, at times, but mostly it worked as intended, bringing our people together, and helping them to empathize with one another.” The centaur waved a hand and conjured an image of two young beings, one gargoyle, one centaur standing atop a podium, small crowns resting on their heads. “They became the true powers of our new nation and went onto become the first prince kings. Though that didn't mean each tribe didn't have its own sovereignty. One half of the nation usually let the other half do whatever it wanted to without butting in too much.”

“So they were part of a larger nation as well as its leaders, while also being kings of their own province so to speak?” Kanathara inquired.

Tirek nodded again. “Indeed. This system had its flaws, but it enabled us to grow and become powerful while tying our societies together through marriage, shared power and an interwoven economy. These prince kings were absolute monarchs in their own land though, something my uncle took advantage of.”

Rainbow Dash scooted closer. “Is that the bad guy in this story? ‘Cause you don't seem like a fan of his.”

“I most certainly am not a fan of his,” Tirek muttered, his features darkening slightly. “In fact, he was one of the cruelest beings I knew, one time he even-”

“TIIIIIRRRREEK!” boomed a distant voice which echoed off the stone passageways of Castle Reach.

A young Tirek trembled upon hearing the voice of his uncle, the centaur only about as tall as the average pony at this time, his hair long, and his horns short and stumpy. “Oh no,” he muttered in fear, the young centaur scampering across the room, his hands clasped tight around his prize.

Shoving his hands under his bed, he pushed the slimy creature as far back as he could go, his gaze lingering on the confused and startled lizard he had been holding. “Just stay back there and don't come out,” Tirek warned before grabbing a nearby plate that had once held his lunch and covered the lizard with it.

He turned around just in time to hear the thunder of his uncle’s hooves as they came up to his room. Steeling himself, Tirek clenched his hands tightly a second before his bedroom door all but exploded outwards, revealing the snarling form of his uncle standing there, nostrils flaring.

“Yes, Uncle Thereon?” Tirek replied as kindly as he could muster.

The aged and utterly enormous centaur filled the entire doorway, his lone arm gripping the hilt of the longsword belted at his hip. “A servant has informed me that you may have brought an animal into my castle, is this true?” he asked, his voice cold and utterly bereft of mercy.

Tirek resisted the urge to gulp and looked the old centaur up and down, studying his features and trying to gauge how best to approach this situation. His uncle stood head and shoulders above Tirek himself, the elder centaur’s horns curling around his head and pointing forward. The black fur that covered his chest and lower half had long since become grey, the hairs poking out from the breastplate he always wore. As per usual, the elder centaur looked ready for battle, his body lightly armored, and his large, cruel black longsword remaining close at hand.

One eye gazed down at the young centaur with an intensity that was as common as it was piercing while the other saw nothing, the grey orb sporting a shallow indent across it. The blade which had taken sight from his right eye had also scarred much of the centaur’s face, and cut open his lips, permanently revealing the centaur’s teeth. The scar that spread from his eyebrow to his chin was not the only one of its kind, though the rest were fall smaller.

“So, what say you in your defence, boy?” reiterated the centaur.

“First I must ask, am I not allowed to have a pet?” Tirek inquired with a hint of hesitation.

The older centaur’s gaze narrowed. “You may be the next in line for the throne, but I am not in the ground yet and you had best remember that.”

Tirek bit his lip and nodded slowly. “If it is your will for me to not have a pet, then I will not do so.”

The centaur growled. “Don't be coy with me, boy. Have you brought an animal into my castle or not?” Thereon jabbed a finger at the younger male. “And don't even think about playing any more word games with me.”

“I… may have,” Tirek admitted. “But it is not here, and I swear to you, uncle, I will get rid of it immediately!”

Thereon’s grip tightened and the two centaurs stared at one another for several long seconds. “Consider this a test, you will dispose of this lizard you have acquired and do so quickly. The dewbacks bring with them parasites, provided it even is a mere lizard and not a zebra shape-shifter in disguise.”

“T-thank you uncle,” Tirek replied, bowing his head slightly. “I’ll get rid of it right away.”

The elder centaur relaxed slightly and was about to turn around when he suddenly drew his sword and pointed the long, ebony blade at something behind Tirek. “You lied to me, boy, stay back while I deal with this myself!” boomed Thereon.

“He's just a lizard, uncle.” Tirek interjected, putting himself between the older centaur and the pet whom had inquisitively poked its head out from under the bed. “Please just let me go put him back where I found him.”

“You lost your chance the second you lied to me,” snarled his uncle. “Now step aside.”

Tirek’s entire body shook, but he refused to move, not while his newest friend was in danger. “P-please, he’s just a lizard, I swear. I even used the cleaning spell on him and-”

“Enough,” boomed the larger male, who brushed aside Tirek’s weak defence, and skewered the poor lizard on the end of his sword.

“No!” cried Tirek as he reached out to the poor lizard who was writhing weakly on the end of his uncle’s blade.

The ebony blade thrummed with life, draining the energy and color from the lizard. “One day you will thank me for this,” exclaimed Thereon.

Tirek didn't hear him though, as his attention was fixated on the pained wails and increasingly desperate thrashing of the poor lizard. The thing’s eyes bulged briefly, before rolling into the back of its head, its body falling slack shortly thereafter. A second after that Thereon dropped the colorless husk to the ground with a flick of his blade.

“Empathy is a weakness they will use against you if you are not careful,” remarked the elder centaur who sheathed his blade once more. “Do not let this happen again, boy. You may be the last of our family’s line, but not even that will save you next time.”

With that, he left, leaving behind a scared and angry child, whose tears stained his face and his hands cupped the corpse of one of the few friends he had ever made.

“He even…” Tirek’s voice trailed off for a moment and he stared off into space.

“He even what?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Nothing, it was just a memory of when I was a foolish child,” Tirek replied tiredly. “He was paranoid in his old age, maimed from a brutal war, and twisted by the pain which haunted him until his final days.”

“What did he do, exactly?” Kanathara asked hesitantly.

Tirek sighed. “There were small things, like how no one was allowed to eat within a dozen feet of him and how he had a personal taster who tried all of his food before he ate it.” The centaur’s features darkened. “But that was only in the beginning, as time went on he grew crueler, more paranoid, and more capable of senseless violence. Whole villages were put to the sword if he so much as dreamt they were about to rise up against him. Children butchered for merely staring at him, and servants sent to the dungeons for stuttering in his presence.”

“That’s needlessly cruel,” Kanathara muttered.

“He may have been a good man at one point, but the war took away his kindness and replaced it with only bitter resentment and intense paranoia,” Tirek stated.

“That must have been hell on his family,” Rainbow Dash added.

Tirek shook his head. “His sons died on the battlefield, as did my father and brothers. My own mother had passed away years earlier, and my aunt had been killed by an assassin not long after the war began.”

“Which left you as the only one left, didn't it?” Kanathara concluded.

“It did indeed,” Tirek admitted. “I was the last hope he had of our family staying on the throne, as poison had taken his ability to have children.”

“That’s brutal,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Who were they fighting anyway?”

“The zebra clans led by a mad warlord as well as numerous gryphon and minotaur mercenaries,” Tirek replied. “The warlord in question fancied himself ruler of this entire continent, and somehow managed to get several other races under his command including an entire hive of changelings.”

“I think I’m starting to understand why he was left so scarred. The changeling’s are fierce and cunning warriors, nevermind adding gryphons and minotaurs to the mix,” Kanathara said with a sigh.

“It was also after the banishment of one of Equestria’s leaders and a lengthy civil war,” Tirek added, his gaze lingering on the slumbering equine form in the bed before him. “They were weak from years of fighting and called for aid. My uncle, eager to prove our fledgeling nation was capable of greatness, convinced his brother to join him in battle. A decision that would seal his fate, and mine.”

“But you've fought demon wars,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed suddenly. “From the way you talk about this war on the mortal plane you make it sound worse than anything you’ve seen.”

Tirek eyed the vengeant critically, before sighing and leaning on the bed. “Tell me child. Have you ever had your entire family killed before you in a brutal fashion? Well… have you?”

“N-no,” Rainbow Dash stuttered.

“Exactly,” Tirek stated, the centaur clenching his fist tightly. “We demons are without connections, without ties that bind us to one another. In the end we have only ourselves, and tools, or objects we use to attain our goals. To see them broken is to be enraged, not saddened, for they were never things you truly cared about in the same way you do about family.”

“Are we just tools to you, father?” Kanathara nervously inquired.

Tirek sighed. “No my children. Not anymore.”

“I think I get what you are saying,” Rainbow Dash muttered slowly. “Though I still think demons are way meaner than some mortal ponies with stripes.”

Tirek chuckled darkly. “They were immensely cruel, capable of shape-shifting into animals and using this power to sneak behind our lines, devouring defenceless smiths, cooks, and bakers. They hypnotized those they captured, sending them back into our ranks only to be activated by some phrase and turned into psychotic killing machines.” The centaur shook his head. “There are no defenceless demons, and it's almost impossible to mind control us, or otherwise hypnotize those of us who hail from the lower planes.”

“I think we’re getting off topic,” Kanathara announced suddenly, the keeper placing a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s foreleg. “What does this all have to do with Celestia?”

Tirek ran a hand down Pear Butter’s back and looked off into the distance. “What I meant to say with all of that was that my uncle was not a good man, not anymore anyway. But he was not always this way, there was a time when he was the best of us, the kindest and most honorable person I knew.”

He pulled back his hand. “I knew the moment the first night raid alarm went off that something was wrong, that my uncle had lost something important. I was still young at the time though, and only had good memories of him, so I didn't do anything. When I grew older and understood the depths of his insanity, I merely told myself that he was old, and broken, and would die soon.”

Tirek sighed, and shook his head. “But that didn't happen. Somehow he remained strong even as he grew madder, and more violent, his aged body holding together despite all that had happened to him. In time, I realized that I would have to do something, to remove him from power before he could do anymore damage.”

“So what did you do?” Rainbow Dash inquired, the vengant having slowly scooted forward while Tirek wasn't paying attention.

“I went to my sole remaining brother, the gargoyle, Scorpan,” Tirek began, conjuring a smokey image of a young gargoyle with red leather wings, a prominent brown mane, brown fur, and a thick belt around his waist. “I had hoped that he would have been able to aid me, but his own father remained on the throne and Scorpan was little more than a prince in waiting. Still, he had a silver tongue, a good reputation for telling the truth, and I thought our chances of convincing the other prince was high.”

“Let me guess, they all remembered your uncle as the good guy he used to be,” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

Tirek frowned and glared at the vengeant for a moment before his gaze softened. “Yes. That is the short version, but there is more to tell, I’m afraid.”

“That was… disappointing,” Tirek muttered, his shoulders falling as the now adult centaur stood outside the great doors to the gargoyle throne room.

Though he had grown taller, stronger, and wielded potent magic, Tirek’ physical appearance had not changed significantly. His brother prince in waiting hadn't changed significantly over the years either, the gargoyle still standing a bit shorter than Tirek did.

“Come on, Tirek. We knew that was going to be a hard sell,” Scorpan remarked, the gargoyle leaning against the wall and slipping to the floor.

“But to think my uncle would sew rumours about me is something else entirely,” Tirek exclaimed bitterly. “To call my very sanity into question all because I have been learning a bit of magic is just ridiculous.”

Scorpan nodded slowly. “It is unfortunate that there is still so much division and fear between us and the Equestrians. Magic is not the terrible force everyone sees it as.”

Tirek groaned and let his horned head hit the stone wall. “Maybe it was foolish to learn what I could from that old pony.”

“Don't say such things,” Scorpan urged. “You are a natural, and I am sure that your new abilities will help you, and our nation in time.”

“I wish I had your naivety, brother,” Tirek muttered bitterly. “If my uncle is not removed, we may not have a nation to help.”

Scorpan stood suddenly. “I had hoped it would not come to this, but I have one other possible solution to this problem.”

Tirek raised an eyebrow and studied the gargoyle closely, noting just how serious he now appeared. “Really? What is this solution? And don't tell me it's going to your mother and begging her for assistance.”

The gargoyle shook his head. “No. But we can't speak of it here.”

Stumbling into a stand, Tirek followed after the gargoyle with a resigned frown on his face. “Alright, but I’m not putting much stock in this solution of yours. You always were too nice for your own good.”

“Not this time, brother.”

Tirek slammed shut the door to Scorpan’s private room and looked around. “It's been a while since I’ve been here. You’ve really cleaned up the place.”

Scorpan blushed slightly. “Yes, well. I’ve grown up quite a bit these past few years.”

“It seems like it. Now, what is this grand secret that you needed to discuss with me?” Tirek exclaimed, the centaur glancing around the room with a bored expression.

“Your uncle is poison,” Scorpan stated, the intensity of his words making Tirek face him fully. “He has done dark and terrible things in the name of security, and though it pains me to say this… he must be removed from power.”

Tirek grinned. “Finally, someone who agrees with me. How are we going to do this? His defences are numerous, and though he has grown old, he has not grown weak.”

Scorpan turned and began to rummage through his desk. “Which is exactly why I’ve been searching for something to give us an edge over the old tyrant.”

“What are we talking about exactly? An undetectable poison? A spell capable of killing him from afar?” Tirek questioned.

Scorpan shook his head. “Your uncle may be a cruel tyrant, but he still deserves to be brought to justice, and be forced to admit to his many crimes.”

Tirek scowled. “He believes himself to be in the right, no matter what he does, and how far he takes things. He will not come quietly, and he will not admit to anything.”

“That is not true,” Scorpan retorted as he continued to rifle through the drawers, tossing aside books and piles of paper as he did so. “The last time a wandering wizard was in court he helped to create a truth circle in the courtyard. All we have to do is bring him there, and then it's all over.”

Tirek snorted irritably and crossed his arms over his chest. “Good luck with that. The old fart doesn't get out of bed without a guard, and never leaves the castle.”

“Which is why you are going to bring him here and make him admit to his sins,” Scorpan declared, his hand shooting into the air, “with this!”

The small piece of paper in the gargoyle’s hand seemed to be a map of some kind, a crude and ancient one at that. “What is that anyway? It looks old,” Tirek asked.

Scorpan nodded eagerly and laid out the piece of paper on his desk. “It shows the location of an ancient artifact called the amulet of dominance,” Scorpan explained, pointing to a small drawing of a triangle shaped amulet in the corner of the paper. “It is said to have the ability to take your enemies’ greatest strength and make it your own and was supposedly one of the two great artifacts that defeated the Maw.”

Tirek trotted next to the other male and glanced down at the map curiously. “It won't be easy. This is a long journey, and an artifact of such power will not be unguarded.”

“Guard or not, we must acquire it,” Scorpan declared.

Tirek smiled. “This is quite the plan, brother.”

“You are not the only smart one, you know,” Scorpan replied with a smirk.

“So it seems.”

“I should warn you though. The amulet is not without its drawbacks, as the artifact apparently corrupts its wielder, making their heart turn dark,” Scorpan remarked while tapping the small black gem at the center which was clutched by a stylized eagle.

Tirek nodded. “Then as soon as we have brought him to justice we should destroy the amulet so no one is tempted to use it. Or at least put it back.”

“I knew I could trust you with this, brother,” Scorpan confided while placing a hand on the centaur’s shoulder. “You are the only one I know with the will strong enough to resist this temptation thing.”

Tirek smirked at the gargoyle. “You have too much faith in me.”

“And you do not have enough faith in yourself,” Scorpan reprimanded while jabbing a finger into the centaur’s chest.

Tirek scoffed. “You are insufferable. But enough of this, when can we leave?”

“Tomorrow at the earliest,” Scorapn replied. “I’ve already assembled most of the necessary gear, I just need a little time to establish our alibi.”

“You really have planned this all out,” Tirek remarked with a hint of pride.

“Of course. I would not have declared my intention to help you if, I didn't,” exclaimed Scorpan.

“Thank you, brother,” Tirek announced. “It means a lot to me to know that there is someone who still has faith in me.”

“Now and forever,” Scorpan replied, before pulling the centaur in for a hug. “Now and forever.”

“Woah, thats intense,” Rainbow Dash muttered, the vengant having crawled forward a little while Tirek had been telling his story. “This Scorpan guy sounds awesome.”

“Indeed, I have never heard you speak of him before,” Kanathara added.

“He was a good man,” Tirek remarked tiredly. “His positivity and endless optimism helped me through much of life’s struggles.”

“What happened to him? If you don't mind me asking, that is,” Kanathara asked hesitantly.

Tirek sighed. “My banishment destroyed him, and though he never succumbed to the darkness that consumed my uncle, a light left him that day. I watched him grow old, alone and forgotten by most until I could bear it no longer, but that is a story for another time.”

“Yeah, right now you gotta tell me how things went with that old crazy dude,” Rainbow Dash pressed, wiggling a little closer to the centaur until she was right next to her mistress.

Tirek chuckled and shook his head. “At least one of us is enjoying this.”

“You don't have to go into as much detail, father,” Kanathara suggested. “I know this isn't exactly the most pleasant memory for you.”

“But if you didn't stop with the voices and all the cool shadow puppets that would be awesome,” Rainbow Dash added hastily.

Tirek smiled, a little relieved to find the vengant was actually paying attention. “It’s okay, Kanathara. This story may not be one I enjoy telling, but it is important that you understand what I’m trying to say.”

“Well, alright,” Kanathara muttered, settling back into her spot next to her familiar.

The centaur waved a hand and conjured an image of what looked like a throne room of some kind, the only inhabitants of which were an aged centaur sitting on said throne, and a younger Tirek who had just walked in. “I had managed to convince the guard captain to let me speak to my uncle alone, and to stay out of my affairs for several minutes. Giving me the opening I needed to take my uncle down, and finally bring him to justice.”

“Do not bother calling out for help, uncle, they will not come,” Tirek declared as the centaur used his magic to close the large double doors, sealing the throne room off from outsiders.

The room itself was barren and devoid of decoration save for the single large chair designed to seat a centaur which stood at the back of the room. Upon it sat the aged and twisted tyrant who had plagued the kingdom for almost two decades at this point. He wore the same breastplate and chain mail that he always did, his trusty sword still belted at his hip even after all this time. Though definitely older and greyer, the centaur still had a keen eye, and large, rippling muscles.

Tirek was nearly the complete opposite of this aging warrior, for he wore no armor save for the robes of a wizard, and a pair of gauntlets. Though he too had a weapon at his hip, the mace was a mere backup, and unlike his uncle, Tirek had no confidence in his ability to actually use it. The only other thing that stuck out was the large amulet attached to a loop of metal that hung around his neck, the gold object pulling in the gaze of a casual observer.

Rather than be annoyed or even surprised, Thereon merely sighed and stood slowly. “So, it has finally come to this. I knew this day would come though I thought you would wait until age began to sap my strength.”

“Your madness must end, uncle,” Tirek declared with a stomp. “If I wait you may very well butcher another family and though you may not flinch at the slaughter of innocents, I do.”

The centaur growled as he wrenched forth his blade. “There are no innocents in this world or the next, boy. We are all stained from the moment of birth until our soul’s final, dying gasp.”

“Do you even hear yourself, uncle? You proclaim that even babes not even fully conscious are somehow impure. How can you claim the moral high ground while you put your blade through cribs?” Tirek shouted, the centaur stomping forward, his amulet glowing faintly.

“For the same reason you do not injure a cliff horn!” Thereon shouted back. “Once injured, they will seek out revenge, no matter how far or how much they have to sacrifice. If I had let those children live they would have risen up and tried to destroy all that I have built.”

“And has it ever occurred to you that maybe you should just not kill innocent people in the first place? You would not need to worry about assassins all the time if you did not breed enemies left and right,” Tirek retorted bitterly.

“All who resist the prince kings deserve annihilation,” Thereon growled. “I am simply doing what needs to be done and pruning those who would destroy all that is good and fair in this world.”

“Then you are well and truly mad,” Tirek remarked with a hint of sadness. “No matter. After I defeat you, the world will know your crimes, and you will be remembered only as the mad, red king.”

“I would rather be remembered as mad, than be remembered as the one who doomed our great empire, which is exactly what you will do, sorcerer,” proclaimed the elder centaur, who pointed his ebony blade at Tirek.

“Magic is a tool, you old fool. Would you besmirch an archer for his keen eye? Or a dancer for his dexterity?” Tirek snarled, the prince in waiting raising a hand, and conjuring forth a fiery orb.

“Magic corrupts worse than money, power or even authority. It is ability without practice, skill without perseverance, power without price, and you will fall, be it to my blade, or the powers you claim to control,” Thereon retorted.

“Then let us cast aside these weary words so I may show you true power!” Tirek yelled before hurling the fireball at his uncle.

Who smacked the fiery orb aside with his blade, causing the spell to dissipate harmlessly against the floor leaving a scorch mark on the formerly pristine black stone. Without missing a beat, the older centaur charged, his hooves clattering across the floor as he raised his weapon high. Knowing he didn't have much time, Tirek reached towards the amulet around his neck, and began to channel its power, directing it towards his uncle.

The amulet itself glowed brighter still, emanating a blood red light that illuminated the stylized eagle emblazoned upon it. Across the room, Thereon charged, a strange sense of calmness overcoming him, as he wordlessly galloped towards his sole remaining family member with murderous intent. He didn't hesitate, or slow, until the amulet flashed a bright red, and began to sap his strength, causing him to stumble a few steps.

Meanwhile Tirek could feel himself grow stronger, his body growing larger in proportion to how much his uncle shrunk. Though the change wasn't significant yet, the amulet continued to do its work, making the older centaur glare down at his nephew.

“You reveal your hand too soon, boy,” Thereon shouted as he charged in, sword raised. “Your demonic powers will not be tolerated by me, or anyone else.”

Tirek grunted as he conjured a small hand-sized shield and deflected his uncle’s first attack, sending it wide. “It is fitting, uncle, that a demon like you would be brought down by a weapon forged in the same hell that birthed you.”

“You know nothing of hell,” snarled the centaur as he attacked over and over again.

His swings were hard, fast, and difficult to predict, with Tirek only just barely able to stay ahead of them, countering each one with a conjured buckler. Already the centaur’s arms began to grow numb, the sheer power his uncle brought to bear enough to make his bones rattle. Grunting, Tirek stepped back before conjuring a larger shield and using it to shove his uncle back.

He didn't move far though, the old centaur putting his shoulder down and meeting the shield head on and without fear. For a moment it seemed like they would be stuck in a stalemate, a situation that would have seen Tirek win eventually, but that wasn't what happened. Thereon shoved hard, his leg muscles adding more power than Tirek could counter, breaking the shield and causing the magic user to stumble back.

As he did, the king’s blade struck true, carving a deep cut in Tirek’s shoulder and sapping all of the strength he had gathered from the other centaur. Reacting on instinct, the younger male conjured a flash of light, temporarily blinding his opponent and causing him to stumble back, though he maintained a defensive guard as he did so. Tirek wasn't in a position to exploit such an opening though, as he was focused on the wound he had just received.

Though it took more power than he would have liked, the centaur did his best to stop the flow of blood just in time for his uncle to shake off the effects of his spell. “Cheap tricks will not save you from me,” snarled the older centaur.

“You only say that because my tricks are better than yours as your sword may steal the strength of others, but it does not give it to you,” Tirek replied as he began a new spell. “Unlike my own weapon.”

“You rely too much on your magic. Your movements are sloppy, your attacks predictable,” Thereon shouted, a second before he attacked once more, his strikes remaining as powerful as ever despite how long he had been under the amulet’s effects.

For one dread-filled moment Tirek wondered if the old fool had somehow found a way around his magic, only for a slight stumble to make the younger centaur grin. Each blow his uncle launched was quickly blocked by Tirek’s magic, only this time he did not use small, weak shields but large kite shields as long as his arm. The blows which had been painful up until this point were now little more than a slight irritation, something Thereon quickly noticed.

Tirek had gained several inches of height, and a considerable amount of mass by then, and though he stood taller than his uncle, he was unsure of his own footing. With a snarl, the elder centaur leaned in and tackled the now larger centaur, driving his armless shoulder into the younger male’s midsection and knocking the wind out of him. His attack didn't go off perfectly though, with Tirek having enough time to grab his uncle’s wrist and stop the downward cut that would have surely beheaded him.

Though unused to his new size and strength, Tirek was able to regain his breath while still holding his uncle in place. This time there was no stalemate as the older centaur was unable to gain any ground or free himself from Tirek’s grasp. Though he gave one final shove, and tried to wrench his sword away, the action was a wasted one, as Tirek simply overpowered him.

“Give it up, uncle. Surrender to me and I swear no harm will come to you,” Tirek shouted.

“Doing so would only weaken us further,” Thereon yelled right back. “To see one of the royal family tried like a common criminal would undermine our very authority. If you had any sense left in that head of yours, you would strike me down where I stand.”

“I will not become a slave to the same paranoia that made you the monster you have become. You will give up, you will stand trial, and you will accept the judgement of the people,” Tirek bellowed.

For a moment there was silence, only the sound of Tirek’s spell filling the quiet that separated them. In that moment Tirek couldn't help but see the other centaur in a different light, one that showed him not as strong and implacable, but as weak and old. His time had come and gone, yet he had remained while everyone else passed on, and the weight of that regret could clearly be seen in the older centaur’s eyes.

“Fine,” he muttered, the still shrinking centaur taking a step back. “Just stop your magic before my bloody heart gives out.”

“Thank you, uncle,” Tirek whispered, the centaur placing a hand over the amulet and stopping the flow of energy. “Your cooperation can only help your case.”

Thereon sneered. “Just answer me this. Why did you really do it?”

Tirek shook his head sadly as he stared down at the old man. “You truly can't understand someone wanting to do something for any other reason other than self-interest, can you? Justice, old man, justice is why I do this. Justice for all those you killed and would have killed had I let you keep that old chair you covet so much.”

Thereon’s grip tightened and he stared long and hard at his younger. “Then you are as foolish as your father was.”

Tirek was reading his own response when his uncle’s weapon flared a dark and twisted light, causing the older centaur to suddenly radiate strength and power in spades. Knowing what was coming, Tirek conjured another shield, placing both hands between himself and his enemy. A thick blue shield sprung into existence, one large enough to turn aside every strike Thereon had launched until then.

Yet even as Tirek congratulated his own quick thinking, he noticed something strange, namely that his uncle remained confident. In the span of an eyeblink, the ebony blade met Tirek’s shield and sliced straight through it like it was nothing. Tirek’s new bulk proved his downfall, as he could not move out of the way in time, leaving him defenceless as the blade plunged into his gut. The strength he had stolen from the other centaur vanished in an instant, leaving him weak, and causing him to stumble to the ground, his legs giving out from under him.

Though Thereon did not regain the strength he had lost, he looked every bit as powerful as he had only a few minutes ago. His face was neutral, mirth and cruelty alike having been discarded the second he stood triumphant over his challenger. “Know that I take no pleasure from this. The time it will take to find a worthy heir will be long, and the process itself a difficult one,” Thereon remarked idly.

Tirek slumped, the pain growing only more intense the weaker he became.

“I suppose I should be glad. Your treacherous father’s line is finally at an end, and all the useless nobodies he spawned will finally join him in the grave,” Thereon concluded.

Something in those words made Tirek stop and look up at his uncle, realization flashed through his mind. “It was you,” he blubbered weakly.

“Of course it was me!” Thereon shouted indignantly. “Your father was a fool whose weakness would have seen us all become vassals of the ponies. I did what I always have. What I must.”

The strange, dark whispers which had been at the back of Tirek’s mind until now began to cry out in vengeance and the centaur could not resist them even if he wanted to. Power surged from the amulet, harsh red light filling the room, causing Thereon to look away from its source. The spell all but leapt from Tirek’s horns, the familiar sensation of another’s strength filling him, and washing away all pain.

Only this time it wasn't just a trickle, but rather a flood, the power coursing through Tirek being so great that it made him realize how much he had been holding back. Already he had regained his height, his density, and even though the ebony blade was still stuck fast in his midsection, Tirek hardly noticed it anymore. Grabbing the blade in an outstretched hand he pulled it from his gut and then crushed the weapon, causing it to shatter into a thousand pieces.

“H-how,” Thereon stuttered. “Nobody can survive the black thorn’s sting!”

“It’s as you said, uncle. I am nobody,” Tirek whispered.

The elder centaur stumbled forward as if to strike Tirek in the chest, though the younger male couldn't tell what his intention was as he made it only a handful of feet before he fell to the ground. The vaunted strength he had maintained since he was young failed him, his muscles wasting away and leaving only skin and bones behind. A distant voice at the back of Tirek’s mind told him to stop, pleaded for him to not continue on this dark path, but Tirek paid it no mind.

This was justice, this was right, he was right. His uncle needed to die.

And so the amulet continued to pull every last bit of power from the other centaur’s body, even as it wasted away. The old centaur’s eyes glazed over, his arm fell away, crumbling to dust as the rest of his body rapidly lost all color. When finally the last bit of color drained from his eye, and the last drop of strength had been sucked from the very marrow of his bones, Thereon died, crumbling to nothing in the span of moments.

And then, there was silence.

When Tirek felt the amulet’s influence lessen, and his body return fully under his control, he looked down to the gaping hole in his midsection, only to find it was gone. The magic that had allowed him to steal every last bit of strength his uncle had also healed him, leaving behind only a jagged scar barely visible beneath his fur. With his life no longer threatened, the centaur quickly grabbed the necklace and tore it off his body before tossing it across the room, where it clattered to the floor.

“What have I done?” Tirek whispered.

The dull boom of the great oak doors opening made Tirek turn to where he saw a horrified Scorpan standing with centaur guards flanking either side of him. “Tirek, what happened here?” he shouted.

“I, I just, he…” Tirek stuttered, gesturing to the pile of ash that had been his uncle only a few seconds earlier.

The gargoyle wasted no time, and sprang into action, grabbing Tirek by the shoulders and forcing their eyes to meet. “What, happened?” he asked, his words slow and deliberate.

Tirek’s guilt-filled mind could hardly process what happened, and he half expected for Scorpan to look upon him with hate and fear, yet that's not what he found in those brown orbs. There was only kindness, empathy, and a deep desire to simply understand behind his brother’s gaze.

“He killed my father, Scorpan,” Tirek blubbered. “After that I couldn't control it anymore. The amulet was too powerful.”

Scorpan grimaced and gave the amulet a weary glance before pulling the now larger centaur in for a tight hug. “This won't help our case, but I will plead it regardless. I must return home and report what happened here.”

“You can't, if they knew-” Tirek began, only for Scorpan to silence him with a look.

“You are not your uncle. We will gather the witnesses, corroborate our evidence, and prove that what you did was justified. I will not abandon you, but we must be better,” Scorpan declared before taking a step back. “We will endure, and when it's over, we will destroy that amulet, together.”

“R-right,” Tirek stuttered, the centaur standing tall once more, doing his best to appear regal. “I should probably hold onto it until you return.”

“Who knows what tricks Thereon had set up in case of something like this,” Scorpan cautioned. “His paranoia knew no bounds and I expect he's planned for even this possibility.”

“Don't worry, Scorpan, I will not put it on unless absolutely necessary,” Tirek declared.

The gargoyle nodded. “Good. I trust you, Tirek. You are a good man.”

The centaur watched as his brother turned and left, leaving him with a pair of apprehensive guards who looked at him expectantly. Steeling his resolve and straightening his back once more, Tirek strode forward, a grim expression on his face. “Seal the room. Noone gets in until Scorpan returns with his father.”

The guards seemed unsure of what to do for a whole second before bowing slightly. “As you will, my prince,” one declared while the other moved to close the door.

Tirek walked through the entryway, and into a new, more just world. Or at least, that's what he told himself anyway.

Author's Note

Trial Five: The Tale Continues

“That’s intense,” muttered Rainbow Dash.

“That certainly is not what I would have expected,” Kanathara admitted.

“I was a different person back then,” Tirek bitterly remarked.

“You did seem rather over optimistic,” agreed Kanathara.

“Still. You stuck it to the asshole, and got to be the king or prince whatever of the whole country,” Rainbow Dash excitedly announced. “That's pretty damn cool.”

“That may be true, but I hardly even had time to enjoy it before it was taken from me,” seethed Tirek. “As it turns out word travels fast, but not as fast as rumour.”

“This is where Celestia comes in, isn't it?” Kanathara half asked, half stated.

Tirek nodded. “The alicorn moved quickly, spurred on by the rage she felt after having heard that one of her oldest allies was dead at my hands.”

“But he was a tyrant,” Rainbow Dash pointed out in confusion. “How would she think that he was still a good guy after killing families and babies and whatever.”

“Only Scorpan and I knew the truth,” Tirek corrected. “My uncle was many things, but he was not stupid. Tightly controlling the truth and spreading rumours to help muddy the water did a lot to cement him as the only quote unquote reliable source of information in the country. A position he heavily exploited.”

“Fear, cruelty, power. This uncle of yours sounds more like a demon than a mortal,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Oh, he was both things, and he proved twice as difficult to kill the moment he shed his mask and became that,” Tirek exclaimed with a cruel smirk.

“Wait, he went to Tartarus and you fought him again?” Rainbow Dash asked. “That’s metal.”

Tirek nodded. “It certainly was something, that much is certain.” The centaur shook his head. “Regardless, that is a story for another time. Right now we have a different tale to finish first.”

“You so have to tell us that one sometime,” Rainbow Dash interjected. “I mean that showdown was something the first time, but the second time? Now that musta been epic.”

Tirek snorted irritably. “It was far less glamorous than you might think.”

“Regardless…” Kanathara added, the keeper silently guiding the conversation back towards the topic at hand.

“Right.” Tirek took a deep breath and conjured a shadowy image of Celestia, the alicorn girded for battle and wielding a tower shield on one hoof and a bastard sword in the other. “As you already guessed, this is indeed where Celestia comes in. The alicorn arriving in a suitably unpleasant manner.”

Bits of wall exploded, letting in the harsh glare of an angry sun. “Tirek!” boomed a deep female voice.

The centaur grumbled and brushed the bits of rubble that had landed on his robes. “Hello to you too, Celestia. To what do I owe such a rude interruption?” Tirek asked, turning to the alicorn flying several feet off the ground.

Celestia was tall, imposing, and armed to the teeth, her golden armor covering nearly every inch of her body, and leaving her eyes as little more than twin pinpricks of glowing golden light. Tirek knew he should be scared, terrified even, but he had a quartet of guards with him, and the amulet of dominance lay within reach. That knowledge didn't help his guards, who quailed under the alicorn’s gaze but had enough training to at least remain in place.

“You know why I’m here,” barked the alicorn, who landed across the meeting hall. “I’ve come to take you to Equestria to stand trial for murder.”

“You do not even know what happened, and yet you are still willing to hand down judgement? What kind of farical notion of justice do you ponies have?” Tirek shot back.

“I have faced your kind before, deceiver.” Celestia snarled, her weapon levitating before her as she strode forward. “Just as that zebra sorcerer turned my sister against me, you are trying to turn my other allies against me.”

That made Tirek stop and raise an eyebrow. “What exactly are you talking about? I was just trying to bring my uncle to justice for the crimes he's committed and the many lives he's taken. I know nothing of this zebra sorcerer”

“Don't be coy with me, fool!” Celestia bellowed, the alicorn stomping hard enough to make the stone floor crack. “Your own uncle saw this coming and sent a letter mere hours before you slew him in cold blood.”

Tirek growled. “Of course that old demon would have another card to play.” The centaur straightened himself. “Regardless, you must understand that he wasn't the man you went to war with. He has done dark and terrible things all to defend against his perceived enemies.”

“I have heard the rumours you have spread about his so called crimes and so far I have found no evidence to support such hearsay,” Celestia retorted, the armored alicorn stopping halfway across the room.

“Hearsay?” Tirek shouted, the centaur surging to a stand. “I watched him butcher an entire family all because the mother made him a subpar meal. Yeedrick had been a chef in this castle for thirty years, and not once had she ever done anything to earn such suspicion, nevermind murder.”

“Your uncle told me about that. Told me about how you grew jealous after your advances were spurned and how you killed them all in cold blood,” Celestia countered, conjuring a letter which she presented to the centaur. “He chronicled every detail, and informed me of how you might try to twist this against him as he was the only witness to your crimes.”

Tirek stumbled back as if slapped. “Impossible. The bodies were ash. Only his sword, black thorn could do such a thing.”

“If you hadn't stolen it from him in the first place,” Celestia replied, conjuring another letter. “He told me about that too, sent me letters in secret going back over a decade, in case just such a thing were to happen.”

Tirek scoffed. “Preposterous. If he really thought I had done such atrocities, then he would have locked me up ages ago.”

“Unless his love blinded him to your true evil, and was desperate to save you in order to save his bloodline, and what was left of his family,” Celestia countered again. “He confessed to me that you were the closest thing he had left to a son, and told me of how he wanted to redeem you in order to keep his family on the throne.”

Tirek shook his head, noticing that his guards were now looking at him nervously. “Lies, always lies. Thereon lied as easily as he breathed, this much is obvious. Put me under a truth spell, look into my mind, you will find that you have been deceived, not I!”

“There is no such thing as a truth spell, and mind magic would only reveal things from your twisted perspective,” Celestia spat. “Face it, snake. Your uncle was a kind and steadfast ally, one whom spent weeks in the mud and blood, elbow to elbow with his soldiers. Why when the sick tents overflowed he gave up his own tent and gave blood when it was needed of him! Do you really think that is the type of man who would do all these things you accuse him of?”

“Yes!” Tirek shouted. “The war broke him, turned him into a cruel, demented backstabbing demon who killed any who crossed him.”

Celestia shook her head slowly. “You will be brought back to Equestria, where you will stand trial for his murder, after which I will personally oversee your execution.”

“This is a farce! You would string me up on the word of a dead man, with no chance of offering my own defence,” Tirek proclaimed.

“When you stand trial you will have a chance to defend yourself. After we are back in Equestria and away from any potential co-conspirators you may have,” Celestia declared.

The centaur laughed bitterly. “You are not listening to my evidence now, why would I think this trial of yours would be any different? You have already stated that you want me to hang.”

“You will be allowed to defend yourself, of course,” Celestia stated evenly, the alicorn pointing her blade at the centaur. “This trial will happen. The only question is whether or not it will happen posthumously or not.”

“You can't do this,” Tirek declared while gesturing around the room. “Like it or not, I am the king of this land, and I will not be dragged across the country just to satiate your twisted bloodlust!”

“You are no king,” Celestia remarked, the alicorn pulling back her helmet just enough to spit at the centaur’s hooves. “You are just another power-mad lunatic who needs to be put down.”

Tirek didn't have the chance to offer any words to his defence before the alicorn leaped with incredible speed. Forced onto his backfoot before he could even plan his defence, the centaur dipped into his pool of magic and teleported away after grabbing the amulet. From across the room, Tirek watched in horror as the alicorn’s blade reduced his temporary throne into a pile of kindling in a single thrust.

Knowing that he didn't have much time before she turned her attention to him, Tirek hastily donned the amulet, and began to draw on its power. The second he did so Celestia turned on him, her eyes blazing with barely restrained fury. Reacting as quickly as possible, Tirek extended one hand, conjuring a shield, while the other gripped tight about the piece of gold bound to his neck.

The impact of the alicorn’s blade against his shield rattled the centaur’s teeth and nearly broke the barrier entirely. The raw strength and magical ability the pony brought to bear was unlike anything Tirek had ever experienced before in his life. In comparison, his uncle had been strong, but between his amulet and age, that strength had been vastly diminished.

With fear coursing through him, Tirek brought the full weight of the amulet to bear immediately, knowing that any hesitation would spell his end. As the amulet reached out and began to tug at Celestia’s strength, the alicorn brought her blade down repeatedly against Tirek’s shield, hitting the exact same spot every time. Each blow felt like someone was driving a wedge into his brain, making the centaur’s head ache and his body tremble.

This pony was beyond any mere mortal, that much was certain and Tirek hastily abandoned any pretense of fighting in an honorable manner. This was a fight to the death, be it his or hers, though the centaur prayed that would change, and such an eventuality could be avoided. Meanwhile, the amulet’s effects were not unnoticed by the alicorn, whose strikes slowed for a moment as her gaze rested on the artifact.

“Have you no honor?” Celestia balked. “You will find your dark magic has no effect on me, snake!”

Tirek was about to refute the alicorn’s claim, but the stream of strength he thought was coming never arrived, even as the amulet blazed with life. “Impossible!” Tirek declared in shock.

The centaur stumbled back, temporarily caught off guard by his only real weapon being rendered useless. “I have battled demons and monsters for long enough to know how best to defend myself against your tricks,” Celestia replied before rearing back and unleashing a torrent of flame from her blazing horn.

Forced onto the backfoot once again, Tirek conjured a heat impervious shield all around him, regretting the fact that he could do little to truly defend himself. He hardly even had a chance to recover from the flame wave before Celestia’s sword drove itself through his shield, shattering it. Raising his hands above him, Tirek prepared to cast yet another shield in order to block the next sword strike, only for a wave of force to send him flying through the air.

The crunch of breaking bones was accompanied by an eruption of pain from one of his no doubt shattered legs, a plethora of bruises erupting after he slammed back into the ground. Wincing in pain, Tirek forced himself to stand despite the agony he felt coursing through his body, the centaur raising a shield on reflex. A response that saved his life, as the alicorn was on him in moments, her sword slamming into his barrier with enough force to cause a spiderweb of cracks to open up all across it.

“You are better at shield magic than you are at the darker arts,” Celestia quipped as she bashed the pommel of her blade against Tirek’s red wall of force.

Tirek couldn't offer any kind of retort, as it took every last bit of focus just to keep the alicorn from gutting him. A hand gripped the amulet tighter, willing the artifact to work harder and pierce whatever manner of defences the alicorn had raised to keep out its influence.

“You know you cannot win. Surrender and I swear to bring you to the trial unharmed,” Celestia shouted between pommel strikes.

“Your trial is as farcical as your offer for mercy,” Tirek spat. “Just as you did not bring justice to my uncle for the murder of my father so too shall I avoid your so called justice.”

The alicorn paused. “Your father died of an arrow fired by an enemy archer. I saw the blow myself.”

Tirek scowled. “My uncle admitted to the murder with his dying breathe. Whether he did the deed or not, I know he had a hand in his death.”

“Then you are lost,” Celestia whispered before bringing her metal shield down against Tirek’s magical one, shattering the centaur’s defences.

The crunch of bones breaking under the impact was barely audible over the metallic thump of the alicorn’s shield meeting his face. Blood pouring out of his nose, Tirek had little time to concoct a plan before Celestia pulled back her shield and struck him dead. Without an opportunity to even think, the centaur merely reacted in the only way he knew how, by pouring everything he had into the amulet.

Immediately the red glow of the artifact increased tenfold, and though the alicorn seemed unaffected by it, Tirek could feel himself grow stronger. In his staggered state, he knew not where the strength was coming from, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Throwing some of that newfound strength into another spell, Tirek unleashed a rolling wave of lightning that caused Celestia to stop her attack and hide behind her shield.

Though the spell did little to actually harm the alicorn, it had given Tirek the breathing room he needed to look around and find where this new strength was coming from. The clatter of a fallen weapon drew his attention to his former guards who were now lying on the ground, unable to move. Horrified, Tirek quickly stopped the amulet, focusing it back on Celestia and Celestia alone.

The alicorn noticed the look on her opponent’s face and followed his gaze. “So, the charade has been dropped,” she remarked bitterly. “A pity. I really had thought this may have been a mistake.”

“It is, I didn't mean to. The amulet-” Tirek stuttered.

“Silence, snake!” Celestia bellowed. “You have attacked your own citizens and those who served you honorably. Do not even pretend to have the moral high ground.”

Tirek didn't have time to point out that the guards hadn't served him honorably, considering they hadn't helped defend him, but Tirek could hardly blame them for that. Still, they had given him enough extra strength and power to at least not die immediately, so in the end they had helped him, at least indirectly anyway.

Now on a slightly more even footing with the alicorn, Tirek conjured another shield before throwing a lightning bolt at his opponent. The actual attack did little to slow the pony, who deflected it with a casual flick of her sword, sending it into the wall behind her. The shield lasted only a little bit longer, before Celestia brought her hooves down on it, crushing his defences before launching a lightning bolt of her own.

Tirek had hoped the barrier would last a little longer than it did, and only just barely got out of the way of his opponent’s attack, the bolt of lightning exploding into the wall behind him and causing it to collapse. A glance over his shoulder told Tirek that he was very nearly standing in the sunlight left behind by Celestia’s dramatic entrance but he didn't have long to think about that as she was already on the attack.

A slash here, an offencive bit of magic there, and Tirek was stuck, perpetually giving ground to the more experienced combatant. Always giving ground and trapped without an opportunity to strike back, Tirek found himself on the verge of panicking once more. The alicorn had clearly been holding back, and his amulet was completely useless against his armored opponent. The only potential avenue of gaining ground would be to drain more of the strength from his unconscious guards, but Tirek refused to go down such a path.

As he tried to think of a way out of this situation, he felt the heat of the sun settle on his back, and a second later over his entire body. Then, with a triumphant look in her eye, Celestia lit her horn, and cast an unknown spell, an action that made Tirek throw up a shield on instinct. The attack he thought was coming never arrived though, or at least the one he thought had been on its way.

Heat bloomed across his body, and in a terrifying moment he found himself trapped out in the open, the power of the sun focused like a beam on his defenceless body. He tried to hastily trot backwards, but found the act difficult to accomplish as every inch of his body was lit on fire in the same instant. Pain blossomed from all directions and he found himself unable to see or hear or even sense where he was.

The scream that tore from his throat was drowned out by the intensity of the flames, and Tirek found himself lost in an ocean of agony. Even his newly empowered body could do little to defend against the sun’s wrath, and he quickly found himself on the ground, unable to stand. The second that happened, the sun’s power dissipated, though the heat remained, his flaming body continuing to burn even in the absence of the star’s hatred.

A cool breeze washed over him, causing the pain to fade, but not completely disappear, his sight returning a second later, allowing him to look up at a disappointed Celestia. Her glowing orbs boring into the fallen centaur, her sword ready to pierce his heart, and end him once and for all. “Have you any last words, villain?” Celestia asked.

“History may remember you as the hero and I the villain, but in time you will realize the truth and when you do, you will regret this moment forever more,” Tirek stated tiredly.

Celestia’s features strained, though her blade did not lower. “Even in the face of oblivion, still you lie. Pathetic.”

Tirek would have laughed, but the alicorn’s blade had already plunged forward, piercing the amulet he wore around his neck, as well as his heart. The weapon exploded out of the back of his body, causing a fresh wave of agony to cascade through the centaur. That pain didn't last though, as the crushing weight of his own mortality quickly settled over him, his heart destroyed and his life all but over.

Only for a spark to catch him off guard, his amulet spewing out a sudden stream of red electricity. Shock and confusion was felt by both pony and centaur alike, and Celestia hastily abandoned her weapon before stumbling backward. Tirek could feel his life ebb, and just as he was about to slip away, he noticed that every point of his body that the lightning touched became darker, more twisted in a way.

Even still, it was hard for the dying centaur to care about changes to a body he was seconds from leaving behind and so he quietly resigned himself to oblivion. Until a particularly large bolt of lightning made Celestia’s sword crack, and fall apart, having been split in half straight down the middle. A second after that, and Tirek felt his heart beat, some unnatural force pulling him from death’s doorstep and back into the realm of the living.

Looking up, he expected to find that Celestia had healed him for whatever reason, only for her horn to be unlit, and a horrified expression visible on what little of her face he could see. Looking down, Tirek found that the hole that should have been visible in his chest was now gone, his flesh having miraculously knitted itself back together. The amulet wasn't done yet though, and it continued to throw off red electricity, each bolt sending a jolt of strength through his body.

More than just life, he felt power surge through him, giving him the strength to stumble into a stand, sending Celestia back even further. As Celestia quailed under his shadow, Tirek felt himself grow more powerful still, the centaur rapidly approaching the point he had been at only a minute earlier. Balling his fists, Tirek flexed his arm, feeling the thick corded muscles ripple in response to his intentions.

Celestia shook her head and raised her shield. “I don't know how you disguised yourself as a mortal, but I will send you back to Tartarus, demon!”

Tirek was so confused by the accusation that he didn't even see Celestia’s shield coming until it was an inch away. Then there was only darkness, and the sweet release of unconsciousness.

“And when I awoke, I was trapped within the spire,” Tirek concluded. “My jailor had been set, and a deal struck. She no doubt expected me to perish in Tartarus, but I persevered, spending my time planning for the time when I could return to the mortal world and exact my revenge.” His gaze lingered on Kanathara for a moment. “Or at least, that’s what I thought would happen. Now though? Now I am not so sure what I should do.”

“How can you not be sure about it?” Rainbow Dash scoffed. “She killed you, all on the word of an evil tyrant no less!”

“Yeah, father. This seems pretty cut and dry in my opinion,” Kanathara added.

Tirek shook his head slowly while he looked down upon the slumbering wrath demon. “My uncle had indeed been a good man at one point, and his madness was something he did his best to never reveal. Only I saw him at his worst, and this I found, was by design, and meant to incriminate me rather than himself.”

“Yeah, but he did it,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Tirek snorted. “There were no witnesses, no possible evidence that I could have brought up save for my own testimony which was by then suspect at best.”

“But what about that truth circle that Scorpan talked about?” Kanathara inquired.

“Yeah, that would have totally proved you right,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“If it wasn't the only one of its kind. The spell faded by the time Scorpan heard of my defeat and subsequent death,” Tirek explained. “In his haste he hadn't created any back ups, and the wandering mystic that had given it to him had already vanished. Even today truth circles are relatively unreliable, and are basically inadmissible in any real court of law.”

Kanathara frowned. “Still. This seems… wrong.”

“Oh, it was. But I don't think it's a fate that could be avoided,” Tirek remarked tiredly. “My uncle had built a mountain of barely relevant evidence, and compared to my testimony it was far weighteir.”

Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof and snorted. “That doesn't mean you should just resign yourself to defeat. You deserve vengeance!”

“You are young, so I will excuse your outburst,” Tirek muttered, the fear demon turning to Rainbow Dash and forcing her to sit with only the intensity of his gaze. “But you will restrain yourself while in this room.”

Rainbow Dash glanced to Pear Butter only to grumble and sit back down, her mane and tail shrinking as her rage subsided.

“She is right though, father,” Kanathara remarked in a more respectful tone.

“I’ve had nearly two thousand years to consider it, and I can say with confidence that I would have likely done the same. Had I been in her place,” confided Tirek. “One day you will understand that the world is messy and grey. Anyone who says otherwise is just trying to get something out of you.”

Kanathara shook her head. “I know the world is more grey than I realize, but that cannot be true about Celestia. You deserve justice.”

“Justice,” Tirek scoffed. “There is no justice in our first lives, or our second ones for that matter. Revenge too, is a hollow notion. I should know.”

“But-” Rainbow Dash began, only to be cut off by Tirek who raised his hand.

“I know what you are going to say and I don't want to hear it. I am tired, and though I want to tell you about your origin, young Kanathara, I need to sleep as I have not done so in some time,” Tirek muttered sadly.

The keeper of secrets watched as her father wiped his eyes and rested his head on the edge of Pear Butter’s bed, the fear demon looking much older than he had been a few minutes ago.

Rainbow Dash moved to speak again, only for her mistress to shake her head. “Come on, Rainbow. Father needs his rest,” Kanathara quietly remarked.

The vengant grumbled under her breath, but got up anyway. “Fine. But I still don't agree with him.”

“You don't have to,” Kanathara chided, before motioning towards the door.

The vengant gave Tirek one final look before turning and walking away, following close behind her mistress as they slipped out of the room.

Once the door was closed behind them, Kanatahra let out a deep sigh. “I don't think he's truly slept since the attack.”

“Why would you say that?” countered Rainbow Dash.

“Demons barely need to sleep, and he was tired, no, exhausted,” Kanathara replied, as she trotted down the hall, seeking out an empty room.

“Do you think he was waiting for us to come back?” Rainbow Dash asked as they rounded a corner and trotted down a new hall.

“Probably,” Kanathara answered with a slight chuckle. “That would be like him to say he doesn't care, and then stay up for days agonizing over it.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “I’m pretty sure he only does that over you.”

Kanathara shook her head and peeked into a room only to find it was full of random supplies, and no beds. “I wouldn't say that. I think he's gotten that way about you, Pear Butter and maybe even Pythias.”

The vengant planted a hoof against her forehead. “We should have asked about her! I bet if he's willing to open up about this stuff, that he would finally tell us about how they met.”

Kanathara chuckled. “I doubt that is a very happy story, but I admit I am curious. He never told us how he and Pear Butter met either.”

“Tomorrow we are so asking about all that stuff. We should make a list or something,” Rainbow Dash added as Kanathara peered into another room.

The keeper grinned and pushed open the door the rest of the way, revealing a large bed covered with a white sheet. “Finally. For a while there I thought there weren’t going to be any real beds in this place.”

“Now that would be stupid,” Rainbow Dash added with a smirk.

“Agreed,” Kanathara replied before using her magic to toss aside the sheet as well as the ones that covered the other various pieces of furniture in the room.

Rainbow Dash whistled appreciatively. “Whoowee, these are some fancy digs. You think the boss man was going to use this as his personal room?”

Kanathara glanced across the many very expensive and very beautiful pieces of furniture, as well as the paintings that dotted the walls. “I don't know. But something tells me he isn't about to use it anytime soon,” Kanathara remarked.

“I’m amazed he's comfortable sleeping half on, half off that bed,” Rainbow Dash muttered before jumping into the bed and unleashing an explosion of dust.

Lighting her horn, Kanathara conjured a breeze which dismissed the irritant. “I don't think it's about comfort,” she pointed out.

Rainbow Dash grunted and sprawled out in the bed. “So is all that stuff he said true? I’m not calling the boss a liar, but you gotta admit that some of that dialogue sounded a bit like something you would hear in a play.”

“True,” Kanathara admitted, the keeper slipping into the bed next to her familiar and looking up at the stone ceiling. “Though I think his subconscious bias has changed some minor parts of his story, everything he says sounds true.”

“How could you know though?” Rainbow Dash pressed, turning onto her side and staring down at the keeper. “I mean, the whole point of his story seemed to be that everyone lies.”

“I know because I found a history book that retold the events of that fateful day, though it was a pony who told the tale,” Kanathara answered. “His bias was obvious, but the key features were the same. The only thing that doesn't quite fit is what happened after.”

“What, like how Tirek ended up in Tartarus?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara shook her head. “No. A year after it all happened someone put up a statue of Tirek’s uncle, but Celestia personally destroyed it, claiming that the past was better off buried. It’s one reason there are so few statues nowadays. Or so the book claimed anyway.”

“Huh.” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “So, other than that, how do we know that he didn't do all that stuff that he said his uncle did?”

Kanathara gritted her teeth. “I just know.”

“How though?” Rainbow Dash pressed. “I know evidence is like not a thing we could go get. Not at this point, but you seem so certain.”

“I’ve never seen father cry. Not once. Until today,” Kanatahara whispered, the keeper of secrets imagining the fear demon’s tear-strewn face which she had glimpsed for but a moment.

“Woah, that’s intense,” Rainbow Dash muttered, flopping onto her back. “So what do we do now?”

“I don't know,” Kanathara admitted. “We’re stuck on this plane for a while and are potentially being hunted by two different groups for unknown reasons so it’s not like we can really do much.”

Rainbow Dash pouted and joined her mistress in staring at the ceiling aimlessly. “You wanna read a book and cuddle or something?”

“Gods yes.”

Author's Note

Trial Five: Wild Goose

A faint shimmer could be seen high above the Everfree Forest, a single demon flying over the chaotic wood as two beings looked down through a single pair of eyes. The vengant spun about lazily in the air, reveling in the freedom that came from an open sky devoid of creatures trying to chase her. Such a moment was a rare as the air of Tartarus was as dangerous as anywhere else in the lower planes.

Here though? Here there was nothing scarier than a particularly large bird and absolutely nothing that could threaten a fully fledged demon.

Even Kanathara who was a nervous flyer at the best of times enjoyed the sights and experiences flowing through their combined body. Rainbow Dash’s feeling of freedom and joy leaked into her thoughts, making her revel in the moment almost as much as the former pegasus currently did. As Ponyville came into view on the horizon, those thoughts of freedom and the joy of knowing that both Tirek and Pear Butter were okay were quickly dashed.

I don't know about this, Rainbow Dash, Kanathara confided nervously. Asking about his history with Celestia was prudent, considering we are on her home turf so to speak, but asking about how I came to be seems a little too… quick.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “It's been twenty years, Kanathara. You are an adult now. You deserve to know what happened to you and how you came to be in Tartarus. Especially since you did so at such a young age.”

I know that I’m older now and how you got to the lower planes, but I don't think that's how I ended up there, Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “And why do you say that? I thought you had no memories of the time before Tirek?”

I don't, but I do have vague… feelings and glimpses gained by using memory magic, Kanathara remarked with a hint of hesitation. I feel like I didn't get there the traditional way.

The vengant snorted again as she did a barrel roll after riding a small thermal. “I know what you mean, but every argument we made about him telling us about Celestia also applies to you, and heck Pythias and Pear Butter too.”

I guess, Kanathara admitted. But after everything that's happened, after all the bad memories I just dragged back to the surface, it doesn't feel right. He just lost so much. Pear Butter is in a coma, his entire power structure is gone, and though it was also his prison, Tirek’s home was destroyed. He is hurt, broken even, and I can't bring myself to push any harder. Not yet anyway.

Grumbling to herself, Rainbow Dash lazily glided along as she thought about her mistress’ words. “I get it. But, if you were a runaway or if Tirek made a deal with someone, you might have family around here.”

I don't have any family other than Pythias, Pear Butter, and father, Kanathara growled back.

“I know and I know you know that's not what I meant,” Rainbow Dash retorted, the vengant’s mane flickering and falling back to its usual length.

Yeah… Kanathara sighed. I guess I’m not ready to face that possibility yet either.

“It's tough, but we’ll get through it together, right?” Rainbow Dash urged with a smile. “I mean, we faced down demon lords, hordes of monsters, and tons of terrifying stuff.”

True, Kanathara admitted. And then there was also that time when you got drunk for the first time. Now that was a harrowing experience.

The vengant’s face burned brightly, their illusionary defence nearly falling under just how intensely she was blushing. “I thought you promised to never speak of that moment ever again.”

Kanathara giggled. Sorry, it must have slipped my mind.

Rainbow Dash grumbled and shook her head. “So are you going to ask him about where you came from or what?”

I’ll give it another few days. After he's had a chance to rest, and starts to get a plan in order, I’ll ask him about it, Kanathara replied with a bit of reluctance.

“Well alright, but remember, we gotta figure out what's up with Pythias and Pear Butter too,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

I won't forget, though I fear that we will have to wait for Pear Butter to wake up before we hear that particular story for ourselves, Kanathara suggested.

“True.” Rainbow Dash gave her wings a wiggle and looked out over the land below them, noting that Ponyville was now much closer. “So what are we doing out here anyway?”

I thought you could use the flight and that we could also do a little recon on the town, Kanathara answered while pointing their head down at said town.

“Good thinking. They were probably searching for us for a while. I wonder what they did after they realized they weren’t going to catch us,” Rainbow Dash mused with a smirk.

Why don't we go and see? Kanathara offered.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Right, let's go take a little peek. Will our illusion hold up?”

Just don't touch the shield again, and we should be invisible to any passing observer and all but the best scrying spell, Kanathara explained.

“Sounds good,” Rainbow Dash remarked before tucking in their wings and diving down, gaining speed as she descended towards the dome surrounding Ponyville.

Ponies ran this way and that, a train billowing thick white smoke on one side of town while a large array of gold-clad warriors were busy setting up camp in the field just outside of town. “That's a lot of gold plates just to deal with little old us,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

They must expect heavy resistance, Kanathara replied, pointing their attention down to where a small cadre of non-golden ponies stood just off to the side. They even brought in some of those ranger ponies.

“R-right,” Rainbow Dash muttered, her trained gaze able to pick out Applejack and Pinkie Pie in the crowd as well as Fluttershy who was wearing a medic outfit two sizes too big for her.

Eyes up, Rainbow, Kanathara commanded.

Shaking her head, the vengant looked up just in time to pull them over the top of the dome and stop them from running headfirst into it. “Sorry,” she muttered.

Do I need to do the flying? Kanathara asked in a mix of irritation and genuine concern.

“It’s fine. I’ll stay focused from now on. I swear,” Rainbow Dash declared confidently before gaining altitude and banking for another pass.

Good, because I’m a terrible flyer, and despite what you may think, I don't actually enjoy taking your body from you, Kanathara added.

“I know. Sorry, boss. My head is in the game now,” Rainbow Dash reiterated.

Let's do one last fly-by of the town before checking out that encampment again, Kanathara commanded.

Nodding, Rainbow Dash did as she was told, gliding over the dome and using her demonically enhanced eyes to study the town while flying a good distance above it. Her and Kanathara’s attention roamed over the area, noting that although there were a few ponies flitting about, there was a lot less going on then they would have assumed. The usually busy market was pretty much empty, and a good majority of the ponies moving about the town seemed to be guards relaying orders and talking to the townsfolk.

“Don't you think this is all a bit much?” Rainbow Dash whispered as she took note of the sheer number of guards below them.

A pair of demons broke through a defence they assumed was impenetrable and had managed to go relatively undetected for nearly twenty-four hours, Kanathara pointed out. I think their paranoia is fairly warranted, given what most demons would do if given the opportunity of going undercover in a pony village.

“True,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “Though even still, a town-wide lockdown while the head of some big anti-demon organization brings down like a bajillion guards? That feels like overkill.”

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully, reluctantly admitting to herself that it did seem a bit like overkill. Sure, it was well-warranted, but this situation seemed like something a lieutenant could handle, rather than the head honcho. As the keeper watched the gold-plated ponies run to and fro, she couldn't help but wonder if there was some unknown third element that she wasn't grasping.

Perhaps it is simply personal for him, Kanathara considered, only to brush that thought aside rather quickly. Let's go take a look at their camp again and see if we can figure out what they are planning.

Rainbow Dash nodded, gained a little altitude, and did another fly-by, this time focusing a little closer on the outskirts of town while going as slow as she could without falling out of the sky.

The first thing they collectively noticed was the sheer amount of tents that had been set up, and the amount of ponies that were visible in the field below them. There were at least a hundred or so of them, and most seemed ready for battle, the various groups gathering into squads, running drills or receiving orders. Though not moving out right now, they were definitely ready to do so at a moment’s notice.

The longer Kanathara looked, the more she couldn't help but wonder why they were there. A squad or two would be enough to go looking for her and Rainbow Dash, a half dozen squads could do that while keeping the town under lock and key, but this many? It seemed like they were getting ready to assault something big.

Rainbow Dash, is it possible that they followed us back to father’s hideout? Kanathara asked.

“Doubtful,” Rainbow Dash whispered back. “We eliminated our scent, we didn't speak of the hideout. There is nothing they could have possibly used to follow us.”

Unless… Rainbow Dash, circle that big tent near the center, Kanathara commanded, pointing the demon’s attention to a particular tent at the heart of the gathering.

Diverting her flight plan, Rainbow Dash easily completed the order, the pony turned demon slowly circling the tent, her eyes locked on it. The vengant could all but hear the gears churning in her mistress' mind, the other demon controlling their eyes and picking out even the smallest details. From the way the tent poles were positioned, to the pile of stuff being levitated into the tent, Kanathara’s keen mind catalogued it all.

Oh no, Kanathara thought.

“What?” Rainbow Dash whispered back.

That's a kybar crystal, Kanathara pointed out, directing their combined attention to a hooded figure who was walking into the tent while levitating a single blue crystal. It’s able to focus the spell of a seer and enables a practiced diviner to find a demon whom they know the true name of.

“Something they needed to have in order to summon you here in the first place, which they likely did since they are based in Canterlot,” Rainbow Dash whispered back in shock.

Exactly. That crystal is hard to move quickly, and can only be transported by the being who attunes to it. That's what they are likely waiting for, Kanathara explained.

“So they can find and hunt us down by using that crystal doohickey?” Rainbow Dash concluded. “What do we do now?”

I’m so stupid, Kanathara raved. Of course they would have access to such an artifact, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to get my true name in the first place. How could I have possibly overlooked this?

“We almost died like twice, chill boss. Shit happens,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “They can't summon you again, right?”

No. Once I’m on the same plane as the caster, they can't actually summon me again so at least we are safe from that. Though it doesn't mean they can't track me. Kanathara cursed under her breath. This is bad. I had gotten so used to the protections the tower gave me that I didn't even consider this a real possibility.

Rainbow Dash gained altitude, looked up, and breathed deeply, forcing her passenger to relax, her thoughts slowing and her panic quickly coming under control. “We good?” Rainbow Dash asked.

We’re good, Kanathara replied. First thing’s first, we need to get back to father. He might know a way to construct a smaller enchantment considering he casted the original one placed on the tower.

“Home first then. I’m on it,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed before diving back down and off-speeding in the direction of Tirek’s hidden base.

I pray we have enough time. I refuse to put father through this all again just because of my own stupidity, Kantathara thought bitterly.

“Chin up, boss, we got this,” Rainbow Dash declared, wind whipping about their shared body.

I hope so, Rainbow Dash. I hope so.

“Father, we have a problem,” Kanathara stated as she walked into the room.

Tirek looked up from the desk he had dragged next to Pear Butter’s bed, a pile of reports and various diagrams and maps covering his workspace. “Oh, and what’s that? Don't tell me those paladin fools have found us already,” Tirek exclaimed.

“They have a kybar crystal and assembled a force of paladins near Ponyville. They are likely already zeroing in on my position,” Kanathara admitted.

“And there are like, a bajillion of the buggers,” Rainbow Dash added.

Tirek frowned. “Then it is as Pythias feared. I have already begun trying to locate the necessary components to create another enchantment capable of hiding us from any attempt at scrying our location, but I will need time.”

“How much time? ‘Cause they were ready to go like ten minutes ago,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“Hours. Days. I’m not sure yet,” Tirek replied, his frown deepening. “I need to take stock of this location first, and only after that can I truly move onto finding the missing ingredients. Pythias and what few forces I have left are already on it, but this location was only a backup to a backup.”

“Meaning it is likely missing much of the required pieces,” Kanathara concluded. “We will need to draw them away and distract them from finding this place while you work.”

“Absolutely not,” Tirek stated. “I will not lose you twice in as many days.”

“Do we have any other options?” Kanathara asked, gesturing around the room. “We cannot hold this position, and even if we tried, where would we go should it fall?”

“And I am the fastest thing in the lower planes,” Rainbow Dash boasted, the demon puffing out her chest. “With me and the boss lady together, we could easily keep those metal-clad morons tied up for weeks.”

“I…” Tirek sighed. “I don't really have any other plan.” He stood suddenly. “Fine, but you are not leaving without promising that you will return to me. Understood?”

Kanathara smiled. “Of course, father. I promise I’ll return as soon as I can.”

The centaur reached forward and pulled the smaller demon into a tight hug. “When you do come back, I swear I will tell you everything about where you came from, and answer any other questions you have.”

“You don't have to-” Kanathara began, only to be interrupted by Tirek.

“I do have to. It’s far past time that I did so and you deserve to know,” stated Tirek.

“I told ya,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a victorious smirk.

“And my demand goes for you too,” Tirek added, pointing to the vengant. “I don't want my daughter to lose her favorite pet just because she tried to be all heroic out of the blue.”

“Me, heroic?” Rainbow Dash scoffed. “I’m a demon. We don't do heroics.”

Tirek chuckled and slowly released the keeper, though it was obvious he only did so reluctantly. “It shouldn't take more than four days at the most and if you are not back by then, I will come for you.”

“I wouldn't worry, father. Those gold-plated schmucks were easy enough to outrun and outwit the first time. I doubt they’ve gotten any better in the last twenty-four hours,” Kanathara stated confidently.

“We can certainly hope so,” Tirek exclaimed before gesturing to the door. “You had better get moving then. I need to start organizing the teams and you need to get flying.”

“True. I’ll see you soon, father,” Kanathara declared with a smile before turning to the door.

“You had better, or there will be hell to pay!” Tirek shouted after them, though it was obvious he had no intention of following through on that particular threat.

Walking through the door, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash both glanced at one another before nodding, the keeper’s body quickly turning to smoke and being absorbed by the vengant. Who shuddered at the familiar sensation of gaining a passenger and stretched her wings and legs wide. After a good stretch and a wide grin, Rainbow Dash shook their body and broke out into a sprint.

“Show time.”

The vengant smirked from high atop the cloud, her passenger's unease making her grin even wider. “Don't tell me you are pulling out now. We already came all the way up here,” she exclaimed.

I am starting to think that this may be a bad idea, Kanathara muttered, the demon doing her best to not look at the ground, which was now far, far below them.

“Oh come on, we just fly down, break the sound barrier, and boom we got their attention, disoriented them, and are already halfway to wherever by the time they scramble their asses,” Rainbow Dash explained confidently. “It’s genius.”

I know you can do all that, and I admit it isn't a bad idea per say, but I’ve never been with you while you do it and well… Kanathara muttered, her thoughts trailed off as the keeper silently wished she could gulp.

“Ha, this will be fun, trust me,” Rainbow Dash declared before opening her wings wide and giving her body a little wiggle.

I don't know, Rainbow Dash, I might distract you and- Kanathara began, only to be cut off.

“Threetwoone go!” shouted the vengant who leaped from the cloud and began hurtling towards the ground.

Kanathara desperately wished she could close her eyes, look away, or do anything other than stare at the ground as it began to draw closer. Though still very high off the ground, the keeper had never done something like this outside of the lower planes. And the feeling of hurtling toward the ground was never a pleasant one no matter where they were. Still, she had enough willpower to stop herself from distracting Rainbow Dash, even as the vengant beat her wings and began to pick up even more speed.

They quickly surpassed terminal velocity, and continued to gain momentum at a rapid pace. The wind that had already been whistling past them became a roar of sound, one that the vengant’s carefully trained ears all but ignored. Eyes far more advanced than the average creature’s stared at the ground unblinking, utterly unaffected by the buffeting force of the air she flew through.

Magic spread across the vengeant’s body, enabling her to go faster than a normal winged being should be capable of, her wings wrapping tight about her body as both sets of legs squeezed tightly together. Her form as aerodynamic as possible, and with her own brand of demonic magic aiding in their speed, the ground rose faster than ever. At the back of their mind, Kanathara wanted to scream, to look away, to get out of this situation, but a funny thing happened.

Rainbow Dash’s absolute confidence, her complete understanding of the situation, and her uncomparable skill spilled through their connection. No longer was Kanathara scared of what may happen as she was now thrilled about what was about to happen. Seconds ticked by in slow motion, and just as Kanathara’s worry was about to break through Rainbow Dash’s confidence, it happened.

A great crack could be heard from all around them, and a split second later Rainbow Dash had opened her wings, and had begun to level out. Demonic magic combined with thousands upon thousands of hours of flight time enabled the vengant to pull up just enough to miss the tops of the trees. While behind them a great wave of rippling prismatic fire cascaded in all directions like a demonic rainbow which grew larger by the second.

The trees below them had turned into a sea of green whose features blurred together to create a mass of color. Before them in the distance rose a row of mountains, though Kanathara couldn't recall what they were called right now. Her attention was focused on the sensation of being followed, the demon able to feel the nearly dozen or so ponies who were now airborne and on their tail.

Though tail was a bit of a stretch given that their enemy had begun to move only a second before they made that bizarre rainbow phenomenon. As such they were only now getting enough height to break the trees while Kanathara and her familiar were at least a mile away and still gaining more ground. Turning her attention back to what was happening before them, Rainbow Dash weaved around a particularly tall tree before rolling straight once more.

“What's the plan, boss!” she shouted over the howl of the wind.

Keep going straight, we need to lead them as far away from their allies as possible before we start messing with them, Kanathara replied, a part of the demon keeping track of their distant pursuers. And slow down, I think they already gave up.

Rainbow Dash scoffed and pulled up. “Fine, but I am so not going easy on these losers after this.”

I don't expect you to, Kanathara quipped.

The vengant let her speed bleed away as she climbed ever higher, until at last gravity began to win, and for a moment she hung weightlessly in the air. Then with a slight twitch of her wings she turned and glanced down to the distant specks flying after her. Using her magic, the vengant zoomed in on the pegasi, noting that there were six of them following her, most of whom were equipped with only light armor and thick goggles.

Three had orangeish manes, while the other three had blue, teal, and white manes. Though they continued to give chase, it was obvious that they had realized they had been bested, with only a single one of the fliers still putting in any effort. Noting that it was the most fiery-maned of the three orange-haired ponies who kept up the chase, Rainbow Dash smirked, lifted her forelegs and made a rude gesture in their direction.

The shocked expressions on their faces told Rainbow Dash all that she needed to know, and she chuckled as the six ponies began to beat their wings in earnest. “There we go. Now it’s a party,” Rainbow Dash remarked before extending her wings, and slowly spun back around.

Kanathara snickered. I’ll keep an eye on them, you just do your thing, gorgeous.

“Gorgeous? It's been a while since I’ve heard that one,” Rainbow Dash quipped as she began to fly in the same direction that she had been a minute ago. “Something tells me you enjoyed our little flight.”

Your confidence is… infectious, Kanathara admitted.

“I am pretty awesome, aren't I?” Rainbow Dash smirked, and narrowed her body once more, forelegs straight forward and hindlegs back. “Now then, let's pour some dust on these hasbins.”

I think they gave up for good this time, Kanathara pointed out, the demon’s magical senses telling her that the six signatures had finally stopped just after the sun had set.

“And I was just starting to warm up too,” Rainbow Dash remarked even while her body ached from nearly an entire day of non-stop flight.

Quite impressive, Rainbow, set us down near that cave. I’ll take first watch and set up some traps while you rest and recuperate, Kanathara commanded.

“Good thinking. I don't want to accidentally give those weaklings a win just ‘cause I refused to sleep,” Rainbow Dash replied, the vengant angling their shared body towards a cave illuminated only by the sliver of moon which had just risen above the horizon.

Kanathara withheld her own counter comment as the vengant had earned this little bit of boasting. Instead she merely watched and waited, silently planning all the traps she could use, and the spells she could enact. As soon as they landed, Kanathara began to put those plans into motion, the keeper reforming her body, complete with grimoire hanging from her neck before lighting her horn.

Rainbow Dash trundled into the cave, a yawn already on her lips while her mistress remained just outside, the keeper of secrets already laying the first traps when she felt a spike of fear from Rainbow Dash. Spinning around, the keeper was ready to launch an attack, her mind already spinning through all the spells which would work best against heavily armored targets. Only to find that she didn't face anyone that the demon had expected, or even knew about for that matter.

Instead of the gold-clad ponies she would have thought would be waiting for her, there were a dozen cloaked and hooded ponies wearing heavy black cloth which covered their forms completely. All save for a large, tall unicorn mare that looked to be about Kanathara’s age, who had a blade across Rainbow Dash’s throat and a shocked expression on her face. Her expression was baffling, but that wasn't what drew Kanathara’s attention at this moment.

For that particular pony was so very unlike the rest of the faceless, featureless cult ponies, as for one she did not wear the usual obscuring cloth of her lessers. The armor she did wear seemed to be made from some manner of demon flesh, studs visible at certain points while a heavy breastplate covered her chest, and went all the way up to her neck, where a particularly strange tattoo sat just beneath her right cheek. It was of a candle made of red wax, with a glowing blue flame which sat upon a silver candle holder and it was definitely magical in nature.

Even more strange than her demon flesh armor and weird tattoo was the fact that she had a horn longer than a normal unicorn’s should be, the appendage curving slightly at the end. She also had a wicked-looking mace belted at her hip, but the black metal weapon wasn't enough to make Kanathara look away from the mare. For not only did she feel a strange sense of deja vu, and a bit of a pity after noticing the web of scars across her face, but Kanathara also sensed something different entirely.

This pony felt like a demon, her very soul radiating the same power that a fully fledged demon did, her teal eyes containing a hidden reservoir of power that Kanathara had never witnessed in a pony before. Her bald head bore no sign of extra horns though, and the keeper of secrets struggled to imagine an explanation for such a power. A sudden cough and a robed pony taking a step forward made Kanathara look away from the strange, seemingly mortal demon.

The newcomer had what looked like a large red kybar crystal jutting out of where his eye should be, and he cleared his throat. “Mistress, we have five minutes to leave before Shining Armor’s covert force makes it here. We need to leave.”

“Who are you ponies, and what do you want with us?” Kanathara demanded, her eyes narrowing on the apparent leader, who still had a short, nasty-looking dagger pressed against Rainbow Dash’s throat.

“You are coming with us,” the lead pony muttered, just shaking off her apparent shock.

“And I suppose if I don't, you are going to kill my familiar?” Kanathara asked, noting that the vengant was unfazed by the situation she found herself in.

“Y-yes. I mean, yes!” the lead cultist declared, the mare clearing her throat. “I have already hit her with an anti-diffusion spell, among other things. You will find there is no way out of here other than coming with us.”

“Is that so?” Kanathara asked.

“It is.”

Author's Note

Trial Five: An Unexpected Meeting

“It is.”

“So be it then,” Kanthara declared before nodding to her familiar.

Instantly the flames that made up the vengant’s mane and tail roared to life, engulfing the lead cultist’s face and causing her to stagger back in shock. Rainbow Dash quickly brushed aside the pony’s limb before leaping forward and putting herself between the cultists and her mistress. Who was even now working another spell, one that would ensure their swift exit from this situation.

The sudden and oppressive sensation of an anti-teleportation field jumping into place made her change her plans though, and she released her built up magic into the face of the nearest cultist, knocking him off his hooves. By then the lead cultist had recovered and seemed to be more annoyed than anything, her face somehow managing to not be burnt completely off. Making a note that her opponent was well-prepared for this interaction, Kanathara issued a quick mental command to her familiar before turning and running.

Eager to follow in her mistress’ footsteps, Rainbow Dash conjured a wall of flame between herself and her enemies before dashing after the keeper of secrets. The ensuing scramble of cultists and barked orders made Rainbow Dash smirk, though her smile vanished a second later when she heard hooves following close behind her. Evidently her wall of hellfire had done little to slow the cultists who seemed unbothered by the fact they had to leap through a great torrent of the stuff.

Cursing her foul luck, she followed after Kanathara, noting that her mistress was conjuring another spell, only to sputter a litany of curses. What's wrong? asked the vengant.

They are blocking all high level spells, the most I could muster would be a magic missile or something equally as useless, Kanathara thought back.

Then I guess muscle will have to reign supreme! Rainbow Dash declared, the vengant leaping forward and spreading her wings, only to immediately faceplant. Nevermind.

Growling, Kanathara spun around and used her magic to heft the vengant back to her hooves only to stop when she noticed the cultists were right behind them. Too late, we have to fight.

“Stop!” shouted the lead cultist. “You have less than three minutes before the paladins get here and you cannot escape us.”

“Pfft, you guys are nothing,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Kanathara growled. “Why are you telling us this?”

“Because I am on your side, believe it or not,” began the cultist, who strode forward, her minions giving her a respectful distance. “I know it may not seem like it, but I wish to work with you, while the paladins will kill you on sight.”

“I don't like this one bit, boss,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“You don't have to like it,” interrupted the lead cultist once more. “You don't have to trust me, or like me, just know that I am standing between you and certain death.”

Kanathara growled. “Certain death that you brought upon us.”

A seemingly random cultist stepped forward. “We have very little time, wrap this up. Now!” He declared.

The lead mare growled. “Please, come with us. I have a long distance teleportation rune established not far from here. Noone needs to die today.”

“Or maybe I should draw this out a bit longer and let you and the paladins kill each other while we slip away in the confusion,” Kanathara retorted.

A strangely nondescript cultist reached for something beneath his robes, only to be interrupted by the lead cultist’s hoof. “I can handle this, trust me,” she growled before turning to Kanathara. “I know your family, I know your name, and I can tell you all about your past but you must come with us.”

The keeper frowned, her plans crumbling in her mind. “Impossible,” she muttered.

“It is quite possible,” the lead cultist declared, taking a step forward and extending a hoof. “Come with us, and I will tell you everything you want to know.”

“Don't do it, boss, this smells like a trap,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“I…” Kanathara muttered, the demon hesitantly stepping forward only to stop, rethinking her action at the last second.

“We are out of time,” declared the stallion, who reached beneath his robes and retrieved a strange black stone with a burning red heart in the middle.

The object quickly flared to life, an unnatural light spilling from it and making the two demons instantly grow weaker. Kanathara felt her knees give out and her body to tumble to the ground at the same time. She could feel the same happening to her familiar. Only a half muttered yelp of surprise slipped past her lips before she couldn't even begin to start casting a spell.

The only thing she could do was look up in fearful apprehension as her captors closed in around her. Fear, doubt, and anger swirled in her mind, though no emotion was more prevalent than disappointment. Their enemy had been prepared, ready for this exact moment, yet Kanathara had been so focused on the paladins that she had not even considered this possibility. It wouldn't have been hard either, a little scrying, a little thinking ahead and she could have avoided this whole thing.

Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of hooves as someone walked up to her, the black stone making her so weak that she couldn't even move her eyes. The last she saw was the disappointed face of the lead cultist, her intense teal eyes boring into Kanathara’s own.

“We will speak again soon. Then I will explain everything. I promise,” she whispered before darkness consumed the demon’s vision.

“Hey you, you are finally awake,” a voice remarked, the sound breaking through the haze that had fallen over Kanathara’s mind.

“Whuh?” muttered Kanathara who tried to stumble to her hooves, only to find that she couldn't move so much as an inch.

“Yeah, I wouldn't bother with that, boss, they got us tied up real good,” explained the familiar voice.

Shaking her head, Kanathara blinked several times, clearing the blurriness from her vision and enabling herself to see clearly. The demon quickly realized she was in a cell, a relatively small one at that, with thick bars keeping her in while the walls were made of an oddly textured black stone. There were no windows, no amenities like a toilet or bed, just the floor and about six square feet of space to stretch out in, provided she could move. The room itself was also fairly dim, lit only by a torch somewhere to her right, though the demon needed no illumination to see.

“Rainbow Dash?” Kanathara asked, peering across the way to where her familiar sat in an identical cell.

“You feeling alright, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked, the vengant shuffling as much as she could under the pile of chains that bound her body completely.

Looking down, Kanathara found herself bound by a similar set of numerous silver chains which had small red runes on each link. “Not again,” she muttered.

Rainbow Dash snickered. “I know right? Why does it always have to be chains? Ropes do the job just fine and are way more comfortable.”

Kanathara sighed. “Likely because of some sort of demonic binding runes that stop me from being able to hear your thoughts or turn into smoke.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Strong too. Everything I’ve tried doesn't put a scratch on these stupid things. They are even anchored to the ground, which just seems like overkill.”

Kanathara glanced over her shoulder and noted that her familiar’s words were true, prompting the keeper of secrets to sigh. “I can't believe we got our butts kicked so fast,” she muttered bitterly.

“They cheated with that stupid stone thingy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a snort. “If not for that, we totally coulda taken them.”

“I don't know, Dash, they were ready for us, and I got caught up worrying about those stupid paladins.” Kanathara sighed and rested her chin on the warm metal chains that wrapped around her neck. “We’re supposed to be better than this.”

“Hey now, even awesome demons like us have bad days, you know? Besides, we've been in stickier situations than this before,” Rainbow Dash remarked in a dismissive tone.

Kanathara nodded. “That is true, but I can't help but feel like this situation is different for some reason. Something big is going on, Rainbow Dash, and I think we just got ourselves stuck in the middle of it.”

The vengant snorted. “Story of our lives, amiright?”

Kanathara chuckled, though her laugh was cut off by the sound of a heavy wooden door opening somewhere to her right. Leaning as far forward as she could manage, the keeper of secrets glanced down the rows of empty cells while straining against her bindings.

“Can you see them?” Rainbow Dash whispered, the vengant doing the same thing as her mistress to even less success.

Kanathara scowled and looked down, only now realizing that her grimoire was similarly bound by even thicker chains, meaning it was not going to be any help. “No, but they are coming this way,” she whispered back.

The plod of hooves slowly approached the cells, revealing the cultist leader they had seen before, as well as the nondescript cultist whom had wielded the black stone. “There? They are fine, see?” stated the lead cultist, who gestured to the pair of demons.

The vaguely stallion-shaped pile of darkness and robes said nothing as he stepped forward and eyed both of the bound demons in turn, his gaze lingering on their chains. “You have bound them quite well,” he muttered, his voice somehow containing no inflection or memorable qualities to it at all.

“Of course I did,” growled the cultist with the shaved head. “Now would you leave us alone? I have much to discuss and I don't need you breathing down my neck and ruining everything again.”

If the strangely unremarkable stallion was annoyed by her tone, he didn't show it, and merely nodded before turning away, stopping only for a moment when they neared. “You had best remember who you serve. These two are important pieces to her plan and I will not allow you or anyone else to ruin that. Understood?” stated the stallion.

Some of the anger seen in the cultist’s eyes dissipated and she nodded briefly. “Loud and clear.”

“Good,” muttered the dark-robed male before he trotted off, his departure as silent as death.

As soon as the door clanged shut again, the cultist sighed and ran a hoof over her shaved head. “Well, that could have gone better,” she remarked.

“Ya think?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned, the vengant jingling her chains in emphasis.

“My apologies about all this,” remarked the mare, who gestured to their prison. “Someone was supposed to slow the paladins down and give us time to discuss things diplomatically, but for some reason that didn't happen.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “Sure, whatever you say. Now would you get to the point already?”

“Right.” The mare cleared her throat and straightened her spine while turning towards Kanathara. “My name is Twilight Velvet and I'm your mother. Your name is, or was, Twilight Sparkle.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Why would you name your daughter after yourself?”

Twilight Velvet sighed. “It was a long standing family tradition. The eldest female would take the name Twilight. It all started when our house stayed neutral during the Nightmare Moon rebellion, but that is ancient history.”

“History that I do not believe,” Kanathara remarked plainly, the demon staring down at the mortal mare with barely contained irritation. “You wouldn't be the first to claim some knowledge of my past in order to try and leverage my familial loyalty.”

“I can't even count the number of demons who tried,” added Rainbow Dash.

“But has any of them been a pony?” retorted the mare, to which there was only silence. “I assumed as much.”

“That doesn't mean you are telling the truth,” Kanathara pointed out. “You are obviously in some manner of cult, and likely desire our allegiance in an attempt to gain some measure of power.”

“I care very little about what the rest of the order does,” Velvet replied flippantly. “They can try to take over the world or live forever. That's not why I’m here.”

The two demons exchanged a glance. “Then why are you here?” asked Rainbow Dash.

The mare smiled sadly as she gazed into Kanathara’s eyes. “I’m here for you and only you.”

Looking into the other being’s eyes, Kanthara found her sharp retort die in her throat. This pony, this mother had definitely lost a child, and she could see the hurt, relief, and lingering anguish as plain as day. She could also feel an odd sense of deja vu that welled deep in her body which reminded her of when she looked upon the face of the paladin commander.

“So, are we going to pretend like that wasn't the creepiest statement I’ve ever heard?” Rainbow Dash interrupted, only to receive a glare from both her mistress and Twilight Velvet. “What?”

“Just be quiet for a minute, please,” Kanathara requested.

The two demons exchanged a look before the vengant reluctantly snorted a small puff of soot. “Fine, whatever. Just let me know when you two are done,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara sighed. “So, what now?” she asked, turning to the pony.

“What do you mean?” Velvet replied.

“I’m sure you understand that there is no way I’m going to believe you, no matter what you may say,” Kanathara began, her features becoming stern. “You seem to know what you are talking about, and I sense some truth in your words, but I’ve been wrong before.”

The pony nodded slowly before walking over to the other side of the hall and unbuckling her breastplate. “Simple. I’m going to let you go and then you are going to cast a zone of truth on me. After such a thing is done, you will know that what I say is true.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow as she watched the pony shuffle out of her armor and place her weapons off to the side. “You are kidding, right? A zone of truth interacts negatively with any restrictive ward, like the anti-teleportation array I can feel, or the general magic dampener that is hampering my demonic abilities.”

Velvet nodded and discarded the last of her hidden weapons into the small mountain of steel and leather. “I understand completely,” stated the pony.

Kanathara’s eyebrow raised even further when the other mare waved a hoof over the bars, and made them slide into the floor. “I would not be here unless I was ready for such a possibility,” she added.

With a flick of her horn, the wards fell, and though Kanathara could feel her magic continue to be restricted, her demonic abilities were once more hers to command. As such she quickly turned to smoke and slipped through the chains that bound her before reforming with her grimoire intact. Plans swirled in the demon’s mind and for a moment she considered simply goring the other being with her horn, only to think better of it.

Lighting her horn again, the pony seemed to ready a more advanced spell and Kanathara found herself on the defensive, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Only for her magic to suddenly return to her, making her realize that the wards that had been holding her back no longer did so. With a glance at Rainbow Dash, Kanathara realized it wouldn't be difficult to free her familiar from the chains that bound her.

The spells the pony had used to free her were relatively easy to replicate, and after she freed the other demon they could very easily slip away, be it in the form of smoke or simple teleportation. A look into the pony’s eyes changed her train of thought though, as she stood before the taller being, looking up at the demon expectantly.

“Well? Do you know how to cast a zone of truth?” she asked.

Kanathara pursed her lips and glanced from Rainbow Dash to her so called mother, conflicted on what to do. Rainbow Dash seemed as at odds with herself as Kanathara was, the vengant staring intently at the pony, as if trying to figure out her angle. The pony herself exuded such an air of intense concern that Kanathara couldn't even bring herself to consider the possibility that she was lying. Whether Kanathara was this mare’s daughter could not be determined, but what the demon did know was that this pony truly believed she was.

“I do,” replied the demon after a long pause.

“Excellent,” Velvet declared. “Then whenever you're ready.”

Kanathara glanced at her familiar one last time and received a slow nod of approval, bolstering her resolve. “Alright then, here goes nothing,” she muttered before lighting her horn.

It didn't take long for the spell to be complete, though Kanathara waited an extra few seconds before finally releasing it, the demon unsure if she even wanted to know the truth. When it was finally done, the pony channeled her magic and scanned Kanathara’s spell before nodding confidently.

“I gave birth to you at Canterlot General Hospital and chose the name Twilight Sparkle. Your true birthday is June twenty-first, and you were born eighteen Equestrian years ago, though I suppose your subjective age is well over twenty,” Velvet stated with a soft smile.

“I…” Kanathara muttered, her knees shaking as the reality of the situation came crashing down around her. “You are really her, aren't you?”

Velvet smiled. “Yes, I really am your mother, but please, just call me Velvet.”

“That's sweet and all, but could you get me out of here?” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “These things are chafing like mad, plus I’m pretty sure there is a piece of chain about to go up my-”

Kanathara blushed and quickly enacted the spells she had seen her mother do a minute ago, freeing her familiar from her bonds and making the bars disappear into the floor. Once that was done, she turned to face the mare in question, silently caught between the urge to hug her and demand answers. Ultimately her urge for intimacy won and she reached forward, pulling the pony into a tight embrace.

One that the mare eagerly reciprocated, squeezing the demon tightly and without hesitation. “You have no idea how happy I am,” whispered the pony.

Kanathara nodded and pushed back slightly. “Before we go any further, I just want to say that it's great to meet you, but Tirek and Pear Butter raised me. Any relief I feel is just because I finally don't have to deal with anymore bullshit attempts by someone trying to manipulate me.”

“Woah, that's harsh, boss,” Rainbow Dash remarked, the vengant sitting down next to her mistress.

Velvet shook her head and wiped away a tear. “That's okay. You have never seen me before today, and so long as you are home, that's all I care about.”

“Well, I wouldn't go that far,” Kanathara warned, even though a small part of her didn't want to say anything as negative as that.

“You are on the right plane of existence anyway, which is a good start,” Velvet added with a soft smile.

“Ask her about your dad and the rest of your family,” Rainbow Dash urged, the vengant bumping her shoulder against the keeper.

“What she said,” relayed the other demon.

Velvet chuckled. “Well, your father is a unicorn named Night Light and he's a good pony, despite his recent life choices which I don't agree with. Your brother is Shining Armor, whom you may have already met, given that you were in Ponyville at about the time he arrived.”

“My brother?” Kanathara scowled. “Well, isn't that just great? I have a fanatic for a sibling.”

“I wouldn't say that,” warned Velvet. “He too is a good pony, and I know I said they would kill you on sight, but that was only a half truth. His troops may be forced to slay you in combat, but Shining Armor merely wishes to capture you in order to try and reverse the changes you have gone through since you left this plane.”

Kanathara exchanged a glance with Rainbow Dash before laughing loudly. “What a numbskull!” Rainbow Dash shouted, while slapping her knee.

“I’m a demon. That's not something you come back from. Nor would I want to be a defenceless herbivore anyway,” Kanathara pointed out.

Velvet nodded. “I’m not sure if he has some sort of secret weapon or if he's simply deluded, but regardless, he believes that such a thing is possible. I personally see no problem with your current form, though it is a little annoying that you are so much taller than me.”

Kanathara snickered as she looked down on the mortal mare. “You may be tall for a pony, and I short for a keeper of secrets, but one tends to grow much taller than the other.”

“So I’ve seen,” Velvet remarked with a snort.

“With that said, I suppose we should address the elephant in the room,” Kanathara began. “How is it that I came to be in Tirek’s care?”

Velvet sighed. “I guess we had to get to it at some point. Though I warn you, this is not a pleasant tale, and I fear you may not think of your adoptive father in a positive light after you hear it.”

“He abducted me,” Kanathara stated, the demon raising an eyebrow at her biological mother’s shocked reaction. “It's not difficult to guess.”

“I suppose, but it's a little more… visceral than such a simple description like that would make you think,” Velvet warned.

Kanathara frowned and sat down on the warm stone floor. “Tell me everything, and don't leave out a single detail.”

Velvet sighed. “It all started when you were attempting the entrance exam of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns…”

“... And after the spell failed to find you, I joined the order with the purpose of finding you, regardless of the personal cost. Which is where I’ve been ever since,” Velvet concluded.

The two demons sat in silence, one stunned by the revelations while the other was deep in thought. Rainbow Dash was a little too perplexed by the situation to really offer much to the conversation, though the vengant couldn't help but wonder what would have happened had Tirek not been involved in the keeper’s life. Kanathara meanwhile was wrestling with the true depths of her father’s actions and what they meant for her.

Her life had been stolen from her, a good one by the sounds of it, and though Tirek had obviously intended on turning her into a weapon, their last conversation made her doubt if that was still his plan. The old centaur had grown tired somewhere along the lines, though as a demon he didn't suffer biological age like most mortals, there was no doubt he had changed. Kanathara couldn't even blame him for this abduction either, as she knew exactly why he had done such a thing.

In the end, the keeper of secrets pushed her thoughts aside, resigning herself to hear Tirek’s side before she made a final judgement. Right now all she could decide was that Celestia deserved what was coming to her, though her brother and biological father were different stories. Just thinking about them made her head start to spin and she reluctantly sighed, before looking her mother in the eye.

“I need to hear what father has to say before I make any judgments, but for now…” Kanathara extended a hoof, “for now we’re good.”

Velvet smiled, and shook the offered hoof. “You won't regret this. Though I warn you, there are some within the order who would see you locked up or worse.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “I’d like to see them try. Now that we know what's coming, I bet we could take the lot of ‘em, eh boss?”

Kanathara chuckled. “Unless they got another one of those black rock things.”

“Oh yeah. Screw that stupid thing,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Ahh, yes. Sorry about that by the way. The black hunger is not exactly gentle, I’m afraid,” Velvet remarked with a hint of regret.

“What exactly is it anyway?” Kanathara asked.

“It's a prime evil that has had its mind wiped and its soul implanted into a stone.” Velvet shivered. “It's a terrifying artifact of unimaginable power, and all we can consistently make it do is sap the energy of nearby demons.”

“That sounds… horrifying,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“What kind of prime evil?” Kanathara pressed. “I suspect it has something to do with hunger, given its name.”

Velvet nodded. “It's a truly ancient artifact of unfathomable age, but we have been able to narrow down the prime evil to either the first to eat their loved ones or the first being to consume itself.”

Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue. “Disgusting. Hopefully, we don't run into that thing again, it made my very soul feel weird.”

“Well, it's not like there are many prime evils just lying around, so I don't think we have to worry too much about them,” Kanathara remarked.

“Hey uh, while were on the topic,” Rainbow Dash interrupted, “I know you talked about this before, but what exactly are prime evils anyway?”

“They are-” both Velvet and Kanathara began, only to glance at one another.

“Go ahead,” Kanathara offered.

Velvet nodded. “Prime evils are demons born from mortal beings who were the first to commit a great atrocity. Their power depends on the evil of said atrocity.”

“Like being the first one to eat crackers in bed or what?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

Kanathara grumbled under her breath, stifling a small blush. “More like the first one to commit genocide or to force themself on a child.”

“Ahh, yeah that is pretty messed up,” Rainbow Dash admitted.

“What kind of conversation did I just walk into?” asked a male voice.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash leaped into defensive stances while Velvet merely sighed. “Hello, Blackguard. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

The top hat-wearing stallion smirked. “Oh just checking in on you. Gotta make sure my right hoof isn't doing anything crazy like releasing a bunch of demons inside my super-secret base.”

“Who are you?” Kanathara demanded, the keeper’s horn alight, the demon ready for anything.

“And what are you?” added Rainbow Dash.

The stallion grinned and took a slight bow, taking off his top hat as he did so. “As your mother said, my name is Blackguard and I lead this sorry bunch of misfits. Before I answer your second question I must ask one of my own. What do you think I am?”

Kanathara’s eyes narrowed on the stallion, noting the loose black overcoat he wore, and the perfectly kept grey fur that poked out from under it. His top hat seemed brand new, the tall black object adding a few inches to the unicorn’s height, and almost hiding his short, pointy horn. His burnt orange mane hardly poked out from the edge of his chapeau, though there were two things Kanathara could see with ease, namely his bright red eyes and cutie mark.

Which happened to be of a black shield with a blood red pike over it, the sight unnerving the demon almost as much as his blood red eyes did. Eyes which made Kanathara wonder if he was part demon, especially given that his aura felt akin to those born of the lower planes. Though even then, there was something off about it, something that made him different from a normal demon.

“You have some demonic heritage in your past, don't you?” Kanathara asked. “Either that or you’ve made a pact, or had intimate contact with a demon for an extended period of time as Velvet has.”

“You had it right the first time, but I’m going to take away points for not leaving it at that,” Blackguard replied with a smirk. “But as fun as it is to play twenty questions, we have an important visitor waiting for us.”

Velvet stood suddenly, the mare breaking the zone of truth which had been placed on her before donning her armor and weapons. “Who is it? Don't tell me it’s White Snake again,” Velvet hissed as she slipped her leather armor into place.

Blackguard chuckled and leaned towards the keeper of secrets. “Don't let her tone fool you, your old ma is a big fan of Blue Blood and his giant mouth.”

“I did not…” Velvet grumbled under her breath. “You know just how to rile me up, even after all these years.”

The male snickered and took a step back. “What can I say? This tense atmosphere was starting to make my skin crawl.”

“Wait, who is… what's going on?” Rainbow Dash interrupted, the vengant slowly relaxing as she realized a fight wasn't about to break out at any minute.

“Ah, where are my manners,” Blackguard exclaimed before sweeping forward and planting a kiss just above the vengant’s left forehoof. “Welcome to my home, young Rainbow Dash.”

“You had better-” Kanathara began, a threat seconds from leaving her lips before the stallion appeared before her and kissed her hoof as well.

“My apologies, Miss Kanathara, but we have someone very important person who wants to meet you and they simply cannot wait!” exclaimed the pony.

Before Kanathara or Rainbow Dash could do anything, the stallion vanished and appeared across the room, next to the large oak door. “Chop chop now, we don't have all day,” he shouted down the hall.

Kanathara grumbled. “I hate trickster demons.”

“Agreed,” muttered Rainbow Dash.

Velvet followed behind with a slight smirk on her face. “Come now, Blackguard isn't that bad. After you've had about a decade to get used to him.”

“What was that my dear? You aren't besmirching my good name, now are you?” Blackguard shouted from across the room.

Velvet merely rolled her eyes and gestured to the door. “Come on, we better follow him. Chances are it's serious.”

“Hold on. Why should we go anywhere with either of you?” Rainbow Dash asked the vengant stopping in place.

“Unless we are your prisoners,” Kanathara remarked, while eying Velvet carefully.

“I wouldn't say that. More like forced house guests,” Blackguard remarked with a slight chuckle. “And speaking of which, we have another guest who isn't fond of waiting.”

“I have a feeling that we are going to discuss your status around here in greater detail once we reach wherever it is Blackguard is bringing us,” Velvet elaborated. “The stallion simply enjoys being mysterious.”

“Yes yes, ruin all the fun why, don't you?” Blackguard remarked while giving his eyes an exaggerated roll.

The four beings stopped in front of the oak door just as it began to shift and twist in an unnatural manner. The wooden exterior quickly vanished, replaced by a pulsing, almost flesh-like mass of black and red muscle. Before either demon could give voice to their shock, a pair of eyes emerged and opened, revealing pitch black goat-like irises at the heart of each enormous orb.

“A gatekeeper,” Kanathara muttered in surprise. “Fascinating.”

The door blinked and looked down on the keeper, a mouth emerging from the twisting mass of flesh and revealing a row of flat teeth and a long serpentine tongue. “Ahh, a keeper of secrets who has a vengant familiar no less. Long has it been since I have seen one of either of you. Don't tell me Blackguard has managed to cajole you into joining his silly little club.”

Kanathara shook her head. “Not yet, though I’m fairly certain that before this day is over he’ll at least try.”

Blackguard stepped between the demon and the door, hastily pushing them apart. “Only here for an hour and already you gossip right in front of me! The nerve of you, Oluuraal, have you no shame?”

The demonic goat door rolled its huge eyes. “Don't rush me, Blacky. I merely wish to catch up with the first true demon I’ve met in quite a while.”

“Well, we have urgent business with a patron of ours. An important one,” Blackguard stressed.

Instantly the gatekeeper’s face became neutral and she sighed. “We must speak again soon, young keeper. Until then, be a smart girl and don't sign anything this nitwit puts before you.”

“She won't. I’ll make sure of that,” Rainbow Dash added.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “Like I need your help in that regard.”

“Come now, we have an important individual to meet and an important decision to make,” Blackguard exclaimed, before pushing open the door and stepping inside.

Kanathara looked within to find a relatively normal office waiting area, a pair of chairs sitting on one side while an empty secretary’s desk sat on the other side. “Fine, but you had better tell us why you need us in the first place,” Kanathara warned.

“And not try any funny business,” Rainbow Dash added, the demon jabbing her hoof towards the stallion in emphasis.

“Of course, of course. Scout’s honor,” he declared with a hoof over his heart.

“Alright then,” Kanathara exclaimed before trotting inside, followed closely by Rainbow Dash, who eyed the stallion carefully.

Velvet was about to do the same when Blackguard’s hoof shut up to stop her. “Sorry, my dear, but I’m afraid this must be between just our new guests and our oldest one. You understand, right?”

The pony seemed ready to offer some form of rebuttal, but one look at the stallion made her resistance bleed away. “I understand, just send them back my way before too long. Okay?”

Blackguard placed his hoof back over his heart and gave the pony a short bow. “But of course, my dear.”

“Just ask Oluuraal to send you to my lab once your conversation is over. I’ll make sure to answer any questions you may still have,” Velvet proclaimed, sharing a glance with Kanathara.

The keeper nodded. “Thank you, Velvet.”

Kanathara watched as the door closed and her mother’s sad face vanished, replaced by a grinning top hat-wearing stallion’s. “Well then, let's hurry this up, shall we?” he asked, before appearing beside the next door, a hoof already on the handle.

I don't like this, Rainbow Dash warned.

Me neither, but we are his prisoners, so we had best stay on his good side, for now anyway, Kanathara exclaimed before trotting up to the stallion. “Lead the way.”

“Excellent,” he declared, before throwing open the door in a dramatic fashion. “Introducing Kanathara, the keeper of secrets, and her familiar Rainbow Dash the vengant.”

The pair of demons peered within the strangely normal office, only to be struck by a strange sight. Namely the oddly intense pair of disembodied teal eyes which stared forth from a swirling mass of darkness seated across from them. The creature’s body seemed to be made up of a great many stars and galaxies which seemed to twist and shift on an unseen wind, hiding all but her enchanting gaze.

A gaze which appeared vaguely draconic, her narrow pupils capturing Kanathara’s attention and not letting it go. “Come in, my young friends. We have much to discuss, you and I,” spoke the creature, whose voice belied a power so great that the keeper felt herself compelled to move.

So close from their last brush with a similar feeling, there was no doubt in either Kanathara’s or Rainbow Dash’s minds. This creature before them was a demon and it was most definitely a prime evil of immense, world-shattering power.

Author's Note

Trial Five: An Overdue Conversation

I don't like this one bit, Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Please, take a seat,” Blackguard declared, his magic pulling out two comfortable-looking black leather chairs from the side of the room and placing them in front of the desk.

Kanathara did as prompted, seating herself across from the mass of swirling darkness. I don't either, Rainbow Dash, but she may be able to help us get revenge on those who have wronged us, Kanathara thought back.

I’d rather settle with just having a peaceful place to stay away from everyone else, but you’re the boss, Rainbow Dash replied, sitting next to her mistress and settling into her chair.

The top hatted stallion took position behind and to the right of the prime evil, a wide smile remaining plastered on his face. “Ahh, that's much better now, isn't it? I’d offer you some refreshments, but I’m afraid that will have to wait for later,” he remarked with an exaggerated sigh.

“Yes, I’m afraid we have much to discuss first,” interrupted the cloud of stars and darkness.

“Like what your name is, for starters,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, the vengant crossing her forelegs over her chest.

A brief flash of anger could be seen behind the larger demon’s draconic orbs but it was quickly banished. “My name is Nightmare Moon, and I am here to present you with an offer I have a feeling you will accept,” declared the creature, a small smile slowly creeping through the shroud of darkness she wore.

“What kind of offer?” Kanathara pressed impatiently.

“Revenge on Celestia for starters,” Nightmare Moon began. “But that's not good enough on its own, is it? So why don't we sweeten the pot a little bit.”

Rainbow Dash and Kanathara exchanged a look, with the keeper of secrets leaning forward expectantly, her chair groaning under her shift in weight. “We’re listening.”

“As a sign of good faith, you will be given free reign over the facilities, and will be allowed to come and go as you please,” Nightmare Moon exclaimed, her fang-filled grin growing ever larger. “If you accept my deal, I will even hoof-deliver you the demon who ordered the attack on Tirek’s tower.”

“As a sign of good faith you’re going to allow us such freedom immediately? Or is that a part of the deal?” Kanathara pressed.

“I told you she was sharp,” Blackguard remarked with a smirk.

“She is, isn't she?” Nightmare Moon mused. “And to answer your question, you will be given your freedom the moment this conversation ends. All I ask of you in return is that you hear me out.”

“Provided this conversation lasts a few hours at most, and if this agreement is merely verbal in nature,” Kanathara declared.

“Yeah, what she said,” Rainbow Dash added.

A small section of Nightmare Moon’s mass formed into a hoof and waved dismissively. “Yes, yes of course. If you really want to drag this out and force me to sign a contract just to have a conversation, I will allow it,” exclaimed the elder demon.

Kanathara nodded. “Fine, go ahead.”

“Excellent, like I was saying.” Nightmare Moon rose up, the swirling mass of sky stuff becoming more solid. “My offer is simple. I will give you the opportunity to strike down the sun tyrant, and will also deliver you the demon who attacked Tirek’s tower.”

“And in return you get what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Nothing,” Nightmare Moon declared with a grin. “All I want is to give you the shot you so desire.”

The other demons exchanged another look. “I assume that we would be helping you achieve this goal then, correct?”

“Of course. I'll give you the shot, but you must still work for it,” Nightmare explained. “The actual details we will discuss later, but suffice it to say I need two more pairs of hooves to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

“That's… generous,” Rainbow Dash muttered, turning to the keeper. What do you think, boss?

I think she's hiding a lot, but right now it sounds pretty good. If we play our cards right and ensure she can't sneak anything in the fine print, I think this is actually a decent deal, Kanathara replied before turning to the other demon. “I’m not sure if I really want to kill Celestia. What if I only want revenge for my father’s most recent enemy?” Kanathara inquired while leaning back in her chair.

Blackguard lifted an eyebrow. “Well, that seems like a bit of a sudden switch.”

“Offering changes to feel out what I hope to gain, smart,” Nightmare Moon remarked with a grin. “I will humour you and admit that though I may be interested in a deal such as the one you mentioned, I had hoped to gain your assistance with a very particular problem.”

Kanathara tapped her chin and stared at the demon across from her, trying to read as much as she could from Nightmare Moon’s strange and borderline featureless face. “Your first offer is an interesting proposition. I’ll give you that,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Nightmare Moon scoffed. “Of course you’re interested. Celestia ruined your life, ruined the life of your adopted father, and has committed a litany of other injustices in her long career as the sole monarch of Equestria.” She smirked. “Unless all that doesn't bother you anymore?”

Kanathara resisted the urge to gnash her teeth and merely leaned back in her chair, keeping her expression neutral. “Let's say that I’m in, and that I agree to help you kill Celestia for good. Who would control the sun if that happens?” asked the keeper.

“We have a cadre of unicorns who may be able to take over said position, but they are untested, I’m afraid,” Blackguard stated.

“Besides, what do you care what happens to this plane?” Nightmare Moon retorted, the demon’s fang-filled grin returning with a vengeance. “It's not like you can't simply leave should things get out of hoof as they say.”

“Provided I destroy both circles that summoned me here,” Kanathara corrected. “I can't go anywhere until the planar binding is dealt with and I can ensure that I can't simply be rebound after those two are destroyed.”

“True enough,” Nightmare Moon remarked. “How about this? I’ll sweeten things even more and promise to destroy one of those circles.”

“Now that's really generous,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“I wouldn't say that,” Kanathara corrected. “I can feel that one of those circles is very close. Given the fact that Nightmare Moon knew my true name and thus could track me, she's likely one of the parties who summoned me here in the first place.”

Blackguard bowed suddenly, taking off his hat. “That would be me and my little group actually. Moony may be a patron of ours, and a long time ally, but she does not own us.”

The prime evil’s eyes narrowed for a moment before she became calm once more. “Yes, well. I hold enough sway that I could at least arrange for their circle to be destroyed, isn't that right, Blacky?” Nightmare Moon exclaimed, turning to the stallion in question.

Blackguard grinned and plopped his hat back on his head. “I do believe that is in your power, my dear.”

“See? With that done all you have to do is destroy its twin, and it won’t even matter what happens to this entire plane of existence,” Nightmare Moon finished.

“Well, I mean, I still have family here,” Rainbow Dash stated. “Or at least I think I do. I haven't had the chance to check on them since this whole thing started.”

“I’m afraid that's where you’re mistaken,” Nightmare Moon exclaimed with a sigh. “Your parents are dead.”

“But I just checked on them a few months ago,” Kanathara retorted.

“And since that time they have perished,” Nightmare Moon calmly replied.

“What did you do?” Rainbow Dash demanded, the vengant’s hooves slamming against the desk as she glared at the elder demon.

Who merely rolled her eyes in response. “I had nothing to do with your parents’ demise. If you don't believe me, then by all means, find out for yourself.”

“Yet you seem to know a great deal about their passing,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Nightmare Moon shrugged her night-clad shoulders. “Your arrival in Tartarus created many waves and drew the eye of many interested parties. I merely watched on the off chance that something interesting happened.”

“Bullshit. Prime evils don't just watch,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Nightmare Moon’s eyes flashed dangerously, and the shadows lengthened, creating a darkness so deep that even Kanathara’s demonic eyes could not pierce the gloom. “Do not claim to know anything about me, young one. For you know not what you speak of!” spat the greater demon as she loomed over the vengant.

Kanathara noticed that even Blackguard’s implacable cheer had vanished, and the stallion was deftly avoiding the shadows. “We can find out what happened to them later, Rainbow Dash. For now why don't we back things up a little bit?” Kanathara offered while gently pulling her familiar away from the greater demon.

Rainbow Dash silently gnashed her teeth and grumbled, but reluctantly allowed herself to be seated once more. “Fine, but if I find out you have a hoof in this-” began the vengant, only to be cut off.

“You’ll do what, little pup? Bark until my non-existent ears bleed?” Nightmare Moon retorted while settling back into her chair, her scowl morphing back into a familiar smirk.

Kanathara shot her familiar a glare, keeping the vengant from saying something she would regret. “Speaking of keeping an eye on us... I assume you know of what we did to one of your underlings, yes?” Kanathara half asked, half stated.

Nightmare Moon blinked. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Yeah, that's right, we messed with Starswirl’s plans!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “How do you like them apples?”

“Bravo, pup, you discovered that Starswirl is indeed under my employ as it were,” Nightmare Moon declared with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “Though if you are expecting me to be angry about losing a pawn’s pawn, then I’m afraid you're going to be disappointed. Rather I should be thanking you, the fool’s ego needed to get knocked down a peg or two.”

“A pawn’s pawn?” Rainbow Dash scratched her head. “What are you talking about?”

“It's an old demonic saying,” Kanathara began. “A pawn has value, a pawn’s pawn does not.”

“I see at least someone paid attention to their lessons.” Blackguard grinned, and leaned in. “I don't suppose you play by chance, do you?”

“I do.” Kanathara eyed the stallion curiously. “Though I don't think it's the right time to talk about chess.”

Blackguard swallowed hard and took a step back, nodding to the night-clad demon. “My apologies.”

“You are forgiven,” Nightmare Moon quickly replied.

“I’m surprised you are so flippant. Rockhoof and Mistmane would have been valuable tools if utilized correctly,” Kanathara pressed.

The elder demon shrugged her shoulders. “Starswirl did not have the ability to do such a thing and thus their untimely demise was of little consequence,” concluded Nightmare Moon.

“Plus it was cruel to keep them like that,” Kanathara added.

The other demon nodded, though the keeper could tell she didn't care. “That too,” she agreed.

“So you are not mad, and are we still talking about the deal here? I’m lost,” Rainbow Dash reluctantly admitted.

“Would you give me a second to talk to my associate?” Kanathara asked.

Nightmare Moon nodded and gestured to the vengant. “Of course, go right ahead.”

Honestly, this is actually pretty good. Plus it gives us the chance to scope this place out, Kanathara pointed out while leaning close to Rainbow Dash.

I mean, that's true, but come on. There is definitely something fishy going on here, Rainbow Dash countered, raising her wing to shield them from the prying eyes of the rest of the room’s occupants.

That may be, but you can't deny the opportunity this gives us, Kanathara began, the demon conjuring images of a dead Celestia lying next to a decapitated Starswirl. That's nearly all of our enemies dead at our hooves, and we get to walk out of this situation not having made another one.

True. I doubt she is the type to just let us walk out after turning her down, no matter what she says, Rainbow Dash muttered bitterly, glaring in the elder demon’s direction through her wing.

I was trying not to think about that, but yes, we’d likely be dead within seconds of saying no, Kanathara remarked with a mental sigh. Which just leaves us with how we will say yes.

What do you mean? Rainbow Dash asked.

Well, if we are definitely saying yes, then all that's left is the details, right? Kanathara replied.

True. Well, in that case, I’ll let you handle the negotiations, but after this we are so finding out what happened to my parents, Rainbow Dash declared with a surprising amount of conviction.

Kanathara nodded, the keeper of secrets able to feel a hint of the sadness that her partner felt. It will be the first thing we do once we’re out of here. I promise.

Thanks, boss. Now, let’s try and fish for some more info. I don't like how many questions are left unanswered, Rainbow Dash thought while recoiling her wing.

True, and I know just where to start, Kanathara declared, the keeper turning towards Nightmare Moon the second her familiar’s wing was out of the way. “You said your unicorns might be able to handle the sun, but you don't seem like the type to leave things to chance. What's your real plan for this eventuality?” Kanathara questioned.

Nightmare Moon grinned while Blackguard blinked in surprise. “Why whatever do you mean? That is my plan,” Nightmare Moon stated in a tone that made it clear she was lying and was making no intent on hiding it.

“You don't seem the type to leave things to chance, and by the sounds of it, leaving the sun without a controller would result in a bad day for everyone on this plane,” Kanathara pointed out.

“I told you she was a smart cookie,” Blackguard remarked with a grin, the stallion elbowing the swirling mass of darkness sitting behind his desk.

Nightmare Moon chuckled. “I suppose you have me again, young keeper, though I feel it necessary to point out that I know what you're doing.”

“What do you mean?” Kanathara shot back, her eyes narrowing.

“Your fishing remarks are obvious. You want me to confirm them because you don't have the evidence to assert them as a fact otherwise.” Nightmare Moon smiled. “Not like I mind though, as this was all information I either didn't care to keep from you or was going to give you anyway.”

“So you're telling me I wasted my time then?” Kanathara retorted while raising an eyebrow. “Is that what you're saying?”

“Absolutely not. Your questions were good, in fact you probably saved time by asking them, but enough banter. Behold, the answer to your most burning of questions,” Nightmare Moon declared, a hoof reaching from the swirling mass of darkness and grabbing it as if it were mere fabric.

With a tug, the veil of night was pulled back, revealing a grim, yet clearly equine countenance beneath it. Most eye catching of all the demon’s features were the wings upon her back and the horn atop her head, the combination of which indicating that she was at least part alicorn. Though her wings and horn were larger than even Celestia’s, Kanathara could tell that they were natural in a way that a demon’s wings typically were not. A demon’s wings could not channel the magic necessary to fly like a pegasus and relied solely on brute force to get the job done.

There were some clear signs of her demonic heritage however, chief among them being her teal, draconic eyes which continued to gaze down upon the pair. In addition, her wings were also bat-like, and her horn was filed to a deadly point, unlike the fluffier and more rounded counterpart that Celestia sported. Nightmare Moon’s mane and tail contained the stars and galaxies that had previously made up her entire form, and they swirled idly, floating as if unaffected by gravity.

The armor she wore was simple, yet elegant, exaggerating her already quite considerable curves while also covering her most vital areas in thick plates. Though not quite as dark as her pitch black fur, the bluish steel of her armor sparkled faintly, the metal humming with magic. Stranger than even her odd mix of demonic and equine features was the sudden urge to bow which Kanathara had to resist with every fibre of her being.

“Ahh, it has been too long since I have been able to stretch my legs properly. I simply must find the time to go for another midnight flight sometime soon,” Nightmare Moon exclaimed with a grin, flapping her wings in emphasis.

“What the hell is going on?” Rainbow Dash muttered through gritted teeth.

“Ahh, my apologies. Allow me.” Nightmare Moon waved her hoof and the sudden urge to bow vanished, resulting in both demons lurching upward suddenly. “It has been a long time since I spoke to an Equestrian demon.”

Blackguard straightened his hat and coughed into a hoof. “Yes, well. I’d appreciate it if that didn't happen again. I do so dislike groveling.”

Nightmare Moon grinned. “Now then, I suppose a true introduction is in order.” The prime evil placed a hoof against her chest. “I am, or was, Celestia’s sister, and I intend on taking control of the sun and moon after her demise.”

“Woah. I didn't know the princess had a sister,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The taller demon scowled. “Yes, well, my dear sibling has done an excellent job erasing me from history. Regardless, we shall both get our revenge for what she has done to us, provided you are willing to help me acquire six very special artifacts.”

“The Elements of Harmony,” Kanathara declared.

Blackguard grinned. “She is better read than even I anticipated.”

“I am quite amazed you knew of these artifacts as my dear sister has done her best to erase all mention of them as well,” Nightmare Moon added.

Kanathara smirked. “You do know I am a keeper of secrets, right? That's kind of our whole deal.”

The prime evil chuckled aloud. “Your knowledge is more extensive than my agents gave you credit for. And you are right. I need the elements of harmony to take down Celestia, and you will bring them to me.”

“And what's stopping us from taking the Elements and running? Or using them on you?” Kanathara countered.

Nightmare Moon exploded into a deep laugh, her hoof slamming against the desk hard enough to leave a dozen small cracks. “Oh child, you cannot wield an Element of Harmony. You are a demon through and through,” Nightmare Moon declared.

“Plus that would be part of the contract,” Blackguard added.

“Blackguard is correct. Bring me the Elements of Harmony, and I will give you the demon who attacked your father’s tower, and the alicorn who ruined your life and the life of the man who has raised you,” Nightmare Moon declared with a smile. “A generous agreement, is it not?”

“It does sound pretty good,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Do all that for me, and I may even give you the honor of striking the killing blow,” Nightmare Moon offered.

Kanathara frowned and looked down, glaring at the floor while tapping a hoof against her arm rest. “This agreement does sound mutually beneficial, though I’d reserve my final judgement for when I see it in black and white,” Kanathara remarked after a long pause. “But I have conditions.”

“Oh, like what?” Nightmare Moon inquired, the demon steepling her hooves and staring intently at the keeper of secrets.

“For one, you cannot compel me to harm an innocent and two, you must destroy the circle immediately after signing. Lastly, you will give us the freedom to acquire the Elements however we want, within reason,” Kanathara finished.

“You're fairly soft for a demon, you know. Most wouldn't bat an eye at killing the odd innocent to get what they want,” Nightmare Moon teased.

“Collateral damage breeds enemies, vendettas, and future problems,” Kanathara replied dismissively. “I avoid senseless slaughter not out of kindness, but practicality.”

Nightmare Moon smiled and nodded. “Perhaps I judged you too harshly. Regardless, I’m glad to see you’re seriously considering my proposal.”

“I’ll consider it a lot more seriously once I see it in writing,” Kanathara stated again, the demon tapping the desk for emphasis.

“Then we are at least in partial agreement,” Nightmare Moon declared with a smile, the demon standing and relinquishing her seat. “Blackguard, would you be so kind as to draft the first iteration of our contract? I know not the location of your stationary.”

“Absolutely,” Blackguard declared, the stallion slipping into the chair Nightmare Moon had occupied a moment earlier. “Provided we are ready to go on that front?” he asked while looking at Kanathara, one hoof on the handle of a drawer.

Kanathara nodded. “We are indeed, isn't that right, Rainbow Dash?”

The vengant nodded as well. “It is.”

“Good. Then I will begin with drafting the basics.” Blackguard pulled open a drawer and retrieved a long scroll, an inkwell and a rather fancy metal quill. “Now then, let's get started, shall we?”

“Sorry Oluuraal, I’m afraid that contract took a bit more out of me than anticipated,” Kanathara apologized while bowing slightly before the gatekeeper.

Who sighed. “It's fine, Blackguard has been running me ragged the moment you signed on the dotted line. Something I’m a little disappointed by considering that is the one thing I warned you against, but I suppose it cannot be helped.”

“Hey, that was a good deal,” Rainbow Dash shot back, only to frown. “At least I think it was.”

“It was,” Kanathara declared. “We are compelled to do very little, and the rewards will be great.”

The gatekeeper grinned, its serpentine tongue flicking from its lips. “Oh yes, I could just about taste Blackguard’s distress after all of his usual tricks proved fruitless. Though I’m surprised you didn't try any of your own, she may be brilliant, but Blackguard is at the end of the day not a demon like us.”

“We had no need for such underhanded tactics.” Kanathara smirked. “Or perhaps they all went undetected.”

The gatekeeper laughed a harsh, barking laughter. “I like you. Please do make the time to come and chat before you leave our little clubhouse. It has been too long since I had the chance to have an intelligent discussion. It's always, Oluuraal do this, go there with these mortals.” The gatekeeper sighed again.

“I promise,” Kanathara stated.

“Wonderful, now if you’ll excuse me, some whiny peon is growing impatient,” Oluuraal remarked with a bitter snarl before her body twisted in on itself, vanishing and leaving behind a blank stone wall.

Once the other demon was gone, Rainbow Dash hastily looked around. “Are we alone here?” she asked hesitantly.

Kanathara nodded after looking around, having found that the long hallway was devoid of demons or any other beings. “It seems like it, though perhaps we should wait until we get back to Velvet’s quarters before we do this,” Kanathara cautioned.

“No. I need to know right now,” Rainbow Dash demanded.

Kanathara sighed and lit her horn. “Very well, but I must warn you that others may be scrying our location as we speak.”

“Let ‘em watch, I don't care. I just need to confirm if they really are gone,” Rainbow Dash repeated, her tone taking on an almost pleading edge to it.

Nodding, the keeper of secrets cast her first spell, creating a large black orb that floated between the demons. Pushing her will into it, Kanathara began the next spell, and after quickly double checking her calculations, released it. The second that happened, the darkness within the orb began to part, like a cloud of smoke being hit by a gentle breeze.

Revealing a pair of plaques which rested upon a wall of what looked like a building constructed by a pegasus, as clouds drifted just outside a nearby window. Pulling back a little further, numerous other plaques could be seen covering three of the walls, each one bearing another name. The building itself was small, with arched ceilings that had images of pegasi in flight carved all over it.

“That's the mausoleum, right where she said it would be after the deal was signed.” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “And those are their names…”

Kanathara sighed, the keeper able to pick out the names in question which were Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles. “Don't give in quite yet, this may all be some manner of trick,” warned the keeper of secrets.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Use the finding spell and we’ll know for sure.”

“But a spell like that can't be used unless I have some manner of focus or a true name, which ponies don't have,” Kanathara retorted.

“Actually, if you use the spell without something to focus on or a proper array, it will be easily resisted, provided they are alive,” Rainbow Dash explained.

Kanathara blinked. “Which would tell us if they were alive or not, depending on if the spell fizzled or completed, but didn't find anything. Wow, Rainbow Dash, that was some quick thinking.”

The vengant chuckled. “You know I do pay attention to you and Tirek when you ramble about magic. Well, most of the time anyway.”

“Right, give me a moment,” Kanathara remarked before lighting her horn and causing the crystal orb to fill with smoke once more.

After another spell was cast, the smoke began to twist and fold in on itself, though no image came through. After casting the same short spell again, Kanathara sighed and shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. They're gone,” Kanathara whispered.

“Which room is Velvet’s?” demanded Rainbow Dash.

Noticing the grim expression on her familiar’s face, Kanathara sighed, and pointed to one of the doors near the end of the stone hallway. “Second from the end on the left,” she replied.

Rainbow Dash nodded and began to trot in that direction, only for her hooves to slowly pick up speed until she was all but sprinting towards the room. Skidding to a stop, she grabbed the handle and threw open the wooden portal, stepping quickly inside. Kanathara didn't bemoan the sudden sprint however, as she already knew where this was going.

Stepping inside, Kanathara closed the door behind her, erected the necessary anti-scrying spells and opened her hooves just in time to catch a teary-eyed demon. “I’m sorry you had to find out like that, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara whispered.

Rainbow Dash sniffed, wiping her eyes of the thick black sludge which had collected at the edges. “When I find out who killed them, I’m going to, I’m going to…” She growled, her chest heaving as smoke billowed from her nostrils. “I can't even come up with a good threat. I’m so angry.”

Kanathara nodded and gently stroked the other demon’s scaly back. “It's okay, Rainbow, it's just us. You can let it all out.”

The vengant sniffed one final time before breaking down completely, the demon hanging limply on Kanathara’s shoulders as she sobbed deeply. Her tar-like tears dripped onto the keeper’s shoulders and were swiftly wiped away, all while Kanathara continued to gently rub her friend’s back. Minutes passed, and slowly strength returned to the vengant’s limbs, with the demon picking herself up and wiping her eyes.

“You know I always held out hope of meeting them again some day,” Rainbow Dash whispered, only to laugh bitterly. “I know it's stupid, given what’s all happened to us, but I always thought we might be able to make it work.”

“You are not stupid, and neither was your dream,” Kanathara retorted, the keeper gently lifting the vengeant’s face and using her magic to remove the black tear stains that were left behind on the demon’s scales. “We couldn't have known what would happen. They may have accepted you with open hooves.”

“You're just saying that because your birth mom turned out to be a demon cultist,” Rainbow Dash replied with a slight smirk.

“Well, statistically speaking, one hundred percent of the family I’ve met has accepted me for who I am, so the evidence is there,” Kanathara declared.

“True,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Still, I’m glad Velvet wasn't here, and that she left the door unlocked.”

“She actually used a spell that allows access to certain individuals whose magical signature she's inputted, but yes, it was quite fortuitous that she was not here,” Kanathara explained with a nod. “Though I’m not sure if we’ve walked into a home or the world's strangest library.”

Rainbow Dash blinked while slowly looking around, the demon quickly realizing what her mistress had been referencing as the walls were covered from top to bottom in bookshelves. To the point that the black stone walls barely even visible, and neither were the grey floors, as various experiments seemed to cover just about every possible surface. Even the bathroom which sat in a nook to their left had been converted into what looked like an alchemy laboratory, with the bathtub filled with a glowing red liquid.

The sink was barely usable, and the toilet was currently occupied by several large stacks of books. Pots filled with alien plants hung from the walls, fed by a strange pulsing orange crystal set into the ceiling, replacing the simple chandelier that lit the other rooms. The bedroom was fairly similar, and the only reason the pair knew it was a bedroom was from the fact that a small bedroll was laid out under a particularly large table that had several dozen experiments on it.

From bubbling liquid, to strange pieces of metal held aloft in magical fields, it was evident that the pony was testing a great many different things at once. Things that ranged from the forging of demonically infused armor, to cross planar spells which were far more powerful than anything Kanathara knew. Jaw hanging open, the keeper looked from one blackboard to another, silently marveling at the fact that a mere pony could do all this.

“Hey uh, boss?” Rainbow Dash muttered, interrupting the keeper before she could get too carried away.

Kanathara tore her gaze from a particularly interesting bit of magical formula and faced the vengant. “Yes, Rainbow Dash?”

“I, uh, just wanted to thank you for well… you know.” Rainbow Dash blushed slightly, her cheeks physically heating up as she waved a hoof around.

“Of course, what kind of mistress would I be if I did not look after my familiar?” Kanathara teased.

Rainbow Dash blushed harder. “I... also wanted to say that I err… well I…” She gulped. “That I love you.”

Kanathara stopped and blinked several times. “That was… sudden.”

“Do you…” Rainbow Dash muttered before looking down and pawing the ground pathetically.

“Of course I love you too,” Kanathara declared, grabbing the vengant in her hooves and planting a firm kiss on her lips. “I’m just surprised. I thought you always said love was stupid and for mortals.”

“Recently I’ve been feeling pretty stupid and mortal,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The click of a door unlocking made both demon’s turn to the entrance where a surprised Velvet stood. “And here after hearing that my daughter had become a demon I thought I would miss out on seeing her get a special somepony. Yet here you both are.”

Kanathara ran a hoof down her face and groaned. “Augh, this is going to be like that one time with Pear Butter all over again.”

“Ahh yes, the wrath demon, right?” Velvet replied, the pony shutting the door behind her with a kick of her hoof.

“Yes.” Kanathara winced. “I guess we have a lot to talk about, huh? Given the fact that I’ve never met you, and you haven't seen me in a decade.”

Velvet nodded slowly. “Yes, yes we do.” She motioned towards the lone corner of the room not dominated by experiments or books. “Please, sit. I want to hear everything.”

“Oh, it couldn't be as bad as that time Pear Butter tried to have the talk,” Rainbow Dash offered, elbowing the keeper in the side. “I mean, Velvet ain’t even a demon.”

“I don't know, Rainbow Dash, mothers are their own kind of demon,” Kanathara replied.

Author's Note

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Trial Five: Gifts Unbidden

“Damn right we are,” Velvet declared with a sly grin before shucking off her armor and placing it and her mace on a hook near the door. “Now are you going to take a seat or what?”

Kanathara took one look at the two empty chairs and seated herself closest to the bald cultist, noting that the mare in question had just pulled a teapot from under a pile of papers. “Thank you for your hospitality by the way. I know this situation is a little awkward,” Kanathara remarked.

The pony nodded and lit her strange, curving horn, illuminating her scarred features as she began to fill the teapot with water which she had summoned with another spell. “Of course. I always knew this day would be a strange one, but I’m just glad it’s finally come to pass,” Velvet replied.

Rainbow Dash plunked down across from the mare while eying her curiously. “What do you hope to gain, anyway?”

“Dash, that's a little rude, don't you think?” Kanathara hissed.

“No no, that's quite alright,” Velvet quickly replied, the pony pulling down a bag of tea from an unseen shelf and placing it in the pot before beginning to heat it with her magic. “I expected such a response.”

“Still. There was no reason to come right out like that,” Kanathara muttered, only to sniff the air when a tantalizing smell crossed her nose. “What is that scent? It's… amazing.”

Rainbow Dash sniffed the air as well and found herself both surprised and intrigued. “Is that tea? It actually smells kind of good.”

The mare smiled as she set out a trio of cups which she cleaned the dust off of with a spare rag. “It was a gift from Xana. This tea is her favorite, and before she left, she made me promise to only drink it after I had brought you home.”

Kanathara sniffed the air and sighed, her body relaxing already. “Well whoever this Xana is, she has a good nose for tea.”

Velvet smiled and nodded, her magic swirling the contents of the pot. “It is bloodroot infused with jasmine and vinegar. I know it seems like an odd combination, but trust me, to those with our… unique palate, it is quite delicious.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow as Velvet poured them all a cup. “What do you mean by ‘our palate’?” she asked.

“Between being infused with demonic energy and making a contract with a powerful succubus, I’ve gained a few traits unique to demons,” Velvet admitted before sipping her tea and sighing contentedly.

“What exactly-” Kanathara began, only to be cut off by a startled gasp coming from her left.

“Woah, you have got to try this, boss,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed before all but chugging the rest of her tea.

Kanathara frowned and took a short, tentative sip of the brownish-red liquid. Blinking, the demon’s eyes went wide and she gulped down a mouthful, and then a second before managing to stop herself. “That is amazing. I don't know if I can even describe the flavor. It's like, meaty almost, only sweet and spicy at the same time?” Kanathara muttered while staring at the cup in shock.

Velvet smiled. “It is quite delicious, isn't it? Now, I don't suppose you would mind telling me what I walked into a minute ago?”

Kanathara nodded and gulped the last of her drink, ignoring Rainbow Dash who was already pouring herself another cup of the stuff. “We are sort of dating? It's a little odd given the fact that she is my familiar, but we make it work.”

“Damn right we do,” Rainbow Dash declared with a grin.

Kanathara sighed and used her magic to wipe away some of the tea which clung to the vengant’s upper lip. “Once you become linked with someone as deeply as we are, it's hard for things not to go in that direction,” Kanathara added.

“I know what you mean, but you must beware. The power imbalance in your relationship will become a sticking point, sooner or later,” Velvet warned.

Kanathara frowned. “I know, but there isn't a way to get around it, so we just have to adapt.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I don't see what the big deal is? So she can boss me around, she does that anyway and I kinda like it.”

The keeper frowned and punched her familiar in the shoulder. “Rainbow Dash, she did not need to know that.”

Velvet coughed and quickly wiped the blush from her face. “Yes, well. Just know that in time this issue will become apparent.”

“We’ll get through it,” Kanathara stated.

Rainbow dash nodded. “Don't suppose you got some meat lying around, do ya?”

“I am rather hungry,” Kanathara admitted.

“I’ll show you guys to the cafeteria tomorrow, for now I’ve placed an order with the kitchen. It should be here in about an hour or so. Just long enough for us to catch up,” Velvet declared.

“I suppose,” Kanathara reluctantly admitted as she sipped her second cup of tea.

“So are we going to talk about that freaky demon alicorn yet?” Rainbow Dash blurted out. “‘Cause that was weird, right?”

Kanathara shivered. “She certainly was strange, though I wonder if she truly is Celestia’s sister.”

Velvet frowned as she sipped on her tea. “My contact in the guard says it's possible, but unlikely. She’s supposed to be sealed within the moon for another year or so, though that date could not be confirmed.”

“She has evidently been planning for this moment for a decade at the bare minimum,” Kanathara added.

“So she’s managed to break this seal thingy and gotten out early. What's the big deal?” Rainbow Dash asked while reclining in her chair.

Velvet shook her head. “That was a seal placed by the Elements of Harmony, and was cast by Celestia herself. Nothing can break it, not even a prime evil.”

“Is it possible that someone is merely using her appearance? Like a shapeshifter of some kind?” Kanathara offered.

“I doubt it,” Velvet replied. “I’ve felt the effects of an irritated alicorn more than a few times and I get that same feeling when Nightmare Moon is around. Whoever she is, she's definitely no mere pony or demon for that matter.”

“Perhaps this is due to her being a prime evil and she’s merely replicating the look of some fabled lost alicorn?” Kanathara offered.

The pony tapped her chin thoughtfully. “It's possible, but the effect she has is uncanny. She has to have been an alicorn at one point in her life or at least consumed the soul of one.”

“What if she is Celestia’s sister and she hasn't broken the seal?” Rainbow Dash offered suddenly. “I mean, think about it. She didn't touch anything when we were in that room. She could be a projection or something.”

Kanathara blinked. “Now that I think about it, you are right. Velvet, do you remember her ever interacting physically with anything?”

“No. Never.” Velvet muttered.

Rainbow Dash grinned. “So she uses some sort of projection spell but is still stuck in the moon. That explains everything, right?”

“That it does,” Kanathara admitted. “Good thinking, Rainbow Dash. You're on a roll today.”

The vengant smirked and brushed some invisible dirt from her shoulder. “Pretty soon they’ll be calling me the brains of this operation.”

The keeper chuckled. “Keep it up and I might have to start taking my physical training more seriously.”

“You know, your theory really does explain quite a bit,” Velvet remarked. “Her minions are likely moving things into position in preparation for her arrival.”

“I’m assuming you are making inquiries into just what kind of prime evil she is?” Kanathara asked, turning to Velvet.

Who nodded. “I am, but things are slow on that front as her past is shrouded in mystery as you may have already guessed. Other than that, her minions are also tight-lipped and obedient, each one being either a thestral or a demon, or both.”

“Strange…” Kanathara murmured, the demon staring off into space as she contemplated the strange alicorn.

“So what are we going to do in the meantime?” Rainbow Dash asked, interrupting Kanathara’s train of thought. “We are after all, only going to get the details of where the Elements are tomorrow.”

“I will be training you in the interim,” Velvet offered.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “I know you have unique skills, but I’ve been fighting demons and monsters for nearly twenty years now. What do you hope to bring to the table that we don't already know?”

Velvet smirked. “You’ve fought demons, yes, but you haven't fought ponies, and probably haven't even had to worry about fighting an alicorn or someone who specializes in fighting your kind.”

“I don't know, annihilation demons and arbiters are both pretty terrifying to the average demon,” Kanathara replied.

“Yes, but can either of them use holy magic?” Velvet asked.

“Hmm, I see what you mean,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “These paladins will be much different than any demon we’ve fought before.”

“And that's assuming you don't run into something else entirel,.” Velvet added. “There are other far more destructive cults out there, and Equestria is home to monsters that make even demons seem harmless.”

“True,” Kanathara admitted with a sigh. “I assume you have some manner of regimen in mind? Perhaps even some study material I can go over?”

“Or some live testing?” Rainbow Dash excitedly asked. “We’ve only ever gone over the theory of holy magic. We’ve never trained with someone who can use it before."

Velvet raised her hooves. “Relax girls, we can get onto that tomorrow. Right now, I would really like to catch up with my long lost daughter.”

Kanathara shuffled awkwardly in her chair, the wood creaking under her weight as she looked down on the mare. “I’m not so sure I like where this is going. I know how it must feel to have me back, but I don't think I’ll ever consider you my mother.”

Velvet pushed down her sadness and smiled despite it. “That's fine. Honestly, I’ve long since accepted that you won't ever be my little Twilight again, but I’d still like to get to know you. Maybe in time you could even consider me a friend.”

Kanathara nodded slowly. “I suppose that's fair, and I am curious about my past. The memory spells I’ve tried have brought back bits and pieces, but the majority of it is just… empty.”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “Great. I guess I’ll go pass out then.”

A firm magical aura kept the demon seated however. “I heard about what happened, and before I go, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for your loss,” Velvet interrupted, the magic vanishing a second later. “I know this may be a bit presumptuous of me, but if you need to talk about it, we’ll be here.”

“Sorry, Rainbow Dash, but I really have to know,” Kanathara added with an apologetic frown.

The winged demon sighed. “I know, but I think I just need some time alone for now. All of this emotional stuff is making me queasy.”

Kanathara chuckled. “I’ll call you when the food is here. I love you.”

Rainbow Dash blushed hotly and looked away. “I love you too.”

Velvet and Kanathara watched as the large, scaled demon sprinted out of the room, the door to the bedroom shutting firmly behind her.

“You two are adorable,” Velvet mused.

“Augh, not again. Pear Butter was the worst for this kind of teasing,” Kanathara groaned and dropped her chin against the table.

Velvet chuckled. “Oh really? Why don't you start with talking about her? I’m curious and the only thing I know of her is that she is one of Tirek’s most trusted underlings, plus a few other basic facts.”

“Are you sure you want to start with her?” Kanathara asked hesitantly. “I mean, in some ways she is the person who replaced you.”

The pony winced slightly, but quickly buried any outward display of her inner pain. “I think it would be best to rip that bandage off first,” Velvet declared.

Kanathara sat back up and looked down at the pony curiously. “First, I am curious about what your plan is. Do you intend to just talk to me or is there something else going on?”

Velvet shook her head. “For now I just want to talk and get to know you. Once you know your past, and I get to know you for who you are now, then I was hoping we could visit the old family home. Maybe spark a few more memories.”

The keeper of secrets stared down at the mortal mare for several minutes before sighing and nodding. “That is understandable. So, Pear Butter… where to start?”

“Why don't you begin with your oldest memory of her,” Velvet offered.

Kanathara blushed and chuckled awkwardly, the demon rubbing the back of her neck. “That's funny you would suggest that. The first time I met her I punched her and then we fought. Well, more like I fought a brick wall while she stood there.”

Velvet raised an eyebrow. “Now that sounds like a story. Do go on,” the pony remarked as she pulled down another bag of tea.

Kanathara smiled faintly, watching as Velvet began to heat up the pot once more. “Sure, why not.” She cleared her throat. “It all started when I was training with Cervantes when Tirek and Pear Butter walked in…”

“That was quite something,” Kanathara muttered while lying on her back, the demon panting hard as inky sweat covered her naked form.

Rainbow Dash fell to her knees next to the other demon. “No kidding. How in the heck did you even manage to cast all of those holy spells one after another like that?”

Velvet wiped the sweat from her brow and grinned. “Time moves differently in the dome, and this allows me to recover from casting faster than what should be possible.”

The two demons glanced up at the enormous black metal dome which loomed over them ominously. Its utterly smooth, featureless interior was strangely alien given its sheer size. Though the space inside of it was large enough to fit a small stadium, it felt much smaller, its actual size somehow fluctuating whenever needed.

Within the dome there were no light sources, though it was clear that both the demons and the pony didn't require any to see perfectly fine. To make matters even more unpleasant, the air was thick, filling the nostrils of any who entered with the scent of cinder and smoke. It also made their skin tingle and their spines itch in a way that was far more uncomfortable than could be described.

“How much time has passed in here?” Kanathara asked, the demon struggling to light her horn long enough to cast a quick self-cleaning spell.

“Just two days,” Velvet declared.

“And out there?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Eight hours or so.” Velvet shrugged. “It's not exact though. Time manipulation is a fuzzy thing unfortunately.”

“Either way I feel like I have a good handle on how to deal with those heavy metal assholes,” Rainbow Dash declared, thumping her chest in emphasis. “Ow.”

Kanathara smiled. “Thank you, Velvet. This will definitely help should we ever run into them again.”

The pony bowed slightly, a grin spreading across her face. “Of course. You may not consider yourself my daughter, but I still do. Now let's get back to my quarters. You two deserve a long break and some good food.”

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash nodded, the two demons lagging behind as Velvet walked over to a seemingly random part of the wall. Lighting her horn caused a three-foot wide by eight-foot tall section of metal to part like a set of curtains, revealing a hall and a shadowy figure. Upon seeing the familiar yet nondescript face, Velvet sighed and stopped, turning to her two temporary students.

“Give me a moment. I have to speak to someone,” Velvet declared.

“You're not going to leave us in here, are you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Velvet shook her head. “The door will remain open, just stay where you are. I’ll be right back.”

“Let's do as she says. I need a breather anyway,” Kanathara muttered.

Velvet turned back to face the shadowed stallion and fixed him with a glare. “What do you want?” she demanded.

The stallion oozed an aura of distaste, though that couldn't be discerned from his expression or facial features as both remained cloaked in shadow. “I see that you are training the demons to not only take on the paladins, but our own soldiers. Who authorized this?” he demanded.

“I did,” Velvet shot back, the mare taking a step closer to the stallion. “I need no one’s permission, least of all yours.”

“They may be bound by the patron’s bargain, but that agreement does not stop them from turning against us once they have fulfilled their end of the deal. Do you really think it is wise to give them the necessary skills to destroy the very organization you have spent the last ten years working for?” challenged the stallion, who took a step forward as well.

“I do indeed think that such an act is a wise one,” Velvet retorted. “They will likely be facing smaller and less organized groups than our own while on their little adventure. Besides, we only trained for forty-eight hours and I gave them only the basics necessary to survive against paladins and ponies in general.”

“And how to escape the grasp of the black hunger,” growled the shadowy stallion.

“I taught them only how to recognize its presence, that was it,” explained the mare.

“Still, that information was restricted for a reason. I don't know how you even managed to get ahold of it in the first place,” grumbled the male.

“You’ll find that keeping your underlings alive for longer than a month breeds loyalty that remains for longer than they would have lived.” Velvet smirked. “Furthermore, Blackguard and, by extension, Nightmare Moon knew of my plan to educate these two as best as possible before their outing, yet no one attempted to stop me.”

“That is not the same as permission,” refuted the male.

“Then it's a good thing I don't need permission,” Velvet replied. “Come on, girls, we’re leaving.”

“This is not over,” declared the stallion.

“Your little vendetta likely isn't, but this conversation definitely is,” Velvet stated before turning and leaving, two slightly confused and amused demons in her wake.

“Woah, that was metal. Who was that guy?” Rainbow Dash asked after she jogged up beside the pony.

“An asshole who thinks he owns the place just because he's one of Nightmare Moon’s lieutenants,” Velvet replied before turning down a side hallway and leaving the aforementioned stallion far behind them.

“He was there when we were captured. What do you know of him?” Kanathara asked in a low tone, her gaze fixed on the hallway behind them.

“Nothing, I’m afraid. His anonymity spell is too personalized to see through using the normal means, and he has never given anyone a name.” Velvet sighed as they stopped in front of a pair of large steel doors. “We don't even know if he is indeed a he for that matter.”

A rectangular hole opened up in the right door, revealing a pair of piercing blue eyes. “Password?” demanded a rough, female voice.

“Vostok,” stated Velvet.

The slit closed and the steel doors opened, a hooded unicorn bowing slightly. “I assume your time in the void was pleasant.”

Velvet snorted. “Tell Quark Gluon to lower the frequency of the argent energy he uses to feed the dome. It felt like my skull was going to rattle out of my head.”

The unicorn chuckled. “It will be done, mistress.”

Velvet nodded and strode forward, passing through a second pair of steel doors and past a few other cultists, and a pair of stone golems all with Rainbow Dash and Kanathara still in tow. By then the hall had become much busier, robed figures running too and fro, with even the odd demon carrying supplies, or simply passing by. Without any privacy to discuss the mystery stallion, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash fell back and had their own silent, mental discussion on the topic.

It didn't take long for them to leave the labs behind though, and after a brief conversation with Oluuraal, they were back in the more prestigious dormitories. There the traffic was almost non-existent, with only a few ponies and a single tall, lanky skeletal demon trodding the halls. Other than that, there was also a copper-furred earth pony stallion who stood outside of Velvet’s residence, the pony singing a strange tune in a language Kanathara didn't understand.

Upon nearing the stallion, he perked up and turned to them, a grin already forming on his face, his sky blue eyes twinkling with excitement. “Ahh, the prodigious daughter returns. Welcome to Equestria by the way,” announced the male, who bowed deeply, his auburn mane nearly brushing the stone floor.

“Thank you. I think?” Kanathara muttered.

Velvet snorted irritably. “What is it, Copper Coin? Don't tell me you are here just to hit on my daughter. Because if that's your plan, then I hope you updated your will.”

The brown-haired cultist stood, a grin still plastered firmly to his face. “Oh, that wasn't the only reason I came by. It seems as though one of your away teams has found something interesting and they were hoping to deliver a message.”

Velvet sighed. “Go on in, girls. I’ll be there in a second.”

Kanathara stopped in front of the stallion and looked him up and down before coldly stating, “Don't bother,” and walking inside.

“You heard the lady,” added Rainbow Dash as she passed him by, the demon blowing a puff of black soot in his face before following after her mistress and closing the door behind them.

“Hmm males,” Kanathara muttered before sitting in her spot and retrieving the tea pot and the rest of the objects necessary for her and Rainbow Dash to enjoy some relaxing leaf water together.

“Stupid useless assholes,” Rainbow Dash mumbled before sitting next to the keeper.

After the tea was brewed, and the first batch thoroughly enjoyed, a weary Velvet entered the room with a sigh. “Well, I have good news and bad news,” she announced.

“And I have just good news,” Kanathara interrupted with a smirk. “The tea is ready.”

The mare smiled and trotted over to the small table in the corner of the room before taking a sip and sighing again, only this time in relief. “Much better. Now then, bad news first. The Elements are all either guarded or lost,” Velvet exclaimed.

“I don't think anyone expected anything less,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“And the good news?” inquired Kanathara.

“We’ve either located them or have a solid lead on their location,” Velvet answered before the mare downed the last of her tea.

“That could be… worse,” Kanathara muttered.

“Quite. We’ll deal with that later though,” Velvet declared, turning towards a seemingly random bookshelf. “For now, I need to give you a few things.”

Rainbow Dash smirked as the pony began to flip through the many books on the shelf, evidently looking for something in particular. “Thanks, but we don't exactly have a place to put any books right now,” Rainbow Dash replied.

The bookshelf suddenly swung inward, revealing a hidden chamber just beyond, one that resembled a workshop more than a laboratory or library like the rest of Velvet’s quarters. The area itself was nearly twice the size of the living room they currently stood in and like that one, this new space had black stone walls and grey stone floors. The bleak aesthetic of the walls, floor and roof aside, the second room couldn't have been more different.

A large forge sat in one corner, the bellows of which were attached to a series of gears and crystals which continually filled it with air. The furnace itself was remarkable in itself, as it contained a fire that resembled the deepest pits of Tartarus rather than any mundane flame. Aside from that the room also contained numerous sets of armor in various states of completion, as well as weapons both great and small as well as other gadgets neither demon could identify. In addition, tools both large and small covered one wall while the rest of the floor space was given over to a workbench and a grinding wheel.

“What? You thought that was as big as my quarters was?” Velvet stated with a smirk.

“You really are the boss’ mom,” Rainbow Dash muttered while shaking her head.

“Why do you say that?” Kanathara demanded.

“She couldn't resist building a secret room behind a bookshelf. Just like you and our last three rooms,” Rainbow Dash replied with a chuckle.

Velvet smirked. “Yes well, our family’s idiosyncrasies aside, I was hoping to give you a few items I’ve been working on if you'll follow me.”

Kanthara nodded and did just that, with Rainbow Dash staying close behind her. “That lab, your quarters, those books, is there something you haven't studied?” Kanathara inquired with a smile.

Velvet’s smirk grew and she tapped her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “Art. I’m not a big fan of it to be honest.”

Kanathara chuckled. “We really are related. Now, what were these items you had mentioned? ‘Cause I can tell you right now there is a good chance we won't be using them anyway as it's hard to find something that works with our fluid fighting style.”

“I noticed as much and don't worry, I’ve taken that into consideration,” Velvet declared as she pulled open a chest and began to dig through its contents. “Most demons do not have the ability to become intangible like you two do, and even then they usually reserve such an ability for simple escape.”

“We’ve noticed,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snort. “It makes keeping equipment a recurring issue and is one reason that we’ve trained so hard with nothing but our hooves and natural abilities.”

“That won't be a problem with my armor, trust me,” Velvet exclaimed, only to grin. “Aha, there they are.”

The pony pulled out two pairs of greaves, and a large rather grisly set of plate mail armor, dumping them all on a table. The greaves only covered from hoof to knee and unfortunetly the metal was thin, seeming to serve mainly as decoration more then anything. Black roses crisscrossed the four metal pieces of armor, and though they all seemed magical to Twilight, they did not seem very powerful.

Unlike the plate mail which covered just about every inch of the wearer save for the head and neck, as it lacked an accompanying helmet. The armor itself was immensely thick, and seemed to be made from the scales of some great wyrm, the various plates interlocking so perfectly that there did not appear to be any seems. Yet it was also able to move surprisingly well, bending and flexing even though the large spikes which sprouted from the shoulder pad and leg guards should render such movement difficult or impossible.

“Well, one of these certainly looks like it would protect the wearer,” Kanathara remarked.

“Allow me to explain before you judge them too harshly.” Velvet pointed to the shin guards. “These used to be owned by an eccentric countess here in Equestria. She was something of a warrior, though she was also an accomplished poet, diplomat, and business owner. She made these in order to go from the front lines to her business without having to change out of her armor,” Velvet explained.

“So they are fancy, but effective,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned. “Is that it?”

“I was about to get to that,” Velvet grumbled. “They remain affixed to your legs no matter what happens and can only be removed if you actively focus on doing so.”

Kanathara leaned closer and lit her horn. “They also have a resizing spell placed upon them as well as a great many enchantments. Quite impressive.”

“I modified them so that they are able to shield the wearer’s entire body from not only the usual things like blunt force but they will also have a good chance of causing any spells directed at the wearer to fizzle,” Velvet continued. “And they are all yours.”

Kanathara nodded and grabbed one, only to notice something out of the ordinary. “There are no straps,” she pointed out.

“Just place it against your leg as if you were putting it on and the greaves will stick until you try to take them off,” Velvet replied.

The keeper did just that, though only after casting another scanning spell and finding out for herself that such a thing would indeed happen. “Huh, you don't even notice them,” Kanathara remarked as she waved her leg around.

“Comfortable?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Very. They feel like I’m wearing a fuzzy boot or something,” Kanathara exclaimed, the demon hastily putting on the other three and sighing contentedly. “Ohh, now that's nice. I could get used to this.”

“And what does this ridiculous thing do?” Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing to the black-plated armor with a dismissive wave of her hoof.

“The appearance of this set of armor changes based on who wears it, so ignore that part for now,” Velvet began. “It has a vast array of spells placed upon it by its former owner. I needed to only tweak it a little in order to make it more suitable. It's also very cursed.”

Rainbow Dash instantly pulled back her hoof. “Woah, what the hay, lady? I thought you said these things were supposed to help us.”

“Oh it will, you just won't be able to take it off after you’ve put it on,” Velvet explained while patting the back of the armor.

“Not even to… ya know?” Rainbow Dash lifted her back leg in emphasis.

Velvet chuckled. “Oh no. I’ve solved that issue by ensuring the armor will shift according to the wearer’s urge, allowing it to shrink down to nothing but a breastplate.”

“That would still be a bit cumbersome, wouldn't it?” Kanathara asked while eying the armor carefully.

“Oh, it wouldn't be that bad,” Velvet declared with a mischievous smirk. “Besides, this armor is incredibly resilient, and to the wearer it will be as light as a feather, despite its appearance.”

That seemed to get Rainbow Dash’s attention and she eyed the suit in a new light. “You don't say...” muttered the vengant.

“Really stop and think about this, Rainbow Dash. You won't ever be able to take it off.” Kanathara declared, a frown slowly crossing her face. “Plus I can feel the presence of an evil spirit bound within the armor.”

“A mere mortal’s spirit? Give me a second,” Rainbow Dash remarked before placing her hoof against the chest piece of the armor and closing her eyes.

For a second nothing happened, and Kanathara was about to ask her familiar what was happening when the armor seemed to shriek, its scales twisting as if recoiling from some manner of attack. Rainbow Dash’s hoof began to glow, growing brighter and hotter until it could have single handedly lit up the room. All while the armor continued to twist and writhe until it finally finished changing into a much, much different arrangement.

The spikes were mostly gone, though three bonelike protrusions now extended near the hoof of both foreleg guards. It was also sleeker, with two long extensions sprouting from the back, each one evidently designed to guard the delicate bones of a wing, with thin black blades extending from the end of each. Grinning from ear to ear, Rainbow Dash recoiled her hoof and gave the armor a pat.

“That's a good pet,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Velvet raised an eyebrow. “I assume you have tamed this spirit?”

“You could say that,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “Give me a second.”

Velvet and Kanathara took a step back, allowing the vengant to begin sliding into the armor, the demon apparently knowing instinctively how to do so, despite the suit being unlike any she had seen before.

“Did you have any other items you wanted to give us?” Kanathara asked.

Velvet shook her head. “I have some that are nearly complete, but they need testing and some final tweaks to be done to them as there were some unexpected issues that cropped up at the last second.”

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully as she watched Rainbow Dash slide her large leathery wings through the holes of her armor. “This is all quite generous of you. Thank you very much.”

“Don't mention it. Besides, I have like twenty years worth of birthday presents to catch up on,” Velvet replied with a grin.

Kanathara couldn't help but smile, the bit of awkwardness she had felt already vanishing due to the pony’s good humour. “Still, thank you,” she whispered.

“Oh yeah, I am awesome,” Rainbow Dash declared while flexing her wings and stomping a hoof. “Tingles a little, but that's no big deal.”

Kanathara watched as the armor shifted, and moved until it fit the vengant perfectly, leaving behind several small openings at what seemed to be random locations on her body. “Hey Rainbow, what's with the holes?” Kanathara inquired.

“Oh that? It's so I can do this.” Rainbow Dash breathed deeply and instead of releasing a blast of firebreath, the flames erupted from the holes near her joints and hooves.

“Watch it, I got a lot of flammable stuff in here,” Velvet warned.

“I’m sure Rainbow Dash was paying attention,” Kanathara declared with a smile.

“Of course! I may be a demon, but that doesn't mean I’m a jerk,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Why don't you try making it shrink?” Kanathara offered.

Rainbow Dash nodded and closed her eyes, only for a gorget to sprout from the neck piece of the armor, followed by a skull-like helmet which grew over the vengant’s head. Two long horns sprouted from the back of the helmet, each one bone white, and stretching back a good two feet before stopping.

“Huh, didn't mean for that to happen,” Rainbow Dash murmured, only to turn her head left and right. “Feels good though.”

Closing her eyes once more, the armor shuddered and began to recede, the helmet and gorget folding into the central mass of armor. The legs, wings and back half of the armor quickly followed suit until there was nothing left than a solid black and silver breastplate. A red heart with a stake through it was emblazoned upon it, but other than that it was fairly featureless and looked surprisingly normal.

“Ha, I knew a real demon could bend the spirit’s will,” Velvet declared triumphantly.

“So what's next?” Rainbow Dash asked, the demon tapping her chestplate idly.

Velvet sighed. “Next we are going to have to plan on how you are going to steal the Elements. Come on, I’ve got a map in the other room somewhere that we can use.”

The pony turned and left, with Kanathara about to follow only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash. “Hey, boss, are we going to find some time to relax sometime soon? ‘Cause I kinda wanna talk to you a bit more and well… you know.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes, the keeper ignoring the wiggling eyebrows of her familiar. “Yes yes. I’ll find the time to head back and talk to father sometime soon. Then we can have a little alone time.”

“Hell yeah,” Rainbow Dash declared with a grin.

“You girls coming?” shouted Velvet from the other room.

“We’ll be right there!” Kanathara replied, only to sigh. “I guess it's right back to work after all.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “It's not so bad. Besides, I’ve been itching to blow off some steam ever since we got our butt kicked.”

“Right, well. Let's hope this doesn't end up like last time…” Kanathara muttered.

Author's Note

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Trial Five: Smash-

By the time Rainbow Dash and Kanathara entered the other room, Velvet had already retrieved a map from under a small mountain of books and was busy laying it out on the table. The mare used random objects to hold down the edges of the paper before pulling up a chair and stopping just as she was about to sit. For a moment the pony seemed confused, before she grabbed one of the crystals she was using as paper weight and gasped.

“That's right. I nearly forgot!” Velvet exclaimed, planting a hoof against her forehead.

“Nearly forgot what?” Rainbow Dash asked, the demon seating herself across from the pony.

“Kanathara’s memories! I nearly forgot that I’m close to finding a way to bring them back,” Velvet exclaimed, turning to the keeper in question.

Who frowned. “Look, I can appreciate that you want me to think of you as my mother, but even with the return of my memories, nothing will change in that regard,” Kanathara stated.

“How can you say that if you don't even know what those memories contain?” Velvet retorted.

The keeper sighed. “Fine. How do you even intend on bringing them back anyway? Everything I’ve tried has only brought back bits and pieces.”

“Time manipulation magic,” Velvet declared, tapping the crystal in emphasis. “These crystals can be used to alter the flow of time for a brief period, and combining them with mind magic, we can bring back your lost memories.”

Kanathara seized Velvet’s pink crystal in her magic and brought it close to her face. “Seems normal to me, even if it's a little thin and remarkably well-cut,” remarked the demon.

“It's completely natural. An associate of mine, Mister Cortex, has been collecting them for years and never managed to find any use for them until I came along,” Velvet continued before taking the crystal back from Kanathara and placing it on the edge of her map.

“Okay, so you're going to use some crystals and get her memories back,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a shrug. “What's the big deal, wouldn't she be like ten or whatever?”

“You're not wrong. But it is important,” Velvet declared. “Imagine if you forgot the last ten years of your life. Wouldn't you want those memories back?”

“I guess,” Rainbow Dash admitted.

“Look, I may not think those memories are particularly valuable, but I would still like them back. If for no other reason, then to help me feel complete,” Kanathara stated.

“Exactly. And you won't have to wait terribly long either. I just need to wrap up a few more tests, and all your memories will be returned to you,” Velvet finished before grabbing a piece of paper and handing it to Kanathara. “Take this. It will enable me to get in contact with you when it's done, and teleport you back to the lab.”

Kanathara nodded, taking the rune-inscribed paper and tucking it into her pocket dimension. “I appreciate it. And though I find this topic intriguing, I’d like to get back to the matter at hoof if at all possible. We can talk about my memories more once you know for sure I can get them back.”

“Yes, of course,” Velvet muttered before jabbing a hoof into nearly the middle of the map. “The first Element of Harmony is here, in Ponyville and you may have already passed by the building that houses it.”

“Really? It wasn't in that ranger base by chance, was it?” Kanathara replied.

“Now that would be great. I’d love to whoop those losers again,” Rainbow Dash added, clanging a hoof against her armored chest.

“No actually, it's in the town hall, disguised as a statue,” Velvet explained. “It’s inside of an old Celestia totem to be exact. All you have to do is sneak past the singular night guard they have, steal it and then smash it in order to retrieve the Element hidden inside.”

“Pfft, that's easy,” Rainbow Dash announced with a smirk.

“In my opinion this should be your first target,” Velvet stated, tapping the map for emphasis. “The statue is the only thing of value in the museum, so it will likely be passed off as a routine burglary, provided you don't get caught. Plus after you steal it, I’ll start selling copies of the statue on the black market to further confuse the guard.”

“That's a very well-thought out plan,” Kanathara admitted.

“Thank you. Oh, and if our intel is correct, the Element contained within will be Honesty,” Velvet remarked.

“Honesty? That's corny,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Yes well, they only get cornier, I’m afraid,” Velvet warned.

Kanathara sighed. “At least it will allow us to check up on father and Pear Butter, given their proximity to Ponyville.”

“You could, but I would suggest grabbing the Element first. Nightmare Moon isn't exactly patient, and if she sees you passing up an easy opportunity, she may make things harder on you,” Velvet warned.

“Fine. I suppose that wouldn't be too much of a distraction. What's the next one?” Kanathara asked while glancing at the map.

“The next one is Laughter, and is being held in Cloudsdale by a pegasus supremacy cult called the Last Battalion.” Velvet scowled, while tapping Cloudsdale on the map. “These psychopaths believe that the power of flight means they are above all other beings and thus should rule them.” She paused. “Pun not intended.”

“That name sounds familiar. The Last Battalion,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before. Maybe at Fluttershy’s house? Or did my dad mention it one time?”

“What do you know about these supremacists?” Kanathara asked.

“I know they utilize low level demons and are ardent supporters of slavery,” Velvet spat. “Other than that, they’ve kept their head down until recently. We aren't sure what changed, as they’ve managed to keep a hold on the Element of Kindness for a few hundred years, but whatever the reason is, it's made them bolder.”

“Why haven't the paladins kicked down their door?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Good question. It seems like something they would be all over,” Kanathara added.

“The Battalion have most of the local guard paid off, and they are remarkably good at avoiding attention for some reason.” Velvet shrugged. “Either way, we’ve been able to locate where they’ve been keeping the Element, and I’ll mark it on your map. Unfortunately it will be up to you to survey the area from there however as most of our spies haven't been able to get very close to the place.”

“We can handle a little recon,” Kanathara stated confidently, prompting Rainbow Dash to nod in agreement.

“Plus after that we could go check out the… you know,” Rainbow Dash muttered, gently poking her mistress in the side.

“I’ll make sure to leave enough time for that as well,” Kanathara assured.

“Either way, don't take too much time away from your goal. The last ones won't be quite so easy,” Velvet cautioned.

“Oh? And why is that?” Kanathara pressed.

Velvet tapped another point on the map, this one much further east than the rest. “Kindness is third, and it is being held in Manehattan in much the same manner that Honesty is.”

“So a cheap third rate museum?” Rainbow Dash asked with a snort.

“I’m afraid the only thing Honesty and Kindness have in common is the fact that they are both hidden in museums,” Velvet began. “This one will be guarded by a large private security force and hidden away within a vault that will be nearly impossible to crack.”

“Oooh, a heist. I love heists,” Rainbow Dash muttered excitedly.

“Correction, you like heist novels. Heists themselves are forty percent waiting, forty percent mind-numbingly repetitive tasks, and twenty percent running,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash frowned and crossed her hooves over her chest. “Why must you always make everything sound so lame?”

“Lame or not, this is going to be a hard nut to crack,” Velvet interrupted. “I’ve got my own people on standby to assist you, but you're going to have to case the joint and figure out what kind of help you’ll need.”

“And don't get caught or trip an alarm,” Kanathara muttered while stroking her chin. “We can't let Celestia know we are going after these things until we already got most of ‘em.”

“Exactly,” Velvet agreed.

“Okay, so that's three, which means there are three left, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Indeed, and acquiring Generosity will likely be a much bloodier affair than the rest of them, I’m afraid,” Velvet informed.

“Why would you apologize about that? I love straightforward missions,” Rainbow Dash replied with a wide, eager grin.

Kanathara smirked. “Sometimes I do enjoy it when things are simple.”

“Well, I wouldn't say this one will be simple, but it certainly will be bloody,” Velvet exclaimed before leaning forward and tapping a location far to the south. “You’ll have to go here, which has been recently claimed by an ambitious group of diamond dogs.”

“I read about those things. I heard they are known to take slaves and are incredibly stupid,” Kanathara casually remarked.

“That they are, but don't dismiss them completely. I’ve heard tales that some diamond dogs have interbred with demons, giving them strange abilities that their normal kin don't have,” Velvet told the two incredulous demons.

“So some primitive screwheads might be a little stronger than the other mortals, big whoop,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“All I’m saying is don't underestimate them. They are cruel slavers who would relish the opportunity to use you as forced labor,” Velvet replied, the mare jabbing a hoof at Rainbow Dash.

“We’ll be careful, Velvet, don't worry,” Kanathara declared.

“You better. Ponies in general haven't had to deal with them in centuries and generally consider them little more than animals,” Velvet continued to explain.

“So after we put down some dogs, what's next?” Rainbow Dash asked.

The older mare pulled out another map, this one much smaller, and depicting only Canterlot itself, as well as the mountain it sat upon. “At the very top of mount Canter is the Sky Citadel. It's a secretive castle located on the tallest point in Equestria, and it serves as the paladins’ main base of operations,” Velvet remarked sternly. “It is also where you will find the final two elements, Loyalty and Magic.”

“Acquiring them does not sound like a simple matter,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“It won't be. The location makes approach from both ground and air difficult due to the strong updrafts and jagged terrain.” Velvet pointed to the top of the mountain. “It is well-defended and every attempt at infiltration has utterly failed.”

“Then how the hell does she expect us to break in there?” Rainbow Dash muttered bitterly.

“Leave that to me,” Velvet declared. “I’ve had my own spies picking away at their defences for months now. It's only a matter of time before they discover something important.”

“I don't like it,” Kanathara exclaimed while scratching her chin. “I almost feel like the citadel should be our first target, as it will only become more reinforced if they discover what we are doing.”

“But it is also where they will bring the Elements should they beat you to one of them,” Velvet countered. “Leaving it to last means my spies will be able to gather more information, and should you fail, the Elements will all be in one spot.”

“And how do you know this, huh?” Rainbow Dash asked pointedly.

“It's the only logical location to store them,” Velvet stated evenly. “It is the most secure building in Equestria, and with it being so far away from Canterlot proper, it is one of the few places that Celestia can unleash her magic should it be attacked.”

“Well, let’s just hope it doesn't come to that. I don't think I packed nearly enough sunscreen,” Kanathara muttered with a smirk.

“Heh, nice,” Rainbow Dash added.

Velvet rolled up the maps and handed them to Kanathara, who tucked them into her pocket dimension. “Celestia’s abilities are no laughing matter,” Velvet warned. “The sun is teeming with holy magic, and a single blast from it could incinerate your very soul.”

“I am aware,” Kanathara exclaimed. “I am also aware that her time is rather split nowadays and she cannot run off the moment something happens.”

“That is true, but don't count on her being too busy to respond. She still has absolute authority, so no matter how much red tape we throw at her, she could simply cut through it if pressed,” Velvet stated.

“So we only face Celestia after we steal the Elements for ol’ moon booty. No big deal,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Or not at all, if Nightmare Moon does it for us,” Kanathara pointed out.

“But that doesn't sound like fun at all,” whined Rainbow Dash.

Velvet rolled her eyes and stood up from her desk. “I have a few safehouses across Equestria, as well as agents in most major towns and cities, so if you need help, I won't be far.”

“Thank you,” Kanathara acknowledged, with a slight bow of her head.

“It's no problem at all. Can't exactly lose you after spending a decade getting you back, now can I?” Velvet exclaimed with a smirk.

“I guess not,” Kanathara muttered, a slight blush crossing her face.

Rainbow Dash wrapped a hoof about her mistress’ shoulder. “So we rolling out tonight or what?”

“I suppose we could sleep on the train after we find some food. It is what, seven o’clock already?” Kanathara murmured.

“It is, and that sounds like an excellent plan,” lauded Velvet. “Just make sure to allot enough time to get a good meal here. Something tells me that Ponyville won't exactly cater to your unique tastes.”

“Yes, Velvet,” Kanathara muttered while rolling her eyes.

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Come on, we better get going before she grounds you.”

“Don't tempt me,” warned Velvet, who watched as the two demons turned to leave.

Kanathara stopped at the door and glanced over her shoulder. “Thank you, Velvet. I promise we will speak again soon.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” Velvet declared with a smile. “Oh, and I included some intelligence along with your maps, make sure to read it!”

“We will!” shouted the demons.

“Are you sure these disguises will work?” Rainbow Dash whispered as she looked down at her now brown hoof.

Across from her sat Kanathara, who was currently looking out the window of the train, her attention clearly elsewhere.

“Yo boss, you in there?” Rainbow Dash asked, jabbing the other demon in the leg.

Kanathara shook her head and turned to her familiar. “Sorry, did you say something?”

“I asked if these disguises are really going to work?” Rainbow Dash asked while opening her forelegs, revealing her brown coat, orange mane and new cutie mark which were of three orange leaves.

“Yes, Falling Leaves. I do indeed think you look wonderful today,” Kanathara shot back.

The other demon rolled her eyes. “You don't need to talk like that. There is no one else in the whole damn carriage.”

“I know. I’m just teasing you,” Kanathara replied with a smirk.

Rainbow Dash grumbled and crossed her hooves. “You know I’m still pissed that you made me an earth pony and so damn small.”

“We couldn't exactly go in there looking like we did last time, now could we?” Kanathara pointed out.

“I know that, but did you really have to make me so short? I feel like the real you could tuck me under her leg like a handbag,” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Hey, at least you still look like the same gender,” Kanathara replied, before opening her forehooves and revealing her teal coat, white mane, and new cutie mark, which was of a piece of floss. She also had far more masculine features as well as a short stubby horn in addition to standing a few inches taller than her companion.

“Well, at least you can still use your magic,” Rainbow Dash continued to grumble.

“It will be fine,” Kanathara assured. “I inspected the underlying workings of the shield when we stayed at the inn. In order for this disguise to fail, they would need to have rebuilt the entire dome from the ground up.”

“And who's to say they didn't do that, huh?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, jabbing a hoof at her mistress.

“For one, that would take weeks to do, and two, I took a peek using Velvet’s scrying orb. They hardly even touched it,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Fine, Mister Mint Floss, let’s just steal this thing so we can go check on Tirek and Pear Butter. I don't like that a group of paladins were heading in their direction,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“I’m sure it's fine,” Kanathara proclaimed with a hint of nervousness. “I mean, Velvet’s reports only mentioned that they left this afternoon, and the Everfree is a big place.”

“I suppose you are right, but that still doesn't exactly leave me with a lot of confidence. They may have already dismantled most of their camp in Ponyville and returned to Canterlot, but knowing that your brother is out there looking for the big boss is-” Rainbow Dash continued.

“He is not my brother,” Kanathara growled.

“Look, all I’m saying is that Velvet’s intel has been good until now, and this situation is making me nervous, is all,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“You think I’m not nervous as well?” Kanathara asked pointedly.

The vengant raised her hooves defensively. “I know you are, boss. I’m just hopin’ you got a plan for all this in case things start going sideways.”

“I do, but it's not a very good one,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Well, at least we have something,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara sighed and looked out the window of the train where Canterlot still hung above them as the train trundled down the mountainside. “Let’s get some rest. Something tells me we are going to need it,” Kanathara warned.

When no response came, the keeper looked back to find that Rainbow Dash was already asleep, the demon sprawled out all across her seat.

Shaking her head, Kanathara pulled down the shade on her window and sprawled out across from the other demon. “Good night, Rainbow,” she whispered before closing her eyes.

Emerging into the cool night air, the two disguised demons plod slowly through town while also doing their best to look the part of exhausted travelers. Something that wasn't exactly hard due to the fact that they had both recently woken up from a nap and were now groggily making their way to the objective. Around them the town was quiet, with only a few guards and a scattering of random ponies walking the streets at such a late hour. The guards gave them a few odd looks, but none seemed overly concerned with the demons’ presence.

They must still be confident in their shield, Kanathara thought to herself. Or too tired to bother, given that it's after midnight already.

Brushing off that thought, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash slipped down a back alley and emerged near a tall circular building near the center of town. Sneaking up to the exterior of the structure was easy, and after they had done that, Kanathara quickly located a window and lit her horn. Only to find that it was unlocked, making her entire plan irrelevant, and so she simply lifted it open and slipped inside. Rainbow Dash was quick on her heels, landing next to the keeper and quickly surveying the area.

Sure enough, Velvet’s intel was correct, and the small area at the back of the hall was indeed used as a sort of museum dedicated to the history of the town. Glass cases were scattered about the area, most of which had small plaques explaining the item’s significance. Kanathara lit her horn once more, scanning for any unseen traps or alarms, only to come up with absolutely nothing.

Exchanging a nod with her familiar, they quickly spread out, searching for the Celestia statue they were told was here. Due to the small size of the museum this didn't take long, and Kanathara stopped in front of a small glass case. A mental command told her familiar that she had located their prize, after which the keeper began scanning in earnest.

No traps or alarms were placed upon the statue or the area around it, but the case was at least locked, an obstacle that took Kanathara all of three seconds to bypass. Once done, she removed the glass and set it aside before taking a good look at her most recent acquisition. It was short and primitive, only a foot or so tall, and though its exterior was indeed gold, it was obviously some form of paint and was not in fact made of gold. It was also fairly plain as far as statues go, with it depicting Celestia with one hoof raised in victory, a confident look on her tiny face.

“Is that it?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I know this was supposed to be easy, but come on. This is too easy.”

“Velvet did say that this was one that Celestia lost over the years,” Kanathara replied.

“I guess that makes sense, I certainly wouldn't leave something so valuable in this hick town. Let's just get out of here. Maybe if we hurry we can hunt down those paladins looking for Tirek’s base and get a real fight,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I am not risking my life just because you are bored. Besides, we still gotta bust this thing open.”

Rainbow Dash watched as the keeper grabbed the statue and tucked it under her foreleg. “But it's totally not a risk. I mean, have you seen how awesome we are now?”

“We are pretty awesome,” Kanathara admitted, before gesturing back to the window. “Come on, let’s go before their ninety-year-old guard makes his hourly check.”

Rainbow Dash snickered. “I wouldn't worry about it. I bet it would take him like ten minutes to get his walker up the steps.”

Kanathara stifled a laugh before pushing open the window and gesturing toward it. “Age before beauty.”

“What are you, twelve?” Rainbow Dash muttered while slipping through the open window.

“If you only count the years I remember, then technically I’m only ten,” Kanathara exclaimed with a smirk before stepping through after her familiar, while being careful not to drop the statue quite yet.

“I guess I should feel bad for this beatin’ I’m about to deliver then,” stated a voice.

The two demons spun around to face an irritated Applejack who wore her bulky armor, a full helmet and spike-shod hoof coverings.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash demanded, jabbing a hoof at the mare.

“Tracking your demonic asses down. You wouldn't think to tie a better alarm system to the shield after your last little stunt, eh?” Applejack stated with a smirk. “Pretty soon the whole guard will be coming down on ya.”

“We don't have time for this,” Kanathara hissed. “Let’s just leave this ground pony and get out of here.”

“No, stay for dinner. I insist!” Applejack shouted before lurching forward, hoof raised and ready to strike.

Author's Note

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Trial Five: -and Grab

Rainbow Dash reacted by calling upon her armor, only to be stopped by Kanathara who reminded her that they needed to keep up their disguise. The vengant had no time to complain about this command however as she noticed the earth pony was already mid attack. Stepping in front of the charging mare, Rainbow Dash smacked the pony’s hoof up and away from her body. The demon followed it up with a punch of her own, though that blow was softened by the fact that her demonic powers were partially sealed by her disguise.

Still, the ensuing impact was enough to make Applejack take a step back and eye them in a different light. “So it is you,” she muttered.

“So it's me,” Rainbow Dash replied in a mocking tone. “You're such a drama queen.”

“I am not!” Applejack shouted before lunging forward once more.

Kanathara rolled her eyes as the demon and the pony exchanged a flurry of blows. “Come on, Falling Leaves, we gotta get outta here before the rest of the guards show up,” Kanathara urged.

“Just--” Rainbow Dash ducked under a punch before leaping over a sweeping leg. “--a sec!” she yelled back.

Kanathara sighed and watched as the two continued to fight, with Rainbow Dash’s speed being enough to keep her ahead of every blow delivered by the pony. The vengant couldn't capitalize on this however, as the disguise she wore ensured that she couldn't access the full breadth of her powers. Still, the two were surprisingly well-matched, with Applejack being remarkably sturdy, shrugging off every blow Rainbow Dash delivered.

“We don't have time for this,” Kanathara growled while lighting her horn. “If you won’t end this, I will.”

A lightning bolt erupted from the disguised demon’s horn, only for the attack to fizzle as soon as it got a foot away from the armored pony.

Who smirked. “Gotcha.” She mouthed before winding up and decking a surprised Rainbow Dash with a hook that was far faster and far more explosive than any she had launched so far.

The vengant was sent flying, a bright flash of white erupting from her chin before the demon became airborne. A startled cry of surprise was all the disguised demon could manage before she was spinning head over heels. Kanathara blinked in shock, having seen such an effect enough times to know exactly what she was looking at.

“A redirection enchantment. Smart,” Kanathara remarked.

“I’ll be sure to pass on your compliment to Rarity after I finish knocking your teeth out!” Applejack exclaimed.

Kanathara dodged the first few blows with ease, though her movements were hampered by the statue under her foreleg. The tiny Celestia wasn't terribly cumbersome, but it was just big enough to get in the way at least, slowing the demon down and forcing her to put far more effort into just dodging. The keeper silently cursed herself for not simply putting the statue in her pocket dimension before they left. She didn't have time for regrets though, and she quickly began to concoct a plan that would allow them to escape without being pursued.

Light the building on fire, I’ll hold off Applejerk, Kanathara commanded.

Good thinking, boss, I’m on it, Rainbow Dash replied.

Growling, Applejack lurched forward, extending her forelegs in an attempt to grapple the demon. A move that was far too slow to catch Kanathara, if she didn't have one hoof occupied by a statue however. Pulling back, the demon was able to slip out of reach, though her package wasn't quite so lucky, and Applejack grabbed hold of Celestia’s outstretched hoof.

“Let go, you idiot,” Kanathara growled, while tugging on her end of the statue.

“Never. This is a valuable piece of Ponyville history,” Applejack growled.

Kanathara glanced over her shoulder to where Rainbow Dash was busy setting the town hall on fire, her disguise falling just enough to let her release a gout of flames from her mouth. “Oh really? What about all the rest of the junk in that stupid museum?” Kanathara asked with a smirk.

“Yes, obviously. Why do you…” Applejack’s jaw hung open as she stared through the open window and caught a glimpse of the flames which were crawling up the side of the wall.

“So what's it going to be, AJ? One stupid statue or the entire hall?” Kanathara pressed.

“I’ll let you go if you leave the statue,” Applejack declared, their eyes meeting.

“Really? And would you call off the guards as well?” Kanathara inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Applejack bit her lip and glanced inside one final time before nodding. “Yes, I would.”

Both demon and pony were startled by the statue that had begun to glow a faint orange, the light radiating out from the torso of the statue. Kanathara held on, but in her shock, Applejack wasn't quite so lucky, and she let go of the statue. Reacting quickly, the keeper opened her pocket dimension and quickly tossed the statue inside.

“Until we meet again,” Kanathara exclaimed before releasing a burst of light.

Applejack raised her hooves, expecting an attack to come, only to be surprised when none did. Lowering her defences, the pony saw the two disguised demons sprinting across the market square, rangers and guards in close pursuit. From her vantage point it looked possible that they would be able to catch their quarry, but one look at the town hall made Applejack change her mind.

“Stop chasing them and get to the hall!” she shouted, making the ponies stop in place. “Pegasi, gather rain clouds, earth ponies, get a bucket train going, unicorns prepare your water spells!”

A few of the guards glanced at their fleeting prey while most were already following Applejack’s orders. “I said get to it or the whole damn hall is going to go up in smoke!” Applejack added, stomping her hoof in emphasis.

The last guards turned and began to join their fellows, some taking wing, while others ran over to the nearest well.

Applejack’s gaze lingered on the disguised demons who quickly turned a corner and vanished out of sight. “One day you are going to slip up and when you do, I’ll be there,” she muttered before turning and joining the line.

“Ya think we lost ‘em?” Rainbow Dash asked, the demon pressing her back against a tree just outside of the shield.

Kanthara lit her horn and discarded their disguises before glancing back out of the forest. “Looks like it. Great work, by the way,” she replied.

“Heh, it was nothing. I’m just glad you spending all that time on these disguises was worth it and that for once your paranoia paid off,” Rainbow Dash quipped.

“My paranoia pays off all the time. Besides, it wasn't that paranoid to think we might come back here,” Kanathara countered.

The vengant shrugged. “Now what?”

Kanathara paused and glanced up at the sky. “It won't be long before the sun rises. I say we find a cave, a deer, and enjoy a good meal and some sleep.”

“What about Tirek? Aren't you still worried that they will get found out?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

The keeper shook her head. “Father can handle himself and if he is being attacked, I wouldn't be able to do much anyway. Those disguises were exhausting to maintain.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Well, you just relax then, I’ll take over from here.”

Kanathara smiled, her form beginning to dissipate and turn into a thick black mist. “Thanks, Rainbow Dash. I owe you one.”

“Use the last of your magic to conjure us up a decent bed, and I’ll call it even,” replied the vengant with a smirk.

Kanathara blushed and nodded. “Deal.”

Kanathara yawned and rolled out of bed, the demon stretching like a cat and causing her back to crack sporadically. Wincing, the keeper of secrets ran a hoof through her starry, ethereal mane and down her side. Her tough leathery exterior felt oddly soft today, and the demon smiled as she turned and trotted towards the exit of the cave. Only to pause and glance back at Rainbow Dash, who lay sprawled out under the covers of their conjured bed.

The bed itself was simple and relatively small, but the pair didn't exactly take up much space given their penchant for cuddling, so that wasn't a concern. Kanathara couldn't help but smile as she looked down on her familiar’s sleeping form, the keeper shaking her head as the vengant slowly sprawled out, taking up the entire bed.

Looking away, the demon slipped through the winding natural cave system to the entrance, the morning sun illuminating the last leg of her ascend. Once she stepped hoof outside, Kanathara breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the wild, fresh air of the Everfree Forest. It was a pleasing scent, one that tickled the demon’s nose due to all the chaotic magic that was present throughout the forest.

We need to get back to the base and while we’re at it, hopefully find out where Shining Armor is along the way. Not too hard, all things considered, Kanathara thought to herself. Now to wake up Sleeping Beauty.

Lighting her horn, Kanathara dismissed her summoned objects and stood there expectantly, a smirk on her face.

A second later a flaming black and red blur shot out of the depths of the cave and stopped before her, revealing an angry, partially armored vengant that had smoke billowing out of her nose. “Not cool, Kathy,” Rainbow Dash seethed.

Kanathara chuckled. “Come on. We have work to do.”

Rainbow Dash sighed and ran a hoof through her fiery mane. “Alright, you want to fly, I presume?”

“If you don't mind,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Sounds good to me. Two sets of eyes are better than one, after all.”

Kanathara’s form quickly turned to a black mist before seeping into Rainbow Dash’s body. Once done, the vengant shook herself before extending her wings and stretching all four legs.

“Alright, let's get moving,” declared the vengant before leaping into the air.

A few hard flaps and they had gained a significant amount of distance between them and their temporary home. A minute later and they were soaring over the treetops at a good pace, with Kanathara watching the forest beneath them while Rainbow Dash focused mainly on flying. The tag team worked well, and they quickly covered a good amount of area, though they didn't find anything out of the ordinary.

The forest was truly massive, and though Kanathara was focused on her goal of locating Shining Armor, she couldn't help but find herself getting distracted. The sheer amount of chaos within the forest was a curious thing indeed, and during the first hour of flight she saw many strange sights. Fights between monsters and demons were plenty common, with the victor usually consuming the loser. The damage they left behind was also rapidly regrown, with the forest filling in the gaps left behind after a particularly climactic battle.

Hydras, manticores, and more could all be seen flitting their way through the dense forest, each one intent on seeking out prey or a mate. Either way, Kanathara was happy that she wasn't walking through the forest, though that didn't mean there were other things to worry about. Spine-spewing plants occasionally targeted them, but they were far too slow to hit such an excellent flier like Rainbow Dash.

A few other flying creatures gave them the odd look, only for the vengant to inevitably end up leaving them in the dust when they decided to chase them. Even with those distractions, Kanathara was able to safely say that she had not seen hide nor hair of the paladins or Shining Armor. That was until they flew over a particularly rocky area near a dry river bed, then her gaze caught the familiar gleam of sun on metal.

There, go a little slower, Kanathara commanded.

Rainbow Dash nodded and angled down a little bit, allowing them to look down on the chaotic melee happening below them. Dozens of paladins were in the middle of a fight with imps of varying size, shape and kind. They outnumbered the ponies three to one, but even then the fight was terribly one-sided, with the paladins having a clear edge. When it came down to it, the paladins’ coordination combined with holy magic meant that the Tartarus-born fiends were little match for the warriors.

A quick calculation told Kanathara that even if the cadre of armored ponies wasn't lost, it wasn't likely that the paladins would reach Tirek’s base for a long while. With that pleasant thought in mind, Rainbow Dash picked up speed and began to go on a long, winding course towards Tirek’s base of operations. A plan which Kanathara approved of, as the keeper didn't want to accidentally lead the paladins to her father’s doorstep.

No matter how unlikely that was in the first place.

So it was that a few hours later the pair landed on the other side of the secret waterfall, with Kanathara reforming and Rainbow Dash shaking herself free of the ice-cold water that clung to her.

“That was a lot less cool the second time,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara chuckled. “Yeah once you get over the whole hidden waterfall entrance thing, it's just cold and annoying.”

“Totally takes the magic out of the experience,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Agreed,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Together the two demons quickly bypassed the usual traps, obstacles, and magical defences before entering the base itself. The rather grungy store room was more organized than before, with the boxes having been arranged in a defensive formation. Though no one actually stood on guard right now, there were at least a few dozen spears as well as some other weapons set out, ready for a defender to use them.

It was there that Rainbow Dash paused and held out a hoof, stopping Kanathara in place.

“What is it, Dash?” Kanathara asked.

“Have you checked that paper recently?” inquired the vengant. “Velvet said it wouldn't be long before the memory thing was done, right?”

“I mean yeah, but it's only been what? Less than twenty-four hours,” Kanathara replied.

“Hey, ya never know. Maybe we’ll get lucky,” Rainbow Dash declared with a shrug.

“Fine. But I’m not getting my hopes up,” Kanathara muttered before reaching into her pocket dimension and rooting around for her target. After a few moments of searching, the demon found what she was looking for and the rune-inscribed piece of paper emerged from the blackened portal.

The demon turned the piece of parchment over to reveal the side which was now glowing a faint red. The light pulsed occasionally, illuminating the small box-filled room and startling Kanathara out of her shock.

“Well?” Rainbow Dash asked expectantly, gesturing to the glowing piece of parchment.

“Well what?” Kanathara replied.

“Are we going to use it and teleport back to Velvet’s place or what?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“We just came all this way, but she did mention that it would also be able to return us to the same spot we left from,” Kanathara murmured. “I’m still not sure though.”

“What's there to think about? You want your memories back, and Tirek and Pear Butter can wait a little longer. Plus when are we going to get a better chance than now?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“We are going to have to really get moving on the next Elements as time will be a factor,” Kanathara remarked before sighing. “I suppose this is the best chance we are going to get.”

“Damn right it is,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Okay, gimme a second,” Kanathara announced before leaning down and placing the glowing parchment on the ground.

After that she lit her horn and cast a quick spell, causing the rune-bound paper to grow and stretch until it slithered under their hooves and covered a much wider area. As that happened the glow became brighter and brighter until it was hard to even look at anymore. Once that occurred, Kanathara could sense that whatever spell placed on it was complete, and all she needed to do was activate it with a bit of her magic.

Yet when it came time to do so, she hesitated, unsure if she even wanted those memories back. There was a large part of her that wanted to be whole once more, and to be able to recall her entire life with clarity, but there was a small, but vocal part of her that made her pause. That part warned that this was a path that would end up changing her and Tirek’s relationship forever and probably not for the better.

After all, Kanathara knew that she had been foalnapped as a child, but even that knowledge felt distant, as if it had happened to someone else and not her. Witnessing it, remembering it would make that fact really hit home, and would inevitably make the demon see the centaur in a new light. It wasn't like she thought he was infallible or anything as she had long since abandoned such childish notions, yet the fear of losing him made her wonder if this was even a good idea.

“You alright, boss?” Rainbow Dash questioned, the vengant draping a hoof over the keeper’s shoulders.

“Y-yeah. Just thinking about stuff,” Kanathara muttered.

“About my butt, right?” Rainbow Dash teased, squeezing the other demon’s shoulder gently. “It's okay, you can just come out and say it if you want.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I wish it was about your butt. Alas, it is not that simple.”

“Talk to me, boss. I know that look in your eye, you're getting all wound up and need to let it out,” Rainbow Dash urged.

The keeper sighed. “Just wondering if we should go through with this. One way or another, it will change things, you know?”

“I know you, and I know you aren't going to back down now,” Rainbow Dash stated. “The only question left is if you can live with the consequences of your actions.”

“Yeah…” Kanathara shook her head. “I guess we’ll just have to see, right?”

“That we will. And I’ll be by your side the whole time,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Kanathara smiled and kissed the other demon’s cheek. “Thank you, Rainbow. Now come on. Let's get my memories back and put this whole mess to rest.”

“Hell yeah. Let's do this thing!” shouted the vengant before banging a hoof against her armored chest.

Kanathara lit her horn and in a flash they were gone.

A second later they appeared inside of Velvet’s messy main living area, which had been reorganized to allow a large summoning circle to be painted on the ground. The cultist herself stood a few feet away with a surprised look on her face, and what looked like a peanut butter and banana sandwich in her hoof. Placing the food aside, the mare quickly trotted up to the demons just as they were regaining their bearings.

“I’m assuming you got my message then?” she asked.

“We did,” Kanathara replied after a short pause.

“And I’m assuming you're ready to do the procedure immediately?” Velvet continued.

The keeper nodded slowly. “I am.”

“Well, alright then. Give me a moment to get things set up,” Velvet announced before turning and walking away, only to stop and come back for her sandwich before ducking out of the room.

“You sure you're still not overthinking this? You seem tense, boss,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“I am kinda tense and I don't think it's going to go away until this is over and done with, I’m afraid,” Kanathara admitted.

“So long as you don't get all squirrely on me again,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The keeper took the other demon’s hoof in her own, squeezing it tightly. “Just promise me you won't be far. Okay?”

“You got it, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied with a smile and a squeeze.

Velvet opened the door a crack and peeked inside. “We’re all ready for you now,” she announced.

“Good. Let's just get this over with already,” Kanathara muttered before releasing Rainbow’s hoof and stepping through the door.

Velvet closed the wooden portal after the two demons had exited and turned to the left. “It's just in the room over here. Oh, and please don’t touch anything. This equipment is incredibly sophisticated, and any movement could throw the whole thing out of whack.”

Rainbow Dash blinked. “Why are you both looking at me?”

“No reason at all,” Kanathara muttered.

Rainbow Dash frowned and grumbled under her breath as she followed Velvet into the next room.

This one was much like the last, save for the fact that it had no bathroom and was all one large open space. It was also dominated by a single massive construct of wire and crystal which was situated around, on and under a simple wooden chair. On the ground beneath it was a massive and rather complex array of several dozen intertwined runes which glowed a faint purple. To Rainbow Dash it didn't make a lick of sense, and she quickly stood next to the door, ensuring she was well out of the way.

“Wow, this is quite something,” Kanathara exclaimed as she looked over the several floating circles of wire and crystal which levitated around the chair.

“Remind me to explain it to you sometime. It is really quite fascinating,” Velvet remarked.

“I most certainly will,” Kanathara declared, only to frown. “How exactly do I get into position anyway?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to either teleport or simply reform within the seat. Oh, and please remove your greeves. I’m not sure if they will interfere, but I’d rather not add any more variables while I’m messing with your head,” Velvet warned.

Kanathara removed the bracers while eying the pony closely. “You know, I’m not really sure how comfortable I am with you digging around in my skull.”

“Well, unless you got a spell to make Rainbow over here grow a horn, I’m about the only one who can do this for you,” Velvet remarked with a smile. “But seriously, don't worry. I built this entire procedure to work for you and only you. It's perfectly safe.”

Kanathara couldn't help but relax, despite the logical part of her mind telling her to be even more wary of the mare after being reassured by her. “Thanks, Velvet. I appreciate this,” Kanathara whispered, giving the pony’s shoulder a gentle touch.

Velvet reached up and took the demon’s hoof in her own, squeezing it tightly. “I swear to you. This will work, and it is safe. Just relax and do as I say, and everything will work out fine.”

Should I keep an eye on her? Rainbow Dash asked.

Watch her closely, but don't do anything to interrupt the procedure. Something tells me that won't end well, Kanathara swiftly replied.

“I’m ready,” proclaimed the keeper of secrets.

“Go ahead and get into position. Final preparation will only take a minute,” explained the pony, who had already lit her horn.

Kanathara took a breath, gave her familiar one final reassuring glance and turned to smoke, slipping between the rings of wire and crystal before reforming in the chair.

I’ll be right there with you, boss, Rainbow Dash assured, standing tall and proud as she looked down on the seated keeper.

Thank you again, Rainbow, replied Kanathara.

Within moments the machinery began to hum, startling the demon and diverting her attention to the rings which had begun to slowly spin, each layer going in the direction opposite to the one below it. Within moments the circles were a blur of pink energy, the hum of magic quickly growing to the point that it would have drowned out any attempt at conversation. Within the center of the swirling mass of light and sound sat Kanathara, the demon remaining stock still even as she was tempted to move or flee.

The sheer amount of energy that built beneath and around her was immense, making her horn ache and her hooves tingle. Though she had lost sight of Rainbow Dash and Velvet due to the brightness of the pink light, Kanathara knew they hadn't moved. The vengant would no doubt be wearing the same confident look on her face while Velvet tried to do her best, but still ended up looking a little nervous.

Kanathara breathed deeply and did her best to soothe her worries while at the same time bracing for a flash or something that marked the end of the spell. Yet there was nothing to signal the completion of the machine and one moment she was in a rather uncomfortable chair while the next she was flung backwards into her own mind. The swirl of color, light, and sensations she experienced immediately after created a bizarre synthesia which made it difficult to discern what exactly was going on.

She could taste the color of somepony’s fur, smell what the first bite of breakfast tasted like and hear the soft sensation of her bed beneath her hooves. As time passed things began to make slightly more sense, though it never became perfect, as there was always a hint of unreality to what she experienced. But at least Kanathara could tell what was happening, and what memories she was experiencing at least.

Memories that seemed to be early for lack of a better description. The feeling of her bed beneath her body, the taste of milk on her tongue, the sound of her parents talking to one another or her. The memories were still garbled, but Kanathara could tell that she was revisiting what felt like her very early years. This was evidenced by the odd things she seemed to remember, like a pony’s necklace, but not the pony’s face, or another pony’s mane, but not what their eyes looked like.

Those memories were thankfully few in number, and were easily absorbed, sliding right into place. Already Kanathara felt… different somehow, as if she were more of a pony than she had been a minute ago. The demon didn't have long to contemplate this strange shift in feelings however, as the memories were becoming more intense, and this time they were far more complete.

There were still patches missing, but they were less numerous and mainly had to do with small, seemingly insignificant details. They also brought with them far more sensations that didn't easily fit into the simple range of touch, smell, or taste. Sensations like love and familial connection, which, although not completely foreign, were startlingly intense. Especially considering the fact that she was feeling these things for ponies that she had either never met or only known for a matter of days.

Late night discussions with her pony father spent on the roof of their family home came back to her as if she had never forgotten them. Training sessions with her brother in their backyard, rushed to the forefront of her attention, filling her mind with small details about the stallion. Meals made with her pony mother were also quite poignant, the small lessons Twilight Velvet sprinkled within were also quite endearing.

All of these memories felt both new and old, her mind both accepting and rejecting them at the same time. Their familiarity was perhaps the greatest sticking point for Kanathara, who found herself unnerved by how intimately she now knew these strangers. Yet they were not truly strangers, not anymore at least, her memories informed her of that much.

Her ruminations were brushed aside when another surge of memories came to mind, these ones being far more recent. They also felt final, as if these were the last ones she would get before she was abducted and forced to become Tirek’s adopted daughter. Then her thoughts were brushed aside, her mind focused utterly on reabsorbing what had been lost but was now found.

Images of school, thoughts of failure, dreams of the future, all that and more were forced upon her, leaving the demon both confused and oddly nostalgic. Grades flew by one after another, each one easily passed and fairly similar. She had few friends, few enemies, and cared little for others as the young pony focused completely on what lay ahead of her.

Until the fateful day arrived that she would receive the most grueling test of her young life, in order to possibly enter the most prestigious of schools. The sight of Celestia made young Twilight squeal with joy while Kanathara writhed in confused rage. The object of her hatred was nothing but kind though, and the brief interaction they had upon entering the school left Kanathara feeling queasy for some reason.

Then it was gone, and she was face to face with the egg and the test, her efforts growing increasingly desperate. Twilight’s desperation was disgusting to the demon, yet she couldn't help but understand why Twilight had tried so hard. This would make her pony mother, father, and brother all incredibly proud, and accomplish a dream that Twilight had since she was very young. Kanathara didn't have long to think on that topic for long however, as the focus and exertion she felt was quickly replaced by pain.

It was unbearable and all-consuming, eclipsing what she had gone through during her more rigorous trials. Even her rebirth as a keeper of secrets was nothing compared to this pain, and the agony of being captured by a pain elemental didn't hold a candle to what she now remembered. She wanted to escape, to get out of this memory, yet it dragged on, her sense of time warped by the sheer intensity of the memory.

And then she was sitting on the chair, breathing heavily as inky sweat dripped down her body. Eyes wide and ethereal mane billowing behind her, the demon stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the memory to fade, to slip into the back of her mind, yet still it remained. Some part of her knew that the memory had dulled the experience somewhat, but that was a small comfort to the pony turned demon.

As she lay there, Kanathara wondered if it had been worth all the agony both emotional and physical that she had just gone through. An easy answer never came however, no matter which angle she considered things from, or how she looked at it. Either way the loss of her family was now a stinging reminder of what had been taken from her, and the pain of her arrival in Tartarus stayed with her constantly.

“Boss? Kanathara? Are you okay?” whispered a nervous voice.

Twilight looked over to an apprehensive vengeant who stood a few feet away, ears pinned to the back of her head, pointed teeth revealed between tightly drawn lips. The sight made Kanathara feel relieved, and Twilight worried, a mix that made the demon growl in frustration. Thankfully that split managed to remedy itself rather quickly, with her memories settling into place and her being aligning once more.

“I’m….” Kanathara gulped, “I’m fine.”

“Well, you sure don't look fine,” Rainbow Dash countered.

Kanathara ran a hoof across her face, only to bump into her horn and prompt her to look up to the curved, khopesh-shaped piece of bone with newfound appreciation. A tentative hoof touched the long appendage, and she quickly recoiled, realizing how strange she must look right now.

“Is there any dizziness? Itching or irritation of any kind?” Velvet asked nervously, the scarred older mare taking a nervous step forward.

It took everything Kanathara had not to leap into the pony’s hooves and begin crying tears of joy. A reaction that Velvet seemed to notice, as she quickly broke the circles of crystal and wire, casting them aside and allowing Kanathara to stand on weary hooves. For a split second the demon wasn't sure if she was too tall or too short, as her body felt both foreign and familiar. That too passed quickly, and soon she was able to stand without fear of falling over.

“Are you sure you are okay there, boss?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“I’m perfectly fine, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara declared before leaning forward and planting a kiss on the other demon’s lips.

Rainbow Dash blushed and kissed her back before awkwardly parting. “Well, I guess that settles that,” she whispered.

“Do you remember everything?” Velvet asked, the mare’s voice dripping with trepidation.

“I do,” Kanathara declared before turning to the door. “And we are going to meet with Tirek, right bloody now.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: Apollyon, Astor, BeenMcsqueen, Blade Tech, Calum, Canary in the Coal Mine, Ceepert, Corey, Craig, Dale, DioKyro, Doomgooey, Facinus, Free, GruB, I am Unknown, Ivar, Jacob, Jeffrey, Kali, Lich-Lord Krosis, M, Makani, Megatyrant, Menthol Qtip, Mephia, Mike, Mikhalia, Mirvra, Mophop, Nathan, Neverborn, Nfreak, Octavia and lowbar, Pacsik, Peter,Prysm, Random reader, soundtea, Starless, Steven, Tiwake, Todd, Trash Panda, Vigilant Watch, annnnnnnd Xvos!

Trial Five: On The Run

Kanathara watched as the various demons under her father’s employ assembled in the largest available room. The crowd wandered around with confused looks on their faces and Kanathara couldn't help but think back to what happened only a few minutes ago. The memory was a poignant one, and it made the demon see herself in a different, more shameful light.

Was I really willing to act on that anger? Kanathara thought to herself. Despite what he's done, and the memories and context I’ve gained, surely I wasn't about to attack him.

The thought felt a little hollow to the keeper, who knew just how hot her rage had burned after she had walked into the room. Kanathara also knew that she had a habit of winding herself up if no one broke her train of thought, so it wasn't too farfetched to assume she may have done something she would have come to regret. Ultimately it no longer mattered, she decided, as the rage she had felt was gone, replaced by a grim acceptance.

She had already forgiven Tirek, but it did feel good to make him promise to teach her everything he knew. As she considered the centaur’s promise, Kanathara couldn't help but wonder what other secrets may be hiding in the old demon’s mind, a thought that nearly made the keeper salivate. Wiping her lips, Kanathara tried not to think about all the many spells, artifacts, and obscure knowledge that she may be about to acquire.

“You hungry there, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara shook her head. “No, I grabbed something already. I’m just thinking about stuff.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged, and faced the assembly of demons. “Good, ‘cause if you still are, you should grab something while you can. You know what Cervantes used to tell us to never fight on an empty stomach.”

Kanathara frowned as she thought about the old armor demon, silently wondering if he was finally at piece now that he had been granted his final death. The keeper made a note of putting up some kind of memorial to her old teacher as soon as she found the time. Kanathara mused on the possibility of constructing a golem that looked like him, only to brush the idea aside when she noticed Tirek walk in.

The gathered demons all eyed him critically, most sizing him up, while a few others were merely confused as to why they were there. The tension was thick, as every demon Tirek had escaped with still held some modicum of distaste for their lord. Kanathara even heard a few whispered curses leveled her father’s way, though she paid them little mind, as she knew what was coming next.

After Pear Butter stood next to him, and both Velvet and Pythias had entered the room, Tirek cleared his throat and pulled out a small stack of papers.

“By now you no doubt know of the coming attack,” Tirek began. “Pythias has probably already told you of the plan and your role during the actual assault.”

A few nodded, others grunted, while the rest merely remained impassive, waiting for the old demon to get to the point.

“There will be no changes to the orders you’ve already been given, though I have altered your contracts slightly,” Tirek exclaimed, his announcement causing the assembled demons to perk up either curiously or nervously. “The short version is that you will not be serving me after this battle has concluded.”

Confused whispers abounded, while the more violent demons placed a limb on whatever weapon they had on hand.

“Explain!” one yelled.

“I intend to,” Tirek replied, raising the stack of papers high into the air. “These are your contracts. Most of you serve me for a limited time in return for safety and experience, while others’ contracts are more permanent. Regardless of the contract you’ve signed, you will be released from your duties as soon as you are slain, and your souls return to Tartarus. All I ask is that you do not kill any of the ponies.”

That made the crowd’s mood turn. A towering, plate mail-covered war demon stepped forward. “I assume we can confirm that?” he asked.

Tirek nodded, grabbed one of the papers and offered it to him. “Of course, though we don't have the time to go over each one individually.”

The war demon eyed his contract closely, before handing it back. “The alteration is within the bounds of our agreement, and it all seems to be there.”

A few shouts of exultation could be heard, as well as more than a little cackling.

“And as a sign of good will, there is a cache of goods buried under the site of my former tower. It is yours for the taking,” Tirek finished.

Rainbow Dash leaned towards the keeper. “Is he sure that's a good idea, I mean, one cache between all of them?”

“They’ll learn to work together, or kill each other. Either way, they’ll do it of their own free wills,” Kanathara replied.

The vengant shrugged. “I suppose so.”

“So if that's everything, return to your groups and await the orders,” Tirek stated.

The assembled demons quickly filed out, some already forming alliances, while others conspired against their fellows. Kanathara sighed. They are still demons, after all.

When Pythias turned to leave, Tirek caught her by the arm. “Wait, I need to speak with you and Pear Butter.”

The wrath demon in question stepped forward and let out an irritated snort. “Need I remind you that releasing us at this moment is out of the question?” Pear Butter declared.

“I know what you said, but it's not up to you. I’m the one who wrote the contract, and I’m the only one who can break it,” Tirek retorted.

Pythias frowned and grabbed the centaur’s arm, her gaze focusing on the fear demon.

Who suddenly looked confused and then a little sad. “Fine,” he muttered. “But the second this business is done, I am ripping them up. Regardless of the risk to myself.”

Pear Butter gave the seer a nod of thanks before turning back to the centaur. “Now then, do we know where they are?”

Kanathara shook her head. “They have deployed an anti-scrying field already, as have we. Neither of us will know where our enemies are until they knock on the front door.”

“The back entrance is fairly well-hidden, but we should still be prepared to fight our way out,” Tirek reminded the group. “I just hope that our small force can manage that much at least.”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” Rainbow Dash declared. “As soon as they start trying to break in, your minions will attack, and we’ll slip out the rear. Easy peasy.”

“Well, now you're just jinxing us on purpose,” Velvet remarked.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Hey, at least I didn't say something like ‘it couldn't get any worse’.”

“Except you just did,” pointed out Kanathara.

“Yeah, but it doesn't count ‘cause nothing bad has happened yet,” countered the vengant.

“We can argue narrative cliches when we aren't facing down a pack of demon hunters,” Tirek interrupted.

Kanathara nodded. “Right. We should get into place.”

“My thoughts exactly, follow me,” Pear Butter replied.

“Remember, as soon as you are outside, make a beeline for the narrow pass. It should give us enough cover to escape into the forest,” Pear Butter explained. “Now is everyone ready?”

The tight hallway leading up to the small, hidden exit was packed with demons ready to move at a moment's notice. At the very front stood the last remaining demons Tirek had under his command who weren't busy fighting the paladins who had already begun pushing into the base. They were few in number, but were also the strongest he had left, and each one appeared eager to complete this one final job before they were free to acquire the reward promised to them.

Behind them stood Pear Butter, Tirek, Rainbow Dash, Kanathara, Pythias, and Velvet, who wore all their usual equipment. Weapons were in hand, and spells had been cast, ensuring that they would be given the best chance possible to escape. Enchantments hummed and yet more magic built, ready to be unleashed the moment a target presented itself.

Kanathara nodded. “Let's do this.”

Pear Butter nodded before turning to the large war demon who stood at the head of the small squad. Turning the handle, him and the small group under his command surged out of the door, and into the wide open space beyond. The evening sun shone brightly, illuminating the boulder strewn landscape, as well as the cadre of silver armored ponies making their way through it in their direction.

Cursing under her breath, Pear Butter jabbed a hoof at the paladins. “Attack now, before they’ve had the chance to close the distance!”

The war demon and his squad bellowed their war cries and piled out of the small hallway, charging directly at the temporarily confused pack of ponies. That confusion didn't last long, and despite the rocky, uneven terrain, they quickly assembled into a boxy formation and charged right back. Though Kanathara couldn't see Shining Armor from where she was standing, the demon had a feeling that her pony brother was in the group that had been searching for a back exit as their coordination was a little too good.

“Come on!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pulling Kanathara along as they raced towards two great piles of rocks which formed the narrow pass and between which stood an entrance into the chaotic forest.

The path itself wasn't terribly wide, but the twin piles of boulders on either side were large enough to make circling around them difficult, if not impossible. All that was left to do was to sprint a few hundred metres and they would be home free, something Kanathara and her group were eagerly attempting. The broken terrain slowed the ground-bound members of their group slightly, but with all the buffing spells that they had cast, it wasn't considerable.

As they ran, Kanathara glanced over her shoulder briefly, watching as the demons crashed into the paladins’ defences. Though the demons were clearly invigorated by the fact that they would be free to pursue other contracts after their death, the paladins held firm. The ensuing counterattack did much to blunt the demonic advance, to the point that the demon’s splintered and were starting to get picked off.

Worse yet for the fleeing group was the squad of pegasi who were swooping down from a nearby cloud, enchanted crossbows in hoof. Their armor wasn't as thick as the other paladins’, though it was obviously just as well-enchanted, as they moved unnaturally fast. A quick calculation told Kanathara that they wouldn't be able to make it to the pass before the first squadron of pegasi caught up with them.

Cursing under her breath, Kanathara let loose the magic that she had been building, not as an offensive spell, but rather a defensive one meant to create an artificial bank of fog. She knew any attempt at striking the pegasi would be a wasted effort, and she didn't have the time to figure out a way past their defences. Thus the fog bank worked to at least partially conceal them from the prying eyes of their pursuers.

A gust of wind suddenly picked up after Kanthara’s spell was complete, and a thick curtain of unnaturally thick fog settled over both the pass and the space leading up to it. While this happened, bolts began to rain down from the sky and Kanathara’s group sprinted into the cover of the magical fog. Kanathara could hear the sounds of fighting stop, signalling that their distraction had already been dealt with.

We need some cloud cover, Kanathara commanded as she leapt over a large boulder and rounded a second.

Right, Rainbow Dash replied, before inhaling a deep lungful of air and turning her head upward, unleashing a thin beam of concentrated hellfire into the sky. The cloud it hit instantly turned black and began to undulate as it grew larger and larger, quickly blotting out the evening sun and casting the area in darkness.

As soon as the sky darkened, the rain of bolts became so ineffective that their attackers abandoned range weapons entirely. Kanathara didn't let down her guard completely though, as she could still hear the flap of wings close behind her. Worse still, they still had a good distance to go, and it wouldn't be long until their ground-bound pursuers caught up to them.

The sound of something falling prompted Kanathara to briefly turn to smoke, inadvertently passing through a falling pegasus who had been ready to grapple the demon. Quickly reforming on the other side, Kanathara noticed that all around her, various pegasi were attempting to pin down the rest of her group. Tirek seemed slow to dodge, as was Pear Butter, but together the centaur’s magic, and Pear Butter’s raw strength ensured that any who tried, failed. Pythias always seemed just out of reach of her attackers, while Velvet had deployed a shield and Rainbow Dash simply outran her attackers.

“If they hit a single one of us, then it's all over. We need to shake them!” Kanathara shouted as she dodged out of the way of a second swooping attack from a knife-wielding pegasus.

“When I give the signal, dispel the fog,” Tirek yelled back.

Kanathara nodded, and together they continued to run until her father unexpectedly spun around and skidded to a halt. “Now!” he bellowed.

The keeper lit her horn, causing her fog spell to dissipate, the obscuring blanket vanishing as if blown away by a gale force wind. Leaving behind several pegasi who scrambled to gain altitude and potentially dodge whatever spells may be leveled their way. They didn't make it far though, as Tirek reared up and let loose a terrifying war cry, which had the effect of forcing all eyes to turn to him.

Kanathara looked away, as did the rest of her group who continued to run past the fear demon as his visage began to contort. The keeper didn't need to see what was happening to know that Tirek was using one of his most powerful fear spells, one which would cause all who gazed into his eyes to flee as fast as they could manage. The cry of shock and panic that rose from the ponies told Kanathara that his plan was a success. A glance over her shoulder confirmed this.

Screaming pegasi flew in all directions, most dropping their weapons while a few even tore off their armor before flying as high as they could. A second later the centaur caught back up with his daughter, panting heavily and having visibly shrunk a little more. Though weary, he seemed to have at least a little bit more magic left him in, which was good as something told the keeper that they werent quite free yet.

The walls of the pass rose around them as the clang of steel-shod hooves closed in from behind the group. Kanathara cursed her luck, the keeper having silently hoped that the armored column had conveniently forgotten to defend themselves against her father’s fear attack. They had no such luck however, and Kanathara was aiming a fireball spell over her shoulder before those in front of her suddenly skidded to a halt.

An enormous, glowing stone wall dozens of meters tall had suddenly appeared before them, blocking their escape and causing the group to screech to a halt. Pear Butter quickly turned and bucket it, and Velvet unleashed an explosion of magic, but neither did anything to affect the barrier. Kanathara began to channel her own spell, but her concentration fizzled when a bolt of holy magic zipped past her shoulder.

Spinning around, the demon found herself facing down a small column of silver-clad paladins, at the forefront of which stood a familiar stallion. “Give up! The barrier is reinforced with the light of the sun, you will not get past it, nor will you get past us!” shouted Shining Armor, his voice echoing off the rock walls.

“I have a plan, just hold him off for a while,” Kanathara remarked before slipping behind the group and lighting her horn.

Velvet nodded and stepped forward, unsheathing her mace as she did. “And you are grounded, mister!” she shouted.

Shining Armor gritted his teeth. “I should have known you were aiding the demons. It's not too late, there is time to turn over a new leaf. Surrender along with your cohorts, and I swear you will all be treated with dignity.”

“Would that be before or after you killed us for existing?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“You, my sister, and mother have nothing to fear from us. Celestia has plans to save all of you,” Shining Armor shouted.

Rainbow Dash frowned. “Is it just me or does this plan sound worse than just getting killed?”

“At least you're apparently worth planning for,” Pear Butter muttered.

“Enough talk. If you do not want to surrender, then I will take you in myself,” Shining Armor proclaimed.

Pear Butter frowned, glancing at the still panting and clearly magically exhausted Tirek before turning to Rainbow Dash. “If things get out of hand, get ready to drag me out of here. I have my own trump card.”

“Fine. But you better not be a hundred feet tall or else that ain't about to bloody happen,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Get ready, here they come,” Velvet replied, gripping her mace tighter.

Sure enough, the paladins were already mid-charge, the half dozen heavily armed ponies sprinting at them with weapons drawn. The five demons lined up to meet them, while Kanathara muttered as another spell fizzled, her attempt at teleporting them away being stopped by some unseen force. She had more tricks in her arsenal, though it was obvious that bypassing this barrier would not be easy without leaving someone behind, and she wasn't going to let that happen.

Behind her, blade met blade, spell met spell, and the two sides clashed viciously with one another. Rainbow Dash faced off against a wiry earth pony clad in spike-covered armor who threw a vicious left hook at the vengant. Ducking under it, Rainbow Dash continued forward, using her momentum to headbut the paladin in the face.

His armor held strong, and Rainbow Dash leapt back, unleashing a short burst of flame before launching into a flurry of blows. The stallion seemed unfazed by either attack, his enchantments ensuring that the demon’s fire did not even reach him. He was also able to match the vengant’s impressive speed and blocked, dodged, or countered each strike the demon leveled his way.

Next to her fought Velvet, her horn glowed brightly as she swung her mace against what she hoped was her enemy’s head. Her opponent brought her shield up before the diabolist’s weapon could hit her though, the paladin’s own horn glowing a bright teal. Hopping back, Velvet unleashed her magic, causing the ground to erupt with sharp stone spikes.

The other pony seemed to be waiting for this though and countered with a shield that saved her from being skewered while also shattering the conjured stone. Velvet didn't let up though, and before the shield could even be lowered, the diabolist was already charging forward, her weapon impacting the pony’s helmet grille. Flames erupted from the demonically infused mace, and for a second Velvet held out hope that her attack had done something. Only for the pony to shake her head and reveal that she was fine and already building another spell to launch at her foe.

At the centre of their formation stood Pear Butter, who battled Shining Armor in close combat, her size increasing steadily as the fight continued. Though she was now a full head taller than Shining Armor, the wrath demon knew she wouldn't be able to keep up this fight for too long. Her injuries had only finished healing a day earlier, and the demon remained sore and burnt out from her brush with death.

Shining Armor wasn't about to go easy on her, and though he too wielded no traditional weapon, he didn't need to. Solid magic weapons hovered around him, battering at Pear Butter’s defences, his horn glowing brightly as he tried to drive the larger being back. Pear Butter wasn't about to let this happen though, as she knew well what a terrible position this would put the others in.

So instead of backing away, Pear Butter matched his furious assault, scale-covered hooves batting aside his weapons one after another before she unleashed a gout of flames. Fire met magic, and the inferno was quickly quenched, but Pear Butter had never intended on actually hurting her opponent with such an attack. When the smoke cleared, the wrath demon had risen above her opponent’s shields and quickly slammed her hooves against his barrier.

Though the magical shield held, it was clear that the unicorn was straining to keep it that way and with Pear Butter growing larger by the second he was forced to change tactics. When next the demon’s hooves came down, the male leapt back, abandoning his shield and dodging out of the way. The ground splintered, and a deep crack ran lengthwise across the chasm between paladin and demon, revealing that there was a cavern not far beneath the surface.

Tirek wasn't faring as well as his allies were, the fear demon’s exhaustion causing his movements to slow and his magic to take more concentration to utilize than usual. Still, the demon had centuries of experience, and even the crushing weight of his weakened state couldn't stop him completely. With conjured flame swords in each hand, the centaur matched the lightning fast attacks of his unicorn opponent.

Who stood on her back legs, forehooves gripping tight a pair of curved blades which hummed with holy energy. When their weapons clashed the demonic and holy energies met, causing an ear splitting screech to rend the air. Still, neither opponent backed down, each one meeting the other’s slashes and thrusts with a block or a dodge before going right back on the offensive.

Beside him stood Pythias, her dual opponents both slashing or attacking her with little affect. The mare and stallion pair both tried furiously to lay the seer low, only to always end up missing by mere inches. A warhammer flew at the bipedal demon’s head only to strike nothing but air at the same time that a greatsword would have cut the demonic being’s legs off.

Narrowly dodging out of the way, Pythias somehow managed to slip around their attacks and get inside the male’s defences, her hands gripping the stallion’s helmet tightly. With her ally between herself and her enemy, the female paladin was forced to go around, giving Pythias just enough time to work her magic. In a flash, the stallion found himself lost in a sea of future actions, his every action, attack and movement playing out at the same time.

The flood of possibilities was too much for the stallion, and he slammed his eyelids shut and vomited into his helmet, collapsing in a heap. Pythias nimbly dodged out of the way of his fellow before she could get an opening however, and the mare stood over her fallen friend. With one of her opponents now worried about the safety of the other one, the seer had a little more room to act, though even still, there wasn't much she could do.

Thankfully an answer quickly presented itself when Kanathara shouted in victory. “I got it!” she triumphantly declared.

Sure enough, when all eyes turned to her, an enormous hole had been bored straight through the wall, causing Shining Armor curse himself for not getting to the keeper in time. “Hold the line, paladins! Do not let them turn tail now! Our reinforcements are not far!” bellowed the male.

Pear Butter grumbled under her breath, now standing twice as tall as the pony she faced yet had still not scored a hit on. Worse still, there was little chance of escape, as the second they turned around the group would open themselves up to another attack. It was then that she remembered the crack she had already caused, and a glance down revealed that though narrow, the gap between them was surprisingly deep.

“Get ready!” shouted the wrath demon a second before she took a step back and inhaled, filling her enormous lungs with potent fuel.

Shining Armor, knowing full well that this was likely another feint, conjured a shield over him and his paladins anyway, inadvertently allowing the demons and Velvet to back up without fear of reprisal. A massive eruption of hellfire spewed forth from the wrath demon’s maw, her now mammoth size allowing her to bathe the entirety of the paladin line in fire. The intense heat made even Velvet shy away from the flames, the mare backing up to the hole Kanathara had made in Shining Armor’s wall.

The paladin’s shield held firm, the cascade of flames splashing harmlessly against his thick barrier, though their surroundings remained unprotected. The stone ground, already weakened from the fight, began to glow hot, and upon seeing this, Pear Butter unexpectedly cut off her fire breath. Before the paladins had a chance to rally, she raised her forehooves high before bringing them down hard enough to shatter stone.

The crack, which had been mere centimeters across, grew until it swallowed up a dozen or more meters. Pear Butter immediately turned and fled, her size shrinking fast enough that she was able to squeeze through the hole just after the rest of her group had already escaped ahead of her. That didn't mean she make it out without taking a few hits though, and her back was peppered with ineffective spell fire before she was able to slip behind cover.

Now sporting a few more scratches, and a couple new burn marks, the wrath demon looked over her shoulder to observe her handiwork. A wide crevice had opened between them and the paladins, a barrier that wouldn't be very difficult to get past, if it hadn't also caused either side of the pass to come loose and crumble towards the ponies. Now scrambling to dodge boulders, and a yawning abyss that opened beneath them, the paladins abandoned their attempt to chase their quarry.

“They will go around, we should move in case they have a flight enchantment on their armor or some other surprise,” Tirek remarked.

“Velvet, you probably know the area a little better than us, take Rainbow Dash and lead us out of here,” Kanathara commanded.

The pony nodded. “Right.”

Together the group began to run into the woods, putting the paladins firmly behind them. As the darkness of the treetops closed in around them, the demons and singular pony couldn't help but relax. The cover the forest granted was significant, and it would make any attempt at chasing them down all but impossible. Add to that the predators and scavengers that would be attracted by the commotion, and their escape was all but secured.

Until they stumbled into a small clearing where two armored ponies resided, one unarmed, the other wielding a massive crossbow.

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Not you two again. How are you even here anyway?”

Applejack snorted. “I know this forest better than my farm. This was the only way you had a chance of losing them, and we were scouting for the paladins since they set out.”

“So what are you going to do, fight all of us at the same time?” Velvet asked, gesturing to the five demons who stood around her at the edge of the clearing.

“Noper doper!” Pinkie Pie declared, even while she kept her crossbow leveled at the mare. “Unless we have to of course. But that wouldn't be very good for you.”

“Right, I’ll make this brief.” Applejack tapped the ground next to where a small magical circle was already inscribed. “If I tap this, a squad of paladins will teleport in and you’ll be up shit creek without a paddle. But I don't want to do that. I’m here for answers, and if you promise to give ‘em to me, I’ll let ya go.”

Kanathara glanced over to Pear Butter who looked on in a mixture of guilt, pain, and confusion. “What do you want exactly?” inquired the keeper.

“I want answers from her,” Applejack declared, jabbing a hoof at the wrath demon. “If you promise to meet me, then we can all pretend like this little meeting never happened.”

Before Kanathara or anyone could utter a word, Pear Butter took a step forward. “I swear,” proclaimed the demon.

Applejack nodded. “Good, you’ll know the meeting spot.”

Pinkie Pie lowered her weapon and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”

“We better get moving, we can talk about this later,” Tirek urged.

Kanathara frowned, but couldn't dismiss the wisdom of his suggestion, as she could hear the distant clatter of steel. The paladins had likely picked up the trail and were on their way once more, leaving them with little time. With no other options, the group continued on as they had first intended, with Rainbow Dash and Velvet taking the lead.

They quickly put the small clearing behind them, their group sprinting through the trees as they tried to lose their pursuers. While this happened, Pear Butter glanced over her shoulder with a fearful expression, as if the demon were being chased by a terrifying apparition. The worry and pain evident on Pear Butter’s features made Kanathara uneasy, but the keeper couldn't dwell on those thoughts for long.

Right now her survival depended on getting her little group out of harm’s way, which meant she had to keep her head down and her attention focused on what lay ahead. While at the same time Pear Butter couldn't stop thinking about all that she had just left behind.

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: Apollyon, Astor, BeenMcsqueen, Blade Tech, Calum, Canary in the Coal Mine, Ceepert, Corey, Craig, Dale, DioKyro, Doomgooey, Facinus, Free, GruB, I am Unknown, Ivar, Jacob, Jeffrey, Kali, Lich-Lord Krosis, M, Makani, Megatyrant, Menthol Qtip, Mephia, Mike, Mikhalia, Mirvra, Mophop, Nathan, Neverborn, Nfreak, Octavia and lowbar, Pacsik, Peter,Prysm, Random reader, soundtea, Starless, Steven, Tiwake, Todd, Trash Panda, Vigilant Watch, annnnnnnd Xvos!

Trial Six: The Unassailable Past

Kanthara pushed through the veil of sleep and emerged in the realm of the living with Rainbow Dash sprawled across her chest. The vengant snored loudly, her body nearly covering every inch of Kanathara and most of the bed at the same time. Chuckling softly to herself, the keeper turned to smoke and slipped out from under the other being, reforming in the space next to her bed, greeves still on her legs.

“These things aren't so bad,” she mused to herself, giving her legs a brief glance. “I didn't even notice them while I was falling asleep, though I certainly noticed Rainbow’s breast plate.”

The keeper of secrets stretched languidly in the small, lightless room, her enhanced senses unbothered by the fact that the space was pitch black. After a series of pops and cracks, her joints felt a lot better, and the demon glanced down on her still slumbering familiar.

“Now, what to do with you?” Kanathara murmured to herself. “I could wake you up, but you did work pretty hard yesterday.”

Shrugging, Kanathara turned and slipped out the door, leaving Rainbow Dash to enjoy a little extra rest. A second later Kanathara emerged in the basement of the cottage, where she paused and looked around. She ignored the jail cells further to her right and the spiral stairs that led down which were far to her left. She did, however, glance briefly at the small storage room which served as Tirek’s room, the demon imagining the centaur lying crumpled on a tiny mattress.

The thought made Kanathara feel a brief jolt of sadistic glee, though that vanished a moment later. After everything that had happened, she couldn't truly bring herself to be angry with the fear demon. Other emotions swirled within her such as a lingering sense of contempt, but there was also a little love as well.

Old Twilight is a little stronger than I would like to admit, Kanathara thought to herself as she strode past the various projects her pony mother had sprawled out around the space. To think the memory of ten year old could affect me so much... Ponies are the worst.

With her mood darkened slightly, Kanathara strode up the staircase and through the illusionary wall which hid the lower levels from sight. The mid-morning light illuminated the space well, the easterly window doing an excellent job at letting in the first rays of sunlight. Out here the cottage looked almost normal, provided there wasn't an enormous wrath demon and a cultist having tea near the entrance.

“Good morning,” Twilight Velvet greeted, gesturing to a third cup which had been presumably left out just for the keeper of secrets herself.

Kanathara nodded, noting idly that Pear Butter hadn't moved an inch and merely stared down into her own cup. “Velvet, Pear Butter,” Kanathara replied, before seating herself in the only open spot still available.

The tea smelt good, but was obviously not the same stuff that they had enjoyed only a few days ago. Tthe chair wasn't exactly comfortable either, nor did it fit the keeper of secret’s larger frame very well. Even still, Kanathara didn't complain and merely sipped her sweet, yet slightly earthy tea while staring out the window.

Together the three beings sat in silence for several minutes, until Pear Butter sighed suddenly and turned to her adoptive daughter. “Sorry ‘bout that, been a bit caught in my head recently,” Pear Butter muttered.

Kanathara waved a dismissive hoof at the demon. “Don't worry about it. I know this is all a little sudden given what has just occurred.”

“That's an understatement,” whispered Pear Butter.

“I hope at least someone managed to get a decent sleep,” Velvet offered, glancing at Kanathara and sipping her tea.

The keeper of secrets nodded. “We were so exhausted after everything that had happened that both Rainbow Dash and I fell asleep pretty much instantly.”

The pony relaxed ever so slightly. “That is good to hear. Pear Butter and I weren't able to get much in the way of rest, I’m afraid.”

“I got enough,” declared Pear Butter gruffly.

“Did you though?” Kanathara questioned.

The demon paused and then snorted bitterly. “It will have to do.”

“Speaking of which,” Velvet interrupted, “what exactly do you have in mind? I know that you did not have much time to speak to Tirek, or Pythias for that matter, but surely you have a plan of some kind.”

“Where is Pythias anyway?” Kanathara asked suddenly. “I didn't see where she went last night.”

“She is in the isolation room on level three,” Velvet replied. “She said something about not being able to see anything coming anymore and mentioned wanting to fix that.”

“Let us hope her abilities are able to receive the necessary boost, so we can move ahead with more assuredness,” Kanathara remarked.

“Seer or no seer, I need to see her,” Pear Butter declared suddenly. “Not only did I make a deal, but I, well…”

Kanathara placed a hoof on the larger demon’s shoulder. “It's okay, we understand.”

Velvet nodded along as well, suddenly appearing quite older than when she and Kanathara had met on the fringes of Ponyville only a few days earlier.

“Thanks,” Pear Butter whispered, shoulders slumping.

“As for me, I will remain here in order to stock the cottage better and heal up a little more,” Velvet offered.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow and glanced curiously at the cultist. “I wasn't aware that you had received any serious injuries?”

Velvet smiled and shook her head. “Oh, I’m not talking about me. Though I do need to treat a few scratches I got from those brush beetles.”

Kanathara blinked, only to remember that Tirek was still here, and that the pony likely still wished to have words with the centaur. “Ahh, I see. Well, then I bid you luck on that front. I for one will be accompanying Pear Butter on her journey,” Kanathara declared.

The wrath demon shifted awkwardly, turning as best as she could while still sitting in the much too small chair. “You don't have to do that, I can-” Pear Butter began.

“You can just sit there and enjoy my company,” Kanathara declared. “You are emotionally compromised and aren't thinking straight while there is a ton of specially trained anti-demon forces prowling the area.”

“Well when you put it that way, I sound like a foal,” Pear Butter murmured, sighing. “Fine, I suppose your spells would help keep us from running into any patrols.”

“I should probably speak to Rainbow Dash. Ah, speak of the devil,” Kanathara announced, turning to the stairs a second before a yawning vengant trod through the false wall.

“Mornin’,” she muttered groggily, her path to the table ending up a little more winding than Kanathara’s had been. In the end she sat down to the right of Kanathara and plopped her chin on the edge of the table before yawning wider than what the pony anatomy was capable of safely doing.

“You were saying,” Velvet offered, while pouring another cup of tea.

“I think I will ask that Rainbow Dash remains here,” Kanathara exclaimed, glancing down at the demon in question. “If this is going to serve as our base of operations, it will need a little remodeling, and a lot of additional stock. Two things I believe Rainbow Dash will be able to assist you with.”

Rainbow Dash nodded slightly. “Sure thing, boss lady. Just—” she yawned suddenly, “—make sure to stay safe out there and whatever.”

“I will,” Kanathara declared, pulling the other demon into a sidelong hug. “You know, this will be the first time we’ve truly been apart in quite a while.”

Rainbow Dash hugged her mistress back. “Well, don't worry, I’ll make sure to come up with plenty of bad puns and eat plenty of beans in order to make up for lost time.”

Kanathara delivered a swift punch to her familiar’s shoulder while a smile spread across her face. “You’re such a charmer, you know.”

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth wide and dumped the contents of her cup into it, gulping it all down and belching. “You know it, girlfriend.”

“Right then, when are we heading out?” Kanathara asked, turning to Pear Butter.

“We could go right now since the sun is up. The Apples are always early risers,” Pear Butter remarked in an almost melancholic tone.

“And on the way you can finally tell me the tale of how you ended up where you did,” Kanathara retorted, downing the last bit of her tea and standing up suddenly.

Pear Butter winced and shrunk slightly. “I suppose you deserve to know.”

“I do,” Kanathara declared.

The wrath demon sighed. “Fine, but I’ll tell it on the way. No offence, Velvet, Rainbow Dash.”

The cultist waved a hoof. “Think nothing of it and don't worry about finding a place to stay. The cottage is yours for as long as you need it.”

“I really do appreciate it,” Pear Butter murmured.

“So, are you ready?” Kanathara asked.

Pear Butter nodded. “I am.”

The wrath demon stood suddenly, a move which made her chair snap and crumble under her weight. Pear Butter herself reacted quickly, and didn't fall though the chair was now little more than a pile of splinters.

“Ha, nice one wide load,” Rainbow Dash remarked, smirking all the while.

Now blushing hotly, Pear Butter turned to the door. “Come on, Kanathara, let’s go.”

“Lead the way,” Kanathara offered, while holding back the urge to laugh at the other demon’s expense.

Kanathara’s hooves crunched silently through the forest, a slight chill running up her spine whenever the wind picked up. Pear Butter walked beside the keeper at a slightly more sedentary pace, her longer gait meaning she had to slow down slightly in order to not pull ahead of her companion. Something she forgot every once in a while, prompting Kanathara to sprint to catch up with her.

“So, are you going to tell me the story before or after we get there?” Kanathara asked hesitantly, shooting a sidelong glance at the partially invisible wrath demon who trod next to her.

Pear Butter snorted. “I suppose we should get this over with before we get there. I warn you though, it's not a pleasant story and well, you probably won't think of me the same way after I tell it.”

Kanathara hopped over a fallen log. “I kind of figured it wasn't a very nice story, given the luck we all seem to have. With all that being said, I’m fairly certain that my opinion on you will remain unchanged.”

Pear Butter shouldered her way through a thorny bush, her scales rendering the plant’s defence mechanisms completely useless. “I haven't always been quite so patient, you know. There was a time when my temper ruled me rather than the other way around,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“Really?” Kanathara asked simply, raising an eyebrow. “Because I don't know if you’ve noticed, but you are a wrath demon.”

The larger demon snorted. “The difference is that now I use my rage to empower myself and to help me defend the ones I love. This hasn't always been the case.” She sighed and hung her head. “In fact it's the reason I am what I am.”

“Explain,” Kanathara demanded.

Pear Butter sighed and stepped out onto a small game trail, Kanathara close at her side. “I know I’ve mentioned this to you before, but my first husband and I’s families did not exactly get along very well.”

“That's an understatement,” Kanathara muttered.

“I suppose it is.” The larger demon frowned. “At first it wasn't so bad, but as our love grew, our families’ rivalry did as well. It wasn't long until I was forced to choose between him and them. After I made that choice, I was disowned by everyone.”

“That seems a bit much,” Kanathara remarked sadly.

Pear Butter kicked a fallen log off the path, sending it spinning into a bush. “The Apple family took me in shortly after, and Granny Smith even went so far as to apologize for her part in the feud. That didn't matter though, the anger that had slowly been building inside of me ever since I was a teenager had already taken root in my soul.”

The demon simply trod through the small stream they found themselves at the edge of, while Kanathara nimbly hopped across. “I told myself that it didn't matter, that I had my own family, but whenever I saw my father again, I could feel it burning inside of me. Until one day I returned from a late delivery to find that the farmhouse was on fire.”

“What happened?” Kanathara whispered.

Pear Butter’s frown deepened. “I will get to that soon enough, but first I gotta set the scene so to speak.” The demon cleared her throat. “It was late, the sun had just set, and I was nearing home...”

The last fading rays of light stretched out before Pear Butter, illuminating the long road which stretched from Ponyville to the Apple family farm and beyond. Though tired from a long delivery, and irritated by the fact that she had to do it in the first place, Pear Butter couldn't help but smile. Sure, Mrs. Crabtree and her husband were a bit on the eccentric side, but they tipped well and were always happy to babysit.

Thus it wasn't all that bad, even if Pear Butter missed her family dearly after spending an entire day working.

Just the thought of Big Macintosh, little Applejack, and tiny baby Apple Bloom made Pear Butter’s heart swell and put a pep in her step. With images of her children swirling in her mind, Pear Butter suddenly didn't mind the dusty old road or the dirt which clung to her coat. She had made a bunch of bits, and though it was late, her children would still be awake for at least another hour or so.

After which she would have some time to spend with her husband before they too would have to retire for the night. A thought which didn't feel quite so bad now that the aches and pains of the day were beginning to creep up on her.

“I hope Bright Mac is up to giving me another massage. I’m going to need it after all this,” Pear Butter muttered as she trudged down the road.

In the quiet that followed, the mare let her thoughts wander randomly, simply enjoying the crisp evening air and the scent of apples that was born upon it. A smell that quickly shifted to something far more sinister and utterly panic-inducing. The instant it hit Pear Butter’s nostrils, her fight-or-flight instincts went into overdrive and she breathed deeply, trying to discern if her first assumption was correct.

The smell was heady, choking, and carried with it the distinct, bitter scent of scorched wood. Her hooves were already moving before she even had a chance to think, all lingering fatigue gone in an instant. The mare sprinted as fast and as hard as she could, lowering her head into the wind while silently praying that this was all some kind of misunderstanding.

The trees that lined the side of the road broke soon after and a familiar sign and gate appeared in the space between them. Behind it, further up the road stood the Apple family farmhouse, standing as tall and proud as ever, or at least it was upon first glance. The second Pear Butter’s eyes adjusted, she noticed that smoke now poured from the windows of the home, and flames had erupted from the ceiling.

She leaped over the gate and sprinted up to the homestead, her saddlebags falling away and being forgotten before they hit the ground. Several shapes moved around near the wide front porch, and as Pear Butter approached, she was able to see that it was Granny Smith, standing on the front lawn. In the aged mare’s hooves was a crying foal, while hiding between her legs was another terrified child.

“Granny, Applejack!” Pear Butter shouted.

Granny Smith looked up just as her daughter-in-law skidded to a stop before her. “Pear Butter, thank the stars yer here,” she exclaimed.

“Momma!” Applejack shouted, the filly clinging tightly to one of Pear Butter’s forelegs.

“What's going on?” Pear Butter demanded, holding her eldest daughter close.

The older mare stiffened slightly. “Yer father, Grand Pear showed up outta the blue, talking about how he wanted to have words with ya,” Granny Smith began, while still rocking a crying Apple Bloom.

“He didn't...” Pear Butter growled.

“Now child, there's more to it than that,” Granny Smith warned.

“Did he start this fire?” Pear Butter demanded.

“Momma, you're hurting me,” Applejack whined.

Pear Butter winced and released her hold on the small child. “I’m sorry, Jacky.”

“Look, I know yer mad, but-” Granny Smith began.

“Did he start the fire?” Pear Butter asked, her gaze narrowing.

Granny Smith sighed. “He did, but there’s more to it than that.”

“Where's Bright Mac?” Pear Butter inquired, her tone leaving no room for argument.

“He went back to save yer father, and Big Mac ran in after him,” Granny Smith replied, gesturing to the house.

Pear Butter nodded and gently pushed Applejack away. “Stay with Granny Smith, she’ll protect you. Keep an eye on your sister for me, okay?”

“I don't want you to go,” Applejack cried, clinging tightly to the mare’s hoof.

Pear Butter sighed and gently, but firmly pushed the child toward her grandmother. “Now is not the time, do as I say,” commanded the mare.

Applejack wilted and reluctantly nodded, her wide eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Okay, momma,” she whispered.

“Wait, stop, you don't know what yer doing!” Granny Smith yelled.

“I know enough,” Pear Butter growled before sprinting up to the front door.

Smoke billowed out of the windows, and the heat of the fire was intense, even at a distance, yet the mare didn't slow down one bit, shouldering her way through the door. Entering the kitchen, Pear Butter braced herself for the rush of heat which singed her fur and made her eyes water. Pushing through the fear and primal desire to run as far away as possible, Pear Butter forced herself to keep going.

Blinking through the tears which obscured her vision, the mare looked around the ravaged room, searching for any sign of her wayward husband. A muffled shout from the hallway beyond made her ears stand straight up, and a flicker of recognition passed through the mare.

“I’m coming, Bright Mac!” she shouted.

A second later and Pear Butter rounded the bend to find her father, son, and husband stumbling down the hall coughing violently. The smoke was thicker here and the two adults seemed to be suffering the worst of it as their coats were completely singed. Big Mac was doing his absolute best to pull his father down the hall, while the older stallion had Grand Pear half slung over his back.

The sight made Pear Butter’s heart leap out of her chest. “Run, Big Macintosh!” she shouted, grabbing the colt and pulling him away.

“But dad needs my help!” he cried.

“Go on, son, I’ll be right behind you. I’m just helping grandpa,” Bright Macintosh urged, before breaking into a fit of coughing.

Seeing that Big Macintosh wasn't about to do as he was told, Pear Butter wasted no time and hoisted the colt onto her back before sprinting back out the front door. Once outside she ran over to Granny Smith and placed the child at the elder mare’s hooves, shooting him a hard look.

“Stay here and look after your sisters,” Pear Butter commanded.

The colt bobbed his head eagerly, and before he could utter a response, Pear Butter was already gone, the mare running back towards the house. She leapt up the front steps in a single bound and emerged back into the raging inferno without breaking stride. Looking around, she found the two stallions collapsed on the kitchen floor, her father sprawled over Bright Mac’s body.

Both were weakly trying to stand, but between the smoke inhalation and the heat of the fire, they could hardly move. Acting on instinct, Pear Butter gripped her father and rolled him aside before throwing her husband onto her back. The strain of the full grown stallion was immense, but with adrenaline pumping through her veins, Pear Butter didn't even feel the weight.

Ignoring the cries of her father, Pear Butter stumbled towards the exit, before emerging back into the open air once more. Where she immediately dumped the coughing stallion, laying him out on the cold grass and immediately placing her head on his chest. His breathing was weak, but just as Pear Butter began to panic, his eyes flickered open and a surprisingly firm hoof gripped the mare’s shoulder.

“Save your father, please,” he urged.

“But-”

“Save him, and remember, I love you,” Bright Mac demanded, pushing the mare towards the house.

Growling to herself, Pear Butter did as was demanded of her, putting her family behind her in order to enter the fire once more. Inside, the smoke had grown even more intense, and the heat stung her eyes and threatened to light her hair aflame. Ignoring all that, Pear Butter searched for where she had discarded her father only a few seconds earlier.

It didn't take long to locate the aged stallion, as he lay mere inches from where Pear Butter had left him. Reaching down, the mare hoisted Grand Pear over her shoulder, shifting his weight slightly before running back towards the exit. She could have sworn she heard the old stallion apologize, but the sheer intensity of the fire made him hard to understand.

Pushing that aside, Pear Butter burst once more from the flaming farm house, emerging back onto the front step and tripping on a loose board. Grand Pear tumbled to the porch, flopping onto the ground and groaning as he struggled to stand. Pear Butter cursed her luck, as well as her father before stumbling back up to her hooves once more.

For a moment she considered going to her father, only to feel a sudden intense urge to check on her husband. Bowing to that sudden desire, Pear Butter turned, and gazed down upon the unmoving stallion lying sprawled out on the ground a few metres away. Though his eyes were open, his gaze was empty, as if there were no soul housed within the body that his children clutched so desperately to.

The sight made Pear Butter’s blood boil, and the cries of her despondent children added further fuel to that already raging inferno. Her heart beat with a violent, thunderous intent, her every thought screaming out for vengeance. For not only her husband, but her entire life which had been ruined by the stallion who lay gasping on the porch.

“H-help... me,” he croaked, hoof reaching towards the mare.

Pear Butter batted the offered limb away and grabbed one foreleg and back leg before roughly heaving the stallion over her back. With her package more or less secured, Pear Butter began to walk back towards the house. At first Grand Pear seemed confused, but as his gaze settled on the still form of his son-in-law, realization quickly dawned on him.

“N-no, Pear Butter, wait I-” pleaded the stallion, only to break into a coughing fit that would reduce his words to little more than garbled begging.

“You stole my childhood from me!” Pear Butter exclaimed, stepping over the threshold and the small hole that had opened up. “Now you’ve stolen my family, and you’ve stolen the only stallion I’ve ever loved.”

She grunted as she stepped over the broken floor board, her package moving slightly on her back. “Now it's my turn to take,” Pear Butter whispered, the mare knowing full well that no one could hear her words.

With a shift and a heave, she bucked the stallion off her back, sending him flying through the air and across the flame-filled kitchen, and into the hall beyond. For a moment Pear Butter could have sworn her father’s face went from panicked to a look of grim acceptance, but he was swallowed so quickly by the smoke that she couldn't be sure of anything. With the stallion now gone, Pear Butter turned and made a beeline for the door, her dirty work done.

She didn't look back even once, merely sprinting towards the exit and coiling her legs under her in order to leap the expanse that had opened up near the entrance to her home. All around her the house crumbled, the fire having whittled away at the supports enough to make the entire structure begin to collapse. None of that bothered Pear Butter, however, and she merely pushed herself against the ground, leaping towards the exit.

For a single, glorious moment the mare was airborne, her hooves extended and ready to catch her the second she hit the porch. She could see her children and mother-in-law all looking towards her with wide, fearful eyes, and though Pear Butter had just consigned her father to a fiery death, Pear Butter didn't even think of him. Not until the ceiling suddenly collapsed, and several tons of wood crashed down around her, cutting off any hope of escape.

In an instant her children were gone, and the mare was no longer in freefall, the breath having been knocked from her lungs. She didn't even feel her body hit the ground, as her spine had already been broken, and by the time her senses returned to her she was somewhere far hotter and far worse than the bowels of a flaming building.

“And that's how I ended up where I did,” Pear Butter murmured. “I killed my own father in a fit of rage, and got myself to Tartarus in the process.”

Kanathara stood there in silence as Pear Butter continued down the path, her head hung low. “B-but didn't he start the fire?” asked the demon.

Pear Butter snorted. “It was an accident with extenuating circumstances, and even if it wasn't, I still left my children alone. All because I thought revenge was worth any price.”

The keeper of secrets hurriedly trotted after the other demon. “But are you sure it was an accident?”

Pear Butter nodded grimly. “As you know, it isn't as difficult to see into the past, provided it was your past, and a few years after I entered Tirek’s service he showed me the truth.”

“No offence, but father isn't exactly the most honest person around,” Kanathara warned.

“There was no faking what I saw, and besides, you aren't the only one with a few tricks up their sleeves,” Pear Butter retorted.

Kanathara stared silently at the forest floor as they trod silently down the winding game trail, a light breeze caressing her cheek. The silence seemed to stretch on into infinity, and for a while Kanathara struggled to find the right words for which to break it.

“And how did you meet Tirek?” Kanathara inquired.

Pear Butter’s features softened, and a ghost of a smile crossed her face. “The old goat is more nostalgic than he lets on, and I had barely managed to manifest most of my abilities by the time he had hunted me down. After that he took me in, offered me a deal, as well as a purpose, and the rest is as they say, history.”

“What exactly do you mean, purpose?” Kanathara asked.

“He too wanted revenge, and unlike me, he deserved to get it.” The wrath demon shrugged her massive shoulders. “For a while that alone was enough to keep me goin’, but as time passed, well… that changed.”

“Does that mean Tirek and you-” Kanathara began, only for her words to get caught in her throat when Pear Butter suddenly stopped at the edge of a row of trees.

“Well, here we are,” Pear Butter declared.

“Where are we?”

The wrath demon sighed. “Home sweet home.”

Kanathara leaned out of the treeline and realized they had definitely left the forest behind, replacing it by something far more tame.

Author's Note

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Trial Six: The Feared Future

Kanathara looked around, only now realizing that she had gotten so focused on Pear Butter’s story that she hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings. During that time, the sun had risen higher in the sky, illuminating the grove they now stood in a less stark manner. The shadows were shorter, the darkness was no longer quite as deep, and all around them the chaotic wood had given way to an entire orchard of apple trees.

The lines of plants were slightly wonky however, and the entire area was a little overgrown, though it was obvious that it received at least some care. The apple trees surrounding them filled the area with a lush, potent scent which tickled Kanathara’s nose and made her stop to truly enjoy it. The smell of cinder, blood, and stone were common to the keeper of secrets, unlike apple trees and the lingering aroma of blooming flowers.

Together the pair of demons stood between two great rows of nearly identical apple trees, though the far line of apple trees seemed younger. Glancing to her right, Kanathara found that a little ways away was perhaps one of the strangest trees she had ever seen. At first it appeared to be one enormous apple tree with a split trunk, but upon closer inspection, it was actually two trees whose trunks had wrapped around one another before splitting apart several feet up.

In their boughs were both apples and pears, though the pears were far less numerous and seemed almost sickly, being much smaller than average. Immediately upon seeing the strange plant, Kanathara felt as though she had intruded on something intensely personal, like she had trod on someone’s grave. Shaking off that feeling, the keeper of secrets looked expectantly to Pear Butter who was staring sadly at the strange twisted trees.

“Is there something special about this place?” Kanathara whispered.

Pear Butter nodded. “This is where Bright Mac and I got married in secret. It used to be the dividing line between our families’ properties. The other side was all pear trees at one point. Though it appears that's changed a bit since last time I’ve seen it.”

“The pear trees didn't last long after the accident,” a familiar voice claimed. “They just withered away, and there wasn't a thing we could do about it.”

“You can come out now,” Kanathara stated, her gaze fixed on the strange tree. “We know where you are.”

“I suppose my cover is blown, ain't no point in hidin’,” remarked Applejack who strode out from behind the twisted trunks.

The pony was not wearing her armor for once, and in fact wore nothing save for her trademark hat, and a length of rope which hung about her neck. Her stride was confident, and she stopped after reaching a dozen feet away from the two demons, fixing the pair with an appraising look. Her posture was relaxed, but not completely so, the pony evidently ready if things suddenly went south and she had to defend herself.

“How much do you know?” Pear Butter asked.

“Everything,” Applejack retorted, prompting Pear Butter to wince and shrink down even smaller. “As does Big Macintosh. The only one who doesn't is Apple Bloom, and she doesn't need to know about any of that.”

“I suppose Granny Smith told you then?” Pear Butter continued.

Applejack nodded slowly. “She did, but only after Big Macintosh made her tell me.”

“H-how are they?” Pear Butter inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Granny Smith is gonna be seventy-two this year, and though she ain't looking as good as she used to, she’s tough,” Applejack replied.

The wrath demon sighed. “That's good, I’m glad she's doing well. And the others?”

Applejack spat on the ground between them. “I’m not sure you deserve to know about any of that.”

“That seems a bit much,” exclaimed Kanathara who stepped forward. “She may not have always done the right thing, but she still deserves to know how her children are doing.”

Pear Butter placed a hoof on the smaller demon’s shoulder. “Just because I gave birth to them doesn't mean that they owe me anything. Or even that I have the right to call them mine anymore.”

Kanathara snorted. “I guess, but surely you could at least tell us if they are alive, and if they are healthy.”

Applejack relaxed slightly. “I suppose there ain't no harm in givin’ ya that much.” She sighed. “Big Mac doesn't talk much these days, and he spends most of his time managing the farm, which is pretty big after taking over the Pears’ lands. As for Apple Bloom, she's doing well in her studies and spends most of her time with her friends raising holy hell.”

Pear Butter chuckled. “Let me guess, she's gotten herself covered in tree sap and needed saving from the Everfree Forest at least twice.”

Applejack blinked. “How did you know? Were you like that when you were young as well?”

“No, actually that was your father.” Pear Butter smiled faintly. “For a while it felt like he didn't want to grow up and was content to just spend his days with his friends going on adventures and getting into trouble.”

Kanathara smiled faintly, taking a small step back and pulling herself completely from the conversation.

Applejack’s small smile slowly faded, and she looked up at the hulking demon with uncertainty in her eyes. “What were you thinking, coming back here?”

Pear Butter sighed. “It wasn't my choice. Hell, if it was up to me, I would have stayed in Tartarus until I got killed a second time.”

“I suppose that answers that,” Applejack murmured. “Though I have one final question, and this one is a might bit more serious.”

The wrath demon stiffened ever so slightly. “Go ahead, you deserve answers.”

“I ain't gonna ask you what the hell you were thinking when you did what ya did. I ain't even gonna question what made ya do it, as that’s fairly obvious,” Applejack exclaimed, gesturing to the towering wrath’s demon’s bulky golden form. “No, what I wanna know is: would you do it all again?”

Pear Butter wanted to say no, and for a moment she almost did, and then she caught a glimpse of Kanathara standing off to the side. The pony-turned-demon caught herself, images of all the moments she and the keeper of secrets had shared flashing through her mind. She wondered what would have happened to her, had Pear Butter not been there to soften Tirek’s anger, and make him see Kanathara as something more than just a weapon.

“I don't know,” Pear Butter admitted, hanging her head. “I regret the act itself immensely, but at least you three had someone, Kanathara, she had no one down there. I’d like to say that Tirek would have realized the error of his ways all on his own, but well, I don't know if that's true.”

“Pear Butter…” Kanathara whispered.

Applejack glanced from one demon to another, silently grinding her teeth. “Fine. I don't quite understand what you mean, but even I know that your choice ultimately ended up helping at least one person.”

“I just wish I could have met you without all the heartache and loss that came before that meeting,” Pear Butter murmured, caressing the underside of Kanathara’s chin. “You mean so much to me, and I don't know if I could give that up. Even if doing so would give back my own children, which I don't deserve either way.”

“Oh mom,” Kanathara murmured, touching a hoof against the wrath demon’s foreleg.

“Regardless, there ain't no point in thinkin’ about the past. It's not like we can change it,” Pear Butter glumly muttered.

Applejack shook her head and frowned. “Now that you are here, what do you plan on doing?”

Pear Butter took a step back and shrugged. “I don't know. Tirek and I are in the area for business, but I’d like to see you all again, to visit Bright Mac’s grave, and to apologize to Granny Smith for all the harm I did her.”

“Well, you can do at least one of those things right now.” Applejack took a step back and gestured to the twinned trees. “His ashes were spread right here, but he's still got a stone up on the hill. Even if there ain't nothing buried there.”

“Do you mind?” Pear Butter asked nervously.

Applejack shrugged. “Doesn't seem like my place to deny ya that.”

“Thank you,” uttered the wrath demon before trotting over to the trees and lying down before it, head bowed.

Kanathara turned away and awkwardly cleared her throat. “Thank you by the way. I know it would have been easy for you to betray us to the paladins.”

Applejack snorted. “Ain't no point in doin’ that now. I ain't a ranger no more, and besides, I got a feeling everyone is gonna get what they deserve no matter what I end up choosin’ to do.”

“What do you mean by that?” Kanathara questioned.

The farm pony shrugged. “It's just a feelin’ I got.”

The demon pursed her lips and studied the pony closely for several seconds. “So what happened with the rangers?” Kanathara asked.

“They didn't believe me when I said y'all snuck right past me.” Applejack chuckled bitterly. “Pinkie Pie had to come bail me out again and back up my story. A good thing too, otherwise I’d be in a cell, and there would be no one here to meet ya.”

Kanathara winced. “Oof, that bad?”

“The rangers don't take lightly to failure.” Applejack gazed out over the rows of apple trees. “Can't say I blame 'em. If someone screws up, it could get not only them killed, but their whole squad and possibly the entire town as well. Makes sense for them to have such a tight policy on the matter, even if I think they ended up going a bit far in the end.”

“Still, that does seem a bit extreme,” Kanathara murmured.

“Ah, it ain't so bad. Now I finally have an excuse to help Mac run the farm and keep an eye on things.” Applejack sighed. “Hopefully Pinkie Pie doesn't hate me too much for the stunt I pulled.”

“She doesn't seem the type to hold a grudge,” Kanathara pointed out.

Applejack smiled. “True. I don't even think it's possible for that girl to hate someone.”

“She’s pretty cute too, I wonder if she's dating someone,” Kanathara mused.

“Now don't you dare start gettin’ ideas about Pinkie, ya hear?” Applejack stated, the pony glaring daggers at Kanathara.

Who raised a hoof defensively. “It was genuine curiosity, nothing more. Though when you say it like that, it makes me think that someone has a little crush.”

The farm pony blushed. “Well I err, uh. Look, Pear Butter’s back.”

The wrath demon trotted up to the pair, glancing curiously at Applejack. “What did I miss?”

Kanathara snickered. “Turns out your daughter has a crush on-”

“Don't you dare finish that sentence,” Applejack growled. “Otherwise I’ll send you back to Tartarus so fast it will make your head spin.”

The keeper of secrets giggled. “Okay okay. I guess that will just be secret between you and I.”

“Great, now a keeper knows one of my secrets.” Applejack sighed. “Wonderful.”

“Oookay then. Was there anything else?” Pear Butter inquired.

“Nothing important. I’ll tell you on the way back,” offered Kanathara.

“That's fine, though before we go, I was hopin’ to ask you a question of my own,” Pear Butter exclaimed, turning to the lone pony.

“Shoot.”

“Well I was, uh, wondering how likely it would be that I could do those other things I mentioned.” Pear Butter gulped. “Like the apology and seeing the rest of the family.”

“To be honest, I don't know.” Applejack pushed back her hat and scratched her head. “It ain't like we discussed the possibility of you turnin’ out to be a demon and showin’ back up all these years later.”

“I’d be amazed if you did,” Kanathara remarked.

“I suppose that's about what I deserve,” Pear Butter murmured.

“Ahh shoot. I didn't mean it like that,” Applejack hastily replied. “I’ll just have to talk to them, figure out where their heads are at and whatnot. It's gonna be a lot to take in, but I think they’d like to at least see ya once. Even if it’s just to yell at ya.”

Pear Butter laughed bitterly. “That's fair. I’m surprised you didn't do so.”

Applejack shook her head. “I never did have the heart for doing something like that. Besides, I’m sure Granny is gonna give you the what for anyway.”

“Well, I won't be far, so just give me some kind of signal that you want to talk, and I’ll be there,” Pear Butter declared.

“Provided we have had the chance to scan the area and ensure there isn't anything underhanded going on,” Kanathara added.

Applejack grumbled, but reluctantly stowed her criticism. “Guess I can't blame ya for bein’ a little weary of us, even if it does chafe a bit.”

“I bet it doesn't chafe nearly as much as that ugly hat of yours,” Kanathara quipped.

The former ranger’s eyes narrowed on the demon. “I bet it doesn't chafe nearly as that sense of entitlement or those ugly, fruity-looking booties of yours.”

The two stared at one another for several seconds before breaking out into a fit of laughter.

Pear Butter, however, merely sighed. “Dammit girls. You nearly had me goin’ for a second there.”

Kanathara wiped a stray tear from her eye and smiled. “You aren't so bad, Apples. Well, for some hick country pony anyway.”

“And you aren't so bad either, for a soul-suckin’ monster, that is,” Applejack retorted, raising a hoof.

Kanathara gripped the offered limb, clutching it tightly, while Applejack did likewise, and a moment later they released their hold and took a step back, a newfound respect passing between them.

“Thank you, Applejack,” Pear Butter exclaimed, extending her own hoof. “You have no idea what it means just to speak to you in person.”

Applejack nodded slowly and clopped her hoof against Pear Butter’s. “You’ve earned that much. Only time will tell if you deserve anymore than that though.”

“The fact that you're even willing to do that much speaks greatly of your character.” Pear Butter smiled. “Granny Smith did a fine job raising you.”

“She sure did, didn't she?” Applejack chuckled. “Though I wish she would learn to cook things that don't have apples in them. You can only eat the same thing for so many years.”

“Some things never change,” Pear Butter quipped.

Kanathara gestured toward the treeline. “I don't mean to rush you, but we had better get moving. It's going to be a long walk back.”

Pear Butter grimaced, but reluctantly nodded along. “I guess it wouldn't be fair to make the ladies do all the heavy lifting.”

“Quite,” Kanathara agreed.

“Thanks again,” Pear Butter exclaimed, before turning and trotting into the treeline with the keeper of secrets taking the lead.

Behind them, Applejack stood alone, watching the pair disappear in a shimmer of magical light, the sound of their hooves vanishing a few seconds after. Even after all signs of them were gone, still she stood there, her thoughts tumbling over each other until she finally let out a deep sigh.

“Big Macintosh ain't gonna like this, and Granny Smith might very well tan my hide,” Applejack muttered to herself. “But stars above if it wasn't good to see her again.”

Pear Butter stepped through the bubble hiding the cottage from the rest of the world and stopped, turning to Kanathara who had been following right behind her. “There's something I need to say to you,” announced the wrath demon.

Kanathara paused and glanced up at her. “You aren't going to back out of the meeting you arranged with the rest of your family, are you?”

Pear Butter shook her head vigorously. “Not in a million years.”

“That's good to hear, I thought you might be getting cold hooves for a second there,” Kanathara replied.

“No, that ain't it. There's something else I need to say, and well it ain't easy, but here goes. Kanathara, I...” Pear Butter opened her mouth to speak, only to find that the words she sought couldn't reach her lips.

Instead of saying anything, the mother reached forward and clasped the smaller demon against her chest, squeezing her tightly.

Kanathara stiffened briefly before hugging the wrath demon back. “It’s okay, mom, everything is going to be fine.”

Pear Butter sniffed, her grip tight, but not so much that it became uncomfortable for the keeper of secrets. “Thank you. I don't know if I could have actually gone through with the meeting if you weren't there. And if I did, I don't think it would have turned out nearly as well as it did,” Pear Butter whispered.

“You’re tougher than you look, and that's saying something,” Kanathara replied with a smile. “I think you would have been fine.”

“Still.” Pear Butter sniffed and held the other demon at hoof’s length. “I didn't choose you, but if I could have, I would have.”

“Oh mom, now you’re going to make me cry too,” Kanathara whispered back, tears already budding at the edge of her vision.

“Then I guess we’ll water the grass together then,” Pear Butter murmured, before clasping her adopted daughter against her chest.

A hug that Kanathara eagerly returned, this time tighter than ever.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Author's Note

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Trial Six: Measurements and Recon

Kanathara silently pushed her way into the cottage, glancing around the relatively empty interior curiously. She would have entered with Pear Butter, but the wrath demon had remarked that she needed some time alone and had gone around back in search of the garden Velvet had mentioned. That left Kanathara to enter the abode alone and face down the grinning vengant who all but leapt into her face the moment she arrived.

“You two were adorable,” gushed Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara chuckled and gently pushed her familiar to hoof’s length. “That was private, you know.”

The other demon shrugged. “I didn't catch anything specific, just that it went well and that y'all got mushy.”

“Well, I’m glad everything worked out,” Velvet announced, stepping up next to the pair. “Tirek is downstairs by the way. He’s said something about completing the anti-scrying enchantment so you don't have to keep refreshing the one you have on now.”

“Oh, that's good,” Kanathara muttered, raising an eyebrow. “How was everything here?”

“Boring,” declared Rainbow Dash. “Everyone went off to sulk or plan, and l can't even go flying because were supposed to be laying low.”

Kanathara chuckled. “I’m sure it won't take long for Tirek to get everything ready so we can leave without having to worry about anyone peeping in on us. At least the wards on this place are such that we don't have to worry about being found while we’re here.”

“Speaking of plans. I will be going back to Canterlot shortly, as there are a few things that need my attention,” Velvet announced.

“I assume you got some sorta teleporty thing in the basement?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Velvet rolled her eyes and sighed. “I do indeed have a teleporty thing, but it is usable only by myself, I’m afraid. That, and it only goes to one place.”

“Understandable. We were going to fly to Cloudsdale anyway,” Kanathara remarked.

“Before we do either of those things, I was hoping to get your measurements,” Velvet exclaimed, reaching into her bag and procuring several tapes and a pad of paper. “I had a project that I’ve been working on which may aid you two.”

“Ooh, is it as awesome as my armor?” Rainbow Dash asked, banging a hoof against her metal-clad chest.

Velvet chuckled. “I don't know about that, but it will definitely be useful to you both.”

“Do we get a hint at least?” Kanathara inquired curiously.

“I’m afraid not. Now stand still, this will only take a moment,” Velvet claimed, extending her tape and turning to Rainbow Dash.

The demon stood tall, squaring her shoulders and raising her nose ever so slightly in order to better tower over the unicorn. Who extended the tape from the ground up to the tip of Rainbow Dash’s head, only to adjust it slightly when she realized that Rainbow Dash was standing on the tips of her hooves. The unicorn jotted down the height before extending the measuring instrument from the demon’s nose to the start of her flaming tail.

“As I thought, you’re nearly as tall as Celestia, though not quite as long,” Velvet murmured, her gaze lingering on the vengant’s hard black scales and enormous leather wings.

“Damn. I wanted to be taller than her,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Velvet chuckled. “Give it time, she's had a several thousand year lead on you after all.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “I’ll catch up. Is that all?”

Velvet shook her head. “Just a few more things here.”

The unicorn lit her horn and used it to ruffle the crimson flames that were the vengant’s mane, noting that it was relatively short and cool to the touch. Before Rainbow Dash had time to react from getting her mane played with, the unicorn grabbed her by the chin and forced their eyes to meet. Velvet noted that the demon’s eyes were a deep red and that within them was a slitted, draconic pupil.

“Hmm, not bad. Your form must be adjusting to this plane’s natural mana,” Velvet muttered, releasing her surprisingly strong hold on the demon.

“Warn me before you do something like that,” Rainbow Dash murmured, running a cloven hoof through her mane.

“Fairly well-muscled as well,” Velvet remarked, smacking the thick black scales which covered Rainbow’s side, causing the demon to twitch. “Even if it isn't noticeable at first.”

“Hey, it is so noticeable! I work out a lot!” Rainbow Dash declared, flexing dramatically.

Kanathara sighed and rolled her eyes. “She's talking about your scales, ya dummy.”

“Oh. I knew that.”

“Sure you did.”

Velvet nodded slowly and made a few more notes. “Excellent, that is all. Kanathara, if you don't mind?”

The keeper of secrets stood next to her familiar. “Like this?” she asked.

Velvet raised an eyebrow. “So you are taller than her. Interesting.”

Rainbow Dash blinked, and took a step back, staring at the keeper with wide eyes. “No way! I’ve always been taller!”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “That's because I spent most of my life as an imp while you adjusted to Tartarus relatively quickly.”

Velvet put herself between the two, glaring at Rainbow Dash. “You can save the squabbling for later, this will only take a minute.”

“Yeah whatever,” murmured Rainbow Dash while pouting.

“So…” Kanathara began, looking down at Velvet as she magically measured the demon. “What could you possibly be making that needs this much information about us both?”

“It's a secret,” Velvet replied, shooting the keeper a wink before rolling up her tape. “Three centimeters taller than Princess Celestia herself. With legs that would make a supermodel green with envy.”

Kanathara blinked and looked down. “Huh, I didn't think I was that tall. I guess adjusting to this plane has helped me out a little.”

Rainbow Dash sat on the floor, muttering bitterly to herself. “You can adjust to the back of my hoof.”

Velvet pretended to ignore her and stared into the demon’s eyes, studying them closely. “Iris is fully developed, unlike your familiar, and is an interesting shade of purple. Pupil is slitted like that of a cat’s and light mana bleed has caused a colored smoke to billow from the edges.”

Kanathara blinked, and after Velvet shifted her attention, the demon summoned a mirror. “Huh, well would you look at that. I guess the mana of this plane agrees with me.”

Velvet pursed her lips as she ran a hoof over the keeper’s hard leathery side, noting the thin silver chains which bound the black grimoire around her neck. Running her magic through the demon’s hair, Velvet noted the way that the purple ethereal mane seemed to ignore her entirely. The flowing black to purple starry expanse seemed unaffected by both gravity and external stimuli alike. As did her tail which was the same coloration and appearance, though it was slightly longer, billowing out behind her while the demon’s mane hung mainly to one side of her face.

“Is it sharp?” Velvet inquired, gesturing to the keeper’s long, khopesh-shaped horn.

“Quite,” Kanathara replied simply.

“Huh,” Velvet smirked, “I don't suppose you could let me in on your secret, eh? I’d love to have a horn as long as yours.”

“Is this a sex thing?” interrupted Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “It is not a sex thing. The length of one’s horn is often a source of pride for a unicorn as it is indicative of their overall ability and amount of mana they can wield.”

Velvet lit her horn and cast a quick spell, causing the two demons to float an inch off the floor before falling back down a second later. “Well, Rainbow Dash, at least you exceed Princess Celestia in the weight department. Something that is not an easy feat, trust me.”

The vengant’s flaming mane flickered angrily. “I wouldn't be if it wasn't for this stupid breastplate.”

“Actually the spell she used takes that into account,” Kanathara retorted. “Speaking of which, how much do I weigh?”

“Only twenty pounds more than me, which is surprising considering just how much of a height difference there is,” Velvet replied.

“That makes sense, a keeper is built for spell casting, not frontline combat,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Exactly,” Velvet agreed, adding a few more notes before putting away the pad of paper. “With that being said my work here is done. I’ll see you soon, my dear.”

Kanathara smiled and wrapped a hoof about the mare’s shoulders, surprising her with a short hug. “We’ll be safe. I promise.”

Velvet relaxed slightly and gently patted the other female back as best as she could considering the height difference. “See to it that you do. I would offer you some insight into Cloudsdale, but I’m afraid most of our operatives have been focusing their sights elsewhere.”

“Is there anything you do know?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Velvet pursed her lips and took a step back. “The only thing I can really tell you is that paladins have been seen in the area, and that the old warrior families have begun to band together. What that may mean is up for interpretation, though I’d say that it has to do with the next element you’ve been sent after.”

“Perhaps we can get some information out of these paladins…” Kanathara muttered to herself.

“Right, so when do we roll out of here? I’m getting antsy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, shifting from hoof to hoof.

“We’ll check with Tirek first, but I assume it shouldn't be more than an hour,” Kanathara remarked, glancing at Velvet curiously.

Who nodded. “Sounds about right.” She turned and was about to walk away only to pause and glance over her shoulder. “Oh, and happy hunting, ladies.”

Rainbow Dash wiggled her now feathery wings after emerging through a low-hanging cloud. “This feels weird,” she murmured to herself.

Oh, would you quit whining? I managed to adjust your perception of self this time so the disguise shouldn't even be that uncomfortable, Kanathara thought back.

“No, not that. The anti-scrying enchantment feels weird,” Rainbow Dash muttered as her wings extended and she began to ride a thermal higher into the sky.

Ah, that. Tirek didn't have the time to craft it perfectly, but at least it should be better than the rather haphazard and frankly rushed versions of the spell we’ve been using until now. It should also give us a bit of extra protection in case someone tries to dismiss either of our disguises, Kanathara explained.

“I guess that's good.” Rainbow Dash frowned as she leveled out, her gaze lingering on the clouds around her and the forest which spread out below her. “Soooo. Are we going to talk about what happened back there or are we both going to keep guarding our thoughts against each other?”

I suppose we could, Kanathara admitted after a brief pause. Though I’m curious as to what exactly you’re referencing.

“That whole thing with Tirek and his contracted demons,” Rainbow Dash began, banking around a rather nasty-looking black cloud and leveling out again. “Plus that whole thing with Pear Butter and your sort of brother, but that stuff can wait, I guess.”

What exactly do you mean when you talk about Tirek and his contracted demons? Kanathara thought pointedly.

“Well, it's just…” Rainbow Dash frowned as she glided lazily, “I’ve been thinking about it a lot and about how we talked about our relationship.”

I remember that, go on, Kanathara urged

“So don't be mad, but I talked to your pony mother about it, and she really helped me figure some of this stuff out,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Like what exactly? Kanathara replied, a sliver of worry beginning to worm itself into her mind.

“It's nothing bad, but I guess I just realized how weird it is that we’re supposed to be partners and stuff, but you could like make me kill myself or something,” Rainbow Dash remarked, wincing at the end.

Kanathara wished she had lungs so she may sigh. You know I’d never do that.

“Not now you wouldn't, but like, what if in thirty years we have a big argument and something ya know… happens,” Rainbow Dash continued.

I guess I can see where you’re coming from, Kanathara admitted.

“Yeah, plus that kind of power thing is hot and all in the bedroom, but not when were talking about regular stuff.” Rainbow Dash wiggled her wings. “You know what I mean?”

I do, Kanathara replied. And though I can't promise anything, I’ll try doing some research into a way to break the contract or at least give you more freedom.

“T-thanks, boss.” Rainbow Dash gulped. “Sorry if that was awkward, and don't take this the wrong way, it's just-”

Trust me, Rainbow Dash, I know exactly what you mean.

The vengant let out a breath she had been accidentally holding. “That's a weight off my shoulders.”

Mine too, actually, Kanathara mused, her attention shifting to a floating speck on the horizon. I did some research into it years ago, but with no easy way out and no real push to seek an answer, I didn't pursue it.

“I should have known you already did your homework,” Rainbow Dash quipped, a smirk on her face.

Kanathara doubly wished she had a body, as she would have really liked to roll her eyes right at that moment. My studious nature aside, is there anything else you wanted to bring up? I can feel a little bit of resentment still coming from you.

Rainbow Dash winced, and her smile fell away. “Look, I know you said that we would find out what happened to my parents right away, but we could do that later.”

No. A promise is a promise. We’ll start by doing a little bit of recon in order to start figuring things out and then while I’m coming up with a plan, we can investigate your parents, Kanathara declared. I have a feeling this won't be an easy riddle to figure out anyway.

“Is it ever?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Depends. If the question is whether or not you’re going to give a smartass response, then the answer is always yes, Kanathara retorted.

Rainbow Dash laughed aloud. “Hey! Every part of me is smart, which includes my ass!”

You are the worst.

“And you love it.”

Shut up and fly.

“Yes ma’am.”

Rainbow Dash peeked out from behind a white pillar of hardened cloud and down the short alleyway that lay between the two stores which flanked them. Finding that it was as empty as it had been a few seconds earlier, Rainbow Dash popped back behind the collumn.

“It's clear,” she whispered.

“Good,” Kanathara replied, straightening her spine and tucking her new wings against her back. “How do I look?”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as she eyed the disguised demon. “Extremely forgettable,” stated the similarly disguised demon.

“That's good,” Kanathara replied, using her hoof to flatten her now two-toned straw-colored mane. “You know, these things are surprisingly easy to get used to.”

Rainbow Dash smirked, ruffling her white hoof through her long electric yellow mane, making it look more like her natural hair style. “That's just ‘cause you’ve spent so much time inside of me,” she quipped.

Kanathara rolled her now teal eyes. “Remember, my name is Meadow Flower, and you're Surprise, got it?”

“Yeah, I got it the first time,” Rainbow Dash replied, turning to the side. “My cutie mark is of a popped balloon and my name is Surprise. Your cutie mark is of a sunflower and your name is Meadow Flower. We’re here as prospective home buyers, though I’m the one with the money.”

“And if anyone tries to figure out anything more about us, just act shy and I’ll take over,” Kanathara continued.

Rainbow Dash waved a dismissive hoof. “Yeah whatever. Now can we get going already? People are going to start thinking we’re getting naughty back here, so unless you-”

“No,” Kanathara declared, planting a hoof in the other demon’s face and pushing her out of the way before walking past her.

Rainbow Dash chuckled to herself as she followed after her mistress. “So, where do we start?”

“We just walk and listen,” Kanathara replied after slipping out of the alley. “We need to locate some paladins, but we also need some more basic information.”

“Sounds good to me, though I don't know how much good I’ll be,” Rainbow Dash shivered. “It feels really weird being back here after so much time has passed.”

“That's fine, just do your best,” Kanathara exclaimed, pausing as she looked out over the wide lane lined by shops and thronged by ponies both winged and otherwise. “You know, I always knew this city was partially rebuilt in order to better allow those without wings to live and work here, but I never really thought much about it before,” Kanathara exclaimed as she watched a pair of earth ponies laugh as they trotted past them, full shopping bags slung over their shoulders.

“It really ruffled the feathers of the old warrior houses who used to rule everything but in the end all they could do was whine,” Rainbow Dash remarked flippantly. “It's still not perfect though. Most of the old parts of town are inaccessible to those without wings, and there is a bit of resentment about that. Or at least there was anyway, they may have fixed that while I’ve been gone.”

Kanathara nodded slowly as the pair trotted up the street. “I suppose there would be a bit of resentment there too, though I’m curious about these warrior houses you and Velvet mentioned. I haven't done much reading on them.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “They were the houses formed around the first great generals and ruling sky marshals. Though they functioned a lot like a unicorn noble house, there are some small differences. Not like any of that matters these days as the majority of them went bankrupt and disbanded hundreds of years ago.”

“Still…” Kanathara paused as she noticed a pair of armored paladins standing outside of a cafe and scanning the crowd warily. “It may be worth checking out these houses. The loss of one’s power can breed generations of indignation, trust me.”

“You would know more about that than me,” Rainbow Dash quipped, her gaze flicking past the paladins. What are they doing here?

“I don't know, but there are more of them. See?” Kanathara whispered, pointing out two other patrols who were trying to be sneakier than their cafe counterparts.

They seem to be searching for something, and that one keeps looking at that rock around his neck, Rainbow Dash pointed out, mentally indicating a pair of unicorns who were standing in front of a candy store and looking down.

I wonder what they are looking for. You don't suppose they are here for the same reason we are, do you? Kanathara asked.

If old Snooty Booty wants those things, then chances are anyone who doesn't like her would want them too, Rainbow Dash replied.

Like a group of demon slayers, Kanathara concluded, smirking slightly. What do you say we put our new training to work.

I like it, though we should try and find a pair that are a little more isolated. It would take a single yell for things to go sideways, Rainbow Dash added.

Kanathara nodded slightly. Good thinking. Let's observe them for a few hours and then head somewhere with less guard patrols.

The flats would be perfect. Plenty of tall buildings and deep alleys. Poor too, so there won't be any cops around, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Let me guess, they were named after the fact that the area is flat in order to accommodate the flightless, Kanathara exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash nodded slowly. Yup. They weren't built the best either, so there are plenty of hidey holes for anyone who wants to lay low.

I brought some bits along, though I suppose squatting somewhere may help us get the information we need. Kanathara frowned as they continued a slow trot down the road, both demons carrying on a separate, verbal conversation at the same time. Either way, we need to keep our ears open and our head down. Let's go to that restaurant and have something to eat, I need to pick your brain for more details on the area.

Sure thing, but can we get some rainbow taffy while we’re here? Rainbow Dash asked.

Sure, I guess. We may as well try some local cuisine while we are in the area. I doubt we are going to have time to come back here anytime soon, Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash pumped a hoof in the air. “Fuck yeah. I know just the place.”

“Alright, but lunch first, otherwise you’ll ruin your appetite,” Kanathara replied, already smirking.

The vengant pouted at her mistress. “You do the whole mom thing a little to well.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “You say that like you aren't into it.”

Rainbow Dash blushed and trotted past her friend. “You are also the absolute worst.”

The sun hung low on the horizon, barely illuminating the two disguised demons as they peeked out from atop a short, mostly abandoned apartment building. Below them, in a narrow alley stood a pegasus and a unicorn, both dressed in the armor of novice paladins. They were identical, as the rest of the paladins were, but their demeanor revealed that they were younger and relatively inexperienced.

The unicorn was staring down at a gem which hung from an amulet on her neck, the pink stone pulsing occasionally as the paladin turned slowly in place. While this happened, the pegasus looked around nervously, his wings extended as if he were ready to jump into the air at a moment’s notice. Though he had a brave look on his face, it was obvious that he wasn't exactly thrilled to be in the bad part of town.

“Hurry up, Petal Storm, someone is watching us,” whispered the pegasus.

The unicorn frowned. “This spell takes time, Windy. Now relax and let me concentrate, otherwise we’ll be here all night.”

“No way. The last time I heard of a pegasus staying overnight down here, he got stabbed and woke up dead,” replied the pegasus in a hushed tone.

The unicorn sighed. “How does one wake up dead anyway? If you’re dead, you can't wake up, and you know what, nevermind. I am not having this conversation with you right now.”

Kanathara had to stifle a chuckle, as did Rainbow Dash.

“You’re just saying that because you know I’m right,” retorted the pegasus, who poked the unicorn in the chest with a hoof.

Kanathara held up a hoof. As soon as I drop the dome, knock out the pegasus, leave the unicorn to me.

Right. Rainbow Dash rose and extended her wings. Ready when you are.

Kanathara’s disguise shimmered for a moment, the spell struggling to hide the demon activating her magic.

Below her, the unicorn stopped and looked up. “Wait, do you feel that?” she whispered.

“Feel what? ‘Cause all I feel is the eyes of someone watching us,” replied her companion in a hushed tone.

“I think-” was all she managed to say before a bubble of silence suddenly landed over them, snuffing out any attempt to speak or coordinate before the two disguised demons were already upon them.

Rainbow Dash was the first on the scene, having dove headfirst off the side of the building before opening her wings at the last second. Even with her impressive wingspan her momentum wasn't completely negated, though that was the point. In fact she was counting on it, as she landed hard against the guard’s back, knocking the wind out of him and dropping him to the ground.

Kanathara landed a second later and instantly fired off a counterspell to the flare cantrip that the unicorn had been attempting to conjure. Feeling her mana forcibly ripped from her spell, the paladin winced in pain, a hoof going to her horn and leaving her open for Kanathara to attack. Knocking the other forehoof out from under the female, Kanathara tore the helmet from the paladin’s head before backhoofing her horn.

The paladin’s second spell faltered before it could even get close to completion, and she winced in pain, backing up and attempting to get some distance between her and the strange pony. Her pegasus accomplice fared worse than she did however, as his helmet was gone and his body lay limp on the ground. A single quick punch to the back of the dome had been all that it took to knock the poor rookie out, and after seeing that she was alone, the unicorn’s eyes went wide.

She tried to speak, only for the muffling spell to stop that from happening, and she hardly had a second to think before something heavy settled around her horn. Looking up, the unicorn found that a piece of metal had been crudely wrapped around the delicate appendage, shutting off her magic. She tried to reach up and begin trying to remove the offending thing, but a quick kick to the back of the knee dropped her to the ground.

Where she was quickly pinned by a pair of dexterous cloven hooves.

Rainbow Dash nodded to Kanathara, who cast a quick spell, the area near where her horn would be shimmering for a brief moment. The unicorn paladin hardly even had a moment to struggle before one of the strange pegasi and her were teleported away. A second later the four beings appeared inside the basement of a clearly abandoned house, the magical dome of silence now gone.

There were no windows, and at points the surrounding cloud material had worked itself through the cracks of the wall. The treated magical wood that allowed the structure to even sit atop the clouds was in poor shape, and hunks of the ceiling had fallen away, revealing the floor above them. Boxes surrounded them on all sides, though most had been turned into little more than piles of splinters by the hooves of someone with too much time on their hands.

“W-what. Where are we?” the unicorn muttered, doing her best to look around while still having her forehooves pinned to her back.

“You don't need to know that,” Kanathara replied, her disguise falling away to reveal her true demonic nature. “All you do need to know is that if you and your partner want to leave this room with all four of your legs, you’re going to answer all my questions.”

The paladin’s jaw fell open. “Holy shit, you’re a k-keeper of secrets. Sweet Celestia, I’m so b-b-boned.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed and peeked her flaming head over in order to glare at the armored pony. “What am I then? Chopped liver?”

“And a v-v-vengant,” the guard added nervously, her entire body trembling in fear. “W-what do you want with me?”

“Like I said. We just want to ask you a few questions, but first let's get a little more comfortable,” Kanathara exclaimed, lighting her horn and causing the rotted wood which littered the floor to come together in the shape of three chairs, one of which was larger than the other two.

The paladin was about to begin begging for her life when she saw one of the chairs walk over to her and forcibly make her sit upon it. She tried to stand, but the hoofrests grew claws and gripped her wrists tightly, holding her firmly in place. Realizing the futility of it all, the unicorn slumped in her seat and merely watched as her unconscious partner was similarly seated next to her.

“There we are, much better,” Kanathara exclaimed while sitting across from the paladin, a small smile on her face. “Now then, are you ready to answer my questions?”

The unicorn gulped and watched as the vengant slowly circled them, staring hungrily at the paladin the entire time. “W-what do you want to know?” she muttered.

“The secret of what makes lucky charms cereal magically delicious,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Uh, what?”

Kanathara sighed and waved her familiar away. “That wasn't funny the first time we took a captive and it certainly wasn't funny now.”

“It totally was, and besides, at least this one knows what I’m talking about,” Rainbow Dash retorted, pointing to the pony.

Kanathara slowly massaged her temples with her forehooves. “I am not having this conversation with you again.”

“Tell her, kid, that was funny, right?” Rainbow Dash asked, stepping close to the paladin and inadvertently blowing a small cloud of smoke into her face.

“Uh sorta? Kinda confused more than anything,” muttered the paladin weekly.

“You’re no fun,” Rainbow Dash remarked before walking away.

“Anyway,” Kanathara cleared her throat, “I was hoping to figure out what you and your fellows were looking for with those fancy rocks of yours.”

The paladin looked down to her neck where the small pink bauble was attached to a string of shining silver. “And if I refuse?” she asked hesitantly.

“I’ll have my friend here eat this guy’s soul,” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing to Rainbow Dash who stood behind the unconscious guard, waving eagerly. “But I’d start with just his legs first, and work our way up from there.”

The unicorn gulped nervously and considered resisting for all of a second before sighing. “I guess I don't really have a choice in the matter, do I? I bet you could probably tear that information out of my brain anyway.”

“Oh yes. The paladins' mental wards are good, but they don't bother using the best ones on grunts like you,” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing to the guard. “And it would be much easier for both of us if you simply told me what I wanted to know.”

“But if you don't want to, that's cool too,” Rainbow Dash added with a smirk which displayed her sharp, dagger-like teeth. “I am pretty hungry after all.”

“We…” The unicorn swallowed again and hastily turned to the demon seated across from her. “We are looking for an artifact. We weren’t told what it does, only that the higher-ups believe the old warrior houses have it and are using it for something bad.”

“Like, what exactly?” Kanathara replied, raising an eyebrow.

“I don't know,” the guard replied. “There are rumours that it's some kind of mind control, but the only thing we’ve been told is that it's some kind of dark magic.”

Kanathara’s piercing gaze remained fixed on the unicorn for several seconds, making the pony feel increasingly uncomfortable. “You haven't lied yet, good. Keep that up and you and your companion will live to see another day,” Kanathara stated after a short pause.

“Y-yes ma’am.”

Rainbow Dash frowned, the large demon draping herself over the limp form of the unconscious guard and resting a chin on his shoulder. “Oh, this is no fun at all. First you hardly put up a fight and now you’re just telling the truth right off the bat? How lame can you guys be?”

The keeper chuckled. “I rather enjoy it when our little good cop bad cop routine works so well. Now then, onto the next question. What do you know of these warrior houses?”

“Only that the ones that managed to hold onto some wealth and power have taken in the smaller, weaker houses and that they seem to be up to something,” the guard declared, only to perk up a second after she had finished speaking. “Oh yeah, and they have a bunch of support from earth ponies and unicorns for some reason, but we don't know why.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow and glanced over to her familiar. “Really now? Well that may give some credence to your assumption of mind control.”

“Agreed,” remarked Rainbow Dash. “Though the houses have always been proud. It makes me wonder why they are lowering themselves to work with the races they consider lesser.”

“That's what my superior said,” added the guard.

“Huh. Well then. I have one final question for you.” Kanathara leaned closer. “Do you have any leads?”

The guard hastily shook her head. “N-no. I picked up something in the area, but then again I’ve been getting faint readings all over the city.”

“Do you know how those necklaces work?” asked Rainbow Dash, pointing to the pink gem.

The guard shook her head once again. “No. I barely even know how to use the stupid thing.”

Kanathara flicked her chin towards the unicorn. “Bring it to me.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and did just that, gently removing it from the terrified mare’s neck before dropping it in her mistress’ hooves.

The keeper turned the stone in her hooves several times before casting a few quick spells. “Interesting. It's attuned to the Element. They must have had it in their possession at one point,” Kanathara whispered to herself.

“So, um, what happens now?” asked the paladin nervously.

“You’ll be restrained and left here along with your partner. After our business is concluded, the wards keeping you here will be lifted and you will be allowed to leave,” Kanathara replied without looking up from the necklace.

“R-really?” asked the guard, her eyes going wide.

“Are you calling the boss a liar?” Rainbow Dash asked, her eyes narrowing as twin smoke trails drifted from her nostrils.

“N-n-no,” replied the terrified, cowering mare.

“Heh, ponies are so easily scared,” Rainbow Dash remarked, smirking to herself.

Kanathara chuckled and stood up from her chair. “It is true. Your memories of your time spent here will be erased though, I’m afraid. We can't have you giving any information to your little order.” The demon stepped forward, horn glowing. “Now then, it is time for you to sleep, and when you wake this will all be little more than a bad dream.”

The paladin immediately slumped in her seat, her eyes closing and her body falling limp.

The keeper’s horn dulled and she smiled faintly. “Well, that was easier than I would have anticipated.”

“Yeah, it was a good thing these guys were in town, otherwise it would have taken forever to find the next element,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “We are definitely looking for the same thing though, right?”

Kanathara nodded slowly. “We are. The magical signature inside this gem is nearly identical to the one given off by the first element. I just need a few minutes to reverse engineer their spell and we can set out.”

“Perfect. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can find out what happened to my parents,” Rainbow Dash hopefully proclaimed.

“Exactly.”

Author's Note

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Trial Six: An Old Friend

Kanathara yawned and stretched, smacking her lips as she looked around the damp, dilapidated room which lay at the bottom of a semi-collapsed apartment building. The space was as basic as ever, only now it had gained three beds, two of which were relatively plain while the other was a large four poster affair. A brief touch of magic assured the demon that the impromptu base of operations had not received any unwanted visitors while they had rested.

“No one even went near the place. Are they even looking for them?” Kanathara muttered, leaning up in bed and glancing at the two slumbering paladins lying across the room from her.

The pair of ponies remained in the same spot she had left them, turned on their sides, and with a small pillow placed under their heads. Though their beds were made from the same reconstituted wood as the chairs Kanathara had made the day earlier, they seemed to be holding up so far. The paladins themselves were still fast asleep, the wards which powered the sleep enchantment having only drained by about five percent.

Smirking to herself, the keeper slowly untangled her limbs from the vengant who was curled up against her chest, careful to not wake the other demon. Rainbow Dash hardly even seemed to notice the sudden movement though, and continued to snore even as Kanathara got off the bed. Hopping down, the keeper considered dismissing the four poster bed she had summoned a few hours earlier, only to think better of it.

Though it would probably be funny, Kanathara didn't want to deal with a grumpy Rainbow Dash right now.

Instead the demon turned towards the desk she had built using leftover wood and a good amount of magic. The spell she had been working on the day before lay spread out just as she had left it with the page in question having been nearly filled with calculations. Sitting on the half-rotten floor, the demon began to pour over the page, adding and changing things until it started to come together.

So focused was the mare that she hardly even noticed Rainbow Dash stir until the vengant was peering over her shoulder. “Watcha doing?”

“Bah!” cried Kanathara, throwing her pen into the air.

Rainbow Dash caught the writing utensil and placed it back on the table. “Woah there, it's just me.”

Kanathara shook her head and glared up at her familiar. “Not cool. I was in the zone.”

“Was that the ‘I actually got the spell done’ zone or the ‘I’m going to bore Rainbow Dash to tears again’ zone?” Rainbow Dash countered.

Kanathara snorted bitterly and straightened the sheet of paper. “It's not my fault that I had to find a workaround for harmony magic. Regardless, all I need to do now is test it, and it should lead us directly to the next element. If I had more time and more magical extractions from the other elements, I could create a spell that would be able to locate all of them, but alas this will have to do for now.”

“Awesome, ‘cause I do not like sitting around in this dump,” Rainbow Dash declared, gesturing to their rather poor living conditions.

“Oh, we’ve slept in worse places than this,” Kanathara remarked.

“That doesn't mean I want to keep one upping the last shit place we’ve rested,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a snort.

“True.” Kanathara cleared her throat and stood, trotting into the center of the room. “Just give me a bit of space, and we’ll hopefully be on our way in mere moments.”

Rainbow Dash did just that, putting some distance between them and watching as Kanathara lit her horn and began to cast the spell. The demon’s deep purple magic glowed vibrantly, briefly overcoming the light which spilled in through the holes in the roof. Then the magic dulled suddenly, only to spark once and die completely, leaving Kanathara visibly confused.

“Was it supposed to do that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara pursed her lips, raised a hoof and was ready to offer an explanation when a distorted purple window sprung into existence on the ceiling. Scrambling over to it, the two demons stared upwards and found that they were looking at a mass of clouds near the center of Cloudsdale. The clouds themselves appeared almost haphazard in a sense, with various houses and larger mansions tied together to create an impromptu three dimensional encampment.

Though everything was slightly purple in color, the demons could still make out the shapes of earth ponies and unicorns who were patrolling the various grounds. Pegasi flew about the area as well, though they tended to linger near the groups of non-winged ponies, as if overseeing them. The last thing Kanathara noticed before the spell flickered and died was the fact that although the compound was at the heart of Cloudsdale, the surrounding buildings were giving it a wide berth.

This was unlike the rest of downtown Cloudsdale which were constructed around towering spires. There the three dimensional housing blocks shared a significant amount of space with one another. Then it was gone, the window vanishing and leaving the two demons staring at the underside of a half-rotten board.

“Do you recognize the area?” Kanathara asked, turning to Rainbow Dash.

“Sort of. It looks like a neighborhood near my old school, but they’ve made some major changes by the looks of it,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“You could say that again,” remarked Kanathara. “It looks like they moved into the area and forced everyone else to move out.”

“Plus they made quite the impromptu fort,” added Rainbow Dash.

“Not exactly inconspicuous, if you ask me. I wonder why the paladins haven't moved in on them already,” Kanathara began. “Though they might have been moving the element around, given how inefficient the paladin’s orbs have proven to be”

“Either that or they do know where they are and are waiting on backup,” offered Rainbow Dash.

“Possible,” Kanathara murmured, rubbing her chin. “Though I admit my knowledge of location magic is a bit better than what Equestria has developed, so we may be ahead of them both.”

“Don't break your leg patting yourself on the back,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a smirk.

The keeper rolled her eyes. “It's a simple truth. This plane is significantly harder to get to when compared to most others like for example Tartarus. Which can access many, many worlds with ease, meaning I can access worlds more of knowledge.”

“Magical mumbo jumbo aside. What's the plan?” Rainbow Dash asked eagerly.

“We need to scope out the area and figure out the best way to attack this fortress of theirs. If all goes well, we should have more than enough time to check out your parents after we grab the element,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Excellent. So, what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash offered, grinning.

The pair had redonned their disguises, though they had altered their colors and heights in order to not attract attention. Now shorter, smaller, and each sporting a pair of feathery wings, the demons stood outside of an apartment block advertising rooms for rent. Though on the outside the two were talking about housing prices and the apartments in general, inside they were having a much different conversation.

They have really good security. Like, really really good, Rainbow Dash remarked with a hint of shock.

I haven't even cast a spell yet, and I’m already convinced they have the entire place warded, Kanathara added.

Oof, that must be some intense enchantments, if your already gettin’ that kinda vibe, Rainbow Dash thought back, while outwardly expressing disdain at the apartment’s overall color scheme of red and blue.

Cover me, I’m gonna fire off a quick scan, Kanathara stated.

Rainbow Dash nodded slightly, and as soon as the other demon leaned down, the vengant cast a quick look in both directions. Noone was looking at them, and the guards which patrolled a block away continued their rounds as if nothing had changed. When the keeper’s forehead stopped shimmering, Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, confident that nopony had noticed them.

“Feeling okay?” she asked, patting the other disguised demon’s back.

“Yeah…” Kanathara murmured.

They have a shield, a really big shield, but how did they... Kanathara pointed out, her thoughts briefly becoming so tangled that Rainbow Dash couldn't make heads or tails of what she was thinking.

Woah there, hold on a second. What kind of shield? replied the vengant.

A shield shield, like the one that I tried to shut down on the day I met you! That kind of shield! Kanathara thought, her eyes wide.

Rainbow Dash blinked and cast a quick look over her shoulder. But I didn't see anything like that. I thought the other one was like, really obvious.

It was only visible because the person who had set up the shield was a pride demon who wanted everyone to know how impressive his defences were, Kanathara explained, standing straight once more. Somehow these pegasi have some of the best anti-demon defences ever concocted, but why would they even bother with such a thing?

Demons aren't exactly the biggest problem Equestria faces, especially considering the paladins are around to deal with the few who are, Rainbow Dash remarked.

Exactly. They must know that our patron wants what they have. Why else would they bother doing something that dramatic? Kanathara declared.

Woah there, let’s not jump to conclusions, we don't know that yet, Rainbow Dash cautioned. First we should back up. What are our options?

Other than bring the entirety of upper Cloudsdale down upon them? Nothing. Demons can't get through that shield, so unless they routinely drop their defences, we won't be getting in, Kanathara exclaimed.

Hmmm. Now that is a problem. Though I’m not against dropping the upper plate on them, it would be really really difficult to do that, Rainbow Dash pointed out. What else can we do?

Kanathara stood up straight and breathed slowly, shifting their spoken conversation to a lighter topic. Realistically? All we can do is wait and hope they have power issues with the shield, or other problems that will give us a way in.

What about that possession spell? I thought that could get us past such a shield, Rainbow Dash offered.

It could, but the target has to be willing, and they would need to have a reason to be there and get past the normal guards, Kanathara retorted.

Alright, then how about we break for lunch and then go from there? Rainbow Dash remarked, already thinking of where they could go to eat.

I suppose this would be a good opportunity to locate your parents. It's not very likely that we’ll be able to do much about this shield without gathering more intel and possibly speaking to Velvet, Kanathara replied.

“I suppose that could work,” Rainbow Dash stated aloud. “How about we head down to that nice restaurant on the corner of Fifth and Windy Lane? I thought that place looked good.”

“Excellent idea. Though I may need to freshen up once we get there,” Kanathara replied, smiling faintly.

“That's okay, dear. I’ll get our tables in the meantime,” Rainbow Dash answered, smiling back.

“Excellent. Let's go,” Kanathara declared, spreading her wings and taking to the sky.

One brief pitstop at a cafe and a hastily cast locater spell later, the two disguised demons now stood outside of a pegasus graveyard. A single tall tower loomed over them, joining several other such towers that dotted the gated off section of clouds. Though the entrance and walls of the sectioned off land were purely ceremonial, they were still quite high and cast deep shadows on the already shady area.

“I really need to brush up on my knowledge of pegasus burial rites,” Kanathara mumbled.

“The tower’s exterior bears the names of those buried within them so a part of them will always look out over the rising or setting of the sun,” Rainbow Dash remarked in a soft tone, gesturing to the tower before them. “Inside are the actual urns of those interred here.”

“Interesting,” Kanathara pursed her lips briefly. “So would you like to go first or should I?”

Rainbow Dash raised a disguised hoof, stopping Kanathara in place. “No, I can do it. Just give me a moment to gather myself first.”

Kanathara nodded, taking a step away from the entrance.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and then trotted forward, pushing open the semi-solid cloud door. Stepping inside, the demon looked around, only to stop and stare when she saw something familiar floating above them. Though the pegasus’ face was obscured due to the angle, Rainbow Dash could easily make out her distinct pink mane and yellow fur.

“Is that Fluttershy?” Kanathara whispered, her head turned skyward.

Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, watching as the pegasus scrubbed the inside wall of the tower with a cloth while whispering to herself. Though it was quiet, Rainbow Dash was a demon, and thus had sharp enough senses to pick up everything the winged pony said.

“-I’m sorry I haven't visited recently, and that I haven't dusted your plaque in a while, but I saw an old face recently,” murmured the pony as she rubbed the cloth in small deliberate circles. “Seeing her was... stressful, but Applejack said it won't be a problem soon, and I hope she's right.”

“Should we… talk to her?” whispered Kanathara, gesturing to the pegasus above them.

“Let’s wait and see if we can find out why she’s here,” Rainbow Dash urged.

Above them, Fluttershy placed the cloth into her saddle bags and smiled faintly. “Ahh, there we go. You two look great.”

“Can you see what plague she was cleaning?” Kanathara whispered, leaning towards Rainbow Dash.

The vengant nodded slowly. “It's my parents.”

Kanathara fell silent, merely watching as Fluttershy wrapped up her visit.

“I promise to come by more often once this whole… thing is dealt with,” declared the pegasus softly. “Which hopefully shouldn't be long. So just hang on for a bit, okay?”

Fluttershy reached out and gently ran her hoof down the urn which sat in a nook above the plaque, a gentle smile crossing her face.

The two demons watched as the pegasus stopped fluttering in place and the pegasus began to descend, her wings spreading wide and helping her to glide down. That was until she saw the two strangers who were staring up at her from the ground floor.

“Eep!” she cried, swerving to the side and running into the wall, her wing folding up instinctively and sending her spiraling towards the ground.

Kanathara was ready to light her horn and catch the pony, but stopped when she felt Rainbow Dash explode into motion.

Launching herself into the air, the vengant caught the pony before she even had a chance to fall more than a few feet. Though her disguise remained intact for the moment, it began to flicker, revealing the hard scaled flesh beneath. Fluttershy didn't seem to notice though, as she was too busy staring up at the stranger who had caught her with wide, terrified eyes.

Gliding back to the ground, Rainbow Dash gently put the pegasus down on her own four legs before taking a step back. “Are you alright? You clipped your wing pretty good there.”

Fluttershy nodded quickly, most of her face hidden behind her mane. “You were really fast,” she whispered.

Rainbow Dash chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. “Story of my life.”

Kanathara stepped forward. “We couldn't help but overhear a bit when we came in, and I have to ask. Are you the caretaker for this place by chance?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no. I just look after a friend’s parents since she's not around to do it.”

“That's really sweet of you,” Rainbow Dash muttered, giving the keeper a sidelong glance. Boss, what do we do?

We try to get some more information out of her, Kanathara replied before smiling at the pegasus. “You wouldn't happen to know how they died, do you? I know this is a bit of a stretch, but you look about the same age as us, and I feel like I remember you from somewhere.”

“Oh um. My friend’s name was Rainbow Dash and her parents were Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles,” Fluttershy replied, glancing nervously towards the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I really must be going.”

“You didn't say how they died though,” Rainbow Dash pointed out just as Fluttershy was about to step away.

The pegasus winced and took a nervous step back. “Well, you see, the thing is… it's not exactly a n-nice story, and I don't think it’s my place to tell just anybody.”

Can I reveal myself now? I need to know, Rainbow Dash urged.

Kanathara frowned. Fine, but take a step back first, you’ll frighten the poor girl.

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, noticing how the two strange pegasi seemed to be exchanging strange glances, as if having a silent conversation. “Can I leave now, please?”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “Just one last thing.”

The demon took several steps back and released her disguise, causing the spell to fall away and reveal her true form. For a moment nothing happened, Fluttershy simply staring with wide, panicked eyes, her entire body tense with fear. Then her knees gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, her breathing ragged and heavy, a hoof reaching towards her saddle bags.

“M-my inhaler,” she wheezed.

Kanathara shed her own disguise and cast a quick spell, causing the pony to suddenly fall still, her breathing becoming steady once more. The shock of having her emotions abruptly altered was strangely distant, and Fluttershy lay there blinking for several seconds. After determining that the urge to panic wasn't about to come back anytime soon, the pony slowly stood, eying Kanathara closely.

“What was that?” Fluttershy asked calmly.

“It was just a simple calming spell,” Kanathara explained. “It will keep your emotions in check for a few minutes.”

“I’m sorry about showing up like this, but I have to know what happened to my parents,” Rainbow Dash added, stepping forward.

Fluttershy gulped and adjusted her saddle bags. “I suppose you deserve to know…” She sighed. “Just lock the door first, I don't want anyone else to hear.”

Kanathara turned and briefly lit her horn, causing the tower’s only entrance to glow a faint purple. “It's done,” stated the demon.

Fluttershy took a deep breath. “We may as well get right straight to it then. After you died, they were forced to represent their house and come before The Six.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “The Six?”

“It's an old council made up of the remaining warrior houses' eldest members, they have some control over the houses, aparently. But I thought the council was just a myth,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Fluttershy shook her head. “They are very real, and after what happened at school, Cloudsdale was in a considerable uproar. Some used it as an opportunity to campaign against violence in radio shows, while others sought to change the curriculum. To the warrior houses, they saw it as a sign that pegasus culture had become corrupted and that they needed to retake their former positions of power.”

“That doesn't seem right,” Rainbow Dash remarked, scratching her head. “There were only like two warrior houses left, and they had like nothing.”

“Plus I mean, it couldn't have caused that much chaos. Ponies die all the time,” Kanathara added.

Fluttershy blinked, and glanced from one demon to the other as if they had both grown an extra head. “Two children died, and a third will never be able to walk again. It was the single worst loss of life in the history of the Cloudsdale school system. There were serious talks about bringing up criminal negligence charges against both of Rainbow Dash’s parents.”

“What? That’s bullshit!” shouted the vengant.

Fluttershy winced. “I never said I agreed with it. That's just what happened.”

“So that one event really shook the city that much?” Kanathara asked.

Fluttershy nodded. “Two teachers were fired, and the principal quit. A bunch of ponies even stormed the mayor’s house demanding that he launch a criminal investigation into the matter.”

“Wow, okay, so then what does this have to do with my parents?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“They were blamed for most of it. Even The Six were convinced that they had purposefully raised you to do that,” Fluttershy held up a hoof, cutting off the angry tirade she knew was coming. “I didn't agree with it either, but by then the public had turned against them.”

Rainbow Dash gnashed her teeth and growled, smoke billowing out of her nostrils. “That's so dumb. Why would they believe something so asinine?” muttered the fuming vengeant.

“That does seem a bit farfetched,” Kanathara pointed out.

Fluttershy shrugged. “Ponies were looking for someone to blame, and they were the easiest targets. You should know how easy it is to cause ponies to panic.”

Kanathara sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Okay, so then what? They go to see this secret council, and they kill them both just like that?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No, well, not directly anyway.”

“Not directly?” Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrowed. “Don't tell me those uppity old jerks tortured them to death.”

The pegasus winced. “N-no. Nothing like that.”

“Then what happened?” Questioned Kanathara.

Fluttershy bit her lip and looked from one demon to the other. “Rainbow Dash, what do you know of my family?”

The vengant raised an eyebrow. “That you got a dumb older brother and that your parents were supposedly higher-ups at the weather factory. Why?”

“They weren't just upper management. Between the two of them, they ran the entire factory,” Fluttershy stated. “They were also members of the house of the Ebon Wind.”

Rainbow Dash cocked her head. “But I thought those guys had been gone for like, eight hundred years.”

“Wait, back up. What is the Ebon Wind?” Kanathara asked, stepping forward.

“A secretive order of assassins that supposedly worked directly for the sky marshal,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Yes, but they never disbanded. I only found out about it after you, well…” Fluttershy shook her head. “That doesn't matter now. What matters is that they never really went away, and after what happened, they began to gather the other warrior houses back together.”

“So the Ebon Wind killed them then?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Fluttershy sighed. “I’m getting there.”

“Just let her speak, Rainbow,” Kanathara whispered.

The vengant frowned and sat on the floor. “Sorry Fluttershy. Go ahead.”

“R-right. Anyway, so the Ebon Wind forced them to undergo some sort of experiment that ended up proving fatal, but not right away,” Fluttershy frowned, and her gaze grew distant. “After they were forced to do this, my parents tried to get me to join them, but I refused.”

“That's gotta take some serious balls,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Fluttershy blushed. “I suppose you could say that. I certainly didn't feel very brave at the time. Just stupid and foolish, especially after they disowned me.”

“They abandoned you?” asked Kanathara in shock.

“N-no nothing like that. They waited until I was ready to move out before telling me of their decision, but I knew it was coming. Since then I haven't spoken to them in years,” Fluttershy frowned. “This spell isn't going to last much longer, right? It feels really weird to be this calm.”

“It should only be a few more minutes. I’ll dispel it if it doesn't wear off soon,” Kanathara replied.

“Okay, so my family was actually part of some warrior house that I was never told about, as was yours, and one of them killed my parents in a roundabout manner,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, massaging her temples. “What does this have to do with the element exactly?”

“Element? What element?” asked Fluttershy.

“It's a magical artifact of incredible power. We think these warrior houses have been using it for some nefarious purpose,” Kanathara explained.

“That's not good. They haven't done very much other than setting up that tower and a few other safehouses,” Fluttershy murmured.

Rainbow Dash turned to her mistress and grabbed her by the shoulders. “We have to take these guys down.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow and shifted back slightly, avoiding the smoke which billowed from her familiar’s nostrils. “This is a vengant thing, isn't it?”

“You're damn right it is. I need to rain some well-deserved revenge on these assholes.” Rainbow Dash declared, mane and tail billowing angrily behind her.

The keeper nodded slowly. “Agreed and I also have an idea on how to do it.”

“Oh, that's good to hear,” Fluttershy murmured. “I may not like what my parents have been doing, but there isn't much I can do about it.”

“There is plenty you can do.” Kanathara smiled. “In fact, you will be the most important piece of this entire puzzle.”

The pegasus blinked. “What exactly do you mean?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide. “You don't mean to cast the possession spell on her and use her to get into the compound thing, do you?”

“I do,” stated the keeper of secrets.

“Wait, possession? What are you talking about? I feel like I should find this a lot scarier than I do,” Fluttershy remarked, frowning.

“Look, Fluttershy, do you want to do the right thing or not?” Rainbow Dash demanded, staring into the pegasus’ eyes.

The winged pony frowned. “I mean I do, but-”

“But nothing,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “All you need to do is walk into that place and leave the rest to us.”

Fluttershy turned to Kanathara. “What is this possession spell that was mentioned earlier? It wouldn't hurt, would it?”

Kanathara pursed her lips and hummed faintly. “I mean, not much. It would be more weird than anything, to be entirely honest.”

“Well if that's all I’d have to do…” Fluttershy murmured.

Rainbow Dash grinned and hugged the pegasus tightly. “Oh, thank you so much, Fluttershy! You have no idea what this means to me.”

Kanathara used her magic to gently split up the two beings before Rainbow Dash could crush the poor, out of breath pegasus. “Yes, well. Fluttershy must be able to get us into the facility first. Do you think that will even be possible?” Kanathara inquired.

Fluttershy breathed deeply several times, nodding slowly. “My parents may have disowned me, but they always said that I could come back if I gave up everything and allowed them to train me.”

“Perfect!” Rainbow Dash cried, grinning from ear to ear as she faced Kanathara. “Please tell me you have a plan.”

The keeper of secrets smirked. “I always have a plan.”

Author's Note

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Trial Six: Posession

“Are you sure this is the only way?” Fluttershy whispered meekly, the pegasus shifting from hoof to hoof in the center of the hotel room.

The usual cloud floor had been replaced by enchanted wood, which conveniently allowed Kanathara to inscribe the necessary spell matrices onto a solid surface. The room itself was rather small, though with the queen-sized bed pushed into a corner, there was at least some space for Kanathara to work. With just enough room leftover for Rainbow Dash to recline on a much too small chair near the entrance.

“Come on, Fluttershy. I know it's weird, but it's not like we’ll be able to read your thoughts or anything,” Rainbow Dash offered, shifting her weight forward and causing the chair to clack audibly on the wooden floor. “Besides, it's not so bad having someone else read your thoughts in the first place.”

“I’d rather my thoughts remain private,” whispered Fluttershy.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “We won't be able to read your mind, Fluttershy. Even if we’ll technically be occupying the same body.”

“How exactly does that work again?” Fluttershy questioned, glancing down at the magic circle she stood at the center of. “Because this is a lot of magical stuff.”

“And remember that we don't have three hours for you to go into a lecture there, boss lady,” added Rainbow Dash pointedly.

Kanathara sighed and put down her piece of enchanted chalk. “I am well aware of this fact, Rainbow Dash. And to answer your question, Fluttershy, demons don't have normal bodies as you probably already know. Instead our souls create bodies for us upon reaching a plane, thus we can possess most mortal beings who have more than enough space.”

“Wait, are you saying my soul doesn't fill my body?” Fluttershy pressed.

“Sort of,” Kanathara remarked, chewing on her lip as she looked down on her work. “The mortal body has room for the soul to grow in case they become more powerful or pregnant. I will spare you the philosophical details, but suffice it to say that your soul is not particularly large.”

“You can tell why she was such a hit with the men,” whispered Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy couldn't help but chuckle. “I think I get it now.”

“Good, because I will not be explaining it again.” Kanathara lit her horn briefly, causing her chalk to vanish. “We’re ready, by the way.”

“Oh um, what do I do again?” Fluttershy murmured.

“Nothing. You just gotta focus on letting us in, so to speak,” Rainbow Dash remarked, the vengant stepping next to Kanathara. “It’s an instinctual thing.”

“Yes, unfortunately it's not something that can really be explained with any significant degree of accuracy,” Kanathara stated. “You will simply see smoke seep into your body and then feel a desire to throw up.”

“So just relax and you’ll be okay. I promise this won't last longer than absolutely necessary,” Rainbow Dash stated confidently, smiling faintly.

Fluttershy gulped, her heart thundering in her chest. “A-alright. I’m ready.”

“See you on the other side,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash before her body turned to smoke and flowed into Kanathara.

The keeper of secrets shuddered, growing an inch or two in height after absorbing the other demon, her horn bumping against the ceiling. “Curse these tiny pony rooms,” muttered the keeper before cracking open her grimoire and fixing Fluttershy with a firm look. “Are you sure you're ready? You don't need to use the washroom again, do you?”

“N-no,” Fluttershy stated hastily.

“Good, because I do not miss having to ‘heed the call of nature’ as it were,” Kanathara exclaimed in disgust. “Now then, let us begin.”

The keeper’s book rose slowly on its silver chains, while at the same time Kanathara’s horn began to glow. Almost immediately Fluttershy’s skin began to crawl, and she looked down to where the strange runes had turned the same color as Kanathara’s magic. The entire room was soon bathed in the same light emanating from her horn, overpowering the afternoon sunlight spilling in from the lone window.

After a few tense moments, Fluttershy could see the keeper’s lips begin to move, though no sound came from her. Slowly the light grew brighter until Fluttershy was tempted to close her eyes, though she resisted that urge. Even when Kanathara’s spell flashed suddenly, Fluttershy kept a keen eye on the demon, observing as the creature’s form began to dissipate.

Deep purplish-red smoke billowed up from her hooves and towards Fluttershy’s body, with the keeper continuing to mutter incantations under her breath. When the sootlike smog brushed against Fluttershy’s body, the pegasus suddenly felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. A shudder ran down her spine as what felt like a thousand thousand insect legs caressed her body.

That feeling of being covered with crawling bugs was accompanied with an odd pinching sensation in the mare’s chest. A sensation that only became more prominent when Fluttershy took a small, nervous breath. Smoke filled her lungs, and though her mind wanted to cough, it did not burn like Fluttershy thought it would.

By now most of Kanathara’s body was gone, leaving the keeper as little more than a floating, whispering head. Gazing down on Fluttershy, the demon’s eyes flashed with a strange inner light before the rest of her was little more than smoke. That smoke rushed towards the pegasus and slipped past the edges of her eyes, into her ears, and up her nose.

Though panic now coursed through her body, Fluttershy forced herself to think about the promise she had made to the demons. She would help them get in, and that was it, after that Kanathara would teleport her away before Fluttershy could come to any harm. That thought soothed the scared mare, and she focused on it as she suffered through the strange process of possession.

Then it came, the desire to throw up suddenly bubbling to the surface, and for a moment Fluttershy very nearly gave into it. Only the realization that they would have to do all this over again kept her from submitting to that desire. Her body became rigid and unmoving as she felt more and more of the strange magical smoke flow inside of her.

Slowly the feeling of strangeness dissipated, as did the weird pinching sensation, leaving the mare oddly heavy for some reason. It was almost like she had eaten a large meal and had put on a large burdensome coat of some kind at the same time. Cracking her eyes open, Fluttershy looked around, noting that the magical circle was gone, the chalk having consumed itself during the ritual.

“Is it over?” Inquired Fluttershy.

“It is. We are ready to move when you are,” whispered a ghostly voice from directly behind Fluttershy’s head.

Spinning around, Fluttershy found that there was noone there. “Who was that?” she shouted, backing up towards the window.

“Kanathara, remember? We went over this,” remarked the keeper in an exasperated tone.

“Oh, uh, right. You just startled me, is all,” muttered Fluttershy, one hoof over her heart.

“Don't worry, noone else will be able to hear me or Kanathara when we talk to you,” added Rainbow Dash, her voice gaining the same ethereal quality that Kanathara’s had.

“Well, that's good,” Fluttershy murmured, taking a weary step forward.

Though the pegasus expected to find her legs to be heavy and unresponsive, that didn't seem to be the case. Instead, they almost felt lighter now that she was moving, and even her wings felt fuller for a lack of a better word. The closest experience Fluttershy had to gauge it against was after her magic began to develop during puberty.

Stepping out of the room, Fluttershy swiftly locked it behind herself before turning towards the exit. “Okay, in and out. You can do this, Fluttershy,” she whispered to herself.

“Did ya hear that, boss lady? You aren't the only one who talks to herself when stressed,” remarked a giggling Rainbow Dash.

“I don't see what the problem is. It helps me focus,” huffed Kanathara irritably.

Fluttershy blushed. I hope we don't run into any problems. I’m not sure how long I can do this, she thought to herself why the two demons argued behind her.

“Nice flying back there, Fluttershy. You must have been practicing,” remarked Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy shook her head as she banked around a cloud house. “I haven't actually. I had a real fear of flying for a long time, so the most I did was glide.”

“Strange, and here you are putting out a considerable wing power without any noticeable strain,” pointed out Kanathara.

Fluttershy blinked, only now realizing how fast she was going. “I didn't even notice.”

“It must be all that awesome inside you,” teased Rainbow Dash.

“I guess so,” murmured Fluttershy, cheeks bright red.

“Eyes up, we’re coming to the compound,” Kanathara whispered.

Fluttershy looked up to find that the demon was indeed correct, and the large tower of cloud homes was now looming before them. “Where do I go?” whispered Fluttershy, the pegasus looking up and down at the many possible landing locations.

“There, third landing from the top. Where the group of pegasi are standing,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

Following the demon’s instructions, Fluttershy looked down to where several pegasi seemed to be training. Most were doing push-ups, while others were stretching or merely observing them as they went through their routine. The home that stood on the platform was one of the larger ones, and on its grounds were several stiff-legged earth ponies wielding crossbows.

Fluttershy gulped and angled her wings down, silently hoping she didn't get shot out of the sky the second she got into range. It wasn't long before one of the patrols noticed her and two pegasi broke off from their lazy route in order to intercept her. As they neared, every fibre of Fluttershy’s began to scream for the pegasus to turn and fly away, but instead she merely began to slow to a hover.

“What is your business here?” demanded a gruff, slightly bulkier green pegasus mare.

The pony had a curved sword strapped to her left side, and a small one-hoofed crossbow on the right. She also had a green gem dangling around her neck on a small brown cord which happened to be something her companion also had. He was slightly smaller and sported an off-pink coat, mint colored hair, and a nervous look on his face.

“I was hoping to speak to my parents,” Fluttershy whispered, her voice barely audible over the flapping of their wings.

“And what makes you think they’re here?” retorted the larger pegasus, her eyes narrowing.

“Oh, um, because they said they would be,” Fluttershy replied. “Their names are Nimbus Shy and Whisper Shy.”

Both pegasi turned to look at one another, with the smaller pony shrugging.

When the larger pony turned back to Fluttershy, she seemed more curious than defensive, and her hoof no longer lingered near her weapon. “If that is true, then you must know the password, right?” she questioned.

“There’s a password?” pondered Rainbow Dash.

“Quiet, Fluttershy needs to focus,” reprimanded Kanathara.

“Male parta, male dilabuntur,” Fluttershy stated as confidently as she could muster.

The female pegasus raised an eyebrow. “Impressive. I wouldn't have taken you for the sneaky type.”

The male grinned. “Good to see another of you joining the cause. Soon we’ll take back what is ours by right.”

“Oh, um, right. Absolutely,” whispered Fluttershy nervously.

“We’ll guide you in, though I think your parents were both in the middle of something,” exclaimed the female.

“That's fine, I can wait,” replied Fluttershy.

“Alright, then follow us,” stated the mare, who flicked her wing at the male before turning and gliding towards the training grounds.

“Well, that was easier than expected,” stated Rainbow Dash.

“Don't celebrate yet. The shield should be coming up,” Kanathara muttered gravely. “We’ll find out if our plan worked in a few seconds.”

Fluttershy gulped, the pegasus beginning to descend with the male a few feet behind her.

For several seconds the only sounds were the faint whistle of the wind and Fluttershy’s pounding heart. Worry flooded every inch of her being, and for a single terrible moment Fluttershy wondered what would happen if Kanathara’s spell failed. Fluttershy couldn't help but imagine herself slamming into the barrier like it was made of stone or having her very soul torn out of her body.

None of the things happened however, and her body merely tingled briefly. It was akin to flying through a light shower, the strange sensation only lingering for a moment after she had passed through. Breathing a little easier, Fluttershy continued to follow the other mare as they came in for a landing.

The earth ponies and pegasi lingering on the grounds below didn't give her a second glance after she landed. Looking up, Fluttershy was surprised at just how large the building before her truly was. The structure had been built in typical pegasus style, with large white pillars and numerous balconies, though it didn't seem to have any visible windows.

The deep grey exterior was also layered with what looked like compact storm clouds. The balconies didn't seem to have an obvious method of entry, and each one was manned by an earth pony or unicorn. All of whom were armed with some manner of ranged weaponry and had a glazed, distant expression on their face.

“I don't like the look of this,” whispered Kanathara as Fluttershy’s gaze lingered on the strange sentries that stood outside.

“You think they are using some kind of mind magic on them?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“They must have had a unicorn collaborator at some point,” Kanathara reasoned. “Though I have no idea why a unicorn would ally themselves with pegasi supremacists.”

The female guard stepped forward, and held her gem up to the center of the door before giving it a slight twist. A second later the solid mass of black clouds creaked open, allowing Fluttershy to peer nervously within. Where a long black hallway awaited her, the floor of which was covered by a light grey wood and illuminated by small fluorescent lights hanging overhead.

Though the exterior of the home looked like a refurbished mansion, inside it resembled an asylum or hospital of some kind. The doors that lined the hall were thick and numerous, every single one lacking any sort of indicator as to what lay within. No signs marked the halls, and no natural light found its way into the interior of the building, giving it a claustrophobic atmosphere.

“Well, this place sure is creepy enough to be the center for some secret cult,” remarked Rainbow Dash.

“I can sense some form of spatial magic at play. This entire house feels larger on the inside than what should be possible,” added Kanathara.

“Right this way, ma’am,” announced the female pegasus, who trotted forward.

Fluttershy nervously followed her, the pony doing her best to keep her teeth from chattering. “This certainly is unique,” offered Fluttershy, trying to distract herself from the oppressive atmosphere that hung over her.

“It connects to most of the other homes that make up our compound. It's why there aren't many doors on the others,” explained the male.

The taller guard turned around and shot him a glare. “She isn't in yet, you idiot. That's supposed to be a secret.”

The stallion snorted. “Her parents are the Shy’s, of course she's in.”

“That isn't for you to decide, now come on. It's just through here,” retorted the mare, who walked through a seemingly random side exit.

Which opened up into another long identical hall, one that was filled with even more doors than the last one had been. Upon entering, Fluttershy felt as though she had passed through an invisible portal as the temperature changed slightly. The air pressure also felt slightly different, and when she looked closely, Fluttershy realized the floorboards were a slightly different shade of grey.

The shy pegasus also noticed that her escort was getting away from her. Fluttershy nervously trotted after her, trying to keep up. So flustered was the mare that she almost didn't notice passing by the only unique door she had seen so far. Though it was the same size and look of the rest, just glancing at the wooden portal made Fluttershy feel oddly repulsed by it.

“That's a strong ward,” remarked Rainbow Dash pointedly.

“I wonder what they’re hiding in there,” added Kanathara curiously.

I don't know, and I don't want to know, thought Fluttershy, who merely kept her head down and her attention focused on the guard’s backside.

After a few more twists and turns, Fluttershy found herself stepping through into a much more welcoming hallway. The walls were made from what looked like cedar while the door handles were brass, and the floor was made from a slightly lighter brown wood. The harsh lighting was also gone, replaced by wall sconces that held a trio of candles which burned brightly. There was even a window at the end, though it had small, almost hidden bars within the pane, ensuring it couldn't be broken easily.

“Well, this looks nicer. I wonder whose home this used to be,” Kanathara remarked absently.

“It was mine,” blurted Fluttershy in shock, her mind filling the now empty walls with all the pictures that used to be there.

“Heads up, Fluttershy,” whispered Rainbow Dash.

The pegasus shook her head just in time to notice the curious look the larger guard was giving her. “You alright?” she asked.

Fluttershy nodded. “I’m fine, just remembering something. Is this the right place?”

The guard nodded and opened the door. “The higher-ups have already been alerted to your presence no doubt, so if you’ll just wait in here, I’m sure they’ll be by soon.”

“Oh, um, okay,” whispered Fluttershy nervously, the pegasus peering into the small waiting room.

It was cramped and had space for little more than two couches, a coffee table which sat between them and two chairs on either side. The only decorations were a pair of potted plants which rested on the lone windowsill below a reinforced window. In one pot was a tall pink flower with vibrant yellow leaves, while the other had an equally tall teal colored grass that was dotted with light straw colored spots.

Stepping around the first couch, Fluttershy sat on the one underneath the windowsill, allowing her to see the entire room. “Will I be waiting by myself?” Fluttershy asked after noticing that neither of the guards were following her into the room.

“I’m afraid you will be,” replied the female. “I’ll go make sure that your parents know you are here while Sprout here guards the door.”

“Good. One less guard should make this that much easier,” remarked Rainbow Dash.

“But he seems nice,” whispered Fluttershy.

“Did you say something?” asked the guard pony curiously.

“N-no,” Fluttershy hastily replied, shaking her head.

“Alright, just hold tight. Won't be long now,” exclaimed the guard, who closed the door.

And with that Fluttershy was alone, or as alone as one could be with a duo of demons possessing their body. Letting out a deep sigh, the pegasus deflated into her seat, all the built-up stress releasing itself as a long exhale. Now her only worry was just getting out of here before Kanathara and Rainbow Dash put their plan into action.

“Does the door lock?” asked Kanathara.

Fluttershy perked up and walked over to it, peering down at the handle. “It does, give me a second.”

Fluttershy flicked the lock before sitting back down on the couch.

“Give us a second, and we’ll get out of your hair,” whispered Kanathara.

“And out of your everything else, for that matter,” added Rainbow Dash.

The pegasus merely nodded, waiting patiently for the moment where she would be alone in her own body once again. Sure enough, it only took another few seconds before smoke billowed out of her in a great wave, emerging from her every pore. Though not nearly as disturbing as the initial possession, it certainly wasn't pleasant, and Fluttershy couldn't help but shudder in disgust.

Thankfully the strange smoke quickly formed into the two familiar shapes, who still wore the armor gifted to them by Velvet. Kanathara gave her body a brief once over, ensuring everything was in its proper place before looking around the room. Rainbow Dash meanwhile stretched like a cat, her flaming mane and tail flickering behind her as she sprawled out.

“This is soooo much better,” Rainbow Dash purred, her wings extending and nearly hitting Kanathara in the face.

Smacking the leathery appendage away, Kanathara snorted bitterly. “It wouldn't have been so bad if you didn't get restless so easily.”

“I can't help it. These wings were made for flying and these hooves for kicking butt,” Rainbow Dash retorted, shaking her body.

“Um, is that all you need from me?” Fluttershy asked, the mare tapping her hooves together awkwardly. “Because I’d rather leave now, if that's okay with you.”

“I suppose we don't need her for anything else, right boss?” inquired Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara held up a hoof. “Wait just a minute. I want to scan one of those strange ponies we saw earlier. After that, you should be free to go.”

Fluttershy nodded slowly. “I suppose I could wait for another minute or so.”

Kanathara smiled. “Trust me. I’ll make this quick.”

The keeper opened her grimoire, flicked to a seemingly random page, and after quickly reading it, turned to the door. Flicking the lock, she lit her horn, pushed open the wooden portal and snapped off her spell before the guard could even flinch. He didn't even have the time to turn towards the opening before his body suddenly fell slack, and a smile spread across his face.

“Oh, hey friend, what can I do for you?” he asked, after turning to face the demon who stood next to him.

“Did you mind-control him?” Fluttershy whispered in shock.

“Nah, it's just a suggestion spell,” Rainbow Dash replied quickly. “Makes the target think the caster is their best friend.”

“I suppose that's at least a little better,” murmured Fluttershy.

“These are my friends,” Kanathara announced, gesturing to the room. “And we were hoping to get together and speak with one of your friends as well.”

“That sure does sound swell,” exclaimed the grinning stallion. “Which one of my friends do you want to meet?”

“I was hoping we could talk with one of those earth ponies we saw earlier on the way in,” Kanathara replied.

“I wouldn't say they are my friend. The servants don't exactly talk much,” retorted the guard.

“Well then, now is the perfect time to make a new friend, don't you think?” Kanathara urged.

The pony seemed to mull it over for a few seconds before nodding. “I suppose so. They are supposed to follow our commands, so it wouldn't be hard to bring one of them back here.”

“Good. So if you could do that for me right now, that would be great,” Kanathara pressed, smiling warmly.

The guard nodded eagerly, unbothered by the demon and her sharp teeth. “Sounds good, friend. I’ll be right back.”

“Perfect,” Kanathara declared, closing the door after the male had turned and walked away.

As soon as they were alone, Kanathara’s smile fell away and she sighed bitterly. “I hate that spell. It's always such a chore to act so… pleasant.”

“Well, you know what they say, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar,” Fluttershy whispered, only to blush when both demons turned to her. “Or at least. That's what I was always told.”

“In our line of work, honey is a trap, and vinegar is the closest thing to honesty that you’ll get,” remarked Rainbow Dash, before falling on the couch and snapping all four of its legs all at once.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “How many times are you going to forget that we are in Equestria? They don't exactly make things for creatures our size.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Celestia is apparently a pretty hefty lady, why don't they build their furniture to support her?”

“Because the princess doesn't usually show up to people’s houses,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“That explains these low ceilings,” muttered Kanathara who had to bend her head forward slightly when standing upright.

“Oh, boo hoo. Way to rub it in, why don't ya,” ranted Rainbow Dash only semi-seriously.

“I wasn't rubbing it in, I was just--he's almost back,” Kanathara exclaimed, turning back towards the door.

Sure enough, the guard had returned, along with a glassy-eyed unicorn mare who had a large crossbow strapped to her side. Her fur was bright yellow, her mane an off-white, with eyes that would have been gold. The mare was just barely taller than the guard, though she was thin and appeared much younger than him.

“She looks like she's barely out of school,” stated Fluttershy.

“I got a friend like you wanted,” offered the guard, stepping inside. “I hope you like her.”

“What's her name?” asked Rainbow Dash, gesturing to the expressionless unicorn standing motionless in the doorway.

“I don't know. The bosses tell us to not bother to find out the servant’s names,” replied the male, who sat on one of the chairs. “They say it breeds too much familiarity.”

“Why would they be scared of that?” inquired Fluttershy, who had turned to Kanathara expectantly.

“They are mind-controlled, that much is obvious,” Kanathara began. “If they are worried about familiarity, then chances are they intend on using them in some sort of expendable manner.”

“I don't know about that,” remarked the male, who smiled. “You can know my name, by the way. It's Nimbus Sprout.”

“It's very nice to meet you, Nimbus Sprout,” Fluttershy replied kindly.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and turned towards the glassy-eyed female, pulling her inside and closing the door. “So what's her deal, boss lady? It doesn't look like any old run of the mill mind-control to me.”

“No, that it doesn't,” Kanathara murmured, her horn glowing brightly as she looked the mare up and down. “Oh, that's odd. She doesn't have a cutie mark. Can you remember if any of them had their marks?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Not really. Though I wasn't paying attention, what about you, Fluttershy?”

“No, but I wasn't really paying attention either,” Fluttershy admitted.

“None of them do,” declared Nimbus casually. “I do though, check it out, it's a plant growing on a cloud.”

The male turned to display that he had just such an image on his flank. “My mom said it's because I have a talent for doing the impossible, but I got it after making sunflowers grow in my dad’s greenhouse.”

“That's quite the accomplishment. Normally they don't like high atmospheres,” mentioned Fluttershy.

“Thanks! It all comes down to the pH balance in the-” he began, only to be interrupted by Rainbow Dash.

“Hey friend, would you be quiet for a minute? Can't you see the lady is trying to work,” Rainbow Dash snapped, gesturing to Kanathara.

“Thanks, this is actually surprisingly complex,” noted Kanathara who paused after her horn flashed, and the glassy-eyed mare didn't flinch. “Now that's odd. If it was any manner of compulsion, that spell should have gotten rid of it. Odd.”

“So what does that mean?” inquired a nervous Fluttershy.

“This is something serious, and I have a feeling it's tied to the Element somehow,” Kanathara explained, her horn glowing brightly once more. “One moment, I’m going to try something unorthodox.”

“How unorthodox?” asked Nimbus who leaned forward in his chair. “‘Cause I’m not supposed to let them come to any harm, if I can help it.”

“It won't hurt her,” Kanathara replied. “In fact she won't even notice it.”

“Oh, good. I wouldn't want to have to choose between our friendship and my loyalty to the generals,” Nimbus exclaimed, grinning.

“That spell works really well on ponies,” Rainbow Dash observed. “Like, really well.”

“It probably has to do with their sense of harmony. Now be quiet, please, this will take considerable concentration,” Kanathara remarked, closing her eyes.

The room fell silent, all eyes merely watching as the keeper of secrets began to cast a more elaborate spell. One which seemed to weave itself through the air, filling the room with an oddly heavy sensation that settled upon its inhabitants. As this happened, each creature in the room began to glow faintly, the colors of which varied, though usually stayed close to their coat coloration.

That changed when the spell completed, a burst of light cascading over the ponies and demons alike, changing the glow of some, but not others. The light emanating from Kanathara and Rainbow Dash became mixed, with both becoming half red and half purple. Fluttershy and Nimbus Sprout remained the same, though if one looked closely, they could have seen a strange mix of light swirling in Fluttershy’s chest.

Noone noticed that however, as they were all focused on the unicorn mare, who had changed from a bright yellow to a deep crimson. The light which emanated from the pony also seemed sick somewhow, and it centered mainly on the top of her head. Looking closer revealed that a thin string of red extended from the unicorn, a cord which disappeared into the ceiling.

Kanathara glanced down between her and Rainbow Dash, noting that a mix of red and purple string connected them. Upon confirming that her spell was actually working, the demon’s eyes went wide, and she gasped in shock.

“That's impossible,” Kanathara muttered in disbelief.

“What, what's impossible?” Fluttershy asked, glancing between Rainbow Dash and Kanathara expectantly.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I don't know how, but this pony is someone’s familiar.”

Author's Note

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Trial Six: Cruel Discovery

“Wait, I thought only demons could have familiars,” remarked Fluttershy.

“I thought so too, yet it's as clear as day,” Kanathara replied. “Fascinating.”

“But how?” Rainbow Dash asked, scratching her head.

“I don't know,” admitted Kanathara. “Contract magic is supposed to only work between a demon and a mortal, or a demon and another demon. Even then, the contract is usually worded as such to only take effect after the mortal’s death.”

“But why is that though?” interjected Nimbus Sprout. “Don't demons make contracts for more than just souls?”

“Enforcing a contract will drain power from the demon if the pony is alive. Old or more powerful demons can do this with ease while imps could actually wither up and die if they try,” Kanathara continued, tapping her hoof as she inspected the cord of energy extending from the mare’s head. “Making a familiar out of a mortal is also more or less impossible, as the energy requirements are nearly infinite. Either someone has gotten ahold of an almost infinite source of power, or they’ve effectively figured out how to bypass those rules.”

“Woah, that would be crazy,” murmured Rainbow Dash.

“Not even the sun holds the amount of energy required to force a mortal to become your familiar,” Kanathara finished, the glow surrounding everyone fading rapidly. “I must find the diabolist who figured it out.”

“So she signed up for this then?” Fluttershy inquired, gesturing to the unicorn.

“Not likely,” Kanathara replied quickly, waving a hoof in front of the unicorn’s face. “You can force someone into becoming your familiar, but it usually wipes their mind and turns them into little more than a robot. It's usually not even worth the effort, and the only ones who actually go through the process are particularly cruel demons.”

“That’s horrible,” Fluttershy whispered, aghast. “Can she be freed?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “We’re in unknown territory right now. Normally a familiar can't be released from their contract, but I assume if we managed to take away this source of power that it could be possible.”

“Good thinking, Rainbow Dash. It must take a considerable amount of energy to maintain so many connections at one time,” Kanathara added.

“Just another reason to find this Element,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Wow, and here I just thought they were not the smartest,” remarked Nimbus Sprout, who blinked. “What, why are you all looking at me like that?”

“You know, we haven't been able to taste a fresh soul in a while,” suggested Rainbow Dash. “And I could really go for a meal.”

“Plus being privy to enslaving his fellow ponies is pretty heinous,” added Kanathara. “I bet noone would even miss him.”

“Hold on a second,” Fluttershy interrupted, jumping in between the demons and the pegasus. “He doesn't seem evil to me.”

“He is aiding and abetting a cult that is forcibly enslaving and making ponies prisoners in their own bodies,” Kanathara deadpanned. “Seems like a pretty evil action to me.”

“Hey, I didn't know about any of this stuff,” stated Nimbus Sprout, throwing up his hooves.

“Y-yeah. He’s not evil. He's just… ignorant,” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“Are you seriously defending someone who helped rob a pony of their free will?” Kanathara asked, leaning in.

“M-maybe? I don't know. This whole situation is weird,” Fluttershy admitted.

Rainbow Dash raised a hoof. “Actually, I have a better idea.”

“One that doesn't involve my best friends eating my soul?” asked Nimbus Sprout nervously.

“Yes,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Well, go on,” Kanathara urged.

“Well, we are going to need a distraction to get out of here, right?” Rainbow Dash began, looking to Kanathara.

Who nodded. “It would make things easier, because as it stands right now, we are going to have to kill a lot of people just to escape with the Element.”

“Is there any way you can avoid killing lots of people?” Fluttershy whispered hesitantly.

“Why do you care? I thought you wanted to leave right away,” Kanathara stated.

“I did, but well, I would like to find a way to free these poor ponies,” Fluttershy whispered, glancing to the unicorn. “I know I probably won't be much help, but maybe I could talk my parents out of whatever it is they are planning.”

“Alright, before you respond, hear me out,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “What if we sent this guy to go get the paladins? Have him spill his guts.”

“I don't think I’m a fan of that. Even if you are speaking metaphorically,” exclaimed Nimbus, raising a hoof.

“That's not a bad idea,” Kanathara murmured, tapping her chin. “If we make him tell the paladins that the Element is here, I bet they would be back with reinforcements in no time.”

“The chaos they would create would allow us to slip away with the Element,” Rainbow Dash concluded, raising her eyebrows. “Pretty smart, right?”

“That doesn't sound too bad,” agreed Fluttershy.

“It could work. But after we send him away, we would have to move fast, and we have no idea where to start,” Kanathara’s eyebrow raised slowly. “Or do we?”

Nimbus chuckled nervously. “Uh, what's the look for, friend? You aren't still thinking of eating my soul, are you? Because I can tell you right now that it's like the rest of me, thin and probably pretty tasteless.”

“Oh no, I’m not going to kill you. I’m just going to cast a more powerful compulsion spell on you to extract the information I need and make you forget all about this little meeting,” Kanathara stated, her horn glowing. “Now hold still, this will only hurt a lot.”

Nimbus Sprout sprinted down the halls of the compound, his legs pumping and his heart pounding. He wasn't sure why, but he had gotten the sudden urge to fly straight towards the nearest paladin outpost and tell them everything he knew about the houses. This urge was so strong that the only thing he could think of was the strange unicorn’s parting words which had told him what he had been doing was wrong.

Pouring on the speed, his hooves carried him out of the labyrinthian structure and out onto the field. Upon exiting the building, someone tried to stop him, but the nimble pegasus leapt over the other guard before flapping his wings. In short order he found himself outside of the compound and his pursuers quickly became confused, stopping dead in their tracks.

If he was paying attention, he would have heard that they were trying to figure out what was going on. He would have also heard that they had given up, merely assuming Nimbus had some kind of official business. He did not notice either of those things though, as his gaze remained fixed on a distant cloudbank which he knew housed the paladin camp.

The young stallion may not have known why he was there, but that wasn't going to change what he was about to do.

“Too bad he didn't know more,” remarked Kanthara. “Though I suppose we should be glad that he at least knew the next higher-up.”

“Meh, it's not like it was that difficult, considering it was that same door we saw earlier,” added Rainbow Dash, whose armor was growing and slowly covering her entire body.

Fluttershy sighed. “I just hope my parents aren't tied up in this whole mess.”

“That is unfortunately quite possible,” commented Kanathara, who gazed down on the pegasus. “They are likely officers or high level agents for these warrior houses.”

Fluttershy nodded grimly. “If you do have to fight them, just please let me talk to them before you, well…”

“We will,” interrupted Rainbow Dash, her helmet clanging down over her muzzle. “Alright, I’m ready when you are, boss lady.”

“One moment.” Kanathara leaned down, fixing the pegasus with a firm look. “We can't afford to waste time with being merciful, not with the paladins closing in. Are you sure you want to stick with us?”

Fluttershy seemed about ready to give in, only to glance back at the glassy-eyed unicorn mare standing in the corner of the room. “Could you at least spare them? Please?”

Kanathara glared at the pegasus for several long seconds before sighing. “We’ll do what we can, but everyone else is fair game. Got it?”

“I understand,” Fluttershy stated.

The keeper of secrets rose to her full height once more. “Alright. Rainbow, I’m on your six. You know the routine.”

“Finally, I’ve been waiting to cut loose for what feels like forever,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, smoke billowing from the grille of her helmet.

“Just remember, these may be mere ponies, but they seem to be prepared for demons,” Kanathara warned.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Prepared or not, these fools won't know what hit them.”

Then before anyone could say anything, the vengant put her head down and simply ran through the door. Cursing her familiar’s excitable nature, Kanathara followed the winged demon out into the hall, wherein the vengant was already fighting a tall slim pegasus wielding a long sharp dagger in one hoof and a short sword in the other.

The confrontation was over in an instant, with the pegasus’ attacks unable to pierce Rainbow Dash’s thick armor. All the demon had to do was headbutt the pony, and she was down for the count, blood pouring out of her shattered nose. The guard’s companion was a little faster, and with a cry of panic he turned and sprinted towards the nearest door.

Only to receive several thousand volts to the spine, courtesy of a lightning bolt cast by Kanathara. The smell of burnt flesh and blood all but punched Fluttershy in the nose, though the demons didn't seem to even notice it. Rainbow Dash was already bounding down the hall, Kanathara close on her heels, her horn alight with power.

Shouldering her way through the next door, Rainbow Dash ran right into a surprised pegasus. He wore only a breast plate and an undercoat of leather which did nothing to stop Rainbow Dash’s fire breath. The pegasus managed a strangled, gurgling scream before the flesh on his head melted away, revealing bare bone beneath.

His compatriot screamed and tried to run away, but Kanathara was ready, firing off a quick beam of energy that decapitated the fleeing pegasus. Who looked on in horror as his body stumbled a few feet before toppling forward, his blood pouring out onto the floor. Inhaling, Rainbow Dash devoured the first pony’s soul while Kanathara sent a small bolt of power through the other guard’s forehead, mercifully finishing him off.

Fluttershy had thought she was ready for what had been about to happen, but even a few seconds into the fighting, she already regretted sticking around. Blood covered the bottom of her hooves, and the smell of death and burnt flesh clung to the inside of her nose. She wasn't sure how she found the strength to move, but she trotted hastily after the pair of demons.

Hopping over a corpse, Fluttershy was vaguely aware of alarms going up all throughout the facility as flames licked up the walls. The occasional pockets of hellfire burned intensely, causing Fluttershy to have to duck under them or jump over them, lest she too end up as fuel for the demonic fire. Following the trail of carnage wasn't too hard, as the occasional scream helped to point Fluttershy in the right direction.

The shy pegasus was just in time to watch as Rainbow Dash tore the forelegs off of one pegasus before kicking him down the hallway. Immediately after, a hulking earth pony brought down a large wooden club against the back of her head, though the vengant seemed unaffected by this. Before Rainbow Dash could turn and respond, Kanathara had snapped off a quick spell, turning the earth pony into a potted plant.

Which Fluttershy was quick to pull out of the way before another pegasus wielding two curved swords flew screaming at the keeper. The pegasus didn't get far however, as Kanathara clapped her hooves together before pointing them at her attacker. Who dissolved in mid-air, her face screwing up into a look of confusion before she died, her body turning to dust.

Only a single guard was left, and he was scrambling down a side hall, a trail of blood following close behind him. Rainbow Dash’s grille opened, and the vengant fired off a ball of fire which immolated the poor pegasus’s entire head. Flesh burnt, bone melted, and the guard’s headless body tumbled to the ground a second later.

Kanathara looked down to notice Fluttershy was hyperventilating on the floor, a potted plant clutched tight against her chest. A flash of pity passed through the demon’s eyes, and she cast another spell, one that kept Fluttershy’s lunch from coming back up. Then the keeper was gone, following behind Rainbow Dash as she kicked open another door and unleashed a gout of flame.

Which immolated the two guards before they could even fire their crossbows, their bodies falling to the ground only to crumble into twin piles of ash. Fluttershy’s hooves felt heavy, and her wings clung tight to her sides as she nervously put one hoof in front of the other. Making her way down the halls, Fluttershy caught only a brief glimpse of the occasional spell or short fight.

One thing she did see was the aftermath of it all, with dead and dying ponies littering the tight passageways. She did also find the occasional pony who had been knocked unconscious or turned into a seemingly random inanimate object. When she found those ponies, Fluttershy tried to push them to the side of the hall so they wouldn't be trampled, all while clutching the plant tight against her chest.

When she finally managed to catch up to the duo of demons, they were standing before the same strange door they had seen earlier. Kanathara’s eyes were closed, her horn glowing brightly as her grimoire floated before her, waiting to be used. Rainbow Dash merely stood next to the keeper, her body turned sideways in order to act as cover for her mistress.

Kanathara chuckled, her horn dulling as the door glowed a faint purple. “Child's play,” she remarked before the door returned to its normal coloration, though now without the noticeable flow of magic which came from it.

Without a word passing between them, Rainbow Dash turned around and bucked the door down, sending it flying into the next room. Where it slammed into a short earth pony, dropping him to the ground before he could even move an inch. His companion was a little quicker however, conjuring a shield before starting to cast a second spell.

This unicorn wasn't like the rest, as she seemed both alert and ready for anything, her horn glowing a faint pink. The ensuing cascade of fire which exploded from Rainbow Dash’s maw caused the unicorn to wince, but her shield still stood. Lowering her horn, the unicorn fired off her retort, causing a jet of strange gold liquid to shoot towards the vengant.

Kanathara made sure that attack never hit however, as she created a small portal in front of the liquid, causing it to vanish in mid-air. Then, before her opponent could cast another spell, Kanathara slammed her glowing hooves into the ground. Wooden spikes erupted from the floor, skewering the unfortunate unicorn before she could dodge out of the way.

Leaving her hanging there, gasping for breath as blood poured out of several dozen deadly wounds, Rainbow Dash trotted forward and crushed the mare’s head between her hooves, ending her misery. With that done, the two demons looked around, noting that this hallway had brick walls, as well as a wooden ceiling and floor.

Tapping the wall, Kanthara could sense that it was reinforced with some kind of magic, as it glowed a faint gold color when she touched it. Leaning down, the keeper of secrets studied the unicorn’s formerly white fur, and her cutie mark which had been of a crystal flower. Straightening her back, Kanathara turned away from the gruesome sight and towards the door at the end of the hall.

“Solid stone,” Rainbow Dash remarked, tapping the door in emphasis. “They must be protecting something important in here.”

“That's likely where this officer pony is holding out,” Kanathara declared. “If they’re smart, they’ll know were coming.’

“Time for a grand entrance?” asked Rainbow Dash, smirking.

“I-” Kanathara began, only to spin around when the sound of hooves ran up behind her.

Looking down, the keeper was surprised to see a panting Fluttershy sitting on the ground, a potted plant held tight against her chest. “Ah, good, you’re here,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“You really gotta stick close to us, Fluttershy,” reprimanded Rainbow Dash, who shook her head. “We can't protect you if you run off like that.”

“I know,” Fluttershy replied quickly, doing her best to look away from the headless, mangled corpse still held aloft by a dozen wooden spikes. “I just couldn't leave them there.”

Kanathara sighed and held up a hoof. “Here, I’ll make you invisible. It should last until you make an offensive action or ten minutes have passed.”

“Oh, um, thank--Eeep,” Fluttershy squeaked, her and the plant shimmering out of view a second later when Kanathara’s horn flashed a bright purple.

“Good thinking, boss. Now we shouldn't have to keep an eye on her,” Rainbow Dash announced with a grin.

“Though I don't need to remind you that you are not indestructible and should stay far out of the way,” Kanathara stated, staring intently at where she assumed Fluttershy was standing.

The pegasus nodded, only to remember that she was invisible. “Oh, um, yes. I’ll stay in the hallway.”

“Perfect,” Kanathara declared, turning to her familiar. “Now, if you would do the honor.”

Rainbow Dash bowed low. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Get those crossbows into place,” shouted a hooded stallion from atop the narrow platform which was attached to three of the four walls of the library.

A library that had a tall, vaulted ceiling pockmarked by skylights reinforced with thick metal bars. The high bookcases went from the floor almost to the twenty foot high roof, breaking only at the thin balcony. A flight of stairs attached to one of the walls lead up to this second floor which normally had several small tables set aside for reading. Now they were flipped over, used as impromptu defences, behind which crouched over a dozen pegasus archers.

The ground floor was in a similar state, with most of the experiments having been swept aside so the defenders could use the tables for cover. Though the defenders were mostly made up of pegasi, some of whom flew over head, a few were unicorn spellcasters. Several glassy-eyed unicorns also stood off to the side, their horns glowing and awaiting the commands of their overlords.

That wasn't all though, as the first line of defence were six well-armored earth ponies who wielded a variety of large, two-hoofed weapons. Even with such fire power the atmosphere was tense, with every pair of eyes staring at the reinforced door, waiting for something to happen. Just as the white-hooded pegasus leader was about to command a servant to fetch additional reinforcements, the main exit began to glow.

That glow centered at a point near the top of the doorframe which went from red to yellow and then white before proceeding down in an arcing motion. It took a moment for the overseer to realize what was happening, but as soon as he put two and two together, his heart leapt into his chest.

“Ready the ranged spells! The second that door opens, I want you to fire everything you have into it!” he shouted. “I won't let those short-sighted paladin morons disrupt our work.”

His subordinates nodded and readied their weapons or magic while the six earth ponies assembled on either side of the door. Plated from head to hoof in thick armor, the ponies stood patiently, their weapons held high and their corded muscles bulging. The tension only grew as the glowing circle slowly completed itself, becoming more of an oval shape upon finish.

As soon as it was complete, the circle of stone fell forward, revealing an empty hallway just beyond. The archers resisted the urge to fire, though the servants held no such reservations, loosing spell and bolt alike as they were commanded to. Rays of fire, beams of pure magic, and a small flurry of conjured icicles flew through the opening and into the empty hallway.

The white-hooded pegasus tried to tell them to stop, but the loud crack of spells and occasional boom drowned out his first command.

Taking a deep breath, the pegasus used some of his innate powers to increase the sound of his voice. “Stop!” he shouted, bellowing loud enough to overcome the cacophony.

Instantly the spellfire ceased, as did the occasional bolt or arrow which flew through the doorway. Smoke billowed from down the hall, filling the room, only to be swiftly blown away when a pegasus weather mage summoned forth a strong gust of wind. There was a moment of quiet before one of the archers on the ground floor suddenly screamed before falling silent.

Glancing over the railing, the overseer watched in horror as a winged demon clad in cruel-looking plate mail tore the head off one of his assistants.

“Kill the demon!” he shouted, pointing down to the vengant who was already leaping upon another terrified pegasus.

Jumping into the air, one of the pegasus guards that had come to their aid readied his crossbow, only to be blown out of the air by a beam of energy. Now lacking everything below his navel, the pony tumbled out of the sky, entrails falling onto a now terrified research assistant. Spinning towards this latest threat, the overseer was surprised to find that a keeper of secrets had shimmered into existence, horn glowing with power.

Arrows were loosed, bolts fired, and spells were cast while the six earth pony guards sprinted across the room, throwing tables and ponies alike out of their way. Though the hail of projectiles was significant, neither demon seemed fazed by it, either deflecting them with magic or simply shrugging them off. Rainbow Dash simply tanked the lightning bolts, beams of magic and arrows while continuing to leap from one opponent to another.

Kanathara was unbothered as well, the demon having conjured a shield that batted aside most projectiles. Only a particularly powerful lightning bolt was able to pierce the barrier, though it was stopped by the demon who raised a hoof and simply absorbed its energy. Which she then turned around and fired back at the caster, blowing their horn clean off their head and dropping them to the ground, unconscious.

“Fighters, target the mage! Casters, target the one with wings!” shouted the overseer, before he leapt into the air and conjured a bolt of lightning which traveled up his tail to the points of his wings.

Rainbow Dash saw the twin bolts coming and leapt aside at the last moment, dodging one, but not the other which twisted in the air before slamming into her side. The demon was surprised when she felt the wind get knocked out of her, and her entire body tingled from the impact. She didn't let that slow her for long, however, and pumped her great wings, surging towards the closest enemy.

Who raised her crossbow as a shield, only to have her head and weapon cut in half by a supernaturally sharp wing. The lifeless body toppled to the ground as Rainbow Dash landed with a thump atop the second story of the library. With only a few feet between the wall and the railing, the assembled pegasi struggled to get a bead on the demon without hitting their allies.

Arrows and bolts whizzed past or clanged uselessly off her armor, and Rainbow Dash made short work of her next opponent. A gout of flame melted the flesh of his chest, exposing his lungs which were quickly immolated immediately after. Springboarding off the dying pony, Rainbow Dash counted up her opponents, quickly finding that she still had a dozen or so left.

This is almost too easy, Rainbow Dash thought, before a sudden gale force wind sent her careening towards the wall. Face met wood, with the demon’s armored form utterly destroying the bookcase and leaving the vengant in a tangled heap of tomes.

Bursting out of the pile of knowledge, Rainbow Dash seethed, searching for the pony who had struck her down. Which unfortunately left a large enough opening that another weather mage conjured a rain of hail which pelted the demon. Pushing through the ice storm, Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, silently reprimanding herself for having taken them lightly.

Below her, Kanathara was having a slightly easier time, with the keeper weaving in and out of cover, dodging the charging earth ponies with ease. Leaping over one table, the demon was surprised to find a cowering researcher huddled in a ball, crossbow lying forgotten on the ground. Taking pity on the poor thing, Kanthara cast a sleep spell on him, ensuring he didn't become a problem in the future.

Six left, she thought to herself before quickly teleporting across the room.

“Fighters, spread out and ensure that she can't keep teleporting away!” shouted a male voice from somewhere above her.

Kanathara cursed the hooded pony, as now she actually had to try, unlike before when the six ponies just followed behind her in a line. Swatting aside an arrow with her hoof, Kanathara built her magic before unleashing a hail of conjured arrows which shot in all directions. Two pegasi archers dropped out of the air, dead before they hit the ground while a third was forcibly grounded and the rest managed to avoid coming to any harm.

Some had conjured shields of wind, while others simply dodged out of the way or ducked behind cover. Taking advantage of this opening, Kanathara was about to fire off another teleport when an axe began to descend towards her head. Acting fast, the demon turned to smoke, narrowly managing to avoid having her head removed from her shoulders.

Reforming immediately after, Kanathara kicked the weapon from her attacker’s hooves before following that up with a heat metal spell. The pony’s steel helm glowed white hot, his flesh melting even as he swung at the keeper with his armored hooves. Silently cursing herself for not going with a more deadly attack, Kanathara decided to put the poor stallion out of his misery.

Leaping back, Kanthara completed another spell, this one causing the earth pony to radiate a dark aura. Stopping dead in his tracks, the pony’s body twitched, trying to fight off the magic’s malicious effects on his body. It was a useless effort though, and smoke billowed out of every one of the stallion’s orifices before he collapsed, his blood having been turned to vapour.

Above them, Rainbow Dash roared defiantly against the sphere of wind that surrounded and protected her opponent. In front of her, a robed pegasus pushed her wings to their absolute limit, conjuring all the wind she could muster. Rainbow Dash smirked suddenly before spitting a wad of tar-like fire which upon meeting the wind orb splattered all over the pegasus’ body.

Screaming in agony, the pegasus dropped out of the air, dozens of small pits opening up on her body as the hellfire burnt through skin and muscle alike. Knowing that she had strayed too long on this target, Rainbow Dash tucked her wings against her side and narrowly avoided a shard of ice. Which flew past her head and embedded itself in the wall of the library, sticking deep into the aged wood.

As she was falling, Rainbow Dash breathed deep and bathed a knife-wielding pegasus in fire. The pony rolled around on the ground, forgetting all about the keeper of secrets he had been trying to sneak up on. Pumping her wings, Rainbow Dash twisted her body out of the way of another duo of lightning bolts.

So agile and fast was the greater demon that one of the weather mages couldn't even muster a response before the vengant was upon her. With a quick twist, the pony’s neck was snapped, and another body was added to the growing mound below. Unfortunately for the demon, this had slowed her down just enough that the overseer’s next bolts hit her square in the stomach, sending the vengant spiraling to the ground and through several tables.

Rising triumphantly above the battlefield, the white-hooded pegasus pointed towards Kanathara. “Focus fire on the mage, quickly!” he shouted.

Kanathara knew her familiar was far from out of this fight, but without any breath in her body, she would need a moment to recuperate. Almost immediately, an earth pony lunged forward, breaking her concentration and causing Kanathara to have to leap into the air. Using her forward momentum, Kanathara drove her forehooves into her attacker’s face, causing the earth pony’s helmet to crumple.

Feeling her opponent suddenly become slack, Kanathara assumed they were unconscious and began casting another spell before her hooves were on the ground. When she landed, a black, smoky circle sprouted around her, just in time for the second earth pony to come charging in. He didn't make it far though, as the second his hoof touched the circle his body was filled with necromantic energy.

Flesh bubbled, eyes popped, and the pony fell, dead before his corpse could even hit the ground. Her spell, though effective, had forced the demon to stand in one spot for several seconds, opening her up to more attacks. Though the arrows bounced harmlessly off her hard skin, the buffeting assault of conjured hail that came right after drove Kanathara back.

Balls of ice the size of baseball pounded the keeper’s body, forcing her to turn to smoke in order to avoid being bludgeoned by the things. She wasn't able to reform where she wanted to however, as a sudden powerful gust sent her wisp-like form across the room. Disoriented and more than a little turned around, Kanathara reformed upside down, landing in a pile of books.

By then her companion had healed up enough that when Kanathara fell, Rainbow Dash rose. With fire shooting out of every crease in her armor, Rainbow Dash leapt out of the pile of broken furniture and books. Wings pumping, Rainbow Dash slammed into the first pegasus guard she could find with enough force to turn bones to jelly.

Gripping the now lifeless body, Rainbow Dash hurled the pegasus at the overseer, causing him to abandon his next attack, giving the vengant more than enough time to fly past a startled pegasus guard and bathe him in fire. Pouring magic into her wings, Rainbow Dash soared towards the still recovering hooded pony.

A noble or perhaps stupid pegasus leapt into her way, long sword raised above her head, intent on cutting the vengant down. Rainbow Dash was far faster however, and with a sweep of her hoof, the vengant shattered the mare’s forelegs. A second punch knocked the mare out, dropping her to the ground below where most of her allies lay dead or dying.

Unfortunately for them, this was enough time for the overseer to regain his balance and fill his own wings with energy. As Rainbow Dash closed in, he pulled back the feathered appendages and unleashed all the pent up magic in a single burst. Thousands of tiny bolts of lightning arced all over Rainbow Dash’s body, only for nothing to happen after they slammed into her.

“How did that not affect you?” he shouted.

“Teamwork, bitch,” Rainbow Dash shouted before clocking him square in the nose.

Bones broke, and blood spurted, the pegasus tumbling out of the air, only saving himself at the last second by snapping his wings open. On the ground a few feet away, Kanathara smirked, the simple insulation spell having proved more than effective. She couldn't celebrate for long though, as another earth pony charged her, greatsword raised high.

Without the covering fire of the many casters and archers, most of whom lay dead on the ground, Kanathara had enough time to deal with her lone attacker. With a quick spell, his sword was turned to gelatin, and a second spell put him to sleep right after his jello sword bounced off Kanathara’s head. The keeper chuckled and wiped her forehead clean of the yellow gel, a small part of her tempted to give it a taste.

Landing a few feet away from the mage, Rainbow Dash’s hooves crunched audibly as they punched right through a dead pony’s rib cage. Blood now covering a good chunk of her body, the vengant strode over to the overseer, noting that most of his underlings were dead. The few who lived were either making a beeline for the door, hiding, or already unconscious on the ground.

“Give it up, man. You don't have any more pawns to hide behind,” Rainbow Dash stated casually, waving a hoof over the bloody and decimated library. “Look around you. You aren't about to win this one.”

The overseer spat a wad of blood onto the ground as he rose back to his hooves, hood falling away to reveal a short, curly white mane. His fur was the color of sea foam, and his eyes were a light, sky blue which glared intently at the vengant. Though his nose was shattered, and blood flowed down his face, the stallion seemed unbothered by this wound.

“No, I don't think I will be giving up anything,” he replied, reaching into a hidden pocket of his robe.

“This is getting pathetic, just surrender, and I promise to make this quick,” added Kanathara, who stepped up beside Rainbow Dash.

“Arrogant demon, you have not won yet!” the stallion exclaimed, pulling out his hoof and revealing a vial filled with strange black smoke which undulated violently within its container. “Not while I have this!”

Rainbow Dash gasped. “You wouldn't.”

Kanathara lifted an eyebrow. “What are you so worried about? It's just a jar of smoke.”

“It is not just a jar of smoke,” exclaimed the pegasus. “It is a caged supercell! One of the most deadly weapons known to pegasi kind!”

“There are only like three in existence,” added Rainbow Dash.

How deadly are we talking about here? Kanathara mentally inquired.

Deadly enough to instantly kill everyone in this compound, including us, unfortunately, Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara frowned. “You’re bluffing.”

“Oh, am I now?” asked the pegasus, who smirked as he pressed his hooves against either side of the vial. “Why don't you light that horn of yours and find out?”

After several tense moments, Twilight sighed. “What do you want?”

“I want you two to surrender yourself to me,” declared the stallion boldly.

“You know you can't force us to become slaves like those ponies, right?” Rainbow Dash retorted.

The pony scoffed. “The Element can easily bend your will as it has done to hundreds of others.”

What's the plan, boss? Rainbow Dash inquired.

We wait and keep him talking, just trust me, Kanathara returned. “So you admit it then? That you forced all those ponies to become your slaves, knowing how horrible this act truly is.”

“Lesser beings are below my concern,” he dismissively replied. “Pegasus society needs our guiding hoof now more than ever, and the ground walkers will help whether they want to or not.”

“Just one question,” Kanathara began, raising a hoof.

“Make it quick, my reinforcements will be here in moments to collar you two,” spat the male.

“How were you able to accomplish all this?” Kanathara inquired, gesturing towards the dead and dying ponies lying all around them. “To make familiars of another mortal being should be impossible.”

The overseer’s eyebrows raised briefly. “Of course you figured it out. I suppose you are a keeper, after all,” he smirked. “A powerful demon was contacted, a deal was made, and plans for a powerful ritual were traded to us.”

“What demon, exactly?” pressed Kanathara.

The male shook his head. “I do not know, nor does it matter.”

“I wonder if it was her,” whispered Rainbow Dash.

“What did this ritual do anyway?” asked the keeper.

“You are an inquisitive one, aren't you? Though I suppose that is in your nature,” the male straightened himself. “No matter. We will have you in our service soon enough. As for the ritual, it merely took two innocent souls and some rare ingredients. After that we had a gem which could corrupt even an Element of Harmony.”

“Wait, who were these two souls?” demanded Rainbow Dash, the vengant stepping forward.

The pegasus growled, pressing his hooves tight against the vial. “Not another step closer, or we’re all dead!”

“Tell me who they were!” shouted Rainbow Dash, eyes narrowing and wings unfurling.

The stallion didn't get the chance to kill anyone, however, as his mane suddenly flattened and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. As his unconscious body fell to the ground, Kanathara swiftly grabbed the bottled supercell in her magic. With the weapon now firmly in her grip, the two demons watched as a teary-eyed Fluttershy shimmered into existence, pot still in her hooves.

“I can't believe you would do all that,” she whispered, tears flowing down her face. “You used to be so kind.”

“Wait, who is this guy?” asked Kanathara.

Fluttershy sniffed, the pegasus falling to her knees as she cradled the stallion’s head in her hooves. “He was my father.”

Author's Note

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Trial Six: Going Loud

“Oooh, no wonder he looked so familiar,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Thank you, by the way,” Kanathara exclaimed, swiftly putting the vial into an extradimensional pocket.

Fluttershy sniffed. “You are welcome.”

Rainbow Dash scratched her head. “So, uh, what are we going to do now? Shouldn't we take off before those reinforcements come... or at least lock the door?”

“One moment,” Kanathara replied, lighting her horn.

A second later the door was covered by ethereal purple chains, sealing it despite the giant hole left in the center. “There, that should give us a good amount of time to figure out a plan on how to get our hooves on the Element,” Kanathara explained.

“Couldn't we just use that spell to find it?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “I mean, stealth is pretty much off the table now anyway.”

Kanathara shook her head. “We’ll attract too much attention if we head straight to where the Element is being held. Our little fires have likely already been put out, and if we get swarmed, we’ll be in deep trouble.”

“Why don't you enfuse a fire with lightning essence?” Fluttershy offered, only to immediately blanch. “On second thought that would be terrible.”

“Wait, lightning essence? What are you talking about?” Kanathara questioned, turning to Rainbow Dash.

Who shrugged. “I’m not a pegasus anymore, and besides that, I’ve never heard of doing such a thing.”

“What would that do, Fluttershy?” Kanathara pressed.

The pegasus squirmed slightly. “I don't know if I should tell you this, but it would create a fire that would actually feed off cloudcrete.”

“Wait, that's a thing?” Rainbow Dash replied, scratching her head.

Fluttershy nodded. “It was in the news a few years ago. A fire broke out at the weather factory and even the store of snow couldn't put it out. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it really hurt Cloudsdale for awhile.”

“How exactly do you enfuse fire with lightning essence anyway?” Kanathara continued.

“Oh, I know I shouldn't have said anything. This is a terrible idea, and so many ponies are going to get hurt,” muttered Fluttershy under her breath, her gaze lingering on her father who lay unconscious in her forehooves.

“That could be the key to creating a big enough distraction. Plus it may actually enable us to avoid unnecessary bloodshed,” Kanathara offered.

Fluttershy sighed and laid her father’s head on the ground. “I’ll tell you how, but you have to promise me that you won't hurt anymore ponies.”

“You know we can't promise that, Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash retorted with a hint of sadness.

Fluttershy sighed. “Okay, but you have to at least spare those poor ponies who aren't here by choice.”

Kanathara nodded. “That sounds alright to me.”

“Oh, and can you please make sure my father is safe?” Fluttershy added, standing across from the two demons. “I know he was a bad pony, but he should still go to prison for what he’s done.”

Mistress and familiar exchanged a glance, Rainbow Dash’s eyes containing an intensity that Kanathara rarely saw.

“Fine,” Kanathara sighed, “I’ll use a stasis spell on him and teleport him outside. I won't be able to send him far due to the anti-demon shield still being up, however.”

Fluttershy let out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. “Thank you, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash.”

A dull thump coming from the door stopped whatever Rainbow Dash had been about to say. “If we are going to do this, we should get moving,” she exclaimed.

“Right. Fluttershy, you tell Rainbow Dash what must be done. While you do that, I’ll bubble the rest of the ponies who survived and send them away with your father,” Kanathara declared.

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “Sounds good.”

Kanathara lit her horn and trotted away from the two winged beings, focusing completely on simply getting the few living enemies out of their hair. For a moment the demon considered simply consuming the souls of those who were still alive, only to quickly dismiss that notion. She didn't want to make an enemy of Fluttershy, and at this point killing their fallen foes was down right unnecessary.

Pointing her horn from one unconscious body to the next, Kanathara quickly enacted a stasis spell on each of them. One by one their forms glowed a faint gold before freezing in place and then being teleported away by another flash of magic. A quick scry of the area confirmed that a dozen or so inanimate objects and unconscious enemies were lying on the training field they had seen earlier.

Dozens of ponies both winged and otherwise were running to and fro, some of whom were gathering near the edge of the magical shield. A good half were readying themselves for some form of attack, while the other ponies were clearly panicking or were shaking their frozen allies. Not like it would matter, Kanathara thought, as only time would be able to break the spell and awaken them once more.

Kanathara gave one last look through the floating scrying sheet before dismissing the spell. By then the dull thumping on the door had grown nearly constant, and Kanathara could tell that her spell was starting to take a beating. She estimated that there would only be five to ten minutes left before they finally managed to break in.

With that in mind, the demon turned towards her allies, where Rainbow Dash was breathing a gout of hellfire towards an overturned table. Above it flapped Fluttershy, the pegasus’ wings glowing the same color as her eyes, mainly on the tips of her primary feathers. Knowing that they were likely working on their little distraction, Kanathara merely stepped back and watched.

As soon as the pile of debris they had collected caught fire, Fluttershy flapped her wings as hard as she could in a single rush of air. Twin lightning bolts of the deepest blue shot from each of her primaries, connecting in the center before striking the flaming debris. Immediately, the deep scarlet-colored hellfire twisted, sputtering out for a moment before lurching to life with a new, bluish tint to it.

Fluttershy stumbled back a step, a quiet look of concern crossing her face. “There. That should be pretty much impossible to put out,” she murmured.

Kanathara nodded. “That will serve as the perfect distraction, and by now they’ve likely evacuated most people, so there should be little collateral damage.”

“I don't like it. This all feels a little slapdash for my liking,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara chuckled. “Did Rainbow Dash just complain about flying by the seat of her pants?”

The vengant snorted, her helmet receding fully into her gorget. “I know how it sounds, but this whole thing doesn't sit well with me. There are too many innocents. At least back home we didn't have to worry about who we hurt.”

“Demons usually deserve it, but think of it this way. These people will likely all become demons after death anyway,” Kanathara remarked.

Another thud, this one louder, made the room’s inhabitants turn from the fiercely burning pile and towards the door. Where one of the chains snapped, giving the trio a view of a dozen or so pegasi standing on the other side. Each one wore armor and were equipped with what appeared to be magical weapons which varied greatly from one soldier to the next.

“We should probably get moving,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Before they get a big enough hole to start taking pot shots at us.”

“Rainbow Dash, you lead the way, I’ll keep an eye on Fluttershy,” Kanathara commanded, lighting her horn and quickly casting the detection spell. “Our destination is above us. Way above us, by the feel of it.”

“Right. Keep her safe, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“I will,” Kanathara stated confidently.

“Oh um, thank you,” Fluttershy added awkwardly.

Kanathara lit her sharp horn, purple energy erupting from the end of it and causing the keeper’s body to be covered in a wave of black fire. When the fire receded, the horned demon had a large pair of batlike wings attached to her back, and after giving them a flap, she was airborne. Fluttershy stumbled to catch up, the pegasus ascending shortly after Kanathara did and following the demon as she made a break towards the skylight above them.

Are you sure the fire was necessary, boss? Rainbow Dash asked as she released a torrent of hellfire from her mouth, destroying the reinforced window and allowing her to fly through it. They are going to be pretty distracted already with the paladins showing up.

Kanathara snapped off a lightning bolt, stopping the first pegasus from squeezing through the narrow hole they had opened in the room below them. It is. For after the paladins get here, we are going to need something to keep them busy, lest they give chase to us.

Rainbow Dash emerged through the sky light, unfurling her great wings the second she had cleared the opening. Makes sense. Now, where are we going?

Kanathara emerged into the open air a second later, a terrified Fluttershy following behind her a moment after. From up here she could see that dozens of pegasi and their enslaved soldiers were moving about the grounds below them. The cloud yard must have been enchanted, Kanathara figured, as earth ponies clad in armor stood in rows, ranged weapons in their hooves.

Unicorn soldiers were readying themselves nearby while their pegasus overlords flew ahead, barking orders and trying to create a proper defence. In the distance Kanathara could see several dozen sky chariots making their way in this direction, on the back of which stood from one to three unicorns or earth ponies, all of whom were garbed for battle.

Kanathara was about to look away, when an enormous disc burst through the clouds with an entire battalion of paladins atop it. Rows of unicorn casters were flanked by a veritable wall of armored earth ponies, each one wielding enormous metal shields. The second they emerged from cover, the pegasi below them immediately began to scramble, and a large blue shield sprung up around the entire facility a moment later.

“I guess they received my letter,” Kanathara murmured.

“Oh wow, that's a lot of ponies,” Fluttershy remarked.

“Quit gawking, you two, we are working against the clock now, remember?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

Kanathara cursed her curiosity and turned skyward, pumping her wings and following after Rainbow Dash. She could hear Fluttershy following shortly thereafter, as well as shouting from the room below them. From what Kanathara could tell, it seemed as though their pursuers were busy trying to extinguish the flames and had given up on following them.

Which gave the trio more than enough time to search for their next objective.

Lighting her horn once more, Kanathara cast the detection spell, only to get the same vague sense that it was above them again. Sending that feeling off to Rainbow Dash, Kanathara poured on the speed, gaining altitude as she scanned the next plate. The property above them was attached to the library facility below with large chains, and from this angle she couldn't tell much else.

Before they got far, Kanathara cast a quick shield spell on Fluttershy, causing a bright purple dome to spring up around her body. The pegasus was startled by this but adapted surprisingly quickly, following after the two demons as they made their way higher into the sky. Upon getting around the cloud shelf the property sat upon, the trio were relieved to find that it was not another training field.

There were a scattered few ponies running this way and that, but most were unarmed and the few that weren't were running in the other direction. Making haste to the next cloud shelf, the three winged beings managed to get out of range before a pegasus with a crossbow fired off a shot at them. The bolt fell well short, and the guard, after finding that only he seemed interested in giving chase, quickly gave up.

Leaving behind the small cluster of cloud homes, Rainbow Dash pushed onward to the next level, where two repurposed storefronts rested side by side with another, their large front-facing windows displaying a wild flurry of activity within. Guards scrambled for weapons while barking commanders ordered them this way and that, some strapping on armor while others were winding crossbows.

Overall the entire level gave off the appearance of an armory, as there was a chest-high wall of storm-fortified clouds which surrounded the perimeter. One patrolled by several flustered guards who stumbled back upon seeing the two demons spring up in front of them. Kanathara paid them no heed, however, as one had already fainted while the other two were scrambling to find the triggers on their weapons.

Rainbow Dash merely continued on, trusting in her armor, while Fluttershy had to be dragged along by Kanathara’s magic when her wings had clamped themselves against her sides. Two scattered crossbow bolts followed after them, and for a moment Kanathara thought they might have to turn and fight. Which didn't end up happening, as some older guard burst out of one of the stores and started barking orders at the terrified squad.

Together the trio pushed on, with Fluttershy flying under her own power once they had gotten out of sight of the crossbow ponies. The second they cleared the final shelf, Kanathara lit her horn, though even a glance at the facility before her told her what she wanted to know. Where the other cloud homes were obviously repurposed or had been abandoned at one point and had then been reclaimed by the cult, this building was obviously new.

Built like a castle’s central keep, this level was ringed by a high wall of storm-infused clouds, upon which stood numerous armed ponies. Within was a taller, squarish building constructed entirely from dark storm clouds which towered over its surroundings. Arrow slits, defensive fortifications, and an enormous solid black door added to its intimidating look, making Kanathara rethink her entire strategy.

Almost immediately a hail of arrows and projectiles erupted from the walls, raining down on the trio’s awkward position just below and away from the battlements. On reflex, Kanathara cast a shield between them and their assailants, rendering the entire attack useless, their bolts bouncing harmlessly off her magic. Rainbow Dash exploded into motion a second after, the vengeant inhaling a deep lungfull of fire as she made a beeline for the fortification.

Behind them hovered Fluttershy, the pegasus squeezing her eyes shut in order to avoid witnessing the bloodshed that was sure to come. It arrived the second the vengant got in close, unleashing all the pent-up fire on a group of terrified pegasus guards. The gout of hellfire burnt through enchanted metal armor, leather and flesh alike, killing three out of five of the squad members in an instant.

A fourth was so badly burnt that he would perish in moments while the final was impaled by a summoned lance of purple magic. Other guards scrambled to get into position, the soldiers fanning out so as to not end up like the first group before raising their weapons. Kanathara was about to start unleashing her own attack, only for a sudden flash of bright pink to catch her attention.

Harmonic magic washed over the area, temporarily blinding the keeper and stunning her familiar just as Rainbow Dash had been about to pull the forelegs off some poor fool.

What the hell was that? Rainbow Dash thought, her helmet deflecting an arrow as she stumbled along the wall.

I don't know, but I’m about to find out, Kanathara replied.

Shifting her magic into the form of a more comprehensive series of defensive wards, Kanathara raised a forelimb, covering her eyes. Behind her, Fluttershy hovered in place, watching with confusion as her two demonic allies struggled while she felt only a faint tingling at the back of her head. Though after a few seconds, the pegasus suddenly felt a crawling sensation emanate from her spine, leaving Fluttershy with a distinct feeling of nameless wrongness.

On the battlements, Rainbow Dash rolled out of the way of a lightning belt, falling off the side of the wall and opening her wings at the last second. Weaving out of the way of leaping attack from a pegasus wielding a longsword, Rainbow Dash shook the last bit of disorientation from her mind. Her next attacker would be surprised when the demon spun in mid-air, knocking aside the guard’s scimitar and grappling her tightly.

The pony screamed when hellfire shot from every single joint in the vengant’s armor, only to be tossed away a second later after she dropped her weapons. The few guards who were left after the initial assault had spread out, some trying to go around Kanathara’s initial shield while others tried to pin Rainbow Dash down. Reinforcements came in the form of a five pony squad of pegasi which came from atop the main keep, the sword-wielding cadre heading straight for the vengant.

Cursing her foul luck, Kanathara finished erecting her defences before shifting her focus on the wave of magic which had washed over her a few seconds earlier. At first it had almost felt like a banishment spell, which wouldn't have worked due to the final binding still located somewhere in Canterlot. After running through a few diagnostic spells, the keeper quickly discovered that wasn't the case, as it was actually what felt to be an altered dominate person spell.

Only where that original incantation needed a singular target, and one that had no mental defences to speak of, this one was seemingly cast over the entire area. It also had so much power behind it that even Kanathara had felt swayed for several moments before the spell’s effect faded. Confused and more than a little startled by this strange realization, Kanathara quickly went about locating the spell’s origins, a new plan already forming in the back of her mind.

We need to get to the Element, now. How long do you need to deal with these fools? Kanathara asked, counterspelling a trio of magical bolts which had arched around her shield.

Ten minutes or so? Rainbow Dash replied, grunting as she was hit by a lightning bolt and then a sword strike which impacted her gorget. Scratch that, I’ll need at least fifteen if I’m going to have to deal with those spell casters.

Kanathara frowned as she looked over the battlefield.

Dozens of pegasi now filled the air while on the battlements several white-eyed unicorns shot spells and a few earth ponies fired crossbows. Though the wards on their enemies’ armor were not particularly good, Kanathara knew there were enough of them that it would take time. Time which they apparently didn't have as Kanathara could already feel a second pulse beginning to gather within the keep’s confines.

We need to get inside that thing, now! Kanathara exclaimed. I’ll summon some cannon fodder. Lead as many off as you can before rejoining.

Rainbow Dash grunted, ducking under a sword swing before sweeping the legs out from under a guard, knocking him to the ground and ripping his throat out. How did they hide this place anyway? I didn't notice a frickin’ castle before!

Perception ward over the whole area. It only works from a distance though, Kanathara explained, turning back to an absolutely petrified-looking Fluttershy. “Stay on my back, that shield should protect you!” Kanathara shouted.

“Maybe I should go. I’m only getting in the way!” Fluttershy shouted back, the pegasus letting out a strangled yelp of surprise when a bolt bounced off her bubble.

“Too late now, come on!” Kanathara yelled back, reflecting a jet of magical fire towards a nearby guard, burning his wings away.

As the unfortunate pegasus began to plummet towards the ground, Kanathara pulled open a portal between her forehooves. On the other side were a quartet of imps who stared wide-eyed at the interplanar intruder, who had opened a hole into their realm. As spells, arrows, and swords bounced against her shields, Kanathara continued to work her magic, strengthening the wound in reality. Until the entry was about the size of an adult pony, which hung several dozen feet above and in front of the battlements.

“If you have wings, get over here!” Kanathara shouted, gesturing to the other side of the portal.

The imps hooted and howled, every winged member of their cadre sprinting towards the interdimensional opening, as well as a few who didn't have wings. Just in time too, as the last of Kanathara’s defences went down as she had finished opening the gateway. A bolt whizzed through the leathery membrane of her wing, and two bolts of pink magic slammed into her chest, knocking the wind out of her.

The pegasus guards were close behind, swords raised and ready to strike at the reeling spell caster. Unfortunately for them, the imps had reached their destination and burst through the portal, with one of the non-winged ones latching onto the face of an unfortunate guard. Screaming in confusion, the pegasus swerved this way and that, trying to free herself from the grasping red talons of the imp.

Who gleefully ripped the eyes out of the guard’s head before clambering onto her back and pinning her wings down. While this happened, the winged imps had already engaged the pegasus guards with a sadistic glee. Some of whom were wielding minor spells or flimsy daggers while others attacked with nothing but their claws. Either way, the guards were completely surprised, and after a shout, the unicorns and earth ponies changed their focus.

Allowing Kanathara enough time to heal the hole in her wing, grab Fluttershy and make a beeline for the entrance of the keep. In front of them, Rainbow Dash cut a bloody swath through the few guards who managed to stay in a loose formation. That was until the vengeant ripped the face off their sergeant before kicking him in the chest hard enough to snap several ribs.

With their chain of command now in disarray and morale at all time low, the two remaining guards threw their weapons aside and bolted. Rainbow Dash spat several balls of hellfire after them, but made sure to only graze her targets, keeping their fear up without killing them. By the time Kanathara and Fluttershy joined her, the way was clear, and no one was following them as the other soldiers were too busy fending off the growing demonic incursion.

Kanathara glanced over her shoulder, only to wince when she noticed a rather large imp pull its way through the opening. Unlike the others, this one had six arms, two tails, and a spiral horn growing from the front of its head, signalling its more evolved status. Knowing that her summoned allies were as likely to attack her as they were to attack her enemies, the keeper turned away, heading towards the door.

“We’ve got some bigger guys coming through. They should hold off any reinforcements, though we should watch our back regardless,” Kanathara exclaimed, the keeper landing beside her familiar and Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash nodded, gesturing towards the large, obsidian cloud doors. “You want me to bust ‘em down?”

Kanathara shook her head. “They likely have some defensive magic in place, let me do a quick scan and-”

A second pulse cut off the keeper’s response, dropping the demon to her knees, her forehooves pressed against her head. Rainbow Dash wasn't much better, the vengant’s entire body vibrating with rage as she reared back and belched fire into the sky. Fluttershy, however, merely stood there, her head lolling weakly on her neck, eyes distant and her breathing shallow.

Fighting through the wave of unpleasant emotions and strange urges, Kanathara stomped her hoof against the ground. Shaking her head, Kanathara looked up to find her familiar ripping apart an imp, the vengant tearing the shrieking creature in half. Before it even had a chance to die, Rainbow Dash’s helmet pulled back, revealing a red-eyed demon, whose maw was already open wide.

The vengant’s teeth slammed shut over the imp’s head, severing what little was left of its neck.

“Rainbow Dash, snap out of it!” shouted the keeper.

The familiar shook her head, her eyes returning to their more normal coloration a second later, a confused look spreading across her face. “Whab bush happen?” she stuttered, opening her mouth to reveal a charred imp head.

Spitting out the offending bit of demon flesh, the vengant scraped her tongue, removing any blood which clung to the inside of her mouth. “Augh, gross!” she shouted.

“What's gross? Where are we?” Fluttershy asked, the pony looking around in confusion. “And why does my mouth taste like purple?”

“No time to explain,” Kanathara shouted, pointing to the door. “We’re going loud. Rainbow Dash, get ready to go straight for the Element so we can get out of here asap.”

The vengant nodded, her helmet slamming back down her head, armor rippling up her body and growing visibly thicker. Rising onto her back legs, Kanathara lit her horn and began to cast a powerful spell, one which started as a tiny orb of darkness at the tip of her horn. That black ball grew and grew, pulling in bits of debris and random objects which were caught on the wind that had suddenly built up around her.

“Hold on to me. This is going to get crazy,” Rainbow Dash remarked, wrapping a hoof around Fluttershy.

The pegasus blanched as Kanathara’s black orb grew to the size of a watermelon, bits of cloud tearing off the walls and vanishing into the spell. “What is going to happen?” Fluttershy whispered, shuffling back a few steps along with Rainbow Dash, who kept a tight grip on the pegasus’ barrel.

“She's going to blow the doors off this place and hopefully not take us all with her,” Rainbow Dash shouted, the wind suddenly spiking to the point that it was hard to hear.

Behind them a few rather bold imps took one look at the building spell and promptly turned right back around, choosing to take their chances with someone not casting an incredibly powerful destruction spell. Even a hidden archer backed off when their bolt was sucked into the orb, missing their target entirely.

Throughout it all Kanathara remained unphased, her eyes distant as she chanted in a strange, guttural language. Then, just as the orb began to twist, and its perfectly spherical sides began to bulge, Kanathara fell back to the ground. Pointing her horn at the door, the keeper released all the pent-up power she had been building for the last thirty seconds.

With a catastrophic boom, the spell released, rapidly tripling in size before exploding into an enormous beam of pure darkness. The door was erased, and a thunderclap nearly knocked Fluttershy off her hooves, the pegasus only being saved by Rainbow Dash’s firm grip. Floors, ceilings, and walls vanished as the dark beam annihilated everything it touched, no matter what it was made of.

The wards that reinforced the structure stopped the blast for a second before they exploded in an eruption of colored lights. With nothing to stand in its way, the beam surged deeper into the structure before finally blowing through a large wall and slamming into a golden array. This massive bubble of magic rippled for a moment before suddenly pulsing with energy, disrupting Kanathara’s attack.

The spell flickered, and before it could go out of control, Kanathara released it, causing the beam to shrink to almost nothing before finally winking out a second later. When the dust cleared, a circular hole about nine feet wide had cut its way straight through the structure, annihilating everything in its path. All save for a central dias, upon which rested a gold amulet with a strange pink butterfly at its heart.

The amulet itself seemed twisted, as the pink jewel had strange lines coursing just beneath the surface. It almost appeared as though the jewel had greenish veins within it, each one pulsing with a sickly green light.

“Finally, let's move.”

Author's Note

Warning! I was unable to pay my phone bill and my number was snatched up, meaning that I can no longer get into my patreon account. As such there will be a slight delay in month end announcements. I have sent a messege to patreon support however and it shouldnt be long before this matter is resolved. So if your a patron and for some reason are not part of the discord, let this be your warning!

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Trial Six: A Job Well Done

Both demons charged into the gaping hole left behind by Kanathara’s spell, flying straight towards the distant golden dome which housed their target. Trailing behind them was Fluttershy, the nervous pony doing her best to avoid getting the attention of anyone who may happen upon her. Thankfully between the demonic incursion, paladin crack down, and spreading fire, what few ponies noticed them didn't give chase.

Most seemed intent on simply sprinting towards the nearest exit, while their slaves simply stood there, wide-eyed and unmoving. With so little focus on the part of the guards, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash didn't even bother attacking any of the panicked ponies, merely flying deeper into the castle, eyes glued on their prize and only giving anyone else the briefest of glances.

That was until they reached the large central room, where a dozen pegasi were waiting for them, all but one of whom were airborne. The lone robed pony stood next to the dais, a hoof pressed against the golden shield as she sneered at the demons. Though only her mouth was visible, Kanathara could already tell who it was they were now facing off against.

“You can lose the hood, Mrs Shy!” Kanathara exclaimed, landing a dozen feet from the edge of the golden shield.

Rainbow Dash hit the ground next to her mistress a second later, her gaze lingering on the eleven well-armored guards hovering above them. Their armor was obviously enchanted, the glowing copper-colored metal absolutely humming with energy. Not only that, but the room itself was heavily warded, with the high walls and nearly thirty foot ceiling dotted with magical circles.

“I suppose it was obvious, wasn't it?” replied the robed pony, who pulled back her hood to reveal a short, cropped crimson mane and well-kept yellow fur. “Then again, it wasn't like we were hiding.”

“Mom, is that you?” asked a nervous Fluttershy who stepped up next to the two demons.

The robed pony’s expression twisted, becoming strained for a moment before morphing back into a look of mild disdain once again. “So you’ve managed to beguile my daughter into helping you. No matter. Soon you will all be under my control.”

“We didn't use any freaky mind magic on her, if that's what you mean,” Rainbow Dash spat. “She just knows that you’re doing some seriously evil shit.”

“What do you know of righteousness? You’re a demon for crying out loud!” shouted the mare, who scoffed. “The only evil here are those toothless fools who control this debauched city.”

“Stealing away their minds and making ponies prisoners in their own bodies is not the way to make the world a better place,” Fluttershy proclaimed. “In fact, it was you who always told me that two wrongs don't make a right.”

“I am righting the wrongs our weak society has wrought!” yelled the older mare, stomping her hoof in emphasis. “Once I use the paladins to take control of the city, I will ensure that no one has to go through what you did.”

Then, before anyone could get a word in edgewise, the pegasus pressed a glowing feather tip against the golden shield. Which then turned from a sickly green to a vibrant pink the energy visibly building within the confines of the artifact. Above her, the previously silent pegasus guards burst into motion, each one surging towards the Tartarus spawn.

“Focus the demons and keep them away from the Element! In minutes they will be under our control!” shouted the robed mare.

Please tell me you have a plan, thought Rainbow Dash as she leapt towards her first opponent, hoof raised and ready to strike.

I need to probe the shield’s weaknesses. Just try to deal with as many of them as you can, Kanathara replied, snapping a quick mana bolt before rolling out of the way of a shard of conjured ice.

Fluttershy scrambled out of the way of the fighting, terrified of getting struck by a wayward attack, only to find that she was being completely ignored. The armored pegasi weaved and struck at her demonic friends, bolts of lightning, shards of ice, and sharp gusts of wind being launched at the two powerful demons. The guards themselves seemed to be a step above the rest they had fought until this point.
Their helmets offered far more protection then the others, though the face remained open, and a strip of colored hair ran down the length of their helmets. Each one was a different color starting with four who had a light teal, another four were deep blue, and the last three were a pearlescent white. Their under armour seemed to be a simple cloth at first glance, though Fluttershy could tell that the heavy tunic offered more protection than one may assume.

It also allowed the guards a wide range of motion, as the thick copper-colored plates covered only their shoulders and barrel. Overlapping layers of metal helped to cover most of their weak spots while thick leg guards covered just about everything else. In their hooves were two different weapons, one being a simple short sword meant for stabbing, the other being a long, pointed spear.

Their movements were graceful as well as lightning fast, the guards somehow able to hound the demons closely without getting in each other’s way. It would have been impressive had they not been seeking to murder Fluttershy’s friends and ultimately enslave hundreds of ponies through cruel magic. Confused and with little idea of what she could even do to help, Fluttershy merely hid as best as she could near the entrance to the room, looking on with wide-eyed terror.

Kanathara jerked to the right, dodging a lightning bolt before leaping over a fan of ice that would have cut her legs off at the knees. Yet somehow, she had just enough focus left over to fire off a bolt of charged energy at the golden shield, her spell reflecting off the side and shooting off into the ceiling. Making a note that it was extremely resistant to concussive force, Kanathara deflected the blow of a spear with a conjured shield but couldn't follow up due to a sword being thrust towards her midsection.

Rising onto her back hooves, Kanathara swatted aside the attack before smacking another guard in the face with her wing. She fired off another spell in the opening, this one being a twinned bolt of fire and lightning which intertwined before slamming into the shield. Unlike her first spell, this attack simply vanished the second it hit its target, fading into nothing and leaving behind not even a mark.

A thunderclap followed by a wave of lightning forced Kanathara airborne and to abandon her attempts at figuring out how to bypass the shield. Rainbow Dash was right there, however, the vengant swooping in and releasing a great fan of flames at Kanathara’s attackers. A spray of icy wind stopped the hellfire dead in its tracks, though Rainbow Dash had assumed that would happen and had already moved on to her next attack.

There were simply too many of them however, and a second later the chaotic melee became even more confusing when the two demons were swarmed from seemingly all sides at once. Now nearly back to back, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash ducked, weaved, blocked and otherwise stuck purely in defence, unable to offer any manner of counterattack. This continued for several seconds, with both demons having to focus all their energy on merely not getting skewered.

Shock and awe? Rainbow Dash thought, deflecting a swordstrike with one forehoof before decking her attacker with the other.

Low area of effect, high damage, Kanathara replied, leaping over a trio of ice crystals before swooping low under a crisscross of cutting wind.

Snapping off a quick spell, Kanathara aimed her horn at her familiar’s wings just as the vengant had opened them as wide as they could go. Then, before anyone could strike her while in such a vulnerable position, Rainbow Dash flapped as hard as she could. Bright purple fire exploded from her leathery appendages, bathing the area in a thick blanket of enchanted hellfire and knocking back the guards.

Though they suffered only minor burns thanks to the enchantments on their armor, it gave the two demons just enough time to recover. Kanathara reached out with her magic and yanked an unfortunate soldier towards Rainbow Dash who had already filled her lungs with fire. Just as he was about to get his head melted off his shoulders, a sudden pressure change around Rainbow Dash’s head left the demon reeling and confused.

Flames sputtered from the vengant’s grille at random, scorching the guard’s helm but doing little else. Spinning on her heel, Kanthara glared at the robed pony who had spent most of combat merely focusing on the Element. Seeing the grim look on her face, as well as her glowing primaries, Kanathara knew she had been responsible for what had just happened.

Thankfully it seemed as though the corrupted Element of Harmony took most of her focus as she quickly turned away from the fight. Unfortunately for the demons, however, the guards had gathered themselves once more and had relaunched their assault. Aggravated by their rapidly shifting fortunates, Kanathara had just enough time to brace herself before the next pink pulse washed over them.

Demon and pony alike either hovered in place or fell to the ground, standing perfectly still or remaining in place.

All save for Fluttershy’s mother who shouted over the din of battle, “Attack while they are disoriented!”

Like a spell being broken, the guards leapt back into action, though their eyes seemed partially glazed over, as if they were not wholly in control of their actions anymore. Kanathara was just as quick though and fired off a twisting miasma of energy at the shield while at the same time sprinting over to Rainbow Dash. Her spell dissipated the second it touched the golden barrier, turning into a kaleidoscope of colors which vanished in an instant.

“Rainbow Dash, with me!” Kanathara shouted just as the raging vengeant had been about to throw herself into several spears.

Twisting in mid-air, the winged demon quickly regained her senses, though her thoughts remained turbulent for several seconds afterward.

Negative energy and hellfire both do nothing. Who cast this bloody shield? Celestia herself? Kanathara thought to herself.

Rainbow Dash grunted, a spear bouncing off her breastplate with enough force to leave a bruise. I don't know who cast it, but we need to figure out a way to get through it and fast. That last one was strong. Maybe we should-

Whatever the vengant had been about to say was cut off when a howl echoed from down the hole they had created in the cloud castle. A second later a dozen demons poured in through the gap, forcing several of the guards to split off in order to defend their rear. Even with the addition of some help, both Rainbow Dash and Kanathara were still unable to land a meaningful hit on the guards.

Rainbow Dash managed to burn one poor fool, but the damage was surface level, and the guard herself backed off before the vengant could continue. A flurry of stabs and quick thrusts from two other pegasi kept Rainbow Dash back, and she cursed her luck as several swordstrikes bounced off her armor. Though they had yet to find a chink in her defences, they were dangerously close to her joints and one had nearly slipped through her grille.

Kanathara chuckled as she watched the imps and low level demons throw themselves at the guards. Though most of them were cut down in seconds, the keeper was suddenly quite glad that a more intelligent monster had come through. Otherwise she doubted the demonic creatures would have even understood what had happened when the pink wave had washed over them.

She knew their little distraction wouldn't last long, however, and rather than continue probing the shield, Kanathara fired off a ray of absolute darkness at the robed pony standing next to it. The older mare easily sidestepped the attack, slipping through the barrier and onto the dais itself, as if the shield didn't even exist. The demon’s eyes went wide, and she frantically began to formulate a more complicated probing spell.

Get their attention, I have an idea! Kanathara exclaimed.

Right. I’m on it, boss lady, Rainbow Dash replied, already regretting what she planned on doing.

Leaping to the side, Rainbow Dash put herself between her mistress and the guard who had been trying to impale her on a spear. Instead of striking home, the pony’s weapon slammed into Rainbow Dash’s breast plate, their eyes meeting for a single moment. That turned out to be all the vengant needed however, as her own eyes glowed, and a portion of her rage passed into the pony.

Who screamed incoherently before throwing her spear as hard as she could at the vengant. This seemed to disrupt her closest allies' attacks, forcing them to leap aside lest they end up on the business end of the raging pony’s weapon. The attack was easily telegraphed however, and Rainbow Dash used her magic to harden her wing before using the appendage to knock aside the spear, shattering the tip.

Now thrown into disarray by their screaming ally, the six guards struggled to regain a single cohesive focus. In the meantime, Kanathara fired off her spell, only to suddenly get knocked off her hooves by a sudden burst of low pressure directly under her. This sudden shock garbled her diagnostic spell’s response somewhat and forced the demon to turn to mist in order to avoid being impaled by a summoned shard of ice.

Kanathara wanted to scream in frustrated rage, but instead forced herself to simply reform out of harm's way, casting a scorching ray in order to keep her enemies at bay. A powerful gust knocked the spell aside however, sending it into an unfortunate imp who was incinerated in an instant. The deflection enraged Kanathara even more, but the demon kept her temper in check, as she could tell that the Element was building energy once more.

Knowing full well that this may be her last chance to stop herself from becoming a pawn of the houses, Kanathara began to desperately look for Fluttershy. Finding the pegasus cowering in the corner of the room, Kanathara breathed a sigh of relief, before muttering an even briefer apology. Then, with a heave, Kanathara used her magic to throw the now defenceless pegasus at the shield, hurling her at the dias as if she was a spear.

The yellow pegasus had just enough time to let out a terrified screech before she hit the barrier, only to pass right through. Landing in a heap before the Element and her surprised mother, Fluttershy stumbled back into a stand, still reeling from her impromptu flight. For a moment it seemed as though the older pony was going to attack her own daughter, only to refocus on the Element at the last minute.

Why would you do that? Rainbow Dash thought, her anger palpable even in her thoughts.

It's keyed to their genetics. I knew she was going to be fine, Kanathara retorted, gritting her teeth as a sword nicked her side, drawing a thin line of blood.

And if you were wrong? Rainbow Dash thought back, bucking a guard hard enough to send him flying.

Then she’d be dead, and we’d be slaves, Kanathara exclaimed, ignoring her familiar’s response. “Knock the element away, hurry!” She shouted.

Fluttershy looked from the glowing pink jewelry to her mother who stood next to it, her forehooves pressed against the artifact. “Don't do it, Fluttershy, this is for your own good!” shouted the older mare.

Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I’m tired of other people deciding what is and isn't good for me, especially you!”

The butter pegasus raised her own forehooves and brought them down on the Element just as the energy had reached its zenith. When the energy was released, instead of flooding the area with another explosion of pink magic, the light flowed into Fluttershy. The greenish remnants within the jewel withered and vanished, washed away by the wave of light which left behind no trace of corruption.

Pony and demon alike were struck by the sheer power of the Element, forcing all to shield their eyes lest they be blinded by its light. When the dust cleared, and Kanathara concluded that she was not under the control of some cultist, the demon stood slowly. Looking around, she noticed that the pegasus guards had been knocked to the ground, and the sole remaining imp was struggling back to its feet.

A quick flick of Kanathara’s horn and the creature’s head was lopped off its body, and a second, slightly longer spell ensured that the guards would not rise again. Heavy magical chains bound their limbs against their bodies, though for a moment Kanathara considered simply killing them and being done with it. That idea was quickly pushed aside however, and the keeper gathered the guards together in the center of the room.

Magical muzzles were placed over their mouths, and bindings along their wings secured the feathered appendages. Most were too dazed to offer any manner of resistance, and Kanathara overpowered the two who were, securing them to the floor. Confident that they wouldn't be a problem anymore, she turned towards her familiar who was now upright and was trying to shake the stars from her eyes.

Stepping past her, Kanathara walked up to the raised platform to where Fluttershy stood staring at the Element in confusion.

“What happened?” she asked, looking up at Kanathara expectantly.

“I think you cleansed the Element. Though I’m afraid I’m going to have to take it from you,” Kanathara replied, holding out her hoof.

Fluttershy hesitated for a moment before dropping the piece of jewelry into the demon’s outstretched limb. The second it was in her grasp, Kanathara tore open a small hole in reality before tossing the Element into it. With her prize now secure in a pocket dimension, Kanathara looked down to where Fluttershy’s mother lay sprawled out on the ground, her robe smoking and hair singed.

“Now then, what to do with you…” Kanathara murmured.

“I know what she did was wrong, but please don't kill her,” Fluttershy pleaded, quickly stepping between them.

“You have no idea what you have done, child,” Mrs Shy whispered hoarsely. “All of this was meant to ensure that what happened to you would not happen to anyone else. We were building a better, kinder world!”

“And you thought you would get there by committing some of the worst atrocities Cloudsdale had ever seen,” Rainbow Dash added, stepping up next to her mistress.

The older mare ground her teeth together. “It was the only way to gain control without having to fight our own citizens. It may not look like it, but this was the most bloodless solution available.”

Fluttershy held up a hoof, silencing the retort she knew was about to come from the keeper. “It doesn't matter. What matters now is that you release those poor ponies from your control. Do that, and I promise you will live to see another day,” Fluttershy declared.

“I…” The older mare looked up into Fluttershy’s eyes and all at once her shoulders fell slack. “I suppose you're right. There is no point in keeping them anymore.”

The pegasus hesitated before reaching into her robes, prompting Kanathara to light her horn, only for a simple reddish gem to emerge.

“I suppose keeping them as they are would be unnecessarily cruel, especially since we have been defeated,” whispered the mare, lifting the redish orb. “This is the binding stone. Simply will them free, and it will be done.”

Before anyone could move Rainbow Dash grabbed it and raised it into the air, closing her eyes as she did so. Immediately, numerous different colored lights began to emerge from deep within the stone, coalescing into two orbs of rainbow light. The spheres twisted and spun around one another, growing brighter and brighter before pulsing and sending out a rainbow-colored ring in all directions.

In the wake of the wave two vague, pony-like shapes could be seen standing on either side of the vengant. They resembled two adult pegasi, and they simply smiled at the demon for several seconds before vanishing. Their bodies dissipated, leaving behind a confused and startled Rainbow Dash who stood in awe at what she had just witnessed.

“Was that my…” she murmured, gaze lingering on the spot where the more feminine shape had stood a moment earlier.

“We can discuss this later. Right now we need to worry about the paladins kicking down the door and capturing us both,” Kanathara stated evenly, her voice firm but gentle.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “R-right. What do we do with her?”

The robed pony stumbled into a stand. “I don't care what you plan to do with me, just please leave my daughter out of whatever machinations you have in mind for Equestria. She has gone through enough torment because of a demon.”

“I had no intention of involving Fluttershy in the first place,” Kanathara retorted, smiling faintly as she glanced at the yellow pegasus. “Though I’m glad things turned out that way in the end.”

“Thank you both for your kindness and mercy,” Fluttershy replied, bowing her head slightly.

“I wouldn't say that just yet,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed before winding up and sucker punching Fluttershy’s mom right in the muzzle.

The mare flew backwards, landing with her legs splayed in all directions, clearly unconscious and sporting a shattered nose.

Fluttershy sighed irritably and trotted over to the fallen pony. “You didn't need to do that,” she muttered, turning the bloody mare onto her side.

“She's a vengant. Getting revenge is kind of her thing,” Kanathara pointed out.

Fluttershy grumbled as she wiped the blood from her mother’s nose. “So what will you do now?”

“Simple. We make our getaway,” Kanathara replied, her horn glowing and her wounds closing one by one.

Rainbow Dash shook herself violently, the dents in her armor fixing themselves and what few injuries she had healing rapidly. “Ahh, much better. So what's the plan then? Are we teleporting out of here or what? 'Cause that sounds boring.”

Kanathara chuckled. “Don't worry. I have something suitably flashy in mind.”

Shining Armor tapped his hoof impatiently on the lip of his personal sky carriage. His brow was furrowed, and his attention was fixated on the very one-sided battle happening below him. Though the fight looked almost even at first, after a rainbow wave emerged from somewhere above them, the tides had quickly turned.

With the majority of the earth ponies and unicorns they had been fighting suddenly collapsing like puppets with their strings cut, over half of the houses’ soldiers were out of commission. Some even turned on their former allies, bellowing angrily as they shot down or trampled pegasi they had been fighting alongside only moments earlier. On top of all that there was also a fire growing rapidly out of control and there happened to be a small imp infestation his paladins were only just barely containing.

To say it was a mess would be an understatement, and already Shining Armor could tell that he was going to have a very long day ahead of him. The paperwork alone would take his assistants weeks to get in order, and then would come the hearings and inquiries that local governments would demand. Nevermind the report he would have to write to the princess detailing all that had occurred in only a matter of hours.

The stallion sighed, glad that at least his soldiers were carrying out their orders to the letter, making him more or less irrelevant. With little to do, the commander was about to join the fight personally when he heard a sudden shout from beside him. Spinning towards his second-in-command, Shining Armor followed the mare’s gaze above them, where a flaming armored pony was falling from the sky.

No, not falling, flying directly down, their trajectory putting them just out of range of Shining Armor and his paladins but close enough to tease them.

“What in the hell is that?” Shining Armor shouted, gripping the edge of the carriage.

“I don't know, sir, but it appears demonic,” replied his lieutenant.

“I can see that, soldier. Wait, I think I know who that is. Let our ponies know that, unless they attack, I want you to ignore them. Celestia has plans for-” Whatever else he had been about to say was rendered impossible to hear due to a large explosion.

Which came from just above them, originating from the flaming demon and rippling outwards in a blood-red ring. A millisecond later the armored form zipped past his position, plummeting out of the sky so fast that it had become a reddish-black blur. The flaming wake it left behind knocked pegasi out of the sky and rattled the unicorn’s carriage so bad Shining Armor thought he would be flung off.

Rising quickly, the stallion quickly checked his surroundings, and after ascertaining that none of his soldiers were falling to their deaths, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Cocky bastard,” he muttered.

His second-in-command lifted an eyebrow. “Sir?”

Shining Armor snorted. “Like I was going to say, they aren't a problem. Celestia and I have plans for them. Besides, in a twisted way they sort of helped us out.”

“I mean I guess, but they also made a pretty big mess of the entire place,” offered the mare, gesturing to the battlefield below them.

Shining Armor glanced back over the demonically infested, flaming, and utterly chaotic fight and sighed. “Yes, lieutenant. That they did.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

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Trial Seven: Pyrrhic Victory

“You know, I’m not sure how to feel about all that,” Rainbow Dash, disguised again, remarked as she banked around a cloud.

Kanthara nodded her assent, the similarly undercover demon following close behind her partner. “I know what you mean. Despite everything, that didn't really feel like a win, did it?” Kanathara exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash snorted irritably, her illusion faltering briefly when soot billowed out of her nostrils. “You’re telling me. First Fluttershy’s dad pulls out some ancient super weapon and then Fluttershy herself ends up saving our butts by bashing him over the head.”

“And that's without mentioning how disappointed we both were after Fluttershy ended up stepping in to save her mother,” Kanathara murmured bitterly.

“I mean, I get why Flutters would do something like that, but her mom might have killed both my parents and enslaved a ton of people,” Rainbow Dash added, the demon flapping her false feathered wings in order to go over a low-hanging cloud.

Kanathara simply fell under the obstacle, coming out on the other side just as Rainbow Dash had leveled off once more. For a moment the keeper of secrets said nothing, merely staring off into the distance and letting her eyes glaze over. The Everfree was as vast and as verdant as ever, though Kanathara had recently gained a distinct appreciation for the dangers the forest held. Still, it was undeniably beautiful, and the sight made the demon’s pulse slow and her muscles begin to relax.

“I mean, she might not have done all of that herself,” Kanathara offered weekly.

Rainbow Dash snorted once more. “I know what you mean, and honestly, I don't know what I’m more angry about. Not being allowed to off that crazy bitch, or not feeling mad about not being able to off her.”

Kanathara chuckled as she flew lazily next to the winged demon. “Fluttershy does have a way of making you almost feel bad just for being pissed off in the first place.”

The vengant sighed. “Yeah…”

“Speaking of Fluttershy. Did you notice how the Element flashed when she grabbed it?” Kanathara asked.

“Wasn't that just the spell though?” Rainbow Dash questioned, glancing over her shoulder.

Kanathara shook her head. “That was not just the spell. It… connected with her. Just like how the other one connected to Applejack, remember?”

“I guess those two instances were fairly similar,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “But I don't know if they are connected. It kinda seems like you’re reaching.”

“You may be right, but I just get the impression like they were resonating at the same frequency or something,” Kanathara continued, her gaze becoming distant once again. “The way it happened made me think that some manner of magical transference had occurred.”

“If that's what you think happened, then that's probably how it went down,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I wonder what it all means,” Kanathara continued. “Do you think they might be the Bearers of the Elements?”

Rainbow Dash performed a lazily roll, shrugging her shoulders as she did so. “I don't know, and I don't think it matters. Once we hand over the artifacts to queen spooky pants, I don't think she's going to let anypony near them.”

Twilight hummed thoughtfully as she looked down at the forest. “Either way, that's a consideration for another time. Right now we have to check in with everyone and try to figure out the next best target.”

“Totally, though I kinda hope it's the one in Manehattan. I’ve never been there before, though I hear it's pretty cool,” Rainbow Dash offered, angling her body towards a seemingly random copse of trees in the distance.

“That would be nice. Maybe this time it wont be such a straight forward slug fest and we’ll actually have to outthink our opponents for once,” Kanthara exclaimed with a hint of excitement.

“You’ve been reading too many Eleven Oceans books,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

The keeper used her magic to flick her familiar upside the head. “I have not, and besides, even you have to admit that it would be nice to not be forced to rush all over the place. Why, if that was the case, I bet we could even take the time to see the city properly.”

“Which would be nice…” Rainbow Dash admitted.

The pair began to descend more rapidly towards the copse, speeding towards the thick vegetation without making any attempt to slow down. They passed through an invisible wall and emerged out in a large open area, one that housed a seemingly normal cabin. There had been some changes since the pair had left as the generally barren space surrounding the small home now sported a garden.

A rather large and intimidating one that was currently being tended to by Pear Butter, who was kneeling down next to an incredibly strange plant. The entire thing looked like a single terrifying red fruit covered with dozens upon dozens of purple spikes. Pear Butter wore a straw hat and wielded a comically small trowel, which she was using to prod the fruit with.

Landing nearby, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash trotted over to the wrath demon as she peered intently at the odd-looking plant. “Interesting, I didn't know that a hellgathian spine fruit could be grown in uncorrupted soil,” Kanathara remarked.

“It shouldn't be able to, but I was able to replicate the barrens with a bit of sulfur and a heaping helping of salt,” Pear Butter replied, only to stumble back when the fruit suddenly sucked in her trowel, swallowing the small tool whole. “Though this one doesn't seem happy about things.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled as the fruit spat out the gardening implement, which was now missing its wooden handle. “Don't be too hard on yourself. Those things hate everyone and everything. Looks like good eating, though.”

Pear Butter smiled as she rose back to her full height. “True. So how did the mission go? I see you more or less in one piece at least.”

Kanathara blinked and dispelled their illusions. “Sorry about that. Forgot I even had them on still.”

“Don't worry about it, besides if we are being honest, I’m rather curious as to what you would look like if you had grown up as a pony,” Pear Butter admitted, the demon motioning for the other two to follow as she slowly walked down the long line of plants. “Tell momma Pear Butter all about it, and I’ll make sure to find you two something fresh to eat along the way.”

Rainbow Dash perked up. “You wouldn't have any strawberry snappers by chance, would you?”

Pear Butter flashed the vengant a smirk. “Do I look like the type of demon who wouldn't plant the tastiest thing outside of a fresh soul?”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you so much,” Rainbow Dash remarked, grinning excitedly.

“I thought it was because of her quote unquote, gigantic golden backside,” Kanathara added, much to her familiar's chagrin.

“Augh, I told you that in confidence, while drunk!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

Pear Butter blinked and looked down to Kanathara. “It's not that big, is it?”

Kanathara merely rolled her eyes. “Anyway. So to start, the mission went well, but that doesn't mean we didn't hit a few snags along the way. Such as when we-”

Pear Butter nodded slowly. “Well, that certainly was a tale, and here I’ve been just trying to get in touch with my earth pony heritage. Among other things.”

“Well, I mean, you’ve certainly done well,” Kanathara remarked, the demon gazing out over the rows upon rows of plants, some of which grew over a dozen feet tall.

“It makes sense though,” Rainbow Dash added. “Since you and Tirek will be staying here for a while, you should get some food growing, just in case.”

“Still, I wish I could grow something that didn't originate from one of the lower planes,” Pear Butter exclaimed sadly.

Kanathara opened her mouth to respond, only to be interrupted when a walking bag of fertilizer trotted up next to them. Upon noticing the bag’s presence, Pear Butter smiled and took hold of the brightly colored package.

“Ah, Willow. Good to see you finally found it,” Pear Butter happily announced, revealing that beneath the fertilizer was a small, hooved imp.

Who grinned wide, revealing its rows of sharp pointed teeth. “No problem, boss lady. Need anything else?” it asked in a high-pitched and slightly nasally voice.

Pear Butter scratched her chin. “No, I don't think I do. Feel free to rejoin the others or pick something that catches your eye.”

“Thank you, boss. Willow will do that right away!” proclaimed the imp excitedly.

Kanatahra raised an eyebrow as she watched the green-skinned imp trot excitedly away, its tiny wings flapping uselessly at its sides. Though humanoid like most imps, this one was definitely a product of the Everfree, with a slightly more equine appearance. Which came in the form of its tiny feathered appendages, hooved back legs, and single jagged horn which poked out from the middle of its forehead.

“Ugly little bugger,” Rainbow Dash whispered once the imp was out of earshot.

Pear Butter chuckled. “That's the other thing I mentioned I’ve been up to, and they aren't that bad. If anything, they are a step up from the normal imps.”

“Almost look like cherubs,” Kanathara pointed out.

Pear Butter cocked her head. “I suppose they kind of do, in a way. ”

“Only more pony like,” Rainbow Dash added.

Pear Butter nodded. “They are also more tribal than the imps you find in the pits. Territorial and aggressive like all of their kind, but more willing to agree to a mutually beneficial agreement without having to use a contract.”

“I must admit I’m rather intrigued by the prospect. Though it does feel a little weird, knowing that there are a bunch of demons just wandering around,” Kanathara admitted in a hushed tone.

Rainbow Dash shuddered. “Still. It's better than the alternative.”

“Absolutely. It's just well, you know what I mean,” Kanathara remarked with a shrug.

Pear Butter nodded once more. “I get it. Though the more metaphysical social contract of mutual aid seems more binding than anything enforced by demonic magic.”

“I’m starting to understand that now,” Kanathara admitted before shaking her head. “Regardless, I feel like we have gotten off track.”

“Yeah, you wouldn't happen to know anything about our next targets, would you?” Rainbow Dash asked, scratching her head. “I remember one of them being in Manehattan and the other is held in Canterlot by the paladins, right?”

“And the final one is missing and last spotted in diamond dog territory. Or so Velvet mentioned,” Kanathara added.

Pear Butter shrugged. “I think that's what she said, but to be entirely honest, I’m not completely sure. Now that we are talking about it, I believe they had received some news on one of the Elements though. Perhaps you should seek out Tirek and Velvet sooner rather than later.”

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash exchanged a look before nodding.

“Then that is what we’ll do right now,” Kanathara declared.

“Best of luck with your gardening and imp wrangling,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Pear Butter chuckled. “And I hope you have an easier time getting those two to stop bickering long enough to talk to them.”

With that the wrath demon turned and walked away, making her way towards a freshly constructed shed near the edge of the bubble.

“What do you think she meant by that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara frowned. “If I had to guess, I’d say they aren't exactly getting along very well.”

“Pfft, I wonder why,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Let’s just hope they can at least play nice for a little while,” Kanathara exclaimed, only to sigh. “Ah, who am I kidding?”

The vengant patted her mistress on the shoulder. “I’m sure it will be fine. I mean, how bad could it be?”

“And I told you that such a plan would spell certain death!” Tirek shouted, banging his fists on the table and causing the large scrying orb to bounce out of its pedestal only to land right back into its holder.

Within the crystal sphere, Velvet rose to her full height, glaring at the demon. “It wouldn't be if you actually took my suggestions seriously!”

Tirek scoffed, waving a dismissive hand at the mare. “You and I both know that the citadel isn't that easy to undermine, furthermore-”

“Would you shut up for two seconds?” Velvet shouted, jabbing a hoof towards Rainbow Dash and Kanathara who stood awkwardly just inside of the room.

“Real mature, Velvet. You know we’re both adults here. You can't just start screaming whenever-” Tirek continued, only to stop and actually follow Velvet’s hoof, to where he found his two adoptive daughters standing behind him. “Well then. Now I feel like an asshole.”

“I mean, ya kind of were,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Kanathara sighed. “It's nice to see you too, Tirek.”

The centaur stiffened slightly, but nodded slowly. “It is nice to see you as well, Kanathara.” He quickly inspected the keeper of secrets. “I see that your mission didn't leave you worse for wear at least.”

“It went well. Even if it didn't go exactly as we had planned,” Kanathara remarked as she walked over to the table, her familiar following close behind her.

“We got the Element, at least,” Rainbow Dash added.

“That is good,” Velvet pointed out.

“You weren't injured, were you?” Tirek cautiously inquired.

Kanathara paused briefly before shaking her head. “Not severely, and we may tell you more about what occurred later, but right now I heard mention that you received news about one of our targets?”

“Also, what were you arguing about? You weren't talking about like, the citadel right? Like the place where the paladins are based near the top of mount Canter,” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Err yes, but that is a discussion for another time,” Velvet assured them.

“We could give them a hint though, right?” Tirek replied, glancing at the crystal orb.

The pony merely raised an eyebrow ever so slowly.

“Right, of course,” Tirek hastily exclaimed, raising his hands in defeat. “That is a topic for another time.”

Kanathara glanced curiously at her adoptive father and was about to press him, only to notice the serious expression on her birth mother’s face. “I assume you are planning on assisting our goal in some way,” Kanathara fished.

Velvet nodded. “And that is the only hint you will get out of Tirek and I. Hopefully by the time that you are able to acquire the last element not held by the paladins, we will be able to reveal our little surprise in full.”

“Right now you have other things to worry about,” Tirek remarked.

“That doesn't sound good at all,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “You didn't try going into town, did you?”

The centaur rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “No, and just a heads-up, but the majority of the paladins have likely returned to Canterlot or gone to parts unknown. Even still, they did leave behind a slightly larger garrison.”

“They have a feeling Tirek is in the area, though for some reason he has been put lower on the priority list,” Velvet explained.

“I wonder why,” Rainbow Dash remarked aloud.

Tirek sighed. “Yes, yes. My forces have been decimated, my resources plundered and my resolve weakened. Even still, I am determined to assist you two in whatever manner I can. Despite your asinine remarks.”

The vengant chuckled nervously under the centaur’s gaze. “Have I thanked you recently for all you’ve done because wow, bang up job, boss man.”

Kanathara pointedly ignored both Tirek and Rainbow Dash, turning to Velvet. “So what is this bit of news you wanted to tell us?”

“The Element is being moved,” Velvet stated, her voice instantly becoming serious. “The one disguised as an art piece and hidden in the grand galleria in central Manehattan.”

“That's odd. When are they moving it and why?” Kanathara replied.

“I… don't know,” Velvet admitted after a short pause. “My contacts in the paladins don't think its position is compromised, but for some reason they were still spooked.”

“Well, we did just steal one from them,” Rainbow Dash pointed out, the vengant leaning on the table.

“We don't believe that is the reason,” Tirek interrupted. “Our current theory is that the higher-ups in their organization have altered their modus operandi. As this change is so big that their entire communication network is abuzz with activity.”

“Like Rainbow Dash said, we did just make off with one of the Elements, started a fire, and unleashed a bunch of demons,” Kanathara added.

“Whatever is going on, it's affecting more than just the branch devoted to keeping the Elements safe,” Velvet explained. “Logistics, counter intelligence, and even the monster-fighting subsection of the paladins are all suddenly shifting focus.”

“That is big,” admitted the vengant.

“Exactly, which is why you need to be extra careful here on out,” Tirek stated. “If they are mobilising that many auxiliary forces, it may potentially mean that they are onto us.”

“Or onto Velvet’s little organization,” Rainbow Dash offered, glancing at the cultist.

“Doubtful, but regardless, my spies have been less than reliable of late,” Velvet remarked in a dejected tone.

“So we discovered when we recovered not the Element of Laughter, but the Element of Kindness,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Tirek raised an eyebrow. “Your network wouldn't happen to be compromised by chance, now would it?”

Velvet shifted uncomfortably. “I have had an unusually high turnover of agents in recent months…”

“We can worry about all this intelligence gathering mumbo jumbo later. What we need to know right now is how long until they start moving it and where they are sending it,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“It will be sent to Canterlot most likely, and if my hunch is correct, then they will be moving it to the citadel to be stored along with the other two Elements already in their possession,” Velvet explained.

“That would be very bad,” Kanathara exclaimed, turning to the centaur. “Father, do you have any suggestions?”

Tirek blinked, temporarily taken aback before quickly giving his head a shake. “Velvet mentioned that she was working on some manner of synthetic soul alternative made out of concentrated wild magic. Perhaps that will give you the boost needed to fly all the way to Manehattan in time to catch them,” he turned to the pony. “Unless you have finished altering the teleportation matrix. In which case I would suggest going to Canterlot and setting an ambush.”

Velvet shook her head. “My attention is too divided and the subroutines that ensure no one but I can use it are buried too deep in the spellwork.”

“Well, I don't know about you, boss, but I could really use a pick-me-up. Especially if we are going to fly across half the damn continent after spending the majority of the day doing just that,” Rainbow Dash announced, the vengant rotating her shoulder and causing the joint to pop several times.

“Still… we’ll be lucky to get there before nightfall even if you manage to keep a good pace,” Kanathara murmured.

“Provided the train to Canterlot is faster then the one from Manehatten you could still hit them upon arrival,” offered Tirek, arms crossed over his chest. “And the rest would do you both good.”

“Trust me,” Velvet interjected, “this stuff works. Besides, they are fully fledged demons, Tirek, they can go for days without rest if necessary.”

The centaur snorted. “Fine, but this artificial soul had better be safe.”

Velvet chuckled. “It is perfectly safe. In fact, I’ve tested it a few times on a number of associates.”

“Well, if she says it's good, then I’m willing to try. Though if this doesn't work, I’m going to have to brew more than a few pots of coffee before we leave,” Kanathara remarked.

“Tirek, you know where it is, right?” Velvet inquired.

The centaur nodded and used his magic to conjure up two containers of silvery white liquid roughly the same size as beer bottles. “Let me know if it's as good as the real thing,” he remarked, levitating them towards the pair of demons.

Kanathara nodded, took one, and bumped it against her familiar’s. “Bottoms up!”

“To victory!” Rainbow Dash added.

The two demons uncorked their bottles in unison before tossing them back and swallowing their contents in a few large gulps. Once empty, the bottles were returned, and the two demons took a step back, eying each other and then themselves. Initially there was no glow, burst of light, or seemingly any reaction at all, the pair merely standing there waiting for the other shoe to drop for almost a minute.

“I don't feel any--oh, there we go!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her eyes going wide as her mane tripled in size, billowing behind her with all the intensity of a firestorm.

Kanathara meanwhile was merely struck by just how much energy was suddenly at her command. The swirling nebulas and distant stars within her own mane came alive with motion, rearranging themselves into dozens of different formations in the span of seconds. Energy sparked from her horn, setting a loose document ablaze with bright violet fire that quickly threatened to spread out of control.

Tirek hastily gathered up the rest of the papers he had left out, cursing while he snuffed out the magical flames. “Watch where you're shooting that thing, we were working on important plans here,” complained the centaur.

The keeper didn't even hear her adoptive father’s words for several seconds, until all at once she returned to normal. Looking around, both mistress and familiar exchanged a knowing look, as well as a wide smile. The lingering fatigue caused by their long flight and short fight was gone, replaced by an energy that felt akin to a burst of adrenaline.

“That was quite something,” Kanathara muttered.

“You’re telling me. It felt like my soul was on fire, but like, in a good way,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed eagerly.

“See, I told you it was fine,” Velvet added.

Tirek frowned and let out a long sigh. “So it seems. Perhaps we will have to build more of these magical condensing machines that you spoke of earlier.”

“Will there be a crash?” Kanathara inquired.

The pony shook her head. “There are no drawbacks to the potion other than a comparative loss of potency when contrasted against a regular soul. And because it has very little spiritual energy, it won't make you any more powerful.”

“So you made a super espresso coffee that only demons can drink. Basically,” Rainbow Dash stated.

Velvet chuckled. “I guess you could say that.”

Tirek cleared his throat and uncrossed his arms. “With that out of the way, I presume you will be departing then.”

“As soon as we get some directions or at least the name of the station they’ll be leaving from, as well as the time they will be doing so,” Kanathara replied, turning her attention to Velvet.

“East 18th Street Station, nine p.m., tonight,” Velvet exclaimed.

“That's in the city, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Kanathara hummed. “I think so. Which means we will need to hide out onboard and then wait until we are out of range of any potential reinforcements they may call.”

“An excellent plan that shouldn't be terribly difficult to execute as the paladins seemed to be rushing to get this done,” Velvet commended.

Rainbow Dash grinned and bumped her hip against the keeper’s. “So, you ready to start another fight?”

Kanathara smirked right back. “Always.”

Author's Note

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Trial Seven: Crossed Wires

Rainbow Dash heaved herself into the ditch, rolling over onto her back and gasping for breath. The demon was currently disguised as a mint green pegasus with a light teal mane and several altostratus clouds on her flanks. She was also lying in a half inch of dirty water with her wings and limbs spread in all directions, her chest still heaving.

“I’m never flying that much in a single day ever again,” she muttered bitterly, sweat matting her temporarily fur-covered body.

Smoke billowed from her body and coalesced into the familiar form of Kanathara, who quickly disguised herself as a unicorn with bright yellow fur, a curly, sky blue mane, and a cutie mark of three hearts, two the same color as her mane, while the third was green. The keeper gave her body a brief shake, allowing her to get used to the new form she now inhabited before looking down at her exhausted partner.

“You got us to the trainyard in time, you can rest now, if you’d like,” Kanathara offered.

“But I… you know what? I’m not even gonna argue. I need a few minutes to gather my strength,” Rainbow Dash replied, the vengant’s own body becoming a faint mist which seeped into Kanathara.

After letting her familiar get settled, Kanathara began to look around, starting with the ditch they were now hiding within. It was just deep enough to obscure them from any casual observer and had enough cattails to make the demon hard to spot from above. It was also only a dozen or so metres from the loading area, making it the perfect position to observe the staging grounds which stood between them and the train yard.

Said staging area was a buzz of activity with ponies running to and fro, some trying to load cargo into one of the many armored cars, while others were shouting orders. Even at a glance it seemed disorganized in the extreme, with guards tripping all over themselves and others running in one direction, only to turn around and run back in the other. There was even a toppled container that had been packed full of weapons which were now sprawled out on the ground, a dozen soldiers hastily attempting to load it once again.

The only area that seemed to be at least halfway organized was near the front of the train where several unicorns were busy setting up several large white pillars. Each one was inscribed with a powerful rune that made Kanathara’s bones itch even from across the trainyard. Lighting her horn, the demon felt for the foreign magic, recalling her birth mother’s teachings in order to remain undetected.

Anti-magic wards that would stop anyone on the train from casting anything more complicated than a mana bolt. They must have very few accomplished mages in their retinue if they are willing to hobble the few that are, Kanathara thought, keeping that bit of information to herself.

Wow, what a mess. They weren't kidding when they said that they were in a rush. There isn't even a single patrol watching their perimeter. It really is all hands on deck, Rainbow Dash mentally remarked.

Kanathara nodded slowly. They are sloppy, but I can sense that they have at least a few wards up that would alert them if anyone used high level magic in the area. And more are coming up every minute. I could force a teleport through their defences, but it would attract a lot of attention.

Pfft, compared to the lair of she who thirsts, this is a cakewalk, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

It certainly has its own unique challenges as there aren't any set patrols, Kanathara retorted, only to suddenly smirk. Which gives me an interesting idea.

I hope you aren't thinking what I think you’re thinking, Rainbow Dash warned.

Kanathara’s smirk grew. I might be, but trust me. This time it will work.

Don't do this, boss lady, it's not going to-

I can't believe this is working as well as it is, Rainbow Dash thought.

Kanathara strode confidently through the controlled chaos of the military-controlled railway station, her illusionary armor glinting in the low light of the evening sun. Now adorned in plate mail and bearing all the insignias Kanathara knew belonged to a middle-ranking officer, the disguised demon walked past a pair of guards who were hastily picking up a dropped box of supplies. Both stopped, looked at the demon, and then snapped off a quick salute before getting right back to work after Kanathara gave a nod.

I told you ‘operation own the place’ would work, Kanathara thought smugly, the keeper only just barely keeping her face in a neutral expression.

I mean, I guess it would have to eventually, given that it's failed what, six times so far? Rainbow Dash sarcastically replied.

Quiet, you, Kanathara thought back.

Noticing that a higher ranking officer was moving towards her, Kanathara ducked into a small alcove of boxes, wherein a confused paladin was trying to don their armor. The keeper adapted quickly, approaching the guard with a scowl already plastered firmly onto her face.

“Are you still struggling with that?” Kanathara questioned.

The demure earth pony stallion she approached had dark grey fur, a short cropped mane of light blue hair and eyes the color of the noon sky. He had also managed to squeeze both of his forelegs through the same leather undershirt hole and was now awkwardly hopping around, trying to free himself.

“It got loose, and I tried to fix it, only to make things worse,” he admitted.

Kanathara sighed and cast a quick glance over to her shoulder, noting that the higher ranking pony had stopped and was looking around. “Well, lay down on your belly and free yourself already. You’re making the lot of us look like a pack of headless chickens,” Kanathara bellowed, still scowling.

The stallion nodded eagerly and started doing just that. “Sorry, ma’am!” he shouted back.

Kanathara snorted, and after noticing that the other paladin had left, turned and walked towards the train once again, taking a brief detour halfway through. At about the midpoint through the field stood a tent wherein ponies with maps, lists of orders, and piles of boxes had gathered. Though it seemed to be a command post of some kind, there weren't any high-ranking paladins nearby and a lowly scribe seemed to be in charge, the pony standing in the middle of the chaos.

I think we might be able to get some information there, Kanathara thought.

You should ask them why all the cars need to be armored like that and what that really big one at the back is for, Rainbow Dash added.

The keeper followed her gaze to where she noticed that one of the train cars was indeed larger than the rest. It was also sealed by a large door with a spinning handle akin to one you might see on a submarine or other seaborne vessel. The rest of the cars were a mix of large open flat beds that had only a light railing, and others that were normal, save for the addition of three plus inches of steel plating.

Turning her attention back to the tent, Kanathara found a rather flustered looking young mare garbed in simple golden robes and approached her. “Scribe,” Kanathara all but shouted.

The unicorn mare threw up her hooves, tossing her writing supplies into the air. “Eep!” she cried.

Kanathara swiftly caught everything in her magic and gently put it back into its place. “I have questions for you as no one else seems to know what's going on,” Kanathara smoothly continued.

“Oh, um, absolutely sir--I mean, ma’am,” stuttered the scribe.

“I’ll keep them brief for the sake of time, but for starters; why is everything a hot mess?” Kanathara demanded, eyes narrowing.

The young mare gulped. “The higher-ups are um, indisposed, and this order comes from a new commander. There were also some slight inconsistencies in her codes, so we were in a holding until they cleared before she suddenly showed up and started shouting orders herself.”

“Is that so?” murmured the demon, who scanned a distant landing near the front of the train, where a tall, white-furred and golden-maned paladin was bellowing orders at the top of her lungs.

Whenever she finished a sentence, another cadre of younger guards or a higher ranking officer scuttled away, eager to follow her commands. All except for three captains who stood their ground and shouted back, one of whom was a familiar pink color and had a small ballista strapped to her back. Even from where Kanathara stood it was easy to pick out Pinkie Pie, the earth pony mare evidently trying to issue her own orders only to get overruled every time.

“Well then, that certainly throws a wrench in things,” Kanathara remarked.

The scribe bobbed her head. “Captain Pie has been arguing with Blazing Sun all afternoon, but she just doesn't have the rank. The only reason she hasn't been dragged off for insubordination is because, well… she's Pinkie Pie.”

“Noone would actually do it,” Kanathara reasoned.

“Pretty much,” the scribe replied.

“Second question. What is in that final car?” Kanathara inquired.

“Oh, um, just foodstuffs that Canterlot requested. Apparently they are adding a full platoon of extra guards for some secret project and needed more rations. It's already all loaded though, so you don't have to worry about rotten food at least,” explained the scribe.

Then that would be the perfect place to hide out, Rainbow Dash thought.

Kanathara nodded and clasped the scribe by the shoulder. “Let it be known that there is at least one competent pony here.”

“Thank you, ma’am!” The mare beamed, only for her expression to shift suddenly. “Um, who exactly are you again? I don't think you ever gave me your name.”

“Oh uh, Sunny, Sunny Smiles,” Kanathara replied after a short pause.

Real smooth, Rainbow Dash remarked bitterly.

“So just Sunny then?” the scribe replied.

Kanathara nodded. “If you wouldn't mind. Evidently my parents didn't think I was going to join the guard as soon as I hit eighteen.”

“I know the feeling,” muttered the pony.

“Thanks again, and best of luck sorting out this mess,” Kanathara replied, patting the unicorn on the back before walking off.

That was surprisingly smooth for once. I thought I was going to have to do the talking for you, Rainbow Dash quipped.

You mean like that time when you farted and tried to tell the guard that they did it? Kanathara retorted.

Touche.

Slipping through the crowd of soldiers turned out to be easier than anticipated, as Kanathara merely kept her nose up and strode confidently towards her destination. Noone even so much as gave her a second glance, and in no time at all, she was standing next to the final car of the train. Well away from the central hub of commotion that was further up the loading area and obscured by a tower of crates, Kanathara gave a quick look around.

Sure enough, no one was paying any attention to her, the main focus of the various paladins seemed to be packing goods into the front few cars. They must be almost done packing the first shipment, Kanathara thought.

Then we better find a place to hide out for a little while before someone realizes Sunny Smiles isn't a real pony, Rainbow Dash added.

“Right,” Kanathara murmured.

Ducking back around the wall of crates, Kanthara peeked around the corners and then gave the handle a spin before quickly slipping through the opening. After that was done, she secured the exit behind them and looked around once more, observing the interior of the car. Sure enough, the scribe had been correct, and crates marked with various foodstuffs were piled high, leaving only two thin hallways to walk between.

Kanathara’s horn flashed, and a low level locking rune appeared over the door behind her. “There, that will ensure no one walks in on us. Though it's not like it would take much effort to bust through it,” Kanathara remarked aloud.

A second later Rainbow Dash reformed next to her, a grin on the demon’s undisguised face. “So, what you’re saying is we got like, an hour or two to pig out on all this free food before we get to bashing heads,” exclaimed the demon, who began to hungrily eye the many crates.

The keeper was about to tell Rainbow Dash that was a bad idea, only to shrug. “This car is soundproof, so yeah. I guess that is what I mean,” Kantathara replied after a short pause.

Rainbow Dash blinked. “Well, alright then. Let's see what we got here.”

The vengant tore open the first crate and peered within, her eyes going wide. “Aww, hell yeah. An entire crate of chocolate pudding. They are even in those cute tiny cups with plastic spoons!”

Kanathara peeked over the side. “That's odd. You’d think they wouldn't prioritize something like this.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Remember what the old man always says. Don't underestimate stupid, and never look a-”

“Gift horse in the mouth,” Kanathara finished. “I remember.”

“So, what's the plan anyway?” Rainbow Dash inquired, the demon grabbing a whole armload of chocolatey treats before plopping down on the abnormally cold ground.

The keeper took only a few for herself before sitting across from her partner. “They always put like a hundred guards around the most important thing. So I was thinking we knock out a couple of them and make our way up to the front where they are probably keeping the Element.”

Rainbow Dash swallowed a mouthful of pudding and nodded. “Sounds pretty standard. You think they’ll have any surprises in store for us?”

“Oh, most definitely,” Kanthara replied, removing the lid from one of the treats. “There are a number of wards on this train and though one of them isn't active quite yet, I’m fairly certain it's meant to suppress higher level magic.”

“Oof, that will practically neuter you,” Rainbow Dash remarked before tipping back the contents of four pudding cups over her mouth.

“I will not be quote unquote neutered,” Kanathara remarked bitterly before magically prodding her familiar’s leg, causing four circles of chocolate flavored pudding to land on the other demon’s face.

The vengant glared at her partner, chocolate pudding sliding down her cheeks. “That was so uncalled for.”

“And so was insinuating I would be useless,” Kanathara countered.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Touche… again.”

Kanathara peered intently out the window, watching as the sun slowly descended below the horizon and the train sped through an open plain. They had left the swampy lands of the coast far behind and had entered an area dominated by fields while in front of them lay the imposing visage of mount Canter. This wasn't exactly visible from the small window, but Kanathara had a detailed enough mental map that she could tell pretty much exactly where they were.

Kanathara knew that in about twenty minutes, they would begin to start entering the first of many tunnels which would ultimately end with the Solaris tunnel that led directly to Canterlot. At such point they would likely be screwed, given just how easy it would be for the paladins to call in reinforcements. Not only that, but the possibility of Celestia personally intervening was much higher, the demon dreading the mere chance of such a thing happening.

Hopping down from the box, the keeper of secrets was about to ask her familiar if she remembered the plan, only to notice that the other demon was sprawled out on her side, chocolate pudding smeared across her face. “Really, Rainbow Dash? I turn my back for two seconds and you ate an entire crate of the stuff?” Kanathara deadpanned.

The vengant belched and wiped her lips. “Relax. I’ll just reform and be as good as new.”

The demon turned to mist before becoming solid once more, now sans the pudding that had covered her face. “See?”

Kanathara sighed. “You would be so fat if you weren't essentially made up of willpower and magic.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Yeah, probably. So are we doing this or what?”

“Do you remember what I said earlier?” Kanathara replied, taking position behind her familiar who had trotted over to the door.

“Try not to kill too many of them. If we look like heartless monsters, they won't hesitate to kill us and won't take us prisoner in case of a screw-up,” Rainbow Dash repeated in a mocking tone. “Oh, and that super spell matrix thingy is still up, so you got like two spells you can use.”

“Which is more than what will be needed to deal with these amateur hour punks,” Kanathara added.

“Yeah yeah. You know I was joking before, right?” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara smiled. “Of course, dear. Now let’s go kick ass and steal stuff.”

“Hell yeah--wait. Can you like, pocket a few of those crates of pudding? They were surprisingly good,” Rainbow Dash inquired, glancing over her shoulder.

Kanathara’s smile grew. “Already done. Now seriously, let's get a move on. We’re reaching about the midway point, and I do not want to blow this one.”

“Right right, sorry. Oh and boss? Thanks,” Rainbow Dash remarked before turning around and throwing open the door.

Instantly the quiet of the sealed car was gone, replaced by rushing air and the distant thump of a powerful engine which overwhelmed all other sound. Before them stood a small walkway, a mess of cabling, and a normal sliding entrance that had a simple handle, as well as a small square window. Rainbow Dash creeped up to it, laying low and keeping her armor as little more than a breastplate in order to ensure she could move freely.

Her hoof reached towards the opening mechanism, and for a moment it looked like the demon was about to keep going, only to jerk to a stop. Her eyes narrowed, and Kanathara leaned even lower still, instantly on alert for whatever had set her familiar off.

What is it? Kanathara inquired.

You’re gonna wanna see this, Rainbow Dash replied, stepping awkwardly to the side, and making room for her mistress.

Now more curious than ill at ease, Kanathara trotted up to the small window and peered through it, the demon finding herself looking at what seemed like a normal cargo car. That was until her eyes adjusted and she saw three shapes huddled close between the wall of boxes that flanked them on either side. Though armed and armored, they clearly weren't paladins, as each one had unique armomorents.

One wore a heavy set of spike-coated and partially blackened plate mail that covered every inch of their bulky body. The spikes ranged from as short as the average nail to nearly two feet in length like the one that stuck out from their forehead. An angry, baleful yellow gaze could be seen from between the two thin slats though they had no visible weapons to speak of.

Another was a tall, lanky unicorn stallion who had his eyes covered by a simple slip of cloth upon which a single blazing red eye had been painted. His horn was unusually long and quite thin, which went double for his gangly blue limbs and lengthy purple mane. His robes were a tattered mess, though it was clear that at some point they had belonged to a member of one of the many Discordian cults.

The last individual was the smallest of the group and seemed to be talking quite animatedly while struggling to shed a light orange leather jerkin he wore overtop of a set of black-studded armor. Once free of the shirt, Kanathara realized that it was the same demure earth pony stallion she had seen earlier, his short mane being a dead giveaway. He was the only one who seemed to have some manner of weapon, as he quickly started sheathing over a dozen daggers all over his armor, pulling the weapons out of a nearby bag.

Leaning down, Kanathara lit her horn, conjured a simple eavesdropping rune and slipped it under the door. She then leaned towards Rainbow Dash so she could hear as well before activating the spell.

“-no, we cannot at any point join the others,” exclaimed what sounded like the grey-furred stallion.

“And why not?” rumbled an incredibly deep, but clearly feminine voice. “We are wasting our time guarding an empty car filled with useless baubles and trinkets while our sisters spill the blood of the heathen paladins.”

That must be tall, dark and spikey, Rainbow Dash commented.

“You know very well why we must remain here,” remarked an oddly high-pitched male voice that warbled strangely, as if two voices were speaking as one. “Besides, fret not, good fleshrender. I smell battle in our immediate future.”

“What, really? From where?” asked the jumpy-soundy young stallion.

“I know not. Perhaps our superiors will seek our aid after all and give our job to some lowly imp more befitting of simple guard duty,” continued the strange unicorn.

A heavy stomp could be heard through the door. “Bring it on', I say. I did not take this mission to stand around and watch the wretched scenery.”

“Money’s money, y’all need to relax,” replied the slim stallion. “We get paid either way, so who cares if we fight or not?”

“Some of us do not fight for simple bits,” snarled the spike-covered mare.

“Yeah yeah, and some of us need a breath mint,” remarked the stallion, who sounded like he covered his nose while he spoke.

The blind unicorn chuckled disturbingly, his voice sounding like it was coming from everywhere at once. “He has a point, you know. You’re nearly overwhelming my precognition with your scent alone.”

“One more word, and it will be you who is impaled upon my horn and not some foolish interloper!” snarled the berserker.

As amusing as this is, I must know if we are gonna go around them, or through them? Rainbow Dash inquired.

Kanathara paused for a moment, rubbing her chin. Through. We need more information. Just knowing that they are a loose confederation of mercs and cultists isn't enough.

You don't think Velvet betrayed us, do you? Rainbow Dash gently asked.

Why even tell us about the train at all if she intended on grabbing it for herself? Kanathara countered.

True, Rainbow Dash admitted. So, what's the plan?

Simple, Kanathara began, we just need to-

“--and I am telling you that giving the people the right to vote over almost everything will lead to a freerer society,” exclaimed the plate-armored mare. “Right now we have a handful of elites that are able to introduce all the laws, and although elected officials get to vote on approval of those laws, it's not a just system.”

“How so? Can't they vote on all the stuff already?” countered the mercenary lethargically.

“Our dear meatwall is talking about direct democracy, which isn't quite the same as what we have now,” explained the blind mage.

“Thank y-”

“Though that doesn't change the fact that she's wrong. The state must be dismantled in its entirety and all unjust hierarchies have to be dissolved before we can be truly free,” continued the unicorn.

The steel-clad pony pressed her iron-shod hooves against either side of her head. “Not this again. I know you are a Discordian, but must you argue for anarchy every time we-”

“Shut up. We got company,” interrupted the mercenary, who rose onto his back legs and retrieved a pair of daggers from his chest.

As one, the three turned towards the entrance, where a mist began to seep through one side, while a dark black smoke spilled through the other. From the gathered fog stepped two demons, the larger of whom was clad in magical platemail which crawled up her neck before transforming into a metal maw that slammed down over her head. As the vengant’s armor finished covering her face, the horned and wingless demon to her right smiled gently, taking a step forward.

“Greetings, gentle ponies. I have a proposition for you all,” Kanathara announced.

“I’m listening,” murmured the mercenary, who remained on his back legs.

“Is this the battle you spoke of, mage?” remarked the berserker in a low tone.

“It may be. There are many tantalizing possibilities, some of which end with our deaths!” exclaimed the mage, who let out a short, mad giggle.

“I already don't like this one,” Rainbow Dash stated evenly.

“So, what's this proposition you have?” asked the mercenary. “Because you are going to have to offer quite a bit to make disobeying an order worthwhile.”

“Speak for yourself. I will never betray our dark mistress,” declared the spike-covered mare, who stomped an angry hoof in emphasis.

“I must agree. There is no way that someone can betray one such as her without wishing they hadn't,” added the mage.

“Answer all our questions, and we won't devour your souls,” Kanathara exclaimed, opening her forehooves. “It's as simple as that.”

“Though I do hope you resist. Flying all this way has left me with such an intense hunger,” dared the vengant.

“Demon or not, all who stand before us will die in agony!” bellowed the berserker, who smashed her forehooves together, sending sparks flying across the cabin.

“You cannot stop what is coming. You must know this,” proclaimed the mage, his horn glowing a faint purple.

“I suppose this makes things simple then,” Kanathara began, her own horn beginning to emit an eerie light. “Kill these two and leave the merc alive for mind probing. I want to know everything he does.”

“With pleasure,” purred Rainbow Dash before leaping into action.

Author's Note

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Halloween 2020 Crossover Special

The sudden flash of a powerful light woke the theatre's inhabitants, shocking them out of their strangely deep slumber. Each one found themselves unable to move, or look away from the spotlight which shone down on the center of the stage, to where a small pony sized hole could be seen. Though the inhabitants of the theatre could see the stage, they could not seem to turn their heads, or look away from the single point of light.

Even still, they could sense that others were nearby, a fact that none of them could confirm as a heavy aura suppressed their magic. This would normally make most of them feel rather terrified, but there was something about the theatre that made them feel strangely at ease. Maybe it was the surprisingly comfortable chairs which seemed to have been custom molded to their unique bodies, or perhaps it was the smell of aged paper and popcorn that lingered in the air.

Either way, the assembled creatures could only watch and wait, which fortunately for them was something they didn't have to do for very long. A faint clunk signalled the activation of an unseen mechanism, and a second later a distant rhythmic thumping could be heard emanating from beneath the stage. After several seconds of near silence the head of a pony could be seen poking out from the hole, followed closely by the rest of their body shortly after.

The pony themself was missing most of the normal attributes of an equestrian citizen, lacking wings, horn, and the larger build most earth ponies sported. Standing only as tall as the average eighteen year old mare, they had a lithe frame, and a smile that lit up the room. Their eyes were a bright green, their fur a resplendent orange, and their mane was a combination of their fur color and a bright red. Done up in a wild looking mohawk, the pony oozed excitement, and reminded most viewers of Pinky Pie. A comparison that only became more apt when they saw that the pony had a multi colored jester’s stick for a cutie mark.

“Welcome, welcome!” shouted the pony, leaping onto the stage the second the floor was complete once more. “To the greatest game of Twilight’s outside of a certain natural born Derpy story.”

The pony all but bounced to the front of the stage, their grin as wide as ever. “I am Jest, and I will serve as your referee and game master for this evening. But before we get into the nitty and or gritty of all that, let's have a joke shall we?”

They cleared their throat. “Did you guys hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers? He’ll stop at nothing to avoid them!”

A few creatures laughed, though it was awkward, and came out a little forced.

“I see math jokes do well with you, so here's another,” Jest remarked, straightening an invisible tie. “How many times can you subtract ten from one hundred?”

After a brief moment of silence, the pony grinned and threw up their hooves. “Once! The next time you would be subtracting ten from ninety!”

Their joke was met with a few more laughs, though not many, they were at least a little less forced.

“I guess I’ll save the jokes for when you aren't trapped in your seat. So without further ado, let's get into it,” Jest declared, clopping their hoof twice against the stage and causing the spotlight to vanish. “You are here to play a game, and don't worry its not some sort of stupid cliche death game where if you lose here you die. In fact you wont even remember being here when you are returned to your lives.”

Jest raised a hoof in the air. “But that doesn't mean this can't be both fun, and illuminating. For you see, I will be able to answer any one question the winner of our little game desires.”

“And to answer your next question, yes it will be one hundred percent truthful, and I have complete knowledge on all possible subjects you may ask,” Jest concluded. “So without further ado let's get this game started!”

The pony clopped their hoof twice against the ground, causing the ground to fall away only to emerge again a second later. The stage now had a large poker table as well as several chairs of various sizes, each seemingly designed for a different kind of creature. The second the stage had been set the various audience members felt their bodies start to respond to their commands once more.

Looking around the room, the creatures found that they were surrounded by what could only be described as themselves. Twilights of various shapes and sizes jumped or otherwise hopped out of their seats and began to look around in wonder. Though they were busy looking at one another, they also noticed that there were no exits to the theatre, nor any windows of any kind. The anti magic field remained as oppressive as ever, though the Twilights who were capable of magic found that they could at least use telekinesis.

Only one of the audience members seemed truly alien, and shared only purplish scales with the others. She stood taller than the rest, with great horns which covered the sides of her head and bent up, then down before curving upwards once more. She also had enormous clawed hands, legs which bent backwards after the knee, and a tail that was as long as a normal pony.

She also had keen purple eyes, a thick hide of dark purple scales with two small bumps on her chest serving as the only clue as to her gender. Overall she appeared to be some form of enormous reptile that was clearly out of place amongst the other Twilight’s who appeared mostly normal. Two of whom were alicorns, though one looked visibly stronger, while the other had a strangely empty gaze.

“Great, I bet none of them know morse code either,” muttered the towering lizard who blinked. “Wait, did I just speak normally?”

“Technically you all have different languages since you originate from wholly different realities or time lines, so I figured I’d translate for you,” Jest shouted from the stage. “I’m also ready whenever you are by the way.”

The various Twilights moved slowly, eying one another up carefully, and curiously, with most watching the Twilight in their midst who appeared to have been turned into a demon of some kind. A large black book was bound in silver chains about her neck, and her ethereal mane flickered behind her, shifting from black at her scalp to a light purple at the tips. Stars could be seen within the demon’s hair, though most were too busy staring at the large sword-like horn which protruded from her head.

A horn which was in the shape of a curved blade not unlike a khopesh, an appendage which she was evidently quite adept at carrying if her smooth confident steps were anything to go by. She too looked back at the other creatures, her piercing gaze looking down on them, scouring their very souls and weighing them each individually. Something she didn't have much trouble doing considering she was one of the tallest in the room, her svelte figure allowing her to tower over most other Twilights.

As one they collectively turned away from the demonic Twilight and her shimmering, deep purple fur to a rather strangely gaunt Twilight who towered over all save for the horned lizard among them. Her body was thin, almost skeletal in its appearance, the mare giving off the impression that she wasn't truly alive given just how unnaturally empty her torso appeared to be. She at least had the same cutie mark as the others, though hers shimmered slightly, and the six smaller stars that adorned it were each different colors.

That wasn't what grabbed the eye however, as it was her shattered horn which did just that, making each visitor wince at the sight. Her fur and mane were also significantly darker then the other two more normal looking Twilights who had a much lighter coloration in comparison. She also had an unnaturally deep shadow, and her eyes glowed a menacing purple, from which wisps of purple magic emanated.

The last Twilight among them was perhaps the strangest among them, though it wasn't quite as readily apparent as to why. She was one of the few unicorns among them who at first glance was not either crippled, or had been turned into a different species. That was until they noticed just how strangely well muscled she was, and the way her eyes glowed a bright yellow color.

This Twilight sported an unnaturally long horn and glowing yellow lines which traveled down her body, though most could be seen on her left foreleg. Which was slightly thicker, and wider than the rest of her tree trunk like limbs which clopped audibly against the wooden floor. All who met her gaze felt unnerved by the experience, the pony’s eyes containing a strange alien quality to them that made each creature realize that she was no normal unicorn.

“Done eying one another up like a pack of jackals?” Jest teased as they riffled and shuffled a deck of cards.

“Yes well, pardon me for taking stock of my strange companions,” remarked the demonic Twilight who was the first to climb the stage and take her seat next to Jest.

“You are all quite strange,” remarked the dead eyed Twilight. “Save for you, that is. In your reality did I get a gym membership?”

“Not quite,” remarked the slightly buffer alicorn Twilight. “I did spend the last twenty odd years adventuring and saving the world though.”

“Were you always an alicorn?” questioned the demonic Twilight.

“No. I was a unicorn at one point but after defeating Tirek I was ‘ascended’ if you could call it that,” remarked the alicorn, who found and sat at the seat which seemed to have been designed for her.

“I feel like we should probably go around the table and introduce ourselves, lest we end up wasting time asking one another an endless stream of questions,” declared the alien Twilight who sat on a wider, more reinforced chair.

“Ahh, that does seem like the best idea, though I have more than a few questions about this place that I would like answered first,” stated the undead Twilight.

“Ahh yes. The theatre,” Jest began, raising a hoof. “It is a pocket dimension gifted to me by a close friend. Here I control all facets of reality, all the way down to the subatomic level.”

“Curious,” murmured the demonic Twilight, who placed her chin in her hoof and leaned forward. “Just what are you then?”

“Just a humble entertainer. It is my creator who happens to have the real power here, but we shan't get into that,” Jest assured. “All you need to know is that violence is not allowed, you can leave at any time, though doing so would forfeit your chance at the knowledge I promised.”

“But if we will forget then why should we bother playing?” questioned the dead eyed Twilight.

“If you will forget anyway, why not enjoy yourself, and relish acquiring the answers you seek, if only for a moment?” Jest countered. “Yes it may be fleeting, but that just means there is no reason not to enjoy it while you can.”

“Sounds like a metaphor for life,” murmured the enormous lizard.

“Quite right my friend,” Jest proclaimed. “Now then, why don't you each introduce yourself, starting with the Twilight who suggested you do so in the first place?”

The undead Twilight shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “My name as you likely already guessed is Twilight and in my world, universe, timeline or whatever, Celestia rules Equestria with an iron hoof.”

“Did she experiment on you as well?” questioned the buff alicorn.

“No, though she did have my mother, and technically me killed,” replied the undead.

“I am so sorry,” whispered the great lizard, who tentatively touched the undead pony’s shoulder.

“It's fine,” muttered the other Twilight. “After that I fled into the Everfree, learned necromancy and have been steadily helping my friends all while I uncover many of the world’s secrets.”

“Fascinating. I assume necromancy can do more than simply make zombies in your world,” inquired the dead eyed Twilight.

The undead Twilight nodded. “It is also called soul magic and can be used for a great many things.”

“Which we don't have time to get into,” Jest added pointedly.

“Yes well, I suppose I should go next then,” stated the dead eyed Twilight. “My given name is Twilight, though if I am being honest I am not sure why I am here.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the lizard.

“Because I am spell, and am not truly alive, nor was I born in the traditional sense,” stated the Twilight. “If I had my magic I could show you what I mean, but in my reality I was created by Celestia as a stand in for Sunset Shimmer. The princess needed someone who could wield the element of magic after her former student ran away and to that end she implanted within me a spark of her magic in order to give me life, as well as control my actions.”

“Yeesh, and I thought it was bad that my Celestia created me in a more metaphysical sense,” remarked the muscled alicorn.

“That’s horrible,” muttered the undead Twilight.

The spell shook her head. “It is not as bad as it may seem. I can still enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. Though for reasons which should be obvious I cannot get pregnant. I am also immortal, incredibly powerful and I can freely alter my being if I desire.”

“But do you have free will?” questioned the demonic Twilight.

“Celestia told me that I didn't, though I was hoping to get a second opinion,” stated the spell, who glanced at the dealer.

Jest smiled. “And if you win, I will gladly give you such information.”

“I suppose I’m next,” offered the other alicorn. “Like I mentioned earlier, my friends and I are adventurers. The six of us became slightly isolated, considering we were constantly traveling and fighting various monsters. As such we sort of fell into relationships with one another. The last adventure saw us nearly losing to an incredibly powerful minotaur chieftain, and we only just barely survived because the nightmare within me saved us.”

“Strange, I had always assumed that an alicorn’s darker half only emerged after the pony experienced an extended period plagued by negative emotions,” the undead Twilight remarked.

“In my reality each alicorn has a second mind of sorts, which lies dormant until some event causes it to emerge,” explained the muscled alicorn. “Celestia attempted to remove my darker half after she ascended me, and only managed to make it revert to a more childlike state.”

“Fascinating,” whispered the demonic Twilight.

“Though I have questions of my own, perhaps we should continue,” pressed the alien Twilight.

The great lizard nodded. “I was perhaps most like the last Twilight before I was dropped into a different dimension by some unseen force. Before that point I had defeated Nightmare Moon along with my friends using the elements of harmony much like how the other alicorns both did by the sounds of it.”

Said alicorns nodded.

“Yes well, after that things were going well until I unexpectedly found myself in the body you see before you,” explained the lizard, who swept a hand down towards itself. “Which is apparently called a deathclaw. After that I was found by my companion Janey and we have since set out into the wasteland in search of my friends.”

“Wasteland?” questioned the alien Twilight.

“Yes apparently the mirror world, which some of you may know about, has a dark reflection of its own where the humans nearly wiped themselves out using nuclear weapons,” the great lizard answered.

Several Twilight’s nodded knowingly, while the rest merely blinked in confusion.

“These nuclear weapons you spoke of, how do they function?” pressed the alien Twilight.

“I don't know,” admitted the lizard.

“And it wouldn't matter if you did as none of you will remember what happens here,” added Jest pointedly.

The yellow eyed Twilight sighed, and leaned back in her chair. “It was worth a shot.”

“Unlike the rest of you, my name is Kanathara, and I am a keeper of secrets. Though at one point I was a unicorn like you all I was abducted by Tirek at a young age, and have since become a demon,” remarked the demonic mare. “Before you ask, yes I have met a few of these friends I think we have in common, and no I am not evil.”

“You sure appear evil,” remarked the buff Twilight. “In fact I think I defeated one of your kind a decade ago in the badlands. She was trying to resurrect some dead god to bring about the end times, though her plan was rather convoluted.”

“Aren't they all?” deadpanned the spell.

“Yes well, appearances aside I don't desire the death of the world or anything of the sort,” explained the demon. “In fact if I was not contracted to acquire the elements of harmony I’d likely spend the next century studying in relative isolation.”

“Now that sounds nice…” murmured the undead Twilight, who rubbed her chin. “Maybe after my friends pass on I’ll take a century off from public life.”

“As much as I’d like to hear your exhaustive reading lists you all have prepared, I must insist that we keep things going,” Jest interrupted, the pony glancing expectantly at the final Twilight at the table.

Who snorted. “I’m Twilight and like a few of you I was taken on as Celestia’s protege. In my world she is kind to a fault, and though I was infected by some form of alien parasite at a young age, she took me in. Since then I’ve trained nearly every day in order to defeat Nightmare Moon, something I turned out to be ill prepared to do.”

“She didn't really bring about eternal night did she?” the more muscled Twilight inquired. “In my world Luna claimed the whole night forever thing was a metaphor for people appreciating it more than the day.”

The infested mare snorted bitterly. “It hasn't been long, but since her return she has not allowed the sun to rise for even a moment. I’m starting to believe that she's trying to freeze the entire planet out of spite.”

“That seems slightly… unwarranted,” undead Twilight remarked.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure she's not a prime evil? My nightmare Moon is likely a demon borne from the first act of planetary genocide, which fits the bill of yours quite nicely.”

The infested hummed thoughtfully and rubbed her chin. “That is a possibility, though to be honest I’m not wholly certain that demons are even a thing in my reality. Sure they are referenced in literature and stuff, but I’m fairly certain they are fictitious.”

“See? They are two very different things that are totally not the creator being lazy,” Jest proclaimed, riffle shuffling the cards in a dramatic fashion.

“The creator? You’re not religious are you?” questioned the spell.

“Not exactly,” Jest replied mysteriously or hamfistedly, depending on your perspective.

“Before we start, I presume that time doesn't flow normally here and that I won't come back five years later or something, right?” prodded the buff Twilight curiously.

“You will return to the exact moment I plucked you from your story and no one will be the wiser. Trust me,” Jest proclaimed, flashing the table a knowing wink.

“Right then. As curious as I am about you guys I would rather like my answer sooner rather than later,” infested Twilight proclaimed.

“Quite,” agreed the lizard.

“So, let us begin,” Jest proclaimed, the pony dealing the first hand in mere moments, his movements precise and lightning fast. “The game is Texas hold 'em, which I assume everyone knows how to play, yes?”

The assembled Twilights all nodded.

“Excellent, you will each find a set of chips with numbers on them before you, and the starting bet is one hundred points,” Jest finished. “Now then, Kanathara, you will be starting us off, and no I’m not just starting with you because everyone else answers to Twilight.”

“Uh alright, I’m in,” declared the demon, who tossed a hundred point chip into the middle.

And with that, the game had begun.

“Just call it or don't, but either way make up your mind already,” implored the infested Twilight.

The spell Twilight leaned forward. “I for one believe she is bluffing.”

The more well muscled Twilight grit her teeth and stared at the only other opponent left in this hand. Who sat behind a small mountain of chips, her cards laid against the table and a smile on her demonic face. Though no one was out yet several hours had passed and the more athletic Twilight was down to her final points.

In her hand she had a pair of threes, and combined with the pair of aces on the table it meant that she had at least something, though it wasn't much. Certainly not enough to bet what little she had left, though at this point if she didn't win something here she was going to end up out the next hand. Add to that the fact that their demonic counterpart seemed to bluff near constantly, plus was an absolute master at it and the more athletic Twilight found herself leaning on going in.

“I’m all in,” she declared, flicking her final chip into the middle.

Jest nodded knowingly. “Alright ladies, lets see what you got.”

“Two pair,” declared the first Twilight, who flipped her hand.

The demonic Twilight chuckled. “Not a bad hand but it's got nothing on my full house.”

Sure enough, when she flipped her cards over, the demon had exactly that, trouncing the other Twilight’s hand quite well… handedly.

“Dammit,” cursed the alicorn. “I don't suppose I can mulligan that hand eh?”

Jest shook their head. “I’m afraid not. It looks like this is where you get off.”

The pony sighed. “Well it was nice meeting you all.”

“It was nice meeting you as well,” offered the lizard, a sentiment which the rest of the Twilight’s shared immediately after, all save for one.

“Don't let the metaphysical door hit you on the way out,” teased the demon.

“Yeah whatever. I hope you choke on it,” spat the athletic Twilight.

“Before you go, what were you going to ask?” inquired the undead Twilight.

“I was going to ask if my story was ever going to get updated again,” replied the other Twilight who glanced expectantly at Jest.

Who chuckled, and tapped the table, causing a button to merge from the wood. “Totally!”

“Wait, really?” she questioned.

“Pfft no, this is all you’re ever going to get,” retorted Jest who slammed their hoof on the bottom, causing the floor to fall out from beneath the alicorn Twilight.

“I just wanted to be relevant again!” She cried while plunging into the darkness.

A second later and the hole vanished having been obscured by two pieces of wood which swiftly covered it and Jest’s button vanishing along with it.

“Alright then, with that done let's start the next hand,” Jest happily proclaimed.

“Oof, that was kinda dark don't you think?” pressed the undead who glanced at the spot their counterpart had been sitting a second earlier.

“Who cares?” remarked the demonic Twilight flippantly.

The other Twilight’s exchanged a knowing look with one another, a silent pact being formed between them as cards flicked across the table.

“Alright then, the buy in has been doubled, and with that let us start with Kanathara once more,” Jest offered, gesturing to the demon, who tossed the necessary chips into the middle.

“Lets see where this goes,” she remarked offhandedly, leaning back in her chair. “Say, I don't suppose you have a kitchen back there by chance do you?”

Jest chuckled. “Don't need one, here. Take a look at the menu and lemme know if you need anything. Something tells me we’ll be here a while.”

The strange pony clapped their hooves together and a set of menus appeared before the gathered Twilight’s.

“Finally, now things can really get going,” remarked the infested hungrily.

“This is ridiculous,” stated Kanathara bitterly, the demon leaning forward in her chair, her whiskey sour nearly toppling over onto the table. “How did things end up this way?”

The lizard shrugged. “I don't know how but at least it's over. It feels like we’ve been here for days.”

“Three days to be exact, but don't worry I got rid of the need to use the bathroom or sleep after it became apparent that this was going to take a while,” Jest replied.

“No wonder I haven't had to use the little girl’s room after I drank all those dacquires,” muttered the undead.

“Well, everything else aside it was rather nice to enjoy a caesar salad done exactly as I like it, among pleasant company” remarked the dead eyed Twilight, who tapped her lips with a napkin. “Noone seems to get the intricacies of making a good salad these days.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” replied Jest with a smile.

“Curiosity over this whole pocket reality aside, I’m more than a little baffled how things ended up like they did,” remarked the infested, who gestured to the table, wherein a great mountain of chips sat at the center. “How did this even happen exactly?”

“You girls were so bent on getting Kanathara out of the game that things got a little out of hand,” Jest replied, chuckling to themself. “Or should I say in hand?”

The deathclaw snorted. “At least it's over after this. I think my tail is about to fall asleep again.”

“Yes well, I suppose I’m glad that it will be finally done with,” agreed the undead.

“We are ready when you are, Jest,” declared the spell.

“Alright, let's make this as dramatic as possible, on three I want you all to flip your cards,” Jest offered, glancing around the room.

“Sounds fair,”

“Fine by me,”

“Acceptable,”

“If I have to,”

“We might as well,”

“Excellent, now before we get into the end game I would just like to say how much I appreciated your cooperation here. The porn Twilight’s were much more difficult,” Jest proclaimed, the pony shuddering briefly.

“Wait, porn Twilight’s what are you-”

Jest cleared their throat. “But enough about that. Three, two, one, and flip em!”

“Huh, I won,” muttered the demon, every Twilight looking down to find that she had indeed managed such a feat, with only a three of a kind at that. “I thought for sure I’d walked into a trap of some kind.”

The spell sighed. “I knew this was a bad idea. Why did I stick with such a poor hand?”

“I don't know, but either way I’m glad I at least got a single pair,” remarked the infested.

The undead Twilight shrugged. “I may have only had one pair as well but I never really cared about winning anyway.”

“Well I sure planned on trying anyway,” muttered the death claw bitterly.

“Oh don't be so mad, at least now you all get to go back to your own worlds,” Jest offered. “Oh and if you ever find yourself back here you’ll have the memories of this place restored.”

“Well it was nice knowing you all,” offered the undead.

“Likewise,” remarked the lizard.

“Too bad, I would have liked to know if we were going to be able to save the world,” stated the infested mare.

“And I would have liked to know what happened to my friends,” muttered the lizard.

“Yes well, better luck next time,” Jest exclaimed before slamming his hoof against a button and causing all but one Twilight to vanish into the floor.

Once gone, the earth pony hopped off his chair, and clopped his hoof twice against the stage, making the table, and the last chair to slip beneath the ground. A second tap of Jest’s hoof later and a set of lights settled on them, a microphone popping into the strange pony’s grip.

“Alright then, this is it ladies and gentlemen. Kanathara has won, and now it's time to get an answer to a burning question,” Jest began. “A question which has likely rolled around in the back of your mind since you first penned that contract. Go ahead Kanathara, fire away as they say.”

“How do I beat Nightmare Moon?” Kanathara asked, her eyes narrowing. “And if you could give me that information in the form of a step by step instruction manual that would be perfect.”

Jest chuckled, the pony covering their mouth with a hoof. “Oh you really are too funny. Do you think your experience with otherworldly horrors has given you some kind of edge here?”

“I’d like to think so,” countered the demon.

“Well I’m going to stop you right there and tell you they don't,” Jest stated simply. “The power gifted to me is beyond your comprehension. As cliche as that sounds.”

“But your just a pony,” Kanathara countered.

“No, I am much more than that, I’m the author’s original character,” Jest declared, sticking out their tongue at the demon.

Who blinked. “Was that supposed to sound intimidating?”

“No. Oh and the answer to your question is this,” Jest cleared their throat and leaned in close. “Remember what your skin giver said.”

“My what?” Kanathara muttered in disbelief.

“I’m sorry but I can't answer that question, ciao!” Jest exclaimed.

“No wait, stop!” Kanathara shouted, the demon leaping at the pony.

Who merely grinned. “Roll credits!”

Author's Note

Queen Of The Wasteland. The Grand Marionette. Born In Light (you are here). The First Law of Magic. The Infestation of Equiss Prime all received similiar updates, though the ending is changed depending on which fic you are reading so if you think you are suffering from deja vu then just scroll down or press ctrl+f and search "Three, two, one, and flip em" to get to the new content!

Thanks again for all your support and I hope you enjoy this not very spooky but still special update.

Trial Seven: Aid and Indifference

Rainbow Dash’s armored hooves slammed into the berserker’s chest, sending the pony through a pile of boxes and causing the rest to topple onto her. The demon then pumped her wings and soared directly at the knife-wielding mercenary, ignoring the daggers which bounced off her armor. However, she never made it to her target as a hoof reached out of the pile of shattered wood and gripped her foreleg, yanking her back to the ground.

“Where do you think you’re going?” growled the plate-armored pony.

“Hopefully straight for the heart, ‘cause we got work to do,” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk, knocking aside another thrown dagger without even looking at it.

“You will not obtain the artifact!” shouted the blind unicorn, who shot a ray of cold at the keeper of secrets.

Who merely blinked and glanced at the small mark the attack had left on one of her enchanted greaves. “Really? You thought that was going to hurt me?” It only works on unarmored opponents, like you!” Kanathara exclaimed, blasting the unicorn with her own beam of frost.

The stallion yelped and stumbled back, the magical attack hitting him square in the chest, ice immediately covering the front of his torso. Kanathara followed this up with a swift punch, causing a section of the male’s clothes to shatter and a large chunk of skin to break off. A dizzying burst of dancing lights stopped the keeper from being able to press her advantage, and she stumbled back as several orbs of mana slammed into her.

Rainbow Dash was faring a little better than her companion as her heavy armor ensured that none of the berserker’s attacks could leave more than a bruise. Ducking beneath an attempt to gore her on the pony’s artificial horn, Rainbow Dash whipped her head backwards, slamming it against the underside of the berserker’s chin. Rearing back, the vengant was about to unleash a flurry of hellfire when she received a dagger right through her grille and into her cheek.

“Don't forget about me, you overgrown fire gecko!” shouted the mercenary.

Tearing the weapon from her ruined cheek, Rainbow Dash tossed it aside, only to get tackled straight through another pile of boxes, leaving her and her enemy buried under a mound of shattered wood. Her anger getting the better of her, Rainbow Dash channeled her inner fire into her armor, causing several gouts of flame to shoot out of the joints. A pained yelp told her that at least one of said jets had hit her target, and her armored opponent recoiled, allowing the demon to escape the mountain of splinters.

While her familiar pulled herself up and engaged her opponent again, Kanathara was trading low-level spells with the enemy caster. Acid splashes were dodged, magic missiles struck true, and overall Kanathara was beginning to grow bored. She had wanted to test herself, but was finding that it was an exercise mainly in patience, as the unicorn was surprisingly nimble.

Evidently his foresight was good, though obviously it wasn't perfect, as he sported several small wounds as well as a larger one on his chest. Leaping over a conjured set of spikes, Kanathara rolled across the ground and came up in front of her opponent, intent on simply bashing his head in. A straight jab hit nothing but air, as did her right cross, in addition to her desperate uppercut.

“Just stand still so I can kill you!” Kanathara yelled, growing more irritated by the second.

The cultist smirked and fired off a close-range burst of kinetic energy, driving Kanathara back and barely scratching her in the process. “My foresight is good, yes? You won't defeat me that easily, that much I can see for certain!” he shrieked, voice rising several octaves.

“And you will never land a blow that I won't immediately shrug off,” Kanathara countered, smirking back at the cultist. “Honestly, I’m tempted to just wait until you run out of spells and collapse.”

The stallion ground his teeth together. “If one spell at a time doesn't do it, then I will simply cast more!”

His horn flashed several times in rapid succession, numerous magical bolts tipped with acid hovering around him. Raising an eyebrow, Kanathara watched as he conjured almost a dozen of the things before starting to get winded. Rather than dodge, the demon merely stood up and opened her forehooves, inviting him to give her his best shot, while her own horn glowed faintly.

“Die!” screamed the cultist, his projectiles flying towards the demon at an incredible speed.

Not like it mattered, as Kanathara’s body turned to mist, the acidic bolts pelting the wall behind her. Reforming immediately after, the demon’s smirk grew even larger as several dozen shards of wood hovered around her enemy.

“Anger is a wonderful blinder, wouldn't you say?” Kanathara quipped before plunging her tiny wooden daggers into the stallion’s body.

The cultist jerked one way and then another, as if he were trying to dodge in two directions at once. A course of action that didn't help in the slightest, as his body was perforated with dozens of splinters. Yet despite being speared by tiny spikes, the stallion stayed standing, his horn continued to flicker and glow.

“I’m not done yet!” he yelled.

Kanathara casually moved her head to the right, doavoiding a beam of cold. “You know, there is this one spell that I never thought I’d use since it only makes the enemy’s wounds deepen ever so slightly. Now however, I think it would work perfectly. So why don't you lie down and bleed for me?”

The keeper’s horn flashed once, twice, thrice, each flash coming in so quickly that it looked like a steady glow. Blood spurted from the cultist’s wounds and mouth with such force that it was like he were being squeezed by some great invisible hand. In seconds every last bit of blood in his body had been violently ejected onto the floor of the car, and the cultist himself lay dead, a mad smile on his face.

Rainbow Dash was finishing her own fight at the same time, her hooves slamming against the berserker’s own blows like that of a smith pounding against his anvil. Initially they had seemed even, as Rainbow Dash was continually perforated by daggers which slipped between the cracks of her armor. Yet despite sporting over a dozen of the things at this point, the demon continued to grin, her hooves slamming into her enemy’s with the same force they had a minute ago.

In seconds the berserker went from confident to scared, her limbs beginning to ache as her body struggled to cope with the shock of the attacks. Even calling on her inner rage barely made a dent in the agony she was experiencing, and for a moment she felt something break in her leg, slowing her down just long enough for the demon to reach forward, snake her limbs about the pony’s and begin to squeeze.

“Do something, you idiot!” shouted the berserker, her armor creaking audibly.

“I’m trying!” yelled the mercenary, who was jabbing his dagger repeatedly into the vengant’s helmet.

“Your efforts are wasted!” Rainbow Dash bellowed.

With a twist, she broke her opponent’s legs, then before the pony even had a chance to scream, Rainbow Dash brought her head down against the cultist’s nose. Repeating this action several times, the vengent shattered her enemy’s armor, then her nose, and finally her skull. With a resounding crack, the pony’s head caved inwards, her eyes widening briefly before becoming distant, her body falling slack.

Rainbow Dash emptied her lungs and with a mighty pull sucked the fleeing soul into her gullet. “Damn, did I need that,” Rainbow Dash muttered, tossing aside the corpse with all the reverence one showed to a piece of garbage.

Kanathara shuddered as the cultist’s soul was pulled past her lips. “You are aware that he is still trying to stab you, right?” she pointed out.

“It kinda tickles,” Rainbow Dash replied.

The mercenary fell flat on his back, his weapon forgotten and his eyes wide. “W-who are you, people?”

“A couple mercs here on a job, just like you,” Kanathara replied coldly, the demon plucking the daggers from her familiar and tossing them aside with her magic.

“I think I’ll try that acupuncture thing your mom mentioned the next time we’re back in town,” Rainbow Dash muttered as she stretched, her wounds closing in seconds.

Kanathara chuckled as she approached the mercenary, her towering form looming ominously over the fallen pony. “Now then, tell me everything.”

“I don't suppose you’ll let me go if I do, huh?” he sheepishly asked.

Kanathara looked to her partner, who shrugged. “I don't care what you do with him,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I’m not sure if it's the soul talking, or what it may be, but I’m feeling charitable. So sure, you can go after you answer my questions,” Kanathara replied.

The mercenary deflated like a spent balloon. “I don't know who I’m working for. We only ever called her the dark mistress, and I’ve only done two jobs with them at this point. The main group is at the front acquiring some sort of powerful artifact while we made sure they didn't get reinforcements.”

“I assume the nature of this artifact is on a need-to-know basis?” Kanathara questioned.

“Which I apparently don't need to know nothin’ about, other than the train was supposed to get stopped in the tunnels which is where we were going to be picked up,” offered the stallion, who raised his hooves. “Oh and the boss was some sorta fancy demon summoner type that knew how to get past this ward thingy, and there is a whole bunch of us merc types as well as several of those cult members.”

Kanathara glanced down at the bodies of the mercenary’s former comrades. “That makes sense. What do you think, is he telling the truth?”

Rainbow Dash nodded slowly. “Every word. Surprisingly.”

The male chuckled nervously. “Well, you two seem like the type to appreciate honesty, and I aim to please.”

“And I do appreciate that,” Kanathara declared, turning to her familiar. “You know what to do.”

“I sure do,” Rainbow Dash replied, cracking her neck.

“Give me a pat on the head and send me on my way?” begged the cowering mercenary.

“Something like that,” Rainbow Dash muttered before laying him out with a single punch.

Kanathara glanced down at the stallion. “Unconscious, but not dead. He’ll be feeling that for weeks.”

“And I didn't break anything this time!” Rainbow Dash added, her helmet folding back to reveal her smirking face. “Gonna wipe him?”

“The less info they can piece together, the better,” Kanathara replied, her horn flashing briefly, only to fizzle. “Hmm, I guess the best I can do is muddy the water a bit.”

“Ready for more?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara nodded. “Always.”

Twilight peered out of the tiny window, her gaze sweeping over the fight happening in the car in front of them. This encounter, unlike most, was open to the sky, with only chest-high barriers keeping anyone from falling off of it. In the center were several large iron bound crates stacked several metres high, along with a squad’s worth of paladins and numerous winged demons.

Imps leapt from atop the next car and bowled over a paladin before heaving the screaming mare over the side of the car. Kanathara watched as the soldier vanished, her yell ending a second after it began. What few paladins were left were fighting back to back on the right side, their wounds visible and their resolve visibly beginning to wane.

“So, do we help them or just wait them out? ‘Cause I don't like sitting here,” Rainbow Dash muttered, the vengant peeking her head next to the other demon’s.

“I don't either, but I also don't like having to fight two enemies at once,” Kanathara replied.

“Can you disguise us?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara blinked. “It wouldn't do much to hide our height, and it wouldn't be the best, but yeah, I could do that.”

“So we show up pretending to be their buddies, clear out the imps and then knock ‘em out when they aren't paying attention,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Good thinking. I want to earn a few brownie points just in case,” Kanathara declared.

“Right, so we’ll stick with the ol’ eagle routine, right?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara chuckled. “It hasn't failed us before.”

“Hell yeah. Let’s get these chumps,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping a hoof in the air.

Honest Heart and his companions Twitch and Solemn Spear fought almost back to back, with Honest standing between them. Several discarded spears were held in his magical grip, the stallion furiously ramming them up into the horde of imps flying overhead. Every once in a while he would get lucky and jab one of his weapons straight through the chest of an unfortunate demon, only for that imp to be quickly replaced by another.

On one side stood his oldest squad mate Solemn, the pegasus mare wielding a pair of short swords which she put to deadly use. A swift stab followed by a shallow swipe ended another imp, the diminutive demon’s head falling off his body which quickly turned to dust. That victory was short-lived, however, as two more of the small creatures leapt towards her a second later, their long claws desperately searching for purchase against her armor.

On the other side was their newest squad member, who wielded his crossbow like a club, the young unicorn stallion having lost his helmet sometime during the fight. He got lucky and managed to bludgeon an imp to death, but like every other time, more of the diminutive demons quickly replaced their dead comrade. The unicorn lost his grip on the weapon and watched in terror as it was torn away from him and tossed off the side of the train.

“I lost my crossbow!” he shouted, punching an imp who strayed too close before firing a bolt of magic at another.

“Here, use a spear!” yelled Honest, who tossed him a weapon.

“And don't lose it this time!” bellowed Solemn.

“I won't!” replied the unicorn.

He managed to kill another imp by ramming his new spear through its head, but the creature somehow managed to stay alive for a few seconds. Meaning Twitch’s weapon fell when his enemy did, the shaft slipping from his grip mere three seconds after he had grabbed it. Cursing his butter hooves, the unicorn winced, covering his head with his forelegs as a particularly large imp leapt at him, claws extended.

The blow never came, however, and when the pony opened his eyes, he found himself watching as the imp crumpled to dust, its head crushed down to the size of a grape. He hardly had a chance to utter a word of surprise before two more imps leapt at him, unbothered by the strange death of their comrade. They too met a similar end, with one being gripped in a strange magical aura and being tossed off the train while the other had his head bashed against a crate by the same mysterious caster.

“Reinforcements have arrived!” shouted Kanathara, her demonic form having been replaced by a towering golden-armored unicorn with white fur and yellow mane.

“Let us drive these wretches back into the abyss!” yelled Rainbow Dash, the mare sporting a nearly identical disguise, save for the colors of her mane and coat being reversed. She also retains her--now feathery--wings.

The hulking winged being leapt atop an imp, her hooves crushing its spine and pulping its crimson flesh with terrifying efficiency. Solemn jabbed her sword into the chest of another imp before kicking away its fellow, which found itself in Rainbow Dash’s disguised hooves, where it had its head pulled from its body. The creature let out a strangled scream of surprise before dying painfully.

The sight would have unnerved the defenders, but with half a dozen other lesser demons still pressing down around them, they were too distracted to care. Kanathara landed in front of the younger stallion, knocking another imp off the train where it somehow managed to get sucked under the car behind them. The crunch of its skull shattering under a wheel happened at the same time Kanathara crushed another imp’s head between her hooves.

Now outnumbered, the imps tried to escape, with one of the winged creatures leaping off the car and trying to fly away. A spear through its spine stopped that from happening, and Rainbow Dash grinned as she grabbed another of Honest Heart’s weapons for herself. In a matter of seconds the last of the imps were dead or dying, and the beleaguered squad stood assembled before the two strangely tall ponies.

“Thanks for the help,” Honest Heart began, wiping the sweat from his brow. “I thought we were goners for a second there.”

“Strange though, I thought we were the only squad assigned to the last five cars,” Solemn remarked, the pegasus wiping her blades off on her uniform while staring intently at the pair.

“And we thought the same, didn't we recruit?” Rainbow Dash stated, the mare bumping her hip against Kanathara.

The keeper wanted to reprimand her familiar, but stowed that urge away for now. “That's right, squad leader. We were assigned to the cold car and just assumed no one else was back here.”

“I suppose it was rather chaotic back at the yard,” Honest Heart muttered.

“Aren't you two a little tall to be ponies?” questioned the pegasus.

“That’s a really close-minded opinion, don't you think?” retorted Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, I’ll have you know that every mare in our village is as tall as us,” added Kanathara. “Wait, what's that? It looks like an eagle of some kind.”

“What, where?” replied Twitch, turning in unison with his companions.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the two unicorns and slammed their heads together while Kanathara punched the pegasus at the base of the spine, dropping all three in an instant.

“Damn, we’re good,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“That we are,” Kanathara remarked, grinning confidently. “Now then, onto the next car and let’s try to keep this up. The paladins we've seen so far have been so weak that killing them is beneath us.”

“Hardly seems sporting, really,” added Rainbow Dash.

“Quite.”

Kanthara grunted as she wiped the blood from her forehead. “Augh, I hate sloth demons. Even lessers leave you covered in grime.”

“And it doesn't even come off when I ghost,” Rainbow Dash muttered bitterly, the undisguised demon shaking a chunk of green slime from her wing.

“If they were half as hard to kill as they were to clean up after, then they might have been a problem,” Kanathara remarked idly.

“Still, that was pretty wicked how you disemboweled that guy on his own claws. I bet he didn't see that one coming,” Rainbow Dash added.

Kanathara blushed. “D’aww, thanks. You weren't so bad yourself, especially when you knocked out three ponies at once with that flying double punch plus kick thing.”

“Heh, I’ve been meaning to try that out,” Rainbow Dash replied, the demon wiping down her forelegs before blasting a chunk of goo from her chest with a concentrated eruption of hellfire.

“You know, if we didn't have to worry about missing out on the artifact, this woulda been kinda fun,” Kanathara pointed out, the demon running her hooves through her mane and picking out clumps of green, coagulated demon blood.

“I’m just surprised our eagle routine worked as many times as it did.” Rainbow Dash paused. “Though I wonder why that one guy thought some guy named Grand Elf was coming.”

“That was a little weird,” Kanathara remarked. “Elves aren't even native to this plane of existence.”

“Whatever. Now then, on to the last car,” Rainbow Dash offered, the demon reaching for the handle and pulling the door open to reveal a short space between cars as well as a closed cab devoid of windows.

The door to which was shut and had a glowing demonic seal placed just above the handle.

“That’s… different,” Kanathara murmured. “Hold on a sec and lemme get a reading.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and stepped aside, the demon standing astride the narrow space between cars, unbothered by the wind which whipped about her.

Stepping forward, Kanathara lit her horn and began to scan the door, starting first with the seal. “Seems like a simple lock that will set off a minor explosive rune. No alarm spell though, so I think the blast will be fairly small,” Kanathara explained, eyes narrowing. “That's not all though. I’m also detecting a lot of magic coming from the car in front of us.”

“What kind of magic?” Rainbow Dash pressed, the demon forced to yell over the sound of the train.

“Feels spatial, though I can't be certain without access to my higher-tier spells,” Twilight replied. “Do you remember noticing anything off about this car when we saw it earlier?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Not really.”

“Hmm, I don't like it. This may be a trap,” Kanathara muttered, the demon rubbing her chin with a hoof.

“Can we get around and try to get in on the other side?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

Kanathara leaned out the side of the train and peered further up the track, ducking back a few seconds later. “I don't think so. We aren't far from the tunnels and there won't be enough time for you to fly up there.”

“So what's the plan then? ‘Cause I vote just busting in there, guns blazing,” Rainbow Dash declared, the demon grinning excitedly and exposing her sharp teeth.

“Normally I wouldn't agree with you, but I think that's the only way we’re getting in there. I can't even disarm their little trap, though I can trigger it remotely at least,” Kanathara explained.

“That's good enough for me,” Rainbow Dash offered.

Kanathara chuckled. “Alright then, come back into this car a bit. I’d hate for you to get knocked off the train or something stupid.”

Rainbow Dash did as she was told, taking position to Kanathara’s right, her armor clanging audibly into place. “Ready,” she declared, voice reverberating within her steel prison.

The keeper of secrets took a slow breath before igniting her horn. “Alright then, let's see what we’re up against.”

Author's Note

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Trial Seven: Laughter

A zap of magic was all it took to blow the handle clean off the door and allow the two demons to slip inside the next car. Where they were immediately overwhelmed by the sound of intense fighting between a squad of paladins and a horde of imps, though Twilight’s attention was drawn elsewhere. Looking around, Kanathara found that the space within the car was much larger than it had appeared to be from the exterior.

Once fully inside, the demons realized that all the dimensions were doubled, with the ceiling being tall enough that numerous imps could fly about. Though the majority of the space was dominated by the spell matrix which suppressed all high-level casting, the back of the car was filled with crates. Which had at one point been piled into neat rows, but were now scattered all over the place, some having been destroyed during the fight that was still playing out before them.

Twilight’s gaze was drawn to the front of the car which was split between the enormous magical matrix, and a bright yellow dome surrounding a single peice of jewlery. A gold necklace within which was bound a brilliant teal gem cut in the shape of a single balloon. Just outside the barrier stood a familiar unicorn, her horn glowing and her gaze fixed on the Element just outside her reach.

Everywhere she looked, Kanathara saw more wards, steel reinforcement, and numerous other measures to keep out enemies. This car was obviously intended to serve as a mobile bunker of some kind, one that had evidently been sabotaged from within. A gaping hole in reality had been torn just above the magic-suppressing rune, from which poured a seemingly endless stream of imps that filled the air, covered the ground, and generally occupied seemingly every bit of space available to them.

All save for the back few feet of the train, where four paladins were desperately holding out against the tide of demonic bodies, their fallen allies resting unconscious behind them. So numerous were their enemies and so hectic the fight that none of the golden-armored ponies seemed to notice the two demons who were now behind them. For a moment Kanathara considered striking the ponies down, but quickly reconsidered, and not just because she saw that a leather-armored Pinkie Pie leading them.

The earth pony’s crossbow twanged loudly with each shot, her bolts piercing three, four, sometimes even five enemies before finally losing their kinetic energy. While the rest of the soldiers were able to cover one another, Pinkie Pie herself merely dodged out of the way of every imp who attacked her. The pink pony somehow managed to always stay just out of reach, reloading her weapon with deft and careful hooves while she flitted about the area.

Ponies shouted, imps died, and over the course of mere seconds Kanathara made several realizations. The most important of which was that if it were only Rainbow Dash and her, it would take far too long to cut a swath through the imps. If the keeper had her magic clearing out such fodder would be a simple matter, unfortunately she didn't, and Rainbow Dash was best at dealing with single targets or small groups.

If they went at it alone, Kanathara had little doubt they would succeed as there only seemed to be imps answering the demonologist’s call. What she didn't know, however, was just how long it took until the white-furred and golden-maned unicorn mare at the front got through the barrier. With so many variables up in the air, Kanathara felt herself gripped by a moment of indecision.

What do we do, boss? Rainbow Dash asked, the vengant’s wings twitching as she observed the desperate melee occuring mere feet away from her. ‘Cause I got a feeling you already know that we won't be able to cut through this mess very quickly even if we ghost over them.

I am indeed aware of this, Kanathara replied. Charge into the middle of the swarm of imps. I will speak to Pinkie Pie and broker a temporary peace.

On it, Rainbow Dash declared, the vengant opening her wings wide and leaping into the air as her helmet reformed and engulfed her head once more.

The imps, which had ignored their presence, seemed thrilled by Rainbow Dash’s arrival, right up until the vengant slammed into their front line with all the force of a wrecking ball. Hooves punched, hellfire erupted, and for a moment the front wave of imps tried to run while the line behind them pushed forward. Crushed between the mass of demonic bodies, the lesser demons flailed uselessly, making them easy prey for the vengent who tore through.

Kanathara stepped forward and telekinetically lowered Pinkie Pie’s crossbow which had been pointed at Rainbow Dash’s back. “I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Kanathara declared.

The earth pony leapt to the side, her entire body pivoting in mid-air, allowing her to land with her weapon raised and ready. The fury in her eyes vanished the second they landed on the keeper however, and the ranger raised her hoof, signalling her paladins to stop.

“What are you doing here, and make it quick,” Pinkie Pie snapped, turning and firing her crossbow into the horde of imps without looking.

Kanathara idly noted the pony’s deadly accuracy, as three more imps tumbled from the air, impaled on the same enormous crossbow bolt. “Does she know long-range teleportation magic and how to get through the magical suppressor?” Kanathara inquired.

“Unfortunately!” Pinkie Pie shouted while reloading her weapon.

“Then we need each other, peace until it's closed?” Kanathara pressed, the demon firing off a scorching ray and killing a pair of imps that had landed on the back of a paladin.

Pinkie Pie bit her lip and nodded. “Until it's done,” she declared.

Kanathara didn't waste any time and after making sure the paladins had heard Pinkie Pie’s declaration, she jumped into the fray. Just in time too, as Rainbow Dash was being all but smothered in over a dozen imps who had managed to bury the vengant with sheer numbers. Kanathara could see hellfire occasionally burst from the pile killing a handful each time, but there were simply too many of them even for her familiar to eliminate in a timely fashion.

Now working against the clock, Kanathara fired off another beam of concentrated negative energy, killing a handful of imps before bringing her grimoire down on the head of another. Behind her the paladins pushed forward, bolts flying and swords swinging, their leader firing bolt after bolt, killing dozens in seconds. Focusing her attention on the mass of imps trying to bury Rainbow Dash, Kanathara used her telekinesis to lift a majority of them into the air.

Though she couldn't get more than five of the flailing things off the vengant due to her magic being suppressed, that was all Rainbow Dash needed. With a heave, the demon emerged from the pile, flames bursting from her maw and a dozen points in her armor, clearing away the rest of the lesser demons. Now free, Rainbow Dash bashed an imp’s head against the ground, splattering its brains over the floor before its body quickly turned to dust.

The vengent fought fiercely, leaping ahead of Kanathara and the paladins in order to get the majority of the attention. Sure enough, the imps attempted to pile onto her several times, only to end up killed by hellfire, spellfire, or bolt fire. Though it took time to cut through the imps, the pair of demons had been more than enough to turn the tide, allowing the small group to slowly push forward.

A change which the traitorous unicorn seemed to notice as her attention flickered from the rapidly shrinking barrier to where her soldiers were being slaughtered. Seeing the coming danger for what it was, she turned back to the barrier and with a flash of her horn began to pull the portal open even more. On the other side Kanathara could see a great host of imps and other slightly larger creatures jockeying for their chance to enter the portal.

Most numerous, save for the many red-skinned imps, were the dozens of quasits who stood a few inches taller than their slightly smaller cousins. Their skin ranged in colors from bright blue to sickly green, signifying that they had begun the transition from lowly imp to true demon. Their forms varied wildly, with some having dozens of horns while others had none, though all had a vaguely humanoid appearance as well as two arms and legs.

Seeing that the portal could now allow their larger forms through, the quasits surged forward, brushing aside their smaller cousins. In response the demonologist merely stepped further behind the portal and continued to feed magic into the tear in reality, forcing it ever wider. At this point, Rainbow Dash neared the halfway point of the car, her hoof punching straight through an imp’s chest while her jaw clamped down over the throat of another.

Growling to herself, Kanathara fired off a trio of magic missiles before stepping back behind the paladin line. “Shoot the traitor! My spells can't get through this many enemies, but your bolts can!” shouted the keeper.

Pinkie Pie shook her head and let loose another projectile. “Can't. Standing order is to bring traitors in alive for questioning, and I can't trust my aim with so many imps in the way.”

“You won't be alive to bring her in for questioning if we don't stop her!” Kanathara shouted back.

“Sorry lady, but orders are orders and these come all the way from the top,” Pinkie Pie replied, the earth pony rapidly reloading her crossbow while dodging a stray imp.

Kanathara growled and took a moment to vent her frustration on one rather unfortunate imp who had leapt over the paladin line. Using her magic, Kanathara gripped the demonic creature tightly before pulling its arms and legs off with a single powerful tug. Though the paladins were visibly disgusted with this display, they didn't falter in their push, giving Kanathara only a brief glance.

Kanathara was about to command her familiar to simply turn to mist and land atop the demonologist until she realized what position that would leave the paladins in. Together they were making forward momentum, but without Kanathara’s pinpoint spells and Rainbow Dash’s raw strength, they would crumble in no time. A fact which wouldn't have bothered Kanathara a few months ago, but now gave her pause and made her rethink her strategy.

Can I get a hand here, boss? These quasits are everywhere! Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

I’m on it, Kanthara replied, firing off a lance of solid magic into the chest of a quasit clawing at the back of Rainbow Dash’s helmet.

Immediately the long-horned and green-skinned creature crumpled to the side, its body dissolving as it gave its final breath. Rapidly rethinking her plan of attack, Kanathara’s gaze flickered this way and that over the battlefield, trying to come up with a way to keep her new allies alive while accomplishing her goal. Upon seeing the magical array, Kanathara got an idea and hastily trotted over to Pinkie Pie as she finished bashing in the head of an unfortunate imp.

“The array, how do we disable it?” Kanathara shouted while firing off more spells.

“We don't!” Pinkie Pie replied, ratcheting her crossbow. “Because if we did, this entire space would rapidly collapse back to its original side.”

“Which would kill everyone in it and probably destroy the car,” Kanathara finished, clenching her jaw tightly. “Which may include the Element itself.”

“Plus the gate would likely grow rapidly without the magic of the car keeping it from being opened from the other side,” Pinkie Pie added.

“It's always something, isn't it?” Kanthara muttered as she bashed two quasits’ heads together, impaling each other on their fellow’s stubby red horns.

Still, though their progress was now noticeably slower, Kanathara could tell that their enemy had been forced to temporarily abandon her attempts at trying to break through the barrier. With that in mind, the keeper decided that they would merely try to break through at the earliest opportunity and until then they would continue on without change. Relaying this message to her familiar, Kanathara trotted confidently towards the fighting, firing off spell after spell and generally doing her best to support the vengant.

Up ahead of the main force, Rainbow Dash fought alone, her armor having grown extra spikes on just about every available surface. A change which Rainbow Dash put to excellent use as she threw herself into one pack of enemies and then the next without pause. Remembering the fury the berserker had shown earlier, Rainbow Dash did her best to channel that same intense rage.

Letting loose a wordless battle cry, the vengant surged forward, ramming a freshly grown head spike through the stomach of a quasit. The creature flailed in panic atop the larger demon’s head, its clawed hands scraping uselessly against Rainbow Dash’s armor. Black ichor poured from the creature’s gaping wound while Rainbow Dash continued to fight on as if she didn't notice the added weight. She kept her head ornament until she saw a good opportunity to throw it into a group of its allies and cause them to fall over one another.

Knowing that this was going to be a slog, Rainbow Dash decided to use her most potent untapped ability in her arsenal, fear. Willing the helmet to recede back into her gorget, Rainbow Dash roared in rage, spitting fire from her mouth and smoke from her nose. Before the mass of lesser demons had a chance to react, she reached for her nearest enemy and tore its arm off before throwing it aside.

Kanathara frowned as she saw their unicorn enemy scramble back to the golden barrier. The demon fired off at her a trio of magical bolts which were absorbed by a personal anti-magic field. Though a part of her wanted to push this field to its limit, Kanathara chose instead to focus back on supporting her allies. Only to be surprised when she noticed that there were a handful of lesser demons scrambling to get back into the portal, most missing limbs or sporting gaping wounds.

She watched as her familiar tore the arms off a quasit before headbutting it back into its allies, dazed and panicked but very much alive. The ensuing tangle of limbs that came from the demon retreating back the way it came gave Kanathara an idea, one she quickly put into practice. Blasting an imp in the face with a ray of frost, Kanathara purposefully didn’t put everything she had into the spell and ensured that just the eyes as well as the majority of its face froze solid.

Screaming in agony, the imp flailed its arms in panic and inadvertently saved a paladin who had been about to be stabbed by a quasit wielding a small shard of bone carved into a dagger. The imp ran into the other demon’s arm and caused the larger demon to snarl in rage before burying its weapon in its former ally’s face. Which had the adverse reaction of letting that same paladin regain his footing and ram his longsword through the other demon’s chest. Seeing the effect this had on her enemies, Kanathara grinned cruelly, aiming her bolts of magic to blind and maim rather than kill.

“What are you doing, you’re supposed to kill them!” shouted a female paladin who cut down a green quasit Kanathara had torn the eyes out of.

“And if we don't, they try to retreat in order to heal, causing problems for their allies!” Kanathara yelled back.

The paladin seemed ready to argue until Pinkie Pie shot a quasit square in the crotch, causing the demon to howl in agony and topple to the ground. Just like that, the armored pony spun in place before rejoining her companions, her attacks gaining a brutal edge they hadn't contained a moment earlier. Like a ripple falling over the line, the ponies charged forward, their strikes wounding and maiming while leaving the demons alive and scrambling to escape.

While the paladins were unintimidating to the demons, Pinkie Pie and Kanathara were far scarier than them. The keeper frequently pull an imp into the air where she yanked off one or more of its extremities or simply allowed Pinkie Pie to disembowel it with a well-placed shot. Even still, the effect they had on their enemies paled in comparison to the sheer dread which Rainbow Dash elicited in their foes.

Where before the imps and quasits only had to fear a quick death before being sent back to Tartarus, now they had to fear being torn apart and left alive. Something Rainbow Dash did with terrifying efficiency, with the vengant ripping and tearing her enemies with her armored hooves. Not only that, but the demon had also altered her appearance in order to better scare her enemies. She did this by growing plenty of unnecessary spikes as well as constantly shooting hellfire from her open maw.

On her shoulders were two long spikes on which several screaming demons were impaled, their otherworldly blood pouring down the armored demon’s form in waves. In under a minute the tide of demonic flesh turned not because they were losing, but because they feared the enemies they stood against. Imps were trampled, quasits were tripped and left behind, the force of lesser demons fleeing en masse in the face of such atrocities.

For a bit it seemed as though the demons who pushed forward were going to win out against their terrified allies, and then they too broke when several levitated spears were thrown into their ranks. The mass of tangled limbs, torn flesh, and brutalized demons scrambled back towards the portal, throwing themselves through the entrance. Though thrilled that her plan had been a success, Kanathara noted that it worked almost too well, and she had to smack a paladin who was leveling a spear at her familiar.

“Cut it out, we got bigger fish to fry,” Kanathara shouted.

The paladin grumbled and readjusted their helm, but ultimately said nothing.

“Subdue the traitor, quickly!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

In front of them, Rainbow Dash was busy pushing the last of the lesser demons through the portal, assisting an imp by throwing him like a javelin through the narrow opening. Kanathara followed her familiar’s lead, tossing smaller demons out of the way with her telekinesis and finishing off a few who lay broken but not killed. Once clear, she too charged the unicorn, launching a trio of firebolts followed by a ray of frost, each one aimed at a vital area.

Gritting her teeth, the other pony fired off a quick shield spell, blocking the ray of frost but not the firebolts, which fizzled upon nearing her. For a moment it looked like the pony was going to be caught relatively easily, captured by Kanathara and the paladins. That was until everyone in the car heard a blood-curdling roar so horrible that even Kanathara glanced nervously to the portal.

Rainbow Dash stumbled back as the pile of lesser demons seemed to stop before turning and running back towards her. For a moment Rainbow Dash merely observed, confused by the sudden shift and curious as to what had caused it. That was until a rather unfortunate imp had its skull crushed in the jagged claws of a much larger demon, answering the vengant’s unspoken question.

“Blood fiend!” shouted the former pegasus, who stumbled back from the portal.

Where a hulking, four-armed monster was holding the dead imp above its head, maw open wide as blood and viscera poured into it. The creature had several rows of sharp, shark-like teeth in a lipless mouth that dominated the creature’s face. It lacked a nose and ears, its large mouth only leaving enough room for a pair of beady red eyes which glowed fiercely.

It must have been attracted by all the demons we injured, but didn't kill, Kanathara thought.

The demon towered over the portal’s entrance, its skinless body caked with fresh blood and gore which also stained the claws that adorned all four of its arms and even its feet. Shifting her attention, Kanathara swiftly moved to back up her familiar, the keeper’s magic grasping at the edge of the portal. Powerful magics coursed through the demon’s body, yet the runic array beneath her stopped Kanathara from being able to close it in time.

“I can't stop it. You guys take the traitor!” Kanathara shouted.

“Right, leave her to us!” replied Pinkie Pie.

The unicorn scoffed as the earth pony’s bolt bounced harmlessly off her shield. “And what do you intend on doing, bleed on me? I have magic, and you have nothing!”

A bolt of lightning sprung from the pony’s horn and slammed into one of the paladins, a golden shield springing up and deflecting most of the blow. Some still managed to get through, however, sending the pony to the floor where she writhed in pain, electricity pouring through her body. Gritting her teeth in rage, Pinkie Pie fired off another bolt, her soldiers charging into the fray, swords swinging and spells firing.

What little magic they could bring to bear did little against the unicorn’s shield, though at least their weapons cut chunks out of her personal magical barrier. The demonologist saw this and reacted quickly by releasing another storm of lightning, this time in a large section in front of her, hitting all of her enemies. Magical energy danced over the paladins’ forms, with most able to rely on the enchantments placed on their armor to save them.

The pony on the ground was not quite as lucky, as her own defences had already been worn down, the lightning attack causing her skin to burn and smoke profusely. Pinkie Pie immediately dropped her weapon and leapt to the fallen mare, pulling her out of the field of electricity with a sharp tug. Once her companion was safe, the earth pony retrieved her crossbow and loaded a special projectile armed with a black tip.

“You’re going down,” muttered the earth pony before leveling her weapon.

How the hell do we beat this guy? Rainbow Dash mentally shouted, the vengant ducking and weaving out of the flurry of swipes leveled her way by the larger demon. All I remember is that this guy really freaking loves demon blood.

Kanathara continued to cycle through all the low-level spells she knew, casting small beams of heat, cold, and supercharged mana, all to little effect. The larger demon simply shrugged off everything Kanathara fired at him, what little damage she accomplished being healed mere moments later. While this was happening, Kanathara was racking her brain, trying to remember anything at all about this strange monster.

It has an intense craving for the blood of demons like you said and is able to freeze the lesser-willed with its intense gaze, though that won't affect us, Kanathara replied while using her magic to hold one of the demon’s arms away from her familiar and allowing the vengant to duck out of the other two swings. It has some powerful regenerative abilities, though from my understanding, it's not the smartest.

Does it only have normal senses? Rainbow Dash pressed, the vengant weaving between the larger demon’s attacks before unleashing a torrent of hellfire into her enemy’s chest.

I think so, why? Kanathara answered.

I have a plan, Rainbow Dash declared as the blood fiend stumbled back, wiping a hand across its chest and clearing the dead flesh away.

Pinkie Pie leveled the black bolt at her enemy, taking only a moment to line it up with the pony’s midsection before releasing it. Though it pained the mare to be unable to help her fellow paladins, the earth pony knew the unicorn wouldn't be able to keep up her attack for long. A fact which turned out to be true as the traitor continued to pour her magic into the attack, ignoring the bolt streaking towards her.

It pierced her barrier with startling ease, leaving behind a tiny hole in the shield before slamming into her barrel. Though most of the kinetic energy had already bled away, the bolt still sunk a good inch into the mare’s body, shocking her out of her attack. With magical lightning no longer hitting them from all directions, the paladins picked themselves off the ground and renewed their assault.

Almost immediately cracks began to form along the traitor’s wall of magic, swords and spears removing large chunks out of it within only a handful of seconds. Inside, the unicorn grunted and pulled the bolt from her side, her magic returning to her control once it was removed. Seeing her enemies close in on her, the unicorn raised her hooves, lit her horn, and brought them down hard, her shield bulging before exploding outwards.

“Enough!” she bellowed, her barrier erupting with enough force to send the paladins stumbling back and even inadvertently bring down the final shield between her and the Element.

Kanathara grinned as she continued to build magic at the base of her horn, overcharging her primitive spell as far as she dared. In front of her, Rainbow Dash continued to fight the blood fiend, her attacks doing significant damage, though nothing that seemed permanent. Chunks removed from its chest healed in moments, claws grew back in seconds, and even cauterizing the wounds with hellfire only slowed its regeneration for a short while.

In time Rainbow Dash knew she could best the demon, but time was something they didn't have a lot of at that moment. Rising onto her back legs, Rainbow Dash opened her wings, hiding her mistress from the other demon’s baleful gaze. Though the stance meant she took more than a few hits, some of which even managed to pierce her armor, Rainbow Dash endured, the familiar waiting patiently for the signal.

Now! Kanathara mentally shouted.

The vengant dropped to the ground and closed her eyes, leaving the blood fiend to stare at where she had been standing and where a golden orb now floated. The single second of confusion that came from this action was just barely enough to allow the spell to finish and explode outwards. Intense searing light blinded the frenzied demon, singing its eyeballs and burning its retinas to the point that it stumbled back, howling in pain.

The attack also managed to catch a certain unicorn who had been about to grab the artifact, though it was only out of the corner of one eye. Though not injured by the holy energy the overpowered light spell emitted, the pony also lacked any of the regenerative abilities of a demon. So when her one eye was burned shut, it was rendered useless until such point that she could find someone to heal her.

Neither Pinkie Pie or the other paladins were injured by the burst of light, the attack inadvertently giving the injured ponies enough time to pick themselves off the ground. Pinkie Pie was the first to do so, the earth pony leaping for her fallen weapon and leveling it at the screaming mare clutching her burnt eye. A twinge of sympathy shot through the young pony, though that feeling was stifled when she noticed the traitor was reaching for the Element once more.

Pinkie sighed and aimed once more, releasing her shot and watching as it flew straight and true. Piercing the unicorn’s hoof, the bolt continued through the mare’s soft flesh until fletching met flesh. Which was too rigid and caught fast in the mare’s open wound, the leftover kinetic energy carrying the bolt head into the wall, pinning the pony in place.

Kanathara ignored the screaming mare and finished her casting just in time to see that the blood fiend had managed to regrow its burnt eyes. When it next looked upon the pair of demons, it did not charge, merely standing there in confusion as it gazed upon two normal-looking ponies. Though taller than average, the fiend lacked the mental faculties to figure out what had just happened and where its quarry had gone.

Seeing that her quick disguise had worked, Kanathara used her magic to grab a curious imp that had peeked through the barrier and toss it at the blood fiend. The red-scaled and bat-winged creature let out a cry of confusion before slamming into the hulking beast’s muscled back. Spinning on its heel, the blood fiend grabbed the fallen imp and bit off its head, chewing noisily until it turned to dust.

Spitting out the offending detritus, the blood fiend looked back towards the portal where a small host of lower demons had been peering through. All of whom scrambled desperately away the second the four-armed monster let loose a roar and then charged back through. The second the towering demon had squeezed its massive bulk back through the portal, Kanathara sprinted over to it and, using what little magic she had, began to close it.

“I can't believe that worked. You just made us all pastel-colored,” Rainbow Dash remarked, extending a hoof which did indeed look nearly the same, having only been turned a bright teal.

Kanathara grunted and dispelled the simple illusion the second the portal was completely gone. “Anger is a wonderful blinder,” she muttered.

Together the two demons turned towards the unicorn who had just had her horn bound by a jade ring before being rendered unconscious by a spell. Most of the small group of remaining paladins were busy restraining the traitor, save for one who was tentatively reaching for the element. All while Pinkie Pie stood back, her hoof on her loaded weapon and her gaze fixed securely on the two final demons.

For a moment neither said anything, then Kanathara lit her horn and tried to grab the artifact with her magic, only for the paladin to get to it first, wrestling the jewelry from the keeper’s aura.

Weapons were raised, spells primed, and muscles flexed, every unrestrained individual in the car ready for a fight. In an instant all the feeling of camaraderie was gone, the air itself becoming heavy and tense. Each side looked to its leader, the paladins to Pinkie Pie while Rainbow Dash glanced expectantly at her mistress, waiting for the order to strike.

Kanathara knew her familiar was ready to attack at a moment’s notice, but she could also tell that the demon was resistant to the idea. Even the keeper herself hesitated to commit to an assault, fresh memories of fighting side by side with the strangely chipper pony flashing through her mind. Even still, the two demons knew that this only ended one way, with the Element in their possession and all who got in their way defeated.

Pinkie Pie chuckled suddenly, the pony’s laugh starting off as barely above a whisper before slowly rising to a full-throated giggle. The laughter spread through the other ponies strangely quickly, and even Rainbow Dash herself began laughing nervously. Confused and slightly annoyed, Kanthara was surprised when she too began to snigger unexpectedly, her muscles slowly beginning to relax as her laugh grew to a titter.

All around her the paladins lowered their weapons while Rainbow Dash’s armor slowly receded back until it was a mere breastplate. Kanathara herself felt her spell unwind until the magic left her horn entirely, her plans of attack slipping from her grasp like sand through a sieve. By the end of it both parties were laughing with such intensity that neither could hold a weapon or entertain a negative thought.

Struggling to a stand, Pinkie Pie suppressed a giggle and shook her head. “This is downright silly. We were just allies, we shouldn't fight,” she exclaimed between bouts of laughter.

Kanathara pushed down the urge to keep laughing. “I know, but we can't leave without the Element.”

“Haha, Pinkie, do you think-” The pony stopped and covered her mouth with a hoof, resisting the desire to giggle that had been about to burst forth. “Do you really think we should fight them? We got a lot of wounded in here.”

“Nah,” Pinkie Pie replied, extending a hoof. “We might have a chance of winning, but there is also a good chance we would all die needless deaths and you remember what Celestia always said about that.”

“Just because your life was given to you freely doesn't mean you can spend it freely,” muttered several of the paladins.

“Exactly,” Pinkie Pie declared. “We’ll take our prisoner and call it a partial victory.”

“That's… really nice of you,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “I really didn't want to fight you all anyway.”

“Me neither.” Pinkie Pie reached out and grabbed the Element before tossing it at the keeper. “Here, catch.”

Kanathara’s smile vanished when she noticed the small flash of light that came from the artifact before it soared through the air. Catching it in her magic, Kanathara inspected the piece of jewelry and noticed the faint pink glow which lingered within the gem. Putting that bit of strangeness out of her mind, the demon opened up her dimensional pocket and threw it inside, sealing the hole a second later.

“So, I guess this is goodbye,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a hint of sadness.

“For now, anyway,” Pinkie Pie corrected, the earth pony leaning on her enormous crossbow, an easy smile on her face.

“Come on, Rainbow, let's get out of here,” Kanathara declared, sparing one last glance at the earth pony and her paladins. “You have some more injured further back by the way. Though we did our best to help out your side when we could.”

“You did?” asked a skeptical pegasus paladin.

“Go see for yourself. It's just back there” Rainbow Dash offered, before taking wing and flying out the open door.

Kanatharta smiled, giving the ponies one last nod. “For what it's worth, I appreciate you doing this.”

“Yeah yeah, now get outta here before I have any second thoughts,” Pinkie Pie replied, a smile on her lips.

The keeper smiled back and shut the door.

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: Gear Change, John, Vindistic Shadow, Jordan, Megawott06, Fiamgoku, 浩民簡, Nightwing, Jwarrior, Travis, Rhys, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheppard, Venerable RO, Corey, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos1337, Nathan, Blade Tech, Tiwake, Free, Octavia&lowbar, GruB, Lich Lord Krosis, Todd, Canaray in the coal mine, Prysm, Mephia, Mike, Astor, Steven, Soundtea, Megatyrant, Ceepert, Menthol Qtip, Peter, Nfreak, Mikhalia, Doomgooey, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Starless, Apollyon6024, Facinus, M, Vigilant Watch, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Diokyo.

Trial Eight: Pawns

“Whoowee, I’m exhausted,” Rainbow Dash remarked, the demon having gained a familiar disguise during the hour or so of flight. “Do ya mind if we get some rest at Velvet’s?”

The demon waited patiently for her mistress to reply, only for the other presence in her mind to remain silent, her attention clearly focused elsewhere.

“Boss?” Rainbow Dash asked in a quiet voice.

Huh, what? Oh, uh, yeah sure, Kanthara answered.

“You sound distracted, what's bugging you this time?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

It's just… I feel like a piece on a chessboard, and I don't like it, Kanathara declared bitterly.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

In the end, no matter where we go, someone ends up connecting to an Element. Applejack in Ponyville, Fluttershy in Cloudsdale, and now Pinkie Pie, Kanathara stated, the demon silently wishing she had a body of her own as the desire to gnash her teeth was growing stronger by the second. This can't all be an accident. I mean, what were the chances that Applejack was near the town hall, that we just so happened to run into Fluttershy, and that Pinkie Pie would get assigned to guard a train of all things. It can't all be happenstance.

Rainbow Dash hummed thoughtfully. “I mean, it isn't impossible that it was all due to random chance.”

I mean I guess, but come on. Someone has to have a hand in all this, Kanathara stated. Someone who has control of both Velvet’s little organization and the paladins.

“Now I think you’re reaching,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “The only one with that kind of power is Celestia herself, and she doesn't seem like the type to do something so morally ambiguous.”

I guess. This whole thing is just so… maddening. I can't wait for this contract to be complete so we can have a hand in our destiny again, Kantahra remarked. Maybe pick out a nice plane that doesn't have much contact with Tartarus so we can enjoy some peace and quiet for a while.

Rainbow Dash stiffened, the demon’s gaze growing distant, lingering on the white pillars which rose up from the horizon. “Look, about that. I don't know if I can just wash my hooves off this whole thing and just leave them to their fate.”

What do you mean? Kanathara hesitantly asked.

“I mean, I have things to tie me to this place, like the fact that Fluttershy is here. My parents' killers are probably still around, and I kinda like Equestria,” Rainbow Dash admitted, her brow furrowing as she aimed her body at the rising sun. “I mean, you have Velvet now. A biological father you should probably meet eventually, and I don't think Pear Butter is just gonna skip town if the world goes to pot.”

We could bring them with us. Velvet has to have memorized at least a few planeshifting spells, and I know a few as well, Kanathara replied though her thoughts lacked the usual conviction.

“And what about the people they would want to bring? And the people that those people would want to bring with them?” Rainbow Dash pressed. “We can't bring everyone along with us, and that's even assuming that the first group would even want to come.”

I know, Kanthara reluctantly answered. It's just this isn't a fight we could ever win. The Nightmare is the most powerful type of demon in the body of the most powerful race in Equestria. With the Elements she would be a god in all but name.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “And there is no way we can just not give them to her, right?”

With that contract? Hell no, Kanathara bitterly declared. If we don't work as best as we can, then she could force us to, and if that didn't work, she would most likely be able to steal our very souls.

“I probably should have given that thing a longer read,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

Which I guess leaves us in the awkward situation of trying to resist her. Kanathara imagined herself sighing. Let's just discuss this more at a later date. I’m too tired to think about this right now.

“Wanna do some tricks before we land in Canterlot?” Rainbow Dash offered, wiggling her wings. “That always helps me relax.”

You know what, that would be kinda nice, Kanathara admitted. Oh, and do a couple loops, those always feel so strangely freeing.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “On it, boss lady. Just lay back and let me handle everything.”

Kanathara allowed her mind to retreat and merely observed as Rainbow Dash began to speed up, her wings pumping hard. The morning sun slowly slipped over the horizon as the demons began to weave through the scattered white clouds. With wind buffeting their face, and the ground becoming a blur beneath them, Kanathara felt a small sense of peace rest firmly in the back of her mind.

Amidst all the worry and fear that had already taken root.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash trotted through the strange flesh-covered door before stopping on the other side. “Thank you, Oluuraal,” remarked the keeper of secrets, who turned to face the gatekeeper. “I appreciate you taking the time to bring us directly to our destination.”

“And being the only one willing to actually help us navigate this damn labyrinth,” Rainbow Dash muttered bitterly.

The gatekeeper shut herself and smiled down at the pair of demons, her serpentine tongue flicking past her lips. “It is no trouble at all, my friends. Though I usually ask for compensation in the form of a secret or two if they aren't on business,” remarked Oluuraal in a low, teasing tone.

“I don't suppose my recipe for blood soup is an acceptable trade?” Rainbow Dash offered.

The gatekeeper chuckled, its large inquisitive eyes sparkling. “Close, but no cigar, I’m afraid. After all, it's not like I have hands to make such a thing in the first place.”

Kanathara smiled and pushed her familiar aside. “I got this, Rainbow Dash.”

“If you say so,” murmured the vengant.

“Did you know that Tirek is ticklish under his arms?” Kanathara offered, a sly smile spreading across her face.

The gatekeeper giggled, the twisted mass of exposed blackened muscle rippling excitedly. “Oh, now that is a funny one. It is nice to know the art of the secret is as valued in Equestria as it is elsewhere.”

“Of course,” Kanathara proudly declared. “You never know when it might help.”

“True, I-” Oluuraal paused, before scowling suddenly. “Pardon me, but some mortal is getting rather impatient. Give your mother my best.”

The mass of flesh twisted inwards on itself, vanishing a second later and leaving behind a rather normal door with a black metal handle.

“She's pretty useful,” Rainbow Dash murmured as the pair turned and trotted down the hall. “If it didn't feel like she was checking out my ass every time I passed her by, I might even like her.”

Kanathara gasped dramatically. “Is the Rainbow Dash admitting that she couldn't handle a guardian demon?”

“What are…. Augh,” Rainbow Dash groaned. “You are the worst.”

“Or are you worried that she would treat you like a doormat?” Kanathara pressed as the pair walked down the long hallway, passing robed cultists.

“Keep it up, and I might dump you and find out for myself,” Rainbow Dash shot back.

Kanathara chuckled. “Relax, that's all I got. Besides, we’re here already.”

The keeper of secrets knocked on the familiar door to Velvet’s private residence before taking a step back and waiting patiently.

After a few seconds Rainbow Dash yawned, prompting Kanathara to do the same.

“You think we might be a bit early?” Rainbow Dash whispered after an entire minute had passed without hearing anything from inside.

“Maybe, it is only six or so,” Kanathara replied with a shrug. “Do you think I should knock again?”

“Couldn't hurt, right?” Rainbow Dash answered.

Kanathara raised her hoof to do just that, only to hear the distinct sound of hooves coming from within.

“I swear to every single star in the sky, if that's you, Naamah, I really will rip out that delicious tongue of yours,” shouted a familiar, if slightly gravelly voice.

“Isn't that a succubus name?” whispered Rainbow Dash.

“It is,” Kanathara murmured.

“Your mom has game,” added the vengant.

The door opened suddenly to reveal the disheveled appearance of Twilight Velvet, her horn glowing brightly. Upon seeing who was standing before her, the unicorn’s magic flickered and died fairly quickly. The two parties stared at one another, with Twilight thinking just how old her biological mother looked while Velvet struggled to comprehend what was going on.

“Well, this is awkward. Would you believe that she's a work friend?” asked the unicorn.

Kanathara chuckled. “I don't care one way or the other. Though if you need a minute, we can come back in an hour or so.”

“Or two,” added Rainbow Dash, who was busy staring at the heavy bags hanging under the older creature’s eyes.

The pony sighed and stepped back. “It's fine, just make yourselves at home while I clean up a little.”

Kanathara strode into the small apartment-sized space only to immediately notice that it was nearly empty unlike last time when it was quite cluttered. “This is a considerable change,” remarked the demon.

Velvet closed the door behind Rainbow Dash and grunted as she made her way towards the small bathroom. “I’m moving everything to a more secure location. What you see here is just the less important stuff that I have left to organize.”

Rainbow Dash peeked into one of the many boxes littering the area. “Daring Do and the Treasure of Saddle Madre. I never read that one before.”

Velvet chuckled from the other room. “That's because it was never published. It's the last one I worked on before I joined up and apparently the author wouldn't accept her work being edited by anyone else, so it's remained unpublished ever since.”

“Interesting,” Rainbow Dash murmured, the demon flicking through the half-completed manuscript idly.

Kanathara leaned over the vengant’s shoulder. “Anything good in that box?”

“Not unless you like young adult adventure books,” Rainbow Dash replied before plunking down on the ground and starting to read.

Kanathara smiled faintly before turning away and trotting next to the bathroom door. “So, did you figure out what was going on with your spy network?”

Velvet grunted. “No, and it's beginning to bother me. If we had a turncoat, I should have found them already.”

“Why do you say that?” Kanathara pressed.

“Because everyone under my personal employ has a very selective geas placed on them that ensures they must tell me the truth,” Velvet replied.

“Then maybe it came from higher-up? Someone not directly under you,” Kanathara inquired.

“Ish poshible,” Velvet admitted, gargling briefly before spitting into the sink and washing down the toothpaste with a short blast of water. “There aren't too many people above me, however, and those few are what I would call fanatics, so I’m having trouble suspecting them.”

“Are you sure, what about Blackguard?” Kanathara continued.

“The Blackguard organization itself was started by and named after his family. He has also been groomed from birth to rule it, which he has done since the death of his father,” Velvet explained, pausing briefly. “I wonder why he stopped going by Blood Tithe and just used his last name? Though I suppose I’m one to talk.”

“So if he isn't the source of the leak, then who is?” Kanathara pressed, ignoring the brief aside.

“I have my own theories. Ones which my most trusted spies are looking into,” Velvet replied before grunting. “Come on, you stupid strap. You fit yesterday.”

“But why lie about what Element was in cloudsdale? Why bother maneuvering all these pieces? What's the point?” Kanathara exclaimed.

A flash of light came from the bathroom a second before a now vanilla-scented Velvet trotted back out. “Look, I don't know what is going on, but I am determined to get to the bottom of it. In the meantime you just gotta keep focused on completing your contract and getting out from under the Nightmare’s hoof.”

Kanathara sighed. “I understand that. It just feels so hopeless knowing that the last three are in the world’s most secure vault.”

Velvet blinked. “No, they aren't. Didn't I update you? One of them is being recalled to Canterlot sometime soon. Only two are confirmed to be in the citadel.”

“Are you sure, I could have sworn… you know what? It doesn't matter. Where is this other one located?” Kanathara asked.

“I’m afraid I’m not totally sure. I’ve got my best people investigating it but things have been slightly hectic as of late given my pending relocation,” Velvet answered, the unicorn tugging briefly at her armor before trotting over to a seemingly random box and digging into it. “As for the citadel, I wouldn't worry about it. Tirek and I have been working on a plan if you haven't already figured that out.”

“He isn't exactly good at keeping secrets, at least not from me anyway,” Kanathara replied simply.

Velvet pulled out a slightly crusty hunk of bread from the box before sitting down at the table. “How was your mission, by the way? I assume you were successful given that you aren't in a terrible mood.”

“We got it, but the fight was surprisingly difficult, and we only succeeded due to the help of a pony who ended up connecting to the Element much like how Fluttershy and Applejack already have,” Kanathara answered, plunking down on a chair across from Velvet. “Got anything else to eat?”

“I’m afraid not. Give me a second, and I can send off an order though,” Velvet replied, conjuring a pen and paper before scratching out a list of food.

“That would be nice as Rainbow Dash and I need a place to recoup our strength for a few hours,” Kanathara replied. “These long flights and numerous fights have been surprisingly draining.”

“Attuned to this plane’s magic or not, you are still a demon, so expect to feel a little less energy than you would down in Tartarus,” Velvet remarked, her horn flashing briefly. “There, your food should be up shortly.”

“I know about the energy thing, though it still bothers me,” Kanathara complained. “Thanks for the food, by the way.”

“Tell her about the orb thingy,” Rainbow Dash announced suddenly, the vengant not even looking up from her book. “The binding one.”

“Oh, right.” Kanathara’s horn glowed briefly before she pulled forth a small smooth red stone from her pocket dimension. “I forgot to mention it before, but this was used to corrupt the Element and allow the warrior clans to make ponies into familiars. We were hoping you would be able to tell us more about it.”

“Fascinating,” Velvet murmured, extending a hoof. “Do you mind if I take a look?”

Kanthara nodded. “Just be careful, I’m not sure how it works, and I’d rather not turn you into a familiar by accident.”

“Don't you worry. Working with cursed artifacts is something of a specialty of mine,” Velvet claimed, using her magic to levitate the small gem onto the table before her. “Now then, let’s see what secrets you have in store for me.”

Kanathara watched as the pony retrieved a magnifying glass from a nearby box before peering intently at the object. “I guess I should mention that it was also likely created by sacrificing the souls of two innocents, and that those souls may still be trapped inside of it,” Kanathara continued in a slightly lower tone.

Rainbow Dash sunk a little lower into her book, her gaze growing distant.

“That is most unfortunate,” Velvet remarked, her horn glowing faintly as a scanning spell washed over the red gem. “These types of artifacts usually only release their captured souls upon destruction, which is in itself a rare occurrence as they are nearly indestructible.”

“Surely there is some way to free them. The artifact only has a niche use to begin with, so I don't care if it's destroyed in the process,” Knathara pressed.

“Some rituals can break the binds that brought about the formation of the artifact in question, but it's a tough process,” Velvet muttered, the pony peering deeply into the gem. “Though the energy released upon its destruction is so immense that if you could break it, you might theoretically be able to cast a truly powerful spell if you captured the expelled magic.”

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully, her gaze becoming distant as she stared off into space. “What about an annulment spell? One powerful enough enough to break a demonic contract?”

Velvet blinked and looked up at the demon with a curious look in her eye. “It's possible, but even then I doubt it would work on the one you hold with the Nightmare. She would never show you the contract after you’ve signed it, and you would need the original physical copy.”

“I know,” Kanathara replied. “I was thinking of something else.”

“Well, whatever you had in mind, so long as you were able to summon the original contract, you should be able to break it. Unless you made a pact with one of the lords of Tartarus,” Velvet murmured. “As for the gem itself, it's pretty much worthless as it stands right now.”

“Wait, why do you say that?” Rainbow Dash asked suddenly.

“Yeah, it corrupted an Element of Harmony. That's not something any old artifact should be capable of,” Kanathara added.

“It is powerful, but that power has been expended, and it may take months, years or maybe even centuries to recharge,” Velvet concluded, her horn dulling after she put away the magnifying glass. “Until then it's nothing more than a rather ineffective paper weight.”

“That's a good thing, right?” Rainbow Dash asked, turning to Kanathara.

The keeper shrugged. “Sort of. It gives us one less weapon against Nightmare Moon, but it's not something I would be willing to use regardless of its potential usefulness.”

The vengant’s shoulders slumped. “I didn't even think of that. How long do you suspect it would take to break the bonds that hold the gem together?”

Velvet exhaled slowly, her gaze never leaving the gem. “Six months of planning, and that's assuming I would have ample time to work.”

“And there wasn't a world-ending threat breathing down your neck,” Kanathara bitterly added.

“Right,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “They aren't… in pain, are they?”

Velvet’s features softened, and she shook her head. “No dear. They are beyond pain now.”

“Good,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

A knock on the door made everyone turn towards the entrance.

“Oh, Velvet, your favorite succubus has come to deliver all that you desire,” called a distinctly female voice that warbled strangely.

“Stars above, not her,” Velvet murmured.

“Who is that?” Kanathara inquired.

“Just let me handle this,” Velvet implored, the unicorn trotting over to the door and hastily engaging in a whispered conversation with the person on the other side.

“Your mom is a player,” Rainbow Dash remarked, sitting down next to Kanathara.

“She certainly does seem to have a thing for succubi,” Kanathara murmured.

“Do ya think that since you’re a kind of succubus, that there is some kind of reverse Oedipus thing going on here?” Rainbow Dash teased, jabbing Kanathara in the side.

The keeper of secrets shuddered, just barely resisting the urge to gag. “Gods above, no. Or at least there better not be.”

“I wouldn't worry about it. You’re out of her league anyway,” Rainbow Dash chided.

“Please stop talking,” Kanathara murmured, head clutched in her hooves.

“But Veeelvet, I even brought you your silly reports,” whined the warbled voice of the succubus. “I just want to meet your daughter. Is that really too much to ask?”

The unicorn let out a long sigh. “Fine. But that is it, okay?”

The succubus giggled. “I promise that I will just say hello and if I don't, I’ll do that thing for you where I use my tongue to-”

Velvet stomped a hoof. “That's quite enough.”

The door swung open to reveal a blushing Velvet and a rather strange equine succubus holding a large plate of meat dishes in an upraised hoof. The demon wore what could only be described as the outfit of a lunch lady, yet still somehow managed to pull it off. Her fur was a deep blue, while her eyes were a much lighter teal and her hair was even lighter still, becoming almost white when contrasted against her fur.

Most surprising of all was the fact that she was short, and not only that, but she had rather pudgy, if still generous curves. Despite all that, Kanathara couldn't help but feel her gaze drawn unnaturally to the succubus’ pert lips and captivating figure. Shaking that feeling off was difficult, but Kanathara managed to do so, clearing her throat awkwardly and giving her familiar a punch to the shoulder.

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Kanathara greeted, extending a hoof. “My name is Kanathara, and you are?”

“My name here in Equestria is Icewind, but you, my dear, can call me by my true name of Naamah. But only if you scream it for me,” purred the succubus who sauntered up to the pair.

“Can we keep her?” Rainbow Dash asked, turning excitedly to the keeper.

“Only if you get me a leash,” added Icewind, who bit her lip and exposed a single solitary fang poking out from the right side of her mouth.

“That's quite enough of that,” Velvet intruded, pulling the succubus back by her tail before snatching the food from her grip and placing it on the table.

“Aww, come on. I was just saying hello!” whined the succubus before suddenly slipping beneath the unicorn and nuzzling the underside of Velvet’s chin. “Unless you’re saying you want me all to yourself.”

Velvet’s cheeks grew red, but a frown remained plastered firmly to her face. “For the last time, no. Now give me the reports you stole before I decide to send a little message to Torlarin to let him know where you are.”

The succubus narrowed her gaze at the unicorn. “You wouldn't.”

Velvet merely raised an eyebrow.

Naamah pouted, but pulled out a small stack of letters from her long, flowing mane. “Fine, but sooner or later, you will admit you love me and swear your undying loyalty.”

Velvet rolled her eyes and roughly pushed the succubus out the door. “Goodbye, Naamah.”

With a slam, the door was closed, and the unicorn let out a long sigh.

“So… am I getting a third mother sometime soon?” Kanathara chided.

Velvet groaned. “Though I am thrilled you think of me as such, the title feels sullied for some reason.”

The sudden crunch of a bone made everyone turn to Rainbow Dash who was gnawing on a rib, her face plastered in sauce. “What? I thought this was for us.”

“It was, but we were…” Kanathara sighed. “Nevermind, now move over and leave some ribs for me. They look good.”

“Sure thing, oh, and check it out, they even got veal!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Velvet watched the two demons eagerly consume the platter of meat dishes with a ravenous intensity. Turning away from the strangely gruesome, yet still slightly cute scene playing out before her, Velvet began to open the reports one by one. Cracking the wax seal emblazoned with the same candle symbol that adorned her face, Velvet pulled it open.

“Odd, a missing pony report for Ponyville. I thought with the paladin presence such a thing would be dealt with quickly,” Velvet mused aloud. “Nothing else seems off about the area though.”

The pony read through the rest of the report, noting the troop movements around the Everfree and the general decrease in paladins stationed in the area. Once she was done, the unicorn lit her horn and in a flash of light incinerated the piece of paper, leaving behind nothing but ash. Opening the next one, Velvet began to trot over to the table, intent on grabbing a leg of chicken for herself, only to stop.

“Well, this is unfortunate,” Velvet muttered to herself.

“What is it?” Kanathara asked, the demon stopping herself from chowing down on a slice of shepherd's pie.

“Your brother is on the move with a recovery team,” Velvet began. “It looks like they decided to transport the Element via chariot, but it got shot down over the Everfree lowlands. Not only that, but a rogue clan of very territorial diamond dogs have moved into the area.”

“Why does this always happen just when I start to relax?” Rainbow Dash griped.

“We do seem to have bad luck for this, but at least Velvet’s information network is robust enough that we haven't missed something important,” Kanthara added.

“Thank you, Kanathara, that means a lot to me,” Velvet proudly replied.

“So do we at least have time to finish this off? ‘Cause if not, we’re gonna need a hell of a doggy bag,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara shrugged. “We can't fight on an empty stomach, but the contract dictates that we move as soon as possible, so unless we have a good reason to stick around, I’m afraid we gotta leave right away.”

“D’aw come on, this is bullcrap!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed

“Hold on. I’ll make you a map of the area while you eat,” Velvet offered, snagging a drumstick before trotting into the other room.

“I love your mom,” Rainbow Dash declared before stuffing an entire slice of pie into her mouth.

Kanthara smiled and glanced at the door to the other room. “Me too, Rainbow Dash, me too.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.

Trial Eight: Crash Site

“Hey, do you think your mom is gonna make us any more cool stuff sometime soon?” Rainbow Dash inquired mid-flight.

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully as the pair flew high over the Everfree, their enhanced eyesight allowing their gaze to pierce the light cloud cover. I don't think so. Her attention seems focused almost completely on her move as well as this mystery plan of hers to penetrate the citadel, Kanathara thought back.

“I guess, but she seems like the type who can balance a dozen things without getting overwhelmed by it all.” Rainbow Dash smirked. “I guess we know where you got that ability from.”

For a second the keeper of secrets wanted to argue the point and claim that she cultivated such a talent herself, but reluctantly chose not to. Instead Kanathara merely allowed herself to contemplate the similarities she shared with the sole birth parent she had met. It was a line of thought that made the demon feel strangely at ease as well as connected to the pony in a way she hadn't felt before.

I suppose you’re right, Kanathara admitted after a long pause.

“Alright, I can see the end of the Everfree. Where do we go from here?” Rainbow Dash inquired, the demon angling wings towards the distant rocky lowlands which was west of the expansive forest.

Give me a moment, Kanathara declared before taking control of Rainbow Dash’s head in order to study the location of the sun, as well as Canterlot which lay behind them. Adjust our course twenty degrees to the right, and we should fly right over the crash site.

Rainbow Dash grunted and did just that. “That will never not feel weird.”

Tell me about it, Kanathara agreed before turning her attention to the ground beneath them.

The air was thin and cold, but Rainbow Dash’s body was like a great furnace, keeping the biting chill of such a high altitude from bothering them. Fixing their gaze downward, Kanathara scanned the lowlands which supposedly served as the base for an unruly band of diamond dogs. No signs of habitation could be seen, but that was expected, given their subterranean nature. The only clue that there were even sentient beings in the area was a scattering of perfectly round holes that could be seen dotting the landscape.

Their locations and numerous appearances gave the impression that a sizable mining operation was being carried out in the area. It also worried Kanathara as it meant this band was strong enough to make their presence known without having to worry about being seen. Given how deep into Equestria the diamond dogs had managed to reach, it spoke of either great strength or incredible stupidity.

The land itself was nothing much to look at, with the forest petering out and trees becoming less numerous and far shorter before stopping altogether. The rocky earth ensured that little grew in the area, and what did sprout, became no taller than a small bush at best. Though Kanathara could see spots where there were greater concentrations of greenery, that was a rare sight.

Rolling hills of grey stone and patches of brown dirt stretched on into the distance, the landscape appearing to resemble waves when viewed at such an incredible height. The image struck Kanathara as odd, and the demon made a mental note to try and figure out what had happened to cause such strange formations. One way or the other, it was quite mineral-dense as Kanathara could see small formations of iron and even coal dotting the surface.

Several pony towns and small settlements could be seen far in the distance, though they usually stayed on the very edge of the lowlands. It made sense, as the rocky surface was an obstacle to transport goods in and out of the area, making exploitation of the land a slow process. Unlike the diamond dogs, who seemed perfectly capable of sustaining themselves without trade or any kind of agriculture.

“Diamond dogs eat rocks, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

They can, but they can also eat meat, Kanthara replied. Though I’m confused as to where they have found a source of water in such an inhospitable place.

“Aquifer?” Rainbow Dash offered.

Possible, but rare, especially for the area, Kanathara explained. We can contemplate their societal structure and how they’ve survived in the area later. We should be able to see the crash site coming up shortly.

Rainbow Dash strained their powerful vision, peering down towards the horizon and searching for the location they had been told about. Bland featureless stone preceded bland featureless patches of dirt, broken only by the occasional cliff or dry riverbed. That was until Kanathara noticed a speck of red that stood out from the otherwise bland mix of grey and brown.

There, do you see it?

“I got it, and it's fairly close to that mining camp,” Rainbow Dash pointed out, directing their gaze towards a small group of one-story structures standing in a line next to several larger, more important-looking buildings.

That must be Willow Creek, and that group of freshly erected tents at its north side must be where the detachment of paladins are based, Kanathara added. Can you get a little closer? I want to see if they are in the area.

“You sure that's a good idea? We’re fine up here, ‘cause we’re little more than a speck, but it's nearly noon, and there is hardly a cloud in the sky,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Right. I’ll reform on your back and quickly cast a quick chameleon spell. It won't be perfect, but it should make us nearly invisible until we land, Kanathara answered.

“Alright, but make it quick. It's probably pretty cold up here,” Rainbow Dash replied.

I’ll be fine, claimed Kanathara before turning to mist and dissipating out through the other demon’s pores, reforming atop her back.

Kanathara felt the harsh wind immediately bite into her much less-protected body, her teeth chattering before she even started channeling magic. Lighting her horn, the keeper of secrets finished her spell in record time before turning incorporeal once more. Sliding back within the other demon, Kanathara immediately felt her frozen body vanish and be replaced by one far warmer.

You weren't kidding, Kanathara remarked.

“Told ya,” quipped Rainbow Dash. “Now, ready to check out that crash site?”

Let's get to the bottom of this.

“You sure it's safe? I don't wanna land and have a bunch of paladins pop out of nowhere,” Rainbow Dash whispered as she slowly circled overhead.

See those tracks? The paladins came straight from town, surveyed the area, and then left in the direction of what I’m presuming is the diamond dog camp. Though it's possible they are lying in wait, they didn't even bury the poor bastard transporting the Element, Kanathara pointed out, turning their attention to the mangled corpse lying several metres away, his body nearly cut in half from a ballista bolt sticking out of his midsection.

“It ain't like them to just leave their dead lying around,” Rainbow Dash conceded. “Alright, I’m going in.”

As they descended in a lazy circle pattern, Kanathara scanned the site itself, her gaze drawn to the scattered remnants of what had at one point been a carriage. Though small and clearly designed not for passengers, but isntead important packages, its enchanted exterior had not survived impact with the ground. Shattered boards and hundreds of splinters littered the area in a fine layer of broken wood, making it difficult to find any more details about the transport.

By the looks of it, the carriage had nearly survived dropping out of the sky before slamming into a rocky outcropping and exploding on impact. From there several recently filled holes appeared around the location, the paw prints that emerged mixing with the heavy hoof falls that had come after them. Even at first glance it looked obvious to Kanathara as to what had happened.

The diamond dogs came and left before the paladins did the same sometime later. Each one in a hurry, though likely for different reasons.

Before Rainbow Dash’s hooves even touched the ground, Kanathara was reforming once more, her horn glowing brightly the moment was solid. Working her way through a few scanning spells, the keeper rapidly began to piece together what had happened. While this occurred Rainbow Dash ascended to the highest point in the area and began to look out over their surroundings.

“The diamond dogs brought along tiny bits of emerald on the bottom of their feet,” Kanathara remarked, her magic holding aloft a fine green dust. “Rare, but not completely uncommon for the area.”

“Well, no one seems to be watching the site,” Rainbow Dash called back. “Either they are in a rush and forgot to set a watch, or they needed all hooves on deck to deal with the dogs.”

“Likely the latter, I’m afraid. They were clearly in the area and given the heavy imprint near the crash site, they likely absconded with a safe of some kind,” Kanathara continued. “I say we follow the paladins’ tracks and seek out this base of dogs somewhere in the lowlands.”

“I bet ya the dogs have the Element and are already fighting the paladins,” Rainbow Dash announced, the vengant landing beside her mistress with a thump.

“Those goody goodies wouldn't resort to violence so easily. Even if they had to fight a bunch of illegally encroaching foreigners making off with Equestrian resources,” Kanathara stated confidently.

“Pfft, the paladins have to know that they are working against the clock and are thus more likely to take what they need by force,” Rainbow Dash declared, leaning down and sniffing the tracks in the dirt.

“True, but I have a feeling my brother is with them, and from what I remember of him, he has a bit of a pacifist streak,” Kanathara mused. “Got it?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Alright then, loser has to pay for dinner next time we go out.”

“Deal,” Kanathara declared.

“These tunnels are surprisingly wide,” Rainbow Dash murmured aloud, the demon running a wing across the rounded stone which surrounded them on all sides.

“It feels like they were lava tubes at one point, though obviously they’ve long since been hollowed out,” Kanathara murmured, glancing at the walls briefly. “Its slope is surprisingly gradual though.”

“A volcano would explain the strange surroundings, though it's odd that we didn't see a caldera or any other remnants of it from above. I wonder what happened here,” Rainbow Dash pondered.

“Though it explains the potential aquifer, which was likely formed from these tubes being worn away, allowing the water to pool deep underground,” Kanathara explained. “Regardless, let's stay focused on the task at hoof.”

“Right. Well, the scent is further ahead and growing stronger, though I haven't been able to sense them yet,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Let's stay as quiet as possible, there are a surprising amount of twists in this tunnel, and I don't want to be caught unaware, Kanathara commanded.

Right. I’ll take point.

Together the two demons crept slowly through the winding tunnels, following the natural ebb and flow with Rainbow Dash at the forefront. Kanathara stood behind the taller demon, occasionally casting a scanning spell and searching for any unseen traps. After a few minutes of finding nothing, Rainbow Dash stopped suddenly, raising a hoof.

They are really close. Wait here, Rainbow Dash stated before crouching low to the ground and creeping towards a bend in the path.

I’ll have an offensive spell on stand by, Kanathara replied, the demon already preparing her magic.

After several tense seconds, Rainbow Dash was able to glance around the corner, her glowing eyes narrowing immediately. Come take a look at this, oh, and don't worry. Noone is paying attention to this tunnel.

Kanathara stowed her questions and slipped quietly next to the taller demon, peering intently around the corner. She saw that after a good distance after the tunnel opened up into a large flat room after that had clearly been artificially altered to serve as a defensible position. A short wall of sharpened sticks with an opening in the middle was made more effective by the way the ground was sloped upwards towards the defenders.

Which was where a dozen diamond dogs wearing pieced-together armor stood wielding crude metal weapons ill-suited for their large frames. Each was well-muscled and, though physically imposing, stood casually around a much taller and more grizzled member of their species. This central figure wore plate mail that had clearly been assembled from several scavenged sets of the stuff.

The figure seemed vaguely female, but it was hard to tell, given that they wore a large helmet over their head, obscuring their features save for their piercing blue eyes. Though their stance was loose, they kept a tight grip on the large two-handed axe which rested on their shoulder. This diamond dog’s appearance was eye-catching, yet Kanathara quickly diverted her attention away from them and down to where a small cadre of paladins stood below.

Each one was armed and armored in the best equipment the royal treasure could buy, which hummed with enough enchantments to make the air thick with magic. Each one of the six helmeted ponies had no distinguishing traits other than their mix of weapons and their more obvious racial features. All save for the pony who stood at the center and stuck out like a sore thumb, his helmet having been strapped to his side at some point in the conversation. Though looking away from the pair of demons, Kanathara could clearly tell that the male was none other than her brother, Shining Armor.

Ooh, the boss man himself is out here. I guess you were right, Rainbow Dash remarked.

He is a dangerous opponent, one I hope to avoid at all costs, Kanathara replied.

Is that because he's tough, or because he's your brother? Rainbow Dash gently questioned.

Kanathara paused, briefly unsure of her response. Both. Now focus, let's see if we can't figure out what they are talking about.

“-and I’m telling you that if you want that shiny thing, then Equestria must relinquish its claim on this land and recognize my ownership thereof,” exclaimed the largest dog, who puffed out her chest. “Unless puny horse doesn't want the fancy piece of jewelry?”

“I don't have the authority to promise you this land, neither am I certain if such a deal would even be legal, considering you are already wanted fugitives,” Shining Armor retorted.

“Well then, if you aren't willing to make a deal, I guess we’ll just melt it down. I did need a new candle holder, after all,” remarked the dog, who leaned forward and grinned cruelly.

A paladin took a step forward, only to be stopped by Shining Armor. “Hold, soldier. This conversation isn't over yet.”

“Oh really? Because it sure sounds like you have nothing to offer,” retorted the dog.

“I may not be able to give you the land, but as an emissary of the crown, I could pardon you for all crimes and possibly negotiate a mining treaty,” Shining Armor continued. “It wouldn't be perfect, but after the Element is secured, I can return with the appropriate dignitary to begin the process of possibly even granting you citizenship.”

“That is a good start, pony, but this Element you desire will remain in my care until I have such promises in writing,” declared the dog, who leaned back. “That's if you can even grant such a thing.”

Shining Armor began to whisper to his companion, but Kanathara quickly tuned out the hushed conversation.

The side passage we saw further back. Do you think it too leads to the dog camp? Kanathara questioned.

Rainbow Dash popped her head back around the corner and glanced further back the way they came. I think so. It was clearly artificial, so it was made for a purpose. Plus there weren't any signs that they were mining in the area, so it's unlikely that it's a dead end.

Good, let's go back around and infiltrate their compound. Hopefully we can locate the Element before Shining Armor manages to strike a deal, Kanathara declared.

Good thinking. I assume we’ll go quiet until we find it? Rainbow Dash asked, only to grin excitedly. We should totally disguise ourselves as ponies and start a fight on the way out.

That would distract the paladins if things went sideways. I like it, Kanathara agreed. Lead the way.

Aye, boss.

Kanathara peered from around the corner and eyed a pair of diamond dog guards carefully. Though clearly relaxed and confident of their position, they kept their weapons in easy reach in addition to remaining quiet. Their gaze was also fixed on the tunnel before them, but even their powerful night vision was no match for a demon’s.

Thus the pair of demonic entities could look out from the darkness without being able to be seen. Turning her attention away from the dogs, Kanathara glanced at the entrance they stood on either side of. Which happened to be secured by a rather crude-looking wooden door with simple iron hinges fastened to a simple wall of wood.

I assume you’re going to take them out at range, Rainbow Dash offered.

There is no point in just slaughtering them when a sleep spell should do the trick without noise, Kanathara replied, her horn flashing briefly before the pair of dogs toppled over, snoring before they even hit the ground. Drag them around the corner. I’ll check out the next room.

Got it, Rainbow Dash declared as she trotted over to the guards and tossed them easily over her back.

While Rainbow Dash hauled away the slumbering dogs, Kanathara slipped over to the door and, after jiggling the handle, found it was locked. Lighting her horn, the demon simply maneuvered the tumblers into position using telekinesis. Pulling the wooden door outward a few inches, the keeper of secrets peered hesitantly through the crack.

What she saw lying just beyond made her eyes go wide and her curiosity leap to the forefront of her mind. For the cavern which opened before her was unlike anything she had ever seen or heard of before. Ringing the area was wooden scaffolding where several structures had been built and secured to the stone walls. Numerous dogs moved around the area, some transporting goods while others were constructing additional buildings.

Each one wary of falling into the seemingly endless abyss that lay below their little town.

Peering down, Kanathara noticed that the walls of the cavern were strangely smooth as well as almost perfectly circular and at the bottom was a large pool of dark liquid. The main cavern also had numerous tunnels like the one she was standing in which branched off of it in all directions. Though it explained where the volcano had gone, it also made Kanathara wonder how this had come to be in the first place.

Pushing that question and many others like it aside, Kanathara turned back to find that her familiar rejoined her, a curious expression on her face. Rather than answer the unspoken question, Kanathara merely stepped aside, inviting the vengant to look for herself. Which Rainbow Dash did a second later, a look of confusion briefly crossing her face before she took a step back.

“This is a weird place,” she muttered quite matter-of-factly.

“Agreed,” Kanthara declared. “But let's try not to think of that right now and instead focus on finding out where they are keeping the Element.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and joined Kanathara in looking out into the strange town, both demons searching for some building that seemed more important than the rest. The first thing they both noticed when observing the town was that most of the structures were built on the other side of the cavern. The next thing they realized was that Shining Armor was likely above them as the echoed remnants of their conversation could just barely be heard.

Though no words could be picked out, Kanathara mentally logged his location just in case it became relevant later. Looking out to the left, Kanathara noticed several different layers of walkways which connected dozens of the empty lava tubes. From there, mine carts could be seen either sitting empty or being hastily unloaded by nervous dogs who shot weary glances to where their leader was engaged in conversation.

The entire area was also bathed in a strange bluish glow that Kanathara hadn't noticed at first, the illumination accentuated by torches which lined the walls. No sunlight could be seen, however, making the demon wonder what was covering the top of the cavern. She would have time for that later, as right now she noticed another something concerning which was that all of the carts were moving towards a single much larger structure.

It must be in there, Rainbow Dash thought pointedly, her attention fixed on the singular stone building sitting within an expanded lava tube. Can you use your Harmony-sensing spell to find out?

I might be able to, but this far underground I’m likely to get some interference due to the tight confines we find ourselves in, Kanathara explained, already lighting her horn. I’ll try though.

The spell took little time to cast and after it was complete, Kanathara frowned. Odd. It's almost like there are two of them around here, but one is much weaker than the other.

What do you mean? Rainbow Dash pressed. There can’t be two Elements in the area, right? I mean, they only lost the one.

I’ve done some adjusting to the spell recently. It must just be an error on my part, Kanathara replied. Either way, I get the feeling like the source of one of them is in that building up ahead.

Ya wanna ghost in there? Rainbow Dash inquired. I bet those guards wouldn't even notice us, since they are so worried about the paladins.

Probably, but let’s go around the right side. I want to inspect those other passages first as something has been bothering me, Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash gave the squat three-story stone building one last look before following the keeper’s gaze to the many side tunnels that dotted the area. Though they were numerous, not all served as mine shafts, with a good number of them having been sealed off much like the one they were in now. Like this one, they each had a narrow wooden walkway extending out over the ledge, or had a path carved into the stone itself.

I don't notice anything off around here. What's caught your eye? Rainbow Dash inquired.

It might be nothing, but I can't help but think that they have gotten a surprising amount of work done for there being so few of them, Kanathara explained. There must be no more than a hundred, but they built all this and have begun to mine in under a month or so? That seems fast, even for diamond dogs.

True. You don't think they had help, do you? Rainbow Dash pressed.

We’ll find out soon enough, Kanathara answered.

Her familiar following closed the door, turned to smoke, and followed after the crawling mist which floated along the underside of the wooden walkway. What few dogs they came across didn't seem to notice their passage as their attention was either directed towards their leader or on their current job.

Which was mostly transporting any loose ore or gems back towards the stone structure which seemed to be a storehouse of some kind. The bottom two floors of which had no windows to speak of while the top only had two small openings barred with iron rods. The only entrance was a large steel door which hung open and was guarded by four heavily armored dogs who watched over the stream of workers entering and leaving.

Each one of whom came bearing either coins, gems, or other valuables and left with empty paws. The surrounding area was dotted by only a few patrols, with the majority of the armed dogs lying in wait for their leader to call on them. Kanathara floated in place as she looked back at the larger space where she knew Shining Armor was engaged in diplomacy.

Just outside of that cave opening on either side were two dozen armed dogs leaning against the stone, their weapons clutched tight in their grip. Though their stance was loose, the two groups seemed ready to leap into action at any moment. Putting that bit of information out of mind, Kanathara slipped through the pathwork planks and up towards the level at which the stone structure lay.

Knowing that her familiar would be close on her tail, Kanathara didn't bother tracking Rainbow Dash’s location. She instead focused on weaving around the many feet of passing dogs and slipping around what few obstacles barred her path. In minutes she had reached the other side of the cavern, and from here she could tell that the stone building was far wider than it appeared to be at first glance.

The top floor also had several more windows than she had noticed earlier, and Kanathara made her way towards the sole opening that did not have iron bars in it. Below her, dogs scurried this way and that, some slipping into their ramshackle homes while others stood watch. None seemed to notice the twin streaks of smoke which flitted past the line of torches, moving ever closer to where they kept their most prized possessions.

No alarms went up, no voices were raised, and Kanathara would have smiled, had she a face to do so. Without being capable of casting spells, their defences were minimal, and the keeper of secrets quickly made her way towards the window. Once through, she allowed her body to reform, her joints aching due to the extended time spent incorporeal.

Before she had a chance to gather her bearings, she heard a startled shout and turned to find a terrified dog scrambling out from behind a desk. Blasting him in the chest with an overcharged stun spell, Kanathara gave him a brief look before glancing around the room. Only to immediately realize why there had been an armed dog reading a book in what should have been a simple storage room.

“Well, that explains that,” Kanathara murmured as her familiar coalesced beside her, a scowl already on her face.

“This complicates things,” Rainbow Dash added as she looked down on the dozen ponies who had been packed into the jail cell which dominated three quarters of the room.

Their conditions were cramped and unpleasant to say the least as there didn't even seem to be a bathroom or bed. Only a foul-smelling bucket that sat near the bars as well as a jug that had likely contained water which was now empty. Grime-covered faces peered up at the demons, some with defiance, others with hope, most with barely contained fear.

“Are you h-here to kill us?” asked a timid stallion.

“We aren't here for you at all,” Kanathara replied, tapping her chin. “Though you may make for a useful distraction.”

“No,” Rainbow Dash growled. “We are not using these ponies for anything.”

Kanathara eyed her familiar curiously. “Are you doubting their effectiveness?”

“You know how I feel about slaves,” Rainbow Dash retorted, her breastplate expanding to cover her body.

The keeper let out a long sigh. “Alright, fine. I can send them to the surface, but teleportation on that scale takes effort, and I won't have enough magic to send more than nine of them without hampering our potential combat abilities.”

“Please send my daughter!” shouted one of the ponies.

“No, take my uncle, he's hurt and needs help,” added another.

“I’m pregnant, take me instead!” yelled a mare.

“Be quiet,” Kantahara hissed. “If they hear you, I won't be able to take any of you anywhere other than the grave, do you understand me?”

Most ponies immediately shied away, all save for a pegasus stallion with a bright orange mane and a slightly familiar unicorn mare who had white fur.

“I volunteer to stay behind,” he declared. “I’ve got a feeling the captain is going to want a report on all this and given the commotion, he's probably already here.”

Kanathara’s gaze was drawn to the injured wing that hung loosely on his left side, as well as the bruises which covered a good majority of his body. “You must have been the other escort for that chariot. What happened there?” Kanathara questioned.

“Now is not the time for twenty questions, darling, we must get out of here,” implored the unicorn.

“Just answer the question, and we’ll send the rest of you topside,” Rainbow Dash pressed.

The royal guard looked from one demon to the other before releasing a sigh. “I suppose if you're gonna save these civies, I owe ya that much. I didn't exactly see what happened, however. All I saw was my partner get a bolt to the gut while transporting something super important. I only managed to survive because I got out of the chariot harness in time.”

“You were lucky to have made it out with so few injuries,” Kanathara remarked. “Now then, do we have any other volunteers?”

“I will stay behind and assist you in tussling with these no good ruffians,” proclaimed the unicorn.

“Rarity, right? That's very noble of you, now stand off to the side so I can send these ponies away,” Kanathara replied.

“How do you know my name? I think I would have remembered meeting such… unique individuals,” Rarity inquired while doing as she was asked.

Kanathara snickered as she began to construct a spell circle beneath the ponies’ hooves, the glowing purple glyphs causing the group to shift nervously. “You would, if we had looked like this when you met us.”

Rainbow Dash turned towards the staircase leading down. “I’ll watch the entrance.” Oh and thanks, Kanathara. I couldn't just leave them down here.

I know, Rainbow, Kanathara replied.

“Look like that?” Rarity murmured. “Wait just a moment. You were in my shop not long ago!”

“Uh, are you sure this is a teleportation thingy? ‘Cause I don't wanna get turned into some sort of philosophizing stone,” asked one of the ponies who nervously stared down at the glowing runes etching themselves into the ground.

The royal guard took one look at the ground and nodded. “It sure is. Mighty fine spellwork too. Y'all should be topside in no time.”

“I’m surprised you recognized us. Though I suppose those disguises weren't anything exceptional,” Kanathara remarked offhandedly. “Almost done now.”

“It wasn't the disguises that got me, it was how you and your special friend act around one another,” Rarity pointed out. “I have an eye for these kinds of things, you know.”

The keeper of secrets blushed briefly.

“Alright, hold still and try not to touch one another. I don't want to accidentally cronenberg you guys,” Kanathara announced.

“What's a cronenberg?” inquired the lone child of the group.

“Don't worry about it, kiddo. Just do what the nice demon lady is telling you to do,” exclaimed the guard.

“On three,” Kanathara began, her horn glowing brightly as the circle finished knitting itself together. “As for you two, prepare to fend off some dogs. This is going to get bright.”

The two ponies nodded.

“Three, two, one,” Kanathara counted down, her curved horn flashing briefly before the majority of the ponies vanished, leaving behind only a scorched section of floor.

The sound of yelling and clamouring feet could immediately be heard from outside the structure. Though winded, Kanathara blasted the lock on the door before leaning heavily against the desk.

She grunted bitterly. “Alright, here comes the hard part.”

Author's Note

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Trial Eight: A Rare Rescue

“Downstairs, everyone, and hurry!” Rainbow Dash shouted, leading the charge out of the room.

Kanathara pushed herself up. “Right. We better bar the door before we search for the reason we are here in the first place.”

“Which is?” asked the guard expectantly.

The keeper narrowed her eyes. “I think you know why we are here.”

The pony sighed. “You know what? I don't need to know. I don't get paid enough to deal with this.”

“Smart pony, now let's get moving!” Kanathara barked.

Together the trio followed after Rainbow Dash, trotting down the stairs and into the bottom floor. Kanathara lingered on the first landing, her gaze flitting over the many racks of weapons and armor which littered the area. Using the now familiar locator spell, Kanathara found that the Element wasn't on this floor and reluctantly continued on.

“Why exactly are you here, if you don't mind me asking?” Rarity inquired as Kanathara entered the final room.

“We are here to find a rather unique piece of jewelry,” Kanthara began before fully stepping out into the wide open storage area. “A task that suddenly got a lot harder.”

The demon had assumed the diamond dogs had been rather successful in their gem hunt given the area. On the other hand, she would never have guessed they would have amassed this much wealth in such a short amount of time. Gem piles nearly reached the top of the nine foot-tall ceiling in some places, and numerous pieces of gold could be seen mixed along with the precious stones.

Rings, necklaces, gold teeth, pocket watches, and seemingly anything that would hold more than a modicum of value were piled along with the rest. Even at a glance Twilight could tell there was little rhyme or reason to the enormous mounds of valuables. A realization that made Kanathara’s eye twitch and a spark of lightning to shoot from the tip of her horn.

“Boss! We got incoming! What are we doing?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

The yell broke Kanathara from her rage-induced stupor, and she looked over to where Rainbow Dash was bracing herself against the entrance. A sudden impact against the door nearly knocked the demonic mare off her hooves, though she quickly got back into position. Kanathara quickly concocted a plan, jabbing a hoof towards the lone guard.

“You, find something to bar the exit with,” Kanathara barked. “There are weapons on the second floor, see if you can arm yourself while you’re there.”

The pony seemed ready to argue with the command before shrugging. “Sounds good,” he replied.

“Rarity, you will assist me in finding the Element,” Kanthara declared, turning to the dirty white unicorn. “It's a gold necklace with a diamond-shaped purple gem set in the middle. From what I’ve been able to gather, it's on the right side of the room though I can't make out any more details.”

“I’ll take this rather luxurious-looking pile!” Rarity exclaimed, jumping right into action and beginning to sort through one of the mountains of glittering valuables.

“Rainbow Dash, keep doing what you’re doing, but try to come up with a battle plan on getting out of here. My attention is required elsewhere,” Kanthara finished.

“Easier said than done,” Rainbow Dash grunted as something heavy slammed against the door. “But not impossible!”

“Good. These dogs are strong and naturally resistant to evocation magic, but are poorly armed,” Kanathara exclaimed.

The keeper didn't need to wait for a response to know that her familiar was already on the job. Instead Kanathara merely turned and began to sift through the enormous pile of riches. Gold, gems, and other vluables flicked past her, a conga line of glittering items which were ultimately tossed onto the other side of the room. Kanathara briefly considered simply dumping all of the unwanted items into her dimensional pocket, but thought better of it.

She had little need for material possessions, and the drain on her magic wouldn't really be worth it, especially considering how many enemies might be right outside.

She continued to watch as the innumerable glittering items were tossed aside like trash, the pile quickly beginning to shrink. During this time the guard returned with his sole functional wing outfitted with a blade while a loose-fitting set of royal guard armor hung over his frame. A short sword was belted at his side, and a missing board that was supposed to fit into place behind the door in order to help secure it was under one of his legs.

With it in place, they at least stood a chance against the increasingly powerful assault on the entrance. The frenzied shouting and stomping of booted feet only added to Kanthara’s unease, and she accelerated the rate of her inspection. Items flew past her in a constant stream.

Including a gauntlet studded with six stones, a globe with a thousand facets which shone like silver in the low light, and oddly enough a blood-stained smiley face button. As she dug, Kanathara contemplated her next moves, and though she was certain she could handle anything the dogs threw at her, she was less certain she could keep Rarity safe at the same time. That last part wasn't essential to her mission, but it seemed rather needlessly cruel to simply abandon the unicorn.

Plus if Kanathara was being honest, she kinda liked the white-furred mare. Anyone who volunteered to kick someone’s ass that readily was a friend worth having.

“Aha, I’ve got it!” Rarity exclaimed.

Kanathara tossed aside the rest of the stuff she held in her magic and looked over to where the fashionista was holding the Element of Generosity. For a moment the demon expected another surge of light, but when nothing happened, she glanced over to her familiar. Who gave her a shrug, conveying her shared confusion on the matter.

The demon immediately called out for her magic, willing the dimensional pocket to open and allow her to deposit her find safely away. That never happened, however, as her spell flickered and died a second later, leaving her with a strange feeling on the tip of her horn.

“They’ve likely detected our teleportation spell, as there is an interdictor field over the entire area,” Kanthara exclaimed, trotting up to the unicorn. “As such, you will hold onto the artifact while we leave. Don't worry, I’ll apply a few defensive spells to you so you won't be in as much danger.”

“Why, thank you, darling,” Rarity replied, only to frown. “That makes me feel a lot better, considering I just now realized how out of my depth I truly am.”

“Where did that kick ass attitude go?” Rainbow Dash teased.

“Out the window as soon as I realized they want to kill us,” Rarity murmured.

A titanic thump made everyone turn to the door, where the board barring it had splintered along the middle. The guard lay on the floor, and Kanathara quickly picked him up with her magic before depositing him next to Rarity. Who she focused on briefly, casting a few minor protection charms on the mare, including a tracking spell.

“There. You two stick together and stay behind us. Rainbow Dash will lead the charge while I support,” Kanathara declared.

“We’ll head back out and around the left side of the cavern,” Rainbow Dash declared, pointing back the way they came. “I’ll lead the way back into a lower tunnel where we can split up.”

“I’m assuming that's about where the captain was last seen?” asked the guard.

“It was,” Kanathara replied, her tone firm and confident.

The fashionista nodded. “Right, you can count on me.”

The guard grumbled, but ultimately nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Excellent, now stand back. Rainbow Dash likes to make an entrance, and the plan she came up with is especially showy,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Ha, you enjoy it as well. Don't deny it,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

The keeper of secrets smirked. “You got me there.”

The commander stood impassive a dozen metres away from their storage structure, a frown present on her broad features. A warhammer hung loose in her grip, her towershield sitting on the ground next to her within easy reach. Before her, the soldiers under her command struggled to get into position, nearly tripping over one another in the process. She made a note to cuss out the boss for taking all but one of her trained guards when she left to confront the pony.

At least the brutish, flat-faced pug-like diamond dog at the front was doing his job properly, his battering ram repeatedly slamming against the door. On either side of him stood three other armed dogs while a dozen more were a few feet back, half of which wielded crossbows. It was a solid defensive line made stronger by the presence of a pair of shamans nearby, but it was a far cry from what she would have liked.

They simply had too many civilians here, and their nervous curiosity was beginning to grow tiresome. If she saw even a single one of the older members of their town peeking from around a corner, she would blow a-- She noticed the door begin to glow a soft purple which grew brighter by the second.

“Get away from there! Shields up!” she shouted.

The ram-wielding dog barely had the time to scramble out of the way before the entrance exploded outward in a shower of wood. Splinters rained against their raised shields, all save for a rather young male dog who had chosen not to listen. He went down in a heap, a six inch-long hunk of wood sticking out of his crotch.

Making a note to drill her soldiers more after this was done, the commander hefted her warhammer and waited for the strange black smoke to clear. She could feel her fellow dogs begin to grow nervous almost immediately, the relative quiet on this side of the village frying their already frayed nerves. Rather than dissipate, the smoke only grew more voluminous, and it took a moment for the commander to realize what was happening.

“Shamans, summon a breeze and clear that debris!” she shouted, turning towards the two elders standing behind her.

The pair immediately got to work, with one pulling out a totem while the other began to pray. They weren't quite fast enough, however, as a great clawed black hand emerged from the entrance and slashed across a dog’s chest. The soldier’s armor seemed to do little as he toppled over, landing in a pile with his arms held across his torso.

Moaning in pain, the dog writhed on the ground, his weapon forgotten as was his unit discipline. The small squad immediately broke after their ally was downed, throwing aside their weapons as they fled in the opposite direction. The commander wanted to tell them to get back into the fight, but figured that she would be better off without the cowards.

“Keep your shields together! I want all crossbows to fire the second they see anything!” she barked, spinning around to the shamans. “Where are we on that wind?”

“Seconds away, Lieutenant Broken Fang!” replied the younger of the two, who had planted the white bone totem into the stone floor.

The taller dog was about to order her soldiers to reform around her, only for the enormous clawed hand to emerge once more. This time it slashed across the midsection of the ram-wielding dog, leaving him screaming in agony on the ground. Blood poured from his gaping wounds, his eyes going wide in panic.

“Fire, godsdammit!” she screamed, pointing to the open door.

Six crossbows twanged, their bolts flying through the open doorway to seemingly no effect. No beast roared in rage, no enemy came toppling out of the darkness, only the dull thud of metal bolt tips hitting stone. Thankfully her shamans had finally managed to summon the correct spirit, and a great howl suddenly filled the area.

The cry of an angry dog roared from the tunnel on her right, passing her by and carrying away the dust and debris which had filled the air. An enormous skull-headed demon had just finished squeezing himself through the narrow opening. The monster stood easily three stories tall, his impressive stature made even more intimidating when his large membranous wings shot open.

Arcane sigils painted in blood covered his chest, and a rack of skulls hung from around his waist like a set of twisted trophies. His copper skin was marked with many scars as well as words in a strange tongue which hurt to even gaze upon. His blazing red eyes stared out from within the skull atop his head, a wave of despair immediately rippling out over the diamond dogs’ ranks.

The other smaller squad immediately broke and ran, with the remaining defenders forgetting their orders to attack. They simply stared up at the great monster in a mixture of fear and awe, weapons hanging loose at their sides, giving more than enough time for the great demon to breathe a gout of twisted black flames down on them.

Flesh melted, and dogs screamed in panic as their fur caught alight. Nearly everyone ran, save for the commander herself who had been knocked down by a screaming crossbow-wielding dog a second earlier. Saved from the scorching flames, Broken Fang couldn't help but wonder.

Hadn't the hand been black a second earlier?

So preoccupied were the terrified dogs that they didn't even notice a smaller set of four legged demons as well as a pair of ponies sprint through the demons legs. The dog’s eyes were either glued to the towering skull headed monster, or on the closest escape route, leaving the four equines to flee the area unimpeded. Not even the frantically muttering shamans noticed their departure.

Kanathara snickered to herself as she looked back over her shoulder, laughing at the terrified dogs who lay screaming on the ground. Though none sported any real wounds, the dogs continued to run in terror, utterly panicked by what they had thought had happened. The keeper made a note to thank Orcus the next time they spoke, as his visage was a truly terrifying one.

Good thinking on that illusion. I knew a particularly scary demon would likely cause them to run, but I wasn't sure which one, Rainbow Dash remarked, the now fully armored vengeant walking ahead of Kanathara. Though I think Rarity might throw up.

Kanathara smirked when her gaze landed on the rather green unicorn who was trotting alongside the keeper. I’m amazed she was able to resist the illusion’s effects. She's tougher than she looks.

“Outta the way!” Rainbow Dash bellowed suddenly, startling a terrified dog and causing him to leap back into his house.

For a second Kanathara’s gaze met Rarity’s. The keeper got the distinct feeling that the unicorn appreciated not simply slaying all the dogs in their path. Kanathara gave her a nod in return, and just like that they were back to running down the narrow path. As they hit the edge of the cavern, the group was forced to run in single file over the rickety bridge.

Rainbow Dash was in front, the demon making short work of any resistance the scattered guards could put up. A gout of flame caused one to leap from the bridge into the distant waters below, leaving behind the scent of burnt fur. A second guard was a little quicker on the draw and raised his shield to defend against the burst of flames that shot from the vengant’s helmet.

He did not, however, have time to react before Rainbow Dash ran across the wall before crashing into him, carrying them both over the edge. Kanathara didn't bat an eye at this, and just as she assumed, the vengant appeared after a few seconds, wings flapping hard. She landed back at the front of the group, the demon’s mere presence caused a younger guard to abandon his dagger and cower in fear.

Though her first instinct was to toss the young dog over the side, the keeper stopped herself at the last second. Instead she merely glared at the cowering male, watching him closely as their troupe passed him by. After he was well out of the way, Kanathara put him out of her mind and continued toward their goal.

“Down here!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pointing to a small ramp which went down to the lower set of bridges.

The guard accompanying them nodded and followed after her a second later, with Rarity letting out a startled yelp when she slid down the slightly wet timbers. Kanathara quickly caught the unicorn in her magic, setting her hooves back down on solid ground a second later. They didn't have time to exchange so much as a nod this time, as the scattered guards were beginning to organize themselves.

The spell had evidently run its course, as the familiar sound of the commander they had faced earlier had returned in the distance. Even still, there were only a handful of guards between them and their target. Each one of which seemed to have realized how thoroughly the odds were stacked against them.

One shucked off his armor and leapt into the water below while his ally scrambled up the supports, clambering his way onto the upper layer. The rest merely ran, disappearing into holes or vanishing into the odd tunnel, quickly swallowed up by the ever-present darkness. Those who ran were not seen again thankfully, allowing the demons and their allies to pass unimpeded back the way they came.

While they ran, the sounds of fighting grew closer, and the occasional lightning bolt could be seen from the upper tunnel. Spells flew, metal clashed against metal, and battle cries were screamed, though it wasn't exactly clear who had the edge. Still, Kanathara had little doubt that the paladins would win out in the end. They were facing a much less organized foe.

Once they had reached the entrance they had passed through only a few minutes earlier, the group paused.

“I suppose you’ll be joining your allies now?” Kanathara inquired.

“I will,” replied the pegasus stallion.

“You know, I should just fry you in order to ensure you can't oppose us,” Kanthara pointed out.

“You can't!” Rarity cried.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “She wouldn't have said that if she was going to do it.”

The guard chuckled and shook his flanks at her. “What, and ruin this amazing piece of meat? You’d be crazy.”

The keeper snorted. “It wouldn't be that big a loss.”

“Speak for yourself,” remarked Rarity.

Kanathara smirked. “Good luck, by the way.”

“Thanks, and don't worry, I promise I won't breathe a word of you till you're long gone,” replied the guard before slipping away.

The keeper let out a long sigh. “These ponies are making me soft.”

“You were always soft,” Rainbow Dash interjected, bumping her hip against her mistress’ side.

“I should have you whipped for such a statement,” Kanathara replied, smirking all the while.

“Maybe later,” Rainbow Dash shot back, smacking the other demon with her flaming tail.

“I don't know if I’m more envious or scared,” Rarity muttered.

“That sounds about right,” Rainbow Dash stated, chuckling.

“Now, let's try our best to escape the interdictor field,” Kanathara began. “As soon as we are out of its range, I’ll take back the Element and send you to the nearest town.”

Rarity bowed slightly. “That is most generous of you.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow when the piece of jewelry levitating above Rarity didn't begin to glow. I guess she isn't the Bearer.

She might be, Kanathara thought back. That is a topic for another time, however.

“Right, Rainbow Dash, lead the way,” Kanathara stated.

The vengant’s helmet slammed shut. “Right away.”

“Would you two mind slowing down just a tad? I’m afraid they worked us for quite a while before you showed up,” Rarity pleaded.

“Fine, but do your best. I do not wish to stick around any longer than necessary,” Kanathara retorted.

“Very well, darling,” Rarity replied.

And then they were off once more, with Rainbow Dash taking the lead and Rarity trotting in the middle. Kanathara took up the rear, her gaze increasingly drawn to the mare before her, despite her attempts to look away. The keeper couldn't help but wonder if she was infatuated with the pony, or if she was being genuinely nice, and which was worse.

Putting those thoughts out of her mind, Kanathara ascended a sloping incline, noting that they had very nearly returned to the fork they had seen earlier. The stomping of steel-shod hooves vanquished the brief thought of victory which flashed through the demon’s mind.

“Spread out, find the diamond dog leader!” barked a gruff stallion. “She must be brought to justice.”

“I saw a tunnel further back which should lead back to the surface,” Rainbow Dash whispered after coming to a stop.

“I don't suppose you wouldn't mind just giving up by chance, would you?” Rarity gently inquired.

Kanathara shook her head. “I’m afraid not, and I need my magic free, so you're going to have to stick with us for a bit longer.”

The unicorn sighed. “Blast it all.”

“It shouldn't be much longer,” Rainbow Dash claimed.

“Fine. Lead the way,” remarked Rarity in a slightly defeated tone.

The trio turned and trotted back the way they came, diverting down a much narrower tunnel which sloped gently to the left before going downwards. Though it had initially looked like it had been carved by the diamond dogs, it quickly smoothed out. Now resembling a natural lava tube and not something purposefully constructed by civilized hands, Kanathara was beginning to grow irritated.

She tried to access her dimensional space again, only to find that her spell was disrupted once more.

“Damn it all to Tartarus,” muttered the keeper of secrets. “If this goes any deeper, I don't know if I’ll even be able to teleport us back to the surface.”

“Should we go back?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Wait,” Rarity interjected, holding up a hoof and closing her eyes.

Kanathara and her familiar shared a curious look as their companion remained motionless for several seconds.

“What are you-”

“Aha! I’ve got it,” proclaimed Rarity. “There is a bit of air movement. I think this tunnel is connected to the surface somehow.”

“How do you know that?” questioned Rainbow Dash.

“I’ve been mining my own gems since I was a foal,” Rarity replied, giving her dirty hair a graceful flick. “It's only natural to pick up a few tricks during that time.”

Rainbow Dash lifted an eyebrow and glanced at her mistress for confirmation.

Kanathara frowned. “Let’s keep going. This tunnel has to lead somewhere.”

Author's Note

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Trial Nine: Home Again

Kanathara stumbled and nearly fell, the branch of a young elm catching her before she could hit the ground. Breathing heavily, she fought to keep herself focused and to avoid collapsing into an undignified heap.

You alright, boss? Rainbow Dash gently asked.

“I’m…” Kanathara took a deep breath and straightened her back. “I’m fine. This little adventure has taken a lot of me, however.”

I can tell. There still isn't enough leftover power to reform my body, Rainbow Dash remarked in an exasperated tone. Not that I’m complaining, but you know me. I don't like to sit still.

“I know, Rainbow Dash, and it won't be long,” Kanathara replied, looking up towards where the cottage sat atop a hill. “Just gotta grab a soul and get your body back.”

And then we can both take a well-deserved break, Rainbow Dash finished.

Kanathara wanted to argue, wanted to remind the vengant of their contract as well as what would happen if they were to fail. Then her leg quivered, informing her that her muscles were so tired that even standing up was a difficult task. With such a poignant reminder of her own weakness fresh in her mind, it was hard to argue with her familiar.

Kanathara turned and quickly inspected her surroundings, curiously noting the changes which the cottage had undergone. A small wooden wall surrounded the entire perimeter of the property, and the hellish garden had grown to three times its original size. A few watchtowers were also going up, but at the moment were only a quarter or so done.

Even the air seemed different, and Kanathara could tell that was due to the invisibility spell having been altered. She didn't need to light her horn to know that it had likely been expanded, and overlaid with a notice-me-not spell, as that was exactly what she would have done. Knowing Tirek, that was also what he had done the second he had time away from whatever secret project he had been working on.

The shed Kanathara had noticed earlier had been replaced by a barn, and the small scattering of imps had at least doubled in number. Even now one of them was pointing down at her and shouting back towards his comrades, a move which initially made Kanathara nervous. When the short, hooved demon didn't raise his crossbow, Kanathara realized that her fears had been misplaced.

At least the cottage seems to be unchanged, Rainbow Dash remarked. And the imps seem a little more well-trained.

Kanathara nodded in agreement, watching as a squad of imps clad in splint mail trotted up to her. The small wooden home behind them did indeed seem the same, though Twilight got the impression that its interior had been altered. After all, unless Pear Butter’s new imp army all stayed in the barn, they would need a place to rest their heads.

And Pear Butter didn't seem the type to force them to sleep outside or on the ground if she could help it.

“Lady Kanathara. Do you require assistance?” asked a small, winged imp that trotted up to her.

The keeper of secrets briefly looked over the diminutive creature before shaking her head. “Just catching my breath,” she declared in a soft tone.

The imp glanced back at his fellows before turning to Kanathara. “Are you sure? We could bring you some water or something if you need.”

“It's fine, really. I appreciate it though,” Kanathara replied.

They sure are polite, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara nodded and pushed herself off the tree. “I assume you notified Pear Butter of my arrival?”

“Of course. The boss should be out momentarily,” answered the imp.

“Good. Return to your duties. I’ll be inside in a moment,” Kanathara commanded.

The imp bowed his head. “As you command, Lady Kanathara.”

You think he used to be a pony? Rainbow Dash asked, directing their attention to the imp in question.

I doubt it. Though anything is possible with the Everfree, Kanathara replied, idly noting that the head imp did indeed seem to bear more pony-like features compared to the others, such as a pair of eyes larger than any of his kin. Either way, that's not a concern of ours.

Kanathara trotted slowly up to the house, her mind awhirl with thoughts of relaxation, right up until the door burst open. Frightened Pear Butter appeared in the entrance. Kanathara tried to decide between playing dead, running away and using what little magic she had to teleport inside.

Can you maybe step past her? Rainbow Dash asked.

I’m struggling just to walk the rest of the way, Kanathara replied.

As the charging wrath demon closed the distance, Kanathara could see tears budding at the edge of Pear Butter’s eyes and a worried look crossing her face. Then Kanathara was swept up in the great golden mare’s hooves and gently pressed against her chest.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re okay,” Pear Butter muttered. “When Tirek scried the diamond dog den and found out what happened, I couldn't help but fear the worst.”

Kanathara let out a sigh of relief when she realized the other demon wasn't about to crush her and gave Pear Butter a sympathetic pat on the back. “I’m fine. Just really, really tired,” she whispered.

“And Rainbow Dash?” Pear Butter asked, holding the keeper at arm’s length like she were nothing more than a doll.

Kanathara tapped her chest. “Here. Safe, but she took a beating, as did I.”

“Wait until your mother hears about this. Oh, she is going to be so relieved,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “She was worried?”

“Of course she was.” Pear Butter chuckled. “Even if she pretended otherwise, the mare was a nervous wreck after you didn't check in.”

Kanathara sighed. “I would have been here sooner but with my own magic and Rainbow Dash out of commission, I had to walk.”

Pear Butter hummed thoughtfully. “I want to say that you should have found a soul and revived her using its energy, but that was probably the best call. Wouldn't want to accidentally draw attention to yourselves, given the state you’re in.”

“So, can you let me down now?” Kanathara asked, kicking her dangling legs in emphasis.

Pear Butter blushed and immediately did just that. “Sorry, dear.”

“No problem,” Kanathara exclaimed, straightening her spine once more. “Now, we have a lot to discuss, and I don't want to repeat myself, so why don't we go inside?”

“Excellent thinking. Tirek was just getting your mother on the globe before I left,” Pear Butter stated as she joined the other demon as she walked towards the cottage.

“...and that pretty much brings us up to now,” Kanathara stated, folding her forehooves on the table.

The expressions on the other three individuals’ faces varied, though the one underlying commonality was a look of relief. Pear Butter, who sat to Kanathara’s right, was smiling, but the keeper of secrets could tell the wrath demon’s thoughts were a million miles away. As were Tirek’s, the old centaur stroking his grey bear in a slow, deliberate manner.

Velvet was perhaps the most expressive, with a strange zeal evident on her partly shrouded features. Even through the crystal ball which sat between Pear Butter and Tirek, Kanathara could still tell that the pony appeared oddly energized.

“This is excellent news!” exclaimed the unicorn. “With only two left, your contractual obligations are almost complete.”

“I suppose that part is good, but I still don't like to imagine what the Nightmare has planned,” Kanathara stated.

“I think that's something we can all agree on,” remarked Tirek in a slightly tired tone. “Whatever she has in mind for this world, it isn't going to be pleasant for its inhabitants.”

“We know darn well what she has in store for us,” Pear Butter stated, thumping her hoof against the table. “And it's the destruction of this whole plane of existence.”

Should we even bother thinking about her right now? Wondered Rainbow Dash. We should be focusing on healing up and gathering our bearings.

It couldn't hurt to consider, and don't worry, we’ll be relaxing soon enough, Kanathara placated.

“Speaking of which,” Tirek began, “you haven't discussed the contract in great detail. Do you happen to recall its contents? Perhaps we could discover a loophole.”

“I appreciate the thought, but that thing was ironclad. Not only that, but I’m so tired I don't even think I can recall a single thing about it,” Kanathara replied.

Pear Butter lightly punched Tirek in the shoulder. “Ease up on the girl. She just got back.”

The centaur nodded slowly. “I merely wished to get working on that while you recuperated, but it can wait.”

“As much as it pains me to say this, you look like garbage,” Velvet deadpanned.

Kanathara sighed. “Thank you, mother. I had totally forgotten about the several sleepless days spent maneuvering through the Everfree with barely any magic.”

Tirek rose suddenly. “Perhaps a short tour of your new accommodations is in order then. After you have had a chance to rest, we will discuss our plans in greater detail.”

“That is an… excellent idea, Tirek. I’ll be there soon to discuss things in pony, so to speak,” Velvet announced. “Enjoy your break, my dear.”

Kanthara nodded. “I will.”

Ask about the soul, urged Rainbow Dash as the crystal ball became clear once more.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. She stood up and moved to follow the centaur. “Rainbow Dash wants me to ask about the soul.”

“Oh, don't worry about that. We got a couple of goodies saved up for you,” Pear Butter exclaimed, patting the keeper on the back.

“Fresh ones, then?” Kanathara inquired, her mouth already salivating at the thought of a living sinner she could punish.

“Very,” Tirek stated simply.

Together the trio made their way into the basement and was treated to a surprising sight. Namely the fact that they stood in what looked like a regular old cellar complete with dust-covered jars sitting on equally dusty simple wooden shelves. For a moment Kanathara was about to ask what had happened, but knowing Tirek’s penchant for building secret rooms, she simply waited.

Sure enough, he touched, turned, and pulled a seemingly random number of jars before finishing by pushing one of the exposed bricks on the sole wall not adorned with shelves. Kanathara expected that same wall to swing open and reveal a secret tunnel or series of rooms, but that wasn't what happened. Rather it was the one to her right, which was absolutely covered in glass containers, that swung outwards.

It revealed a sloping tunnel that went downwards into the earth, the sides of which were completely smooth. Running a hoof across the closest one, Kanathara silently marveled at how quick they had accomplished all of this. It hadn't been long at all, and though she knew Tirek’s magical ability was significant, she had assumed such a task would take weeks at the minimum.

“How deep does it go?” Kanathara asked, staring downwards into the sixty feet of gloom which her eyesight could pierce.

“Until we are about two hundred feet beneath the earth,” Tirek explained. “It's a decent walk, but that's by design.”

“‘Cause of all the spells and junk Tirek put on the entrance,” Pear Butter explained.

“Though an inelegant way of putting it, you aren't wrong,” agreed the centaur with a small smile.

Kanathara lit her horn and only briefly scanned the dense web of magic which hung over her. Sure enough, she detected multiple identification spells, warding against all manner of scrying, and more than a few traps. She wanted to delve further, but the beginnings of a headache sapped her enthusiasm.

“Lead on,” Kanathara remarked, gesturing to the tunnel.

“Right, follow me,” Tirek stated.

The trio walked deeper and deeper with the only change being the sound their echoing hoofsteps made.

“Say, what about Velvet’s teleportation circle?” Kanathara asked.

“It took a lot of effort, but we moved it into the cellar where it's invisible until activated,” Tirek explained.

“Ahh,” Kanathara murmured.

I wish you could just slide down this thing. I want to eat already, Rainbow Dash grumbled.

“We’ll be there in a moment,” Kanathara whispered to herself.

Sure enough, it didn't take much longer before the trio reached the bottom, exited the tunnel, and walked into a wide open room. One which was filled with greenery and lit by a great collection of white crystals that grew from the highest point of the tall ceiling. It felt almost like a natural cave, though with the addition of mature trees, several bushes, and a carpet of lush grass.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash thought, and Kanathara said.

“I know right?” Pear Butter eagerly exclaimed. “This was all just down here the whole time! Apparently Velvet wanted to excavate it, but never got the chance.”

“It used to be a temple of some kind,” Tirek began, waving a hand towards the other side of the vast cavern. “To what we don't know, but now it is our home.”

“Fascinating,” Kanathara murmured.

After tearing her gaze from the wide open space, she noticed the distinctly church-like entrance on the other side. A short series of stairs rose up to an alabaster outcropping supported by four large stone pillars and a set of large double doors. Just about everything looked like it had been carved from marble, though the finer details had been worn down by the passage of time.

The keeper walked over and pushed open the two doors, noting that despite their hinges appearing to be quite rusted, they moved soundlessly. Once inside, she found herself in a long hall of expertly cut white stone lined with more pillars. If the space had stained glass windows rather than colorless walls, it would have definitely looked the part of a cathedral.

Further down, Kanathara could see four rooms leading off the hall, as well as another set of doors which sat at the end.

“What's down there?” she asked.

“These four rooms used to serve some religious purpose, but they are bedrooms now,” Tirek explained, waving a hand to the end. “Down there is a chapel of some kind, and behind that is the barracks for our budding imp army.”

“It's really convenient, lemme tell ya,” Pear Butter began. “Room enough for fifty of the little buggers with space left over for a cafeteria and a recreation area.”

Neat. Now where's the food? Rainbow Dash whined.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “Where can we find our room, and will the soul already be there?”

“First door on the left,” Tirek explained. “Your meals should be waiting for you there.”

Kanthara lifted an eyebrow curiously, but noted that the fear demon had a certain look about him. One that told Kanathara that she wasn't about to get any answers unless she walked right in there and found out for herself. Which was exactly what she did, not even pausing to marvel at the solid stone door or the shining bronze handle.

Stepping inside, Kanathara found herself standing within a modestly-sized bedroom of high quality. A curtained off area to the right contained a washbasin and a toilet, while a four-poster bed dominated the central area. There were other small amenities like a bookshelf and a few pieces of furniture, including a rather luxurious couch, but none of that mattered.

For there, sitting in the middle of the room, was a cage just large enough to fit two rather downtrodden unicorns. Both of whom were male and looked nearly identical, save for the fact that one of them had a moustache while the other didn't. Their light yellow fur was slightly unkempt, as were their wavy white and red manes.

Despite looking slightly untidy, they didn't smell, and their emerald eyes contained a certain gleam that told Kanathara that they hadn't been treated too poorly. The last thing she noted before turning to Tirek was the fact that they both had apple-themed cutie marks, one of which was a single slice while the other appeared to be the apple from which that slice had been removed.

“What in Tartarus is this?” demanded Kanathara.

“Oh, someone new!” began one of the stallions.

“Perhaps you can speak to these two and get us out of here,” added the other.

“We would be most appreciative!” stated the first.

“In fact I see several vouchers for free admission to our resort in your future!” declared the second.

“Quiet!” barked Pear Butter.

The two ponies immediately closed their mouths and scooted back in their cage.

These two don't smell right, Rainbow Dash remarked. Someone seeks vengeance on them. More than a few at that.

“These two are vile criminals we picked up recently. We thought they would make for a good present. Something to satiate that hunger of yours,” Tirek continued.

“I thought you said you didn't eat ponies!” shrieked one of them

“I said be quiet!” Pear Butter yelled.

The two ponies gulped and held one another tightly.

“As I was about to say,” Tirek began, turning to Kanathara, “these two are unrepentant criminals guilty of a laundry list of crimes. Such as trying to drive the Apple family out of business and taking their land.”

Pear Butter snorted a thick ring of smoke into the cage. “These two little shits tricked my daughter into a competition she couldn't win, but with her friends’ help they came close. This caused them to nearly destroy the farm with their infernal machine, and though victorious, their cider was undrinkable.”

“That is pretty mean, but not exactly get-your-soul-devoured mean,” Kanathara remarked.

“Oh, that's just the start,” Tirek warned.

“They then dug up my corpse in an attempt to find the deed to the farm, which was weird to find out, let me tell you. When that didn't work, they took off running to the next town over where they sold snake oil,” Pear Butter exclaimed. “Snake oil which ended up paralyzing three ponies, including a foal from the neck down!”

No wonder so many ponies want these guys dead, Rainbow Dash remarked. I can barely resist attacking them, and I don't even have a body right now.

I know. I can feel your rage, Kanathara replied.

“That wasn't enough for these two though,” Pear Butter stated, clopping a hoof against the top of the cage. “They then buried the injured ponies in legal paperwork, forcing them to give up their suit.”

“I think I’ve heard enough,” Kanathara stated, eying the two stallions coldly.

“That's not even all of what they had done, however,” Tirek interjected. “They also stole a considerable amount of money from their next employer, causing the old resort owner to declare bankruptcy.”

“Before their crimes were made public, they purchased that same resort with the money they stole from him and opened a fake university,” Pear Butter continued, glaring at the pair. “Which they used to scam poor families out of their money, driving at least one mother to suicide in the process.”

“There is a bunch more, but that's the majority of it,” Tirek finished.

Kanathara nodded. “Thank you very much, Pear Butter, Tirek. I would like some time alone with my meals, however.”

“You earned it,” Tirek exclaimed, briefly touching her shoulder before leaving.

Pear Butter gently punched Kanthara’s other shoulder. “Take your time. Noone is going to be looking for these two losers.”

“I will,” Kanathara remarked.

With the door closed firmly behind her, the keeper of secrets slowly trotted up to the cage, eying its inhabitants. “And what do you two have to say for yourselves?” Kanathara asked.

“It was all perfectly legal!” shouted one.

“Except the grave robbing part, though we eventually paid that particular fine!” yelled the other.

“It's not our fault those poor ponies couldn't afford their lawyers,” remarked the first.

“Why, we even sent them coupons to our esteemed establishment. After we acquired it, of course,” finished the other.

Kanathara had already tuned them out, however, as she was having a different conversation at that very moment. Are they guilty? she asked.

Super guilty, stated the vengant. They aren't the least bit regretful about it either.

I don't know. They seem awfully repentant to me, Kanathara remarked with an amused snort.

“Besides, that whole tuition thing was totally my brother’s idea. Why, you could even say he forced me into it!” shouted one of the unicorns.

“Why, I never! You were the one who thought up our entire marketing blitz. If anything, it was you who forced me!” screamed the other.

And now they are turning on one another, Rainbow Dash remarked. So, are you gonna eat 'em now?

Yeah, but I like basking in their fear, explained the keeper. It makes the soul taste better.

As if basting a turkey in fear, Rainbow Dash added with a chuckle.

Which we will then proceed to consume. Kanathara smiled. Bones and all.

Kanathara belched before proceeding to spread all four of her legs as wide as they could go, sprawling out on the mattress. Potent energy swirled in her guts, finally killing the burning hunger which had plagued her for several days. Even the gnawing headache that had been bothering her was now gone, replaced by a joy one only feels after finishing a rather large meal.

Now alone, the keeper of secrets nearly fell asleep, despite the two withered corpses curled up only a few feet away. All the color the two unicorns had once had was gone and their skin was now stretched taut over their bones. Their mouths hung open in silent agony and their lifeless eyes stared off into the void, the desiccated cadavers serving as a silent monument to all their sins.

That was fantastic, Rainbow Dash purred. I feel like we should find a pipe or a cigar.

“You can do that as soon as you reform. I, however, will be abstaining,” Kanathara murmured. “I think a long nap is in order.”

The familiar black smoke billowed out of the keeper’s pores and slowly solidified, taking on the proportions of a certain vengant. Though the process took longer than normal, a few seconds later the other demon had regained her physical form. The first thing Rainbow Dash did was immediately stretch like an oversized cat, her wings opening as wide as possible.

Kanathara brushed one of the offending appendages out of her face and snorted. “It's nice to see you too.”

After making her back crack a dozen times, Rainbow Dash chuckled and fell to the bed which squeaked loudly. “Yeah, yeah, you know I love ya,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I know,” Kanathara murmured, closing her eyes.

The pair merely lay there, enjoying the silence for almost a minute before Rainbow Dash finally spoke up.

“Thanks, by the way,” muttered the vengant. “I know we agreed to find out a way to break the familiar contract, but…”

“It's fine,” Kanathara quickly stated, rolling over and facing her lover. “I’m sure that given time, we can come up with some way to get around it while also still ensuring you can escape any permanent harm.”

Rainbow Dash relaxed visibly, a soft smile crossing her face. “Thanks. You always know just what to say.”

“That's just because your poker face is trash,” Kanathara remarked with a smirk.

“Yeah, yeah, and yours isn't much better, you know,” Rainbow Dash retorted, poking the other demon in the chest. “Especially when it comes to rare forms of magic.”

“I can't help it! It's a part of being a keeper of secrets,” Kanathara shot back, a smile crossing her face. “It's like getting between you and some unrepentant murderer.”

“You know what they say, do not come between a vengant and their prey,” stated Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara’s smile grew, and she gently placed a hoof against her lover’s chest. “I know we are up against a lot, and I know this sounds naive, but I think we can do it.”

Rainbow Dash gently pulled the other demon closer and nestled her muzzle between the bed and Kanathara’s cheek. “Oh, and whysat?” whispered the demon.

“Because so long as we stick together, we can accomplish anything.” Kanathara chuckled. “And if all else fails, we’ll just tell Pear Butter and Velvet that the Nightmare hurt my feelings.”

“I don't know who's scarier in that situation,” murmured Rainbow Dash.

“You'd think it would be the demon, but I’m not totally certain about that,” Kanathara whispered back.

“Hey, boss.”

“Yes, Rainbow?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Author's Note

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Trial Nine: As Below

Kanathara sat quietly beneath the boughs of an old oak tree, her eyes scanning through a clearly ancient spellbook. Its pages felt like they were made from skin, and the vile words contained within had been written in blood. Not only that, but the entire thing was bound in thick leather.

“Antiquated,” Kanathara muttered, closing the tome. “And needlessly edgy.”

“It's pretty cringy, huh?” Rainbow Dash murmured from above her.

Kanathara looked up to where her familiar was sprawled out on a branch, her legs dangling below her.

“It kinda is,” Kanathara remarked. “It feels like something you'd see on some demon’s stand in a desolate bazaar.”

Rainbow Dash yawned. “So, are you all ready to get moving again?”

Kanathara sighed. “I suppose so. I’m about as rested as I’m going to get, and I don't feel like making them wait any longer.”

“Still, it was nice that they’ve been so patient,” Rainbow Dash remarked, gliding down from her perch.

“How long has it been anyway? I may have lost track of time,” Kanathara admitted.

“It's only been ten or so hours since we arrived yesterday evening,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully. “We should get going then.”

Together the duo trotted up the long ramp leading back to the cabin in relative silence. They emerged into the cellar where they found a surprised Velvet waiting for them.

The mare seemed slightly more worn than usual, but unlike normally, she did not wear any armor, and neither did she have a weapon. The only item she had on her was a pair of bulging saddlebags that rested upon her back.

“Ahh, what wonderful timing,” she announced with a smile, lifting a hoof.

Kanathara chuckled and accepted the hug before gently pushing the other mare away. “So it seems. What brings you here so early?” she inquired.

“You don't have any more cool stuff for us, do you?” Rainbow Dash asked while trying to peek into the pony’s bags.

Only to receive a swat across her inquisitive hoof. “I was here to run over the plan with Tirek before you awoke, and yes, I come bearing more gifts, but those can wait for later,” Velvet answered.

Rainbow Dash sucked on her injured hoof and scowled.

Kanathara merely chuckled at her familiar’s antics. “What exactly is this plan of yours anyway?”

“You will see in a moment, but as you probably already figured out, we’ve been working on a way to get you into the citadel,” Velvet exclaimed.

“Without having to fight Celestia, the entire royal guard, and every single paladin in a hundred mile radius, I presume?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Velvet chuckled. “Naturally.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Kanathara encouraged, gesturing to the stairs up.

Velvet nodded, and together all three of them walked up into the main level of the small cottage. Once there, they quickly realized they were alone.

“Odd, I thought they were up here,” Kanathara murmured.

“They did leave their rooms an hour ago or so,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “I wonder where-”

Her line of questioning was interrupted when the bathroom door opened to reveal a towering Tirek who had a towel wrapped around his head. The second he exited the steam-filled room, the centaur blushed slightly before quickly schooling his features.

“Ahh, good morning, Velvet, daughters,” he greeted, closing the door behind him.

Rainbow Dash grinned and trotted up to the fear demon. “How's it going, bossman? Had a good shower?”

“It has been going well as they say, and my shower was quite pleasurable,” Tirek replied, clasping the vengant’s shoulder briefly.

“Err, alright then,” Velvet murmured, taking a seat at the table. “Do you remember what we all had planned for the citadel, or do you need some time to gather any note-”

The bathroom door opened a second time to reveal a shiny golden wrath demon. A towel-covered hoof rubbed her face as she strode into the room, unaware that they were no longer alone.

“Hey, stud, I was thinkin’ after breakfast we could go down to the creek outside and...” Pear Butter began, only to freeze when her towel fell away, “...enjoy the nature?”

Velvet sighed, Rainbow Dash chuckled, and Kanathara merely groaned irritably.

“Can we please just sit down and start discussing this plan of yours?” Kanathara inquired.

“Err, right,” Pear Butter murmured, a blush crossing her face.

Tirek merely chuckled as he knelt down next to the table. “That was just as funny as I imagined it would be.”

Pear Butter sat next to him before slugging him in the shoulder. “Jerk.”

“Where should we begin?” Velvet inquired.

“I would suggest mentioning your spy situation, and what you’ve discovered about the Nightmare,” Tirek replied.

“Right,” Velvet murmured. “Suffice it to say things have not been good. The Nightmare cult is incredibly insular and managing to get a spy into their midst is very difficult.”

“You don't think they have had dealings with Celestia by chance, do you?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I mean, it would explain why they suddenly have the Black Hunger.”

“That unfortunately is not something I can explain,” Velvet admitted with a sigh.

“You two know how to evade it, so it's not like it's that big of a deal, right?” Pear Butter inquired.

“I suppose not, but it is still worrying to see the artifact change hooves so suddenly,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“We must assume that the paladins have infiltrated your organization, as well as vice versa,” Tirek stated.

Velvet frowned and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “As unfortunate as that small discovery may be, I feel as though we have bigger concerns on our hooves.”

“Like breaking into the most secure location on the planet,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned, hooves crossed over her chest.

“Actually, that's where you’re wrong,” Velvet declared, pulling a map from her bag and placing it on the table. “Though a fortress, the paladins assumed it would never be assaulted, given its position.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “A regular army would find it completely impossible to attack without incredible casualties, but surely they have some countermeasures in place for a more stealthy approach.”

“I told ya we helped raise her right! She's one smart cookie,” Pear Butter proudly exclaimed.

Velvet chuckled. “Yes. If nothing else, she is still as quick as she was when she was a foal.”

Kanathara grumbled bitterly, a blush crossing her face. “Would you stop talking about me like I’m not here?”

“Sorry, dear. They are just very proud,” Tirek explained.

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and tapped the map which Velvet had finished spreading. “So, what do we have to worry about then?”

“Its anti-air capabilities are considerable, and the area around it is a sheer cliff without any entrances,” Pear Butter began, tapping at the wind-swept expanse of flat rock which surrounded the citadel. “The entire thing is intended to be completely impervious to all who cannot teleport directly inside of it.”

“Unless you enter from beneath it, I presume?” Kanathara offered.

“Exactly,” stated Pear Butter.

“They thought the crystal caverns beneath it were completely sealed off, but we have discovered that several changelings moved in not long ago and tried to construct a hive,” Velvet continued. “After clearing them out, we were able to discover several monster-infested tunnels that go all the way up to the subbasement of the citadel itself.”

“Perfect!” Rainbow Dash thumped her hoof against the table. “That means we can just walk right in and take the last two Elements, right?”

“I doubt it is going to be that easy,” Kanathara remarked, gesturing to the map. “I mean, look at it. The thing has a dozen or so towers all crammed next to one another. There has to be hundreds of paladins in there.”

“Actually, their current garrison is probably closer to fifty or so,” Tirek explained. “They have been sending a considerable number of squads out into the Everfree and the surrounding area looking for us.”

“And the Elements as well as my organization,” Velvet added. “A number of my old hideouts have already been discovered.”

“Even still. I doubt it's going to be easy to acquire the last two,” Kanthara remarked.

“It won't be. The upper layers are guarded by an extensive set of matrices and wards. So unless someone invites you up there, you're going to have to locate the central scrying chambers and take them out,” Pear Butter stated.

Tirek held up a finger. “Though you have to remember that doing so would alert the commander of the citadel who would likely tell Celestia herself.”

“So we set up some kind of timed spell and make sure we are ready to strike before detonating it,” Kanathara confidently replied.

“Exactly,” Tirek replied, opening his hands. “But that's not all. For as soon as the wards are down, we should be able to scry into the building in order to check your progress. Or at least as much as your own personal anti-scrying enchantments will allow.”

“I’ll disable them, should I run into trouble,” Kanathara remarked.

“That makes me feel much better,” murmured Velvet.

“Will your other kid be there?” Rainbow Dash glanced towards the lone pony expectantly.

“I’m not sure,” Velvet admitted. “His location is a closely guarded secret known only to the other commanders and presumably Celestia herself.”

Rainbow Dash clopped her hooves against the table. “Alright, so we go through the caves, breach the basement, and proceed to this scrying chamber thing where we wreck up the place. After that we go to wherever the final two Elements are and grab 'em. Is that just about everything?”

“We’ve been able to discern some of their patrols and general layout of the lower areas, but beyond that, you will be on your own,” Pear Butter warned.

Kanathara rubbed her chin as she eyed the map. “There are a lot of questions left up in the air. Like, are the Elements being kept in some manner of vault? What kind of defences do they have? What if Celestia shows up?”

Tirek sighed, his shoulders slumping. “We don't know the answers to your questions, I’m afraid. Your mother and I have been trying to discern more about the building, but it's so well-guarded that it's been difficult.”

“And only the most well-trusted of paladins even see the inside of the place,” added Velvet.

Pear Butter snorted and smacked the keeper of secrets on the back. “You don't need any more information. You’re smart, you got more magic than I could shake a stick at, and you got an excellent partner to help you out. If we gave you any additional assistance, it would be too easy.”

“Hell yeah!” shouted Rainbow Dash and clopped her hoof against Pear Butter’s.

Kanathara sighed. “I suppose it will have to be enough.”

“Don't worry. We wouldn't be telling you all this unless we thought you could do it,” Tirek remarked.

“Thanks,” Kanathara murmured.

“Now then, it's about time we got you some better protection,” Velvet stated, reaching back into her bag.

“Hell yeah, time to break out the cool stuff!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, peering intently at the mare. “What is it? A sword that eats souls, a dagger of demon summoning, or maybe a mace that allows you to control undead?”

“You know, I’m pretty sure I had that first one back in the day,” murmured Tirek. “I think it was called Edge something? It was effective, but creepy.”

“Wasn't that the one with the big eyeball in the handle?” Pear Butter inquired in a disgusted tone.

“Yeah, I think that was the one. Terrible conversationalist. Always going on about blood and hatred at all hours,” Tirek idly remarked.

“Aha, here we are,” Velvet exclaimed, pulling forth a full set of boots. “These are for you, Rainbow Dash.”

“But I already have boots!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, extending her armor down to her hooves for emphasis.

“Yes, I know, but these offer you not only protection, but a significant damage bonus as well,” Velvet replied, placing the black boots on the table with a clunk.

“They seem ancient,” Kanathara remarked.

They were also not as dark as they appeared on first glance, bearing rows of copper-colored spikes across the top and bottom. In the center of the pair which was supposed to be worn on one’s forehooves was the outline of a large, rust-colored diamond.

“I mean, I guess they look pretty cool,” Rainbow Dash grumpily admitted. “What exactly do they do, and will they work with my armor?”

“They were made for a prodigious earth pony fighter renowned for his unshakable endurance and incredible toughness,” Velvet began. “And to help augment these strengths, he commissioned boots which sap the vitality of those he fights.”

“So kinda like what Kanathara does?” Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

“Sort of. Though her abilities tear at an individual’s very soul while these simply sap their bodily endurance,” Velvet explained, tapping one boot in emphasis. “After hitting someone with one of your hooves, the studs on it will create a link between you and them. So long as you stay within fifteen or so feet of your enemy, they should keep losing health at a steady pace.”

“Fascinating,” Kanathara murmured. “How will we be able to keep them with us?”

“Given that these boots were meant to be used in tandem with other magical equipment, Rainbow Dash’s armor should be able to interface with them and share the soul-binding curse on her breastplate,” Velvet explained.

“Which would normally be dangerous, but thankfully they made things a little different back in Brawny Granite’s day,” Tirek exclaimed.

“I’m kinda jealous,” admitted Pear Butter.

“I guess that's kinda cool. Though I would have liked a pair of boots that shot flames or something. You can never have too much fire,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara chuckled.

Rainbow Dash wasted no time in putting the boots on, adjusting the small hidden straps to ensure they fit properly. Once they were firmly on her hooves, she made a few kicking motions in order to get used to their weight.

“A little heavy, but nothing I can't get used to. Now let’s see what they look like with the entire armor,” Rainbow Dash stated.

A second later her heavy breastplate expanded, unfolding into dozens of thick black plates that covered the vengant’s entire body. Like before, the armor was both incredibly intimidating, and clearly demonic in nature. Though unlike every other time she donned the armor, it did not create a pair of boots and instead stopped a few inches short of Rainbow Dash’s new shoes.

The vengant shook her hoof angrily. “Come on, play nice. I don't want to have a big gaping hole in my defences, you know.”

Slowly, the armor regretfully crawled down the demon’s flesh until it reached the boots. It then formed dozens of black, metallic tentacles which plunged into Rainbow Dash’s new shoes.

“Hey, don't eat them, I need those!” Rainbow Dash shouted angrily.

“Wait, I think it's working,” Tirek whispered.

Rainbow Dash stopped waving her hooves around and watched as her armor and boots began to meld into each other. The plate mail became slightly lighter until it reached the same shade of black as the boots. The copper embossing and studs Kanathara thought would disappear instead multiplied all over Rainbow Dash’s armor.

Slowly but surely, the vengant’s plate mail became slightly less demonic in appearance, though no less intimidating. Now covered in short reddish brown spikes and studs, the rather gruesome armor lightened ever so slightly. It was all over in a minute, but before anyone could say anything, Rainbow Dash donned the helmet.

And found that it was now sleeker, with a narrow slit for her eyes, and an overall sharp design dominated by harsh straight lines. The helmet also seemed to draw in the light, as the vengant’s features were invisible, save for her glowing red eyes.

“How do I look?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Like a demonic knight,” Kanathara replied.

The vengant dismissed the helmet and smirked. “I can live with that.”

“Oh, would ya look at that. Your little booties have a symbol thingy on them,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“They are not booties!” Rainbow Dash bitterly exclaimed.

“It looks familiar,” Kanathara murmured.

Rainbow Dash looked down to her forehooves and noted the empty diamonds in the center were now filled with what looked like a six-pointed star behind which were a pair of lightning bolts.

“It's almost like that one time we disguised as ponies,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Intriguing. Did you tell it to do that?” Velvet inquired.

The vengant shook her head. “Nah. I can't control the smaller details.”

“Well, so long as it works,” Tirek exclaimed.

“Right. So what do you have for me then?” Kanathara inquired.

“I have something very unique for you. Something I’ve been working on for quite some time,” Velvet replied, reaching into her bag and producing an iron crown adorned with three gems. “Behold. The iron crown once worn by the Black Foe of the world.”

“It looks old and busted,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned.

“It does appear to be in poor condition,” Kanathara admitted as she noted its slightly worn appearance.

“It's supposed to look like that, trust me,” Velvet stated firmly.

“It is an impressive piece,” Tirek remarked, waving a glowing hoof across the crown. “With a truly fascinating set of enchantments that I can only begin to understand.”

Kanathara was tempted to look over the crown as Tirek had, but she chose to simply use a more mundane manner of inspection first. Peering intently at the crown, she noted that it had six points, each one of which was sharp, and were about three inches long. These points were double-sided too, though the bottom of them were much shorter and far duller than the ones on top.

Each one of these points were connected by a small bridge of blackened metal that in turn was secured to the centremost point where the three dull blue stones were set into a pair of jagged bits of metal that resembled leaves. The final stone was set into the last point which would rise tall above Kanathara’s brow, should she don the crown.

“Who was this Black Foe of the world?” Kanathara asked curiously.

“We don't know for certain, but they were supposedly created by some all-powerful deity from outside our reality. There they rebelled and tried to dominate the mortal realm before being banished into the void. From there bits of them have fallen through the cracks of reality, with their crown having ended up here in Equestria,” Velvet explained.

“That is… quite the tale,” Kanathara remarked.

“I would normally take such talk with a grain of salt, but the demon I spoke to confirmed the story,” Velvet exclaimed.

“So, what does it do?” Pear Butter asked while prodding one of the spikes and wincing when it drew blood.

“Other than being really pointy? It also imbues its wearer with the ability to manipulate the shadows as well as grants them complete immortality,” Velvet stated.

Kanathara gawked silently at the strange artifact. “Really?”

“Well, sort of,” Velvet admitted. “You won't be able to be permanently killed, but it will take time for you to be able to regenerate your physical form, and if the crown is destroyed while you are recovering, you will perish. Thankfully it's nearly indestructible.”

“So it basically functions as a pocket plane that you can tie yourself to like demons are to Tartarus?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Pretty much,” Velvet admitted with a shrug.

“Once this business with the Nightmare is completed, we must do some additional research on this crown,” Tirek insisted. “I sense it has additional powers that we may not fully understand.”

Kanathara nodded. “Of course.”

“And don't worry. There is no way it can control you or anything like that. Passing through the veil of realities broke any connection it had with its former owner,” Velvet explained.

“That's good to know,” Kanathara murmured, taking the crown in her forehooves. “Here goes nothing.”

Donning the crown, Kanathara noted that it seemed to fit perfectly despite appearing slightly too large only a moment earlier. Releasing her grip, the demon noted that it was surprisingly comfortable, and she didn't even notice the downward facing points. Not only that, but she felt lighter in a way that she couldn't quite explain.

Lifting a hoof, Kanathara allowed the weightless feeling to overcome the limb which immediately turned to a faint purplish mist. Willing her leg to be solid once more, Kanathara noted that although it drained her reserves slightly, the hit was so small as to barely even be noticeable. In fact it was so easy to turn to mist that Kanathara got an idea.

Extending her right foreleg as far as possible, she then willed a small three inch wide section in the middle to become ethereal while the rest remained solid. Sure enough, that was exactly what happened, with her hoof connecting to her body by only a thin trail of mist. Though this was possible to do before, it was an especially draining technique, and one that even the keeper of secrets had found difficult to use.

“Fascinating,” Kanathara murmured.

“How do you feel?” Velvet inquired.

“Light,” Kanathara replied, lifting her forehooves, only to notice that her greaves had been altered somehow.

Where before they were elegant and clearly the product of a vain noble, now they appeared to be the roughshod boots of a warrior. Thick, blackened iron plates overlapped to cover her from the knee down. It looked a lot like the crown did in a way, made of crude, soot-stained iron that appeared both tough and cheap at the same time.

“Hey, now you match,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“That wasn't supposed to happen,” murmured Velvet.

Kanathara lifted a forehoof and willed the armor away before making it return to her in a flood of solidifying smoke. Once it had recreated its shape, the boots became firm once more, though they had not returned to their former appearance.

“The protection enchantments are all still in place,” Kanathara exclaimed. “I suppose the crown simply didn't wish to clash with my greaves.”

“Well, whatever the reason, it doesn't seem to have any adverse effects,” Velvet concluded. “Sorry I didn't get you guys any weapons, but I figured you would need time to train with them.”

“Time we don't have,” Kanathara agreed.

“Eh, this is just as good. Besides, I don't want to have to rework my fighting style anyway,” Rainbow Dash reasoned as she gave the air a few more test kicks.

“This was a wonderful gift. Thank you, mother,” Kanathara exclaimed, pulling the much smaller being in for a short but tight hug.

“You're quite welcome, my dear,” replied the older mare softly.

“Yeah, thanks Velvet. I owe you one,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Keep looking after my daughter, and I’ll call it even,” Velvet replied.

Kanathara smiled and stood up from her seat. “Now then, is there anything else we must discuss?”

“No,” Tirek hastily replied. “Did you like your room, by the way?”

“It was lovely, Tirek, thank you,” Kanathara added, noticing that the small hint of jealousy she could see in his eye vanished immediately.

“Excellent,” Tirek declared.

“Let me guess, you're heading out immediately?” Pear Butter offered.

“Well, as soon as you give us some more information on how to get through the caves, that is,” Kanathara replied.

“Right. I’ve got all the directions right here,” Tirek stated, retrieving a small bundle of papers from beneath the table. “It should guide you from the secret cave entrance we discovered on the east side of the mountain all the way to the citadel.”

“Even better,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, taking the papers. “Now we can get moving right away.”

“So it would seem,” Kanathara admitted.

“Stay safe, my dear,” Velvet remarked.

“She’ll be fine, and besides, we’ll be waiting just in case she needs backup. Won't we, Tirek?” Pear Butter half asked, half stated.

The fear demon nodded. “I’ll have a teleportation circle all set up in case you need assistance. I doubt that I’ll be able to send more than a single person if need be, but I’ll at least make sure it will be able to recall you both once secured.”

“It will have to be enough,” Kanthara stated. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a contract to fulfill.”

Kanathara leapt backwards out of the way of a bite which would have caught her right in the midsection. The beast’s fanged maw clamped down on empty air and recoiled briefly before the entire thing lurched toward the keeper, forcing Kanathara to turn to mist in order to dodge out of the way. Her form flowed between the scaled creature’s six legs and along its long spiky tail.

What are you doing up there? Kanthara demanded.

It won’t go down! Rainbow Dash mentally retorted while continuing to slam her forehooves into the back of the enormous frilled lizard’s head, connecting more glowing copper lines from it to her.

Despite the thunderous strength of her blows, the creature hardly seemed to notice the vengant’s attacks and, with a twist of its head, threw her off. Landing in a roll, Rainbow Dash quickly leapt back up and faced the creature once more. Beside her, Kanathara reformed, the keeper peering intently at the towering lizard standing before them.

Though it had appeared to be a simple cave-dwelling reptile of some kind on first glance, the pair had quickly found out why the changelings had avoided this area, and why Velvet had known nothing about it. For around them stood several crystal statues of ponies and shapeshifters in various states of shock and fear.

Each one was missing a limb or two after being turned to crystal by the basilisk.

“What do we do?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Go for its eyes. I’ll distract it, and avoid its-” Kanathara began, before diving out of the way. “Move!”

The creature opened its leathery frills and revealed its shimmering underside. A second later a swath of the cave floor was turned to crystal. The creature’s gaze swept towards where Rainbow Dash rolled away, but it wasn't quite fast enough.

A burst of magic disrupted its attack and temporarily blinded the basilisk. A second later the stunned beast received a spiked hoof straight to its glowing yellow orb, piercing deep into the soft flesh. A roar spilled out of its maw and was cut short when a long spike rammed its way through its brain and into its spine.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, the beast fell slack to the stone floor, landing with enough force that the walls trembled. Above them the crystals shook, nearly coming loose and threatening to spear the two demons. Thankfully that didn't happen, and Kanathara breathed a little easier after Rainbow Dash rejoined her.

“No wonder they were so confident that the caverns were secure,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Lazy ponies,” Kanathara muttered, kicking the dead beast as they walked past it.

“The point of entry wasn't far, right?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara shook her head. “No. It should be right ahead.”

Together the duo trotted deeper into the winding cavern, following it for several minutes before taking a left. Several more turns, and a few consultations with their directions later, they stood before a blank wall. One which Tirek’s handwriting confidently declared as only a few feet thick.

“This is it?” Rainbow Dash asked, tapping a hoof against the wall.

“It is,” Kanathara declared.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow and eyed her mistress curiously. “You’re hesitating. Why?”

“This feels…” Kanathara began, only to stop herself and frown. “Like the beginning of the end.”

“Because we’ll have all the Elements after this?” Rainbow Dash inquired, gently wrapping an unarmored hoof around the keeper’s shoulders.

“Yeah,” Kanathara murmured, leaning her head against the larger demon. “After this the dice will have been cast and only fate will know what is about to happen to us.”

“We’ll get through it,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“I know we will, but everything has a cost, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara whispered. “And I’m not sure if I’m willing to pay.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.

Trial Nine: Like a Wolf

Kanathara took a step back, horn smoking slightly as she gazed at the two inch wide circle she had made in the wall. A single sharp tug of her magic later, the long cylinder of stone was removed, revealing a distant room lit by a soft blue light. An occasional drip of liquid rock obscured the room beyond, though it only took a quick frost spell to make it solid once more.

“Ready to go?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

The keeper nodded slowly. “Just let me give another peek inside, and then I’ll follow you.”

“Right,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara leaned in close, and, using her new mastery of shadows, discerned that the room beyond appeared to be a simple storage space. Boxes were piled high while only a few glowing magical lights illuminated the area. She was also able to see the distant edge of a door on the other side of all the random crates.

“After you,” offered the keeper.

“Why, thank you,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a smirk before dissipating into a cloud of smoke.

Kanathara watched as her familiar slipped through the narrow opening and reformed on the other side. Once there, she looked around for a few seconds before turning and nodding towards her mistress. Kanathara turned to dark grey mist and followed her familiar’s example, reforming in the room beyond before inspecting her surroundings.

Sure enough, her initial investigation had revealed just about all she needed to know of the place. There were a ton of boxes piled haphazardly around the room, and the door across from them was closed. The exit didn't have a lock on it, as nobody would expect an intruder to break out from within what amounted to a glorified evidence locker.

Just looking at the various crates marked with warning symbols and added notes made Kanathara want to start prying them open. She wondered briefly what manner of amazing goodies she might find hidden away in one of the most secure locations in the world.

“Let's… keep moving,” Kanathara murmured, her gaze lingering on a box with an intriguing label.

Forbidden spells and demonic grimoires.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “I’m not gonna have to drag you out of here, am I?”

“N-no,” Kanathara muttered, shaking her head. “I can handle myself, we just need to keep going.”

“Alright then,” Rainbow Dash remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

The pair of demons walked up to the exit, and, after a quick spell revealed the hallway beyond was empty, Rainbow Dash slipped through.

It's clear, shedeclared.

Kanathara followed a moment later, the keeper of secrets emerging into a long hallway flanked by doors on each side. Each one was numbered and apparently contained a wealth of demonic artifacts, confiscated items, as well as other banned objects. The desire to sift through the near endless array of secrets was again, nearly overwhelming.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” remarked the other demon.

“I’m fine,” Kanathara stated.

“Alright, then why don't you take the lead?” Rainbow Dash offered, gesturing towards the end of the hall.

Kanathara gulped down the last of her burning curiosity and turned towards where Rainbow Dash had pointed. Trotting through the cold stone hallways of the dimly lit floor, Kanathara did her best to ignore her instincts. As time passed it grew easier to do so, and when they had reached an access elevator, she didn't even feel tempted.

Or at least that's what she told herself.

“I’m proud of you,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, reaching a hoof towards the controls and hitting the call button.

“Let’s just get moving already,” Kanathara muttered grumpily. “The sooner we get up to the training level, the sooner we can reach the teleportation nexus and get this whole thing over with.”

“Just remember to be ready for anything. The bossman’s intel wasn't exactly thorough,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara snorted, shifting from hoof to hoof as she heard the distant rumbling of moving machinery. The metal grate before her stood closed, though she could tell that it would open soon, given how close the elevator was. Sure enough, the wide metal box slowly came into view, revealing an empty compartment devoid of both passengers or freight.

Rainbow Dash didn't wait for the door to open and merely turned ethereal before reforming inside. Kanathara rolled her eyes and waited, stepping through the grate after it allowed her to do so. Taking up a spot next to her familiar, Kanathara eyed the control pad, noting that Tirek’s intel had been correct.

The subbasement had a half dozen levels devoted to storage while the top was marked with a T for training. A glance upward revealed that the shaft ascended a good eight stories before ending rather abruptly. For a moment Kanathara considered ghosting or teleporting up to the top but quickly stopped herself. Doing so may have been easier for her due to the crown sitting atop her head, but it was still a drain she couldn't afford.

I may very well need every bit of magic I can muster, Kanathara thought to herself.

However, they wouldn't just sit in the elevator and let any random passersby see them and quickly reformed atop the metal cage. Unlike the bottommost level, the others would have far more frequent patrols, meaning the added bit of stealth was necessary.

Using her magic, Kanathara clicked the topmost floor before stepping as close as possible to the middle of the elevator. A move Rainbow Dash mirrored, minimizing the chances that they would be seen even more. Chances which were already fairly slim, given that the only illumination was a pair of red emergency lights mounted inside the elevator.

Together they watched as the floors slowly passed by, each one revealing a different hallway filled with doors. Some were taller, others were wider, and one of them seemed devoted to a single enormous room. All were devoid of activity and utterly silent, not a soul bothered by the slow trundling of the noisy elevator.

Wow, they don't have anyone down here, Rainbow Dash pointed out.

They probably cut patrols to this area due to so many paladins being moved elsewhere, Kanathara thought. Though I wonder what would be more important than the remaining Elements.

Now that you mention it, they have to know we are coming after the final Elements. Why pull away so many forces? Rainbow Dash asked.

No point in wondering about it now. We have to keep going, Kanathara stated.

Right, I’ll stay on my guard, Rainbow Dash replied.

The click of the elevator alerted the demons to the fact that they had arrived at their location. A pair of confused guards gazed into the empty carriage, searching for whomever had used it.

“Is anyone patrolling down there?” asked one of them.

“I think there are two pairs of junior members,” replied his female companion. “You don't think they are in trouble, do you?”

“Probably just playing a joke on us, but we can't be certain,” declared the taller stallion. “Let’s hop on. You remain within the elevator while I search the floors.”

“Are you sure that's necessary? It's most likely just Duck and Dip trying to freak us out,” stated the demure pegasus mare.

“If that's true, then they’ll be getting an earful,” he announced.

“Right. After you, sir,” offered the first guard and held open the door.

With that short conversation finished, the pair entered the elevator, clicked the bottommost floor and began to descend into the darkness, leaving a pair of demons undetected mere feet away. Their bodies became ethereal the second their ride began to lower itself into the gloom.

Now on solid ground once more, Kanathara looked around, noting that the hallway they stood in wasn't very long. It quickly opened into an enormous area devoted to the physical training of the guards stationed here. Magical treadmills lined one wall, while the majority of the space was occupied by two obstacle courses. A wide flat walkway separated them, likely to allow the transport of much larger items from the upper levels.

The two doors on either side of the short hall were revealed to open into showers and bathrooms, both of which were empty. Unlike the lower floors, here there were more lights, enough that nearly every inch was brightly lit up in an orange glow. Kanathara felt her gaze drawn towards the harder of the two obstacle courses and the strange web of magic which hung over the place.

Pushing aside her curiosity once more, the demon leaned out of the hall and scanned the area for movement.

Clear? Kanathara thought.

Looks like it, Rainbow Dash replied.

The pair moved quickly into the space beyond, sprinting along the walls in order to draw less attention. Things were going smoothly up until a trio of guards emerged from the hallway on the other side of the room. Though armed and armored, they didn't seem to be expecting trouble as they were all having a rather loud conversation.

“So, what was Black Blade’s excuse this time? Don't tell me he tried to make up another thestral holiday out of nowhere,” remarked a yellow-maned stallion.

“Arrow to the knee,” replied a short, grey-furred earth pony mare.

“Ha. That guy hasn't fought anything more dangerous than his wife,” stated a pegasus stallion who sported a wild, lightning blue mane.

“That would be a fight I’d be surprised he walked away from,” added the first stallion.

All three of the guards let out a hearty chuckle, none of them aware of the two black blobs crouched behind a pair of obstacles. The second they passed Kanathara and Rainbow Dash by, the keeper of secrets began to move forward. Her familiar followed her example almost instantly, flowing from one bit of cover to another before regrouping on the other side.

Together they watched as the two stallions shed their weapons and took position at the starting point of the course. The lone mare of the group stood off to the side, stopwatch in hoof and foreleg raised in the air.

Aren't they supposed to be on high alert? Rainbow Dash questioned.

If Velvet’s reports on the nightmare cult are true, then they should be ready to move out on a moment's notice. Not spending their leisure time engaging in a race, Kanathara stated.

The mare glanced in their direction, though by the time her head turned all the way, both Kanathara and Rainbow Dash had already slipped down the hallway which turned sharp to the right before ending in another freight elevator guarded by only a simple metal grate.

“Weird,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Worrying,” Kanathara questioned.

Should we keep moving? asked the vengant.

I suppose. Let’s go a little slower though. The barracks should be just above us. Maybe we can eavesdrop on an important conversation, Kanathara stated.

Good thinking. If there is anything soldiers like doing more than drinking, it’s gossiping, Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara stifled a snicker. Very true. Let’s see if we can't find a bored officer. They should know something important.

Navigating the barracks proved to be relatively easy, as an extensive ventilation system ran through the entire area. Shrinking down their physical forms took a little effort, but neither demon was about to complain. Especially given the fact that they hadn't actually had to fight anyone during the entire infiltration process.

The first thing they saw were beds, most of which were empty and unmade, laid out in a wide open room beneath them. The few that were occupied seemed to be serving primarily as impromptu card tables or a nice place to read. All in all, the guards they saw through the grates were relaxed and seemed to be enjoying their evening before they had to inevitably turn in.

Little of note was garnered from the scraps of conversation the demons could overhear from their position. Most of the guards seemed more than happy to gossip endlessly, though it was only ever about one another’s personal lives. None seemed to even acknowledge the lax security or infrequent patrols and merely revelled in the time off.

A few were practicing their magic or combat, but they were in the minority by a wide margin. Though even they seemed to be only doing so half-heartedly.

A death cult intent on destroying the world is on the move, and Tirek has been sighted after a thousand year absence. Why are they so chill? Rainbow Dash questioned, the demon staring down at a quartet of guards gambling away their chocolate rations.

Kanathara stopped, the six inch tall keeper of secrets glancing from one of the branching ventilation shafts to the other. I don't know, but we should try gathering a bit more intelligence before we move onto the central ward room.

I just wanna jump out there and shake the answers out of them, Rainbow Dash remarked before hastily trotting after the retreating form of her mistress.

If we don't get anything out of the officers, then I just might let you do that, Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash peered out of a grate. At least we are in the right area now.

Kanathara looked over the other demon’s shoulder, noting that the room below had two beds separated with a divider. Looks like it. Now let's find us some loose-lipped soldiers.

The search didn't take long, as they quickly located two grizzled mares sitting on their beds, a small table between them. Their enchanted armor rested on racks on the other side of the room while a single tall wine bottle stood on the table. There were also some papers scattered about, and the closer of the two ponies was sharpening a longsword with gentle strokes of a whetstone.

“-and what about the problem squad I mentioned earlier?” asked the mare on the further bed and tapped a clipboard in her telekinetic grip.

The other guard snorted. “Leave them on subbasement duty for at least a month. The longer I don't have to deal with those nitwits, the better.”

“That just about covers all of the squad assignments up until rotation. Want to move onto the requisition requests?” offered the unicorn.

“Let's put a pin in that and come up with an alternate, more aggressive schedule. It won't be long before our readiness level is increased,” stated the other without looking up from her weapon.

“Hmm, fair. So, back to the start then. Where to assign privates-”

Rainbow Dash snorted bitterly. This is a waste of time.

So long as they don't discover our entrance, we have all the time in the world, Kanathara replied. And I wanna use some of that time to figure out what Shiny has in mind.

Shiny? Rainbow Dash questioned.

Kanathara coughed awkwardly. I meant Shining Armor.

Seems like someone is getting a bit attached, Rainbow Dash teased.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. If you’re bored, go scout out the rest of the vents. I’ll stay here.

Fine, but if they don't say anything useful in twenty minutes, I say we move on. Shrinking down always makes me itchy, Rainbow Dash whined while scratching her neck.

You will learn patience eventually, Kanathara stated.

Not bloody likely, Rainbow Dash retorted.

Rainbow Dash scratched at her breastplate constantly, her sharp hooves unable to get beneath the cursed armor. The repeated click of hoof on metal was the only sound that filled the confines of their impromptu metal prison. With each sharp clack Kanathara twitched, and her eyes continued to narrow until they were mere slits.

Would you cut it out! She demanded, spinning towards the vengant.

I can't help it. I’m itchy, and the spot is under my armor! Rainbow Dash whined while continuing to scratch herself much like a dog.

Kanathara let out a long sigh. Two minutes and we’ll go.

Why bother waiting? They are just going to keep yammering about schedules and whatever useless nonsense they're on about now, Rainbow Dash retorted.

That's not true. We’ve totally learned important things like… what they are serving at the cafeteria for the next month? Kanahtara frowned. Okay, so it hasn't been that useful, but they are finally done talking about the next troop rotation.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and lay down. Wake me when they say something worthwhile.

Kanathara scowled at her familiar before turning back towards the grate and peering into the room beyond.

“Is that everything?” inquired the mare who had at that point sharpened every weapon the two officers had on them as well as the nearby cutlery.

“Seems like it,” murmured the other pony before taking a short swig of wine. “We officially have nothing to do for two whole weeks.”

The first pony sighed and fell back on her bed, forehooves spread wide. “I can't believe we aren't even on a higher readiness level. What is Commander Armor thinking with these orders?”

Rainbow, wake up! Kanathara commanded.

The familiar jerked upwards and rubbed her eyes. I’m awake. What's going on?

Listen, Kanathara urged, pointing to the grate.

Together the pair looked down into the room beyond.

“Perhaps his informant has paid off, and he is about to learn the location of the cultist’s secret base,” offered the unicorn. “Having a large group of soldiers rested and ready to go rather than relying on those who have been on patrol for weeks would be beneficial in that instance.”

The lighter-colored mare lurched back up. “If they were battle ready and weren't the dregs of nearly every company in Equestria. You’ve seen the discipline they have! They aren't much better than run-of-the-mill guards.”

Her companion sighed. “I admit I expected to be running a last minute bootcamp, not spending my days making sure the recruits don't spend all day fornicating in the supply lockers.”

“Don't remind me. Private Valiant and Sergeant Strike have been at it like rabbits these last few days,” added the other pony.

“Perhaps this is part of some plan that is well above our paygrade? I mean, it would make sense given the fact that Shining Armor’s personal retinue is on base,” offered her companion.

“Plan or not, I feel like we are being used as bait,” grumbled the larger of the two before taking a long swig of wine.

“You’re stressed, irritable, and need to relax,” remarked her friend as she sat next to her. “Why don't you lie back and allow me to give you a neck massage.”

Kanathara could just barely see the blush on the other pony’s cheeks before she lay down on the bed and the pillow obscured her features.

“Fine, but after this, we are hitting the obstacle course before bed. I will not allow what few officers stationed at this base to become fat from idleness,” muttered the well-muscled pony.

“You know there are easier ways to get me to join you in the shower,” teased the other mare as she got to work on her fellow guard’s shoulders.

Kanathara heard the bitter grumblings of the other pony before turning away, giving the pair their privacy. Interesting.

I didn't know they allowed relationships in the paladins, Rainbow Dash remarked, giving the grate one last peek. That big one is hot too.

The keeper snorted and grabbed her familiar, pointing her away from the room. Come on, let's get moving. We’ve found out all we could.

Aww, come on. It was just getting good! whined Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. Would you like it if someone watched us while we got intimate?

That would be kinda hot, Rainbow Dash admitted.

Rainbow!

The vengant shrugged. What? It would be like that time in the Caverns of Eternity when we stopped to rest in front of that big golem we thought was a statue.

Kanathara’s diminutive cheeks burned hot. Don't make me order you to be quiet.

Rainbow Dash smirked at her. You wouldn't.

The keeper of secrets sighed. I wouldn't do that, though I would let you sleep alone for a few days.

Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up, and she hastily trotted beside her mistress. Oh, come on. It was just some harmless teasing.

Get us to the nexus point in the next half hour, and I’ll consider it, Kanathara remarked offhandedly.

You got it! Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

The pair of demons peered down into a small globe that hovered several inches over Twilight’s hoof. Within it was the hallway that was only a few feet to their right, as well as the pair of well-armored guards which stood ready. No doors lined it, save for the two which were closed at the very end, their thick oaken exterior reinforced with glittering steel.

The room they guarded was evidently better lit than the dimly illuminated hall, as bright golden light spilled out from beneath the entrance. Like the rest of the hallways, this one was made up of a dull grey stone and had small magical torches burning along its walls every few feet. Unlike the others, however, this one had a glowing golden floor which radiated holy energy, visibly empowering the ponies who stood on it.

The pair of stallions seemed alert and ready at first glance, their forms completely covered in plate mail. Each of the two unicorns gripped a spear in one hoof, their gaze never leaving the end of the hall. Urging the sphere forward, Kanathara inspected the two stallions closely, noting the short blades belted to their sides.

She also noted just how young they were, as well as how nervous they seemed to be. Despite the silence, they shifted from hoof to hoof every few seconds, giving the other an occasional expectant glance. It was the type of awkwardness one expected when they had stolen a baked good they weren't supposed to touch.

What's the plan? Rainbow Dash asked, keeping a sharp watch on the empty hallway behind her.

I’m not sure, Kanathara replied after a short pause. I’m fairly certain a pair of stun spells would knock them right out, but the guard station itself gives them a decent amount of protection.

So we have to draw them out then? Rainbow Dash questioned.

That would work. But how? Kanathara replied.

The vengant peered within the orb and, after a few seconds of observing the pair, smirked. Could you cast that voice modification spell on me? I got an idea.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. I guess. Are you sure this is going to work though?

Trust me, Rainbow Dash replied, flashing her a wink.

Kanathara shrugged and cast the spell. Her horn glowed briefly, a small orb of violet hitting Rainbow Dash’s throat.

“Test, test,” Rainbow Dash whispered in the same gruff tone as the officer they had been spying on not even a half hour earlier. “Alright, be ready with those stun spells.”

The keeper of secrets did just that, though she couldn't help but observe her familiar closely, curious as to what she had in mind.

“Private Valiant, Sergeant Strike, get over here right now!” shouted Rainbow Dash in her stolen voice.

The two ponies immediately stood straight and looked at one another.

“What do we do? We aren't supposed to move!” whispered the thinner of the pair.

The larger of the two shook his head. “We aren't supposed to leave no matter what, so-”

“Right this instant! Unless you want me to tell the other grunts what you did in the linen closet!” shouted Rainbow Dash.

The two stallions exchanged a glance before immediately sprinting down the hall, their armor clattering loudly.

“We’re coming, Second Lieutenant Perfect Parry!” shouted one of them.

Kanathara smirked, dismissed the orb, and waited for the pair to come screeching around the corner. Sure enough, the second they left the hall, their armor lost its glow and their eyes opened wide. Shock, confusion, and a hint of betrayal flashed across their faces before Kanathara unleashed her spell.

A glowing ball of blue energy rapidly expanded from her horn as it shot across the short space, splitting in two at the midway point. In the span of a heartbeat, the orbs impacted the stallion’s horns, causing any magic to fizzle and their legs to give out. The pair never hit the ground, though, as Kanathara quickly caught them and safely lowered them to the floor.

“Nice work,” Kanathara exclaimed. “What do we do with these two?”

Rainbow Dash trotted down the hall behind them and pulled open what looked like a supply closet full of cleaning implements.

“Genius,” Kanathara remarked.

“I try,” Rainbow Dash replied, brushing invisible dust from her shoulder.

Kanathara tossed the two guards into the closet and was about to close the door when Rainbow Dash leapt in after them.

“What are you doing?” Kanathara asked. “We have work to do.”

“This will only take a second, and trust me, it will be worth it,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara watched as her familiar maneuvered the two stallions so they were cuddled atop a bed of mops. Limbs intertwined, the pair looked like they had fallen asleep together after a rather risque rendezvous.

“Okay, that is kinda funny. It would make whoever found them doubt their tale as well,” Kanathara remarked.

“See? Totally worth it,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Fair enough. Now let's go see this nexus place,” exclaimed the keeper.

Together the pair of demons stepped up to the hall where they stopped briefly while Kanathara cast a simple levitation spell on their hooves. Now hovering several inches off the floor, both mistress and familiar half walked, half floated over to the door. Which took only a few seconds and a dozen spells to break into.

“Now to see into one of the few rooms guarded against scrying,” Kanathara murmured.

After Rainbow Dash took position to attack if necessary, Kanathara pulled open the entrance and glanced inside. An enormous round room waited for them, in the middle of which was an enormous orb of glowing golden energy. The mass of softly pulsating magic was surrounded by six bands of silver several inches thick. One much larger bright purple band hung at about eye level of the strange contraption.

The rest of the room was empty, its rounded, unadorned grey walls rising a dozen metres up before gradually meeting in the middle. Only the ground directly beneath the towering orb of magic wasn't the usual shade of grey like the rest of the room. A large and surprisingly detailed compass had been painted onto the floor beneath the bizarre artifact.

Golden spokes denoted the four prime directions while smaller emerald green lines pointed in a hundred different ways. A quick check told Kanathara that the compass was indeed correct, given its position on the floor. A scanning spell informed her that the orb was absolutely stuffed to the gills with enchantments.

Most seemed to be dedicated to teleportation in some tangential manner, though it would be impossible to figure it out in a few hours. Or a few days for that matter, as the sheer density of the spellform meant that Kanathara would have to dig deeply. Which was not something she had the time or energy to do, especially given that her knockout spell would last maybe two hours at most.

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Why does there always have to be a puzzle? I hate puzzles.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.

Trial Nine: Among Tigers

“It's probably not even a puzzle. What did the notes tell us about this thing?” Kanathara asked, turning to her familiar.

“Something about the teleportation nexus being the only way to reach the upper floors,” Rainbow Dash replied with a shrug. “It didn't mention anything about this.”

“Tirek did say the intelligence he gathered was imperfect,” Kanathara murmured while scratching her chin. “Hold on. Does this hallway connect all the way to the basement?”

Rainbow Dash hummed thoughtfully. “I think so. It took a few twists and turns, but it should eventually end up in the lower levels. Why?”

“Think about it. We’ve only seen big double doors like that when they ultimately lead here, right? This thing is what connects the citadel to the other paladin strongholds across Equestria!” Kanathara continued.

“Which means the compass likely has to point to the location you want to connect to,” Rainbow Dash finished. “Though wouldn't that need someone on the other side to do the same?”

“Unless this one is set up as a primary sender,” Kanathara muttered, carefully eying up the inner silver rings which slowly spun around the orb. “It would make sense, considering they didn't have any guards on the inside of the room.”

“Good thinking. So, how do we get it to send us where we want to go?” Rainbow Dash asked as she joined her mistress in giving the artifact a closer look.

“I’m not sure. Allow me to do a few tests,” Kanathara murmured.

Before the keeper could light her horn, Rainbow Dash held out a hoof. “Wait. Couldn't we just question those guards we knocked out before?”

“If necessary, but there may be a way to trigger a lockdown that we don't know about. Better to simply figure it out on our own,” Kanathara stated.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Oh, fine. I guess we have a while before the guards rotate their shifts.”

“And you wanted to leave before those two mares finished discussing their schedules,” Kanathara teased.

The vengant puffed out her cheeks while grumbling to herself.

Ignoring her irritable familiar, Kanathara strode up to the artifact and lit her horn, casting a few surface level scanning spells. Sure enough, the demon found that beneath the first layer of magic were numerous traps and triggers. If she pushed on with her inspection without undoing them, the whole facility would be alerted and the room was sealed.

A few plucked strands here or there could undo these safety measures, but without finding what was deeper inside the spell, Kanathara chose not to. After all, those defences may have redundancies of their own which she couldn't see at the moment. Thus she was unable to pierce any deeper without using what little time she had to cast a more powerful and more subtle scanning spell.

This left her without much information save for what she had already discovered through inductive reasoning. The golden ring needed to be pointed in the direction they wanted to go and be held that way for several seconds. After that it would probably activate, creating a portal and linking the two locations through some unknown means.

Kanathara let the light leave her horn, as she had no use for magic at this point in time. It was a matter of simply figuring things out, though Kanathara wasn't quite sure where to start on that front.

It could be a combination of some kind, wherein she would need to point the ring in several directions before holding it still. This would make sense, given that there seemed to be a small window to move the ring before it activated. Where would they need to point it though? To the other paladin strongholds in some unknown order?

No, that wouldn't make sense. This device is supposed to be used even by grunts. They wouldn't have made it super complicated if they wanted the lowest-ranking members to know how to use it, Kanathara reasoned, only to pause. Though if they planned for anyone to be able to use it, then how did Tirek not receive any intelligence on it?

“Whatcha thinkin?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“That there must be some small secret to this device that allows both officers and more ground level soldiers to utilize it,” Kanathara began. “The lower-ranking members likely know how to connect it to other bases across Equestria while those in the know how to reach further up.”

“Maybe it has to do with those silver rings,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I feel like those are likely a red herring or are part of the internal mechanism of the artifact,” Kanathara replied. “Let me try something.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I don't want to accidentally connect to a whole base of battle-ready paladins or for the whole place to lockdown out of the blue,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Trust me,” Kanathara stated. “That small indent on the middle of the ring has given me an idea.”

Rainbow Dash took a step back and extended a hoof. “If you say so, boss lady.”

Kanathara took a deep breath and stepped up to the artifact, noting the constant hum emanating from the machine. Her horn tickled due to the sheer amount of magic it contained, and the keeper of secrets was tempted to investigate the contraption further. It was likely one of a kind, and its inner workings were probably only understood by a very select few ponies.

The demon had to shake her head in order to dismiss the urge to discover this secret for herself. Now focused on her task once more, Kanathara stood upon her back legs and gripped the great golden ring in both forehooves. Then, instead of moving it to the sides, she heaved it upwards, pushing past the brief bout of resistance she encountered while doing so.

Once the small arrow was pointing straight up, and Kanathara was having trouble not falling into the strange orb, a click could be heard from below them. Awkwardly stumbling back onto all four limbs, Kanathara watched as the gold and silver circles began to move. The inner ones spun at an increasingly rapid pace while the larger ring moved up and down the sphere steadily.

Within the rings the orb of magic began to expand and contract, twisting in on itself before growing rapidly immediately after. Kanathara could feel her familiar armoring up, the vengant readying herself in case things went sideways. Kanathara herself remained confident throughout it all, merely watching closely as the artifact worked its magic.

A few seconds later and the rings aligned at the midway point of the sphere which bulged one final time before taking on a familiar shape. Tall double doors wrought with steel, an impressive eight feet across as well as tall stood where the orb had a second earlier. Once the entrance had been formed, the rings rose up, allowing the demons to cautiously approach the freshly summoned exit.

“Are you sure it worked?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

Kanathara nodded, pointing to the doors. “I’m fairly certain they do. As these doors follow the same overall look of the others we’ve seen while also being sturdier.”

Rainbow Dash hummed as her hoof glided across the smooth surface before her. “I suppose you’re right. That doesn't mean it goes exactly where we think it does. Wanna check it?”

Lighting her horn, Kanathara summoned a small scrying orb which she pushed through the underside of the door. The second it passed beneath, the spell collapsed in an eruption of sparks which showered the floor.

“Warded. Like all of the upper floors are,” Kanathara remarked.

“Which we also know almost nothing about,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Come on. Where's your spirit of adventure?” Kanathara asked, giving her familiar a firm pat on the back.

“It left the moment this entire place started feeling fishy. I hate fish almost as much as puzzles, and this whole place stinks worse than a dockside market,” Rainbow Dash bitterly replied.

Kanathara sighed. “When has one of our missions not come with complications?”

“I know, it just bothers me, is all,” Rainbow Dash replied, willing her helmet to reform around her head with a sharp clack. “Alright, let's do this.”

Kanathara lit her horn and tugged the door open, stepping quickly behind her familiar just in case. When no immediate threat became visible and only a similarly empty room appeared beyond, she relaxed. Following Rainbow Dash into the next room, Kanathara noted that it definitely felt like they were still in the citadel.

Unadorned grey walls opened up around them, with an identical set of rings hanging above them. After both demons had entered and Kanathara was able to look around, she noticed that one thing was different. Namely that there was a large red line on the ground which crossed the room and vanished under the exit. Like the door they had just passed through, it was made of solid oak and reinforced with steel.

When no immediate threat leaped out at them, Kanathara closed the portal behind her. The second it clicked back into place, the wood quickly lost all cohesion, melting back into an orb of magic. A second later the rings descended, returning to their original positions and leaving the pair with no way out.

“I don't like this,” Rainbow Dash murmured through her helmet. “It's even quieter than below.”

“Let me do a quick scan,” Kanathara offered, quickly casting a simple spell, only for it to fizzle upon completion.

No information flooded into her mind, and she quickly recognized the familiar feeling of having her spell countered.

“That's odd, it was countered,” Kanathara murmured.

Rainbow Dash glanced nervously about the room. “Did you feel where it came from?”

“Everywhere and nowhere,” Kanathara remarked. “It's like a powerful enchantment was placed over the whole area.”

“So, we are going into this place blind, then?” Rainbow Dash asked in a bitter tone.

“No, not blind, just… hampered somewhat,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash snorted a plume of black smoke through the grille of her helmet. “Sounds like blind to me.”

“Well, let me double check a few things,” Kanathara exclaimed, lighting her horn once more.

Several more countered scanning spells later, she knew for certain that no spell in her arsenal was capable of piercing the wards. Again, she could feel the strings of magic all around her, but without the time necessary to dig through them, it wasn't safe to mess with or alter them. She couldn't even see them clearly, meaning that whatever enchantment had been placed over the area had been laid by an expert.

“No. Nothing can penetrate these enchantments,” Kanathara muttered. “Worse yet, I think Celestia herself placed them.”

“You mean the greatest enchanter in Equestrian history is responsible for the upper level’s defences?” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Great.”

“It's fine. She usually anchors her enchantments to a physical location. Most likely a rune of some kind,” Kanathara explained. “Which goes along with the information given to us by Tirek.”

“Well, at least that part is consistent,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Right then. Remember to keep your eyes open for anything. We’ll be in the dark the rest of the way,” Kanathara stated.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Got it. Slow and steady all the way.”

“Exactly. Now, whenever you’re ready,” Kanathara offered, gesturing towards the exit.

“Right, gimme a sec,” Rainbow Dash replied.

The vengant lay down gently in front of the door and peered beneath the exit. “Two ponies. Both armored from head to hoof in an enchanted armor by the looks of things.”

“Similar to the last hallway,” Kanathara inferred. “This time we don't have an easy way past them.”

“We can't just distract them again either. Chances are, they would hit the panic button the second they heard anything amiss,” Rainbow Dash remarked, standing back up.

“Give me a moment. I want to give a closer look at this line,” Kanathara offered.

The vengant watched as her mistress trotted a few feet back before lowering herself to the ground as well. Once on the floor, Kanathara poked and prodded at the slight indent in the floor, inspecting it closely. Rainbow Dash wasn't entirely sure what her mistress was looking for, but either way, it didn't take long for her to find it.

“Aha, there is a small space between the ground and this line. Which seems to be made of a mixture of ground up ruby and simple red paint,” Kanathara explained.

“Please tell me we don't have to squeeze into a crack that small. You know how unpleasant it is to do that,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shiver. “It feels like I’ve been flattened into a pancake.”

“You’ll just have to suck it up, I’m afraid,” Kanathara replied. “Unless, of course, you have a better idea?”

Rainbow Dash sighed. “No. I don't.”

“Then follow me. I’ll guide us out,” Kanathara stated.

“Fine, but just make it quick. Unlike for you, spreading myself out like that is super draining,” muttered the vengant.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I’ll do what I can to make this as brief as possible.”

“Good,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara moved quickly before her familiar could muster another complaint, turning to mist and slipping beneath the ground. The space was tight, with little more than an inch of space to squeeze her ethereal body into, but she made it work. Surprisingly it wasn't nearly as bad as the last time Kanathara had been forced into such a tight space, and she reasoned that was her new crown’s doing.

It still felt like her body had been put through a trash compactor though.

Pushing herself forward, Kanathara maneuvered beneath the door and out into the hallway beyond. She was vaguely aware of the paladins standing above her, but with the demon’s senses stretched so thin, they were hard to locate. Either way, they hadn't moved even as Kanathara and her familiar slipped right under them.

Proceeding further down the hall, Kanathara felt herself turn again, meaning she was likely out of view of the guards. Not completely confident that there weren't more ponies waiting to ambush her, she pushed a small tendril upwards out of the crack. Lucky for her, there were no more paladins waiting to attack the keeper, only an empty hallway lined with doors.

Slipping out of the confines of the floor, Kanathara reconstructed her physical form once more. Rainbow Dash emerged a second later, an irritable grimace on her face. Thankfully the annoyed familiar had enough sense to resist the urge to complain verbally.

I feel like I just flew halfway across Equestria, Rainbow Dash thought.

Stand watch while I find a room we can hold out in and gather our bearings, Kanathara commanded.

Rainbow Dash nodded, her armor creeping down her body.

Kanathara looked around the hallway, noting that it was nearly identical to the others, save for the red line in the middle of the floor. Pushing a tendril of darkness from her hoof and under the nearest wooden entrance, Kanathara found that most of the rooms were empty. They also seemed to be devoted to all manner of magical experimentation, though the equipment to do so was mostly gone.

Through here, Kanathara exclaimed.

Becoming ethereal once more, the keeper of secrets slipped under the door and reformed into the next room. Her familiar followed her, though when she regained a face, it bore a noticeable frown.

“Can we not do that for a bit?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Just take a break. It will be a few minutes before we move again,” Kanathara replied, gesturing to one of the nearby chairs.

Rainbow Dash snorted and did just that, seating herself next to one of the lone tables beside a blackboard. The vengant gave the number-covered board only a cursory glance before settling into the slightly too small chair.

Now left alone, Kanathara focused and, after a moment of concentration, was able to extend a long, thin tendril of mist from her forehoof. She then pushed it under the door and, determined no one was around, snaking it back into the line. Once there, she allowed more of her hoof to dissipate, enabling the tendril to work its way deeper down the hallway.

After a few minutes of having her entire forelimb turn to nothing but smoke, Kanathara pulled back. Though a little shaky, she had managed to map out a good section of this floor while evading any prying eyes.

“Well? What are we working with?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“There are a couple of long hallways leading deeper,” Kanathara began, starting to pace nervously. “Patrols are heavier here, though I think we should be able to avoid them with some difficulty.”

“But?” Rainbow Dash prompted.

“But I heard the guards talking about how Shining Armor’s personal retinue is working its way through the base and checking on its guards,” Kanathara explained.

“That's… not good,” Rainbow Dash muttered while scratching her head. “Do we know anything about them?”

Kanathara shook her head. “Not a single thing.”

“Damn. It's always something, isn't it?” Rainbow Dash remarked with a sigh.

“Gotta keep it interesting, right?” Kanathara added, nudging her familiar with an elbow.

“I suppose so. Wouldn't want to get bored,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Right. Follow my lead and stay quiet. Their patrol routes are fairly simple, but will likely change when these head honcho types get down here,” Kanathara remarked.

“Got it,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

The keeper took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Right, let's do this.”

Kanathara clung to the metal strut that supported the vaulted ceiling while her familiar slipped out of a nearby vent and reformed next to the keeper. After ensuring that the vengant wasn't about to fall and had also manifested with all of her limbs, Kanathara looked down to a large open room littered with cages, the center of which was dominated by a circular table flanked with a dozen chairs.

Off to one side was a summoning circle that looked surprisingly advanced and was likely capable of bringing forth fairly powerful demons if needed. Directly beneath her was the entrance to the room, while on the other side stood the door to a more well-protected elevator. It was fortified with a large glowing rune that made Kanathara’s eyes itch for some reason.

The table was covered with scattered pages as well as a few writing materials, all of which were enchanted. There was even a small but sharp dagger the likes of which were used when signing a blood contract. Kanathara knew that such an item was integral to binding more powerful demons, but why it was here was anyone’s guess.

“Weird,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“It looks like a summoning room, but why all the cages?” Kanathara muttered.

“What are those things?” Rainbow Dash asked, pointing down to a crystal embedded in the top of each enclosure.

“They look like…” Kanathara frowned as she focused on the bright gold pyramid sticking out of the pens. “Energy dispersal crystals. But I’ve never seen a gold one before, what type of magic do they collect?”

“Well, they seemed designed to contain demons, so…” Rainbow Dash offered.

“It has to be holy magic, but if such energy was used to reinforce the cage, it would burn the demon inside,” Kanathara muttered.

“Unless they don't care,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Kanathara sighed. “True. Though I suppose there are plenty of demons who deserve and have done far worse than that.”

“And that rune thingy?” Rainbow Dash inquired. “It looks like it's reinforced by some holy magic as well. How are we going to get through that?”

“Since it's bound to the entrance, we could remove or otherwise damage the door, though something tells me it wouldn't be that easy,” Kanathara murmured.

“What if we-”

“Hold on, someone’s coming,” Kanathara whispered. “Shrink down as far as you can and enable the obscurus enchantment on your armor.”

Rainbow Dash hastily nodded and did just that, squeezing herself down to the size of a small cat. Kanathara followed suit immediately, nestling her mouse-sized body between the V-shaped support structure as much as possible. Compacting their physical forms in such a sudden manner was painful and more than a little draining, but neither demon was about to complain.

Especially when the armored form of a paladin strode confidently into the room, accompanied a second later by five more. They were each different from the other, though they did have one overriding feature that they all shared. That being the fact that their forms were completely obscured by many layers of armor, or clothing.

Golden armor encased nearly all of them in a shell of overlapping plates between which was a layer of thick chainmail. There were no chinks in their armor which weren’t covered, and not a single inch of flesh was visible. Not even their eyes could be seen from under the narrow slits of their helmets, each one of which bore a slightly altered design.

The largest of the bunch had what looked like a meat cleaver strapped to his side, seemingly unbothered by its no doubt considerable weight. His helmet was more angular and had three breathing slits added, though nothing could be seen through them. His steps were long and made the square of silver that hung from a black chain around his neck jingle slightly.

To his left was a slightly less massive, though no less intimidating paladin who had a more rounded helm. His armor wasn't quite as bulky and upon either flank bore a strangely shaped mace which had a ruby encased in its head. His armor was unadorned, save for the row of pouches that were strung across the paladin’s chest.

Behind him stood a smaller, more stealthy individual whose armor wasn't quite as thick, and who had a longbow strapped to his back. His helmet was completely featureless save for the single long strip over where his eyes would be. Arrows were attached to his underside, and vials of some kind were strewn down both of his forelimbs.

Behind and to the right were three more paladins, two of which seemed to be casters, given they wielded some combination of staff or wand. They also had differing kinds of robes which covered their armor and hung low to the floor, obscuring their bodies in deep shadow. The taller of the pair had a more ornate helmet which bore both vertical and horizontal lines across its silver face.

His companion’s helmet was stranger still, as it had thin slips along the sides, much like blinders. His robe was less opulent and dangled down from a shoulder plate that was wider on one side than the other. This second paladin had a wand attached to his breastplate while the other had a bladed staff strapped to his back.

The final paladin to enter was the most bizarre of them alll as he wore little visible armor and had a tattered black cloak tossed over his shoulders. His hood was deep, and the shadows it cast were long, but Kanathara could still see a strange mask visible beneath. His weapon was also the oddest of the bunch, an axe belted tight against his spine.

Are they all earth ponies? Kanathara wondered. I don't see any horns or wings, though both may be hidden beneath illusions.

They are giving off some weird vibes, Rainbow Dash thought.

Kanathara nodded slowly, noting the odd way the paladins moved, as if they were unused to walking on four legs. Kanathara’s inspection stopped the moment the elevator opened to reveal one of the most disturbing demons she had ever laid eyes on.

Standing taller than even an alicorn, the great horned creature had to duck in order to leave the elevator. Once free of the metal confines, he rose up to an impressive eleven feet tall, while his spiralling ram-like horns added an extra foot to his overall height. Between those great horns burned a raging inferno which rose out of the empty space where his face should be.

The twisted mass of blackened horns connected at the front of his head, giving the vague impression of a chin and nose. Where his torso and legs should be was a pillar of shifting black stone pitted with deep red holes and narrower slits. These holes and cuts emitted a constant stream of strangely thick blood, leaving behind a magma-like puddle wherever the creature went.

Long arms adorned with clawed hands emerged from the creature’s jagged, spiky shoulders. He didn't seem bothered by his lack of legs as he glided across the ground despite his missing limbs. None of his features grabbed Kanathara’s attention more than the blackened halo which hung above his head.

At one point the circle had likely been a dull gold, though now it was almost completely black and covered in burnt, sky blue chains.

What in the endless hells is that? Rainbow Dash thought.

A blood demon, Kanathara replied.

You mean those nutjobs were right, and that a deep one actually exists? Rainbow Dash asked incredulously.

The banished blood god must be real, for one of his servants stands before us, Kanathara exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash shook her head as she watched the two groups meet. I never would have thought a piece of a demonic god from a far away plane would be here of all places.

“Smh mijy haf tiddyv py orap ph sarc?” demanded the blood demon in a thunderous tone.

Augh, I hate infernal. It always feels like it's being whispered and shouted right into my ears at the same time, Rainbow Dash complained.

Focus. This could be important, Kanathara reprimanded.

The largest of the six paladins stepped forward. “Our benefactor merely wishes to confirm that you have been maintaining the array as ordered. He noticed a brief fluctuation not long ago and seeks an explanation.”

“Al ygzyruar sidd ul aly ao zmy dasyr dyjydw siw euyrtyv,” replied the blood demon. His flaming head flickered irritably.

“Why?” asked one of the robed paladins in a soft tone.

“Xe clas laz. Oldh zmiz uz tipy orap zmy dasywz dyjyd,” explained the demon who rose up to his full height proudly.

“An intruder?” inquired the mace-wielding paladin.

“Pawwukdy, kfz flducydh. Tmy ylzrilty siw oir zaa wpidd oar vorh tryizfry za ylzyr zmrafqm,” answered the demon.

“If you knew of this, why weren't we notified?” demanded the closest paladin.

“Tmy vihkrulqyr'w syk uw iw flryoulyv iw uz uw flryduikdy,” spat the demon in a dismissive tone.

“We must send a squad immediately,” murmured one of the paladins. “Lord Armor’s work cannot be interrupted.”

“Uw zmiz yjyrhzmulq, ziwcpiwzyr?” hissed the demon.

“That is all. Return to your duties until summoned once again,” replied the largest paladin.

The blood demon nodded briefly before entering back into the still open elevator.

The six paladins quickly turned and left the room, with only one remaining behind in order to look around. The black cloaked soldier inspected his surroundings in a slow, calculating manner. His head rose, and the two demons quickly tucked themselves away, ducking out of sight at the last second.

That was close, Rainbow Dash thought.

He hasn't left yet. Don't move, Kanthara warned.

For several long seconds the two miniature demons dared not breathe, merely lying as still as the dead.

“Come, brother. We have a battle to prepare for,” called a powerful voice.

The cloaked warrior’s gaze lowered. “Yes, of course,” he replied in a low tone.

A second later the doors closed, though neither demon relaxed until nearly a minute had passed and no one reentered. Only then did they release a collective sigh of relief, and wilted into heaps, their forms rapidly expanding.

“What in the heck was that?” Rainbow Dash asked breathlessly.

“I have no idea,” Kanathara replied.

Author's Note

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Trial Nine: Blood Tithe

“Think we should call for backup?” Rainbow Dash whispered hesitantly. “This entire thing feels a bit above our pay grade.”

“Oh, come on, Rainbow Dash, where is your sense of adventure?” Kanathara retorted, gesturing around the elevator they were in the midst of riding. “Plus where would we even receive said backup from anyway?”

“I know. I know,” Rainbow Dash replied. “This whole thing is just turning into the classic mission where we inevitably get drawn into something bigger than expected.”

“And how do those missions always end?” Twilight pressed.

“With a tough victory squeaked out at the end,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“Exactly,” Twilight declared. “Now let's try not to ruminate so much on the obstacles before us. We need a plan.”

“It just feels like the longer we go, the higher the possibility we have to use her,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Twilight nodded slowly. “It might be necessary to use her, but it will be worth it to save some of our own power for the real fight we know is coming.”

“If you say so,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

The vengant sighed, her gaze going up to the indicator above the entrance to the elevator. A soft ding filled the rather tight white cabin each time they passed another floor, irritating the demon for some reason. This unpleasant feeling only grew with each second that passed in silence until she was nearly fit to be tied.

“I think we should pull out,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight blinked. “Why do you say that?”

“Doesn't this whole thing just feel too perfect?” Rainbow Dash replied, gesturing around her. “The hole in the wall. The low number of patrols. The sudden chaos. It all stinks like one of Celestia’s plans.”

“Oh, come on. Not everything is Celestia,” Kanathara retorted.

“And not everything is not not Celestia,” Rainbow Dash stated.

Kanathara sighed. “Yes, I admit this does seem rather convenient, but you must remember what's going on around us. They are at war with a hidden army of cultists, Rainbow. War tends to breed chaos and carrion by the truckload.”

“I know that, but come on, even you have to admit this feels like a trap of some kind,” Rainbow Dash continued.

“Of course it's a trap,” Kanathara dismissively remarked. “It's always a trap, or an ambush, or a double-cross. It wouldn't be a mission of ours if there wasn't at least one of those things.”

Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof and growled. “This is different.”

Kanathara leaned against Rainbow Dash’s enormous bulk. “I know this is different. The stakes are higher, more is on the line, and we are close to my brother of all people. This is going to be hard, and it is going to suck for a while, but we can't turn back now that we are so close.”

Rainbow Dash’s shoulders slumped, and she extended a flaming wing across Kanathara’s back. “Yeah yeah. I guess all this constant fighting is finally getting to me. We shouldn't have taken such a nice break.”

“Glimpsing the good life kinda makes this feel rather unpleasant, doesn't it?” Kanathara whispered.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Yeah, it kind of does.”

“After this is all said and done, I say we take a year off. How does that sound?” Kanathara gently inquired.

Rainbow Dash hummed to herself. “I guess that sounds pretty good, but I wanna travel and time off means that you can't study, research or do anything that even resembles work.”

“Fine, but where would you want to go?” Kanathara replied.

“I wanna see Neighgra Falls and Las Pegasus,” Rainbow Dash whispered back.

“The former sounds nice, though something tells me you might end up in vengeance-induced haze for the majority of our visit to the latter,” Twilight pointed out.

“Think of all the sinners we could eat,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, licking her lips excitedly. “It would be like an all you can eat buffet.”

“Maybe we could even make it really fun and work undercover as a pair of hitmen in order to scope out the place,” Kanathara offered.

“That sounds wicked, though why do they call them hitmen? I thought that was a minotaur thing,” Rainbow Dash asked.

“It is a minotaur thing. Apparently dying in the colosseum or a duel is honorable, but perishing outside of that is frowned upon, so there are a select few minotaurs who train-” Kanathara began, only for the elevator to stop with a ding. “I’ll tell ya later.”

Rainbow Dash sighed and gently pushed Kanathara away. “Right, we better get back to work before someone notices us just sitting in this stupid elevator.”

“Ready to get back into it?” Kanathara asked, her horn glowing brightly.

“Hell yeah. I was starting to get bored,” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk.

“They won’t know what hit them,” Kanathara declared.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash both pressed their bodies firmly against the side of a desk, glancing occasionally at the trio of guards that stood nearby. Between them were several small mountains of test tubes and other alchemical supplies which mostly hid the pair from sight. That didn't mean they could relax, as the soldiers moved slowly across the room, scanning their surroundings intently all the while.

After reaching the midway point of the room, the ponies collectively released a sigh of relief and as one discarded their helmets. With the anonymity spell broken, the uniform white of their coats were replaced by either blue, red or green. One even pulled out a pipe which he hastily packed and lit up while his fellows pulled several chairs into a small circle.

“Hurry up. We only got five minutes before the next squad comes through,” whispered the lone female of the group.

“Yeah yeah, I’m getting it,” replied the guard with the pipe.

The last member cast a spell, which Kanathara quickly identified as one that would ensure they didn't leave any smell behind. Now a little amused as well as curious, the keeper signalled for her familiar to remain low to the ground as they moved forward. Together they creeped under the desk and then a table, getting a little closer so they could hear what the trio was talking about.

“Can you believe what Commander Green said?” whispered the smaller of the two males.

“I can't believe she would say something so mean,” replied the other stallion before passing the pipe.

The mare blew a ring of smoke into the first guard’s face, causing him to sputter.

“Hey what was that for?” he cursed, waving a hoof in front of his face.

“You’re being oversensitive again. You know she didn't mean to insinuate that all stallions were lazy. Besides, can you blame her for being so short? She’s been running double duty as the overseer of the upper and lower areas,” she explained.

The larger stallion hummed thoughtfully while he rolled the pipe smoke around in his mouth. “I suppose you’re right, but it still stings, ya know? Plus she's good at her job, and I don't want her to get demoted over a slip of the tongue.”

“It will be fine,” exclaimed the mare, who handed the pipe to the smaller male. “Shining Armor knows the stress we are under and isn't about to start punishing people for something so small as that.”

“I just wish he got rid of that nasty blood demon,” added the smaller stallion before breathing out a lungful of smoke. “That thing gives me the heebie jeebies.”

“Then who's going to work the teleportarium and maintain all the wards in this place?” questioned the other stallion. “Because I don't know if you know this, but that shit takes more magic than even a dozen unicorn masters have available to them.”

“Then I say we bring on another dozen unicorn masters,” exclaimed the mare between coughs. “It's about time we gave a job to a real Equestrian citizen and not another goddamn demon.”

“Ahh, here we go again,” muttered one of the stallions.

“What do you have against giving our people jobs, hmm?” the mare retorted.

“That's all well and good, but we don't have enough trained unicorns to begin with. It's not a matter of choosing one over the other,” explained the larger male.

“Well, I say we train more,” replied the female.

“And until we can do so, we have to deal with this guy,” whined the smaller stallion.

The mare grunted irritably and plunked her helmet back on her head. “This whole thing sucks. Let's just get this patrol over with so I can whoop you two in poker again.”

“Count me out,” remarked the smaller male.

“Same here. You already got my entire paycheck last month,” muttered the other.

The female chuckled. “But think about it, Rapid Strikes, this is your chance to get it all back.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Let's just get outta here before the next patrol shows up.”

The mare nodded. “We can talk about this later. And remember. This never happened.”

“We know the deal.”

“This ain't our first rodeo.”

Together the trio departed through the door on the opposite side of the room, trotting out into a formerly empty hallway. Leaving Kanathara to ruminate on the surprise bit of information given to her, and how best to utilize said tidbit of info. Unfortunately, she didn't have long to consider things, as she could hear the clang of hoofsteps coming from the next patrol.

Giving a nod to her familiar, Kanathara hastily slunk after the retreating forms of the first three guards. After falling in behind them, the two demons began the arduous process of locating and getting to their next target. Who was held up in one of the most secure areas in the entire complex, yet was guarded only by a single heavily warded door.

Both demons squeezed themselves into the narrow alcove that disconnected the large entrance from the stale hallway beyond. Like the rest of the facility, these blank hallways were a plain white, with the only difference being the darkening of the ceiling. Unlike the rest of the place, this one had a constantly rotating shift of patrolling soldiers stalking the halls.

With a much more ordered defensive strategy, Kanathara and her familiar had been forced to spend more time evading their enemies. Though not overly difficult for the pair, it took nearly an hour for the duo to reach their target. An hour which was spent ducking, dodging, and crawling through cramped spaces which sapped their endurance as well as patience.

“How long is this going to take?” Rainbow Dash whispered as she peered out into the hallway.

“Just a second,” Kanathara whispered back, levitating a stone block she had removed from the wall as she inspected the space behind it. “Their wards are easy enough to bypass, but I need to be careful not to trip an alarm.”

“This entire place seems to be designed the same way,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “Not difficult, but a drain.”

Kanathara grunted as she carefully disconnected the glowing lines of power etched into the wall that had been hidden behind the block. “Tell me about it. If they put the budget allocated to white paint towards denser ward matrices, this would be nearly impossible.”

Rainbow Dash snickered under her breath. “Plus this whole place is just so dull. At least toss in some different colors on the walls.”

“It's almost hard on the eyes,” Kanathara murmured. “Aha, there we go.”

The glowing golden lines of magic inscribed upon the hidden inner wall fluctuated briefly before turning green. A second after this happened the door next to them clicked audibly, the force field covering its exterior dying suddenly. Kanathara hastily replaced the block she had extracted from the wall, and, after determining there was no one around, pulled open the door.

Peeking within the room beyond revealed not another square room devoid of light, but a brightly lit throne room with two rows of pillars. Directly in front of them on the floor lay a dense web of magical runes that covered a good third of the space. This web shifted from one moment to the next, revealing dozens of masterfully placed glyphs capable of a great many things. Even such an immensely powerful web of masterfully placed enchantment magic was not enough to keep Kanathara’s attention for long, however.

As the throne which stood across the room from them demanded her gaze in a way a ruler may demand supplication. It, like most of the room, was predominantly white, with golden trim which had what looked like roots crawling up its legs. This tree motif was visible all over the place, especially around the windows, and behind the throne itself where two large trees, one silver, and the other gold were depicted joining their branches together to create one enormous canopy.

Beneath which sat an empty chair, as well as an empty room devoid of guards and seemingly any defences at all. Lighting her horn, Kanathara quickly scanned the room, searching for any sign of enemies or traps. When her spell came back negative, she was even more confused as this was no doubt the place they wanted to be. The only thing out of place was the staircase behind the throne which went up and into the darkness.

“What's the hold up?” Rainbow Dash whispered. “We got a patrol coming, and they don't look like they are going to stop for a smoke break.”

“This place gives off a weird feeling, and I’m pretty sure…” Kanathara stepped over the threshold and almost immediately fell over. “Yeah, it's displaced.”

Rainbow Dash followed her mistress a second later, opening her wings to steady herself after stepping across the threshold. “You weren’t kidding. We must be way higher up then we were a second ago,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara quickly closed and sealed the door behind them, using a series of spells to erect several barriers over it. She also made sure to add a few privacy wards as well in order to make certain that no one would come running should a fight break out. A possibility that felt less and less likely by the second.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Rainbow Dash muttered as she trotted over to one of the stained glass windows. “Damn, of course these windows are useless.”

Kanathara trotted up next to her familiar and noted that Rainbow Dash was right, for although light flowed in, Kanathara could not see out. A quick scan told the keeper that other than the privacy enchantment placed on the windows, they were also well protected against damage. Like most of the room, including the floors, ceilings, Roaman-inspired support pillars, and even the elevated platform which the throne sat on.

Seemingly every available surface had been layered with enough defensive magic to make them nearly indestructible. It was as if whoever had constructed this room had expected a serious battle to take place within, Kanathara thought to herself. Though all that effort may have been expended simply to protect the wards, the keeper couldn't shake the feeling like there was more to it than that.

“Spooky or not, we need to set up our distraction,” Kanathara exclaimed, trotting over to the shifting magical circles in the center of the room. “We won't be able to make it out of here unless their defences are down and their forces scattered.”

“I know, but come on, boss, you have to admit it feels like we are being watched,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she idly trotted across the room, her gaze never leaving the empty throne.

Kanathara hummed as she began to construct the magical bomb she would plant atop the wards. Be ready, she mentally commanded.

Before her spell reached its conclusion, the demon altered the matrix, spun towards the throne, and unleashed a blast of concentrated magic. The twisting bolt of chaotic, half-formed energy shot across the room, and was about to slam into the empty chair when a blood red shield sprung into existence. The barrier surrounded the entire raised platform upon which the seat rested and caused the mana bolt to dissipate harmlessly across it.

A familiar blood demon rose out of the throne, clapping his hands in a slow, methodical manner. “Congratulations. You found me, and before I was forced to act no less,” he exclaimed in a strange, echoing tone.

“It's not like it was hard,” Kanathara scoffed. “The whole hiding in plain sight thing is about as cliche as you can get.”

“We’ve seen it more than a few times,” Rainbow Dash added with a smirk.

“I should have known better than to underestimate a pair of accomplished demons like yourselves.” The demon paused and raised a crooked finger. “You two don't happen to know infernal by chance, do you? This tongue feels uncomfortable in my mouth.”

“Yes, but I refuse to speak it so let's just skip to the part where you tell us why you’re talking and not slinging spells,” Kanathara demanded.

“Or we can skip to the part where we kill you,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her helm forming around her head with a distinct clack.

“It's simple. I’m here against my will, and you simply haven't forced my hand to fight you. Yet, anyway,” he replied, gliding forward inside his bubble of magic. “Though harming those wards would change that very quickly.”

“How are you here unwillingly? I thought demonic contracts don't work that way,” Rainbow Dash inquired while she stalked back and forth in front of the blood demon.

“The mage, Shining Armor, is as brilliant as he is unscrupulous, and I was very nearly forced to join his band of empty suits he keeps with him at all times,” continued the blood demon.

“But how can he even do that? To break or force a demonic contract would take a nearly infinite amount of magic,” Kanathara continued.

“Kind of like a certain Element had,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“Got it in one,” exclaimed the blood demon with a smirk. “At least now I know who the brains of this operation is.”

Kanathara chuckled. “We are both the brains, but back to my questions. How can he do this exactly?”

“Do you think he would let me tell you this?” the taller demon replied.

“I didn't think so, but I had to try,” Kanathara admitted.

“Oh oh, I got one,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Is it real you were born from some fallen god?”

“The father is not fallen, but rather displaced,” retorted the blood demon. “The blood god as you know him was born when one of his avatars was banished from a dimension that knows only war. Imprisoned within the void between realities, he managed to escape through a hole in the planes and ended up within your version of hell.”

“That opens up so many questions as to the nature of the multiverse,” Kanathara excitedly remarked, only to cough. “But we shan't get into that now.”

“We got ass to kick,” Rainbow Dash added.

“A pity,” murmured the blood demon. “I would have rather we enjoyed a little light conversation before we rushed to the inevitable confrontation.”

“Hold on a sec. Do you want to lose?” Rainbow Dash asked while scratching her armored head.

“Of course I wish to fight to the best of my ability, though if I happen to perish and can no longer maintain my physical presence in this plane, that would be quite… agreeable,” the blood demon exclaimed.

“I don't suppose you could go easy on us, eh? We got a lot more enemies to fight, and I’d rather not waste my magic on you,” Kanathara exclaimed.

The blood demon growled, the sound coming out more like the crackle of a barely contained inferno.

“Though weakened by this nauseating plane of existence, I am still more than a match for two ponies pretending to be demons,” he spat.

“You had best watch that wagging tongue before someone cuts it out of your mouth,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“I’d like to see you two halfbloods try. Maybe I could even drain your pathetic husks of life before my master arrives,” the blood demon continued.

“Let's get this over with then,” Kanathara retorted. Let’s overwhelm him quickly. I don't want to be out of magic when we inevitably face off against Shining Armor.

Does that mean we can finally use the nova blast attack? Rainbow Dash replied.

It does, Kanathara replied.

Their conversation had taken a mere moment, but that was more than enough time for the blood demon to launch his first attack. Summoning power into his hand, the demon thrust it against his shield, conjuring forth dozens of red shards measuring over a foot. These concentrated masses of demonic energy shot up into the air where they exploded, raining dozens of smaller crystals down.

Though she had expected something more direct, Kanathara was ready for such an assault and quickly turned to mist. Though even as she avoided being turned into a pin cushion, the keeper could feel the red shards injuring her as if she were still solid. Weaving out of the way, Kanathara was left confused and more than a little startled by the surprising effectiveness of her enemy’s attack.

Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, willed her armor to cover her as best as possible, causing nearly all of the shards to bounce harmlessly off her. That didn't mean she came out unscathed though, as the pieces of crystal shrapnel which passed through her fiery wings left behind a stinging sensation. Not only that, but both Kanathara and her familiar felt slightly winded, as if they had just run a significant distance.

Now a little more wary of the strange rain, the two moved to go through with their plan anyway, with Kanathara rapidly casting spells that targeted her familiar. Each one caused the vengant to glow a different color, her body becoming encased in dozens of enchantments. While this happened, Rainbow Dash was taking deep breath after deep breath, filling her body with hellfire.

Neither stopped moving while this happened, both running, jumping, and doing their best to dodge the continued assault launched by the blood demon. Over and over the pair were forced to take a few hits, or put their plan on hiatus for a moment while they avoided another shower. The blood demon had more than one spell up his sleeve though, and while he continued to rain death on the pair, he also launched several ballista bolt sized shards at them.

This made the demons have to move a little faster and expend a little more magic, but ultimately wasn't enough to change their plan. Which came to fruition a minute later when Kanathara had placed an anti-magic ward on her familiar’s right forehoof. The vengant needed no prompting and spun towards the blood demon the second she felt the familiar tingle of magic.

Barrelling directly towards the blood demon, Rainbow Dash charged through a hail of attacks, almost all of which were deflected aside by her protections. A few slipped through, but weren’t nearly enough to stop or even slow the determined demon from reaching her target. Then, just when she had reached the base of the raised platform, she pumped her wings and released all the stored fire she had been accumulating into the twin appendages.

A deafening boom filled the room a millisecond before the vengant became a red blur of motion. In an instant the blood demon’s shield was gone, as was the entire top half of his body in addition to the majority of the throne. Rainbow Dash herself was partially stuck in the wall above the chair, her armored hoof elbow-deep in the stone.

With a hearty pull, Rainbow Dash removed her limb from the hole she had just created, and glided back to the ground. Where a slightly confused-looking Kanathara was already standing next to their defeated foe. Whose bottom half remained upright for a few more seconds before falling forward with a wet, unpleasant thud.

“That was easy,” Rainbow Dash remarked, giving the body a firm kick. “Thought he’d at least have one more trick up his sleeve.”

“Don't count him out yet. I can still feel a demonic presence in this room,” Kanathara replied, slowly inspecting her surroundings.

“It’s probably just all of his stupid shards,” Rainbow Dash pointed out, gesturing about the room. “They’re everywhere.”

“Which worries me, as they should have faded away to nothing at this point,” Kanathara explained.

“Maybe we should-” Rainbow Dash began, only to be interrupted when the body near her hooves bubbled briefly before turning into a thick red slurry.

Thinking quickly, Kanathara hopped on her familiar’s back before the vengeant leapt into the air and deftly avoided the spreading mass. Which now covered nearly the entire floor, as the shards had begun to turn into the same disgusting soupy mass. The two demons didn't have long to come up with a plan, for the reddish paste had begun to concentrate itself in dozens of small pools.

Blasting one of these pools with magic did nothing to stop it from slowly forming into a slightly shorter replica of the blood demon. Dozens upon dozens of the flame-headed demons now stood staring at the duo, an uncomfortable and identical smirk on their many faces.

“Did you really think it would be that easy?” asked one directly under the pair.

“I have spent thousands of years slaughtering demons,” added another.

“You are nothing, but a pair of buzzing gnats,” stated a third.

“And I will be the one to crush you,” finished a fourth.

We can't land. Can't split up, and can't leave, Kanathara thought.

Don't tell me we have to use the alicorn after all? Rainbow Dash asked.

It does. Though I am not happy about it either, Kanathara grimly answered.

“Right, let's get this over with,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

Author's Note

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Trial Nine: Edge Of Divinity

Kanathara quickly threw out the most powerful shield she could muster, defending her and her familiar from the hundreds of shards being shot at them. Though the barrier was already beginning to crack, the demon didn't move to reinforce her defences. Instead she turned her body to mist before flowing through the cracks in Rainbow Dash’s thick armor.

The vengant shuddered as she continued to flap her wings, staying aloft over the small horde of blood demon clones. Unlike every other time Kanathara took up residence in her familiar’s body, this time she was not a mere passenger. Their body trembled, flesh bubbled, and bones snapped as the pair underwent an unpleasant metamorphosis.

Confused and curious, the blood demon paused his assault to watch as his foe writhed in barely contained agony. Rainbow Dash’s mane sparked briefly before dying out along with her tail, the demon’s eyes shutting tightly as pain wracked their body. While their being was forcibly altered, their armor grew, straining to cover a form that had already nearly doubled in size.

It was at this point that the blood demon felt an incredible surge of magic well from within the still twitching mass of flesh flying before him. Such raw power immediately set off alarm bells in his mind, and he reacted by bombarding the shield with dozens of lightning bolts. Kanathara and Rainbow Dash did not notice this at all, as both were too overcome with agony to think straight.

That was until their body stopped twitching, and with a cry of pain, a horn burst from their head. Long and sharp, the scimitar-shaped appendage hummed with barely contained demonic power. Their eyes snapped open a millisecond later, revealing that their eyes had become a deep magenta color. Twin gouts of raging fire erupted from their wings, the embers of which were a deep lavender and resembled tiny falling stars.

Ghostly fog seeped out of their helm and formed into a taller, grander version of Kanathara’s iron crown. As their transformation completed, their shield cracked, and with a resounding bang, it shattered into a thousand pieces. Rather than recast it, the newly empowered demon merely used their wing to brush aside the hail of lightning that had been tossed their way.

There would be no more words or witty jabs at this point, as both parties knew this was a fight that would end in one of their deaths. The newly formed alicorn-like demon surged forward, their wings beating hard and carrying them into the thick of their foe. While their armor expanded and their first kick destroyed one of the blood clones, magic leapt from their horn, destroying another.

The burst of acid they had summoned carried through the first clone and injured several more behind it. The sudden shock of losing several of his bodies in such rapid succession was enough to make the blood demon flinch, opening him up to a ray of frost as well as a catastrophic stomp which froze two and obliterated a third.

Recovering quickly, the blood demon urged his clones to move, their strange forms gliding across the ground as they began to cast numerous spells. Fire bolts, blood crystal shards, and small bursts of lightning impacted the alicorn-like demon only to be rendered completely ineffective. Carefully conjured shields and deft movements ensured that every bit of offensive magic cast hit the heaviest part of their armor.

They weren’t only avoiding injury though, for even as they dodged enemy attacks, the alicorn was lashing out with horn and hoof alike. A jet of concentrated hellfire obliterated another of the copies, while at the same time the alicorn barreled headlong into a cluster of her foes. Stomping one, then impaling another, the alicorn had become a whirlwind of death the blood demon struggled to escape.

Sacrificing a dozen copies to keep his foe occupied, the blood demon used the majority of his clones to begin casting a holding spell. Only to be surprised when he began to feel his spell slipping away from him, quickly countered by the alicorn who was still fighting. Again, he had been proven wrong, for even as the alicorn seemed occupied and their horn had been dull, one mind had stayed focused on his actions.

With his spellcasting disrupted with an uncomfortable ease, the otherworldly creature shifted focus once again. While calling forth more copies of himself, he launched a flurry of conjured shards at the alicorn, hoping to distract her. Only to be disappointed when the alicorn twisted, and with a mighty stomp of her hooves, caused the swirling mass of crimson to fall still once more.

They didn't even seem bothered by the shards, as they simply raised a flaming wing and batted them aside. A wide, manic grin spread across the equine’s features, and with a flick of their horn, the demon gathered up the red slurry in their magic. The blood demon attempted to recall that part of himself, but had his efforts disrupted as the alicorn simultaneously cast two spells.

He was forced to watch as the alicorn pulled together all the shattered remnants of his defeated copies and crushed them down into a tiny ball. The alicorn didn't stop there, though, as they popped the mass into their mouth, swallowed it whole and consumed his essence. For a moment the blood demon thought this had been a mistake on their part, though when he tried to strike the alicorn from the inside, he realized his error.

For those clones had been completely obliterated, and there was nothing left of them for the monster to control. Seeing his chances of success rapidly slip between his fingers, the blood demon shifted his tactics once again. This time he divided his forces between offence and defence, attempting to keep his foe at bay while preparing a counterattack.

Glowing barriers were erected and destroyed in rapid succession, the alicorn shouldering their way through any obstacle put in front of them. Phantasmal images of the blood demon were conjured, adding even more targets for the alicorn to crush or annihilate with magic.

Magical darkness was summoned, only to be dispelled a moment later. Webs sprung into existence beneath the alicorn’s hooves, prompting them to leap briefly into the air and launch a fireball. The resulting explosion of flames burnt away at the sticky silk a second before the alicorn landed once more in the midst of their foes.

A kick obliterated several of her enemies, while at the same time an empowered telekinesis spell crushed several more. With hoof and horn, the alicorn destroyed her foes faster than they could be revived, all while she wore a manic, almost insane grin on her face. A whirlwind of destruction, the blood demon struggled to do anything but merely keep her at bay, all while he wondered how this was even possible.

His attacks, which damaged his foe even when blocked, were connecting constantly, yet the alicorn showed no signs of slowing. He could even see that several of his larger crimson shards were sticking out of their armor or were lodged in what little flesh was exposed. Still they did not slow, their body remaining in constant motion as they lashed out at any enemy that strayed too close.

He wasn't about to give up, though, and raising his many hands to the sky, the blood demon called forth a magic inherent to his species. Such magic he knew was uncounterable, and with a smirk on his face he watched as blood began to rain from the ceiling, soaking everything in red. In an instant the alicorn’s body was drenched in the stuff and their wounds both open and closed began to bleed freely.

Rather than be crippled by the hundred of cuts which opened across her body, the alicorn merely cackled as she threw herself forward once more. With a crash, the enormous winged demon shattered her opponent’s final shield, and with a powerful exhale, bathed dozens of clones in hellfire. A wave of lightning joined the inferno, adding an extra layer of death to the already catastrophic attack.

For the first time in centuries, the blood demon felt real panic, and he sent his clones fleeing in all directions from his enemy’s attack. Hoping that the alicorn was distracted or at least winded, the otherworldly monster tried to open a hellgate and bring forth reinforcements. Only for a flap of the alicorn’s enormous wings to annihilate the group of copies he had been using to channel the spell.

Not only that, but the hellfire infused gust of wind knocked back what foes hadn't been utterly obliterated by the attack. An opening the alicorn used to turn several more blood clones to stone, while their body stomped and kicked at the copies. Within mere minutes of the fight breaking out, the blood demon was down to his final two clones, and victory had slipped completely from his grasp.

Seeing their foe flinch beneath their gaze, the alicorn smirked as she slowly trotted up to the cowering demon.

“How?” he muttered in shock.

“This form grants great power,” remarked the alicorn in a voice that sounded like two creatures speaking at once. “Though it is only temporary.”

With a stomp of their forehoof, the alicorn crushed the final clone, while their horn lashed out with a crackling bolt of red lightning. Without any other bodies to absorb the damage, the blood demon was thrown against the wall, his body charred blacker still by the attack. Without his focus, the bloody rain stopped pouring, allowing the alicorn a chance to heal some of their many, many wounds.

The second they felt their flesh knit back together again, the alicorn released a shuddering sigh, their body coming apart at the seams. The demon shrunk as mist slipped from between the plates of their armor, slowly returning both familiar and mistress to their natural forms. A process which took mere moments to complete, with both demons nearly collapsing to the floor the second they were whole once more.

“I hate doing that,” Rainbow Dash muttered, spitting out a wad of coagulated black blood. “Becoming super tough is cool and all, but it still hurts.”

Kanathara wiped her lips and straightened her crown. “Using her power over our own is a nice way to conserve magic, but we get way too arrogant when we are like that.”

Rainbow Dash shook herself vigorously, her armor shedding some of its bulk and returning to its more natural size. “I’m glad we can only do that once a day. I love ya, but that's a bit too much intimacy. Even for me.”

“How-” the blood demon coughed. “Pathetic.”

Kanathara glanced down to where the half-dead blood demon lay crumpled against a nearby wall. “If that were pathetic, then what does that make you, huh?” Kanathara spat.

“A weak, hobbled demon who has had his power stunted by the fool who had summoned him,” murmured the blood demon.

“You’re just saying that because we whooped your butt!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, jabbing the demon in the face with a hoof.

The blood demon laughed, even as his charred black halo began to flicker and fade. “Respect where it is due. You two were quite the surprise. If I could retreat and fight again, things would be very different though.”

“I don't suppose you could tell us anymore about this place before you get sent back to Tartarus,” Kanathara offered.

The creature’s cracked face shifted into a smirk. “I have one simple tidbit for you.”

“Well then, go on with it before you die mid-sentence,” Rainbow Dash demanded.

The creature shook briefly, his body beginning to liquify from the bottom up. “From your arrival to my defeat. Everything is a part of their plan.”

“Whose plan?” Kanathara shouted as she reached for the blood demon’s shoulders.

He let out a short hollow bout of laughter before his form dripped away into nothing.

“Well, that was a bust,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

Kanathara cursed under her breath. “At least it confirms you were right.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “I’m always right.”

The keeper chuckled as she watched the last remnants of the blood demon’s presence melt away into nothing, leaving behind only a small blood stain on the ivory floor where he had finally died. Glancing around the room revealed that the space had suffered no other damage, save for the partially destroyed throne and the hole they had made in the wall behind it.

“Now what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully to herself as she took in her surroundings. No soldiers were beating down the doors, nor were any reinforcements arriving through the stairs behind the throne. Evidently the blood demon had not activated any manner of alarm, nor did he call on any unseen allies.

A fact which only served to irritate the already annoyed keeper even more, sending her mind down a dark path. Shaking her head, the demon dismissed her paranoia and focused on the mission she had yet to complete.

“We plant the bomb as planned before heading deeper. The Elements can't be far,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“How long of a fuse are we going to put on that thing?” Rainbow Dash inquired. “I mean can we even determine that without knowing how far away the Elements are?”

“Too early and it would make our mission harder, too late and we might have already missed our window,” Kanathara explained as she wove together the magical bomb. “I think two hours would be our best bet. This gives us a chance to find the Elements, secure them, and work on our escape plan.”

“Too bad that guy didn't have a map on him. That woulda made this whole thing way easier,” Rainbow Dash idly remarked, giving a shattered piece of the throne a kick across the room.

“That it would have,” Kanathara murmured.

Ethereal clockwork gears and glowing lines of power wound together to form a vaguely spherical mass of pulsating magical energy. This orb took a considerable amount of focus to bring into being, requiring Kanathara to focus intently for over a minute. In the end though her job was complete, and with the bomb prepared, she focused briefly, turning the entire thing transparent.

With that done, Kanathara was able to pass the orb through the floor, and nestle it tight within the glowing confines of the rune below. A quick visual and magical inspection revealed that it worked as intended, with the bomb remaining undetected. Kanathara knew that without a skilled mage to inspect her spellwork, no one would find her little surprise before it went off.

And brought down all the wards and glyphs tied to the rune beneath her hooves.

“It is done,” Kanathara declared.

“Nice. Now can we get moving? I’m getting itchy sitting around so much,” Rainbow Dash complained.

Kanathara nodded slowly, giving her handiwork one final glance before turning and following after her familiar.

Together the duo made their way up the stairs which lay behind the throne, preceding at a slow, careful pace. It wasn't long before the stairs turned sharply to the left, and the two demons were forced to climb even slower. Extending their senses as far as possible revealed little, and both mistress as well as familiar were on high alert.

Yet they saw no one and picked up no traps or alarms as they ascended higher into the tower. Thankfully for their nerves after only a few minutes, they were able to reach the next floor and were able to escape the seemingly endless tunnel. The next area didn't do much to assuage their paranoia, however, as there were no guards visible within the wide room.

Scanning for all manner of unseen observers, Kanthara came back with nothing. While her mistress ran through a bunch more spells, Rainbow Dash simply looked around the wide empty space. It was a lot like the floor below, only not nearly as opulent, keeping only the slightly opaque windows and doing away with the throne as well as pillars.

“There's nothing here,” Kanathara murmured. “Strange.”

“What is with these big empty rooms?” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I don't know,” Kanathara admitted. “So much of this place seems like it was pieced together from three different facilities. One part research and development, another containment, and a third used for training as well as storage.”

“Maybe it was intended to do the first and last thing,” Rainbow Dash began, waving a hoof out through the doorway. “Doesn't seem wholly designed for that middle one.”

“No, it doesn't,” Kanathara agreed.

The keeper of secrets couldn't help but wonder what the true history of this place was, and what it had once been intended for. Regardless of its past, the citadel served every purpose the paladin order required of it. Which also meant that it was still an incredibly well-defended structure, no matter how haphazardly those defences had been placed.

“Are we going or what?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Yeah, just be careful,” Kanathara whispered, half to herself, half to her familiar.

The vengant shrugged, and walked into the room beyond, her mistress following at a slight distance. Together they ventured deeper into the strange building, making their way through long hallways and more winding staircases. Though the spaces they found themselves in varied, the lack of guards served as their one true constant.

“Where is everyone?” Rainbow Dash muttered under her breath. “Did they all take a break at once or what?”

Kanathara glanced out from the small alcove they were using as cover before ducking back inside. “I don't know, but it's wearing on my nerves,” Kanathara remarked.

“No kidding, you’ve been casting more anti-invisibility spells in the last five minutes than I’ve seen you cast in the last five years,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “Are you sure that's a good idea though? I mean you gotta be burning through a lot of magic at this point.”

“I have more than enough power to keep this up for as long as I need to,” Kanathara retorted, only to wilt. “Though not forever.”

Rainbow Dash took a turn, peeking out from their hiding spot before ducking back.

“You know, that's something I’ve been thinking about a lot this past few minutes,” Rainbow Dash began.

“Oh, and what have you been thinking about?” Kanathara pressed.

“Well, what if that is all part of Shining’s plan?” Rainbow Dash offered with a shrug.

“What, like he wants us to steal the Elements?” Kanathara replied, taking her turn looking out into the narrow, white hallway beyond.

“No, not that,” Rainbow Dash replied. “What if he's trying to wear us down for some reason.”

“That’s…” Kanathara hesitated, a frown crossing her face. “Possible, though unlikely.”

Kanathara shook her head. “Regardless, we have a job to do, and it's not like we can pull out now.”

“True,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “It just makes me look forward to that vacation of ours even more.”

The vengant flashed her mistress a wink before slipping out from the alcove and leaving Kanathara with a slight blush. The keeper of secrets gave her head a shake before following after the other demon, quickly catching up to the larger creature.

“You good?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara wiped the sweat from her brow, her horn still glowing brightly as she worked on a small panel next to a door.

“Just a second,” Kanathara replied, quickly returning to her work.

A few seconds later, the complex weave of magical defences flickered briefly before falling completely dark. Making Kanathara’s smile morph into a bitter frown and prompting her to angrily punch the thing with a hoof. The demon cursed to herself as she carefully placed the stone back into its place in the wall before standing once more.

“To answer your question, I am annoyed, but fine,” Kanathara replied. “Would you mind pulling open this door?”

“That's like the fourth one in a row. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Kanathara let out an angry snort. “I know what I’m doing. Without me shutting them down, it would be impossible for the door to open in the first place. The mechanism that does so is just tied to the lock for some dumb reason.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I don't care one way or the other, but my hoovsies are getting tired.”

“Hoovsies, really, Rainbow Dash?” Kanathara deadpanned.

“What’s the problem? It's what they are called,” Rainbow Dash stated.

Kanathara had been about to point out that it sounded silly, but was interrupted when her familiar rammed her forehooves into the center of the door. Unlike the rest of the relatively simple entrances they had come across so far, these last few were opened solely by magic. Thus they lacked any kind of handle and were made up of two sheets of metal which split into the middle.

Rainbow Dash solved this problem quite handedly when she ripped open the door and forced it back into the walls. Steel strained, muscles bulged, and within a few seconds the offending obstacle had been completely removed.

“These things are so annoying,” Rainbow Dash complained as she rotated one of her shoulders.

“It is impressive though. Who would have thought that they would make nearly every room completely air tight,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash jabbed a hoof forwards. “What do you think that means?”

Kanathara followed her familiar’s gaze and immediately frowned at what she saw. For instead of the white interior they had seen for the majority of the way, there was a strange purple crystal.

The entire hallway before them was made of the same stuff, though the thick oaken door on the far end was not. Unlit and without any windows, the pair would have had trouble traversing the expanse if their demonic sight didn't allow them to see perfectly in the dark. It also seemed like the perfect place for a trap, or some kind of magical defence of some kind, though Kanathara’s scans came back negative.

“This is either some kind of super mean trap, or the hallway before the boss room,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “Now who's been reading too many novels?”

“Oh, come on. Even you have to admit that's totally what this looks like,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, gesturing down the hall.

Kanathara sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Damn straight I am,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Kanathara pressed.

“Why me?” Rainbow Dash replied, crossing her hooves over her chest.

“Because you're the one wearing the plate mail,” Kanathara deadpanned.

Rainbow Dash blinked and looked down. “Oh fine, but you better have checked it thoroughly!”

“Would I lie to you?” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Only when you say you love me more than I love you,” Rainbow Dash replied with a wink.

The keeper blushed and looked away, muttering under her breath, “That's because it's true..”

Her familiar merely chuckled as she began a long, uneventful walk down the hallway. Reaching the end only a few seconds later, Rainbow Dash stopped in front of the door and looked around.

Doesn't seem trapped, Rainbow Dash pointed out.

I’m coming over, Kanathara stated.

The keeper carefully did just that a few seconds later, joining her familiar near the exit. Where they just stood for a few seconds, staring at their surroundings and waiting for something to happen. When no fireballs shot out of the walls, and the floor didn't give out, they exchanged a look as well as a shrug.

Kanathara stopped to conjure a scrying sheet, but was dismayed when attempts to see past the door failed. She followed this up with the usual gamut of anti-trap testing, among the other spells she had gotten so much practice with recently. It was only after she burned every bridge available to her that Kanathara reluctantly reached for the handle and was startled when she heard a hum coming from behind her.

“What was…” The keeper’s jaw hung open.

For behind her the hallway was completely gone, replaced by a solid mass of purple crystal that hummed with energy. The demon didn't even have to light her horn to know that several anti-teleportation wards had been enacted. The familiar tingle at the back of her mind told her in no uncertain terms that there was no way out other than forward.

“So, uh… nothing ventured, nothing gained. Right?” Rainbow Dash remarked with a weak shrug.

Kanathara growled, her irritation growing by the second until she very nearly punched something. Reigning back those urges, the keeper schooled her expression and straightened the crown upon her head.

“Ready to get this done?” Kanathara asked.

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Do you even have to ask?”

“No, but it makes me feel better to hear you say that you are,” Kanathara admitted.

Rainbow Dash leaned forward and planted a brief kiss on the other demon’s lips. “Then yes. I’m ready when you are.”

Kanathara took one final deep breath before reluctantly turning away from her familiar. “Right, let's do this.”

Author's Note

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Trial Nine: Blood and Gold

The door opened at a slow, almost glacial pace, giving the two demons plenty of time to peer into the room beyond. The walls of the chamber were stone like everywhere else, only here they were a darker grey, as was the tall, vaulted ceiling that hung far above their heads. It was also a fairly simple space, consisting of only a single long hallway broken up by six pairs of pillars on either side.

Lighting was minimal, as there was only a single large window at the far end of the room. Not like the two demons needed it, as the shadows were far from deep, and the evening sun more than sufficient. There were only a few very minor details about the room which made Kanathara curious and more than a little nervous.

The far side of the room by the window was actually an alcove that bore within it a complex array of magical circles. Even at this distance she could feel their intent, and sense that they were meant to contain anything within them. The density of the magical weave was considerable, and Kanathara doubted that she would ever breach such a barrier if she found herself trapped.

Kanathara was also able to detect a simple teleportation rune inside of it, but it was strangely small. It felt almost like a transposition rune, one that was supposed to enable two items to be traded with one another over a large distance. Though Kanathara couldn't be sure without giving it a closer look, the demon was fairly certain that was its purpose.

The magical circles, though interesting, weren’t half as intriguing as the glass case within it, or more specifically, the jewelry it contained. One was a tall crown adorned by a six-pointed purple star, the other a necklace that bore a bright red thunderbolt. Both of which hummed with barely contained power, their energies reaching out towards the pair of demons in an almost enticing manner.

Though they piqued Kanathara’s curiosity, the Elements weren’t what made her nervous. That particular honor went to the six golden armored paladins standing before them. Each one stood impassive, staring at the two demons as the pair silently gawked at the hall they now found themselves within. Their opponents were also armed and were even more imposing now that Kanathara wasn't observing them from above.

Though their physical appearance ranged slightly, they were all nearly as tall as an alicorn and had the powerful body structure to match. Stranger than the minute differences they had was the complete lack of visible distinguishing features. She could not see their eyes or skin, only the ever present layers of golden armor, resplendent chainmail and deep cloaks.

“I knew this was a trap,” Rainbow Dash murmured through the grille of her helmet.

“They haven't attacked us yet. Perhaps there is a chance at diplomacy,” Kanathara whispered back.

“Yeah, I wouldn't bet on that,” Rainbow Dash retorted. “They are clearly guarding the Elements.”

Kanathara smiled as best as she could, hoping to hide the sheer level of exhaustion that hung heavy about her shoulders. “Greetings and well met, paladins,” she announced.

The largest of the six stepped forward, his hoof clanking audibly against the white floor. “Greetings to you, invader,” he replied without malice.

“Charges of breaking and entering aside, I don't suppose you could be convinced to part with those fine pieces of jewelry behind you by chance?” Kanathara continued, laying on the charm as thick as she could manage.

Oh, succubus magic. That's rare, Rainbow Dash remarked.

The six remained completely impassive despite Kanathara’s honeyed words.

“I wouldn't bother with that if I were you. Noone here would be affected by a fully fledged succubus, never mind the bookish cousin of one,” the leader declared in a slightly amused tone.

Kanathara cursed under her breath. “Perhaps a trade then? Or a contract between-”

“Silence,” he interrupted. “There will be no trades or contracts or deals. The only options you have before you are to surrender or be beaten into submission.”

“Just a light beating? No murder this time?” Rainbow Dash quipped.

The paladin snorted. “No. Your capture is important to Lord Armor. Now then, what will it be?”

“Easy way or hard way, huh? Hardly even a choice, really,” Kanathara muttered, silently inspecting the six armored creatures before her.

What do you think? Golems? Ponies? Rainbow Dash questioned.

I’m not sure. They hide their essence quite well. My gut says they are more than simple golems, though I don't think they are ponies, Kanathara replied.

“Speak your decision. Now!” bellowed the paladin, his hoof nearing the hilt of his enormous cleaver.

“A moment, good sirs. I was hoping to discover more about you. After all, if you were demons or some other untrustworthy entity, then we couldn't exactly take you at your word,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“I cannot speak about our nature. Now give us your answer. Lest your silence serve as your response,” declared the golden-armored creature.

Kanathara’s eyes narrowed, and she glanced from one paladin to the other, noting how each one seemed ready to explode into motion at a moment’s notice. Other than their general appearance and overwhelmingly holy aura, the demon wasn't able to deduce much of anything. A quick check told her that Rainbow Dash had also come up with nothing, the familiar just as confused as her mistress.

I’ve got the ugly one, Rainbow Dash thought.

That doesn't exactly narrow it down, Kanathara pointed out.

I know, Rainbow Dash replied.

For a moment it seemed as though the lead paladin was ready to issue another ultimatum, only to be cut off when a burst of magic shot from Kanathara’s horn. The energy took the form of a simple bolt of electricity which was deflected easily by the taller paladin to his right who raised his staff and conjured a small, yet bright gold shield, sending the attack harmlessly into the ceiling.

By the time the bolt was gone, Rainbow Dash had already cleared the distance, her hoof outstretched towards the caster’s face. She too didn't hit her target, as the paladin to his right moved to intercept, swinging his mace down at the vengant’s neck. Forced to dodge, Rainbow Dash redirected her speed upward, sailing over the ground-bound creatures and catching an arrow to the leg in the process. Her armor took the majority of the blow, yet the impact left a strange tingling feeling that lingered far longer than it should have.

The rest of the paladins leapt into action with surprising ease, none needing so much as a single command to know where they were going. The wand-wielding soldier that wore blinders on his helm followed Rainbow Dash from the ground, his weapon pointed skyward. His companion with a longbow did similarly, somehow managing to sprint after the flying demon while still firing arrows. Lastly was the armored creature who held aloft a ruby encrusted mace, and had somehow kept up with Rainbow Dash.

The other three broke off from their fellows, making a beeline towards Kanathara and attempting to hem her in. The largest of the three swung his massive cleaver in a dramatic overhand chop, the powerful strike carrying enough force to split the demon in two. His allies hung back slightly, with the taller, thinner staff-wielding creature holding his glowing weapon high, as if waiting for something. The final, mask-adorned paladin kept his axe low, following in his ally’s wake and waiting to strike after his larger companion.

Rainbow Dash was forced upward, her momentum allowing her to stay ahead of her pursuers, but not by much. With such a narrow space to maneuver, she simply wasn't able to maintain her speed, and the vengant knew she would need to switch tactics. She had another trick up her sleeve and performed a sudden backflip, extending her steel-covered hooves in the process.

The mace-wielding paladin lurched to the side, narrowly managing to miss Rainbow Dash’s attack. She slammed into the ground with enough force to shatter the tiles and send bits of stone high into the air. It also opened her up to a flurry of arrows which clattered noisily against her armor, leaving behind several more tingling spots across her side.

Pulling up a flaming wing, Rainbow Dash was ready to rush the longbow-wielding enemy utilizing her cover, only to find that it was useless. Arrows which should have been turned to ash by her hellfire wings continued to pound into her, leaving the demon little choice but to retreat. Leaping off the ground, Rainbow Dash tried to will her body to mist, intent on reforming atop her ranged opponent. She found herself unable to do so, and a glance to her left revealed that her enemy’s wand was glowing brightly.

They have some way to stop us from using misty step! Rainbow Dash thought bitterly. They are also tough as hell.

Kanathara grunted, unable to answer due to the fact that she was ducking and dodging as best as she could. A leap to her right put her out of the cleaver’s path, which would have normally given her a second to breath as it would have stopped the axe paladin. If he had not turned to smoke and reformed directly in front of Kanathara, his axe sweeping towards her midsection.

Leaping back with all her might, Kanathara avoided the attack and, while in mid air, used her magic to reverse her personal gravity. While plummeting up towards the ceiling, the keeper of secrets leveled another spell towards the trio, hoping to burn them with a well-placed fireball. The second the searing orb of flame leapt from her horn, an identical sphere of water shot up to meet it.

An explosion of steam briefly blinded the keeper, who rolled to the side, putting a pillar between herself and any potential danger. An instinct that served her well, as a pony-sized cleaver slammed into the stone, its wielder sprinting after her. Like Kanathara, the paladin chasing her was walking atop the ceiling, his hooves glowing a faint gold.

Cursing her foul luck, the keeper silently hoped her familiar was doing better than her.

A wish that unfortunately wasn't about to be granted anytime soon.

The vengant was only just barely staying ahead of her foes’ lightning fast attacks, be it the rapid fire blows of a mace, the flurry of arrows, or the occasional bolt of charged energy. Her blood urged her to strike back, but the demon’s exhaustion weighed heavily, leaving her on the backhoof from the moment fighting began.

I don't need to put power into my hits. I just need to hit in the first place, Rainbow Dash reminded herself.

The next mace swing was deflected deftly off to her right, allowing the demon to smack her hoof across the paladin’s. The stud nearest the limb lit up, and a glowing red thread connected it to her foe, a jolt of power briefly arcing between them. The soldier took several quick steps back, his gaze going down to the affected body part curiously. This sudden retreat would have left an opening, had not a flurry of arrows and a single larger bolt of golden energy not been fired at Rainbow Dash.

Cursing her opponents bitterly, the vengant ducked under the bolt, the passage of which left an uncomfortable burning sensation across the top of Rainbow’s head. Holy magic, potent too, Rainbow Dash quickly realized, silently adjusting her strategy and prioritizing dodging as opposed to blocking. Accepting the hits from the arrows, Rainbow Dash rushed her first opponent, surprising him with a flurry of light, but numerous attacks.

Come on and die, you jerk! she thought.

I’m going to die! Kanathara thought as she snapped off a short range teleport and dodged a cleaver swing which would have split her skull.

She barely had a moment to think however, as the ghostly axe soldier was right behind his leader. A burst of kinetic energy drove the creature back, but was not able to do any kind of lasting damage despite the power behind it. The keeper continued to run away from her two melee-focused enemies, her horn building power as she eyed her lone ground-bound foe.

Who remained impassive, his bladed staff raised high, just waiting for an attack to negate. Kanathara poured her magic into the ground beneath him. Stone spikes shot out of the floor, but were rendered harmless not by counter magic, but rather simply nimbleness.

The paladin had somehow leapt up out of their range and was now standing atop the spines, his staff pointed towards Kanathara. Feeling the bolt of holy energy before it could even be launched her way, Kanathara focused hard and turned to mist. Though doing so took more energy than other times, it was enough to let her avoid the projectile and land on the ground, her gravity returning to normal.

Great. Back at square one, Kanathara thought to herself.

Rainbow Dash poured on the speed, her forehooves becoming a blur as she pummelled the paladin ruthlessly. Though he deflected some attacks and dodged others, he couldn't evade Rainbow Dash’s onslaught completely. That was until the vengant felt another surge of holy magic, and was forced to leap back, lest she be blasted by a beam of the stuff.

Smirking to herself, the demon deflected a trio of arrows and watched as the mace-wielding paladin dropped to the floor. Or at least that's what it looked like he was doing, as instead of hitting the ground, he merely relinquished his hold on the mace. He then opened a pouch, produced a stone and crushed it, causing the numerous red lines to vanish as well as what few dents Rainbow Dash had managed to inflict.

“Hey, no fair, that's cheating!” Rainbow Dash shouted, only to yelp when a glowing golden arrow came flying at her face.

Forced to dodge once more, Rainbow Dash ducked and reflexively tried to turn to smoke, but was blocked again by a glowing wand. Now annoyed and growing fearful, the vengant started to heat up, drawing demonic power into her lungs. She then unleashed said energy after leaping over a bolt of lightning, unloading everything she had into the soldier’s face.

A great eruption of hellfire exploded from the demon’s maw and shot into the seemingly empty helmet of her foe. For a moment it seemed like her attack was working, but then something heavy slammed into her chin and knocked Rainbow Dash back. Confused and off balance, the vengant took a second hit to the cheek, and a third to the neck, stumbling backward all the while.

Kanathara wasn't doing much better and only narrowly leapt out of the way of an errant beam of holy energy that originated from the other side of the room. The keeper had to immediately turn to mist, as a cleaver was swinging at her from one direction and an axe from the other. Reforming behind the lead paladin, Kanathara reached out and touched his side, intent on laying one of the more deadly curses she knew.

The magic never completed, as the second her hoof met golden armor, a white hot spike of pain shot through the demon. Stumbling back, Kanathara was too confused to react when a pair of hooves slammed into her chest and sent her flying. Her brief flight ended when she met the wall, leaving behind a small crater which she quickly pulled herself out of.

A forked bolt of lightning impacted the spot Kanathara had been only a second earlier, scorching the broken stonework. The woosh of an axe as it descended towards her skull stopped Kanathara’s attempt at retaliation and pushed her to continue evading their attacks. A snap teleport did just that, putting her next to the staff-wielding paladin who at least for a moment seemed startled.

This is going to hurt, Kanathara thought.

Placing her forehooves against the creature’s side, Kanathara channeled the most powerful scanning spell she knew. The mere touch burned her very soul, but she held on until it was completed, and not a second too soon either. For a bladed staff had slammed into her side, driving the demon back and towards the cleaver paladin she had narrowly avoided a few seconds earlier.

Damn that hurt, Rainbow Dash remarked to herself as she hopped out of range of her opponent.

Dodging another bolt of holy magic, the vengant was ready to launch herself into another attack when the mental voice of her mistress suddenly popped into mind.

We need to switch! These creatures are connected somehow and made up of little more than steel and holy magic, Kanathara all but shouted.

Smoke is going out, Rainbow Dash replied immediately, pulling forth more demonic power.

This time it didn't take the form of hellfire, but rather black smog that poured from every chink in the vengant’s armor. Thick and obscuring, this demonic hindrance spread quickly, covering nearly everything. While this happened, Kanathara leapt out of another cleaver swing and turned to mist, her ethereal form surging across the room.

Their six opponents weren’t about to just let this happen however, and with a startling speed, a strange golden smoke cloud surged after Kanathara. It then placed itself in front of the opposing mass of mist, which in turn caused a moment of distress and confusion to pass through the keeper. Losing consistency of her body, Kanathara tried to go around, but found herself hemmed in by a bolt of golden magic.

Rainbow Dash wasn't doing much better, as her mad dash across the room under the cover of smoke had been interrupted almost immediately. Tackled from the side, the vengant found herself in a desperate melee with the mace-wielding soldier she had just disengaged from. Striking him in the head and neck seemed to do little to the paladin, who seemed intent on hanging on as best as he could.

By the time she managed to fling the creature off of her, Rainbow Dash’s smoke was gone, dissipated by a magical gust of wind. Not only that, but the same three enemies were still right there, meanwhile Kanathara had been forced to reform. She too was facing down the same foes she had been stuck fighting for the last few minutes, their gambit having accomplished nothing.

I can barely do anything here, and it won't be long before they pen me in, Rainbow Dash desperately thought as she scrambled off the ground. What do we do?

I don't know! Kanathara replied, the keeper dodging as best as she could. They seem custom built to take us down.

If I wasn't so exhausted from spending all day in this damn place, I could probably take them, Rainbow Dash lamented, deflecting an arrow before pounding a hoof into the mace-wielding soldier’s chest.

I know, but we can't think of that right now. We need a plan, Kanathara exclaimed, blasting one foe with a conjured mass of acid that seemed to do nothing.

What about your entropy thing and my nova attack? Rainbow Dash offered, only to grunt when a mace slammed into her chin a second before a bolt of holy magic knocked the wind out of her.

That might not even work, and even if it does, we will be incredibly vulnerable while we recover, Kanathara pointed out, her conjured trio of imps getting crushed flat a second before she was kicked in the face and sent sprawling to the ground.

At this point I’d give up a leg just to have a chance here! Rainbow Dash mentally shouted.

Fine then. It looks like we don't have any other options anyway, Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash dodged to the left, putting the mace-wielding soldier in the path of his two ranged allies. The move bought mere seconds, but it was enough for the vengant to begin pulling on the deep well of demonic power which lay in the very core of her being. Strength and heat poured through her body, both of which rapidly increased until her armor began to bulge, and flames erupted in all directions.

The ruby mace slammed into Rainbow Dash’s cheek, shattering the bottom half of her helmet and badly dislocating her jaw in the process. Her movements slowed due to the sheer amount of power she was channelling, Rainbow Dash was forced to take each hit. Which kept coming, the mace slamming into her face several more times, breaking her jaw completely.

Her other two opponents didn't let up either, with numerous arrows continuing to pound into the demon. One unfortunately lucky pierced straight through her destroyed armor and tore its way into the demon’s eye. Stopped only by Rainbow Dash’s thick skull, she narrowly avoided death, though one thing she didn't avoid was a beam of holy magic.

Which obliterated her right foreleg completely, the limb simply evaporating under such an intense barrage of energy. The demon was unperturbed by it all, as her armor was now white hot, and each step she took left behind a glowing hoofprint. Thankfully for her, the energy had reached its uppermost limit and was released in an explosive burst of speed that even Rainbow Dash found impressive.

The falling mace of her enemy was caught by a hoof, its haft melting in her grip before being tossed aside. Its wielder attempted to strike back, but his forelimb crumpled upon connecting with Rainbow Dash’s chest. The vengant batted the appendage aside before lurching forward and wrapping him in a white hot bear hug.

Armor melted while its wielder struggled, a strangled cry not unlike the sound of twisting metal erupted from his throat. Then, with a final gasp, the soldier crumpled to the ground, his attacker already on the move once more. Unbothered by the lack of a fourth leg, Rainbow Dash ignored the attacks of her enemies and lowered her head.

The wand- wielding paladin barely had a moment to consider dodging before a metal horn grew from the vengant’s skull. It pierced the underside of his chin and went straight through the top of his helmet, killing him before he had a chance to respond. A sharp jerk tore the seemingly empty helmet from his head before Rainbow Dash continued her warpath.

The final paladin was faster than the others and was able to line up several arrows before Rainbow Dash could close the distance. Unfortunately for him, none of his strikes found another vulnerable section, and his bow was shattered with a lightning fast jab. His breastplate was then caved in by a second blow followed by an uppercut which tore through a section of his helmet.

Rainbow Dash wasn't about to let him off easily and rose up, flaring her powerful wings before bringing them forward. Golden armor bent and melted, the paladin’s body unable to resist such massive amounts of heat. Unable to stand or fight, the creature let out one final grunt before toppling forward into a pool of what had once been its body.

Kanathara did not require as much time to build up the necessary power, but that didn't mean she would come out of this fight unscathed. Memories of her second childhood flowed through her, reminding the demon of the time she spent as little more than an imp. With only a tiny shred of entropic power to defend herself, Kanathara remembered well the feelings of helplessness. Emotions she was reliving once more as her enemies bore down on her, weapons raised and ready to end her.

Her horn pulsed with a sickly greenish aura, and from deep down in her belly, a profoundly unpleasant sensation emanated. This primal revulsion didn't last long, as the keeper channelled it into her forehooves, giving the limbs a bright emerald appearance. All of this took only mere seconds, but in that time her opponents closed the distance, with a cleaver swinging towards her while an axe swept down at her legs.

Now unable to turn to mist or cast a spell, Kanathara was left with few responses save to rely on her physicality. Thankfully she was no slouch in that department and was able to roll to the left before she could take a direct hit. The axe still managed to clip her back leg, leaving a deep gouge.

It wasn't enough to stop her, as Kanathara bum-rushed the staff-wielding paladin first, aiming to remove the caster from the equation. He was fairly quick however, and Kanathara had to duck and weave through several sweeping attacks before closing in on him. A final two-handed swipe leveled at her would have knocked her to the ground, but the keeper did something unexpected.

Shifting her weight suddenly, Kanathara slid across the ground, rolling onto her back at the last second, and rammed a forehoof up into her enemy’s stomach. A second hoof joined the first, and the armored creature managed a gurgled yelp before its front and back halves were made separate. Kanathara’s victory was short-lived, as the slam of a massive cleaver ended the staff-wielding paladin while also removing the keeper’s back legs completely.

Unable to reform her limbs, Kanathara ignored the pain and quickly extricated herself from beneath the dead paladin. Only to come face to face with the axe-wielding soldier who moved to cut off her escape with a brutal chop to the shoulder. Unable to dodge and lacking half of her limbs, Kanathara was forced to take the blow, grabbing the weapon in the process.

The head was first to rust away, though the haft quickly followed, with the axe’s wielder dropping the weapon and stepping away. His retreat was stopped by Kanathara using her stump legs to push her forward and allow her to latch onto his neck, squeezing the paladin tightly. Her surprising strength combined with the entropic energy flowing through her quickly began to destroy his armor.

He began to turn to smoke and attempted to slip away, but Kanathara was faster still, exhaling a great mass of acidic vapor which mixed with the golden smoke and caused both gases to annihilate one another in the process. Again, Kanathara wasn't able to enjoy her success for long, though this time she at least tried to dodge the attack she knew was coming.

Due to the exhaustion, pain, and missing limbs, the effort was largely wasted and Kanathara was sent sprawling when a hoof slammed into her belly. The lead paladin strode over to the keeper as she coughed and struggled to rise, only to be grabbed by the throat before she could do so. Lifted off the ground, the keeper was forced to stare into the dark expanse where the paladin’s eyes should be.

“You’ve made a lot of trouble, little one,” he rumbled, seemingly unconcerned or unbothered by the fact that his armor was beginning to corrode away.

Rather than reply with words, Kanathara spat a wad of acid directly into her opponent's face.

“Damn, you cheeky little brat,” he muttered, dropping Kanathara to the ground and wiping his helmet free of the burning substance.

His hoof clattered to the ground a second later, having rusted from the inside out. Kanathara smirked and was ready to fire back with a witty retort when the paladin’s good hoof slammed into her horn. Shocked and suddenly disoriented, Kanathara couldn't even make her eyes focus before she felt a second blow crack the delicate appendage.

A third sundered it completely, causing a sudden explosion of magic to knock both Kanathara and her opponent from their hooves. The keeper slammed into a pillar and came to a rest in a lopsided sitting position, with the paladin landing on his remaining hooves a few feet away. With a grunt, the armored creature rose completely, only for his other foreleg to shatter into a million pieces.

“Damn it all to Tartarus,” he muttered.

“Give it a rest. You only have a few seconds before you’re little more than dust,” Kanathara weakly exclaimed, pulling herself into a proper sitting position.

The paladin slumped to the ground. “Aye, I suppose you’re right. No point in fighting anymore.”

Kanathara watched in confusion as the creature whipped its head to the side, casting away its helmet and revealing its true face. Though its features seemed equine, Kanathara quickly realized how wrong her first impression truly was.

“You’re a demon? But how?” Kanathara muttered in shock.

Rainbow Dash limped over to the pair and ripped the arrow from her eye socket, inadvertently removing the organ in the process. With a grunt, her smoking, almost lava-like form began to rapidly cool, the vengant collapsing near her mistress.

What's going on? I can't see shit, and my face is all messed up, Rainbow Dash thought.

I’ll explain in a moment, Kanathara replied, her own magic slowly returning to normal.

“Yeah, I was one of you, and, unlike my brothers and sisters, I chose to keep this face as a reminder of my crimes,” declared the paladin who waved a hoof over his dark green scaly skin and glowing red eyes.

“Jealousy, right?” Kanathara muttered.

The paladin nodded slowly, his armor beginning to crack as deep, rust-colored lines began to spread across its exterior. “Killed my wife after finding her with another mare. Spent about four centuries in the lowest pits for that,” he bitterly explained.

This guy sounds like a douche, Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara stifled a snicker. “So then what? You got stuffed into some holy armor and allowed to walk around up here again?”

“That about sums it up, yeah,” he replied with a smirk. “Lord Armor gave me the chance to do something good, and I’m glad for it. At least I did a single decent thing with this miserable existence of mine.”

“But you failed,” Kanathara pointed out, grunting as she regrew just enough flesh to cover her stump limbs. “We’re still alive and now we have the Elements.”

“Not yet, you don't,” he retorted, his voice growing raspy. “Why do you think we didn't go for the head when we had the chance?”

What is this guy talking about? Rainbow Dash questioned, the vengant’s body having finally returned to normal, albeit with a shattered jaw, a missing eye, and one less foreleg than before.

“What do you mean?” Kanathara questioned, a hint of fear worming its way into her voice.

“Ha! And he said you were smart,” barked the paladin. “Do you really think we couldn't have ended you if those were our orders? Or at least trapped you within the containment rings.”

Boss, I think someone is com-

Kanathara tuned her out. “Why? What was the point of all this then?”

“Simple,” spoke a familiar voice. “To ensure that you were too weak to resist.”

Kanathara turned to find her brother striding down the hall, a black orb resting in his upraised hoof.

“About time you showed up, my lord. Sorry I won’t be able to assist you further,” remarked the paladin.

“You have done what you were meant to. Rest now,” Shining Armor commanded.

The former demon released a final sigh and collapsed into a heap, his armor turning to dust and leaving behind little but several hunks of rusted gold.

“Now it's your turn for redemption,” Shining Armor exclaimed, raising the orb high above his head.

Both keeper and vengant felt the familiar and deeply unpleasant pull of the strange, monstrous artifact. The unsettling tug on their very souls was powerful, and with so little strength left in their bodies, the two demons knew they had little time to resist.

That’s the black hunger, boss, we gotta go! Rainbow Dash mentally shouted, grabbing her mistress around the shoulders and pulling her away.

“Save your strength, Rainbow Dash,” Kanathara muttered bitterly, her head hanging low. “We’ve already lost.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.

Trial Nine: Twisted Machinations

Come on, don't give up so easily. The window is right there. If we just bust it open, we can get outta here! Rainbow Dash pressed, dragging the keeper by her shoulder.

“There are a ton of wards on it, and without my horn I can't break them. I can manage maybe a shield spell by channelling through my hoof, but that's about it,” Kanathara retorted. “Save your strength, Rainbow. We aren't getting out of this one.”

“Listen to your friend and just give in. I promise I’m here to help you,” Shining Armor exclaimed as he stalked towards the pair.

Like I believe that. Come on, boss, use that acid spit to melt a hole in this window, Rainbow Dash offered, hauling the other demon next to the lone source of light in the room.

Kanathara grunted, and for a moment considered it, but quickly found the last remnants of her power eaten by the slowly advancing orb. She could barely even move at that point and just staying conscious was beginning to grow difficult for her. Rainbow Dash wasn't much better off, though she at least had the strength to pound her hoof against the window several times. Each impact caused a slight ripple of gold energy to emanate from the point, seemingly negating the strike completely.

With a final sigh, Rainbow Dash toppled to the ground in a disorganized heap. Damn it all. We were so close!

Kanathara frowned and glanced over to the nearby pedestal, her gaze settling on the two pieces of jewelry contained within. They had indeed nearly grasped their prize, yet it seemed as though even that had been part of her brother’s plan.

“What now?” she asked, turning to the male.

“Simple. You sit in that bubble, and I use the Elements to redeem you,” Shining Armor replied, pulling the black orb away. “I’d appreciate it if you did this yourself, as I’d rather not use force.”

“Yet you didn't seem to have any qualms with dismembering us,” Kanathara deadpanned, waving a hoof over the spot her horn should be.

The stallion winced. “That was… an unfortunate series of events. Don't worry, as soon as you're returned to normal, I’ll heal any injury you may have. Provided the Elements don't do that naturally.”

What is this guy talking about? Rainbow Dash thought. Couldn't he at least heal my messed up face first?

Kanathara glanced over to her familiar and winced at her ruined features that were further marred by the shattered remnants of her metal which had been her helmet. “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. I should have known this was a trap,” Kanathara murmured sadly.

“You knew it was a trap the moment you walked in here,” Shining Armor remarked. “Making these traps obvious is the only way I’ve ever gotten you to walk into them.”

“What are you talking about?” Kanathara asked.

“Have you still not recovered your memories? My spies said you have,” Shining Armor replied.

“I, err…” Kanathara paused, flashes of board games played with Shining popping into her mind. “You pandered to my ego with a seemingly predictable plan and then sprung your actual trap once I disarmed the first one.”

“You were always smarter than me, but were blind to the bigger picture when there was a problem directly in front of you,” Shining Armor continued, gesturing towards the Elements. “Now come on. I need you in that circle so I can heal you.”

Kanathara grunted. “Let's just do what he says. I don't have the strength to reform my legs, and not being able to stand up is incredibly unpleasant.”

Fine, but I still don't think it was this guy who came up with everything. It had to have been Celestia, Rainbow Dash declared, jabbing a hoof at the stallion.

“What did she say?” Shining Armor inquired.

“She doesn't think you came up with everything and thinks this was a plot of Celestia,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash grunted before hauling the keeper into the circle and flopping down next to her in front of the pedestal which held the Elements.

“Celestia doesn't know about any of this. She doesn't need to,” Shining Armor answered, lighting his horn and causing a bubble of purple light to enclose the two demons. “She wouldn't approve of what I intend on doing, nor would she have allowed me to send most of my ponies away in order to create the opening you exploited.”

Kanathara’s frown deepened. “Then it was you who has been causing all this chaos with the paladins.”

“Yes and no,” Shining Armor replied, levitating the black hunger out of its effective range. “The Nightmare is active again, and Celestia is intent on stopping her since the Elements are out of reach. I merely threw extra resources her way in order to assist.”

“Let me guess. The spy told you what we were after, and that we would take your bait,” Kanathara offered.

Shining Armor nodded. “The turncoat is close to our dear mother and fed her the exact information she wanted to know.”

“It's that weird haughty unicorn, isn't it?” Kanathara retorted, jabbing a hoof at the male.

“I’m not going to give you that information, now please lie still and try not to resist. The process is much less strenuous if you don't fight it,” Shining Armor continued.

What exactly is he planning? Rainbow Dash thought. Lemme guess, he's going to redeem us by cutting off our heads or something equally as messed up.

“What do you plan on doing?” Kanathara inquired. “You don't intend on making us into those golden suits of armor, do you?”

Shining Armor snorted as his horn began to glow with magic. “They were noble soldiers, but I don't intend on making more underlings. I intend on getting my sister back.”

“But I’m already here. What are you talking about?” Kanathara shouted, waving her forehooves over her head.

The stallion’s face twisted into a grimace, and his spell collapsed. “You are not my sister! You are a demon, a creature of the blackest pits born of suffering and sin. Twilight was everything you are not, and I will bring her back.”

Please tell me this guy knows that becoming a demon is a one-way street, Rainbow Dash muttered.

“You can't be serious,” Kanathara deadpanned, gesturing to her darkened form. “There is no magical force in existence capable of undoing this.”

“That's where you are wrong,” Shining Armor retorted. “The Elements are capable of banishing a prime evil, and with the correct bearers they can even purify someone possessed by a demon. Celestia herself confirmed this.”

“But you don't have the bearers,” Kanathara pointed out, rising into a slightly less uncomfortable sitting position. “They won't work.”

“I think we both know that isn't true. Or do I need to remind you of our shared experience with a certain pegasus cult?” Shining Armor replied, casting a quick spell and swapping the black hunger for the Elements.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash both winced, bracing themselves for the feeling of having their very essence torn from their bodies. However, that never happened, and the two demons peered at the glass container curiously.

“How does that work?” Kanathara questioned.

“Celestia’s skill with enchantments is considered legendary for a reason,” Shining Armor replied.

She probably designed it to contain the hunger, and this pansy stole it, Rainbow Dash remarked bitterly, rubbing a hoof over her ruined cheek.

“Don't we have a say in this matter?” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing towards her familiar. “We rather enjoy being demons, and honestly, even if you could turn me back into a pony, I wouldn't wish to.”

Yeah! I look cool as heck and am like, super ripped, Rainbow Dash thought, flexing a hoof only to wince when her tired muscles ached even more intensely.

Kanathara rolled her eyes.

Shining Armor’s nose crinkled, and his brow furrowed in disgust. “Of course you would say that. Without your hosts you will be forced to return from whence you came.”

“We aren't-”

“Silence!” Shining Armor shouted, stomping a hoof. “I will heal you both, and with Twilight’s return, my family will finally be complete once more.”

Before Kanathara could offer a word in edgewise, the unicorn lit his horn with a deep purple and green magic that crackled with black lightning. The magic flashed like a miniature storm, flickering as it enshrouded the stallion’s horn in its unholy energy. With a grunt, he forced the foul power into the Elements he held aloft in an open hoof, causing them to immediately lose their resplendent shine.

Both artifacts seemed intent on rejecting Shining Armor’s attempts to alter them, but were soon beaten down. The brilliant purple starburst turned a deep green while the bright red lightning bolt became an almost sickly crimson color. With the ancient devices now broken to his will, Shining Armor raised the jewelry up, pointing the pair of them at the confused demons.

A second later, a beam of twisting energy shot from the headwear and flew across the room, piercing the containment barrier. It did not, however, manage to breach Kanathara’s own protective wall of magic she had only just barely conjured with a glowing hoof. With a loud pop and fizzle, the two warring forces clashed, with the powerful energies splitting and wrapping around the smaller dome.

“Stop this madness at once!” Kanathara shouted, raising her glowing hoof high. “I am your sister, and I don’t want this!”

Shining Armor gritted his teeth as he continued to pour more and more magic into the artifacts. “Begone, fiend! You have no claim on Twilight’s soul or her body!” he shouted back.

A surge of energy crashed against Kanathara’s barrier, causing a great spiderweb of cracks to appear all along its exterior. Worse yet, the demon herself was beginning to grow weaker by the second, exhaustion sapping the last remnants of her strength. Seeing this all happen before her, Rainbow Dash made a snap decision, one she hoped her mistress would forgive her for.

The keeper’s final defence fell, but the corrupted energy did not hit its target. It was intercepted by a three-legged vengeant who threw herself in the way of the beam, opening her wings wide and catching the magic destined for her mistress. For a moment both Shining and Kanathara gaped in silence, shocked by the sudden movement.

“No!” Kanathara cried, reaching out for the rapidly shifting form of her familiar.

Rainbow Dash grunted. Don't worry, boss, I’ll protect you!

“Your attempts at bravery are irrelevant. In the end you both will return to your natural forms and be healed,” Shining Armor exclaimed through gritted teeth.

Kanathara reflexively raised her foreleg and tried to create another barrier, but the limb was never meant to channel such power. The energy she gathered quickly fizzled, and the demon was left lying there, unable to do anything to save her familiar whose entire body now pulsed with the twisted magics coursing through it, changing her from the inside out.

The first thing Kanathara noticed was the familiar red of her familiar’s mane had become brighter and was starting to change color. In seconds it had gone from the intimidating hellfire Kanathara knew and loved to a strange wavy mane of rainbow that danced on an unseen breeze. It wasn't the first thing to be altered, however, as the vengeant’s hard, almost scaly flesh softened, and it wasn't long before teal hair began to sprout from it.

The process was not a pleasant one, as the demon could hear her familiar groan in pain as her body was forcibly shrunk down. Bones cracked and flesh shifted like clay beneath a cruel potter’s touch. The demon’s jaw, which had already been damaged during the fight, began to grow looser, as if it were ready to fall from her face.

Then it shifted, suddenly clicking back into place as flesh covered the damage. Even her missing limb began to grow back. Kanathara wished that was all that happened, but as they shared a connection deeper than mere passion, the keeper could sense further changes occurring. Within the altered demon’s head Kanathara could sense that her very nature was beginning to be replaced by something else.

The demonic magic all foul creatures of Tartarus had access to was waning, and, worse yet, she could feel Rainbow’s mind warping. The more disturbed and curious part of the keeper wanted to wait and study this effect further, but Kanathara refused that impulse. She was losing her closest companion right in front of her, and she was going to be twice damned before she let that happen without a fight.

Her hooves scrambled against stone, the demon using what little strength she could muster to throw herself at her familiar. Dragging her to the ground, Kanathara covered her lover with her own body and braced herself for what she knew was coming.

“I- but you… I was trying to save you,” Rainbow Dash muttered in shock, her jaw having just managed to fully heal.

“It's my turn to play the hero,” Kanathara whispered.

“This is ridiculous. I am healing you! Can't you see it?” Shining Armor shouted, his magic intensifying as the beam moved down, striking Kanathara on the back.

The keeper winced as she felt the foul magic begin to twist its way beneath her skin and into her very soul. The pain was excruciating, and just putting it into words was a struggle she could not bear at the moment. It was all too much, yet she couldn't enter the welcoming embrace of unconsciousness as some force ensured she stayed fully aware of her surroundings.

Her leathery hide quickly lost its coarse, rough exterior, while becoming lighter and growing a fine layer of purple hair. Limbs shortened, while her entire body compacted, rearranging her very essence to fit someone else's definition of herself. Even as she felt her very being alter and change, Kanathara could also sense that her horn had returned, though it was far smaller.

The two demons gazed into one another’s souls, embracing their shared pain.

“I’m sorry I couldn't protect you,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “I guess that makes me a liar, huh?”

“Even if we end up as twisted as those poor ponies we found in Cloudsdale, at least we’ll still be together,” Kanathara whispered back. The vengant gritted her teeth as feeling returned to her formerly missing limbs.

“Kiss me one final time while your mind is still your own,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara uttered no words and instead leaned forward, pressing her lips against the other pony’s. While they embraced one another for what felt like the final time, Kanathara’s mind clutched tight to the love they held. In that darkest of moments she dared to hope that in the end when everything else had been wiped away, at least those feelings would remain.

“You should be thanking me!” Shining Armor shouted, his eyes flaring with chaotic energy. “I am doing you a favour, I’m right, this is… right.”

His anger wavered, and all the indignation which had driven him until this point began to wane. The pony’s gaze went down to the two creatures holding one another like they were on death’s doorstep. In that moment he could see the love they shared, though he did not notice that one of the Elements had begun to glow a faint prismatic light.

“I…” Shining Armor stumbled back a step, his magic flickering before dying suddenly. “I need to speak to Celestia. She’ll know if this spell works. Yes, she’ll be able to confirm that I’m doing the right thing.”

Kanathara pulled back and fell to the floor, the half-transformed demon grunting in pain as her new legs twitched and spasmed.

Kanathara turned to the unicorn, glaring daggers at him. “She’ll tell you what we did. This isn't right. You know this,” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, man. Forcing someone to change species isn't right,” Rainbow Dash added.

“It is! I am healing you both!” Shining Armor shouted, his eyes flashing dangerously.

“Like how Tirek healed me?” Kanathara offered.

“He made you into a demon! This is different!” Shining Armor weakly yelled, his shoulders falling slack.

“How is this not the same thing?” Rainbow Dash asked softly. “You tricked her and forced her into something she didn't want to be a part of.”

Shining Armor swallowed hard, his magic flickering and slowly regaining its natural purple glow. “I’m doing the right thing. I’m saving my sister. I’m fulfilling my promise, and I’m bringing her home.”

“I’m already home,” Kanathara whispered.

Shining Armor hesitated, the Elements toppling from his grip and clattering to the ground as his gaze lingered on the keeper’s outstretched hoof. “I…”

Whatever he had been about to say was cut off by a thunderous crack followed by dozens of smaller thundering booms that traveled up the tower. Smaller snaps and cracks could be heard from all around them, and diffused magic filled the air. For a single dreadful instant, the entire tower groaned, though after several long seconds, it had stabilized once more and the room’s occupants breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ha, I knew that bomb was useful,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as the barrier around them fell. “Goodbye wards, hello freedom!”

“That was you?” Shining Armor yelled. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Kanathara opened her mouth to reply, but found that a curious light had caught her eye, drawing her gaze to the Elements which were now both glowing faintly, their light seeming to stretch out towards her and her familiar, bathing them in its strange illumination. Shining Armor didn't seem to notice this, as he was already beginning to pace, a nervous expression crossing his face.

“If the wards are down, then I won't be able to get back-up, and the entire structure might…” the stallion muttered to himself, his words trailing off.

Kanathara ignored the frantic ramblings, her keen eye picking out the remnants of dark magic that clung to the edges of Shining Armor’s eyes. It was small, but the demon knew that such corrupting influence had likely already backfired and caused no small amount of confusion in the pony. Utilizing this moment of chaos, she reached with her magic and plucked the closest Element from the ground while her familiar did the same.

The second their hooves touched metal, the two demons felt a bolt of white hot energy explode through them. In an instant all the changes and alterations were undone, and their bodies returned to how they had been only a few minutes earlier. This time the transition was painless and instant, though it left behind two small, but noticeable differences. One was Rainbow Dash’s eye which remained a milky white, and Kanathara’s back legs which blazed with agony when she walked.

They were small problems in the grand scheme of things and were quickly tucked away. Just like the Elements were, their strange magic having dissipated by the time they had been dumped into Kanathara’s extradimensional space.

“Does it kinda feel like we could turn back when we want?” Rainbow Dash asked, prodding her scaly flesh once more.

“It feels like there is a switch or lever at the back of my mind now,” Kanathara replied, only to shake her head. “Now is not the time for such considerations however.”

“Right. We gotta get…” Rainbow Dash began, her jaw falling open when her gaze wandered to the window.

Following her familiar’s line of sight, Kanathara peered out at the normally empty, steep expanse of barren mountainside. It was now occupied by a small horde of demons and cultists, as well as a towering centaur standing nearly thirty stories tall and blazing with power. Upon his hand stood a familiar wrath demon and an equally as easily recognizable unicorn mare clad in a blackened mail.

Woah. That looks like your mom’s entire cult and all the imps Pear gathered up, Rainbow Dash remarked.

Tirek is really, really tall, Kanathara added lamely.

“Wh-what is going on?” Shining Armor stuttered, the last lingering effects of the dark magic leaving his eyes. “You're free? How is this possible?”

“Oh, right, now we can deal with this jerk. What do you say we do to him?” Rainbow Dash offered, stomping forward.

“Nothing,” Kanathara interrupted, extending a hoof across her familiar’s chest. “Like it or not, he's family.”

“But-”

“But nothing,” Kanathara exclaimed, pointing towards the confused and defensive stallion. “He just needed to learn that I don't need his protection anymore.”

“I…” Shining Armor gulped down the lump in his throat. “I should fight you, you know.”

“You probably should,” Kanathara agreed. “Those artifacts are really rare.”

“Well, now that I think about it, those were probably the decoy ones I made. Plus I could never actually raise a hoof against my sister anyway,” Shining Armor offered.

“Totally useless, not even worth following up on,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Right,” Shining Armor muttered.

“So that's it then?” Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing to the stallion. “Can I at least punch him or something?”

“Nah. Mom’s gonna do way worse once she hears about this,” Kanathara remarked, lighting her horn and shattering the window with ease now that it was not magically reinforced.

A brief rush of wind briefly cut off conversation, though the two demons could still see Shining Armor’s terror-filled expression.

“I don't suppose you could maybe not tell her about all that?” Shining Armor weekly asked.

“I’ll think about it,” Kanathara remarked with a smirk, turning to her familiar. “Get us out of here, Rainbow.”

The vengant chuckled as her mistress turned to mist, slipped through her armor, and settled into the back of her mind. “You got it, boss lady,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, opening her wings, only to stop just before she jumped. “Oh, and soldier boy? She might have forgiven you, but I definitely haven't. We are going to be having words soon, buddy.”

Shining Armor sighed. “Would it help if I told you I approve of your relationship?”

Rainbow Dash blinked. “It couldn't hurt.”

She then turned and leapt from the tower, her wings pumping hard as the demon quickly leveled out.

Looking down from the destroyed window, Shining Armor noticed that his forces were beginning to gather on the ground below. Frantic, disorganized, and utterly outmatched, the paladins had yet to be engaged, the enemy having backed off unexpectedly. Where a second earlier they looked ready to invade the tower no matter the cost, now they just seemed confused.

A second later when Rainbow Dash landed atop Tirek’s hand, the entire army came to a stop. A moment passed where Shining Armor wasn't quite sure if the towering centaur was about to attack or not. Then it was gone, and the entire mass of demons and cultists turned away, scrambling back along the many ridges like a great mass of spiders.

With their disappearance, Shining Armor let out a long, low sigh.

“Well, I guess this is it then,” he muttered. “Now I’ll never get that promotion.”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.

Trial Ten: Contracts and Obligations

Kanathara sat in stunned silence atop Tirek’s hand. Beside her rested her familiar, breathing heavily as she inspected herself. With the adrenaline rush fading and reality kicking in, Kanathara only now realized how close they had come to truly being defeated. Not only that, but they had managed to overcome all odds and make it out with their prize and without harming many of the guards.

“I still can't believe that thing healed us so well. I thought you said healing magic of that strength usually backfired in some way,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara looked away from the army moving beneath her to the curious familiar lying next to her. “What? Oh well, I suppose it did in a way,” Kanathara murmured.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“My legs still ache, and even now they feel weaker than normal. Nevermind the fact that your eye is still messed up,” Kanathara pointed out.

Rainbow Dash blinked and waved a hoof in front of her face. “Oh shit, would you look at that. Give me a second to… hrrng.”

The demon strained, but couldn't seem to regenerate the organ no matter how hard she focused or turned to smoke.

“Rest now,” Tirek exclaimed, his powerful voice briefly deafening the two demons. “We are nearly at the temporary base above Canterlot.”

Kanathara nodded slowly, settling in next to her familiar, who lay back down with an indignant huff.

“I guess it could be worse,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“We’ll adapt. We always do,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash nodded to herself and joined her mistress in staring over the windswept cliffs. The towering centaur maneuvered the narrow passes and steep drops with ease, using his long legs to bypass most obstacles. Below them, the gathered horde of imps, cultists, and summoned demons did the same, utilizing various spells to get the same effect as the giant.

Among their number Kanathara spotted her mother’s signature armor and even the golden bulk of a particular wrath demon. All were making their way towards a small encampment that was coming into view as they rounded the Canterhorn. After they had crossed over a rather treacherous divide, Kanathara was saw something strange rising up over the horizon.

The sun was gone, having been replaced by its darker sibling that now hung malevolently over the world. Darkness spread across the land, swallowing everything in a cloying, unnatural shadow. Yet it was the moon itself that grabbed Kanathara’s attention, as the mare within had begun to move.

The face laughed cruelly, the scattered craters rearranging themselves into the cackling face of a demonic alicorn. Then she turned her gaze down to Equestria and grinned, baleful intent sparkling intensely within her strange white orbs. Her mouth opened wide, as if the mare was intent on swallowing the world, before her features split and shattered into a thousand pieces.

“The Nightmare is free,” Kanathara murmured.

“And she’ll be coming for the Elements soon,” Rainbow Dash added.

“We won't even be able to stall for long, not with the contract holding us back,” Kanathara remarked.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to respond, only to point down to a pillar of smoke rising from the distance. “Woah, what is going on down there?” she asked.

“The Nightmare’s forces are already on the move,” Tirek explained. “The Equestrian civil war, which has remained dormant for centuries, has been reignited.”

“The second war in heaven has begun,” Kanathara added grimly.

“Are they already attacking Canterlot? Damn, they must have been waiting for this moment,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Kanathara looked down to find that was indeed true, as numerous districts within the walled city were already ablaze. Sporadic fighting could be seen everywhere, with demons and cultists alike rampaging through the streets. Guards, both royal and otherwise, stood with their paladin allies, fighting wherever they found the enemy. Though the defenders were clearly outnumbered and only held the upper levels of the ancient settlement, the righteous held firm.

At least for the moment.

However, that wasn't the only place Kanathara could spot conflict, as nearly every town and village she could see was under siege. Enhancing her already hawk-like vision with a simple spell, she narrowed her gaze and observed the fighting closer.

A town near the Everfree was besieged on all sides by what appeared to be demonic timberwolves while another was beset by a more conventional force. What looked like griffon and minotaur mercenaries were using several trebuchets to assault a walled town near the base of Canterlot. Not all of the Nightmare’s forces were organized however, as demons of various types rampaged through the countryside, destroying empty farms.

Turning her attention towards Ponyville, Kanathara was saddened to see that the barrier which protected the town was flickering. She could tell from a glance that it likely wouldn't last long, though she couldn't make out what exactly was attacking the village. It was clearly in danger however, and given how far from Canterlot the settlement was, reinforcements seemed unlikely.

Looking away from the numerous battles happening below her, Kanathara glanced down to find that they had arrived at their destination. Several scattered tents had been clustered around a large teleportation rune that Kanathara recognized as her mother’s design. The small camp was already in the midst of being broken down, and several dozens of imps scurried busily about.

As they drew close, Tirek began to shrink, gently placing Kanathara and her familiar down near the runic array. As his body returned to a more normal size, the fear demon winced, clearly in no small amount of pain. The process was over remarkably quickly, and when it was done, Tirek was caught by Pear Butter before he could collapse.

“I got ya, old man. Don't you worry none,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“If I had known that such size was unnecessary, I would not have grown so large. Now I merely feel like a fool,” Tirek murmured as they trotted over to where Kanathara was resting.

“If nothing else, it was a comforting sight,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Tirek smiled. “Then it was well worth it.”

A familiar armored mare broke through the ranks of cultists and imps which milled about the area. A succubus trodd eagerly next to her. The demon stood a good head and shoulders above the pony, a wide smile on the sparsely armored creature’s face. Wearing only a circlet over her brow, a tight form-fitting breastplate, and a short wavy purple skirt, she did not seem armed for battle.

Kanathara found her quite attractive at first glance, with her pale white skin, bright emerald eyes, and flowing, waist-length black hair. Something was off, however, and Kanathara only really figured out why she felt that way when the succubus got close. It was then that Kanathara realized that the other demon had only a single tattered black bat wing on her back, and that she was missing a leg. From the knee down the limb was simply gone, having been replaced with an artificial metal substitute that resembled her remaining cloven hoof.

Her arms were also not natural, as a pair of glowing green limbs extended from her shoulders. Not only that, but she also bore numerous ugly scars across her face, though that didn't stop her from smiling like an excited filly. She even limped ahead of the mare to her side, approaching Kanathara and kneeling in front of her.

“Oh, and you must be Kanathara,” she cooed in a slightly gravelly tone. “Your mother has told me so much about you.”

“Velvet, who is this?” Kanathara inquired.

The unicorn hastily trotted after the demon, who she swatted on the upper thigh. “You were supposed to let me introduce you two,” Velvet exclaimed.

“But I was too excited. It's not every day you meet your new daughter-in-law,” replied the succubus.

“Wait, you got remarried, and to a succubus no less? Damn, Mrs Velvet, I didn't take you for a player,” Rainbow Dash commended.

“I didn't- that's not…” Velvet groaned. “This is Kith. She was the demon I made a pact with. And no, we did not get married.”

“Not yet anyway,” Kith replied, flashing Kanathara a wink.

“Well, it's nice to meet you,” Kanathara awkwardly replied, offering a hoof.

The succubus shook the limb with one of her glowing green hands. “The pleasure is all mine, Kanathara. Though I must say, Vel, you chose an interesting time to start returning my letters.”

“Yes, well… I’ve been busy,” Velvet murmured.

“Enough of your awkward attempts at flirtations,” Tirek interrupted. “Is the array ready?”

“It will be in a few moments,” Velvet replied. “Don't worry. We’ll get out of here before the locks are put in place.”

“Locks?” Kanathara inquired.

“The Nightmare plans on using a powerful dimensional locking spell to ensure that no one can rapidly enter or leave Equestria,” Velvet replied, gesturing all around her. “They will be up in less than an hour.”

“She’s tryin’ to make sure that no one is able to stop her from killing Celestia and usherin’ in one helluva long winter,” Pear Butter added.

“So what's the plan?” Rainbow Dash offered, rising from the ground. “‘Cause I for one ain't a fan of getting turned into a popsicle.”

“Oh, I like her. She reminds me of you,” Kith whispered.

Velvet coughed into her armored hoof. “We leave. After returning to the cabin, we will gather our forces and begin our march on Canterlot. While doing so, we should be able to unite the scattered remnants of the guard.”

“That won't be enough,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “And even if it is, how will we defeat a prime evil?”

“I think I know how,” Kanathara murmured, shaking her head. “But it doesn't matter. The contract dictates that I return the Elements to Nightmare Moon as soon as possible.”

“But there are so many enemies between you and Canterlot,” Kith began, gesturing back to the city. “To leave now would potentially lead to accidentally returning them to Celestia, and you can't have that.”

“True,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “I guess we’ll have to go back to that cozy cabin for a little rest first.”

“Then we must send a letter,” Kanathara interrupted.

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Ahh, come on. Surely there is a ‘we really need to rest’ clause in that thing?”

Kanathara chuckled as she shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Rainbow.”

“It's fine,” Velvet exclaimed. “We’ve been able to come back from worse. Besides, it was bound to happen eventually.”

“Allow me,” Tirek offered, picking up a pen and paper.

“Right,” Kanathara cleared her throat. “Dear Nightmare Moon. I have managed to acquire the Elements of Harmony. I am retreating back to my safe haven at these coordinates.”

“Short, sweet, and to the point,” Pear Butter remarked. “Though I would have called her something unpleasant if I were you.”

“It was tempting,” Kanathara admitted.

“It appears as though we are ready,” Velvet exclaimed. “As soon as the letter is sent, then we can retreat.”

“I got it,” Rainbow Dash interjected, snagging the sheet of paper and exhaling a black flame across it.

The entire thing vanished in a puff of smoke that zipped down the mountain and towards Canterlot. With that done, Kanathara felt a weight lift from her shoulders, only for it to settle firmly on her heart. Her obligations may have nearly been over, but that only meant that the last responsibility she had was to save Equestria and by extension this entire world.

No pressure, Kanathara thought to herself.

“We are ready,” Kith offered.

Kanathara blinked and looked to find that the imps and other forces had assembled nearby. Their ranks were tight, yet even still they just barely fit within the circle, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder. Around Kanathara were her friends and family, each waiting patiently for the keeper to give the signal.

“Right. That's everything we need to do. Get us out of here,” Kanathara declared.

“Standby for shift,” Kith exclaimed, her ram horns glowing brightly.

Then, after a short amount of build-up, they simply appeared on a slightly cluttered field which lay before what had once been a cabin. The grounds themselves had grown considerably and now sported a moderately sized wall of stone that wrapped around the perimeter. The fields had also been expanded, the old defences torn down, and the cabin added onto so much that it resembled a small mansion.

It was a remarkable amount of work, given the short time that they had been away, and though there was more to see, Kanathara ignored it all. Instead she merely plodded into the home without uttering so much as a single solitary word. Around her, the various creatures and ponies quickly scurried to their next assigned task while Kanathara’s family joined her.

“You alright, boss?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara winced as she walked up the short stairs that lead to the entrance. “I’m fine. Just grappling with the fact that we finally managed to get them all and now we have to give them to her, of all creatures.”

“Well, it's not like we have much of a choice in the matter,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“I know. That doesn't make things any easier however,” Kanathara muttered.

Together the duo was followed by the small group comprising of Tirek, Pear Butter, Velvet, and Kith. Upon entering, they were also joined by an expectant Pythias, who wore a slightly nervous smile on her face.

“We did it,” Kanathara muttered.

Pythias sighed knowingly and gestured to a nearby table where she had set out enough tea for the entire group. There were also some snacks, as well as what looked like a stack of reports, but Kanathara didn't pay them any mind. The only thing she had eyes for was the rather unique smelling reddish liquid waiting for her in a dainty white saucer.

“Is this…” Kanathara sniffed. “Oh, it is.”

Pythias nodded and pulled out a chair for the keeper, inviting her to sit, which she did.

“Broke out the good stuff, did you?” Velvet inquired as she shucked off her armor.

“Wonderful choice. This will surely aid our exhausted friends quite a bit,” Kith remarked, helping to remove the pony’s protective coverings.

“Doesn't really feel like we deserve it, to be honest,” Pear Butter added, seating herself next to Tirek.

Who greedily grabbed his cup and took a deep sip. “Speak for yourself. This is exactly what I needed,” he muttered between gulps.

Pythias gestured invitingly to the arrangement, encouraging the group to indulge themselves freely.

“Don't mind if I do,” Rainbow Dash murmured, downing a cup of the oddly fragrant liquid before throwing a hoofful of cookies into her mouth.

Kanathara ate and drank at a much more sedentary pace, enjoying the quiet, for she knew it wouldn't last. Strength slowly filled her battered body, and though exhaustion continued to weigh on her, the demon knew a short rest would do the trick. The magical liquid merely meant that she didn't have to indulge in a soul or two in order to recoup the last of her lost reserves.

Around her, the other demons and sole pony of the group did the same, though Velvet’s cup contained a less powerful brew. Together they enjoyed the moment, staying quiet for the most part, though there was the odd word spoken quietly amongst them. It couldn't last forever though, and as things were beginning to wind down, an imp ran up to Pear Butter’s side.

“Psst, boss lady. We got a big black thing incoming. What do we do?” he whispered.

“Bring her to us and do not point a weapon at her,” Pear Butter hissed back.

“Are you sure? ‘Cause she looks really, really scary,” murmured the imp.

“If you do, then you will all die,” Kanathara interrupted.

The imp’s eyes narrowed briefly before he hastily scampered away, yelling commands to his compatriots as he did so. With him gone, the temperature of the room dropped significantly, and Kanathara couldn't help but dread what was coming.

“Stay strong, dear. You can do this,” Velvet whispered, placing a steadying hoof on Kanthara’s shoulders.

“I know,” Kanathara murmured.

It looked like Tirek was about to offer his own words of encouragement when Pythias approached before he could do so. Placing a hand on Kanathara’s other shoulder, she pointed to the keeper of secret’s forehead and then her own.

“Go ahead,” Kanathara replied in a slightly puzzled tone.

Thank you. I’ll keep this brief, but do you remember that moment I told you would come? Pythias asked.

“I do,” Kanathara answered.

This is it, Pythias added before pulling back her hand and stepping away.

“Wait, what do you mean? Should we not give her the Elements or what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Pythias remained silent and impassive.

“Pythias, come back, I need to ask you…” Kanathara stopped, a shiver running up her spine.

“Too late,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Everyone turned to the entrance, where a heavy, almost oppressive aura was emanating. The temperature of the room plummeted so far that the sole mortal present clutched her torso and shivered. Noone could utter a word, and all sat in rapt silence as the door creaked open to reveal the towering figure of Nightmare Moon.

Clad in only the night, the demonically possessed alicorn had more limbs than Kanathara had expected. Two sets of forehooves grew from the inky black mass that was the mare’s torso, each one ending in a split hoof that looked more like claws than hooves. Her great leathery wings sparkled briefly before they returned to her side, folding away until they were nearly invisible.

Her fur was as dark as the night sky at her back, the alicorn blending so well with the background that her features were difficult to make out. Only the twin sparkling oceans that were her deep purple mane and tail were clearly visible, that and her four slitted eyes. The narrow pupilless voids shone with a teal radiance that made Kanathara’s skin crawl and her soul ache.

Ducking through the entrance, Nightmare Moon’s long, sharp, and oddly curved black horn narrowly avoided the top of the doorjamb. Once inside, the mare gazed around the interior with an amused expression on her face, one that quickly settled on Kanathara.

“You have my Elements,” the prime evil exclaimed in a deep, yet whispered tone.

“I do,” Kanathara croaked.

Everyone else in the room subtly moved out of the way as Nightmare Moon strode towards the keeper of secrets. Upon nearing the former unicorn, the alicorn’s smile widened even further, and she extended a hoof.

“Give them to me and fulfill your end of the bargain,” Nightmare Moon demanded.

“I… just a moment,” Kanathara murmured.

“Do not make me wait long, Keeper. You have earned my patience, but I have much to do,” Nightmare Moon exclaimed.

Kanathara chewed on her hoof, her mind gathering every bit of information she had on the twisted alicorn. The first thing she considered was simply refusing her outright and fighting the ancient demon and her dark will. That, of course, was a foolish thought.

The keeper had allies on her side, and a small army of imps, but none of that mattered when faced with a being as powerful as the Nightmare. Their chances would have been vastly improved if Kanathara was well rested, but as it was, she would likely only get off a single spell before the twisted alicorn killed her, Rainbow Dash, and likely everyone else on the property.

There was simply no getting around the power imbalance here, nevermind the contract which hung over Kanathara’s head. She wouldn't even be able to say no, though she could of course fight the second she gave the Elements up. Again, this didn't help much, and Kanathara’s plans were quickly falling apart in her mind.

What is this important decision that Pythias mentioned? Kanathara thought to herself. There has to be something. Think, Kanathara, think!

The demon backtracked and decided to think of what she would even need to win in a fight with the Nightmare in the first place. Vast armies were meaningless against such a powerful entity, as they would be swept aside like they were little more than ants. Kanathara would need a select group, one that was strong enough to fight the Nightmare on a relatively even footing.

No, that's still not enough, Kanathara realized. We need an ace.

The impatient tapping coming from one of the Nightmare’s clawed hooves threatened to shatter Kanathara’s focus, though she ignored it for the moment.

It has to be the Elements themselves, Kanathara declared.

She knew they were strong enough to lock the demonically empowered alicorn in the moon for a thousand years. Yet even if they could figure out how to use the things, they needed bearers, and not just anyone would do. They needed those attuned to-

Kanathara’s eyes went wide when she thought back to the five other creatures that had reacted to the artifacts. Applejack, at the museum, Fluttershy in Cloudsdale, Rarity at the diamond dog town, Pinkie Pie in the train, and finally Rainbow Dash and herself who had both touched and seemingly been healed by the bizarre artifacts during the last fight with Shining Armor.

They had to be the bearers, yet it didn't matter. It couldn't matter, Kanathara thought. If she gave Nightmare Moon the artifacts, they couldn't be used against her, as the alicorn would simply hide them away.

Or would she? Kanathara thought. She has had a thousand years to plot and scheme, the Nightmare will likely grow arrogant in her victory.

“Are you quite done?” Nightmare Moon demanded.

“Yes,” Kanathara quickly replied, lighting her horn. “I merely needed a moment to think.”

With a flash, the keeper deposited the jewelry onto the table in a cluttered heap, much to the surprise of Rainbow Dash. Her familiar gaped in silence, and Kanathara could feel the dozen or so questions the vengant wanted to ask.

Trust me, Kanathara pointedly thought.

Rainbow Dash nodded subtly as Nightmare Moon carefully picked over the mass of gold.

“These are indeed the Elements,” Nightmare Moon exclaimed. “I’m glad to see that you did not think to try and fool me with fakes.”

“That would never work,” Kanathara replied.

The Nightmare chuckled. “Indeed it wouldn't have. The attempt would have been amusing, however.”

The alicorn then gathered up the necklaces, tore a hole within her shadow, and dropped the Elements into it.

“There we are,” purred Nightmare Moon. “Now I just need to deliver what I promised you.”

Kanathara nodded. “Indeed.”

“You know,” the Nightmare began, stepping close to the keeper. “When this is all over, I will require a new second-in-command, and I think you would be perfect for the position.”

Kanathara could tell that nearly everyone else in the room stiffened at the comment, ready to leap at the mare at a moment’s notice. Yet still no one said anything, each waiting for Kanathara’s response before they acted too rashly.

“I’ll consider it,” Kanathara replied.

“Please do so. It would be a waste for you to perish along with this wretched world,” the alicorn spat bitterly.

She then trod over to the door, stopping at the threshold in order to glance back at the keeper. “In seven days, the final battle will begin. You must meet me in Canterlot Castle no later than midnight in a week’s time, lest you miss your opportunity for revenge.”

“And the armies standing between me and the castle?” Kanathara asked.

The Nightmare smirked. “You’re a smart demon. You’ll figure it out.”

A solid flap of the alicorn’s wings later, she was airborne, vanishing into the dark sky.

For a moment no one said anything, then Rainbow Dash leapt from her chair and thrust her hoof into the air.

“She’ll never join a jerk like you!” exclaimed the vengant.

Kanathara chuckled as she limped over to the other demon. “Don't worry. I certainly don't plan on it.”

“Good, because for a moment there I almost thought you would,” Tirek murmured.

“Well, I never doubted you, honey,” Velvet interrupted.

“Neither I,” Pear Butter added.

“What now?” Kith inquired.

Kanathara turned back to Pythias with an expectant look. “I needed to come up with a plan, didn't I?”

The seer nodded slowly, a proud smile spreading across her face.

“There were no other options other than to set aside my pride and think of how best to approach the problem,” Kanathara declared.

“Speaking of plans,” Tirek offered. “What is ours?”

“Before we get to that, allow me,” Kith interrupted, closing the door and activating several privacy enchantments.

“The house has several already placed on it,” Velvet pointed out, enabling more spells with a single flash of her horn.

“Much better. Now, Kanthara, please continue,” Tirek exclaimed.

“Simple. We need to get the other Element Bearers together, go to Canterlot, get the necklaces themselves back, and then defeat Nightmare Moon with them,” Kanathara declared.

“That could work. Though I don't think Nightmare Moon will just hand them back,” Tirek pointed out.

“Knowing her, she’ll probably have them displayed somewhere like some kind of sick trophy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with an irritated grunt.

“You’ll still need a small army just to get there though,” Kith pointed out.

“I was thinking of flying,” Kanathara offered.

“You’ll need to move real fast if you don't want to get picked off by some enterprising demon,” Kith replied.

“And that's provided that the Nightmare would even let you get near the city in the first place,” Velvet added.

Kanathara sighed. “I suppose that makes sense. I’m glad we have at least a small force already started then.”

Pear Butter nodded. “That we do, though we will still need far more troops if we are going to make it all the way to Canterlot.”

“What would you recommend?” Tirek asked.

“There are other towns in danger, meaning there are groups of paladins and guards out there fighting. If we relieve them and inform their commanders of the Nightmare’s plot to destroy the world, they will likely join us,” Pear Butter answered.

“I mean, there is still a chance that they don't,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “We are a bunch of demons.”

“Never underestimate a pony’s willingness to band together when faced with a greater foe,” Velvet remarked.

“We will think of some way to talk them into joining us,” Pear Butter dismissed.

“Which just leaves the logistics,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“I think the main force should move to a point just past Ponyville. From there we can set up a base of operations where our forces will gather. Along the way you guys can locate the other Element Bearers and send them to us,” Velvet declared.

“I can handle the majority of the planning and base construction, but I want to be there when you go to Ponyville,” Pear Butter offered.

“Be careful. We don't know what manner of abomination the Nightmare has unleashed on the town,” Tirek warned.

“It will be fine,” Kanathara stated. “Pear Butter, Rainbow Dash, and I will head over after a short rest while you all work on gathering everyone we can at this new base.”

“I’d rather come with you, but I suppose I’ll just have to trust Pear Butter to take care of you,” Velvet exclaimed.

“Ha,” Pear Butter laughed. “After all they’ve gone through, these two will probably be looking after me!”

“We are pretty awesome,” Rainbow Dash proudly remarked.

The ghost of a smile crawled across Kanathara’s face. “Is everyone on the same page now? Because I really need to just lay down and do nothing for several hours or so.”

“That should be everything,” Tirek replied, rising from his seat. “I’ll see about sending out some scouts in order to get a lay of the land before we leave.”

“Hopefully Applejack knows where the others are, otherwise this may take a while,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

Kanathara nodded. “I’m sure she will. If nothing else, we can assume that she’ll know where Pinkie Pie is located.”

“I’m proud of you, by the way,” Velvet interrupted, pulling Kanathara into a brief hug. “You were strong in the face of fear.”

“We raised her well,” Pear Butter proudly declared.

Kanathara coughed into her hoof, dismissing the cloying blush which clung to her cheeks. “Yes, well. I am merely doing what I must. Now let us rest before we are tossed from the frying pan once again.”

“Sure thing, boss lady,” Rainbow Dash replied, trotting happily after the retreating keeper of secrets. “I’m right behind you.”

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: Farm Fresh

“Kids, do you have everything ready?” shouted the familiar voice of Pear Butter.

Kanathara shot out of bed, inadvertently dragging Rainbow Dash along with her, the vengant still clutched tight against her mistress’ chest. The keeper blinked and blearily looked around the room, her mind barely comprehending what was happening. Then she remembered what they had just gone through, what lay ahead, and the expectations set before them.

“Augh. I wish I could have gotten another hour at least,” Kanathara muttered to herself.

When she didn't get a response, the demon looked down to find that Rainbow Dash was still snoring away. Her forehooves wrapped around Kanathara’s midsection, and her head pressed firmly against the keeper’s side. It was an adorable sight, and one that Kanathara desperately wished she could preserve for at least a few more minutes.

Then she remembered the tone Pear Butter had taken, and quickly realized that they had likely already overslept. The farmer-turned-demon had a habit of attempting to gently wake them, only to later break out the demanding motherly tone that always got Kanathara up.

Shaking her head, the keeper of secrets gently cupped her familiar’s chin and leaned down close to her ear.

“Rainbow Dash. It's time to get up,” Kanathara whispered.

The vengant grumbled and pressed her face even more intently against Kanathara’s midsection. “Nrgh. Five more minutes,” she muttered.

“No. Now. We gotta save the world, remember?” Kanathara pointed out.

“The world can wait,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “If you don't get up, you’ll be sleeping by yourself from now on.”

Immediately Rainbow Dash let go, sitting upright in their cozy bed with a wide, alert expression. “Alright, I’m up. You don't have to go straight to the nuclear option, ya know,” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Would anything else have worked?” Kanthara retorted.

Rainbow Dash frowned. “No, probably not.”

Kanathara chuckled as she slipped out of bed. “Come on. We got a lot to do, and something tells me we won't have a lot of time to do it.”

“Augh, why does the heavy stuff always end up on our plate?” Rainbow Dash complained.

“Because we’re the best,” Kanathara replied simply, trotting over to the door. “Now, are you going to keep whining or what?”

“No, I’m fine,” Rainbow Dash grumbled as she bitterly plodded after her mistress.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and pushed her way through the door, glancing only briefly around the strange underground temple. Then she was gone, trotting back out into the courtyard and up the tunnel which ended at what had once been a wine cellar. Now it was a little more well reinforced, with the addition of a few protection charms and several wards.

It still contained a bunch of alcohol, though now it also had a smiling wrath demon standing in its center. The ex general of Tirek’s armies was waiting patiently in the small room, a large pair of saddle bags draped across her withers.

“You girls ready?” Pear Butter asked.

“As we’ll ever be,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Evidently someone still ain't a morning person,” Pear Butter remarked with a chuckle.

“Can you even still call it morning at this point? What with the moon being up and all,” Rainbow Dash rebutted.

“No, not really,” Pear Butter admitted, rubbing her chin.

“Semantics aside,” Kanathara interrupted, “I think we are ready to move out. I assume you have everything we’ll need?”

“That I do,” Pear Butter replied, hefting the bags in emphasis. “I’ve got a healthy breakfast, some snacks, a drink, and a few potions in case of emergencies.”

“Then it sounds like we are ready to go,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Great. So, uh, where were we starting again?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Applejack’s,” Kanathara answered. “She likely knows where the others are and is the closest.”

“Plus we can probably help Ponyville out at the same time,” Pear Butter added.

“That too,” Kanathara agreed.

“So long as we don't take too wide of a detour. I like the town too, but not enough to sacrifice the whole world for it,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I’m sure it won't take all day,” Kanathara declared, gesturing towards the exit. “Now come on. We better get all our goodbyes out of the way, otherwise we’ll be here all morning… er, night.”

Together the trio trotted out of the cellar, up the stairs, and back out onto the front lawn where they were greeted with a much different sight. The imps, cultists, and various demons under Velvet’s employ had doubled in number and were readying themselves for war. Camp supplies were being boxed up, great otherworldly beasts of burden were saddled, and entire platoons of creatures were waiting to march.

Standing at their head was Kith, Velvet, Tirek, and several other important-looking creatures. Who all poured over a large map of Equestria dotted with flags, tiny figurines, and an unflattering caricature of Nightmare Moon near Canterlot. Upon seeing Kanathara Rainbow Dash and Pear Butter exit the home, Velvet and Tirek excused themselves, while Kith merely gave the trio an excited wave.

“There you are,” Velvet began, wearing only a loose fitting set of black leather armor under a suit of rust-colored chainmail. “I was beginning to think you two were going to sleep past noon like you were still teenagers.”

“Nah, I was just being a little too nice,” Pear Butter admitted somewhat sheepishly.

“Let me tell ya. I’m glad that's one phase of her life I missed,” Velvet joked. “Shining Armor was bad enough staying up late all the time and studying.”

“Oh, it was actually really cute. Aside from the sleeping in and stuff, Kanathara here would try out some wild new style of dress just about every other day,” Pear Butter whispered rather loudly.

“Augh, mooom,” Kanathara whined.

“Why the groan? It was quite adorable,” Tirek remarked.

“I liked it. Though the goth phase was a bit ehh,” Rainbow Dash added, wiggling her hoof in the air.

“Anyway!” Kanathara loudly proclaimed. “Are you guys ready to move out?”

“Almost,” Velvet replied. “We are just finalizing the last of the supplies before we begin our march. At least that's assuming Tirek here has managed to get all the necessary rations organized.”

Tirek raised his hands defensively. “I did what I could. It's not my fault we were growing food mainly for demonic consumption.”

“I’m sure you two will figure it out,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“Oh, this is so nerve-wracking. I can't believe you two have to head back out there so soon. You’d think the universe would give you at least a day to relax,” Velvet remarked.

Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest. “Ahh, don't worry about it, Mrs Sparkle. We can handle it.”

“Ya hear that? We got this. Though it's this guy I’m worried about,” Pear Butter exclaimed, pointing to Tirek. “Make sure you don't put him in charge of too much. There was a reason he delegated nearly everything, ya know.”

Tirek snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. “I don't know what you are talking about. Delegation is merely another skill I have mastered.”

“Don't worry. I’ve got him firmly squared away in logistics,” Velvet replied with a wink.

The two older females exchanged a chuckle while Tirek merely sighed to himself and looked down to Kanathara.

“Do be careful out there. I would hate to see you harmed after you’ve already gone through so much,” Tirek quietly declared.

“We’ll be fine, Tirek,” Kanathara replied somewhat brusquely.

“Ya, we got this,” Rainbow Dash added with a smile. “At this point I doubt anyone other than Nightmare Moon could stop us.”

“You are quite powerful now, but don't let that get to your head. You know what happens when someone gets overconfident,” Tirek gravely remarked.

“We won't,” Kanathara stated firmly. “But we really should be going.”

“Right. We won't keep you a second longer,” Velvet replied, leaning forward and hugging the keeper briefly before stepping away. “Good luck out there.”

“She won't need it,” Tirek confidently stated, placing a hand on Kanathara’s shoulder. “She has a powerful team, after all.”

“Yer damn right she does,” Rainbow Dash proudly declared.

“Come on,” Pear Butter encouraged. “I got a path that should only take us a few minutes to reach the farm.”

“Lead the way,” Kanathara replied.

“This path is quite… robust,” Kanathara remarked as she eyed a small wooden bridge that crossed over a narrow stream.

“I walked it a few times while you guys were out adventuring and whatnot,” Pear Butter explained. “It just seemed like a good idea to make it a little easier to walk.”

“A demon like you needs no path, especially not one this well manicured,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “You were hoping that someone else would use it, weren't you? Oh and hey, did you ever end up seeing Big Mac or Apple Bloom by the way?”

“No. Big Macintosh knows of me, as does Granny Smith, but neither wanna speak to me. Apple Bloom doesn't know yet,” the wrath demon muttered sadly. “I had hoped that one day my other kids would come visit me. Though I suppose that all hinges on whether or not your plan works.”

Kanathara snorted. “No pressure.”

“I mean, it's just the fate of the world,” Rainbow Dash added, bumping her hip against Kanathara’s side.

“Speaking of plans, what were we…” Kanathara trailed off. “Do any of you hear that?”

“It sounds like a bunch of animals,” Pear Butter replied. “But nothing should approach the path. Not after I put up those wards.”

“Maybe the whole ‘it still being night’ thing has thrown them off,” Rainbow Dash pointed out, gesturing up to the large pale moon that hung overhead.

“Maybe. But it doesn't exactly sound right,” Kanathara murmured.

“I get ya,” Pear Butter replied, standing upright as she gazed out through the thick tree cover that surrounded them. “It sounds almost like a whole bunch of them.”

“Ya think there is some kinda stampede happening?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I don't know, but I think we’re about to find out,” Kanathara replied, pointing to the woods off to their right.

Turning in that direction, the three demons didn't have to wait long before they caught sight of their newest batch of foes. The first member of which was the reanimated remains of what looked like a young grizzly bear. Its cheek hung from its desiccated face, and both eyes were a milky white, yet still latched onto the trio within seconds.

Releasing an unearthly roar that rattled within its zombified remains, the undead animal charged. When it broke the treeline a second later, it did not do so alone, as a dozen other smaller creatures ranging from rabbits to wolves came along with it. The sight was a pitiable one, with the creatures sporting dozens of gaping wounds, as well as the occasional arrow.

“I’ll handle this,” Kanathara offered.

Stepping forward, the keeper of secrets lit her horn and aimed a blast of violet magic at the bear. The second Kanathara’s swirling energies hit the undead beast, it stopped dead in its tracks before dropping into a heap. Like a puppet with its strings cut, all life left the monster, though its allies were unaffected and continued to charge.

They never got the chance to lay a claw on the demons however, as Kanathara’s second attack finished off the majority of them. A well-placed bolt of chain lightning leapt from one animal to the next, disintegrating the smaller ones and blowing apart the larger members. Somehow a single mostly skeletal wolf survived, though it perished after getting a simple mana bolt to the face.

“That was… underwhelming,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Well, they were simple animals, and they weren't even brought back to life with much skill,” Kanathara replied, kicking the bear’s head. “Even just removing the negative energy reanimating them was enough to outright kill this one.”

“Whoever did this likely has little idea as to what they are doing,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“You don't think some amuetuer necromancer is giving Ponyville trouble, do you?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“It's possible, but more than likely this is just a scouting force designed to bring back more bodies to their necromancer masters,” Kanathara explained.

“Could be a whole cult of them,” Pear Butter added. “I overheard Velvet talking about a couple of lich cults that she was trying to recruit or eliminate.”

“Any of them worth noting?” Kanathara asked.

Pear Butter shrugged. “Most were small time. Necromancy is illegal just about everywhere, and Celestia has done a fine job ensuring that few even know of its existence. That being said, there were a few that might pose a challenge.”

“Pfft. If they are using these pathetic things, then they can't be that tough,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara kneeled down and prodded the dead bear’s cheek. “It sure seems that way. Why, I’m fairly certain I could do a better job with my eyes closed.”

“Why don't you anyway? Use more necromancy, that is?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

Kanathara stuck out her tongue in disgust. “It's just so… situational. Most demons can't be reanimated, as we don't truly have bodies in the first place, so it only works on mortals. It's just more effective to rely on your own skill and power rather than the strength of some reanimated corpse.”

“Either way, I think we should move a little quicker,” Pear Butter interrupted. “If they made it out this far, then they could have already hit the farm.”

“Pisha. Applejack wouldn't have any trouble with these chumps,” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

“There might be a lot more of them though,” Kanathara pointed out.

“And they have Apple Bloom to worry about,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“Double time it, then?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Absolutely, but I think I’ll let you handle the running part,” Kanathara replied, her body turning to mist before quickly seeping through Rainbow Dash’s skin.

“Fine by me. Pear Butter, why don't you take the lead? I’ll match whatever pace you got,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Try not to fall behind,” Pear Butter replied.

The wrath demon then took off in a remarkably fast sprint, becoming a golden blur that bounded down the path.

“She's pretty quick. I like it,” Rainbow Dash muttered before taking off after the other demon.

The messy, mostly greenish blur of the forest began to dissipate, giving way to neat rows of trees from which hung a sparse number of apples. The orchard, though more orderly than the forest, was clearly in disarray, with many trees having been toppled. Broken branches littered the ground, and the occasional animal corpse could be seen lying still on a patch of disturbed earth.

Each one of these creatures were in some state of decay, their bodies having been discarded by the careless necromancer that had first revived them. These poor things weren’t alone however, as the skeletal remains of several ponies could be seen lying beneath a group of apple trees. Even a glance was enough to tell that they were dead for good, as most were sporting several fractured or entirely missing limbs.

The signs of battle were numerous, though thankfully they had seen neither hide nor hair of any member of the Apple family. Only the odd blood splatter that didn't originate from one of the zombified bodies that dotted the once pristine orchard.

As they neared the farm house, the trio could hear what sounded like fighting in the distance. A twang of a crossbow punctuated by the occasional grunt or groan that came from one of the combatants. Though they couldn't pick out any words, it was clear that Applejack and Big Macintosh were involved in some way, given all the shouting.

Pear Butter poured on the speed, her large hooves ripping up sections of the earth as the wrath demon sprinted headlong towards the noise. Rainbow Dash easily kept pace with the larger female, her armor snapping into place as she ran along next to her. Kanathara merely readied herself mentally, preparing to leap from her familiar the second they cleared the treeline.

Which occurred only a few seconds later, giving the demons a clear view of the porch and the fighting happening right in front of it. On one side was Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Big Macintosh, the elder siblings standing out front, holding off their foes. Who happened to be a small horde of monsters, the bulk of which were made up of undead animals.

A trio of zombified ponies clad in armor and wielding several different weapons were the most concerning of the bunch. That didn't mean the animals could be discounted completely however, as Kanathara could see that they were constantly snapping at the Apples’ flanks. All save for Apple Bloom, who was safe further back, the young pony frantically winding what looked like an antique crossbow.

Her siblings had weapons much more well-suited for combating the undead, as Big Macintosh swung a hammer while Applejack wore a set of spiked horseshoes. They were also suffering from numerous scrapes, cuts, and other minor wounds, most of which looked new. Their equipment was in tatters, with what minimal metal armor they had suffering from dozens of dents while the leather under it was in ribbons.

It was clear that although they might win this fight, it wouldn't be without injury, nor would it be easy.

Skidding to a brief stop, Rainbow Dash waited until Kanathara was able to reform before opening her wings. She was about to join the wrath demon in battle when her mistress caught her by the shoulder with a hoof.

“Wait. She's got this,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Are you sure, boss?” Rainbow Dash asked.

The keeper of secrets nodded. “The zombies have only minor protection charms, while the animals are barely held together as is.”

“If you say so,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“We’d probably just get in the way at this point,” Kanathara pointed out.

Rainbow Dash looked up to where Pear Butter had already grown to nearly a story and a half tall, flames shooting from her lips. “Yeah, probably,” Rainbow Dash admitted.

Pear Butter didn't hear a word of this, as the demon’s gaze was focused on the sight of her children in trouble. Each cut and bruise they sported added to the already raging inferno that swirled within her belly. She could feel her body grow with each thunderous step she took towards the house, stopping only when she became worried of the collateral damage.

For a moment she saw the panic, fear, and confusion as it flashed over Big Macintosh and Applejack’s faces. Thankfully they seemed to realize that she was here to help, and fought with a renewed vigor. Their undead foes had yet to realize that their living enemies had received back-up, that was until Pear Butter stomped one of their number flat.

The abrupt death of their comrade prompted the primitive instincts of the rotten creatures to spark to life once more. One turned towards Pear Butter while the other continued its assault, with the animals splitting up evenly between them. The wrath demon had hoped they would all focus on her, but she wasn't going to complain. Her kids could handle themselves.

Another hard stomp shook the ground and crushed several small animals, though the zombified unicorn evaded her attack. Worse still, Pear Butter could feel several of the small creatures skitter up her leg, biting and clawing at her scales. They were of little note however, and the wrath demon continued to try and crush her true foe.

Who was surprisingly quick, hopping out of each one of Pear Butter’s attacks and even offering several strikes of his own. The rusted blade proved ineffectual against the wrath demon’s scales, though the blows irritated Pear Butter. She wanted this to be over already and for her children to be safe once more.

To that end she swept her hoof aside, sending the undead unicorn flying across the farm, where he slammed into the barn and slumped to the ground. She followed this up by briefly causing a burst of flames to shoot from under her scales, scorching the small creatures that had been gnawing on her. With that done, she swiftly stomped, swiped, and otherwise destroyed the various animals still trying to attack her.

Turning her attention to the final undead pony, Pear Butter brought her hoof back for one final attack. Only for Applejack to beat her to the punch and kick the creature’s head clear off its shoulders. The zombie struggled briefly, swinging its short sword randomly before a blow from Big Macintosh’s hammer sent it to the ground in a heap.

For a moment no one said anything as Pear Butter slowly returned to her normal size, with Applejack and Big Macintosh merely staring at her. Then a twang, and a bolt bounced off the wrath demon’s chest, the small piece of wood and metal snapping on impact.

Everyone turned to look at a rather sheepish Apple Bloom holding the crossbow.

She smiled nervously. “Oh, uh… woops?”

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: Exposé

Rainbow Dash snickered. “Oh, I like her. She's got balls.”

“H-hey, I’m a filly!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“It's not literal. She means…” Applejack sighed. “We’ll talk about this later. We got more pressin’ matters to discuss.”

“Eeyup,” agreed Big Macintosh, leaning heavily on the pommel of his hammer.

“Speaking of which,” Pear Butter began, turning expectantly to Kanathara and Rainbow Dash. “Would you mind giving us a bit of space?”

“Of course. We’ll just have a little chat with Applejack in the meantime,” Kanathara replied, raising her voice at the end.

“Sounds good. Just, uh, break it slow to the girl. We haven't given her the news yet,” Applejack remarked.

Pear Butter nodded. “I’ll be as gentle as possible.”

Together, Kanathara, her familiar, and Applejack watched as the wrath demon walked over to the porch.

Where a confused Apple Bloom was scratching her head. “Wait. Why aren't we fightin’? I thought demons were the bad guys? Or were the dead folks just the bad guys?” she openly wondered.

“Eenope,” Big Macintosh replied.

“The truth is a bit more complicated than that,” Pear Butter began.

Big Macintosh snorted. “You can say that again.”

Rainbow Dash snickered. “He may be a stallion of few words, but everything that comes out of your brother’s mouth is absolute gold.”

Applejack chuckled along with the demon. “Yeah, ol’ Mac sure has a sense for these kinds of things. Now then, I figured y'all came here for a reason. Other than savin’ our skins, of course.”

“That was part of it,” Kanathara admitted.

“We were also hoping you’d tell us where the others are,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Others?” Applejack questioned.

“Like-” Kanathara began, only to be cut off when Apple Bloom shouted suddenly.

“N-no way. That's impossible! You can't be her!” exclaimed the filly.

Pear Butter quickly whispered something to assuage the young pony, and their conversation continued on once more.

Kanathara cleared her throat and motioned towards the barn. “Why don't we give them a bit more space, hmm?”

Applejack nodded. “I was thinkin’ the same thing.”

The trio trotted out of earshot, taking position in front of the large red building.

“Like we were saying,” Rainbow Dash began, glancing at Kanathara.

“Right. We were hoping you could point us towards Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie,” Kanathara continued, only to pause. “Oh, and now that I’m thinking about it, you should probably also let us know what the hell all that was.”

“Since when did Equestria have a necromancer problem?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Ahh, they’ve always been a thorn in the guard’s side,” Applejack began. “All the high level spells are rarer than a cockatrice though. So they usually aren't even worth chasin’ down.”

“This one seems different though,” Kanathara offered.

“Hit the nail on the head,” Applejack replied. “This head honcho of theirs got his hooves on a few powerful spells and managed to wrangle a whole bunch of ponies into doing what he says. Not really sure how, but a bunch of honest, decent folk were seen helpin’ him out.”

“Do you know what spells he has access to?” Kanathara questioned.

Applejack shrugged. “He apparently made off with some secret spell book of some kind that was scheduled for disintegration. Other than them spells being mighty tough to cast, I don't know a lick about ‘em.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “We’ve fought a bunch of his minions already, and they were chumps. How tough can this guy be?”

“Tough enough to put the guard on the back hoof,” Applejack retorted, only to frown. “Though that ain't exactly difficult, given how many folk were called to Canterlot.”

“Is there anything else you can tell us about this necromancer you’ve been dealing with?” Kanathara pressed.

Applejack grunted in disgust. “Yeah, a bunch unfortunately. The nutcase came by and monologued at us before heading off into town. He claimed that his family owned all of Ponyville at one time, and that he was here to take back his ancestral home.”

“What a wackjob,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Yer tellin’ me,” Applejack snorted. “My family’s been living here since this place was nothin’ more than a patch of forest gifted to us by Princess Celestia herself. Before that it was just crown land as far as I’m aware.”

“Land claims aside, is there any tactical information you could give us? Or maybe a description?” Kantahra continued, rolling her hoof in the air.

“Oh, uh, sure…” Applejack scratched her head. “Tall, dour, with a scraggly dark grey mane, off white fur, and purple eyes. Same color as his magic.”

“Lemme guess. He also wears way too much black,” Rainbow Dash offered.

Applejack nodded. “Unlike his cultist buddies, he at least dresses the part of the count he claims to be. Big pointy collar, plenty of buttons, and a big ol 'cape.”

“This guy is awfully… cartoonish,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Figure he’s likely small-time, probably got promised Ponyville from whoever is causing trouble up in Canterlot and is just here to make a mess of things,” Applejack exclaimed.

“That makes sense.” Kanathara’s eyes popped open. “Oh yeah, and the thing causing trouble is an ancient prime evil trying to wipe out all life on Equestria by blocking out the sun.”

“That's uh…” Applejack frowned. “Intense. Y'all got a plan, I presume?”

“I do, and it's why we asked you about the others. We need to gather you up in order to defeat her,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“Huh. Well as much as I hate to say it, I trust ya. Though I can't just leave without taking care of my family,” Applejack exclaimed, gesturing towards the house.

Kanathara nodded. “Don't worry. As soon as we figure out where this guy is holed up, we’ll deal with him.”

“Permanently, I hope,” Applejack remarked with a snort. “That bugger raised a bunch of my ancestors, and I don't rightly appreciate having to beat great aunt Willow Reed’s head in with a stick.”

“Wait. Did he bring back Pear Butter’s body?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Err, yeah. That was… weird. Just a burnt pile of bones barely held together by anything,” Applejack muttered.

Kanathara cleared her throat. “I think we’re getting off topic here. Where can we find this guy exactly?”

“He calls himself Count Flintheart, and don't bother looking for him at his base in the Everfree,” Applejack began, a frown crossing her face. “The nitwit announced that he was going to return after dealing with some issue in the Everfree and claim the house if his minions haven't already done so for him.”

“Perfect. This is going to be the easiest mission in years,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to figure out what these spells of his are,” Kanathara cautioned. “He might have chained the souls of innocents to his own life force or stolen the spirits of loved ones.”

“Is that really possible? How would you know?” Applejack whispered in a low tone.

Kanathara chuckled. “I know because those are all spells I’ve studied. Either way, a spell like the one I described would make sense, given that he's apparently press-ganged innocent ponies into his service.”

“Huh,” Applejack muttered. “That certainly complicates matters.”

“So we’ll have to draw him out, get him monologuing, and figure out what matter of spell he is using,” Kanathara declared.

“Wait. Why can't we just kill him?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“‘Cause he might have something that makes that a bad idea,” Applejack half stated, half asked, glancing expectantly to the keeper of secrets.

Who nodded. “If he has a soul transfer, he may be able to possess his servants on death. Or by killing him, the injury might be transferred to some innocent pony he has tied up in a basement somewhere.”

“So draw it out, make him play his ace, then squash him. Got it,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Pretty much, but we…” Kanathara trailed off when she heard the pitter-patter of small hooves approaching.

Turning around, the demon watched as Apple Bloom trotted up to the small group, her steps faltering somewhat when they all turned to her.

“Uh, hi,” she awkwardly greeted. “My name’s Apple Bloom.”

“I’m Kanathara, and this is Rainbow Dash,” replied the keeper, gesturing to her familiar.

“Sup, kid?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Err, nothin’,” Apple Bloom gulped. “So uh. Are you two really my sisters?”

“Sort of?” Kanathara rubbed the back of her neck. “Think of us more like stepsiblings.”

“If that,” Applejack muttered mostly to herself.

Rainbow Dash chuckled and grabbed the farm mare around the shoulders. “What? Don't want to admit you're related to a pair of demons? I mean, your mom practically raised us, you know. There ain't no escapin’ that.”

“So you did know my mom when she was… gone,” Apple Bloom murmured.

“Yeah, we sure did, kid,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Applejack gently, but firmly pushed Rainbow Dash away. “Think of them more like your cousins from Appleloosa.”

“Why do you ask?” Kanathara inquired, bending down so she was at head height with the filly.

“Well, Pear Butter said so, but I thought…” Apple Bloom shrugged her tiny shoulders.

“Ahh, don't worry, kiddo. I bet after this whole mess is cleaned up, we’ll come right back for a big old time get together. What do ya say, Applejack? Ready to meet your new dad?” Rainbow Dash teased.

Applejack sighed. “Can we please change the topic now?”

“This ain't the time or place for that, Rainbow,” Kanathara whispered.

The vengant coughed. “Right, sorry about that. So, what do ya need, squirt?”

“Well, I was just wonderin’ if you were gonna help us with that weird old guy and his zombies,” Apple Bloom inquired.

“They are,” Applejack stated, glancing expectantly at Kanathara. “Ain't that right?”

“Of course,” she replied. “We just need to make some preparations, and then we’ll be good to go.”

Applejack leaned down. “Why don't you go help Big Macintosh clean this up, huh?”

“Aww, but I’m tired after all the fighting,” Apple Bloom whined.

“Don't you worry none. We’re going to take care of the bad guy real quick and after that we can relax, okay?” Applejack offered.

Apple Bloom sighed and kicked the ground. “Fine, but I want dessert after this.”

Applejack chuckled, tousling the young filly’s mane. “When we make it through this mess, we’ll eat all the pie we can stomach.”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Good,” she proclaimed before trotting back to the porch.

Where Pear Butter was standing, her body having shrunk to nearly half its normal size. This was likely due to the tongue lashing she was receiving from Granny Smith who was talking down to the demon. Though tempted to listen in on their conversation, Kanathara turned her attention back to Applejack.

“So I think you were going to mention where everyone else is located?” Kanathara offered.

“Oh, right,” Applejack exclaimed, clopping a hoof upside her head. “Rarity started some kinda community for diamond dog’s fleein their homes near Ghastly Gorge. Fluttershy is still in Cloudsdale from what I’ve gathered, and Pinkie Pie was drafted into helpin’ the guard out.”

“Do you know where she is by chance?” Kanathara pressed.

Applejack hummed as she rubbed her chin. “I think it was Dodge City. Last I heard, there were a bunch of mercs gathered near town that they were trying to drive off.”

“That must be that town we saw earlier,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara nodded. “I don't think they managed to get the mercenaries to leave peacefully.”

“Ya’ll were by there?” Applejack asked.

“I’m afraid so, and it seems like they are in trouble as well,” Kanathara answered.

“Then we’d best deal with this guy right quick,” Applejack declared.

“Don't worry. I’ve already come up with a plan,” Kanathara assured the mare. “In fact it's one we’ve done before.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Lemme guess. It's the disney maneuver?”

Kanathara nodded. “You got it.”

“What's ‘the disney maneuver’?” Applejack inquired.

“All you need to know is that you should keep Apple Bloom inside until it's over and we’ve had a chance to clean up the mess,” Kanathara answered.

“Oookay then,” Applejack muttered. “Need anything from us?”

“Nah. Just follow my lead,” Kanathara replied with a smirk.

Leaves crunched under the hooves of a scowling unicorn whose gaze swung over his small entourage of servants. Most of whom were undead, with the only two living members being the pair of earth ponies who walked nervously on either side of him. Ahead and behind strode or shambled a small horde of zombified creatures bound to his dark will.

Ranging from simple animals to nearly a dozen armed and armored skeletal ponies, the small force would have served as more than a match for most. In fact, there were few who would be able to defend themselves against a practiced necromancer and his servants, nevermind his cadre of undead. Yet despite how overwhelming his strength, the grey-furred unicorn couldn't help but feel an odd air of unease settle over him.

He blew a stray lock of dark grey mane from his face and adjusted his cape, yet the feeling remained. Even looking over his hooded and cloaked servants did little to change his mood as he trotted through the orchard. That may have been due to seeing so many of his creations lying inert in odd positions, but that didn't fully explain it.

“Do you feel that?” he asked, his deep voice reverberating strangely.

“Er, no,” one of the hooded ponies replied in a quiet, feminine tone.

“No, my master,” he corrected.

“Sorry, master,” she quickly replied.

The stallion’s scowl deepened. “I can't believe these backwater hicks have dealt with so many of my zombies. You told me there were only two of them out here.”

“It's true,” the other hooded pony quickly claimed. “I swear it.”

“Perhaps they had help?” posited the other plaintively.

“That is the only explanation,” declared the necromancer. “A pair of earth ponies are worthless on their own. Doubly so if they know nothing of the dark arts.”

His servants shamefully averted their gaze and said nothing.

Together they walked in silence through the orchard, stopping only briefly when they spotted the farm house. There they quickly noticed the smattering of undead which lay broken and defeated on the grounds directly in front of the structure. Three had seemingly been stomped flat by something very large, while others were missing limbs or even their heads.

“Stars dammit,” muttered the stallion. “Don't tell me they defeated another wave of my soldiers.”

“Maybe they succumbed to their wounds and are inside?” offered one of the hooded ponies.

“Otherwise they would be out here, waiting for us,” added the other.

“Possible,” admitted the stallion. “Either way, we will crush them swiftly, burn down this wretched domicile, and begin construction of my new manor posthaste.”

“Yes, master,” muttered the hooded ponies.

“Go, my minions, search the home. Kill its inhabitants and drag their bodies out into the blessed moonlight,” he commanded, extending a hoof towards the farm house.

“Are you sure that's a good idea, master? We’ll be all alone out here,” whispered one of the hooded mares.

He snorted. “The guard cannot leave the safety of their dome, and there are no other forces in the area capable of harming me.”

“What about the imps of the Everfree? I’ve heard they’ve begun to muster under command of a wrath demon,” offered the other cloaked pony.

The necromancer scoffed. “Imps pose no threat to us. Furthermore, we have the true moon’s blessing. With her support, there is no need to fear any lowly demon. Now go!”

His undead horde lurched forward, filing awkwardly through the front door in a long, single file. Almost immediately sounds of fighting began to echo from within the house, the groan of the undead mixing with the shouts of ponies. Through the cluster of bodies it was difficult to see who was winning, but judging from the fact that his undead continued to pour inside, the necromancer assumed he was.

“Excellent. Flood the home and occupy its defenders. Even if they do not succumb to the horde, they will perish in flames. Now, my servant. Burn this wretched hovel to its foundations,” he commanded, pointing to one of the hooded ponies.

“Must we? I’m sure the farmstead could prove useful to you if-”

“Silence!” he shouted. “You will do as I command, or I will throw your mother’s soul into the deepest pits of Tartarus!”

This time there was no hesitation in the pony, and she eagerly sprinted over to the porch. Rifling through the internal pockets of her cloak, the mare swiftly produced a pack of matches and began to strike one of them. With each flick of the stick, she felt her master’s gaze intensify, causing her to start sweating profusely.

“Aha,” she muttered, raising the lit match victoriously.

Only for a pair of undead hooves to reach up from the ground and snuff out the flame.

“What the…” The pony’s jaw hung open when she noticed that the seemingly defeated zombie was rising up from the crater it had been occupying a moment earlier. “Did you not want me to use the matches?”

The necromancer blinked in shock. “I didn't command it to do that. Cease your detrimental actions and join your brothers inside the house!”

The zombie ignored the command and snatched the matches from the hooded pony’s hoof, tossing them aside.

“Eep,” cried the mare, who swiftly backpedalled away.

“Stop! Cease! Return to your grave!” the necromancer continued to shout.

The undead didn't respond to any order yelled at it, instead stumbling forward, its eyes gaining a strange, reddish glow to them. It was joined by its former comrades, who slowly reassembled themselves and rose up next to their ally. All sported the same glowing crimson orbs of the first undead, that now stared intently at the necromancer.

“I don't think these are yours, master,” whispered one of the hooded ponies.

“Obviously not!” spat the stallion. “Now defend me against these vermin!”

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: The Dead Get Deader

“Yes, master!” cried the twin earth ponies, hooves reaching into their cloaks and producing a pair of daggers.

“Curse and slow them down while I rest back control from whatever amatuer reanimated my soldiers,” barked the count, horn already glowing brightly.

Though not far from their opponents, the half dozen undead ambled forward at a slow, sedentary pace. Giving the trio ample time to cast their spells, the first of which came from one of the hooded mares. Tracing the dagger over her heavily scarred pink foreleg, the pony drew a primitive skull with her blade.

Upon completion, she muttered several words in an ancient language, bringing forth a haze of red that fell over the zombies. This haze settled into their bodies, creating an aura that both slowed and weakened the creatures. Her twin followed her a moment later, sticking the dagger into her own forehoof and drawing forth an eruption of blood.

Which pooled in the air, where it was shaped by a strange teal aura into a dagger that was quickly flung at the closest enemy. Who stumbled only briefly upon being hit by the flying red projectile and quickly returned to its stumbling walk. A second later, a groan spilled forth from its rotting lips, the creature rearing up, forelegs outstretched.

“Useless,” cursed Flintheart, his horn flashing brightly.

Bright magenta energy formed into a thin line of magic that shot out and connected with the closest undead. In an instant the confident expression on the count’s face faltered and quickly morphed into one of confusion. His attempt to regain control of the monster was abandoned a second later, another spell building on the tip of his horn.

Though the male didn't speak a word of his failure, the fact that they were still fighting the creatures made his assistants share a wary glance. Whatever they were fighting, it was evidently stronger than anticipated, and they quickly returned to their spellcasting. The pink-hooved earth pony drew a line down her hoof with her knife and then slammed it into the ground directly in front of the leading zombie.

Flesh began to immediately melt and slough off the creature in a wave of rotten gore. Her confidence wavered the second she noticed it was only barely affected by this, stopping for only a moment to glance down at itself. It then surged forward, an unearthly groan spilling forth from seemingly nowhere.

“It's not working. These things are too strong,” she stated, backpedalling to stay out of reach of her opponent.

“Give me a moment, and I will rip the negative energy from their rotting bodies,” Flintheart stated, his horn now pulsing with magic.

The two earth ponies exchanged another glance and followed after their master, keeping one step ahead of their enemies. As time passed, and the living gave more and more ground to the dead, the hooded mares grew increasingly nervous. Until an unnaturally cold wind suddenly billowed in from nowhere, chilling them both to the bone.

As the strange breeze blew over their foes, a dull reddish mist began to emanate from their rotted forms. Magic dissipated out from their bodies, as if it were being torn away by the biting draft, where it quickly fizzled into nothing. They didn't initially fall, however, and for several seconds it seemed like the spell didn't have any effect.

Then the lead undead fell into a pile of inanimate bones, followed closely by the nearest monster. After that it was only a matter of moments before the rest collapsed into a heap, their bodies losing all cohesion.

“Good job, master,” exclaimed one of the ponies.

The unicorn wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and stood a little straighter. “Nothing I couldn't handle. Now then. Let us see about raising the Apple family to…”

He trailed off when he noticed that there were three ponies standing on the porch. Two he recognized as Applejack and Big Macintosh, though he had never seen the last one before. Standing taller than the other two, with a horn longer than even his own, this strange unicorn had an otherworldly aura about her.

“So you’ve defeated more of the chafe,” Flintheart exclaimed. “It matters not what manner of help you have. I will lay claim to this land. One way or another.”

“Err, yeah, that's not happenin’,” Applejack remarked.

“Eenope,” Big Macintosh added.

Flintheart snorted derisively, turning his attention to the unicorn. “You there, stranger. I don't know how much these hicks are paying you, but whatever it is, I will double it.”

The mare blinked. “To do what, exactly?”

The count paused, the unicorn’s voice carrying an odd reverberation to it that briefly put him off. “Why, deal with these buffoons, of course!” Flintheart shouted, gesturing to the earth ponies she was standing next to.

“Nah. Double of nothing is still nothing,” replied the other unicorn.

Flintheart snorted and stomped a hoof. “I don't know how you dealt with the rest of my soldiers, but you will die like the rest! Attack them, my minions!”

The two hooded mares exchanged a wary glance before pulling out their daggers once more.

“Sorry about this, Applejack,” one of them stated sorrowfully.

“It's our mother, you see,” added the other.

“Don't worry about it, Aloe, Lotus,” Applejack replied.

“Less talking, more stabbing!” Flintheart shouted angrily.

Aloe pulled back her hood, revealing her scarred features before raising her weapon, an action her sister shared a moment later. Together the twins charged at the Apple family, blood still dripping from their freshly injured forelegs. Behind them, Flintheart began to weave a potent spell, rising up onto his back hooves in order to better control the strands of magic.

He had no doubt that his minions would do little to slow them down, but that didn't matter to the necromancer. He had a plan to make them useful. Whether they wanted to give their lives to attain his goals or not, they would do just that. His only concern was the strange unicorn who had yet to move a muscle.

“Adrrica, attica, volmus, and wren,” he chanted, hooves outstretched and pointing at his servants.

Purple energy swirled before him, creating a dense web of interconnected points and arcane symbols. Unlike the clean lines of most spells, these dripped with a greenish arcane residue, and pulsed balefully in the open air. It also pulled at the darkness, as if gathering it for some foul purpose that would soon be realized.

“Interesting. You intend on turning them into living bombs,” remarked the unicorn as she strode towards the stallion.

“I-” Flintheart stuttered for a moment, his spell nearly falling apart.

Neither Aloe nor Lotus noticed this however, as they were both attacking the Apple siblings with swift, rapid strikes of their daggers. Neither seemed very adept at close-range fighting, though it was clear that they were at least well-rested while their foes were exhausted. Even still, Applejack and Big Macintosh had a clear advantage, even if they were pulling their punches as best as they could.

“Yeah- that's not happening,” claimed the strange unicorn.

With a single pulse of her horn, Flintheart’s spell collapsed, fizzling out and turning into a spattering of acid which burned into the earth.

“How did you-”

“Ah!” cried Aloe, stumbling to the ground, her dagger flying from her grip.

“Aloe!” yelled her sister, who tried to run over and help.

Big Macintosh was faster though, and dropped his weapon over her head, pulling it tight against her neck. “Let's take a break, eh?” he muttered.

Lotus sputtered and kicked, bringing up her dagger, only to feel the hold on her throat tighten significantly. Realizing the situation she was in, the mare dropped her blade and went limp.

“Please, don't hurt Aloe,” she whispered.

Applejack cocked back a hoof as she loomed over the other mare. “Ya give up?”

Aloe nodded meekly. “Y-yes,” she stuttered.

“What are you doing, fight them!” Flintheart shouted.

“Shouldn't you be more worried about me?” asked the strange unicorn who now stood mere feet away from the stallion.

“I…” He scowled and reached within his coat, quickly producing a strange glass jar topped with a stone head of a screaming earth pony. “I didn't want to use this, but you leave me no choice. Call off the hicks, or else.”

“Or else what?” questioned the odd mare.

“Or else I’ll send their father’s soul to Tartarus!” Flintheart exclaimed, his horn now glowing brightly.

“W-what?” Applejack stuttered, mouth agape.

“You heard me,” Flintheart shouted, raising the jar in emphasis and revealing the swirling yellow essence contained within.

“Isat really…” Big Macintosh began.

Aloe nodded meekly. “He gathered it before coming here. Said it would make for good security.”

“We hoped it wouldn't come to this,” Lotus added grimly, pushing at the weapon hilt which pressed against her throat.

“Wait. How did you even acquire such a thing? Bright Mac died over a decade ago,” claimed the purple unicorn.

Flintheart shrugged. “I know not why, but this soul seems to have some unfinished business on this plane. Not that it matters anymore, as it will serve only one purpose. Adding new slaves to my army.”

“Is that even possible?” Applejack questioned.

Flintheart scoffed. “Don't believe me? Come and see for yourself, but be wary. One wrong step and your father’s soul will be sent to the pits!”

“It's real,” confirmed the strange unicorn.

“I, er… thank you. I knew you had a keen eye the moment I saw you,” Flintheart exclaimed. “Are you sure you are not willing to join me? I could use someone skilled to lead my forces against Ponyville.”

“No, I don't think that will be possible,” stated the strange pony.

“What, why?” Flintheart demanded.

“Well, for one you’ll be dead, and secondly, I’ve got things to do,” the purple mare stated, her expression becoming distant for a moment.

“Things to- what is that whistling noise?” Flintheart asked, too distracted to notice that his jar was suddenly missing.

He never received an answer, as several hundred pounds of armored demon slammed into his torso, instantly pulping his organs and liquefying his bones. The impact was so tremendous that the stallion barely even understood what was happening before his head was disconnected from his body. The force had severed his spine just above his shoulders and sent his skull bouncing across the ground.

It inadvertently gave the male a strange view of his body as it was obliterated under the sheer force of the reddish blur that had hit him. Limbs went flying, blood splattered everywhere, and nearly everyone was painted some mixture of crimson. None of his enchantments even had the chance to flare to life before they were rend asunder by his aerial foe.

Caught in the strange magical grip of the other unicorn, Flintheart gaped silently, his mind whirling. Unable to speak due to the loss of his vocal cords, he could only mouth the words he was trying to utter. Though no one knew what he was trying to say, it was probably a question aimed at the other unicorn, given that she was holding a certain jar.

“Yeah, that's the thing with sudden decapitations. You don't realize that you need to push air between your lips to make noise,” she calmly explained.

The stallion blinked and looked around in fear, his face beginning to droop.

“Say goodbye to Equestria, and hello to Tartarus,” she whispered. “I’m sure you’ll love it down there.”

Flintheart tried to speak one final time, only for his eyelids to flicker closed and his features to suddenly fall slack.

“Might need this,” Kanathara remarked before tossing the head into a magical window.

“How… who… what is going on?” Aloe whispered in shock.

Rainbow Dash rose up from the gore-filled crater she had just created and shook herself like a wet dog. “Damn, this guy really came apart,” she complained, flicking a piece of liver from her shoulder pad. “You’d think he would have been a little tougher than that.”

“W-what about the other soul jar. He said he had our mother’s spirit with him!” Aloe called out.

Rainbow Dash blinked and looked down. “Well, if it was on him, it's gone now.”

“Don't worry though,” Kanathara quickly interrupted. “If a soul jar is destroyed, it releases its contents.”

“So… she's okay?” Lotus inquired.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh exclaimed, dropping his weapon to the ground.

Applejack extended a hoo, and helped her former foe rise from the ground before trotting over to the keeper of secrets.

“So all we gotta do is bust the thing open then?” Applejack inquired.

“Woah, what happened here?” Pear Butter exclaimed, tossing aside the corpse of a formerly undead bear.

“Killed the bad guy, saved your husband’s soul, and freed these two from their indentured servitude,” Rainbow Dash swiftly summarized.

“I-what?” Pear Butter gaped, her gaze falling on the soul jar. “Is that really Bright Mac?”

As if to answer the question, the reddish-yellow soul contained within began to pulse brightly, pushing against its glass container.

“Yes, it is. All you have to do is remove the top, and he’ll be free to go to whatever afterlife harmony has deemed him worthy of,” Kanathara replied, extending a hoof.

Pear Butter, Applejack, and Big Macintosh trotted over to the keeper of secrets, who gently placed the jar in an open hoof.

“I never thought I’d see him again,” Pear Butter murmured, lifting the jar in order to peer within.

The soul swirled energetically within its container, its ethereal, almost whisp-like shape shifting rapidly.

Kanathara took a step back, walking over to the necromancer’s assistants while her familiar turned to smoke and reformed, shedding the gore that had stained her.

“Are you here to kill us?” Lotus whispered.

Kanathara snorted. “No. Though we will discuss what to do with you in a minute. For now, let's just sit back and let them have their moment.”

Rainbow Dash plunked down next to the mares. “I’d just relax if I were you. Oh, and don't worry. Nothin bad’s gonna happen. We just need to figure out what to do with the other people like you.”

“That is… a relief,” Aloe muttered, a hoof running down a jagged scar on her cheek.

“So do we just break it then?” Applejack muttered.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh stated.

“Now hold on a second. This might be the last time any of us can say goodbye. Dontcha think Granny and Apple Bloom deserve to say a few words?” Pear Butter hastily exclaimed.

“I suppose that sounds reasonable. Mac, would ya mind?” Applejack asked.

“Eenope,” replied the stallion, who gestured at the slew of blood and organs littering the front yard.

“Err, good thinkin’. We should probably head inside,” Applejack replied.

“Don't worry. I got it,” Kanathara interrupted, the demon swiftly dealing with the gore by burning it away, and blowing away the smoke.

“That works,” Applejack muttered. “Damn, this whole thing feels kinda unreal.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed, turning and walking back inside.

“I can't believe I finally get to say goodbye,” Pear Butter whispered, peering intently at the jar. “I always thought you would move on.”

The wisp swirled twice one way, and then once in the other direction, as if attempting to communicate.

“Err, yeah. Me neither,” Applejack awkwardly added.

“What's this about… well, would ya look at that,” Granny Smith muttered.

“What's that funky-lookin’ jar thing?” Apple Bloom asked, pie crust still clinging to her lips.

“It's yer dad,” Pear Butter explained, reaching down to clean the mess from her daughter’s face. “Or his spirit at least.”

“Wait, are you telling me that…” She stared at the jar with a mix of awe and confusion. “Can he hear us?”

“Oh yes. A spirit contained in such a way can hear and see everything around it. Though its ability to respond is minimal,” Kanathara explained, only to wince. “Err, sorry. I’ll uh, let you guys have your moment.”

Pear Butter nodded. “Thanks all the same, Kanathara.”

“So free the poor guy already,” Granny Smith exclaimed.

“Well, I was thinking we could say our goodbyes. Who wants to go first?” Pear Butter offered.

Granny Smith stepped up before anyone could respond. “You had but one fault, my boy. Your taste in mares. Save for that, you were the best son I could have ever asked for.”

The wisp bobbed sadly, seemingly glancing at Pear Butter apologetically.

“I wish I could have known you better,” Apple Bloom whispered, tapping her forehooves together. “I feel like I do though, what with all the stories Big Mac and Granny have told me about you.” Apple Bloom sniffed and wiped away a tear. “I hope I get to see you again one day and do all the stuff we were supposed to.”

The soul fell to the bottom of the jar and remained relatively still, its focus remaining on the young filly.

Apple Bloom trotted up to the side of Granny Smith. “Was that good?”

“That was perfect,” Granny Smith replied, hugging the filly tightly.

Big Macintosh cleared his throat and walked forward. “Thank you.”

He then took a step back, a stoic expression remaining firmly on his face. Bright Mac’s soul bobbed once in reply, an understanding passing between the two laconic individuals.

“Let’s, uh, do this, I guess,” Applejack muttered, trotting up to the jar. “I’m sorry it all came to this. If I’d have known you were still lingering by that there tree, I woulda visited more.”

The spirit moved left, then right, as if shaking its head.

Applejack grunted. “Right. Not like I coulda known that anyway. I ain't gonna say nothing that hasn't already been said, but well. I miss you. I wish we could have had more time together, and I hope I get to see you again one day.”

The earth pony took off her hat and stared down into it. “It's the same one, ya know? I’ve gotten it repaired more times than I can count, so we might have a ship of Theseus thing going on, but it's yours. Like your memory, I’ll treasure it. Always.”

Bright Mac’s soul bobbed once, nodding in thanks.

“Guess it's my turn, eh?” Pear Butter muttered, lifting the jar up to her eye level. “First off. I wanna say I’m sorry. I was a right git, and I can understand if ya don't forgive me.”

The reddish orange mass pressed insistently against the glass.

“It doesn't feel right to me, if I’m honest,” Pear Butter began. “You being there, and me being out here. You were always my better half, and if anyone deserves to see our kids again… well, it ain't me.”

Bright Mac’s soul shook rapidly from side to side.

Pear Butter sighed. “Either way, I’ve stopped you from moving on for long enough. Goodbye, Bright Mac. I hope your next life is better than your previous one.”

With a soft clink, the stopper was removed and the seal broken. The spirit, now freed of its enchanted glass container, twirled up into the air, spinning in jubilation. It didn't go far though, swiftly falling back down to earth and landing atop Applejack’s brow. There it pressed against her forehead, as if giving the pony one final kiss goodbye.

The spirit lingered there for only a moment before moving onto Big Macintosh and floating before the young stallion. There it remained for several seconds before slipping away, some unspoken conversation having passed between them.

Fluttering on unseen wings, the wisp flew to Apple Bloom and ruffled the filly’s mane before bumping into her cheek. As tears poured from the child’s face, the spirit settled against Granny Smith’s chest, shifting back and forth in a facsimile of a hug. With tears of her own building at the edge of her vision, the old mare gently patted the spirit.

“Go on now. You got places to be,” Granny Smith whispered.

Pear Butter, who at that point had resigned herself to not receiving a goodbye of her own, was surprised when the spirit floated over to her.

“I…” Pear Butter stuttered, unable to find the words. She wanted to say something poetic, or meaningful, yet not a sound passed her lips.

The spirit stopped her attempts at speech by bumping gently against the wrath demon’s nose. Then it pulled back and bobbed mere inches from Pear Butter’s muzzle, communicating some message that no one but her understood.

“I won't ever forget you,” Pear Butter whispered.

The spirit bobbed one more time before ascending up into the sky, pausing only briefly to turn to Kanathara and Rainbow Dash. With the keeper’s attention focused upon it, the wisp rolled forward, attempting a small bow or nod of appreciation. Then, before Kanathara could even formulate a response, Bright Mac’s soul rose up, dissipating rapidly.

In mere moments there was nothing left but a faint reddish shimmer which rained down upon the small family. In the spirit’s wake, none spoke. A calm, almost serene feeling overcame all who witnessed the earth pony’s true final moments. The world remained still for several minutes, with the only sound being the soft, gentle sobs of the mournful ponies.

But all things must end, and even the silence eventually broke when Kanathara rose up once more.

“I’m sorry to ruin the moment here, but we must move quickly,” Kanathara whispered.

“Yer… yer right,” Applejack reluctantly agreed, wiping the tears from her face. “We gotta deal with the rest of Flint’s gang and break the siege on Ponyville. There are other families out there who will suffer if we don't move quickly.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed.

“I know I can't talk you kids out of it, but would ya at least promise me to return before going to save the world,” Granny Smith gravely asked.

“Who said we were leavin’?” Applejack retorted.

The old mare snorted. “It doesn't take the wisdom of old age to figure out what's going on. Now promise me that at least.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh announced.

“Wait, you’re going? I want to come too!” Apple Bloom pleaded.

“This is ain't a fight you can help with. Besides, you gotta stay here to protect Granny,” Applejack replied.

“I won't be able to do it alone anymore,” Granny Smith added.

Apple Bloom pouted. “Fine, but you gotta come back soon.”

“We’ll do our best. Now come on, y'all. Let's deal with these necromancers,” Applejack exclaimed.

“Just don't be too harsh with them,” Aloe quickly interjected. “Most, if not all of them, were blackmailed into Flintheart’s service.”

“He’s got a whole basement full of jars like this back in his cabin,” Lotus added. “It has a magical lock that no one's been able to get through, but if you deal with it, I’m sure you could end this conflict without any further bloodshed.”

“We will,” Kanathara stated confidently.

“Are you alright, Pear Butter?” Rainbow Dash whispered, nudging the wrath demon’s shoulder.

“Huh, what? Oh yeah. Just fine and dandy,” Pear Butter muttered, wiping her cheeks free of perspiration. “Just need a moment to gather myself here, and we can move on.”

“If you need a minute, we can wait,” Kanathara offered.

Pear Butter snorted. “The thing that will help me the most right now is gettin’ something done. Lettin’ the brain run on idle will cause more trouble than puttin’ it to work.”

“If you’re certain,” Rainbow Dash warily replied.

“Sure she’s certain,” Applejack piped up. “Now let's go get Ponyville out of this jam and save the world already. I got pie to get back to.”

Big Macintosh chuckled, hefting his hammer back over his shoulder. “Eeyup.”

“Well, alright then. Lead the way, you two,” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing to the cloaked mares.

“Of course. Follow us,” Aloe offered.

“We promise not to lead you astray,” added Lotus.

Trial Ten: Capitulation

Kanathara trod silently next to their guides, her gaze fixed on the forest ahead, while her familiar continued to stare at the twins. Behind them strode the rest of their cadre, with Applejack and Big Macintosh taking up the rear, their lethargic steps slowing them slightly. Pear Butter glanced over her shoulder constantly, making sure that the two ponies didn't stray too far from the group.

Not like the wrath demon had much to worry about, as they had yet to run into any undead, or wildlife, for that matter. In the distance they could hear them though, from confused birds squawking out mating calls to wolves howling at the moon. These calls were answered by other beasts both large and small, adding to the generally chaotic atmosphere that had settled over the entire area.

“This whole thing is really muckin’ with the ecosystem somethin’ fierce,” Applejack remarked.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed.

“Just another reason to beat Nightmare Moon as quickly as possible. Not like we needed any more reasons, mind you. What on account of her wanting to wipe out every living thing on the planet,” Pear Butter exclaimed.

“Is that true?” inquired Aloe. “Why would she do that? She's a princess.”

“She's a prime evil,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Genocide, to be exact.”

“That's…” Lotus began, only to trail off. “I know not to believe what Flintheart said, but he told us that Nightmare Moon was going to allow the sun to return after she defeated Celestia.”

“So that's the line she's been feeding her soldiers,” Kanathara mused. “Curious.”

“I certainly wouldn't have helped Flintheart if I’d have known that,” Lotus exclaimed.

“It's better that you did,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Otherwise you’d likely be dead and unable to assist us in saving the world.”

“I suppose that's one way of looking at it,” Aloe murmured.

“You don't have to come with us, by the way,” Applejack offered, trotting up to the front of the group. “You've suffered enough under that lunatic.”

“No,” Lotus forcefully declared. “Coerced though we may have been, we still did many evil deeds.”

“Deeds which must be atoned for,” Aloe added.

“Well, don't go takin’ it too far. Your lives still matter, and you both got a lot of years ahead of ya,” Pear Butter remarked.

“They won't be easy, mind you. I doubt Celestia will look kindly on a pair of reluctant necromancers like ourselves,” Aloe murmured sadly, her teal mane hanging down over her face.

“And even if we didn't end up in prison, I doubt the ponies of Ponyville will forgive us after what we’ve done,” Lotus murmured.

“Don't worry about it,” Big Macintosh stated.

“What Mac said,” Applejack exclaimed. “Sure, it might not go back to the way things were right off the bat, but I’m sure once they hear your story, they’ll forgive ya.”

The twins exchanged a glance and a shared sigh.

“I don't know if we can,” Lotus murmured, her hoof going to her cheek. “He didn't let us get any healing after casting any spells.”

“We are… very scarred,” Aloe all but whispered.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Scars are hot. If anything, you too are sexier with them.”

Lotus blushed and cocked her head. “Thank you?”

“And if you want to get them healed, I know a few people that may be able to help,” Kanathara added, elbowing her familiar in the side.

“That would be most appreciated,” Aloe exclaimed, a small smile coming to her face.

“I hate to interrupt you guys, but how far away are we exactly? We’ve been walkin’ for a while now, and I’m gettin’ worried we might run into some kinda monster out here,” Applejack inquired.

“Or a demon,” Big Macintosh added.

“Pfft. I say let ‘em come. That other guy didn't even put up much of a fight,” Rainbow Dash declared, puffing out her chest.

“It's not far,” Lotus quickly interrupted, pointing further into the woods. “You can see the ring of shriekers growing along the camp’s edge.”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow and glanced to where she could see dozens of two foot-tall mushrooms poking out from the underbrush. Though not overly large, they sported dozens of small holes in their white tops, and from their red stalk sprouted several pink tentacles. These appendages weaved slowly through the air, as if feeling out for any potential prey that may wander into their domain.

“Wait here a moment. I need to disable the runes and put the shriekers to sleep,” Aloe whispered, crawling through the thick bushes on her knees.

“It won't take long,” elaborated Lotus, who remained at Kanathara’s side.

“I didn't know they could even grow on the surface,” Pear Butter wondered.

“Without the sun’s rays, many subterranean species fare well up here,” Lotus explained.

“Even hook horrors?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

The former spa pony shuddered. “Unfortunately.”

“There,” Aloe whispered, slipping next to her sibling. “They won't be disabled for long, so we should probably get moving.”

“Allow me to do the talking,” Kanathara proclaimed, her form rippling briefly before she took on her pony appearance once more. “Pear Butter, Rainbow Dash. I want you two to remain out of sight just in case things go sideways.”

“Got it, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied, snapping off a salute.

“Alright, but be careful. These two mentioned that he had a few ponies who willingly followed him,” Pear Butter cautioned.

“Just two,” Aloe quickly added. “And they aren't well-liked either.”

“If things don't go well, point them out to me, and I’ll deal with them,” Kanathara declared.

“Please don't be too harsh though. They seem mostly misguided,” Lotus warned.

“I won’t. Now come on. We are on a very limited timetable with the fate of the world hanging in the balance,” Twilight remarked.

“Of course,” Aloe replied, turning back towards the encampment.

Kanathara trod silently behind her guides, following their hoofsteps perfectly and avoiding the seemingly inactive mushrooms. Which thankfully wasn't difficult, as their pink appendages had coiled around their stalks, which were in turn encapsulated by their folded tops. Kanathara had never seen such a fungus be used for defence, though she stowed her curiosity for the moment.

Instead she focused her attention on observing her surroundings, starting with the runes she saw carved into nearly every tree. These enchantments seemed to be simple wards meant to keep out wildlife, though they also had an alarm spell tied to them. It was crude and not well hidden, but then again, that might have been part of Flintheart’s plan to keep out any passesrby.

Either way, after passing them by, Kanathara noticed that the forest quickly began to thin and that her guides were watching where they stepped a little closer. Kanathara looked down to find several crude traps on the ground, and, with a small application of magic, the demon disarmed them all.

“Watch your hooves,” Aloe cautioned. “We don't have time to get rid of them all.”

“I got it already,” Kanathara replied.

“Even that one?” Lotus replied, pointing to a still active deadfall trap.

Kanatahra blinked. “Huh. Just a sec.”

Another quick spell later, it too was dealt with, allowing Kanathara to inspect the camp without fear of traps. Pushing a stray branch out of the way, she swept her disapproving gaze from left to right, her scowl deepening as time passed. Clearly organized around the lone wooden structure, nearly every other enclosure was primitive at best, especially when compared to the cabin.

Tents made from animal hide were clustered around the short wooden wall erected a few feet from the cabin. Though there was the start of a barrier around the camp itself, it was little more than several scattered piles of logs at the moment. Worse still were the ponies she could see meandering about the space, their faces downcast and expressions marred with dirt.

The smell was perhaps the worst part, and Kanathara could detect the scent of an open latrine from her spot at the camp’s edge. Clearly their former leader had not cared much about his minions, or he simply assumed that he would take Ponyville in short order. Either way, it was a muddy, smelly hole that immediately made Kanathara scowl in disgust.

“This is just sad,” Kanathara muttered. “Come on. Let's get this wrapped up quickly before the stink settles into my fur.”

Aloe nodded. “One moment.”

Lotus strode forward, quickly getting the attention of a nearby cultist robed in a ratty grey cloak. “Alert the others. We have an announcement,” Lotus barked in a commanding tone.

“R-right away,” murmured the young stallion before scampering away.

“Shouldn't take long now,” Lotus exclaimed as Kanathara and her sister trotted up next to her.

“It better not. This place smells rancid,” Kanathara deadpanned.

“Flintheart wouldn't let us dig the bathroom far from camp,” Aloe whispered.

Kanathara sighed and bit back her response, choosing to merely inspect her surroundings a little closer. She started with the cottage, which she quickly realized had no windows and only a single entrance barred by what looked like a solid oak door. She could also see different runes inscribed into the wood, as well as a large red one that hung above the front of the home.

The demon’s mind began to churn with counter spells and ways past the barrier, only for her gaze to fall on the chimney poking out from the roof. A quick scan told Kanathara that there were no barriers barring her from simply slipping through the top of the home. She was also able to confirm that there were no living things inside, though that didn't assuage her worries very much.

“We are ready,” Aloe whispered.

Kanathara shook her head, dismissing her curiosity and gazing down to where nearly thirty ponies had assembled before her. Nearly every last one of whom were nervous and shifted uneasily from hoof to hoof, searching for any sign of their former leader.

“Let's start off strong, shall we?” Kanathara murmured.

Without waiting for a response, the keeper of secrets reached into her pocket dimension and produced the decapitated head of Flintheart. Kanathara lifted it high into the air, gripping the thing by its hair and turning its empty gaze onto its former followers.

“Flintheart is dead,” Kanathara called out, causing a wave of nervous anticipation to roll across the crowd. “I can see on your faces that you worry I am his replacement, but fear not. I have no intention of preserving his reign of terror.”

Whispered thanks to the stars and sun could be heard emanating from the former cultists who all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“His claim was fraudulent, his powers weak, and his true goal was to simply bog down the area in conflict,” Kanathara continued, tossing the head at the ponies. “I stand here before you because Nightmare Moon has returned, and she wishes to annihilate all life by blocking out the sun completely. I aim to stop this from happening.”

“So what? We’re just supposed to go with you now?” asked a male voice from the crowd.

Kanathara shook her head. “If you wish to aid me or not, that is up to you. What I can say is that anyone who does follow me will be protected against any potential legal or extrajudicial problems that may come your way in the future.”

“And what about him?” exclaimed a green-haired mare who gestured to a younger colt standing awkwardly at the edge of the group. “He helped Flintheart without any prompting.”

“And what about our loved ones’ souls? Are you going to keep those?” added another.

“I will disable the ward on the cottage in a minute, but before we get to that, I would like you to bring the accused before me,” Kanathara demanded.

Two of the closest ponies looked at the colt, and for a moment it seemed like a fight was about to break out. Then the male simply sighed and began to trot towards the head of the group, then stood silently before Kanathara. She slowly inspected the pony, starting with his shaggy blueish-grey mane, bright teal eyes, and off-white fur. He wore only a simple cloak and a set of boots that were likely a size too big for him to walk in comfortably.

The keeper of secrets narrowed her gaze and extended a hoof, forcing the pony to look her in the eye. “What is your name, and why would you throw in with such contempetable scum?” Kanathara demanded.

The pony gulped. “My name is Shady Daze, ma’am, and Flintheart was my uncle. He told me that we were just going to make all the other ponies leave our land. He never said we would kill anypony, just that we would use magic to take back what was ours.”

“You know he was lying to you, right?” Kanathara pressed.

“I know that, now…” murmured the colt.

“You are free to go, kid,” Kanathara offered.

“You can't just let him wander off. The kid’s got a necromancy cutie mark for cryin’ out loud!” shouted a voice.

“And I don't have anyone left… not anymore, anyway,” Shady Daze whispered, glancing back at the head of his uncle.

Kanathara sighed and used a bolt of magic to destroy the last remnants of the pony known as Flintheart. Before she turned to respond to Shady, Kanathara glimpsed at the colt’s flank where a snow-covered pony skull was emblazoned. There was no mistaking it, this kid had gained a special talent in necromancy, despite the fact that he was an earth pony.

“Come with us, kid. I’ll make sure you're taught the proper way to use necromancy,” Kanathara softly declared.

“Are you sure about that?” Aloe whispered.

Kanathara nodded, turning to her. “Necromancy can heal the sick and do many helpful things so long as that talent is properly nurtured. Furthermore, I sense no hatred in his heart. The boy needs only a careful hoof to keep him on the right track.”

“I for one agree,” Lotus added.

“And Perfect Pace?” asked another pony.

“Wait. Where is that snake, anyway?” inquired an angry pegasus.

“This him?” Pear Butter replied, striding through the trees with a golden-maned and deep blue-furred unicorn tucked under a forehoof.

“Uh, yeah,” murmured a member of the crowd, their gaze going up to the wrath demon.

“Unhand me, you filthy mongrel. Do you have any idea who I am?” shouted the stallion who thrashed desperately in the demon’s grip.

“I don't know, nor do I care,” Pear Butter declared.

“What's his deal?” Kanathara inquired, leaning in close to Aloe.

“Some bigshot from Canterlot,” replied the former cultist.

“I think he's the one that set up the whole alliance with Nightmare Moon,” Lotus added.

Kanathara nodded. “Drop him here.”

Pear Butter shrugged and did what was asked of her, depositing the stallion in front of the keeper.

“Watch it. This suit was custom-tailored, you know. It cost me more than you’ve likely made in your entire life,” Perfect muttered angrily, quickly standing and brushing the dirt from his pants.

“You have one chance to explain your actions. Use it wisely,” Kanathara cautioned.

Perfect Pace snorted and used his magic to straighten his mane. “I don't answer to you or that beast that had so rudely manhandled me.”

“Well, that went about as well as you likely anticipated,” Rainbow Dash remarked, the seemingly normal pegasus slipping in next to her mistress.

Kanathara shrugged. “Yeah, but it's always fun to give them the chance. Now then. Let's see what your true purpose here is, hmm?”

“What are you…” the stallion’s indignant tone faded to nothing as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

Kanathara’s horn burned bright as her swirling gaze was fixed on the unicorn’s, her mind traveling deep into his memories. It didn't take long for a scowl to cross the keeper’s face, and her distaste only grew as time ticked by. Until her features were completely twisted in an angry glare leveled the stallion’s way, her magic fizzling only a minute later.

“You are a vile, repugnant little pony. Rainbow Dash, stow him away for later… enjoyment,” Kanathara declared.

Rainbow Dash shivered. “Damn, boss. That musta been bad.”

“It was,” Kanathara replied simply.

“Wait, what did you… how did--Oof.” The stallion doubled over when a hoof impacted his gut.

Still wheezing and unable to respond, the male was thrown over Rainbow Dash’s back, who quickly took flight.

“So what did he do, exactly?” Aloe nervously inquired.

Kanathara shuddered in disgust. “This… thing convinced Flintheart of his claim, gave him the necromancy books, and even stole the soul jar scroll from the guard. He was going to kill Flintheart after he had taken over Ponyville and use all the blackmail he had acquired to rule over the town like a petty dictator.”

“That's… messed up,” Lotus murmured.

“You know, I feel like we should push back more on that, considering we just have your word, but I feel like you're probably right,” shouted a voice from the crowd.

“Yeah, that guy had snooty noble written all over him,” added another.

Kanathara grunted. “Right then. While I deal with the wards, I’ll let Pear Butter organize those who wish to join us in fighting back against Nightmare Moon.”

The keeper of secrets didn't wait for a response from either Pear Butter or the crowd, merely teleporting behind the cottage in a flash. Where she turned to mist, floating up to the roof and down the chimney, reforming after entering what felt like a living room. The entire structure had only three rooms, one which served as a kitchen, living space, dining room, and entryway. The other two contained beds, though one was sized for an adult and the other was evidently made for a child. The larger of the two looked normal, while the smaller of the two was filled with stacks upon stacks of familiar jars.

A scowl once more found its way onto Kanathara’s face, though now it was muted somewhat, as she had noticed a piece of paper. Such a small detail would normally be ignored by the demon, though the fact that it was placed upon the pillow of the smaller bed made her stop. Kanathara pushed the door the rest of the way open and retrieved the small slip, which turned out to be a letter with the word ‘Will’, written across it.

With her curiosity getting the better of her, Kanathara opened the letter and peered inside.

To my nephew, Shady Daze.

Yeah, I know the password to get into the cottage was kind of lame. I know everyone says not to make it someone’s birthday, but you’re the only thing that matters to me. I hope you don't feel too bad about killing/banishing me. I was only acting so… out there to make sure all of our followers’ hatred was directed at me. Leaving you with the perfect opportunity to step in and take over now that you’ve defeated your ‘evil’ uncle.

Either way, I hope you end up as a kinder, gentler stallion than I and that you can live somewhere better than this hovel.

Love, Uncle Flint.

P.S If I haven't made it clear, I leave everything I own to you.

Kanathara exhaled slowly, crumpling up the letter and disintegrating it.

“He doesn't need to know that,” Kanthara muttered.

With a sigh, she glanced over the wall of jars and shook her head. “Still deserved it though,” she murmured to herself.

Trotting back to the entrance, Kanathara undid the lock and pulled it open, the ward fizzling a second later. A small gasp of shock and surprise came from the few ponies standing nearby, and Kanathara quickly got out of the way. Sure enough, a throng of multi-hued creatures rushed inside, each one frantically searching for the correct soul jar.

Kanathara ignored it all and trotted up to Pear Butter, Applejack, and Big Macintosh. “Thanks for letting me do the talking,” Kanathara remarked.

“No problem,” Big Macintosh replied.

“It seemed like you guys had the situation well in hoof,” Applejack added. “Figured we’d stay out of the way until you had everything sorted.”

“Right, speaking of which. Why don't we leave this to Pear Butter while we head into town?” Kanathara offered.

“Err, why exactly?” Applejack asked, scratching her head.

“For one we have to tell them the siege is broken, and secondly we need to recruit who we can from the guard. Which is where you two come in,” Kanathara replied.

“What?” Applejack muttered in shock.

Big Macintosh snorted in agreement.

“Who do you think they are going to listen to? Us, or you?” Kanathara replied.

The Apple siblings exchanged a glance and a shrug.

“I suppose you’re right,” Applejack admitted.

The rustle of leaves alerted Kanathara that her familiar had returned, alone.

“He's all tied up somewhere safe for whenever you want to enjoy him,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Good. Now let's get this little mess squared away, shall we?” Kanathara offered.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh declared.

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: Rhetoric

“I am going to sleep well tonight,” Applejack began, only to pause and scratch her head. “Or would that be today?”

Big Macintosh snorted, though if it was in agreement or disagreement, Kanathara didn't know.

“We are almost there,” exclaimed the keeper. “Now all we gotta do is find whoever’s been left in charge and then see if we can't round up more help.”

“I don't know if that's a good idea,” Applejack exclaimed, brushing aside a branch that had attempted to block her way. “These folk have suffered enough. Do you really think they are gonna march out there and fight this Nightmare fella?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh confidently declared.

“The big guy’s right,” Rainbow Dash quickly added. “I mean, you left your family behind pretty quick.”

Applejack stiffened before quickly relaxing. “It's ‘cause of them I gotta keep movin’. It won't matter if the farm’s safe if the whole world is gonna freeze.”

“And don't you think other people will have the same thought as you?” Kanathara pointed out.

“I suppose,” Applejack reluctantly admitted. “Just don't be too angry with ‘em if they decide to stay home and defend their town.”

Big Macintosh shot his sister a curious look, one that Kanathara couldn't quite discern the point of. Whatever silent conversation the two were having was over the demon’s head, so she simply decided to focus on the path ahead.

Though small and little more than a turkey trail, it was wide enough for the group to walk two abreast. Applejack and Big Macintosh took up the lead, while Kanathara and Rainbow Dash hung back. In order to not startle the guards, the two demons had donned their pony disguises, which only removed a few inches from their towering heights.

The next few minutes were quiet, with the Apple siblings clearly deep in thought, though only one of them wore a tense expression. Rainbow Dash kept her gaze up, ever vigilant for any monster or demon that may spring up. An effort that Kanathara knew was wasted, as the only heartbeats she could discover were terrified squirrels.

That was until they reached the edge of the forest and came to where the magical barrier met the Everfree. There they paused in order to look at the town which now lay just beyond the strangely hued wall barring them entry.

The first thing they noticed was the field of corpses that separated them from the half-destroyed barricade erected around the village. Most of the bodies were of animals large and small, though there were a few ponies as well as monsters strewn throughout. Even a half-rotted corpse of a hydra lay crumpled over a partially collapsed house which was now clearly abandoned.

“Well, damn. Aloe and Lotus weren't jokin’ around,” Applejack murmured. “They musta busted through the barrier at least once.”

“What a mess,” Big Macintosh remarked.

“No kidding,” Rainbow Dash added. “He sure threw a whole lotta cannon fodder at this place.”

“At least the town’s defenders seemed to have held out,” Kanathara pointed out, gesturing to where several groups of ponies could be seen walking along the barricades.

Though the actual defences were little more than wooden walls that came up to a pony’s chin, it had evidently worked. Those manning the defences had been decked out in primitive, though effective armor, and most wielded spears. A few carried pikes, but they were in the clear minority and sat further back in a small group, ready to rush to the front at a moment's notice.

Clever, Kanathara thought to herself.

“Not bad,” Rainbow Dash declared. “Ready to go give them the good news?”

Applejack nodded sternly. “Big Macintosh, would you mind makin’ sure we don't accidentally sneak up on ‘em?”

“You got it,” Big Macintosh muttered, stepping through the shield and clearing his throat. “Hello!”

The shout was strong, the male’s word carrying across the field with ease and visibly startling the sentries. Kanathara meanwhile just stood there in shock, a little surprised that the stallion’s deep baritone voice could even become that loud. Together she shared a look of appreciation and amusement with Rainbow Dash, who chuckled as the Apple siblings strode out in front.

“You don't think he's a necromancer, do ya?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara blinked. “No. Why do you ask?”

“‘Cause that was loud enough to wake the dead,” Rainbow Dash retorted, already snickering at her own joke.

Kanathara groaned and trotted forward. “You are the worst.”

“You love it,” Rainbow Dash shot back, bumping her hip against Kanathara’s side.

“Just let me and Mac do the talkin’,” Applejack whispered.

Kanathara merely nodded back, her attention already fixated on the small welcome party that had assembled at the wall. A few of the sentries had gathered together, and the squad of ponies armed with pikes stood nearby, though they had yet to lower their weapons. The brief bit of surprise have quickly been banished by an earth pony adorned from head to hoof in platemail.

As the four of them picked their way through the field of half-rotted corpses, Kanathara saw that order had been established at the walls. Though the pike brigade remained ready, only a single three-pony team walked up to the barricades themselves. At their head stood the sole member among them armored completely in steel, a mace belted tightly against her side.

“Stop!” she shouted in a commanding, yet feminine voice. “Identify yourself.”

The small group came to a stop a good twelve metres from the defences, and Applejack took a step forward.

“Hey there, boss lady,” Applejack replied.

The lead soldier seemed confused for a moment before pushing her grille up and revealing a set of sparkling teal eyes. The mare’s fur was a light cream color, and though her mane was cut short, Kanathara could tell that it was quite fluffy. One half of which was a deep blue, while the other was the brightest pink Kanathara had seen on a pony outside of the eponymous Pinkie Pie.

“Applejack? Well, damn. I shoulda known that was Big Macintosh’s holler,” exclaimed the pony.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied.

“I also shoulda left this damn helmet back home. Can't see nothin’ in it,” she muttered.

“So are you gonna let us in, or do we gotta keep standin’ out here amidst these piles of rot?” Applejack shouted back.

“First, who are your friends? And what's your business here? Don't tell me they got little Apple Bloom,” asked the other mare.

“Nah. The whole family’s just fine on account of these good folk with me,” Applejack answered, nodding to Kanathara and Rainbow Dash.

“We also took care of your little necromancer problem and were hoping to speak to your leaders,” Kanathara added.

“Not many folk around here could claim any official title, but I suppose I could round up the few that do,” replied the mare.

“That would be excellent, thank you, Bon Bon,” Applejack exclaimed.

The armored mare nodded. “Though before I do, I have a few questions for you.”

“Go right ahead,” Kanathara invited.

“Right.” Bon Bon cleared her throat and motioned towards the town. “You can start off by telling me all about how you dealt with this Flintheart fella and then we can go from there.”

“Sounds fair,” rumbled Big Macintosh.

Applejack frowned. “Well, ya see, it all started when-”

“And that pretty much brings us up to now,” Applejack finished, turning to Kanathara. “Did I miss anything?”

“You covered all the major points like Nightmare Moon’s attempt to end the world, what we are doing to stop that, and how everyone can help,” Kanathara remarked.

“Don't forget the part where that evil bitch plans on killing Celestia in like a week or whatever,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, leaning against an empty fruit stand and picking at her teeth with a splinter of wood.

“I’ll be damned,” Bon Bon muttered, glancing around at the other guards who had clustered in the empty marketplace. “I don't know about you lot, but I’ll be joining these guys when they leave for Canterlot.”

A smattering of agreements and affirmations could be heard over the low murmur of the gathering crowd. Though a few remained silent, Kanathara could tell that those who said nothing were deep in thought. All in all, the keeper of secrets was quite happy with how things were going, and she was certain that with the right words, she could gain even more support.

“That's good to hear, ‘cause this is gonna take a whole helluva lot of us to do,” Applejack declared.

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed.

“No kiddin’. Last I heard, it seemed like every two bit bandit gang and villain with delusions of grandeur had come out of the woodwork,” Bon Bon remarked. “Probably more of this Nightmare Moon person’s influence at work.”

Kanathara nodded. “She probably knows that in order to win, all she has to do is kill Celestia. After that it's just a matter of waiting for the world to freeze and hunting down what few survivors could handle the cold.”

“So that's why I detected all of those anti-teleportation arrays,” murmured a lightly armored unicorn stallion near the front of the group.

“She's slowing everyone down, but that won't work,” Rainbow Dash declared, stomping a hoof in emphasis. “Provided you guys keep pushing towards Canterlot, we’ll acquire our little ace in the hole and defeat Nightmare Moon before she even sees us coming.”

A short, demure stallion slipped up next to Bon Bon and began whispering in the mare’s ear. Upon relaying his message successfully, the male slipped away, leaving Bon Bon to turn back towards the group.

“Everyone’s assembled in the town hall,” she declared. “If you’re going to get the support you need, you should make some kind of speech.”

“Why?” Applejack asked incredulously. “Isn't it enough that the whole dang world is bein’ threatened?”

“Eenope,” Big Macintosh remarked.

Rainbow Dash wrapped a hoof about the farm pony’s shoulders. “Come on, Applejack, even you gotta know that not everyone is convinced by pure logic.”

“I suppose,” Applejack murmured.

“Which is why you have to get up there and convince them,” Kanathara declared, nodding subtly towards Rainbow Dash. And why you’ll be in the crowd, working them up.

The vengant smiled back. Sounds like a plan.

“Oh fine,” Applejack muttered, jabbing a hoof at Kanathara. “But yer comin’ with me.”

Kanathara grinned. “Of course,” she declared. “And if it seems like you’re getting overwhelmed, don’t worry. I’ll help you out.”

Applejack breathed in slowly, held it, then breathed out. “Alright. I’m ready. Let's get this over with.”

“That is a lot of ponies,” Applejack muttered, clutching the curtain which separated her from the crowd just beyond.

The town center was packed with ponies young and old, all of whom were busy whispering to one another. A sense of nervous excitement had filled the room, and rumours flew faster than the pegasi fluttering above the gathering. Families bunched together in groups while squads of soldiers clustered near the edges of the crowd, waiting patiently.

“You’ll be fine. Just go out there and tell them what they need to know,” Bon Bon declared.

“And try to really sell them on the whole ‘saving the world’ thing,” Kanathara added.

“Well, I for one think this is silly,” declared a grey-haired mare who strode up to the trio. “We should let the guard handle such a matter while the people of Ponyville defend their homes.”

“We can't just sit on our hooves,” Applejack exclaimed.

“And why not?” countered the bespectacled pony. “We were hardly holding our own against some amatuer necromancer who had only two powerful spells to his name.”

Kanathara opened her mouth to respond, but found something about the new arrival’s demeanor to be slightly off-putting. Not in a bad way, but rather it made the keeper of secrets wonder if she was pointedly attempting to get a rise out of Applejack. So Kanathara decided to remain silent and merely watch as the pair continued to argue.

“With a little help, we dealt with him in no time,” Applejack declared, stomping her hoof in emphasis. “And I bet there are plenty more towns out there that just need a little push in the right direction.”

“Why should we help them when we can barely help ourselves?” demanded the other mare, who straightened her collar and raised her nose.

“I don't know what the heck’s gotten into you, Mayor, but I sure as shoot ain't about to leave my neighbors hangin’,” Applejack stated.

The mayor snorted and rolled her eyes. “Oh, come now, Applejack. You can't believe that everyone is just going to follow you out on some crusade to help a bunch of Canterlot elites? We are but peaceful farmers and traders. We can't do anything against a prime evil.”

“We won’t need to,” Applejack retorted. “‘Cause we’re helping those who can do something about it. Furthermore, I know they’ll join us because they are good, honest folk. Unlike you!”

Applejack then turned and trotted proudly out onto the stage, confidently stepping out into the spotlight.

“You were provoking her, weren't you?” Kanathara asked the second after Applejack was gone.

The mayor chuckled and awkwardly scratched the back of her neck. “I hope you don't think it's too underhanded of me. Applejack can be quite the persuasive speaker, but not when she's doubting herself.”

“I get it,” Kanathara quickly replied. “I’m just a bit surprised you want to lose what little guards you have left.”

“We’ll leave enough behind to make sure nothing happens,” Bon Bon interrupted.

“The ponies of Ponyville are stronger than we look,” Mayor Mare proclaimed. “Even without the paladins, rangers, and militia, we will survive just fine. Provided your little cadre complete their mission, and the whole world doesn't freeze over.”

“Don't you worry, Mayor. We’ll succeed or die trying,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Hopefully just the first part. I don't know how many of us can truly stand up to something as terrifying as a prime evil,” Mayor Mare exclaimed.

Kanathara smiled. “I think you’ll find that there are plenty of ponies capable of such a feat of bravery.”

“If you say so,” Mayor Mare murmured.

Kanathara stepped forward, listening to Applejack as the earth pony spoke to the crowd in a clear, confident tone.

“Those ponies didn't have a choice,” Applejack passionately exclaimed. “They didn't follow Flintheart out of malice, but fear. Now I know that doesn't make it okay, but please, just ask yourself this. If someone was going to throw your parent’s or child’s soul into the depths of Tartarus, what lengths would you go to stop that from happening?”

The crowd was silent, save for a few scattering murmurs, and after several seconds had passed, Applejack continued once more.

“Flintheart’s demise isn't the only news I bring, however,” Applejack cautiously began. “The pony, neigh, monster, called Nightmare Moon, not only wants us dead, but the whole dang world!”

A collective gasp filled the domed room, and the hushed conversations returned in greater numbers.

“As you’ve likely already guessed, Celestia didn't raise the moon and keep it there, but rather a demonic creature that she had previously defeated and banished to the moon did all this,” Applejack declared. “One that we will need every able bodied pony to defeat.”

“Now I know what yer thinkin’,” Applejack pressed. “Yer askin’ yourselves what you can do about some crazy demon alicorn, and yer wonderin’ if there's even a hope of winning. I’m here to tell ya there is, and that we’ll need every capable pony in this room to make it happen.”

The farm pony smiled as she looked out over the captivated ponies staring at her with wide eyes.

“A friend of mine has a plan to rescue Princess Celestia and defeat this Nightmare Moon critter,” Applejack continued. “Though powerful, she can't do this alone, for between her and Nightmare Moon is a whole army of mean mother hubbards. Together we can do our part to protect not only our families and Ponyville, but everyone everywhere!”

Applejack winced and took off her hat. “Now I won't lie to ya. Some of ya probably won't come back from this, but I got just one question. Is there a better way to go than givin’ yer all to protect every pony, gryphon, and creature that lives on Equis?”

The farm pony waited expectantly, and though quiet for a few seconds, a voice suddenly bellowed two proud words.

“Heck no!” yelled a familiar feminine voice.

Rainbow Dash’s hearty declaration heralded a flood of affirmations.

“And if it ain't enough for ya to just be savin’ the world, remember that this demon is out there right now tryin’ to kill Celestia!” Applejack shouted, stomping a hoof in anger. “And I for one ain't gonna stand for it. My family owes everything to that mare, and I think it's about good gosh darn time that I pay her back for everything she's done for us. For what shes done for Equestria!”

“For the Princess!” exclaimed a pegasus mare.

“For Equestria, for the Princess, and for Equis!” Applejack bellowed, pumping a hoof into the air.

“For Equestria, for the Princess, and for Equis!” yelled the crowd.

Applejack smiled grimly as she watched the entire room chant her impromptu slogan for nearly thirty seconds before finally beginning to quiet down.

“Now I know I don't need to ask, but who here is with me?” Applejack asked.

Nearly every pony in the room raised their hoof confidently into the air.

“That's what I like to see!” Applejack proudly stated.

Behind the curtain, Kanathara smiled, silently congratulating the farm pony on her success.

“I feel like I could fight a dragon,” Bon Bon muttered.

“Something tells me I’ll be out of a job come next election season,” Mayor Mare murmured.

Applejack grinned. “I’m proud of y'all. Now I don't know all the logistics and whatnot, but we’ll be joinin’ up with a bunch of others just outside of town once we get everything figured.”

“You should lead us!” shouted a voice.

“Yeah, you should do it!” added another voice.

“Applejack, Applejack!” the crowd chanted, building from just a single pony chanting the mare’s name until the entire room repeated the word.

“I can't… I’m not…” Applejack grumbled and ground her teeth together. “I can't lead noone!”

The crowd continued unabated, with the desperate farm pony turning expectantly to Kanathara for help. The keeper merely shrugged and gestured back to the crowd, causing Applejack to grimace. Her irritable expression didn't last long, and soon Applejack raised a foreleg in defeat.

“Fine, fine. I’ll do it, but I gotta find a bunch of the smartest folk to make sure I don't mess this whole thing up,” Applejack exclaimed.

“Oh yeah!” shouted a muscular pegasus with tiny wings.

The crowd quickly became abuzz with activity, as ponies volunteered for various jobs or otherwise began organizing themselves, allowing Kanathara a moment to sneak onto stage and gently tap Applejack on the shoulder.

“You did great,” whispered the demon.

“Yeah, it wasn't so bad, was it?” Applejack murmured absently, as if she didn't quite believe her own words.

“It seems like you got things well in hoof,” Kanathara remarked, glancing at the excited crowd. “I think I’ll leave the rest to you. Just make sure to get in contact with your mother. She’ll need to know where you are in order to set up your supply lines and whatnot.”

“Don't worry. I’ll get all that technical stuff figured. Once I get all this sorted first,” Applejack muttered, gesturing to the crowd.

“We’ll leave ya to it,” Kanathara exclaimed, only to stop. “Wait, where exactly is Rarity’s little community anyway?”

“Southeast end of the gorge,” Applejack answered with a shrug. “I never got the chance to go out there before all this happened, so that's all I know.”

“It will be enough. Good luck,” Kanathara declared, giving the mare one last pat on the back before turning and walking away.

A move Rainbow Dash mirrored, slipping quietly through the crowd and meeting her mistress outside the hall. Where they both exchanged a slightly surprised, but nonetheless genuine set of smiles.

“I didn't think she had it in her,” Rainbow Dash opened.

“She just needed a bit of prompting,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Evidently. So, where to next?”

“We’ll go pick up our snack and then start heading towards Ghastly Gorge,” Kanathara answered. “Unless you think we should stick around a bit?”

“Nah,” Rainbow Dash quickly stated. “Between Pear Butter and Applejack, they’ll have everything organized in no time.”

Kanathara nodded in agreement. “Most likely. Hopefully we can acquire the rest of the bearers as easily as we have Applejack.”

“Do you really though? This has been pretty easy,” Rainbow Dash replied, leaning in close.

“Okay so maybe a bit more of a challenge would be nice,” Kanathara admitted.

“Ha,” Rainbow Dash laughed. “That's more like it. Now let's get movin’ before our dinner gets stolen by some enterprising wolf or something.”

“Good thinking,” Kanathara replied.

“Get off of me, you foul creature!” Perfect Pace shouted, kicking wildly at the badger clinging to the back of his pant leg.

The small mammal growled and shook itself, tearing the pony’s clothing even more, its back legs digging into the ground. Despite the pony repeatedly attempting to punt the tiny creature away, his bindings were secure and he could barely move. With his range of motion more or less non-existent and only a single limb not completely bound by a thick rope, he couldn't actually hit the creature plaguing him.

“Stars above,” he cursed. “This is going to take a fortune to replace.”

The badger’s growl deepened, and it shook its head from side to side, ripping a good chunk of expensive fabric clean off. Confused, the creature chewed on the bit of cloth before violently spitting it back out and eying the stallion closer.

“Oh no, you don't, you foul little abomination. Begone from my presence!” Perfect Pace yelled, straining as he attempted to push magic into his horn.

It barely even lit up, as the inhibitor ring he had been forced to wear robbed him of nearly all of his power. He couldn't even use levitation, and his attempt to lift the badger merely caused its legs to glow faintly. Thankfully for the noble, his attacker was spooked by the strange light and quickly backpedalled before sprinting off into the woods.

“That's right, you better run!” he shouted. “Now I just need to get out of here.”

“Oh, don't worry. I was just about to do that,” Kanathara cooly declared, her pony disguise melting away to reveal her true demonic form.

“W-what. Wh-who are you?” Perfect Pace muttered.

Rainbow Dash chuckled as she followed in her mistress’ wake, her own appearance returning to its natural state. “We’re just a couple of hungry mares looking for a hot meal.”

“Well, I have been told that I am quite a snack,” Perfect Pace exclaimed, flashing the two demons an awkward smile.

Kanathara stumbled briefly. “That was a surprise.”

“No kidding. I’ve heard about fear boners, but this is something else,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snicker.

“Yes, well. Cut me down from this tree, and I will give you everything you can handle,” Perfect Pace continued.

“You are hilarious,” Kanathara exclaimed. “But we’re not interested in your flesh.”

“Speak for yourself. I was planning on roasting his thighs after we were done with him,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Roasting my…” Perfect Pace’s jaw fell open, and he hung loose in his bindings.

“Ahh, now he’s realized what's going to happen,” Kanathara exclaimed. “I love this part.”

“P-please don't. I’ll give you anything you want! I have bits, property, art, weapons! Anything you could ever desire!” he shouted, the stallion’s voice growing increasingly high-pitched as the two demons approached him.

“Why bother trading you for those things when we can just take them from you after we eat you?” Kanathara retorted.

“Yeah. You’re not really negotiating from a place of power,” Rainbow Dash added.

Perfect Pace gulped. “I have caches all over Equestria. I can tell you the codes and where they are!”

“Oh, that's not bad,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Not good enough though,” Kanathara declared.

“I’ll do anything you want! I’ll be your slave for the rest of my life!” Perfect Pace continued.

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Like that would be e-”

“Actually, wait a sec,” Kanathara interrupted. “This guy is a landed noble. Which means he's capable of giving out diplomatic immunities, and if his properties were divided, he could even make a few people into barons.”

“So?” Rainbow Dash replied. “He’s sinned like, a whole ton. You can smell how delicious he is from here.”

“Oh, I’m sure I’d taste terrible. I have a dreadful sweet tooth, you see,” Perfect Pace exclaimed.

“Would you accept a geas?” Kanathara asked.

Perfect Pace paused before hastily nodding his head. “Yes, anything.”

“You can't be serious. He would taste so good!” Rainbow Dash whined.

“I mean, we can always eat him later,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Oh, that's dastardly.”

“I don't suppose I could negotiate a little by chance? Maybe trade my freedom for my survival?” Perfect Pace offered.

“Fair. Though we are under no obligation to protect you,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Perfect Pace grimaced. “Fine. I accept.”

“Wonderful. Now we will have a spy and a nice little piggy bank for when this is all over,” Kanathara declared.

“If we survive, that is,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“It pays to be prepared,” Kanathara exclaimed, summoning a sheet of paper and a pen out of thin air. “Now then. Just sign here.”

Perfect Pace was about to ask how, when the ropes around his right forehoof loosened enough for him to snake the limb out. He then got all of two seconds to inspect the contract before it was levitated in front of his pen.

“I’m not going to get a chance to read it over, am I?” muttered the stallion.

“Nope!” Kanathara replied.

The male sighed. “I suppose I’ve already sold my soul to one demon. What's two more?”

“Wait, did you literally sell it?” Kanathara asked, recoiling the contract.

“Just metaphorically. All agreements were made verbally or with non-magically binding contracts,” Perfect answered.

“Perfect, I don't want to fight her for your soul,” Kanathara declared, hovering the contract closer once more. “Ah, excellent. Now for the geas.”

“I don't suppose it's painless by chance?” Perfect asked nervously.

The two demons exchanged a look before erupting with laughter.

“Oh no. It's quite painful,” Kanathara stated.

“Like getting your soul sucked out, put through a blender, then stuffed back into your meat shell,” Rainbow Dash added.

Perfect Pace sighed. “Bugger.”

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: Forethought

“That was some excellent forethought with that noble,” Rainbow Dash remarked, giving Kanathara an appreciative smile. “Let's hope we’ll actually have the chance to cash in on that later.”

Kanathara nodded grimly. “Perfect’s wealth and influence will come in handy once the world isn't ending, but as you mentioned, we need to stop that from happening first.”

“A good thing too, ‘cause something tells me demons are going to be enemy number one in Equestria after this,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara sighed as she plodded slowly through the forest. “That is quite true. I can definitely see some kind of even more zealous version of the paladins get formed once this is all finally settled.”

“If it gets settled,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “Nothing is set in stone yet.”

“True,” Kanathara admitted. “Let's make sure the chips fall in our favor and pick up the pace then.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Rainbow Dash replied, opening her wings wide.

Kanathara allowed her body to turn to mist and seep between the seams of her familiar’s armor. Now inhabiting the winged demon’s corporeal form, Kanathara stared out through the vengant’s eyes. She also remained quiet as Rainbow Dash ascended through the treetops, with Kanathara soon busying herself with observing their surroundings.

The first thing she noticed was how many trees had begun to wither without the sun’s light, their leaves folding inward. Some plants were in a similar unfortunate position, their color having been drained from the lack of nourishment. Mushrooms, on the other hoof, grew incredibly large, overtaking their neighbors and beginning to dominate small sections of the forest.

The creatures they spotted were much the same, with some appearing weary and tired while others were energized. As Kanathara observed the wave of green beneath them, she could see several wild-eyed, and abnormally large wolves chasing an exhausted trio of rabbits. As Kanathara continued to watch the land below, she came to an unpleasant, though unavoidable conclusion. The moon was driving some of the creatures mad or at least frenzied with its constant presence while weakening others.

“Not a nice sight, huh?” Rainbow Dash remarked.

It certainly is different, Kanathara replied. Some species have adapted quite quickly while others are seemingly doomed to extinction if this keeps up.

“Makes me wonder how much of a mess Equestria will be even after we deal with Nightmare Moon,” Rainbow Dash added, banking around a small, solitary storm cloud.

Either way, it won't be our problem, Kanathara pointed out.

“True. Though maybe we could help a bit more once all things are said and done,” Rainbow Dash offered.

Enjoying the hero treatment,are you? Kanathara teased.

“Kinda,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “I know you’re supposed to choose between being feared and loved, but I say why can't you have both? People should be scared because of how much they love me.”

Kanathara snickered to herself. Maybe we’ll do some more heroics in the future then. If nothing else, it would help alleviate suspicion that may be directed our way, should our involvement with Nightmare Moon get out.

“Yeah, and if a few irredeemable jerks get their souls eaten and end up disappearing in the process, then who would complain?” Rainbow Dash declared.

Plus if they just so happen to give away all their worldly possessions beforehoof, then all the better, Twilight stated.

Rainbow Dash bobbed her head vigorously. “Exactly. We would make a killing.”

That pun was bad, even for you, Kanathara groaned.

“Oh pisha, that was hilarious,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Kanathara put her familiar’s bad puns out of mind and went back to closely observing her surroundings. As she looked from one mutated plant or animal to another, the demon idly wondered what else had changed with the moon’s ascension.

“We are coming up on the gorge now,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Kanathara immediately perked up, brought forth from her musings by her familiar’s voice. Looking out through the vengant’s eyes, Kanathara found that they were indeed nearing the strange location. The distinct zig-zagging crevice cut a wide swath through the surrounding greenery, drawing the eye towards the red river at the bottom of its dark depths.

Though any normal creature would struggle to glimpse the deepest reaches of the gorge from such a height, Kanathara had no such troubles. Her familiar’s keen eyes pierced the gloom with ease, allowing the pair to notice several things that looked out of place.

The most obvious of which was the primitive dirt road that emerged from the forest, wound down the side of the gorge, and somehow clung to its side. After passing the lip of the crevice, the path turned to stone as it traveled along the eastern side, eventually disappearing around a distant bend. Work was evidently not complete on that particular project, and Kanathara spotted several piles of dirt sitting unused next to the roadway.

“I guess Applejack was right. Rarity really must be trying to establish some kind of new town out here,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

It seems so, Kanahtara agreed.

The keeper was about to request a closer look at the single solitary sign post she could see, only to be distracted by a flash of red. Directing her attention downwards, Kanathara noticed that the river she thought she saw earlier was not actually a body of water at all. Rather it was a sea of long scarlet and lavender eels engaged in either a giant fight, or a single massive orgy.

Either way, Kanathara diverted her focus elsewhere, studying the path they had seen earlier.

“Do you hear that?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara ignored the distant roars and angry squabbling of the many gigantic eels, focusing instead on what seemed like shouting. In the common tongue no less, and though the distinct words were not audible over such a great distance, Kanathara could tell they were frantic.

Let's hurry. Rarity might be in trouble, Kanathara declared.

“On it,” Rainbow Dash replied.

The vengent tucked her wings against her sides and dove downwards, gaining speed at an incredible pace. In seconds she had descended down to the point that her hooves nearly touched the tree tops, her ears sticking straight up in the air. As they closed the distance, the sounds became clearer, and soon they could make out more yelling.

“Hold it, hold it!”

“I can't keep a grip, it's too strong!”

“Don't give up yet, darlings, we’ve got this!”

That was definitely Rarity, Kanathara pointed out.

“Going in hot!” Rainbow Dash declared.

Pumping her wings hard, Rainbow Dash burst through the tree cover with an explosion of hellfire. Her incredible momentum gave her mere moments to assess the situation before she was forced to put that speed to use. Thankfully for the demon, the situation seemed fairly standard, as there were a small pack of diamond dogs near the edge of a cliff and a giant monster a dozen metres away.

The dogs numbered only about twelve, two of whom were off to the side, either injured or treating the one who was. The sole pony in the group was Rarity, who wore lightweight chainmail, unlike her compatriots who were decked out in shiny platemail. The unicorn also had a ring over her horn, which made her eyes glow faintly, most likely giving her the same night vision that her companions had. Everyone present wielded some manner of blunt weapon or net, unlike the monstrous green creature at the edge of the gorge.

The only defences this strange abomination had were its clawed hands, large fang-filled maw, and titanic bulk. Easily as long as an ancient sea serpent and wider than a train, the beast looked almost like an enormous snake. Except this monster had two arms that ended with four clawed fingers, a thick green membrane connecting the curved digits.

Its face was also quite strange, with a trio of long grey fins extending from the top of its head. Beneath those protrusions were more membranous growths, except these were a bright crimson and were fully extended in a threatening display. Its jaws had only four fangs visible, though Kanathara suspected that there were more hidden within the creature’s enormous maw.

You go high, I’ll go low, Kanathara exclaimed as she turned to mist and slipped out of Rainbow Dash’s body.

The familiar didn't slow for a second, merely grunting in affirmation as she flew directly at the monster. By the time she punched the creature square in its scaly cheek, Rainbow Dash was covered from head to hoof in thick plate mail. Upon connection, the vengant found that her strength was more than enough for the monster, as it was knocked back several feet.

Confused by the sudden appearance of a more dangerous foe, the beast screeched, the sound clawing at the skulls of the mortals who heard it. The noise didn't last long, however, as Kanathara reformed a moment later and launched a potent ball of hellfire at her foe’s side. The explosion rocked the monster back even further, threatening to push it over the side of the gorge.

“Don't worry, we’ve got this,” Kanathara declared as she trotted through the crowd of stunned diamond dogs.

Horn ready to send the beast flying into the abyss, Kanathara prepared to finish the fight in short order. Only to be interrupted when someone attempted to tackle her from the side. Rather than hit the ground in a tangled heap, Kanathara let her magic fade and glanced over to where Rarity was hanging off her torso.

“What are you doing?” Kanathara demanded.

“Oh my, I thought for sure I could at least knock you over,” Rarity muttered, clearing her throat. “Saving you from doing something terribly silly, I’m afraid.”

“Boss, it's getting away!” Rainbow Dash and the tallest of the diamond dogs exclaimed in near unison.

“Blast, not again,” Rarity cursed. “Try to cut off its escape before it-”

The creature smacked Rainbow Dash to the dirt with a thunderous backhand before turning and diving into the ground like it was water. In mere seconds the creature was gone, it's incredible bulk sliding into the narrow hole it had somehow made for itself.

“...Gets away,” Rarity muttered, kicking the ground. “Darn it all to Tartarus.”

Kanathara plucked the unicorn from her back and deposited the mare on the ground before fixing her with a firm look. “Can you please tell us what's going on? We assumed you were in trouble,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Well, you were wrong,” interrupted the towering female diamond dog Kanathara hadn't initially noticed.

Now much closer, the keeper immediately felt an odd sense of deja vu as she gazed upon the bipedal creature. Her jowls hung down the side of her face, and her pointed ears grew directly from the sides of her head. Her fur was also incredibly dark, adding to the overall intimidating physique that the diamond dog boasted. In addition, she also had shoulders wider than most males and sported a long jagged scar that ran down her forehead, across one eye, and ended just above her nose.

“You look familiar,” Kanathara remarked.

The diamond dog snorted. “If Lady Rarity’s stories are to be believed, then you likely met my older sister back at our old home. Though I didn't see that particular interaction.”

Rainbow Dash landed next to her mistress with a loud thump, her helmet retracting down into her gorget. “You mean that ugly bitch that fought Shining Armor before having her own run in with us?” Rainbow Dash remarked.

The black dog growled and gripped her mace a little tighter. “Yes, that would be her,” she admitted.

“Darlings, please, now is not the time to bring up such foul news. Besides, dear sweet Daisy here is only half related to that brutish sister of hers,” Rarity interrupted, interposing herself between the demons and the dog.

“Yes, why don't we all just take a step back, hmm?” Twilight offered, noticing that the rest of the pack had assembled around them.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Sure, but you gotta tell us why you stopped us from putting that beast in the dirt.”

“For one, that would have been a waste, and secondly, you wouldn't have succeeded,” Daisy declared.

“Precisely, darling,” Rarity added. “A grootslang is not to be trifled with. Careful teamwork is necessary to capture such a beast.”

“Wait, that was a grootslang?” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing to the hole the monster left behind. “But I thought they lived way underground, and had, like, an elephant face.”

“Some do,” replied Daisy. “As for why they are so close to the surface, well, isn't it obvious?”

Kanathara glanced around to the dark forest and ultimately the moon which hung high above them.

“That makes sense. Though I’m curious as to why you were trying to capture such a creature,” Kanathara inquired.

“It's simple. As we are new to this neck of the woods, we simply hoped to get this monstrous snake to clean up the neighborhood as it were,” Rarity answered.

“What were you going to do, ride it into battle?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“No no no,” Rarity quickly replied. “Nothing so beastly. We were merely going to capture its egg, which would convince it that we were part of its family, so to speak. I’m not exactly sure how or why, but she would think we were to be defended as if we were her own.”

“Sneaky. Though I’m curious as to how you intended on getting around the grootslang’s natural chaos magic,” Kanathara added, glancing around at the relatively well-armed host of diamond dogs. “Last I heard, just hitting it over the head wasn't enough to knock out such a beast.”

“‘Course we thought of that,” Daisy stated, hefting one of the few nets they had left. “Which is why we were using these.”

Twilight glanced at the net, noting that it had several black spheres tied along its ends. “Anchor stones, curious. Where did you find them?”

“This land is brimming with such wonderful magical items,” Rarity answered, gesturing a hoof out over the gorge. “Which is why I spent my life savings buying it. With Daisy’s pack, we will be able to start a fine mining village and give a home to any wayward dogs seeking freedom.”

“Our pack,” Daisy corrected, pulling Rarity tight against her side. “You were made co-alpha, remember?”

Rarity’s face lit up with a bright red blush. “Oh, pish posh, darling. I merely provided the land. It is your people that have done and will do all the heavy lifting. My own contribution is negligible.”

“Wait, are you two a thing?” Rainbow Dash blurted out.

“It was a political marriage,” Rarity quickly replied. “The Equestrian government wouldn't let me set up such a settlement without some manner of legal tie to the pack, and, well… it seemed the most expedient of solutions.”

“And that night we spent together after you rescued me and the rest of the exiles from the Equestrian authorities had nothing to do with it, right?” quipped Daisy, who ran a finger around Rarity’s ear.

Rarity blushed even harder while a couple of the diamond dogs snickered. “I don't know what you are talking about,” murmured the pony.

“Damn, this girl moves quick,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “What's it been, like a week?”

“There were extenuating circumstances, now get off me, you brute!” Rarity shrieked, shoving Daisy away with all her strength.

Which meant the diamond dog barely moved and merely snickered as she voluntarily took a step back. “Whatever you say, Lady Rarity,” she remarked.

Kanathara cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation at whatever passes for your camp or town.”

“Of course. Right this way, darlings,” Rarity announced, turning towards the gorge. “I shall introduce you all once we have returned to our little bolt hole.”

Together the small group followed dutifully behind, with the majority of the dogs creating a long line at the back, allowing Rainbow Dash, Kanathara as well as Rarity and Daisy to take the lead at the front of the pack. Though all were silent, Kanathara gleaned quite a bit of information from just the way Rarity and Daisy interacted with one another.

Whenever they neared a narrow ledge, Rarity walked a little closer to the female dog, a hoof occasionally gripping a strong black paw. The owner of which made sure to keep a close eye on the two demons, clearly protective over the unicorn. All while they continued to wind their way deeper into the gorge before suddenly turning into the wall and entering a cave.

Though initially it was only wide enough for a single dog to walk comfortably, it swiftly grew wider until the entire pack could walk beside one another. Kanathara also noticed that although well-worked, the ground wasn't quite even and there remained several stalactites that had yet to be cut down. It was also rather damp, and it only grew more so when a side tunnel bearing a swiftly moving river in its center appeared before them.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Rarity stopped next to the edge and smiled. “Isn't it lovely? The water is crystal clear, and ultimately winds to the other side of the gorge and comes all the way back.”

“It tastes real good too,” Daisy remarked, which a few of the other dogs agreed to.

Kanathara peered into the clear water and noted that it did indeed seem to be quite pure. Not only that, but small shimmering silver fish darted about its depths, unbothered by the rushing water. That wasn't the only life within the depths, however, as several strange green mushrooms grew along the bottom as well as the sides.

“Quite an interesting little ecosystem,” Kanathara remarked.

“It is, isn't it?” Rarity declared somewhat proudly. “There should be enough food in this river to support a population ten times our current number.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Daisy quickly interrupted. “We got a grootslang to capture, a home to defend, and a world-ending threat to deal with.”

“Then you know about Nightmare Moon?” Kanathara asked.

Rarity shook her head. “I did not know her name, though the second I saw the moon rise unnaturally, I assumed it was something truly dreadful.”

“You don't know the half of it,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Oh, do tell,” Rarity encouraged, gesturing down to the left.

“Alright, so Nightmare Moon is actually Celestia’s sister, but she was…” Kanathara began, trotting behind the pony at a slow pace.

“And that brings us up to now,” Kanathara finished.

“That is seven different kinds of messed up,” Daisy declared.

“I wouldn't have put it quite so crassly, but you are not wrong, darling,” Rarity added.

“Which is where you come in. We need all the help we can get to fight the Nightmare’s forces, and then we need you specifically to end that overblown imp’s reign of terror,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, stomping her hoof against the ground in emphasis.

“Help us capture the beast, and I can personally guarantee that just about every last able-bodied dog will join your cause. Ain't that right?” Daisy shouted, raising a paw over her head.

“Hooah!” shouted the small gathering of dogs.

Kanathara nodded. “Good, and you, Rarity? What do you say?”

“I suppose if it's to save the world,” Rarity replied with a small smile. “So long as I get to keep my knight in shining armor with me.”

Daisy blushed. “Of course, my lady. I wouldn't dream of leaving you.”

“Well, that was simple enough,” Rainbow Dash declared. “Now, how do we get this egg thing?”

“Just a minute, darling, we are almost there,” Rarity exclaimed, eagerly trotting ahead of the group.

Kanathara raised an eyebrow but said nothing, walking after the unicorn as she made one final turn. Still with the river at their side, Kanathara walked out into a large open cavern, one dominated by a small lake at its center. To the left side of it all was a tiny village of mostly wooden structures, though there was a single stone one near the middle.

Most of the buildings were only half constructed, though they at least had walls as well as roofs. Even though they weren't complete, Kanathara could tell that their building supplies were of very high quality. Pallets of wood, drywall, and tin for the roofs lay spread out in a small alcove filled with over a dozen dogs.

Though the town was intriguing, that wasn't what grabbed and held Kanathara’s attention, as the object across the way was much more interesting. It looked at least on first glance to be a naturally forming castle, but closer inspection revealed that it was indeed artificial and merely very, very old. Though ancient beyond measure, the walls had stood the test of time, as had the small inner keep, though the bars used for the portcullis were almost entirely rusted away.

The only other mark of habitation that had survived over the eons was a stone bridge that crossed near the left side of the lake. Kanathara could tell that the crossing had once been decorated with extensive carvings, though they had all been worn away to almost nothing.

“Fascinating,” Kanathara muttered, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Rarity smiled and clapped her hooves excitedly. “Oh, it's like something out of the fantasy novels I read as a foal. An ancient mysterious castle beneath the earth, and a fantastical treasure contained within. Now all we need is a dragon.”

Daisy snorted. “Let's hope not. I’d rather not get enslaved to another of those overgrown lizards.”

“Don't be such a spoilsport, dear,” Rarity whispered.

“So where did that castle thing come from?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Looks like it's been down here a while.”

“I think it was an earth pony fort used during the migration to Equestria over two thousand years ago,” Rarity began. “Though that is only a guess.”

“It's a damn good one though,” Daisy exclaimed. “The stonework wasn't done by paws or hands. Kinda surprised that a pony could manage something like that. No offence, Lady Rarity.”

“None taken,” Rarity quickly replied. “The stone structures seem grown from the very ground, as if coaxed forth by some kind of magic.”

“Earth ponies are capable of such feats, though the art of stone manipulation is mostly lost,” Kanathara replied, shaking her head. “But let's not get too distracted.”

“Right, I almost forgot to introduce you all,” Rarity smiled and waved a hoof over the town. “Welcome to Belegost, my friends.”

“It means great fortress in the old tongue,” Daisy quickly explained.

“Everyone, this is Kanathara and Rainbow Dash,” Rarity exclaimed, gesturing to the growing crowd of dogs surrounding them from all sides.

“Hello.”

“Hiya.”

“Welcome!”

“Wait, weren’t those the bunch that stole our stuff back at our old place?” asked a random voice.

“Hey, we only stole one thing,” Kanathara retorted.

“And a sword for that one guy. Though I guess that wasn't our fault,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shrug.

“I was there when these guys busted out,” Daisy quickly interrupted, stepping to the forefront of the crowd. “They didn't do much more than spook everyone.”

“Don't forget the maiming,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“And some minor maiming,” Daisy added somewhat angrily. “The paladins killed far more than these two demons did, that's for sure.”

“If it's any apology, here's a bunch of gold,” Kanathara exclaimed, opening a dimensional pocket and letting a couple thousand coins cascade onto the ground.

Though there were far more where that came from, Kanathara stopped the flow of valuables rather quickly, closing the portal.

Why'd you do that? Rainbow Dash asked, shooting her mistress a curious look. We don't owe these dogs anything.

I wanna be able to come back to study that castle, and it would be easier to do that if they were still here, Kanathara replied, smirking at all the stunned faces. Plus it's funny.

“We can't accept all this!” Rarity declared. “How ever will we repay you?”

“Normally I’d never turn away free money, but we already owe Lady Rarity like a hundred thousand bits,” Daisy added.

“Let’s just say this is an investment in your rare archeological find,” Kanathara replied. “One that I expect to have first dibs on studying, if you find such an arrangement acceptable?”

“I…” Rarity exchanged a glance with Daisy, who merely shrugged. “I don't see why not. Though if you find anything of value, I would appreciate it if you gave it to us, or at least gave the pack a cut of the profit.”

“Seventy thirty split, and I won't go any lower,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“I suppose that is… acceptable,” Rarity replied.

“Excellent!” Kanathara declared, gesturing towards the crowd of houses. “Now then. Shall we continue our planning somewhere more comfortable?”

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: The Grootslang

“Can you handle this creature on your own?” Kanathara asked, gesturing to the grootslang which was rapidly surging in their direction.

“I mean… probably,” Daisy muttered. “Why?”

“Because we have a small horde of eels that are about to make things way more complicated,” Kanathara replied.

A high-pitched roar stopped all conversation. The pair turned towards the serpentine beast as it clawed its way towards them. Already the diamond dog soldiers were growing nervous, and that sense of unease only grew when they heard a second series of cries. Originating in the opposite direction, these bellowed challenges were far more numerous and heralded the imminent arrival of a small horde of quarry eels.

Daisy bit her lip and glanced between the approaching grootslang and the more distant eels.

“Do it. But be ready to lend what help you can if I call you,” Daisy exclaimed.

Kanathara was tempted to give the dogs some manner of additional aid, like the boon of a powerful enchantment. She thought better of this, figuring that the grootslang’s natural chaos magic would render any such enhancements moot. That, and Kanathara didn't want to waste her magic on a bunch of only partially trained militia that weren't worth the effort in the first place.

The demon’s form rippled briefly before a pair of wings burst from her shadowy back. The leathery appendages flapped once, then twice, their form solidifying by the third and final test. Now capable of flight, Kanathara leapt from the ground just as the grootslang was upon the small group of diamond dogs.

Who had formed into a tight wedge directly between the beast and their still vomiting, incpacitated companion. Their defensive wall proved strong and adaptable, flexing as the serpent swung one of its massive claws at them. This attack was dodged with ease, and Daisy even managed to smash her mace into one of the beast’s fingers.

The counter strike did little, though it did draw a smile to Kanathara’s face, her respect for the dogs rising ever so slightly. That respect grew as the ragtag militia continued to do well against their much larger, much stronger foe. They bent, moved, and struck back when given the chance, casting large, weighted nets at the monster.

These attempts to bind the beast did little, though they had yet to land anything considerable. As Kanathara flew towards the oncoming eels, she glanced briefly over her shoulder, watching as the dogs fought. Sure enough, they were continuing to hold their own, with their formation remaining solid despite having to constantly shift position.

Turning away from the dogs, Kanathara took stock of the situation directly before her.

Dozens of eels the size of small houses and as long as the average oak tree was tall charged at her, slithering over the rocky landscape with ease. Their bright red scales shone in the moonlight, reflecting off the frost which clung to nearly every surface. The creatures’ passage disturbed the earth and caused minor avalanches of rock to tumble down the sides of the crevice.

Kanathara was unbothered and merely lit her horn while hovering in mid-air. Wings flapping languidly, Kanathara weaved a potent spell, observing the unrushing horde as it drew ever closer. She could see that foam dripped from the creatures’ numerous maws, and a dark, cold light emanated from their eyes.

They must be frenzied for some reason, Kanathara reasoned.

Regardless as to why, they were here, and they were going to make a mess of things if they were allowed to get past her. That was all the justification Kanathara needed to destroy these simple beasts and paint the ground red in their blood. To that end Kanathara finished the final preparations for her spell, multiple glowing runes sparking into existence and twisting as energy was pumped into them.

Her magic churned as it was held tight in her grip, the barely controlled mass of power becoming increasingly unwieldy. Until at long last it was nearly impossible to control, and Kanathara pointed her sharpened horn skyward. She unleashed all that pent up energy into a single massive purple orb which shot up into the air, arcing higher until it was over the central mass of eels.

There it exploded, turning into innumerable black shards which shot down at the swarming host of eels. Each as thick and as heavy as a boulder, these hunks of solid magic cut through the horde like a hot knife through butter. The chorus of hungry wails turned into a pained scream shared across a hundred mouths all at once.

Dozens died in an instant, their bodies pinned to the rock by the shards piercing their forms. More still were rendered immobile, locked in place, but not mortally wounded by the demon’s magical assault. A surprising number slithered onwards, sporting only shallow cuts from the black hail which had briefly blotted out the moon.

“Huh,” Kanathara muttered. “That chaos spell must have taken more out of me. Oh well, that just means I get to have even more fun.”

With a smile on her face, the keeper of secrets lit her horn once more before throwing herself into the fray. Though the majority of her mind was devoted to strategy and magic, a small part of the demon couldn't help but wonder how Rainbow Dash was doing.

“Well, at least the door wasn't locked,” Rainbow Dash remarked as she pushed open the heavy door with a grunt.

“Maybe you should go back. If it's just me, then the cave might reset back to its previous mode,” Rarity offered as she trotted in after the demon.

“Is that guaranteed though?” Rainbow Dash asked, glancing over her shoulder.

Rarity shrugged. “Is anything?”

“Then you’re stuck with me,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Now then, where do we… start?”

The demon looked up to find that she was at the entrance of what looked like a maze. The walls of which were straight and clean, the stone having been cut into symmetrical lines. So smooth and perfect were every surface that Rarity nearly slipped after setting hoof into the strange new area.

“Interesting. We never found this place during our travels,” Rarity muttered. “It looks like minotaurs made this.”

“I don't care who made it. Is our target at the end of it or not?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

Rarity nodded. “Though the structure itself may change, the end goal will be the same. The egg lies at the end of this maze.”

“Then we move,” Rainbow Dash declared.

The demon strode confidently into the maze’s entrance, her gaze sweeping across the flat brownish grey floors and walls. Seconds ticked by without any change, that was until they hit a turn and were forced to make a left. Then something clicked, and Rainbow Dash felt the floor give out from under her hooves, dropping her into the dark.

Reacting instinctually, the vengant shot her hooves out to the sides, ramming the steel clad appendages into the stone walls. Screeching to an abrupt halt, Rainbow Dash calmly took a breath and extended her wings before sparing a curious glance below her. To where a pit of sharp, barbed spikes waited patiently for her to fall into it.

“Are you okay?” Rarity shouted, peeking nervously over the side.

“Just fine,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Now I should try not to use too many of my abilities, right? That would be bad?”

“It would,” replied Rarity.

Rainbow Dash grunted. “Guess I’ll do this the hard way then.”

Before Rarity could ask what she meant, Rainbow Dash lurched towards one side of the pit and rammed her forehooves into the wall. She then plunged her back legs into the stone, creating hoof holds which she used to climb up the side. In no time at all Rainbow Dash had escaped the trap, crawling over the side and standing upright once more.

“Now then, let's continue,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, unshaken by the near impalement she might have suffered.

“I’ll, uh, be right behind you,” Rarity muttered.

“Figured as much,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snicker.

Rarity snorted, and was about to make a comment about Rainbow Dash’s poor attitude, only to be interrupted when a pair of axes emerged from the walls. The demon rolled forward, dodging the traps, only to immediately spring another one, which caused a flurry of darts to shoot from the walls. The projectiles peppered Rainbow Dash’s armored exterior and simply bounced off, landing with a clack on the cold ground.

“That's not good. The maze will probably make things more difficult now,” Rarity remarked.

“Pfft, this is amatuer league stuff anyway,” Rainbow Dash replied. “I used to run labyrinths like this for fun back in the day.”

“Yes, well. Your masochism aside, I don't think we should test the maze anymore than necessary,” Rarity offered.

“Spoilsport,” Rainbow Dash muttered disinterestedly.

Rarity sighed as she weaved through the now inert axes and the piles of darts lying on the ground, half convinced that more would emerge. When that didn't happen, she joined Rainbow Dash at another turn and peered over the vengant’s shoulder curiously.

“Huh, a dead end,” Rarity muttered.

“It isn't a complete dead end. See the mirror?” Rainbow Dash pointed out, gesturing to the lone hunk of glass hanging from the wall about thirty feet away from them.

“I guess?” Rarity answered. “But what does that have to do with anything?”

“It's a classic doppelganger trap. We need to go in there and trigger it, defeat our twisted inversions, and then a door will open.” Rainbow Dash flashed the mare a smirk. “I’ve seen this plenty of times before.”

“Well if you’re certain,” Rarity muttered.

“I’ve done this before. It will be easy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara gnashed her teeth angrily as she was forced to dodge the bite of a particularly bold eel who had leapt up at her. The creature never got the chance to hit the ground however, as Kanathara used a beam of concentrated magic to bisect it. The splatter of gore and blood did nothing to slow down the others though, who continued past Kanathara towards the diamond dogs.

With a grunt, the keeper of secrets conjured a wall of blackened flames across the canyon, hoping to stop the dead in their tracks. The eels, however, showed no fear and simply leapt through the scorching barrier, emerging out the other side with numerous, visible wounds. Now forced to retreat, Kanathara spun around and conjured a storm of lightning bolts which she unleashed on the swarm.

Though more of the beasts were felled, the rest continued on, pausing only briefly as their muscles twitched uncontrollably. As Kanathara passed over her barrier, she poured more magic into the wall, creating a raging inferno that rendered all who passed through it to ash. Unfortunately that still left over a dozen slightly charred eels who were making their way towards the diamond dogs’ undefended backside.

For a moment Kanathara considered shouting a warning, but thought better of it given how close the fight with the grootslang was. The great serpent was no ordinary monster, and despite the dogs’ tenacity, the creature refused to be felled so easily. Dodging every net and continuing to strike back, it was quickly proving too great an enemy for the ragtag militia.

Seeing that her help would be needed eventually, Kanathara focused on finishing off the eels. To this end Kanathara used her magic to dice, slice, and otherwise massacre the odd-looking creatures in droves. Such a show of force would have broken the morale of any normal foe, though the eels seemed unbothered by the losses.

They merely continued to twist their way through the canyon, rapidly bearing down on the gathered dogs. Cursing her own foul luck, Kanathara prepared a chain lightning spell which should deal with them all in one foul stroke. That was until she heard the distinct woosh of something large, heavy, and fast, heading straight for her.

Spinning around, Kanathara found that an eel had burst from a hidden hole in the wall and was now mere moments from biting her in half. Kanathara wasn't about to let that happen though, and gripping her grimoire tight in her forehooves, she backhanded the creature with it with all her might. The magic book held firm, its shimmering chains clinking as Kanathara dropped it, allowing the tome to dangle from her neck once more.

The eel, now missing a half dozen teeth and sporting an incredibly large, rapidly forming bruise on its face, hung lifelessly in its burrow. Confusion was not a common experience for the creature, though it ended up being baffled for the rest of its life. Which turned out to be not very long, as Kanathara used a scorching ray of hellfire to burn a hole straight through its skull.

Now unburdened by any surprise foes attempting to make a meal out of her, Kanathara turned towards her other enemies. Only to immediately curse when she discovered that they were nearing the dogs’ location and seemed intent on attacking them. Kanathara had hoped that they would be at least partially interested in the grootslang, though that hope turned out to be in vain.

The strange red creatures, despite having been frenzied due to reasons beyond Kanathara’s comprehension, apparently retained some manner of intelligence. For instead of assaulting the much larger foe, they seemed intent on trying to rob the larger beast of its meal. Whatever their intentions, Kanathara’s path was clear.

Or was it?

The demon briefly considered allowing the dogs to be eaten, though she quickly thought better of it. Rarity would be difficult to control if she lost her partner and was robbed of the company of the other dogs. Losing soldiers and potentially her ace in the hole was unacceptable to the demon. She set off, intent on saving the militia.

With horn bright with gathered magic, Kanathara swooped down from on high, blasting the first eel she saw with a powerful concussive wave. Its organs and muscles now liquified, the eel fell to the ground, twitching as its brains started to leak from its ear holes. There were more still however, leaving Kanathara with only a few seconds before she would have to conjure a barrier of magic.

Before that happened, Kanathara landed at the dogs’ backside, her horn flashing briefly before producing the desired effect. A semi-circular wall of purplish black magic ensured that no eels could attack the dogs, who could now focus entirely on the grootslang. In response, the remaining bright red creatures roared and bashed their heads against the shield, though none could pierce it.

Stupid animals, Kanatahra thought to herself.

The demon’s thoughts were abruptly cut off when she felt the ground shift beneath her hooves. A second later, the earth fell out from under her, revealing the snarling face of an eel coming right at her.

Cursing her own temptation of fate, Kanathara created a barrier at the back of the eel’s throat and extended its sharpened edges outwards. The beast stopped a second later, its skull split in twain by the rapidly spreading shield which Kanathara then used to spring off in order to return to ground level. Once there, she found that the situation had begun to devolve even further, with eels ambushing the dogs from all sides.

Of course it would get worse. Hopefully Rainbow Dash is doing better than I am, Kanathara thought to herself.

“So it creates twisted replicas of us? How do you know for sure?” Rarity inquired.

“It always does,” Rainbow Dash replied, tapping her hoof. “Mirrors make evil clones, mysterious rooms fill up with sand, narrow corridors crush you, and the statues are always alive. It's dungeoneering 101.”

“Uh, okay then. So what do we do to trig-” Rarity’s question abruptly ended when the mirror began to swirl, and dark green smoke began to billow across the ground.

“See? All you gotta do is get in range, just like I said. Now remember, they are evil and not actually alive, so don't hesitate to kill them,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“But I didn't bring any weapons!” Rarity hissed.

“Then punch ‘em or something,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shrug. “Not like it matters, as I should be able to kill them both just fine. These mirror thingies aren't strong enough to create a true immortal, so it won't be able to copy me anyway.”

Rarity’s next question also died before it could be uttered, the unicorn’s attention gripped by a mass of black smoke bubbling up from within the mirror. The vaguely equine-shaped entity reached outwards with aethereal hooves, gripping the floor in front of it and pulling itself forward. With a heave, the creature emerged into the world, its body quickly taking shape as it stepped towards the duo.

The creature appeared to be an earth pony, but was so large that it looked more like some manner of mutant. Muscles rippled beneath its midnight black coat, and its sickly yellow eyes glowed with incredible violence just waiting to be unleashed. Its mane and tail were an odd, orangey-green color, resembling the unpleasant sight one only sees when they have contracted a particularly nasty stomach virus.

The creature’s size was so great that it was hard to tell for certain, and its features were mostly masculine, yet the creature still seemed to be female. Its immaculately coiffed mane hung down elegantly one side of its face, twisted into a perfect copy of Rarity’s signature style. The rest of the abomination was unpleasant on the eyes to say the least, its rugged and exaggerated features the exact opposite of Rarity’s quiet elegance.

“How vile,” Rarity muttered, holding up her nose.

“I don't know. At least it got your mane right,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Rarity scoffed. “It feels more like I am being mocked.”

“Abundance want pretty little pony,” rumbled the creature. It immediately lurched forward, its gaze locked on Rarity. “Come to Abundance, pony!”

“Eek, get away from me, you vile brute!” Rarity shrieked.

“You’d think this was your first time fighting off an evil doppelganger,” Rainbow Dash remarked, watching as both the copy and the pristine original began to run around the room. “I guess it's up to me to finish this before it gets out of hoof.”

“Come here, little pony. Abundance just wants to hug you and kiss you and squeeze you forever and ever,” droned the abomination in a deep, rumbling voice.

“Begone, you monster! I am nopony's pet!” Rarity screamed.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The vengant broke into a sprint, building hellfire as she did so, hooves emitting a near constant stream of dark red flames. The joints of her armor spat a similarly colored inferno, and smoke began to billow out through the grille of her helmet. That was until Rainbow Dash slammed into Abundance’s side and emitted everything she had built directly into the abomination’s torso.

Though tough, the creature’s hide posed little challenge to the hellfire-infused demon who hit the beast with the force of a freight train. Blood, pulped viscera, and charred skin flew in every direction, the doppelganger’s form utterly ruined in an instant. Rainbow Dash was unbothered by this and simply slid to a stop, gore covering nearly every inch of her body.

Rarity came to a halt the moment she heard the dull boom followed by the prompt end of her evil clone’s half-babbled demands. She immediately regretted her curiosity and nearly threw up when she saw what had become of her pursuer.

“Huh. Usually they turn to smoke when you kill them,” Rainbow Dash remarked, picking a liver from her shoulder spike and tossing it into her mouth. “Kinda chewy though.”

“Please stop,” muttered Rarity, her eyes shut tightly.

“What? You don't want any free organs? But they're so fresh they are still twitching!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed between bites.

“I’m going to throw up,” Rarity muttered before doing just that.

Rainbow Dash chuckled at her companion’s discomfort, the demon swallowing the first morsel and digging around for the fairly small brain she saw a moment earlier. As she did so, the mirror began to glow once more, heralding the arrival of a great tide of golden smoke which poured out of it and cascaded across the ground. The sheer scale of the smog prompted Rainbow Dash to stop her grisly search for a snack and turn towards the fog’s source. There she saw that the light had become much brighter, almost blindingly so, though a creature had yet to emerge.

“So, what usually happens now?” whispered Rarity.

“Most of the time it just makes some random pony, but other times it's merely an imp,” Rainbow Dash explained. “I don't think this time will be any diff--”

Her explanation fell away the second she noticed that not only had something begun to emerge, but that something’s head was adorned with a halo.

“Oh no,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Gods above, what a pain in the butt,” Kanathara muttered, her magic turning an eel inside out before pulling the flailing dog it had tried to eat out of its inverted mouth. “Be aware of your surroundings, you dunderhead!”

The dog stumbled back into position, his entire body covered in a thick layer of slime.

Daisy gave the demon an appreciative nod, though the keeper cared very little for any goodwill she may have earned. The simple matter was that she needed the dogs to keep their other foe busy, lest the grootslang’s tactics shift after being exposed to the demon’s magic.

Anything fueled by chaos was to be feared and respected in equal measure, and the serpent was no different. Keeping this in mind, Kanathara focused once again on the remaining eels.

Ignoring the continued failings of her companions, Kanathara used a spell to form a rock wall directly in front of herself. The eel which had been mere seconds from biting her in half hit the barrier with a satisfying thump. Its angry cry of indignation didn't last long, as Kanathara made the stone barrier suddenly grow spikes and impale the beast.

A sudden masculine cry brought Kanathara’s attention to her companions, and a now one-legged companion in particular. The eel which had been assaulting him a moment earlier pulled back, swallowing the limb with a satisfied gulp. Kanathara gritted her teeth, her annoyance growing as the number of capable allies shrunk by the minute. Already several of the dogs had been placed at the center of their group, missing arms, legs, or sporting other large injuries.

With a bitter grunt, Kanathara conjured a spike of pure magic and rammed it through the offending eel’s eye. The demon didn't even look to make sure it was dead, merely trusting in the force she had put behind the strike. Instead, she turned and prepared to deal with another eel burrowing up underneath her.

“Incoming!” shouted Daisy

Reacting on instinct, Kanathara turned to mist, passing through the grootslang’s clawed fingers a second before they would have torn her to ribbons. Reforming after the swipe had passed her by, Kanathara found herself noticeably winded from the brief transformation. Her magic was considerably drained, even more so than from the large spell she had used to wipe out a good chunk of the eels several minutes earlier.

Guess I won't be doing that very much. At least not anymore, Kanathara thought to herself.

Kanathara looked around, utilizing the brief lull in combat to get a bearing on her foes once more. The first thing she realized was just how numerous the injured were, and how warped the diamond dog’s formation had become. Forced to defend their fallen friends while also maintaining a front line, the small group strained just to stay together.

Gods dammit, Kanathara cursed, her mind already running through the necessary spell to negate this little problem, though she did not wish to cast it.

Despite her trepidations on the subject, Kanathara gave in and cast the invocation. Immediately upon completion, a fiery circle surrounded the injured or unconscious dogs. A second later, the stone beneath them vanished completely, replaced by the inside of Rarity’s domicile.

The circle faded a second after the dogs contained within had dropped through to the other side. Daisy saw this, and gave Kanathara another brief nod of thanks, though she was forced to turn back around almost immediately. The grootslang was already bearing down on her, its maw open wide, intent on swallowing the diamond dog leader whole.

She was too slow, Kanathara realized, forcing herself to reluctantly use her magic to pull the other female out of harm's way. The serpent was faster still and pressed on, following after Daisy as she was tossed unceremoniously to the side. Kanathara sighed and brought her magic to bear once more, pushing past the slight discomfort of using so much of it in such a short time.

Despite this, she pushed on, and threw a hunk of broken stone into the beast’s mouth, making it recoil as it started to choke. With the largest enemy now occupied, Kanathara turned her attention to the eels and were surprised to find that they weren't a big problem. The five remaining dogs had split up between the two living eels and were swiftly beating them back.

Two larger members of the militia who wielded halberds were chopping away at one of the snake-like creatures. Each time their foe tried to snap at one of them, the other drove forward, hacking off chunks of it and forcing it to turn its attention. Their teamwork was praiseworthy, though not quite as good as the other three who were expertly picking away at their chosen enemy.

Each one of them were relatively small, fast, and wielded either a dagger, short spear, or longsword. Their movements were lightning quick, the three crawling all over the eel and stabbing it repeatedly. Though not as hard-hitting as the halberd-wielding dogs, the trio were able to keep up the pressure constantly.

Sure enough, it was only mere moments before the eels were brought down, and the dogs could focus on their sole remaining enemy. Who, with a throaty gurgle, coughed up the boulder which had been lodged in its throat until that moment. Obviously enraged, the serpent roared so loud that the ground shook, and Kanathara’s horn vibrated uncomfortably.

Okay, that might not have been the best idea ever, Kanathara thought to herself.

“Holy shit,” muttered Rainbow Dash.

“Is that… what I think it is?” Rarity whispered.

“It seems like it,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Before them strode a creature of such grace and elegance that all who viewed it felt an undeniable urge to kneel before it. Clothed in a loose white dress that hung off its ethereal body in a gentle curtain, the angelic being stood taller than even Rainbow Dash. That was in part due to its mode of locomotion, as it had only two legs which ended in hooves that it used to stand upright.

Its skin was a soft, almost metallic white, and its golden hair flowed gracefully down its humanoid face. Though it still had the features of an equine and looked vaguely like Rainbow Dash, those features were mixed with that of a bipedal creature, creating a harmonious blend between the two. Its hands extended forward, clutching a spear which it drew from seemingly nowhere, its golden eyes flashing dangerously.

In an instant the angelic being had lurched across the entire room and nearly impaled Rainbow Dash. The demon barely managed to dodge out of the way at the last second, only to be forced to repeat this action two more times in rapid succession. Despite how slow the angel beat its large fluffy white wings, it managed to easily keep pace with its foe, the feathered appendages seemingly not involved in keeping it in flight.

Constantly being harried by short, rapid strikes, Rainbow Dash struggled to even stay ahead of her remarkably quick foe. That was until the angel suddenly conjured a beam of concentrated holy magic and nearly cut Rainbow Dash in half. Forced to turn to mist and split herself in two, the demon quickly came back together, her entire body aching from the short transformation.

This is bad, Rainbow Dash thought to herself.

“Stay back, you ruffian!” Rarity shouted, having launched into a flying kick aimed at the angel’s midsection.

Rainbow Dash winced, her mind already running through how best to resurrect the mare after she was killed. That turned out to be unnecessary, as the angelic creature simply plucked Rarity from the air and set her back down away from the fighting. Confused, and slightly put off by the sudden shift in position, Rarity merely stood there, unsure of what she should do.

The demon, however, already had an idea, and with a smirk on her face, she sprinted towards Rarity. Their foe seemed to realize what Rainbow Dash had in mind, and moved to stop her. The vengant had a moment’s head start though, and that was all she needed in order to get to the pony first.

“What are you- hey, whoah!” Rarity shouted as she was unceremoniously held up in front of Rainbow Dash like a shield.

The angel’s spear stopped a millimeter from Rarity’s chest, recoiling and striking again only to pull back after nearly hitting the pony’s neck. Rainbow Dash ignored Rarity’s indignant shouting and continued to use her like a shield, building demonic power as she did so. Hellfire coursed through her body, causing the angel to start attacking faster and faster, hoping to end the fight before Rainbow Dash could strike back.

“Unhand me, you barbarian!” Rarity shrieked.

Rainbow Dash would have laughed, had she not been holding down the largest mass of hellfire she had ever gathered. The angel saw her own end approaching, and tried to put an end to it by attacking with spear and magic at the same time. Holy light poured down from above her, while a firm thrust had been aimed at Rainbow Dash’s head.

The demon was the fastest thing one four legs and not even her angelic copy could match her speed.

Crouching down low, Rainbow Dash used Rarity in order to shield herself from both of the angel’s strikes. Then, before the divine creature had a chance to launch another strike, Rainbow Dash counterattacked. Lurching forward and dropping Rarity in the process, Rainbow Dash grappled the angel, both sets of her hooves wrapping about the creature’s body.

Her angelic counterpart could only flail in wordless panic as Rainbow Dash unleashed an explosion of black-red fire. In an instant its entire body was burnt away, its spear melting into sunlight as its owner’s form was consumed in a hellish conflagration, leaving behind only the dull chime of a distant church bell and the smell of burnt incense lingering in the air.

“Ha, that wasn't so difficult,” Rainbow Dash muttered, only to catch a hoof to the face.

“You uncouth ruffian!” Rarity shrieked. “How dare you treat me like a shield!”

“It was either that or get killed by the an--Would you stop hitting me? You’re just hurting yourself,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Rarity recoiled her now bruised hoof. “How is your face so hard? It felt like I was slapping stone.”

“I’m a demon,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned.

“Oh, uh, right. So…” Rarity cleared her throat. “Where to now?”

“Right through there,” Rainbow Dash replied, pointing to the hallway which had opened up where the mirror had stood a moment earlier.

“Oh, would you look at that,” Rarity muttered. “It seems like there are a few more challenges awaiting us.”

The unicorn was indeed correct, as there were a couple chambers visible beyond the hole which the mirror had occupied. The first were a set of three doors, the center of which was open, and revealed a larger area with several pipes dangling from the ceiling. After that they could see that there was a room filled with statues, and one final one which was a long narrow hallway lit by small shafts of light coming from various angles.

“The first one you have to walk backwards through the middle door. The second has a puzzle, and will slowly fill up with water while we figure it out. The statues will come alive, and if you enter the light, you’ll get hit by a dart. Easy,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

“Well, alright then,” Rarity muttered. “Lead the way.”

“Gladly,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

“Damn,” Kanathara cursed as she ducked under a swipe from the grootslang.

The creature’s great size didn't seem to slow it down, in fact it was remarkably fast, and continued to keep the demon on the tips of her hooves. Over and over Kanathara was pushed to her limit, dodging, teleporting, and generally spending every moment avoiding its attacks. This only seemed to empower the creature even more, as the grootslang adapted to her powers.

Its arms began to glow with magical runes, speeding it up even more and turning its claws into twin blurs aimed perpetually at Kanathara’s head. The diamond dogs seemed to be almost completely forgotten and just stood off to the side, unsure of what they should do. The only one who had managed to gather together enough bravery to do so was now crumpled into a heap, having been backhanded into the stone wall.

The message was clear, this was a fight between the keeper and serpent, and woe be to those who dared interfere. Kanathara had mixed feelings on this, as on one hoof she had no pawns on the board, but that also meant she didn't have to worry about collateral damage quite as much. Regardless, she could at least unleash her magic without fear, though she was hesitant to do so.

Remember, focus on non-magical magic. Kanathara reminded herself.

Backflipping over the grootlsang’s bite, Kanathara brought forth a wall of thick stone from the ground and blocked it off. The demon hoped this would give her enough time to teleport the beast away, but was surprised when the serpent was unimpeded by the barrier. Simply crashing through it, the grootslang attempted to grab Kanathara out of mid-air, but the keeper dimension doored away.

She then pulled open a small portal and commanded every demon who heard her voice to heed her call. The surge of imps was instantaneous and considerable, a small horde of the flying creatures leaping into the real world. Only for the grootslang to immediately cut their number in half by breathing a cone of acidic slime onto the centralmost mass of imps.

With the majority of their number now half-melted and screaming in pain, the demonic creatures hesitated. That hesitation proved to be their downfall, as the serpent caught and crushed them in its large scaled hands. The distraction had worked though, and Kanathara released her spell with a triumphant smirk.

The grootslang vanished in a puff of smoke, reappearing hundreds of feet above the ground. Her confidence spread to the dogs who shouted in unison, pumping their weapons into the air. Together they watched as the grootslang flailed around in the air, unable to arrest its fall no matter how hard it tried.

In only a few seconds, it had reached terminal velocity, and for a moment Kanathara wondered if she had gone overboard. After all, the point wasn't to kill the beast, but turn it to their side by tricking the beast into protecting Rarity’s little town. That plan was changed when the grootslang sprouted a pair of leathery wings from its back and began to glide down towards her.

“Damn,” Kanathara cursed. You better hurry up, Rainbow Dash!

“We gotta move, the boss is in trouble,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed while looking around the mass of treasure and other valuables piled all around her.

“Then help me look!” Rarity retorted.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as Rarity traveled around the exterior of the hoard, inspecting it closely. The demon wasn't patient enough for that, however, and licked her lips before leaping into the golden mound like a kid into a pile of leaves. Using her considerable weight and a hint of demonic power, Rainbow Dash dug through the hoard like a mole, sending gold flying everywhere.

“Wait, there is another dan-”

Rainbow Dash ignored Rarity and continued to dig her way into the mound, tossing dozens of items with little care for any potential damage. Ancient swords, large jewels, and bags of gold were ignored and brushed aside during the demon’s mad search for the egg. Her journey wasn't long, as at the center of the mass was exactly what she was looking for.

With a smirk on her face, Rainbow Dash grabbed the large, spiral-shaped purple egg and surged upwards. Breaking free from the pressing weight of so many valuables, Rainbow Dash raised the egg high into the air.

“Got it!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, the grille of her helmet pulling back to reveal her smiling face.

“Watch out! The egg is enchanted and will cause harm to befall any who distu--” Rarity’s warning was cut off by a dull thwip followed by a wet thunk as an arrow slammed into the demon’s face.

“Ow,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“That's going to keep happening until it's either dropped or returned to its mother,” Rarity explained.

“Why didn't you tell me that--” Rainbow Dash’s angry response was cut off when a second arrow shot through one cheek and out the other side. “Godsh damnshit.”

“We better get moving!” Rarity shouted, sprinting up to the demon.

“Thash wensh righsh throughsh my tongsh,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“And the next one is going to go through your head if you don't get going!” Rarity shouted, hopping atop the demon’s back.

“Right, lets-” Rainbow Dash began, only to be interrupted when an arrow slammed into her throat. Gods dammit.

Dammit dammit dammit. I can't believe I did that, Kanathara thought, mentally berating herself for her poor choices.

The keeper flew high above the ground, the strength of her wings boosted by a constant flow of magic. Yet even though the leathery appendages were buzzing with the speed of a hummingbird, Kanathara could feel the grootslang gaining on her. The creature’s chaotic magic continued to keep it in the fight, altering its body and granting it abilities that it didn't have a minute ago.

Another wave of acidic slime shot from its maw, the glob narrowly missing the keeper’s right wing. A tiny bit did hit her cheek, burning her hardened skin and making the demon wince in pain. She would have normally healed the damage by misty stepping or using a spell, but just keeping the creature at bay took all her focus.

You better hurry up, Rainbow Dash! I don't know how long I’m going to be able to resist killing this stupid thing! Kanathara mentally shouted.

We’re almost there, bring it in close! Rainbow Dash replied immediately.

A wave of relief washed over the keeper of secrets, and she banked hard, gliding towards the ground as well as the diamond dogs waiting for her. Upon seeing the demon’s approach, they sprinted to the safety of a low overhang, avoiding the shadow cast by the serpentine beast. As Kanathara neared the ground, she felt her familiar’s presence rocketing towards her with all the speed she could muster.

The feeling was a welcome one, and it took all of Kanathara’s willpower not to shout in joy. Instead she focused her energy on landing and immediately creating a barrier between herself and the grootslang. Bracing for impact, Kanathara sensed Rainbow Dash draw near, though she assumed the vengant would be too late.

When no blow came, Kanathara stopped her next spell and looked up to find the beast looming over her. Yet in spite of just how easily it could swipe at the demon, it chose not to and simply stood there, staring. Not at Kanathara, but Rarity, who was shakily dismounting from an arrow-riddled Rainbow Dash.

Though it would be more appropriate to say that it was what Rarity held that gripped the chaotic beast’s attention. Which was an odd, spiral-shaped egg that had become the color of rust and was the size of an average pony’s head. It didn't seem heavy, though it did give off an odd odour of paint fumes and cinnamon that could be smelled even at a great distance.

“I got your egg!” Rarity shouted, raising the object into the air. “Now you have to see me as your family, okay?”

The grootslang didn't move, its entire body tense, as if it was waiting to strike at any moment.

“I don't--Ww, think that--Ow, it is--Ow, working… ow,” Rainbow Dash offered while plucking arrows from the joints of her armor.

“I can see that,” hissed Rarity.

“Maybe you should sit on it!” shouted Daisy from the sidelines.

“Why would I do that?” Rarity replied, glaring at the diamond dog.

Who merely shrugged.

Rarity sighed. “Fine, but if it eats me, I am haunting you for the rest of your days.”

“I can live with that!” Daisy yelled.

“I’d hurry up if I were you. I think we are wearing on its patience,” Kanathara offered.

Rarity took one glance up at the grootslang and gulped.

Very carefully, she placed the egg on the ground before gingerly resting her posterior atop it. Now seated atop its egg, Rarity looked up at the grootslang and smiled awkwardly, hoping to put it at ease with a bit of charm. Charm which she was one hundred percent lacking at the moment. Surprisingly, it seemed to work, and the grootslang visibly relaxed, its claws falling to its side as its wings folded back up against its body.

“It's working, keep sitting,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“What do you think I was going to do, stop?” Rarity shot back.

A sudden crack made all eyes turn towards the egg resting beneath Rarity’s butt. Where they beheld a fissure running down its entire length, splitting it in two equal halves. Immediately the mood plummeted, and Rarity gaped in silent horror as more cracks joined the first. Until within a few seconds, the entire thing was completely covered in them.

“Oh no,” Rarity muttered.

A second later, the unicorn tumbled backwards, landing on the ground behind what looked like a small baby snake. The only difference between a garden variety reptile and the one sitting before Rarity was that this one had the same head frills as the grootslang. It also had a similar overall coloration, only slightly whiter, its eyes were also larger, more expressive, and immediately latched onto Rarity.

It then cocked its head to the side and emitted a low whistling noise.

“What does that mean?” Rainbow Dash whispered, having subtly snuck over to Kanathara’s side now that she was free of arrows.

“I have no idea,” muttered the keeper of secrets.

“Aww, aren't you just the cutest?” blubbered Rarity, her fear forgotten as she grabbed hold of the snake creature and rubbed its chubby cheeks. “And my, what big eyes you have.”

“Rarity, are you sure that's a good idea?” hissed Daisy as loud as she dared.

Rarity was busy making baby noises at the newly hatched grootslang, and didn't even notice that its mother was directly over her. That was until a scaled hand wrapped around both Rarity and the child, shocking the mare from her baby hypnosis.

“Oh no,” muttered the pony.

Yet Rarity was not immediately eaten or killed by the grootslang, who instead licked the top of her head before doing the same to its baby. It then gave them both a short visual inspection before placing them under the large red scale which covered the top half of its torso.

“What is it… are those teats?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Huh. Who would have thought that it lactated… and that it seemed so intent on feeding Rarity as well,” Kanathara muttered. “That is so weird. I really need to read more about these odd creatures.”

“No kidding. I’m not sure how I feel about this,” Daisy remarked. “Rarity doesn't seem to be enjoying it very much.”

“Look at her face. It can't taste that bad,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“That mama grootslang sure isn't letting them off with just a cup of the stuff though,” Kanathara added.

“Yeah, she's really filling them up,” Daisy muttered. “Oh look, I think they're done.”

The small group watched as a slightly bloated, baffled, and blushing Rarity was dropped in their midst, a now very full and sleeping snake held in her forehooves.

“I did it,” Rarity murmured.

“You sure did, Rarity,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“So does that thing think it's your mom? ‘Cause I’m kind of jealous at the moment, and I don't know how to feel about that,” Daisy stated uncomfortably.

“I think it thinks that I’m its baby,” Rarity muttered. “It also seems to have put me in charge of caring for the little one.”

The grootslang lay down behind Rarity, watching proudly as the unicorn robotically rocked the newborn.

“Are you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Just… give me a minute,” Rarity replied, her gaze distant and unfocused.

The group remained quiet as the unicorn gathered herself and, after ensuring the baby was asleep, placed it gently on the ground. Then, after checking that the grootslang had not moved, Rarity reached out and gently pulled Daisy into a tight hug.

“Please tell me grootslang milk is not poisonous,” whispered Rarity.

“Noone actually knows, because it's not like we can go up and ask.” Daisy winced as Rarity’s grip tightened. “I mean, it should be fine.”

“Good, because… Ow, these boots are so tight,” Rarity murmured.

Pulling back form the hug, the unicorn quickly tore off the armor covering the bottom half of her forelegs, revealing that she did not in fact have hooves anymore, and instead sported two paws covered in hair of the same color as her fur. After a moment of shock, it was revealed that she also had long claws shooting out from her toes.

“That is… new,” Rarity remarked in a cold, robotic tone.

“Are you doing okay, dear?” Daisy asked gently.

“I believe I’ve gone into shock,” Rarity replied. “I would appreciate it if you carried me home so I may lay in my bed and reevaluate my entire life.”

“Sure thing, dear,” Daisy replied, picking the unicorn up and carrying her back towards their settlement bridal style.

“Wait. Our deal is done, right?” Kanathara interrupted.

Daisy looked over to the grootslang who had picked up its young and placed it on Rarity’s stomach. The young snake slithered into a tight ball all without waking up, its mother smiling proudly down on them.

“I guess so,” Daisy replied.

“And your people will be at the meeting point as agreed?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“Just as soon as Rarity is up and moving again, yes,” Daisy answered.

“Then we’ll see you soon,” Kanathara offered.

“You have my thanks, and I’m sure you also have Rarity’s. Which she will give when she gathers her bearings,” Daisy declared.

“Well then, off to Cloudsdale, I suppose?” Kanathara half asked, half offered.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I guess so.”

Together the duo watched as the diamond dogs, Rarity, and the grootslang all made their way back towards their new town.

“That was weirder than normal,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Agreed.”

Author's Note

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Trial Eleven: Contacts

Kanathara wiggled her feathered wings as she banked around a low cloud heavy with snow. The long, wispy piece of fluff wasn't that big, though it was a part of a much larger chain of the things which dominated the sky. Flying above them was difficult, however, as the demons were growing increasingly cold the higher they ascended into the sky.

Not like a true demon cared much for the weather, but that didn't mean Kanathara enjoyed the sting of frost building on her altered body. Disguised or not, the keeper of secrets found that she could not resist the altitude’s effects entirely. Even distracting herself with the view did little, though that was partially due to the fact that the moon was now massive.

Be it a trick of the eye or some form of magic, the celestial object was almost uncomfortably close to Equestria. Its cratered face peered down at the world like a child staring into a terrarium, its expression cold, uncaring, yet curious. Looking at it for long made Twilight’s head begin to swim, and she assumed that the Nightmare had altered its properties somehow.

One small part of Kanathara wanted to gaze longer, to stare at the enormous pale dot until something changed, though she resisted that temptation. There lay madness, of that the demon was fairly certain, though the how of it all eluded her for the moment. She pondered summoning an imp or other expendable creature in order to test this, but was soon interrupted.

“It sure is getting cold,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“It is,” Kanathara replied.

Glancing to one side, she noticed that the vengant was in her vaguely pony form, with only her primary colors having changed. Instead of the rainbow mane and light teal fur, she had a slate grey body as well as a head of stark white hair. Kanathara herself was a little brighter, sporting an orange mane and red fur with a flaming star for a cutie mark, contrasting significantly with the lonely puffy white cloud emblazoned on Rainbow Dash’s flanks.

“Think we’ll get to Canterlot in time?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We still have a few days,” Kanathara answered calmly.

“Still. Without long range teleportation, it is going to be difficult to gather everyone before things start hitting the fan,” Rainbow Dash continued.

“Difficult, but not impossible,” Kanathara stated simply, raising an eyebrow at her familiar. “You’re not getting dissuaded, are you?”

“Never,” Rainbow Dash replied immediately. “The logistics are merely… annoying. Made even more annoying by how slow you fly.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I told you. I can't simply inhabit you. We’re too close to Clousdale, and attracting any undue attention at this point would be a bad idea.”

“You've said that for the last half hour though. Why aren't we there yet?” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Actually… I think we are,” Kanathara remarked.

The demons crested another large fluffy cloud and found themselves no longer in the sky, but amidst a mountain range. With Cloudsdale anchored to the top of a tall snow-covered peak, the range seemed abnormally tall. Though the position of the city was expected, the numerous fires sighted across all levels were less so.

Easily from the distance of several miles away, Kanathara could make out the shape of numerous buildings burning uncontrollably. Some of the flickering orange light was contained to medium-sized areas, illuminating groups of ponies carrying torches. Other lights revealed a small group of shawl-covered equines huddling around a burning garbage can or flaming dumpster.

With her sharp eyes, Kanathara could see that fighting was relatively common, and numerous skirmishes could be spotted. Divided between pegasi and non-flying ponies, the battle lines were clear, though the reason they existed in the first place was less obvious. The guard had seemingly been disbanded, Kanathara reasoned, as its members could be seen fighting amongst both sides of the conflict.

“I didn't know the Smoky Mountains were that close,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“These are just outliers, the main range starts another thirty miles west,” Kanathara explained. “It seems as though things have only devolved after our last visit.”

“Looks like it,” Rainbow Dash remarked, whistling when she watched some poor earth pony get tossed over the side of the city. “Damn, they are really going at it, and I don't even see a single demon among them.”

“It seems as though they didn't need much prompting,” Kanathara added.

“What about those ones with the vacant expressions? You don't think they are possessed or something, do you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“May I borrow your eyes? I don't see these ponies,” Kanathara answered.

“Go ahead,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara focused on their connection and peered through her familiar, finding that there were indeed several strange ponies. Most were pegasi, though there were a few unicorns and earth ponies whose gaze was empty, their pupils burned away to a featureless grey expanse. These creatures' movements were also slightly jerky, as if they were being manipulated by an uncaring puppeteer.

“They just seem to be wandering around,” Kanathara murmured. “I don't think they are possessed. Even if it may look that way.”

“True. If that were the case, they would be burning, looting, or generally causing chaos. Those poor sods look like they were exposed to either concentrated chaos or a heck of a lot of dark magic,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Maybe we should interrogate one of those groups over there,” Rainbow Dash offered, gesturing to the one of many lynch mobs roaming the streets.

“Perhaps,” muttered Kanathara, her vision sweeping over the area.

Only to land on a familiar set of colors which she recalled having last seen the previous time she had been in Cloudsdale. The pony in question was a taller mare with yellow fur, an off-white mane, and gold eyes that were visible even at a great distance. Her and four fully clothed others had cornered a pegasus near a burnt-out bakery and were advancing on him in a slow, threatening manner.

“Is that one of those familiar ponies?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“I believe it was,” Kanathara replied. “Come on. That seems like a good place to start.”

Taking wing, the pair proceed to fly in the direction of the small mob, landing a few feet behind them with an audible thwump. Immediately, two of their number turned to face the disguised demons, their eyes lighting up as they beheld the abnormally tall pegasi standing before them.

“B-boss, we got incoming!” shouted a diminutive stallion.

“Keep the slave maker from taking off. I’ll handle this,” replied the gold-eyed unicorn who turned towards the pair of new arrivals. She subtly rested her hoof on a hidden blade tucked within her warm clothing.

“What business do you have here, featherbrains?” she spat, glaring intently at the duo.

“We were just hoping to ask a few questions, is all,” Kanathara replied, pouring a bit of her succubus powers into her words.

The effect was immediate, with the unicorn relaxing visibly and placing all four of her hooves against the ground.

“Questions? Can they wait until after we’ve had a chance to deal with this one?” asked the mare.

“Of course,” Rainbow Dash replied, gesturing back to the cowering stallion.

“It will just be a minute,” exclaimed the gold-eyed unicorn.

Who turned back to her gang and immediately waved her forehooves in the air. “What are you looking at? Cut the dumb bastard’s wings off and throw him off the side!” she shouted.

“No wait, stop! I’m not like them, I was just a security guard for those crazy assholes!” shouted the pegasus as he backpedalled quickly. “I didn't know about any of the shit they did in there!”

“Out of ignorance or spite, you made slaves of the innocent. All who would rob us of our freedom deserve not their lives,” exclaimed the unicorn in a low tone.

“I didn't know! I just stood by a door and looked intimidating all day. I couldn't have known!” he shouted, his eyes going wide when he backed into the wall.

“Every last one of you genocidal bastards deserve to die,” declared the unicorn, who nodded to her closest companion. “Do it.”

“No! Stop, I have a family! Ahhhh!”

Kanathara watched as the unicorn made good on her threat, amputating the poor stallion’s wings before tossing his partially conscious body over the lip of the cloud. His screams sparked back up a moment after he flew over the side, and they continued until finally fading into nothing. With their grisly deed done, the mob turned back to the two demons, who stood there nonchalantly, unbothered by what they had seen.

“So, you stuck around. I suppose I owe you some answers,” stated the golden-eyed mare in a low tone.

“If you would be so kind,” Kanathara exclaimed, adding a bit more power to her voice.

Damn, I love it when you break out the sex magic, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

It’s not sex magic, it’s… Just look out for any surprises, Kanathara retorted.

The unicorn blinked rapidly, her eyes briefly turning a soft pink before returning to their normal coloration. “Of course. We don't mind helping those few pegasi who are not evil,” offered the unicorn. “Golden Gaze, at your service.”

“Flaming Star,” Kanathara replied, stepping forward and clasping the other mare’s smaller hoof.

“Now then. What can we do for you?” offered the pony.

“We have not been in town for a while, you see, thus this entire situation is rather distressing. We were hoping you could let us know what is going on,” Kanathara replied.

“When were you in town last? Because if you say a few months, we might be here a while,” Golden began.

“Only a few days. Last I had heard, some big demon outbreak had occurred. We had fled the city for the safety of a relative’s cottage, but have chosen to return after that turned out to be not very safe,” Kanathara explained.

“That's still a decent clip, but I’ll summarize it for you,” replied the unicorn, who cleared her throat. “The old warrior houses turned out to be behind the whole thing and had been using one of the Elements of Harmony to enslave people.”

Rainbow Dash gasped. “No way. So that's what that guy meant when he said…”

The unicorn nodded slowly. “It is true. I was enslaved by those bastards and was made to serve them. Thankfully some absolute angel appeared and wrecked the place. After that the paladins showed up and arrested just about everyone involved.”

“That couldn't have gone well. There were no doubt quite a few ponies in on the conspiracy,” Kanathara remarked.

“No kidding. Nearly a quarter of the city was implicated in some way. The prisons filled up overnight, and the mayor lowered the bail for nearly everyone just to ensure they weren’t overfilled,” Golden Gaze announced.

“Shoulda packed ‘em full,” muttered one of her cronies.

“Let ‘em eat each other in there,” added another.

“Woulda saved us the trouble,” Golden stated. “Either way, with a whole bunch of criminals out free, things started going sideways just about immediately. Folk started taking the law into their hooves after it was discovered how long the investigation and prosecution would take.”

“With that many people involved, the courts would be overwhelmed for years,” Kanathara reasoned.

“Right, but thanks to the leader of the paladins releasing a list, we knew who had done what. Now it's just a matter of hunting them down and making sure justice is done,” Golden Gaze declared with a righteous stomp of her hoof.

“And the whole moon thing?” Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing over her shoulder.

“Barely even noticed it was a thing, to be honest,” Golden replied with a shrug. “By then the guard had dissolved into a mess of infighting, so the whole city was anchored in order to make sure it didn't blow off course.”

“The whole disappearance of Celestia thing isn't quite such a big issue when you got a city full of slavers to kill,” added one of her cronies.

“Very fair,” Kanathara muttered.

I say we find out where this paladin guy is situated. He seems to be about the only one with their head still on straight, Rainbow Dash offered.

Right, Kanathara replied.

“Just one last question for you. Where are the paladins located right this moment?” Kanathara inquired.

“Corner of Third and Seventh. A good three layers up or so,” Golden replied, then paused and gave her head a firm shake. “Wait a second. Who did you say you were again?”

“Nobody important,” Kanathara replied. “Good day to you.”

Before the unicorn or her underlings could respond, both Kanathara and Rainbow Dash launched into the air. Flapping their wings hard and fast, the pair of demons quickly departed before the small mob even had a chance to react. Leaving behind the first group of angry, ground-bound ponies, the duo had to swiftly fly away again a moment later.

“Hey, look, it's another group of pegasi! Get ‘em!” shouted an earth pony.

Kanathara merely rolled her eyes and poured on the speed, following behind Rainbow Dash after she had done the same. Not like the insignificant number of barely armed ponies was intimidating, but rather they were a waste of time. Even if a small part of both of them wanted to stop in order to consume the flesh and souls of their would-be attackers.

However, their objective was clear, and they moved towards it with all the haste they could muster without burning a spell.

Ya think this paladin guy would know where Fluttershy is? Rainbow Dash asked. She may have been a primary eye witness, but I doubt he would keep close tabs on her or lock her up.

If he doesn't know, then he’ll at least have a good idea where to start, Kanathara reasoned.

Fair, Rainbow Dash admitted.

Emerging up onto the previously mentioned level, the duo found themselves in another district. Though this one lay at the edge of the division between flighted and non-flying areas, with the majority of the buildings they could see being accessible by those without wings. Including an apartment building that appeared to be mostly abandoned, with only a few squatters left, who didn't notice the demon’s arrival.

As one, the pair landed on an empty balcony and slipped inside, using their advantageous position to scan the street. Burnt and looted businesses were less common here, with the few they saw having been marked with the word ‘SLAVER’ painted across the front. Those were few and far between, however, with most structures still in perfect shape despite the relative anarchy of the city.

At the center of this bastion of order and stability stood what had likely been a guard station at one point. Now it was home to what appeared to be a very small number of paladins, and a good amount of volunteers. Only three of the golden-armored ponies were visible either standing guard outside or through what few windows weren’t boarded up.

Those former civilians who had signed up in order to help the beleaguered order were far more numerous. Marked by the golden pins on their jackets, overcoats, or basic leather armor, these ponies moved about the area with at least some amount of decorum. That didn't mean they looked the part of trained soldiers, but clearly they had received some manner of training.

“At least they're organizing the mob somewhat,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“True. Though their magical defences are lacking,” Kanathara pointed out.

“I mean, their only foe so far has been pegasi,” Rainbow Dash stated.

Kanathara nodded slowly. “Still. It makes me wonder what they are even doing here. Shouldn't they have been recalled back to Canterlot?”

“Maybe they disobeyed a command and stayed behind?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“A distinct possibility. Especially given the failings of the guard,” Kanathara reasoned. “There is only one way to find out for certain, however.”

“So, are we breaking in, or will an invisibility spell work?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“A simple notice-me-not enchantment should do it,” Kanathara replied. “So, unless we meet someone we know in there, things will be fine.”

“You know you’ve just jinxed it, right?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, poking a hoof into the keeper’s chest. “Now we’re doomed to run into someone we’ve seen before.”

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I don't believe in your silly superstitions.”

“When have I been wrong before, huh?” Rainbow Dash challenged.

“Plenty of times,” Kanathara retorted. “Like that time I said the tower wasn't going to collapse anytime soon.”

“I guess. But come on. You can't keep tempting fate like this,” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“This is easy. We’ll be out of here with Fluttershy in a matter of hours. It won't rain anytime soon. This-” Kanathara was stopped when Rainbow Dash’s hoof was suddenly stuffed into her mouth.

“Would you be quiet? I can almost feel Discord’s magic on us,” Rainbow Dash hissed.

Again Kanathara rolled her eyes and removed her familiar’s limb from her mouth. “Fine, but you know I don't appreciate such conspiratorial thinking.”

“Yeah yeah. Now could we just keep going? All this standing around is making me antsy,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Love youuu,” Kanathara teased.

Rainbow Dash blushed and looked away. “Love you too.”

Kanathara chuckled to herself as she lit her horn and began to cast the necessary spell to make them unnoticeable to most. The magic itself wasn't difficult to formulate, but making it work with their disguises added an extra minute or so. Thankfully no one tried to enter the dilapidated apartment nor fly past the shattered sliding glass door that had once separated the outside from inside.

With a final flash of light, the pair of demons gained a shimmering, slightly purple coating over their bodies. This glimmering field faded quickly after being cast, leaving behind a faint sparkle only visible when looked at in the right light.

Kanathara gave her familiar a slight nod before running towards the exit and leaping over the railing. The other demon swiftly followed suit, with the duo turning to the right and descending down to ground level. Careful to not make too much noise, they landed not far from their target, though they had to make a swift detour.

A group of volunteers led by a single paladin had emerged from the front entrance and barreled right at them. Thankfully they hadn't noticed the demons and simply continued past them, heading towards some unseen emergency. With that bit of danger passed, Kanathara trotted up to the entrance and waited patiently until it opened again.

She didn't have to wait for long, as a middle-aged stallion with a slight hunch departed less than a minute later. Together the demons slipped in through the entrance before it could close, allowing them to enter the station fully. Where they found that it had become one part command post, and one part impromptu barracks.

Food was being cooked, small areas had been cordoned off for families, and there was even a training area set up near the back. The entire thing was a bit more ramshackle than anticipated, but given the circumstances, it wasn't as bad as it could have otherwise been. It also meant that maneuvering through it was a bit more difficult than Kanathara had planned for, leading to a few uncomfortable situations.

First of which was Kanathara having to squeeze herself against a wall when a young colt suddenly sprinted by. His young brother close behind, the pair giggled profusely as they ran around another cubicle and disappeared a moment later. Sharing a quick glare at Rainbow Dash who was only just barely holding back a snicker, Kanathara continued on.

Thankfully it wasn't difficult to find their location, as the second floor was far more organized. With most offices still intact, Kanathara was able to find the correct room relatively quickly. Or at least she assumed it was the right one, as the name beside the door had been removed at some point.

It was the largest single office, however, and based on the fact that there was an empty receptionist desk sitting out front, it had likely been the chief guard’s at one point. That alone was enough to make Kanathara reason that this was where their target was located, though she couldn't be sure. Glancing around the area, the keeper of secrets found that what few inhabitants were on the second floor were all distracted.

Allowing Kanathara to lean down and peer through the keyhole to find that-

The door opened suddenly, prompting the demon to stumble backwards just in time for a familiar pegasus to appear. He stood about as tall as the average pegasus, though he was a bit lankier than most and had a quiet, unassuming demeanor about him. One made only even less intimidating by the empty silver platter he held atop his hoof.

Is that the guy we mind-controlled the last time we were in Canterlot? Rainbow Dash inquired.

Kanathara spared a quick glance at the stallion’s cutie mark, which was of a sunflower growing on a cloud. That it is.

Which means-

We should be fine. He won’t recognize our disguises.

A second later, their eyes met.

“Oh my stars in heaven,” he muttered. “You must be new around here. The name’s Nimbus Sprout, and who might you fine mares be?”

“I thought you said he wouldn't recognize us,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“He doesn't,” Kanathara whispered back.

“Well, something went wrong,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Sorry, what was that? I couldn't quite hear you,” Nimbus inquired with a helpful smile.

“This is Lonely Cloud, and I’m Falling Star,” Kanathara declared.

“I thought you were Flaming-” Rainbow Dash tried to interrupt, only to be hushed before she could do so.

“Well, it's a pleasure to meet you two. Try not to let the folk around here bother you too much. I know you aren't a bunch of evil slavers,” Nimbus Sprout exclaimed. “Heck, most people don't want any violence. Things are just a bit crazy right now.”

“You can say that again,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“I’m sure Mister Dawn will have everything fixed in no time,” Nimbus Sprout proudly declared.

“Is he the head honcho around here?” Rainbow Dash asked, glancing over the stallion’s shoulder curiously.

“He sure is. Him and a few of his friends stuck around after the other paladins were recalled back to Canterlot. The poor guy is overworked as heck, but he’s kept everyone’s spirits up!” exclaimed the stallion in a chipper tone.

“Is he in there?” Kanathara asked.

The pegasus nodded eagerly. “Sure is. You best go on and chat with him. He's pretty good at figuring out where best to put people, though if you don't mind me saying, you two would make great deputies.”

“That's very kind of you, now if you’ll excuse us,” Kanathara stated, gently shooing the stallion away from the door.

“Oh, right. Well, best of luck to you guys. If you ever need anything, you’ll find me in the kitchen most times,” Nimbus exclaimed before eagerly trotting away.

“What a happy little guy,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“I’m surprised he wasn't scarred from what we put him through,” Kanathara remarked.

“If anything, we saved him from getting some kind of mental damage,” Rainbow Dash countered.

“True,” Kanathara agreed.

Together the pair turned towards the door, with Kanathara choosing to simply pull it open and step swiftly inside. Where a tall, though rather old, stallion sat behind a large table, a map held aloft in his hooves. Rainbow Dash was swift to follow her mistress and quickly closed then locked the door behind them.

“What, who is…” The stallion’s questions fell apart the second he laid eyes on the now undisguised pair of demons standing before him.

To his credit, he nearly managed to summon a blast of holy magic before Rainbow Dash had grabbed his horn in both hooves.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you. Wouldn't want to lose something now, would we?” Rainbow Dash whispered, squeezing the stallion’s horn slightly.

“Wh-what do you want?” he asked in a shaky tone.

“We want to know the location of a particular pony. One who goes by the name Fluttershy,” Kanthara answered.

The wrinkled, stallion hummed thoughtfully. “The one from the big warrior house case. I remember her,” he murmured.

“Then you know where she is,” Kanathara reasoned.

“I might,” he replied, flashing the demon a wide smile despite the circumstances he found himself in. “Though I’d like to propose a trade.”

“A trade? Do you look like you’re in a position to bargain?” Rainbow Dash whispered harshly.

“I do,” he replied simply. “To get the answer out of me, you would need as much time as it would take to get me to simply give it to you. Besides, as you likely already know, answers gained from torture are notoriously unreliable.”

Kanathara chuckled. “You’ve got stones. I’ll give you that.”

“You two seem smarter than the rabble we’ve occasionally had to clear off the street, so I figured you might be worth talking to,” exclaimed the stallion.

Kanathara nodded, and Rainbow Dash released his horn, allowing the male to slump back into his chair and rub the appendage absently.

“Thanks for that,” he exclaimed.

“So,” Kanathara began, sitting down across form the paladin, “what exactly do you have in mind?”

“Simple. You keep the majority of the plates from falling out of the sky, and I’ll give you not only Fluttershy’s location, but all the info I have on the ponies she’s now in league with,” declared the unicorn.

Kanathara glanced at Rainbow Dash and received a shrug, the vengant clearly considering it but so far unconvinced.

“Go on,” Kanathara encouraged.

Author's Note

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Trial Eleven: Hostiles

The aged stallion rolled his shoulders and sat a little further back in his chair. “It's simple, really. The enchanted plates meant to house the city’s population of non-flighted ponies are tied together. The warrior houses seek to undue the magic keeping us from falling out of the sky, and I want to make sure that doesn't happen.”

“Can you be certain that it's not a band of demons doing that? Seems a bit over the top, even with everything that’s happened,” Rainbow Dash reasoned.

“I don't rightly care if it's Celestia herself mucking about,” declared the unicorn, thumping a hoof against the table. “Someone’s down there mucking about with something they shouldn't, and I want them either in the dirt, or out of the equation.”

“Relax. We can handle it,” Kanathara cautioned.

“I suspect you can. Unlike my own forces whose precious few sky carriages are being used to ferry refugees down to other settlements,” he continued, shoulders falling slack.

“So all we gotta do is go down there and kill a bunch of people? That doesn't sound too hard,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“They’ll be expecting company though, so don't take them too lightly,” he cautioned.

“I assume you would be open to signing a contract to ensure both parties hold up their end of the bargain?” Kanathara offered, conjuring a sheet of paper as well as a quill and a pot of ink.

“As much as it pains me to say this, yes, I wouldn't mind doing that,” offered the stallion gruffly.

“Just a moment then,” Kanathara warned, her hooves becoming a blur of motion as she swiftly began to craft the necessary documentation.

What do you think of him? Kanathara asked while she wrote. Seems a bit too lenient on working with demons to be a high-ranking paladin.

I don't know. This guy is practical. That much should be obvious from his headquarters and the people he's filled it with, Rainbow Dash replied, her gaze never leaving the uncomfortable, but relaxed older stallion.

Though most of his features were hidden beneath a blue robe trimmed with gold, the vengant could still see two bright green eyes. His fur had likely been a deep aqua at one point, though by now it had faded until it was nearly white. The vibrant mane of electric blue hair had also faded, though it retained more color than his fur at least.

Very true, Kanathara admitted, pausing briefly as she considered a clause before deciding to not include it. What do you take him for? An ex scribe, or perhaps an enchanter?

Let's find out, Rainbow Dash stated.

“So, Dawn. What did you do before you found yourself the head of this little… organization?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“I was the head mage for the Cloudsdale detachment. The name’s Dawn Hammer,” stated the unicorn with a hint of pride.

“A special talent for holy magic and enchantment, right?” Kanathara asked, glimpsing over the lip of the half-penned contract curiously.

The stallion nodded slowly. “Never did have much need for the former, but the latter though? Well, that was constant.”

“Gotta make sure noone falls through the damn floor, eh?” Rainbow Dash continued, leaning against the desk and causing it to groan loudly under her weight.

“Between that and keeping Cloudsdale from coming apart at the seams, I was fairly busy.” The stallion snorted. “Half this damn city is kept together with a little ingenuity, and a whole lot of unicorn magic.”

“I thought it was mostly pegasus infrastructure?” Rainbow Dash offered innocently.

Dawn Hammer chuckled darkly. “That's what they’d like you to believe, but the truth of the matter is that after the city reached a certain point in size, it needed magic to keep growing. This was supposed to be a shining example of harmony, and now look at us. Squabbling over its bones while a demon brings ruin to our nation and we all slowly freeze to death.”

“Well, we can help with at least one of your problems,” Kanathara offered, laying the contract down in front of the stallion.

Who raised his eyebrow. “Well damn. Here I thought I’d have to blast you two into next week, but this doesn't look half as one-sided as I anticipated. What's your angle here?”

Kanathara chuckled mirthlessly. “If you can believe it, we're actually here to destroy Nightmare Moon and bring back the day.”

Dawn Hammer blinked. “Really now?”

“Is it that hard to believe that we don't want an entire plane to perish and thus empower a prime evil?” Rainbow Dash countered.

“A prime evil, you say? Well, I had my suspicions…” He paused and brought the piece of paper within an inch of his nose. “No, no. This won't do at all. This clause is too open, that wording is too vague, and the timeframe is much too generous.”

Rainbow Dash growled. “That's mighty bold talk for someone within biting distance.”

Kanathara merely chuckled, holding out a hoof and stopping her familiar before she could get too aggressive. “That's fine, Rainbow. I was merely testing the old fart,” exclaimed the keeper.

Who swiftly stroked out the offending parts and adjusted what was needed.

“I still don't like your wording in section three here, but it's better at least. Now...” The stallion picked up his quill and narrowed his eyes until they were little more than twin slits. “Where do I sign this thing?”

“Right here.” Kanathara tapped an empty line at the bottom of the page.

“Alrighty then, and don't you worry. I’ll have all of our info catalogued into a nice neat folder by the time you get back,” Dawn Hammer stated, signing his name and pushing the contract back across the table.

“A pleasure doing business with you,” Kanathara exclaimed.

The keeper took the signed document and rolled it back up, the paper vanishing amidst a small puff of hellfire.

“I still would have preferred a fight. Oh well.” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Ponies aren't strong enough to pose a challenge anyway.”

“I’m glad you’re such a sporting individual,” Dawn Hammer muttered.

“Now I assume these miscreants will be found at the bottom level?” Kanathara reasoned.

“You would be correct. Though I would check the central runic network for other spots to attack. I doubt they’ll commit themselves to only a single point,” Dawn Hammer replied.

“Then it seems as though our job is clear. Let's go,” Kanathara stated, her body rippling briefly before returning to her disguised form once more.

Rainbow Dash followed suit a moment later, her gaze lingering on Dawn Hammer. “You better not stab us in the back.”

“And risk what little I have left? You may not think me brilliant, but you musn’t believe I’m a fool,” spat the stallion.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Fair enough, old timer.”

Together the duo turned and left, slipping out the exit in a single, swift motion.

Once outside, they looked around and found that they were still alone, with everyone having departed during their conversation. The two demons shared a look followed by a shrug before proceeding on their way at a slow, steady pace. Upon reaching the main floor, they found that a path had been created for them, one flanked on either side by guards.

“We didn't give him enough credit,” Kanathara remarked.

“Go on now. Y'all got a job to do,” offered a random earth pony from within the crowd.

“That we do,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

Kanathara and her familiar left the building soon after, pausing after they did so to glance back at all the grim faces staring at them. Though wary, none held aloft a weapon or had begun to cast a spell, merely sitting calmly and observing the duo.

“What do you think? Secret button? Scrier in the other room?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“As much as it pains me to say this, I don't know. Nor, am I afraid, do I care,” Kanathara answered.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Fair enough. Ready to move?”

“Let's work out some aggression,” Kanathara replied.

Descending down the exterior of the main non-flighted district, Kanathara extended her senses, feeling out the location of this central core the paladin mentioned. She was initially a little confused when she found nothing. Searching a little further, Kanathara was able to locate the familiar twinge of magic, though it was surprisingly small.

Inspecting the intricate weave of enchantments and complicated spells too numerous to mention, Kanathara was at a loss. This was no tangled mess too difficult to pull apart, but rather a perfectly ordered web which was completely self-contained. This made it harder to detect, more difficult to attack, and had no doubt caused its creators an endless number of headaches.

Her first instinct was to scan it, study it, and perhaps even pull it apart to see how it worked. That urge was stifled by a harsh reminder that they were here on a mission, one too important to waste time on. Pushing her senses downward, the disguised demon was able to locate the frazzled ends of the spell as it was being undone by a distant unseen hand.

Whoever was attacking the enchantment was no expert, and Kanathara could tell they were brute forcing it, rather than strategically picking it apart which would take much less time and probably be a lot less noticeable. Either way, it worked out for her, as at least now they could locate and attack these newest foes with relative ease.

So that's where they are. Interesting, Rainbow Dash thought.

I only sense one group. Dawn must have overestimated them, Kanathara reasoned.

Or they are waiting to see if the first bunch of sappers were successful before sending a back-up, Rainbow Dash replied.

Possible. Either way, we must deal with these ones, Kanathara stated.

Right you are, Rainbow Dash agreed

The pair swooped beneath a particularly desolate plate filled with smoldering buildings and the odd squatter. What was waiting for them was a little less obvious, as numerous small puffy clouds clung to the underside of a single much larger one. This enormous, slightly black bank of cloud cover was obviously what was supporting nearly all the levels above it.

To Kanathara it looked like a mass of zigzagging lines, bunches of hardened spell nodes, and a few errant bits of mana. To most it was simply a dark cloud which was adorned with numerous smaller, seemingly less important bumps. Rainbow Dash, however, only saw the perfect place to be ambushed, and no visible foes which she could immediately smite.

Where are they? Rainbow Dash asked as she hovered silently, eyes scanning the immediate area for any sign of trouble.

Up ahead, between those two lumps, but be aware that they have three groups waiting to ambush us there, there, and there, Kanathara replied, using her connection with her familiar to guide Rainbow Dash’s eyes to the places where their enemies were lying in wait.

Perfect. Let's get this done, Rainbow Dash stated.

As one, the demons pumped their wings and soared towards their destination, weaving or simply smashing through the small clouds which got in their way. As they flew, they began to make out what looked like a flat expanse at the bottom of the larger cloud. Surrounded on all sides by triangle-shaped bumps, the area contained the primary enchantment node Kanathara had been looking for.

“So you’ve come at last,” boomed a loud, masculine, yet familiar voice. “But it is too late! For you see, the second you attempt to incapacitate one of my puppets, I will cut its strings, and they will die!”

The voice cackled loudly, echoing from somewhere above them. “Now do you see the folly of your ways? Even if you succeed, you will be killing innocent ponies whose only sin was staring too long into the moon!”

Is that… Stygian? Rainbow Dash thought.

It sure sounds like it. Also sounds a lot like he was expecting some paladins and not us, Kanathara replied.

Let's show him the folly of his ways, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Yes, let's, Kanathara agreed.

“Now you must choose between ending the lives of a dozen ponies to save countless more, or letting them all fall and keeping your precious hooves clean. It's not a hard choice, right? Let's see if you can live with yourself after you kill a-” continued the voice, only to be interrupted when a beam of energy cut off his possessed speaker’s head.

The pegasus body tumbled out of the sky, wings flapping briefly before falling still.

A second moon-touched pegasus emerged from the clouds a second later, her blank, milky white eyes replaced with ones as black as pitch.

“Wait, what? Who are…” Stygian murmured as Kanathara and Rainbow Dash shed their disguises. “What are you doing here?”

“A better question is how are you even alive?” Rainbow Dash retorted.

“Oblivion itself is not an obstacle to my mistress. Though that is a story for another time. Perhaps we could discuss something more pressing like-” His speech was once more abruptly ended as his puppet was immolated by a ball of hellfire.

A third pony popped out of the cloud cover with an annoyed expression on his face. “Would you stop doing that? There aren't a ton of moon-touched left, and the mistress has plans for this place,” Stygian demanded.

“What's in it for us?” Kanathara demanded.

“I was about to tell you that before you so rudely killed another of my puppets!” Stygian shouted. “Now then. Since you are so impatient, let us-”

A bolt of lightning incinerated the stallion, his ashes blown away by the slight breeze coming from below.

“Stop doing that!” Stygian shouted from the mouth of a new pony. “I was trying to tell you that we are hoping to aid you!”

“Then stop trying to wreck Cloudsdale!” Rainbow Dash yelled back.

“I cannot go against a direct order from Mistress Moon,” Stygian explained. “When the time comes though, you can rely on us to betray her!”

“And what's stopping us from telling our mutual overlord of your coming betrayal?” Kanathara replied.

“Beyond the obvious reason that you two are both planning on doing the same?” Stygian retorted.

Kanathara glanced up at the small group of pegasi who were swinging clearly enchanted pickaxes at the center of the node. Their method was crude, but given the fact that chunks of cloudcrete were coming off with each hit, their attacks were bearing fruit. In time, they could potentially destroy the underlying structure which the enchantments were layered atop of.

“Who said we were going to do that? We are just here in order to make sure Nightmare Moon’s will is carried out. Isn't that right, boss?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“What? Oh yeah,” Kanthara murmured. “Let's get this over with. We have things to do.”

“Wonderful. Let us join force-” Stygian’s offer of alliance was severed, as were the wings of his puppet which plummeted out of the sky, a startled scream exploding from his lips.

Rainbow Dash slammed into one of the workers a second later, reducing him to a mass of blood and fur upon impact. His ally wasn't much better off, as a hoof through the chest stopped his heart and caused him to fall from the sky. The rest were finished off in short order, their feeble attacks doing little to a fully armed and armored vengant.

Those reinforcements who went in to help were similarly cut down just as quickly. Wielding only daggers, short blades, or handheld crossbows and wearing at most studded leather, they were no match for the demons. With blade and spell, the pair cut through their enemies like a thresher through a wheat field.

Blood, body parts, and corpses fell down from the heavens so constantly that to most it would appear as though it were raining. Even Stygian’s intervention did little, as the shadow demon’s connection was tentative, Kanathara reasoned. Only a few rays of negative energy and several meager attempts to trick the two demons with illusionary clones.

Within minutes, almost the entire force of pony puppets had been killed, leaving Stygian with only a handful of slaves left. Rainbow Dash was covered in blood, but otherwise completely uninjured, while Kanathara was in the same boat, minus the layer of crimson. The entire debacle had left them in a foul mood however.

“Fly, my servants! We will return to wreak havoc soon enough!” Stygian shouted.

Kanathara grunted and deflected the half dozen shadow bolts launched her way before recalling a familiar spell. With a flash, one of the pegasi was imprisoned by a glowing orb of faintly purple energy. His fellows quickly succumbed to the same fate, their bodies floating in the air, trapped in time and unable to move.

“Good thinking. That whole fight left a bad taste in my mouth and not just because that one guy bled all over my face,” Rainbow Dash muttered, hovering next to Kanathara.

“I should have probably done this sooner, but I kept assuming that Stygian had something more up his-” Kanathara paused, spun around, and hit another fleeing pegasus who had been lying atop a cloud.

“Stars damn-” Stygian muttered before he was cut off from the now imprisoned mare.

“Like I was saying,” Kanathara picked back up. “I had assumed he had some kind of ace in the hole. Though I guess the whole ‘You have to kill innocents’ thing was just that.”

“Doesn't really have the same effect on a couple of demons,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Not really, no,” Kanathara replied, glancing around at the floating orbs hovering around them. “This sucks.”

“Yeah I’m not usually one to regret killing someone who was trying to do the same to me, but this was just sad,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Next time this happens, let's just knock them out anyway. Let Stygian kill them and not us,” Kanathara remarked.

Rainbow Dash bobbed her head eagerly. “Good plan. Maybe then I won't feel quite so bad about it all.”

Kanathara cleared her throat. “Either way, we’ve completed our end of the bargain and can head back to Dawn Hammer victorious.”

“I suppose,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “I can't wait until we fight something big again. I’m starting to get disappointed.”

“Maybe we should make it a challenge then?” Kanathara replied, redoing her disguise and beginning to fly back the way they came.

Rainbow Dash joined a second later, her demonic form having been replaced by one much less panic-inducing to the average viewer.

“What kind of challenge?” she asked, eying her mistress closely.

“If we are fighting something much weaker than ourselves, we will do everything we can to not kill them. If you do, then you get negative one point,” Kanathara explained.

“Oooh, a game,” Rainbow Dash murmured excitedly. “When does it end and what does the winner get?”

“How about… we reach Canterlot and the loser gives the winner a full massage treatment?” Kanathara offered, flashing her familiar a wry smile.

“Oooh, something we both want. I’m in,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Kanathara chuckled. “And here I thought you’d opt to lose, Miss I-just-really-like-licking-your-hooves.”

“Hey, that was one time!” Rainbow Dash shouted, diving down to punch the keeper in the shoulder.

“What about that time after that when I stepped in that--Yipe!” Kanathara yelped in surprise, ducking under a fireball thrown her way by an annoyed Rainbow Dash.

“Not another word!” Rainbow Dash shouted, swooping down on the keeper with a mostly silly glare in her eye.

“What are you going to do about it? Suck my hooves off?” Kanathara teased.

“I’ll make you eat those words!” Rainbow Dash bellowed.

Kanathara giggled as they dove and weaved through the cloud cover, leaving behind over a dozen bodies and far fewer glowing orbs.

“Would you quit trying to tickle me!” Kanathara shouted, rolling over in the air and trying to shake Rainbow Dash’s constant, hounding presence.

“I’ll stop when you quit making adorable noises,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara giggled uncontrollably as Rainbow Dash somehow managed to tickle the undersides of the keeper’s wings while flying. The spellcaster was slightly less adept at flight though, and after twisting to try and escape Rainbow Dash’s assault, veered off to one side. Crashing through a window, Kanathara tumbled across the ground. She swiftly hopped back up.

Looking around, Kanathara found herself in what had likely been someone’s apartment, though they had evidently not returned to it for some time. Food covered in mold sat on the counter, and mail had piled up on the welcome mat. Alone and slightly confused, Kanathara turned towards the sliding glass patio door and the vengant flying right at her.

“Yipe!” Kanathara yelped.

A second later, she was pinned beneath the bigger demon’s weight, their disguises falling away. Immediately their lips met, and Kanathara reached up, caressing the vengant’s armored chest and scaly, yet soft neck. Rainbow Dash lowered herself atop the other female, all but restraining the keeper under her larger bulk.

“We should stop,” Kanathara murmured unenthusiastically.

“We should,” Rainbow Dash agreed, even as she continued to pepper the other demon’s neck in small, rapid-fire kisses.

“Dawn Hammer will be waiting,” Kanathara pointed out.

“He will wait,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara giggled, her hoof wrapping around the familiar’s neck and pulling her in close. Back and forth they kissed, with neither holding full control for long before giving it to the other. As time passed, things began to heat up, and just as they were both wondering if the couch could support their combined weight, they heard a scream.

Sitting upright, Kanathara glanced at the broken window.

“Don't. Its probably just another lynching,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shrug.

“Or someone’s seen us and they’ve rallied a bunch of paladins,” Kanathara retorted.

Rainbow Dash sighed and stepped off to one side. “I doubt it, but I know better than to get between you and whatever has piqued your curiosity.”

Kanathara said nothing as she donned her disguise once more and made her way to the balcony. Peering over the side, she was able to make out what looked like a fight occurring right in the middle of the street. Over two dozen flightless ponies belonging to both tribes had formed into a tight ball while half as many pegasi hounded them from above.

The unicorns and earth ponies looked the part of volunteers, as their weapons and armor were rather poor. Unlike the pegasi who seemed to be well drilled and were outfitted with some of the best gear Kanathara had seen since she came to the cloud city. They were also ruthlessly cutting down any who attempted to flee the entrapment, slitting the throat of a young stallion who tried just that.

“That's harsh,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“These aren't a random bunch of hoodlums out to start trouble,” Kanathara added.

Below them, a unicorn cast a lightning bolt spell which was dodged remarkably swiftly by their arial target. Who then swooped down and tried to cut the offending unicorn’s horn from their head. Thankfully one of the spellcaster’s allies swiftly brought up a shield, blocking the strike and saving the unicorn in the process.

“They are well-trained. Assassins?” Kanathara offered.

“From one of the warrior houses?” Rainbow Dash added.

“Seems likely,” Kanathara reasoned.

“Should we help?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara hummed and hawed, watching as the two groups continued to battle with neither gaining a leg up on the other. Only for an earth pony to slip up and get dragged away from his fellows. The group tried to move in order to help, but the other pegasi were swift to harry their movements and force them to stop.

“Why not?” Kanathara replied. “We can start our little game earlier than anticipated and have some fun with a foe actually worth fighting.”

“Hell yeah,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her armor crawling up her body and forming into a helmet which clanked audibly over her face. “Let's go kick some butt.”

Author's Note

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This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.

Trial Eleven: Non Lethal

“Get off of me, you genocidal fucks!” screamed the earth pony as he thrashed desperately in the grip of his attacker.

Who growled and readjusted his hold before swinging his knife down towards the other stallion’s throat. The militia pony wasn't about to go down without a fight, however, and he twisted out of the way at the last second. As the assassin attempted to switch his grip, the volunteer bit down on his hoof with all the force he could muster.

The pegasus’ armor was durable, but made for absorbing the glancing blow of a bladed weapon or even a projectile. The studded leather was not constructed for the purpose of resisting someone trying to chomp straight through it. With a yell, the pegasus dropped his enemy, flying back and flipping his dagger around.

“I’ll teach you to fight dirty, you pathetic little--What the?” he murmured, leaping to the side just in time to dodge what looked like a metal meteorite.

The crater it left behind was easily three times the size of a normal pony, and from its depth emerged a plate mail-covered demon. Wielding no weapons, save for the spikes adorning her metal shell, the hell-born mare leapt eagerly into the fight. Hooves extended and flames billowing from the gaps in her armor, she seemed intent on grappling the assassin.

Who was quick to backpedal, pumping his wings in an attempt to put some distance between him and her. Only for those attempts to do nothing but seemingly spur the creature on, as she not only kept up, but actually managed to close in.

“Impossible,” he muttered in shock.

Forced to stop nearly a dozen meters above the road, the assassin ducked a sweep of a hoof and prepared a counterattack. That was until he realized that the demon was about to headbut him directly in the face. Twisting to the side, he dropped down slightly, angling his knife back up in an attempt to stab the creature in the back.

The demon’s glowing red eyes followed him without pause, however, once more making the assassin change things up. Rolling away for a second time, the stallion went into a short dive, catching a glimpse of an ally banking in from above. All it took was for their eyes to meet for a plan to pass between them, and the assassin twisted back and up into a hover. Knowing the routine well, he splayed his wings wide, dagger raised in his hoof in an attempt to be the most obvious target possible.

The move seemed to have worked, as the demon was barrelling towards him, seemingly unaware of the other pegasus flying over her. The assassin counted the seconds until his friend was on top of the creature, his entire body tensed and waiting. The moment his ally struck, he would be there to land the second blow.

Just when the dagger had begun to descend towards the demon’s back, she twisted around in the air and grabbed her attacker. The second pegasus released a terrified squawk, completely convinced that he was about to be engulfed in flames or pierced with spikes. Instead of dying horribly, however, he found himself plummeting towards the ground at a truly incredible speed.

“What the hell?” muttered the first assassin, who pulled down his black bandana and stared on in confusion.

His attention was quickly grabbed by a sudden flash of purple and the disappearance of another of his allies. Where there had once loomed an assassin of the old houses with decades of experience, there now stood an armored duck wielding a knife. Not even a particularly large duck either, but one just big enough to bite a pony’s leg, though obviously not very hard.

Following the flash back to its source, the assassin’s stomach immediately plummeted at what he saw. For not only was he fighting a vengant of all things, but there was also a keeper of secrets striding into view. With eyes like twin lavender suns, the demon waved a hoof and nearly caught one of his soldiers in an undulating wave of some kind.

Immediately, his already confused pawns were starting to lose morale, and the assassin knew it wouldn't be long before things went sideways. Training, oaths, and experience meant little when facing down some of the most powerful extraplanar foes in existence, after all. With that grim thought in mind, he dug a stark white dagger from a hidden pouch and prepared for what needed to be done.

Kanathara, meanwhile, used a wave of concussive force to knock aside a swooping pegasus, sending him off course. Though she had put enough power into the spell to knock the pony out, they had somehow managed to avoid the brunt of it. Now slightly irritated, she prepared to use a lightning bolt to knock the offending flier straight out of the sky. She never managed to do so, however, as an earth pony swung a sword at her head, forcing her to step out of the way.

“What the heck are you doing? Can't you see I’m on your side!” Kanathara shouted.

“I, uh. Oh… sorry,” muttered the stallion.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and was about to prepare her spell, when she noticed that one of the assassins had stopped moving. His face looked drawn, and in his hooves was gripped an odd, faintly glowing dagger the color of bleached bone. Seemingly carved from remains of a dead animal, his weapon was oddly plain, emblazoned with a pair of what looked like horns above the hilt of the blade.

“Hey, don't do that!” Kanathara shouted, magic reaching for the dagger.

Quicker than either demon could react, the assassin plunged the blade into his own chest, releasing a cry of agony as he did so. Immediately both Kanathara and Rainbow Dash backpedalled, confusing the two groups of ponies who seemed ready to fight again. That was until the pegasus released a horrified scream, his entire body beginning to convulse in mid air. Then both parties took a collective step back, walking away from one another while also eying the pegasus.

“Demon blade?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Seems like it,” Kanathara answered.

“Plan?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Beat the snot out of him,” Kanathara stated.

“Ooh, hard mode. I like it,” Rainbow Dash eagerly exclaimed.

“Uh, Top Speed, what's going on with the dagger in your…” the pegasus’ question died on his lips.

The pony in question suddenly jerked to the side, his neck snapping audibly. Before anyone had a chance to recover from that first bout of weirdness, the assassin’s legs suddenly extended. While his limbs grew exponentially, the skin covering them did not, revealing a deep red, almost black mass of muscle beneath.

When his legs reached a new and more impressive length, they continued to twist, fingers and feet growing from the writhing flesh. The ends of which sported long white claws bigger than the dagger which was still sticking out of the pony’s chest. It didn't stop there though, as the pegasus’ torso expanded, skin tearing to reveal the contracting mass of muscle just beneath.

Like a thousand squirming red maggots, his body knitted itself back together, only this time much larger than before. His wings had shed their feathers and grown three times as large before closing tight against his body. A second later, they opened once more to reveal that a thick leathery membrane was now bound between them.

Now easily ten or eleven feet tall, the bizarre creature still sported the head of a pony, though that changed a moment later. His skull expanded, tearing through the muscle and skin, twisting into an altogether unequine shape. Horns grew from the side before twisting backwards and extending back over two feet, creating what looked like a crown.

With a clack, his skeletal jaw snapped shut, and his eyes lit up with baleful red maleficence. He then flexed his new body, causing a wave of black bony plating to burst from his flesh, covering his exposed muscle almost completely.

“Kill two demons and get both a body as well as a soul. A fair trade,” he boomed, glancing down expectantly at Rainbow Dash and Kanathara. “And worthy foes too. This will be interesting.”

“What the fuck, Top Speed? You didn't tell us you were a demon!” shouted one of the pegasi.

“Your buddy ain't here, dude. And though he was a pony, he's a hell knight now,” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

“He knew what invoking me entailed and gave himself willingly,” boomed the newly formed demon. “Now then. Let us engage in honorable combat.”

Before Kanathara had the chance to offer a word in edgewise, the larger demon was already lunging towards her. His arms were pulled back, a sword appearing from the cloud of smoke emanating from his hands. By the time he reached her, the hell knight had conjured a long, midnight black blade with a crossguard made of white bone.

Dodging to the side, Kanathara yelped as the blade followed her with remarkable dexterity. Such a move would have put very little strength behind the attack, though that clearly didn't matter to the knight. Who finally recoiled his blade and spun around, bringing it up in front of himself in order to block a flying Rainbow Dash.

With a shove, he threw the vengant back and turned on his heel, bringing his sword down on Kanathara before she had a chance to cast a spell. Forced to turn to mist, Kanathara swiftly flew away, trying and failing to put as much distance between herself and the knight. Unfortunately the larger demon swiftly followed after her, his blade mere millimeters away from the keeper of secrets.

Kanathara’s soul began to burn, and she knew it wouldn't be long before she would be forced to apparate. So she slipped through the crack of a door and reformed on its other side. She only managed a second of quiet before a sword sliced through the front of the abandoned house.

Weaving through the rubble, Kanathara snapped off a quick teleport, hoping to put the entirety of the home between them. The second she landed, the keeper heard the whoosh of wings and found that the moon had been blotted out of the sky.

“This guy just doesn't quit,” Kanathara muttered as she dimension-doored across the street.

The keeper of secrets saw the hell knight slam into the ground with enough force to send ponies tumbling to the ground. Cracks ran across the cloudcrete street, and Kanathara couldn't help but consider dialing down the collateral damage. That thought was quickly brushed aside though, washed away by the dawning realization that she was still being pursued.

Leaping over the shattered home and flying towards her at speeds which should not be possible was the hell knight. Kanathara stood her ground this time, conjuring a beam of unfocused magic and launching it at the approaching demon. Who swatted it aside with his blade, leaving himself open to a red blur that hit him square in the side and knocked him to the street.

With a growl, the hell knight leapt up and grabbed his attacker with the intent of throwing Rainbow Dash, only for spikes to grow from the vengant’s armor. His low snarl of rage became a yelp of pain, and he tossed aside the other demon as quickly as possible. An act made difficult by the fact that several spikes had pierced through his palm or fingers.

Rainbow Dash rolled with the much more desperate fling however, and the second she was airborne, banked to the right. As she flew in for another hit, a ball of lightning slammed into the hell knight’s face, staggering him for a few seconds. It gave Rainbow Dash time to plow into the right side of his body with all the force she could muster, her head spike rammed deep into the demon’s torso.

“Begone!” bellowed the hell knight.

His form rippled, and the muscle Rainbow Dash had been stuck into turned black before becoming solid. The vengant avoided the strike in time, dodging the swipe of the hell knight’s blade and landing back on the ground. She didn't remain still for long, as she soon leapt into the air, and was hit by a swirling mass of interlocking green squares.

The second the spell hit her, Rainbow Dash grew to three times her normal size, allowing her to stop the hell knight’s charge far before he would have hit Kanathara. Hands gripped by Rainbow Dash’s hooves, the bipedal demon attempted to throw off his foe by pumping his wings and jumping back. He didn't make it far before Rainbow Dash was on him once more, spiked hooves swinging for his face.

A twist of his blade blocked one punch, and he dipped out of the way of the second before slamming his knee into the vengant’s gut. Rainbow Dash wasn't phased, as her body was covered in a thin bubble shield which took the brunt of the blow. Allowing her to strike back with a headbutt that sent the hell knight reeling, a hand going to his now cracked skull.

The move was a feint however, as the large demon spread his fingers wide and conjured a strange sigil. A second after being drawn, the array shot out a jet of white hot fire that was canceled out by an eruption of water. Rainbow Dash didn't even slow her punch to make sure the flame was dealt with, hitting the knight a second after his sigil faded.

Jaw now missing several teeth, the hell knight swung his blade down, forcing Rainbow Dash to abandon her follow-up strike. Instead, she reached out and, using her incredible speed, grabbed the weapon with both hooves, stopping it in place. The hell knight’s confusion didn't last long, as a whole torrent of acid began to rain down upon him.

Forced to choose between keeping his weapon or keeping his body, the knight released his grip and leapt back. Pumping his wings in order to better avoid the downpour, he had but moments to summon the weapon back before Rainbow Dash was upon him. A strike to the stomach drove the wind from his lungs, while an uppercut left him dazed and confused.

In his desperation, he swung his blade wildly, but his foe was simply too close to him at this point. Every swing either went wide or was avoided with ease, all while the vengant continued to pummel him relentlessly. It was at this point that the hell knight noticed the thin lines connecting the points he had been hit back to Rainbow Dash’s armor.

The question half formed on his lips vanished as his strength started to fade. Now with the dawning realization that he was firmly on the back foot, the hell knight burst into motion with renewed desperation.

A kick to Rainbow Dash’s midsection sent her flying backwards, relatively unhurt but a good distance away. A flurry of strikes caused her protective bubble to vanish, and a blast of purified white fire made the vengant growl bitterly in pain. The hell knight tried to follow this up by driving his weapon through the other demon’s gut, but found his legs swept out from under him.

The male never got the chance to rise back up, however, as Rainbow Dash stomped down hard on his back. Strength now flowed out of the hell knight like a torrent, his ability to fight back was lessened even more when his legs were chained together. Seeing the writing on the wall, the hell knight released a sigh and lay completely still, prompting Rainbow Dash to stop battering him with her hooves.

“You have bested me and both proven your strength as well as taught me a valuable lesson,” he muttered.

“Oh, and what's that?” Rainbow Dash taunted.

“Humility,” he replied before releasing a sigh.

His eyes lost their flaming glow as his sword vanished, and his flesh became dull gray. Kanathara appeared a moment later and, after sharing a look with Rainbow Dash, gave the vengant a nod.

“I’m curious,” she exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Good enough for me.”

“What are they talking about?” whispered the terrified group of ponies huddled near the collapsed home.

Their question was answered a moment later when Rainbow Dash drove a sharpened hoof through the dead demon’s chest. Then a second hoof joined the first, before pulling apart his rib cage like it was a rather bizarre fruit, revealing the gray and white flesh beneath. A chorus of retching and confused muttering was ignored by the vengant who continued to dig into the corpse.

Bone was shattered, muscle was cut apart, and viscera was tossed aside in great forehoof loads. Until at long last she retrieved a pegasus stallion with what looked like a bone white dagger sticking from his chest. The blade had fused with his body however, leaving behind no wound and seemingly causing him little discomfort.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash couldn't be certain of that last part however, as Top Speed was asleep right up until he was roughly dropped on the ground.

Gasping like a fish, the stallion scrambled around wildly, his eyes flicking this way and that. “Who, what, where am I?” he shouted.

“You barely even traveled down the street,” Kanathara replied, gesturing to the trail of destruction left by their brief but intense fight.

“Damn,” he muttered and noticed the weapon sticking out of him. “Well, this is new.”

“Yeah, I wouldn't mess with that. You’re probably stuck with it,” Kanathara exclaimed, gently patting him on the back, her horn glowing faintly.

“Oh, err, yeah. I think I’m going to go now,” he murmured.

“Have a fun flight!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

The assassin gave his saviors one last look before leaping into the air and flying off with all the speed he could muster. In seconds he was gone, joining the squad of soldiers who had retreated just far enough to watch the fight but not get involved, leaving Kanathara and Rainbow Dash alone with the squad they had saved a few minutes earlier.

“I’d thank you, but I hesitate to ask what manner of payment you are going to demand for such an intervention,” the unicorn offered weakly.

“That won't be required,” Kanathara answered. “We were just bored and wanted to get on your boss' good side.”

“Speaking of which…” Rainbow Dash added, turning down the street.

Where a whole host of fully armed and armored paladins were sprinting towards them, a familiar stallion leading the pack. Upon getting closer, he signaled for the rest of his followers to hang back, allowing Dawn Hammer to walk out in front.

“Well, it seems like you dealt with that mess in an orderly manner,” he exclaimed, flipping the grille of his helmet up. “Nice work.”

“We didn't do it for you,” Rainbow Dash spat.

“Regardless of why, you still did it, and you still have my thanks,” Dawn Hammer replied.

“Your saboteurs were dealt with,” Kanathara interrupted, stepping forward and extending a hoof. “You can start by telling me where Fluttershy is while I sift through that file you promised.”

“Well, that's where things get difficult,” he replied. “I don't know exactly where she is, but I do have a strong inkling of her location.”

“This better be more than a hunch, or pony meat might be back on the menu,” Rainbow Dash growled.

“It ain't a stretch, if that's what you mean,” Dawn Hammer retorted, using his magic to conjure the file and hand it over to the keeper of secrets.

“Well, go on,” Kanathara encouraged, flipping through the manilla envelope idly.

“It's simple. Nearly every pegasus in the city has either joined a gang, gone underground, or fallen in with House Ebon Wind,” Dawn Hammer explained.

“A house which Fluttershy’s parents were a part of,” Kanathara reasoned.

“So it stands to reason they are at the Citadel of Ash, though you may know it better as that complex you two nearly burnt to the ground,” Dawn Hammer continued.

Rainbow Dash’s grim facade shattered, and she erupted with laughter. “Are you serious? They are really just squatting in the half incinerated remains of that place?”

Dawn Hammer chuckled. “Indeed they are. The only reason we haven't raided the place is the fact that it's disconnected from the rest of the city. Hard to invade it with a bunch of folk who can't fly.”

“Well, damn. Guess we’re going to have to do this the hard way and just go scope things out ourselves,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Nah,” Kanathara replied, closing the envelope and dumping it into a pocket dimension. “I’ve already thought of that.”

“And then what happened?” inquired the elderly pegasus stallion crouched low over his injured subordinate.

The other male coughed and spat a wad of phlegm onto the floor. “Sorry about that. This whole getting possessed thing has left me kinda messed up.”

“Take your time, son,” offered an older mare sitting patiently nearby.

The dark room was quiet for several seconds as the assassin gathered his bearings and stood back up again. After he did so, the male trotted awkwardly over to the table and sat down, only to bump the dagger sticking out of his chest, causing him to wince.

“Do you need some more light?” offered the older pegasus stallion who wore an eyepatch over one eye.

The assassin looked around, his eyes struggling to adjust to the low level of illumination in the slightly cramped room. The small overhead lamp was enough to see most of the space relatively easily, though he couldn't make out anything past the lone window. Just the table, the two other people sitting around it, and the exit which was flanked by two armed pegasus guards.

Despite their presence, the assassin felt no worry, as they were visibly relaxed and seemed more concerned than anything. A sentiment shared by the two older staff who were supposed to be interviewing him, though were mostly just trying to get him comfortable.

“No, this is fine,” exclaimed the formerly possessed male. “I just needed a moment. It feels like my stomach is trying to escape out of my mouth sometimes.”

“Would you like me to fetch the healer again?” offered the mare sitting across from him at the table.

The assassin once more shook his head. “No, I’m honestly okay now. What were we talking about again?”

“What happened after you somehow survived getting possessed,” offered the other stallion.

“Right,” Top Speed began. “The keeper of secrets just patted me on the back and let me go. The rest of my squad was quick to pick me up after the adrenaline faded away and I nearly fell out of the sky.”

“Well, that's good. Did you get harried on your way back here?” asked the older mare.

Top Speed shook his head. “No. They gave us a wide berth, if they saw us at all.”

“Wait a second,” interrupted the elderly pegasus. “She patted you on the back? Did you get dispelled after you returned to base?”

“Dispelled? Why would…” Top Speed’s eyes sprung open, and he quickly glanced over his shoulder, wings splayed wide.

A hoof parted his fur to reveal a small glowing rune hidden beneath the hair. Immediately after spotting it, Top Speed wiped it away, but he had a feeling that it didn't matter and that the damage had been done.

The older stallion rose from the table, pointing from one guard to the other. “You, stay here and lock down this room. You, go alert base command, we have a potential breach and-”

He never managed to finish his sentence as the sole window in the room exploded in a shower of glass, revealing a pair of demons who now stood amidst the shattered remains of their table.

“Was someone talking about us?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Because my ears were burning.”

“Actually, I think you’re just always flaming,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Very true. Now then, what to do with you lot?”

Author's Note

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: Ech, Tailsic, Chrisb32, Nightwing, Tonoz, CoreyPeters, Thane, Renegade, Sunset Flash, Kyokimute, Monsterkittie, Louts Petals, Tacocat, Tom, MestreJ, Aang Slyver, Canary in the Coal Mine, Ceepert, Starless, Vi Watch, Facinus, M, Nfreak, Venerable Ro, Blade Tech, Cryil Shadeclaw, John Gonzales, Nightwing, Peter Coulthard, Srgtartman, Thane Kull, Victor, Dale, Dragons' Sheppard, Egery007, Gear change the earth pony, Ivar, James, Kali, Lich Lord Krosis, Menthol Qtip, Midnight Serenade, Mop Hop, Nathan Brown, Octavia Lowbar, Pacsik, Soundtea, Hannibal, Fiamgoku, Grub, Matias Duran, and Steven.

Trial Eleven: Bludgeon

The older stallion leapt up from his chair and reached for a nearby sword. “Guards, fulfill your orders!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Don't bother,” interrupted Top Speed. “These two defeated a hell knight with relative ease. I don't think you’ll pose much of a threat.”

That seemed to give the other pegasi pause, as the guards glanced hesitantly from the demons to their leader. Who himself seemed on the verge of giving in, though he did not relinquish the hold he had on his longsword.

“Go on, try it,” Rainbow Dash encouraged, helmet retracting to reveal her smiling face. “I’d love the chance to extend my lead over my mistress.”

“Lead? We weren't counting people we knocked out,” Kanathara retorted.

“Correction, you weren't counting,” Rainbow Dash shot back.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “You are such a child sometimes.”

“I prefer the term youthful,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“So, uh… what exactly is happening?” muttered a guard.

“We’re taking you all hostage for the moment,” Kanathara began, glancing around the room in a slow, predatory manner. “After we have the information and pony we require, we shall leave.”

“Seems like a good reason not to do anything rash,” added the mare while shooting a glare over at the stallion opposite of her.

Who placed his sword back against the wall. “So it would seem,” he admitted.

“Right,” Kanathara exclaimed, clopping her hooves together. “You guys can take a seat while we ask some questions, okay?”

There was a moment of indecision which passed over the room, where the guards seemed ready to attack. Then Top Speed sighed and motioned to the two unoccupied chairs against the far wall, prompting the two pegasi to relax. They then awkwardly walked over and seated themselves, though neither took their eyes off the demons for even a second.

“Good,” kanathara declared.

The keeper of secrets then lit her horn and cast a spell which bathed the small room in a purple glow. This light seeped into the walls of the place, suffusing the area with energy and making the ponies’ hair stand on end for a few seconds. Once it faded, there was nothing left save for a faint lavender outline around the doors and now repaired window.

“There we are. Now then.” Kanathara smiled. “Let's start with what you guys are trying to do here, hmm?”

“Not get killed by demons?” offered one of the guards.

“Ha, I like this guy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “I meant your organization. What are the motives of House Ebon Wind?”

“They want to try and forge peace between both sides,” offered the mare. “Others, such as ourselves, disagree.”

“You do know that you are all slowly freezing to death and that by squabbling you're just going to make things more difficult for yourselves, right?” Kanathara replied, an eyebrow raised.

“The divide between our peoples is too great,” stated the older stallion, forelegs crossed over his chest. “We either expel or eliminate the interlopers. Doing anything less would be a slow suicide.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “What, really? That’s why you’re set on this whole genocide thing? You don't think you can forgive one another?”

“This isn't just some petty squabble that can be remedied by holding hooves and singing a song!” stated the stallion.

“Surely you could at least try,” Kanathara retorted. “I mean, you’ve even got an existential threat both on your doorstep, and in Canterlot. If you don't work together, the moon-touched will destroy the city, and if they fail, Nightmare Moon will bring doom to this entire plane.”

“The wounds we’ve suffered are simply too great. Such concerns aren't as immediate as the possibility of being murdered by your neighbor,” remarked the older mare.

“For what it's worth, I don't think it's that bad,” offered Top Speed. “I was just following orders, though I don't believe I can do that anymore.”

“Don't tell me you’re abandoning your oath!” shouted the graying stallion.

“Your family has served the houses for generations,” murmured the mare in shock.

“I’m not abandoning anything,” Top Speed retorted. “My oath is to protect our people and to safeguard Cloudsdale from threats. Right now you seem like the greatest threat to our continued survival.”

The guards murmured in vague agreement, though Kanathara couldn't be certain.

“I’m going to interrupt you both right there,” Kanathara exclaimed. “I have more questions, and you can argue amongst yourselves later. For now I want to know what kind of command structure you have.”

“Don't you dare speak a word to these demons,” hissed the stallion.

“Hey, we don't want fine details. Just like, do you have a council or a leader of some kind?” Rainbow Dash added.

“We have a council,” stated the older mare.

“What are you doing, Purple Skies? You’re giving vital information to the enemy!” hissed the stallion.

“Like our names?” Purple Skies shot back.

The stallion recoiled as if struck, raising his hooves. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to do that. It just happened.”

“Look, Red. These are high level demons. They could probably mind control us into talking, torture us in ways we can barely imagine, or simply rip the information from our heads. I don't think hiding things from them is even a real possibility,” Purple Skies exclaimed.

“For what it's worth, she is right,” Kanathara remarked. “I could do all of those things if so inclined.”

“Kinda on a time limit though, so if you could just give up that information freely, that would be greaat,” Rainbow Dash added.

“I vote we do that,” exclaimed the guard, who received a swift elbow to the gut from his fellow. “What? Doing otherwise would be pointless.”

“At least pretend like it's a hard decision,” hissed his companion.

“We have seven council members who make the decisions, though anyone in a leadership position is present for the meeting itself,” Purple Skies explained. “There used to be thirteen seats, but well… things change.”

“And people die,” muttered Red.

“How many council members are there for peace?” Kanatahra inquired.

“Three,” Purple Skies replied. “There is one undecided, though I think old man Carwright simply doesn't want to get on anyone’s bad side.”

“He never was the most strong-willed of the bunch. It's too bad his husband isn't still around, now Derby Dancer had backbone,” murmured Red absently.

“A tragedy that was,” added Purple Skies.

“Right, quit it with the old people muttering,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “These people who are against peace, what are their names and descriptions?”

“Sun Sire is about middle age, average built, white fur, gold eyes, blonde mane and is the picture of a pretty boy,” Red began, snorting bitterly at the mere thought of the other male. “Will Power is a little older, a little fatter, has a penchant for smoking cigars, and looks like shit smeared on a grassy field.”

“He's got a brown mane, and green fur,” Top Speed reasoned.

“Dumb little prick too,” Red murmured.

“And the last one?” Kanathara prompted.

“That would be Lightning Break,” offered Purple Skies. “She's the head of our house, and is about the only one with a brain on that dang council.”

“What does she look like?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Tall, imposing, with a thoroughbred pegasus physique,” Red declared. “She’s the type of mare to stand over pretty much any stallion, but would never be mistaken for one of the rougher sex.”

“Yes, yes. Everyone knows you have a crush on her, but what does she actually look like?” Purple Skies exclaimed.

Red sputtered, his face becoming his namesake. “I do not! I’ve been faithful to you my entire adult life!”

“I mean, you can be faithful but still have a crush. It's not like you’d ever even get the chance to cheat anyway,” remarked Top Speed absently.

“Hey! I…” Red frowned. “I agree with you, but it's still kinda mean.”

Purple Skies rolled her eyes. “She's got teal fur and a short mane that is red, yellow, and a dirty rust color.”

“Her mane is all the colors of a new dawn,” Red offered.

“Do you even think about what you’re going to say before you say it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Point taken,” Red murmured.

“Okay, so these three are the ones who are against peace. Great.” Kanathara clopped her hooves together. “Now, who's the most important of the bunch of you?”

The small group of pegasi exchanged a series of wary glances at one another, a silent argument passing between them. Red glanced from Purple Skies to Top Speed and back again, an expectant look in his eye. The guards simply raised their hooves and took a metaphorical step out of the entire conversation. Top Speed seemingly lost the discussion and released a sigh as the other two stared expectantly at him.

“I suppose I’m the highest-ranking individual here,” he remarked.

“Good, then get up and walk in front of me. Until we’ve acquired what we are here for, you are our hostage,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“You probably want me to guide you to the council chambers as well,” Top Speed offered.

“Nah. Just direct us to wherever Fluttershy is,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Oh, she's probably in the greenhouse,” offered the mostly silent guard. “She usually spends most of her time there.”

Rainbow Dash was upon him in an instant, flaming eyes boring into his skull. “How do you know that? Are you a stalker? Are you planning on wearing her skin?”

“I, uh… what?” he muttered, entire body trembling like a leaf in a stiff breeze.

“Down, girl,” Kanathara commanded.

Rainbow Dash reluctantly took a step back, growling all the while. “Why? He's keeping a secret from us. I can smell it on him.”

“Oh really, well, in that case…” Kanathara glanced expectantly at the guard.

“I secretly love tending to the roses!” he shouted, erupting in tears. “They are just so precious, and I can't help but sneak in there whenever I’m off shift!”

“There there, bud, it's okay. Your secret is safe with us,” muttered the other guard, who patted his friend on the back.

Rainbow Dash blinked. “Huh. Guess I kinda overreacted a bit.”

“Ya think? I thought the poor guy was going to pee himself,” Kanathara remarked.

“So, uh… Do you want me to bring you there, or are you going to harass more of the staff?” Top Speed offered.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Kanathara began, her horn lighting briefly and causing her demonic form to be replaced by a rather large pegasus.

The now disguised Rainbow Dash fidgeted uncomfortably, scratching at the spot where her breastplate should be.

“Augh, I hate this spell. I can't wait until we get back on the metaphorical road again. Illusions always make me itchy,” Rainbow Dash complained.

“It won't be for long. Now then, the rest of you will remain here for the next few hours. We should have what we want and be long gone by then,” Kanathara exclaimed as her, her familiar, and their hostage trotted out the door.

“And if we choose to leave?” asked Red.

“You are confused. That was not a request,” Kanathara replied, closing the door behind her.

A second later the door handle vanished, along with the rest of the door a moment after, leaving only a featureless white wall devoid of any indication as to what had been there a moment earlier.

“Lead the way,” Rainbow Dash encouraged, gesturing down the hall towards what looked like a living room.

“Right, just, uh, follow me, I guess,” Top Speed muttered.

Rainbow Dash walked directly behind the stallion as they all collectively made their way through what had likely been someone’s home at one point. Now it was part of a greater conglomerate of buildings, made evident by the fact that upon leaving, they entered another house. Only this one was larger, made mostly of cloudcrete, and was clearly designed for, as well as built by, pegasi.

Large open spaces were common, there were no railings on the second floor, and windows were numerous. There were also a good number of ponies milling about the area, the vast majority of which had wings. Serving as a sort of cafeteria space, there were several tables sitting in the middle of what had been a living room at one point.

Though the majority of the pegasi sitting around the area were not really of note, there was one detail that caught Kanthara’s eye. A lot of them had some manner of injury, most common of which were burns of various severity. Some were missing feathers, others wore bandages, or cradled limb stumps close to their bodies.

It seems like that fire may have gotten a bit out of control, Kanathara reasoned.

Did you expect any less? Rainbow Dash replied.

No, but it is a little disappointing that they weren't able to handle it, Kanathara remarked.

We also got a ton of new faces. They look well trained too, Rainbow Dash pointed out, subtly gesturing towards a small group of stallions seated off to the side.

Kanathara did her best to inspect them while casually walking past their table. What she saw was a bit confusing and slightly concerning.

They were well trained, that much was incredibly obvious, even on a single sidelong glance. Their mannerisms were of a soldier, professional to a fault, clean, orderly, and above all ready for anything. Though they didn't need to wear any weapons or armor given that they were not on duty, they did so regardless. Such equipment was kept to a minimum, yet it was clear that they knew how to handle the blades of various lengths belted to their sides.

Kanathara stowed her questions until after they had left that house behind and entered into a long hallway. Now alone with her familiar and their hostage, Kanathara trotted up next to the male and cleared her throat.

“You seem to have a good number of soldiers now,” Kanathara remarked.

Top Speed blinked. “Oh, uh. Right, turns out a bunch of houses weren’t convinced to join with the whole Element plan but after the sun didn't rise, that changed.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “And how many would you think you have now?”

“Oh, uh. One hundred, maybe two hundred or so? Got plenty more volunteers but their training is spotty,” Top Speed replied.

“And the number of assassins?” Kanathara pressed, walking a little closer to the male.

“I don't know, honest,” he quickly replied. “It's a security risk to know exactly how many of us there are.”

“Like how it's a risk to know how many trained soldiers you have,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Top Speed shrugged. “You could find that out through careful observation. You will not do the same for others like me.”

“A fair assessment,” Kanathara reasoned, quieting the conversation as they passed by a talkative pair of pegasus mares.

Who barely even noticed the trio, as they continued to loudly speak about their weekend and the potential partners they had their eye on.

“It's just up ahead,” Top Speed offered, gesturing to a large green door visible near the end of the hall.

“Well? Keep moving,” Rainbow Dash pressed, jabbing him in the flank with a hoof.

“I’m going, I’m going,” Top Speed muttered.

Kanathara said nothing and merely trotted slowly alongside the other two, watching her surroundings closely. Once the green door had opened, she gazed inside to find that they were indeed within a greenhouse of some kind. One that had seen better days evidently, given that the majority of the windows were broken, and smoke damage was visible almost everywhere.

Despite the scent of cinder which floated heavily in the air, there were still numerous planters arrayed before them. Most of which had some kind of vegetable or fruit growing in them, though there were a few bushes and patches of flowers. More interesting than any perennial were the pair of ponies standing at the far end, the duo hunched over a diminutive tree.

Both were familiar, but one was moreso, as she was none other than their target, Fluttershy. The other was a tall earth pony that seemed oddly at home amidst the burnt out greenhouse.

Wait. Is that one of the ponies you turned into a plant? Rainbow Dash asked.

I think so, Kanathara replied.

“So can I go now?” Top Speed asked.

“Not until we’ve secured the asset. Keep moving,” Kanathara demanded, jabbing a hoof towards the far end.

The pegasus grunted and kept walking, trotting loudly up towards the crouched ponies.

Who didn't notice they were no longer alone until the last second, when the stallion’s ears twitched, and he glanced over his shoulder.

“Someone’s here,” he whispered.

Fluttershy yelped and spun around, her gaze immediately settling on Top Speed, a frown springing to her lips. “Oh, it's you. Come to spout off about how I should kill my friend again?” Fluttershy demanded.

“No, actually,” Top Speed muttered somewhat guiltily, “I’m here at the behest of your other friends.”

“Other fr…” Fluttershy trailed off the second her gaze landed on the disguised demons. “Rainbow Dash, Kanathara?”

The pair shed their disguises, causing both Fluttershy and her earth pony friend to jump. Fluttershy’s panic died quickly, and, upon seeing that his friend was unbothered by their presence, the other pony relaxed as well.

“Got it in one,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Hey, Shy,” Rainbow Dash greeted, the demon opening her hooves expectantly.

Fluttershy awkwardly accepted the hug, though she made it as brief as possible before pulling away.

“What are you two doing here?” Fluttershy asked.

“Hopefully not to blow up the place again,” added the earth pony in a soft, gentle tone.

“Not this time,” Kanathara replied, waving a hoof. “Though I’m not ruling it out.”

“Nah, we’re here for you,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “We need your help to save Equestria and defeat Nightmare Moon.”

“How could I help with something like that?” Fluttershy murmured in disbelief.

“There is this whole thing with the Elements and stuff, but suffice it to say we need you,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Well, I’m sorry, but I’m needed here. Cloudsdale needs me,” Fluttershy declared.

“That's not everyone who needs you,” offered the earth pony who bumped his hip against Fluttershy’s side.

Rainbow Dash’s gaze narrowed, though she was cut off by Kanathara stepping forward.

“Look, I can appreciate that things are bad here, but we have bigger concerns at the moment,” Kanathara began. “If my plan works, we’ll save the whole planet from freezing over. Which is a little bigger than just this city.”

“Yes, but surely you have the time to help bring peace,” Fluttershy replied, her blush fading the longer she spoke. “If we don't do something quickly, then I fear my home and its people may destroy themself.”

“This is a bit bigger than just one town. Even if it is Cloudsdale were talking about,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“But all we need to do is get everyone into the same room, and I’m sure we can work it out together,” Fluttershy exclaimed.

Kanathara sighed and couldn't help but notice that Fluttershy’s earth pony companion clearly wasn't wholly on board. He didn't say anything, merely standing there with a look on his face that said he was being quiet out of politeness rather than agreement.

“It won't be that simple,” Kanathara stated.

“How do you know? We haven't even tried,” Fluttershy pressed.

“Maybe… maybe we should help them,” Rainbow Dash added. “Imagine if we were able to get all those pegasus soldiers on our side. We would have complete air superiority.”

Kanathara groaned, running a hoof down her face.

“It certainly would help,” offered the earth pony.

“Augh, fine, but we are going to need a meeting with your parents beforehand. I need to know if I can even count on them to sue for peace in the first place,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Oh, that's easy. They’ve actually been very helpful in my attempts to broker a deal between both sides. In fact, I know that with their support alone, we can at least initiate the conversation,” Fluttershy gushed, a wide smile springing to her face.

“We can't promise that they’ll work together however,” remarked the earth pony.

“I’m certain this bunch will have a plan,” offered the assassin.

“I’m surprised you’re going along with this, Speed. I didn't take you for someone to betray the houses,” stated the other stallion.

Top Speed sighed. “Things change.”

“And ponies get stabbed,” added the earth pony.

“Oh my gosh, I just noticed that! How are you even walking around!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“It's a long story, and I’m actually a hostage at the moment,” Top Speed explained.

“Not for long,” Kanathara corrected. “All we need you to do is to direct us towards the jails. Provided you’ve managed to capture some moon-touched.”

“I think we have. A few got caught rigging explosives to the underside of the citadel,” Top Speed replied. “Why do you ask?”

“It's important for the plan. After that, we’ll meet Fluttershy wherever her parents are, at which point we won't need you anymore,” Kanathara declared.

“We’ll meet you back at my family home. Do you know where that is, Top Speed?” Fluttershy asked.

“I do,” he replied with a nod.

“Good,” Kanathara exclaimed. “Then let's get to it.”

Trial Eleven: Diplomacy Is-

“So, why are we here again, and why are you still holding me hostage?” Top Speed asked, glancing down the line of old-timey jail cells.

Though no guards were currently present, Top Speed knew they were all sitting just outside the room. Being overruled by a house assassin was not common, and the stallion could hear the pair of poorly trained soldiers leaning against the door. Not like they would hear anything as Kanathara had just finished erecting a simple barrier over the entire room.

“You are not a hostage,” Kanathara corrected as she penned a letter and sent it away in a small plume of purple fire. “You are an ally in our quest for peace and a return to normality.”

“Plus Fluttershy wanted to meet up with her parents before we spoke to them, so you got stuck with guide duty again,” Rainbow Dash added.

Top Speed sighed and gestured to the cells. “Well, you got your wish. There are the two moon-touched we’ve managed to secure which did not immediately kill themselves.”

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully as she peered into the tiny cell and at the single creature lying within. Strapped to the bed so that her fore and back legs were stuck fast to her sides, the young mare couldn't so much as move a single muscle. Thick bindings kept her head secure to the bed, and even her jaw was restrained, likely to keep her from biting someone.

“Almost seems a little excessive,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Top Speed snorted. “Hardly. They’ll fight like wild animals once they realize they’re about to be taken in. Then, once bested, they just lay there, staring at the ceiling as if waiting for the right time to strike.”

“Stay over there, Toppy,” Kanathara commanded, pointing to a spot just out of sight of the jail cell. “This should only take a minute.”

Though he grumbled, Top Speed did as he was told, still a little afraid of what the pair of demons were capable of.

He then watched them enter the cell, which lit up with a bright purple light mere moments later. Complicated geometric patterns and shifting runes too numerous to count appeared not long after. By then Top Speed was feeling a little curious, and he leaned to the side in order to peer within, observing the pair as they worked.

Rainbow Dash stood off to the side, seemingly ready to strike at a moment’s notice while her mistress cast a strange spell. Top Speed knew very little of the magical art, though he could recall enough lessons on combating mages to get an inkling as to what was happening. The large ethereal apparatus floating over the keeper’s head was meant to scan the contents of whatever was beneath it.

Which was exactly what it did once it hovered over the moon-touched young mare. Who didn't initially react, continuing to lay still, her milky eyes distant and unseeing. Then, as the array began to hover closer to her head, the bright white circle stamped on her forehead started to glow.

“What, what's going on here?” muttered a distinctly masculine voice which emanated from the bound mare.

“Nothing, screw off,” Rainbow Dash barked.

The moon-touched looked over at the pair of undisguised demons standing to her left.

“Wait, you two, again? Have you not screwed up enough of my plans?” exclaimed the slightly nasally voice.

“No,” Kanathara flatly declared.

That seemed to take the wind out of the moon-touched, who slumped to the bed.

“You know, on the one hoof I appreciate your honesty, but on the other I honestly hate you for constantly undermining me,” they muttered in a slightly defeated tone.

“I’m sure you’re quite used to that by now,” Rainbow Dash teased.

The bound mare shuddered. “What are you doing anyway? That's not any kind of scanning spell I’ve seen before.”

“Don't worry about it,” Kanathara retorted. “I won't take much longer.”

“Won't even give me anything, eh? Now that's just rude,” whined the nasally voice of the moon-touched.

“I’d give you a fresh black eye, but smacking you around at this point would feel kinda sad,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Pfft, go ahead. It's not like these puppets are doing much anyway,” retorted the mare.

“We’re done here,” Kanathara stated, her scanning spell winking out of existence. “I have what we need.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Just like that?”

“What, do you doubt my skill?” Kanathara retorted.

The vengant merely chuckled. “Not even for a second.”

“Good, then let's continue. I want to put this entire debacle behind us as soon as possible,” Kanathara pressed.

Top Speed ducked back and waited for his captors slash allies to return.

Which they did a few seconds later, their pony disguises having been reapplied in the meantime.

“To Fluttershy’s parents, then you may go,” Kanathara commanded, her magic undoing the silence spell which had hung over them until that moment.

Top Speed rolled his eyes. “Yes, my liege.”

“That's lieges, or liegi? What's the plural of liege?” Rainbow Dash thought aloud.

“I…” Kanathara paused. “Don't know actually.”

“Lieges!” shouted a voice from behind the door.

“Be quiet, you idiot, now they are going to know we were listening in on them,” whispered another pony.

“Oh, whoops,” murmured the first guard.

Kanathara chuckled, shooting Top Speed a sidelong glance. “How have you guys not been wiped out?”

“Sheer bloody luck, it seems,” Top Speed murmured bitterly.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash smiled as they pushed past the larger, more well armed guards near the heart of the citadel. Here at least, security was tight, and what few unicorns were on their side had erected several magical barriers. None of which were strong enough to keep Kanathara from either slipping past them or simply ignoring them entirely however.

Once on the other side of the door, the pair of disguised demons waited for Top Speed to step through before closing it firmly.

“Wait here and don't allow anyone to bother us,” Kanathara commanded.

“Feel free to grab a book or something though,” Rainbow Dash added.

Top Speed snorted and plunked down in an open chair, his hooves crossed over his chest.

A simple locking spell was followed by one that was meant to keep out any who may dare to listen in on them. Then both demons turned around to find themselves in what had at one time been a rather luxurious library.

Though its walls were blackened by smoke, and soot stained the ground, there was very little visible fire damage. Something had saved this place from the worst of it, be it luck or the actions of some very diligent staff, Kanathara wasn't certain. In the end it didn't matter much, and she swiftly began to walk inside, turning down a seemingly random stack.

After a short jaunt, they saw Fluttershy waiting for them, her eyes lighting up the second they neared. Her male companion they had first met in the greenhouse smiled as well, his soft features growing doughier still when he grinned.

“Oh, there you two are. That was quick. I assumed you were going to take a little longer,” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“It didn't turn out to be nearly as difficult as I first thought,” Kanathara answered.

“Which should have been obvious given who we were dealing with,” Rainbow Dash added with a snicker.

“Well, my parents are currently restoring some books in the next room. So just, uh, follow me, I guess,” Fluttershy urged.

She didn't wait for a response and made her way deeper into the library, leaving the demons to follow behind along with the earth pony.

“You know, we never did introduce one another,” Kanathara spoke, glancing at the male walking to her side.

“Oh, I suppose we didn't. I doubt you remember me from the last time we met,” murmured the stallion.

“Boss here turned you into a plant, right?” Rainbow Dash answered.

“I guess you did remember,” he replied, unfazed by the vengant’s continued glaring.

“I’m glad you made it out alright,” Kanathara declared.

“Me too. Even if I enjoyed my time having branches, I like having legs a little more,” declared the pony.

“What's your name?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“Top Soil,” answered the stallion. “And sorry for not offering it sooner. Spending time as a plant kinda left my head a little messed up.”

“Odd. It should have faded by now,” Kanathara murmured.

The earth pony shrugged. “It must have been something to do with the house’s control over my brain.”

“Possible,” Kanathara reasoned. “If this confusion and malaise plague you for much longer, then seek treatment. Something may have come loose, so to speak.”

“Noted,” Top Soil murmured.

Rainbow Dash extended a hoof in front of the earth pony, slowing him down and allowing the demon to lean in close.

“What is your intention with Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash whispered in a low, menacing tone.

“Rainbow,” Kanathara hissed. “Now is not the time.”

“No, it's quite alright,” Top Soil exclaimed. “Right now, we’re just supporting one another through a hard time. When this is all over, I hope to deepen that relationship, if she's interested.”

Rainbow Dash sniffed the pony’s head a few times before frowning. “Damn, you are one nice guy. Like unironically nice. I don't smell a sin worse than forgetting a birthday on you.”

Top Soil winced and rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah, I’ll never forgive myself for that one. Grammy was really looking forward to it too.”

Kanathara gently pushed Rainbow Dash away. “Great, you found out the guy is nice. Now, can we please continue with our plan? We have a lot to do.”

“Yeah, sure, but this isn't over, mister,” Rainbow Dash declared, jabbing a hoof at Top Soil.

“Okay. Feel free to visit whenever,” Top Soil replied with a smile.

Damn, it's hard to be mad at the guy. It's like disliking a puppy, Rainbow Dash thought.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. Lay off the guy for now. We need Fluttershy on our side, and insulting her new boyfriend will not endear her to us.

They are not dating, Rainbow Dash retorted.

You keep telling yourself that, Kanathara exclaimed.

“We’re here,” Fluttershy stated, stopping next to a normal-looking wooden door. “You two go on through. I need to talk to Rainbow Dash for a second.”

“Ooh, busted,” Kanathara remarked.

“Pfft, whatever,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Kanathara and Top Soil left their companions behind, entering into a small room dominated by a single massive table. Upon which rested numerous books suffering from either very minor to quite severe fire or smoke damage. Though the piles were high enough to obscure the two other ponies in the room, Kanathara knew they were there even before they peeked around the piles.

“Oh hello, is that you de…” murmurmed Mrs Shy who was still sporting a very broken nose and a pair of black eyes.

“Oh my,” added Mr Shy, who wasn't much better off, though his injuries were less noticeable, save for the obvious lump on the back of his head.

“Don't worry, I’m not here to finish the job,” Kanathara interrupted.

“That's… good,” Mrs Shy muttered.

“Yes, quite,” Mr Shy added.

“I’m actually here to help you bring peace to Cloudsdale, if you can believe it,” Kanathara declared.

“I don't think I can, to be honest with you,” Mrs Shy admitted.

“I’m afraid I’m with my wife on this one,” Mr Shy exclaimed.

“They really are, or at least they sure seem to be,” Top Soil added.

“They?” asked the pegasus mare.

The door opened, and all eyes turned to a guilty-looking Rainbow Dash and a thoroughly unimpressed Fluttershy as they walked into the room.

“Sorry for the delay,” Fluttershy began. “I just needed to chat with Rainbow Dash here.”

“S-sorry, Top Soil,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“It's okay,” Top Soil cheerfully replied.

“So, these were the… rogue variables you were speaking of,” declared the elder mare. “No wonder you were so cagey about their true identity.”

“I didn't want you both to run away,” Fluttershy explained, glancing nervously at the floor. “This meeting is really important.”

“Speaking of which,” Mr Shy exclaimed, rising from his seat. “Why exactly were you hoping to speak to us anyway?”

“Simple. I want you to call a meeting between your side and the paladin remnants,” Kanathara stated. “I have a plan to bring about peace between you.”

“And how exactly would you do that?” inquired the lone pegasus stallion.

“We can't tell you that,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“And why not?” Mrs Shy pressed.

“Because if you knew what our plan was, then it would alter the variables and make it less likely to succeed,” Kanathara began. “Furthermore, your interference could not only invalidate our efforts, but might make things far worse.”

“You are not exactly instilling a lot of faith,” Fluttershy whispered.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “We don't need faith. We just need you to trust us enough to start the talks. We can take things from there.”

“What assurances do we have that you aren't simply going to use this as an opportunity to wipe out all the leadership and take over for yourself?” Mr Shy asked.

“Because that would take far more time and effort than simply making peace,” Kanathara answered with a shrug. “To do otherwise, we’d need to convince their second-in-commands to join our side, and on and on. It's far more expedient if we turn you all towards our true and mutual enemy.”

“Nightmare Moon,” Rainbow Dash finished.

The ensuing long moment of silence was broken by Top Soil clearing his throat.

“Well, I for one trust them to do what they are saying they plan on doing,” he exclaimed. “Though their desires aren't completely benevolent, their goal is a good one.”

“Rainbow Dash wouldn't lie to me,” Fluttershy added.

Her parents exchanged a look and a sigh.

“Alright, you twisted our hooves. Your father and I will call a meeting, but be aware that the others probably won't agree to an armistice without something big,” Mrs Shy declared.

“We are well aware of the situation,” Kanathara stated.

“Well, I hope you have a good ace in the hole, because we are going to need it,” muttered Mr Shy in a low tone.

“If they say they do, then I believe them,” Fluttershy confidently exclaimed.

“Thanks, Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“No, thank you,” Fluttershy countered.

“Don't do that quite yet. We have a few more letters to send before we can put things into motion,” Kanathara warned.

“What do you all need to do?” Top Soil inquired.

“Like I said, just send a few letters, is all,” Kanathara answered with a shrug. “I need to know where the other paladins stand, and who amongst the other side are resistant to peace.”

“We have our own observations we could give you,” Mrs Shy offered.

“That would be great. In the meantime, you guys should get this meeting all set up,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“You don't need more time to work on this grand plan of yours?” Mr Shy inquired, leaning in closer.

“We do not,” Kanathara confidently declared. “By the time you’ve managed to get everyone together, we’ll have finished what little prep we require.”

“Well, alright then,” Mrs Shy murmured. “I guess that's it, huh?”

“Pretty much,” Kanathara stated. “I’d offer to answer some of your questions, but I don't really care.”

Fluttershy shot the keeper of secrets a glare, one which did little to move the demon from her dispassionate position.

“We’ll be in the other library room we saw back there,” Rainbow Dash indicated, gesturing back the way they came. “Come get us when you’ve got everything sorted.”

With that said, the pair departed, leaving the four ponies alone.

Mrs Shy fell back into her chair with an exasperated sigh. “I thought we were dead for sure.”

Mr Shy snorted. “Yeah, right. Those two demons wouldn't give us a quick death.”

“Those two ‘demons’ have been more moral than you two,” Fluttershy pointed out, adding air quotes around the word demons. “So if I were you, I’d quit pretending like you’re a couple of dishonored saints.”

Both of the older pegasi winced.

“R-right, sorry,” Mrs Shy murmured guilty.

“Are you sure about this, honey?” Mr Shy inquired, leaning across the table and touching Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I know our first meeting with those two wasn't… great, but they are still demons.”

“What? Do you fear they might forcefully rob you of your will and make you a slave in your own body?” Fluttershy whispered, brushing off her father’s hoof.

“Your dad has a point,” Top Soil interrupted. “I didn't get the feeling they were lying to you back there, but they also weren’t telling you the whole truth.”

Fluttershy snorted. “I know, but I also know that they genuinely do wish to help. Even if their reasons for doing so are rather self-serving.”

“That's all I wanted to hear,” Mr Shy exclaimed.

“We’re just worried about you, is all,” Mrs Shy added.

“I’d worry more about yourselves, because if their plan succeeds, then normality will soon return to Equestria, and if that happens, you two are going to be in a whole lot of trouble,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“And we’ll accept our punishment when the time comes, but before that happens, we need to look out for Cloudsdale and you,” Mr Shy stated.

“That's all we’ve ever wanted,” Mrs Shy added.

Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed, and her jaw clenched. “After all those atrocities, you still think you hold the moral high ground here. When are you going to give up and stop pretending like what you did wasn't a simple power grab?”

“I think we should go,” Top Soil interrupted, stepping between them and gently pushing Fluttershy to the door.

“Power had nothing to do with it,” Mrs Shy replied, crossing her hooves in front of her chest. “Our number one concern was always your safety.”

“Let it go, hun,” Mr Shy whispered.

“Yeah, mom,” Fluttershy put, spitting the three letter word like they were venom. “Why don't you tell me all about how you committed more war crimes in the last year than the world has seen in the last thousand?”

“And we’re gone,” Top Soil exclaimed, pushing Fluttershy out the door and closing it behind them with a back hoof.

Fluttershy huffed. “I appreciate what you did, but I still think you’re being too kind to them.”

“I’m not being nice to them,” Top Soil corrected. “I’m being nice to you.”

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy whispered.

“That argument would have ended the same way all the others did. With you shouting until you're blue in the face and your mother stubbornly holding onto her terrible opinion,” Top Soil explained. “Nothing would be accomplished, save for ruining your afternoon.”

Flutteshy sighed. “I think it's a little late for that.”

“Yeah, no kidding. It's already five o’clock,” Top Soil pointed out.

“No, not that, I…” Fluttershy chuckled. “Thank you.”

The stallion grinned. “It's no problem at all.”

Fluttershy smiled and gently nuzzled the other pony. “What would I do without you?”

“Have an asthma attack, probably,” Top Soil replied. “Either that or assault your mother.”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let's get back to the greenhouse. I wanna make sure the rest of the plants are watered before this meeting happens. Something tells me we won't have time to do so anytime soon.”

Author's Note

This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: Ech, Tailsic, Chrisb32, Nightwing, Tonoz, CoreyPeters, Thane, Renegade, Sunset Flash, Kyokimute, Monsterkittie, Louts Petals, Tacocat, Tom, MestreJ, Aang Slyver, Canary in the Coal Mine, Ceepert, Starless, Vi Watch, Facinus, M, Nfreak, Venerable Ro, Blade Tech, Cryil Shadeclaw, John Gonzales, Nightwing, Peter Coulthard, Srgtartman, Thane Kull, Victor, Dale, Dragons' Sheppard, Egery007, Gear change the earth pony, Ivar, James, Kali, Lich Lord Krosis, Menthol Qtip, Midnight Serenade, Mop Hop, Nathan Brown, Octavia Lowbar, Pacsik, Soundtea, Hannibal, Fiamgoku, Grub, Matias Duran, and Steven.

Trial Eleven: -For The Weak

Fluttershy stood nervously behind her parents, who had donned their ceremonial armor for the occasion. Their daughter, however, remained nude, doubly so now that Top Soil was no longer with her. The stallion was only in the next room, but that may as well have been across the planet as far as Fluttershy was concerned.

Breathe, Fluttershy, breathe. If you don't get yourself under control, you’ll have to use your inhaler again, she reminded herself, placing a hoof over her chest. You’ve got this.

Even she didn't believe the assertion however, and as she looked around, her confidence fell even further. Her parents were quiet, as were the majority of those who were also on the side of peace, unlike those who weren't. Those ponies talked animatedly amongst one another, plotting, scheming, and whispering in harsh tones.

Sun Sire, Will Power, Lightning Break, and Cartwright all milled about a few feet behind Fluttershy. Their words were too quiet to hear, but Fluttershy could tell it wasn't good just from the way they looked about the hallway. Their gaze flicked from the paladin guards standing around the room’s perimeter, to Fluttershy’s parents and finally the double doors ahead of them.

These lead to a simple conference room, though from the way the other pegasi spoke, one would have thought it was Tartarus itself. Yet they also seemed strangely energized and not overly bothered by the fact that they were currently in enemy territory. In fact, they seemed downright eager, with Lightning Break wearing a wide smile on her strong, teal face.

“Ready to embarrass yourself again, Fluttershy?” Lightning Break called.

In an instant, the taller pegasus’ cadre of followers fell silent and watched as their leader strode up to the butter yellow pegasus.

“No,” Fluttershy stated.

“Well, that's too bad, because it's going to happen anyway,” Lightning Break pressed.

“Screw off, Lightning,” Mrs Shy muttered. “Quit trying to antagonize us.”

The much taller pegasus snorted, glancing down at the mother and daughter who stood before her.

“I’m not antagonizing anyone. I am merely wondering if dear Fluttershy is ready for what is coming,” Lightning Break replied. “I just don't want to see her heart get broken like last time.”

“That won't happen again,” Fluttershy stated as confidently as she could muster.

“And why not?” Lightning Break exclaimed, glancing around the room. “I see no back-up, no extra votes in your corner. What have you brought to the negotiating table this time? Or is it just more hot air and meaningless platitudes?”

“I have friends who-” Fluttershy began.

“Friends? Impossible,” Lightning Break exclaimed. “You’ve spent seemingly every waking hour attempting to waste our time with these fruitless talks. When would you even have a spare moment to speak to someone other than your mother?”

“Watch your tone,” growled Mrs Shy. “I still lead the Ebon Wind, and I am the eldest member of the warrior houses.”

“For now,” Lightning Break replied. “Though something tells me after you fail yet again, the others will finally see you for what you are. A miserable loser.”

“I'd rather my wife be a loser than a moronic high school bully with a hormone imbalance and a moustache!” Mr Shy interrupted.

“W-what?” Lightning Break looked down, pawing at her upper lip. “I don't have a moustache.”

“Thanks, dad,” Fluttershy whispered.

“No problem, hun,” answered the stallion.

Lightning Break growled. “I won't forget this, worm. If I gain a majority of the council votes I’ll strip you of your status and expel your entire useless family from the houses.”

“If,” Fluttershy replied simply before turning away.

“The delegates have arrived,” announced one of the unicorn guards standing near the door. “You may enter whenever you are ready.”

“We are ready now,” Mrs Shy exclaimed.

Every single pegasus in her retinue, even the ones glaring daggers at the back of her head, perked up. They then collectively straightened their spines, stood a little taller, and did their best to look the part of Cloudsdale nobility. All save for Fluttershy, who only grew even more uncomfortable by the display.

They really haven't learned much from their defeat, Fluttershy ruminated.

She stowed such thoughts for the moment and merely followed her parents into the next room. Which had at one point served the more mundane purpose of housing meetings between low-level managers. Now, however, it would be the site of one of the most important meetings in Cloudsdale’s history.

The space itself wasn't much to look at, given that it had suffered a considerable amount of cosmetic damage. Like most of the mid-level hotel they had assembled in, there were holes in the walls, and scorch marks could be seen in the corners. The large, circular table was undamaged though, and was currently seating a good number of non-winged ponies.

There was the leader of the paladins himself, Dawn Hammer, who smiled faintly upon locking eyes with Fluttershy. As did Rainbow Dash, the disguised demon standing a bit further back from the golden-armored unicorn stallion. Kanathara remained as stone-faced as ever, and seemed more intent on studying the new arrivals than making Fluttershy feel welcome.

Not like the yellow pegasus minded of course, the keeper of secrets was at least neutral, unlike the other people seated in the room. Who varied from seething with rage, to looking like they were about three seconds from leaping out of their chair and strangling the closest pegasus. There were a few who did genuinely seem calm, though Fluttershy could tell that even they were inwardly quite tense.

They also weren't quite as noble as the houses and their representatives, and varied considerably in appearance. There were several gang leaders who were decked out in wild clothing and sported fantastical manes of considerable size. Add to that a few blue collar ponies who had likely not been important until the schism, and the difference was plain to see.

Fluttershy gritted her teeth and made a mental note to try to find other leaders outside of the house higher-ups. That would have to wait, as for now Fluttershy just needed to focus on seating herself beside her mother and waiting for the chance to speak.

“Welcome, ponies,” Dawn Hammer exclaimed once everyone had found a chair. “I’m glad to hear that you are willing to once more return to the negotiation table.”

“Let us once more vote to continue this charade. I have a raid to lead,” Lightning Break exclaimed.

A stout earth pony with an enormously tall mohawk slammed his hoof into the table with enough force to crack the reinforced wood.

“I knew that bitch hadn't changed her tone. Why are we wasting our time talking to these genocidal slavers?” he shouted.

Dawn Hammer raised a hoof. “Now, now, I have certain assurances that this time will be different. Isn't that right?”

Kanathara nodded, but said nothing.

This seemed to be a signal of some kind, as Rainbow Dash began to walk slowly around the circle. Her pace was ponderous and slow, her nose flaring constantly as she sniffed at the individuals seated. Occasionally she would glance at Kanathara and nod before continuing on, though what purpose this all served was beyond Fluttershy.

“Don't tell me you’ve brought in an invalid to sniff our behinds like an animal,” Sun Sire exclaimed, his tongue sticking out in disgust.

“This does seem rather ridiculous,” declared Will Power, the rounded pegasus chewing on the end of an unlit cigar.

The others in Lightning Break’s group continued to make disparaging remarks, but Fluttershy noticed that the non-winged ponies remained silent. Whatever plan the two demons had put into motion had apparently been shared with them, either that or Dawn Hammer ran a tighter ship. Which could totally be possible, as the division created by Ebon Wind’s failure had created two clearly opposing camps.

A divide which was almost as deep as the one in Cloudsdale itself.

“This is a sham,” Lightning Break claimed, stomping her hoof against the table and rising from her seat. “Clearly you have brought us here merely to embarrass your betters by having your handicapped pet sniff our backsides.”

Kanathara stepped forward and cleared her throat, silencing everyone through unknown means.

“Embarrassing you is not the only reason this meeting has been called,” Kanathara began, glancing slowly about the room. “The true purpose is to teach you, both pegasus and otherwise, a very important lesson.”

“As if a race traitor has anything to teach us,” Lightning Break spat, leaning forward on the table.

Kanathara was unperturbed, however, and merely continued as if nothing had happened.

“I know it may seem that you are in a room with those who you would call your enemies, but I am here today to show you that is not the case,” Kanathara declared. “For in fact you are sitting side by side with allies, which you will need in the coming fight against your true foe.”

She leaned in close, lowering her head. “Nightmare Moon.”

There was a moment of silence before a pudgy older pegasus asked, “Is that name supposed to mean something to us?”

“It is the name of the demon who has torn the sun from the sky and plunged your world into darkness,” Kanathara explained. “She is the one who has attempted to break your city and its peoples. Not those who sit across from you…”

Fluttershy noticed that Rainbow Dash had finished her circuit of the room and had given her mistress one final nod.

“Or at least not all of you,” Kanathara finished.

“What do you mean, exactly?” inquired Fluttershy’s mother.

“You all know of the moon-touched, yes?” Kanathara pressed.

“Those poor fools who stared too long at the moon and were possessed,” answered a suit-wearing unicorn with a receding hairline.

“Of course we know of them. What is your point?” demanded Lightning Break.

“My point is that they are the ones pulling the strings and keeping you at one another’s throats,” Kanathara answered, raising a hoof. “In fact, they might be sitting right next to you.”

A few ponies glanced nervously at their neighbors.

“Ha! Ridiculous,” Lightning Break exclaimed, sitting back in her chair and crossing her forehooves over her chest. “Everyone knows that the mark of a moon-touched is obvious to everyone.”

“If it is not hidden,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Impossible,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Even the cripple knows this fact,” Sun Sire exclaimed in a disgusted tone.

“Oh really?” Kanathara mocked. “Then allow me to show you.”

Before anyone had a chance to ask what she meant, the space above her head shimmered ever so slightly. A moment later, a strange silvery wave washed over the entire room as well as its inhabitants. Some, the light ignored, others it clung to, making their fur brighten significantly, though not blindingly so.

Each one of Lightning Break’s cadre save for Will Power were lit up like this, along with several of Dawn Hammer’s group and one of Fluttershy’s mother’s. Uncle East, as Fluttershy had come to know him over the last few weeks, was illuminated, his wide-brimmed boater hat no longer hiding his grizzled features. Across from him was the office worker, as well as the plain earth pony mare to his right and one of Dawn Hammer’s lieutenants.

Before anyone could ask what was happening, the silver ponies shimmered briefly before a familiar brand appeared on their heads. Their eyes also became pale and sightless, like the moon-touched Fluttershy had seen down in the citadel’s jail. It wasn't just a passing resemblance though, they were exactly like those mindless thralls of the demons.

But despite how perfectly they looked like them, Fluttershy couldn't help but feel like something was off. They hadn't been acting like empty-headed slaves to those darker powers. They were self-serving and cruel, yes, but not that. This irked Fluttershy, and though she was tempted to say something, Rainbow Dash’s gaze caught the pony before she could speak.

Though no words were uttered, that look told Fluttershy to trust her old friend, and despite her misgivings, Fluttershy obliged.

“What is the meaning of-”

“What have you-”

“Preposterous, this must be-”

A dozen voices all rose simultaneously, each attempting to shout over the other. Though uniform in their desperation, they ranged from pleas of forgiveness to accusations of treachery. There were calls for violence, for a trial, for an end to the meeting, and many more Fluttershy didn't care to note.

Dawn Hammer slammed a hoof into the table and shouted, “Quiet!” at the top of his lungs.

Immediately the clamor died down, and all looked to the paladin, who in turn gestured to Kanathara.

“As you can see,” began the disguised demon. “You sit amongst those who would see you all perish, pegasus and otherwise.”

“This is insane! I am no moon-touched!” Lightning Break shouted. “I may wish to expunge the land walkers from our great city, but my bloodlust ends there!”

“We cannot simply trust the word of this outsider,” Cartwright exclaimed, then paused to mop the sweat from his brow. “I demand we send for an impartial unicorn to dismiss these illusions!”

“As loath as I am to defend my subordinate, he has a point,” Mrs Shy remarked. “We require additional validation before we can continue with this meeting.”

“Someone fetch the mercenary,” Lightning Break shouted.

“Go ahead,” Kanathara replied, gesturing to the door. “I think you’ll find that they too will realize that the truth staring them directly in the face.”

“And our own?” asked the office worker, glancing expectantly at Dawn Hammer.

Who nodded and gestured to one of the guards stationed around the walls of the room.

The other pony trotted over and stood silently. Much like the others in the room, who all waited for a second opinion. Which came in the form of a mauve unicorn with a pair of bright red stars on her flank.

“Woah,” she muttered the second she entered the room.

“Quit gawking and dispel these illusions,” Lightning Break demanded through gritted teeth.

“Err, right, of course,” murmured the unicorn, who glanced about the room.

Seeing that no one was about to stop her, she lit her horn and cast a relatively low-level dispel. Or at least Fluttershy assumed that was what she had done, as nothing had happened.

“Nothing happened,” muttered Sun Sire. “She has failed again.”

“Listen here, you worm. I want you to dispel these illusions, and I don't care if your bloody horn explodes in the process. Do you understand me?” Lightning Break shouted.

“Y-yes, ma’am!” exclaimed the unicorn mercenary.

Her horn lit up once more, this time it burned far, far brighter and for much longer. When the spell was complete and the power released, it washed over everyone in a mauve wave. Everyone, including Fluttershy, looked around the room curiously, only to find that nothing had changed.

“What are you trying to pull?” Lighting Break bellowed, rising from her seat and stomping up to the mercenary. “I have paid you good bits to serve me, and I swear if you’ve betrayed me, I will throw you off the nearest cloud!”

“That was a greater dispel cast at double power,” Dawn Hammer exclaimed in a calm tone. “I’m a little impressed she even managed that.”

“Which means… what?” Will Power muttered, the merchant looking around at his fellows warily.

“That if these were illusions, they would be dispelled. Only an alicorn could cast something strong enough to resist that,” Dawn Hammer explained.

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow and glanced over to Kanathara and Rainbow Dash, who were still disguised. The keeper was looking rather smug while Rainbow Dash seemed about two seconds from erupting into laughter.

“Preposterous!” Lightning Break shrieked. “Fetch the others.”

“I don't think that will be necessary,” Dawn Hammer stated. “Simply scan the spell and tell us if it's the same as the moon-touched spell.”

The paladin then nodded to his guard, prompting him to light his horn and begin casting his spell. While this was happening, others seemed to be working up the nerve to speak, but were stifled by Dawn Hammer’s imperious aura. After a few seconds of quiet, the guard frowned and turned back to his commander.

“It's exactly the same. These people are moon-touched,” he declared.

Another cacophony of yelling, accusations, and insults were tossed around, but this time they ended with a bit more force. Kanathara’s forehead glowed faintly before the moon-touched ponies’ mouths were suddenly bound by black chains. The ethereal objects clamped down tight, securing themselves around the back of their targets’ heads.

“You see now what I mean,” Kanathara began. “Your true enemy never was the houses, or the people who they were trying to kill. It was Nightmare Moon.”

“I think your lesson has been well-received,” Dawn Hammer intruded, stepping up to the forefront. “And I think I speak for everyone when I say we shall deal with the moon-touched in our midst.”

“Yes, I agree,” Mrs Shy declared in a low tone. “Cultists have no place in our ranks, or our world, for that matter.”

Fluttershy silently excused herself and trotted around to the other side of the table. While she sneaked away, a vibrant discussion was being had on what to do with the cultists. Suggestions ranged from immediate execution, to imprisonment, with a few more crazy ones tossed in for good measure.

What would gouging their eyes out even accomplish? Fluttershy grimly thought to herself.

Pushing that nasty image from her head, Fluttershy approached the two disguised demons. Who had retreated to a corner of the room and were watching the interactions with varied degrees of interest. Kanathara seemed to be monitoring things closely while Rainbow Dash snickered to herself.

“So,” Fluttershy began in a low tone, “what did you do?”

“A moment,” Kanathara muttered, the space above her head shimmering for a moment. “There, now we can speak freely.”

“What makes you think we did anything at all, hmm?” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Because they are not cultists or demon slaves,” Fluttershy declared.

“You are correct,” Kanathara exclaimed. “Though I would not cry for them. They have committed their own heinous sins.”

“How do you know this?” Fluttershy demanded.

Rainbow Dash tapped her nose knowingly. “I can sniff out their guilt. For example, Cartwright has committed great acts of unprompted violence to those who can't defend themselves.”

“His servants,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Hmm?” Kanathara pressed, raising an eyebrow.

“There was a rumour,” Fluttershy began. “That he was beating his servants, and even… having his way with them. A maid told me that he even forced one of them to have an abortion.”

“That lines up,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “He stunk to high heaven.”

“And the others?” Fluttershy asked.

“The two office workers reek of greed and the plunder of riches behind the backs of those who don't know better. If I had to guess, they defrauded a bunch of people of their money and got off scot-free,” Rainbow Dash began. “Sun Spire’s arrogance could put a Canterlot noble to shame, and his racism is tinged with the scent of violence.”

“Will Power is innocent though?” Fluttershy inquired.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “More or less. He hasn't committed any mortal sins like the others, but he is using the situation to his advantage. It seems like for altruistic reasons though, as I don't detect much selfishness on him.”

“But you can't tell for sure,” Fluttershy reasoned.

“She can't smell the absence of something,” Kanathara pointed out.

“I suppose that's fair. What about Dawn Hammer’s subordinate, and Lightning Break?” Fluttershy inquired.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “That one’s easy. The unicorn has been abusing captives and generally wants to butcher every single pegasus he can get his hooves on.”

“We were working with Dawn Hammer to get rid of him,” Kanathara explained.

“That's unfortunate,” Fluttershy muttered.

“Not nearly as unfortunate as Lightning Break,” Rainbow Dash began. “That lady’s a real piece of work.”

“Why do you say that?” Fluttershy asked.

“She most likely fancies kids, if you catch my drift,” Rainbow Dash whispered in a low tone.

Fluttershy gasped and glanced over to the red-faced pegasus mare currently being held back by a pair of guards.

“No way,” Fluttershy muttered. “I knew she was bad, but that's too far, even for her.”

“She lusts for the defenseless, and seems to have done so for quite some time,” Rainbow Dash continued. “The sin wafting off her is… incredible. It's taking me every last bit of will power not to crush her head between my hooves.”

“Thats… not surprising actually,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Try not to think about it too much,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“So we are in agreement then?” Mr Shy asked while glancing around the room.

“It seems so,” Dawn Hammer answered.

Kanathara held a hoof to her lips before dispelling whatever barrier she had erected.

Fluttershy bit her tongue and went back to observing what was going on.

“The afflicted will be held at a joint facility located in the mountains, with the hope being that they will eventually be cured,” Dawn Hammer began. “In the meantime, we will end the schism and join the fight against this Nightmare Moon person.”

“I have heard that an army moves against her already and will be mustering in the fields below Canterlot in a few days time,” Kanathara offered. “If you wish to save your world, I would advise you seek them out.”

“We will have to send scouts of our own to confirm this, but if what you say is true, then the path is already set before us,” Mrs Shy exclaimed.

“Indeed,” Dawn Hammer exclaimed. “Now, let us discuss the fine details. I want this city back in order as soon as possible.”

Kanathara gestured to Fluttershy, snapping her out of her hypnotized state. The keeper then motioned towards the door, prompting the three of them to leave the room and its occupants behind.

Once outside, Fluttershy turned to Kanathara. “What will happen now?”

Kanatha erected another bubble around the trio before speaking.

“Cloudsdale will enjoy a short bout of peace, then it shall be towed to the closest town, evacuated of non-combatants, and turned into a mobile fortress,” Kanathara replied.

“It's going to be so freaking cool to see this enormous city flying over Canterlot,” Rainbow Dash gushed. “From there we can rain down hell on those jerks.”

“That certainly does sound… effective,” Fluttershy muttered.

Kanathara nodded. “That is my hope, anyway. The city would prove a very valuable resource, though it is only secondary.”

“To me,” Fluttershy concluded.

“Exactly,” Rainbow Dash declared. “You need to come with us to save not only Equestria, but the entire world.”

Fluttershy hummed thoughtfully. “Before I agree to anything, I’d like to hear what you plan on doing from here.”

“Escort you to the rendezvous point, then split off and grab Pinkie Pie,” Kanathara explained. “From there we will lay siege to Canterlot, confront Nightmare Moon, defeat her, and save the world.”

“Why though? Why go through all this effort to save a plane when you could just as easily leave?” Fluttershy inquired.

“The array in Canterlot binds us here,” Kanathara answered.

“That's not a real answer, and you know it,” Fluttershy retorted with an uncharacteristic amount of force. “You could just as easily destroy it when attacking Canterlot and avoid tangling with such a powerful creature.”

“Pfft, the boss is just a big softy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, wrapping a hoof around the other demon’s shoulders.

“I’ve grown to like this place, and it's where all my loved ones live, and all my stuff is stored,” Kanathara replied. “Besides, Nightmare Moon strong-armed me into signing a contract I didn't want to. Noone pushes me around and lives.”

Fluttershy shuddered. “Well, I’m glad your reasons are at least… partly altruistic.”

Kanathara smiled. “Yes, well, no one's all bad.”

Author's Note

Trial Twelve: A Short Siege

Author's Note

I have a new story up on fimfiction, and if you like this one I think you might enjoy that one. Give it a look right here!

Trial Twelve: A Short Siege

“When I was a little filly, and the sun was going down…” Pinkie Pie muttered as she trotted down the road, a cart full of steaming baked goods trundling along behind her. “I don't think this song quite packs a punch anymore.”

The mare sighed and turned down a side road, her gaze lingering on all the signs of destruction around her. Houses had lost their roofs, others had been destroyed outright by boulders tossed by distant catapults. A shop had been lost to a fire while the nearby market had been torn down in order to create a space for the wounded.

Who were growing more numerous by the day, their ranks filling the half dozen tents which now occupied the central square. Nurses, what few healers were left, and their helpers ran from one bed to the next, doing what they could. Which wasn't much, given just how long they had been stuck without assistance or reinforcement of any kind.

Pinkie Pie stumbled to a stop due to something catching the wheel of her cart. Glancing down at the snow-laden street, Pinkie Pie noticed that a hunk of ice had wedged its way into the undercarriage somehow. With a sigh, Pinkie Pie unlatched herself, plucked the hunk of frozen water, and tossed it out of the way.

She then took a moment to adjust her leather armor, secure her furred boots, and check on her supplies before linking with the cart. The many pies remained fresh, though the ever-present cold was beginning to sap their warmth. With a bit more pep in her step, Pinkie Pie continued on towards the largest of the tents where she unhooked herself once more.

As she drew close to the field hospital, Pinkie Pie caught a whiff of the many healing ointments as well as an unpleasant, chemical-ridden scent. Her nose scrunched up, and a small part of her wanted to turn back, though she continued on regardless, stopping only when she neared the middle. Once there, Pinkie Pie swiftly picked up one of three platters of baked goods before trotting off towards a familiar shape.

The stallion was tall, lean, and almost skeletal in appearance. Though he was intimidating, Pinkie Pie was unbothered by his presence. His fur was white, his shaggy, short mane a dull rust color, and his cutie mark looked like a bloodied bone saw. The dark circles under his eyes were deep enough to bury bodies in, though the male didn't seem to be tired.

“That one won't survive the night, move him to the periphery and help make him comfortable,” demanded the harsh, yet quiet tone of the strange stallion.

“Special delivery,” Pinkie Pie interrupted, stepping up to the doctor just before he could move on.

“Ahh, the moral boosters have arrived, what luck,” he exclaimed, though if his declaration was out of a genuine appreciation for Pinkie Pie’s efforts or simple curiosity was unclear. “I’ll have the nurses distribute them amongst the most afflicted.”

“There aren't many, I hope?” Pinkie Pie questioned while a gown-covered mare took the pastries from her back.

“No, thankfully,” replied the stallion. “It seems as though our infiltrator has become more elusive than usual. Which is good, as it gives me time to save who I can.”

“That's great to hear. I hope you continue to help us out,” Pinkie Pie finished.

The stallion grunted. “Of course I will. I would not go back on our deal, after all. Not when there are so many exquisite test subjects simply lying about.”

Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow. “You aren't partaking, are you?”

The strange male snorted. “I know my kind are not known for their self-control, but I think you will find that I am not a slave to his more animalistic tendencies. Now if you will excuse me, I believe Rock Breaker is about to go into anemic shock and will require a transfusion.”

“Lucky for him, you had such a large supply of blood just lying around,” Pinkie Pie jabbed, smirking up at the doctor.

“Don't remind me. You lot have burned through nearly half of my larder. Now be gone with you. I will not lose another because the jester can't hold her tongue,” spat the male, revealing the large set of canines poking out over his bottom lip.

Pinkie Pie quickly excused herself, weaving through the growing mass of injured without looking down. Not out of any kind of fear or disgust, rather Pinkie Pie knew that she would never complete her route if she stopped. The sight of so many of her comrades lying on stretchers or propped up against support beams was already enough to make Pinkie Pie’s heart sink.

“The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown,” Pinkie Pie hummed to herself as she hitched up to the wagon and began to trot down the snowy road once more. “I’d hide under my pillow from what I thought I saw, but Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all.”

With the song driving away a bit of the fear which plagued her, Pinkie Pie walked a little faster and with a small bounce to her step. The cold wind blowing down from the direction of Canterlot nearly banished that warmth, but thankfully the gust didn't last long. Pinkie Pie used the moment of calm to reorient herself and find out where she should be going.

Only to wince when she saw a boulder fly in from overhead and crash into an already destroyed building. Now with a bit more urgency, Pinkie Pie looked around, noting that no one seemed to have been hurt by the attack.

The town was small, little more than a few hundred ponies packed within four stone walls built over a century ago. Some of the inhabitants had escaped before the fighting had started, though most remained within their homes or the designated safe zones. Which were not exactly numerous, as most of their unicorns were on the battlements and holding the line against their attackers.

What defenders were left had almost all suffered injuries of varied severity, and a few volunteers had even joined their ranks. Unit cohesion was gone and Everfree rangers, militia, royal guard remnants, and regular police all worked alongside one another. It would have been an uplifting sight if it wasn't a sign of the ever-growing sense of desperation clawing at them all.

Shaking her head, Pinkie Pie found the road she had been looking for and began to trot in that direction. For a bit the only sounds were Pinkie Pie’s quiet humming, the crunch of snow beneath the wheels, and the distant sound of arrows. Thankfully that last one was very inconsistent, which Pinkie Pied interpreted as being a sign that fighting had dissipated.

The scent of freshly baked goods kept her spirits up, and she tried to ignore the smell of blood which occasionally wafted past her nose. This only occurred a few times, but it was enough to make the mare shudder in disgust whenever it happened. Her unpleasant thoughts were interrupted by something else, and Pinkie Pie quickly unhooked herself.

The earth pony then trotted across the road, pulled off her armored hoof coverings and eyed up the prone form of a skyward staring mare. Pinkie Pie then smacked the older pony garbed in loosely fitting leather armor across the face. Her staring contest with the moon now ended, the militia member looked around in confusion, seemingly unaware of their surroundings.

“Don't do that. You’ll be made a slave of the nightmare!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“Oh, uh, yeah,” muttered the volunteer while clutching her head. “I couldn't help it. It's just so… beautiful.”

Pinkie Pie groaned. “Go get checked out at the medical tent… quickly!”

The other mare nodded awkwardly and began to stumble towards the market square in the middle of town, leaving Pinkie Pie to stand there and shake her head, watching as the former potter trotted away.

“She forgot her sword,” Pinkie Pie remarked, tossing the discarded weapon into her cart. “Probably for the best. Poor old Spinning Wheel is more likely to hurt themself than the enemy.”

Humming to herself once more, Pinkie Pie trotted quickly towards her destination. Which sat in a bay not far from the town’s walls. There, at the end of the street, lay a collection of volunteers picking through the debris of a recently destroyed house. The boulder which had leveled the home had been rolled away, but had yet to be removed completely.

“Hurry it up here, folks! The east wall took a grazing hit and needs to be shored up as soon as possible!” bellowed a large unicorn mare with a short, stubby horn.

“Hey, Gains, how goes the recovery effort?” Pinkie Pie greeted, trotting up to the incredibly wide, deep green female.

Who turned and glanced down over her large fur-covered collar. “Who are… oh, Pinkie! Not half bad, though I can tell the guys are starting to get a little winded. Ain't that right, you pack of ninnies?!”

The yell was met with a small collection of grunts, a scant amount of muttering, and a single masculine shout of, “Yeah!” at the top of someone’s lungs.

“Then get over here and have a quick break. There ain't no one under there anyway,” Gains exclaimed.

The exhausted and sweat-covered workers trotted out from the destroyed home. Wearing grungy and sometimes poor-fitting clothes, the troupe were mostly made up of ponies too young to fight. With the sole exception being an enormous slab of white fur barely contained within a set of oversized leather armor.

“Take one and move quickly please, I have one more stop to get to, and I don't want them to freeze,” Pinkie Pie encouraged.

“Thanks for this, Pinks. We pulled a couple bodies out of the last place, so morale was gettin’ a little low,” Gains whispered, leaning down in order to ensure that none of her subordinates heard her.

“No problem. Just try and keep their spirits up,” Pinkie Pie replied.

The massive unicorn nodded knowingly and moved to the back of the line.

With little else to do, Pinkie Pie watched as the small work group grabbed their snacks and moved away. Seating themselves amongst the ruins of what had once been a family’s kitchen, the ponies dug into their food while Pinkie Pie observed them. Their eating area was a strange sight, given that it was mostly intact, with three of the four walls still standing and even a few pictures still hanging.

Pinkie Pie tried not to think of it for long and instead continued to trot along the road, making her way towards her final destination. Upon reaching the main road, Pinkie Pie was immediately forced to dodge a pair of ponies hauling a unicorn with an arrow sticking out of her shoulder. Though clearly in pain, the unicorn continued to smile while she was carried towards the healing tents.

“Tough mare,” Pinkie Pie remarked to herself before humming more of her song. “Gotta stand up tall. Learn to face your fears, you’ll see that they can't… can't…. How did it go again?”

The earth pony continued on, making her way towards the most fortified position in town, the main gate. Though the entrance was not nearly as grandiose as the one to Canterlot, the small town did sport a large stone gate house. Which had definitely seen better days, as several chunks and dents had been put into it over the course of the siege. The back area had also nearly collapsed at one point, requiring a dozen or so support beams and some frantic masonry work to fix.

Despite the damage, the structure continued to stand as a bulwark against the invading mercenaries. It was also the main intelligence hub for the allied host, housing the higher-ups from each group of defenders. A move which might have been considered foolish, had the gatehouse not been the strongest structure in town.

“Ahh, there you are. Go right in, Pinkie Pie, they're waiting for you,” remarked a fellow ranger wearing the standard armor of their order.

“Thanks, Stock. Try not to catch any more arrows with your face again,” Pinkie Pie teased.

The male chuckled, a hoof going up to his bandaged cheek. “I’ll try not to, but no promises.”

Pinkie Pie smiled, planting her small cart near the gatehouse entrance and unhooking herself. She was about to grab the remaining baked goods, but turned suddenly toward a nearby alleyway. The second she faced the dark, narrow passage, a mass of shadow fled, vanishing without a trace.

The mare did her best to ignore the growing sense of worry which clawed at the back of her mind, and focused instead on her work. With a flick of her hoof, she launched the platter into the air, and caught it on her back a moment later with deft precision. With her load secured, Pinkie Pie trotted inside, nodding to the stallion who held the side door open for her.

The second she escaped the ever-present wind, Pinkie Pie released a sigh of relief. It wasn't much warmer inside, though the constant howling was at least muted indoors. There were also far more ponies here, and she had to dodge them constantly in order to not get bowled over. Thankfully it wasn't long until she found the room she was looking for and was able to deposit her load on the table.

“Here you are, sirs,” Pinkie Pie proclaimed.

The small collection of commanders looked up in surprise, their intense conversation abruptly ended by Pinkie Pie’s arrival. To Pinkie Pie’s right was a short weaselly-looking earth pony mare with an abnormally long muzzle who wore the simple leather armor of the town militia. Next to her was an expressionless stallion covered from head to hoof in tarnished gold armor marking him as the royal guard liaison. Beside them was a confused, slightly overweight mare with glasses so thick they could be used as bucklers if needed. Finally, on Pinkie Pie’s right was her own commander, a pegasus mare who was taller than everyone, even the royal guard.

“Ahh, thank the stars you arrived when you did. I thought for sure we had run out of supplies,” exclaimed the bespectacled mare, already reaching for a still steaming pie.

“Yes, it is quite fortuitous you arrived when you did,” added the rough, slightly gravelly voice of Pinkie Pie’s superior. “Potato Pie here ate our lunches while we were overseeing a light skirmish, so most of us have yet to eat.”

“I told you leaving me with food was a bad idea!” exclaimed the portly female. “I eat when I’m stressed!”

“You will control yourself this time,” declared the royal guard, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument.

“R-right,” murmured the mare before taking a bite of her pie.

“So, how did it go? Was your mission a success?” pressed the ranger general.

Pinkie Pie shrugged. “More or less. Our guest has still yet to show himself, and though he's no doubt growing stronger by the day, he isn't powerful enough to face us directly.”

“You mean the fear demon, right?” asked the long-muzzled pony.

“What have I told you about mentioning him out loud? He must believe that he is undetected, lest he feel pressured to launch an attack,” stated the royal guard. “Until reinforcements arrive, we must not press our luck.”

“And who said we’re getting back-up anyway?” pressed the militia leader. “You’ve been saying that for days.”

“They’ll come,” Pinkie Pie declared. “I feel it in my tail.”

“Isn't the saying ‘I feel it in my bones’?” asked Potato Pie between bites of their meal.

“Yes,” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Err, okay,” murmured the overweight mare.

“I think we should get back to the topic at hoof,” offered the royal guard. “Our eastern flank is beginning to-”

The stallion was interrupted by the arrival of a young ranger bursting into the room. “Sir, you're going to want to see this!” he declared immediately upon entering.

“What is it, private?” demanded his superior.

“The guy, the main one, he's just… standing out there. Alone!” exclaimed the squire.

Everyone glanced at one another before taking off towards the battlements at a sprint. Pinkie Pie led the pack and leapt up the stairs four at a time, quickly emerging out onto the roof. A second later, she was peeking out from between the crenelations, her gaze immediately settling on the lone pony in the field before her.

The narrow, wiry stallion wore an overly large set of ceremonial field plate which he barely seemed able to move in. Thankfully all he needed to do was stand atop a small rise and glare at the defenders with a disdainful look. Behind him was his army of mercenaries who filled the field almost completely and outnumbered the defenders two to one.

Each one were armed for battle, their numerous banners flapping in the cold, bitter wind. The various companies were grouped together with their leader standing at their head, making for an imposing sight.

“Wow, that is… a lot of soldiers,” murmured the weaselly mare.

“It seems as though he has attracted two new companies. The Reckoners and House Atreus,” remarked the royal guard captain.

“Is that… bad?” asked the overweight mare between breaths.

“That depends. Do you mind the thought of being sold into slavery, or getting eaten by griffons?” remarked Pinkie Pie’s superior.

“Maybe we should evacuate,” offered Potato Pie. “I’m sure if we demolish the south wall, we could get away in time.”

“They are far too fast. We wouldn't make it more than a mile before being picked off,” replied the royal guard.

“Send word, gather every last able-bodied soldier to the walls. I’ve got a feeling this is going to go south quickly. Tell them General Gale Force needs them mustered ASAP,” whispered the ranger general to a nearby aide.

The messenger nodded before leaping off the battlements and flying into town.

“So good of you all to join me on this auspicious day!” bellowed the distant earth pony, his voice magnified by the strange tube-shaped mechanism he held to his lips. “And you even brought along a certain pink pony. Perfect.”

“What do you want, ya pompous wig warmer?” bellowed the ranger captain.

The mass of griffon and minotaur mercenaries snickered amongst themselves.

“Silence,” shrieked their employer before turning back to the town. “I have a proposition I think you will find to be most persuasive.”

“We are not letting you have this town. I don't care what royal decree or old law you wave around. We will not let you have it!” shouted Potato Pie who shook a pudgy hoof at the distant stallion.

“I’m going to assume that you said something ignorant and nonsensical,” stated the noble. “Regardless, I am not here to give you the same offer I did three days ago. I have something new in mind.”

“Well, go on!” shouted the royal guard. “Might as well get this over with.”

“Mistress Moon has given me the honor of offering you all mercy!” yelled the far off male. “In fact, she will even grant me a much larger villa in a more prestigious location if only you do one teensy weensy thing for me.”

“What is it?” demanded the ranger general.

“Simply hand over the one called Pinkie Pie, and not only will we leave, but we will also hand over the prisoners of war we’ve captured,” yelled the slightly shrill voice of the noble. “How does that sound?”

The battlements were quiet, and Pinkie Pie couldn't help but quail in terror as all eyes settled on her. Most expressions were unreadable, though Potato Pie and the weaselly mare Pinkie never learned the name of were obvious. They watched Pinkie Pie like she was a freshly baked cake, and they were ready to fight to get a slice of her.

“No,” stated Pinkie Pie’s superior. “I will not let you take her.”

“We should talk about this,” remarked the long-muzzled mare. “Why, I’m sure if we ask Pinkie Pie, she will be happy to take one for the team. What do you say?”

“Irrelevant,” declared the guard captain. “I made an oath to protect every last soldier under my command, and that includes her.”

“You can't decide that for her,” urged Potato Pie. “Go on, cousin. Tell them how you want to save us all.”

Pinkie Pie bit her tongue and glanced from the captain to the general. Neither strayed from their convictions, and it was quite apparent that they were ready for a fight. Which Pinkie Pie had mixed feelings about, as her first thought was to jump over the side of the wall and make a break for it.

She had made an oath to protect who she could and to slay monsters, but that was secondary. The earth pony glanced over her shoulder and realized that she was only a few feet from the wall. She estimated that the snow would cushion her fall slightly, but even then it was a good three stories to the ground.

“Pinkie Pie,” exclaimed the ranger general. “I can tell what's going through your mind, and I am ordering you to not do what I think you're planning.”

“Your commander is correct,” added the guard captain. “Whatever reason he has to demand your surrender, it likely isn't out of a sense of true mercy.”

“Who cares?” Pinkie Pie replied. “I’d lay down my life to lift this siege. These people have suffered enough.”

“Exactly, and it's not the choice of your boss anyway,” stated Potato Pie.

“If that tyrant is willing to do all this just for you, then there is good reason to resist her,” offered the leader of the rangers. “Whatever is going on, it's now bigger than just this village.”

Pinkie Pie subtly stepped back towards the battlement. “I don't care what other machinations are in the works. I have a chance to help ponies here and now.”

“No, wait!” shouted Gale Force just as Pinkie Pie leapt from the top of the guard house.

The earth pony twisted deftly in the air and landed with a soft thump in the snow bank next to the wall. The ensuing clamor from behind her was quickly ignored as Pinkie Pie sprinted across the field. A twisting sensation from her gut prompted Pinkie Pie to leap out of the way of a golden stun bolt fired from the wall.

It was joined by a net and a telekinetic grab, both of which Pinkie Pie dodged with ease. Pinkie Pie could also hear ponies yelling at her to come back and urging her to reconsider. Though tempting, Pinkie Pie remembered the many ponies slain before their time and refused to stop. With their faces plastered against the insides of her eyelids and their names poised on the tip of her tongue, Pinkie Pie ran on.

“Ahh good. It looks like you boys will be getting your bonus, after all!” shouted the noble.

A great roar went up over the crowd of mercenaries, the clatter of steel filling the frost-covered field. It didn't last long however, as something fell out of the sky and landed amidst the horde, causing a wave of confusion. Pinkie Pie ignored this recent development however and kept going, putting her head down as she charged toward the host.

Unfortunately another noise soon joined the cacophony of sound, the ringing clatter of a rising gate. Realization struck the earth pony like a hammer blow, and she spun around to find that the defenders were pouring forth from the town. Every last ranger, royal guard, and even a good number of militia members were sprinting towards her.

“Stop, go back! It's not worth it!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

Her words were rendered inaudible against the crash of metal, the thump of hooves, and the numerous bellowed war cries. Adding to the confusion was the scream of a dying minotaur along with the crack of lightning from behind her. Now baffled, Pinkie Pie turned around to find that the mercenaries were being assaulted by a motley assortment of creatures.

Demons, ponies, and even the undead were crashing into the disorganized back ranks of the soldiers for hire. Lightning bolts rained down from rogue storm clouds guided by several nearly invisible pegasi. Nearly every race under the sun was represented amongst the attacking swarm of creatures.

At the head of which strode a towering mountain of golden scales and bursts of hellfire. Standing taller than even the siege equipment, the demonic pony trampled dozens during her charge into their ranks. A shield wall was soon erected in order to stop her, but it was smashed apart mere moments after it was formed.

A griffon was torn apart by a half dozen undead ponies while his squadmate was bisected by an armored demon. A handful of the griffon’s allies tried to fly off, only to be cut down by a flurry of silver bolts fired from a previously unseen cloud. Their fellows on the ground weren't much better off, as the battle had turned into a chaotic melee where it was incredibly easy to be surrounded.

Even the strongest foes, who wore enchanted armor and wielded ancient magical weapons were being dealt heavy casualties. The large force of well-disciplined minotaurs had formed into a star shape and were fighting well, but strength meant little here. Especially so when the ground collapsed beneath them, trapping them waist deep in dirt and snow.

To their credit, a good half of the bull men managed to pull themselves free, though their comrades were not so lucky. They were either pulled apart by a wall of zombies or crushed beneath the hooves of the towering wrath demon. The lucky ones found themselves at the end of a pony blade and had the chance to surrender, though few took it.

The orgy of blood and violence was as brief as it was intense, lasting only a few minutes before ending abruptly. The final mercenary surrendered to what few normal ponies were amidst the mass of demons and undead. They were swiftly carried off, leaving Pinkie Pie standing there with her jaw hanging open.

“Well, that takes the wind out of my sails,” remarked the guard captain.

“No kiddin’,” muttered Gale Force.

Pinkie Pie glanced over to where a familiar pair of demons were making their way in her direction. The town’s defenders raised their weapons, but Pinkie Pie motioned her fellows to lower their blades. They did so reluctantly. Even though the confused militia were relatively calm, they still bunched together, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Ahh, wonderful,” Kanathara exclaimed. “And here I thought it may be difficult to find you.”

“Really saves us the trouble,” Rainbow Dash added.

“We are on your side, by the way,” Kanathara remarked. “You’re welcome.”

“Err, thanks?” murmured Pinkie Pie.

“Now then, where is that pesky fear demon I sensed upon arrival?” Kanathara wondered aloud, glancing about the area.

“I think he's trying to escape out the back,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “See? I think he had a grand reveal planned, but after seeing us has decided to make a run for it.”

All eyes turned to a copse of trees near the edge of the battle. Where a tall, painfully skinny humanoid was crouched between a pair of frost-covered elm trees. His two clawed arms as well as the eight spider-like limbs sprouting from his back were lowered in an effort to make himself appear smaller. The only clothing he wore was a tattered series of rags that resembled a dress and mostly covered the four legs which sprouted from his hips. The normally terrifying octopus-like visage of the creature somehow appeared fearful rather than intimidating.

“I’ll deal with this,” declared Velvet.

The armored cultist didn't wait for a response and swiftly unwinded a long black chain from around her forehoof. She threw it like a lasso around the creature’s midsection, the chains having extended as long as they were needed. The weapon defied physics even more by moving on its own, and binding the fear demon’s many limbs together. In seconds the monster was completely immobilized by the obsidian metal, leaving little room for it to even move.

A terrible screech could be heard, and though terrifying to most, everyone could hear the terror that the cry contained. A fear which was definitely not unfounded, as Velvet began to pull the monster in, dragging it across the snowy field. Though it screamed, crackled with magic, and turned incorporeal, the demon could not escape.

“Now then,” Velvet began, setting a hoof against the creature’s chain-covered chest. “Are you going to calm down or am I going to have to give you your final death?”

The fear demon lay still for a moment before nodding its head.

“Good. Now let's get you processed,” Velvet declared, turning to Kanathara. “Can you guys handle it from here?”

“We got it,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Velvet nodded and trotted away, dragging the fear demon towards the waiting group of cultists. Standing in their midst was a familiar blue succubus, who waved at Kanathara the second their eyes met. The keeper of secrets awkwardly returned the gesture before turning around to the increasingly confused ponies.

“Now then,” Kanathara clopped her forehooves together, “let's cut to the chase. Nightmare Moon is planning on killing every single person on the plane, and we are intent on stopping her. If you join us, you can help save the planet, or you can leave. I don't really care.”

“Either way, Pinks here is coming with us,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Now wait just a second,” remarked the ranger general. “She needs my leave to go anywhere.”

Pinkie Pie giggled. “Don't worry about it, boss lady. I know these weirdos and contrary to their appearance, they are the good guys. Or at least neutral, actually that's a bit of a stretch too. Currently aligned with us? Yeah, that sounds right.”

“Are you sure about this?” stressed the general.

“I mean, if Pinkie Pie doesn't come with us, there is a good chance this entire plane of existence will die,” Kanathara remarked.

“So no pressure or anything,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed while picking her teeth with a piece of griffon bone.

“Wait, what happened to that pompous prick who wanted to evict the villagers?” asked the royal guard.

“I’m not sure,” Kanathara muttered, spinning around. “Hey, Pear Butter, would you grab me that weirdo with the ill-fitting armor?”

“Sure thing, honey,” boomed the still enormous wrath demon.

Who looked around and swiftly spotted her target being carried away by a hungry vampire. After a brief apology for stealing his meal, Pear Butter lifted the noble from the ground and deposited him at Kanathara’s hooves.

“There you are, now play nice,” Pear Butter remarked.

The male groaned, his battered and bruised face clearly visible now that his helmet was gone. Allowing all to see that he was much older than what they had thought, likely nearing seventy years of age. His fur had lost most of its luster, and the tips of his mane had the same dull red color as his eyes did.

“Oh, we will, alright,” Rainbow Dash replied, only to frown and sniff the air. “Hold on a second, this guy is sin-free.”

“How is that possible?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“What, you again?” barked the noble, his tone shifting suddenly. “And you’ve got the pink one too. I’d be offering my congratulations, but I’m likely to have my legs torn off for losing another pawn.”

“Ahh, Stygian, the rat we just can't seem to crush. How are you?” Kanathara asked.

“Great, just great. I lost a small army, my target, and am now in for a good few hours of torture thanks to you,” Stygian exclaimed through the mouth of the noble. “At least I get to enjoy watching this silly twit die.”

The puppeted pony laid his head down on the ground in front of Rainbow Dash’s hoof.

“Well then, get on with it,” Stygian urged.

“Nah, killing innocents is boring. Plus I’m trying to look good in front of the mortals,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Stygian rolled his puppet’s eyes and glanced at Kanathara. “Come on then. You’ve never shied away from violence before. Come eat this juicy innocent soul.”

“A tempting offer, but you’ve tainted the meal with your presence,” Kanathara replied.

“What moral and upstanding allies you have,” whispered the ranger general.

“Hey, at least they aren't killing him for fun,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“I think I’m going to earn some brownie points and just knock you out,” Kanathara declared.

“Pfft, lame,” Stygian stated before his puppet was rendered unconscious by a bolt of magic.

“Now then,” Kanathara began, clopping her forehooves together. “Ready to go save the world?”

Trial Twelve: An Even Shorter Meeting

Kanathara reclined on a long leather couch, a glass of wine held aloft in her magic moving in slow, lazy circles. Though she looked relaxed to the casual observer, any who knew her would be able to tell that was not the case. Her brow was furrowed ever so slightly, and her magic was brighter than what was necessary for such a simple spell.

Her gaze was distant, occasionally glancing down from the clifftop where she had set up her sitting spot. Below lay the small city that was the allied war camp, its various sects and groups separated by mere feet. Necromancers camped next to paladins, who in turn pitched tents alongside demons and their cultist masters.

Many would assume that things would be tense, especially with the arrival of a few pegasus supremacists and a griffon mercenary house who had just switched sides, yet it was anything but. The atmosphere was almost jovial in a way, with the sound of music emanating from several areas, creating a strangely harmonious tune. Their differences were seemingly forgotten, lost amidst the realization of their larger, more dangerous foe.

It wasn't perfect, not by a long shot, as arguments were frequent, but thankfully brief. Some more pious paladins were making a stink over their proximity to demons. A handful of militia members had spotted family members amongst the ranks of the dead and were demanding they be buried. It seemed as though only the ranger remnants were free from conflict, though that may have been due to the fact that they numbered less than fifty.

The small group had fallen in with Rarity’s dogs and were mostly occupied with gawking at the seemingly tame grootslang. Who was sprawled out on the snowy ground and getting her belly rubbed by Rarity, her wife standing nervously a few feet behind her. Adding to the overall chaos was the slow influx of volunteers and late arrivals from Cloudsdale or elsewhere.

Already the field they had chosen to occupy had been completely cleared and was now full. The encampment had little room left for new arrivals, and tents began to pop up in the surrounding woods. Ponies liberated from town arrived with little more than the clothes on their back, eager to help protect their country and world.

“Kinda inspiring, ain't it?” Rainbow Dash offered, trotting up next to the couch. “They got nothing and instead of hiding in the dirt, they are out here on hooves and knees begging for a chance to fight back.”

“It's the logical course of action,” Kanathara stated. “To not fight is to aid Nightmare Moon in the destruction of their entire plane and thus everyone they’ve ever known.”

“Yeah but most people don't think of it that way. Either that, or they simply don't believe you when you tell them it's old Shadow Pants who's really the big bad,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Kanathara snorted. “I can't imagine why.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled and plopped down in front of the keeper of secrets, nestling between her lover’s forehooves.

“So, got anything to mention before we spend the next few days fighting against a godlike demon of unimaginable power?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully. “Not particularly. You know my feelings for you, and you know I don't plan for failure.”

“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow Dash dismissed. “This just seems like the perfect time to admit your undying love for me, or declare that after this, we’re going to start having kids.”

“Do you want kids?” Kanathara muttered in shock.

“Hell no,” Rainbow Dash immediately replied. “I just thought that sounded like the normal, cliche dialogue you would expect in this situation.”

“I don't think either of us are what anyone would call normal,” Kanathara deadpanned.

“True,” Rainbow Dash admitted, pausing in order to enjoy the view along with her mistress. “You know this is going to be the last alone time we’ll get until ol’ Moony is dust, right?”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow. “If you are trying to talk me into going for another round in our tent-”

“No no, nothing like that,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “I’m just… not scared, but anxious, ya know? This will be the biggest thing we’ve ever done and with the highest stakes too. Like, if we bomb here, then everyone dies.”

Kanathara chuckled. “Are you sure you aren't scared? ‘Cause that sure sounds like fear to me.”

“Oh fine, I admit it. The thought of losing Fluttershy after just getting her back terrifies me. Plus I guess those other weirdos we sorta befriended are important too,” Rainbow Dash added with mock flippancy.

“Glad to hear you haven't forgotten about little old me,” proclaimed a joyful, yet hardened voice.

“Ahh, Pinkie Pie, a moment,” Kanthara gently wiggled her way further up the couch and looked into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “It’s okay to be afraid, I am too, but so long as we stick together, we’ll make it through this.”

“I sure hope so. I’d hate to look like a fool in front of all these mortals,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“And why would that be a bad thing?” Pinkie Pie replied, plunking down in a nearby snow drift next to the cliff’s edge. “My great-grandmother was a court jester, you know.”

Kanathara chuckled. “Now I can't help but imagine Rainbow Dash ditching the armor and trotting around in the garb of a juggler or something.”

“Keep dreaming, I couldn't juggle if my life depended on it,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara sat up straight on the couch and turned to Pinkie Pie. “So, what brings you to our little camp?”

“Well, Tirek wanted you to join them down in the command tent, but I also kinda wanted to pick your brain a little,” Pinkie Pie replied, lounging in the snow drift, seemingly unbothered by the cold. “Ya see, we got the last bunch of reports from Canterlot, and things are… interesting.”

“Oh?” Rainbow Dash asked, hopping up. “Any information on ol’ Spooky Pants?”

“Plenty!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “She woke the windigos from their ancient slumber. The city is very well fortified and almost completely lost.”

“Wait, windigos? I thought they were wiped out,” Kanathara questioned.

“Nah, early ponies didn't know how to kill them,” Pinkie Pie answered. “They were just lulled into some kinda deep sleep by how peaceful Equestria was, but with everything going on, they were starting to wake up. Nightmare Moon sped up the process somehow and has seemingly allied with the things.”

“So, there are no paladins left? What about their tower thingy, or what was left of it?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“Went kablooey,” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, throwing a hoofful of snow into the air. “Nightmare Moon blew it up, but most managed to get out and are apparently holed up in a few places across the city. Last I heard, they were still fighting, but were really really outnumbered.”

“We likely won't be able to count on their support when we enter the city,” Kanathara reasoned. “Though rescuing the remnants may give us an intelligence edge given the observations they’ve likely made.”

“Plus saving them is the right thing to do,” Pinkie Pie added.

“And there's that, I guess,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“What else?” Kanathara inquired.

Pinkie Pie shrugged. “That's about it. Tons of demons running around the street, windigos flying overhead, and a whole ton of super well-defended districts. Oh, and the Nightmare has apparently started plucking creatures from the void.”

“What now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“The paladins were able to detect a whole bunch of really wacky magic right before they were hit by a demon which had apparently been given their final death earlier that day,” Pinkie Pie explained.

“Like Stygian,” Kanathara reasoned.

“I wonder what other crazy stuff Nightmare Moon will have prepared for us by the time we get there,” Rainbow Dash wondered.

“Who knows? She’ll certainly see us coming,” Pinkie Pie pointed out.

“Irrelevant,” declared Kanathara. “She should still be occupied fighting Celestia.”

“The boss lady ain't gone yet, if that's what you're asking,” Pinkie Pie replied. “She was supposedly disrupting Ol’ Spooky Pants’ attempts to pull the moon out of orbit.”

Kanathara blanched. “She can do that?”

“Not with Celestia still around,” Pinkie Pie answered.

“Thank all the gods in all the worlds,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “I don't think we could fight the moon.”

“Nah. So long as Celestia’s alive, Nightmare Moon won't be able to do anything too crazy,” Pinkie Pie remarked.

“I’ve got ninety-nine problems, but the moon ain't one,” Kanathara murmured.

“Heh, nice,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Is that a song or something? It sounds familiar,” Pinkie Pie added.

“Don't worry about it, it's from another plane of existence. One that is even more warlike, yet peaceful than this one,” Kanathara exclaimed, rising from the couch along with Rainbow Dash.

The keeper of secrets then used her magic to return the couch to her pocket dimension before doing the same to the rest of her small camp. This took a few minutes, but once done, the clifftop was clear and little evidence of their stay was left behind. Only a few indents in the snow and a square patch of grass free from the ever-present ice.

“Right, let's get this meeting over and done with. I want to start marching already,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“No kidding. All this waiting around is starting to bore me,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Well, at least all the stragglers caught up. Something tells me we’re going to need every last volunteer if we are going to have a hope of cracking Canterlot,” Pinkie Pie added, hopping alongside the two demons.

“Quite,” Kanathara replied.

Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow and watched as the keeper of secrets stared off into space, clearly deep in thought. With one of her conversation partners no longer participating, the earth pony turned to Rainbow Dash. Who just seemed bored and was looking around at the menagerie of fighters assembled in the wet field.

Together the three trotted down from the cliff, around the rocky outcropping, and through a small copse of trees. Once out on the other side, they found themselves at ground level with the rest of the camp. Where they immediately met a pair of pony guards who leapt to attention upon spotting the small group.

Realization settled in almost immediately, and the two poorly armed pegasi quickly relaxed. Though not completely, as they watched Rainbow Dash and Kanathara with a close, curious eye. Pinkie Pie was completely forgotten, so much so that she probably could have stolen their pants and they wouldn't have even noticed.

The ranger merely shook her head, as she knew exactly where the stallions’ attention had gone. She also made a note to drill some discipline into them both before the fighting really got started. Until then, they would make decent camp guards, though that was about the extent of their usefulness. Thankfully the true soldiers were further in the camp and were resting up after smashing the mercenary forces.

Though most were better trained than the volunteer militia, that didn't mean they were much better organized. Equipment lay scattered everywhere, ferried around by creatures of all shapes and sizes. Food was being cooked on open fires mere feet from where a latrine was being dug, and no one seemed to notice. That didn't mean it was completely disorganized, rather it seemed as though none of the groups coordinated very well with one another.

“That will have to change,” Pinkie Pie muttered to herself.

The earth pony hastened her step, easily catching up with the retreating form of her two friends. Who had reached the central-most area of the camp, where the largest tents had been erected. There at least was a proper cordon and a chest-high wall of conjured earth guarded by several warlike demons.

Who ignored Kanathara, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie as the trio trotted through the single available opening. Once they had passed fully into the central area, they were greeted by the sight of a much more orderly camp. Here everything had a place, and everyone seemed to know this fact.

Approaching the biggest of the tents, Kanathara and Rainbow Dash paused in front of a rather tall demon. Wearing the familiar garb of a seer, the demonic entity seemed both frustrated and completely at peace at the same time.

“Hey, Pythias. Not joining the big meeting?” Rainbow Dash offered.

The hooded demon shook her head. “I’m afraid not,” she whispered.

“I assume there are too many variables to see clearly,” Kanathara half asked, half stated.

“Glimpsing the end of this final confrontation is all but impossible. I can, however, guide individual soldiers and help ensure that they survive the coming battles,” Pythias explained.

“Good luck,” Kanathara remarked.

“You’ll need it. Some of these ponies are greener than the grass they eat,” Rainbow Dash added.

“I will have my work cut out for me, but I am hopeful,” Pythias murmured before silently drifting away.

“A friend of yours?” Pinkie Pie inquired, trotting up alongside the pair.

“A great friend, and one of the only reasons I am hesitant to kill Celestia,” Kanathara remarked.

“Whysat?” Pinkie Pie questioned.

“She has some sort of unfinished business with the alicorn,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Neither of us quite understand it, but we got the impression that she both wants to see Celestia again and dreads meeting her.”

“Sounds like they have history together,” Pinkie Pie mused.

“I assume as much, though it's difficult to get any straight answers out of her. There is a lot of hurt there,” Kanathara finished.

PInkie Pie hummed thoughtfully as she watched the seer glide gracefully through the camp. Stopping at a seemingly random mare doing drills with a spear, the demon began offering pointers. The advice only served to startle the pony, though she quickly adapted and seemed confused before finally becoming appreciative.

“She seems nice,” Pinkie Pie offered.

“That she is. Come on, let's get this meeting over with already. I have a feeling they are waiting for us,” Kanathara declared.

Pinkie Pie nodded and trotted into the tent along with her companions, passing by another duo of demonic guards. Like the others, they simply ignored the new arrivals and remained impassive, their gaze hidden beneath their deep helmets. The earth pony could still feel their eyes on her, right up until she passed through the flap and entered the tent fully.

Then she went from feeling slightly out of her depth to so far outside her comfort zone that she nearly took off running. Only the expectant look from her superior, the ranger general, kept her from fleeing. The older mare also stepped aside, creating just enough space at the large round table for Pinkie Pie to join them.

Which the earth pony hesitated to do, as her curious gaze strayed about the room.

The walls of which were marked by nearly a dozen attendants, most of whom were ponies, though there were several demons. There was also a griffon, a minotaur, and even a dragon, though they were in the clear minority. These assistants and support staff were serving a wide variety of creatures who were representing an equally diverse number of factions.

Paladins, royal guard, militia members, town guard, police, mercenaries, cultists, demons, necromancers, and more were present. There were even a few bog witches, though they remained silent and seemed more intent on watching from a distance. Regardless of their loyalties, everyone who had gathered around the large map table were engaged in calm discussion.

Though there was an air of trepidation in the room, there was also a palpable sense of hope as well. Whatever their jobs or duties had been yesterday, now they were united beneath a strange all-encompassing banner. Even those who had sworn an oath to destroy the very people they now served under were calm and focused.

Trotting up next to the general, Pinkie Pie leaned in close.

“What did I miss?” asked the young ranger.

“Not much. We’ve been discussing troop movements and patrols,” answered the other mare. “It seems like Nightmare Moon is content to simply rile up whoever she can and isn't making any concerted attempt to patrol the lowlands leading to Canterlot.”

“That should make advancing up to Canterlot easier, but that means she's got all her forces there,” Pinkie Pie reasoned.

Her superior nodded. “That's what the consensus is. Though there might be some surprises waiting for us.”

“Sorry we're late, darlings. My ward was quite nervous amongst all these strangers,” Rarity greeted as she stepped into the room. “Oh my, quite the menagerie, aren't we?”

“Please, join us,” bade Pear Butter, who was now no larger than the average adult stallion. “We were about to get started.”

“Of course,” Rarity replied, trotting swiftly up to the offered position to Pear Butter’s left.

“Is that everyone?” Tirek asked, glancing about the room. “Because I’d rather not repeat myself.”

“That's everyone,” declared Mrs Shy.

Tirek stood up next to the map and pointed down to where a small x had been placed.

“As you all know, we will soon be marching on Canterlot, where we will be engaging Nightmare Moon’s forces,” Tirek began. “In order to give us a better chance of success, I believe we should split into two groups. One will remain on the ground and will attack more directly while the other attacks from above, using Cloudsdale as a mobile base.”

“How will these two teams be split?” whispered Fluttershy.

“It's simple, those with wings and a select few others will be on Cloudsdale,” Tirek answered.

“Namely a few demons, as well as a handful of paladins,” Pear Butter added. “The ability to rain down spells and rapidly reinforce any who may be in trouble will prove a great boon.”

“Quite,” agreed the stern royal guard captain. “I will have every unicorn trained in cloudwalking assemble and be prepared immediately.”

“And I’ll round up a few summoners, as well as a handful of aerial fighters to aid you,” Velvet offered.

“I… appreciate it,” murmured the royal guard.

“The rest should be fairly obvious,” Tirek continued. “Kanathara, Pear Butter, and I will be with the main strike force. We will be joined by the militia elements we've gathered, the necromancers, royal guard, rangers, paladins, and the diamond dogs.”

“While house Ebon Wind will command the aerial force alongside Velvet, Rainbow Dash, and the royal guard liaison chosen by our associate,” Pear Butter finished, nodding to the royal guard.

“I’ll have someone picked out after the meeting,” he answered.

“Do we expect any obstacles leading up to Canterlot?” questioned Rarity. “I had heard that there were little more than bandits who may get in the way.”

“That is the current assumption,” Tirek answered.

“And what about help from any of the other major cities like Manehattan, Baltimare, or Fillydelphia?” inquired Pinkie Pie.

Pear Butter shook her head grimly. “They are all occupied, and what little of the Equestrian military is left will be scattered across the continent. Like most of Equestria, they were split from within by infiltrators under the command of Nightmare Moon.”

“That explains why the eastern detachment never reported back. Damn that easily influenced lieutenant of mine,” muttered the royal guard captain.

“The rangers at least are undivided and will be with you through it all,” proclaimed the general.

“Probably because you were beneath her notice, but regardless I am happy you are here,” remarked Dawn Hammer. “Something tells me we are going to be fighting a lot of monsters from here on out.”

The ranger general snorted. “Their underestimation will be their downfall.”

“Let us hope so, because this will not be easy,” Dawn Hammer pointed out.

“The finer details of the plan will be fleshed out when we make camp at the base of the Canterhorn,” Tirek explained. “From there we should have a better understanding of our enemy and how their forces are arrayed.”

“I’ll gather my swiftest scouts. We’ll have their positions mapped before we even arrive,” Mrs Shy declared.

“Good. I don't like walking into a fight this big without a good idea of what's going on,” Applejack exclaimed, tapping her hoof on the table. “Our supply lines aren't exactly reinforced either, so we’ll have what little we can carry with us and that'll be about it.”

“Is there no hope in getting restocked?” Rarity asked.

Applejack snorted. “Not unless those yellow-bellied bandits got a whole bunch of food and weapons just lying around.”

“That's not impossible,” Rarity pointed out.

“Regardless,” Tirek interrupted. “I don't think supplies will be our biggest issue here. We have enough to get us to Canterlot and keep us well fed for a week or so. If we haven't killed Nightmare Moon in that time, we’re likely already dead.”

“That's grim,” mutterted Rainbow Dash.

“That is the reality of the situation, however,” Kanathara declared. “Temperatures will only keep decreasing until it becomes so inhospitable that any large-scale offensive will be impossible.”

“The snow is bad enough as is. If we get another blizzard, there's a good chance we just get stuck out here,” Applejack pointed out.

“We are loath to raise anymore of the dead, but they at least do not mind the cold,” Aloe remarked.

“Nor do they require jackets, sustenance, or rest as we all do,” Lotus added. “Perhaps they will be of assistance.”

“I too am loath to agree with you, but I believe it may be necessary to stop at the local cemetery,” offered Dawn Hammer.

“You should also go through the various camps and ask everyone if they would be willing to donate their body upon death,” Kanathara offered. “Giving those who agree a badge of some kind will help to ensure that those who do not consent do not get raised.”

“A grim proposition,” Lotus muttered.

“Though a necessary one,” Aloe stated.

“As grim as it is, you can add my name to that list, and I figure most of my people will feel the same way,” Applejack declared. “I’ll have some kinda badge made up by the time you find your way over to our end of the camp.”

“I hate what that monster has done to us, what she's made us sink to,” muttered the royal guard captain. “I can't wait until she's in the dirt.”

“We’ll need everyone to work together to ensure that happens though,” Fluttershy piped up.

“Exactly,” Kanathara exclaimed. “I know many of you may not appreciate the allies you’ve been forced to make, but know that doing so is necessary. Any fractures, infighting, or conflict within our ranks will only aid Nightmare Moon.”

“You won't have any concerns from us at least,” Dawn Hammer offered. “Everyone knows the stakes and understands the necessity of our current coalition.”

“Things will be difficult once Nightmare Moon is dealt with, but thinking that far ahead will only serve to make our situation even more dire,” remarked the royal guard captain.

“That is good to hear,” Tirek replied. “Because I’m going to be honest with you all. It's going to be difficult, and even the smallest distraction may spell doom for this world.”

“Understood,” declared Applejack.

“Now then, are there any other questions before we begin preparations?” Tirek offered.

The room was silent for several long seconds before finally Tirek nodded.

“Then save any concerns or suggestions for when we make camp at the base of the Canterhorn. We move in six hours, make sure your forces are ready by then,” Tirek stated.

There was a murmur of agreement and a few whispered comments before everyone began to depart. When Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack attempted to do so, however, they found themselves held in place by Kanathara’s magic.

“We have something to discuss before we move out,” Kanathara explained.

“I assume you're going to explain why you kept saying we were important to saving the world,” Rarity offered.

“Yup!” Rainbow Dash replied. “And to cut to the chase, it's because we are the Elements of Harmony.”

“I thought the Elements of Harmony were those shiny doohickies you guys stole?” Pinkie Pie half asked, half stated.

“You are partially correct. But it's not that simple. With harmonic magic, it never is,” Kanathara answered.

“So what exactly are ya sayin’?” Applejack pressed.

“I’m saying that when the time comes, we will need to gather together and attack Nightmare Moon as a group,” Kanathara explained.

“Some of us aren't exactly fighters,” Fluttershy whispered.

“That won't matter,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “We really only need you to be there. You don't have to fight in the traditional sense.”

“Or at least we hope not,” Kanathara added.

“So in practical terms we just gotta meet back up before we make our final push to the castle,” Rarity reasoned.

“And don't die,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “I can't emphasize that point enough. If you do, there is a chance that the whole world is screwed.”

“We’ll try not to,” Applejack remarked somewhat sarcastically.

“See to it that you do,” Kanathara reiterated. “Because this entire plan hinges on all of us being able to get to the castle in one piece.”

“Is that everything, darling?” Rarity inquired. “Because I’d like to get back to my wife before she inevitably pisses off our rather large pet.”

“That's everything,” Kanathara replied.

“Great. Now I get a whole heck of a lot of work ahead of me, so if you’ll excuse me,” Applejack stated as she rose from her spot at the table.

“Do stay warm,” Rarity offered as she joined Applejack in leaving.

“I should really check on mom. Stay safe, everyone,” Fluttershy added, trotting hastily out of the tent.

“So…” Kanathara turned to Pinkie Pie. “You have been quiet.”

“I’ve been thinking,” Pinkie Pie murmured.

“About what?” Rainbow Dash prompted.

“Would you girls consider the rest of us friends?” Pinkie Pie asked, gesturing around the empty table where the other elements had been seated a minute earlier.

“More of acquaintances really, though I’ve grown fond of Applejack,” Kanathara admitted.

“Fluttershy is my friend, and I suppose Applejack is as well. Rarity’s a bit persnickety, and I haven't exactly been around you long enough to come to a decision one way or the other,” Rainbow Dash added.

Pinkie Pie rose from her spot. “Just consider it, okay? Something tells me it's important that we trust one another.”

“Of course we trust you girls. You all want to live to see the sun again,” Kanathara reasoned.

“You don't trust us,” Pinkie Pie retorted, shaking her head. “You trust that we want to stay alive. Those aren't the same things.”

“I suppose not,” Kanathara murmured.

“Is there a point to this?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Pinkie Pie shrugged. “Not really I guess. Just… think about it, okay?”

Kanathara nodded. “We will.”

Author's Note

Trial Thirteen: Allies

Above Equestria the clouds were sparse, though imposing, and with the only illumination being the moon, the land was bathed in darkness. The low-lying hills, long dirt roads, and many farm houses looked empty, their inhabitants having long since fled, allowing the large motley assortment of creatures to march down the many dirt roads with almost complete impunity.

Large, hulking demons pulled carts or wagons alongside a great number of zombified beings of varied origin. Pack animals were few and far between, with the majority of the army’s supplies having been borne on the backs of its soldiers. Either that or placed within the mobile fortress of Cloudsdale which soared high above them, the floating city flying against the wind.

Towed by over a hundred winged creatures of various races, the once venerable metropolis had been stripped bare. Entire districts had been cut loose and moored near Ponyville, leaving only the central pillar in a single piece. All remaining structures had been reinforced, their roofs sporting siege weapons, supplies, or squads of winged entities ready to spring into action.

Ahead of them stood Canterlot, its many peaks gleaming in the mid-summer winter. Its walls were high, its battlements mostly intact, and the damage was visible on more than just its fortifications. The odd pillar of smoke billowed up from its many districts, and the occasional spell could be seen lighting up the sky. Contrary to the activity in Canterlot, the lowlands around it were quiet, with its inhabitants having been killed, evacuated, or turned bandit.

Kanathara cared little for her surroundings and grumbled as she stomped alongside Tirek, a scowl permanently affixed to her face. Around her marched the rest of their army, most of whom gave the grumpy demon a wide berth. Pear Butter, the lone centaur of the bunch, and Pythias were the only real exceptions to that rule.

“Would you stop sighing every five seconds?” Tirek muttered. “You won't be away from her for that long anyway.”

“It's not that,” Kanathara replied. “It's just… okay, so maybe I’m a little annoyed, but it's not like they need Rainbow Dash right now anyway.”

“Now I know you may not like it, dear, but you can't deny that it's for the best. She is a very strong flier,” Pear Butter pointed out.

“I think Kanathara knows that,” Pythias added in a slightly jerking tone, as if she were still unused to speaking rather than communicating through telepathy. “That does not mean it is any easier for her.”

“I’m just bitter, is all,” Kanathara muttered. “I am walking hoof-first into hell, and I want my partner here by my side. Is that too much to ask?”

You know we can still communicate, right? Rainbow Dash mentally pointed out.

“I know that!” Kanathara shouted, the demon grumbling angrily under her breath.

The familiar merely snickered through their connection, though Kanathara knew she felt similarly. It was hard not to pick up on the vengant’s slightly sour mood, the only difference being that Rainbow Dash was better at hiding it. Unlike Kanathara who continued to stomp, snort, and glare at almost anyone who looked her way.

The haze of annoyance and general anxiety that hung over the keeper was interrupted by the beat of leathery wings. A second later, an imp appeared from the dark, partially cloudless sky before somewhat awkwardly landing in front of Pear Butter.

“Boss, boss! We ran into more bandits,” he exclaimed, his nasally voice barely audible over the ever-present wind. “They had great stuff. Mostly food, but they did have some weapons and magic doohickeys.”

Pear Butter blinked. “Really now? You must have dealt with them quite expediently if we didn't even have to slow our march.”

The imp cackled loudly. “They were worthless ponieses that barely even put up a fight. Squad leader almost let them go until she found out they had a bunch of demons in cages. Then we ate them.”

Pear Butter sighed. “What did I tell you about eating people?”

“To kill them first and make sure no one sees,” the imp dutifully replied.

“And do not talk about you eating them,” Pear Butter added.

The imp blinked. “Oopsies.”

“So, what kind of demon did they capture?” Kanathara inquired. “They couldn't have been very strong if a bunch of poorly trained ponies managed to catch them off guard.”

“I don't know,” declared the imp with a shrug. “They looked like ponies, but they had wings, a horn, and a bunch of holes in ‘em like someone impaled them a bunch of times. Maybe they were sadism demons?”

“Wait, holes, wings, and a horn? Did they have a black exoskeleton?” Kanathara asked.

“I think so. Their skin was all hard and dark like onyx,” replied the imp.

“Wait, what would a changeling be doing way out here?” Tirek inquired.

“I don't know, but I desperately want to find out. Come on,” Kanathara urged. “You’re taking me to them right now, imp.”

The slightly rotund, red-skinned humanoid bobbed his armored head dutifully. “Yes, of course. Follow Skinbag.”

“I really need to find a better name for you,” Pear Butter muttered while she watched the imp and Kanathara sprint off down the column.

“Imps have the weirdest names,” Tirek remarked.

“At least he wasn't called Pus Bucket,” Pythias pointed out.

The trio shuddered.

Kantathara trotted impatiently into the throng of imps and their overseers, cutting a path through the chaos. Which wasn't too hard, as the cultists and their minions were busy carrying crates of dried goods out of the impressively large farm house. Another trail of supplies were coming from the barn, though those were less numerous and were in larger boxes. Arms and armor alike were extracted from what had once been the banditss hideout, its former inhabitants now either imp food or captive.

All of this was ignored by Kanathara who tromped up to the home quickly and without paying any mind to the others. Upon reaching the door, she paused just long enough for a cultist carrying a crate to pass before she slipped inside. There she found that the whole place had been ransacked, either during the fighting or in the looting which had occurred immediately after.

“Where are they?” Kanathara demanded, turning back to the imp.

“Basement, through there,” replied the dutiful demon, who pointed to a handless door barely visible behind a large china cabinet. “They hid the entrance behind that big box thingy with all the expensive stuff in it.”

Kanathara grunted, pushing open the entrance a little more before proceeding down into the gloom. With no light save for the odd candle sitting on a holder in the wall, it was hard to see, provided you weren't a demon. Kanathara, however, had no such trouble, and all but leapt down the stairs before looking curiously around the bottom floor.

A large room was visible to the right, while on the left were two smaller ones that were nearly identical to one another. The demon was about to start with the two smaller rooms when she heard the sound of conversation coming from the opposite direction. Turning her attention the other way, Kanathara swiftly trotted out into a much more open area which had once been a living room.

Its original purpose was now all but forgotten, as cages had replaced couches, though a single large bed remained. There were also a pair of cultists, and a trio of imps who stood aimlessly around these occupied enclosures. Which had within them nearly a dozen changelings between the three steel cages, their forms packed tight together.

“So you’re saying that you aren't a demon,” remarked a cultist in a confused tone.

“For the last time, we are not demons!” shrieked an angry changeling. “Now as the last queen of the Badlands hive, I order you to free me!”

“Yeah, I don't think you’re going to be ordering anyone around here, missy,” retorted the cultist.

The largest of the changelings growled and reached through the bars, attempting to grab the rotund earth pony by the throat. Her efforts were met not by fear but by laughter, and eventually the changeling gave up, slumping back into her cage. Where she were comforted by its two other occupants who patted her back or brushed her mane.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” Kanathara mused aloud. “You lot have acquired quite an interesting catch.”

“We are noone's catch,” spat the largest changeling, who spun around to reveal that she was missing an eye and had numerous shallow scars across her exterior. “We are the last of the changelings, and we will not be treated like cattle or common whores.”

“That assumes you produce something of value or are attractive, and I have yet to see evidence of either of those things,” Kanathara remarked.

The other cultists chuckled while an imp rolled around on the floor laughing obnoxiously.

“Who are you to mock our suffering, creature of sin?” spat the changeling.

“I am Kanathara, though my name is irrelevant. All you need to know is that I hold your fate in my hooves, and that you need to give me a reason to spare you,” Kanathara replied leisurely.

The creature’s eyes narrowed. “You are a keeper of secrets, yes?”

“You know of my kind?” Kanathara inquired.

“We changelings remember many things that the Equestrians have forgotten. Truths which have gone unwritten and magic which has long since been declared lost,” answered the changeling.

Kanathara couldn't help but smile. “Oh, something tells me we are going to get along just fine, though before we continue negotiations, I have a different curiosity to satisfy. Namely, how did you end up here? I thought the changeling nation was larger than what, a baker's dozen?”

The largest changeling scowled and gnashed her teeth in barely contained rage. “We were legion, but then that foul creature took Canterlot and killed what love was left in this wretched world.”

“Wait, love? What does that have to do with anything?” asked a cultist.

“They are emotivores,” Kanathara answered. “If things are too bleak and loveless, then they would starve.”

“It seems as though I am not the only one with knowledge of the other,” exclaimed the changeling, her tone containing a small hint of appreciation.

“I am very well read,” Kanathara stated simply.

“Hmmph, so it seems,” murmured the changeling. “And to continue my tale, we attempted to get rid of this Nightmare creature, but were rebuffed.”

She growled, shaking with barely contained rage. “Her hatred poisons this land and infected my children, driving some to madness and leaving the swarm open to a counterattack.”

The shapeshifter sighed. “After that it wasn't long before my forces were scattered, and I was forced to put the majority of my population into hibernation. What you see before you are the last warriors I have left, our final mission left incomplete.”

“Which was?” Kanathara prompted.

“I had heard of an army approaching from Ponyville and was hoping they were going to stop the Nightmare. I assume some remnants of the Equestrian guard have managed to regroup and had mobilized,” reasoned the changeling.

“Nope,” Kanathara declared. “That army would be us.”

The changeling blinked several times. “Color me intrigued. Why would an interplanar being such as yourself bother to risk so much on this world?”

“A long story short, I like it here,” Kanathara smiled wolfishly and leaned in close. “But I’m not the one telling their life story right now. That would be you.”

“I am Chrysalis, Queen of the changelings and Sovereign of the Badlands,” declared the changeling proudly. “The would-be Bane of Canterlot, and now a prisoner.”

Kanathara nodded slowly, trotting back and forth in front of the cage. “Here is what's going to happen. You are going to tell me all of your secrets, starting with any tactical advantages you could give us on Canterlot.”

“And then?” Chrysalis replied.

“I’ll consider letting your species survive the night,” Kanathara answered with a grin.

The changelings all looked to their leader, each one able to detect the malice radiating off the keeper in waves. Even Chrysalis was a little put off and found herself unsettled by the intensity of the demon’s emotions.

“Fine,” the large changeling muttered in a defeated tone. “Just please, save my children. They have suffered enough.”

“If you give me what I want, then you’ll have improved the chances of defeating the Nightmare and thus averting planar annihilation,” Kanathara answered. “Treat me to enough secrets, and I just might aid you after she is defeated.”

Chrysalis’s shocked expression slowly morphed into one of curiosity. “You really are an interesting creature, aren't you? Well, allow me to start with all the secret tunnels and backways we used to enter Canterlot. If you’re lucky, a few might still be hidden.”

Kanathara clopped her hoof loudly against the floor before pointing at a few cultists at random. “You, grab paper, you, prepare some warm clothing, you, find a few captives of our own. Can't have our new allies dying of hunger, now can we?”

“Oh, I like you,” Chrysalis exclaimed with a grin. “Now then, the first is-”

So, what you’re saying is nearly all of the tactical information is likely useless, Rainbow Dash deadpanned, the demon locked in an intense mental discussion with her mistress while also pulling an entire city behind her, thick ropes wrapped about the vengant’s armored midsection.

Some of it is probably of value. I’m just glad we've found a piece of the puzzle and now have an explanation as to how Celestia has been able to hold out this long. The Nightmare was busy fighting a whole other army on top of an insurrection, Kanathara gushed.

I still don't like it. This Chrysalis seems the type to sell out anyone and everyone at the drop of a hat. Who's to say she isn't in league with the Nightmare? Rainbow Dash replied.

I have her on contract now. She can't lie to me, and I’ve already gone over the information she gave me. The only thing she lied about was how successful her invasion was. Kanathara chuckled. Turns out that an army of malnourished and underequipped civilians is no match against a well dug-in foe, even if those civvies can shapeshift.

Duh. Spotting an illusion is the first thing any accomplished soldier learns, Rainbow Dash remarked.

Provided they aren't a blood demon or something and can just see right past it without any effort, Kanathara added.

True, Rainbow Dash agreed. That would really only work on ponies, and even then, only if they were untrained militia. Speaking of which-

I already checked in with the rest of the army. They’ve been briefed on this development, Kanathara cut off. Pear Butter already came up with a few countermeasures should the changelings become an issue.

Well, that's good. Anything else of note happen since we left? Rainbow Dash inquired.

Nearly every single militia pony and ranger signed up to be a zombie upon death. A couple royal guards and a few paladins did as well, but they were in the minority, Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. Predictable. Even facing the prospect of their world being cleansed of life, they cling to their stubborn pride.

All save for those fighting not for the abstract concept of global annihilation, but their homes and loved ones, Kanathara reasoned.

Exactly, Rainbow Dash agreed.

Other than that, it seems as though the bandits have realized that they can't hide or beat us, so they’ve fled. Opposition has been minimal on the ground. What about you? Kanathara asked.

Almost nonexistent, Rainbow Dash answered. There were a couple flying demons that harassed us at the start, but wayward clouds have become our greatest obstacle. Most are so loaded with snow that they are impossible to bust or move without diverting an entire squad to the task.

So there has been no concerted effort to slow you down at all? Kanathara asked.

Not that I’ve… wait a second, Rainbow Dash began, her gaze narrowing on a patch of black clouds rolling her way.

They seemed normal at first glance, but Rainbow Dash had a well-trained eye and could tell they weren’t moving with the wind. Rather they were drifting along in a manner which would end with them in the path of Cloudsdale. Worse still, Rainbow Dash could tell that there were numerous creatures moving about the back of the bank of clouds.

What, what is it? Kanathara inquired.

Looks like we got some opposition after all. Give me a second to unhook myself. I gotta deal with this, Rainbow Dash replied.

The demon tugged at the ropes binding her, attempting to remove them without simply slashing through them all or turning to smoke and wasting her limited energy. She stopped doing this the second she noticed something odd from behind her. The flap of many beating wings could be heard, though they all paled in comparison with the shriek of a terrified seamstress.

A second later, an angry grootslang leapt into the sky, it's great body shifting like it was swimming through the air. On its back, clinging for dear life, was a baffled Rarity and her wife, who was holding the reins as well as the unicorn. The chaos beast didn't seem to care about the frantic tugs from its rider and shrieked loudly as it charged the cloud embankment.

Close on its heels were a dozen Ebon Wind assassins, all flying as fast as they could in order to keep up with the chaotic creature. Who slammed into the enemy emplacement like a meteor, sending the destroyed remnants of what had once been a ballista falling to the ground below. The grootslang also smacked aside roughly a dozen imps before rearing back and unleashing a gout of flame from its mouth.

“Huh,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Within seconds the Ebon Wind assassins, clad in their signature black leather armor, descended upon the confused pack of demons. Daggers flashed, smoke bombs detonated, and within seconds over half of the would-be ambushers were dead. The rest did their best to fight back and even rallied behind a larger pit demon bearing a moon-shaped brand upon his head.

That resistance didn't last long, however, as the grootslang soon grabbed ahold of him and pulled the poor demon in half. Without a leader or surprise, there was little the attackers could do but try and take as many down with them. Which didn't work very well, as the assassins were too fast, and the grootslang was far too tough for the demons to actually injure.

It wasn't long until almost all of the enemy forces were dead, and the assassins were mopping up those who were trying to flee. The grootslang merely stood there proudly, looking out over the battlefield while Rarity continued to cling to its back with all four legs. Only the lone diamond dog in their midst seemed cognizant of what needed to be done and was busy barking orders.

Status? Kanathara inquired with a hint of amusement.

Ay, okay, Rainbow Dash replied. It seems as though Rarity and her pet are here.

Best not to question it. A chaos beast rarely if ever makes sense, Kanathara muttered somewhat bitterly.

No kidding, Rainbow Dash agreed. We are still a few hours out. How are you guys doing?

Provided we don't get stuck again, we should be there at about the same time. Don't forget to meet us for the final debriefing, Kanathara reminded.

And miss my chance to shower you with affection one final time before we really start this fight? No damn way, Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara grunted, her embarrassment coming through their connection. Just try not to get slowed down.

Rainbow Dash laughed to herself as the connection was cut. “One day you’ll be better at showing affection. That is not tonight, however.”

Kanathara tapped her hoof impatiently against the cold, frost-covered ground. Behind her sat a large command tent, one filled with most of the higher-ups from their motley army. Said army was busy making camp for one final time, their tents erected beneath the shadow of the Canterhorn.

Or at least it would be, as the moon hung directly above the mighty mountain, its light bright yet didn't warm them one bit. Beneath its baleful glare, the various sects and factions toiled away, constructing limited fortifications in case of an attack. None had tried, but with Canterlot only a few miles away, no one was willing to take that chance.

“Where is she?” Kanathara muttered.

“Whosat?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“Bwah! Where did you come from?” Kanathara demanded.

Pinkie Pie blinked owlishly. “The tent, silly.”

“Just… don't sneak up on me,” Kanathara murmured.

“It's Applejack, isn't it?” Pinkie Pie inquired while scratching her chin. “I think I remember her saying something about resolving an issue with a few squads not working together properly.”

“Well, she should hurry up. I want to get as much time in with my girlfriend before we depart,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Oh I’m sure it will be fine,” Pinkie Pie replied.

Kanathara merely grunted, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd with a sharp, analytical eye. Seconds ticked by without the familiar orange mare appearing from amidst the horde of working creatures. Tension built, and Kanathara’s horn lit, a scrying spell forming within the keeper’s mind.

Only for a sudden gust of ice cold wind to cause the magic to suddenly flicker and die. Her curiosity now piqued, Kanathara glanced up at the sky, half expecting to find that it was still relatively clear. Yet that was not the case, as a storm front had seemingly sprung up out of nowhere within seconds.

A black swirling mass was hanging above the Canterhorn, its turbulent underside rippling unnaturally. Dark blue lightning shot throughout the cluster of clouds, lighting up the sky and sending a primal spark of fear into Kanathara’s soul. Though fearful, the keeper was also intrigued, the strange phenomenon sparking a need to learn more about what was going on.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara didn't look back, though she knew the rest of the officers and leaders of the army had exited the tent. All stared up in awe at the bizarre sight, confused, and curious whispers passing between them. Kanathara didn't pay them any attention, however, merely looking on, her mind churning with possibilities.

All of which collapsed the second she saw several shapes begin to move through the strange cloud. Their forms were gaseous, yet still solid and flowed like the ghost of a winter storm. Snow fell from their cloudy forms, and as they moved, the wall of clouds grew thicker as well as darker.

Then, as one, a trio of the creatures leapt from the top of the cloud and galloped through the sky towards the camp at the base of the Canterhorn. Alarms were raised, spells were being cast, and orders were shouted, but Kanathara didn't pay attention to any of that. For the objects of her fascination were coming directly at her, their hooves hitting only air, yet pulling them along just the same.

“Kanathara, snap out of it!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “We need to prepare for an attack.”

“They’re windigos, Rainbow Dash. They were supposed to have gone extinct, starved by the peace that came after the unification wars,” Kanathara muttered. “What are they doing here?”

“I think we’re about to find out,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Together the pair watched as the trio of windigos finished their gallop and stopped just beyond the edge of the camp. High above the ground, the three ethereal creatures glared balefully down at the gathered army, their white eyes glowing with maleficence. With their arrival, the temperature plummeted, and the sky darkened as the moon was blotted out, a stiff wind cutting through the air like a knife.

“Listen here, creatures of flesh and blood,” boomed the slightly feminine voice of the lead windigo. “The true ruler of this world has returned and gifted us a glorious purpose.”

“To bar your passage with ice and snow, keeping you from interrupting her purification of this plane,” continued another of the windigos. “No longer will you vile creatures spoil our home with your presence and pollute our skies with your so-called industry.”

“So go back. Go back and await the end in the company and warmth of your fellows,” added another of the creatures. “Enjoy the final, fleeting moments of your existence in comfort while you wait for the cold to sap the fires in your soul.”

“Well, I guess we found out why she didn't bother to fortify the approach to Canterlot,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Now for the real question,” Kanathara exclaimed. “How do we kill them?”

Author's Note

Trial Thirteen: Snowfall

Rainbow Dash exhaled a plume of fire into the metal ring at the center of the tent, igniting the hearth’s contents. Soon warmth filled the room, and the excited crackle entered the ears of everyone in attendance. A sigh was shared amongst those not blessed with an intense inner fire, such as Kanathara, who eagerly wrapped her hooves around the back of her familiar.

“Feel better?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Very,” Kanathara replied, her body draped over the vengant.

“Now that we ain't all freezin’ to death, maybe we can figure a way outta this mess,” Applejack murmured, hiking a blanket a little further up her shoulders.

The rest of the army’s leaders all nodded or otherwise voiced their agreement for this course of action. Including Pear Butter, who was one of the few who not wearing numerous heavy garments to banish the cold.

“If y'all have ideas, then air ‘em quick. We got a few hours before we're buried in snow or frozen solid,” she remarked.

“I assume these windigos are difficult to kill, yes?” Rarity inquired.

“You could say that,” remarked Tirek. “They are impervious to physical harm, and last I checked, they had never actually been killed before. Only starved out due to peace and harmony ridding the world of their food source.”

“Well, they certainly have a considerable amount of rage and general chaos to feed on,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Wait, chaos…” Dawn Hammer murmured. “You don't think Discord has gotten free, do you?”

“I would have detected such a large burst of magic,” Kanathara quickly offered. “Furthermore, I don't think Nightmare Moon would allow him to just walk around.”

“She's probably locked him up tighter with the plan being to just drop him into the ocean or something,” Tirek added. “After everyone has died, there would be no chaos to feed on and thus no chance he would ever get out.”

“Or she plans on killing him after the rest of us are gone,” Dawn Hammer replied. “He would be at his weakest without any mortals around.”

“Regardless,” Mrs. Shy began and cleared her throat, “I think we can safely assume that the Lord of Chaos will be out of this fight.”

“A fair assessment, I believe,” Rarity agreed.

“If she got desperate though? What about then?” Pinkie Pie pressed.

“Even then, she wouldn't. Discord needs people around to play with and would side against her in an instant,” Dawn Hammer declared.

“You speak as though you know the Lord of Madness quite well,” Tirek pointed out.

“All royal guards receive a comprehensive report on him, and though completely crazy, Discord has certain tendencies that can be counted on,” Dawn Hammer explained. “Such as his fondness of this plane and his desire to rule it.”

“Hmm, fair,” Tirek murmured.

“Moving on,” Rainbow Dash prompted.

“Yes, moving on. How do we hurt these windigo things? Something tells me that peace isn't exactly an option right now,” Pinkie Pie asked.

“I… don't know,” Kanathara admitted. “Maybe we could reproduce the effect peace has on them through some other magical means? No, that would take years to figure out.”

“What about containing them? Perhaps with a layer of interlocking shields and wards?” Dawn Hammer asked.

“No, that would never work. They are too slippery for such a thing,” Tirek retorted. “The spells necessary to keep them corporeal would clash with the ones that would trap them.”

“I mean, not if we used Heisenberg’s uncertainty ward,” Rarity offered. “That wouldn't clash with the shield spells, would it?”

“Maybe, but then power will become a problem,” Tirek pointed out.

Kanathara remained quiet, her mind churning with thoughts and ideas while the others argued. Those not knowledgeable in magic didn't take part in the discussion, though they did consider tunneling into Canterlot. A possible strategy, though one that wouldn't allow them to reach their target in the necessary amount of time.

A glance in Pythias’ direction piqued Kanathara’s curiosity, as the other demon was staring off into space. She would then twitch, only to look elsewhere, her eyes seeing something which only she could perceive. Though frowning, Pythias appeared to have a small glimmer of hope in her eye, prompting Kanathara to relinquish her hold on her familiar.

“I’ll be right back,” Kanathara whispered.

“Don't be long. I’m not sure how much of this nerd argument I can take,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and slipped around the edge of the tent until she came to Pythias. There the keeper of secrets sat down next to the seer and waited for the right moment to speak. Thankfully that didn't take much time, as Pythias’ shoulders soon slumped, and she glanced over at the demonic equine next to her.

“I have little to offer,” Pythias warned.

“But you do have something,” Kanathara pointed out.

Pythias nodded. “History is important, namely their history. I cannot perceive anything more than that. There are too many possibilities, too many futures. The veil is thick and cannot be pierced.”

“History… I’ll look into it,” Kanathara noted.

“Do hurry. The possibilities are narrowing with each passing minute, and I do not wish to see the future which becomes inevitable,” Pythias urged.

“I won't,” Kanathara replied before standing back up and trotting over to her spot once more. “I have something, but we’re going to need to read up on a few things.”

“Augh, I hate reading. Can't I just serve as your blanket?” Rainbow Dash whined.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. “Fine, just keep the grumbling to a minimum.”

“Can't promise that,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Despite her annoyance, Kanathara smiled when she felt her familiar drape her warm body across her back. With what felt like a heated blanket lying atop her, Kanathara felt energized and quickly lit her horn. A second later, a small portal rimmed with purple flames opened to reveal what looked like an enormous library.

“Windigos,” she spoke into the portal.

A moment later, a flurry of books from all across the vast room took flight, carried by greenish magic. One by one they flew through the narrow opening and landed in an increasingly large pile next to the keeper. Who dispelled the portal the moment the last of her reading materials had passed through the glowing circle.

“Can I help?” asked Pinkie Pie.

Kanathara merely nodded, unsurprised by the mare’s sudden appearance. “Start with this one and find any mention of windigos. If you get that done, then just grab from this pile.”

“Okey dokey lokey,” Pinkie Pie replied.

With that, Kanathara grabbed a book of her own and began to skim through it at a rapid pace. Years of study and practice had enabled her to fly through the tome in only a few minutes. Another of the tome’s siblings was then placed upon the metaphorical chopping block and swiftly scanned by the voracious reader.

This repeated several times, with Kanathara and Pinkie Pie cutting through the pile in about a half-hour. Unfortunately for the keeper of secrets, her expression had only darkened after her job was done.

“I sure hope you found something of use, Pinkie Pie, because I got nothing. Just endless speculation over their nature and origin without any true substance,” Kanthara remarked.

“Oh, this one had something interesting,” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, pulling a slim book from the pile. “It's apparently the diary of a pegasus general during the Unification Wars, and it talks about several run-ins with windigos.”

“Let me see that,” Kanathara asked, extending a hoof.

“Sure thing. Page 56, about halfway down,” Pinkie Pie answered, handing over the tome.

Kanathara turned to the indicated page and began to read aloud. “The day is June third, and at three in the afternoon we had another encounter with the dreaded windigos. They appeared overhead during a minor skirmish with earth pony bandits plundering a gem mine in the Macintosh Hills.”

“Interesting,” Kanathara murmured. “He goes on to describe how fighting ceased immediately, and both parties retreated, robbing the windigos of their meal. The spectral creatures wandered off soon after, seeking out greener pastures.”

“Well, that doesn't help very much,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“No, it doesn't, but the general lists all of his encounters, and they never once try to fight the windigos,” Kanathara continued. “He even went on to discuss these creatures with the other generals who survived the war and ended up on the same side when the conflict was over.”

“And they all say the same thing.” Pinkie Pie gasped. “That the windigos never actually fought a demon or even a particularly powerful magic user. But what does that all mean?”

“It means we might be able to eat them,” Kanathara explained. “They are, after all, basically just souls tied to a particularly strong clump of old magic that is somehow alive.”

“Someone must have tried that before,” Rainbow Dash reasoned.

Kanathara shook her head. “Demonology was almost unheard of back then and wouldn't even be explored extensively until the sisters’ war much later. By then the windigos had already died out, unexposed to those from the lower planes.”

“So they don't know how to fight demons and don't know that we can eat their souls,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Pretty much,” Kanathara agreed.

“Good.” Rainbow Dash stood up. “That's all I needed to know.”

“Wait, did you guys find somethin?” Applejack inquired. “‘Cause I sure hope so. This conversation is slowly goin’ nowhere.”

“I believe that your attempts to contain them, although not permanent, are still helpful,” Kanathara began, raising her voice slightly and silencing all others. “Provided we can lock them down long enough, I believe we can simply devour their souls.”

“Wait, really? It can't be that easy, right?” Rarity inquired.

“A demon normally can't consume the soul of someone who's alive because it's too firmly anchored to their body,” Twilight Velvet remarked, the mare having entered the tent sometime during Kanathara’s research binge. “But since windigos are basically just animated hunks of magic, you might be able to get away with it. That said, the kickback might be lethal.”

“So we pin it down, summon a few imps and see what happens. Easy,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Tirek hummed. “It's not the worst plan of action, though we should consider a back-up plan or two in case that doesn't work.”

“Fair enough,” Kanathara admitted.

“But how are we even going to reach them in the first place?” Rarity inquired. “You saw the storm they brought with them. I doubt any of you could fly in that.”

“Leave that to me,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed. “I’ve got just the thing.”

“Not this again,” Kanathara muttered, running a hoof down her face. “That didn't work the first six times you tried it, why would it work now?”

“Because now everything is perfect,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

“What is she talkin’ about?” Applejack asked in a low tone.

“You’ll see soon enough!” Rainbow Dash shouted before sprinting out of the tent.

“Augh,” Kanathara groaned. “We better get moving if we want to make use of the shitstorm Rainbow Dash is about to unleash.”

“Why, what's going on?” Rarity inquired.

“It would be quicker if you just watched,” Kanathara replied, stepping out of the tent and into the ever-present blizzard raging all around them.

Behind her, the other leaders had either followed and were waiting or were marshaling their forces. Kanathara on the other hand was busy using a spell on herself, one which once completed allowed her to levitate into the air. A second one amplified her voice, allowing her to shout up into the heavens, all the way to where the windigos were.

“Hey, just for your information, Nightmare Moon plans on wiping out all life on this plane,” Kanathara shouted. “Which includes you guys.”

There was a moment of silence before one of the ethereal horses descended from a bank of clouds and stopped a little closer.

“Impossible,” it began. “It is our destiny to rule alone on a snow-covered world devoid of all other life.”

“Wouldn't you starve?” Kanathara retorted.

“Foolish,” retorted the magical creature. “We require no nourishment to simply exist within our realms of ice and snow. It is only your presence that drains us of our power.”

“Great, just had to check in case there was any moral ambiguity. Wouldn't want the ponies bothering me about killing a slave or something,” Kanathara explained.

The windigo swirled in confusion, its form blurring as it tried to process what it had just been told. “What foolishness spills forth from your meat hole?” demanded the windigo.

“Nothing. Say, is it getting warmer?” Kanathara inquired.

“It is not…” The windigo paused. “Where is this heat coming…”

The creature looked around in a panic, its gaze landing almost immediately on a spot somewhere behind the keeper of secrets. There it located what looked to be a rapidly growing mass of wind, within which was a spinning entity that spewed fire in all directions. Hellfire shot from nearly every kink in Rainbow Dash’s armor, the blackish-red flame resisting the blizzard and burning hot.

Around and around the vengant went, moving so fast that she was a blur of flaming metal. The windstorm she was conjuring grew with each passing second, going from barely holding together to standing strong. Eventually, it was able to overpower the blizzard, scorching the clouds and driving back the windigos which had gathered.

Confused, and for once terrified, the magical creatures were so surprised that they didn't even react until the tornado was released. By then Rainbow Dash was no longer even visible, the hellfire windstorm burning so bright that she couldn't be seen. In fact, the pillar of swirling flames was so all-consuming that the entire army looked on in a mix of confusion and fear.

The ever-present howling wind shifted, becoming a scream of barely contained rage that filled all who heard it with dread. Even the windigos were not immune to its effects, though they didn't have the chance to contemplate it as the tornado was on the move. Surging directly towards the group of magical creatures, the mass of hellfire and wind blew aside all that got in its way.

Trees were uprooted if not instantly incinerated, the snow melted, and dirt was thrown high into the air. Above it all, the heavy snow-filled clouds melted, depositing their watery payload before dissipating completely due to the heat. The tornado shifted, careening around the army before slamming into the mass of windigos, sending most flying.

This knocked some sense into the mass of magical creatures, who used their icy powers to try and combat the tornado. Their efforts were mostly in vain, but the swirling windstorm did shrink ever so slightly. Those who had been knocked aside rejoined their brethren and added their power to the assault, stopping Rainbow Dash in her tracks.

Then, just as it seemed like the hellfire-infused wind was about to be defused, it exploded violently. Flaming debris rained down in all directions, along with white hot embers that drove the windigos back once more. One of their rank who had been knocked to the ground was soon swarmed.

A horde of imps recently called from the depths of Tartarus covered it utterly, devouring the creature in mere seconds. A horrifying, ear-piercing scream elicited a sense of victory and terror in equal measure for all who heard it. The sound was then followed by a violent pop as two of the imps erupted in gore, sending their innards flying in all directions.

“What?” shouted one of the windigos. “How have you done this? We are the true inheritors of this world. We are invincible!”

“You are also quite delicious by the sounds of it,” Kanathara retorted.

The windigos looked down in horror as the mass of still living imps stared back at them with an intense craving in their eyes. They weren't alone either, as several other squads of their kind were already standing ready along with their winged allies. The tense stand-off lasted mere moments before the mass of demons leaped into the air with a unified cry of hunger.

“Scatter!” bellowed one of the windigos. “We will return to Mistress Moon and find out how to gird ourselves against these foul abominations!”

“Split up, let none escape!” Pear Butter shouted over the wind.

Her squads followed after their charges, their flight temporarily unimpeded by howling winds or biting cold. Only an open sky greeted them, allowing the motley assortment of creatures to quickly chase down their icy foes. The fastest of the bunch was a group of Ebon Wind assassins led by none other than Fluttershy’s mother.

On either side flew two assassins, their bladed wings glinting in the bright light of the full moon. Behind them, lagging several feet back, were a pack of howling imps desperate to reach the fight first. Together they charged after one of the windigos, their quick movements somehow always able to adjust for the windigo’s change in course.

A swerve to the right was countered, a sudden dip met with a just as quick change in direction. Not only did the pegasus assassins manage to keep up, but they were able to reach the windigo before long. Upon doing so, one of the assassins buried a shining golden dagger into the windigo’s side, causing the creature to cry out in agony.

“How dare you harm me, you worthless sack of meat!” shouted the windigo before unleashing a hail of icy magic at its attacker.

The assassin was fast, but not fast enough, dodging the majority of the attack, but still getting nicked. In an instant, nearly her entire back half was covered in ice, weighing her down significantly and causing her to fall. Two of the assassin wing dropped along with her, catching the wounded fighter before she could get too far.

Down to only a single assistant, Mrs. Shy didn't hesitate to continue her pursuit, producing a pair of glowing daggers. She then weaved through the windigo's attacks and struck home with first one of her blades and then the other. The windigo’s form lost its definition, and the creature became a swirling mass of snowy ice that twisted through the air.

Upon putting some distance between itself and its attacker, the windigo snorted angrily. “You may wound, but you can never kill me. Worm!” it shouted.

“Yeah, we know. That's the point of them,” Mrs. Shy replied, pointing behind the windigo.

“What?” scoffed the windigo, who spun around. “There is nothing, augh!”

A mere second after it turned around, a horde of imps hit it from below, quickly overwhelming it. The creature wasn't about to go down without a fight though, and it tried to escape again. This didn't work, as the imps clung to its form, their maws open wide and consuming its very essence.

It wasn't long before the creature’s efforts grew sluggish, and it released one final cry of rage before dying. Its death rattle killed nearly half of the imps, though the survivors showed no concern for their dead allies. They had gorged themselves on the most potent soul any of them had ever imagined and were content for the first time in their second life.

“Works every time,” remarked the assassin.

Rarity heard the scream of her wife as clear as day, the girlish cry cutting through the wind whistling past her ears. Despite being aware of this fact, she did not slow down or even turn her head to see if the diamond dog was okay. The voice was not falling away into the distance, so she was at least still in the second saddle, which was all that mattered.

“Catch them!” Rarity shouted over the roar of the wind.

The mare couldn't be certain if she was heard, but the grootslang continued to swim through the air anyway. Its movements were nonsensical, the great beast having somehow learned the best way of flying was to pretend like the sky was an ocean. Regardless of how, it was moving quite fast, so much so that their squad of imps had hitched a ride on the chaos beast’s tail rather than fly on their own.

They at least were not screaming, though the confused pair of windigos were doing just that. The duo was the most terrified of the lot and flew with all the speed they could muster. They stopped only briefly, firing beams of icy magic back at their pursuer, who weaved around the attacks with a strange ease.

After nearly a minute of fleeing, the windigos realized their lead was gone, and the grootslang was gaining. Having noticed the shrinking gap they had on the chaotic creature, they both quietly agreed to turn and face it. Spinning around in the air, they fired off another set of spells, one that took the form of a dark cloud while the other was another beam.

Though the quicker of the two attacks did not hit its intended target, it wasn't meant to. The concentrated mass of super-cooled air merely pushed the grootslang to dodge to the left. Where it was about to run face-first into the conjured cloud, its snowy payload ready to erupt upon hitting the chaotic creature.

That never happened, as a bright teal shield the shape of a gem blocked it before it could reach the grootslang. Who was given just enough time to curve around the barrier, and reach out with a massive clawed hand. The closest windigo was so shocked by this turn of events that it didn't even try to slip away until after the grootslang’s digits wrapped around its body.

It then attempted to escape the chaotic creature’s grasp by becoming ethereal, only to find itself held fast. Its confusion turned to horror when it saw the swarm of imps leaping down the grootslang’s arm. Thankfully for the genocidal ice creature, its ally saved it by blasting the first wave of demons with a concentrated beam of cold.

Though the grootslang was mostly unbothered by this, the imps were encased completely in the frozen water. As they tumbled out of the sky, the remaining demonic creatures clambered over their icy friends and onto the trapped windigo. This time it was not able to be saved, and thus died screaming in a mix of confusion and rage.

Seeing the writing on the wall, the remaining windigo aimed at the grootslang’s hand and froze the remaining imps solid. This also covered the chaotic creature’s arm up to its elbow in ice, causing it to recoil, releasing a cry of pain. Thankfully it had allies of its own, as Rarity cast a warming spell on it, allowing the grootslang to shed the half-melted ice

“Give up, you have no more of your fiendish allies!” the windigo shouted.

“We will see if that matters in a moment. Attack!” Rarity shouted, pointing to the remaining windigo with a hoof.

The grootslang roared and reached forward, plucking the windigo from the sky and squeezing down hard. The baleful creature of ice and rage attempted to freeze its attacker’s hands, but thankfully Rarity was quick to cast another heating spell. This was a mere feint though, as the spirit was actually focusing its efforts on slipping out through a narrow crack in the grootslang’s fingers.

“Not so fast,” shouted Rarity’s wife.

The diamond dog then released a flaming bolt from a handheld crossbow. Burnt and forced back into the confines of the grootslang’s hand, the windigo raged impotently against its captor. That anger turned to panic when it felt its semi-ethereal form begin to be forced down into a smaller and smaller space.

“What is… oh my,” Rarity murmured.

With a howl of pain, the windigo was crushed by the chaotic creature, a flurry of snow shooting from between the grootslang’s fingers. Which uncurled to reveal that the genocidal spirit was well and truly gone, leaving behind only a palmful of ice crystals.

“I did not see that one coming,” Daisy muttered.

“Me neither,” Rarity admitted.

“Should we go help the others?” Daisy offered.

Rarity glanced out over what had started as a battlefield, though now were simple plains once more. The fight was nearly over, with the majority of the windigos having been killed outright or forced to retreat. The only one which had not escaped or been dealt with was the largest of the bunch, though it was currently being chased. Rainbow Dash, with Kanathara on her back, was hedging the final windigo in with bursts of hellfire and spells alike. Though most of their imps were frozen and falling to the ground, a few remained, doggedly following behind the two larger demons.

“We should probably help the camp,” Rarity remarked, gesturing down to the slightly scorched base currently scrambling to locate all the stuff which had been buried or blown away.

“Probably,” Daisy admitted. “Something tells me those two can handle a single windigo.”

The grootslang hooted and dove towards the ground, causing its riders to screech in unison. As the trio made their way back down, a fight still raged on, with fire and ice lighting up the sky not far away. The windigo managed to stay in front, but its lead was shrinking with each passing second that its pursuers remained on course.

With panic filling its mind, the windigo shot a beam of dark blue magic up at a rogue cloud, turning it black and causing it to grow. Within seconds snow began to rain down from the altered cloud, which rumbled angrily while spreading out across the sky. The windigo saw its chance and phased through the weather formation while Rainbow Dash was forced to go around.

I wish you could just alicorn up. I could have busted straight through that cloud, Rainbow Dash complained.

We don't know what's coming next. We can't expend ourselves in case there is more to come, Kanathara retorted, gritting her teeth tightly as they careened around the top of the cloud at a breakneck pace. Wait. Where did it go?

Confused, the pair found that they were alone atop the cloud, with only the bitter wind as company. That changed a few seconds later when a confused mass of imps collided with one another in order to stop in time. The angry demons squabbled amongst themselves while Kanathara and Rainbow Dash continued to float there.

“Gimme a second, I’ll scry its location,” Kanathara remarked.

“I’ll-” Rainbow Dash’s statement was cut off by her instincts flaring to life.

Without thinking, the vengant rolled to the right, tucking her wings against her back. Just in time to dodge an enormous hoof made of a black storm cloud, one which sent the mass of imps flying into the distance. Several were sent back to Tartarus upon impact, but others were partially frozen, left to struggle as they careened downward.

“Now do you think we should use it?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

Kanathara said nothing, merely watching as the cloud twisted, its undulating mass shifting rapidly. Changing, until finally, it resembled an enormous black windigo a hundred times larger than its original size. The genocidal spirit reared back and released a rage-filled howl that nearly froze the pair in midair.

Yes, I think it is. Kanathara replied, her form already turning to mist and slipping between the plates of Rainbow Dash’s armor.

The vengant dove down while her body began to go through its own series of rapid changes. Armor shifted, her scaly hide turned a mix of dark purple and red, gaining the many runic patterns that usually adorned Kanathara’s hide. While a horn began to sprout from the demon’s head, the windigo continued to attack, its hooves coming together.

The attempt to crush the pair of demons was dodged, the duo accelerating straight towards the enormous shape. Within seconds the transformation completed, their horn having reached its full length while the other changes had solidified. The onlookers didn't have a chance to inspect them all before the pair slammed into the windigo, hellfire spewing from their maw.

The windigo merely grinned, holding its hooves over the point that the pair of demons had entered its body. Within its blackened form flashed lightning and snow, the winds within buffeting the demonic alicorn. Which didn't seem to bother them one iota, as their flaming form burned too hot to even be affected by the windigo’s attacks.

Whose face darkened, its muzzle scrunching up as a flurry of lightning flashed within itself one after another. The surface of its smoky form trembled briefly, only for a section to break and a gout of bright red hellfire to shoot out of it. The hole in its body was soon joined by another, and then a third, the windigo’s form losing more and more of its consistency.

Before finally breaking apart when a particularly powerful blast knocked its head clean off. With its cloudy host now obliterated, the windigo left it behind, regaining its original body and flying off towards Canterlot. Its flight lasted an even shorter amount of time than its confidence, as a white-hot comet slammed into it only a moment later.

Spinning around in the air, the terrified creature stared up into the fang-filled maw of its demonic pursuer. Sporting a flaming galaxy for a mane, and twin-pupiled eyes of raging maleficence, the alicorn made the windigo feel true terror for the first time in its life.

“M-mercy,” it croaked.

“Never,” the twin-voiced demon replied before opening their mouth wide.

“N-nooo!” screeched the windigo as its soul was pulled from its magical body.

Snow and ice covered the demonic alicorn in a thick layer, yet they continued to inhale, pulling deeper at their prey. The windigo was losing, and losing badly, rapidly shrinking as more and more of its essence was torn away. Until at long last it released one final wail of anguish, signaling to all who heard it that the windigos had been annihilated once and for all.

The winged and horned demon grunted, wincing as the windigo’s soul bounced around inside of them. Parts of the creature’s plate mail-covered exterior briefly turned blue before returning to their natural coloration. Only for their body to bulge unexpectedly, requiring the demon to slam a hoof against their side, forcing their form to return to normal.

A pained expression remained on the demon’s face for several seconds before they unexpectedly belched a cloud of frost. Which quickly dissipated due to the heat radiating off the combined demons, turning to rain which froze before hitting the ground. Leaving the pair strangely full in a way that even they had never experienced before.

The dissonance that came with such a circumstance was enough to make the pair split and plummet towards the ground. Thankfully both recovered quickly, with Kanathara turning to mist and Rainbow Dash opening her wings, allowing her to glide to the ground with her mistress as her bodily passenger, the keeper reforming after they both landed.

And were immediately surrounded.

“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“You had us a might bit worried,” Applejack remarked.

“Pfft. I had absolute confidence in the both of them,” Tirek dismissed.

“Admit it, you were worried a little,” Velvet retorted, elbowing the centaur in the side.

“I admit seeing you two fight was… uncomfortable to watch,” Tirek muttered.

Pear Butter chuckled. “Are you two alright?”

“We’re…” Kanathara glanced to Rainbow Dash, who nodded. “We’re both okay.”

“Just a bit of indigestion, really,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Well, that's good to hear, darlings,” Rarity commented. “I must say you two certainly had an oddly regal air about you when you, er… combined like that.”

“I bet you could fool a whole buncha ponies into thinking there was a fourth princess if ya did that,” Daisy pointed out.

“A consideration for another time,” Kanathara replied, turning to Pear Butter. “I assume we got them all?”

“Eeyup,” declared the wrath demon confidently. “The two which got away were hunted down before they could reach Canterlot.”

“Perfect,” Kanathara stated.

“Let me guess, back to marching then?” Rainbow Dash whined.

“Yes. But first, we must clean up around here and-” Pear Butter’s speech was interrupted when Aloe and Lotus pushed their way into the group.

“Something is happening in Canterlot,” Aloe exclaimed.

“Something bad!” added Lotus.

As one, the group turned towards the distant city on the mountain and watched as a magical shield was erected. It was a dark blue and covered an existing barrier that obscured the castle from sight. A third obstruction joined the other two, encompassing an entire district with another wall meant to keep out invaders. Several more sprung up in rapid succession, each one covering another part until finally the last went around the entire city.

“What the heck is that?” Rainbow Dash shouted, gesturing towards Canterlot.

“It seems as though someone wishes to keep us out,” Tirek reasoned.

“And are quite determined to ensure that we can't get in,” Kanathara added.

“What now?” Applejack asked.

“We march on,” Kanathara replied. “Be it resurrected windigos, walls of magic, or endless hordes of demons, we must cut through it all if we will have a hope of reaching our target before this world is little more than a ball of ice.”

Author's Note

Trial Fourteen: The Narrow

Author's Note

Its my birthday, and I'll be streaming all day over on Twitch! I got some fun guests lined up and I'll be playing one of my favorite games ever made. See you there!

Trial Fourteen: The Narrow

“You know, yer lucky most folk around here ain't the envious types,” remarked a voice.

Kanathara blinked and glanced over the lip of her floating disc to the ground where Applejack stood. The pony wore her armor and heavy barding, guarding her against the worst of the cold which sapped at them all. Or at least almost all of them, as Kanathara and her familiar were exempt from this minor annoyance.

They were sitting atop a levitating purple oval roughly the size of a cart which seemed immune to the frigid wind. Atop their perch, the pair lay sprawled out, sipping wine, eating fresh fruit, or reading from the grimoire hanging from her neck. Draped in silks and sitting next to a minor fire demon they were using as a space heater, the sight made many become a shade or two greener.

“Good,” Kanathara flippantly replied. “Because it's not like I would lower myself to trudging through the snow.”

The keeper of secrets then leaned back, resting her head on a pillow.

“Who was that?” asked Rainbow Dash, her mouth stuffed full of grapes.

“The apple one,” Kanathara replied.

“You know I can hear you from up there?” Applejack shouted.

“I don't think the boss cares much,” Rainbow Dash yelled back.

“Don't be too harsh on them,” Tirek remarked, trotting up alongside the young earth pony. “They’ve done a lot of fighting and will do a lot more before the end of the day.”

Applejack snorted. “Could at least toss me an apple. Ow, hey, watch it!”

“You’re welcome!” Rainbow Dash shouted back.

Applejack looked over to the thing which had bounced off her head and found that it was a bright red apple. Plucking it from the snow, the earth pony grumbled to herself as she ate it, her anger melting away as the flavor erupted across her tongue. Reluctantly, she joined the rest of the army who marched in relative quiet, at least for a few minutes anyway.

As a cry went up from those closer to the front of the army, a flare shot high up into the air. Green smoke fell from the sky as the lone shooting star careened back towards the ground.

“A stop, but not an emergency,” Rainbow Dash fell back down to her bed of pillows. “Guess we can keep on chillaxing.”

“Agreed,” Kanathara added, not looking up from her book.

“We had best get moving,” Tirek offered. “They wouldn't have used a flare if they knew what to do.”

“Wait, are you talkin’ to me?” Applejack asked.

Tirek snorted, pulling his fur jacket tighter about his shoulders. “You may think me many things, but senile is not one of them. Of course I meant you.”

“Whatever. Lead the way,” Applejack grumbled, tossing back the last of the apple.

Together the pair trotted towards the front of the army, moving past halted groups of demons and ponies alike. The various squads were parked mostly on the side of the road, allowing the duo to quickly reach their destination. Which turned out to be a side road occupied by a group of cultists and a small caravan of rag-adorned ponies.

The mass of huddled refugees stuck close to one another while they waited. Standing at the forefront of the group was a tall pegasus mare with a greasy mop of green hair dangling down the side of her head. Her fur, or what little of it was visible beneath the tattered rags she wore, was a soft blue color.

“We don't want any trouble,” she exclaimed in a low tone. “We’re starving, freezing, and just looking for some help.”

“And I’m telling you we don't have time to deal with you lot,” barked the black-furred cultist mare. “We are trying to save this whole damn plane, and you would only get in the way.”

“We could haul your carts, or cook, or tend to the camps,” offered the refugee.

“I don't-” the cultist began.

“We’ll take it from here,” interrupted Tirek.

“As you will,” the black-armored mare replied, bowing slightly before stepping back.

“Now then,” Tirek began, his arms crossed over his chest. “What do we have here?”

“Refugees, my lord,” replied the rag-adorned mare, who bowed low. “We fled Canterlot some time ago, and we’re holding out in a farmyard nearby before it was finally found by raiders.”

“How did you escape?” Applejack inquired.

“Not all of us did,” murmured the other mare.

“My condolences. What is your name?” Applejack pressed.

“May Flower,” replied the mare, who pulled up her rags just enough to reveal her wild pinkish-purple flower cutie mark. “I am, or was, a farmhand at one of the local wineries.”

“Is that so?” Tirek murmured.

“It is. I worked with my uncles and cousins before… everything,” May Flower muttered mournfully.

Tirek hummed thoughtfully. “What do you think, Applejack?”

“Since when do you care about my opinion?” Applejack shot back.

“Since I promised your mother to,” Tirek answered.

Applejack sighed. “Fine. I think it's mighty fishy that these folk aren't in the dirt or part of some bunch of bandits.”

“Surely there are enough farms around here to hide them,” Tirek reasoned.

“There is a valley not far from here,” May Flower offered, gesturing behind her. “It is not overly deep, but it offers some cover from prying eyes and this dreaded wind.”

“We can always use more camp hands,” Tirek reasoned. “It would free up some of the imps to do more dangerous duties or tasks.”

“Hold on a second. Something still feels off about this lot,” Applejack’s eyes narrowed. “Why don't y'all have any younguns with ya?”

“They were able to escape, or… didn't make it,” murmured May Flower.

“And you said you were fleeing Canterlot, but then said you were a farmhand here,” Applejack pointed out.

“Most are fleeing Canterlot,” May Flower replied, gesturing back to the nearly hundred-strong caravan behind her. “I was not one of them.”

“And why ain'tcha shivering?” Applejack demanded. “Y'all got less than a single pair of clothes between the lot of ya, but ain't none of ya shivering!”

“That is a bit weird,” Tirek remarked.

“We are all suffering frostbite to some extent,” May Flower hissed. “Our bodies are literally shutting down, you heartless monster.”

“Lies,” Applejack spat. “Yer lyin’ through yer teeth right now.”

“How could you possibly claim to know that?” May Flower demanded. “Can you not see how little cover we have, and feel how cold the wind is?”

“Look, lady, I don't know what yer deal is but, I’ve gotten real good at spottin’ a lie. Always been good at it, but after touching that weird artifact thingy I’ve been gettin even better,” Applejack explained. “So trust me when I say yer words feel like slime in my ears.”

“Fine then,” May Flower exclaimed, opening her forehooves wide. “Use a truth spell or something on me.”

“Nah, you’re prepared for that,” Applejack retorted, pointing to another pony further down the line. “Grab him. He’ll answer our questions.”

“No!” May Flower interrupted, stepping between Tirek and the random pony. “I won't let you.”

“And why is that?” Tirek demanded.

May Flower sighed. “I wouldn't wish to put him through that. Look, when I told you we were starving and freezing, that wasn't a lie.”

Tirek glanced down at Applejack curiously.

“It ain't a lie. Just ain't the whole truth,” Applejack exclaimed.

“That's because we’re changelings,” murmured May Flower who shed her disguise and revealed herself as a bug-like pony with a black carapace. “And we need your help.”

“My queen. Are you sure this is wise?” asked one of the other still disguised changelings.

“It doesn't matter at this point,” murmured the queen. “This plane will likely be destroyed, and even if it isn't, then the overwhelming hatred will starve us all out.”

“Changelings… I remember Kanathara mentioning something about you lot. Said you were lying sneak thieves who steal love from innocent ponies,” Applejack exclaimed.

“We steal nothing,” hissed the changeling queen. “You ponies give off more love than you know what to do with. We merely skim off what you send off into the air.”

“That sounds like another half-truth,” Applejack retorted.

The changeling gnashed her fang-filled maw angrily. “It is the truth. We can use more violent means to get a meal, but that method is usually avoided, as it rouses too much suspicion.”

“And usually kills the pony in question,” Tirek pointed out.

“And that,” the queen admitted.

Applejack nodded. “Then let's call the other commanders together and think about where best to put ya.”

“Wait, just like that?” asked the changeling. “We’ve been preying on your people for centuries.”

“As have demons, and we let this jerk wander around without a leash,” Applejack exclaimed, gesturing to Tirek.

“Nah, that happens sometimes. Ask your mother,” Tirek retorted.

Applejack’s face contorted from rage to embarrassment and back again so fast that she nearly blew a gasket. A hard exhale stopped that particular train of thought, however, and she stomped her foot on the snow-covered ground.

“I’m going to pretend I didn't hear that,” Applejack murmured, turning back to the queen. “We can find you a place, but be warned you’ll probably be banned from disguising or tricking others.”

“But that would simply be a faster road to starvation,” exclaimed the shapeshifter. “How can we hope to acquire any love if we look like this?” The changeling gestured to her hole-riddled form and fang-filled maw.

“I mean, people apparently like Tirek, and you’re a might bit easier on the eyes than him,” Applejack retorted.

“Rude,” Tirek muttered, grinning with barely contained mirth.

The changeling looked the demon up and down before nodding. “I suppose our chances of starvation aren't quite as high as I first thought,” admitted the shapeshifter.

“Ya got a name?” Applejack asked.

The changeling nodded. “I do, and it's Chrysalis.”

“Can we trust them?” Rainbow Dash asked, glancing back to a changeling hauling supplies. “They are duplicitous by their very nature.”

“They volunteered for the most back-breaking jobs in the army,” Dawn Hammer exclaimed while tightening his breastplate. “They’ll be too exhausted to do much of anything, I think.”

“Besides,” Kanathara began, “they’re being watched.”

“I guess,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“We are ready,” Daisy declared, throwing a mace over her shoulder. “We’ve unloaded all our tunneling equipment and await your order to begin digging.”

“Good,” Kanathara exclaimed. “I want you and your team to begin immediately. The second you’ve begun hitting that barricade from behind, the paladins will start pushing from the front.”

“Crushing them between us,” Daisy stated, pounding her fist into her open palm.

Rarity raised a hoof. “Um, question.”

“Yes, Rarity?” Kanathara muttered.

“What exactly was the plan again?” Rarity asked.

Kanathara sighed and pointed up at the long winding path leading up to Canterlot. Wide enough for only a half dozen ponies to stand abreast. The other tunnels or roads had been collapsed, leaving the narrow passage the last remaining way up the mountain.

“You see those demons dug in halfway up?” Kanathara prompted.

Rarity strained her eyes, peering up the path to where about a kilometer away sat a wall of demonic flesh. Most wore armor, all had weapons of various sizes, and their ranks spread from the cliff wall to the very edge. Behind them knelt several smaller entities, or at least that's what Rarity had been told anyway.

“Yes, and?” Rarity pressed.

“They are protecting a group of sappers seeking to destroy the last remaining way up the mountain,” Kanathara continued. “Which is why we need you and your diamond dogs to dig in behind them and take out the sappers. While that happens, we will slowly advance the paladins up the hill, keeping their attention focused on us.”

“We’re tougher than the other units and can take a beating,” Dawn Hammer declared, clanging an armored hoof against his chest. “They’ll be prepared for a long, drawn-out fight and won't scramble to blow the tunnel until you hit them from the back.”

“I know all that,” Rarity claimed. “I’m just wondering why we can't bring Grooty with us.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “Honey, look at the size of that thing. We’ll be digging as fast as possible so that means a tight, narrow corridor barely big enough for us.”

“I suppose that means I’ll be staying here,” Rarity murmured, brushing a hoof against her armored chest. “And I just polished it too.”

“Shucks. Guess you’ll have to sit back and make sure Grooty doesn't mess anything up,” Daisy exclaimed.

“Oh, alright,” Rarity murmured, stomping forward and pulling the diamond dog down to her height by grabbing the taller creature’s undershirt. “But you better make it back to me in one piece. I’m starting to like you.”

“I will, I promise,” Daisy exclaimed, planting a kiss on the unicorn’s nose.

Rarity giggled. “She’s all yours, just don't run her too ragged.”

“I’ll try not to. We’ll need her later,” Kanathara replied.

Daisy watched Rarity leave before turning back around. “So, we ready to get this operation started?”

“Go ahead,” Kanathara exclaimed. “In the meantime, we’ll remain here and support the paladin’s advance.”

“Do you think you can get there in time though? You won't have long,” Rainbow Dash hesitantly inquired.

“We’ll get there, don't you worry,” Daisy stated. “If there's one thing we know, it's digging.”

“Right then. I guess I should get formed up then,” Dawn Hammer offered.

“Do so,” Kanathara ordered. “If we’ve timed this correctly, then we should be able to make it out with a clear path to Canterlot and barely any casualties.”

“Let's hope so. It would be embarrassing to lose so soon against such a sorry lot,” Dawn Hammer stated with an irritated huff.

“I’m going to rejoin the mages. You can do whatever,” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing vaguely at Rainbow Dash as she walked away.

“Cool, I'ma go throw grapes at the changelings,” Rainbow Dash declared before flying away.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and ignored her familiar, focusing instead on locating the other mages amidst the army. Which was more difficult than normal, as there was a great number of creatures moving about the area. Paladins were assembling at the base of the hill, while diamond dogs had already begun tunneling into the mountain.

Others were ferrying supplies, assisting the paladins, or standing around, watching and waiting. Kanathara soon located the rest of the magic corp standing nearby, a tall androgynous unicorn stallion in their center. Every once in a while, some projectile would fly down from the hill and be intercepted by a conjured shield.

Small fireballs exploded against the barrier and were dissolved, and the odd crossbow bolt was turned aside. The fire was intermittent at best and seemed to exist only to test the army gathering near the bottom of the mountain. In return, the odd magic missile was shot back and was intercepted by a dark crimson shield that sprung out of nowhere.

Seeing her mother amongst the gathered group of demonic and pony casters, Kanathara made her way over to her. Thankfully she was unaccompanied by any embarrassing succubi, allowing the keeper to breathe a little easier.

“Ready?” Kanathara asked.

Velvet didn't look up from the scroll she was reading, merely giving an affirmative snort. “In a second. We were going to try and finger of death the defensive caster in their midst, but most of us don't know the spell.”

“I can handle that,” Kanathara stated, lighting her horn. “Which one is it?”

Velvet pointed up the hill. “That one with the six arms and cloak made out of flesh. Watch out though, they have a masochist demon amongst their ranks.”

Kanathara inspected it a little closer and found that the demon in question was far larger than normal. Standing at least thirteen feet tall, the creature wore a writhing cloak made of what looked like still living creatures. There were no eyes or other sensory organs, only hundreds of arms reaching weakly in all directions.

This long piece of morbid clothing hung down from its head to its feet, shrouding its face in gloom. Only the nine glowing red eyes were visible, the crimson orbs glowing brightly while the monster's six arms twisted in constant motion. Switching from defensive to offensive casting, the titanic demon seemed to be the only mage the force had or needed.

Beside the enormous demon was a single bipedal figure wrapped from head to toe in what looked like black leather. Their many arms were bound securely to their sides, and only their beady green eyes could be glimpsed from between the folds of their strange attire. Standing only half the height of the titan next to it, this smaller demon had a hunched, warped appearance.

“A daemogoth,” Kanathara reasoned. “Cruel swamp-dwelling creatures that relish in tempting mortals with forbidden knowledge.”

“He seems quite old,” Velvet pointed out. “It's rare that they can collect so many victims and grow as tall.”

“He will die like the rest,” Kanathara declared.

Her horn darkened, and a twisting rune appeared above the sharpened appendage, turning slowly. Words written in an unspeakably dark tongue flickered in and out of existence around the spell matrix, attracting attention. The titanic demon reached down and plucked an imp from amongst the ranks of his allies, his massive hand clasping the smaller creature.

A tiny shriek could be heard borne upon the wind a second before the great demon muttered something. It then threw what remained of the imp down at Kanathara’s position, revealing that there were only shards of bone left. These shards were coated in a blackened edge, and they howled through the air, screaming towards their target with impressive speed.

Kanathara didn't stop her casting, however, trusting her allies to protect her from the attack. Her trust was rewarded when it was indeed blocked, but not by the primary defensive caster whose shield popped instantly. Rather it was Velvet conjuring a multi-layered barrier that stopped the bone shards, draining them of their momentum.

Seeing that his attack had done nothing, the titanic demon readied another spell but was too late. Kanathara released her dark magic in a burst of energy, the air rippling as the ambient light was drained away. Mere milliseconds later, a large gaunt, almost skeletal hand appeared from above the demonic barricade.

A single long, bony finger extended and pointed down at the titan, energy coursing from its palm. This burst of energy coalesced into a reverse star made of darkness that flashed with unlight. The titan, however, merely smiled as the spell did nothing save cause the black-clad creature next to it to begin glowing.

“What, how is it…” Kanathara’s question fell away as her spell began to fade, absorbed by the hunched and bound demon.

Who radiated a perverse emerald glow, its clothing opening to reveal that it wasn't leather at all. Rather it was hundreds of arms that had been wrapped about its body like a tight cocoon until that moment. Now no longer hunched, it rose up taller and taller until it nearly reached the level of its fellow, a rancid green halo appearing above its head.

“Great, a martyr,” Kanathara muttered. “As if we needed something else to get in the way.”

“I’ve never seen one of those, and I’ve read about a lot of demons,” Velvet admitted.

Kanathara frowned, watching as all but a few of the creature’s many arms began to wave around it. The only one that didn't continued to obscure its face, though even still, Kanathara knew that the creature was smiling. Its skin hung from its body in great flayed hunks, the midnight flesh dangling in sections before slowly crawling back onto its body in a perverse form of regeneration.

“It's one of the few creatures in existence that are truly, utterly immortal,” Kanathara began. “Though its offensive capability is low, so long as it’s standing, its allies will be all but invulnerable.”

“Hmm, that's going to be a pain to deal with,” Velvet remarked.

“Let's hope the dogs both literally and metaphorically can handle it,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Velvet chuckled. “They are fairly ingenious. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“Let's keep up the pressure regardless,” Kanathara declared. “We may not be able to do much from down here, but we can at least keep them distracted.”

“Say,” Velvet began curiously, “they may not be able to be killed, but they can still feel pain, right?”

Kanathara raised an eyebrow, only to chuckle darkly. “Oh, I like the way you think.”

“Let's annoy the piss out of them,” Velvet stated.

The mare then lit her horn and began casting another spell, a bright ball of burning light gathering above her head. Predictably, another barrier was erected in defense of the demonic barricade, the group attempting to block Velvet’s attack. Only once released, the orb exploded before it hit the wall, blinding everyone who was looking in its direction.

With demons clutching their eyes and even the titan blinking rapidly to clear the spots, Kanathara began her own assault. Like her mother’s, her spell wasn't actually intended on killing the defenders and came in the form of a tiny purple portal. The opening appeared directly next to the barricade, hovering over the side of the cliff, far out of reach of the demons.

Out of which poured not demons, but a swarm of fist-sized bees the color of a particularly hot flame. The angry insects swarmed over the malformed creatures, stinging repeatedly and causing a stir amongst the line. Defenders ran out of their place on the barricade, only to be smacked and directed back to their assigned spot by those behind them.

“Oh, you’ll like this one,” Velvet offered before casting a second spell.

Once released, the magic formed into a single smoky white note that hovered over her head. This note then winked out and reappeared above the barricade blocking access to Canterlot. The moment this happened, a jaunty and unpleasantly twangy tune could be heard echoing down the hill.

“Is that… the song that will never end?” Kanathara muttered.

“And it goes on and on, my friend. Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, and they’ll continue singing it forever just because it's the song that never ends!” Velvet sang, quickly breaking down into cackling. “Oh, how I hated when you and your brother came home bellowing that horrible thing.”

“Can… can they stop it?” Kanathara asked curiously.

“Nope!” Velvet stated. “I used an empowered version of ghost sound to make it uncancelable. They’ll have to deafen themselves to be saved from that horrible thing.”

“Now I know where I get it from,” Kanathara remarked.

Velvet chuckled, patting her daughter on the back. “The Sparkle family girls always have been a little on the vengeful side. Now then, got another in mind?”

“Well, I was thinking of casting noxious cloud, but I think I might add the primary rune of taste of death,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“It would make them taste like their mouths were full of excrement,” Velvet reasoned. “Dastardly.”

“What can I say, I get it honestly,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Velvet squeezed her daughter around the shoulders. “I wish you were talking about my devilishly good looks, but I’ll take it.”

“Devilishly… Augh, that was awful,” Kanathara muttered in disgust.

“Don't worry. You’ll get that one in time as well,” Velvet remarked.

Kanathara stuck out her tongue. “I hope not.”

Dawn Hammer stomped forward along with the rest of his soldiers, marching in a tightly packed formation. Standing shoulder to shoulder with his allies, most ponies would have found it claustrophobic, but not him. Years spent training alongside those around him, combined with many nights in cramped barracks eliminated that feeling.

The only thing he felt was a slowly burning righteous vengeance that flickered hotly in his breast. This sensation was slightly dampened by the ever looping son,g though thankfully this cut out as they began to draw closer to their foes. Who were breathing a collective sigh of relief and either undoing their deafening spells or regrowing their ears.

Dawn Hammer continued his slow, inexorable march as the demonic horde scrambled to get back into position. The clang of each of his steps was punctuated by the thump of a hundred other hooves moving alongside him. Moving as one, the paladins loudly proclaimed their intentions, challenging their hellish enemies to stay and fight.

With only about a block between them and their enemies, Dawn Hammer raised his voice.

“Shields, forward!” he shouted.

A flickering wall of three dozen golden barriers appeared before them, creating an angled shield wall between the two armies. This magical fortification moved along with them, blocking the fusillade of spells and bolts that rained down on them. Fireballs and arrows alike were turned aside, with none so much as making a dent in the paladin’s defenses.

“Who are we?” Dawn Hammer bellowed at the top of his lungs.

“Paladins!” replied his soldiers in unison.

“And what do we do?” Dawn Hammer shouted.

“We burn the wicked, kill the demon, and purge the unclean!” they declared in response.

“And what stands before us?” Dawn Hammer demanded.

“Corpses, corpses, corpses!” repeated the ponies, punctuating each word with a thunderous stomp of their hooves.

The challenge was made, and the demons couldn't help but answer in kind, with the more daring of their number charging. Winged creatures with long pointed noses charged alongside great lumbering demons whose open ribcages displayed several trapped souls. Towering mountains of demonic flesh with fire for hair sprinted next to great wolves as black as night and covered in spines. All while imps of every size and shape sprinted, flew, or otherwise threw themselves at the paladins.

“For the princess, for Equestria!” Dawn Hammer shouted.

The slavering horde charged toward them, throwing rocks, firing crossbows, and loosing spells as they did so. In their frenzy, they covered a significant amount of ground in very little time, exactly as Dawn Hammer planned.

“Raise pikes!” bellowed the paladin commander.

Horns flashed, and the shield wall shifted, becoming a four-layered wall of long spears pointed at their foes. Lesser demons attempted to backpedal, imps tried to slip away but were either pushed or crushed by those behind them. In their mad dash to meet the challenge, nearly a dozen of the demonic entities found themselves impaled.

“Hammers, forward!” Dawn Hammer yelled.

The spears vanished, and he, along with every other paladin in the first row, surged forward. With their own signature weapon held high over their head, the paladins struck hard at the disoriented creatures. Skulls were smashed, limbs shattered, and demons banished, their forms melting away under the onslaught.

The lesson was learned, however, and the horde retreated, attempting to get back into range of their support caster.

“Fire ballistas!” Dawn Hammer commanded.

A surge of magic rippled across the paladin line, and a second later enormous golden spears were fired at their fleeing foes. Most were killed on impact, the magical bolts ripping straight through them and out the other side. Others were less lucky and were sent tumbling down the mountain or escaped back into the protective aura. Where they found themselves very much alive, but with a two-foot-long magical construct jammed through their mid-sections.

“Now,” Dawn Hammer whispered, “the real fight begins.”

Daisy’s clawed paw ripped through the stone like it was wet earth, the clump thrown behind her out of the way. Next to her were a half dozen of her clanmates, each of whom was digging as she was, though not quite as well. Behind were the rest of her fighters, who were digging, carting away stone, or waiting patiently with weapons gripped tight.

Seconds ticked by as they dug, the sound of battle becoming increasingly loud as time passed. Then, light emerged through a crack, and the dogs remained quiet, holding their enthusiasm as they tore through the earth. Mere moments later, an opening not quite large enough to allow Daisy through had been created.

With her two-handed mace hefted tight in her paws, the diamond dog shoulder-checked her way through the last obstacle. Appearing out onto the narrow pathway leading up to Canterlot, Daisy quickly took stock of her situation. To her right lay the winding pass up to the top of the city, while to the left stood several confused demons staring at her.

“Surprise!” Daisy shouted before smashing the first demon’s skull in with a downward strike.

She then stepped forward, wading into the throng of now panicked imps and other low-level creatures. The rest of her kin emerged a moment later, sprinting up to her and joining in the slaughter alongside their leader. It wasn't long before the motley assortment of demons was either dead or running away, leaving behind a glowing purple orb.

“It's the bomb,” someone shouted. “What do we do?”

“I got it,” Daisy snorted.

The diamond dog hefted her weapon over her shoulder, securing it into a strap while she ran. As she did so, she reached down, plucked the pulsating sphere, raised it over her head, and threw it over the side. Heaving the ball of crackling energy as hard as she could, Daisy sent it flying into the ever-present blizzard.

Daisy smirked and turned back to her fellows. “Well, that was eas-”

A thunderous boom stopped her dead in her tracks, the explosion briefly causing a ripple in the air. For a single instant, the snow stopped falling, merely levitating in the air before proceeding to fall like normal. The mountain, however, continued to rumble and shake, with fist-sized stones falling down from above. A tense moment of barely contained panic later, the diamond dog stood back up, though her legs remained shaky.

“That was close,” Daisy muttered.

“Boss, look!” yelled one of her underlings. “That's the thing that's making them all super tough.”

Daisy looked down to where a strange bipedal black creature with more arms than she could count stood. Beside it was the titan she had seen before, its attention fixed on the gleaming paladins beyond. The martyr wasn't looking down, however, rather it was looking up at the dogs, and walking slowly toward them. Its strange, lopping gait carried it surprisingly quickly, causing the dogs to begin to scramble.

“Form up!” Daisy demanded.

A second later, just as the tall many-armed creature had reached their line, her dogs had assembled. Immediately, the demon extended its many limbs downward, reaching out and attempting to touch the dogs. Though unsure of what would happen, the furry sappers weren't about to let this happen and batted the limbs aside.

Daisy herself swatted aside two of the oddly rubbery arms before stepping forward and slamming her mace against the beast’s knee. The limb bent briefly before snapping right back into place, its owner unbothered by the loud snapping noise it had made. Many other of her dogs repeated this motion, striking, slicing, or stabbing at their attacker to no visible effect.

“What the hell do we do?” Daisy muttered.

A scream caused the diamond dog to spin to her right, just in time to see the martyr’s finger retract. The soldier it had touched was lying on the ground, clutching at his neck, his body spasming in agony. The sight made Daisy see red, and she renewed her assault on the many-limbed creature with increasing ferocity.

A strike to the creature’s midsection caused ribs to snap and organs to pulp, while a swipe shattered one of its arms. Despite all this, the creature didn't slow and wasn't even fazed, no matter the damage done to it. In a last-ditch effort, Daisy leaped into the air, and brought her mace down on the demon’s skull, crushing it inward.

Only to watch as its caved-in head popped back out, its eyes flickering with life once more. All while it continued its attack on the dogs, forever reaching for some unarmored part of them to touch. Now forced back onto the defensive, Daisy stepped away, swiping at the hands attempting to grapple her.

Looking back down at the paladins revealed that they weren't doing much better than the dogs. Though strong and resilient, the full plate armored soldiers were making absolutely no progress. Their foes rose the moment they were felled, their injuries healing much like the black demon standing before Daisy.

Another scream, followed by a third, drove home how little time the diamond dog had to figure things out. Thankfully, a glance at the cliff gave Daisy an idea, one that may have been crazy, but had, in her mind, a good chance of working.

“Cover me!” she shouted.

Trusting in her clan, Daisy strode forward, ignoring the many limbs reaching out to strike her. Her allies moved to protect her, throwing shields or swords between them and allowing Daisy to strike first. A thunderous blow to one leg was swiftly followed up by shattering the other just above the knee.

It only made the demon stumble for a moment, but that was all Daisy needed to land the more important blow. A sideswipe to the chest made the demon stumble backward, driven ever closer to the ledge by the powerful strike. This was repeated several times before the martyr seemed to realize what was happening and attempted to stop it.

Its many limbs converged down on Daisy alone, but the diamond dog still didn't let up, trusting fully in her allies. Who threw themselves between their leader and her foe, not hesitating in the slightest. Even as they began to drop, screaming on the ground and clutching at their bodies, the dogs did not let up.

Hauling aside their incapacitated friends, they continued shielding their leader from harm. Until at long last, the martyr teetered on the edge of the cliff, its arms scrambling to grab at anything it could. Daisy wasn't having any of it, and with a swipe, shattered one of the beast’s legs, dropping it to one knee.

The hands surrounding the demon’s mouth receded, revealing a screaming maw of sharp teeth shaped like that of a lamprey.

“Cry some more!” Daisy shouted before kicking the demon with all the strength she could muster.

Its arms scrambled, its eyes widened, and it tried to grab onto anything or anyone that may be able to save it. The dogs were too nimble, however, and stepped back, allowing the creature to tumble over the side. Its unearthly scream was almost immediately swallowed by the ever-present wind, its dark shape vanishing.

Daisy hefted her mace. “Now then. How many casualties do we have?”

“None. They appear to be uninjured, and are only in extreme pain,” remarked a club-wielding dog.

Daisy blinked and looked down at one of her fallen allies who lay on the snow-covered ground, tears pouring down their face. Though in utter agony, they were indeed relatively undamaged, sporting only minor bruises and scrapes. The sight made Daisy’s skin crawl, but the dog kept a brave face, taking a small amount of joy in having dealt with the monster responsible.

“Haul them back into the mines. The rest of you, on me!” Daisy bellowed.

In no time her order was carried out, and she charged at the backline of demons. Only to be disappointed when she noticed that the paladins were already pushing hard and taking considerable ground. Their gleaming armor repelled all but the strongest attack, and their perfect unity ensured no opening was created.

“We can't let them have all the fun!” Daisy declared. “Let's go!”

Kanathara watched in silence as the pincer closed, and the demonic barricade crumbled, their lines fracturing. What little organization they had was swiftly destroyed, allowing the diamond dogs and paladins to outflank the confused mass. The daemogoth seemed to realize that it was fighting a losing battle and tore an opening in reality, revealing the hellish plane of its birth.

Though it escaped, the paladins charged up a collective spell and fired off a beam of concentrated plasma through the opening. As the portal snapped shut, a howl of agony could be heard echoing down the mountainside, though it was swiftly cut off. Leaving behind only a few surrounded and outmaneuvered demons to struggle desperately for at least a single kill.

“Well, that was that,” Kanathara remarked.

“I told you they could handle it,” Rarity declared.

Kanathara snorted. “So they were. Perhaps I judged them, and you, too quickly.”

“Perhaps so,” Rarity agreed.

Kanathara nodded. “Right, let's get everyone moving. We have little time.”

Trial Fourteen: The Duel

Fluttershy hummed to herself as she dabbed at a diamond dog’s head, the cloth she used quickly growing damp. In front of her, the injured dog whined and twisted on his small cot, his eyes screwed tightly shut. Seeing that her efforts were mostly in vain, Fluttershy looked around for some help alleviating the dog’s agony.

Around her were several other beds of a similar variety, all arrayed within a shall alcove along the cliffside. Sheltered from the wind and snow by a magical dome, the impromptu first aid tent was near capacity, though there were few doctors. Those with medical knowledge moved amongst the rows, doing what they could to heal the wounded.

Amongst their number was Rarity, the unicorn having ditched the majority of her armor in favor of a heavy winter coat. She offered words of thanks and gave company to those who needed it, or a sip from a flask to those who required something else. She also gave out health potions to some, though they were in the minority as most sported wounds that were not so easily healed.

Fluttershy worked her way through the crowd, making her way next to Rarity just as she was slipping her flask back into a pocket.

“Remember, Rosco, you can't have any more until you are on your feet again,” Rarity exclaimed.

The dog nodded. “I wish I could, Miss Rarity, but the pain lingers, sapping my strength and leaving me weak.”

“Think nothing of it, darling,” Rarity replied. “You just come back to us when you are good and ready. In the meantime, enjoy the brief vacation from Daisy’s yelling.”

The injured male chuckled weakly and smiled. “I will, Miss Rarity.”

“Um, Miss Rarity,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Hmm? Oh, hello darling,” Rarity exclaimed with a smile. “Oh, and drop the whole miss thing. I’d ask the same of my pack, but I’m afraid they have a hard time listening to me.”

A couple of the injured dogs laughed along at the comment.

“Oh, um, okay. Rarity,” Fluttershy murmured.

“How can I help you?” Rarity inquired.

“I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to help?” Fluttershy asked.

“Hmmm, not really,” Rarity replied with a shrug. “Those left here need only time and a little company to shake off the effects of that nasty demon.”

“Oh… okay,” Fluttershy muttered.

“But that doesn't mean we can't help,” Rarity stated.

Fluttershy blinked. “Oh? What can we do?”

“Well… do you play an instrument by chance?” Rarity inquired.

“N-no. Sorry. I can sing though,” Fluttershy offered.

“Perfect,” Rarity exclaimed, turning sharply and clopping her hooves together. “Daisy, darling. Wake up, we have work to do.”

“Huh, what? I’m awake,” murmured the diamond dog, sitting upright in one of the beds.

“Where did you put my violin?” Rarity asked.

Daisy rubbed at her eyes and shrugged. “I don't know. Probably with the rest of your so-called emergency supplies.”

Rarity huffed, but offered no retort, merely trotting over to the side of the alcove where several large bags waited. Fluttershy glanced around, searching for anyone else who may be able to join their little impromptu band. Sure enough, she found a paladin lying nearby with a broken leg, a harmonica filling the air with soft notes.

There didn't seem to be anyone else that could help them, at least on first glance anyway. An inspection of the passing flow of soldiers moving up the mountain revealed that a grinning imp was hopping along while playing a guitar. The tune was random, and her instrument was a little beat up, but the small female demon seemed enthusiastic if nothing else.

Fluttershy hastily trotted after the skipping imp and tapped her shoulder. “Um, excuse me, but would you mind joining us for a song or two? We are trying to cheer up the others,” Fluttershy asked.

The imp glanced up at the pony in confusion and then nodded excitedly, bouncing after the pegasus. Fluttershy then swiftly made her way to the paladin, who eyed her closely, an eyebrow raised in confusion.

“What do ya need, missy?” he asked.

“I was wondering if you could join us for a song,” Fluttershy offered.

The imp strummed out a few quick chords in emphasis.

“I suppose. It's not like I have anything better to do until this potion starts doing its work,” exclaimed the paladin as he clambered into a waiting wheelchair.

Fluttershy beamed and gripped the chair, pushing it and its occupant over to Rarity. Just as the mare had managed to locate a rather worn and well-loved violin from one of her many bags.

“Aha, here it is. I knew I packed it,” Rarity murmured, turning around. “Now then, do you know… oh my. We have quite the little band going, don't we?”

“I thought it would be fun,” Fluttershy offered.

“And it will be!” Rarity quickly exclaimed. “Now then, why don't we start with a good warm-up, like the Equestrian national anthem. After that, we could move on to something else. Do you have any suggestions?”

“I like Goodbye Butterflies,” Fluttershy murmured.

“The Highwaymen is my favorite,” offered the paladin.

“Kill, Murder, Blood Kill!” shouted the imp. “I wrote it this morning.”

Rarity smiled awkwardly. “Why don't we save that one for last.”

The female imp bobbed her head excitedly.

“Right.” Rarity picked up her violin and placed the bow against the strings. “A one, a one two, a one two three four-”

Rainbow Dash crouched low to the ground, her body mostly hidden behind the rocky outcropping before her. Perched up the side of a cliff overlooking the long winding road to Canterlot, the vengant was almost invisible. Her flames burned low, and to an onlooker, she would have been just another grey blob amidst the snow-covered mountainside.

From that spot, the demon could see nearly everything on the road, as well as near the gatehouse leading to the city. Obscured by a dome of magical energy, the stone wall stood tall but was barely manned, sporting only a few demons wielding ranged weapons. The true defender of the small, ill-used entrance was a single demonic entity of truly unparalleled size and stature.

Standing at over thirteen feet tall, and coming up to nearly half the total height of the wall, he was an impressive specimen. His armor was made up of what looked like elongated screaming faces molded into a form-fitting plate mail that left no spot uncovered. Bipedal, and with an extra set of arms, the demon was able to wield two greatswords as well as two shorter blades at the same time.

Draped around his midsection was a ragged red sash that dripped blood onto the snow that gathered around his booted feet. No matter how high the white fluff gathered, or how loud the wind howled, the demon refused to move. Like an onyx monolith of hatred, the great horned demon stared straight ahead, only his twin eyes of burning coal visible from within his horned helm.

“What kind of demon is that?” whispered a voice.

It took all of Rainbow Dash’s willpower not to jump and instead turn slowly to where she found a familiar earth pony. Wrapped from head to hoof in heavy clothing was Applejack, still sporting her usual hat despite the high winds.

“He is a paragon of war,” Rainbow Dash began. “And his name is Balam. He was Tirek’s jailor, and at one point, a teacher of mine. He was also supposed to be dead though.”

“So? You demons die all the time,” Applejack replied.

Rainbow Dash sneered. “Not like that. He was given his final death at the hands of the Nightmare’s servants. There isn't supposed to be any coming back from that.”

“Well, the windigos weren't supposed to come back either,” Applejack pointed out.

Rainbow Dash snorted and turned to look back down at the gatehouse. “Still. This is different. When a demon dies as he did, their soul doesn't just go somewhere else, it disintegrates. There is nothing to bring back, nor a spirit to call from the void.”

“Weird,” Applejack murmured.

“That's an understatement,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “I knew the Nightmare was a prime evil, but even I didn't think she had that kind of power.”

“Aww, chin up, ya walking furnace. We can still do this,” Applejack declared, squeezing the demon around the shoulders.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I know it's still possible, this just… complicates matters.”

“At least we got those changelings to help us out,” Applejack offered.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Though I don't remember it happening, apparently we’ve already met this Chrysalis person before, and now we have a second changeling claiming to be her.”

“I didn't detect any lies from her when she said that though,” Applejack corrected.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “You don't need to believe what you’re saying is untruthful for it to be a lie. She could genuinely believe she's Chrysalis, or maybe they just have the same name. Changelings are dumb.”

“Hmm,” Applejack grunted. “Think it's worth checking out?’

“Not really,” Rainbow Dash answered. “They are weak, starving, and are even less of a threat than you ponies, if you can believe it.”

“Wow, thanks,” Applejack muttered.

“Oh, don't take that the wrong way,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, rolling her eyes. “I’m only speaking individually. As a group, you're more dangerous than any mass of demons.”

“I’m not sure that actually makes me feel better,” Applejack remarked.

“Either way, we gotta report this to the head honchos,” Rainbow Dash stated. “Come on.”

“No, this won't do,” Kanathara muttered to herself.

She flipped through her grimoire at a rapid pace, stopping occasionally to read a page, only to continue on. Nothing held her attention for long, the demon unable to find something that would fit her requirements. Her frustration grew and grew until with a bitter sigh, she slammed the tome shut and let it dangle from her neck.

“How am I going to get rid of that big stupid oaf?” she asked the empty tent.

“You in there, Kana?” asked a familiar, bubbly voice.

“It's Kanathara, and I’m here,” replied the keeper of secrets.

In popped the frightening pink head of Pinkie Pie, the mare’s signature mane mostly hidden beneath a hood. With her arrival, a cold breeze billowed into the cramped, one-person tent, causing Kanathara to shiver briefly.

“Whatcha doing in here?” Pinkie Pie inquired.

“Trying to figure out how to get rid of Balam using magic,” Kanathara answered. “A frighteningly difficult proposition, given just how tough that stupid jerk is.”

“I mean, there are like… a ton of us. I think we can take him,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and shot the pony a deadpan glare. “It's not nearly that easy. He's a paragon of war, a demon of the highest caliber. He grows stronger for each foe arrayed before him. The only hope we have is to duel him or banish him somehow.”

“Huh, that is a pickle,” Pinkie Pie muttered.

“Yes now, would you please leave? I am trying to think of a plan here,” Kanathara hissed.

“Well, why don't you chat with your folks? I’m sure they’ll have a few ideas,” Pinkie Pie offered, seemingly unbothered by Kanathara’s continued glaring.

“I am the strongest magic user here. If I can't find a way through him, then no one can,” Kanathara stated.

“Buuuut,” Pinkie Pie continued, slipping further into the tent and wrapping a hoof around the demon’s shoulders. “They could help lead you down the right path. They may not be as strong, or as smart, but that doesn't mean they are useless.”

“Of course not,” Kanathara muttered. “But the burden lies on my shoulders, not theirs. I have to do this alone.”

“Why?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Kanathara frowned. “Because I just have to.”

“Why?” Pinkie Pie repeated.

For several seconds, Kanathara said nothing, merely stewing silently in her anger, contemplating how to remove Pinkie Pie from her tent. Then she gave up and released a long, exhausted sigh. Standing up, Kanathara conjured a thick fluffy coat before dispelling the magical barrier which had been holding out the snow up until that point.

“Fine, let us go speak with the others,” Kanathara muttered.

“Oh, I just know they’ll be able to help you out. They are all so resourceful and cool,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“They certainly are,” Kanathara agreed.

Together they walked in silence, making their way through the gathered throng of soldiers and assistants. Squashed between the edge of a cliff and the mountain itself, there wasn't a lot of space left to move. Thankfully there was just enough room cleared in the center to allow the pair passage towards the front.

They passed by several undisguised changelings moving a large crate, the pair overseen by a towering pain demon. They shuffled out of the way at the last moment, allowing Kanathara and Pinkie Pie to continue on unimpeded. After that, their passage was not blocked again, though they did have to swerve on occasion to dodge someone that didn't notice them.

Within minutes, they had wound their way up to the forefront of the army, where the leader of each faction waited. Dawn Hammer sat on a stool, a foreleg slung across his chest in a sling, an assistant waiting patiently nearby. The others stood in a rough semi-circle several hundred meters from the front of the gatehouse, with only a thin line of bodyguards between them and Balam.

“I assume we’ve gotten all the shock out of our systems by now?” Kanathara half asked, half stated.

Tirek snorted. “Quite. Even tried speaking to him a few times. Just repeated the phrase, ‘None shall pass,’ like he's in some kinda fantasy novel.”

“He's slaved to the Nightmare’s will. That much is certain,” Pear Butter added.

“He's just one demon, how hard could he be to, errm… dispose of?” Rarity asked somewhat awkwardly.

“If facing an army, he would be a nearly impossible force which the enemy may break themselves upon,” spoke a voice, prompting Kanathara to turn where Pythias now stood amongst them.

The seer wore her usual deep robes obscuring nearly her entire body. The only things that were visible were her clawed digits and the twin flames that occupied the space where her eyes should be. Though on second glance Kanathara realized that her usual garb had been replaced by one bearing images of the sun.

Compared to her more dour choice in clothing, the new threads were downright warm and welcoming in a way. They were the kind Kanathara had seen some of the healers who served amongst the paladins wear. The hood was ringed in scarlet unmoving flames, but remained deep, casting all but her eyes in an impenetrable shadow.

“Which is why I alone shall fight him,” Pythias declared.

“Out of the question,” Tirek stated firmly. “You are no match for him.”

“None of us are,” Pear Butter added. “Which is why we have to tunnel around him and hope that whatever minimal programming placed upon him allows this.”

“I mean, he's just one guy,” Applejack remarked.

“One who would stall our advance long enough to invalidate our entire march here,” Dawn Hammer declared, rotating his broken limb. “We could rush him and go around, but that would leave us open to counterattack.”

“There are no other options, if he fights anyone else, he will only become more powerful, while I am too weak to trigger that change in him,” Pythias stated firmly, her usually quiet voice now filled with confidence. “I have seen that I may win. I know I can do it.”

The group was quiet for several seconds, each party silently considering their options.

“How confident are you?” Kanathara asked.

Pythias didn't hesitate. “Confident enough to risk it all.”

“I say we give her a chance,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Absolutely not,” Tirek interjected, his tone firm and unyielding. “I will not have you throw your life away when we have yet to even consider other options.”

Pythias suddenly stepped forward and wrapped a hand around the centaur's right wrist. The fear demon stilled, and after several seconds of quiet where the only noise was the wind, he sighed. His shoulders grew slack, tears budded, unshed at the edge of his eyes before finally Pythias stepped back.

“Fine,” Tirek muttered. “But I expect you to survive this.”

“I will,” Pythias exclaimed.

“Well, uh, good luck, I guess,” Dawn Hammer muttered.

“Thank you, Dawn Hammer,” Pythias replied before turning suddenly. “Would you join me, Kanathara?”

The keeper of secrets blinked in surprise and then nodded. “Of course, Pythias. What do you need?”

“Company,” Pythias answered in a quiet, almost solemn tone.

Kanathara waved off Rainbow Dash’s concern and walked forward, matching pace with the tall, lanky seer. For a few seconds, there was only the soft crunch of the snow, the howl of the wind, and the distant clamor of the gathered army. Then, Pythias stopped and turned to her companion, eyes flickering like dying embers.

“I want you to deliver a message,” Pythias exclaimed.

“Stop,” Kanathara interjected. “I will not deliver your final will and testament because you are coming back from this, and that's final.”

Pythias chuckled. “It's not that. I actually want you to deliver a message to Celestia when you see her.”

“You can tell her yourself,” Kanathara shot back.

“Kanathara, trust me as you have trusted me in the past,” Pythias pleaded.

Kanathara sighed. “Fine, what is it?”

“Tell her I was wrong for leaving. I was wrong for taking the artifact through the mirror, and tell her that…” Pythias hesitated a moment. “Tell her that Sunset Shimmer will always be her student, now and forever.”

“I will,” Kanathara replied.

Though Kanathara could not see the seer’s mouth, the keeper knew her friend was smiling.

“Good. Now then, if I win, I will remain at the gate. This is the only way in or out of the city at this point, and I will be commanding a force to ensure we are not struck from behind,” Pythias continued, rotating her shoulders as she spoke. “When you move into the city, it will be the last time we will see one another until the deed is done, and this plane is safe once more.”

Kanathara seemed ready to argue, only for the demon to sigh. “I suppose there is no point in talking you out of this or pointing out the flaws in your assessment?”

“Why bother when I’ve already heard them all?” Pythias replied with a smirk, tapping the side of her head with a finger.

“Fair. Just, don't take all night, okay? I don't know how long I can hold Tirek back,” Kanathara remarked while walking away.

“You will hold him for long enough,” Pythias exclaimed.

Then without looking back, Pythias strode forward, drawing an almost comically small dagger from some hidden pocket. To a demon of her size and stature, it was little more than a letter opener, though to a pony it would be a short sword. Wielding only the glorified needle, Pythias stepped forward, her pace slow, each step measured down to the millimeter.

Her opponent remained impassive the entire time, standing perfectly still until at last Pythias was only a few meters away. Then he shifted suddenly, pointing one greatsword toward her while the other hung back, waiting to strike. In his two lower arms he had switched weapons and now wielded a whip, while the other held a pointed dagger which sported only a sharpened tip.

“I invoke the rite of single combat,” Pythias stated.

Balam stood silently for a moment before nodding. “It is done, may the best fighter win.”

No sooner had those words left his mouth that the demon lurched forward, thrusting his greatsword at the seer. Who sidestepped mere inches out of reach, the sheer force of the strike making her robes billow behind her. Balam was not done there, however, as he thrust forward with his dagger while remaining close.

Pythias twisted once more, ducking and weaving around the blade, avoiding it and the pommel strike that would have caved in her skull. A side slash from a greatsword forced her to bend over backward to dodge it, nearly getting knocked over by the wind that followed the weapon. A second chop hit only air, though it did force Pythias right into the path of Balam’s waiting whip.

For a moment all who were watching the fight thought it was over already, only for Pythias’ tiny blade to turn the whip aside, parried perfectly. Pythias continued to twist, dodging a backhanded swipe before leaping over a sweeping strike. Pirouetting to the left, she avoided another crack of the whip, only to immediately be forced into deflecting a dagger strike with her own small weapon.

To an onlooker, it appeared as though the pair were dancing in perfect harmony. Each swipe of Balam’s mighty blades sent snow flying, causing small flurries that briefly obscured the two combatants. Then the wind would clear, and all could see as Pythias continued to dodge, twist, and parry with the skill of an expert swordsman.

Always one step ahead, Pythias avoided each strike sent her way by the smallest possible margin. Mere millimeters or milliseconds were all that stood between her and an attack that would kill her if only it landed. Throughout it all, she never once tried to strike back or use her own dagger for anything but parrying.

“What is she doing?” Rainbow Dash whispered. “That puny little thing could never kill Balam.”

“There are few people in this world that have truly earned our trust, and she is one of those individuals,” Kanathara stated calmly. “Give her a chance.”

Rainbow Dash huffed silently to herself, but said nothing.

Pythias heard none of this, her entire mind occupied by the herculean task of merely staying out of the reach of her foe. A near impossibility, given the incredible speed at which the attacks rained down upon her. Two, sometimes three swipes were launched in a single second, forcing the seer to twist in ways few living creatures could manage.

Knees extended and arms stuck straight out, allowing the seer to avoid a two-handed swipe and a thrust from Balam’s dagger. She then fell back into a handspring, launching herself into the air and dodging another pair of chops that would have cut her in half. The robed demon then landed and fell immediately into the splits, avoiding a quartet of attacks aimed at ending her right there.

Somehow, she then twisted her body and sprung up from the ground, dodging two overhead chops. Leaping to the left, Pythias deflected a whip strike, then bent to the side, allowing her to avoid another swipe. The follow-up attack would have decapitated the seer, but she was already hopping back, dancing out of range of the attack.

This delicate back and forth happened so fast that few could follow its finer details. To them they saw only a jumping, leaping, twisting seer hopping about the battlefield without any rhyme or reason. For those who could keep up, they saw a delicate, if one-sided waltz where Balam led with a firm, ungentle hand.

“Oh, I can't watch,” Applejack murmured.

“Shh,” Rarity hushed.

“Is this all part of some plan? Are we supposed to go around them?” Fluttershy inquired.

“Just watch,” Kanathara stated.

The group continued to do just that, observing as the duo continued their rapid-fire back and forth. Action, reaction, swipe, and dodge, over and over seemingly without end. Balam was fast, faster than most mortals were even capable of replicating, yet Pythias somehow kept up. Even with all four of the war paragon’s weapons striking at her, she managed to stay one step ahead of them.

Soon the snow banks that had built up around the walls were scattered, and the flurries less frequent. Snow continued to fall, but it could not sit on the ground for long before being kicked back into the air. Sent aflutter by blade, foot or movement, the fluffy white crystals added a strange, almost ethereal air to the fight. Turning the dance of death into something better suited for a stage or an ice rink.

Their forms partially obscured by the snow, few were truly aware of how close Pythias was. Blades whizzed past her close enough to trim errant strands of fabric that stuck out from her robes. Whip cracks snapped overhead with such thunderous force that the seer was briefly deafened by the sound.

Several times a second, she was a hair’s breadth away from certain death, her life dangling by a single thread. Bend, dip, dodge, parry, each one of these actions was repeated several times in the span of a single eye blink. Throughout it all, she never once even attempted a counterattack, seemingly fine with staying on the defensive.

“How much longer can she keep doing this? She must be exhausted,” Applejack thought aloud.

“M-maybe we should help,” Fluttershy offered.

“No,” Kanathara stated firmly. “Her plan hinged on this fight being between only her and him. If we interfere now, she will surely die.”

“Let us cheer for her from the sidelines,” Rarity offered.

“Oh, um, okay… yay!” Fluttershy squeaked.

“That was sad,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “But for once I won't tell you to be louder. We wouldn't want to distract her.”

“Wait, something’s happening,” Applejack declared.

All eyes turned back to Pythias just as she neared the edge of the cliff, with the castle wall only a few feet away. With frighteningly little room to maneuver, Pythias struggled to stay out of striking range of the enormous greatswords. Trapped within the reach of the larger weapons, Pythias continued to dodge the flurry of dagger thrusts.

Though she was staying ahead of them for the most part, they were somehow getting even closer. The space of a single hair was all that lay between Pythias and a blow that would surely end her. Yet she didn't try to maneuver out of the way, or slip off to the side, remaining nearly right up against Balam’s chest.

Then, out of nowhere, the towering paragon of war reached forward with all four arms, attempting to grapple the seer. With seemingly nowhere to go, Pythias did the unthinkable and somehow slipped through the larger demon’s legs. She then kicked herself off the magical barrier that protected the city wall and with a backward stab, sunk her dagger into Balam’s neck.

Leaving the weapon buried to the hilt in the paragon’s body, Pythias rolled away, avoiding a backward swipe. That attack turned out to be the last one Balam ever made, as he suddenly toppled forward, collapsing to his side. His weapons clattered to the ground, and the twin coals that were his eyes flickered once before dying.

Pythias herself remained standing for only a moment longer, before the eye which sat on the center of her forehead closed. She then fell over, panting heavily and only just barely collapsing fully, her hands splayed wide on the cold ground. The demons atop the wall immediately panicked upon seeing their champion perish, and abandoned their posts, fleeing into the city.

“Let's go,” Kanathara commanded.

The order was unneeded, as her friends, along with Tirek and Pear Butter all sprinted forward. Upon reaching the downed female, Tirek immediately scooped her up, cradling her in his arms.

“That was too close,” he quietly chastised.

“It was the only way,” Pythias wheezed. “Had to make myself the smallest possible threat. Otherwise he would have been too strong, too fast.”

“Darn good fighting there, Pythias,” Applejack exclaimed. “Ya’ll should do that more often.”

“Thank you, but I think I am going to avoid combat for a while. My powers are exhausted, as am I,” Pythias murmured.

“Let's get you to the healer tent,” Pear Butter offered.

“No,” Pythias interrupted. “I must now take command of the rear guard while you all move inside the city. There is precious little time, and I can feel it growing shorter by the second.”

“You heard her, get moving on that barrier while everyone else gets packed up,” Kanathara barked.

Tirek ignored the hubbub of the noise and merely focused on Pythias, placing the seer gently onto her own two feet.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For giving me the chance to atone.”

“My fate may have been less than pleasant, but it was far better than what would have happened had I fallen into the hands of another. You have earned a chance at redemption,” Pythias replied.

“I look forward to paying you back for everything done to you,” Tirek added.

The fear demon then waved off Pear Butter’s concern and trotted over to the downed form of Balam.

“I know that wasn't enough to kill you,” stated the centaur.

The paragon of war opened his eyes and glanced over at Tirek. “What says I’m not dead? I got my spine severed, didn't I?”

“Because you're talking right now,” Tirek pointed out.

“Fair enough. Don't suppose you could hurry me along by chance?” Balam inquired. “I can't regenerate while that thing is stuck in my spine, but it's also not enough to kill me.”

“Are you sure your mistress would allow that?” Tirek replied.

“Her focus shifted elsewhere the second she thought I died. Though it will return, should I be able to heal enough to stand,” Balam explained.

“Then I suppose I should give you the peace you deserve,” Tirek remarked.

“Heh, peace. Always hated it,” Balam muttered. “Too quiet, too… stagnant. I suppose it's about time I give it a chance though.”

Tirek laid his hands over the top of the other demon’s head. “Trust me, old friend. Peace does wonderful things to a man.”

Author's Note

Trial Fifteen: Push [R]

Kanathara frowned, glaring at the large scroll splayed open on the table before her. It was incredibly complex and required power most mortals would find impossible to wield. She could cast such magic but would find herself winded afterward, and there seemed to be no way around this requirement.

The possibility of being knocked out of the fight for a few hours while she recovered was an unpleasant one. Still, it was unavoidable, so she simply had to deal with it and thank her lucky stars that she could cast it at all. With that rather grim thought rolling around in her mind, she gazed out over the warm bakery she was using as a temporary base.

The front windows had been barricaded to support the windows better and keep out the mountain of snow that lay beyond. The rest of the eatery had been converted into a magical research facility, complete with a number of unique staff. A few paladins, a ranger, some cultists, and even a diamond dog were working away in relative quiet.

“Perhaps we could use some stored mana, or tie into a ley line,” offered a gruff older unicorn who had been a noble at some time, but had likely lost it all by that point in their life.

“No,” stated the paladin he was speaking to. “The matrices are all too specific and require that all energy to come from the creature casting the spell. If there is even a slight fluctuation, it will collapse.”

“Hmm, perhaps we should-”

Kanathara tuned out the rest of the conversation and glanced over to where Velvet was chewing on her lip. The older mare had a cup of black coffee levitating nearby, the glassware hovering far away from the table. Her expression was one of concentration, and she peered intently down at the scroll sitting before her.

Behind the pony was the succubus she had apparently managed to seduce and was now dating. Though that whole thing still left an odd taste in Kanathara’s mouth, she didn't think about it for long. She merely continued to look out over the various creatures she had gathered to aid her in her attempt to breach the barrier.

The motley assortment of entities were still arguing over the fine details or trying to find a way to lessen the power requirement. Despite their eagerness, it was clear that exhaustion was beginning to set in on them all. Yawns were had, coffee distributed, and the occasional shake of the head was used in an attempt to dismiss the desire for sleep.

It was clear that they wouldn't last much longer, with or without Pinkie Pie’s freakishly caffeinated beverages.

“We have done enough,” Kanathara declared suddenly. “I will cast the spell.”

“But the power requirements… You will have to rest for some time after you cast it,” Velvet offered.

“You may be strong, but are you sure you can manage it on your own?” asked the succubus who was currently giving Velvet a shoulder massage.

“I have enough mana stored to manage it,” Kanathara confidently declared. “It is well within my ability and my reserves.”

“Still…” Velvet murmured.

“I can do this,” Kanathara stated.

“I think she can manage this one, babe,” added Naamah.

“Alright, alright,” Velvet conceded. “Expect to get doted on the entire time you are resting though.”

Kanathara chuckled. “Fine by me, but no vegetable soup. If you want to get me something, find a soul or at least something that bleeds.”

“Already done,” Velvet declared.

Naamah giggled and bumped her hip against Velvet’s side. “You better not fatten her up now. We still have a long march ahead of us, you know.”

“I won't,” Velvet dismissed.

“I need to go prepare the casting site,” Kanathara proclaimed, rising from her seat, and making her way to the exit. “Thank you all for your assistance.”

Velvet watched as her daughter departed, pushing through the snowdrift that had built up on the other side of the door. From there the demon departed in a flash of magic, vanishing into the windswept city without another word. Left with the confused, but relieved staff of magic users, Velvet smiled faintly before taking a sip of her beverage.

“Do you really think she can do it?” whispered Naamah.

“Without a doubt,” Velvet replied. “I just wish that things were peaceful. If they were, this would be a moment of great celebration where we would all congratulate her for her skill.”

“You will have to hold a party for her after everything,” Naamah offered, planting a kiss on Velvet’s cheek.

“We will, and not only because I have so many birthdays to catch up on,” Velvet agreed.

Naamah giggled. “That is an excellent idea, my dear.”

Kanathara let her horn dull as she looked out over the city square she had just finished magically clearing. Above her, a defensive dome kept out the snow and warded against enemy attack. Attacks which were quickly becoming more and more likely as the cultists posted atop the wall had been cycled out for true demons.

Numerous and varied, these hellish creatures seemed ready for a fight, unlike the ponies they had replaced. The message was clear: Blood Tithe had retreated and allowed his post to be filled by those who he wanted to die. In response, the opposing army of survivors had assembled before the gatehouse and constructed their own defenses.

Hastily put together trebuchets, ballistae, as well as magical artillery were all aimed at the wall, behind a motley barricade of shattered debris and cobbled together odds and ends. Down the street, a block from the gatehouse, stood Kanathara, frowning deeply. Her circle was perfect, the braziers around her burned brightly despite the cold air, and her assistants were in place.

A few of whom were busy inspecting the runework they had used on the ground, careful not to touch it. Kanathara had no such doubt in her work though she did worry about the magic she would soon wield, and mentally went over the spell for what felt like the hundredth time. It may have been redundant at this point, but the action assuaged a few of the demon’s worries, allowing her to focus.

A hoof banging on the barrier prompted Kanathara to turn around and look over to where Rainbow Dash stood. She was joined by a grinning Pinkie Pie who was hopping up and down while waving excitedly.

Pinkie wants to wish you luck, as do I, Rainbow Dash’s mental voice exclaimed.

Kanathara nodded to her familiar. Thanks, but I would ask that you not contact me until after the ritual is complete.

Rainbow Dash made a show of rolling her eyes. I know what to do, and I know you haven't started yet.

Sorry. This is just going to be the biggest spell I’ve ever attempted, and I’m a bit worried, is all, Kanathara admitted.

I forgive you, now go knock 'em dead, babe! Rainbow Dash declared, pumping a hoof in the air.

Kanathara smiled faintly and glanced back down to the array waiting before her. Immaculate and complex, it would be an insurmountable obstacle for most, but not for her. Though still intimidating, it was within the realm of possibility for the accomplished mage.

“Alright, clear the area. I’m about to begin,” Kanathara ordered.

Immediately the other casters all took a step back, trotting away from the circle until their backs were against the protective barrier. With them out of the way, Kanathara looked over the matrix one final time before shaking her head firmly. With her worries and fears pushed from her mind, the keeper of secrets lit her horn.

For several seconds nothing happened as Kanathara stood stock still, the power coursing through the sharp appendage atop her head. After nearly a minute of no one moving a muscle, the keeper of secrets suddenly reared up, her eyes opening wide. The unnerving glow that encapsulated her horn surged outward, becoming so bright that those closest had to avert their gaze.

As it surged, the circle ignited, starting as a faint blue color, but quickly shifting and matching Kanathara’s magical aura. Line after line filled with energy, starting where Kanathara stood on one side and proceeding across to the other end. When finally every last bit of the matrix was saturated with power, the demon’s aura grew brighter still.

With a grunt, the keeper of secrets started the third phase of the spell, creating a second illusionary copy of the runic array above the first. This duplicate tightened slightly, shrinking down before turning slowly until its center was right over the top of Kanathara’s horn. This second part drew power from the first, quickly becoming just as incandescent as the original.

When this happened, Kanathara’s horn flared a third time, creating a triple corona around the bladed appendage. This time it didn't last long, as with a heave, she pointed her head at the guardhouse and released it all in a single titanic eruption. A second before this happened, the defensive barrier keeping out the snow fell, allowing the spell a clear path to its target.

Faster than anyone could see, the beam traveled the distance and slammed into the magical wall. Upon impact, a spiderweb of perfectly square cracks spread from the central point. It continued to cascade across the entirety of the barrier until the entire thing seemed ready to collapse.

Which it did a moment later, falling away into a million cubes of magic barely held together by the spell that once bound them. They disintegrated further, breaking into smaller and smaller blocks until they were finally too tiny to see with the naked eye. It was only then that both sides seemed to realize what had just happened, and opened fire upon one another.

Trebuchets and catapults unleashed their payloads while crossbows and ballistae spat death at one another. Magic whizzed, and aerial forces took to the sky while soldiers began their march up to the wall. A few stray attacks were even fired at Kanathara’s position, though they were either blocked or went so wide that they weren't a concern.

Towering paladins wielding huge shields had moved in to protect the casters, and a second later, a barrier was erected across the buildings. Kanathara saw none of this, the keeper of secrets having collapsed to the ground with a smoking horn. Her loved ones were swift to move in, with Velvet somehow managing to beat Rainbow Dash to the downed demon.

“Does anything hurt?” Velvet gently asked, lifting Kanathara’s head from the ground.

“No,” Kanathara croaked. “Just sore. Felt like I ran for a year.”

“Maybe now those stubborn love handles of yours will be gone,” Rainbow Dash added.

Kanathara chuckled, the laugh coming out more like a series of short coughs. “Good one.”

“Thanks, now let's get you somewhere safe where you can rest,” Rainbow Dash offered, extending her hooves, intent on picking the keeper up.

“No,” Kanathara interjected. “Velvet can handle it. I want you to help the push. They’ll need you.”

“You’ve gotten soft,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“Probably,” Kanathara admitted. “Ponies will do that.”

“That we do!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, stepping up next to Rainbow Dash. “Oh, and don't worry, Kathy, I’ll keep a sharp eye on your girlfriend for ya.”

“I’d appreciate it,” Kanathara muttered before erupting into a series of harsh coughs. “Now let's get inside before I somehow manage to catch a cold.”

“I got you,” Velvet whispered.

The older mare leaned down and gently scooped up the downed demon, then placed her atop her back. Naamah was quick to add a steadying hoof, keeping Kanathara from toppling off the side. The trio then swiftly made their way over to a nearby store that had been refitted as a barracks for the army and their attendants. A few changelings rushed out to help, aiding Velvet as she brought her daughter to somewhere warmer.

“Whelp, we better get movin’,” Pinkie Pie offered.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Yeah. Just… wait a second.”

Pinkie Pie sat quietly next to Rainbow Dash, merely observing as the vengant watched her mistress be placed in a bed. Only after a blanket was pulled up to Kanathara’s chin, and Velvet uncorked a soul jar, did Rainbow Dash relax.

“Alright, we can go,” murmured the vengant.

“You know, you two are really cute together,” Pinkie Pie added.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “We are not. Now let's go kill some demons.”

Pinkie Pie grinned. “Whatever you say.”

“The lines are crumbling, push up!” shouted a voice.

A hundred cries of agreement echoed, and the soldiers surged forward, pushing back against the disorganized mass of demons. Though not as numerous as their demonic foes, the cultists under Velvet’s command were expert killers and brutal fighters. Wielding wicked weapons and using tactics none else would dare to employ, they crushed the enemy with ease.

A towering greed demon who resembled a green dragon turned and attempted to flee, crushing his allies with each step. He barely made it more than a dozen meters before a bolt flew through his hand, opened up, and then yanked his arm backward. The draconic monster attempted to remove the painful mass, only for another spear to fly through his upper arm.

With a cry of rage and pain, he fell and was beset upon by a trio of pegasi wielding long, barbed whips. Within seconds, they had managed to flay the majority of the beast’s scales, his screams reaching a new height. The rest of his kin didn't fare much better, as they were crushed beneath the demonically enhanced might of a towering earth pony. Unicorns bound those demons too slow to escape, bending the will of the weak and banishing the strong to whence they came.

Despite their clear lack of standardization, the cultist horde was perfectly disciplined and never went far from the front. In one hoof they wielded demonic weapons, while in the other they held aloft the most powerful tool of all, fear. Fear that the dark creatures may be banished, enslaved, or simply killed in a manner that even they would balk at.

The grim-faced and dark-robed creatures were not limited to ponies though, as dragons, minotaurs, and other races joined them. Griffon demon hunters, empowered by the chained souls of Tartarus, swept aside any meager resistance their targets put up. Minotaurs wielding weapons forged in the blood of their enemies bolstered the line and served as anchor points. Alongside their scaled draconic allies, the bipedal creatures were unbreakable, putting up considerable resistance even against the Tartarus spawn.

“Stay together!” Velvet bellowed over the din of battle. “They flee before us, but it may be a trap. Remember your squads!”

Bolstered by the words of their leader, the cultist mass reformed, tightening a thin line across the entire city street. As one, they pushed forward, hewing down demon after demon as they made their way toward a distant city square. The fighting wasn't bound only to the streets, however, as they were also clearing each house and business they passed.

Backed up by Pear Butter’s small army on one side, and the rangers on the other, they were able to make swift work of their foes. And when they couldn't, when things got dicey, the necromancers walking behind them lent their aid. The citizens of Canterlot were not yet defeated, and whether alive or dead, they resisted the demons even still.

“Do you wish to fight the demons once more?” Aloe whispered, the pony cupping the chin of a disemboweled stallion.

The dead unicorn’s eyes twisted in their sockets until they locked onto the necromancer before him. For a moment there was confusion, though it was quickly exchanged for fury, and he nodded confidently.

“Then rise, son of Canterlot. Rise and defend your home once more,” Aloe exclaimed.

Twisting magic extended from the mare’s bandaged hooves, slipping beneath the half-frozen half-rotted flesh of the stallion. Who rose on unsteady hooves, an unnatural vigor filling his empty form until it spilled out of his eyes in an unearthly green glow. Then, without a command having to be uttered, the stallion lurched forward, a wail of anguish on his broken lips.

He sprinted faster than most living were capable of, shouldering his way through Velvet’s forces until he reached the front line. There he leaped upon the first demon he could find, sinking his teeth into the imp’s neck and shaking his head like a wild dog. The demonic entity screamed and tried to remove the zombie biting down on his throat, but there was little he could do.

“Another blasphemy, and another kill,” Aloe whispered.

“We gave him revenge,” Lotus added.

“We gave him damnation,” Aloe countered.

“We gave him a choice,” Lotus corrected.

Many such choices were made that night, with the majority of those brought back eagerly throwing themselves into the fray. Managed by those necromancers with a talent for the task, the dead moved to wherever they were needed. And when they weren't required, they sated their rage upon any of the opposing demons they could find.

Friendly fire was not a worry for them, as the dead understood instinctively who was a friend and who was a foe. Those Canterlot citizens who still lived did not have that knowledge and occasionally fought their saviors. For when a towering minotaur covered from head to hoof in spiked mail crushed the head of the demon battering down the door, it was hard to tell whose side he was on.

Thankfully that was where the rangers came in, quickly intervening whenever a Canterlot native found themselves saved by someone as intimidating as the foe they slew. Wearing the easily recognizable garb of their order, they interjected when needed, and retreated when they weren't required. When their skills as diplomats were not vital, they supported the opposite flank of Velvet’s army.

Bows twanged, and swords flashed, while demons died by the cartload. Expert tacticians and skilled fighters, the rangers found their skills at hunting in the Everfree were easily transferable to the stony jungle. Their quarry made no attempt to stay elusive and continued to push hard even while being decimated.

When not facing down Velvet’s cultists, the demonic horde was ruthless and relentless, attacking until they achieved victory or death. Not unlike Pear Butter’s cadre of well-drilled imps and other Tartarus-spawned ‘volunteers’.

“Steve, eyes forward. Lemon Scent, keep that shield up!” Pear Butter bellowed from her position at the back.

“Aye, boss!” the two yelled back.

The mass of imps pushed forward, driving a swarm of conjured elementals and their summoners further down the side street. With shields interlocked and weapons always at the ready, they were an implacable force that none could break. Even when aerial reinforcements came in the form of ice mephits, Pear Butter’s group remained firm.

“Crossbows, up, fire!” yelled Pear Butter.

A flurry of bolts flew out from around her, shooting down the majority of the mephits before they could reach them. What few survived found themselves bathing in hellfire conjured by their target, Pear Butter. With the distraction dealt with, the wrath demon’s forces pushed once more toward the cultist casters hiding further down the street.

Only for their targets to vanish, hit by a hellfire-infused meteor named Rainbow Dash. Crashing amidst the mages, the vengant tore into the survivors with ruthless efficiency, cutting them down in seconds. Now without their summoners, the frost elementals crumbled or went wild, vanishing amidst the flurry of snow that fell around them.

The cheer that went up was brief but heartfelt, then the imps were quickly brought back into line by a single shout.

“Eyes forward!” Pear Butter commanded.

As one, the unit of demons directed their attention frontward and began to push down the alleyway. Ahead of them, Rainbow Dash was mopping up the casters’ guards that had failed to defend their charges. Once the last of the cultists were crushed beneath her hooves, Rainbow Dash flexed her muscles and leaped into the sky.

Wings pumping hard, she soared above the battlefield, ignoring the small fry that fled from the sight of her. She was looking for bigger foes to fell, not imps and moon-mad pegasi wielding kitchen knives. A challenge was what she sought, and she found it in the shape of a massive, towering demon that emerged from the mists.

Snow scorched by hellfire created a veil that obscured the backlines of the army, centering on the necromancers. It billowed out from a side street thought cleared. Screams erupted a moment before a titanic shape stepped fully from the mists. Standing nearly three stories tall and emitting enough Tartarus-infused flames to wipe away the snow, it was an intimidating sight.

Four-clawed and spike-covered arms extended from its body and back, each one long enough to touch the ground. Its feet were hooved, and turned backward at the knee, giving it a surprisingly quick, loping gait. Atop its massive shoulders was an enormous head upon which rested hooked horns that were nearly one-third its total height. Crimson spines, blackened scales, and jagged spikes protruded from its body haphazardly, adding to its fearsome appearance.

Before Rainbow Dash even had a chance to launch her attack, the great demon swiped down at the necromancers. Undead flesh, though strong, was no match for the beast, and dozens of zombies were killed in defense of their masters. Even with the rotting bodies being used to block the strike, a few of the dark mages were either killed or sent flying.

Rainbow Dash recognized one of the unfortunate souls as the one called Aloe but didn't watch her land. The vengant was already in motion, her wings pumping and her hooves outstretched, ready to strike at her titanic foe. She had planned to bowl the giant over by hitting it like a meteor, but that didn't end up working.

When she hit the demon, it raised one arm and simply took the blow, skidding back slightly from the impact. Rainbow Dash attempted to roll away before it could counterattack, but for once she was too slow. So instead of slipping away, she found herself grabbed by her foe and unexpectedly thrown through the air.

Through the wall of an apartment and what had once been someone’s living room went the vengant. She only stopped when her body hit the refrigerator, and slumped to the ground, a grunt slipping past her grille. The extra plating her armor had generated retracted, the bent metal groaning audibly as it was pulled back.

She stood slowly, shaking her body and stomping her hooves to get her senses to return to her. After a few seconds, it worked, and with her jaw set firmly, Rainbow Dash launched herself into the air once more. Flying directly at the towering demon, the vengant noticed that her foe had conjured minions of its own.

Screaming balls of semi-sentient hellfire stalked the battlefield, leaping atop any creature not fast enough to escape. Upon latching onto something, these burning orbs with legs combusted violently, disintegrating whomever they had grabbed. Thankfully the majority of their victims were already corpses, though several cultists and necromancers had gotten caught in the chaos.

Velvet and some of her more elite forces had turned around and were attempting to help their allies. However, their efforts were largely focused on simply keeping the balls of fire from claiming more of the support group. Leaving only a couple of rangers to actually attack the towering demon in their midst, peppering it with arrows and bolts.

As the great fiery demon attempted to swat at the squad closest to it, Rainbow Dash pumped her wings hard. Slamming into the top of the great beast’s head, Rainbow Dash unleashed the most concentrated beam of hellfire she had ever conjured. Only to find that her foe burnt hotter still and was completely unaffected by the attack.

“What the hell,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Confused, the vengant was an easy target for the demon, who gripped her around the midsection. Swung around the front of the hulking Tartarus spawn’s front, Rainbow Dash found all four of her limbs gripped. She tried to turn to smoke but found that ability cut off her somehow.

“Die, fool,” muttered the demon.

It then pulled and pulled hard, attempting to brutally quarter the vengant. For a moment Rainbow Dash was able to resist, though thankfully that was all the time she needed. A great bolt, big enough to have been fired from a ballista, shot down from above and slammed into the towering demon’s right eye.

Screaming in rage and pain, the Tartarus-spawned titan released its hold on the vengant, giving Rainbow Dash just enough time to slip away and fly back above the low-lying buildings to regain her bearings. While she searched for a weakness, the bolts and arrows continued to fly, distracting the pained beast as it stumbled around half-blind.

Rainbow Dash found what she was looking for when another huge bolt hit the enormous demon’s other eye. Now thoroughly enraged, the creature spat hellfire in all directions while swiping randomly at anything it could reach. It managed only a couple of these attacks before Rainbow Dash hit it at the base of its right horn.

Temporarily off balance from the sudden removal of the hooked hunk of bone, the demon stumbled to the side, inadvertently giving Rainbow Dash all the time she needed to grip her impromptu weapon and heft it above her head. As if sensing its coming demise, the great demon turned to look up at the vengant, hellfire building in its throat.

“Die, fool,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The swift descent of the demon’s great horn ended with a horrifying crunch. Piercing straight through the demon’s scaled flesh and iron-hard skull, the horn plunged deep into its owner’s brain. For a moment the beast continued to swipe blindly, though its attacks were lazy and sluggish.

It then fell suddenly to its knees and reached up, gripping the hunk of bone sticking out of its head. The creature managed to tug at it once before falling forward, its entire body going limp. It never hit the ground, however, as within the span of a heartbeat, it turned to ash and was blown away by the cold wind.

“Ha ha, suck it, loser!” shouted a familiar voice.

Rainbow Dash looked over to the top of a nearby building, where Pinkie Pie stood, making rude gestures at where the demon had died.

“Dammit,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

What happened? Kanathara questioned, her mental voice bleary, as if she had just risen from a deep sleep.

I kinda like Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash admitted.

“That's for messing with my friends!” Pinkie Pie shouted before spitting over the side of the apartment building.

Okay, I really like her, Rainbow Dash thought.

What happened? Kanathara asked.

I’ll tell you in a second. I’m going to clean up these little bomb guys, Rainbow Dash replied.

Alright, Kanathara conceded.

Lotus fell to her knees and reached forward, gently picking up the broken form of her sister. Blood leaked from her mouth, and more than one of her limbs was turned in directions they wouldn't normally be. Already her body heat had been sapped by the cold, turning her skin to ice.

“Aloe…” Lotus murmured.

She didn't need to use a spell to figure out if her sister was alive or not, she knew instinctively that she had already passed. Being surrounded by death for as long as she had gave Lotus a sense of these things. However, she hated that ability, for it stripped away any doubt that her sibling was still alive.

Frigid tears ran down her face and froze the moment they fell from her cheek. For several minutes, she knelt there as the snow slowly buried both her and her sister. Then a thought occurred to the young necromancer and with a ragged sigh, she set about calling her magic.

“Come, dear sister. Answer the call,” Lotus whispered.

Instantly, the dead mare’s eyes opened and latched onto her sister’s. Though no life remained in those fiery orbs, her passion remained.

“I accept,” Aloe declared before Lotus had a chance to ask.

“Then rise and stay with me until the moment I join you in death,” Lotus replied.

Aloe nodded and closed her eyes while magic coursed through her ragged body. Bones snapped back into their proper directions, and limbs twisted to function properly once more. So much unnatural vigor flowed into the undead mare that it leaked from her eyes like a pair of bright green headlights.

Aloe gasped and spat out a semi-congealed mass of blood that had gotten caught in her throat. She then gently, but firmly, pushed herself away from her sister’s embrace and rose on her own four hooves.

“Come, sister,” Aloe bade. “We still have work that needs to be done.”

“Y-yes. Just…” Lotus paused, placed a hoof on her chest, and breathed deeply several times. “Alright, I’m ready.”

Kanathara stomped a forehoof and shook her head vigorously. Rainbow Dash glanced over to her mistress and raised an eyebrow curiously.

“Are you okay?” asked the worried vengant as she reclined in an expensive-looking rocking chair.

“I’m fine,” Kanathara replied. “Just, trying to wake up, you know. That second nap was surprisingly deep.”

“You weren't assailed by any nightmares?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Nah,” Kanathara answered, waving a hoof. “The wards did their job.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and looked back out over the battlefield that lay just beyond the third-story window. The actual fighting was scarce, with the majority of the Nightmare’s forces having retreated or simply ran away in a panic. Either way, there were only the brave or stupid left behind to slow down the gathered forces of the ragtag army.

Pear Butter’s imps, Velvet’s cultists, and the rangers were still fighting strong, but the frequent battles were weighing on them. They would need to take a break, recoup their losses, and tend to their wounded. With the final push in sight, however, they shouldered their exhaustion and pushed onwards without complaint.

Beyond the magical barrier and atop the wall stood a veritable swarm of heavily armed demons ready for a siege. Backed up by moon-mad ponies and the odd cultist, they were clearly prepared for the eventual fall of the dome that protected them. They even had a good number of armor demons that stood at the forefront, their shining armor reflecting the moonlight.

“Wait, what is that?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“What is…” Kanathara trailed off.

The pair focused on the distant shape that stood at the center of the small group of armor demons. Clad in midnight black mail and standing a full head taller than the others in its group, this particular demon stuck out. Clearly marked by Nightmare Moon, he wielded two silver scimitars that glowed faintly in the low light.

Kanathara gritted her teeth. “Nightmare Moon brought Cervantes back.”

“What do we do?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Kanathara sighed. “We relegate casting the spell to someone else and prepare to capture him ourselves.”

“It won't be easy,” Rainbow Dash warned.

“Nothing worth doing ever is,” Kanathara replied.

Author's Note

Trial Fifteen: A Very Old Friend [R]

“Velvet, are you in here?” Kanathara shouted, bursting into a small tent.

“Yes, yes, what is it?” Velvet replied, ignoring her advisors and simply brushing past them.

“I need you and a few others to take over casting the breaking spell. There is something that requires my immediate attention,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“I, er…” Velvet glanced back to the small mass of huddled cultists.

The group exchanged a glance at one another, a small bout of whispering, and then nodded to their leader.

“Alright then,” Velvet exclaimed. “What exactly is it that has you so focused?”

“It will take too long to explain,” Kanathara dismissed.

“An old friend of ours was brought back by the Nightmare, and we are off to duel him,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“I guess it wasn't that long,” Kanathara muttered.

“Oh, well, alright then,” Velvet exclaimed. “I’ll gather together a large enough cabal and will start preparing.”

“Before you do, I was wondering how things were coming with the shards of the black hunger. You mentioned a breakthrough before,” Kanathara offered.

“Err, right. We have been kind of busy, but an assistant of mine has been inspecting them,” Velvet waved over one of the hooded figures. “I can't recall all the details, but Twisted Wound should know more about it.”

“Oh yes,” whispered the cultist. “I have made quite the advancement. Not only are the shards only semi-real, since the black hunger had a physical and magical component, but these shards contain a hint of the now lost power.”

“They no longer consume, but rather hold power, correct?” Kanathara asked.

The cultist was quiet for several seconds.

“How… how did you know that?” she asked.

“An assumption I had. Now, do they function as I inquired?” Kanathara demanded.

The hooded pony bobbed her head. “Oh yes. They will suit your needs quite well, I think.”

“Only one way to find out. Hand me a shard,” Kanathara ordered, extending a hoof.

“As you wish,” replied Twisted Wound, the mare reaching into her voluminous robes and producing a thing jagged scar of black glass.

Kanathara took it and inspected it closely, noting how the edges seemed fuzzy as if it were only partially in this reality. She tucked it into her mane, where it disappeared, becoming a single jagged scar in the night sky hidden within her hair.

“Good luck,” Kanathara offered before departing.

Rainbow Dash was close behind her, giving Velvet a weak smile before following after her mistress.

The tent was silent for nearly a minute before Twisted Wound turned back to Velvet.

“Do you truly think we can cast the spell?” asked the cultist.

Velvet snorted. “Call in whatever favors, cash in any contracts, do whatever it takes. I will not have this entire offensive falter because no one has the power necessary to cast a simple spell.”

“So what's the plan?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara grunted, pushing her way past a minotaur who lingered too long in the demon’s path. Immediately after passing him by, Kanathara was greeted by the sight of the long open road, and the army arrayed before her. Everyone on both sides stood ready, the various forces ready to attack or defend their positions from their foe.

At the center of it all stood Cervantes and his cadre of lesser armor demons fanned out behind him. In his hands were clasped the dual silver scimitars that gleamed in the bitter moonlight. Snow continued to fall and be carried upon the wind, occasionally whipping at the faces of anyone not bundled up securely.

Kanathara wore little in the way of clothing, though she was not bothered by the cold. The close proximity of her flaming familiar, and her own protective enchantments kept the demon warm.

“We fight him,” Kanathara stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “We beat him, and then… well, I’ll have planned out the rest by the time we get to it.”

“I sure hope so, ‘cause I don't think I have the heart to kill Cervantes. He was one of the few who was actually good to us,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“I know,” Kanathara muttered. “Just trust me though, I’ll have thought of something before-”

“Hey, back off, pretender!” shouted a voice.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash turned to where a pair of tall changelings were shoving one another. Behind them, two separate groups of lesser changelings had gathered around their leaders and were glancing nervously between the two. Ignored by the other demons and supervisors, it was obvious that the ensuing fight would not be handled quickly.

“Stars above,” Kanathara cursed, trotting in the changelings’ direction.

“I am no imposter, it is you who is attempting to undermine my authority by disguising yourself as your queen!” declared the other changeling.

“You dare don my visage and tell me that I am the liar? You shall perish for your insolence!” bellowed the other.

A moment before the two tall, crown-clad changelings could lock horns, Kanathara stepped between them.

“There will be no perishing unless one of you idiots ends up on the frontline,” Kanathara spat. “Now forget this nonsense and get back to moving that gear. It won't be long until we’ve breached the next gate, and I expect our supplies to be ready to move.”

“But she-”

“I don't care!” Kanathara shouted into the face of each of the changelings. “You will do as ordered, or I will feed you hoof first into the closest wood chipper!”

That seemed to make both of the royal changelings balk and stand down. Though neither seemed ready to apologize to the other, Kanathara cared little for their feelings. So after staying just long enough for the two groups of changelings to depart, she left as well.

“What do you think that was?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I don't know, and like I said, I don't care,” Kanathara muttered. “Probably just some kind of changeling prank gone a bit too far. Either way, they are working once more, so that is all that matters.”

“I guess. It just seems like… I don't know, a powder keg,” Rainbow Dash remarked, glancing over her shoulder.

“We’ve got demons working with demon hunters. This whole damn army is a bomb waiting for a match,” Kanathara dismissed.

“True,” Rainbow Dash murmured, trotting alongside her mistress as they walked toward the front. “So, snap teleport once the fight is over?”

“I’ve already got the receiving ward ready,” Kanathara answered.

Rainbow Dash nodded and walked in silence with her lover, passing by the many groups waiting to attack. Nearly every group of the ragtag army was represented in some amount, though a few were playing only minor roles given recent casualties. Kanathara didn't care about any of it, however, and simply focused on putting one hoof in front of the other.

It wasn't long before she stood in front of the solid frontline made primarily of paladins but fortified with militia members. On the sides, the various demons in their service waited, straining against the leads that held them in place. They weren't far from the gate, little more than a city block or so, the space left specifically to ensure that there was room to maneuver.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash required no such room and trotted straight up to the barrier. Blasted occasionally by a particularly harsh gust of wind, the pair didn't flinch, their gazes fixed on their foe. Standing directly on the other side of the barrier, the armor demon and his cadre remained completely motionless.

“Cervantes, are you in there?” Kanathara shouted, pounding a hoof against the shield.

The pair inspected the other demon closely but found that he didn't respond at all to Kanathara’s call. He just stood stock still, armored hands clenching tight his dual scimitars. For several long minutes, they just stared at one another, waiting for the barrier to fall and the true fight to begin.

Maybe… maybe it isn't him after all, Rainbow Dash offered.

No. It's him. I can feel it, Kanathara retorted.

The sudden buzz of powerful magic tickled Kanathara’s horn and made the appendage ache painfully. Thankfully the feeling passed quickly, leaving behind only a faint fuzzy feeling that stayed at the forefront of her mind. It was an unpleasant sensation, but Kanathara didn't mind as it told her all she needed to know about her mother’s efforts.

The shield will fall shortly, be ready, Kanathara thought.

On it, Rainbow Dash declared.

Rainbow Dash snorted, sending out a wave of fire that melted and pushed back the snow. Kanathara wove another spell and readied, though did not release it, not yet anyway. Holding it back, she exchanged a confident nod with her familiar, silently confirming their shared commitment.

Remember the strategy? Kanathara asked.

Operation sword breaker is a go, Rainbow Dash declared.

The pair readied themselves, with Rainbow Dash continuing to put off a considerable amount of heat. Kanathara remained stock still, her horn glowing faintly with power, the energy yearning for release. A pulse of magic signaled that such a time was coming soon, as a wave of twisting black red lightning surged across the ground.

The moment it hit the barrier, it arced higher, racing along the magical wall and tearing away chunks. Like a million tiny arms, electricity reached forward and ripped sections of magical light from the main mass. The cascading mass of energy left behind only fading remnants of the spell that had once stymied the army of survivors.

Neither side waited long, immediately looseing spells and mundane projectiles alike now that there was nothing between them. Massive stones flew overhead, and fireballs sailed from on high, though neither was a concern of Kanathara. No, she merely released her magic with a flick of her horn, conjuring a barrier around her familiar and their foes.

“I invoke the right of single combat. Us versus you!” Rainbow Dash shouted, jabbing a hoof at Cervantes.

Like a spell being activated, the armor demon’s eyes lit up, and he swept an arm in front of him. The soldiers under his command spread out around the edge of Kanathara’s barrier, where they took position. The field was then set, with Kanathara and Rainbow Dash facing off against Cervantes.

For a moment, neither moved nor struck out at one another, merely observing the other’s movements. While they stared, the battle raged around them, with a flurry of attacks flying in each direction. Enormous boulders hurled by massive demons or traditional siege engines, great torrents of lightning conjured from malignant minds. The battlefield was a cacophonous nightmare scape of destruction that ended abruptly at the edge of Kanathara’s shield. There the sound became muted, leaving the impromptu arena devoid of any noise save for the flickering of Rainbow Dash’s flames.

The two Equestrian demons gritted their teeth in unison and launched themselves forward with great fervor. The fire spilling from Rainbow Dash’s armor burned white hot while Kanathara’s hooves glowed with magical energy. Cervantes met them with a two-handed diagonal swing with both of his scimitars, aiming squarely at Kanathara.

The keeper of secrets skirted just barely under the twin swords, forced to abandon her attack. Trusting that her escape would be covered by Rainbow Dash, Kanathara rolled to the side. Sure enough, the vengant was swiftly upon the other demon, blowing a cone of fire down upon the biped.

An attack that didn't seem to do anything, as Cervantes crossed his swords and leaped up at the vengant. Shielded by an unnaturally cold aura, the armor demon swept his blades downward, intent on removing Rainbow Dash’s wings. The unnaturally fast movements left little room for even the lighting-quick vengant to respond, but thankfully Kanathara had anticipated this.

Her blast of magical force didn't do much damage, but it did threaten to knock Cervantes onto his back. Predictably, the armor demon favored a more defensive posture and abandoned his attack again, landing back on his feet a moment later. The second his feet were on the ground, he quickly stepped back, putting both of his opponents before him.

Rainbow Dash, Kanathara, and Cervantes all resumed the slow appraisal of one another, walking in a slowly looping circle. They watched each other closely, neither making a move for several seconds before suddenly leaping across the circle. Again they clashed, and again they struck, only this time it was Rainbow Dash who was the first to strike.

Her white-hot hooves slammed into Cervantes' scimitars before being thrown back by the armor demon. The icy aura protecting the weapons was temporarily burnt away, and a keen eye could see a small nick in the blade. Kanathara grinned to herself as she conjured a quick barrier over her familiar, guarding the vengant against Cervantes’ counterattack.

The armor demon shattered his foe’s shield in a single stroke before leaping through it and swiping again. Put on the back foot and nearly pushed to the edge of the circle, Rainbow Dash blocked the relentless assault launched at her. A downward slice, a horizontal chop, a two-handed attack starting from the bottom right and ending at the top left. It was all blocked or avoided, the vengeant’s body straining to compete against such incredible speed.

When Kanathara moved to help, her blast of power did little, the rippling wave of force batted aside with the flat of Cervantes’ left sword. That tiny amount of distraction was all Rainbow Dash needed, and she leaped to her right, launching into the air with a flap of her wings. Cervantes didn't make any effort into following her though and turned completely around before throwing one of his blades.

Kanathara narrowly dodged, the weapon slicing a thin wound between her neck and left shoulder. A bubbling purplish-black liquid spilled from the cut which refused to close even after reforming her material body. Kanathara abandoned any attempt to heal it rather quickly and instead chose to fire off a forked bolt of lightning.

The attack was seemingly unblockable, but before it hit, Cervantes somehow plucked another scimitar from a ray of moonlight. Now armed with both blades once more, the armor demon was able to stop the forked bolt, the energy dissipated by the swords’ aura. Rainbow Dash was already on the attack, however, body pivoting and back hooves launching at her foe.

The attack was strong, powerful even, but was obvious and easily blocked by the armor demon. That didn't matter, however, as the lightning had dissipated the protective enchantment somewhat, and the vengeant’s hoof took another notch from the blades. Cervantes immediately shoved his opponent back and swiped for her head, removing only a section of Rainbow Dash’s flaming mane.

The vengant sprinted out of reach, her retreat covered by a flurry of magical bolts launched from Kanathara’s horn. Though they numbered over thirty, Cervantes still managed to smack every single one before they hit him. That wasn't all though, as he also did so while charging forward. When the projectiles were gone, he swiped across Rainbow Dash’s backside. The heavy steel plates that protected the demon screeched as they were torn apart, leaving behind another small cut.

A fireball launched at the armor demon and was finally able to force him to stop and block with both blades. Giving Rainbow Dash time to regroup with her mistress, the pair eyed their foe closely as they circled one another once more.

Are you sure this is a good idea? Rainbow Dash asked.

I’m certain. The blades retained the nick even after reforming, Kanathara declared.

Alright, Rainbow Dash replied, seemingly unconvinced.

The fight began again, with both sides leaping upon one another and trading a series of blows. Kanathara struck first with a crippling ray of destruction that opened the way for Rainbow Dash to attack with a powerful haymaker. This was blocked, and Cervantes was able to nick the vengant in return but that was all he could do before they reformed.

Over and over the two sides met, each landing hits, while around them the battle raged on, barely noticed. The wall was breached by a particularly large rage demon who was immediately felled by the Nightmare’s forces. That didn't matter, as the opening was made and the attackers surged toward it while the defenders mustered a response.

All this was ignored by Kanathara and Rainbow Dash, who were now covered in nearly a dozen shallow cuts. Their dark blood hissed upon meeting the air, bubbling away to nothing the moment it met the cool wind. Cervantes was unscarred, though his blades had entire chunks missing from them, forcing the armor demon to use his fists or feet more.

I don't know how long we can keep doing this, Kanathara regretfully admitted.

Come on, one more time! Rainbow Dash declared.

The vengant didn't wait for a response and immediately leaped forward, her wings pumping hard. Upon reaching the height of her ascent, she dove at Cervantes, extending her back hooves in a downward kick. Kanathara managed to conjure a flurry of acid-covered arrows at their foe, though they were swept aside by a single one of Cervantes’ scimitars.

The blade didn't survive the block, however, it either melted away or fell to the side, leaving only the hilt. Forced to bring his offhand against Rainbow Dash, the armor demon’s remaining sword shattered on impact. Allowing the vengant to continue forward and slam her hooves against her foe, sending him onto his back.

Ditching the blades mid-fall, Cervantes transitioned into a backward handspring and landed upon his feet once more. There he raised his fists and charged Rainbow Dash, armored face still utterly neutral. The pair met a moment later and traded a series of lightning-fast hits, only Cervantes’ of which managed to make it through.

Rainbow Dash caught a fist to the chest and then the side of the face, but took the hits without flinching. Her armor absorbed nearly all of the force behind the attacks, with only a tiny shred of strength managing to get through. Barely enough to leave a bruise, Cervantes quickly learned that he wouldn't be able to bludgeon his foe into submission.

Kanathara hadn't been standing there idly, however, so when the armor demon knocked her familiar off balance and turned to her, the keeper was ready. A focused beam of superheated plasma blasted at Cervantes’ midsection, forcing him to raise both arms and do his best to block. After the initial impact had been resisted, he tried to roll away but was shocked to find that Rainbow Dash had leaped upon his back.

“Now!” she yelled.

Kanathara sprinted forward and wrapped her own forelegs around Cervantes, binding him as securely as they could manage. Then, both familiar and mistress opened their maws and pulled, the other demon’s soul straining to stay within its body. The armor demon wasn't about to take this lying down and kneed Kanathara in the gut before headbutting the keeper square in the nose.

Though her face was now a mix of bubbling blood and broken flesh, Kanathara didn't flinch nor did she stop. She simply pulled harder, sapping at her foe’s strength until his attacks became weak and halfhearted. Then all at once, he fell still, and his glowing eyes seemed to shine with genuine mirth before dying like embers upon the cruel wind.

With one final gust, the demon’s soul emerged from his body, hovering above his head, held there by the two opposing forces. It didn't remain there, however, as Kanathara snagged it out of the air, catching it in the tiny shard of the black hunger she had kept in her hair. The moment this happened, Cervantes’ old body crumbled, rapidly rusting away to nothing along with his squad.

“Did it work?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Just… wait,” Kanathara muttered.

The keeper stared down at the shard and nearly jumped when it twitched, power coursing out of it. The angry red aura flickered another time, nearly jumping out of Kanathara’s hoof before being caught by the demon. Who held it tightly while the shard continued to pulse and angrily attempted to leap from her grip. Then, just as Kanathara thought it may break under the strain, the shard stilled and became a soft purple coloration.

“Is… that it?” Rainbow Dash whispered, eagerly bouncing from hoof to hoof.

“I think so,” Kanathara replied. “The shard is stable, and Cervantes’ soul remains intact.”

Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that's great to hear because wow, he was every bit the beast as I remembered him.”

“Even more so now that he wasn't holding back,” Kanathara added.

“No kidding,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “So what now?”

“Just… just a second,” Kanathara muttered.

The keeper of secrets lit her horn, and after a moment of concentration, cast another spell. One that sent a teal wave of magic over their bodies and caused their many wounds to glow faintly. They then flashed red one by one, leaving behind open cuts, though ones that didn't constantly bleed. The pair then reformed their bodies and shared a collective sigh of relief when they no longer sported a single injury.

“That took a lot more out of me than I would have liked,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“You're telling me. I’m damn near running on E at the moment,” Rainbow Dash declared while cracking her neck.

“Right, you go assist Fluttershy with the wounded. I’ll see what I can do to aid the attack,” Kanathara stated.

“Better hurry. It seems like they are nearly done,” Rainbow Dash retorted, gesturing to where the ragtag army nearly pushed all the way through the opening in the wall.

“I’m sure there will be a snack or two I can secure,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Alright, boss. Give 'em hell.”

Kanathara pulled her familiar into a brief kiss before flashing her a smirk and teleporting away.

“Wow,” Rainbow Dash whispered to herself. “I love that demon.”

“Hahaha, run, little piggy, run!” Pinkie Pie shouted before pulling back the trigger.

There was a dull thwomp, followed by an electrical crack, and finally a full second later, a distant scream. A cultist in the midst of a summoning ritual cried out, only to explode a moment later, killing the other members of his group. The half-formed chaos demon they had been attempting to call forth vanished as well, its body turning into a half dozen birds that flew off in all directions.

“Fire this time,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

The mare placed the enormous crossbow on the half-destroyed stone wall and began to furiously crank it back into place. A few seconds later, she extended a hoof to her right, waiting a little longer. Sure enough, a massive bolt was handed to her, its tip flickering with a pure white flame eager to lash out at anything flammable.

Pinkie Pie loaded her weapon, hefted it up to her shoulder, and aimed upwards. Her mind turned, the pony calculating how to compensate for the wind that whipped constantly above her head. She was about to fire when a voice suddenly called out.

“A little to the left.”

Pinkie Pie pursed her lips, adjusted her aim ever so slightly in the aforementioned direction, and fired. Another twang was followed by a fwomp and finally a confused squawk from a demon that had been hiding in the blizzard. Nearly invisible due to the constant snow, the great harpy hag had been ready to swoop down alongside its pack.

That was until it received a bolt to the gut and then exploded in a violent eruption of fire that took the rest of her group along with her. For a moment a tiny ball of fire was visible off in the distant clouds, and then burnt demon guts rained from the sky. The crimson viscera didn't make it far before it was frozen or blown off to somewhere else.

“Nice shot, need another?” offered the voice.

Pinkie Pie glanced back at the keeper of secrets lounging amidst a mound of dead demons, a sharpened bone held aloft in her grip. Next to her sat a small table topped with a hunk of some demon’s leg, as well as a quartet of bolts for Pinkie Pie’s crossbow.

“I’m not sure they even need my help anymore,” Pinkie Pie muttered, scratching her chin while looking back at the battlefield. “They started running the second you joined in, and now it almost feels a little mean.”

“But… they’re demons,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Oh, I’m still gonna shoot 'em. It's just like shootin’ fish in a barrel though. Unsporting,” Pinkie Pie offered while cranking her crossbow.

“True,” Kanathara agreed. “Would you like a more advantageous position? I could teleport us onto one of those taller buildings up ahead.”

“Nah. Just hand me another and make this one emit a couple of buckets of acid when it hits. I saw that one demon eat a friend of mine,” Pinkie Pie added.

Kanathara smiled. “I like your style.”

“You need to lay still so I may heal you,” Fluttershy whispered, a hoof pressed against a raving pony’s chest.

“The moon calls and bays for blood!” shouted the mare, her bloody hooves reaching skyward. “It demands sacrifice and victory!”

“Alright, that's enough of that,” declared a voice.

Rainbow Dash stepped forward and slugged the mad pony across the face, knocking her out cold in a single strike.

“Rainbow Dash,” hissed Fluttershy. “You didn't have to do that.”

“I didn't, not half too,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

The pegasus sighed. “Just hand me the bandages please.”

Rainbow Dash looked around the snowy tent and quickly located a small bag marked with a white plus symbol. Snatching it up from a pile of half-organized supplies, the vengant pulled out a roll of clean white wraps and handed them over. Fluttershy took them and began binding the injured mare’s wounds one by one.

With nothing better to do, Rainbow Dash looked out over the tent, her gaze landing on the many inhabitants within. Injured cultists of Nightmare Moon lay next to those aligned with Velvet and the true members of Riff Raff’s group. There were even a few demons laid out or attending to ponies, their monstrous nature temporarily restrained.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“The world is filled with grey. Maybe now people will see that,” Fluttershy muttered.

The pegasus paused, pulled the bandage tight, and secured it with a simple metal clip. She then paused, reached into her bag, and pulled out a pair of hoof cuffs she had found. With two swift clicks, she bound the moon-mad pony to her metal cot.

“Equestria is gonna be one weird place if we win this,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “It's gonna be hard to pretend as though the whole dang world wasn't saved by a bunch of cultists and demons.”

“And killers, former pegasus supremacists, and several bands of literal bandits,” Fluttershy added.

“Oh, and don't forget the changelings,” Rainbow Dash added.

Fluttershy nodded and followed her friend’s gaze, looking out at the group. “It's going to be an interesting place, but perhaps we should worry about living to see it first.”

“True,” Rainbow Dash replied, flashing the mare a smirk. “You know, you’ve done really good with the whole stutter thing ever since we started invading Canterlot.”

“I guess… I guess a part of me needed to see how small and insignificant I am,” Fluttershy whispered. “Still need my inhaler every few hours though.”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Baby steps.”

Kanathara stood atop the gatehouse overlooking the next quarter that stood between them and Canterlot Castle. The castle which had been little more than a simple white smear on the horizon was now growing ever closer. Shrouded by layers of magical barriers, it was hard to see, though even from her current position, Kanathara could make out that a battle was raging within.

That wasn't the only location where a battle was located, as a mass of demons, cultists, and moon-mad ponies were assaulting a block of apartments. A great barrier of golden magic kept them out, however, allowing the defenders to fire from within it with impunity. The shield was strong, but Kanathara could see the cracks beginning to form along its edge, and worse still, the demonic force grew with each passing second.

“You know that was incredibly dangerous what you did,” Tirek offered.

Kanathara glanced only briefly at the centaur as he clambered up the final steps and sat next to the keeper.

“It was calculated,” Kanathara retorted.

“I’m glad you did the math and not Rainbow Dash then,” Tirek remarked.

Kanathara chuckled. “True. She may be smarter than some give her credit for, but she simply lacks the patience for that kind of thing.”

“I remember a time when you fell into a similar camp,” Tirek pointed out.

“Did you come up here just to embarrass me?” Kanathara demanded, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

“Not entirely, no,” Tirek admitted. “We’re going to have to rescue those paladins.”

“Why bother? Can't we just ignore them?” Kanathara exclaimed in jest.

“Mmm, possible,” Tirek muttered. “But to leave such a large force of enemies just sitting behind us wouldn't be a smart move by any stretch of the imagination.”

“Fair,” Kanathara murmured. “We’ll need to employ the necromancers as our primary force. Have them raise the fair amount of dead that litter the streets.”

“I was never a fan of this city, so pompous and full of itself. Yet…” Tirek snorted. “Even I cannot condone what has happened here.”

Kanathara stared silently at the body-strewn streets that stretched from one wall all the way to the next. The demonic occupation had been violent, resistance had seemingly been higher than anticipated, and the Canterlot populace had suffered because of it. The once mighty skyline had been decimated, and now desiccated, burnt-out husks littered the once pristine landscape.

Everywhere Kanathara looked, she saw refugees hiding in ruins, too scared to leave their homes. It was an unpleasant sight and one that was quickly swallowed up by a surge from within the ever-present blizzard. Wind and snow buffeted the shield that surrounded the pair, a howl rising to become so powerful that conversation was impossible.

A flash of magic muted the sound and allowed Kanathara to turn to Tirek. “What news is there of Pythias? She said that Nightmare Moon had summoned reinforcements,” Kanathara inquired.

“As usual, she was correct,” Tirek replied. “They assault her even now and seem to be on the verge of victory.”

“Then…” Kanathara hesitated.

“She has an escape plan, and I’ve sent several segments of the sky fortress to reinforce her when she takes position here,” Tirek stated.

“We need to do more than that,” Kanathara demanded.

Tirek placed a hand on the keeper’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Pear Butter has volunteered to stay behind. The majority of her forces will fall under my command, but she should keep a good number with her.”

“I guess hers is the only sub-faction that has actually grown in number, besides the undead,” Kanathara muttered.

“They will be fine,” Tirek stated. “We’ve learned enough about the barriers that we should be able to create a weaker version. It won't be perfect, but at least we should be able to keep them out long enough to win the day.”

“Still,” Kanathara murmured.

“It will be okay,” Tirek repeated.

Kanathara nodded and straightened her back. “Right then. Let us plan this assault properly. Starting with the assassins as well as the Sky Fortress. We’ve kept them in reserve and as the rear guard for long enough.”

“I agree,” Tirek offered.

“Let's see what they and the necromancers can really do,” Kanathara muttered, peering intently from her perch down upon the ranks of robed dark magic users.

Author's Note

Trial Fifteen: Rotted Saviors [R]

“How does that feel, sister?” Lotus inquired.

Aloe merely lifted a single eyebrow, revealing more of her glowing green orb.

“Right, right, but how does it feel?” Lotus pressed.

Aloe shifted from hoof to hoof, gauging how the new heavy barding felt on her now undead, unfeeling body. It was primitive, fashioned from bits looted on the battlefield, and no doubt intended to armor a demon twice her size. Despite this, the heavy iron plates and jagged blackened metal gave her little issue, giving the undead an almost complete range of motion.

“Good,” Aloe replied. “I particularly like all the spikes.”

Aloe brushed a hoof against one such pointy bit sticking out from her shoulder that was nearly six inches long.

“If only we could find you a helmet,” Lotus remarked aloud.

“My countenance is, I’m afraid, beyond saving,” Aloe pointed out.

Lotus sighed. “I know. But at least then you’d look the part of a bodyguard.”

“I suppose,” Aloe reluctantly agreed.

While Lotus began to rummage through the mound of discarded armor left behind by the enemy, Aloe looked around. The other necromancers were rallying their personal escorts of undead, while others packed on extra layers of protection from the elements. The ever-present blizzard had reached a new level, filling the streets with enough snow to bury even the tallest pony.

Zombie-pulled plows cleared the way for the main army, while what few expert weather ponies remained helped to keep the winds at bay. Even then, the effect was minimal, forcing the various factions to seek shelter amidst the buildings that still had all four walls. An effort that was becoming increasingly difficult the further in they got, as most structures were almost completely destroyed.

There, in the middle of an intersection, the necromancers and their entourages made no such attempt to make camp. The others would rest, recuperate, plan, and perform recon, while a few amongst them continued the assault. Most notable of which was the various sky fortress segments that had disengaged from Cloudsdale proper.

These large, nearly city block-sized chunks of solid cloud drifted on their own wind, moving east along with an escort. One primarily made up of Cloudsdale survivors and pegasus militia members, though there were others amongst them. Clad in black armor that made them nearly invisible against the eternal blizzard, they moved like shadows.

High above the battlefield wasn't the only place the assassins of Ebonwind could be spotted. A few had gathered at a nearby street corner, each one checking their weapons or armor while waiting for something. The answer to this unspoken question was answered a moment later when a tall, slim pegasus approached Aloe and Lotus.

Their features were indistinct, hidden by so many layers that Aloe couldn't even tell what sex they were. All she could see amidst the black wave was a pair of bright green eyes and the pommel of a dagger that bore the image of a single black lightning bolt on it.

“Greetings, death singers,” they announced, voice like the sound of air slipping under a door. “I hope the presence of my wings shall not be detrimental to your work.”

Aloe’s eyes narrowed, the burning orbs of emerald bearing down on the pony before her. “They will not be necessary,” Aloe stated. “Isn't that right, sister?”

“Their presence will be… tolerated,” Lotus half agreed, a wool-covered hoof grabbing her undead sister’s shoulder. “We will need their help to gather a flock of listeners large enough to assist the paladins held up on Acorn Street.”

“Their numbers are not so great that we cannot overcome them,” dismissed Aloe.

“I have no doubt that the vengeful dead shall crush your foes, but can they keep you safe?” whispered the pegasus as they slowly walked around the armored undead. “Even if caught unaware, they will still send assassins, and what is a better counter than blades of your own?”

Lotus smiled wearily. “It will not be for long.”

“Fine,” Aloe agreed.

The pegasus bowed low and extended their right wing out. “I, Broken Blade of the Ebonwind, shall endeavor to earn your respect.”

“We move to gather more listeners. Are your people ready?” Aloe half asked, half stated.

“Always,” replied Broken Blade with a nearly invisible smile.

“To Market Street,” Lotus commanded, her voice soft, but audible to all.

As one, the necromancers and their charges moved in lockstep with each other, heading eastwards. In the distance, a dome of teal magic could be seen encompassing a pair of apartment blocks. Assaulted from all sides by hordes of imps and lesser demons, the area was clearly the sight of a great battle.

One they were walking directly into.

Lotus stood tall atop what had once been a pony’s stall, the puny shop likely having served as that individual’s livelihood. Now, it was destroyed, its banner torn, its wheels shattered, but its ragged skeleton reached forth from the snow, serving as the former spa pony’s lookout as she surveyed the area, seeking out the dead.

They called to her in a great multitude, their forms mostly buried under the snow, leaving the area strangely serene—one broken by the occasional frozen hoof or skeletal hand that reached out from the white blanket.

“They were shopping,” Lotus whispered.

Her well-trained eyes could pick out the tiny spots of light that now served as poor imitations of tombstones. Arrayed in groups around stalls, the many lingering souls painted a grim picture of a day suddenly interrupted by violence. One that had likely started on the far right side and spread out, as the bodies’ placement became more chaotic the further out from there.

“They were living,” Aloe added.

Lotus wanted to cry, and maybe she may have if she had been the pony she had been a few months ago. She was used to that feeling and pushed it down, focusing on the job and the many faces looking up at her. Nodding to them, Lotus extended a hoof towards the formerly peaceful market, ordering her troops to begin their dark harvest.

The shrouded faces of her necromancers moved out amongst the field of dead, their attendants close at hoof. After watching them for a few moments, Lotus hopped down from the stall and sought out the closest group of bodies. Two bright souls and two smaller ones waited, lingering on the mortal plane due to the suddenness of their demise.

Humming a soft song to herself, Lotus began to work her magic, the other necromancers joining in. The tradition of singing, humming, or whistling had sprung up naturally out of a desire to ease the transition back into life. None amongst the grim cabal needed to discuss this change, it simply happened, and so their name was coined.

“Those who did fall, hear my call,” Lotus whispered.

The trickling rivers of greenish magic went down into the snow, seeping deep into the white mass. The moment the spell took root, Lotus was bombarded by different emotions, none of which were her own: the hot, indignant anger of a kid, the cold rage of a parent who had seen their child wronged, and the confusion of someone too young to understand their own end.

“Rise, rise, and take your well-deserved revenge,” Lotus urged.

The first to emerge was the father, his large heavy set frame pushing through the snow and allowing his wiry wife to follow suit. The unicorn mare immediately sought out someone, anyone to satiate her blood lust, but found no one worthy. Next, a teenage filly almost ready to graduate pushed herself through the frosty crust of ice and scrambled out.

“Where did he go?” she demanded, grabbing Lotus by the shoulders. “Where is the bastard that hurt my sister?”

“I know not, dear one,” Lotus calmed. “But I know where the pony who gave the order lies.”

“I don't know what's going on, but if it means getting back at that bastard who took my daughter, I’ll do whatever you want me to,” exclaimed the stallion.

“That is-” Lotus paused and raised a hoof. “A moment. It seems as though your other foal wishes to return as well.”

“She shouldn't have to see us like this,” exclaimed the mare.

“I agree. But she is quite insistent. I’m not sure I can-” Lotus was cut off when the ghostly spirit of a young filly flew up through the snow and grappled her father’s neck.

“Oh, daddy. I’m so glad I found you. It was so cold,” she whispered.

Aloe stepped forward. “We need to continue and let them have a moment.”

“Of course, there are many more listeners,” Lotus agreed.

The former spa pony gave an apologetic nod to the family before departing, leaving them to have a strange reunion. Upon turning around, she noticed that many of her fellow necromancers had been successful. Dozens of undead clambered out of their snowy graves, heeding the call of the death singers and marching on to the grim beat of revenge.

“Magical surge, east side,” whispered Broken Blade, hoof raised.

Lotus followed the limb over to a mostly intact government building of some kind, its windows alight with blood-red magic. Even from where she stood, the earth pony could sense the spell building rapidly before exploding in a flash. A second later, the windows shattered, allowing a horde of imps to clamber out of the structure.

The many creatures took wing and launched themselves down at the necromancers in the midst of their various songs. Before the attackers could reach the ground, a flurry of daggers and bolts cut their number in half, the assassins drawing first blood. Lotus began to move and issue commands just as what appeared to be an enormous brain emerged from the building.

Eight metal-clad limbs sprouted from the strange creature’s bottom half, allowing it to clamber down the side of the structure. With no eyes or mouth to speak of, Lotus was unsure of what the creature could do. That was until its wrinkled mass pulsed. A bright red light instantly crushed a trio of zombies pulling themselves from the snow, their forms reduced to a handful of organic mush.

“Protect the singers, focus on the spider!” Lotus barked.

Assassins, undead, and necromancers alike launched themselves into the fight with whatever weapon they had on hoof. Through the flurry of throwing daggers and small hoof-launched crossbow bolts came the imps. Their numbers fell dramatically, but there were so many that even the sudden barrage did little to slow them.

The mass of low-level demons simply avoided their dying brethren and swooped down upon their foes. With claw and fang they sought out the necromancers but when they couldn't find their target, they settled on anything living or unliving. Zombies still clambering their way out of the snow found themselves flocked by a horde of demons eager to rip them apart.

Limbs were torn off, eyes gouged, and rotten body parts were strewn across the snow, the undead barely able to defend themselves, half buried in the snow. Those who had already managed to form up into a more cohesive block fared much better, their undead strength keeping the imps at bay. A few of the zombies were pulled away from the group and were killed a second time, but they were in the minority.

Groups of necromancers surrounded by their bodyguards both living and dead fought in tightly packed circles. Assassins sprung from the darkness, stabbing, slicing, and otherwise narrowly keeping their charges safe from harm. Aloe and Lotus found themselves in a similar situation, though theirs was far from the dire circumstances others were faced with.

Aloe stood front and center, her heavily armored form serving as an anchor point for the weaker undead. With each swing of her forelegs, she batted another imp from the air, knocking them senseless. One of her fellows usually finished them, but it hardly mattered to the former spa pony.

She intended to grab as much attention as possible, her heavier armor able to take a beating that her allies couldn't. Claws scraped, fangs broke, and more than one crude blade snapped upon hitting her hardened carapace. Throughout it all, she continued to crush, punch, or headbutt any living demon that dared face her directly.

Behind her, the Ebonwind assassins ducked dove and struck between the zombies when needed. Focused primarily on keeping the airborne imps from their necromancer charges, they were a force to be reckoned with. On the ground, they attacked from seemingly nowhere, their poisoned blades leaving their foes twitching and gurgling on the ground.

In the air, however, was where they truly shone, easily managing to avoid the imps’ floundering attempts to get past them. The demons looked like oversized geese barely able to fly in comparison to the deft and dexterous assassins. Each swipe was slow, easily dodged, and quickly countered with a far more deadly attack that almost always killed its target.

Broken Blade was the least seen, but easily the most lethal of the dark cohort, every strike killing its mark. Shallow stabs crippled, and even the smallest prick seemed to leave the imp writhing in unbearable agony, only to perish a moment later. Impossible to hit and barely ever visible, they moved through the demons’ ranks like the specter of death itself.

Aloe herself mainly stayed on the defensive, coordinating her forces and lending aid when necessary. A word empowered a flailing zombie, giving him the strength to throw off the imps latched onto his back. A quick spell sent a ray of negative energy into the face of an imp bearing down on one of her fellow necromancers, killing it instantly.

Together they were able to resist the onslaught with relative ease, but Aloe could tell that it wasn't the case with everyone. The other squads were excelling and had taken minimal losses, but weren't making the gains that her group was. Still, she could tell that they would win, given time. That was until the spider brain finished descending and turned its attention to the closest pocket of resistance.

The demonic entity’s grey mass pulsed brightly for several seconds before flashing a maleficent crimson. Immediately the entire group of necromancers, their charges, and the imps attacking them were crushed into a ball. The snowy ground around them was also caught up in the attack, leaving a deep divot at the center of which sat a multicolored sphere of flesh and metal.

Aloe glanced at Broken Blade and was ready to command her to attack the spider, only to notice that they were gone. The assassin, along with their cohort had departed, slipping through the ranks of imps and descending on the spider brain. Their incredible dexterity kept them one step ahead of their demonic foes, allowing the assassins to pass through their enemy’s meager defenses.

Broken Blade was the first to reach their target, but their dagger was stopped by a staticy red field. The assassin retreated just in time to avoid the fwomp of a telekinetic burst which would have spelled death for them. Others tried the same and were stopped, each one narrowly avoiding the spider’s counterattack.

Some imps turned to protect their leader, while others continued the assault, too filled with bloodlust to care. The sudden division was perfect in Lotus’ mind, and with a bit of magical urging, she commanded a charge. With Aloe leading, the zombies plowed through the disorganized imps in a tidal wave of rotten rage-filled flesh.

Half-frozen limbs smashed aside the meager resistance and allowed them to link back up with the other squad. Within seconds the imps found themselves pinched and quickly outmatched, with the smartest or more cowardly taking flight. Some escaped, but most were dragged down and stomped into a paste by the angry dead.

“Continue,” Lotus ordered.

Together they pushed toward another group of necromancers, using their increased numbers to make short work of the disorganized imps. Their progress was quick, but not quick enough in Lotus’s mind, as she could see that the assassins were slowing. A reddish haze filled the air around the spider brain, dragging imp and pony alike toward the ground.

It wasn't long before the more exhausted of the assassins hit snow and were crushed by an unseen hand. The rest fought on, weaving and ducking while flapping furiously in an effort to keep aloft. The effort was a valiant one, but they needed assistance if they were going to have any hope of winning.

This help came when the final necromancer group was rejoined, and together Lotus strode alongside her sister.

“As one!” the twins called, their left forehooves held above their heads.

The zombies formed a wall of rotten flesh, while behind them the necromancers linked forelegs with one another. With Lotus at their center, they gathered a dark, blighted power that crackled like black lightning across their forms. The spider creature seemed to sense the coming danger, however, and turned suddenly, its brain twitching excitedly.

The wrinkled folds pulsed, creating a crushing force intent on ending the threat to its existence. The attack never landed on its target, however, as Aloe banged an armored hoof against her chest, somehow intercepting the telekinetic burst. The reddish energy rippled across her body, squeezing down on her, but doing very little damage to the zombified mare.

The spider immediately understood that something was wrong, and tried to attack a second time. Only to get a dagger buried in the folds of its wrinkled mass, drawing forth a gush of reddish-black blood. An unearthly wail filled the minds of all present, causing some to bleed from their ears.

“Scream for me, you bastard,” Broken Blade muttered.

The spider creature lowered itself, only to push back up a moment later, bucking the assassin off of it. The Ebonwind soldier easily rolled mid-air and glided away, getting as far away as possible. Just in time too, as Lotus had gathered a critical mass of energy and with a thrust of her hoof, unleashed it upon her foe.

The pure black lightning bolt shattered the spider’s defenses and struck it with the force of a cannonball. The demonic entity was launched backward, seemingly unharmed, save for a single grey mark on its side. Then the many folds and layers began to darken, a midnight plague spreading across its surface.

The beast shrieked again, but this time it was in a panic, the entity’s wail almost desperate. Crimson sparks rippled off the strange monster’s form to no avail. Within a few seconds, its entire body had turned the color of the night sky, only to collapse into a pile of ash.

Lotus sighed. “It is done.”

“No, sister,” Aloe corrected, “we have work left to do.”

“You are right. Singers, are you ready?” Lotus asked.

The other necromancers nodded grimly, forelegs still interlocked.

“Then let us sing,” Lotus commanded.

Together they joined their voices, their melody made stronger by the sudden presence of distant drums and the soft clack of a piano. The song was dark, foreboding, but hopeful, calling forth the dead who lay within the frosty embrace of the heavy snow. They moved, danced, and urged the restless listeners from their slumber, promising them vengeance.

Those who heard the faint whispers of the heart song felt tears spring to their eyes, while hope stirred in their hearts. These lucky few would recall that moment until their dying day, remembering clearly the grim tune forevermore.

A towering red demon stood impatiently amidst his army, hooved foot tapping impatiently at the stone street. Though snow continued to fall all around him, the creature’s fiery aura kept the large flakes at bay, turning them to rain before they could hit the ground. He wore nothing but didn't require armor as large bony segments jutted from his form, creating a natural shell not unlike plate mail.

Around him, various cultists, moon-mad denizens of Canterlot, and demons waited nervously. They watched in silence as their demonic overseer scratched at the horns jutting from his head before leaning heavily on his massive greatsword. Throughout it all, the demonic overseer watched as his forces assaulted the magically protected set of apartments directly across the street from him.

“The messenger is here!” shouted a voice.

The demon and his entourage all turned to watch as an out-of-breath greed demon trundled up to them. The overweight and rotund creature nearly fell over after coming to a stop, its bulbous chest heaving as it filled its lungs with air. The leader had no patience for such a show, however, and grabbed his lesser by the throat, hoisting it into the air.

“What news do you bring? Is it ready? Are the charges in place?” demanded the greater demon in a deep rumbling tone.

“Soon,” squeaked the fat demon, shaking an outstretched hand, upon which rested a dull grey object. “It should be ready soon.”

“Good,” rumbled the leader, plucking the mostly colorless stone from his subordinate and dropping him to the ground. “Ready the troops and form battle lines. The moment the dust settles and those buildings are rubble, I want you ready to pick off any survivors.”

He raised a finger and glanced around at his sub-commanders intensely. “But remember. The commander is mine. He has stymied my advance for too long, and I will have my revenge.”

“Yes, baron,” muttered the nearest cultist.

“Good,” murmured the large crimson demon.

Standing there, he looked down at the dull stone, waiting for it to turn the telltale red that meant it was ready. His subordinates watched either him or the apartment, none bothering to eye the nearly six-foot-tall pile of snow that surrounded them. The demons made no camp and swept aside only enough of the white stuff to stand with all their feet on the ground. In fact, the drift was so large and so close that some of the demons sat or leaned in the freshly fallen ice without paying much attention to it.

It remained quiet until two pairs of undead hooves reached forth and pulled an imp into the snow, its sudden cry immediately stifled. Barely any of the demons even batted an eye at the disappearance, their attention elsewhere even as more of them were picked off. Another imp, a rage demon, and even a pain elemental were grabbed before anyone seemed to notice.

Unfortunately for the undead attackers, a pain elemental is not so easily dealt with nor silenced. Its scream of panic and confusion could be heard far and wide, piercing the din of combat from the apartments. As one, the demons turned towards the snow bank and the flurry of ice crystals that flew into the air.

“What in the infinite hells is-” was all the baron could mutter before the attack began in earnest.

The snow heaved and burst as a horde of undead ponies as well as other Canterlot natives emerged. Armed with naught but their rage, they dragged down their startled prey and trampled the confused creatures. Moon-mad ponies, cultists, and demons fell en masse before a concentrated defense could even be considered.

“Form up!” bellowed the baron. “Abandon the offensive, where are our spotters?”

Unseen to the demon, his scouts lay dead or dying atop the roofs. Daggers were buried in spines, and enormous ballista bolts cut down any who survived the assassins’ assault. Crossbow fire and magically silenced lightning bolts shot from the mysterious clouds moving against the wind.

As the baron’s forces scrambled to redirect their fury, the wall of zombified flesh surged outwards. No one was safe from their icy grip, and even greater demons were quickly surrounded and trampled. Though individually powerful, these great fighters were no match for the endless raging tide of those they had once slain.

Even the baron himself soon found his bodyguards engaged in melee, and his sub-commanders dying or otherwise indisposed. He cared nothing for their survival and merely gripped his greatsword with a single massive clawed hand. Swinging down between his bodyguards, the demon bisected a pair of earth ponies right as they were about to drag an imp to the ground.

Repeating this motion several more times, the baron found that the glee that came with a kill was incredibly short-lived. There were always more, and the dead feared not death nor dismemberment. Even when their losses began to mount, the Canterlot dead charged over the corpses of the fallen, using the mound of bodies to bury an unfortunate imp. Within seconds, the baron found himself surrounded on all sides and beset by angry faces.

“Worthless fodder,” spat the greater demon.

He shifted his grip but stopped when he noticed that the stone was now blinking a bright red color. With glee, he attempted to activate the rune and detonate the bombs, only for it to get batted out of his hand before he could do so. He lost sight of the thing as it was swallowed by the horde of undead, their multitude blotting out everything but the night sky.

With a growl on his lips, the demon threw off the ponies attempting to hold him down, and began swinging his sword. Each wide, sweeping arc returned a half dozen zombies to their graves, his pace never slowing as he cut a swath around himself. With unnatural strength, the demon cleaved through bone and body, actually managing to push back against the tide of rotten flesh.

His subordinates were less lucky, as soon unseen assassins as well as several ballistae were turned against them. Massive bolts the size of tree trunks flew unerringly from the blackened sky, destroying those larger demons able to hold their own against the dead. Those with wings or other methods of flight were cut down by the members of house Ebonwind.

The baron didn't care and searched intently for the missing stone, tossing zombies aside in his panic. He was forced to pause and hack his attackers to bits, but he soon found what he was looking for. Wrenching the thing from the cold grip of a dead minotaur, he grinned and looked back to the apartments.

“What the hell is the shield doing down- Oh no,” he muttered.

As if on cue, a wave of paladins and other survivors poured forth from the building, charging into the fray. The disorganized demons and their pony underlings were already distracted and proved easy prey for the sudden flanking maneuver.

“At least I’ll get to kill a bunch of these four-legged freaks,” the greater demon remarked to himself.

The baron raised a glowing finger and was about to activate the rune when a sudden whizzing noise caught his attention. Twisting to the side at the last second, he narrowly avoided the massive projectile flying directly at him. Or at least he partially dodged it, as his right arm was clipped and torn completely off his body from the force of the thing.

So great was the strength behind the blow that the baron barely even stumbled after getting his limb ripped off. With the stone lost, the demon gritted his teeth and grabbed his sword, intent on getting some manner of revenge. Only to once more find himself at a disadvantage as his forces were already being routed, crushed in a devastating pincer maneuver.

The demon’s baleful gaze landed on the closest paladin, who he launched himself at with murderous intent. Sweeping aside the undead, the baron cleared a hasty path toward his target, bloodlust rising as realization dawned. Before him stood the commander, notable for his lack of a helmet and bright purple hair that hung low around his shoulders.

With the desire for vengeance burning hot in his chest, the demon barely even noticed as a black shape fell over him. The sensation of a cold piece of metal sliding between his vertebrae was the only warning he got, his legs buckling a heartbeat later. Before the baron could even fully grasp what happened, he was lying face down on the ground, body twitching as it tried to fight off the poison.

“Well well well. How the tables have turned,” remarked a voice.

The baron sputtered and spat as he stared up at the unhelmeted face of his bitter rival.

“What, no claims of vengeance or damnation?” mocked the royal guard. “I’m disappointed in you, baron.”

The demon tried to spit on his foe but found his jaw unconsciously clenching, his lips held tight together.

“Well then. Best put him out of his misery, eh?” remarked the guard.

The soldier then stood up on his hind legs, waited a moment, and then brought the armored limbs down. With a loud wet crunch, the demon’s skull split open like an overripe watermelon, spilling his brains across the ground. The royal guard paid no heed to the mess and turned around, intent on aiding his troops as best as he could.

The route was nearly complete, as there were no major pockets of resistance left at that point. The greater demons lay dead, the cultist leaders were in chains or in pieces, and those who tried to flee were captured or killed. It was almost disappointing in a way, though the captain smiled regardless.

“Begin extracting the civilians and getting the wounded ready to move. Those paladins still able to fight will come with me. We have a necromancer to thank, or eliminate,” he bellowed, voice carrying over the din of battle with ease.

“Aye, sir!” returned the call.

The royal guard gathered his soldiers and trotted in the direction of the main group of undead. He managed to almost reach them when a flurry of purple mist swept down upon the breeze and reformed into the shape of a mare. Beautiful, but demonic, she was instantly recognized by the royal guard, who held up a hoof.

“Hold. We know of this one,” he exclaimed.

“I see my brother still speaks of me,” Kanathara replied with a smirk. “That's a surprise.”

“He informed me that you may come and that you would be seeking his location, as well as our allegiance,” remarked the royal guard.

“He is correct. That too is a surprise,” Kanathara mused aloud.

The soldier chuckled. “Regardless. I would need some assurances and the chance to speak to the other leaders of your… alliance, or perhaps army is a better word for it?”

“Ragtag assortment of survivors,” Kanathara corrected.

“That sounds… accurate,” agreed the stallion, who paused to clear his throat. “I assume this is agreeable?”

“Very reasonable, though I must demand the location of my brother, as well as an explanation as to why he is not here,” Kanathara insisted.

The captain hesitated a moment before sighing. “He left to help Cadance who had stayed behind in order to protect a hospital that didn't evacuate in time.”

“Typical,” Kanathara muttered.

“That's not all, however. I think his true intentions were a bit nobler than just helping the mare he has a crush on,” added the guard.

“Is that so?” Kanathara pressed.

The captain nodded. “Rumour has it that there is a secret entrance to the castle in Canterlot Royal Hospital. I think he is going to mount a rescue mission for Celestia after getting Cadance on his side.”

“How like him,” Kanathara murmured mostly to herself. “I suppose now you will ask, no beg us to save him.”

“That would be nice,” offered the royal guard.

Kanathara sighed. “Alright then. We better get moving. Oh, but before we do, what's your name?”

“Diamond Rose,” offered the royal guard, hoof extended. “A pleasure to meet ya.”

Author's Note

Trial Fifteen: Entropy Killer [R]

Atop one of the lone towers still in one piece, there sat a keeper of secrets, the demon cool, but not freezing. Her legs were bundled underneath her, with the grimoire she carried everywhere resting open before her. Surrounded by a faint purple bubble of energy, she was protected from the wind and ever-present snow. Like a single oasis amidst the endless blizzard. There she read, watched, and waited for the return of her familiar.

She didn't have to do so for long, as a bright red and black shape soon appeared from behind a ruined office building. The crimson comet streaked toward the keeper, slowing only when she was a few feet away. With a flare of her flaming wings, the vengant landed with only a tenth of her momentum. After a short trot to bleed off the last of her speed, Rainbow Dash removed the snow that had gathered on her with a powerful pulse of fire.

“What did I miss?” asked the vengant.

“Not much,” Kanathara replied. “The final push across the Merchants’ Quarter is beginning.”

“Right, and after that, it's just the Royal Quarter and the castle itself,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, lying down next to her mistress. “I can't believe we’re actually going to get there in the time allotted by the contract.”

“I’m a bit surprised as well. I anticipated more to go wrong, but we still have ways to go,” Kanathara remarked.

“Plenty of time for something to hit the fan,” Rainbow Dash replied, elbowing the keeper in the side.

“True,” Kanathara admitted. “Now we just need to cut through a swath of demons summoned using the blood of the innocent, cultists chasing mad dreams, and mercenaries paid off by the stolen wealth of a hundred plundered mansions.”

“Easy,” Rainbow Dash stated confidently.

“We are going to need all hands on deck for this one,” Kanathara muttered. “Nightmare Moon’s throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us.”

“She's scared,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “She knows that if we are able to fulfill our end of the bargain, then we could use that special plan you’ve been cooking up.”

“Don't mention it aloud. Not even up here,” Kanathara warned. “Despite that foul creature still fighting Celestia, Nightmare Moon has eyes and ears everywhere.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “I wasn't gonna. It's just funny to think of that nag imagining knives in the dark and constant betrayal.”

Kanathara chuckled. “True.”

“So,” Rainbow Dash stood back up, “are we joining the push, or what? ‘Cause something tells me that Tirek can't handle this alone.”

“He wouldn't be. There's Diamond Rose, Dawn Hammer, and the rest,” Kanathara flippantly replied.

“That may be true, but we all know that with Pear Butter defending our backside he is the true leader here,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “Well, now that he's cowed Diamond Rose, anyway.”

“Oh, what did he do?” Kanathara inquired, rising alongside her familiar.

“It was weird. He didn't get real big or anything, just said ‘butt chin’, and Diamond Rose burst out crying,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Ha!” Kanathara cackled. “I knew she was secretly quite vain.”

“Regardless. Shall we?” Rainbow Dash asked, extending her wings invitingly.

“We shall,” Kanathara replied.

Her form turned to mist and flowed under Rainbow Dash’s slowly extending armor. Within a few seconds, the vengant’s body was covered in an enchanted hell plate once more. Protected from the elements and foes alike, they leaped from the tower and spread their wings wide. Twisting around a burnt-out apartment building, the pair began to descend. To where in the distance a great number of fires burnt and an even greater number of creatures waited.

“Hey, Feather Fall, quit digging around for loose change,” snapped a voice.

The griffon currently mitts-deep in the pocket of a dead unicorn pony stood up and looked around. His gaze immediately settled on the shape of his sergeant, a burly old minotaur glaring down at him from atop a snow drift. Like the others, the minotaur had once been a bandit, a marauder living his life at the edge of society.

Now he wore the finest enchanted armor cobbled together from the various royal guards they had killed. An oversized coat and a heat-radiating pendant kept the worst of the weather at bay while the greatsword strapped to his back kept everything else well out of arm’s reach.

“Not all of us were there when we raided that fancy pants mansion,” retorted the griffon. “So we gotta make do with what we can.”

“I don't give a rat’s ass if you pull the gold teeth from some shmuck’s head, but we gotta look alive,” declared the minotaur. “The scouts saw a whole bunch of them survivors marching towards us.”

“Really?” muttered the griffon. “I thought we took care of the last rat’s nest when we collapsed that apartment over on Fifty-seventh.”

“Nah, that was just a couple of guard holdouts. What we got coming is apparently some kinda resistance movement,” the minotaur snickered. “Like a couple of country ponies could have a hope in heck of reaching the gates.”

The two shared a laugh, though the sound ended abruptly when a ballista bolt suddenly impaled the minotaur, and pinned him against a wall. The towering bovine looked down at his stomach and managed a confused gurgle before going limp. His upper half tore away from the rest of him, sliding down the snowbank and coming to rest at the bottom, leaving behind a long red streak.

Confused, the griffon crawled up to the edge of the lip and gazed out over the street.

There, in the distance, he saw what looked like an entire army of ponies, but not just ponies. Demons, as well as nearly every other race under the moon, marched alongside the hoofed creatures. Far from the expected rabble, they were well-armed, armored, and disciplined. The most notable thing about them was how their formation had a level of military precision that could not be replicated or faked.

In front of them were several plows being pulled along by scores of undead. The great hunks of iron being used to clear the streets pushed the snow away from the main army, depositing it at the street’s edge. This allowed the horde of creatures to stride confidently upon stone ground rather than on the shifting white powder.

The main bulk of the army seemed made up mostly of what appeared to be militia. Diverse in both arms and armor, they marched in lockstep, betraying their humble origins with the expressions of trained warriors. They weren't alone either, as within their ranks stood the odd demon and a surprising number of equine-like imps.

A sudden twang made the griffon hit the dirt again and look up to where he thought he heard the sound originate. What he saw made his heart stop, as ducking back into the shadow was a shadowy assassin with feathery wings. With his attention drawn skyward, he noticed another bit of movement, only this one was much, much larger.

Clouds parted, and the dark sky turned white as an enormous structure drifted into view. Bristling with ballistae, catapults, and other siege weapons, the remnants of once mighty Cloudsdale became visible. The griffon felt his limbs pumping before he was even consciously aware of what was going on.

Hauling himself from the edge of the snow pit, Feather Fall sprinted back towards where the rest of his company was mustering. The mismatched group of mostly griffon and minotaur mercenaries were scrambling to form up. Under the angry gaze of the fire demon that served as their commander, the troop was swift to gather.

For a moment, the many-headed creature caught the thief’s gaze, immediately instilling an intense fear in Feather Fall. That fear vanished when a flash of deep purple magic turned the fire demon into a pile of harmless snow rabbits. Chaos reigned in the aftermath, giving the horrified mercenary time to continue his mad sprint down the line.

A few of his comrades tried to establish order, and one attempted to grab him as he fled, but the young male was too fast. Slipping through the grasp of the burly minotaur soldier, Feather Fall ducked into an alleyway, attempting to evade his fellows. He didn't need to worry for long, however, as a massive explosion detonated on the street he had just put behind him.

The wave of force sent Feather Fall flying, but the quick-witted griffon was able to right himself before he hit a wall. Using his momentum to twist to the side, the male flapped hard, narrowly escaping the surge of fire that nipped at his heels. Riding the backdraft, he flew through a burnt-out bakery and landed on what had likely been a bustling sidewalk at one point. He was surrounded on all sides by shops and stalls. Though nearly all of them were little more than piles of debris poking through the snow.

He briefly wondered just how far the explosion had pushed him when he heard what sounded like singing. Deep, mournful but empowering, it was akin to the dirges Feather Fall had heard play after the death of a community member. This was different, however, as the voices were haunting, yet angry rather than mournful.

“What is that?” Feather Fall whispered.

Glancing down the road, the young griffon noticed that a small horde of slavery demons had set up a roadblock. Many limbed and insectoid, the demonic creatures looked like bipedal ants that varied in size, color, and number of appendages. Their beehive-like blockade seemed untested at the moment, but they were standing ready, waiting for something.

Feather Fall was tempted to go over to them in hopes of finding safety in their ranks, even if he would likely lose his freedom in the process. His silent contemplation did not last long, however, as a sudden shifting in the snow directed his attention downward. Days spent picking through the snow-strewn streets of Canterlot had drilled paranoia deep into the griffon's mind. So when he felt the distinct sensation of the ground beginning to shift, he took to the sky in a heartbeat.

By the time he landed on a half-destroyed balcony overlooking the street, the source of the change appeared. Half rotten, but mostly frozen, a pony corpse pushed its way out of the snow and stood on shaky hooves. He was joined by dozens of others, most of whom were ponies but they weren't alone, however. Old comrades uncaringly cast aside after sustaining grievous injuries rose alongside the ponies they had killed.

Some of these returned mercenaries had angry, fiery gazes, but most were empty and utterly expressionless. Puppeteered by an uncaring hand, these looters, thieves, and murderers surged toward the slavers, hefting whatever weapons they had on hand. The citizens of Canterlot followed behind, some splitting off to flank while others formed a spearhead aimed at the blockade. Feather Fall knew not what alien will had crawled into the empty skulls of his former comrades, but he wasn't about to stick around to find out.

Taking wing once more, the griffon angled back towards the royal district and what he hoped was safety. He knew that the primary barracks for the mercenaries were located near the gate and past several more blockades. The defensive positions Feather Fall had derided merely minutes ago now promised to serve as a safe haven.

A sudden flicker of movement was the only warning he got before all of a sudden a blade swept out from the shadow. The panicked mid-air swerve was amateurish and rushed, but it saved all but a couple of unimportant feathers. Feather Fall ensured that was the only injury he received by pushing himself hard immediately and without looking back.

Whatever had attacked him was remarkably fast for something that moved utterly soundlessly. Banking around another street corner, Feather Fall felt something whizz right over his head, missing him by mere inches. Another close call occurred a moment later when he tried to outrun the specter haunting him.

“Come on, leave me alone,” Feather Fall muttered through his clenched beak.

A third swipe drew a thin line of blood across his back right leg, the attack bypassing his ramshackle armor with ease. The pain was unnaturally intense for such a relatively shallow cut, but Feather Fall pushed it from his mind with great effort. Focusing utterly on going as fast as was physically possible, the griffon cast aside his bags and, reluctantly, his sword.

The reduced weight seemed to be everything he needed to escape his pursuer, as there were no further attempts to swipe at him. He wasn't going to simply trust that he had managed to slip away, however, and wound through the confines of a half-collapsed apartment building. He had stalked these halls only a day earlier and knew its interior well even in complete darkness.

Able to pierce even the thickest of veils, not many mortal beings could match a griffon’s night vision. Unfortunately for the mercenary, his pursuer was not mortal and saw better in the dark than they did in the light. A fact that Feather Fall did not find out until he felt a weight crash into his side out of nowhere.

He barely managed a confused squawk before he flew straight through a weakened section of drywall. A hard landing accompanied by a loud crack, which heralded a surge of agony from his right forelimb. The clawed appendage instantly went numb, leaving Feather Fall unable to properly arrest his fall in time.

Only a frozen recliner stopped him from tumbling across the entire room, its padded, icey cushions giving the griffon no comfort. He attempted to scramble towards a nearby broken window and escape the snow-filled room, all to no avail. Whatever had been following him closed the distance just as Feather Fall had tumbled from the piece of furniture.

Something heavy knocked the wind from the griffon’s lungs, and a second blow to the kidneys racked his body in fresh agony. Feather Fall tried to curl into a ball and escape the pain, but it did little to stop the rain of punches falling on him. It did manage to protect his more vital areas, but it wouldn't matter, he soon realized. Whoever was attacking him was strong, determined, and was a single lucky hit away from breaking Feather Fall’s other forelimb.

Then, the beating stopped, and the griffon heard what sounded like heavy breathing from above him. Looking up, the young mercenary gazed in horror as the vague shape of a pony coalesced from the gathered darkness. Rather than be banished by some form of light, the twisting shadow was pulled into the body of a pegasus mare.

She looked weak, almost skeletal, and had numerous scars crisscrossing her partially hairless exterior. Despite how frail she appeared at first glance, Feather Fall could feel that she was still more than a match for him. Even if he managed to reach the dagger he kept strapped to his boot, it likely wouldn't matter in his estimation.

“No, we cannot kill him,” muttered the pony. “He must be given the choice.”

“Ch-choice, what choice?” Feather Fall whispered.

The pegasus blinked and looked down, only now seeming to realize that she wasn't alone.

“The only choice that matters. Do you wish to live, or to die?” she asked after a moment’s pause.

Feather Fall inspected his attacker a bit closer, looking for any hidden weapons she may have. Yet to his continued shock, she was completely nude, lacking anything to protect her against the cold or a dagger. Though his first inkling was to assume she was vulnerable, the predator part of his brain screamed at him to stay his hand.

It was then that he noticed the strange blackened aura that clung to the mare like a second skin. Incredibly dark, it seemed to rob the world of what little light the moon cast into the snow-filled room. Though there was barely enough illumination to see his claw in front of his face, Feather Fall could see the enormous shape looming over him.

Hulking and wolf-like, the shadow creature sported the wings of a bat, the horns of a ram, and the malice of a demon. The rest of its features were nearly impossible to make out, save for its dual eyes of glowing red that glared down at him. Within that intense glare, Feather Fall saw neither pity nor mercy, unlike the pony whose eyes promised both.

“So, what will it be?” she pressed.

Feather Fall gulped. “Uh, live, please?”

“Was that a question?” growled the pegasus.

“N-no. I want to live!” Feather Fall declared.

The pegasus froze, staring intently at the downed griffon for several seconds, not saying a word. During the brief moment of quiet, she twitched occasionally, her jaw clenching and unclenching. As if struggling with some unseen conversation, the pony seemed half-ready to bite her prisoner’s head off. Then she sighed, a soft smile crawling slowly across her face.

“Good, then put away that dagger and give me your leg,” she demanded, extending a foreleg of her own.

Feather Fall hesitated a moment before silently sheathing his weapon and lifting his unbroken limb.

“Good, now I warn you. This is going to hurt, a lot,” declared the pegasus.

“What are you- Agh!” Feather Fall screeched as shadowy fangs sunk into his flesh.

From the point of entry bloomed an intense, nearly all-consuming cold strong enough to wash away the agony he felt. A tidal wave of deadened sensations and pain passed over him, leaving behind only the faintest of physical sensations. Pleasure, pain, joy, there was nothing but an emptiness set between himself and his own body.

“Welcome to the Unseen, initiate,” greeted the pegasus.

Feather Fall blinked hard, clearing his vision of the teal light that had clouded it a moment earlier. Once it was gone, and the fog had lifted, the griffon found that he could see perfectly in the dark. Not just abnormally well, but perfectly, as if every shadowed corner had a lamp pointed directly at it. Stranger still was that the creature he had seen over the pegasus was now overlapping her.

“Know that until I deem your service fulfilled, you will not be alone,” she continued. “The shadow will be with you forever, but will initially rest heavily upon you, ensuring you do not step out of line.”

Feather Fall grunted and clasped his head. “What, what's going on?” he muttered.

“Your roommate is moving in. Expect considerable discomfort as they rearrange your body and soul to better suit them,” remarked the pegasus in a slightly deeper, more masculine tone.

“What are you-” Feather Fall screamed as his broken foreleg began to twist.

Even with his deadened nerves and uncomfortably numb flesh, Feather Fall could still feel his bones shift. Flesh tore and was knitted back together, bone splintered, only to reform. Within a few seconds, the limb was complete and unharmed but now felt off, as if it wasn't quite his own anymore.

“Rise, Unseen One. Your hunt begins!” called the pegasus in two different voices, both her own.

Feather Fall didn't want to stand up, but his body moved without his consent. It was then that he felt the presence of another pressing against the back of his mind and pushing his thoughts out of the way. Reality blurred, and when his senses returned, the griffon found himself grasping the edge of the window.

“How did I-” he muttered before throwing himself over the ledge.

His body blurred, and his perception shifted until he became nothing but a passenger in his own mind. Gazing out eyes no longer just his own, he saw as darkness swallowed his form, coating it in impenetrable shadow. Then with speed even he could not have mustered in his prime, the griffon sped off into the night, making a beeline for his old comrades.

He knew that he would soon slay any survivors that had managed to escape. He also knew that if the pegasus had wanted, she could have caught him sooner. Yet she had chased him into a corner and beaten him within an inch of his life. All in order to draft another soldier and pit him against the side he had been fighting for only a moment earlier.

It was cruel, unnatural, and depraved, yet Feather Fall couldn't help but appreciate it. He wasn't sure if this thought was truly his own, but regardless of the origin, it was impossible to deny the grim truth of it all.

At least he was, in a way, alive.

Kanathara stood unmoving next to a table filled with various colored game pieces. The illusionary map they stood on represented the layout of the Merchant Quarter perfectly, including the various forces arrayed before and alongside her.

Overlooking the tactical layout were the other members of the impromptu council that led the ragtag army. The handful of ponies and demons were locked in their own private conversations, sending orders or talking amongst each other. All save for Twilight Velvet and her daughter who continued to inspect the situation.

Kanathara could tell that things were going well and that their Blackguard had indeed sowed much confusion amongst the enemy ranks. Despite losing the barrier to the Merchant Quarter, the mercenaries and cultists had wrongfully assumed that there was no danger. So they continued hunting survivors and looting rather than fortifying their positions.

“Hmmm,” Kanathara muttered to herself.

She noted that the militia was doing well and their flanks remained secure. The rangers and the diamond dogs had yet to falter in their defense of the main army, but still, Kanathara worried. She could see that the militia and their support units had been forced to spread out, slowing their advance.

“You're worrying about an ambush or something sneaking up on us,” Twilight Velvet offered.

“I am,” Kanathara replied. “I know most of the forces arrayed before us are pushovers, but we are making uncomfortably quick progress.”

“You don't think they are trying to draw us out, do you?” Twilight Velvet pressed.

Kanathara snorted. “Unlikely. We’ve been advancing very carefully, and with both the necromancers, or death singers, as they’ve been calling themselves, and the paladins in reserve, such an attack would be foolhardy.”

“Perhaps they intend to send fools after us,” Twilight Velvet remarked. “After all, there were more than a few idiots in that organization.”

“True,” Kanathara chuckled. “Now what about the others? Are they all on board? I haven't been paying attention to them.”

Twilight Velvet nodded. “They are. In fact, I think the majority of them are drawing up plans on how best to siege the final gatehouse.”

“A little presumptuous, but I like the forward-thinking,” Kanathara remarked.

Hey, boss. Got a weird feeling here, Rainbow Dash suddenly interrupted.

Kanathara craned her neck and looked up to where her familiar sat atop a bent street light a block over. The vengant had an odd look on her face and was staring intently at something further down the road.

What is it? Kanathara inquired.

I’m gettin’ a weird sense of deja vu, and an intense aura of sin, Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Heck, I haven't felt anything that strong since… years ago. Not sure what's going on.

“What is it?” Twilight Velvet inquired.

“Rainbow sensed something, a moment.” Kanathara held up a hoof and lit her horn, pouring a bit of magic into a spell.

With a flash of power, the familiar’s natural senses were amplified significantly. The moment this happened, both mistress and servant found themselves rocked by a familiar scent. Hatred, sin, disgust, and contempt that once mixed became a potent cocktail of unpleasant aromas.

It can't be, Rainbow Dash thought.

Nightmare Moon has proven powerful enough to pluck sentience from non-existence, so is it really that much of a surprise? Kanathara thought back.

No, but now that I’m thinking about it, is it bad that I’m looking forward to killing him again? One time really wasn't enough, Rainbow Dash declared.

Though I agree, he feels stronger and more powerful than before, Kanathara pointed out.

I mean, so are we, Rainbow Dash replied.

True. Perhaps a force should be mustered so we may quash him quickly and without incident, Kanathara thought.

Maybe, Rainbow Dash agreed.

“Oooh, something’s comin’!” Pinkie Pie declared. “We have some trouble brewing on our six!”

“My wards are going crazy,” Diamond Rose added.

“We know who it is. And we’ll need a bit of help containing him while I gather a team to destroy him,” Kanathara piped up.

“My paladins will handle containment,” Dawn Hammer offered.

“Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity will join us in subduing this foe,” Kanathara declared, pointing to each pony as she mentioned them.

“What, why me?” Rarity replied in shock.

“I need to confirm a theory of mine,” Kanathara answered.

“I should really talk to my wife,” Rarity muttered.

“Nah, no time, and I am definitely not just saying that because she’d say no,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

“Come on, Rares, it’ll be fun!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, punching the air with her mailed hooves. “Nothing better than kicking a little butt with your best friends.”

“I’m not sure if…” Rarity cleared her throat. “I suppose if I don't have a choice in the matter.”

“Doesn't seem like it,” Applejack added.

Kanathara turned and nodded to Rainbow Dash, who slipped away from the group. With her familiar gone and her plan in motion, Kanathara rose as well.

“I trust the rest of the push to you all,” Kanathara declared.

The keeper of secrets briefly met the gazes of everyone present before gesturing away from the table. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity all followed the demon with varied levels of enthusiasm that ranged from eager excitement to the despondent trudging of a mare headed for the gallows. Kanathara cared little for how the others felt and merely led them out of the command bubble to a tall deep purple tent.

Rainbow Dash reappeared the moment the small group had assembled, a familiar yellow mare tucked under one forehoof. Landing a few feet away, Rainbow Dash deposited the slightly trembling Fluttershy next to Kanathara.

“We ready to go?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Um, are you sure you need me here?” Fluttershy asked.

Kanathara nodded. “We do. Just stay back with Rarity and do as I say.”

“Um, okay,” Fluttershy muttered.

“Now normally I’d argue with ya, but I got a feelin’ you got a plan cookin’ in that brain a yers,” Applejack exclaimed.

“I do,” Kanathara answered. “Just trust me on this one.”

The brief conversation was interrupted when a small troop made up of half-royal guards and half-paladins approached. Garbed in enough sanctified metal to make Kanathara’s eyes burn, the squad wasn't particularly large. What they were was very well-armed and very well-equipped to deal with a powerful demon.

“Let's get this over with,” muttered the smallest, but most well-decorated of the paladins.

Kanathara nodded and gestured back to where the long wagon trail of changelings hauled supplies to the front.

“It seems as though he’s intent on destroying our food stocks and slowing us down,” Kanathara began. “Keep the area clear and him from escaping while we do the rest.”

The short, barrel-chested paladin snorted bitterly. “Not sure why you lot are the ones to handle this threat, but I know better than to argue with Dawn Hammer when he gets that look in his eye.”

“Trust us, don't. Just do your job,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara and Rainbow Dash turned and left along with Applejack as well as Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy and Rarity lingered behind for a moment.

“Th-thanks,” Fluttershy whispered, giving the paladin and royal guard squad a small wave.

“Yes, thank you kindly for your assistance, and if you wouldn't mind moving to help a lady out should she need it, that would be greatly appreciated,” Rarity added, offering the plate-mailed ponies a wide smile.

“We’ll see,” replied the leader.

Fluttershy and Rarity hastily scampered after their departing companions. They caught up with the other four right as they passed by a changeling wagon piled high with supplies. Undisguised and wearing whatever scraps they could find, the changelings were a ragged sight. Still, they were barely spared a glance as the six creatures trotted hastily down the snowy street.

“So what is this thing we’ll be killin’ anyhow?” Applejack inquired.

“And why do you need us?” Rarity pressed, gesturing toward Fluttershy.

“Look, just trust me, alright?” Kanathara repeated.

Rarity sighed. “Fine, I suppose you’ve earned that much.”

Kanathara turned back around and was about to order the small group to press on when they heard a scream. It was further down the line of wagons and was soon accompanied by more yelling as well as more than a few panicked shouts. No command needed to be given, and the six charged headlong toward the source of the commotion. As they moved, Kanathara noted that the guards they had brought along with them were advancing alongside. They too didn't need to be told and were preparing themselves to contain whatever threat Kanathara had seen coming.

Careening around a corner, the two groups immediately discovered what that was. In the middle of a snow-strewn street stood an enormous black-clad demonic entity wielding a greatsword. Nearly two stories tall, the entity towered over everyone, and with each swing of his enormous blade, he sent creatures flying.

The bottom half of the monstrous creature was a mass of swirling darkness that occasionally formed into solid tentacles. These appendages tossed the various supply workers aside or dragged them into his midnight black body never to be seen again. Others were even less lucky, as they were grabbed by one of the demon’s enormous clawed hands and effortlessly lifted into the air. Clutched tight in his grip, the victim quickly lost all color, then began to break apart, turning to ash in mere moments.

With each death, he grew stronger and taller, his great ragged black wings extending just a bit further out of his sides. His already bright red eyes glowed brighter still, the twin pits resembling the last two coals at the bottom of a blacksmith’s forge. Those crimson orbs settled almost immediately on Kanathara, a smile crossing the monster’s fang-filled maw.

“So, you’ve come,” he boomed. “I knew you wouldn't be able to resist facing me.”

“Who is this guy?” Applejack whispered, leaning over.

“Entropy demon. I ate his soul before,” Kanathara replied.

“Huh,” Applejack muttered.

“Didn't think you’d be so eager to get obliterated a second time. I gotta say, you’ve got balls,” Rainbow Dash taunted.

The towering shadowy demon cackled and tossed aside his latest victim. “Oblivion is not the hell you believe it to be. Entropy will claim us all, and it will start with you!”

Kanathara lit her horn and conjured a barrier around the six of them, deflecting the lightning-fast swipe aimed at killing them all.

“Rarity, Fluttershy. Get the supply workers out of here. Everyone else will keep him distracted until then,” Kanathara barked.

The group shared a small nod before the shield fell, and they all split up.

Fluttershy and Rarity went to work immediately, pulling the injured and the dying from the impromptu battlefield. They were aided by those who had survived the sudden and brutal assault. The majority of whom were changelings, who came out completely unscathed. Though odd, neither Rarity nor Fluttershy questioned the shapeshifters’ luck. There were simply more important matters to attend to.

Occasionally they would be aided by the royal guard or the paladins, though the heavily armed warriors mainly focused on creating a large ward around the entire area. Neither Rarity nor Fluttershy knew what its purpose was, but assumed that beyond its reach was safety.

While the two less combat-oriented members of their party worked, Kanathara, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack went on the attack. Rainbow harried the towering demon with gouts of flame while Pinkie Pie kept it off balance with exploding golden bolts. Applejack occasionally raised a shield to defend Kanathara but mostly defended Rarity and Fluttershy when they required it.

Kanathara meanwhile was blasting the entropy demon with everything she had, testing his defenses. She did this while continually dodging, weaving, and staying ahead of the physics-defyingly fast swipes of her foe. The enormous midnight black sword should have weighed hundreds of pounds given its great size, yet it was swung with all the ease of a toothpick.

Despite how fast he moved, and how little damage any attack seemed to do to him, the entropy demon was unshakable. Be it ice, hellfire, or large rocks, nothing seemed to affect him save for Pinkie Pie’s bolts. Though even then they barely made him wince or recoil slightly, his shadowy form receding only to surge back a moment later.

Kanathara stepped away from the fight, and in a sudden shift, changed her shape with a flash of magic. Now in her pony form, the demon sprinted over to Pinkie Pie and pulled the mare behind a shattered wagon.

“I need you to make these shots count,” Kanathara whispered, patting the earth pony’s quiver of bolts. “Because once he realizes the damage they’ll do, he’ll be after you.”

“You got it, boss-lady,” Pinkie Pie replied.

Kanathara nodded and began to channel magic once more. Only this time the color of her energy was more neutral, less maleficent, and more resembled that of a normal unicorn. She pushed that power into a spell that once completed, caused Pinkie Pie’s bolts to glow brighter than before. The effort left the keeper of secrets unexpectedly winded, but she didn't have time to remedy that at the moment.

For an enormous hand had swatted aside the wagon they had been using for cover. A swing of the demon’s shadowy blade came a heartbeat later, striking so fast that neither Pinkie Pie nor Kanathara had a chance to dodge. Applejack was already in between the entropy demon and his target, however, a tower shield plucked from the debris held in her forehooves.

The weirdly silent clang of demonic steel against metal was unheard by all, save for Applejack herself. Who slid back several feet, her hooves slipping on the frozen ground. Despite the intimidating amount of force behind the blow, Applejack held her ground, remaining steadfast.

Her confidence wavered when she noticed the demon was not pulling back and continued to push against her shield. Tiny hairlike tentacles of the darkest black extended from the blade and crawled across her flesh. Wherever they touched, the color from her fur drained and strength seeped from her body.

Give in, succumb, and rest, whispered a dozen ethereal voices directly in Applejack’s ear.

“I’ll rest when you're dead,” Applejack spat back.

The farm pony was ready to push the demon back when the sun appeared above her. It was only for a split second, but the glowing golden orb had been strong enough to create a large hole in the entropy demon’s midsection. A blackened howl echoed from everywhere as the enormous black entity stumbled back, his body struggling to reform.

“Impossible,” bellowed the entropy demon. “You are of Tartarus. You cannot wield the light!”

“I’ve been doing the impossible since I was ten years old,” Kanathara retorted.

The shape-shifted keeper of secrets then lit her horn and conjured a blast of pure radiant energy. The beam slammed into her foe’s face, causing even more of his body to be left unable to reform in the wake of the damage. He wasn't the only one harmed by the attack, as Kanathara stumbled back, a hoof rubbing at her smoking horn.

By then the civilians had been pulled from harm's way, while at the same time, the ward had been completed. With the final line etched, a bubble of brightly glowing yellow energy encapsulated the entire area. Slightly hesitantly, Rarity and Fluttershy trotted up to where Pinkie Pie was loading another bolt into her great crossbow.

“What's the plan?” Rainbow Dash asked, landing next to her mistress.

“As usual, he’s underestimated us,” Kanathara began, wincing briefly. “Just protect Pinkie Pie and me while we bring him down.”

“You got it,” Applejack declared.

“And us?” Rarity whispered.

“Focus on me and do what you can to lend me your strength,” Kanathara replied.

“No. I will not be beaten again, not by you!” bellowed the entropy demon.

As his top half began to reform, the entity conjured another greatsword in his free hand. He then swung them down in a powerful double chop aimed at both Pinkie Pie and Kanathara. Though the attack carried great weight behind it, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were able to protect their charges and pushed aside the blades.

That brief brush with entropy robbed more of Applejack’s color and Rainbow Dash’s fire. Only for the damage to be healed back when Rarity and Fluttershy offered their silent thanks. Unbothered by the concept of defense, Kanathara and Pinkie Pie readied another volley.

A beam cut one of the towering demon’s arms off while a bolt exploding near his neck caused his head to briefly be separated from his body. The attacks were devastating, but unaffected the thing’s bottom half, including the numerous squirming black tentacles. These many twisting appendages extended towards the six females, intent on dragging away anyone they could reach.

“Rainbow Dash, the tentacles,” Kanathara barked. “Rarity, take her place.”

“But-”

“Do it!” Kanathara bellowed.

As Rainbow Dash surged forward and spat a potent gout of hellfire at the crawling appendages, Rarity replaced the vengant. Wielding only her tiny silver mace, the fashionista trembled, her armor clattering as she stood next to Applejack. Rarity’s shaky willpower was tested a moment later when the entropy demon swung again.

Applejack turned aside one of the great blades, while Rarity somehow managed to parry the towering weapon. A single lightning-fast and perfectly precise counter sent the smokey black blade far to the side. Nearly everyone present, even Rarity herself, seemed surprised by this, with the pony staring down at her mace in confusion.

Kanathara and her familiar were the only two who were not the slightest bit baffled by Rarity. The keeper just kept blasting, pushing herself harder and harder with each expenditure. Between casts she paused briefly, allowing a soft pink glow to cover her body and ease the pains that assailed her.

Over and over they repeated this same maneuver, with Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash remaining on the defensive. Rarity’s confidence grew with each successful parry, and it wasn't long before she no longer worried for her safety. The bolts and blasts whittled away at the entropy demon’s height bit by bit over half his original size.

It was then that his strikes became even more desperate, his tactics less thought-out. An attempt to bum-rush the group ended when a pillar of conjured sunlight drove him away. He tried to escape but was turned back when he could find no weak points in the glowing yellow barrier.

“No, I will not return to the void empty-handed!” he bellowed.

Hefting back his arm, the entropy demon threw his blade down at the small group. Both demon and pony alike hastily parted, dodging the thunderous impact of the great weapon. A second thud followed the first, creating a wall of blackened metal between the six.

The entropy demon surged forward, plunging through the wall of hellfire Rainbow Dash spat in order to stop him. Heedless to the harm done to him, the entropy demon emerged out the other side and grabbed Applejack with both hands. The farm pony tried to flee but had not anticipated the sudden and desperate move.

Trapped within the demon’s grip, she struggled valiantly but could not escape the iron-like fingers that had imprisoned her. Immediately all of his strength and malice poured into the farm pony, ripping away the color from her fur and mane. Despite suddenly becoming almost completely grey and having the majority of her strength sapped, Applejack valiantly held on. Her emerald eyes glared up at her foe as if daring the demon to continue down this deadly path.

A blast of golden might removed one of its arms, while an exploding bolt annihilated the other. Rainbow Dash pushed the advantage with another gout of hellfire, the blackened flames burning away sections of the entropy demon. Rarity saw her opening and swooped in just in time to catch Applejack before she hit the ground. Cradling the weakened farm pony in her magic, Rarity brought her down next to Fluttershy.

For the moment Kanathara ignored the shivering Applejack and focused on another spell. A thousand beams of the most radiant gold emerged from above and focused on a single point. Like an ant beneath the gaze of a baleful child, the entropy demon burned and howled in agony.

“No, no, not again!” he cried.

Smaller and smaller he shrunk until his screams were little more than high-pitched whines. Within a few seconds, even those tiny, almost imperceptible screeches vanished completely.

Kanathara cursed, her spell fading as the magic she had pushed into it was used up. “That was cathartic.”

“You sure you're alright though? Your horn is smoking, like a lot,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Kanathara winced. “It's fine.”

“Great, because Applejack needs our help,” Rarity declared.

“She's fading fast, what do we do?” Fluttershy pleaded.

“It ain't nothin',” Applejack weakly replied. “Just gotta close my eyes for a second.”

“No, no, no, we can't lose her!” Pinkie Pie cried.

Kanathara leaned forward and wrapped her hooves around Applejack, squeezing the pony tightly. Rainbow Dash followed immediately, repeating the action as well. The others were less certain, but quickly mimicked the two demons, hugging their mutual friend close. They stayed like that for several long seconds before Kanathara pulled back and smiled.

“I knew it,” she declared.

“What, what…” Pinkie Pie blinked. “Applejack, you’re okay!”

The farm pony grunted. “‘Course I’m okay. I told you I was, didn't I?”

“But you got your color back, and you don't look like you’re on death’s doorstep. How did this happen?” Fluttershy asked, turning to Kanathara.

“The Elements,” Kanathara explained. “Though he was empowered by his stay in the void, Harmony itself is on our side.”

“Nothing can stop us now,” Rainbow Dash added.

“I don't think we should be reckless though,” Fluttershy countered.

“We won't,” Kanathara stated. “But from now on we travel together. As a unit.”

“Wait a second. We don't have the elements with us,” Rarity pointed out.

Kanathara just smiled. “Don't you worry about that. Now come on, I’m sure there are people out there that need your help.”

“What about you?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Couldn't you lend a hoof as well?”

“Oh, I could, but I need to scour all remnants of that jerk from existence. Wouldn't want him coming back a third time,” Kanathara explained.

“I’ll look after Applejack,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Okay, don't let her out of your sight,” Pinkie Pie warned.

“I won't,” Rainbow Dash stated.

With that said, the group awkwardly dispersed, with Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy moving to help the wounded. Kanathara and Rainbow Dash remained behind with an inert Applejack who lay on the ground, breathing heavily.

“You just didn't wanna help them, did ya?” Applejack whispered.

Kanathara smirked. “Maybe.”

Author's Note

Trial Fifteen: Black Friday

“You know darling. When you said we should travel as a unit, this isn't what I thought you meant,” Rarity murmured, frowning bitterly.

“What do you mean?” Kanathara retorted, pausing her horn sharpening to glance down at Rarity.

“Well, all of this!” Rarity exclaimed.

“I don't understand,” Kanathara retorted, growing irritated.

“I think she's talking about how we are gearing up to head out behind enemy lines, alone and away from the rest of the army,” Applejack piped up from across the room.

Kanathara blinked and looked around at the small camp they had established not far from the main group. Tucked away in what had once been a clothing store, the small group of six were in the middle of gearing up. Rainbow Dash was polishing her armor, Pinkie Pie was replacing the string of her crossbow with the help of Applejack. Fluttershy was checking her medical supplies, counting out each bandage and suture she had before tucking them neatly away once more.

“I still don't understand why you are upset,” Kanathara remarked. “I told you we were going to have to stick together from now on, and that we had an important mission.”

“I understand that,” Rarity hissed. “But can't we at least bring an escort? Perhaps my wife and I could locate our chaotic pet and bring it with us.”

“Where did that big bastard go anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked without looking up. “I haven't seen it around since we dealt with those windigos.”

“It does what it wants, I’m afraid,” Rarity murmured. “It only consistently comes when I call it when I’m in danger.”

“Hmm that gives me an idea,” Kanathara whispered to herself.

“I don't like that look in your eye darling,” Rarity warned.

“Don't worry about it Rarity. But to answer your question we don't have time,” Kanathara explained. “The army will move out soon, and they will come face to face with a freshly reinforced barrier. We need to deal with it immediately lest we be slowed.”

Rarity hesitated and glanced out the lone unbroken window. Past the hills and low mountains of snow rose a shimmering dark sphere that covered the royal quarter. Within the barrier, the occasional flash of golden light could be seen, signaling that the battle between Nightmare Moon and Celestia continued even now.

“I don't like it much more than you do Rarity, but it's what we gotta do,” Applejack declared.

“The window on success is closing, I can feel it in my bones,” Pinkie Pie added, shivering in a mixture of fear and anticipation.

“And I assume we’ll remain split up after we deal with this barrier?” Rarity pressed.

“That is likely,” Kanatahra continued. “We will need to press on to our next objective immediately.”

“Can I at least say goodbye to my wife?” Rarity whined. “Daisy is likely worried sick by now.”

Kanathara’s upper lip curled, and she was about to deny the request only for the demon to lock eyes with the unicorn across from her. Within those enormous, watery puppy dog eyes Kanathara found a small hint of patience she had lacked a moment ago.

“Augh, fine,” Kanathara spat, jabbing a hoof at the mare. “But make it quick.”

“Thank you, darling!” Rarity exclaimed, turning and jogging out into the blizzard raging just beyond the shop’s ravaged doorway.

“Anyone else?” Kanathara growled, turning to the others.

“Nah,” dismissed Applejack.

“Noper doper!”

“I don't need any other supplies,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Good,” Twilight spat, turning away and sulking a few feet away from the others.

It wasn't long before Rainbow Dash joined her, the armored demon plunking down next to her mistress.

“You sure you don't want to chat with Tirek before we roll out?” Rainbow Dash offered. “Something tells me we aren't exactly going to have time to talk until after this is all said and done with. One way or another.”

“I know,” Kanathara retorted, only to pause and take a shuddering breath. “And no. We’ve spoken at length already. To go to him now would be a waste of both our time.”

“What about Pear Butter or Velvet?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

Kanathara hesitated. “No,” she whispered. “That would be an unneeded distraction at this point.”

“Good cus I don't know if I’d be able to say goodbye to either of ‘em,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“You could go if you wish,” Kanathara offered somewhat awkwardly. “You need not be at my side every moment.”

“Nah, with you is where I belong. Besides, I want to hold on to the idea that we’re all gonna make it through this and we’ll have plenty of time to chat once this is over,” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

“Wise. To do otherwise is to allow the idea of defeat to fester and perhaps to manifest,” Kanathara mused.

“Yeah, I totally just don't wanna think about it,” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

Kanathara sighed and rested her head against the vengeant’s armored shoulder.

“Are the others watching?” Kanathara whispered.

“No.”

“They are, aren't they?” Kanathara retorted.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Rainbow Das admitted with a chuckle.

“Whatever,” Kanathara muttered, a blush burning hot on her cheeks.

“Now I ain't complainin', but are you sure we have to stick to the sewers? I didn't think it was safe down there,” Applejack muttered, scratching her head.

“It's going to be fine,” Kanathara retorted, the demon tapping the twisting red line she had drawn on the map between them. “They’ve all but given up the ground game for the moment and are relying on winged forces to harry the main army as it approaches the barrier.”

“Yeah good luck getting past Cloudsdale,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a harsh, barking laugh.

“They are coming in low and fast, avoiding the sky fortress for the most part,” Kanathara replied.

“I’m surprised that thing’s still flyin',” Applejack muttered. “Them winds could strip a tree bare in seconds.”

“Never mind how cold it must be up there,” Pinkie Pie murmured emphatically, glancing up at the sky.

“I’m not sure for how long we’ll be able to count on Cloudsdale’s presence. It's a big place, but the storm’s only getting worse,” Kanathara grimly stated.

“Getting back to the point,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Right,” Kanathara sat up and cleared her throat. “Once we are able to infiltrate the lower level of the mall I’ll observe our foe, and come up with a plan. One that hopefully won’t be time or resource-heavy.”

“We’ll need every second and every bit of strength we have if we are going to reach the hospital. Never mind fight and kill a god right after that,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

“I don't know bout this,” Applejack muttered while rubbing her chin. “Why can't we-”

The conversation ended abruptly when the door to the small shop opened to reveal a slightly distraught Rarity. The mare seemed unharmed, with her heavy leather coat obscuring most of her from sight. All save for her face, as well as her upper neck.

“Hey, Rarity’s back!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, bouncing over to the other pony. “Oh hey, what happened to your neck?”

Rarity blushed and pulled her coat a little tighter. “I don't know what you are talking about darling,” Rarity muttered.

“It looked like it was covered in bite marks. Are you okay? Did one of the imp’s attack you?” Pinkie Pie pressed, getting closer with every sentence spoken.

“No, I am quite alright I assure you Pinkie,” Rarity exclaimed.

“Then what happened?” Pinkie Pie continued to ask.

“It's a diamond dog marking ritual,” Kanathara remarked, rolling up the map and standing up. “Rarity here has been claimed by her mate and depending on how old the tradition is, her partner has promised to make her pregnant when next they meet.”

“Oh my gosh is that true?” Pinkie Pie inquired, eyes wide.

Rarity’s mouth opened and closed several times before uttering two short words. “No Comment,” the pony then pulled her hood so tight that her eyes were barely visible.

“Come on. We don't have time to waste. We’ll fill Rarity in while we are moving,” Kanathara declared.

The group moved out into the street, heading for an already cleared section of the street where an open manhole waited for them.

“Hey uh, hilarious though that may have been. Are you sure you should be poking our new friends? Especially given your whole theory about us and the elements of harmony,” Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing beyond her.

“It was simply the most expedient way to get them moving,” Kanathara stated firmly.

“Uh huh,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Huh. Well, that wasn't so bad,” Applejack muttered, shaking a limb free of the refuse that clung to it.

“It may not have been pleasant but at least it was safe,” offered Fluttershy.

“Speak for yourself, darling. That stint in the sewers was lethal to my perfume,” Rarity remarked, the mare pulling a pink bottle out of one of many pockets and all but hosing herself down with the fragrant liquid.

“Stars above that stuff reeks,” Rainbow Dash whined, waving a hoof in front of her nose. “Why do you even have a bottle of whale urine anyway?”

“It is not whale urine you ruffian,” Rarity hissed.

“I thought perfume used whale piss,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“You are thinking of ambergris,” Kanathara remarked. “And that is actually a waxy substance that originates from the small intestine of a whale.”

“So whale shit then?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“More or less,” Kanathara replied with a shrug.

“I am so conflicted all of a sudden,” Rarity muttered.

“Well I’m just glad that everything wasn't all frozen down there,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, the mare pausing to shake herself like a dog. “I totally thought it was gonna be one giant ice tunnel.”

“The infrastructure of this city is something of a marvel,” Kanathara admitted. “I expected the wards in the sewer to have collapsed already yet they continue to function even now.”

“We can marvel at this city’s engineering another time,” Applejack dismissed, turning to the keeper of secrets. “What's the plan there boss lady?”

“The scrying spell I sent ahead of us should be done in a few minutes. For the moment, just spread out, and secure the area,” Kanathara ordered.

“Aye aye, el capitan,” proclaimed Pinkie Pie before bouncing off.

Kanathara looked out over the strangely serene storage area they had entered into. Only a few feet away was the open manhole cover, and the safety grate they had torn aside to get inside.

Beyond that were rows and rows of merchandise waiting to be sold. Each of the mall’s stores seemed to have a section reserved for it as one shelf was dedicated entirely to toys while another was piled high with makeup and dresses. From unsold boots to the higher-priced spell-enhanced household items, everything was untouched and seemingly forgotten.

“Kinda spooky huh?” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I suppose,” Kanathara muttered, glancing out over the cluster of lights gathered several rows over.

Her new friends weren't exactly conspicuous, but there were no signs of demons or even looters. Kanathara was about to begin wandering the area and double-checking the exits when her horn began to tingle. Closing her eyes, the keeper of secrets accepted the returning scrying spell, her mind filling with information gathered during its travels.

“Hmmm,” Kanathara murmured.

“Bad news?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Mixed,” Kanathara replied. “Their security is light so I’ve been able to gather all the information I need but there is a hiccup.”

“They are really bunkered down up there,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “This is going to be a slog.”

“Overlapping shields. Plenty of defensive positions and they’ve even taken the time to reinforce the supports holding up the second and third floors so we can't even bring the entire building down on them,” Kanathara continued, eyes still tightly shut. “There may be an easier way through this, however.”

“Oh? What am I not seeing?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

“The core of their defensive strategy is to defend the pride demon at the center of their formation,” Kanathara began, a grin spreading across her face. “Ha. As I thought, he's tied most of the wards to himself. If we were able to take him out their entire plan would crumble.”

“And then we what? Teleport out and leave the remnants to the main army?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Pretty much,” Kanathara answered.

“I don't get why they gotta leave this big fancy barrier of theirs in order to make it stronger,” Applejack declared, the mare leaning against a nearby shelf. “Wouldn't it make more sense to stay inside of it?”

“The type of barrier they are employing can only be empowered so much from within but with secondary, or even tertiary exterior modules, the overall strength can be multiplied with ease,” Kanathara explained.

“Huh. I suppose that makes sense. Can't build a proper house if you can only work on the inside,” Applejack added.

“A crude, but apt metaphor,” Kanathara muttered. “Regardless, I have a plan.”

“What are we doing? Making a bomb? Burning the place to the ground, them in it? Or are we going in, crossbows blazing?” Pinkie Pie asked, miming the act of shooting a bunch of demons with her oversized ranged weapon.

“Nothing quite so brutish,” Kanathara dismissed. “Instead of raw strength we shall prey upon their insecurities, and have them invite us inside.”

“And how exactly are we going to do that? These creatures aren't exactly known for being good hosts,” Rarity remarked, rolling her eyes.

“We’ll simply make them an offer they can't refuse,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“I can't believe you talked me into this,” Rarity hissed.

“It is the best course of action,” Kanathara retorted. “Now be silent and allow me to do the talking. I know how best to manipulate simpletons like him.”

Rarity grumbled under her breath but did as she was told, trodding silently behind the keeper of secrets. Together they made their way up to the third floor before emerging at the far end of the shopping plaza and making their way towards the distant sign of activity. Demons and cultists alike were hastily erecting more barricades using whatever they could find.

Though they weren't numerous the nearly hundred-strong group had managed to create a number of impromptu obstacles constructed out of the shop’s contents. Already ballista emplacements were set up and pointed out into the empty, dark expanse of the mall, their operators standing nearby but giving their surroundings little attention. The most unfortunate sight was the three separate layers of shimmering red magic that created a series of kill zones and choke points.

The individual who was controlling it all stood on the far end, the tall, dark green-skinned demon held a large, swirling black gem in his hands. Shadows peeled off from the orb, and flew out the open window behind him, escaping into the night to seek out new prey.

Why don't we just hit him through that window? Rainbow Dash asked, the vengeant shifting uneasily from inside Kanathara’s body.

It's a honeypot. He's made himself appear weak on that side in order to draw foes into the field of shadows he's erected in the parking lot just beyond. Kanathara explained.

Which explains why we are walking straight at him. Rainbow Dash added.

Exactly.

“Are you sure this is wise?” Rarity whispered.

“Yes, now shush. We are nearly there,” Kanathara declared.

Striding ahead of the unicorn, Kanathara made a show of clopping her hooves loudly against the polished floor, drawing the attention of the demonic defenders. Shouts went up, and soon several ballistas, crossbows, and spears were being pointed Kanathara’s way. While Rarity hid behind the large demon, Kanathara remained unmoving, striding up until she stood at the edge of the first barrier.

“Hail, and well met,” she announced, smiling widely. “I see you’ve dug yourself in quite deep.”

The demons shifted uncomfortably, clearly confused by the warm greeting.

“What are you playing at, Keeper?” Spat a short, squat bipedal demon with froglike features and tiny arms.

“Rarity and I,” Kanathara began, pushing the unicorn out from behind her so they stood beside one another. “Are here with an offer of parlay to your boss.”

“We are not to entertain any offers of parlay, surrender, or otherwise. Ballista team,” the frog demon exclaimed. “Prepare to fire!”

“Are you sure you’re master feels the same?” Kanathara interrupted, raising her voice. “I am Kanathara, whose hooves shatter mountain and whose voice lulls the sun. Surely your lord would not turn away an opportunity to ally himself with as great a potential ally as I. He is, after all, a brilliant strategist, and an expert mage.”

“The mistress was quite clear,” blubbered the frog. “We are not to entertain any such offers. Now would someone kill this- hurp.”

The demon suddenly stopped mid-sentence, the chubby creature hoisted into the air by a shadow hand that rose from the ground. It then forced open the infernal entity’s gaping maw and climbed inside of it, rearranging its interior until the shadow wore it like a fleshy suit.

“Ignore this fool’s inane chatter,” the frog suddenly declared. “The lord of excess, Sheodara welcomes you to his castle. Such as it is.”

“So good of you to see me. I was beginning to wonder if you were not as wise as the stories made you out to be,” Kanathara remarked.

“Apologies, honored guest. I had to take a moment to do away with any pesky observers first. We wouldn't want the Nightmare listening in on this conversation now would we?” the other demon offered, smiling widely.

“I am assuming we are not going to have said conversation here,” Kanathara stated, glancing around at the row of demons and cultists still pointing various weapons at her. “There are far too many other interested parties.”

“Of course not. We shall speak in my inner sanctum. Please, come with me,” he offered, extending a hand through the barrier.

Kanathara accepted, dragging Rarity along with her as they passed through the first magical force field. The crawling sensation along her flesh was unpleasant, but Kanathara bore the indignity with grace. Unlike her mortal partner, who shivered in disgust, and began attempting to wipe away the sensation still assaulting her.

“It feels like insects are all over me. Why won't it go away?” Rarity murmured.

“It will pass in a moment. Be strong,” Kanathara urged.

That seemed to shock Rarity out of her brief bout of panic, the mare collecting herself and walking a little more regally. Kanathara could still see that one of Rarity’s eyes was twitching, making it evident she was clearly still unnerved. Even still, she walked tall and proud down the hall, through two more of the magical fields, and countless other defenders.

Finally, they stood before what had once been a display area meant to accommodate pony quins displaying fancy dresses. Atop the series of of shrinking and rising circles, was the pride demon who served as the center of it all. Wearing a long black suit, and pants, he appeared at first glance to be a merchant of some kind, an oddly normal one at that. Then, as Rarity’s eyes adjusted she noticed the fact that he had three yellow-slitted eyes that bore into her, appraising her like she were little more than a piece of meat.

“You called yourself Kanathra, did you not?” The pride demon offered.

“That is my name,” Kanathara pressed.

“Strange. The last time we met you were… how do I say this? Bipedal,” the pride demon retorted.

“Yes well. She was weak, so I took her flesh and her power,” Kanathara proclaimed.

“So you have. How curious, but not as curious as this little thing,” the other demon began, kneeling until he was almost at Rarity’s eye level. “What are you supposed to be? Offering? Morsel? An acolyte in the making perhaps?”

“I am Rarity Belle, of the Belle family,” Rarity began, stepping forward. “And we have come to bargain with-”

“No one cares, little one,” the pride demon retorted, rising back into a stand. “Be quiet now. The adults are talking.”

“Well I never,” Rarity harumphed.

“Oh but where is my manners? I am Uldread. Normally I would list my many titles but you don't seem the type to be impressed by such a thing. Are you Kanathara?” Uldread exclaimed, the final words slithering their way out of the demon’s mouth like it were a fat worm.

“No. I am not,” Kanathara sternly stated, her eyes narrowing.

“Then let us get down to the business at hand, hmm?” He offered. “What exactly is it that you are offering me.”

“We are offering you our knowledge of the army’s movements,” Rarity interrupted, forcing her way between the demons. “As well as our allegiance against them. We’ve seen who is going to emerge victorious and wish to be on the winning side as they say.”

“You really should keep your slaves on a tighter leash Kanathara. Some may consider this little outburst-” Uldread began, gesturing at Rarity. “-A sign of weakness.”

“You have not answered the offer,” Rarity growled.

“I refuse,” Uldread proclaimed. “The movement of your little army is obvious to any with eyes. As for your allegiance…”

The pride demon’s upper lip curled in disgust as he looked down at the unicorn.

“You are worth less than that whelp,” the pride demon began, gesturing to the twitching frog demon that stood nearby, black ichor dripping out of his open maw. “And though Kanathara hear is a different story, we have rather express orders to kill her should she try anything like this.”

“Then allow me to counteroffer,” Kanathara rerouted, using a spell to bind Rarity’s legs together, while also holding her jaws firmly shut. “First of all, I have a gift for you, Uldread.”

“Interesting,” the pride demon murmured. “I was told you were on the side of these dreadful horse creatures.”

“I am on no one’s side but my own,” Kanathara declared. “And as for your orders… are you really going to do what she wants you to do?”

“It is not a matter of what I want,” Uldread shot back, snarling once more. “Few of us are here by choice after all. When one such as her calls, we have little choice but to come. The power of a prime evil is beyond your comprehension.”

“Oh but that is where you are wrong,” Kanathara pressed, stepping forward and tossing Rarity at the feet of the demon. “I know her, and I know that once she has doomed this wretched backwater she is going to turn her fangs on you.”

The pride demon’s eyes narrowed and his shoulders fell slightly.

“You know as well as I that you lot are little more than loose ends waiting to be tied up,” Kanathara continued. “And with the power she gains after killing an entire planet she will have more than enough strength to hold you hear, and force you to share in their fate.”

“Is that all you are offering?” Uldread spat. “Grim portents and a reminder that we are all doomed?”

“No. I am giving you the chance to flee while you can. To escape her wrath and to avoid the crushing depths of oblivion,” Kanathara proclaimed.

“Impossible,” spat the pride demon.

“Not impossible. Merely improbable,” Kanathara explained, trotting back and forth. “Her power is great, yes, but she is distracted fighting the sun princess. With her attention divided, we can both slip away from her gaze and return to Tartarus.”

“Ahh but that assumes she wouldn't hunt us down like dogs immediately after she is done with her meal,” Uldread added.

“With the power of a dead world her gaze would be a little higher than a pair of lowly demons who slipped through between her fingers,” Kanathara corrected, stopping and turning to him. “Think about it. Surely you don't wish to share the same fate as these… creatures.”

Ulread’s eyes narrowed and the demon hummed softly to himself.

“You make some excellent points,” the pride demon finally concluded. “However. Before we ink a contract, and share our blood. I would like nothing more than to sample this one’s soul.”

Uldread plucked Rarity from the ground with a long, stick-thin arm, raising her into the air like she were little more than an overgrown cat.

“Be my guest,” Kanathara offered. “I admit I’ve been tempted to taste one of these fabled element bearers myself.”

“An element bearer? A fine offering indeed,” Uldread exclaimed, the demon pausing to wipe his lips clean of greenish spittle. “Perhaps you are more sincere in this request than I gave you credit.”

“It would be uncouth to come to the bargaining table empty-handed,” Kanathara added.

“Indeed, now if you will excuse me. We will talk more once I’ve sampled this one,” Uldread dismissed.

The demon raised Rarity up high into the air, dangling the wide-eyed mare over his increasingly widening maw.

Boss? Rainbow Dash pressed.

Wait for it. Kanathara retorted.

Uldread’s mouth cracked, and extended, growing and widening until it was wide enough to swallow the pony whole. Bright green slime dripped from between his pointed teeth, hitting the ground and sizzling upon impact.

Uh, boss? Rainbow Dash asked, her mental voice increasingly nervous.

Just a moment longer. Kanathara thought back.

As if on cue, an enormous shape darkened the window, blotting out what meager light had been able to pierce the ever-present blizzard. A split second later a great fist smashed through the side of the building and kept going. Through one, two, and then finally three magical barriers and stopping only long enough to grab the pride demon around the middle.

“Now,” Kanathara exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash leaped out of her, reforming almost immediately, her body already encased in a thick layer of demonic armor. The vengeant sprung upon the confused frog demon, tearing him apart before he knew what was happening. As Rainbow Dash moved onto the next target, fiery wings pumping, Kanathara plucked Rarity out of the air, catching her before she could fall more than a foot.

“Relax, I’ve got you,” Kanathara exclaimed, using a spell to remove the restraints binding the unicorn. “There, better?”

“How dare you, you, you brute!” Rarity shouted.

“I-”

Kanathara barely had a chance to open her mouth before Rarity struck her hard across the face.

“You insufferable wench,” Kanathara spat.

“Well at least I-” Rarity began, only for the mare to be dropped unceremoniously onto the ground.

“On second thought, you can stand on your own damn hooves,” Kanathara stated.

Rarity hastily stood back up and was about to launch into another reprimand of her companion when an explosion rippled through the mall. Spinning around, Rarity looked up just in time to be blasted back by a wave of shadow. A scream ripped past her and continued past her before vanishing a moment after it appeared. For a moment Rarity felt the cold touch of a thousand icy fingers scratching down her skin, the sensation lingering for a few seconds before it too vanished.

“What in the hay?” Rarity murmured.

Looking up, the pair watched as the grootslang tossed aside the broken remnants of the shadow orb formerly wielded by Uldread. The demon himself had been folded in half once and though alive, was in agony. He tried to conjure enough power to teleport himself away, to retreat and likely heal himself but the grootslang was quicker.

Grabbing one set of limbs in one giant hand and the other in his spare, the grootslang gave the demon a sharp twist. Followed by a fold, then a flatten, and another fold, transforming the still twitching creature into a fleshy version of a paper swan.

“Put that silly creature out of its misery. I do believe he has learned his lesson,” Rarity ordered, trodding toward the grootslang.

The creature looked down at the demon, then rolled his great eyes and crushed him flat under a single giant hand.

“Good boy,” Rarity continued. “Thank you for the save by the way. You’ve done a wonderful job.”

The grootslang grinned, flashing a maw filled with strange, mismatched teeth. It leaned forward and allowed Rarity to pet it a few times before recoiling once more.

“Now go on. I’m sure Daisy needs you now more than I do,” Rarity began, pausing to glance over her shoulder. “Unless Kanathara is planning on using me as bait without telling me again.”

The grootslang growled, glaring daggers at the keeper of secrets.

“Spare me the drama,” Kanathara retorted, rolling her eyes. “You being aware of my plan from the start may have poisoned the results.”

“Or it could have spared me the terror of potentially getting killed and having my soul eaten,” Rarity shot back.

“This bickering is pointless,” Kanathara stated. “We must continue, and move quickly if we are to maintain the necessary pace.”

“Fine, but you are not keeping me in the dark again. Got it?” Rarity demanded.

Kanathara looked from the unicorn, to the still glaring grootslang and back again. “I find your terms acceptable, but we must hurry,” Kanathara encouraged.

A cultist ran between the two, her robes covered in hellfire and screaming all the while.

“Alright. I suppose Rainbow Dash has nearly finished sowing enough chaos anyway,” Rarity muttered, turning back to the grootslang. “Thank you again, dear. Be a good boy for Daisy now.”

The chaos beast nodded its great head before turning and slipping away, vanishing into the howling blizzard.

“Are you coming?” Kanathara prodded.

“I’m right behind you,” Rarity replied.

“The shadows part and the way is clear,” intoned the voice of a shade-like pony with long, batlike wings.

“So it seems,” Pear Butter rumbled.

The wrath demon looked out over the vast expanse of snow and shattered civilization. The darkness found there was deep, but not unnaturally so, the cloying shadows having been banished by some unknown force. With the way suddenly clear, shouts demanding that the army move, and for squads to form up were heard from all directions.

“The prodigal daughter succeeds again. It seems,” added the bat pony.

Pear Butter glanced out of the corner of her eye at the former priest. She spotted where the moon symbol had once been, but was now bear. The rest of her vestments remained, tattered though they may have been, the ex-cultist making no attempts to hide her former allegiance.

“It seems so,” Pear Butter finally replied, turning away and walking down into the camp proper.

“The shadow whispers grim portents for our tyrant moon,” whispered the bat pony, following close beside the demon. “They say Twilight is soon upon us, and that the final barrier shall fall shortly.”

“Let us hope that is true,” Pear Butter retorted.

“You don't believe them,” the priest replied.

“We are moving too quickly, and advancing at a pace I had not even thought possible. We are forcing Nightmare Moon’s hand, and I have no doubt she has more cards to play,” Pear Butter stated.

The bat pony nodded once and broke away from the demon, slipping away into a crowd of militia ponies milling about a fire. Pear Butter watched her go but made no effort to follow her. Instead, she meandered through the crowd, taking her time returning to her post and simply enjoying the moment of relative quiet.

“Why have you returned with that crate after I told you quite explicitly that it should have been delivered to militia squad delta two?” Declared a highborn, imperious voice.

“I don't understand. You were there when I delivered the supplies and you told me it wasn't needed,” retorted an annoyed-sounding male.

Pear Butter turned to find that a militia pony was staring up at a changeling Pear Butter recognized as the supposed queen of their race, Chrysalis.

“Preposterous,” snapped the queen. “I have not left my post since I sent you on your way.”

“I don't know what to tell you. You were there, you called me an idiot and sent me back. So? Which one is it huh?” He pressed.

“Send it back, obviously,” retorted Chrysalis. “And don't let me catch you skipping out on your job again. Transporting supplies may not be the most glamorous work but it is every bit as necessary as fighting.”

“You told me to send it back! This is your own damn fault, you overgrown flee!” Yelled the pony, throwing the crate on the ground with a crash.

Pear Butter strode toward the two and nearly made it there when a second Chrysalis appeared from the supply tent.

“What is all this racket? I am trying to work in here,” exclaimed the second royal.

“You should be working on keeping these people supplied. Not on your disguises,” sniped the first Chrysalis.

“Please. It is you who needs to work on their disguises. I sound nothing like that,” countered the second.

“Uh… what?” Murmured the pony.

“Foolish drone,” spat the changeling queen. “We are the rightful monarch of the changelings.”

“Wrong!” Shouted a third royal, striding into the mix. “It is I who is your true ruler. You should all bow to me!”

“What is this, some kind of drone joke I am too great and powerful to understand?”

“I’m just… gonna go now,” murmured the pony before hastily trotting away.

“Stand down!” Pear Butter ordered, striding boldly up to the quarreling trio. “This is no time for some manner of inane power grab. We are about to move and will need every ablebody we have to pack up camp.”

The three changelings all turned to Pear Butter, their mouths opening to spit some manner of retort. Only for their horns to all alight with emerald lighting that rippled down their bodies, and sparked off their hooves like flickering embers. Though the strange magic passed in mere moments, its effects lingered, with the changelings twitching and staring vacantly off into space. Like puppets, forgotten by their master, they hung loosely on their strings, lacking any will of their own.

Then they all lurched upward at the same time and released a horrid scream. The cacophony of noise was so great that even Pear Butter winced away from it, covering her ears and shutting her eyes. An act which she would immediately regret as a blast of magic struck her square in the chest, sending her flying through the air.

Her flight was brief, with the enormous wrath demon crashing through a tent and finally coming to a stop amidst a pile of crates assembling near the entrance to an alley. Emerging out of the mound of shattered wood, Pear Butter eagerly sought out the creature who had dared to strike her. She found her almost immediately, but the problem was that there was more than one. In fact, there were more Chrysalis’ than even three.

It seemed like every last changeling present had donned the disguise of their ruler, and was now madly attacking everyone and everything. Drones disguised as royals blasted apart empty buildings, set fire tents, and tore apart allied demons with conjured claws and altered teeth. Not only did they lay into their former allies and their supplies, but they also attacked one another, ripping apart a fellow Chrysalis if they strayed too close.

It wasn't localized to just this one area either.

Pear Butter could hear explosions ripple across the camp from all directions, and changeling queens flew overhead, engaging their former allies in brutal mid-air dog fights.

“Stars above,” Pear Butter murmured. “I am really starting to hate being right all the time.”

Author's Note

This is part of the countdown to christmas, head over here to keep track of all the cool stuff coming down the pipes. If you want to ensure I can afford to keep doing stuff like this, consider backing me over on Subscribestar or Patreon.

Also! This is the first story to reenter monthly updates!

Tests Can Be Hell (R)

A small unicorn filly gasped for air, her last attempt at hatching the dragon egg having robbed her of breath. Desperation clawed at the edges of her mind, scraping at the insides of her skull. The young girl had already tried every spell she could think of and had moved on to combining the ones she knew in every conceivable way in a desperate bid to find some new angle. Headless to the possibility of burning out, she raced headlong toward exhaustion and defeat.

Her tiny lavender horn shot another spray of sparks over the inert egg. The splash of warm magic did nothing, and the egg continued to sit there, unchanged.

“This one for sure!” Announced the filly.

She glanced nervously at the judges before turning back to the egg and beginning another spell.

The judges, however, were hardly paying attention to her actions for they had seen this exact scenario play out a hundred times.

The youngest of the judges, a lean unicorn stallion sitting closest to the filly’s parents leaned over towards the couple and whispered, hiding his mouth with his clipboard.

“How long does it usually take for her to give up?” asked the stallion.

The filly’s father frowned. “Why does that matter?”

“Wait no! This one will do it!” The increasingly nervous and now visibly sweating filly cried out before unleashing another futile spell onto the unmoving egg.

The judge arched an eyebrow and leaned closer. “Well, you see this test is all about what happens when they fail, it's not possible to hatch a dragon egg with traditional spells.”

Both parents exchanged a look of confusion and annoyance. Her father grunted in annoyance and crossed his forehooves.

“Well then settle in for the long haul, because we are going to be here until her mana runs out," he stated grimly.

The youngest judge shuffled nervously and looked at his fellows who mirrored his sentiments. Though they grumbled a little, they didn't end the test. Celestia had set aside an entire afternoon and usually, students only took a few minutes before giving up, meaning they had hours to sit here and watch the filly’s futile attempts.

Said filly’s mother was slightly angrier than her husband and bristled at the judge’s apathy. “How could you just crush a poor little filly’s heart like that? Do you know how terrible failure feels when you’re that age?” She pointed a hoof at the lavender filly mustering mana for another spell.

The judge refused to meet her gaze and whispered back much quieter than the filly’s mother had. “It is very important we know how each potential student reacts when met with failure,” he replied in a low tone.

“Hahaha, that was a joke! This next one will totally work!” Cried out the ever more nervous filly, showering the egg with a jet of useless multicolored sparks that were meant to make a living creature grow, but which did nothing to the egg.

The unabashed panic that spread across Twilight Sparkle’s face made her mother’s anger flare hot in her breast and she leaned closer to the judge, whispering angrily. “How can you just sit up here and let her do this? Look at her!” She hissed, pointing a hoof at the visibly sweating and panting young mare at the front of the classroom.

The judge however took it in stride and merely sighed. “Look, Mrs. Velvet Sparkle, we aren't supposed to mention this but Celestia believes your child has incredible potential, but the last time one of her students was met with an immovable object, she reacted… badly. The princess merely wishes to know how your little filly reacts to failure outside of her control.”

Nightlight sighed, and took his wife's hoof, squeezing it gently. “See? There is a reason. This may not be the best day of her life but you heard the stallion. She could be Celestia’s next personal student, you know how much Twilight idolizes her,” whispered the stallion.

The mare sat down, grumbling quietly to herself but not letting go of her husband’s hoof. “She better not be traumatized by this or I'm sending the bill for the psychiatrist to the crown,” Velvet muttered bitterly.

Her husband merely patted her hoof and smiled gently. His smile faltered somewhat when another bright flash of power nearly blinded everyone present.

It was followed by a growl of annoyance and desperation from the filly. Twilight lit her horn once more, sweat pouring down her head. As her panic grew, her mana reserves began to dwindle, which in turn fed the swelling desperation pushing against the inside of her chest.

I will not give up! She thought, valiantly. Unaware of the sheer futility of it all.

In a nearby room, Celestia’s brow creased and she leaned closer to the crystal ball. As if the slight change would reveal something she hadn't already seen.

Her assistant shuffled nervously beside her. “Are you sure she is a good choice princess? She seems very… nervous.”

Though Celestia didn't move, the room seemed to grow hotter, making her assistant panic. “N-n-not like that's a bad thing, she's just a filly after all!” Feather Touch added a little too quickly.

Celestia leaned in and with a flick of her magic, she zoomed in on the filly as another spell was launched against the egg to no effect.

“That right there was a spell that a child four years her elder would have struggled with casting but once and Twilight has used it a dozen times, each in a different manner than the last,” Celestia said plainly.

“I… See.” Feather Touch made a quick note of that on a nearby piece of paper. “Such aptitude from one so young. Are you going to take her on as your student?”

Celestia didn't answer at once, merely staring deeper into the orb, a frown marring her usually serene face. “Yes, I will. The only question is what I'm going to do about her… neurosis.”

Feather breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sure she and her parents are going to be thrilled when they hear the n-”

A sudden flash of light so bright it pierced the protective charms placed on the crystal ball, lanced out of the magical object and temporarily bathed the small room in a blinding lavender glow.

Feather blinked rapidly, trying to clear the purple spots that covered the entirety of her vision. Celestia however recovered much faster and stood up so suddenly that it sent her chair skidding across the viewing room.

“I don't know how, but she's flaring," Celestia announced. "Feather get the guard and send for the special magical containment unit, mana of this level will no doubt draw demons.”

“D-d-d-demons?!” Feather cried, backing away from the crystal ball as if a demon was about to crawl through the viewing device.

To both mares’ horror another bright lance of power shot out of the filly’s horn, vaporizing a section of a wall and shooting hundreds of meters into the sky only to finally dissipate when it impacted a dense raincloud.

“Go, now!” Celestia commanded.

Feather leaped from her chair and made a beeline for the door, ignoring the spots still lingering in her vision. The second she was gone Celestia channeled her magic, fortifying herself with numerous charms and enchantments while eyeing the crystal ball carefully.

She wanted desperately to leap to the filly’s side and rush to her ponies’ defense but certain precautions had to be made against demonic incursion and rampant undirected mana. While she was layering herself with all the protective spells necessary, Celestia stared intently into the crystal ball, gauging what she would be up against.

The scene within was pure chaos, ponies were turned into plants, and strange creatures pushed their way into this reality only to vanish when blasted with a solid mana bolt or other errant spell that ended them before they were even fully manifested. Despite the destruction being wreaked, Celestia knew it wouldn't last long. Her prospective student was a prodigy with far more mana at her disposal than unicorns twice her age but in the end, she was still just a child. One that had spent a better part of an hour slinging spells and had no doubt been exhausted before she had even begun to flare.

As if on cue the frequency of the otherworldly monsters being brought into existence slowed, what creatures had been summoned and not immediately sent back to their plane through accidental murder flickered in and out of existence, the magic binding them to this reality wavering.

Celestia counted a few low-level mana demons and a single half-formed umbra that were able to stay semi-solid. The smaller demons were merely imps, four-legged vaguely pony-shaped demons with red scaly skin and huge gaping maws filled with razor-sharp teeth. Though frightening, they were only the size of a child and lacked any sort of defenses other than a set of rather sharp forehooves. They would be mopped up quickly enough but the umbra was quickly solidifying and would be a problem if allowed to escape into the city. The enormous shadow demon occupied a full quarter of the room, flickering in and out of existence, limbs gripping tight the frayed border between realities.

It had sensed great power and with it came a boundless hunger for that power.

Celestia had just finished her personal protection spells and had begun readying a teleport when a rainbow wave could be seen on the horizon, its many-colored mass approaching at incredible speeds.

The moment of confusion that crossed Celestia’s mind made her spell fizzle and she silently cursed herself for getting distracted.

Celestia’s teleport took no time at all to reform but by then the rainbow wave was already upon them. Though it crashed harmlessly through most objects, when it touched the flaring filly a massive surge of raw mana pushed its way into the unicorn’s mind.

Like a fire that had gas thrown in it, the filly’s power erupted in an inferno of undirected spells and raw, unrefined mana.

Horror gripped the princess' heart as she saw beasts the likes of which she had hoped to never see again leap into existence. They easily tore through the thin barrier between worlds and threw themselves headlong towards the source of the power that had drawn them to this world, oblivious to the fact that the same power destroyed them by the score with accidental ease. Still, they advanced, their hunger outweighing what little reason they were capable of.

With a crack, Celestia released her teleport and within an instant, she went from the viewing room to the center of the inferno.

If you had asked Twilight if she knew pain before her test she would have said yes, of course she knew pain. Everyone did. She had broken her right foreleg once when she was fairly young after climbing up a rather tall bookcase to get a tome she was too impatient to wait for an adult to assist her with. That was the most painful thing she had ever experienced and the event had made her scared of heights and the encyclopaedia of fungi for many years.

However monumental that pain had been in her young mind, it was nothing compared to what she was feeling now. When the flare started the filly believed she had died and gone to Tartarus, when her flare redoubled and surged with horrifying new life she knew she was in Tartarus. There was no physical way the normal universe could create such horrific agony, therefore she must be in Tartarus, she reasoned.

She could feel nothing, see nothing, hear nothing. Her senses were muted to the point of complete uselessness, giving the intense, all-consuming pain a clarity that was truly the stuff of nightmares. Her every thought was drowned within the flame, and in that moment all she knew was suffering.

And then it was gone.

One second it was there and then the next moment there was nothing.

It would have been immensely satisfying had Twilight been capable of thinking, however, the moment the intense agony was gone Twilight's consciousness left with it. The pain had been so great that it forced her to stay conscious through the entirety of it but with the pain's departure, her mind went with it.

Power the likes of which no mortal should ever wield had coursed through her and burned away everything the filly was. Leaving behind a void, without thoughts, emotions, or memories. More than just power, the pain that had coursed through her tiny body had been too much, too fast with everything else gone there was only instinct. There was no more pain, not even a sense of loss for in that moment Twilight Sparkle ceased to be.

She could not mourn the loss of her being for she had never remembered existing in the first place, all that she had ever been was now burned away.

And in that void, the pony that had been Twilight Sparkle slept soundly without memories, thoughts, or emotions to disrupt her slumber. She knew only the void, oblivious to the Tartarus around her.

Moments before the pain was gone and Twilight Sparkle with it, Celestia appeared with a flash of divine light. That golden illumination obliterated several of the lesser demons unfortunate enough to be too close to the exit of the solar princess' teleport. Without giving the monsters time to think Celestia unleashed another spell she had ready, sending a wave of the purest light imaginable through the room and obliterating all but one of the demons.

The umbra merely laughed, its shadowy form rippling around the light so the spell couldn't touch its foul and twisted flesh. With the spell's passage, the umbra’s form rippled and solidified once more, revealing a great bear of shadow given form by malice and hunger.

Centuries of combat and millennia of experience were a far more powerful weapon than demonic flesh and hate made manifest. This Celestia knew for certain, and which she would prove then and there.

The alicorn moved like water, easily shifting out of the way of the demon's attack with a grace that would have stunned a mortal mind. She brought her wing down on the creature’s back as she dodged its clumsy strike. The enchanted appendage slammed into the beast with all the force of a freight train, laying the beast out and crushing whatever foul organ served as its spine.

Conserving her momentum the princess spun and angled her horn down at the demon, ejecting a beam of holy light into the prone demon’s back. The light washed over the demon and obliterated it utterly, destroying its physical form and forcing its spirit back to whence it came.

With the demons gone, Celestia turned to the still-flaring unicorn. The alicorn had already readied a containment spell and several healing spells but was hesitant to unleash them too soon. She turned her eye to the small mountain of slowly vanishing demon corpses piled up around the filly and confirmed none would stand in her way.

All that preparation, all her experience in combat, and proficiency with magic meant nothing the moment the next creature from Tartarus appeared before her.

Had Celestia been more observant she would have noticed the great fiery portal that had opened the moment she had looked away from her target. She had grown arrogant in her confidence and assumed that all resistance had been dealt with, guessing wrongly that the pile of demon corpses was glowing due to reality repairing itself and not the entrance of something far more powerful than mere imps or even umbra.

The demonic corpses fell into the portal and vanished, replaced by a far more terrifying demon far more alive than those that came before. The creature that emerged from the fiery portal easily dwarfed the others that had arrived earlier, its huge four-legged bottom half resembled a pony but that was where the resemblance stopped and a screaming multitude of clawed and tentacled limbs poured out of the beast’s upper half.

For all her sins and arrogance Celestia was no fool and she was already readying another set of offensive spells when she saw a second fiery portal beginning to open, this one ringed in purple and fed by Twilight’s magic.

That shouldn't be possible, it would take a far more talented spell caster than a mere demon to-

Celestia ducked a clawed limb that had attempted to cut her left wing from her body and leaped over a set of tentacles that had tried to knock her legs out from under her. She had to end this quickly, if the flare continued more powerful demons would begin to take notice of all the errant mana and take the plunge into their reality. That was without even considering whatever was about to emerge from the steadily growing portal closest to her prospective student.

Summoning forth the holy light of the sun Celestia grit her teeth and unleashed far more power than was necessary to obliterate the first demon.

The moment it was destroyed and its essence sent back to Tartarus Celestia leaped towards the flaring unicorn, only to be slapped aside by an enormous black hand that emerged from the purple-tinged portal.

“Ah ah ah.” A finger waggled at the alicorn. “I saw her first.” The voice was deep, booming off what walls were still left standing.

Celestia growled and shot to her hooves, ignoring the pain that bloomed across her face.

The second she stood however something hard connected with her midsection, knocking the wind out of her and launching her into the air and towards the back of the classroom where she landed in a heap of broken desks and chairs.

Celestia had heard her ribs snap and her enchantments shatter under the force of the blow but she knew better than most that failure to act quickly would mean a swift end. With a flap of her wings and a push of her legs, she jumped back up into a fighting stance, horn blazing with power as she searched for her attacker.

The second she saw him, her heart sank. She had seen his hand and not realized, she had heard his voice and refused to believe but now as he stood before her in all his terrible majesty she was forced to acknowledge that the beast was back.

“What, not happy to see me, Celestia? I’ll only be here for a moment so don't you worry your pretty little head” The voice cackled.

It was him, Tirek. The beast that had brought her newly founded nation to its knees shortly after Luna’s banishment. Back again, and this time she had no Elements of Harmony and no allies to stop him.

“How did you get here? What do you want fiend?” The princess spat.

The large centaur merely laughed. “It seems as though this little thing has made this place so close to Tartarus that your banishment spell can't tell the difference between this room and Tartarus itself. Oh, and It's not what I want, but who.” With one hand he tore a hole in reality, with the other he grabbed the still-flaring unicorn.

“No!” Panic overruled practice and in Celestia's desperation, she unleashed a powerful but unfocused beam of pure energy into the centaur’s face.

Tirek merely deflected it with a wave of his hand, his defensive enchantments more than a match for such a sudden, poorly coordinated attempt.

“Goodbye Celestia, see you in another twenty years,” Tirek mocked.

With a smirk, the centaur stepped through the portal, along with the now incapacitated unicorn.

The princess raged in wordless fury, unable to unleash her hatred for fear of hitting the filly Tirek held in his hands. Before she even had time to refocus her magic into something fitting to the situation they were gone. Leaving the princess alone in a room of ponies-turned-potted plants and hellfire that still burned on desks and stone walls alike.

A second later the doors burst open and several unicorns clad in holy platemail charged into the room, horns alight.

Upon seeing no hostiles or unicorns in need of magical restrainment they stopped and the mare at the forefront stepped forward.

“What happened here, your Highness?” asked the brave mare.

“He happened,” Celestia whispered.

“He?”

The solar princess shook her head. “It doesn't matter. See to it that the parents and judges are treated for their transfiguration and put out these fires. I have something I need to do.”

Without waiting for affirmation the princess lit her horn and vanished in a flash of light, leaving several confused unicorns to look awkwardly at their leader.

“You heard the princess, get to it!”

A day later and far, far from Canterlot the pony that had been Twilight Sparkle began to wake for the first time.

Whatever she was lying on was hard as stone but much warmer than mere rock. The pony didn't know why that was strange, as she couldn't remember even what a stone was or why it would be weird if it was warm. Pushing aside the slight dizziness that plagued her mind she got into a sitting position and looked around the room.

The walls were black and other than a small torch that burned beside her on the wall there were no other sources of light. The torch illuminated the room well enough, allowing the pony to see the door on the other side of the room and the chest that lay next to it, a simple bucket lay beside them. The chest seemed to be made of some kind of wood and was bound by iron. A simple latch on the front holding it closed. Though the pony couldn't recall what wood and iron were or where they came from, it didn't matter for she had bigger questions.

She looked down at herself, seeing her body for the first time. It was black and spongy looking. Which struck her as wrong for some reason. She touched a hoof to her leg and recoiled when it was met with intense pain. No, that wasn't her body, it was a bandage. One that wrapped around her entire form save for her eyes and a slight opening around her mouth. Her sense of touch returned in full giving her the distinct impression that it wrapped her completely from head to hoof.

A sudden thought occurred to the pony and her forehooves leaped up to her head, pressing against the center of her forehead only to find… nothing.

The pony didn't know why but that brought an intense amount of sadness and she couldn't stop herself from shedding a solitary tear. Though she knew not why, she felt an intense sense of loss at the realization her forehead was flat.

She looked around the room, searching for something that would tell her where she was, the sense of loss quickly fading into the background and disappearing as confusion of a different kind came to the forefront of her mind.

Never mind where was she, who was she? What was she? Her breathing grew hoarse and quick, panic overrode her better judgment and she began hyperventilating. Why doesn't she know anything?

A second before her thoughts would have spiralled out of control the door opened to reveal a strange four-legged creature that had hooves like she did. But where she had a neck it grew a torso that sported two strange-looking appendages attached to it, each with five odd, noodly-looking things on the end of each of them. On top of his head were two great horns and a gentle smile that clashed somewhat with his midnight coat and enormous, well-muscled body over which a simple leather shirt was draped.

Despite his charming smile, the pony felt fear for the first time in her existence. This creature was huge and could easily crush her in one of its weird appendages or beneath its hooves. She backed up until she felt her head impact with something hard. Turning quickly she realized she was already against the wall, with nowhere left to go.

The creature closed the door behind him and took a step closer, smiling all the while.

The pony gulped.

“Hello?” She didn't know what the word meant but some part of her mind told her it was what she was supposed to say.

“Hello, my daughter.” The centaur leaned down, bringing his massive frame close and allowing the pony to see just how many muscles the huge creature could bring to bear if it needed to.

The pony gulped. “What does daughter mean?”

The centaur laughed and stroked the pony’s face, an act that made the pony shiver in terror. “It means I’m your father. I created you.”

Though the pony had a strange sense of wrongness well within it, she also felt a sense of relief, the word father bringing feelings of trust and sanctuary to her mind.

She felt her muscles relax and questions came bubbling to the surface of her mind. “Where am I? Who am I, what-”

“Silence.” The pony closed her mouth and cowered away from the creature. “I will reveal all in time, first things first. Are you hurt?” His tone was firm, but not cruel.

The pony nodded and pointed to the spot she had touched earlier.

The creature nodded somberly, having assumed as much. “Your burns will have to be healed the old-fashioned way as healing magic cannot be cast on this plane. As to why, it seems as though your birth came with far more complications than what I foresaw. As to where, you are in Tartarus, welcome home.”

The pony blinked twice, from his tone this sounded like a dramatic realization but to her, lacking any sort of context, it meant nothing. The centaur smirked at the blank look on the pony’s face.

“Your name and what you will refer to yourself as, is Dog, and that is also what you are. I made you to serve me and that is what you will do for your entire life. Understood?”

The pony nodded quickly, not understanding but also knowing better than to keep asking questions.

The creature looked her over and seemed to think to himself for a moment before standing back up to his full height and walking towards the door.

“Follow,” her father commanded. Dog quickly moved to do just that only to fall the moment she stood. The pain that lanced up her legs was far too much for Dog to take.

The creature that called himself her father stopped and looked down at Dog. “Get up.”

Dog gulped and quickly moved to do as commanded. She was barely able to stand, the intense pain shooting up from her ruined and scorched hooves almost too much for the filly. Already she could feel wounds reopen and blood ooze into the bandages around her hooves. The creature didn't move, merely standing there and watching as Dog swayed on her hooves, the intense agony making it difficult to stay standing.

“Hurts lots, father,” Dog whined.

Dog’s father snorted. “You will get used to it, now follow, we have a lot of training ahead of us.” He turned to leave and a moment later Dog walked after him, whimpering quietly as she followed her father into the dark hallway and into an uncertain future.

Celestia peered into a crystal ball in an empty, silent room. Though the room was similar to the one she had just used twenty-four hours ago, there were several key differences. Now she was alone, had a thick bandage around her midsection and across her cheek and the being she was looking at was not a child but an elder demon.

She had been staring at the creature for nearly an hour, her presence hidden from the demon’s sight by a powerful set of enchantments. In that hour the demon had done nothing but lean idly beside a great black spire, whistling softly to itself while spinning a great sword in one hand like a child would a mere toy.

It was a tall, bipedal creature with two sets of arms and blood-red flesh hidden underneath a set of slate-black plate mail that covered nearly every inch of its body. The only parts of the creature not coated in metal were its eyes and mouth, allowing Celestia a perfect view of the huge grin on its face and the glee in its eyes.

She didn't know how, but this demon knew. It knew what had happened in Equestria, it knew she was hurt and it was basking in that knowledge with great pleasure.

Celestia spun her magical ‘eye’ around the demon one last time, sizing the creature up for anything magical that may explain how he came about this knowledge. Her search revealed nothing, just huge swords and a collection of smaller blades that were so numerous that she didn't bother counting. Though the creature had many powerful Tartarus-forged weapons and a masterwork set of armor, all of the enchantments that lay upon the equipment were either defensive or offensive, nothing that would give him the utility of seeing into another plane of existence.

With a sigh, Celestia refocused her magic and brought her ‘eye’ to the level of the demon’s own. Though she knew the demon shouldn't have been able to see her she still saw the ghost of a smile drift across its ugly, scaled face.

Celestia frowned but quickly wiped away that expression and replaced it with one of cold indifference. The second after she had her feelings in check she dismissed the charm that rendered her invisible to the eyes of demons.

The creature on the other end of the crystal ball smirked. “Hello again princess, how long has it been since last we spoke? A hundred years? No, that’s not right, time moves differently for you.” The creature scratched its chin with a claw. “Probably about fifty-five years, I think,” it said in a mocking, jovial tone of voice.

Celestia’s mask cracked for a moment but was quickly repaired. “Fifty-seven years.”

The demon grinned impossibly wide, revealing at least three rows of sharp, dagger-like teeth. “Ahh yes, how time flies down here, to what do I owe the distinct pleasure of your company?”

Celestia frowned for a moment, reminded again that despite its massive size and warrior-like nature it was still a very intelligent, and ancient being.

“You know very well why I’m here. We had a deal and you broke it,” Celestia accused.

“Ahh yes, our deal. The one that ensures that Tirek does not leave this tower,” the demon threw a thumb behind him. “For the time of no less than one thousand years in Equestrian time or two thousand down here.”

Celestia’s jaw grew tight. “Yes, that one.”

“I assume you met him under hellish conditions yes?” The demon laughed at his own joke, a cruel and barking sound.

“He was in my school Balam! Even if he brought a section of Tartarus with him it should not have worked. How did you allow such a breach of your contract?”

Balam was unperturbed by the princess’ anger and only seemed emboldened by the knowledge that his slight had not gone unnoticed.

“Our contract states that I am not to allow him out of the spire under any circumstances for another twenty years. In that time you feed me a weekly dose of your power. He has not left the spire so I have broken no contract,” the demon grinned and began spinning its sword once more, expecting the conversation to be over.

Celestia grimaced and launched a scanning spell on the room Tirek had appeared in. It was faint but now that she knew what she was looking for she found it easily. As her magical senses combed over the room she felt a sudden… wrongness. She knew this feeling.

The wrongness, coupled with an intense desire to leave came only when a being of one plane of existence traveled to another. The feeling wasn't as intense as she remembered but that was probably due to it fading as this plane slowly mended the brief incursion from Tartarus. Celestia made a note of closing that room while she studied it more intently and dismissed the extra sensory magical perception. Reasoning to herself that the section of Tartarus Tirek had brought with him was from within his spire, thus not negating Balam’s contract.

She looked back into the crystal ball to see the demon’s mirth shift to a frown of impatience.

“I assume you have just double-checked that I have not broken our contract, which, need I remind you, I am not physically capable of breaking in the first place,” the demon added, clearly growing annoyed.

“Yes, I expect something like that will not happen again,” Celestia declared.

“I don't take orders from you, pony!” The demon bared its teeth and snarled into Celestia’s floating eye.

Celestia however merely frowned. Balam had clearly cut a deal with Tirek as well, something not outside the binding realm of his contract with her. She silently cursed her younger self for having rushed the contract. If she had merely been more elaborate in its writing this would never have happened.

The demon straightened suddenly, a thought occurring to it. “Now if that’s all, I have a dog to train,” he announced.

Without waiting for a response the demon turned and opened the great iron door behind it and stepped within the enormous black spire that served as Tirek’s prison.

During that brief moment, the door was open Celestia was afforded a glance within Tirek’s sanctum, and what she saw chilled her to her very core. Standing beside the door, head down in supplication was a small pony covered head to toe in black bandages, visibly shaking and whimpering in barely contained agony.

The last thing Celestia saw was the demon’s smiling face before it closed the door with a slam of grim finality.

Author's Note

As you may have noticed I uploaded two fairly similar stories in the last few hours. If you haven't checked the other one out go here. If you have checked them both out then vote here. The winning story will get a full, extended series and the losing one will stay a one off so choose carefully. Alternatively, if both of the stories get 500 upvotes total I will make a series out of both of them!

The cover art is a vision of a possible future, which do you want to explore?

Editing done by the wonderful everfree pony!

(Oh and its almost the end of the month, meaning now is the perfect time to become a patron and earn a bigger voice in what I update as well as earning commissions and other goodies.)

This update is supported by.

DIOKYO

Interlude Two: Desperation (R)

The Sparkle household had grown quiet over the month since young Twilight’s disappearance, both literally and figuratively, with company becoming rarer and conversation between the occupants becoming less and less common. Couple that with the numerous defensive wards that littered the house and even the sound of the street was replaced by the nearly imperceivable hum of magic as well as the sound of silence.

Within that quiet Twilight Velvet sat, one hoof tapping away at the table while the other held open a book she was reading with only mild interest. Her mind was elsewhere, occupied with the many questions she wished to ask and more fear than she cared to admit. The letter given to her by her husband weeks ago may have been long gone, but the anxiety it left behind was still very real.

Money, it always came down to money and with the subsequent firing of her position as editor of Haphazard House and the threat of Celestia’s assistance going away, Twilight Velvet was left in a poor position. She had managed to extract another few thousand bits from the royal treasury and safely funneled them away in a less conspicuous way, but the threat still stood and she needed this meeting to go well.

She glanced up at the clock and frowned when she noticed it was ten past three and Celestia’s aide had yet to appear. A scowl crawled across her face and she couldn't help but growl in annoyance. Of course, Celestia’s aide would be late, it wasn't like Velvet had many other things she had planned to do. Even now, several experiments were running in her attic laboratory and should be fine if left unattended though not for long. She had hoped at least one of them would help her understand what had happened to her little girl.

Her hooves tapped harder, faster and she put down the book entirely, acknowledging that she lacked the attention necessary to actually absorb anything. Using her magic, she tucked the book away on top of the shelf, away from any prying, judgemental eyes. With nothing to distract her, the mare sat at her kitchen table, staring at the front door with impatient fury.

Finally, after the fifth time she checked the clock, she felt a mental ping as her proximity ward alerted her to someone stepping onto her property. With a spark of magic, she activated the security spell and was instantly looking down at the street from the third story of her house. She peered down through the spell’s non-existent eyes and watched as a small brown and yellow mare walked down the steps of their walkway with an air of confidence and annoyance. Her gait was long and self-assured, almost becoming a strut, but her face was contorted into an expression of supreme displeasure. Her lips moved as if speaking to someone even though no pony else was around.

Twilight Velvet frowned, this did not bode well for her and she quickly scanned the rest of her yard, activating the rest of her security eye spells one by one in order to get a good look. Sure enough, the brown and yellow unicorn mare was the only pony there and yet she continued to mutter to herself. Velvet wondered if she was using some sort of spell to converse despite the distance. Either way, the elder mare didn't have time to think about that as the other pony had reached her door and raised her hoof to knock.

Velvet dismissed the sensory spell, returning to her body, and approached the door, knowing the mare’s attempts at knocking would be rendered useless due to all the reinforcement spells she had placed on the door. Twilight Velvet was feeling her age, but a burning determination welled within her and she took a long deep breath and banished the weariness that stuck to her bones. With courage burning bright in her breast, she reached to the door and undid the singular locking mechanism she had left engaged.

With a gentle spark of magic, the door opened and allowed her to get a good view of the other mare as she shook her smoking hoof. Twilight couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head at the sight, the wards were working well and it looked like another pony had ignored the sign directing them not to knock and instead use the buzzer.

“Yeah, I didn't put that sign up just for fun,” she remarked dryly.

The other mare grunted and put her hoof down, ignoring the smell of burnt hair. “Good to see Her Majesty’s bits are being spent where they are needed.”

Velvet rolled her eyes and opened the door wide enough to allow the mare entry. “Well, come in, let's get this over with.”

“My sentiments exactly,” the other mare replied simply while walking inside, and taking a seat at the table.

The older mare closed the door firmly and clicked the smallest of her locks in place. As she made her way to the other side of the table, she looked the other mare up and down, getting a good look at the aide for the first time.

Her dark yellow mane was short and done up into a small ponytail at the back of her head, allowing only a single group of hair to hang down beside her right eye. Her fur was the color of aged paper that had been out too long in the sun. Her posture was perfect, her facial expression the picture of calm and she lifted an eyebrow as Twilight Velvet finally sat.

“Done your inspection?” When no response came, the aide rolled her eyes. “Let's get down to business, shall we? I have wasted too much time with my last appointment already.”

Twilight Velvet pulled in her chair and steepled her forelegs, looking out over her uneven and unkept hooves.

“Yes, I agree that we should move quickly, but first I must ask you a few questions," Velvet began.

The other mare sighed and pressed a hoof against her forehoof.

“Are they all questions you have asked before? If so, please don't bother as I either still don't know, still am not authorized to tell you, or do not have the patience left to sit through any more of your rants," the aide muttered bitterly.

Velvet gritted her teeth and pressed her hooves together tightly.

“That is not what I had in mind. I merely wanted to know how the search for my daughter is going, what Celestia is doing to get her back and what demon she sold her to," Velvet stated.

The other mare sighed a long and weary sigh.

“One, the search is going as well as we can hope and I have been told that the mages have made great strides in the construction of their locator spell," the aide began. "Secondly, Celestia herself is aiding her top mages in its construction, and by the end of the month, they should be able to locate her no matter what plane of existence she is on. And lastly, really? You are still going on about this nonsense?”

Twilight Velvet’s eyes narrowed.

“When Twilight is safe in my hooves and my worries are put to rest, I will throw no accusations, until then, if the shoe fits…” Velvet remarked, letting the accusation hang for several seconds before shrugging.

The aide frowned, her nearly perfect mask of politeness beginning to crack.

“Alright, look, we know you have been spending bits outside of the agreed-upon parameters of food, mortgage, education, etc," the aide began again. "Now, initially, Her Highness was alright with a little misspending as she assumed such a thing would occur with you, but you crossed a line with your little acquisition through Maul and Company.”

The unicorn blinked, raising an eyebrow. She had purchased numerous expensive books of a questionable nature in the first week and had not heard a peep from Celestia and yet here her aide was, referencing not the other money she had spent, but this specific book. “What's so special about Maul and Company?”

The aide’s face grew tight.

“Maul and Company, although not a criminal organization themselves, have numerous ties to less than reputable sources,” the remarked, leaning in a little closer, staring directly into the older mare’s eyes. “The type of connections that make good ponies disappear.”

“I assure you it was just a single book,” Velvet remarked, trying to act flippantly.

“Yes, well, please heed this warning, lest you fall down a rabbit hole which you never emerge from,” the aide exclaimed.

She pushed herself back, resuming her more professional stance and neutral expression.

“Is that all?” Velvet asked.

“No, not in the slightest," the aide snorted. "The crown has decided to dial back support for your family. The maid will still be coming by every Wednesday and Her Highness has chosen to honor her commitment in allowing your family to keep the advanced spell books initially set aside for teaching your daughter, provided your son is actively using them.”

“Fine," Velvet conceded. "Shining has shown an interest in the books and though beyond his level, he is learning quickly.”

“This is something Her Highness commends," the aide exclaimed. "And to that end, she is giving him access to a tutor of the highest caliber. Provided he wants the help.”

“Why bother?" Velvet retorted. "Shining is good at magic already and hasn't his application to the guard already been approved?”

“It has, but Celestia has deemed his skill high enough that he may be eligible for the role of battle mage, should he desire to reach for it. This would allow him access to high-tier spells and war magic as well as a small stipend and access to advanced magical courses that would be held at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns," the aide explained.

Twilight blinked, her mind whirling with possibilities only to stutter to a stop and a glare to suddenly spread across her face.

“No," Velvet stated.

“What, why not?" Exclaimed the aide in shock. "It is a wonderful opportunity that any unicorn would be envious of.”

Velvet stood quickly, sending her chair clattering to the floor.

“I said, no!" Velvet shouted. "I will not let her take another of my children for her twisted designs!"

The paper-colored mare rolled her eyes.

“I assure you that your baseless paranoia is just that, baseless," the aide declared. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime, one that would see your son granted the best education in the guard and the opportunity for early officership and eventually perhaps even the chance to become an archmage.”

She shook her head and sighed.

“You should not let your wild accusations doom your son’s chances at achieving greatness," the aide warned.

“I don't care about your school, your opportunities, or your lies! Now get out of my house and don't you dare repeat a word of this to my husband or Shining Armor, I will not have them indoctrinated and taken from me,” Velvet shouted.

She crossed the table and approached the door, quickly unlocking it and throwing it open with enough force to send it crashing into the wall and rattling the picture frames that hung nearby.

The other pony slowly rose, shaking her head as she walked to the door, eventually meeting the older mare’s furious gaze with a reluctant look of disappointment.

“Look, Mrs Sparkle," the aide began, her voice low and respectful. "I know you’re going through a lot right now, but you cannot seriously believe that Celestia would stoop to the level of abducting foals. Stars above, she's the princess, do you really think she would go through all this just to steal away a single child? What could she possibly stand to gain from this madness?”

Velvet’s horn sparked and her jaw clenched.

“I don't know or care why she is doing this. Now get out of my house," Velvet demanded.

The aide turned, shaking her head and walking towards the door.

“Deep down you must understand just how ridiculous this sounds, right? She's the Princess of Equestria for crying out loud, why would she bother with some random foal?” The aide pointed out.

A vein bulged in the elder mare’s head and jabbed her hoof towards the street.

“Out! Now!” Velvet shouted.

The paper-colored mare shrugged and made her way out the door.

“What a nut job,” she mumbled to herself as she approached the bustling street.

Only to stop when she heard a bloodcurdling cry of rage a second before two hundred pounds of angry pony slammed into her back and knocked her to the ground. Her limbs splayed in every direction. Her magic fizzled, and for a single panicked second, the aide could hardly comprehend what was happening, allowing enough time for Twilight Velvet to begin raining punches across the back of the mare’s head.

Passersby stopped in their place, mouths agape as they watched an older mare furiously assault a random unicorn pony, her rage punctuated by a wordless scream of anger. Sense seemed to return to the aide and pushed her hooves up under her and bucked the mare off her back, using the few seconds of respite to begin running towards the street.

“Help! Guards! Anypony!” The aide shouted in a panic.

Twilight Velvet got to her hooves quickly and charged after the mare, too angry to even see straight. The aide’s steps were uncoordinated and wobbly due to the dozen or so blows she had received and it didn't take long for the white mare to tackle her to the ground once more. This time she flipped the mare over and sat on her chest before delivering a right-left combo across her opponent’s chin.

The aide could hardly put her hooves up in time before the still-screaming mare rained down a second flurry of blows, knocking aside her blocking limbs and punching away at her exposed face. A left knocked out one of the mare’s perfectly straight teeth, a right landed squarely on her eye and she lifted her left hoof to strike again only to hesitate and then suddenly find herself launched through the air, landing on her back.

The impact knocked the wind out of her and gave her assailant enough time to redouble the magic of his spell, holding her down under the crushing weight of a blue dome of force.

“Stop resisting and lay still! You are under arrest!” shouted a commanding male voice.

Twilight Velvet’s head swung around, glaring at the towering form of blue fur and gold steel standing over her.

“If I see so much as a spark of magic out of that horn I’m going to snap it off and use it as a tooth pick, understood?” demanded the guard.

Velvet lay still and the cry of rage finally died in her throat, giving way to crushing guilt and despair. She sighed and relaxed her hooves, letting them fall to the ground limply.

“Get on with it,” she mumbled weakly.

The guard eyed her carefully, but reluctantly nodded, releasing the shield he had been using to hold her down. Aiming his horn down, he channeled a surge of magic, and in a flash of blue light Twilight Velvet could feel the conjured magic wrap firmly around her forehooves before dulling into a pair of deep blue cuffs. The aetherial chain connecting them was thin but sturdy, being made of the same solid magic construct as the cuffs were. Another flash of magic and another binding was applied, this one wrapping firmly around her horn and cutting off any potential magic before it had a chance to be conjured. A small push of mana towards her horn confirmed this as the spell sputtered out, converting into a single spark that shot out of her bound horn.

“On your hooves, prisoner,” the guard commanded, roughly hoisting the mare to her hooves with the cold touch of his magic.

Velvet scowled but did as she was told, standing slowly and carefully before looking around. Everywhere she looked, ponies stared in a mix of disgust, fear, and confusion. The broken and bloody form of the aide was draped over the back of a second guard, one eye having closed completely. The rest of her face was a mish-mash of bruises and her mane was matted with blood, indicating Twilight Velvet’s hooves had done more damage to the mare’s scalp than the unicorn had thought.

She turned away, looking down with a sigh. A sudden tug brought her back to reality where the guard looked at her with disgust.

“Come on, prisoner, my shift is done in two hours and I'll be damned if some nutty noble is gonna make me waste my evening," he demanded.

A retort came quickly to the mare’s lips, but Velvet didn't give it voice, merely nodding once and following close behind. Her hooves were heavy and her steps odd, but it didn't take long for Twilight to get used to the weight and odd cadence forced upon her. Soon even the judging eyes of her neighbors and friends faded from sight, replaced by the endless cobblestones.

Time became meaningless as the mare became lost in her thoughts, forcing out the sound of the public. Their cries of justice, of revenge, and confusion fell away, leaving Twilight to her silent regret.

Why? Was all she could think. She remembered commanding the mare out, telling her to leave, then when she muttered her foul insult, everything went red and her mind only seemed to focus when their eyes connected briefly, her hoof cocked back and ready to deliver another blow.

She was angry, obviously, but she couldn't remember ever being so angry at someone who wasn't Celestia. Had it been the long hours? The days of stress that built and layered until she believed that was now her life? In the end, it didn't matter, it was all excuses, all of it was meaningless.

She sighed, her head finally lifting for the first time since her arrest. Gone was the pleasant architecture of the noble quarter, gone too were the judging stares and open hostility, replaced by glances of indifference or morbid curiosity. The buildings were tighter together and stretched much higher into the sky than the homes from her native part of the city. The solitary guard leading her had been joined by a second pony in armor, this one an earth pony mare that stood a few inches taller than him and wore much thicker, more durable armor. Her dull purple mane was cut incredibly short and done into a tight mohawk that stuck out of the top of her helmet, which matched her deep blue fur.

Their conversation seemed idle as they didn't even try to whisper, only glancing back every few seconds and ensuring their prisoner hadn't wandered off. It may have looked as though they were being lazy, but with her horn and hooves bound, Velvet would be hard-pressed to make it more than a few feet.

The large female snorted when she and Twilight’s eyes met.

“Finally stopped moping, eh?" The guard mare teased. "Good, you’re gonna wanna start paying attention soon cus we gotta read you your rights before we toss ya in the tank.”

She blinked. “The tank?” Twilight asked.

The stallion smirked. “What? You thought we'd just send ya out right away?” He retorted.

“No, I just-” Velvet began.

“Thought you would get your own nice and personal cell so you can sleep your night away?” The earth pony guard remarked, shaking his head.

“Nobles," he muttered.

The guard mare turned back, mumbling her own affirmation.

Twilight sighed and looked back to the pavement, staring off into space as she followed the pair of guards deeper into the city and eventually to the door of the station where the stallion turned back around and dispelled the shackles around her hooves.

“There are over fifty guard ponies on duty and numerous constructs in the building. I would not try anything if I were you," he warned.

Velvet nodded weakly, following the stallion inside the large, grey stone building that resembled a tiny castle more than a guard station. The interior was a blur and Twilight never once looked up from the dull, off-white tiled floor until her handler suddenly spoke up.

“Hey noble, eyes up," he demanded.

Twilight did as she was told, only now noticing she was standing before a table where an elderly bookish mare sat. She cleared her throat and looked down at the page in her hoof.

“As your crime has been observed by no more than fifteen passersby, the question of guilt is a foregone conclusion. As such you will be held until a judge can see you tomorrow or the day after that. At such point, a decision on your punishment will be reached," she explained, her tone flat and unfeeling. "Then you will have an opportunity to explain your side of the story and may argue for a lighter sentence. Now, do you have any objects to declare?”

Twilight shook her head slowly.

“No, I have nothing," Velvet murmured.

The other mare raised an eyebrow and shrugged before gesturing to the two guards standing on either side of her.

“Take her away,” she droned.

The guards nodded and the larger female guard gestured to her right and began walking towards a sloping staircase leading down. Twilight followed noiselessly, her eyes firmly latched on the guard in front of her. A few seconds later they were down the stairs and through a thick iron door. The second that heavy portal opened Twilight could hear the distant sound of somepony screaming, nearly drowning out the dozen or so conversations she could hear coming from all around her.

The iron bars of jail cells replaced the dull grey walls of the hallway. The mare spared only a passing glance to the random assortment of ponies that filled the cells.

“Keep moving,” the guard commanded.

Before she had a chance to do as ordered, she felt a magical field push her forward, causing her to stumble and nearly fall. Thankfully her reflexes were good enough to catch her and she trotted to catch up to the lead guard. As they walked down the long line of cells, numerous stallions and mares alike hooped and hollered at the sight of the noble mare. Twilight pushed their crude words from her mind, ignoring the jeers of her fellow prisoners.

Before long the lead guard stopped and a third guard approached, opening a large cell and extending her hoof towards the door.

“In ya go," he ordered.

Twilight stopped and turned towards the cell, sizing up the various other ponies already inside. A large heavy-set unicorn grumbled quietly to herself in the corner, her teeth gnashing occasionally as she rambled incoherently. A second mare sat on one of two benches on either side of the wall, her large wings spread wide and her forehooves crossed before her, a toothpick rolled from one side of her mouth to the other and she eyed Twilight with an almost predatory gaze. A wiry, young-looking stallion lay next to her, snoozing soundly, his horn locked by a different color of solid magic. A fourth stallion leaned heavily on the bars, a large black top hat resting firmly on his head and nearly obscuring the horn that poked out.

“I said in, you half-wit,” The guard growled, a millisecond before Twilight found herself airborne, tossed unceremoniously into the center of the cell where her jaw bounced off the stone floor.

She stood quickly, rubbing her bruised jaw and looking back at the chuckling guards with hate in her eyes.

“Next time listen so I don't hafta toss ya,” the large female guard remarked before joining her fellow guard and walking back towards the exit, disappearing from sight.

Twilight sighed and trotted over to the one more or less empty bench and plunked down, most of her fellow inmates ignoring her save for the pegasus who still eyed her lecherously. The older mare dropped her head into her hooves and sighed, staring down at the stone floor in silent contemplation.

She felt guilt, remorse, and several other emotions whirling inside her and she couldn't help but think back to the sheer amount of damage she had inflicted on the aide. She had been a bit of a jerk, but did she really deserve that? Twilight sighed deeper, pressing her hooves against her eyes, the answer flying to the forefront of her mind. Of course, she didn't deserve that, not for a single remark.

Her heart burned with shame and her mind searched for a scapegoat, the root cause for all her problems and it didn't take long for the image of Celestia’s face to come to mind. Instantly the guilt and shame washed from her mind and her muscles clenched. This was Celestia's fault, she had been the one to apply pressure on her family while it was still reeling from the loss, neigh, theft of her daughter. She just had to push and push, no doubt telling her aide to try and egg Twilight Velvet on, but to what end?

Shining Armor came to mind and suddenly the aide’s remarks on his potential schooling were illuminated in a different light. She did not doubt that with her out of the picture, her husband would agree to such a proposal, as he lacked Twilight’s true understanding of Celestia’s motives. Without her around Shining would be carried away to that dreaded school, only to disappear like her little Twilight.

Her jaw clenched and she ground her teeth together as her train of thought continued to travel down the track of anger and grief. Before long she was muttering curses under her breath and trying to concoct some manner of plan that would ensure Celestia would not achieve her foul goals.

It was in the middle of one of these half-muttered rants that the top hat-wearing stallion suddenly approached Velvet.

“Good afternoon, I couldn't help but overhear your distaste for our magnanimous leader and wondered what in Equestria happened for our fair lady to earn such distaste from one of her own," he offered.

The sheer weight of all the sarcasm dripping from his words brought a smile to the mare’s face and she looked up to the concerned look on the stallion’s features. She had hardly given him more than a passing glance and other than his top hat she didn't really commit any of his features to memory but now that he was up close she could tell this stallion was different from the other prisoners.

For one, he carried himself with an aloof, blase charm more fit for a child than a full-grown stallion. Every aspect of his person screamed presentation and professionalism. His teeth were a perfect pearly white, his burnt orange mane was cut short and combed to swirl out from front to back, barely poking out from under his hat. His grey fur was also immaculately kept, to the point that Twilight couldn't help but wonder just what kind of shampoo the stallion used to give it such a luster. Most poignant of his features were perhaps the piercing red of his eyes, which set Twilight on edge.

“Oh, my sincere apologies, madam, my grim countenance can be a bit perturbing, but I assure you I am no manner of creature but rather merely a poor sod with a strange family history,” the stallion remarked, smiling widely.

"My apologies," Velvet exclaimed. "I was merely trapped in my own head so to speak.”

The stallion chuckled heartily, his smile warming her heart and unconsciously drawing her closer.

“Not a problem, madam, not a problem at all. Please excuse my nosiness, but I must admit you piqued my interest during your mumblings and I couldn't help but wonder what one of Celestia’s chosen nobility is doing down here, cursing her oh-so-glorious name," he pressed.

Twilight Velvet chuckled, his flowery speech drawing a smile to her lips.

“I wouldn't mind telling you, but I have to ask my own question first," she began.

“Of course, of course, go ahead!” He offered, his smile growing wider.

“Why do you care?” Velvet demanded.

“I don't really, to be honest," he admitted with a shrug. "But one must pass the time somehow and I have a feeling yours is an interesting tale. One worth hearing.”

“I appreciate your frank honesty and I suppose it is a rather interesting tale in hindsight," Velvet remarked. “Well… where to start.”

The stallion sat snuggly beside the mare, flashing her a winning smile.

“From the beginning is usually a good idea," he offered.

“I suppose…” She sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. “My daughter was… taken, by some sort of demonic entity during her entrance exam and I can't help but think Celestia had something to do with it. Between her timing, the timing of the supposed flare, and all the potential eyewitnesses being mysteriously turned to plants it all doesn't quite add up.”

The stallion nodded sagely.

“I heard about that, the flare that is. Blew up the south tower, eh?” He inquired.

“Yeah," Velvet replied. "And ever since then I’ve been trying to find my lost Twilight, but it's not easy. Celestia has said in no uncertain terms that I am to stay at home and wait, but what kind of mother would I be if I listened to such sage advice.”

The stallion nodded slowly.

“What an interesting bit of serendipity," he mused aloud.

She blinked, looking over to him. “What do you mean?”

“I was hoping to find someone who might confirm what happened," he began. "The magical community I’m a part of was quite interested in the readings gathered during that little event. Which ultimately led to my current predicament as I seem to have been caught up in some sort of unsavory dealings that my contact had dabbled in.”

He snorted and shook his head.

“The blasted fool," he muttered.

“What kind of magical community?” Velvet prompted, shifting a little closer to the male.

He winked, shooting her a wry smirk.

“Let's just say we are a group of studious individuals who wish to study all manner of strange phenomena but are for the most part blocked and blacklisted due to Celestia’s distaste for such fields of study," he replied, still smirking.

“That sounds pretty shady, pardon my frankness," Velvet retorted.

The stallion broke out into a chuckle, clutching his heart as he laughed.

“Not to worry, my dear, not to worry," he exclaimed. "I like to add a little ominousness to our club as telling people I’m with a group of researchers who all got kicked out of college for everything from scholarly misconduct to drunken behavior doesn't quite have that air of mystery and intrigue quite like my version does.”

“I suppose it doesn't," Velvet replied, giggling to herself.

The stallion drew himself up straight.

“Well, suffice it to say my little club is much intrigued by the events surrounding your daughter and may just be able to help, but I fear as though my time is up and my exit is about to arrive," He proclaimed.

The mare’s eyes went wide, the distinct sound of clacking armor coming down the hall.

“How do I contact you?” she asked desperately.

The stallion smirked, standing next to the jail cell door.

“Find the last worm in Canterlot and you will find the salvation you seek," he replied.

Then before she had a chance to even press her questions, the guard appeared.

“Mister Raff?” The guard asked.

The stallion nodded and the guard frowned.

“It seems like somepony paid your bail, you are free to go until your court date of next Tuesday at two o'clock," the guard declared.

The door swung open and admitted the stallion who gave a sweeping bow to the guard.

“Why, thank you my good stallion, you have my thanks. Please, lead the way," Mister Raff declared.

“Wait!” Twilight called. “What did you mean? What am I looking for?”

The stallion stopped and shot Twilight a wide confident smile.

“You are a smart mare," he remarked. "I’m sure you can figure it out, and when you do, we can have a drink, just you and me.”

With that he turned and left, the last thing Twilight Velvet saw of the stallion was his strange cutie mark of a black shield with a blood-red pike over it.

Author's Note

Trial Three: Success

“Wait your turn.” Snarled the demon, who glared down at the imp before turning its attention to Rockhoof once more. “Him and I have some unfinished business, don't we, shovel face? You had best prepare yourself, for tonight you will meet your final death!”

The possessed keeper cackled loudly, only to receive a small rock to the forehead, making the creature stumble and her wings to flap chaotically, ultimately leading it falling backwards onto the ground. “What the hell was-” it began, only to get a face full of hoof as Kanathara slammed her forelegs into the blackened keeper’s nose.

Blood spurted, and bones crunched and before the possessed demon had a chance to react, it had the wind knocked out of her by a pair of heavy hooves slamming into its midsection. Rainbow Dash grinned cruelly as she slammed her hooves into the creature’s stomach over and over, using the poor demon like a trampoline. All while Kanathara grunted with effort, the imp punching her hooves repeatedly into the demon’s face, shattering a cheek bone and causing a spurt of blood to splatter across her face.

“Enough!” shouted the possessed demon, who conjured forth a wave of force that knocked back both vengant and imp alike, sending them sprawling across the ground.

Rainbow Dash reacted first, leaping back into the air and lunging back at the possessed demon, her forelimbs outstretched, ready to tear the other demon’s throat out. That never happened though, as twin chains the color of pitch emerged from the ground and ensnared the flying demon, binding her to the ground. A fate that Kanathara was unable to avoid despite her best efforts, the imp dodging a few before ultimately becoming tangled in the magical trap and getting bound to the floor next to her familiar.

“Well, that could have gone better,” muttered the imp.

“Hey, what are you waiting for, you big lug? Get him!” Rainbow Dash shouted at Rockhoof who stood stock still, his limbs slack as he stared sadly at the possessed demon.

Who now rose slowly, its wounds closing as thin black tendrils pulled at its broken flesh and knitted it shut. A snap followed by several smaller cracks alerted the pair to the fact that even the creature’s bones were being healed and the possessed demon gave its head a shake, dismissing the black eye and shattered cheekbone. “Ahh, there we are,” it muttered. “That was a solid attempt, though a little predictable. If you had so much as a single weapon between the lot of you, I might have bit it there.”

Its eyes narrowed and it leaped forward, rows of sharp teeth flashing dangerously in the low light. “Fools! You have wasted the only chance you had of victory.”

“It was better than doing nothing,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a shrug.

“Now weren’t you going to kill Rockhoof and gloat or whatever?” Kanathara added.

“I…” The possessed demon frowned, its bulging muscles receding. “This isn't nearly as fun when you aren't shocked.”

“We've been down here for like twenty years, good luck getting a rise out of us,” Rainbow Dash remarked, shrugging as much as she could while being held against the ground.

“My father is a literal fear demon, there is nothing you could do that could scare me,” Kanathara remarked.

The black demon sighed and ran a hoof down its face. “Fine. I suppose we should just get this over with already.”

“Please do,” Kanathara added.

The demon turned to Rockhoof, a massive scowl spreading across its features. “Isn't this nostalgic, Rockhoof?” it taunted, sauntering over to the enormous stallion, its hips sashaying with every step. “You standing there dumbfounded, me having complete control over not only your life, but also your beloved’s.”

It stalked forward, its cruel smile growing disturbingly wide. “It's almost too bad you can't speak, I’d love to hear what insults you’d wield this time.” It stalked around the unmoving stallion, its long black tail rubbing against the creature’s side. “Perhaps you would resort to the usual ones like calling me weak, pathetic, or my favorite, a degenerate.”

The stallion stiffened but said nothing, his eyes remaining forward, unblinking.

“Ahh, that one was my favorite, calling me a degenerate for not having the strength to swing a sword while you ignored the fact that you couldn't plan for shit, but I could!” shouted the possessed demon, its black eyes glowing fiercely.

Rainbow Dash focused her mind on the connection between familiar and master, opening the private communication channel. I’m assuming you got a plan, right?

Kanathara smirked. Of course. He used Rembrandt’s final binding spell which needs constant attention. Attention that will quickly vanish the second he gets too worked up in exacting his revenge against Rockhoof.

And we’ll get the fringe benefit of killing, or at least severly wounding the giant mound of flesh and stupid. The vengeant smirked, inadvertently showing off her sharp teeth which glinted in the low light. I like how you think, boss, let me guess, I’ll help get him worked up while you try and work your way out of the bindings?

Exactly, plus you can absorb some of the energy. I knew you would learn to be more tactical eventually! Kanathara replied, grinning at her familiar’s scowl of annoyance.

You are lucky you are so damn cute, otherwise I’d smack that smug look right off your face, Rainbow Dash replied.

Kanathara rolled her eyes. Just help get him worked up already, he's obviously enacting some kind of revenge scheme, it should be easy for you.

“-and then you took my apples right out of my hoof and crushed them!” the solid black demon yelled, hooves raised in the air. “And for what? To show me I should use my own hooves to pick them? I’m not even tall enough to do that, you bumbling halfwit!”

True, the righteousness of his anger is rather… the vengant licked her lips and made a strange sucking noise as she pulled air through her teeth, delicious.

Just get on it already, he's winding down his monologue and time is growing short, Kanathara replied.

Right.

“Hey, I don't mean to interrupt, but, uh, I assume that big mute lug was a jerk to you, huh?” Rainbow Dash announced.

Startling the pitch black keeper to pause mid-rant, a hoof raised as if to strike the brute. “That's an understatement. This mongrel belittled me for years all because I wasn't born a tall, broad-shouldered earth pony like him.”

“Oooh, now that is juicy.” Rainbow Dash snickered. “Now I get why he's down here and not up there still.”

“Oh, that's not even the half of it! Why this one time when we were trying to save this village east of Canterlot from…” It frowned, glaring at the vengeant. “You sly dog, you had me monologuing.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged noncommittally. “If you wanna skip to the ‘reeking your terrible vengeance’ part that's fine with me, it just makes the main event taste better if I get a little backstory.”

The keeper snickered evilly. “Though I’d love to indulge you, I’m going to have to kill you anyway, and I’ve defeated enough villains to know just how many of them were done in by indulging in their more base desires.”

“Go on then, my last meal awaits,” Rainbow Dash announced with a cruel smile.

“You I like. It's too bad we had to meet here, oh well.” The keeper spun around and unleashed a torrent of lightning that ripped across the room and exploded against the stallion’s side, sending a shower of sparks in all directions.

Rainbow Dash blinked, and then blinked again. “How is he unharmed by that?” she murmured.

The stallion stood stock still, staring sadly at the keeper, the only damage being a scorch mark on his cheek that was roughly the size of someone’s hoof.

The keeper growled. “He's been imbued by more enchantments than I thought. No matter. Mistmane’s reserves are near limitless, and I will simply overwhelm such defences with raw power,” the demon muttered to itself.

“Use all the elements! Maybe he has a weakness!” Rainbow Dash yelled from the sidelines.

“That's a good idea…” murmured the keeper, lighting up its horn and unleashed a massive jet of concentrated water, followed by a shard of ice and finished with a massive fireball that made even Rainbow Dash wince.

When the dust cleared, the stallion stood there, grimacing in pain, and sporting a small cut, a large bruise, and an even larger scorch mark all along his right side. The keeper’s jaw hung open and it stood there flabbergasted for a moment before groaning. “This is going to take longer than I thought.”

Yes, use every last drop of your magic, you idiot, Rainbow Dash thought cruelly, noting that Kanathara was working what little magic she had into the chains that bound her while pretending to watch the one-sided fight playing out before them.

“Fine, you want to make this long and painful, that's fine by me!” shouted the keeper, who unleashed a trio of explosive bolts of screaming purple energy that pummeled Rockhoof on every side before conjuring an orb of undulated green liquid, which it threw directly at the stallion’s back.

Upon contact with his skin the green liquid bubbled and hissed angrily, biting into the stallion’s flesh and making him hiss in annoyance. That didn't last long though, as the green liquid quickly dissipated into little more than a trail of smoke. Leaving behind a severely red chunk of skin that appeared almost completely unharmed considering he had just had acid thrown on him.

The keeper bellowed in rage before conjuring a dozen more of the green blobs and tossing them all over the stallion, following that assault with a trio of magical arrows dripping with the same acid, each embedding itself in a different patch of flesh on the stallion’s side or back. The result was significantly worse, but still negligible for the beastly stallion who gritted his teeth but otherwise did nothing as he suffered another cruel assault of spells and abuse.

“Why won't you die, you moron?! Mistmane will be bound or killed, you have nothing to live for, no hope of redemption, only oblivion awaits you!” shouted the black demon.

Without waiting for a response the demon lit its horns and conjured a circle of magical runes beneath the stallion’s hooves. Runes that flashed once before unleashing a wave of energy that seemed to pull every last drop of moisture from the air, and the stallion himself. His eyes shrunk in his head, his lips cracked and his flesh grew slightly grey, and yet still the stallion didn't falter, his gaze locked onto the keeper’s.

With a howl of anger, the black demon tossed spell after spell of varying effects, ranging from simple firebolts, to a ray of fire, to a thin beam of energy that disintegrated a chunk of the stallion’s side. And still he stood, unbothered despite the fact that he was starting to show real damage as pieces of meat were being torn off his body with each spell that thundered home.

Rainbow Dash glanced back to her mistress and raised an eyebrow when she noticed just how occupied she was with her spell work. Her expression was grim, her eyes narrowed as her horns glowed with a twin motes of magic that were almost too small to see.

Hey boss, how's it going? Rainbow Dash asked hesitantly.

Not good, it's more powerful than I thought, and I don't have the magic left to break it. We need to distract it more, or startle it somehow, Kanathara replied without looking up from her work.

Rainbow Dash cursed under her breath, the vengant looking back at the one-sided fight just in time to see an enormous skeletal hand, index finger already extended, shimmer into existence above the stallion. “Touch death itself, fool!” shouted the demon at the top of its lungs.

The skeletal hand reached forward and touched the stallion’s nose, instantly making the enormous and well-muscled creature recoil, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as a spider web of necrotized flesh emerged from the point of contact. The stallion wavered a moment, stumbling back a few steps before he suddenly shook his head and looked back at the keeper, the same sad expression on his mangled face.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up as a solution popped into her mind. “You have to fight back, Rockhoof! It isn't Mistmane anymore!” shouted the vengant.

“Fool! If you try and kill me, you will only kill Mistmane!” Bellowed the possessed demon, who glared daggers at the vengant.

“She wanted to die, remember? She wanted to be free, to be able to escape this hell and she was willing to give her soul to my master to do that. Fulfill her dying wish, Rockhoof, give her what she wanted and await her coming in the void,” Rainbow Dash urged.

“Silence!” shouted the shadow, his eyes glowing with an unearthly black unlight. “One more word out of your mouth and your neck will be the first upon the block!”

Rockhoof’s sad expression slowly fell away and he looked down upon the vengant with a curious expression.

“This is the first real choice she's been able to make in a thousand years, give her this at least,” Rainbow Dash pleaded.

“I said, silence!” boomed the demon, who spun on the vengant and unleashed a trio of magical bolts that flew unerringly at their target.

Only for each one to be stopped by the enormous bulk of a now enraged Rockhoof. Baring his teeth and snorting viciously, the stallion pawed the ground as he eyed up his new opponent.

“Great, now look at what you did, this is going to take even longer than before!” yelled the exasperated shadow demon.

Its irritation turned to terror when the stallion suddenly began to sprint directly at it, head down and teeth bared. Remembering it had wings now, the shadow demon leapt into the air and flapped the leathery appendages, hoping to get out of the way of the enraged stallion. An act that did little to help it, as Rockhoof’s powerful hooves shoved off the ground and enabled him to leap through the air, smashing into the other demon and tackling it to the ground.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash muttered as she watched the stallion’s forehooves come down over and over, the shadow demon only barely dodging the powerful strikes.

Strikes that made the entire structure tremble under the sheer force, stones loosening and dust flying with every impact. A flash of light and the shadow demon managed to teleport away, the creature now floating as high off the ground as possible, wings pumping desperately. “You may be quick, but there is little you can do against my power,” sneered the demon and conjured forth an enormous ethereal hand that was large enough to fit Rockhoof completely in its titanic grip.

The hand began to squeeze, magic pulsing as it struggled to crush the enormous brute, only to almost immediately falter, the strength of its target simply too much for the magical construct to handle. In an explosion of sparks and magic the hand vanished, replaced by an enraged Rockhoof who let loose a primal bellow which shook the walls of the tower and instilled fear in the battle-hardened vengeant.

Even Kanathara looked up long enough to figure out what was going on before quickly going back to the task at hoof with renewed vigor.

From on high, the shadow demon unleashed a veritable storm of magical energy, most of which took the form of balls of fire and bolts of lightning. Most of which hit Rockhoof, pelting the stallion, but not slowing him a single bit. Shrugging off the effects of the shadow demon’s attacks, Rockhoof began to run near the wall, his eyes firmly attached to the possessed demon.

“What are you…” was all the black demon could mutter before it noticed that Rockhoof had gained enough momentum to run up the side of the wall, the ground-bound brute no longer constrained by his poor reach.

Does he have antigravity runes as well? Rainbow Dash puzzled, noticing that the brute’s hide was glowing a soft teal, as did his hooves.

She didn't have long to answer that question, however, as the brute leapt off the wall and snatched the black demon out of the air, his great hooves wrapping around his opponent’s waist and pulling him back down to the ground. Where all five hundred pounds of rage-infused brute slammed into him, crushing the black demon’s entire torso and making an eruption of blackened blood to shoot from its mouth.

The landing hadn't only hurt him however, and Rockhoof winced, rising slowly and heavily, favoring his right foreleg. Leaving himself open for a concentrated beam of light directly to the eyes, blinding him and making him stumble back, with only his weakened hoof raised for defence.

“Die already!” shouted the black demon, whose chest cavity was slowly stitching itself back together, bones popping and cracking as they fused, flesh woven back together and organs pulled back inside its body.

Leaping into the air, the black demon pumped its wings and conjured forth a trio of black spears which it hurled down upon the brute as he continued to shake off the worst of his blindness. His wings had yet to fully heal however, making two spears go wide and the last to land in the center of the brute’s back, piercing his thick hide and eliciting a howl of pain and rage.

Rainbow Dash winced as bright red blood coursed out of the open wound left behind by the dissipating magical lance. “How much time we got, boss?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“Not long, you've managed to absorb quite a bit of energy from this fight which has helped a lot,” Kanathara whispered back, her horns glowing brightly. “Twenty seconds, tops.”

Rainbow Dash frowned nervously, glancing back to the fight just in time to catch a glimpse of Rockhoof hurling a chunk of the wall up at the black demon, clipping one of its wings and knocking it out of the air. That opening didn't last long as the possessed keeper was able to right itself quickly and teleport out of the ensuing trio of rocks that exploded against the wall in rapid succession.

Back and forth the two demons fought, with the shadow demon repairing every bit of damage it received while Rockhoof continued to rack up injury after injury. His movements slowing, a leg now gone, and an eye swollen shut, the brute fought on, flinging stones and occasionally managing to close the distance to deliver a punch or two before the shadow demon escaped.

“You can't hope to win, you buffoon!” cackled the shadow demon as it rained down a trio of lightning bolts on the brute’s back, making Rockhoof stagger and the flesh on most of his back to peel off, revealing blackened muscle and damaged tissue beneath.

The brute wasn't out of tricks yet though, and as he leapt out of the way of the next bolt of lightning he hurled a chunk of the floor at the shadow demon. A rock that smashed into it and threw the demon into the wall where it was nearly crushed between floor and wall. A growl, and another flash of energy and the now slightly flatter demon was limping its way off to the side, horns glowing and ready to fight.

Another flash of light lit up the room, except this time it was a bright purple that made both fighters stop and turn to its source. Where a triumphant Kanathara and a smug Rainbow Dash stood on the other side of the room, heads raised high. “Now then, let's get the real fight started,” Kanathara declared.

Rainbow Dash, keep it off balance and unable to cast spells. I know its weakness ,but it's going to take a bit to figure out how I’m going to cast it, Kanathara commanded mentally.

But boss, that's holy magic, you could kill yourself, if you can cast it at all! Rainbow Dash shot back.

It's better than potentially getting enslaved by some asshole superiority demon or killed by his arrogant minion, Kanathara thought grimly.

“This changes nothing, you have no magic which you could fight me with and I am far superior to a mere imp and a half grown vengant,” sneered the shadow demon, who wasted no time in conjuring a wave of force to knock Rockhoof over, followed by a ball of lightning which exploded across the room, emitting its own tiny lightning bolts that shot out in all directions.

The imp leapt to the right while Rainbow Dash jumped up and to the left, her wings pumping hard as she dodged two new black chains that sprung into existence. Chains which she was easily able to stay out of the way of now that she knew they were coming, enabling her to fly straight across the room and deck the keeper in the face. Jaw broken, and tongue hanging loosely out of its mouth, the shadow demon couldn't even utter a threat, though the look of rage and hatred told Rainbow Dash all she needed to know.

She smirked and delivered several more jabs, this time though the shadow demon was able to dodge and weave around the attacks, gathering enough time to cast another spell. Hoof wrapped in a strange black glow, the possessed keeper struck back, punching Rainbow Dash across the face and making the entire left side of her head numb.

With a growl of annoyance the vengant flew backwards, out of the black demon’s reach and out of the path of a boulder that impacted the other demon’s leg with enough force to tear it completely off. Rainbow Dash made a note of thanking the brute right before she killed him, she owed him that much at least.

Utilizing the opening given to her by the throw, Rainbow Dash breathed deeply and unleashed a torrent of hellfire directly into the possessed keeper’s face, boiling eyes and burning flesh. The shadow demon recoiled, somehow able to cast a defensive spell while no longer having eyes or any functional senses save touch. The vengant’s hoof slammed repeatedly against the glowing wall of power that sprung into existence mere moments earlier, each blow causing a new eruption of cracks. Though she was quickly punching her way through the wall of magic, it wasn't soon enough and she watched on in helpless rage as the shadow demon grew a new set of eyes, its crispy flesh falling away to reveal new skin behind.

Pushing back, Rainbow Dash opened up enough of a window for Rockhoof to hurl another boulder, only for this one to be met by a strange purple barrier that didn't stop the boulder, but instead sent it flying back in the opposite direction with the same level of force. Unable to dodge in time, Rockhoof was sent flying, blood spurting as his muzzle was shattered by his own projectile, one of his eyes popping under the sheer force of the blow.

Rainbow Dash didn't have to worry about the loss of her ally for long however as an incredibly bright spark of magic suddenly exploded before her. Only a mental warning from her mistress saved the vengant’s eyesight, the vengant’s hoof able to obscure her vision for the most part. Rainbow Dash’s ensuing hiss of anger was nothing compared to the howl of rage and confusion that came from the shadow demon, whose flesh visibly crawled, tiny black tentacles receding back and revealing Mistmane’s familiar coat just beneath.

The spark vanished as quickly as it came, and though Rainbow Dash was hopeful of its success, a look at the shadow demon quickly dashed such hope. Black tendrils shot across Mistmane’s exposed fur in seconds, ensuring the shadow demon’s hold was not loosened for long.

Glancing back at her mistress, Rainbow Dash gaped in shock as the imp yet stood, panting hard, her mane all but gone and the flesh around her horns cracked and burnt. “Keep going!” she shouted, jabbing a hoof at the shadow demon who was nearly fully recovered. “While it's recovering!”

Though nearly every fibre of Rainbow Dash’s being wanted to resist the command and get her mistress out of this dangerous situation, she couldn't ignore a direct order and with a flap of her wings she surged back into the fight. Hoof and claw met flesh and bone, the shadow demon only barely able to keep the vengant at bay by sacrificing the flesh on its forehooves. Demonic blood covered the vengant from nearly head to hoof, Rainbow Dash’s scales slick with the black blood.

“Enough!” shouted the shadow demon, whose control was now total once more.

A wave of force sent Rainbow Dash spinning head over heels, the vengant barely able to keep herself from slamming back into the ground and only righting herself mere feet above her mistress’ head. “You will tell me how you managed to use holy magic, or I will pull the secrets from your mind!” screeched the demon who loomed over the duo, horns glowing brightly.

“You’d like that, you sick fuck,” Rainbow Dash spat.

“I have put up with you long enough, if you will not give me what I want, I will tear your very mind asunder!” yelled the demon.

Great black tentacles of pure darkness erupted from the keeper’s body, each fanning out in a different direction and all but obscuring any light left in the room. The vengant reacted quickly, knowing full well that her mistress needed only mere seconds longer to cast her spell once more. Breathing deeply, Rainbow Dash let loose a massive eruption of hellfire, pushing back the tentacles and giving them a little breathing room.

Space that didn't last long though as the shadows crept in from every direction, forcing the vengant to expel every last bit of fire she had conjured, until there was none left and she wheezed, her body craving the oxygen it had been denied. The gambit had worked though, and she heard Kanathara’s jubilant voice in her mind. Cover your eyes!

Responding instantly, Rainbow Dash covered her eyes with her forelegs, hiding from an explosion of holy energy that bathed everything in the room with its divine brilliance. A shriek of agony split her ears and made Rainbow Dash recoil in pain, the vengeant wanting to cover her ears but knowing better than to do so.

For several long seconds the explosion seemed to remain, hanging in the air and pulsing with angry white light. The shadow demon’s shriek grew more and more fearful, until finally it suddenly lost the masculine edge it had, signalling that Mistmane was in control once more. With the light dissipating, and her scales having largely managed to resist the powerful wave of holy magic, Rainbow Dash pulled back her forelegs and looked up to where Mistmane flew for a second longer before falling to the ground, limp, but breathing.

Behind her, a strange misshapen shadow lurked upon the edge of the window, two beady eyes glaring out from the darkness. Without a body to speak of, the demon could do little but glare hatefully, but Rainbow Dash knew what it wanted to say, and didn't care.

“Fly on back to your master, you puddle of black piss!” shouted the vengant, hoof raised in defiance.

The eyes narrowed, before the mass of darkness slipped away, leaving Rainbow Dash standing there, panting and out of breath.

A weak cough alerted her attention to Kanathara who lay on the ground, the leathery skin on her head having been peeled, exposing her skull in parts. Her eyelids were gone, revealing only a pair of empty holes beneath. Her lips were similarly burnt off, leaving behind blackened teeth and a mouth devoid of tongue. “B-boss!” Rainbow Dash yelled, her wings pumping as fast as possible.

The vengant managed to catch the imp as she fell, her limbs hung loose, and her head lolled to the side. Is he gone? Kanathara asked.

“H-he's gone, boss, you did it,” Rainbow Dash muttered, the vengant trying her best to sound optimistic in the face of such destruction.

Good, because I don't think I can do that again, Kanathara replied with a weak, gurgling snicker.

“What now, boss?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kill Rockhoof and bring me over to Mistmane, I need to consume her soul before I pass out.

“R-right,” Rainbow Dash muttered before laying Twilight down near the keeper and turning to the brute.

Rockhoof lay on his side, his breathing shallow and hoarse, each exhale causing another spatter of blood to erupt from his broken lips. Beside him Mistmane lay on the ground, one hoof caressing the brute’s, her body all but broken under the constant abuse it had been subjected to. Without the shadow demon to weave her wounds, and her own abilities all but spent, there was little the keeper of secrets could do but lay there and whisper soft kindnesses while her lifeblood flowed freely onto the ground.

“Stay still, my darling, it will all be over soon,” she whispered.

Rockhoof nodded weakly and tapped his sole remaining forehoof several times, with small breaks between the strangely timed taps. “What did he say?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Mistmane smiled faintly, revealing a mouth of missing and broken teeth. “He said, I have no regrets.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and eyed the brute carefully before noticing that the flesh around his neck had been all but peeled off, revealing the muscle and sinew beneath. Blood flowed freely from the wound, and though it was obvious he was going to die, and soon, it wasn't soon enough for the vengant. Rearing back, Rainbow Dash positioned her forelegs over the exposed section of the brute’s neck. “Thanks for saving my skin back there,” Rainbow Dash murmured, before bringing her hooves down hard, nearly severing his head completely.

The brute gurgled one last time before his body fell to the side, suddenly still, and utterly lifeless. With a grunt, Rainbow Dash shook off the blood that coated her hooves and turned to Mistmane, who smiled faintly, still gripping the brute’s hoof and holding it tightly.

“Starswirl is probably sending reinforcements,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Mistmane nodded. “I am ready.”

Rainbow Dash wasted no time and gently picked up her mistress and laid her before the keeper, who winced at the sight of the disfigured imp. She's right in front of you, boss, Rainbow Dash prompted.

The imp nodded weakly, before opening her mouth. Tell her I’m sorry.

“She says she's sorry,” Rainbow Dash relayed.

The keeper smiled. “It's okay, dear. Just promise me one thing.” Kanathara nodded. “Don't forget to be kind, okay?”

I promise, Kanathara vowed.

The imp opened her mouth, and with a great heave, tore the keeper’s soul from its weak moorings and inhaled the entirety of her essence in a single titanic breath. Leaving behind only an empty husk which fell to the side, leaning against the brute, its eyes empty, and perceiving nothing.

“It's done, boss. Rest now, I’ll take it from here,” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Thank you, Kanathara thought before slipping into unconsciousness.

The vengant sighed, and placed the imp gently on her back, positioning the smaller demon’s hooves in a way that ensured she didn't disrupt the vengant’s flight. “Oof, you are heavier already,” Rainbow Dash muttered to no one.

Next the vengeant reached down and carefully picked up the keeper’s corpse, unsurprised to find that the demon’s body was incredibly light. “Alright, let's get out of here.” Rainbow Dash announced, before taking flight once more.

Kanathara awoke with a start, noticing that she was no longer in the tower where they had been fighting only minutes ago. Her body was wet, and though her eyelids opened, the world remained black, sending a surge of panic up her spine.

Relax, boss, your old man is just finishing up the ritual to turn you into a keeper. It was all part of the plan, remember? Rainbow Dash’s familiar mental voice announced.

Kanathara lay still once more, noticing that this strange wetness surrounded her utterly, alerting her to the fact that she was probably inside what was left of the keeper’s magical energy which even now lingered inside the dead demon’s body. Did it work? she asked nervously.

Rainbow Dash hesitated. Mistmane took more damage than we thought, but there should be enough essence or whatever left in her to turn you into a keeper of secrets and give you her power.

Kanathara grinned despite the grim news that she was now inside to what amounted to be another demon’s corpse, though that was only a technicality. Still, she couldn't be too grossed out, as she knew this had been coming, as it was a necessary step to take on the complete power of a keeper of secrets. Finally, the power is mine, Kanathara thought, a massive grin splitting her face. After all these years, I am complete.

Author's Note

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Trial Five: Home

Rainbow Dash’s gaze lingered on her former friend, even as the wind whipped about her form and she passed through the barrier, shedding her pony disguise as she did so. The look of shock and confusion Rainbow Dash had guessed was coming never reached the shy pegasus’ face. Was she even surprised by that? Rainbow Dash wondered, only to be pulled from her thoughts by the voice of her mistress.

“Eyes forward! They are right behind us!” shouted Kanathara, who all but grabbed Rainbow Dash’s face and forced her to look straight ahead of them.

The vengant grumbled but did as she was told, flapping her wings and pulling above the treetops that had threatened to pull her from the sky. With her attention forcibly pulled from her former friend, and the chaos around their sudden reunion, Rainbow Dash realized just how close her enemies had become. The pegasi were surprisingly close behind her, despite their heavy-looking armor, and large, bulky weapons.

Something she didn't have to worry about, as Kanathara’s form had bled into her own, reducing the weight on her back and allowing the vengant the full range of motion she would need to evade her attackers. We need to throw them off before we meet back up with father, Kanathara thought to her familiar. Focus on losing them, and I’ll do my best to shake off their attempts at scrying us.

Rainbow Dash nodded and focused the whole of her being on flight, discarding the uncomfortable feelings of guilt and remorse that swirled in her heart. The wind billowed beneath her wings and carried away everything other than the thrill of the hunt and freedom that came with flying. Here she was queen, with enemies all but breathing down her neck, and death waiting for even a minor mistake, there was no room for worries or cares, not here.

Eyes narrowing, Rainbow Dash pulled her wings tight against her back and dove down, her entire body spinning to the right as she punched through a small pocket of branches. Her scales held firm as shards of wood flew against her, unable to slow her descent in any meaningful way. Meanwhile, she could feel her mistress’ worried thoughts, but could also feel the overwhelming trust she had for the vengant.

Before they hit the ground, Rainbow Dash opened her wings and pumped the leathery appendages hard, her body leveling out before turning sharply to the right. Tree trunks, bushes, and fallen logs zipped past their vision in a near blur, their body moving so quickly that an outside observer would struggle to follow them. The maneuver itself was dangerous in the extreme, and only a few of the pegasi who followed behind them could replicate it, and even less so with any real modicum of success due to their bulky armor.

Rainbow Dash would have normally laughed at her enemies’ misfortune as she heard them tumble through the canopy, their feathered wings catching on twigs her leather ones did not, but she had no time for that now. She knew from Kanathara’s thoughts that the unicorns following them had locked onto them with several scrying spells, meaning escape was now completely impossible. She also knew that meant that any enemy that they lost until this point might be able to catch up to them given enough time.

Thinking quickly, she closed her wings and extended her hooves before and behind her, passing through a narrow opening between two trees. Opening her wings, the demon rolled to the left without gaining any altitude, knowing from Kanathara’s perfect memory that a ravine should open up just beyond. Sure enough, a deep crack in the earth opened before them, at the bottom of which a thin strip of water flowed.

Flapping hard, the demon poured on the speed, weaving left and right as the ravine changed course ever so slightly. She was dimly aware of only a single pegasus following her, the rest having missed the ravine, or ran face first into a tree, or the bank of the small creek. Rainbow Dash nearly smiled to herself, relishing the small victory, until she heard the twang of a crossbow and heard the fwip noise as a bolt flew over her head.

Then she did smile, for the enemy on her tail was a true master of not only flight, but also aerial combat. Something the vengant was as well, and with a great inhale of air, the demon summoned forth a bit of hellish flame before swooping down and ejecting it as a solid mass of fire. The second the fireball hit the water a great gout of hot steam exploded upwards, obscuring everything and burning the unfortunate pegasus who accidentally flew into it.

Their cry of pain and confusion was cut off a second later as they ran into the side of the bank. Rainbow Dash idly wondered if they had died, their neck snapping from the impact, but she kept those thoughts short as there were more important things to consider. How long until you shed those scrying spells? she asked.

Thirty seconds, Kanathara replied quickly. Casting magic while ethereal is difficult.

Rainbow Dash didn't know much about spells, given her own inability to cast anything more than a few basic demonic spells, but she knew enough to know that Kanathara was working as quickly as possible. With a surge of her wings, the demon erupted from the treetops, piercing the thin covering of branches before turning and spinning to her left.

Her assumption was correct, for as she leapt and spun she noticed several unicorns lined the ground near the bank of the ravine just up ahead. With the treetops now between her and her enemies, their spells either fizzled, or were fired haphazardly, going wide and flying off into the distance. More pressing were the trio of pegasi who were diving down from the cloud cover, crossbows raised, and ready.

With a grunt of irritation, Rainbow Dash repeated her first maneuver again, diving back down between the trees and using her improved turning capability to dodge and weave through the foliage. Fast though she was, the forest was still not easy to maneuver in, slowing the vengant down significantly. The trade off would have been an easy getaway in any normal situation, as few could track the black blur, something these ponies were more than capable of.

They seemed able to see Rainbow Dash even as she zipped through the shadows, their vision no doubt enhanced in some way. Grumbling to herself, the vengant tried to shake her pursuers, only for bolts to begin to rain from the sky. Though the shots themselves weren’t terribly close, the fact that they could even fly and shoot at the same time made Rainbow Dash’s respect for her opponents surge higher than before.

They were clearly well-trained, and if her assumption was correct, they were also trying to push her into going left for some reason. No doubt an ambush, Kanathara thought.

Rainbow Dash nodded, their attempts were good, but about as subtle as the hammers some of them wielded. They would need to do better than that to pin her down, something Rainbow Dash was about to viscerally remind them of.

With a great heave of her lungs, the demon sucked back as much oxygen as she could while focusing her inner magic on her wings, pulling from deep within herself. Her body began to glow a cruel, crimson light that spilled forth from the cracks in her scales and illuminated the dark forest. With one last push of her magic, she felt the heat boiling within her shift and reach her wings before exploding outwards in a violent crescendo of hellfire.

The pegasi chasing her were mostly out of range of the attack, though a small group that had caught up ended up temporarily blind due to their sight spells backfiring as they stared at the incredibly hot flames. The unicorns which had begun to close in also managed to avoid it with ease, as did the few earth ponies whom had managed to keep up. It was obvious that the attack itself did little damage to her pursuers, but that wasn't the point, as the hellfire latched onto everything it could, burning dirt, wet grass, and living trees alike with impunity.

Nothing was spared from the fury of the magical fire, which turned all it touched to ash while spilling outwards, hungrily devouring everything it could. Rainbow Dash could hear orders being shouted, and the flap of wings renew as a pegasus broke off in order to aid in the containment effort. The vengant smirked and began to inhale another deep lungful of oxygen, while pushing her magic into her chest, infusing it with hellfire.

Ten seconds, Kanathara reminded.

Rainbow Dash smirked, and was about to think that this was too easy, until a bolt clipped her shoulder and nearly drove her into the ground. Forced to abandon her next attack early, Rainbow Dash turned and released her fireball, sending it in the general direction of her enemies. Though easily dodged, the vengant wasn't intent on killing them, and utilized the slight opening she had created to double back, and hopefully throw them off.

Not wanting to test her luck, and knowing that Kanathara’ spell was going to be ready at any moment, Rainbow Dash released another explosion of hellfire, targeting a particularly dense group of trees. Instantly the entire area was alight, as bright green foliage was turned to ash in a matter of seconds. The hungry flames spread wildly, consuming everything in their path, no matter how wet or non-flammable until this point.

Done! Kanathara declared a second before Rainbow Dash felt something hot, yet soothing wash over their forms, wiping themselves clean of whatever scrying spells had targeted them.

Immediately the uncomfortable sensation of being watched was gone, and Rainbow Dash would have shouted in victory, would that not be a terrible idea. Stowing that urge down deep inside of her, Rainbow Dash focused on the job ahead, namely throwing off any mundane efforts of tracking them. A quick check told her that Kanathara was spent, her magic strained as it was after being forced into use without a proper focus like a horn.

Rainbow Dash swerved this way and that, ducking under trees, and frequently changing direction at random. Her pursers lost track of her within minutes without the aid of their seers and their enchantments. With no magical assistance of any kind, the two pegasi had been forced to track her with their unenhanced eyes, a task they found completely impossible.

Yet even after she heard the flutter of feathered wings going in a different direction, Rainbow Dash continued her evasive maneuvers. With Kanathara no longer casting a spell, Rainbow Dash was free to turn to smoke, and slip silently through the underbrush, winding her way randomly through the forest. Only when she was certain they weren’t being followed did she begin to slow, her breathing coming in hard due to the recent expenditure of magic.

“Whew, been a while since I worked that hard,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Not since the Citadel of pain did you have to deal with a passenger, while evading capture, Kanathara remarked.

Rainbow Dash smirked as she thought back to that moment. “Ahh, that was a good time. We killed so many demons that day.”

We sure did, affirmed Kanathara.

Rainbow Dash sighed as she flew over the treetops, her pace slow, and focused more on being quiet now that she had lost her pursers. “I’m sorry about losing my head back there.”

I’m sorry I had to command you to move, replied Kanathara regretfully.

“Yeah…” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Do you think that maybe after a while we could go see her?”

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully. She is going to be under watch for a long time after what happened today, but maybe eventually we could figure something out.

“You are probably right,” murmured Rainbow Dash, who turned and began to fly towards Ghastly Gorge, the familiar being guided by the ever perfect mental map given to her by her mistress.

On the upside, we did find some good information and have a solid inkling about our enemies’ abilities, Kanathara offered. So it wasn't all a wasted effort.

“I suppose knowing that Fluttershy is alive and relatively okay is a good thing as well,” added the vengant, as she continued to fly at a lazy pace.

Plus we know for certain that this is likely the plane I was born on, Kanathara exclaimed.

“You guessed that years ago,” retorted Rainbow Dash. “Unless there is some other plane of ponies we don't know about.”

No, you are right. It’s just weird. I haven't thought about it in a long time and I just assumed I would never come here. Or if I did, it would only be in a few hundred years, Kanathara whispered. I knew I was from here, but I didn't think I’d come here, at least not for a long while. Not until my birth parents had long since passed from old age...

Rainbow Dash winced as she ducked into a dive, tucking her wings in as she deftly dodged around the holes containing quarry eels which she could sense hiding in the rock walls. “I never thought of that either,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “I mean, what would I even say to my own parents? Hey guys, I’m a demon now and I got a sexy demon girlfriend?”

Kanathara laughed. Which part of that would be worse do you think?

“I’m not sure. Probably the demon part, but my mom also really wanted grandkids.” The vengant smirked. “So unless I can knock you-”

Don't even finish that sentence, Kanathara warned, though her mental voice was light and filled with mirth.

Rainbow Dash chuckled as she leveled out her flight, realizing that the eels knew they were in the presence of an alpha predator, and thus would continue to keep their distance. “So are you going to look for them? Your parents I mean.”

Pear Butter is my mother, and Tirek my father. Nothing will change that, Kanathara stated, though her voice wavered slightly near the end.

“I mean yeah, but aren't you curious at least?” Rainbow Dash offered. “I mean they could be serial killers, or Celestia’s biggest fans.”

Kanathara shuddered, even though she had no physical body to speak of. Now that's a terrifying thought.

“But seriously. What are you going to do?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

Kanathara sighed as the pair twisted and turned, lazily flying down the long, deep gorge. I don't know, she admitted at length.

Rainbow Dash frowned as they flew under a waterfall. “I mean. We probably got a ton of work to do now that the tower has been destroyed, and we’re stuck here, but after that we could do anything we want. Pretty much anyway.”

I suppose and we already have a clue on where to start the search for my birth parents, Kanathara announced.

“Really, where?” Rainbow Dash asked.

I got a… flash, when I saw the commander of the paladins, Kanathara admitted. He felt familiar for some reason. I’m sure he knows something.

“Well, that's just great. How would we possibly get the head honcho of an order of demon killers to sit down for a chat?” Rainbow Dash remarked dryly.

I have absolutely no idea, but it felt like I knew him, Kanathara murmured. Perhaps I should go back and research that memory spell I learned all those years ago.

“You can actually cast it properly now, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired as she weaved through a small area of the gorge which was littered with fallen vines.

I can, though I haven't tried it since my transformation, Kanathara replied. Everything since then has moved so fast.

“It does seem like things are moving a little quicker recently,” Rainbow Dash agreed.

I know, someone is definitely trying to get to father, and perhaps us as well, Kanathara added grimly. I need time to get my magic under control, and to reassess our surroundings.

“I’m sure Tirek will have the hideout loaded with enough defences that we can relax for a bit,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “I mean, he did have like a few hundred years to make sure this place was locked tight, right?”

Yes, but father hasn't been able to reach this plane due to being bound by Celestia’s enforcer, Kanathara explained.

“But the guy keeping your dad there is dead now, right?” Rainbow Dash pressed.

He has to be, otherwise he would be here, chasing father down and trying to return him to the tower, Kanathara replied, only to pause. Unless there was no tower to return to.

“Do you think this was all part of your dad’s plan?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flapped a little harder, seeing their destination come into view.

I don't know, but it certainly sounds like something father would use as a backup plan, Kanathara admitted. Now that he is here though, I’m curious if we’ll be staying for long. Father has other bases littered throughout Tartarus and the other planes, so it’s not like we have to stay here after I’m freed from the plane-binding spell that was tied to the summoning spell itself.

“True.” Rainbow Dash paused and tucked in her wings a second before she dove through a waterfall, emerging on the other side in a small cave. “Have you ever asked him why he hates her so much?”

Once. It did not go well.

“Huh. Maybe it's time to ask him again?” Rainbow Dash offered as she looked around the winding cave which turned down and to her right.

Maybe… If it was possible to kill the alicorn, now would be the time to do so, Kanathara exclaimed, while deep in thought. The deployment of her commander might even be a decent distraction.

“Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves too much,” warned Rainbow Dash. “Don't get me wrong, I’ve still got your back if you want to off her, but maybe we should hear what your old man has to say first. After all, she does control the sun and moon of this plane, so she must be powerful.”

Fair enough. We just need to get past whatever defences father placed on this cave. Give me a second, Kanathara announced before smoke began to billow from her familiar’s body and quickly formed the keeper’s physical manifestation.

“There, much better,” Kanathara proclaimed, before giving her body a quick shake, waking up her sleeping muscles.

Rainbow Dash smirked, and bumped her hip against the keeper’s. “What, you don't like being inside me? I’m shocked I tell you, shocked.”

The shorter demon rolled her eyes. “That wasn't even funny the first time you said it, never mind the three hundredth time you said it.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “That's weird, you got so big, yet you still don't have a funny bone. Maybe I can-”

Kanathara smacked her friend hard across the ass. “Would you cut it out already?”

The vengant merely stuck her tongue out at the other female. “You know, there are less rude ways to say you want to take a break and have sex,” quipped Rainbow Dash.

Kanathara sighed and pressed her hoof into her face. “Would you please stop?”

“Fine. Spoilsport,” Rainbow Dash muttered, only to stumble back after hitting an invisible wall. “Ouch.”

Kanathara leaned forward and tapped the spot where Rainbow Dash had been stopped in her tracks, causing ripples to form in the air. “Interesting. It's a barrier of some kind.”

The vengant rubbed her nose and took a step back. “What is it with me and my bad luck with shields? This is getting ridiculous,” Rainbow Dash muttered angrily.

Kanathara shook her head and lit her horn, illuminating the almost pitch black cave with her magical aura. The barrier spell seemed to stretch from one wall to the other, cutting off the tunnel a dozen or so feet before another turn. Though the walls, floors and ceilings looked natural, Kanathara knew better than to trust what her eyes told her.

Sure enough, the first spell she used told her that there were several illusions in the room, including the wall itself. Smirking to herself, the demon conjured forth a powerful dispel and pointed it at the wall itself, revealing that it was still a wall, though no longer a magical one.

“What the hell?” Rainbow Dash muttered, tapping the now solid stone wall. “Why would the wall be disguised as a wall?”

“Because the illusion spell that hid it was very well constructed, and would prompt any would be invader to try and get rid of it magically. Something that would be impossible, as it's just a rock wall with an illusion overtop of it. Thankfully father taught me how to see through his particular brand of nasty mirages,” Kanathara explained, her gaze narrowing. “Though I am not sure what we are supposed to do after this.”

“Remind me to pay attention the next time that old fart starts rambling about magic,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara snorted. “You know, there is going to come a time where I won’t be around to explain this all to you, and then you are going to be in big trouble.”

“No way. We are stuck together like glue, and even more glue,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, while squeezing the keeper with a hoof.

“Your talent for metaphor is surpassed only by your knowledge of magic,” Kanathara remarked dryly.

The vengant scoffed. “Whatever. So do you know how to get past this wall, or do I need to start busting it down?”

“No need. Just stand back and let me get to work,” Kanathara proclaimed.

Rainbow Dash did as she was told, watching closely as the other demon’s hooves moved this way and that across the perfectly flat wall of stone. After a few minutes of silent searching, the keeper laughed aloud, before shaking her head. “Oh father, you and your terrible attempts at making secret passwords,” she murmured.

“Don't tell me it's the sphinx’s riddle again,” groaned Rainbow Dash.

“No, even better, it's not a riddle at all. It's a math question,” Kanathara explained.

“How did you know that just from touching the wall?” Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head. “I don't see anything written on there.”

“There are very subtle lines of magic hidden behind the wall,” Kanathara continued, her horn lighting and causing the invisible lines to glow a light red. “See?”

Rainbow Dash looked at the veritable wall of math and cocked her head. “That's math? It's like, ten paragraphs long, and what is this part over here with a bunch of letters?”

Kanathara snickered. “It’s meant to be an impossible question. The answer is eight.”

“Eight?” Rainbow Dash muttered. “But I thought you said it was impossible?”

“Oh it is. You see eight is also the symbol for infinity. It's a little joke father liked to play when he ran out of ideas,” Kanathara mused idly, as her horn glowed and her magic carved the number eight into the small empty space at the bottom right.

Rainbow Dash sighed, and ran a hoof down her face. “You two nerds were meant for each other.”

Kanathara snickered to herself. “I thought you were a demon of vengeance, not envy.”

“And I thought you were a keeper of secrets, not a keeper of nerd facts,” Rainbow Dash shot back.

“Technically nerd facts are secrets so long as few know of them,” corrected Kanathara.

The vengant was about to fire back again when a loud crunch followed by the noisy turning of many gears made her stop and hold her hooves over her ears. “Could he have made this any louder?” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“They probably teleported directly inside. This door hasn't been used in centuries!” Kanathara shouted back, the keeper covering her own ears as well.

Rainbow Dash grunted as the gears finally stopped turning and the demon could remove her hooves and open her eyes. She was greeted with the sight of another long hallway like the last, save for this one was made of cut stone and was clearly artificial, unlike the cave they had just passed through a minute ago. “Let's get moving. I do not want to be here when that stupid door closes behind us,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara nodded. “Good thinking, take the lead. I need to summon my book.”

The vengant did just that, trotting out in front and proceeding down the hall at a relatively leisurely pace. Her mistress kept her horn alight, bringing forth her grimoire which now hung from her neck by thin silver chains. Her attention was then focused ahead of them, ensuring they didn't run into another wall, or worse, trap. With their minds put to task, neither spoke, and simply trod the long hall in relative silence, constantly analyzing their surroundings.

Though Kanathara found that traps littered the hall, they were all either deactivated, or had fallen inert due to poor maintenance and now lacked a power source. She continued her vigil regardless, well aware of the price of failure, and only let her horn dull when a tall door emerged from the gloom. The keeper sighed, a small smile spreading across her face the second she saw the door open, and a familiar face emerge.

The long, clawed hands of a certain seer pushed the door open, allowing the demon to step fully into the low light granted by several small torches that burned within the next room. Not like any demon actually needed the light, as they could all see perfectly fine in absolute darkness, but it was a comforting sight regardless. As was the tall, lanky form of Pythias, who was now adorned in a hooded, scorched, and hole-ridden black robe that stretched all the way to the floor.

Her stitched lips turned upwards in a painful smile, and she gestured inside.

“Alright, Pythias! You are okay!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she bounced up to the taller demon and extended a hoof.

The seer nodded and pulled back her hood before gently pressing her knuckles against the vengant’s offered limb.

“Woah, what happened to you?” Rainbow Dash murmured, stopping just inside the door.

The seer seemed confused before a clawed hand went up to her head and touched the long, bladelike horn that protruded from the center of her forehead. She seemed to struggle with an explanation for a few seconds before Kanathara stepped forward and placed a hoof on her familiar’s back.

“The transition to a different plane changes a demon’s body,” she explained before gesturing to herself. “We lacked several of our key features when we first arrived here, remember?”

The vengant looked her mistress up and down, her gaze following the glowing silver lines of power that covered every spot that the female’s dark purple fur did not. Rainbow Dash slapped a hoof across her face and groaned aloud, her brain just now catching up with her. “Which explains why you didn't materialize your grimoire until now,” she exclaimed.

Kanathara nodded. “The transition was a rough one. Being pulled here by two different summoners, but I believe we are ourselves once more. Or will be after an extended rest.”

The vengant grinned. “Good, because that pony form was not doing you any favors.”

The seer next to them raised an eyebrow questioningly. “We’ll explain once everyone is together,” Kanathara hastily exclaimed, only to look around at the relatively empty room. “Speaking of which, where is everyone? They did make it, right?”

The seer nodded quickly and pointed towards the lone hallway across the room which went deeper underground.

Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness they are in one piece.” She stopped, and raised an eyebrow, turning to the seer. “They are in one piece, right?”

Pythias nodded but sighed, poking a clawed finger through the holes of her robe sadly, and raising her hands, as if suggesting that the others were not quite as lucky as her.

Kanathara frowned, silently thankful that her seer friend was relatively uninjured but still uncomfortable due to the odd look she was being given. “Take us to them, please,” she half commanded, half asked.

The seer nodded and began to trot down the hall, ducking and weaving through the various piles of dust-covered boxes that littered the area. Both Rainbow Dash and Kanathara followed close behind, though the vengant stopped near the end of the room and prodded a random crate. “What is all this junk anyway?” she asked.

Kanathara shrugged. “It looks like a supply room of some kind.”

Pythias nodded and waved a hand over the various piles of boxes, crates, weapon racks, and other random things that cluttered the area.

“I wonder if there is any cool stuff in here,” Rainbow Dash muttered, lifting a lid from one of the boxes and peering inside.

Kanathara rolled her eyes and pulled her familiar along with her. “Come on. We can dig around in a bunch of boxes later. I need to know if mother and father are okay.”

Rainbow Dash grumbled, but did as she was told, following the keeper of secrets closely as the trio trotted deeper into the hideout.

As they walked, doors began to line the walls at odd intervals and Pythias turned sharply down a hallway, before stopping a few feet from a larger, more ornate wooden portal. She extended a hand towards the door and bowed slightly, taking a small step back in order to allow the other two demons access.

Kanathara sighed and stopped at the door, a hoof mere inches from the wooden object. “I wonder…”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Wonder what?”

“Should I even ask about my origins and what happened between Tirek and Celestia?” Kanathara asked hesitantly. “They are injured, and we likely have much to do after all…”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, her flaming mane whipping about as she did so. “If you don't ask now, when could you?”

“You are right. There won't ever be a perfect time. I need to do this soon,” Kanathara admitted, before breathing deeply and letting out a slow sigh. “Alright, let's get this over with.”

Author's Note

Trial Five: Truth and Reconciliation

“Are you sure that's a good idea? No offence, dear, but you seem pretty rattled,” Velvet warned.

Kanathara nodded slowly. “We both have grievances to air, and we will have very little time to do so before the paladins close in.”

“So we’re just going to talk to him then, right?” Rainbow Dash inquired with a hint of nervousness.

The keeper of secrets nodded slowly. “Yes, though it depends on what he has to say to defend himself.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but don't do anything rash, please,” Velvet urged, touching her daughter’s shoulder. “We are entering uncertain times, and we will need all the allies we can gather if we are going to have a hope of surviving.”

Kanathara gritted her teeth. “I promise nothing.”

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Let’s just get moving. I’m sure some fresh air will help cool the boss’ head a little.”

“Alright. I’ll get us to the edge of the Everfree, and we can fly from there,” Velvet remarked, gesturing towards her secret forge area.

“I better not have to carry you,” muttered Rainbow Dash bitterly.

The older mare chuckled as she quickly unlocked the passage. “Don't worry, I have my own method of transportation already with me.”

“How are we getting there exactly? Let me guess, you have a teleportation rune set up somewhere,” Kanathara guessed, the demon following her mother as she entered the secret forge area.

“You could say that,” Velvet murmured, grabbing a greenish black stone from a shelf and bringing it over to the edge of the forge.

Which struck Kanathara as stranger than first anticipated, as the keeper hadn't given the forging area much attention the first time she’d seen it. Now that she really looked, the first thing she noted that where there would be a quenching bucket, there was instead a relatively wide pool of what looked like magma. Though it was different from the terrestrial kind that young Twilight had studied, as it did not radiate the same amount of heat one would assume. In addition, it was also a more crimson color.

“What is that?” Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing to the pool.

“This is liquid hellfire, and it can be used to imbue a weapon with the wrath of Tartarus itself. Or create a portal to another pool of fire, provided it has the right prompting,” Velvet explained before dropping the glowing green and black rock into the redish liquid.

The hellfire flashed and twisted, turning sickly green before beginning to spin slowly, forming an odd mini-vortex at the center of the pool. After a few seconds, Velvet nodded and turned to the two demons with a slight teasing smile on her face.

“I can see that look in your eye, you want to know how it works,” Velvet remarked, staring right at Kanathara who blushed. “I’ll tell you more later, but the short version is that it was inspired by studying a changeling’s portal spell. Now come on, we should hurry if we want to have any time for our little conversation.”

Before either demon could offer a word in edgewise, the scarred older pony retrieved her mace from the rack, grabbed her armor in her magic and leapt into the pool. Velvet slipped right through like it was water, vanishing. The liquid bubbled for a few seconds before returning to its normal state. Neither demon moved to repeat the pony’s rash actions though, merely staring at the pool and then at one another.

“So uh, are you going first or should I?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“To answer your unspoken question, it should be safe,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Sometimes having you in my head can be a bit of relief. Well, if you say it's safe, then I suppose we should just get this over with.”

Kanathara watched as her familiar jumped into the air and cannonballed directly into the pool, vanishing beneath the greenish liquid just as Velvet had done. Left alone with her thoughts, Kanathara wondered if this was really the best idea, considering that her brother was likely closing in on Tirek. But she quickly brushed that worry aside, as the unicorn hadn't been anywhere close last she had checked, so it wasn't that likely to be a problem.

Kanathara sighed, and eyed the pool one last time. “I can sit and think later. Now is the time for action,” she muttered to herself before taking a step back and diving straight into the vat.

Emerging on the otherside, Kanathara landed semi-gracefully on a stone floor, her hooves leaving deep gauges in the rock in order to stop herself. Looking herself over, the keeper found that everything seemed to be in order, her magic worked fine and her stomach didn't even feel like it was trying to crawl up her throat. The sound of pained grumbling made Kanathara turn her attention to Rainbow Dash who was rubbing her butt and cursing under her breath.

Velvet merely shook her head and chuckled. “Why in Equestria would you jump in like that?”

“I thought it was funny,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “I didn't know I was going to come out the other side upside down and still somehow manage to land on my butt.”

Kanathara briefly put her familiar’s bickering out of her mind and surveilled the area, quickly realizing that she was in a small cottage. Outside the abode’s window stood tall green trees and dense foliage, though there were a good thirty feet of open ground between them and the woods. The cottage itself was relatively small, consisting of three rooms, and was shaped like a large L with, a forge in one corner, and a kitchen and living room in the main area.

Two open doors could be seen on either side, one leading into what looked like a large bedroom and the other opening into a storage room of some kind. The entire place was also fairly bare, save for the forge area, and though there was some furniture, it was simple and plain-looking. Clearly Velvet only used this as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the cultist base, while still having space for her experiments.

“Hmm, it's rather cozy,” Kanathara muttered.

“I have a large garden out back that should be able to feed a half dozen people if necessary, a deep cellar, and a few out buildings. Though I haven't had the time to fortify this particular safehouse as much as I would like, it serves its purpose well,” Velvet explained.

“There will be time for the tour later,” Rainbow Dash warned.

“Right, let's get moving,” Kanathara agreed, the two demons already heading towards the door.

“Try to remember the location of this place, because it's yours to use if you should need it,” Velvet added as she followed the pair as they left the cottage and entered the surprisingly well-maintained front yard.

“Got it,” Kanathara exclaimed before turning into a blackish smoke and seeping through the cracks of Rainbow Dash’s scales.

The familiar shuddered briefly before turning to Velvet, who stood next to her, eyes closed and with her gear placed on the ground next to her. “Sooo… now what?” asked the vengant, her flaming mane flickering in the slight breeze.

“Just a second. I haven't done this very often,” Velvet replied.

Before Rainbow Dash had a chance to ask another question or make a remark, the pony’s back began to writhe, and Velvet’s face contorted in pain. Two shapes pressed against the flesh on the pony’s back, stretching her skin until they pierced through and emerged fully in a splash of blood. Two large leathery wings extended from the holes left behind by their emergence, rapidly growing until they were much larger than a normal pony’s.

Velvet grunted and flexed her wings before grabbing her equipment and tucking it under a leg. “Right, let's get moving,” she muttered.

Your mom is so metal, Rainbow Dash thought.

Kanathara wished she was corporeal as right now she was incapable of any response whatsoever. Her pony mother obviously didn't notice this and simply leapt into the air, flapping her greyish wings, quickly gaining altitude. Rainbow Dash followed shortly after, and together the trio ascended above the treetops and through an unseen magical barrier.

After the tingle of magic passed over their body, the demons glanced down to where they saw what looked like a normal patch of trees. Brilliant, Kanathara remarked, I’ll have to get her to teach me such a spell once we have time to do so.

“Well, as long as you don't use it to prank me like the last time you dipped your hoof into illusion magic,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

No promises, Kanathara replied with a hint of amusement.

“You’ll have to lead the way, as I don't know where this place is,” Velvet exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Right. It's over an hour away from Ponyville, so I hope you have decent stamina.”

“I do, but don't expect me to go very fast. I haven't had a lot of time to practice with these things,” Velvet exclaimed while she continued to hover next to the demon.

“Alright then, tell me where Ponyville is and then follow me,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Right, of course. It's just over there, see?” Velvet replied, pointing in the distance where a dull shimmer could be seen.

“Which means…” Rainbow Dash nibbled at her lip and stared off into space, nodding a few seconds later. “I got it. Let's go.”

Thanks, Rainbow Dash. I think I’m just gonna think for a bit, Kanathara stated.

“Don't worry about it, just relax and enjoy flying Air Dash,” exclaimed the grinning vengant as she soared through the air, her flaming mane and tail whipping about in the wind.

“This isn't good,” Rainbow Dash whispered as she gazed down from the cloud she was crouched upon.

Kanathara’s attention shifted outward for the first time in over an hour, ending her long bout of introspection. Now that she was paying attention and looking through her familiar’s eyes, she was able to see a large group of paladins cutting a swath through the forest. Two large earth ponies cleaved their way through the dense foliage at the front of the group, followed by a column of silver-clad ponies. At the center stood a familiar stallion who was barking orders while also looking into a crystal orb that floated before him.

A quick calculation and look into Rainbow Dash’s memories was enough to confirm that the paladins were indeed heading in the direction of Tirek’s home base. Though they weren't going quite the right way, it was evident that they knew they were closing in on the centaur and were at least heading in the general direction. Worse yet, a conservative estimate left them with only an hour or so before the paladins were able to locate the fear demon’s secret base.

We need to move, where's Velvet? Kanathara inquired.

Rainbow Dash glanced to her left, where a slightly out of breath Velvet rested uneasily on a nearby cloud, conjured wings twitching at her sides. She says she's okay to fly the rest of the way, but I don't think we’ll be outrunning any potential pursuers.

It's fine, stay high and you should be able to avoid them. You know what to do, Kanathara added.

“Right, let's keep going. We’ll enter the front door instead of the back way, just in case they are following us somehow,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Good thinking, at least then you can set a guard and know where they are coming from,” Velvet muttered while still panting.

“Exactly. Follow me,” Rainbow Dash commanded before leaping into the air and flying northwards.

Behind her, at a slightly less steady pace flew Twilight Velvet, who managed to catch her breath shortly after taking flight.

Left alone to her thoughts once more, Kanathara considered what this newest development might mean, and if it would disrupt her plans. In the end she decided to not change a thing, as in her experience, there was never a proper time to have conversations like this. Even with a group of paladins breathing down their neck, Kanathara would still demand answers for what her father had done.

After all, Kanathara had dragged Velvet along with her, and the keeper of secrets had no doubt that the older mare also wanted to exchange a few choice words with the demon who had stolen her daughter. Kanathara just hoped she didn't end up having to fight both Tirek and the paladins before the day was out.

Kanathara held up a hoof, stopping her familiar and mother from getting too close while she was opening the door to Tirek’s secret base. A shield spell was already half-formed and ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice, though Kanathara hoped it would prove unnecessary. Pulling open the large stone portal, the keeper of secrets peeked inside, only to immediately let out a sigh of relief.

“It's clear,” Kanathara exclaimed, her magic dissipating as she pushed the door the rest of the way open and stepped into the room beyond.

Allowing her two companions to see the sole inhabitant of the space, which was a tall, bipedal humanoid wearing long unadorned black robes. The other demon bowed slightly, revealing her stitched lips and horn which peeked out from beneath her hood. She gripped tight the ends of her sleeves, and her hooved feet clacked as she shifted nervously. Golden eyes glimmered with barely contained excitement, and she extended a clawed hand in a familiar gesture.

“Augh, not this again. Tell me why we couldn't just rip those stitches out of her face already,” Rainbow Dash muttered angrily.

“Because every sense and ability you deny a seer increases the potency of their abilities. Besides, it's fine, Rainbow Dash, she wouldn't ask if it wasn't important,” Kanathara remarked.

“How fascinating. I’ve never seen a seer in person before. Some of my colleagues have even gone so far as to claim that they aren't even real,” Velvet added.

Pythias frowned, while also looking confused.

“Alright, let's do this quickly. I need to have a little talk with father,” Kanathara muttered before extending her foreleg and placing it in the seer’s hand.

The sudden presence of the seer’s mind wasn't as jarring as it used to be, though it was still unpleasant to both Rainbow Dash and Kanathara. You have your memories and seek confrontation, Pythias stated evenly.

“I wouldn't say that, but yes. I do have my memories,” Kanathara replied.

I know of the paladins' coming arrival and have already mobilized Tirek’s forces, continued the seer.

“Good. Though I’m curious as to why father hasn't done so himself,” Kanathara openly wondered.

Pear Butter has finally finished healing, and he refuses to leave her side, Pythias replied.

“That is… understandable, I suppose,” Kanathara murmured.

“Is that it? ‘Cause this is really starting to get on my nerves,” exclaimed an annoyed Rainbow Dash.

It is, I have just one last piece of advice to give. Pythias’ golden eyes narrowed, focusing on Kanathara closely. Allow him the first word. You must trust me on this.

Kanathara’s lips upturned into a snarl, and she nearly yanked her hoof away from the seer, only for the intensity of the other demon’s gaze to catch her off guard. It was a familiar look, though it wasn't a common one, as the bipedal demon only ever used it when she had seen some future event. For whatever reason, this was important, and despite Kanathara’s desire to tell off both Pythias and her father, the keeper of secrets relented.

“Fine, but after I let him have the first word, I will speak my piece,” Kanathara declared, pulling her hoof away and breaking the connection they shared.

Pythias nodded her head slowly, her frail form rising into a stand once more before walking to the side and gesturing to the door beyond.

“Come on, let's get this over with,” Kanathara declared, the keeper taking the lead.

Her mother and familiar fell in behind her, both keeping their comments to themselves and merely following the powerful demon as she strode into the room beyond, wherein a trio of war demons were outfitting themselves with armor and selecting weapons from the meagre supply. Ignoring them, Kanathara and her followers strode past down the hall and through the larger muster point just beyond.

After a few more twists and turns they found themselves standing before a familiar door. The solid oak object was reinforced with wrought iron, but even that would not have stopped Kanathara from seeing her father and saying what she wanted to. Unfortunately for her simmering rage, a hoof against her shoulder stopped the keeper before she could open the portal.

“Are you sure you're ready for this, boss? It doesn't feel like you’ve relaxed one bit,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“I’m as calm as I’m going to get, I'm afraid,” Kanathara replied.

“Remember the advice your seer friend gave you. Her ability to see the future is unparalleled,” Velvet cautioned.

Kanathara breathed in and then out in a slow, deliberate motion. “I’m good.”

“Alright then, I’ll follow your lead,” Velvet exclaimed, the mare gesturing to the door.

Kanathara turned and pulled it open, quickly stepping inside and observing the area closely. The small room was as plain as ever, though Pear Butter wasn't awake at the moment, she seemed healed and the curtain that hid her was gone. Tirek was also asleep, though the centaur was only half on the bed, his arms and face resting on the corner of the mattress.

The large horns that usually adorned either side of his head had shrunk to the point that they were mere nubs in comparison to what they used to be. The tuft of white hair that topped his head was gone, and his beard was scraggly and grey. Even the circular piercing that had adorned his nose for more than a thousand years was gone, as were his bracelets. He wore nothing, revealing a worn shaggy coat that covered his body.

It didn't appear as though he had consumed any manner of sustenance since Kanathara had last seen him, and though it was faint, she could see twin damp spots on the bed beneath his eyes. Empty bottles reeking of alchemical ingredients were piled high near the bedside, as were a small stack of used spell scrolls that were now devoid of magic. As she gazed upon the fear demon, Kanathara saw none of the vigor and power that the keeper had come to expect from the centaur, leaving behind only a sad individual.

Even still, Kanathara’s pain burned vividly in her memory, and though the sight tempered her rage somewhat, it did not stifle it completely.

She leaned forward and gently tapped the centaur’s shoulder, careful not to awaken Pear Butter quite yet. The emaciated fear demon stirred languidly in his slumber before rubbing the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand. For a moment immense relief sparked behind those black and yellow Repetitive, but as Tirek noticed the rest of the room’s occupants, that expression fell away.

And was replaced with a brief look of fear, which morphed into one of acceptance, with the demon hanging his head in shame. “I suppose you’ve come to get revenge then. After experiencing what I have, I can't say I blame you,” Tirek exclaimed weakly.

Kanathara’s bitter rage stopped before it could reach her lips, the words after experiencing what I have, rolling around in her mind. “What do you mean?” Kanathara demanded.

“What I mean is that my own desire for revenge led me to do many terrible things. Though now that I look back upon a lifetime of misdeeds, I realize what I have done to you is the worst of them all. You have good reason to hate me, and I sympathize with you,” Tirek muttered, unable to meet Kanathara’s gaze.

“You sympathize with me? How can you say that when you have not experienced pain like I have? I could feel my very soul be unmade while still inside of me!” Kanathara challenged, taking a dangerous step towards the centaur.

“Oh, but I have,” Tirek murmured, his gaze growing distant. “My arrival in Tartarus was not a pleasant one. I was not a demon born of sin, but rather the twisting of foul and wild magic. My body was not prepared for the rigours that another plane can wreak upon it. The medicine I gave you when you were younger was actually the very same that I took for nearly a hundred years.”

“You felt that way for a century?” Rainbow Dash asked, aghast.

Tirek nodded slowly. “And that does not include the decade it took to formulate the serum in the first place where I did not have its relief.”

“That changes nothing. This new perspective has allowed me to understand how truly vile you have been, nevermind the suffering you caused Velvet,” Kanathara continued, the keeper’s ethereal mane billowing angrily as she gestured to the mare who stood next to her.

“You are right, it doesn't,” Tirek replied somberly. “I sought to break you and reforge your spirit as a weapon to strike back at Celestia, to make you into a vessel for all the pain and rage I felt towards her. Yet I didn't need to do any of that. As you would do as I asked not out of obligation, or fear, but rather because you were a kind and eager student.”

Tirek smiled faintly, only for the expression to vanish a second later. “And then I lost you, twice.”

Velvet’s shoulders sagged and her leathery wings folded against her back. “What do you mean?”

“When my tower was besieged, I did what I could to protect you two, but after I lost contact with you both and Cervantes, I feared the worst,” Tirek began. “With Pear Butter injured I could not leave her side to search for you, nor did I even find it possible to muster the effort as I was convinced that you had died.” Tirek sighed, smiling sadly. “Then you returned to us, only to leave right away and vanish once more shortly thereafter. It felt like I had lost you all over again.”

Kanathara’s angry response slowly fell away, and she couldn't help but see the centaur in a new, uncomfortable light. “What did Pythias say? Surely a seer would have been able to know if I was alive or not,” Kanathara inquired.

“Her visions were… uncertain,” Tirek exclaimed. “She told me that a great darkness hung over the future, blotting out most of what she could see and rendering what she was able to perceive so marred in uncertainty that it could not be relied upon.”

“Do you think it's her?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Kanathara frowned. “Possibly.”

“I had foolishly believed that your deaths were what caused such a darkness, and with the planar bindings ensuring that your spirit could not simply go back to Tartarus, I had assumed you were gone forever.” Tirek chuckled. “It's funny, really. I always mentally downplayed the suffering I may have caused your family, and here I was forced to experience their loss twice over.”

“That's not funny at all,” muttered a weak voice.

Together the gathered demons and lone pony glanced up to where Pear Butter had opened her eyes and was gazing down upon them.

Seeing her face, Kanathara felt her resentment kindle within her once more. “And what about Pythias and Pear Butter do you regret forcing them into contracts as well?” Kanathara inquired, though the fire in her chest was weak and her anger was slow to stir.

“It's not like that,” Pear Butter exclaimed weakly.

Tirek nodded. “Yes. I’ve already prepared to release everyone who has signed a contract with me.”

“Don't say that,” Pear Butter demanded, her voice growing stronger with each passing second. “Pythias and I have spoken about this, and we wish to stay with you.”

“I don't deserve that,” Tirek replied dismissively.

“And I don't care what you want,” Pear Butter shot back. “The contracts between yourself, Pythias, and I are strong. Breaking them could kill you.”

“I forgive you,” Velvet declared suddenly.

“What?” Kanathara shouted, spinning on her heels to glare at the mare.

“He has suffered the same loss as I have and as foolish as it may sound, I’ve only ever wanted you back,” Velvet replied, her hoof caressing the underside of Kanathara’s chin. “Despite the circumstances, these past few days have been some of the best I’ve had in almost a decade.”

“B-but he-” Kanathara began, only to be cut off when Velvet’s hoof covered her mouth.

“Will do his penance in time,” Velvet ended.

“If that is what you wish,” Tirek replied solemnly.

Kanathara’s anger roiled hot in her belly, urging her to yell, scream, do anything, only for a memory to suddenly spring to mind. Don't forget to be kind. And just like that, her anger vanished, and the keeper of secrets’ shoulders slumped, her gaze turning to Tirek.

“You will tell me everything you know and give me every speck of knowledge you can claim ownership over when this is done,” Kanathara stated.

Tirek smiled faintly and bowed his head. “I would be honored to give you the information you seek. In addition you may also claim ownership over all that I have. From my other hideaways across this plane to the caches and libraries I’ve tucked away, all are yours.”

Kanathara nodded slowly. “After you’ve told me everything, you’ll have my forgiveness as well.”

Tirek sniffed and looked away, unable to muster a word.

“We should also start working as a team too,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “I figure this dark business has only just begun, and we’re gonna need every resource we got.”

“Good thinking,” Velvet remarked.

“Agreed,” added Pear Butter, who brushed aside the blankets that had covered her body in order to run a hoof down Tirek’s back.

The door opened suddenly to reveal a rather grim-looking Pythias, who pointed to Pear Butter and then the ceiling before vanishing once more.

“Right, they are here. I have a plan, but I gotta warn you, this isn't a fight we can win. If we get tied down, we will lose,” Pear Butter proclaimed.

Tirek sniffed. “W-when did you have time to think up all this?” he questioned.

“Pythias and I discussed a lot while you were asleep,” Pear Butter replied, grinning. “You're not the only one who thinks ahead, ya know.”

“What do we have to do?” Kanathara asked.

“Wait, before we do this, I have to talk to what remains of the demons I have under contract,” Tirek declared.

“We don't have much time,” Pear Butter warned.

“I dont need much time, and I refuse to hold anyone in bondage for even a second longer than necessary,” Tirek declared sternly.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get moving!” Rainbow Dash announced.

Author's Note

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Trial Eight: Sibling Scuffle

Kanathara’s patience was growing thinner each time they took another turn, only to end up with no exit in sight. The tunnel dipped, ascended, and even branched off at a few places, yet they remained within the field’s area of affect. With no teleportation magic, or other extradimensional alteration at her disposal, Kanathara was growing increasingly claustrophobic.

Knowing that she couldn't simply port out if things went poorly was becoming quite bothersome to the demon. The knowledge that she couldn't even leave this plane of existence only made her more irritated, making her feel as though she were being chained down against her will. The endless grey walls and stale air didn't help her poor mood either.

In front of her, Rarity was beginning to slow, the unicorn’s grubby coat growing slick with sweat. Rainbow Dash was, of course, unbothered, though she had at least reduced her armor back down to a breastplate. Kanathara herself had yet to feel the strain of physical exertion, but that didn't mean she didn't feel emotionally and magically drained from it all.

She wondered if her recent time spent flying with Rainbow Dash had made her feel an increased affinity for the open skies. Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on her familiar, feeling their connection intuitively.

What do you make of our situation? Kanathara asked.

I think this does indeed lead out, but it also seems to parallel the other tunnel somewhat, Rainbow Dash replied without turning around.

Which means we may run into some paladins, Kanathara inferred.

Unlikely, but not impossible. We will have to stay moving if we are going to have a hope of getting out of here without getting bogged down in needless fights, Rainbow Dash added.

For once I am not looking forward to the opportunity to kick some pally butt, Kanathara reluctantly admitted.

“I think… we’re coming… up to something,” Rarity exclaimed between breaths.

“Feels like it, the breeze you sensed before is far more noticeable now,” Rainbow Dash stated.

After rounding a short bend, Kanathara could feel it as well, sensing the slight disruption in the air quite acutely. It didn't feel like it was coming from a singular source, though the keeper of secrets knew she didn't have enough experience to know that for certain. Thankfully her question was answered a few seconds later, but before that could happen, a new question popped into her head.

“Wait, how have you been able to see in the dark?” Kanathara inquired.

Rarity chuckled, tapping the side of her head. “Enchanted contacts.”

“Ooh, I just assumed you were part diamond dog or demon,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

The fashionista scoffed. “Pardon me, but I am no demon. Nor am I one of those ruffians!”

“Well, you got the gem sniffing down pat,” Rainbow Dash retorted, flashing the unicorn a smirk over her shoulder.

Rarity seemed ready to offer a retort before her eyes went wide. “This is quite something.”

After a short turn, the tunnel opened into a much larger chamber, one with multiple exits, levels, and pits. By the looks of it, three lava tubes had, for whatever reason, converged on this one point, the walls between them having crumbled some millenia ago. Water could also be heard flowing beneath them, and a peek down one of the shafts allowed Kanathara to observe a fast-flowing stream.

There were also a few circular shafts that went straight up into the gloom, though all were far too small to ascend through without first turning to smoke. The new area was also massive, easily coming in at about half the size of the town of Ponyville in width alone. A softly growing green mold lit the entire space in an eerie light, immediately setting the keeper’s nerves on edge.

“Which way do we go?” Rainbow Dash inquired, glancing from one exit to another.

“I’m not sure,” Kanathara murmured, turning to Rarity.

Who was doubled over and breathing heavily. “Just give me a minute, darling,” exclaimed the mare.

“Well, hurry, ‘cause I don't think we are going to be alone for long,” Rainbow Dash added. “This place seems to be something of a crossroads for the lower levels.”

“Rainbow Dash, recon the area while I try a few scanning spells. If I’m far enough from the field’s point of origin, I can find us a way outta this place,” Kanathara commanded.

“Right away, boss,” Rainbow Dash retorted before leaping into the air.

For a moment Kanathara merely watched as the winged demon ascended up to the level twenty or so feet above them. After approaching the nearest tunnel entrance, Rainbow Dash ascended higher still, where she landed and continued her inspection. There she stopped, her ears perking up while Kanathara tried a spell to no avail, her magic flickering and dying a second later.

There is someone coming, Rainbow Dash remarked. Sounds bipedal and large.

Probably a fleeing dog, Kanathara reasoned. Be prepared to capture it. Maybe we can force it to guide us out of here.

On it, Rainbow Dash replied, the demon standing next to the entrance, armor encasing her almost completely.

“Get down,” Kanathara whispered to a confused Rarity.

Who did as she was told, crouching down next to the keeper of secrets. Together they waited silently as the sound of thumping feet rapidly approached them. Each step clanked slightly. Judging from the creature’s gait, it was armored, injured, and was indeed bipedal. All of which made Kanathara think that her initial assumption had been correct.

Sure enough, a familiar face appeared after a few seconds, though she was now sporting a few burns, a dozen shallow cuts, and a large gash on her leg. Despite her injuries, the commander Kanathara had seen only a half hour ago looked battle ready, though she had lost her primary weapon. Now wielding only a short dagger, the dog didn't even have a chance to put her backup to use before Rainbow Dash slammed into her.

The diamond dog was clearly caught unaware as the breath was immediately knocked out of her. By the time she managed to fill her lungs with oxygen, she was pinned face down on the ground with paws bound against her back. A hoof was pressed against the base of her skull, promising swift death if she did something foolish.

“What the hell? Who are you, people?” she shouted angrily.

“We’ll be asking the questions here!” Rainbow Dash barked.

“Gods above, not more ponies,” muttered the diamond dog bitterly.

Kanathara reformed in front of the fallen creature, her ethereal mane flowing behind her. “Do we look like ponies to you?” asked the demon.

The diamond dog frowned. “Is that a trick question?”

“Just tell us how to get out of here,” Kanathara demanded.

“Sure, whatever, now let me up. They were right behind me a second ago,” replied the diamond dog.

Kanathara gave her familiar a nod, prompting the vengant to hoist their prisoner back onto her feet. Though allowed to stand, the armored demon kept the dog’s paws bound securely against her back, her grip tight and unrelenting.

“Great, now you’re going to guide us towards the closest exit, and if you run, I will ensure that you suffer a fate so horrible that even the lowest of pit fiends shall look upon you with pity,” Kanathara stated with a shocking calm.

The diamond dog’s confident facade slipped from her features, and she bobbed her head earnestly. “It's straight across from here, honest,” she muttered.

“My partner here is going to let you go, but don't get any funny ideas, you’ll still be in fireball range,” Kanathara stated.

“Fine, but hurry, I think I can hear them,” retorted the diamond dog.

Kanathara gave Rainbow Dash another nod.

“What about me?” shouted Rarity from below.

“I got you, just don't move,” Kanathara shouted before trotting over to the ledge.

Summoning her magic, the demon gripped the unicorn around the barrel, doing her best to not squeeze too tightly. Though clearly uncomfortable with the situation, Rarity stifled any complaints and remained motionless as she was lifted from the ground. Slowly, the pony rose into the air, her legs dangling uselessly beneath her as she clutched the Element tight against her chest.

Behind her, Rainbow Dash peered nervously past their captive, her gaze lingering on her mistress as she slowly raised Rarity up to their level. So distracted was the demon that their diamond dog prisoner was able to leap away before Rainbow Dash had the chance to react. Rather than flee, however, the dog sprinted over to the defenceless demon and kicked the keeper hard in the barrel, sending her flying over the side.

Rainbow Dash cursed and for a split second wondered if she should go after the now fleeing diamond dog or her partner. Somehow she knew that the other demon wouldn't be able to catch herself in time, and so Rainbow Dash unfurled her wings. She jumped over the ledge and flew after her.

Kanathara was forced to make a similarly snap decision at about the same moment as well. She could leave Rarity to her fate and allow the unicorn to fall into the raging rapids of the underground river. Or the demon could focus on depositing her on solid ground first before finally turning to mist and hopefully saving herself.

This is going to be close, Kanathara thought to herself before turning and roughly tossing the unicorn up onto the upper level. It was a hard throw to make, but given how much momentum Rarity already had, it was easier than putting her back down again.

A second before she hit the water, a flaming demon caught her at the same time that Rarity landed, nearly dropping the Element in the process. Now wrapped in warm hooves, Kanathara felt her trajectory shift as her familiar managed to maneuver them closer to solid ground. Though an adept flier, not even Rainbow Dash could work miracles, and together they tumbled to the ground, landing in a heap of tangled limbs.

“Stupid ponies,” remarked the diamond dog before she vanished out of sight.

Kanathara groaned and rubbed her head. “I really shouldn't have underestimated her.”

Rainbow Dash scrambled back onto her own four hooves, before helping her mistress do the same. “That was my fault, I should have been paying more attention,” she replied.

“It was both our faults, but at least we know the way out,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“I suppose,” Rainbow Dash reengaged her armor. “Now then, let's get moving.”

“Right,” Kanathara agreed. One leaping into the air while the other turned to mist and proceeded back up to the second level.

By the time they landed and reformed however, the ponies who had been chasing their captive had caught up to them. Two of whom were standing protectively on either side of Rarity, while the other was standing in front, his horn blazing brightly. The instant Kanathara laid eyes on the stallion, her mood soured, and she immediately realized that this just got a lot harder.

“Shining Armor,” she muttered bitterly. “I don't suppose you’re going to just give us what we want and let us leave?”

The golden-armored stallion snorted. “Over my dead body.”

“That can be arranged, you know,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed. “Golden Bulwark, go grab our ace. Steel Shod, protect the civilian.”

“Aye, captain!” shouted the two ponies, one of whom turned and ran back down the tunnel while the other remained close to Rarity’s side.

Who gave the demons an almost apologetic shrug.

Kanathara couldn't blame her, loyalty or no, there wasn't much of a chance of the exhausted seamstress getting past a trained soldier. The vengant leapt off the ground while armor crawled across her body, encasing her in enchanted metal. While this happened, the keeper of secrets was preparing her magic, readying herself for an opening to present itself.

She remembered well the lessons Twilight Velvet had taught her, and the remark she had made about Shining Armor.

“He's a shield master, but don't underestimate him. The boy has learned many creative ways to manipulate such a seemingly basic spell.”

Kanathara chose to test that assumption by firing off a scorching ray and leaping to the side, prepared for some manner of counterattack. Which never came, though her spell was rendered ineffective by a thick barrier that sprung up around the stallion, his underling, and Rarity. The deep purple barrier wasn't very thick, though it was made up of dozens of interlocking hexagon shapes.

The spell bounced harmlessly into the ceiling where it singed a small patch of stone before vanishing. Without a word being spoken, Rainbow Dash launched herself into an attack, dive-bombing the shield while building up for an explosive burst of fire. Her metal-clad hoof met the wall first, followed by the concentrated beam of hellfire, both attacks doing almost nothing.

Rainbow Dash barely had a moment to recover before one of the hexagons bent and flexed before turning into a spike and nearly running her through. The solid magic construct scraped noisily against Rainbow Dash’s armor before the vengant managed to roll away. Spreading her wings, she built up some speed, circling around while Kanathara tried to think up a way past the wall of magic.

“Give up, and I promise to redeem you without the need for violence!” Shining Armor shouted.

“Why don't you give up, so we don't have to kick those pretty teeth in!” Rainbow Dash yelled back.

“I don't need your redemption!” Kanathara spat before firing off a few more spells.

The first was a lightning bolt that upon hitting the barrier split in two and slammed against the walls, dissipating utterly. After that she conjured a small blob of acid, which, although did a decent number on the floor, did nothing to the unicorn’s barrier. Kanathara didn't have time to continue testing Shining Armor’s defences, however, as a giant purple hammer was swinging towards her face.

Turning to mist, the keeper dodged out of the way, watching with a mixture of fear and curiosity as the enormous weapon left a small crater in the ground. Swooping in low, Rainbow Dash tried to distract their foe and allow Kanathara to escape by landing behind the stallion. She then breathed deep, and after focusing all of her energy into a single point, released it as a small beam of superheated fire.

The attack resembled a welding torch, and the second it hit Shining Armor’s shield, a small section of his barrier began to glow. Wincing briefly, the stallion’s horn shone brightly, which was all the warning Rainbow Dash got before a dozen spikes shot out at her. Not like the vengant cared though, as she released the last of her saved energy in an eruption of flames before turning to smoke once more.

Kanathara followed this up by slicing an enormous chunk of stone from the roof and watching as it slammed down against the pony’s barrier. Though it bent and flexed, the shield quickly adapted, with the hunk of stone rolling off of it without doing any permanent damage. The strain it put on Shining Armor was noticeable, but brief, with the stallion seemingly fully recovered only a few seconds later.

What do we do? We can't seem to hit this guy, and he's just biding his time, Rainbow Dash thought as she flew above the keeper’s head.

I don't know, to be honest. I have a few ideas, but I don't want to be here when this ace of theirs returns, Kanathara thought back

True. So, do we do something risky? Rainbow Dash replied.

That seems to be about the only way we are going to win this, Kanathara replied.

Shining Armor conjured his hammer once more, swinging it up at Rainbow Dash in an attempt to squish her against the ceiling. The attack never hit, as the vengant ducked and weaved through it, emerging out the other side unscathed. The paladin quickly abandoned his newest construct, allowing it to quickly fade to nothing before summoning forth a pair of lances and throwing them at the keeper of secrets.

Leaping out of the way of the first one, Kanathara was forced to become incorporeal lest the second skewer her through the middle. The constant shift from mist to back again was beginning to take its toll, and Kanathara could feel her muscles straining whenever she reformed. It wasn't unbearable yet, but it represented a ticking clock that Kanathara did not like.

Immediately, she took off running, summoning her magic as she moved and firing off another spell. The second it was complete, a tiny orb of deep green magic leapt from the tip of her horn and streaked across the battlefield. Rainbow Dash leapt backwards a second before the ball hit the shield and exploded into a twisting mass of churning green smoke.

It didn't seem to have any real effect on her enemies, as Kanathara couldn't hear any coughing or the sound of unconscious bodies hitting the ground. That didn't mean it was completely useless, as it completely hid the demons from sight while Kanathara enacted her next spell. Shining Armor didn't give her much time to do so. however, as he had quickly summoned a burst of wind which cleared the area of her gas.

With a smirk, Kanathara stomped her forehooves against the ground, pouring her magic into the stone. Spikes never burst from beneath the stallion, though the earth did bulge slightly in several places before being caught on Shining Armor’s shield. The keeper hadn't even noticed the thin layer beneath his hooves, and was so surprised by this that she nearly got her head cut off.

A conjured greatsword swung towards her neck, forcing Kanathara to duck, the tip of her horn being struck with enough force to make her cry out in pain. Though it wasn't difficult to quickly reform the bit that had been removed, the shock of the attack made Kanathara stumble back. This would have left her open, had Rainbow Dash not slammed into the shield, hooves clawing against the barrier while flames shot from her open maw.

The barrier bent inwards by the force of the hit, causing Rarity to wince and take a nervous step back from the enraged attacker.

“How dare you? I’ll gut you like a fish!” screamed the vengant before inhaling another lungful of fire.

Shining Armor grunted and quickly repaired his shield before firing back a counter of his own. A trio of hexagons turned to spikes and shot forth, nearly spearing Rainbow Dash clean through the middle. Two scraped off her armor while the final one managed to find a weak link near her back right knee, drawing forth a gout of deep blackened blood.

Lurching backwards, Rainbow Dash couldn't reform her leg as more and more spikes shot from the shield. It was easy enough to dodge the good majority of them, but in the end there were just too many of the things. Her armor took several of the hits, but Rainbow Dash could feel another shard of magic ram through her neck while another speared straight through her shin.

Forced to become incorporeal once more, the demon fled backwards, abandoning her attack entirely. Thankfully the keeper of secrets had recovered enough to support her, conjuring a dozen bolts of force which rained down on the shield. The spikes retracted, and Shining Armor turned to face the newest threat, only to be surprised when the keeper ran hoof first into his shield.

Hooves glowing with a strange green energy, the paladin’s sudden burst of confidence waned the second he sensed magic get pulled out of his shield. Not only that, but it also felt akin to what a changeling was capable of, only different in a way he couldn't quite explain. Rather than his emotions, Kanathara was draining a small part of his very soul, depriving his spells of power and forcing him to choose between his shield or his life.

Stop it! You’re too open! Rainbow Dash exclaimed, the demon pumping her wings the second she reformed.

Entropy magic is the only way we are going to get past this barrier in a timely fashion, Kanathara replied, dodging a spike while keeping her forehooves pressed against the shield. We can't leave without the Element.

Rainbow Dash swooped down from on high, unleashing a burst of flames atop the dome. But you can't cast anything when you're like that. You can't even step away!

I am well aware of the risks. Keep him distracted so we can get through this, Kanathara retorted.

Inside the barrier, Shining Armor began to grow frustrated as the vengant continued to fly over him and unleash bursts of hellfire. Though his shield was strong, the keeper’s entropy-based attack was beginning to take its toll on him. Not only that, but having to reinforce both sides meant he couldn't focus long enough to launch a proper counter of his own.

Noting Rarity’s growing discomfort and his guard’s nervous looks, Shining Armor refocused himself. If he couldn't attack and defend properly, then he would at least do the first one well. Turning to the keeper of secrets, Shining Armor’s horn glowed brightly before his shield bulged, multiple spikes forming from it.

Seeing this, Kanathara desperately poured everything she had into her draining the pony’s magic. Rainbow Dash knew in an instant that it wouldn't be enough to stop the assault and though she doubted the pony was aiming to kill, she couldn't know for certain. Abandoning her assault, the vengant dove low, speeding towards the other demon as a dozen spikes shot out at her.

Her forehooves slammed into Kanathara’s side, pushing her out of the way of the attack. Though fast enough to save her mistress, it was not enough to save herself as well. Spears of magic hammered into her, most of which were unable to pierce her armor, while a few did just that.

Luck was not on her side, it seemed, as one of the spikes rammed through the thinner metal around her throat. Her momentum combined with the strength of the solid magic spear meant that she couldn't stop before it had already done an immense amount of internal damage. Not only that, but Rainbow Dash could feel something solid snap in her neck a second before the spike withdrew.

She tried to reform her body, but the damage was too immense, leaving the demon tumbling forward, unable to stop or heal herself. Kanathara, however, narrowly rolled away, and was about to charge back at Shining Armor before noticing her familiar wasn't moving. Skidding to a stop and throwing up a barrier of her own, Kanathara leaned down and scooped up Rainbow Dash’s head.

“Are you alright, what happened?” she pressed, her horn glowing faintly as she scanned the demon’s body.

Rainbow Dash tried to respond, but her words came out as little more than a weak gurgle. He got a lucky hit, but it's fine. I’ll just be outta the fight for a while.

Anger, indignation, and shame warred briefly in Kanathara’s heart before being roughly pushed aside. She had to focus, they had come too far, and sacrificed too much to leave empty-hoofed. Gently placing the vengant’s head back on the ground, Kanathara closed her eyes and pulled on the string which connected them.

Rainbow Dash hesitated briefly before answering the call, willingly giving up her body and turning to smoke. This time when she flowed into the other demon’s body, she knew there was no chance she could leave when she wanted. Her death meant that there was no escaping this place until she had enough time to heal her wounds and recover her strength.

Rising back to her hooves, Kanathara felt her familiar settle into the base of her very soul. Her eyes snapped open just as a large magical hammer crushed the thin barrier she had put up around herself. Rolling out of the way, the keeper pulled on her old and ill-used ability to utilize entropic magic.

Acid pumped through her body, burning the demon from the inside, without doing any major damage to her. Her stomach churned as she sprinted towards Shining Armor’s shield, regurgitating a mass of bubbling green much as soon as she was close. The mass of sizzling liquid immediately began to hiss the second it hit the shield, causing a small section to fall fairly quickly.

She followed this up by slamming her glowing green hooves against another spot of his barrier, reaching deep and pulling hard at his magic. This time the combination was enough, and the seemingly indestructible wall fell, causing Shining Armor to stumble back as well as allowing Kanathara to leap towards Rarity. The nearby paladin was faster, however, and after raising a shield, he put himself between Kanathara and her target.

The keeper of secrets didn't care and grabbed the rapidly rusting piece of metal and tore it from his grip, tossing it aside. Stumbling back, the guard was shocked when the enchantments on his armor began to pop one after another. The leather straps holding his platemail together loosened, with some falling apart completely after mere seconds.

The strain channelling so much entropic magic put on the demon was immense, but she soldiered on regardless. The pony tried to swing his sword at her, but found that the leather grip had fallen apart, the weapon slipping out of his grip. With no defence and his fur rapidly falling off his body, the paladin stumbled backwards, panic filling his eyes.

Something heavy slammed into Kanathara’s side a second after the golden obstacle was out of her way, and she was sent flying through the air. It didn't hurt nearly as bad as the entropic magic coursing through her, however, and it was clear that her attacker wasn't aiming to kill. Kanathara righted herself quickly and found that she was facing Shining Armor once more.

This time the stallion was standing protectively between her and Rarity, who was still holding the Element tight against her chest. A worried look covered the fashionista’s face, though a single glimpse at the mare was enough to tell Kanathara that despite what had happened, the pony was not scared for her own safety, but rather the demon’s. Kanathara quickly put that thought out of her mind, as she could hear the clip clop of approaching hooves coming from back down the tunnel.

“Give the Element to me, and no one has to get hurt,” Kanathara stated.

“Surrender now, and no one has to get hurt,” countered Shining Armor.

Grumbling bitterly, Kanathara quickly weighed her options. The demon knew it would be a while before she would be able to use any other kind of magic due to her use of her entropic powers. Thus she had little option but to keep relying on that ability, or be forced to use only her hooves and no magic at all.

We really need weapons, Rainbow Dash remarked.

Tell me about it, Kanathara agreed before leaping forward, her eyes glowing a bright green.

A shield sprung up between them which Kanathara’s hoof slammed straight through. Chunks of magic went flying across the area before quickly dissipating into nothing, the stallion now visibly exhausted. Evidently the earlier fight with the dogs had not been quite so one-sided as it seemed, as Kanathara noticed he was heavily favoring his right foreleg.

Another barrier was batted aside with ease, the keeper of secrets barreling headfirst towards her enemy. The enchantments on his armor seemed to be more reinforced than his guard’s, as despite the demon’s close proximity, they had yet to falter. The fur around his face began to grow grey, however, and as Kanathara punched her way through another hastily conjured shield, she could tell the entropic effects were beginning to take their toll.

His golden armor was growing duller, losing its shine while rust began to creep in from the sides. A blast of force knocked Kanathara back briefly, allowing the stallion to bring up a proper shield while the demon recovered. Kanathara leapt into the air and brought her forehooves down hard against the top of the obstacle.

For a moment it seemed like the paladin’s barrier would win out, but after a second of nothing happening, a spiderweb of cracks emerged from the point of impact. He had just enough time to catch the demon’s hooves before they would have landed atop his head and no doubt brought him low. The magic in his armor blazed brightly, giving him strength no normal pony was capable of.

Even still, he could only just barely hold his own against the powerful demon whose maw dripped with acid, and whose hooves felt like lead weights. Their eyes met, and for a moment Kanathara considered letting up before remembering why she was here. Despite pleasant memories of the stallion suddenly coming to mind, she couldn't just leave, but that also didn't mean that she had to kill or maim the pony.

Pushing hard, Kanathara tried to drain enough of the pony’s magic to knock him out, resisting the urge to spit a wad of acid in his face to be done with it. Shining Armor seemed to know that he was beat, though for some reason he continued to resist, even as his enchantments failed him. That was until the clip clop of hooves skidded to a stop nearby, and a glance in that direction told him that he had accomplished his goal.

“Use it, now!” he shouted to the pair of paladins standing nearby, a large black box held between them.

“But sir, it will disrupt the interdictor field, they could escape!” one of the golden armored guards retorted.

“Just do it!” Shining Armor yelled, his armor warping as rust consumed it.

Kanathara planned on using him as a hostage before she felt a familiar aura blanket the area. Turning towards the box, she was shocked to see a black stone with a burning red heart sitting within. It immediately flared to life, ripping the strength from Kanathara’s limbs and making her fall slack in the stallion’s grip.

Who lowered her to the ground before stumbling back, his injuries finally getting the better of him. The paladin didn't let that slow him for long, however, as he quickly cast a healing spell before turning towards one of the guards.

“Bring forth the manacles of Hades. I want this one secure and ready for transport right now!” Shining Armor demanded.

“But sir, your wounds-”

“Are not that bad, now hurry,” Shining Armor barked.

Kanathara heard it all, and though she knew she could slip away using the trick Twilight Velvet had taught her, she couldn't use it. Not yet, not while Rarity was standing a few feet away, the Element still clutched tight against her chest.

Give it up! If we don't leave now, we’ll be captured! Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

You know we can't leave without the Element! Kanathara retorted, reaching a hoof towards the shivering unicorn.

The risk of being captured is too great! Rainbow Dash all but shouted in the keeper’s mind.

If we don't, the Nightmare may be able to use the contract against us, and I will not make you a slave to anyone! Kanathara shouted.

Kanathara’s eyes met Rarity’s own, and for a moment the keeper felt every bit of fear and panic that her friend did. A second later a sort of understanding passed between the two, prompting Rarity to look down at the Element before glancing at Shining Armor. Who was too distracted to notice that the civilian he assumed was on his side had suddenly changed allegiances.

The jeweled necklace glowed brightly before being thrown at the fallen demon, nearly blinding the keeper in the process. Catching the magical artifact, Kanathara poured all the entropy magic she had within her before spitting it at the Black Hunger. The draining power of the magic item worked against itself, cleansing Kanathara of the fell energy left inside of her.

Now free to use a greater variety of spells, Kanathara opened a pocket dimension and stuffed the artifact within.

The guards yelled in surprise as the Black Hunger’s box and holder melted into a puddle. Shining Armor himself only spun around in time to see the Element vanish, along with his chances of capturing the demon. Who had coughed up a pure white orb, which immediately flew towards his ace, only to stop at the last second.

The demonic artifact was incompatible with a pure, undigested soul, yet the evil presence within craved it intensely. The effect was immediate, with the aura of weakness vanishing while the white orb began to spin around its much darker counterpart, bleeding soul energy with each rotation.

“Get her!” Shining Armor shouted, summoning his magic as he did so.

Kanathara turned and ran towards the nearest exit, only for a wall of familiar purple magic to cut her off. Thinking quickly, Kanathara turned to mist and made it look like she was going for another of the tunnels. Another wall of magic sprung up to block her escape, but the demon never intended to go that way.

Turning at the last second, she slipped through a narrow shaft in the ceiling, vanishing out of sight. Below her she could hear the frantic scramble of hooves and steel while in her soul she felt an intense heat begin to bloom. She would be in a lot of pain, but in the end she was free, and not only that, she had acquired the artifact.

I guess she was its Bearer, Rainbow Dash remarked in a slightly sad tone.

I guess so, Kanathara admitted, unable to focus her thoughts long enough to muster a more thorough response.

It would be many minutes before she maneuvered through the many narrow passageways and emerged onto the surface. It would be longer still that she was able to escape the badlands and slip soundlessly into the forest.

Two days of stalking the woods later, the pair approached a familiar cottage, exhaustion weighing heavily on the keeper’s body.

None of that mattered anymore. She was home, and here, she would heal.

Author's Note

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Trial Ten: Complications

“It's not actually that complicated, really,” Rarity remarked as she trotted into the room, a steaming pot of tea held aloft in her magical grip. “A simple distraction combined with a second team finding the egg and getting out before the beast knows it's been bamboozled.”

“There is a bit more to it than that, but Lady Rarity isn't wrong,” Daisy exclaimed, taking the pot from her partner’s grip and filling four cups.

Kanathara nodded slowly, her gaze drawn to the rather sparse living room they were sitting in. Little more than a collection of chairs and a single coffee table, the space wasn't completely uncomfortable. Her demonic bulk was roughly equivalent to a diamond dog’s, so she could even sit upright without having to first take on her slightly smaller pony form.

“Like what?” Rainbow Dash asked, taking a sip of her tea. “Let me guess, its chaos magic is going to be an issue.”

“Simply put, it's slippery. Unless you got a bunch of anchor stones, the beast can just disappear whenever it feels cornered,” Daisy explained.

“Quite right. From what I’ve been able to gather from the field guide, the grootslang’s magic is intuitive. Which basically means that so long as we don't leave it any other option, it won’t use its strange abilities,” Rarity remarked.

“And attracting it will likely mean summoning some manner of chaotic energy, correct?” Kanathara inquired.

Rarity nodded. “It perceives these bursts of chaos as a rival grootslang in its territory, which, provided it isn't mating season, will be attacked on sight.”

“It isn't mating season, right?” Rainbow Dash asked somewhat hesitantly.

“It is not,” Daisy declared. “Though with the moon making them think that the surface is underground, you may never know.”

“Don't jinx it,” Rarity cursed, punching the dog in the shoulder.

Daisy shrugged. “Hey, at this point all bets are off.”

“Well, at least we don't have to worry about her egg hatching,” Rarity exclaimed. “We haven't seen a male, and they only lay after acquiring new territory, fertilized or not.”

“Very interesting,” Kanathara muttered, sipping her tea.

“So it's definitely not going to hatch then?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Rarity scoffed. “Of course not. I doubt it's fertilized and even if it is, a grootslang’s egg requires a very obscure set of events to occur in order for it to hatch.”

“And these requirements are completely random too,” Daisy added.

“Then it is probably unlikely,” Kanathara declared.

“Right, I don't suppose you can cast some sort of fancy chaos spell, eh?” Daisy grabbed a broken and burnt wand from a nearby shelf. “‘Cause we’ve used up the last of the magic in this thing.”

“I can, though it's not anything super powerful,” Kanathara warned. “Chaos magic takes decades of study and generally isn't worth it, given just how, well, chaotic it is.”

“That's fine,” Rarity quickly replied. “This wand merely detected chaos magic, and it was enough to grab the grootslang’s attention in seconds.”

“Good, because even casting that relatively simple spell still knocks the wind out of me,” Kanathara bitterly remarked, shaking her head in disgust.

Rarity drained the last of her tea and pushed her cup aside. “Now then, darlings. I am rather exhausted and our people will need rest before they move out. I would offer you the spare bed, but I’m afraid this is all I have.” She gestured to a mound of blankets and pillows folded on the cold hard ground.

“They are demons. I’m sure they can either find a better place to rest, or don't even need to do so in the first place,” Daisy exclaimed.

“Nah. We’re pretty well-stocked on energy for a while,” Rainbow Dash replied, patting her stomach. “But I’m sure the boss lady is just itching to go check out that cool castle thingy.”

“I don't want to distract myself while we are on such an important mission,” Kanathara corrected.

“Well, if you're bored, then feel free to take over guard duty for the tunnel we entered in on. The other side was easier to fortify, but we haven't gotten to the north entrance yet,” Rarity exclaimed.

“We could do that. Hopefully a couple of those butt ugly eels come up here,” Rainbow Dash declared, pounding her armored hooves together.

Daisy rubbed a paw over her stomach. “That would be good eating if you had some leftovers.”

“Tsk, meat eaters,” Rarity remarked. “Now come along, dear. We must get our beauty sleep.”

“More like I do, if you got any prettier, the pack might think you're a gem,” Daisy exclaimed, the dog lopping alongside her partner.

Rarity giggled and batted the other creature’s shoulder. “Oh, you can be so romantic when you want to be, you know that?”

Kanathara tuned out the rest of the conversation and turned back to Rainbow Dash, who was still clearly gawking at the pair. “Give them a little privacy, why don't you?” Kanathara half offered, half commanded.

Rainbow Dash blushed slightly and rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry, boss. Seeing Rarity with a female, nevermind a diamond dog is a little weird. I know we didn't talk much, but I sure got the feeling that she was waiting for Mr. Right. If you catch my drift.”

“I don't think our host cares much for gender at all. Only that they can sweep her off her hooves,” Kanathara remarked.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Any race or gender can be a knight, I suppose.”

“Quite true,” Kanathara agreed before rising from her chair. “Now that I’m thinking about it, perhaps we should take Rarity up on her offer.”

Rainbow Dash followed after her mistress as she walked to the door. “Really, boss? You don't strike me as the guard type.”

“Ha, no,” Kanathara exclaimed with a chuckle. “Though I am feeling rather peckish.”

“Now you’re talking,” Rainbow Dash excitedly declared. “So, what do you want to go hunt first? An eel? Or maybe another hydra.”

“Let’s go after an eel first, we can use it as bait to catch something else while also doing Rarity a favor,” Kanathara replied.

Rainbow Dash nodded, trotting through the open door and kicking it shut behind her. “Sounds like a plan. Say, do you think its eyeballs would taste any good?”

Kanathara smirked. “Only one way to find out.”

Rarity frowned as she glanced around the cavern, her eyes narrowing. “I could have sworn they would be out here,” she muttered.

“You don't think they took off, do you?” Daisy asked.

Rarity shook her head. “Absolutely not. Those two may be many things, but cowards they are not.”

“I still don't like trusting demons, but if you’re sure about this…” Daisy exclaimed.

“I am,” stated the unicorn. “We need their help. Furthermore, they need our help. It seems like a simple… transaction?”

Rarity, Daisy, and the small band of armored diamond dogs walking beside the pair stopped upon spotting the demons in question. Along with their mostly consumed quarry eel and partially eaten pile of demon corpses, as well as a stack of wolves that had been slightly nibbled on. In the midst of it all were Kanathara and Rainbow Dash, one reclining against the rib bone of an eel while the other lay on the floor, tossing an imp’s skull in the air.

“It seems as though we have company,” Kanathara remarked without opening her eyes. “Feel free to take as much of our leftovers as you would like. It's not like I’m going to carry it around with us.”

Rainbow Dash tossed the skull in the air and caught it in her mouth, the demon’s powerful jaws shattering it utterly. She then proceeded to chew the broken bones and swallow what was left, rising up from the ground with a smile on her face.

“Just make sure to do something cool with the eel skull like mount it on the wall or something,” Rainbow Dash declared.

Daisy was the first to snap out of her stupor and turned back towards town before shouting. “Get the store houses prepped, meat's back on the menu, boys!” she shouted.

A distant, yet exuberant shout alerted all to the fact that the command had been heard, and soon a group of dogs were running over to them. While they cleaned and carried away the carcassess, Rarity stepped forward, a somewhat forced grin plastered on her lips.

“Well then. That certainly was… a thing,” Rarity murmured. “Are you done with your lunch break, or do we have to continue without you?”

Kanathara slowly climbed into a stand. “Sorry about the mess, we can go. Oh, but before we do, you should know that you won't have to worry about any demons showing up.”

“And why is that?” Rarity demanded.

“‘Cause this lot was going to raid you last night. Or this night, whatever,” Rainbow Dash answered, waving an armored hoof over the pile of demon corpses which had been stacked next to a pyramid of severed imp heads.

“How utterly repugnant,” Rarity exclaimed, turning her nose up.

“She meant to say, thank you,” Daisy quickly interrupted, stepping between the two parties. “How about we keep this moving, huh? It's only getting colder out there.”

“Ready when you are,” Kanathara agreed, joining the dog along with her familiar and the rest of their party.

All save for Rarity who groaned in disgust. “How uncivilized,” she muttered to herself.

With great effort, the unicorn did her best not to look at the severed heads, the entrails which had been spilled, or anything bloody. It was difficult, and she failed several times, nearly slipping, but eventually she emerged onto the other side. Now with a frown on her face, and an angry twitch in her left eye, the pony hastily trotted after the departing group.

“Wait for me, you barbarians!” Rarity shouted.

“Okay, we're here, now what's the plan again?” Rainbow Dash asked, leaning idly against a large jagged rock sticking up from the ground.

“It's simple, really,” Daisy began, flipping her mace around and using the butt of her weapon to draw in the dirt. “Over here is the grootslang’s lair.” She made a circle in the soft dirt, then pointed over the boulder and towards a distant cave.

“Rarity and Rainbow Dash will go a good fifty feet, then hide in an alcove.” Daisy drew a long shaft extending from the cave entrance and added two Rs halfway down it. “After you’re in position, Kanathara here will use her spell and draw the grootslang out of its lair.”

The diamond dog then drew an X and surrounded it with small circles and two larger ones. “She and I will then do our best to distract and contain the beast for as long as possible while you two sneak inside.”

“Where we grab the egg,” Rarity declared, slamming a hoof into the ground. “And make out like bandits.”

“I’d prefer to make out like the French,” Rainbow Dash remarked, only to receive a sharp elbow to the side. “Hey, what's the big deal?”

“I warned you about the puns,” Kanathara retorted. “You’ve been making too many of them lately, and I will not see you turn into another Tirek.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Daisy cleared her throat and flipped her mace around. “Now then. Does anyone have any questions?”

“I got one,” Rainbow Dash declared, waving a hoof. “Why do I have to go with Miss Prissypants?”

Rarity scoffed. “I’ll have you know that these are not pants. They are greaves.” She slowly turned in place, extending her legs and showing off the shimmering silver coat that hung over most of her body. She also made sure to display her reflective leg protectors which were complete with tiny gems resembling her cutie mark.

“Yes it's all very color-coordinated,” Rainbow Dash replied while rolling her eyes.

“You look wonderful, my lady,” Daisy exclaimed.

Rarity batted her eyes and brushed her mane aside. “At least someone appreciates the effort I put into it. Do you have any idea how hard it is to create a stylish ensemble that is protective without becoming garish? It's darn near impossible, I tell you.”

Kanathara chuckled. “Fashion aside, I am curious as to why you’ve split us up like that.”

“It's simple,” Daisy began. “You can communicate psionically which helps both teams stay in contact with one another. Also, Rarity has heard our scout’s reports about the interior of the groostlang’s lair. She will be able to point your familiar in the right direction.”

“While I stay out here to create the distraction,” Kanathara concluded, nodding along. “That makes sense, though I don't see why you can't simply tell Rainbow Dash about what's inside.”

“Hey yeah. Why don't you do that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Because the interior of a groostlang’s lair is filled with traps which Rarity’s keen beautiful eyes can detect,” Daisy exclaimed.

Rarity giggled and bumped her hip against the dark-furred dog. “Oh, you are such a charmer sometimes.”

“Sharp eyes or not, Rainbow Dash can avoid nearly every trap in there,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Even the chaos magic ones that adapt to whatever and whoever is nearby?” Daisy replied.

Kanathara grimaced. “Point made.”

“So long as we only use normal methods to bypass them, the traps won't evolve or become more complicated. Thus why you need me to help you through,” Rarity declared.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I don't like the baggage, but I suppose it couldn't hurt.”

“If anyone will become someone’s baggage, it is you becoming mine,” Rarity exclaimed with an angry harumph.

“Isn't that a bit much, my lady?” Daisy exclaimed.

Rarity wilted. “You’re right, darling. That little display earlier has put me rather on edge as it were.”

“Don't worry about it,” Kanathara interrupted. “Let's just get this done so we can all get what we want.”

“An excellent idea,” Daisy declared, rising up to her full height. “Let us know when you two are in position.”

Rainbow Dash’s knelt down. “You better mount up then.”

“My word! I am not interested in you like that. I am a happily married mare!” Rarity exclaimed, her voice rising several octaves.

“She means hop on her back,” Daisy whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

Rarity cleared her throat. “I knew that.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as Rarity awkwardly stepped onto her back, forelegs quickly wrapping around the demon’s neck.

“You say you’re not interested, yet you’re choking me. Curious,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

Rarity’s already red face grew ever more crimson. “I didn't…. You… I…”

“Relax, my lady. She is teasing you,” Daisy whispered in a calm voice, paw laid on the mare’s shoulder.

“You’re right. I should stop getting so flustered. I fear all this excitement is getting to me,” Rarity muttered.

“You’ll be fine. Just stick with Rainbow Dash. She won't let you come to harm,” Daisy declared, the statement sounding a whole lot like a command leveled at a certain vengant.

“Totally,” Rainbow Dash declared somewhat half-heartedly.

“Ready?” Kanathara asked.

“Ready,” Rarity exclaimed.

“Then let's go!” Rainbow Dash shouted, launching into a sprint.

“Slow doooown!” Rarity screeched as the demon exploded into motion.

Within seconds the pair were airborne, with Rarity screaming bloody murder the entire time, leaving Kanathara standing there somewhat awkwardly in front of a glaring diamond dog.

“Nothing will happen to her, right?” Daisy asked.

“Rainbow Dash just likes annoying people,” Kanathara dismissed. “I’m certain she will hold true to her promise.”

“Let's hope so. I don't wanna die, but if it meant spitting in the face of Lady Rarity’s killer I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Daisy remarked, watching as the vengant and her rider disappeared into the distant cave.

Kanathara paused and glanced curiously at the dog. “You must really care for her.”

Daisy plunked her helmet over her head and pulled the grille down over her face. “The events which brought us together may have been rushed and chaotic, but they were some of the most memorable of my entire life.”

Kanathara hummed thoughtfully as she felt her familiar take a sharp turn, Rarity’s screams echoing into the gorge. The demon couldn't help but feel a small sense of respect well in the space where her heart should be. Then she quickly stamped it out and reminded herself that she was here for a mission, not to make friends.

“Remember,” Kanathara began. “Do not look at me or anywhere near me until several seconds after the spell is complete. It may seem like a simple burst of colors, but witnessing that which should not be will render most mortals mad.”

“Most? So what happens to the rest?” someone asked.

“The exiled god that lives between realities will extend a part of itself into the mortal’s body and make them into an extension of his will,” Kanathara exclaimed.

“Don't look at the scary demon lady. Got it,” murmured the curious dog.

“Does that really happen?” Daisy whispered.

“Nah, they just shit themselves while puking their guts out,” Kanathara replied.

“Ah… Well, whenever you’re ready,” Daisy exclaimed, stepping away and pointedly looking at the ground.

The rest of her soldiers quickly followed suit, either by putting their back to the keeper of secrets, or covering their eyes completely. Either way, it wasn't long before Kanathara was certain the collateral damage would be minimal, and she lit her horn. The spell itself took a bit longer to prepare than usual, but after a minute of careful concentration, Kanathara was certain it was ready.

The pulsing, angry kaleidoscope of colors swirled up the base of her long blade-like horn where it gathered into an orb. It grew and shrunk as quickly as it changed colors, undulating violently before at long last it was released. Shooting only a few metres into the air, the ball exploded, showering Kanathara’s immediate area with an otherworldly rainbow.

“Oh, that's actually kind of pret-” muttered a dog before violently expelling the contents of his stomach into his helmet.

“Gods dammit,” Daisy muttered, staring down at the dog who was convulsing on the ground.

Kanathara shook her head as she watched the male violently ruin both his pants as well as the rest of his clothes.

“I warned him,” Kanathara remarked.

“Should we put him out of his misery before he turns?” whispered another of the diamond dogs.

“It's fine. Just place him on his side so he doesn't drown in his own puke,” Kanathara replied.

“Rex, Rudy, you two are on defence. I don't want to have to worry about this dumbass getting in the way,” Daisy exclaimed, lightly kicking the vomiting dog in the stomach. “As for everyone else. Look alive, our target should be here any-”

As if on cue, a powerful, high-pitched roar shook the ground, causing every mortal to clasp their paws over their ears. Kanathara, however, was mostly unaffected, allowing her to pick out the distant sound of what seemed like a second bellowed cry. It didn't last long, but it was enough to make Kanathara nervous, and she glanced over her shoulder back towards the north end of the gorge.

“Here it comes!” yelled one of the dogs.

“Get the nets ready. Kanathara, can you distract it while--What are you looking at?” Daisy barked.

“It seems as though we have attracted more than one serpentine beast,” Kanathara replied, pointing towards a horde of quarry eels slithering towards them.

“Damn it all. I hope Rarity is having more success than us,” Daisy remarked.

The high-pitched keen rattled the stone walls of the tiny alcove Rainbow Dash and Rarity were hiding in. The demon was unmoving, while her mortal companion covered her ears and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. After the scream died down, Rainbow Dash heard the thunderous crash of the approaching grootslang.

In mere seconds the beast had ascended from its home and was nearing their hiding place. Rarity remained surprisingly steadfast throughout it all, staying quiet and still even as the monster passed them by. Which was an event so brief that there was only a short flash of color before it was over.

The sound of its passage reverberated down the cavern for several seconds, Rainbow Dash remaining ready to leap at any moment. When the grootslang didn't return, she released a sigh and stepped out into the cave.

“Come on. We better move,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

We have complications over here. Move quickly, Kanathara mentally exclaimed.

“How are you so calm?” Rarity whispered, hastily trotting after her companion.

“This doesn't even rank in the top ten most dangerous things I’ve ever done. Now come on, the boss mentioned that things are already going sideways, so we gotta speed up,” Rainbow Dash declared, taking off at a trot.

“Right behind you, darling,” Rarity declared.

Together the pair hastily trotted down the winding cave at a surprisingly rapid pace, their speed increased by the easily traversed terrain. The ground was smooth, and there were no stalactites or stalagmites, only a fine layer of gravel that appeared every few feet. Rainbow Dash deduced that the stone spikes had likely been destroyed by the grootslang’s passage, as had most of the cave’s other features.

Thankfully it wasn't long before they reached the end where a large double door stood waiting for them.

“You didn't say anything about a door,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“There shouldn't be one,” Rarity murmured. “The report indicated that it was an old dragon lair, and that it was just one big room.”

“Something is definitely wrong,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“The chaos magic must have shifted the caves around somehow,” Rarity reasoned. “Either way, we have to press on, darling.”

Rainbow Dash willed her armor to extend over her body. “Whatever you say, lady.”

Author's Note

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Trial Fifteen: A Secret Millennia In The Making [R]

Kanathara stood atop the outermost wall of Canterlot City, her gaze sweeping over the merchant quarter before her. From her vantage point, she could see the devastated homes and businesses that had fallen victim to Nightmare Moon’s army. Though not overly numerous, the signs of fighting were still present in the form of burnt-out buildings or damaged structures.

The main point of conflict seemed to have been a marketplace several blocks away from her position. Blood-soaked cobblestone and smashed stalls were everywhere, as well as roving demons and their cultist overlords. The battle must have been fierce, as chunks of the road were missing, and several nearby properties had been destroyed.

Save for that, the fighting had likely been sporadic, as there were few other battlefields that Twilight noticed. The demonic presence was also minimal, with the more organized amongst them either falling back to the next wall or grouping up. Others were still searching through the rubble, looking for new slaves or living creatures to satiate their blood lust.

“I don't think they expected to lose the outer wall so quickly,” Rainbow Dash remarked, brushing aside enough snow that she could sit comfortably beside her mistress.

“It sure seems that way,” Kanathara agreed. “Those with half a brain are turning tail, though I’ve noticed that a large group is holding up near that apartment building.”

Rainbow Dash followed her mistress’ hoof to where hundreds of demons, cultists, and their imp slaves had gathered. Though numerous, there were few truly powerful demons in their midst, and a very select number of cultists. The mass of imps was also constantly on the move, flying from one house to another and occasionally returning with a new captive.

“Looks like they are trying to grab as many ponies as they can before they pull back,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“Dumb bastards,” Kanathara muttered.

“What do we do?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We’ll leave it up to the ponies,” Kanathara answered. “It's not necessary to save them, but morale will suffer if we don't at least make the attempt.”

“And the rest of our forces will continue pushing to the next barrier,” Rainbow Dash reasoned aloud.

Kanathara nodded. “I assume father had similar thoughts?”

“You two really do think alike, you know,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “He’s already doing exactly what you’ve just suggested.”

Kanathara hummed. “I suppose we should oversee the operation, though I don't think I’ll offer much in the way of help. I will need to conserve my magic to break that wall.”

“Ya mind if I lend a hoof? All these ponies' desire for vengeance is making me antsy,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Kanathara waved a dismissive hoof in the direction of the apartment building. “Go ahead. Just don't do anything too risky. I can't afford to have my best mare out of the fight this early on.”

“Love ya too,” Rainbow Dash retorted with a smirk.

Kanathara snorted. “Yeah yeah. Get outta here before I change my mind.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled as she leaped off the wall and glided down toward the growing mass of ponies below them. The motley battlegroup was swiftly assembling into a more organized army, their numbers swelling as more of them entered the city. Behind the gate, waiting for their chance to enter, was the rest of the army, or at least those who didn't have wings or the ability to simply leap over the wall. They would have to wait, as the pony volunteers were marching swiftly to their countrymen’s aid.

“Good luck,” Kanathara exclaimed, raising an invisible cup in toast.

Rainbow Dash hopped eagerly from hoof to hoof, watching from her position atop a small grocery store as the army moved around her. Paladins made up the central bulk of the group, their gleaming shields and sparkling armor drawing the focus of the demonic defenders. Who in turn rained spells and bolts from on high, harrying the slowly marching attackers pushing towards the front entrance.

Pegasi tested the defenses by swooping in but were repulsed by a build of imps each time. Magic flashed and sizzled, briefly illuminating the night with explosions of fire and lightning. More mundane missiles were fired back from hidden archers placed within the windows of nearby buildings.

“Screw this stupid waiting thing. I’m going in,” Rainbow Dash declared.

With a stomp of her hoof, the vengant’s armor descended across her form, encasing her in enchanted demonic metal. Now completely protected, the demon then took a running leap from the rooftop, her wings pumping hard. Hellfire erupted from the leathery membranes of her wings while smoke billowed out of the grille of her helmet.

No one moved to try and stop her, though Applejack muttered her disappointment from her position at the front of the advancing column. Save for a few half-whispered words of annoyance, nothing stood in the way of Rainbow Dash’s reckless charge. Bolts both magical and mundane bounced off her armor or simply splashed harmlessly against the demonic plates.

Even an unfortunate imp found itself turned to paste by the speeding bullet that was Rainbow Dash. A split second later, Rainbow Dash had blown past the meager defenses arrayed before her as well as the wall. Exploding plaster heralded the demon’s entry, catching a trio of cultists completely by surprise.

Rainbow Dash wasted little time dispatching the small group, starting with the unicorn, who she bucked through a wall. The pegasus assassin in their midst attempted to sneak around the vengant and stab her in the back, though she was not successful. Rainbow Dash saw this coming and snorted a burst of hellfire in her direction, igniting her clothes.

Now screaming and rolling around on the ground, the assassin was out of the fight, leaving only a single target. A large earth pony stallion wielding a shortsword which he quickly threw to the ground before running away. Rainbow Dash’s immediate urge was to chase after him, but the stink of sin was light upon his shoulders, unlike in his allies.

So she ignored him, allowing the terrified male to flee into the hall.

“You're going soft,” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. “Damned ponies.”

Her first urge was to continue her rampage, but with so many potential hostages, she was hesitant to do so. The added complications were a bothersome addition, but thankfully there was another option available to her. Above her head, several floors up, there was a complete absence of innocence and an overwhelming stink of sin.

“Jackpot,” Rainbow Dash remarked aloud.

She spread her wings as wide as possible and flexed her muscles, aiming her body straight up. As she prepared herself, demons and cultists alike poured into the room in a confused frenzy.

“You there, halt!” bellowed a pony soldier.

“Wait, that's a vengant,” added another.

“Screw this, let's head to the teleporters before we get left behind,” declared a third.

Rainbow Dash ignored them all, merely pouring her innate magic into her wings and hooves. With all six limbs burning hot, she pushed off the ground, launching herself into the air like a missile. The floor above her head did little to slow her advance, the wood exploding outward in a shower of splinters.

Safe inside her armored shell, Rainbow Dash barely even felt the impact, her wings pumping when she was between levels. The confused screaming of terrified pony cultists vanished the moment Rainbow Dash hit the floor above that one. More yelling and orders were barked, and more were ignored by the vengant who continued upward still.

The frequent explosions were hurting her forward momentum, but with hellfire still shooting out from all six limbs, she had thrust to spare. After the fourth floor was destroyed by her sudden assent, Rainbow Dash flared her wings, arresting her speed in an instant. Hovering in the air, she looked down on a pair of confused and startled creatures, one demonic, the other very mortal.

The middle-aged pony seemed to have at one point been a noble, as she still wore what looked like court attire. With a foppish wig, an overly polished breastplate, and an outfit dominated by blues and golds, she looked ready to go to a ball. Her associate, however, wore nothing but lengths of blackened iron chains that bound its form tightly and completely.

Barely an inch of flesh was visible to the naked eye; only its burning red eyes could be seen. Tall enough to be forced to bend over while within the apartment, the demonic entity was the first to react. Without a word having to be uttered, it flung a hook-bearing chain at Rainbow Dash who dodged it easily, weaving to the right.

“What, you're not going to beg for your life?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“Only a fool wastes their breath asking for mercy from a vengant,” uttered the chain demon, its voice sounding almost like two pieces of metal rubbing together to create sound.

“Now, Bethrreial, this is an Equestrian demon. Surely she is more reasonable than her infernal cousins,” offered the pony in a kind, almost gentle tone.

“Yeah, that's not happening,” Rainbow Dash declared. “The stink of sin is so heavy on you two that I could smell you from a block away. There is no way I'll let you leave here in a single piece.”

“Now now, surely there's something you desire,” pressed the pony, a wide smile remaining plastered to her face. “Money, power, eternal life, slaves, or-”

Rainbow Dash turned and spat a gout of hellfire into a darkened corner of what had once been someone’s living room. An equine form made of shadows leaped from its hiding spot, shrieking and rolling around as its body was consumed by flame.

“Never mind then. I’ll get the portal ready,” murmured the former noble. “We will have to make do with what stock we’ve already acquired.”

“Hurry,” declared the chain demon.

Rainbow Dash saved her breath and charged the demon, ignoring the screaming coming from the assassin she had torched. Again her foe sent out a hooked chain, though this time it twisted away and launched a second immediately after. Weaving around the hellfire-infused snort Rainbow Dash had shot his way, the chain demon managed to wrap a length of blackened iron around the vengant’s barrel.

Grunting in pain, Rainbow Dash lurched at the chain demon, forehooves outstretched and ready to crush his head. The second hook hitting her flank was enough to stop her dead in her tracks and drop her to the ground. The pain was excruciating, but the vengant had enough presence of mind to grab and shatter one of her bindings.

It was unfortunately replaced a moment later by another, and then a third, followed by a fourth. In what felt like a blink of an eye, nearly her entire body was encased in a layer of demonically infused metal. Chains snapped, and her struggles continued, but for each one that Rainbow Dash broke, another two took its place.

“Excellent work. Perhaps we should test the obedience collar on her rather than the rabble we’ve collected from this miserable quarter,” remarked the noble, a ripple appearing in the air a foot away from her.

The chain demon grunted, falling to one knee as it struggled to hold Rainbow Dash down. “Don't bother. Just get that portal opened already.”

“Right, it's almost ready,” replied the demon’s companion, horn still glowing brightly.

“Nothing. Can contain. Vengeance!” bellowed the vengant.

The chains wrapping around her body suddenly grew white hot before being shattered into a million pieces. Her foe was still reeling in shock and pain when Rainbow Dash slammed into it, hooves gripping either side of its head. With a sharp tug, the vengant forced the chains to part and reveal the other demon’s mouth and the razor-sharp teeth within.

It wasn't able to put those natural defenses to use, however, as Rainbow Dash exhaled a concentrated beam of hellfire straight down its throat. Eyes wide with terror, the chain demon struggled to escape the vengant’s grasp for several seconds before going slack. Its torso glowed brightly before melting away, sloughing off its upper half and flowing across the ground in a wave of liquid metal.

“Come on, come on,” muttered the pony.

Rainbow Dash snorted and turned her head, the grille of her helmet reforming around her mouth once more. “So, still think I’m reasonable?” Rainbow Dash asked with a chuckle.

“Uh, yes?” muttered the noble.

Rainbow Dash merely chuckled.

Kanathara sat outside in the snow, forehooves dangling off the lip of a nearby house, gaze sweeping over the apartment building just down the street. The battle had been brief and one-sided, with the paladins having led the charge to great effect. Dozens, possibly hundreds of demons lay dead or dying on the street, their forms slowly turning to ash.

Occasionally a particularly stupid slash brave imp or other winged creature would attempt to escape. They would be taken down by a bolt, the blade of a pegasus assassin, or a bored Kanathara. She was turning a particularly ugly imp inside out when she felt an anti-magic pulse roll over the area, disrupting her spell casting.

A moment later, the build-up of magical energy dissipated in an explosive manner. The entire block shook, and the apartment building seemed ready to collapse before stabilizing suddenly.

“Guess they got the teleporters,” Kanathara muttered.

Her musing was interrupted when a shape was suddenly launched out of one of the higher floors. Clad in blood-stained ceremonial armor and half a wig, the pony had likely been a noble at one point, Kanathara reasoned. Though now they were likely dead, and that was before they slammed into the wall of a clothing store followed by the ground.

Rainbow Dash emerged through the hole made by the pony before launching into the air with a powerful flap of her large wings. Diving down towards Kanathara’s position, Rainbow Dash arm-barred an unfortunate imp, splattering the contents of its head all over the street. A moment later, the vengant skidded to a stop atop the snow-covered roof Kanathara had been lounging on.

“Did you have fun?” Kanathara asked.

“Tons,” Rainbow Dash replied, her helmet recoiling to reveal her smiling face. “Can you believe they tried to bribe me? Me! I’m the least bribable creature in existence.”

“I don't know. I can usually get you to do just about anything with the promise of a kiss,” Kanathara retorted.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Yeah, probably.”

The vengant then plopped down next to her mistress and looked out over the street. “So, anything interesting happen while I was busy?”

“Not really,” Kanathara replied with a shrug. “They won fairly handily and without much outside help required. It will probably be a few minutes before they finish up and we can move on.”

“Wanna go see if we can steal a few guilty souls in the chaos?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Kanathara chuckled. “Always.”

Kanathara peered intently up at the magical barrier before her, as did Twilight Velvet. The pair inspected the wall critically, attempting to find some flaw in the underlying spellwork. Yet no matter how long their horns lit up and their inspection lasted, they continued to frown.

After a long while, Kanathara let the energy she had gathered dissipate, and she began a more mundane hunt. Using only her eyes, she searched along the physical wall which lay behind the magical one. Manned by the occasional cultist or bound demon, the enemy’s forces were gathered mainly near the largest guardhouse.

There dozens of hooded ponies stood gathered amongst the crenelations, occasionally peeking over the side. Despite only being a single block away from the ragtag army Kanathara had gathered, these other forces seemed relaxed. No weapons could be seen, and laughter could even be heard occasionally coming from the group.

“So, what do you think? Cocky or confident?” Velvet asked, gesturing to the cultists.

Kanathara snorted. “A little bit of both, I think. The barrier certainly seems invulnerable, but then again, there is more than one way to skin a cat.”

“A brutal metaphor, though perhaps an appropriate one, given the circumstances,” Velvet muttered. “I wonder what Blood Tithe has planned. He never really seemed like a true believer.”

“You haven't talked much about the stallion,” Kanathara pointed out.

“He is… aloof, childish almost. He makes it seem as though he treats everything like a game, though I know he is actually quite a serious fellow,” Velvet remarked. “That goes for almost his entire personality.”

“What do you mean?” Kanathara questioned.

“He wants everyone to underestimate him and acts accordingly. Had me fooled for probably a year or so before it became apparent that there was more to him than meets the eye,” Velvet answered.

“Interesting,” Kanathara murmured.

The sound of flapping wings heralded the arrival of Rainbow Dash, who landed to Kanathara’s right. A flurry of snow was kicked up by the demon’s entrance, though it was quickly melted by the faintly glowing vengant.

“Well, that was fun,” Rainbow Dash declared. “You should have seen those dumbasses run! One of them tried to hide in a barrel.”

“And what about the captives? Were they able to be saved?” Velvet inquired.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “The paladins managed to free the majority of them. I think a few of the would-be slavers managed to get away with a couple of hostages, but the portal was fairly close, so they’ll probably get caught soon.”

“Good,” Velvet stated.

“So, what's with the barrier? Think we can take it down?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’m not sure,” Kanathara admitted. “It has the usual wards against teleporting on the other side, and it's also incredibly well fortified. It may take a while to bring down.”

“Well, let's hope not. The ponies are all riled up after seeing what Nightmare Moon had planned for the civilians,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a snort. “Heck, I’m a little worked up too. We're dealing with some real psychos.”

“We should gather the other casters and start working on cracking this thing,” Kanathara remarked, gesturing across the street to the barrier. “I want to start on it as soon as possible, lest we get bogged down here.”

“Right, wouldn't want to get snowed in. The shit’s already starting to pile up,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“I’ll go gather the command staff,” Velvet offered.

“Good thinking,” Kanathara complimented.

The older mare began walking away, though she didn't make it more than a few feet before a magically enhanced voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Hello, hello, hello!” greeted a jovial masculine voice. “I see we have attracted quite the motley assortment of visitors this fine night.”

Velvet stopped and stared up at the gatehouse. “Wait, is that… Blood Tithe?”

“Welcome to Canterlot, or as Nightmare Moon calls it, the future sight of the world’s largest graveyard,” Blood Tithe continued. “I, personally, am not a fan of the name change though.”

“Yeah, that's him,” Velvet muttered.

“As you have become no doubt aware, there is a giant, impenetrable barrier stopping your advance! One so great, so powerful that it would take you weeks to bypass or destroy!” Blood Tithe continued.

“Get to the point!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“Oh ho ho! So impatient,” remarked the stallion atop the wall. “Fine, I will cut the preamble and offer you all a deal.”

“What kind of deal are you offering, Blood Tithe?” Velvet bellowed.

“Oh, is that little Velvet down there? How perfect. Do bring that wayward daughter of yours to the gatehouse entrance, and we can discuss things in a more personable manner,” exclaimed Blood Tithe.

Then, before anyone had a chance to respond, the distant shape turned and disappeared amidst the mass of black cloaks, who stood impassively atop the wall, staring silently down at the gathered army before them.

“I don't like it,” remarked Tirek, the centaur trotting up behind Kanathara. “Smells like a trap.”

“I don't think so,” Velvet retorted. “Blood Tithe has always been a bit of a trickster, but when he lays a trap, you don't learn of its existence before he springs it.”

“Then he's off his game,” Rainbow Dash declared with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Unlikely,” Velvet stated.

“Regardless,” Kanathara began, “we’ve got nothing to go on, and too much to lose if we end up stalled out here. We are attending this meeting and that is final.”

“Ya want me to sneak along for the ride?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“He’ll know,” Velvet remarked.

“No. We’ll handle this,” Kanathara declared.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “You're the boss.”

“I still don't like this,” Tirek grumbled.

“We’ll be fine. Come on,” Kanathara bade.

Together Kanathara and Velvet began to trot over to the guardhouse entrance, leaving the army behind. Kanathara simply levitated herself above the snowbound street, while Velvet somewhat awkwardly trod atop it. Regardless of how they traversed the difficult terrain, they soon found themselves standing before the barrier.

When nothing happened for several seconds, Kanathara glanced over her shoulder and looked back at her forces. Paladins, necromancers, militia, and every other cobbled-together group was arrayed across the street. They filled nearly every nook and cranny available, peering out at the barrier with curiosity as well as hope.

A magical surge brought Kanathara’s attention back to the barrier and the hole now visible in it. Standing on the other side was a smiling twenty-something stallion who wore a black top hat and a fluffy coat. The winter jacket was a similar shade of black as his headgear, though it also sported a tuft of bright red fur that rimmed the collar.

His coat was a soft, ashy grey, and what little of his mane they could see was as dark as his clothing. The only thing that really stood out, other than his rather silly-looking hat, was his bright crimson eyes. In the low light of the moon, they almost seemed to glow, giving his smile an eerie quality.

“Welcome, ladies,” he greeted, stepping back and gesturing towards the open door next to the sealed gate. “Please, do come in. I’ve put on the kettle and ordered a round of hors d'oeuvres.”

Kanathara snorted. “Lead the way.”

“As you wish,” Blood Tithe exclaimed.

The stallion then momentarily swept into a low bow and started to trot towards the entrance, leaving his guests to follow close behind. Kanathara immediately began to subtly cast a deadly spell but was stopped when Velvet bumped into her shoulder.

“Relax. Trust me,” she whispered.

For a moment the demon wanted to ignore her, to just kill the silly stallion anyway. Then she sighed and stowed away that urge, assuaging her bloodlust by wondering what secrets he may know and what she could pry out of him. Walking in silence, Kanathara entered the guardhouse and followed as Blood Tithe walked into a side office.

The space reserved for customs officers had been cleared of the usual desk and replaced by two couches. Between which sat a small coffee table where the aforementioned treats waited for them. The moment Kanathara stepped inside, she felt an unnatural warmth roll over her, setting off red flags in her mind.

“It's just a heating enchantment,” Blood Tithe remarked, falling into one of the couches and reclining. “Though if you wish to check for yourself, be my guest.”

Kanathara’s eyes narrowed, her horn burning brightly for a few seconds before finally allowing her frown to fall away. “So it is,” she said simply.

“Come, sit,” Velvet offered, patting the spot next to her.

Kanathara reluctantly did just that, staring intently at their host. “So, what is this deal?”

“Oh, it's not actually a deal, more of an… offer,” Blood Tithe exclaimed.

The stallion shed his jacket and grabbed a piece of dark chocolate from one of the plates. He tossed it into his mouth and chewed loudly before downing it with a gulp of fragrant, sweet-smelling tea.

“Go on, help yourself,” he urged.

Kanathara stared down at the platter of chocolates tempting the demon to reach out and indulge. Reluctantly, she gave in to that urge and grabbed a rather interesting piece of candy that sported bits of raspberry in it. After a brief magical scan, Kanathara bit into it and enjoyed the delicious sweetness that cascaded over her tongue.

Next to her, Velvet was doing the same, following it up with a tall cup of mint tea. Kanathara declined the drink offer, instead choosing to go back for seconds and then finally thirds. After she had eaten her fill and reluctantly took a small cup of steamed leaf water from her mother, Kanathara glanced back to their host.

“Feeling a bit more relaxed? Not tempted to blast me when I’m not looking?” Blood Tithe asked with a smirk.

“I wouldn't rule it out,” Kanathara muttered.

“She won’t,” Velvet exclaimed.

“That's great to hear. I would hate for our partnership to be marred by you murdering me before the ink even has a chance to dry,” Blood Tithe replied with a chuckle.

“Partnership? You must be joking,” Kanathara retorted.

Blood Tithe laughed aloud. “Oh, I do joke, but not this time. Though before we get to that, I should probably explain a bit of history about my organization and family.”

“I don't care,” Kanathara deadpanned, forehooves crossed over her chest.

“You will, for you see we are not quite so one-dimensional as we may look. Especially when you find out who our true founder is,” Blood Tithe teased, waggling a hoof at the keeper of secrets.

Velvet blinked and leaned forward in her seat. “Wait. You're telling me it wasn't that ancestor you mentioned all those years ago.”

“Yes, and no. My super great grandfather Bleak Wind did in fact establish the Blackguard, though he was only the cofounder, and back then our organization had a different name,” Blood Tithe explained, pausing to smirk at the pair. “Interested now, oh keeper of ancient secrets?”

Kanathara grumbled. “Yes,” she admitted reluctantly.

Blood Tithe chuckled. “Then I will stop beating around the bush and just get out with it. We were founded in part by Luna herself, and back then we were just called the Night Guard.”

“Wait… what?” Velvet exclaimed, standing from her seat. “But the Night Guard exists even today.”

“A front, created by Celestia to cover for our origins,” Blood Tithe dismissed.

“Wait. Why would she be covering for…” Kanathara’s eyes widened. “You and Celestia are working together! That's how they got the black hunger and the Elements!”

“And how you managed to bail me out of jail!” Velvet declared.

“Ha, you two really are as smart as they say,” Blood Tithe exclaimed, clopping his hooves together.

“Wait, so you're telling me this whole Blackguard thing was a thousand-year-old honey pot operation?” Kanathara asked.

“Pretty much,” Blood Tithe admitted with a shrug. “Celestia knew that Nightmare Moon would return eventually, so she pardoned what Night Guard survived the war and established the Blackguard. From there we’ve been secretly working with her to undermine Nightmare Moon and keep tabs on her operation.”

“But those slavers,” Kanathara pointed out.

“Were specifically told to stay behind just as you lot were entering the city,” Blood Tithe replied. “Giving you just barely enough time to catch and kill them before they could escape. Nice job, by the way.”

Velvet fell back onto the couch, a shocked expression plastered firmly to her face. “All this time, I thought I was spiting Celestia by joining you. And here I was, basically working for her since day one.”

“Oh, you were indeed delivering some well-earned spite to old fat flanks. She didn't want you to get involved at all and urged me to help convince you to stay home,” Blood Tithe admitted.

“Hold on a second. You were Shining Armor’s mystery contact,” Kanathara declared.

“Oh, he didn't know that it was me, but yes, I was,” Blood Tithe admitted.

“I’m not sure how to feel about this. I mean, I’m relieved, don't get me wrong, but wow… this is going to take some time to process,” Velvet muttered.

“Well, that's one thing we don't have a lot of at the moment,” Blood Tithe warned. “Nightmare Moon is doing a good job at kicking Celestia’s flank and besting the Royal Guard remnants. Even while the Blackguard is throwing a wrench into things and slowing her down.”

“So what now, we just group up and push to the castle together?” Kanathara inquired.

“Oh no, nothing quite so simple,” Blood Tithe exclaimed. “I have to keep control of what few of my generals Nightmare Moon hasn't mind-controlled or otherwise bought out. I won't leave you empty-hooved, however.”

The stallion then paused and retrieved a heavy tome from a black portal he conjured with magic. He then dropped the thing on the table, before adding a small black pearl to the pile of goodies.

“As you probably already guessed, I can't simply destroy the barrier myself, but I can at least give you the full details of the spell itself,” Blood Tithe continued, tapping the book.

“And the rock?” Kanathara asked.

“A one-time contact node that connects you to me,” Blood Tithe explained. “Keep it in case of an emergency, but know that using it will likely blow my cover, so do try to not get me killed.”

“We won't,” Velvet declared, snatching up the pearl and tucking it into a pocket of her armor.

“Good to hear,” Blood Tithe stated before rising suddenly. “Now then. That's about all the time we’ll have until you kill that vile bitch and save the world. Good luck by the way. We’re rootin’ for ya.”

“Thanks,” Kanathara concluded.

“I have so many questions,” Velvet confessed.

“Best keep them till after this whole debacle is over,” Blood Tithe warned. “I can only pull the wool over the big boss’ eyes for so long and we’re already pushing it.”

“Right, of course,” Velvet muttered. “Just, come here a sec.”

“Sure, I’ll take a hug,” Blood Tithe replied.

The cultist leader walked around the table and was about to open his forehooves when he received a hard slap to the cheek.

“That is for lying to me all this time,” Velvet declared. “And this is for finally making it right.”

She then leaned in and pulled the grinning stallion into a tight embrace.

“Ha, I knew you’d do something like that. Though I didn't think you had quite the backhoof,” Blood Tithe admitted while rubbing his bruised cheek.

“Unlike you, I took the physical training quite seriously,” Velvet retorted.

Blood Tithe chuckled mirthlessly. “Oh, I’d love to be able to, but I get a little busy running a con on one of the most powerful beings in existence.”

“Alright, let's go, Velvet,” Kanathara encouraged, tucking the book into her own pocket dimension. “He can't help us if you break his spine.”

Velvet grumbled but reluctantly released the stallion from her tight hold. “Fine, but you better not die on me before you answer my questions.”

“I’ll do my best,” Blood Tithe declared while giving Velvet a lazy salute.

“Right then, we can go now,” Velvet muttered.

Kanathara nodded and led the way back out into the cold. Once more in the frigid night, Kanathara paused to watch as the barrier slid shut behind her.

“So,” she began, “did you really have no idea?”

“I knew that there was something there, but I assumed he was attempting to usurp Nightmare Moon or steal her power somehow. Not… that,” Velvet admitted.

Kanathara chuckled and bumped her hip against Velvet’s. “You're getting slow in your old age.”

Velvet snorted. “And you're getting snippy. Come on, let's go knock this barrier down.”

“Sure thing, mom.”