The Diabolic Shadow Spreads

Bozz returned from the Unformed Land with a start. “They’re here!”, he said under his breath as his head whipped around quickly, trying to find any sign of the nearby demon.

Zecora and Twilight both looked confused, startled even, with Zecora going to a collection of spears she kept near her storage area. Twilight tried to get a read on any sort of magic in the area, but all she could sense was this...pervasive foulness completely clouding her senses. She looked out the window and saw an entire segment of the forest swaying and shaking, a chorus of snapping twigs getting closer and closer.

Soon after that, a rock came sailing through one of the windows, striking the Princess of Friendship on the side of the head. It didn’t incapacitate her, but the sudden force against her head sent her reeling towards the wall, her instincts demanding that she get away from the windows.

Bozz cursed in his native tongue. He couldn’t get an accurate read on how many demons were out there. By this point, he had also put his back to the wall. Carefully, he moved towards the injured princess and said, “Don’t worry Twilight. I will help you fight them off. Where is Zecora?” When the zebra ran towards them and crouched down next to them, he whispered in his native tongue.

Twilight, still reeling from the blow to the head, listened to the two go back and forth through her haze. She knew little about their native tongues, but she could tell they were planning something. She saw Bozz go to the door after they were done, kneeling down and summoning his hounds. He looked to Zecora, who nodded her head and silently counted to three. On three, Bozz threw open the door and sent the dogs out, closing it just as quickly. Zecora, meanwhile, was looking out the window, her eyes darting around as her lips silently moving in indeterminate syllables.

It was then that Twilight understood the plan. She waited for them to get back in cover.

Zecora got there first as she gestured for Bozz to come in closer and said, “There are twelve of those...m-monsters out there/Tell me, friend Bozz, should we beware.”

The look on Bozz’s face was something that neither of the equines expected: a look of relief. Bozz nodded his head calmly and said, “Well, THAT is something that I can more than manage on my own.” He slowly went to the door and stood up, wind whistling through the window on the left where the rock flew in. With a deep breath, he stepped out and quickly shut the door. There were many sounds of demons yelling, dogs barking, and one of Bozz’s Gargantuan zombies howling, and then...silence.

Zecora and Twilight glanced at each other nervously. The silence had a weight to it that neither had felt very often, if at all. There was the combined dread of wondering what had happened to their new associate...and fearing their fates should he have failed. Gulping down her fear, Twilight carefully opened the door.

Bozz stood in the middle of the carnage, back turned to the hit. All across the ground were the bodies of the fallen that had been banging down their proverbial door not a few minutes prior. His dogs tore apart the various demons into nothing but scraps and bones, while the Gargantuan stood beside the Witch Doctor, his immense body heaving with every breath. After a brief moment, Bozz finally turned around to face the mares, his mask streaked with demonic blood. Had they not already gotten to know the good Doctor, this scene would have been terrifying.

Actually it was still terrifying.

Bozz took off his mask and drew a deep breath before quickly stepping into the hut. “We need to move.”, Bozz said in a rushed tone. “If there is a group of that size roaming the forest, chances are there is a bigger gathering nearby.”

Zecora shook her head and said, “No, Doctor, this cannot be/I simply cannot move, you see/For you need someone with no fear/To warn when demons are drawing near.”

Twilight began to nervously bite her nails as she added, “She is right, but we can’t risk her getting hurt or...or worse.” She paced the floor for a minute before an idea came to her. “Got it! We’ll have a squadron of guards set a perimeter around your hut, Zecora. If one of them spots the demons, they’ll fall back and assist you in reporting to us.”

Bozz wasn’t entirely sure about leaving any of these equines to the demons, but he had to admit that the plan was sound. With a small sigh, he said, “Alright. This is the best plan for our situation.” He then gazed out the window and said, “I do hope Max isn’t going through the same trials as us...”

Max was deep in discussion about the various schools of magic with Starlight Glimmer. They had spent the past hour just talking about all of the possible combinations of spells that the unicorn had tried. The sheer number of possibilities was staggering, if the stories she told him were any indication. After a humorous story involving a pig and a tree, he said, “Ah...your mind is an exceedingly fascinating one, Miss Glimmer. Such an enterprising mindset for magic development is something not often seen in my world, and I commend you greatly.”

Starlight couldn’t help but giggle and blush a bit at the compliment. She moved a bit of her mane behind her ear and said, “Well...I suppose I just like to discover new things rather than just...regurgitate the old lessons, Yknow?”

Max nodded his head and said to her, “I can understand that. It’s...painful to have so many desires and aspirations, only for—.”

A commotion had suddenly arisen from the town square. What was once an orchestra of joyous laughs and excited chatter had almost immediately turned into an absolute cacophony of panicked exclamations and commanding shouts.

Clearly concerned and disturbed by the sudden shift in atmosphere, Starlight ran to the door and threw it open. A large crowd had formed in the center of Ponyville and had started to move towards the castle. A majority of the townspeople were simply walking along, talking with panic dripping from their tone. The rest of the most able-bodied mares and stallions we’re closer to the middle, using ropes to try and contain...something.

When that something was cast in front of the steps of the castle, Starlight and Max both tentatively approached it. It was then that Maximillian recognized the foul creature.

“A Fallen Imp.”, he growled as he squatted over it. “A foul stain upon this world sent from the Burning Hells. Tell me...where your masters are.”, he added as he grabbed the face of the monster.

The monster responded to his command by promptly spitting in his face. To this, Maximillian responded by sending a bolt of electric energy through it. Not strong enough to kill, but certainly enough to cause pain. Despite this, the imp still cackled madly.

The Wizard wiped his face and said to the town, “Lock this beast up as effectively as you can. Me and my compatriot will see to him later.”

As the townsfolk started to put a sturdy cell together, Starlight walked up to Maximilian and said, “What...what in Celestia’s name IS that!?”

Max looked around before saying grimly, “A demon...and Hell is sure to follow behind.”