There are No Monsters in Canterlot

Demoin sat in her room thinking over the past week's events. It had been her longest time in solitary yet. Normally she had a guest once a week, so this drawback probably had something to do with her talk to Twilight. They probably didn't know she was securely locked up. Now that they did, they didn't need to entertain her. Of course, that let her have all the time she needed to prepare. The wards around her little home stopped most outside magic from getting in unless they were linked with some particularly old magic. Like blood. She had used plenty of blood in her scrying nodes. The fact that it was all hers only helped.

A spark came from her skull, sending a blue arc around her head in a crude halo. She closed her eyes as the loop finished, allowing her to see out of her various nodes. She began looking through all of them. A fair few were nothing but dragon intestines, which was not something you wanted to see from the inside, but the rest had various views in Equestria. She stopped briefly to watch the orange pony work her farm. It was a simple life, one that failed to betray the fact she was an element of harmony. She let herself imagine a life like that for a moment. One where she could enjoy the simple things again. At least, enjoy them without giving in to incredible boredom. After you've lived a totally average life for a few centuries you get bored of it. A perpetual like her had one golden rule. Never stay bored. Down that road lies madness and hate.

She shifted her view quickly, moving to a small garden with a house beside it. She then sent a sliver of energy through it, causing it to slightly pulse in a blue light. With her message sent she sat back down. She supposed she should feel bad. She told the pony she couldn't escape, and that was true. But someone else breaking her out? That was so easy it made her laugh.

She never lied, but against a rookie with no clue how she worked? Well, if a lie could circle the world before the truth got its boots on then a half-truth would have finished twice and begun a calm vacation. She had a few hours before her message was received, and Twilight would most certainly be back soon. She thought about that for a moment. Twilight would definitely arrive first. That was the way of the wheel, a final confrontation before a quick retreat in defeat. Today was not the day she would be reunited. That came later. Today would be a phyric victory.

She took a few preparations, taking out her laspistol and placing it on the table. She then moved to her bed and made it neatly. She firmly believed that one shouldn't leave a mess if they're coming back. Then she sat at her table and began counting.

She barely reached two-hundred. Before the door to her cell was opened. Sure enough, The purple princess walked in, calmly shutting the door behind her. Demoin waved to her. "Ah, I assume spilling I was safely locked up here has been the reason for my lack of a visit?"

Twilight seemed to flinch at that, which Demoin found odd. She had been deserving of a life sentence, the poor ponies just didn't realize what that meant at the time. She shrugged it off as Twilight spoke. "Yes, it seemed the easiest way to test the theory. You never stay in your cell if you're left alone for more than a week."

Demoin nodded and plucked an apple from a burlap sack beside her. "Of course. Unless I had something to work on idle time is wasted. Though I suppose I have the time to spare."

Twilight moved closer. "I got that feeling last time. I had a few questions if you don't mind. Nothing prophetic, just stuff about you."

Demoin laughed. "Cheap questions equal cheap prices princess. My price is simple. In thirty minutes your gone, and right of refusal to answer a question you ask. I have things I must attend to here shortly. So many irons in the fire and whatnot."

Twilight stared at Demoin in confusion for a moment, before shaking her head. "Fine. I accept your terms." She pulled a few papers from a bag on her side and shuffled them onto the table. "First question, exactly how old are you?"

Demoin couldn't help it. She laughed. "I honestly have no answer. What are years to a being that has seen a planet rise and fall? What's a century to seeing the lifespan of a galaxy? I am older than your race by eons and older than your very sphere. I have seen time bow before me like water under a ship. I have no age, not one that even a little demi-mortal like you could understand."

Twilight stared Demoin with hard eyes. "You can't be serious."

Demoin looked at her calmly. "I do not lie little one. Lying takes effort that you aren't worth. But I have some measure of proof." Demoin calmly stood and reached into her combat web. She pulled out a single picture and looked at it for a moment. At that moment Twilight felt the anger emanating from her. There was the feeling of a pure unbridled rage that would have destroyed the room if it could only find a foothold in Demoin's mind. Twilight saw her fist clench, and it was gone.

Then the feeling returned, only stronger. Twilight no longer felt like a rock seeing a mountain. She felt as if she was looking at the night sky itself. There longer than any being had any right, and uncaring about the fact. She felt like she was looking at the universe itself, and it was looking right back at her. And like last time, it just disappeared. Leaving Twilight and Demoin, the latter of which calmly placed the picture back inside her web and nodded. "Proof enough?"

Twilight nodded dumbly and wrote down a small note. "Yes. I think that w-will do." For a second Demoin almost felt bad, but brushed it aside. She would be gone soon anyway, no reason to feel bad for mentally scarring her yet. Twilight finished her note and continued. "So then, how exactly did you get captured in the first place?"

Demoin didn't laugh at this one. If anything she looked embarrassed. "Well, you see. I had just landed here and knew I was going to get captured. It's just the natural order. So I walked around until I found a town. Once I did that I walked into the local bar, and drank their entire reserve of alcohol. When the guard showed up I challenged their leader to trial by combat. Then I died a few times before some bigass pony locked me away in his murder-dungeon."

Twilight stared. "A pony had a Murder Dungeon?"

Demoin nodded her head, her long hair rolling behind her. "Yep, some absolute prick by the name of Emerald. Think he was a king or some such nonsense, but I never paid attention. He was really bad at torture though. Thought beatings were the be all end all."

Twilight stared. King Emerald had been known as a bad king. If it wasn't for the fact that Princess Platinum had managed to save the kingdom so quickly after his death a coup would have been the next chapter in pony history. But finding out he had been the one to imprison her? That was a shock. "So how did you escape?"

Demoin smiled at that. "Which time? I wandered more in those days, plus they didn't have a way to put me in lockdown then. No none of you ponies even tried until Emerald annoyed me. Apparently slicing a kings throat with your own femur after a beating put me in a more secure cell."

Twilight stared at Demoin as if Demoin had just said something impossible, and began rapidly writing down notes. King Emerald's death had long been a talking point in historical circles. Every theory from assassination to an embarrassing accident had been passed around in scholarly meetings. Several more had led to the type of brawls that can only be held between academics who had never been in a true street fight. She paused in her musings and looked to Demoin again. "Did you say with your own femur?"

Demoin nodded as she slid her chair under the table. "Yes, he had managed to bludgeon my leg off after I refused to tell him how I became what I am. I wrenched the bone from it and sharpened it overnight. When he walked in the next day I slit his throat and sat down. After a pony came in to check on him I was left alone for a few days, then I got moved to a more normal cell. I didn't get a visitor after that for almost a hundred years." Demoin smiled at that. "Oh, the adventures I had then. But they'll pale in comparison to what will come."

Twilight paused again. She stared at Demoin, a tremor of fear in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Demoin smiled, stretching. "The cycle I've been waiting for is coming to an end. My friends have woken up and will begin hunting me down as we speak. I simply have to make a message that they'll see. I'm certain Brighteyes is already jumping around about our game of hide and seek, and Nareen has already polished his hook." Demoin reached the latch of her combat web, unhooking it and stripping into just her bodysuit. "In fact, I am very much excited to see them again. It's been what? Two thousand years? Maybe three? This worlds cycles didn't really start looping until recently, so its hard to keep up."

Twilight stared. "Thousands of years?" The question wasn't intentional, just the shock of seeing such an ancient being seeming so lax about its imprisonment seemed unreasonable.

Demoin nodded, folding her web up and placing it on the table. "Yes, awful short compared to some of the worst. The Lady of Pain herself locked me in a solitary sphere for a million years. That one was horrible. Only thing I ate that entire time was coconuts." Demoin finally seemed to have the web set up the way she wanted. "Now hurry along, please. I'd like to get this finished before long. Did you bring food?"

Twilight jumped back, before remembering the small food tray on her back. "Uhm, yes. I assumed you might want something fresher than your usual fare. I hope you don't mind salads..."

Demoin smiled easily. "Ah, by Luna your sweeter than you seem." Demoin grabbed the tray, and removed a single plate, before sitting on the ground and nodding.

Demoin began munching on the plate, with a simple smile on her face as Twilight stared. Demoin had sworn by Luna. But she was older than everything here. This demanded an answer, but who knew if that could be the straw that closed her off from any other questions. Demoin smiled and took a small break from eating. "I don't mind if you ask you know. Seeing a demi-mortal come to terms with something unfamiliar lost its interest long ago."

Twilight opened her mouth a few times before finally controlling herself. "Why'd you swear by Luna? You said you were the oldest thing here, and Luna is Celestia's younger sister."

Demoin's easy smile never faltered as she inspected a single plant in her salad. "This is Nightshade, just so you know. Its poisonous to me. Had I no plans I might eat it just to see you react to my painful death, but such petty cruelty wouldn't win me any favors." Demoin sat the poisonous plant on the floor beside her before nodding. "But yes, I am older than Princess Luna, ruler of Night. However, Luna herself has no titles. Luna is my Goddess. She heralds change. Good, bad, any and all change is her domain. I have gotten to see her, once."

Demoin grabbed at a piece of lettuce and nibbled the edge. "It was long ago, shortly after I ate the damned fruit of the tree of life. Luna herself was there, and her ever-shifting form looked to me. A million faces in a second, and a million thoughts in half that. She saw my masked face and walked up, slowly removing it. And all her faces smiled at my uncovered visage before my mask melted in her grasp. And like that I was free. No more mask to hide behind, leaving only me to face the wheel, and that is how it has been since. No fake names, no acting for others." Demoin slid the plate back to Twilight, before leaning back to look at the ceiling. "Luna saw my fate. To wander until madness plants its claws in my mind and I lose myself to its darkness. She saw that, and gave me a reason to live." Demoin raised a hand, and Twilight followed Demoins eyes.

There, painted in black and silver, was a sigil. Twilight saw it's intricate design, almost similar to Zebrican war tattoos. And as she looked, it changed slightly, one of the ends looping over itself, altering its look ever so slightly. Demoin chuckled, causing Twilight to jump. "Beautiful isn't it. Not many have looked up to see my sigil of Luna written above my head. It's everchanging essence letting me know that I am not alone. Luna has guided me well, and through her, I will get my due justice."

Twilight continued staring at the sigil as the center expanded, opening a hole in the center. "What justice is that?"

There was another laugh. "And that shall be your final question today Twilight. You'll want some rest. But my justice is what I deserve for my life." The sounds of boots shuffling over concrete sounded behind Twilight, but she never turned to look. Demoin's voice was conversational, or maybe even happy as she spoke her final line. "Death young Princess. I will die for my crimes with a smile on my face. And if Luna allows it, I will finally rest."

Twilight looked at Demoin, but she was laying on her bed. Twilight sighed and realized her interview was over for the day. She grabbed the plate from the floor and levitated it onto her tray and made her exit. As soon as the vault door closed Demoin smiled wide. "Coast is clear Discord."

With a snap, Demoin was looking at the closest thing to an ally she had in this world. Discord, local lord of chaos. Demoin smiled at him and bowed slightly. "Greetings vassal of my Lady, I have asked you here to even the scales from our last encounter."

Discord spun in place, his serpentine body coiling around himself. "Really now? Your calling on a debt from before both of my little vacations?"

Demoin nodded. "Yes, I simply wish you to transport me to a nearby field, and gift me a small knife."

Discords body uncoiled like a spring, causing him to bounce forward. "That's all? I was hoping for mass chaos! Something like that time you set fire to that forest, or your brief foray into necromancy."

Demoin groaned. "No Discord. A knife and a quick teleport to an empty field are all I need. And don't worry, it will definitely cause a scene for you to enjoy."

Discord sighed but nodded. "Fine, but I'm only doing this because I owe you one, then we're even."

With a single snap, Demoin was in a field, standing still beside a small stretch of road. Demoin looked at her feet, and a small leaf blade knife sat at her feet. She picked it up, inspecting the blade. With a steady hand, she cut a long gash across her forearm and began chanting. Nopony noticed the slight glow coming from the field, but every unicorn felt it when a magical surge spilled from over the field and coated the land. And everything saw the large demon rise from the field, flying upwards and letting loose a scream that could be heard around the world. The guards found Demoin's dead body an hour later, and she woke up back in her cell.