Harvester Of Souls, Bringer Of Hope

Chapters

Prologue: This Is The Tale Thus Far...
Act 1: A Camping Trip Gone Dark
Act 2: The Wolf Hunts The Bat
Act 3: The New Threat Of The De Ordine Lux
Act 4: A Countermeasure
Act 5: I'll Show You A Real Monster
Act 6: Locatiing De Ordine Tenebrae
Act 7: A Colossal Problem
Act 8: Defense Under The Dead Of Night

Prologue: This Is The Tale Thus Far...

The rain fell hard on a dark fall evening in a small town a ways away from Ponyville and Canterlot. The thunder crashed and the lightning struck furiously and repeatedly. The sound of heavy hoofsteps pounded against the road as a black horse with icy grey white flames on it’s have along with a mane and tail and eyes giving off the same flame comes to a slow trot. The figure riding the horse was hooded in complete shadow. Nothing but the icy blue glow in his eyes was visible. He turns the horse to wander into the town, his eyes fixated on the path ahead of him. It was as if he was waiting for something to happen here in this very place. What’s more is that the ponies that were out and about in the weather didn’t seem to notice him or the companion he was mounted on The horse lets out a snort and an ethereal neigh as it shakes slightly shakes its head side to side. The figure in question reaches into his cloak and pulls out a small black book that had a golden pentagram on the front of its casing. The iron claws of the hand now visible in the little light that came from a distant lamp post glimmered.

“Here...it will be happening here within the next ten seconds…”

The figure sat atop his mount with his head facing towards a vacant spot. But soon after about ten seconds, A stallion and what appeared to be his wife started walking into the opening, holding hands with one another sharing an umbrella. They smiled happily as they held one another closely as they kept dry as best as they could. The stallion even letting her have most of the coverage for herself. None of them even taking notice of the ominous figure that looked on to him.

Suddenly, a out of control cart was seen rolling down the street packed with all sorts of merchandise and foods that a merchant had lost his grip on. The large cart was heading right towards the couple. And all the figure could do was just watch on as it flew full speed towards the couple. The wife screamed in terror before her husband pushed her out of the cart’s path, doing the only thing he had time to do. There was a loud crash that echoed throughout the area they were in it. The sight5 that the figure beheld was one of horror. All he could do was dismount his horse, not even a splash was made when his feet hit the ground. What he saw, was the stallion bleeding from a head wound, bones shattered in many places along with blood flowing from his mouth and ears. The cart had damaged vital organs in his body and the injuries were too severe for him to make it to any medical facilities.

Silver..Silver hold on my love! We will get you some help! Just please...stay with me!”
The mare cried out as she took her beloved’s hands into hers as tears pour down her face while mixed in the rain. The cloaked figure slowly walked towards the mare and her fallen husband silently, the rain on the ground seemingly unaffected as he walked. A crowd slowly started to gather at the scene of the accident. The figure now stood directly over the dying stallion. The stallion’s eyes slowly glancing off to the side from his wife directly at him now.

“I suggest you say what you need to say to her now. You aren’t going to make it.”

Said the figure, a low and gravelly tone was heard as he removed his hood. Revealing it to be a moon elf with long white hair and sharp pointy ears who had strange black markings on his face. All the stallion could do at this point was accept that it was his time. He looked to his wife before giving her a weak smile and spoke his last words to her, squeezing one of her hands as tight as he could.

“I-I love...you so much Ice Pop...take care of our little girl and make...sure that..she grows up strong…”

His grip starts to loosen as he slowly starts to close his eyes. The figure kneels down and places his hand over the stallion’s eyes.The thunder and lightning clash at this very moment, giving anyone who notices a flash of the figure. Suddenly the soul of the stallion slowly rises from his chest and shoots up directly into the sky and into the heavens.

“Silver..? SILVER?! NO PLEASE! CELESTIA NO!”

She cried out as more tears started to pour from her eyes. She buried her face into the chest of her husband’s corpse as the moon elf stood to his feet and began to walk away from the scene. All he could do was turn his head back to the bawling mare and simply say…

“I..I am sorry…I am simply doing my job. It’s nothing personal.”

Said the figure before climbing back onto his horse and began to gallop off into the dark and rainy night after throwing his hood back over his face.

--A Year Before--

It was a beautiful fall afternoon at Canterlot castle. The leaves from the trees bore the natural fall colors and some of the leaves even decorated the white padded walkway which definitely made it quite a wonderful strolling path. The sound of heavy boots could be heard by the guard from their posts as a tall figure who wore nothing but pure black leather armor and a cloak that wrapped around most of his body and a deep hood that covered his face. Now normally, this would raise the suspicion of guards anywhere, no matter who it may be. But the guard knew who this person was. As the figure walked past them, they both saluted him with their fists to their chest.

“Sir Zemrite, good to see you as always, sir!”

The figure stops and looks at the guard and places a finger over his mouth with a whisper. A grin forming over his barely visible lips. The guard looks at him in slight confusion before he speaks quietly.

“Ssssh, they princesses are looking for me. The last thing we need is for them to find me and hold me down until I agree to change into my wolf form. I am having a lot of fun hiding from them. So don’t give me away!”

He said in a whisper as he began to sneak away from them once more. The guards cover their mouths but smile and chuckle behind their hands, only nodding to the hybrid in return before they watch him slink off into the gardens to hide from the princesses chasing him. Soon enough, both Celestia and Luna land on the path that Zemrite took into the gardens. They both look around frantically, but there was no sight nor sound of their beloved anywhere.

“Why does he have to be so good at sneaking and hiding, Tia?! It’s not fair!”

“I know what you mean, Lulu. But we will get him, he is going to let us snuggle him in that adorable wolf form of his whether he likes it or not!”

It wasn’t like he hated snuggling with them, but he loved to play with them and make them work for it. Little did they know that he was actually hiding in the shadows of any object that cast one. As long as there was even a sliver of shadow, he could use it to hide in. Once that walk past the shadow he was hiding in and vanish from sight, he slowly rises out of the shadow with a smirk on his face and begins to sneak off to hide somewhere else in the castle. Where would he go this time to elude his future brides? Perhaps return to the bedchambers they all three shared and watch them run about the castle grounds from the balcony? An excellent idea indeed.

He makes his way into the castle and up to the chamber balcony. He stares down at the wandering princesses as they stop every guard they come across to ask if they had seen him at all. They all shake their heads as Zemrite had put them up to denying seeing him at all. He leans against the balcony railing with his hands forward and just cracks a smug smile before bringing his fingers to his lips and lets out a loud echoing whistle which immediately got their attention.

“Come on, girls! You gotta be better than that to catch me!”

The both look up at him at the same time as the wings opened in surprise. Their eyes widened before they took flight and made their way towards him as fast as they could. Zemrite chuckles and runs back into the bedchambers quickly. He dives under the bed and into the shadow that it cast, watching the two of them frantically search the room for him. Once they had their backs turns to him, he slowly and quietly rises up behind them and wraps his arms around both of them, cupping one of their breasts in each of his hands before giving them a light roll and squeeze.

“Heheheh, I got you both now~.”

He said in a low, wicked tone of voice. This startled them at first, both of them making a rather adorable squeak. But they soon turned around and tackled him to the bed. They both giggled and snuggled up close to their fiance and nuzzled into his chest. The feeling of their soft, warm bodies against his was something that Zemrite loved very much and he could never, ever get enough of it.

“We gotcha now, handsome~!”

“Mhm! And you aren’t going anywhere for awhile!”

Luna and Celestia said as they pressed firmly against him. Zemrite was only too happy to oblige them and placed each hand on one of their flanks. They laid there for what seemed like hours, talking about the day’s events and what they had planned for the evening.

“If I remember correctly, you two and Cadence have a royal visit come from Maretonia coming up soon huh?”

Asked Zemrite as he idly kneaded and squeezed their rears

“That is correct. It is a very important visit. But we will be holding it at the Crystal Empire. And you should come to. Twilight and her friends will be joining us as well.”

Zemrite’s eyes lifted a bit as he heard that Twilight would be going as well. It has been quite a while since he has seen the young mare who had acquired alicorn status. He is extremely happy for her of course. But no matter what, that mare will always be someone special to him. Sure, he likes all of her friends but, she is definitely right up there with Celestia and Luna. After all, she is his first real friend in this world, so it is only natural.

“So Twi is going to be there huh? I can’t wait to see her again then. With my responsibilities here, I haven’t had a chance to wander on down to Ponyville and pay her and everyone else a visit.”

“You know, my sister and I wouldn’t mind if you took Twilight as a third lover~. In fact, we’d both welcome it. We know she is very special to you.”

Zemrite’s eyes widen in shock and quickly shook his head.

“I have my hands full with you two already! And besides, both of you give me all the love I could ever ask for. I love Twilight, but I love her in a different way than I love you two. But, I can’t imagine life without either of you.”

They both lets out a simultaneous ‘aawwww!’ and wrap their arms around him a bit tighter, continuing to nuzzle into their lover.

“So, how has your new found abilities been working out, Zemrite?”

Asked Luna with a curious gaze in her eyes. Zemrite blinked a few times before really thinking about it. His mind wandered as imagines of his training fly through his mind. He lets out a soft sigh.

“Well, I won’t lie and say it’s been a walk in the park. Being a reaper, it’s hard to maintain the side of my humanity in some cases simply because of the feeling I get when I have the power to take away life easier than I did before. And I can’t shake this feeling that sometime down the road, my abilities will have to come to do that. I just hope it won’t have to be innocent lives.”

Celestia’s gaze turns into a worried one as he said that.

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Well, a reaper may be a class I have been assigned. But do you know the true function of an actual reaper? They have a list of people who are scheduled to die, they go to them and take their souls and send them on their way to...wherever it is they are sent. Be it heaven or hell. And I am sure you remember me telling you what those places hold for the souls that go there. And given that there is no form of the grim reaper here in this world as far as I can tell, you beloved creator just might find that to be a rather appealing idea. When will they make it happen? Who knows.”

Both Celestia and Luna start thinking about what he had told them. In both of their minds, seeing him having to do those kinds of things..it frightened and worried them. They know that he is a capable warrior and a ruthless killer. But that is only when he is fighting to protect the ones he loves. But to be forced to end the lives of both innocent and none-innocent alike by a duty that is given to one being. That would strain one’s mentality and twist it into something rather dark and sinister.

“We won’t let that happen to you, Zemrite. Will we, Tia?”

“Oh no, we will make sure that our wolfy here never has to take the life of an innocent pony. That is our promise!”

Little did the two princesses know, that a year’s time from now, he’d have no choice in the matter. And that not only will he become a true reaper. But he will also have to deal with something that will threaten himself and all his loved ones.

Author's Note

A nice little foreshadowing right there!

May the darkness grant you peace.

Act 1: A Camping Trip Gone Dark

The forest was thick with the fall colors in the treetops along with the same colors on the ground from the falling leaves. The sound of hoofsteps and footsteps could be heard as Zemrite, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Applejack walked along the barely visible path. All three mares having packs on their back as Zemrite walks ahead of them. What were these four doing out this deep in the Whitetail Woods? Why camping of course!

It had been some time since Zemrite spent time with his close friends, especially Twilight. And when Applejack had offered to take them camping, Zemrite just couldn’t refuse. He needed a break from the posh lifestyle of living in a castle anyway. And it had been some time since he had ‘roughed it’. Though being what he is, this is something quite natural to him and he loved doing it. Zemrite stopped dead in his tracks before he lifted his nose in the air, a familiar smell coming across his nose.it smelled of..fresh spring water.

“Come on, not much further now. We will be set up way before the sun starts to set. That way we'll have some time to enjoy the day as well. I found this neat camping spot a while back. I*ts got a nice fresh spring water for drinking and oddly enough, a hot spring not too far away. Not sure how that works, but who am I to question this world after how long I have been in it?”

Applejack couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking of Rarity when he mentioned the hot spring, a smirk forming on her face in the process.

“Heheh, Ah can’t wait to tell her about this when we get back. She’ll kick herself for not wantin’ to come with us.”

“You got that right, AJ. She is definitely missing out on this!”

Dash responded, just as eager as her farm pony friend was. Twilight was happy to go along as well but, now that Zemrite came as well she definitely wanted to go. She had missed him so very much and couldn’t wait to catch up with him. Not only that, but she wanted to talk to him about something rather...personal with him.

Once they made it to the campsite, they began unpacking and setting up the tents. Zemrite was out in the woods gathering firewood for the night ahead. After all, he had planned on being the cook for the evening as well so he had packed plenty of ingredients for the meal he had planned on cooking for them all to enjoy. After collecting a few bundles of firewood, he ties them up with some thick vines that hung from the trees and slips them under his arms to carry them back.

He was about to head back to the site when he nose caught a whiff of something that smelled….familiar. And it was a scent that made his hair on his arms and the back of his neck stand on end. It smelled of a...vampire! Being what he is, he would never mistake that scent with how many have tried to kill him in the past. That must mean that a rift must have opened and let them into this world close by or something along those lines. Zemrite stuffed the firewood into his void satchel and began to creep towards the smell’s direction. His steps silent as he walked in a crouched position as he makes his way behind a rock. He peeks around to indeed see that his suspicions were...wrong? He did not see a vampire, but a couple of ponies..normal, everyday ponies. An earth pony male and a pegasus female just doing some camping of their own. And yet, the scent remained around them. He commits the scent to memory before he quickly and quietly starts head back to the others. He could not shake the feeling that those two could somehow possibly be victims to vampirism. And worse case scenario, he’d have to end up putting them out of their misery. The question is..how did a pony get infected with that curse?

Zwmrite made it back to camp to see that the tents were all set up and they had made themselves comfortable on a few logs that Applejack had sat in a somewhat circle. She was the first to take notice of Zemrite’s face that had an intense and focused expression on it as he sat the firewood down and sat up some of it before taking out the flint and started grinding it together to form sparks.

“Are you alright, sugarcube? You seem a bit more serious than usual. Did something’ happen out there?”

She asked with genuine concern. Zemrite shook his head before he finally got the smaller pieces of wood to light before adding the larger pieces. He places the flint back into his satchel and gives them all a light-hearted smile.

“Nah, nothing to worry about here. All I ask is that if you leave the campsite, do it in pairs. And please keep these with you at all times while we are here.”

He said before pulling out three necklaces that had a silver cross on them. These items were blessed by a cleric and repelled undead. They bothered him slightly, but not enough to really cause visible irritation. They all took the necklace and looked up at him in confusion.

“Why do we need to wear these things? I mean, I like a cool necklace as much as the other mare. But why? What’s going on?”

He looks at Rainbow and walks over to her and places a hand on her shoulder. She looks up at him and can see the urgency on his face.

“Just please...all of you. Put them on and don’t lose them. Think of them as a gift.”

“Girls, if Zemrite is asking us to wear them, he must have a good reason.”

Twilight said before tying it around her neck. The other two mares nod in agreement following Twilight’s lead. Twilight smiles at Zemrite who smiles in return. Twilight’s word seems to carry weight with her friends. SO he was happy that she encouraged them to put them on as well.

During dinner while they were having conversations, Zemrite slipped away and reached into his satchel pulling out a few pieces of striped paper that had some kind of strange writing on it. He places them around the trees that circle the campsite. Once he completes a circle, they all flashed before burning the inscriptions into the trees and vanishing. If he was a cleric, a simple spell would have taken care of all this. But being what he was...yeah.

An hour later, Zemrite was now resting in one of the hot springs close to the camp. His eyes closed as he listened to the sound of the night, listening for anything out of the ordinary. He heard a rustling of the bush which made him snap his eyes open to see Twilight approaching with her clothing in hand and her body wrapped up in a towel. He blinks a few times before blushing lightly.

“Well now, I’d think you and the other girls would prefer to take a bath without the presence of a male. And I told you to come out here in pairs, did I not?”

She giggles lightly and drops her towel right in front of him, revealing that soft and curvy bare form to him before sinking into the water across from him. She lets out a sigh of relief as she leans back against the rock before responding to him.

“Oh, hush. I know you have eyes for the princesses only. But sure that doesn’t mean you can’t look. Besides…”

She said before lowering her gaze, then lifts it back up to him with a bit of worry in it.

“I..I need to talk to you Zemrite.”

He could hear the genuine worry in ehr tone, he was now listening to her intently.

“What’s on your mind, Twi?”

“Well, ever since I became a princess, things have certainly been...very busy as of late. And I still don’t know what my role as a princess is in Equestria. The other three have reassured me that my time to know will come soon. ButI...I feel so lost. That is why I have come to you. You are my b4st friend, Zemrite. Please, give me some advice…”

Zemrite slowly stood up and walked over to Twilight. His gaze locked on hers as he kneels down in front of her, placing his hands on her upper arms. She blushes lightly at how close he was to her.

“Listen Twi. The only advice I can give you about this is that until your role is revealed, keep doing what you have been doing all along. You are a kind and compassionate mare who tries her best to make things work out between others. And no matter the obstacle, you prevail each and every time because you refuse to give up. And that is something to be proud of. Do you understand me? So until then, keep on going with what you can do to help others and bring a bit more happiness into the world.”

For someone that was so dark, his words were full of hope and light to her. She gave him a big smile and suddenly wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. She had been needing to hear those words from somepony..or rather someone else other than the ones that told her to not worry about it. Both of them didn’t even care that their bare bodies were touching. Twilight was just happy that her best friend gave her words of encouragement that she needed. They held each other in the hug for a while longer before they pull away from one another and sit next to each other in the hot spring. The moonlight shimmered in the water brilliantly and with the steam, it added a glowing bloom effect which causes a form of natural lighting to occur. They sat there for a while longer before deciding it was time to get out and get dressed. It was getting late and they needed to get back to camp.

On there way back, however, Zemrite caught that same scent that he had smelled earlier. He stops in his tracks and stood in front of Twilight with an arm in front of her in a protective manner. His ears twitched at every little sound he heard. He eventually caught the sounds of hoofsteps and the sound of rustling bushes surrounding them. And judging by their smell, they certainly weren’t part of Rainbow or Applejack.

“Twilight, listen to me and listen well..make sure you have that necklace with you. When I say run, you run right back to the campsite. Do you understand me?”

Twilight saw the change in Zemrite’s attitude. She looked up at him quickly with a look of worry before moving closer to him wondering what was going on. And what this feeling of being watched came from. Zemrite being what he is having already caught the hostile intent way before she did.

“Zemrite...what’s going on…?”

“Let's just keep moving for now. But if I say run, leave me behind and don’t look back. I will be fine,I promise. Just make sure that you and the others stay in the campsite. And do not leave the outer part of the trees that surround it.”

“No, I won’t leave you here to fend off whatever is out there while I run away!”

She exclaimed to him in protest. Zemrite was about to raise his voice at her to tell him to listen to him when two figures come out of the shadows. It was those two ponies he saw from earlier, but he noticed right away that their eyes were blood red and slit. And that they had vampire teeth peeking from their upper lips. They both smiled to Zemrite and Twilight as they approached. They clearly wanted more than just to hang out with fellow campers. Zemrite was quick to put himself in front of Twilight to protect her at all angles. His eyes fixated on the two ponies in front of them both.

“Whoever you two are, dinner isn’t going to be found here. I suggest you two go find someone else to sink your fangs into.”

The two ponies stop advancing towards them after Zemrite had called them out on what they were so easily. A look of shock on their faces before they narrowed their eyes at him.

“How do you know what we are..?”

Asked the male. Zemrite reached into his satchel and pulled out a sharpened wooden stake reinforced with metal bolts. Twilight was confused beyond all reason as to what was going on, but she could also see the kind of hunger in their eyes that spelled bad news for both her and Zemrite.

“You smell of blood and murderous intent. And even if you chose to run off and feed elsewhere, I’d have to hunt you down and kill you both before you spread your curse to others. Now then. Are you going to tell me who your liege is? The one who turned you? Or do I have to cut the answers out of you?”

“Well, we were going to skip you two, as there we two mares at the last campsite we saw. But there was some kind of barrier that we could not cross.”

“That’s good. I made sure you weren’t going to hurt them either. Now, answer my question, and then I shall release you from your curse.”

He said as he reached under his cloak and pulled out his trusty blade, Demon’s Demise. The two turned ponies stepped back a bit seeing to blade shimmer in the moonlight and the fiery aura that glowed a deep purple flowing around it.

“Be quick, I did not come out here to waste my time with bloodsuckers like you. I came here to enjoy some time with my friends. And you are taking away from that.”

His voice became dark and sinister. He maintained eye contact with both of them to keep their attention. Little did they know that tendrils of shadow started slithering towards them silently, getting ready to trap and ensnare them into a rooted position.

“Like we’d tell you were our mistress is and where she is located! It is thanks to her that we have gained power being reach of any mortal pony. Not to mention we possess the strength of earth ponies and magic of unicorns thanks to this dark gift she has shared with us.”

Said the pegasus mare as she leaned against her partner who Zemrite assumed was her mate. The fact that they seemed to be lovers did not stop him from his goal. This wasn’t his first vampire couple purge. He will not be burned by that by having his emotions and sympathy taken advantage of again. Suddenly she puts his blade up back under his cloak and smiles a fake smile at the couple.

“I can see that you two are very close. It would be wrong of me to kill such a loving couple. Vampire or not.”

They both stare at him with wide eyes of shock. They were speechless. Was he really going to let them go?

“You..you are really going to let us-.”

Suddenly the shadows wrap around the limbs and throat. They are lifted up from the ground kicking and struggling to break free of these sudden bonds. Zemrite’s smile fades away as he slowly starts to approach the couple. His leather armor stretching audibly with his movements as he takes out a couple of the same pieces of paper he had placed around the campsite before. He places one on each of their chests so that their powers would be neutralized. And judging by how well it worked, these two were lowly fledglings. Having probably been turned about a month or two ago.

“I lied. I could never allow ponies like you to roam this land turning other ponies into servants for your mistress.”

He said as he stood before them with a glare on his face. He readies the wooden stakes he had brought out earlier and looks back to Twilight who had the look of fear and shock on her face. Never before has she witnessed his abilities in such a brutal and menacing manner. She knew what he was and what he was capable of. But never in a million years did she think she ever would see this.

“Twilight, leave. Now. Go back to the campsite. I will be along shortly.”

He said in a rather callous tone before turning back to the vampire ponies who struggled even more when they saw the instrument of their death. The pegasus called out to Twilight, tears running down her cheeks as she struggled in the shadow’s grasp.

“Please, don’t let him do this! We just wanted to be together forever! That’s all! We promise we won’t try to hurt you or your friend! Just make him let us g-mmmff!”

Both she and her partner were silenced just as shadows coiled around their muzzles. Zemrite’s gaze remained on Twilight, this time a more firm stare was given by him.

“I said go back. I will not let you witness what I need to do here.”

“But Zemrite...they just-”

“I said GO!”

He bellowed out in a dark, growly tone. This was enough to make the purple pony nearly jump out of her fur before she turned tail and ran away from the scene. Once he couldn’t smell her scent anymore, he turns to the ponies who now looked at him with the fear of death in their eyes.

“If there is a place of paradise after this world that you two will go to, I hope they let you in and that you will enjoy all of eternity there forever. Take comfort in that.”

He said before he raised his hands with the stakes in them. The last thing those two saw, was the swift and precise downward thrusts of the tips of the stakes landing their mark. The struggling stopped, and all was silent but the spraying of blood hitting the once green grass below.

“It is done…”

He said before he lowers the corpses onto the ground and kneels down over them. He places his hands over them before the shadows swallowed them up slowly, pulling them into the ground leaving no trace of bloodshed to be seen. He was surely in for a lot of questions when he returned to camp. But he took comfort in knowing that if any other vampires were out there, they’d surely meet the same fate.

Author's Note

I am sure you are all itching to see this come out. I had planned on writing a few more chapters before I do. But I think this little taste will keep you satisfied as I work this sequel. So enjoy. :)

May the darkness grant you peace.

Act 2: The Wolf Hunts The Bat

Back at the Campsite, the girls who had joined Zemrite on this trip were fast asleep in their tent with one another. However, Zemrite was still wide awake and on guard with his hand on the hilt of his trusted blade, Demon’s Demise. The first was slowly starting to die out as he stood nearby. This was good for him at least show any predators try and make their way here, he’d have plenty of shadows to hide in as the moonlight had issues peeking through the thick canopy of leaves above. It was quiet, quiet enough to where Zemrite could he the light and rather adorable snoring of Twilight and others in the tent from the distance he was at. All he could do was just smile to himself.

“Without a care in the world…”

He said with a soft chuckle as he returned his attention to be on full alert. Just when he was about to lean against the tree nearby and close his eyes for a moment. A new smell came across his nose. His eyes glow brightly in the darkness as he reopens them, the soul blue aura fuming from them as he looks around them as he scans the immediate area. He sees the papers that he had created the ward with start to pulsate with soft light, indicating that something unholy other than himself was near. That and combined with this new smell suggested that it may be another of the vampire’s victims or the bloodsucker themselves. He sinks into the shadows quietly as to hide from the oncoming intruder hoping to get the drop on them should the have the ability to break his ward and make their way into the camp.

Zemrite waited for a while longer before catching movement off in the south direction. He carefully peeked his head out from the shadow he was hiding in to take a look/ From what he could tell, the figure was in a rather noble looking cloak. And from what he could tell about the physical form, they were female. He watched them approach closer to the camp, footsteps almost as silent as his usually were. Once the figure came within inches of the ward, she stopped and let out a low quiet hiss.

“Cursed holy magic. There must be some kind of cleric nearby with this soft, furred equines. I need to find them and dispose of them quickly. I have already lost the two I have made into thralls. I need to build an army if I am to become the queen of the night…”

Zemrite’s eyes narrowed at the voice and the russian accent that came along with it. He knew who he was dealing with now. Vlalka Bathory. The cold-blooded countess of Lestat Manor back in his world. A vampiress who commanded a legion of undead warriors and wizards be it other vampires, zombies, skeletons or ghouls. Perhaps she found her way here by the same means as all the other enemies Zemrite has fought to protect his home and loved ones. As she walks off to go and find the source of the ward magic that had prevented entry for her, Zemrite followed still enveloped in the shadows.

Soon enough, the vampiress found her way into a clearing far enough away from the campsite, her eyes still roaming for that supposed cleric. Zemrite saw this as a good time to reveal himself since they were far enough away from Twilight and the others. He rises from the ground slowly, now making his presence known to the vampiress who turned around to see the hybrid now standing there with eyes of disapproval. She offers him a wicked smile, thinking she had found an ally in darkness and a rather handsome one at that.

“Well well, look what we have here. I did not know that another from my world was here either. And what brings you out tonight, handsome? Doing a little bit of hunting yourself?”

She said as she began to walk with a sway of her hips around Zemrite while eyeing him up and down. She took into account at what kind of armor he was wearing and made note of any physical traits he possessed. So far, she couldn’t really tell what he was other than the shape of his ears and the paleness of his skin. However, the soul blue aura flowing from his eyes interested her. Her form was a rather generous hourglass shape. And her skin was as pale as his with her eyes being ruby red and her hair long and raven black. She had black eyeliner and eyeshadow and her claw-like nails were just as black. The typical vampire of the night of noble blood. What sealed the deal about her were those trademark fangs that gently pushed against her plush lips as she smiled at him.

“You won’t find who you are looking for to dispel those wards, countess Vlalka. There is no cleric around here.”

She tilts her head in confusion before attempting to lean in against him with her soft form. Bringing a hand up to caress his face along the underside of his jaw.

“Oh? Did you already end his miserable god-serving existence? If so, then I think I can…really take a liking to you~.”

Zemrite’s gaze met with hers. She was using her power ‘dark seduction’ to win over the hybrid. Unfortunately for her, that power did not work on one who already belonged to someone they cared deeply about. And in his case, that would be two others. Zemrite only took hold of her wrist before her hand could reach his cheek. He squeezed hard enough that the metal claws he wore sank into her flesh.

“There is no cleric because I set those wards up. You will not be harming my friends or any other pony here in this realm because I am going to tear you apart. You already claimed two victims who I had to put to eternal rest. Besides, I don’t feel like dying should I be found out I am having an affair with you. The princesses who I love so dearly would kill me on the spot.”

He pushes her back with a fair amount of force before pulling out his blade. Now realizing that he did not intend to help her, she draws out her own weapon with was a black rapier with a rose on the top of the hilt. She glares at him with an evil smile, bearing ehr teeth to him.

“You have given yourself to the pastel animals who walk on two legs? I can only imagine that you have already bedded these princesses you speak of. Disgusting, revolting, equines. Which makes you no more like them.”

Zemrite got into his fighting stance with his dagger and suddenly bear his own full sharp teeth to her. Once she saw those teeth, she knew exactly what he was now. This was going to be a tricky battle for both of them.

“Well, I am a garou after all. So fucking another animal is nothing unusual for me.”

He said in a mocking tone of voice. Vlalka only scoffed at him before they both started sidestepping in circles as they stared with intent to kill at each other. The wind starts to pick up in the clearing. The branches of the trees start to sway and the grass flows side to side as both of their auras start to spike and make a physical appearance. Zemrite’s a mixture of soul blue and black while Vlalka’s was pure crimson red.

“Once I kill you, those wards will fall and I will feast well and have three new toys to bend to my whim. Then I will proceed to bring every single one of these pitiful creatures to their knees~.”

“You won’t get the chance to touch them. I’ll snap that pretty neck of yours and show you what a real bite is…”

They both suddenly rush forward, Vlalka making the first move with a flurry of straight thrusts towards Zemrite's upper body. He reacts quickly with pinpoint blocking with his blade as he circles around her. He reacted to her attack by slashing up and down and left to right with quick movements. Short and rapid but in multiple successful hits. The way he moved and the way his cloak and lower armor flowed showed just how much of a shadow he resembled as he danced around her with ease. For someone as large as he is, he could move quickly. Then again, Vlalka while a master with the rapier rarely had to fight her own battle because of her legion of the undead. While Zemrite has been in the middle of the fray from the get-go and has faced enemies of all shapes and sizes. Vlalka starts to get angry at Zemrite as he continues to jump around her and slash small but many wounds into her flesh, essentially wearing down her regeneration abilities piece by piece, but quickly at the same time. Zemrite noticed the look on her face as well.

“What’s the matter, countess? I am a much larger target. You have that advantage. Maybe it’s because you are so used to having others do your dirty work for you, that you choose to wear so little clothing that doesn’t protect you.”

“Shut up you filthy mongrel! I am of noble blood and you will show me the respect I deserve! You are nothing but a mutt who need to learn their place and bow to their masters!”

She shouted as she started coming at him with precise slashes with the tip of her sword which gave off a dark purple glow after each swing. This indicated she was using a form of magical poison on her blade now. Should this strike Zemrite, it would cause the wound to bleed profusely and it’s target to become dizzy and vomit uncontrollably. Thankfully, Zemrite possessed visions of how to defeat this boss most likely from when his human self was playing him. So long as he continued to avoid her attack and keep striking her from behind, he was sure to wear her down and give the final blow

“Face it vampire bitch. You are outclassed here. This is MY territory you are fighting in. And I’ll be damned if you will ever get to sink your fangs into my friends.”

He said as he cuts deeply at the back of her knees which makes he fall to them. He appears behind her and leans in quickly as his jaws open wide and his sharp canine-like teeth sink into her cold flesh. She lets out a scream of pain as he starts to pull off the flesh leaving a gaping wound that starts spurting her precious blood all over the fresh green grass. He spits out the flesh he tore from ehr body and wipes his mouth clean of her blood after spitting out the rest of it from his mouth.

“You taste foul...no man in his right mind would ever want to be with someone like you. Now then, to rid this world of you so that no more of you kind can plague it…”

Zemrite was going to get ready to stake her heart just as he did with her fledglings earlier that night. But something took hold of him. Something inside him made him stay his hand for the weapon, but instead, his right hand was surrounded in a blue flame which immediately reached through Vlalka’s chest and began to pull on...something. Once he pulled it out, it was her...soul! Dripping of phantom blood and black as night. Once he pulled it fully free, her body stopped moving entirely. Suddenly, Zemrite opened up his mouth as wide as possible and the soul while trying to escape, was consumed and sent to...no one knows where never to be seen again.

Once the soul was consumed, Zemrite’s mind was riddled with visions of undead, warriors, wizard, and clerics being slain by them and the drinking of their blood by the countess herself. And one thing that truly set him off was that she bathed in the blood of the innocent. But human servants and humans from other villages. Once the visions fade away, he places a hand to his head and shakes it lightly. What he had just witness are all the horrible things she had done in ehr life and was now given a choice on what to do with her soul. Either to consume fully, lost in damnation forever, or to send it to the paradise afterlife. It was clear to him on where to send it. He chose to consume it fully. Once he did, the aura around his eyes flared up and he felt a small surge in power grow within him. Suddenly, a fully cloaked figure appeared in front of him, holding a scythe and gave a low chuckle

“Well done, new reaper. Soon enough, you will be taking over my position as this world’s grim reaper if you keep this up. And I will finally be able to retire after an eternity! But as of right now, you are on your probation period. Should you send the wrongs soul to the wrong place, you will be marked by the divine ones for death yourself. Good luck out there!”

Before he could protest, the figure disappeared into a puff of black mist leaving Zemrite in a confused and dumbfounded state.

“What the nine hells…?”

Was all he could say to this whole thing. Becoming this world’s grim reaper? Hell no! That was not on his career track at all! He lets out a sigh of annoyance before he crouches over the now lifeless body of Vlalka and places a hand over her corpse. Suddenly the shadow wraps around her and pull her into the ground burying her without even having to dig up the dirt to do so. Once he had finished with that, he leans against a large nearby tree and slides down until he is sitting as he finally has the time to catch a break. The sun was starting to peek through the small openings of the top of the trees before too long which annoyed Zemrite slightly. He gets up and makes his way back towards the camp.

Once he got there, he saw that Twilight and the others were refreshed and packing up the site to head back home. Applejack was the first to lay eyes on Zemrite with a wide smile, happy to greet him on this fine morning.

“Good mornin’ Z! Sleep wel-...?”

Once she gets a better view of him when he steps into the light, she sees that he was covered in blood and looked like he was completely exhausted. She drops her bag and runs over to him with a look of concern on her face, trying to find any wounds on him.

“What in the hay happened to you, sugarcube?! You are covered in blood from head to toe!”

She exclaimed. Twilight and Dash hearing this and quickly making their way over to him as well. All three of them began patting him down trying to find any injuries that could be severe. They were happy to not have found any. But he looked so...tired and burnt out of energy. They could definitely see it in his eyes. He finally offers them a light smile and responds.

“Hunting. Keeping you three safe. Thankfully there is nothing else to worry about for now...I am just ready to head home and get some rest. Let’s get out of here. I am ready to crash and snuggle with my two favorite ponies…”

The rest of the way home, Zemrite was quiet. With both exhaustion and the worlds of the cloaked figure on his mind, what was he supposed to tell Luna and Celestia? That he will soon become the one who claims the souls of the deceased and taking life as an eternal duty?

“I need sleep...lots of sleep when I get home.”

He said as he just vanishes into the shadows once he and the girls parted ways.

Author's Note

Finally got around to posting another chapter on this one. :D

May the darkness grant you peace.

Act 3: The New Threat Of The De Ordine Lux

Zemrite slow opens his eyes, grunting in pain as he becomes conscious once more. His vision was blurry, but he could tell his surroundings were bright and full of some kind of light. His sat on the back of his feet on his knees, his hands bound and tied to a smooth white pillar in the middle of what appeared to be a golden white magical circle. Stripped of his weapons and armor, leaving him only with his black pants and boots. His lifts his head up with a low grumble of pain as he feels the pain of his cuts and bruises on his body. His hair loose and draped over his face as he gazes around after his vision had cleared. Where was he? And what had happened before he had passed out. He struggles in his bonds and lets out an annoyed growl at all this holy light flashing upon him. Soon enough, his ears picked up the sound of multiple set of footsteps approaching him from all sides. Once they came into view, they were ponies who were dressed in white and gold robes and hoods. The hoods were accented with double helix accents with what appeared to be opened wings on the top of them also in gold. The hybrid didn’t even need to ask what kind of ponies they were. The way they were dressed, this annoying holy magic it was clear.

“So, you are just a bunch of fanatics using holy magic and calling your cause ‘righteous and just’. That much I can see just by looking at your attire and the magic you all use. You know, your princesses aren’t going to be happy that you have taken their fiance and harmed him in such a manner.”

He suddenly felt the lash of a whip hit his back was already covered in the previous marks from before. He lets out a low growl of pain, but smiled through it all. His sharp teeth bared to the stallion who now stood in front of him.

“You will not speak of our princesses so lightly and so familiarly to us. You filth of the shadows and darkness have no business with them, let alone being their betrothed. To think that you have touched them with your filthy hands...it’s unthinkable!”

Zemrite chuckled lowly with a wicked smile on his face and an all-knowing expression.

“Oh, I have done plenty more than touch them. We are quite active in the bedchamber every other night. I can’t tell you how many times I have ‘defiled’ your princesses that you so overly obsessed with. But judging by your outfits and everything else here, you don’t even care about Luna. She is just as important as Celestia is. So I have already found a hole in your little cult here. Pathi-.”

He was cut off by a kick to the left cheek from the pony who had whipped his back earlier. The pony in front of him looked down at the hybrid in absolute destain for Zemrite once he heard those words about what he did with the princesses. Zemrite only chuckled again as he slowly turned his head back to face the stallion in front of him with blood dripping from the side of his mouth.

“You will pay dearly for your transgressions, fiend. While it is true we care of the sister of light more so than her...lesser sister. She is still one of the princesses. And the fact that you have-.”

Zemrite suddenly leans up and spits a mouthful of blood right into the face of the stallion in front of him, the big red gob landing smack in the middle of his muzzle and splattering all over his face and robe.

“ Did you just call her ‘lesser’..? You and all of your little fanatics can burn in the lowest circle of hell. Both of them are just as wonderful and beautiful mares as can be. Neither is greater or lesser. I will find a way out of this and when I do. I am going to kill every single one of you who talk bad about my princess of the night. But anyway, back to telling you how much time I spend with MY beloved Tia. Oh, she loves my every touch. From a soft, warm embrace to those rough but loving fondlings of her sweet curves. It truly is wonderful. Something you will never get to experience.”

This time, a strike to the ribs by a hoof from the stallion with the whip came next. Zemrite growled out in pain, but with a wicked smile on his face. All was going according to plan. Little did they know that the hybrid was using an ability that he had called ‘Blood Reaver’. This ability activates and grows depending on how much pain it’s caster can take. Mostly depending on their will and threshold of pain. This ability was more of a ‘last resort withdraw’ more than anything and it granted it’s caster the temporary ability to bend space and time.

‘Just a little more…”

He thought to himself. And the next words that came out of his mouth were surely going to be enough to gain what he needed. He looks up at the stallion again and continues to smile that wicked smile.

“The best part about it? She can’t get enough of this wolf’s cock. And nor can ehr sister. They beg and plead for it to breed and rut them, then they put their beautiful faces between my legs and worship me with they muzzles just as they should. The musk, the powerful scent. They can’t get enough.”

That’s enough! Shut your filthy mouth you disgusting creature!”

Both the stallion in front of him and beside him start hitting and kicking him for a minute. After that, they back off to reveal a more beaten Zemrite who still had that same smile on his face. He then starts to laugh loudly and licks the blood from his lips.

“I hope you are happy with how many hits you got in. Because those were your last ones!”

Before they could even react, Zemrite breaks through the rope he had been secretly cutting with his claws to weaken the bonds and leaps forward, thrusting his hand through the chests of the two stallions closest to him and suddenly vanishing into a blood-like mist. The sound of snapping necks and flesh being torn through was heard as he teleported behind each of the others in the room and killed them instantly within the time limit. But with all the damage he had taken. He was going to have a hard time getting out if he did not find his satchel along with his other belongings. He limped through the corridors which were brightly lit. So he had no shadows to hide in should any other member of this crazy order find him. Luckily as he cautiously made his way through, there was plenty of objects that could hide him should he run into any of them. After wandering the halls for a while, he hears a set of hoofsteps heading his way. This may be his only chance for some info, so he hides behind a large statue that had a space behind it against the wall. Once the robbed figure walks past him, he reaches out with both hands and covers their muzzle quickly and places his claws right on their neck directly above the jugular vein.

“You have one chance to live. Tell me where I can find my belongings and I will spare your life. Otherwise, I tear out your throat and continue on with my search. Scream and call for help, I will do the very same as well. Nod if you comply.”

The figure was shaking in fear, but they nodded rapidly. Zemrite removes his hand from their muzzle and brings it up to their eyes to blind them. They began to speak.

“I-I don’t know who you are..but I am here undercover to find my friend and captain of our squad. My partners and I have been sent by the princesses to help find a stallion called Zemrite. I am no threat to you, please let me go…”

That voice...it couldn’t be….it was! His voice suddenly changed from low and growly to normal when he spoke. He then turned her to face him directly. It was the young mage whom he had fought beside when the greenskins tried to invade. There was no mistaking those icy blue and fiery orange eyes of hers.

“Blazing? What in the nine hells are you doing here? They sent the others here as well?”

Once she got a look at him, the young mage gave a wide smile and a happy gasp. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged as tight as she could, nuzzling her cheek into his chest as her long black tail sways behind her.

“Zemrite, it’s you! I am so so happy to see you have made it out!”

He lets out a grunt of pain. She quickly steps away to see that he was covered in bruises and wounds, that smile turning into a frown and tears nearly welling up in her eyes.

“T-they did this to you..?”

“Yeah, they banged me up pretty good. But they all paid for it with their lives. But no time to talk, Blazing. We need to find my things and get out of here. I will feel better after I get one of my potions from my satchel.”

“Oh! You mean this?”

She asked as she reached into her robe and pulled out his void satchel. He blinks a few times and takes it into his hands. He looks it over...yep, this was indeed his alright. The seal wasn’t even broken!

“How did you….when did you?”

“Well, I sunk one of their robes and posed as a new member. One of them showed me around and when we got to the room they kept on the ‘evil stuff’ in, I saw your satchel. So I knocked the stallion out with a good smack to the head with my staff and I came to find you...only to realize I didn’t know my way fully around here…”

She said as she lowered her head in shame. But was soon relieved once she felt his hand rest atop her head and pet her.

“Thank you, Blazing...you and the others. Give me a moment will you?”

After chugging down one of his healing potions and getting his clothing and armor on. He flexes his fingers, the sharp cold metal grinding together from the metal claws of his gloves making him smile.

“Muuuch better~. Now, where are the others located?”

“They are back at the camp we set off quite a walk from here. We all agreed that the further away we were from this place, the harder it would be for them to track us. The kingdom has had trouble with this group before. To think they’d have the nerve to take you. They must be growing bolder.”

“Yeah, I remember now how they did it. They used some kind of holy spell. And...I remember two canterlot royal knights. I was in a rather secluded part of the castle...I can’t remember the faces. Then I suddenly woke up here. Battered and bruised.”

They continued their conversation as they finally found their way out of the underground structure. Apparently, this place was deep within the Everfree Forest. The sights and smells for Zemrite made that perfectly clear. That wasn’t the only smell he caught though…

“So, you aren’t here to be one of us after all. That is quite a shame my little filly.”

The sound of hoofsteps and clinking armor was heard from all directions as eight heavily armored stallions come out of hiding and surround them in a circle. The only one wearing a bright gold mantle must have been their commander. And the way he spoke, it rubbed Zemrite the wrong way. Posh, pompous, cocky, arrogant. These things Zemrite hatted with passion. And the way the commander carried himself all pointed to that.

“Maybe it’s because you don’t offer the right amount of bits or your dental plan is garbage.”

Zemrite joked with a smile. After which he assumed a defensive position as he drew his trusted Demon’s Demise. Blazing drew her staff as well as they stallions slowly drew in.

“Ha, the fact that we are able to keep monsters like you from existing any longer is more than enough to keep our order happy and our morale high. A wretch like you doesn’t even deserve to even look at the princesses let along be their fiance. I figured when I had you brought here, you’d be done for good. But, it looks like I will have to do the job myself!”

He said as he drew his sword, the others doing so as well. Zemrite smiled wickedly after he had taken in all the visual details of the stallion. He knew who this was and now that he did, he could use that as leverage. Zemrite may be a reaper, but at his base, he is still a rogue. And they make a point to know things.

“Ah, now it all makes sense. You have hated me ever since I started staying at the castle if not before then. Tell me sargent Shatter Shield. How is your wife and daughter these days? Do they know about your little coup here? Perhaps I ought to swing by your residence and pay your wife a little visit. I bet she truly gets lonely without her husband there. Such a beautiful mare…”

He says as he twirls his blade in his hand.

“You filthy honorless fiend. I shall kill you where you stand and mount your body on a pyre and enjoy watching you burn!”

Zemrite puts his fingers to his mouth and whistles loudly. Suddenly the sound of thundering hooves starts heading towards them from the opening of the forest. A large black horse with a grey flaming mane and tail along with fiery eyes charges forth, letting out a demonic whinny as it trampled over one of the stallions. She reared back and slammed her front hooves directly into the stallion’s face, crushing it and delivering a killing blow. Zemrite jumped onto her back after picking up Blazing and setting her in the front.

“See, now that I know who you are. I can report this to the princesses. They will hunt all fo you down and end your pathetic order. See you around, Shatter Shield. I will take…’good care’ of your wife. Hyaa!”

He shouted as he kicked the Nightmare’s sides. It took off leaving a trail of fire behind it.

“Get him NOOOOOWW!”

Shatter shouted. The pegasi stallions flew after him as he rode off on horseback. Soon enough they caught up to him and the fighting in the air and horseback began. As they got closer, Zemrite slowly stood up on the horse’s back and maintain a perfect balance. He drew his weapon once more and chuckled lowly

”Come on!”

He said as they pegasi drew in closer. With every swing of their sword, Zemrite parried it expertly, the sparks from the metal colliding and sliding against each other lighting the area around them slightly and the sound of the metal clashing echoed through the forest. One thing that threw them off was the fact that Zemrite was able to do this WHILE standing on the back of his mount. This repeated over and over for a while. They couldn’t get through his defenses or even slow the nightmare down because Zemrite wouldn’t even let them get near her.

“This has been fun, but I think I cannot afford to allow you to know my current location and report back to your leader, so…”

With that, he draws his bow and readies two arrows in one go. He draws them back and focuses hard. He brings in slowly and exhales, waiting for that proper moment. As he does this, time seems to slow down for him. And just as they were flying right next to each other, he releases the arrows. Both of them flying forward swift and true with the marks practically flying towards them. And land them they did, right into the eye slots of their helmets. Blood exploded from the eye holes and they immediately go tumbling down to the ground, motionless. Zemrite hopes back down onto the nightmare’s back and resumes control.

“Now then, to head to the camp and debrief the ground on what we know. Show me the way, Blazing.”

The young mare was incredibly speechless at the type of combat that he had just displayed. First off, they were riding some kind of equine creature, this freaked her out enough. BUT the fact that he could do all that WHILE she galloped through the forest? Just what in all of Equestria is he?! She shook her head and came back to her senses and told him the direction to go.

“Just what was that you did back there…? I have never seen any pony do that kind of stuff before. It was amazing!”

“I will explain it all when we are back at your camp. But for now, let us ride forth.”

Act 4: A Countermeasure

It was mid-afternoon when Shatter Shield made his way to his home in a hurry. He ran through the streets of Canterlot pushing other ponies out of his way to get home and gather what he needed and his wife as well. A look of panic upon his face as he opens the door to hear….laughing? And it was more than one voice. He comes into the inning area to see his wife and...Zemrite sitting t the table, smiling and laughing as their conversation went on. His bow leaning against the side of the table and a warm smile on his face as he spoke to her, his hands clasped around a teacup filled with green tea

“Oh, don’t you worry. We will make sure all the issues are taken care of. Your husband will certainly be doing his best as well. After all…”

Zemrite’s gaze shifted to the stallion as he walked in.

“He is a loyal member of the royal guard. I would never dishonor that position.”

He said as he sipped on the tea for a moment. His wife was completely in the dark on what had just happened earlier that day. But the fact that Zemrite made good on his words made the stallion shake in his armor. She looks over at her husband just as soon as he stops shaking and gets up to greet him with a hug and a kiss. A gaze of love from her meeting his.

“Oh no, it has been his dream to be part of the royal guard ever since he was a colt! And with how hard he has worked for it, I believe he would never, ever do such a thing! I know he loves this kingdom just as much as he loves me. Isn’t that right my dear?”

“O-of course I do. And I always plan to keep you and it safe from any beings or creatures of evil.”

“Oh, this is Zemrite by the way. I finally got to meet the tall, dark, and handsome fiance of our princesses. He came to visit and check on me since you have been so busy as of late. Isn’t that kind of him?”

Zemrite chuckled lightly and finished off his tea before standing up and placing his bow on his back.

“Well, I must leave for now. May I speak with your husband alone for a moment, ma’am? It’s royal guard business.”

“Oh, of course! It was nice to meet you again, Sir Zemrite! Come by again and I will make you more tea!”

She said with a bow. Zemrite lifted a hand up and shook it side to side, dismissing the bow.

“Oh no, that is not necessary. You don’t have to bow in front of me, I...don’t really see any purpose in it.”

“Oh, he is so humble too! Very well, I will leave you two to your talk. I need to go out anyway and gather some groceries for dinner tonight. See you soon, honey!”

She said as she grabbed her purse and slipped out the door, leaving the two of them alone. Suddenly, tension filled the air. It was thick enough that you could cut it with a knife and still have issues getting through it. Zemrite crossed his arms and the smile he had before vanished.

“So,do you plan on telling her your real intentions? Or when the royal guards come to take you away, you will leave her in confusion and disbelief that her husband is a traitor? And don’t bother running away. I have my network of rogues and spies all over the city and are very informed of your actions. And they will stop you from leaving.”

“How dare you come into my home like this. Mark my words, I will be the one to wipe you from existence. And the order will have served its purpose in protecting our beloved princess from somepony like you. I will make your death slow and painful…”

Zemrite walked up to Shatter and took hold of the front of his cloak and lifted him up off his hooves. He bared his sharp teeth a gave a low growl as if he was in his garou form. Shatter gulps and grabs at his arm to try and pull away from him, lightly kicking his hooves.

“If I remember correctly, you are in no position to be making threats. I could kill you right here and now. And tell the princesses I was merely disposing of a threat to the kingdom. But that would be a waste, now wouldn’t it? You can save yourself and run with your wife...IF you give me information about this…”De Ordine Lux’ you are a part of…”

He reaches up with his other hand and extends his middle and index finger out and arches them over the stallion’s eyes, the sharp, bladed metal mere inches away from the soft, fleshy orbs. Shatter’s struggling became rougher now as his gaze locked onto those metal claws in terror.

“Tell me everything you know now. Or when they bring you to the interrogation room in the dungeons, these will be the first thing I ruin. Just think, you won’t be able to see your beautiful wife ever again. Plus, if you tell me everything I need to know now, I will not report your betrayal to the princesses. All you have to do...is give me what I want, and I will call of my rogues. And you and your wife are free to run. And you will get to live to try and kill me another day. It a win-win for both of us. Do we have a deal?”

Shatter gave a defiance glare and spat into Zemrite’s face. A wicked smile forming across his face.

“ will not give you anything on the Order. I’d rather die than tell you anything about them. We are going to make sure that you and others like you are purged from this world.”

Zemrite sighed as he wiped the spit off his face and suddenly slammed him on the ground face first, that heavy boot pressing his face into the floor as he reached under his cloak and pulled out heavy metal shackles and bound his arms behind his back with a wicked smile.

“I was hoping you’d decline the deal. Now I get to have some payback for all the hell you put me through.”

With a wicked, ethereal laugh, they both vanish into the shadows.

--Back At Canterlot Castle--

“So he is safe and well then…?”

Asked Celestia with a worried look on her face, his sister with an expression quite similar as they listened to Blazing and the others talked about what had transpired and the reason behind Zemrite’s sudden disappearance. Just as they were about to deploy the guards to go and collect Shatter Shield. Zemrite appeared out of a shadow in the corner of the throne room with the stallion in question with a frightened expression on his face. It seemed that traveling through the shadows and what he had seen in them had scared him. Zemrite dragged him by the front of his cloak again and then tossed him before the group of ponies.

“Seems like he doesn’t want to be very talkative with me, so I brought him here for you to decide what to do with him, my dear princesses. Also, I am happy to see you two again. I have missed you quite a lot. But this stallion he has quite a lot to answer for.He wouldn’t talk, so I brought him to you, my dear princesses.”

As happy as both of them were to see their beloved fiance once more, they looked down at the stallion who had been a trusted member of their royal guard for many years. Celestia was more upset than Luna since he was part of her guard.

“Ah, Shatter Shield. So you are the one who caused all this trouble? I certainly didn’t expect this from you. You were such a fine personal guard for me...and yet I find out that you are the one responsible for kidnapping my fiance. Why would you do such a thing? Even knowing that the consequences would be great for you? He may not be royalty, but considering the relationship between myself, my sister and him. You should have known better…”

Shatter makes his way up to his knees and looks up at Celestia and averts his eyes to Zemrite who was standing to the side with his arms crossed, then returned his gaze back to Celestia.

“My princess...do you not know and see what this…’thing’ is? He is a creature of the dark here to poison and corrupt your mind. The energy that radiates from him is foul. And those awful markings...that only proves that he is tainted by darkness and is an evil being. And yet, you throw yourself onto him each time you see him. There is somepony out there so much better for you. And to make matters worse, he could have this whole hidden plan to take over the kingdom or worse…”

Celestia grew angrier at the stallion’s words toward Zemrite. She wanted to kick him across the face with her gold plated hooves but refrained from doing so. But the expression of disgust and anger was present in her face. Even Zemrite knew what was coming.

“This ‘thing’ as you call him has done more for this kingdom than you ever have in your years of service. It is true that he is tainted by darkness. But his heart and his mind are always in the right place when it comes to those he cares about and even strangers that need help…”

She starts to breathe a bit heavily, anger welling up in her more.

“This stallion lead the defensive attack on the invaders that threatened our way of life and protected my sister and myself time and time again…”

She suddenly starts screaming.

“And you have to absolute nerve to call him a monster?! This man has been there for us always when we needed him! He has helped out finest warrior and even created a whole new subdivision for us! He has looked after my student other her friends as well as other ponies who have asked him and you accuse him of being somepony bad?!”

Celestia’s horn started radiating and sparking with magic. She was extremely mad at one of her trusted guards and the look of fear fell over his face as he wings flared up and that glare of death fell upon her usual soft features.

“B-But your highness, I was only doing what was best for you and the kingdom! This monster would soon hurt you and your sister soon if nothing is done with him! He has poisoned your mind with thoughts of love and his actions are only to cover his true intentions!”

“SILENCE! You will pay dearly for your words!”

She was about to strike him with a heavy magical attack when Zemrite walks up in front of her and reaches up, gently cupping her cheeks with his now gloveless hands and gently rub them.

“Tia, look at me. This isn’t part of your job. Leave the assault and battery to the professionals. Not to mention, this would reflect poorly on you. Now...calm down…”

He whispered to her comfortingly, leaning up to place a gentle kiss upon her lips. With those words and his actions, her anger falls and she calms down quickly. She wraps him up in her arms and squeezing him firmly into a hug and starts to sob quietly, Luna coming in to join the reunion as well. She looks down at Shatter Shield with a look of disgust as well who was now growling and glaring at Zemrite.

“You are lucky that he knows how to calm her down, or you’d be a smear across the floor right now. Guards…”

She calls out to the ones standing closest, they approach, ready for their orders.

“Take him to the lowest darkest dungeon we have. Make sure he never sees the light of day.”

Shatter’s eyes went wide as the guards lifted him up by his arms and started dragging him away kicking and screaming. A look of both fear and anger on his face.

“You can’t do this to me! I am a member of the elite royal guard! And what about my wife?!”

“Your wife will be notified of everything. And we mean ‘everything’.

“NOOOOOOOooooooo!”

The screaming eventually melted away the further he was taken. Once all was quiet, Zemrite gently patted Celestia’s cheekto get her attention. Her eyes opened back up as she gazed down at him.

“Tia...Tia, look at me. It’s alright. No more tears. I know you and Lulu are relieved to see I am alright. But we have things we need to discuss with my group of comrades here. Shatter is part of something much bigger out there. I will need to…’interrogate’ him later. But first, we need to plan for any more trouble that his order will cause. They will not stop until I am wiped off the face of the planet, and they believe that doing anything is necessary for that. And you know what that means. Everyone is in danger.”

She sniffles a few times and wipes her tears away and composes herself. But still holds onto him.

“Alright, letus all head to the war room then and discuss this….”

--In The War Room--

They all stood around the large table that had a map of Equestria displayed upon it. Zemrite places a small pin in the location where he had been taken and where Blazing and the others had found him.

“Alright, so this is one of their hiding places. They seem to favor underground bases that cannot be accessed but from one entrance. So it is safe to say that these places are all over Equestria. If my comrades haven’t informed you yet, their order is called “De Ordine Lux’ or “order Of light’. Shatter assumed that I wouldn’t make it out alive so he indulged me with a little bit of information. I plan on getting more from him. But from what he said. They have been an order that has been around for hundreds of years and have dedicated their entire lives to the well being and preservation of the princess of the sun. And they see me as a threat to her both mentally and physically. However, If there is such an order like that. Perhaps there may be an order dedicated for Luna as well. But since I haven’t heard from them yet, they either do not exist or they see me as a potential ally given what I am.”

Celestia leans over the table with an expression of confusion and surprise. This was certainly news to her. Never had she known there were ponies out there who were so...zealous towards her and her rule. And it worried both her and her sister that there may be one for Luna as well even if they favor Zemrite for their princess of the moon.

“This..this is unheard of. To think there are ponies out there with these secret societies. And here I thought we only had to worry about invading countries and otherworldly creatures that have been popping out of nowhere. If an outside nation or neighboring countries found out about this and struck a deal with these societies, we’d have a huge problem on our hands.”

Luna then chimes in.

“Perhaps if we were to reach out to this...dedicated order that had been created for me, and if it even exists, we could ask for them to give us any information that they’d have on the De Ordine Lux. Societies like that usually have a rather fragile truce, if any. The question is. How would we be able to reach out to them? We would need to stumble upon them somehow or go about finding them in a rather subtle way. Perhaps we could send out Zemrite’s specialized division for such things?”

Zemrite nodded at Luna’s suggestion. It seemed like the most logical thing but at the same time, you needed light to shine on things that are hidden in the dark. And that would be the best possible way to find such things.

“I will send a few of my shadow runners to search for these kinds of places. But if we are lucky, perhaps one of them may already be a member. I will have a talk with them individually once I pry more info out of Shatter Shield.”

He then turns to Blazing and the others.

“I want to thank all of you. You all when out of your way to come and find me. And I am very grateful for that. You all deserve some time off. But before all of you go…”

He walks over to Divine Shield and pats him on the shoulder, the large stallion looking down at him with a curious stare.

“Hey big guy, think you could help me out for a bit while I go and ask some questions to Shatter Shield?”

Divine knew exactly what he meant by ‘help’ and chuckled lowly, giving a thumbs up.

“I gotcha covered, buddy. Let’s go get this taken care. After that, I am hitting the local tavern.”

Zemrite nods and pats his shoulder again and looks back at Celestia and Luna with a warm smile.

“Don’t you two worry, I will be back in time for dinner. I love you both~.” He said as he walked over and kissed them both before heading out the door along with Divine Shield. Zemrite’s dark side was soon to unfold in the dungeons below...and it wasn’t going to be a very pretty sight.

Author's Note

Finally got another one done for this story, now that i thought long about its plot!

May the darkness grant you peace.

Act 5: I'll Show You A Real Monster

It was near sunset on Canterlot. But those who were kept in the lowest part of the dungeons never knew the time of day or night. As they had no windows to look out. Shatter Shield sat in his cell, stripped of his armor and anything else that wasn’t simple clothing. Two thestral guards knock on his cell and open it before chaining him up and escorting him to the interrogation room. They forcibly pushed him in the chair and walked out, And in came Zemrite and Divine Shield. They both stared at Shatter who had an expression of defiance upon his face. Once the door was closed and the thestrals left. Zemrite walked over to the table and places his hands on it as he leaned forward. The dim light only showing a portion of his face which made his eyes glow menacingly. Divine stayed closer to the light and crossed his arms as he watched carefully and quietly.

“So, I have you all to myself down here. The princesses will have no idea what’s going on. So that means I can get the information out of you how I damn well, please. And I will get what I need from you. One way or the other. That includes getting to your wife if I have to. And you know I will do it.”

“You leave her out of this you bastard…”

Zemrite smiles a wicked smile and chuckles.

“Or what? Are you going to kill me? Hm? Are you going to make me pay for my transgressions and my dark wicked ways? I am giving you a choice right now. Either tell me what I need to know, and you live a few years or so in prison and reunite with your wife afterward. Or you continue to resist and risk your physical and mental health for some secret order who sees you as an expendable soldier and can recruit another fool to take your place. So then. Who is your true leader? And where are the other bases of operations in Equestria?”

He leans in closer and continues to smile that dark smile. Talking to Shatter in a rather mocking tone.

“Come on, you can do it. You don’t want your princess to be upset with you or her subjects that tried to kill the one being she wishes to spend her life with hmmm? After all., she almost turned you into a stain on the throne room floor.”

“Shatter growls lowly in anger and spits at Zemrite again. This time, however, After he wipes it off, he then grabs hold of Shatter’s head from the top and squeezes firmly to hold him still. Those bladed claws rubbing together as he lifts his hand up to Shatter’s eyes and chuckled again.

“I told you…”

With one swift motion, Zemrite jams his middle and index claws into Shatter’s left eyes. Shatter lets out a scream of pain that nearly echoed through the whole entire dungeon. The chair bounced and clanked against the floor as Shatter thrashed about in pain and anguish as Zemrite dug his claws all around in his eye and socket, eventually severing the nerves and the eye itself from its socket and pulling it out before flinging it to the floor. Shatter’s breathing was quick and groan of pain was heard throughout the room as Zemrite walked along the cobblestone floor, the blood dripping from his claws and falling onto the ground was the only other source of sound that could be heard.

“So, would you like to spit on me again and lose your other eye? Or will you finally start talking?”

As Divine watched this happen before him, he didn’t say anything. This was all part of the plan that he had been told about before this even began. Though with what he was watching, he did turn away from the bloody display that had just unfolded before him.

“I-if I told you...they’d hunt me and my family down and kill us..even my children…”

“Aaah yes, little Sun Stride and Ever Dusk. Your wife told me about them. Such sweet little fillies. What would they do if they never got to see their loving, devoted father ever again? Or they did get to see him, but at his funeral..being buried in a casket...never to see them again all because he chose to side with a zealot order rather than the kingdom that he had sworn to protect and serve?”

All was silent for the moment until there was a knock at the room’s door. A pony in dark leather armor and a deep hood over her head came in and extended a leathery glove out to Zemrite which held two small glass tubes of a toxic green glowing and purple and black liquid. She places them in Zemrite’s hand before bowing slightly.

“As you requested, Mentor.”

Zemrite closes his hand around the small tubes and nods to the hood mare.

“Thank you, I shall give you the results of both of these whenever I see you tomorrow with y0our new orders.”

“Yes, Sir.” She said as she placed a fist over her heart and walked out. Zemrite then lifts his sleeve up and places the purple and black filled tube into the slot with a couple of clicks and fastens it tight. He then approached Shatter once more who looked up at him in absolute fear.

“Now then, we can end this now, and get your family the protection they need from your order. Or I can further destroy your mind, and get the info I need from you by force.”

Shatter looked down at the ground and then back up to Zemrite.then closed his eyes tightly.

“Do your worst...there is nothing you can do to me that won’t be any worse than they could do….”

Have it your way then…”

The sharp needle extends from its hidden compartment in Zemrite’s arm mechanism and with one quick motion, the liquid is injected to the stallion's neck. And within the first few moments, the stallion starts thrashing and screaming again. But this time, it wasn't in pain. It was in fear and anguish.

“No! No not my family! No, Leave them alone!”

The visions that now plagued the stallion’s mind were grotesque and gore filled. One of his family being literally torn apart by wild wolves, and the other being dismembered by shadowy tendrils, their limbs being pulled off their body with sickening pops and tears, the screams of pain and crying out to their beloved father and husband to save them, and suddenly having their words cut short by being decapitated and their heads rolling to the ground at his hooves. Another vision forming of his wife being raped and tortured by Zemrite who had a more monstrous figure than he does now, a sharp toothy grin and dark purple glowing eyes having his way with his wife. And the form that he was in? Huis garou form. The large beast tearing her body apart inside and out with that massive canine member ravaging her to the point of death, her eyes rolling back and her last breath escaping as Zemrite pumps her full with his seed, her stomach swelling up and body going limp as she falls to the ground... And a low, loud canine laugh escaping Zemrite’s muzzle echoed through his mind.

As Shatter continued to scream and shout as he thrashed in the chair. Zemrite motions Divine Shield over to him. He simply nods and pushes down on his shoulder and pins him to the chair. Zemrite places a hand upon Shatter’s head and being to search his mind with a crystal ball that he had taken from his satchel and squeezed it slightly. This showed the owner’s desire for what was in the mind of the one they needed to search, but only if the mind was weakened. After this was done and he found what he was looking for. He takes out the empty tube from the mechanism and places the green one in. This looked like a poison, but it was more of a sedative and ended the process of what the last liquid was doing.. He injects it into Shatter’s neck and watches him calm down and fall flat onto the table.

“Wow….and to think, you really actually didn’t take his eye out either. And yet he felt the pain and saw you do it….”

“Yeah, it was a little something I had slipped into his water earlier. But it was tasteless and didn’t possess much of an oder. A little bit of magic and alchemic know-how can do wonders for such things like these. I will have the thestrals take him back to his cell and report my finding to the princesses tomorrow.”

Divine looks between Zemrite and Shatter before asking nervously.

“A-and his family…?”

“We must get them the best protection we can offer them. Knowing the order, they will hunt them down and try to dispose of them as punishment, even though I had to force his mind to weaken. Can i entrust you with that, Divine?”

The large stallion lets out a big sigh of relief and offers an assuring smile.

“Of course! I will make sure things are well taken care of!”

Zemritepats his shoulder and nods.

“Good man.”

He said as he made his way out of the room and back up to ground level. By this time, it was nightfall and it was almost dinner time. He was able to keep his word to his future brides it seems. On his way out back to the castle however, he got looks of concern and confusion as the screams from below were heard from out there as well. But he got what he needed, that’s all that mattered.

--The Royal Dining Hall--

Zemrite makes his way into the hall and takes a seat along with Celestia and Luna who smiled warmly at him. They made to that the cooking staff prepared his favorite for him and swayed their tails happily.

“Did you get what you needed from Shatter Shield, Zemrite..?”

Luna asked as she and her sister awaited an answer. Zemrite closes his eyes and nods quietly before taking a bite of his food before speaking.

“I did. But I had to do it in a way that I hope you never ever see me do. Let’s just say...I had to weaken his mind for a short while before getting what I needed. I will share the information I acquired when we get together again tomorrow. And I have asked that Divine Shield acquires round the clock protection for his family. Though he did not divulge willingly, they know he has been captured, and will go after his wife and foals for good measure.”

“What...exactly did you do to him…?”

Asked Celestia with a rather concerned gaze towards her lover. Zemrite reached over to her and gently caressed her cheek and offered her a warm smile.

“As I said, leave that to those who are more qualified. But if it helps you feel better, he will be fine in a couple of days. He will just be suffering from a bit of mental trauma. But it’s nothing that isn’t easily recovered from. Just know I got what we needed.”

As they ate dinner and Celestia got ready to retire for the night. He spent a few hours with Luna, keeping ehr company and loving on her until she had to go and get her royal night duties done which involved Night Court and chasing off nightmares from the dreams of ponies. Once Zemrite was all alone, he made his way out into the Eastern Courtyard of the castle and into the small labyrinth. Once he made his way to a certain spot, he stopped in his tracks and didn’t even turn his head to see the approaching shadows that were creeping upon him. Several figures slowly rose up from inside them cloaked in black leather armor and hoods, their horns noticeably standing out from the holes at the top of their hoods. These were his shadow crawlers. Unlike his shadow runners who were earth ponies who were excellent at traversing building and other structures, these were simply information gatherers and spies. And he had taught these unicorns his own shadowmancing techniques.

“You have news to report?”

One of the hooded figures nodded and spoke in a rather alluring fem fatale voice.

“Yes, Mentor. We have already noticed unusual activity within the city with several new ponies that have never been seen in the town before asking about Shatter Shield and his family. Some are claiming to be relatives while others may be impersonating a doctor coming to see their private practiced patient.”

Zemrite nodded to the mare and another pony spoke, this time it was a deep but posh-accented voice from them

“And as for his family, it seems that they are being taken care of by the royal guard. But we have also dispatched a few of the runners and flyers to add more eyes. After all, the royal guard isn’t exactly...diligent in their duties when it comes to keeping their eyes out.”

Zemrite laughed a little at the pony’s retort against the royal guard. The only noise that could be heard other than that was the night wind that blew through their cloaks.

“Now now, be nice to them. They are at least good for being defense and offense for those of us that linger in the shadows. They function in the light while we function in the dark. It’s mutual respect. I am just surprised that the princesses..especially Celestia allowed me to throw our little subdivision together.”

“Yes, Mentor. If you ask me, something like thi is needed in every kingdom. And the things you have taught us all. This ‘shadowmancing’ magic and the martial arts that comes with the combat style you have demonstrated...it’s quite something.”

A smaller figure approaches Zemrite from his left. They were small and petite, perfect for their occupation. They look up at him with glowing blue eyes and a sharp toothy smile. What was off about their horn was that it was smooth and curved and obsidian black. She looks up at him with admiration.

“Mentor...I wanted you to know that I have also gone to the location that you had told me to scout out. It seems that that base is no longer occupied. It looked like they have used a form of explosives to demolish the entrance and have completely abandoned it. But I found this map that apparently shows every location they might have.”

The little form reaches out her clawed hands, her arm revealing holes within it. Zemrite smiles and reaches up to lightly pat her on the head, the figure letting out a small playful hiss mixed with a giggle.

“You have done well, Syllica. I am very, very proud of you. You certainly have made your abilities quite useful to us, and the whole division agrees with my assessments about you.”

“Well, you saved my life, Mentor. It would be rather rude of me if I didn’t pledge mine to yours.”

“How are you doing on love? Everything remaining stable?”

She gave a nod and a reassuring smile to him.

“Mhm! I will be sure to let you know when I need more.”

He nodded and ruffles her hood again before nodding to everyone there. He takes the map and slides it in his cloak and nods to them all.

“Very good, you are all dismissed. Keep up the good work and report back to me tomorrow night. May the shadows grant you peace.”

“Yes, Mentor!”

They all said in unison before disappearing back into shadow and vanishing. Zemrite then makes his way to the royal chambers where Celestia was slumbering. It was time he joined her for some personal one on one time with his sun princess.

Author's Note

Yeah, I got a lot more going on with Zemrite than both of the royal sister know... :p

May the darkness grant you peace.

Act 6: Locatiing De Ordine Tenebrae

The rain poured hard against the forest trees and floor as the sound of a horse’s hooves stepped along the muddy ground. Her icy grey flaming mane and tail causing the rain to evaporate before it even touched her skin. And atop her back rode her master, Zemrite. The two traveled through the Ebonheart Forest just on the outskirts of Equestria. And from what his division has gathered, this was the place where the main headquarters of De Ordine Tenebrae was located.

The rain was mostly kept off of them both thanks to the thick canopy above them, but because of that, it was rather hard to traverse the forest itself especially when the sun was blocked out by both that and the clouds above. But with Zemrite, venturing through the dark was a rather easy task, given his profession. The memories of what he had discussed with Celestia and the others started flooding back to his mind as he rode forth.

--A Few Days Ago--

“It would seem I have been told the location of the Order Of Darkness. Or rather, De Ordine Tenebrae. They are in a rather unfriendly forest on the outskirts of Equestria. And I plan on going there to see what I can gain from them. Even if a little support. I know you and even Luna are against this. But if there is even a chance to forge an alliance with them to stop De Ordine Lux, then I am willing to work with them.”

Luna looked over at Zemrite from across the war table with a look of concern mixture with a gaze of doubt. Zemrite could tell that she was thinking that her fanatics would be just as bad as Celestia’s. If not even worse.

“Zemrite, I know you want to take care of this before things get even worse for everyone else. But how do you know that my fanatics will be much more kind to you than Celestia’s? If they are upset because you are married to her, don’t you think mine would be just as aggressive towards you?”

Zemrite leaned forward, resting his hands on the edge of the table and lowered his head in thought, then lifts it back up.

“Have you two ever heard the old saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”? Think about it. Plus, they have not come seeking me to put an end to me as the others have. Perhaps they would side with us because of who and what I am. But if it makes you two feel better about my safety. I will bring a few members of my division along. I promise you that I will return with good news or simply return unharmed.

Zemrite came upon and opening that was fenced off by a large metal barbed fence and a heavy gate. Once he dismounted off his mount, the creature whinnied and galloped off into the forest and disappeared. As Zemrite ventured closer to the gate, he closed his eyes and began to speak with his mind. Reaching out to those who had accompanied him that hid in the shadows.

“Once we go in, maintain your hiding place within my shadow. If things get dicey, all of you come out and get ready for a fight. But if you get overwhelmed, I want you all to make a hasty retreat while I keep them busy.”

“B-but Mentor! We cannot simply leave you behind! We are bound by-.”

“It will be fine, Swiftstep. Just stick to the plan and we will all get out of here alive. I will not have my students die when I can protect them. I will be fine, I promise.”

“Y-yes, Mentor…”

The soft yet deep stallion’s voice echoed through his mind as the then took a running start towards the gate and leaped over it effortlessly. Once on the other side, he swiftly and quietly makes his way across the courtyard of the large structure and into the entrance. He quietly and carefully hugged the walls as he snuck about in the interior of the building. Avoiding the patrolling guards in both armor and robes with ease as he used to darkness to his advantage. One thing he did like about the place was that architecture and design of its decor. It reminded him of a temple he’d frequent back in his world and it felt rather…inviting.

Once Zemrite had found his way down into what appeared to be the main central chamber. There appeared to be many robbed ponies with deep hoods upon their heads. There was what appeared to be a priestly looking stallion in the middle, lightly swinging a burning incense holder around. They started to chant...something. it was in a language that Zemrite wasn't familiar with. And the priest seemed to be the one leading them along with the chanting as they kneeled before three large statues that had beams of light illuminating them within the darkness. Two o0f them he could see right off the bat. Both of them being Luna and Nightmare Moon. But this one in the middle...it was a cloaked and hooded figure holding its right hand up as if conjuring some kind of spell and in its other hand held a blade of some sort. In fact, once Zemrite focused in closer upon it, it was an exact look-a-like of Demon’s Demise. It also had what looked to be Death’s Whisper mounted on its back as well.

“I am not sure if I should be flattered...or afraid that they hold me in such high regard to place a statue of my likeness among their princess. I am certainly not one for this kind of...attention.”

He sighs lightly and starts to make his way down to the lower circle. He walks past those who are still kneeling and chanting, apparently going unnoticed until he got closer to the priest who immediately stopped the chanting which caused all the others to stop as well and gaze upon Zemrite. After a few moments of absolute silence, the priest drops the incense burner and staggers back a bit before collapsing to his knees, gazing upon Zemrite as if he was looking upon a divine being. All the other ponies in the room soon followed after with the same gaze. Their eyes fixated on one whom they considered an existence above their own just as they considered their princess.

“Lord Of Shadows…you have seen fit to grace us with your presence on this fine, dark and rainy day. Praise to the moon and our princess of the night. We welcome you to our humble sanctuary…”

“Lord Of Shadows…?”

All the ponies around him started lowering themselves into a bowing position which started to make Zemrite feel super uncomfortable. He placed a hand upon his face and immediately waved his hand to dismiss the action.

“No, nononono. None of that. All of you on your hooves now. I do not respond well to anything like that.Please.”

The ponies were in awe as they rose to their hooves on his command. They began whispering and pointing towards Zemrite.

“It’s really him...the Lord Of Shadows.”

“The one who our beloved princess was destined to become eternal lovers with…”

Zemrite listened to all the whispers around him with slight discomfort He would have actually preferred a bit more hostility rather than this. As his gaze fell back to the priest who had now risen to his hooves, the older stallion approached Zemrite with a smile upon his face and held out his arms in greeting.

“Lord Of Shadows, we humbly welcome you to De Ordine Tenebrae. This is our main facility out of many smaller ones that dot the landscape. Have you come to grace us with your dark presence and examine this dark sanctuary to see if it befits our princess and yourself?”

Zemrite was speechless at how highly regarded he was to these ponies. He quickly put up a hand and shook his head.

“No, I am not here to be worshiped by you or her other followers. You keep her and her dark self just like that. And when was ‘Lord Of Shadows’ a thing? While it is true that I am capable of commanding shadows to do as I wish, but the title is a bit much> Not to mention I shouldn’t be revered as if some kind of god or deity to ponies. I am simply here to ask for your aid and-...”

“Ah, so humble with such great power at his disposal, The Lord Of SHadows is truly a great being and our princess deserves no finer! Followers of the moon, let us give thanks and praise that He has come here today! Praise the moon and shadows!”

“Praise the moon and shadows!”

The rest of them chanted with fervor. Bowing down to him once more. Zemrite growled in annoyance and shook his head.

“As I was saying. I have come here seeking aid from you and your capable soldiers. While you celebrate in my future union with the sisters, your enemies of De Ordine Lux would rather not have either or happen.”

He then started walking back and forth in front of the whole room as he addressed them all. His heavy boots echoing along with his words. The ponies watched his every move as if they were solely fixated on his presence alone. But he wasn’t going to let that bother him for now.

“Do I have all of your support the make sure that De Ordine Lux will not cause trouble for the princesses and the kingdom of Canterlot? Can I count on you all to help us neutralize the threat that we face? We share the same enemy. And should they come knocking at Canterlot’s gates to cause trouble, I’d be forever grateful, as would the princesses of Equestria.”

Suddenly, Zemrite’s soldiers rose from behind him from his shadow and stood close behind him with their fists upon their chests, showing the allegiance to their mentor. The ponies gasped in all at this display and were quick to rise to their hooves and respond with fighting chants of their own, even those clad in heavy armor seemed willing to aid Zemrite with his offer.

“Those capable warriors, mages and rogues, come and join my division within the kingdom to keep it safe from those seeking to disrupt its peace. Join the Shadow Division, And work in the shadows to preserve what we have while the royal guard work in the light! And together, we shall repel De Ordine Lux and keep both our princesses and everyone else safe from them and any other evil that crosses the kingdom!”

He says as he thrusts his fist in the air, almost all of the room joining in on the motion and began to cheer loudly. The priest behind him bowed his head and clasped his hands together as if giving thanks to Luna herself. He then looked upon Zemrite with that same gaze he gave him earlier, the gaze of some kind of divine being.

“However! Do not look upon me as an almighty being. Look upon me as your commander and comrade in the struggle to keep our country safe and treat our citizens fair. I don’t want to hear of any kind of corrupt acts that involve innocence. Should you take up the mantle of shadow, I and my trusted companions here along with others who could not be present will teach you all you need to know!”

After a while, Zemrite and his followers soon came from the gothic structure and exited the gate which was opened for them this time by two of the armored escorts that followed them out. The rain that was pouring before had slowed down to a light drizzle. The group had waved goodbye to the others seeing them off and made their way into the forest back to a secluded cave that they had made their base for the time being.

“Mentor...are you sure about these fanatics? While they welcomed you with open arms, do you think that they could follow the rules you have set forth as we follow?”

Zemrite nodded to the cloaked female unicorn as they walked along the path that was left behind by Zemrite and his mount on the way there. Their steps silent and their movements like shadows themselves.

“Not to worry, Dusk Blade. Apparently, they see me as much of a deity as they do the princess. But, I’d like you and the others to watch them during and after their training. We need to make sure that they do not cause trouble for the citizens. After all, this is supposed to help protect the kingdom and all of Equestria. I plan on making this division almost half the size of the actual army. That way, all of our bases are covered and we will be well prepared against outside AND inside threats.”

After they had stayed the night in the cave. They immediately set off towards Canterlot by which time they arrived just at the beginning of the sunset. Zemrite parted with his soldiers at their usual hidden entrance so as to not raise the suspicion of the guards and his future wives. Once he was within the castle walls, he was greeted by them both who then lead him to somewhere more private so that they could speak without others eavesdropping. They went into the royal parlor, the guards closing the door behind them. Zemrite collapses on one of the couches and sighs as he sees his two princesses sit on their hooves in front of him with both concern and excitement on their faces.

“Well…? Did it all go alright, Zemrite? Do we have their support?”

Asked Celestia as she ran her hand through her fiance’s long white hair, Luna gently running her hand up and down his side and back in a comforting manner.

“You seem so exhausted after your travels...I do hope they didn’t cause you any trouble.”

YThey both leaned in and rested their heads on his chest and stomach as they gave their lover lots of affection. Having missed his presence even though he was only gone for a few days. He reached up with both hands and gently placed them upon their head, petting and caressing their manes in a gentle manner.

“We do indeed have their support. And get this. I saw the statues of Luna and Nightmare Moon. But, they had a statue of me between them. And they were calling me the “Lord of Shadows’. I swear fanatics are crazy when it comes to that kind of stuff. I am no divine being. Anyway, I set out for what we needed and obtained it. The Shadow Division will handle things with them though.”

He said as he gently caressed both of their cheeks

“Everything will be fine, ladies. I promise.”

Author's Note

Here you go, enjoy another chapter :D

May the darkness grant you peace

Act 7: A Colossal Problem

It was early in the morning after a couple of days when Zemrite returned to the castle from his trip to gain support from the Order Of Darkness. Already members of the group had come to seek to join Zemrite’s Shadow Division. He had been seeing over their trials in secret while the princesses were busy with their royal duties. As of the present time, his division has grown twice the size of what it once was. Double both shadow runners, shadow crawlers and shadow flyers. Pony from not only the main headquarters from the order, but other branches as well.

Zemrite walked along the main corridor towards the main entrance. He decided on heading down to Ponyville to visit his dearest friend, Twilight as it had been far too long since he had spent time with her or any of her other friends. After all, it was them who showed everyone else that he wasn’t such a bad guy. And now that he is known as the princesses’ fiance, they’d certainly have no issues with him along with all his other heroic deeds he has done.

Once he steps off the train that had stopped at Ponyville, he makes his way into the small town. He lowers his hood and makes his way straight toward Twilight's Castle, as it had been far, far too long since he had spent any time with her. On his way there, he literally bumps into Rarity who seemed to be carrying a lot of fabrics which seemed to mostly obscure her vision. Thinking quickly, he catches her first with one arm and tries to save what he can with the other. This surprised her as she let out a yelp and clung to his chest to prevent herself from falling. Once she realizes who it was that prevented her from having a nasty fall, she smiled warmly to her savior.

“Well look who it is! It has been so long, darling! And it appears that you came in the nick of time! Thank you ever so much for catching me~.”

Zemrite helped her back onto her hooves and offered her a smile in return, quickly making his way around to pick up any items she had dropped or had fallen out of her bags. He shook his head and gave a low chuckle.

“Burning through fabric as usual I see. Do you ever take an off day, Rarity?”

“Oh no no no! Fashion never has an off day, sweetheart! And speaking of fashion, I see yours hasn’t really changed since I last saw you. You’d look so much handsomer in some with with royal blue and gold trimming. Like...someone out of a fairy tale...from a deep forest kingdom or something along those lines.”

Zemrite was quick to shake his head at any possible offers.

“I am not a wood elf or high elf, Rarity. Those kinds of colors aren’t what my kind wear. We prefer our darker colors in contrast to our pale skin. Besides, it would look horrible with the markings all over my body.”

She gives him a grumpy stare and stomps her hoof in a huff. This makes him laugh on the inside just a bit. But she sighed and nodded. After which he offered to help her carry her things to her shop. After he does, he then makes his way to his original destination. He was rather excited to see Twilight after for so long and couldn’t wait to catch up with her and tell her all the adventures that he had been on.

Twilight sat at her table which multiple stacks of books sat upon. Some open, and others closed as she seemed to be deep in her studies, the sound of the quill scribbling over papers and pages turning filled the quiet building before a knock at the door came. At first, she didn’t notice until another couple knocks happened again. She groaned in annoyance before getting up from her chair and swung the door open.

“Didn’t you see the sign? I am busy wi-...”

Her jaw dropped as she looks up at her dearest friend before letting out a happy gasp and leaping up to wrap her arms around his neck and clinging to him in one of the tightest hugs she had ever given someone. Zemrite was all too happy to return the embrace before letting her back down and resting his hands upon her shoulders.

“Sweet Celestia! It is so so good to see you again, Zemrite! Look at you, you have changed quite a bit! What’s with the mane color change…?”

“Good to see you again as well, Twi. I have missed you quite a lot. I have quite a few stories to tell you. I am sure Tia has been letting you know, but leaving out the fun parts as she always does.”

She giggled and pulled him into the library before closing the door behind them. She leads him over to the large comfy couch over by the fireplace and sat him down before going to make a couple of drinks for them both. Once she had done that, she sits next to him and catch up with each other on what they had been doing and what they have gone through. It was a wonderful time for them both as they had missed each other’s company for so very long.

They continued to talk into the later hours of the day as the late afternoon came upon them. Twilight sat with her back pressed against his chest with his arms around her front as they just sat there and snuggle while talking. All was going well until Zemrite noticed something odd about the beverages they had been sipping on during their time together. They were ripping every few seconds. Like something heavy was approaching. And it wasn’t until Zemrite twitched his ears, catching the faint sound of something heavy slowly, but gradually getting closer and closer.

“What in the nine circles of hell..?”

He said before he and Twilight both got up to go to her balcony to look through her telescope. WHat they saw shocked them both. It mostly shocked Twilight because of its massive size. But, Mystoghan was shocked as to what it actually was. He deadpans a serious stare to Twilight before speaking.

“Twi...you and the others need to get the ponies in this city evacuated as soon as possible. That thing is a guardian of light. A large stone colossus that is known for destroying cities back where I am from. And just like all the other monsters that have made their way here, it mostly likely came through a rift. I am going to intercept it before it can get any closer.”

He said as he leapt over the balcony railing and slid down tree branches before landing on the ground on his feet. Twilight calls out to him before he could get far enough from her range of voice.

“Are you crazy?! You can’t take that thing on all by yourself! And if that thing is a guardian of light, it’s going to have an overwhelming advantage over you! You can’t think I am just going to let you go after that monster all on your own!”

“That may well be true. But, this isn’t my first guardian of light. The only issue I will most likely have is getting towards its weak point on its body. But once you get everyone a distance, you can come help if you want.”

Zemrite could see the worry on her face as he looked up at her. He simply offered her a toothy smile and summoned his mount. The ethereal horse running through the town and towards Zemrite before he grabs hold of the reigns and swings himself atop the equine’s back before riding off full speed towards the giant. He knew that it would take Twilight and her friends a long while to move everyone away from the town. He simply didn’t want her getting involved and risking her life.

Once he made it out into the open fields on the outskirts of Ponyville where the colossus was walking towards the town. He observed it’s structure. It was like a mass of boulders and stones all brought together in a humanoid structure. He noticed around the knees and elbows that the joints were a glowing cluster of a shiny precious stone that pulsated with life. And in all that stone, cracks formed along it’s body that radiated pure light along with its eyes as well. Zemrite gripped the reigns of his mount before letting out a breath of nervousness. But he has already come this far. There was no turning back.

“Okay, Malumi. Just like the last one we did back in our world. Keep circling below. I will be counting on you to catch me each time…”

The horse suddenly reared back with a ghostly whinny as she began to charge forth. Zemrite removed his cloak from himself and got into a crouching position atop his horse's back The giant took notice of the approaching pair and let out an earth shaking roar before it lifted it’s massive arm and started to bring down it’s massive hand. However, Zemrite leapt into the air and his mounted when the other way to safely circling the beast. The hand hit the ground with a loud BOOOOM , sending a large shockwave and wind over the empty fields. Zemrite landed on the top part of the giant’s arm and wasted no time in running up it as quickly as he could before it could lift its arm back up. Zemrite leapt again with his dagger in hand and plunged it into the joint that seemed to give its limbs life. He knew his dagger wasn’t going to cause much damage. However, there was one thing he could do if he used it in short bursts. He changed into his full on reaper form which made an oversized scythe appear in his hand. He began wailing on the joint as hard and as quick as possible, nothing the other hand coming in to grab him. With one final strike, the massive gem shatters and the monster cries out in pain as it reels back. Zemrite changes back to his true form and leaps off the massive creature and lands perfectly on the back of his mount that continued to circle around. However, Zemrite could already feel the burns forming across his body from being so close to such a purifying light. And being in his reaper form for even a short time only intensified his weakness to it. He couldn’t stop though. He wasn’t going to until the beast was dead..

With another leap into the air, he casts a grappling spell that sent an ethereal hand up towards the right leg which pulled him up onto it. Thinking having its left arm and right legs disabled would slow it down more due to being off balance. He repeated the save process again before riding off a ways away to gather himself, the burns becoming more intense and spreading across his flesh. He grunts in pain as he clutches at his chest chest, his heart rate going crazy as the pain racks through his form. Thankfully, his strategy seems to be paying off as the giant was struggling to move, exponentially slowed down because of its current out of use limbs. He gathers himself and fights against the pain going throughout his body before charging back into the battle. This time however, he was going to take out the other two limbs before dropping back down.

He uses the same technique to latch himself onto the other legs and destroy the joint accordingly, then he uses the grappling spell to latch onto the other arm and swing himself under and over before landing atop the shoulder and slides down to the other joint. He lets out a roar to fight through the pain of the spreading burns and takes his reaper form once more and destroys the final limb before falling off and landing on his horse again which galloped fair enough away to watch the colossus slowly fall and make the ground around them shake heavily. Once the monster was down, Zemrite stood about thirty feet from its head and his eyes focused upon the gem in the middle of its head. He drew his bow and pulled back on it slowly, a dark wind swirling around him as a black and purple arrow appeared in the bow, a swarm of ghostly ravens circling around him until one large raven appeared behind him and let out a demonic cry with its wings spread.

“Fuck you and your god damn light.”

He said before releasing the arrow which turned into a full on oversized shadow arrow with the raven flying full force towards the giant’s head. The impact shattered the gem into dust and caused another shockwave which reached Zemrite and threw him back about ten feet onto his back. He sat up slowly holding his chest again and breathed heavily before letting out a weak laugh.

“Heheheh, piece of cake...just like I said.”

He tried to get back onto his feet, but the burns on his body were starting to take full hold of him, especially now that he didn’t have the fight to keep his mind off the pain anymore. He lets out a groan of pain as he tears through his clothing to reveal that he was indeed covered with deep burns, the blood from the wounds being soaked up by the clothing until it was getting heavy with it along with the melted flesh. Going into his reaper form was certainly a huge contribution to his now current critical state.

He shakily reaches into his void satchel and pulls out a red healing potion. Knowing this wouldn’t heal him fully, but at least prevent him from reaching death’s door for now. He drinks down the liquid quickly and tosses the bottle at the remains of giant before falling onto his back with an exhausted smile.

“I am getting too old for this shit.”

He wasn’t really old, but he felt like saying that line because it is something he has always wanted to say after a hard fought battle and being the victor. He closed his eyes and sighed lightly as he heard hoofsteps along with the clanking of armor. He sniffs the air and catches the scent of Twilight who must be among the group and sighs in relief.

“Okay, nap time…”

--A few Hours Later--

Zemrite opens his eyes and sits up from where he was lying. He stretches his arms out and yawns as if he had just woken up from slumber. He looks down to see himself nearly wrapped up fully in bandages and gauze. He looks around to see he is in that old familiar place. The royal room of the Ponyville hospital. And who should be there waiting not only Twilight, but Celestia and Luna as well, resting their heads on the side of the bed sleeping away. Zemrite knew he was going to be getting an ear full from all three of them. So as carefully as he could, he crawled forward on the bed and silently made his way onto the floor and tiptoed to the door. Quietly opening and closing it before making his way down the hallway to the cafeteria to get some food. He was starving. He really didn’t care that all he was wearing was pants. He wasn’t going back into that room if he didn’t have to. As he made his way there, he bumped into one of the nurses that was tending to him, nearly making her scream in surprise before he placed a hand over her muzzle and placed his finger to his lips.

“Ssshhhh. I am alright. Last thing I need is for those three to come out and hunt me down. Please don’t scream…”

The nurse hesitantly nods in understanding. Zemrite then removes his hand from her muzzle and smiles to her.

“Thanks. Now then, I am off to get some food. And thanks for patching me up by the way.”

One he had sat down with a sandwich and a glass of milk, he was about to take his first bite when he heard the cafeteria doors slam open. There stood three very upset alicorns. Zemrite sighed and looked down at his food.

“And I didn’t even get to have one bite…”

Act 8: Defense Under The Dead Of Night

Zemrite laid in bed as he stared up at the ceiling with Celestia curled up next to him with an arms over his chest. It was in the middle of the night and he had just woken up from a dream spending time with Luna so that both of them could be happy. But something forced him out of the dream realm and back into reality. He carefully moves her arm away from his chest and to the side before carefully sliding out of the bed. Celestia reached out for him in her sleep mumbling cutely. This made Zemrite give a silent chuckle before his slides a body pillow in her arms which she immediately wraps in her four limbs. He quickly dons his usual cloak and armor before making his way outside onto the balcony. Luna, who could sense his troubled mind through the dream realm was quick to join him at his side. As she knew when something bothered him, it was something that possibly meant trouble for someone else.

Just as Luna made her way to his side from flight, several cloaked figures emerged from the shadows and a few more seemed to have dropped out of thin air. Luna was a bit taken back by this, but noticed they all turned to Zemrite and gave a light bow before one of them spoke.”Mentor, it is as you thought. It seems that the enemy has sent a force to either capture or kill their soldier that you had taken prisoner and interrogated. One of our crawlers saw and overheard this while patrolling the outskirts of Canterlot earlier this evening.” Zemrite crossed his arms and gave a nod in response.”And is that crawler here with us now?” Zemrite asked. A shorter hooded figure stepped closer to Zemrite and spoke up in a soft and shy tone of voice.”Y-yes, Mentor. I am..the one w-who found this but of i-ntel…the force in question appears to be a small platoon of elite soldiers. S-some wearing heavy armor while the rest appeared to be fitting with leather, probably similar to our own combat specialists. B-but its nothing we can’t handle, I am sure...” She said while fidgeting with her fingers. Zemrite nodded again and placed a hand on her head and gently gave it a few pats.,”Excellent work. Your quiet nature is one of the reasons why you make such a good crawler. Do not worry, I know you are afraid of combat. Head down to the sanctuary and make sure to let the others know what’s going on. We will need to move quickly to resolve this.” He then looks to the others”As for the rest of you, keep an eye on the force that has come. The will most likely find a way to slip past the guards.”

“At once, Mentor.” they all said in a hushed tone so as to not wake Celestia up from her slumber. Luna on the other hand, stared at her future husband with a look of surprise and confusion. She snapped back into reality and crossed her arms under her bust with a look of ‘You better explain.’ at Zemrite. Zemrite sighed and simply shrugged his shoulders, “You would have been the first to find out eventually, Lulu. But that is the ‘secret division’ i had spoke of to you and Tia. Just as you and her govern the day and night, i now govern the shadows, and have been ever since I started this up.”. Luna looked down at the ground for a moment, then back to him before walking up to him and burying her face into his neck, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace,”Why..did you feel the need to hide this from us…? Don’t you trust me and Tia..?” she asked in a shaky voice, as if she was about to start tearing up. “Lulu, of course I trust you and her. I love the both of you so damn much. But you and her have so much on your plates every day and night, that I worry for the both of you. And dealing with things like this when they come up and involving Twilight and her friends only puts stress on them and even more on you and Tia…” he then takes hold of her hands and laces his fingers with her, this making the alicorn blush and bring her teal gaze to his own.”..you and Tia don’t have to do this alone. My shadows and I will not allow a single pony to be awakened this night or any other by those fools, nor any enemy that tries to cause harm. But..I need to go now, Lulu. My shadows need me so that we can make sure that this gets taken care of. Don’t worry, I will be back soon. You return to the dream realm and do as you normally do as if nothing is happening. All will be just fine.” he said as he leans in and kisses her lips in a loving manner before disappearing into the shadows. All while this was going on, Tia was silently listening to what was being said as she had been woken up by Zemrite’s and Luna’s conversation. She laid there, bringing the body pillow that had her lover’s scent on it close to her body as if she was squeezing him for dear life. SHe was upset at first, but those words that he spoke to Luna made her realize that he truly and genuinely loves the both of them so very much. Luna sighed and turned to look at her sister,”Tia, I am sure you caught everything that he had said. What are your feelings on his words?”. Celestia sat up as she continued to her the pillow close to her body, her gaze trailing to the open balcony to look at her sister,”All this time...he was doing it for us. No, not just us. For Twilight and her friends. All for Equestria and its innocent citizens. Who knew that this stallion…our stallion who was shrouded in complete darkness upon his entry into our world would become someone who took the shadows out of our lives and made them into his own to protect us and everyone else. Even despite risking his own health and life, He never falters with how many injuries he acquires. He has so many scars that even our finest doctors can recover him from. But in all that, he doesn’t stop.”.

Luna sighed and took a seat next to her sister with her hands in her lap, leaning in close to rest her head upon her sister’s shoulder,”You know, ever since he came into our world, that stallion has brought a lot of crazy things with him. Dreadwolves, greenskins, large colossal light guardians. And yet, he doesn’t complain one bit when it comes to the things we have going on in our world either. I truly wish I had the kind of patience he does. I wanted to be mad at him for keeping this a secret from us. But..I just can’t.”Celestia wrapped his sister in a one armed hug, the two of them enjoying the fact that their lover, however or whatever he may be is a noble soul under the shadow vortex that surrounds his heart.

Zemrite walked through the main corridor of the sanctuary he had been secretly building in the unused catacombs that Princess Cadence and Twilight were imprisoned in by the changeling queen years ago. He was heading out towards the main entrance which a horde of hooded figures behind him. The steps as silent as the grave. And in each of their hands was a custom made mask hand carved by each individual. And of course, Zemrite has his own in his hand, “F4rom the shadows, we strike those who threaten our peace. But it enemy nations or enemies within our own. Remember to watch each other’s backs and stay in your teams. Flyers and runners, once the enemy spreads out to seek out their target, take them down one at a time. Crawler, use the shadow crawling spell to quickly remove the dead bodies from the area and transport them to the burning pyre. If you are confident that you can make the kill before your partners, do it quickly. And above all, I want each of you to return here alive. Is that clear?”. “Yes, Mentor!” they all shouted before putting their masks on, Zemrite then places his own on his face,”Make sure these masks are the very last thing these fools see.”.

With those last words, the living shadows soared in all directions into the sleeping city. And just as he thought would happen, the enemy had spit up into smaller groups to cover more ground. And Zemrite’s shadows have done exactly as they were ordered to. Soon enough it was down to just the commander who was now standing in the middle of the city square alone. The fear on his face was evident as he searched for any of his men. The shadows have plunged their blades or arrows into his troops, and the crawlers have dragged them into the darkness, never to be seen again. All while not disturbing a single pony’s sleep. “What the fuck is going on..? Where are the others?!” he asked as he kept turning around, frantically looking for any more of his men. However, the only thing that he could see now was Zemrite approaching him. His mask in full view and the icy blue eyes glowing behind it brought a chill to the commander’s spine as he got closer and closer, “Your soldiers are dead and soon to be burned into ash. And you will be joining them ...” He said as he now stood several feet away from the commander. The stallion was quick to pull out his staff and slam it into the ground. It radiated a burning light that started to hurt Zemrite. It caused him to growl and step back a few feet. But a smile formed on his face under his mask”You may know my weakness, but look around you. Your fate is sealed.”. The commander’s hand is suddenly pierced all the way through with a black arrow, the staff falling from his grip as he falls to his knees in pain. His gaze lifted up to the rooftops to see hooded ponies surrounding the whole area. And half of them with arrows trained on him,”Your spells may work on me. But I have a whole army here who can dwell in the darkness and live in the light with no issues at all.”. He reaches into his robe and pulls out his favored dagger, ‘Demon’s Demise’ and twirls it around in his hand as he now stood in front of the commander who looked up at him as if he was staring into the face of death,”Let your cult send more of its soldiers. We will do the same to them as we have done to your own. And now, I send you to wherever it is that your souls go.”. With a quick swing of his blade, he slices his throat clean open, jugular and all. The blood hisses as it spews out from the cut like a water hose that had a hole in it as he falls to the ground, twitching and convulsing before becoming limp and lifeless.

He takes his blade and swings it downward to get the blood off it with one quick swipe before placing it back into his robes. He calls forth a couple of his crawlers to take the body to the pyre and begin the burning before he sends them all off back to the sanctuary. Meanwhile, Zemrite makes his way down to the prison cells under the castle and makes his way to the cell that held the stallion he had interrogated a week prior to this event. He leans against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest as he speaks to him,”Your cult sent elite soldiers to come and free you. But we both know that wasn’t their true motive now was it?” The stallion looks up from where he was sitting. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept for days,”And...my family?” he asked as if expecting the worst. But, Zemrite simply smiled,”They have no idea that they came. In fact, no one in the city does. Not even the guards themselves. But to answer your question, yes they are safe and sound. And the sooner you full renounce your allegiance with the Ordine De Lux and give me every grain of information you have, the sooner you can be reunited with them.Your wife keeps coming to ask for you and she is only growing more and more worried by the day.”

Zemrite waited for an answer from the stallion. But did not receive one. He simply shrugged and started to make his way back towards the exit of the cells,”Very well, enjoy your time here a while longer then. I don’t see why you even waste your energy and health protecting those that tried to not only kill you, but the ponies that you hold so dear ion your life.”. He gets nearly out of hearing range before he suddenly hears the stallion call out to him,”Wait! If you are a stallion of your word..I...I will tell you everything. Just please...I want to go back to my family…”. Zemrite stopped and turned back around made he way back to the cell. He leans into the bars and stares intensely at him. It was clear that he was being serious about helping him.”If you give me all I need. I truly am willing to release you to your family. But know full well that I will have eyes on you at all times should you go back to your cult and tell them everything you have told me. And then you won’t have to worry about coming back here. I will have you cut down and buried in a shallow grave where the wild life can dig you up and feast on your corpse. Do we have a deal?”. He reached in with extended hand waiting for the stallion to accept it. He reaches up and takes Zemrite’s hand and gives it a shake and nods his head. Zemrite nods and calls out to one of the guards,”You there, bring this one some food and fresh water. And when his finishes, take him to the interrogation room. A few of my shadows will be speaking with him. And after they are done, they will be releasing him.” he said before turning his attention back to the one in the cell. “By the way, I told your wife about what you had been doing behind her back. She knows what you have been doing and what cause you have been under while being a guard for this city. But...despite that. She is willing to forgive you if you stop serving that cult and live a normal life for her and your child’s sake.” He looked up at Zemrite and simply lowered his head before nodding”So she was even willing to forgive me for that..? I have truly taken her love for granted all this time…”

Zemrite watched as the guard came with a tray of food and a large glass of ice cold water.”Eat up and get some rest. My shadows will be coming to get you soon.”. As he starts to make his way off once more, the stallion calls out to him once more “Thank you...for protecting my family from them. I never would have ever thought you’d even care…” Zemrite turned with a smile on his face.”You see, Shatter Shield. Being a monster has its uses. But that doesn’t mean I have to be a monster about it. Just know that the words I spoke before aren’t a threat. But I am sure In don’t have to worry about that since your wife and child are waiting for you to return home. I look forward to hearing from my shadows that everything is going well with your second chance.” And with that, Zemrite was off and out of the prison cells

Soon after he returned to the castle, Zemrite was in the chambers he shared with his lovers taking a nice hot shower to remove the smell of blood and combat from his body. As hen stared into the reflection of the mirror that was in the stand in shower, he looked at all the scars he had gathered over his time in this world. Scratches, slashes, stab wounds, bite marks and burn marks that have scarred over his black markings. He places a hand to the mirror and closes his eyes with a sigh.”One day my luck isn’t going to help me any more. Then I’ll really be in trouble…” He suddenly felt arms wrap around him and a soft form lean against his back with a muzzle resting against his shoulder, the embrace tightened over a few moments which made Zemrite smile,”Well, if it isn’t my sweet lunar flower. Have you come to join me for a shower then drag me off to bed?” A soft giggle was heard and She took the soap and started washing him from behind, continuing to press her front into his back and she eyed the scars back there. She closed her eyes and squeezed her free arm around him while the other cleaned him,”Tia had some business to attend to early this morning. So she said I should be the one to take care of you when you returned.”. Zemrite chuckled,”Oh? So she is capable of sharing after all?” he joked. Lunar giggled at the joke to. She knew that he loved them both equally. But, this was her time with him now. “YOu know, I have said this before, but you and Tia look so much more beautiful when your manes are flowing like they normally do. When they are down and straight, it shows off more of your natural beauty. Plus, I like running my fingers through it.”. This made the alicorn blush heavily when he said this. She started to plant multiple kisses along his shoulder and upper back as she continued to clean him up.”You are such a sweet talker. But, Tia and I know you mean every word that you speak to us. We love you so so very much. We don’t know what we’d do without you if we would lose you…”. Zemrite turned around and lifted up Luna’s chin so that her eyes would meet his,”I am not going anywhere, Lulu. Sure I may get beaten and battered. But somehow I always come out of it on top don’t I?”. “Yes, but you worry us so damn much. Nearly give me and Tia a heart attack when you come back in such a mess.”. Zemrite laughed lightly and placed a kiss upon Luna’s soft lips”But I always make up for it, don’t I?” he asked before resting his hands upon her rear, giving it a firm squeeze with both of them. This made the mare jump lightly, but let out a soft gasp as she loved it when he touched her in such sensual ways,”That you do. And you can certainly make up for it after we are done here~. I need my lover’s touch as it has been far too long~.”. Zemrite agreed wholeheartedly before they ended their shower and went straight to the bed to catch up on their ‘couples time’.