Chapter 1: Accidental Summons
Sadly, she wasn’t hallucinating. It was standing there, as real as the sun, scrubbing shampoo into its short mane.
It stopped, slowly opening one eye to reveal a polished silver orb. The hands carefully removed themselves from its scalp, palms held forward.
And then it spoke, “Jimm-”
“Demon!” somepony screamed. “Run for your lives!”
It winced at the shout, as five quartets of hooves scrambled around to escape. Three made their way up the stairs. Another leapt through the tiny window, barely squeezing through. The last ran into a closet, screamed, and passed out with a loud thump.
“-u?”
Raven’s leg shook. She was alone with the creature, and all she could do was stare. Her mouth was partly open, eyes wide as the tremors of fear raked her body.
It looked down at the tiled floor, noticing the candles and a myriad of symbols inside the circle of salt. A frown crumpled the creature’s brow, and its gaze shifted to her.
“E-qu-es-tri-a?” it said, haltingly.
She gulped, nodding.
Its eyes closed. “One mo-ment.” The horns were engulfed in a quick flash of gray flames. After a moment, its eyes opened and bored down upon her again. “That’s better. Now, since you’re the only one who hasn’t fled away in terror or panic, would you mind telling me who you are and what in the Nine Circles I’m doing here?”
Raven shook her head, trying to stop the racing of her heart enough to speak. “Whoa. Um, my name’s Moonlight Raven. My friends, like, summoned you here.”
It raised a brow. “How?”
Moonlight pointed a hoof at the open book just inside the salt-circle. It crouched down and picked it up, narrowing its eyes. A sigh escaped its nonexistent mouth. “I don’t believe this.”
“Huh?”
A pair of fingers went to rub its eyes, only for them to be whipped away as the demon let out a growl, having forgotten the shampoo. Muttering, it wiped the offending digits on a fur-covered leg before continuing. “This is a first edition Beginner’s Summoning Guide, with associated diagrams.” The creature frowned further. “Though the last copies were supposed to have been destroyed in the fifth century M.E. Tell me, how much do you know about summoning magic?”
She shrugged, trying to provoke an air of nonchalance. “Not much. I know you need, like, certain components for it to work. But it’s different stuff depending on what you want to summon.”
It blinked. “That’s actually a fairly accurate summary. If someone’s trying to summon a living being, another component that’s needed is a vocal one, a name. If the name is mispronounced, even a little, the ritual fails. Though this instance is,” it paused, looking at the circle again, “a rare occurrence.”
“What makes you say that?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Because the name here is ever so slightly smudged. Just enough to where it could be read as my own name.” Its eyes widened. “D’seq! I haven’t introduced myself.” It straightened up, the points of its horns pricking the ceiling. Grey flames popped into existence, cloaking its body. “I am known by many names. The Yowling Song, Master of the Twenty-One Cards, Wyrm-who-Growls-at-Dawn, but you may call me Nazgoroth ug Avernus, son of Felleeri and Maschonus.”
There was a moment of silence as the flames went out and he touched his shampoo-laden mane. “Though just Nazgoroth is fine. Less of a mouthful. Do you happen to have a shower I could borrow for minute? Mine was… interrupted. And my shampoo is beginning to dry.”
“I could but, like, don’t you have to stay in that circle?”
He looked down, then looked back to Moonlight and took a slow, exaggerated step outside of the circle. “This was a summoning ritual, not a binding. They would need my true name for that. Shall we continue?”
With a nod, she led him up the stairs and into the book shop, before pointing to another set. “Bathroom’s the first door on the left.”
“Thank you,” he said, marching up the steps.
It was only when the water started running that a thought struck her. Moonlight made her way to the bathroom, knocking on its door.
“Hey, mister Nazgoroth? Towels are in the cupboard over the toilet. Feel free to grab one.”
A subdued ‘thanks’ was his only response.
Upon hearing the bell above the front door ring, Moonlight turned to head back down, only to hear a familiar voice.
“Moony! Are you like, taking a shower?”
Before she could respond, the voice arrived at the stairway. A pair of green eyes stared up at her beneath a cocked eyebrow. “Uh, Moony? If you’re like, out here, who’s taking a shower?”
“Sis-”
She gasped, running up and smiling widely, almost snout-to-snout with Moonlight.
“Did you finally get a coltfriend? And he’s here?!” Taking a step back, she dropped to her haunches and rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Wait, if he’s using our shower, then,” she paused, eyes widening, before adopting a sly smile. “So what have you two, like, been up to?”
Moonlight rolled her eyes. “You’ve got it all wrong, Sis.”
Her jaw dropped. “Oh. My. Celestia. Did I come at, like, a bad time? You weren’t about to, you know,” she looked from side to side before leaning in close and whispering, “do the slippery avocado, were you?”
A raised eyebrow was Moonlight’s response.
“How about the grease monkey shuffle?”
“What?”
“You know. Bouncing balloons in the bathtub?”
With a facehoof, Moonlight frowned. “I told you, it’s-”
The bathroom door creaked open, revealing Nazgoroth; a damp towel around his neck.
She looked at his face, travelled down to his cloven hooves, and then made the trek back up to his eyes before turning back to Moonlight. “Huh. You never told me you liked tall guys, Moony.”
Her left eye twitched just the slightest fraction.
Nazgoroth looked to Moonlight. “A friend of yours?”
She shook her head. “Nope. This is my sister, Sunset Smiles.”
Sunset held out her hoof with a wide smile. “It’s, like, nice to meet you.”
There was a flicker of grey sparks on his horns, but no fire started. With a frown, he took the hoof and shook it. “You may call me Nazgoroth. I was summoned to Equestria against my will by some of Moonlight Raven’s friends. You’re taking this a lot better than they did.”
She shrugged, still smiling. “Moony looks fine and she’s letting you use our shower. Far as I’m concerned, that makes you okay in my book! Besides, you don’t look much different from a minotaur. Well, except you don’t have a nose. Or, you know, a mouth. How are you even talking anyway?”
“Exceptionally strong vocal chords,” he said, touching his neck. “Vibrations travel through certain canals and exit through the ears. Just don’t ask me how I eat. It’s left many a scholar scarred. Now, before any more tangent topics arise, I need to speak with the nearest government representative.”
“Hey Moony, wouldn’t that be the Princesses?”
Nazgoroth’s eyes went as wide as saucers. “I’m in the capital?!”
Moonlight nodded.
“Well,” he cleared his throat. “That will quicken the process. Would the two of you be willing to escort me? I’ve a feeling that walking the streets on my own might cause a panic.”
“I’ll go with you. It’s, like, the least I can do after my friends dragged you here.”
Sunset rapidly shook her head. “Nope. Sorry. No can do.”
Her sister raised an eyebrow. “What? Why not?”
“I’ve gotta go buy more book supplies. You know, ink, paper, pencils, feathers, that stuff. Good luck though!”
As she trotted down the stairs, Moonlight followed soon after. “Give me a minute, Nazgoroth. I need to talk with Sunset.”
She grabbed her sister just before she reached the door and turned her around. “Sunset, you never go shopping for writing supplies. What the hay are you up to?”
Sunset smiled even as her eyes rolled. “Uh, giving you some alone time with mister tall, dark and horny?”
Moonlight groaned. “I told you-”
“Yeah-yeah-yeah I heard you the first time but come on, Moony.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m serious, Sunset. He’s not even a pony.”
“Wow, Moony. Didn’t think you were, like, a racist,” she deadpanned.
“I’m. Not. Racist,” she growled, before taking a deep breath. “Look, sis. I barely even know this guy. Hay, I only just met him like, ten minutes ago. He was basically kidnapped from his home. You really think he’d be interested in staying here, let alone with me?”
Still rocking the deadpan look, Sunset countered, “Pinkie Pie’s fiance.”
Moonlight shook her sister like a giant maraca. “You can’t keep using that as an argument; Pinkie Pie is the exception to every rule! And she’s marrying-”
“Hi-i-i Nazgo-ro-oth!”
She dropped her sister and spun around, only to find empty space. The sound of a small bell was accompanied by that of a slamming door. Fading hooves pounded a hasty tempo away from the shop.
Moonlight’s eye twitched once again, more fervently. With a long, raspy sigh, she trudged back up the stairs.
“Are you alright?”
She looked up from the floor. “Yeah. My sister can be so annoying sometimes, though.”
“I wouldn’t know,” he shrugged. “I’m an only child. Anything else you need to do before we go?”
“Not really. Follow me.”
As he exited the shop, Nazgoroth quickly shut his eyes, covering them with his hands. “Gah!”
Moonlight turned to him. “What’s wrong?!”
“Forgot about the sun,” he groaned.
“Huh?”
He sighed. “The darkness of Tartarus is darker than even the moonless nights in this world. Artificial light doesn’t hurt us as much as the light of the heavens does. The most light I’ve ever seen came from a lava flow, and that blazing thing in the sky is at least a thousand times brighter. It wasn’t so bad inside, but out here? I’m essentially blind.”
“Well,” Moonlight tapped her chin with a forehoof, “I’ve got some bits. I could probably spring for some sunglasses from Cool Shades’ shop. Would that help?”
“Is it far?”
She nodded, then facehoofed upon realizing he couldn’t see her. “It’s halfway across the city, away from the palace.”
“As helpful as these glasses sound, it would be in my best interest to see the Princesses as soon as possible. The longer I’m out and about in public, the more likely the chance there will be a panic.”
Though he couldn’t see it, Nazgoroth distinctly heard a grocery bag being dropped, the clattering of hooves on cobblestones, and a shout of “Monster! Guards, heeelp!”
Moonlight hummed in thought, before smirking. “Okay, I’ve got an idea.”
He raised an arm in defeat. “I’m completely open to suggestions.”
As they walked down the street, Nazgoroth sent a silent prayer to his parents for passing their genes for darker-hued skin down to him. Otherwise, every passerby would have seen him sporting a blush bright enough to burn himself darker. Much as he tried, he couldn’t get over the sensation of Moonlight’s fur beneath his hand. It was just so… soft. And smooth. Like a fuzzy, silk-wrapped cloud. He mentally chided himself for not using her conditioner to finish his shower.
Moonlight, however, was doing quite well in suppressing her own blush. Years of practice had enabled her cheeks to not even go rosy, no matter how embarrassing the situation. Though Nazgoroth’s hand was making it exceptionally difficult. The warmth it exuded was matched only by his firm, gentle touch. She was impressed that only the slightest tremor ran through it.
The many wide-eyed stares did nothing to help the situation. Confused eyebrows, double-takes, and even open-mouthed gawking followed their every step. Some were kind enough to simply pass out on the sidewalks, as opposed to being so brazenly rude. Up until the guards arrived, at any rate.
No less than a dozen had rounded the corner, spears pointed towards the blind demon and his unicorn guide. Moonlight stopped, almost causing Nazgoroth to trip over an uneven cobblestone.
One guard stepped forward and raised her voice. “In the names of Princesses Celestia and Luna, I order you to halt and identify yourself!”
“My name is-”
“Wasn’t asking you, ma’am. I was asking it,” she gestured towards him with a wing.
Even though his eyes were covered, Nazgoroth couldn’t help but roll them. “I am a he. Now that that’s been established, would you be so kind as to escort us to the Princesses? I’d prefer to cause as little a scene as possible, and I’m more than willing to cooperate peacefully. As you can see, I’m basically blind in the sunlight.”
Her ear flicked to the side. “That’s… the most reasonable response we’ve ever gotten from somepony. All right, we’ll head out-”
Before she could continue, the shaft of a spear came down upon the demon’s head like a falling star. The resounding crack made many of the onlookers wince and grimace in phantom pain, before swiftly going about the rest of their day.
A triumphant grin gleamed from a green muzzle, hovering in the air. “I got him, sarge. Now we’ll be sure to get medals!”
His fellow guards did their very best to look at anything but him, save for the sergeant. The veins bulging at her temples complimented her snarling lips as she glared.
“Private, what in the Princesses’ names were you thinking? He had already surrendered himself into our custody!”
His grin dropped as he landed, scrambling for a response. “I-I just thought-”
“No, you didn’t. You had the same fool idea that goes through every guard’s head at least once in their life, that ‘knocking out a monster,’” she air-quoted with her wings, “guarantees some sort of glorious recognition for ‘bravery in the face of danger.’”
“Well, doesn’t it?” he asked, wings ruffling.
She facewinged. “You snuck up on an unarmed, non-hostile being, and assaulted them with a deadly weapon! Not only do we have to take him to the infirmary to check for head trauma, but now we have to carry him there since our mages are at the magician’s conference. And I will have to explain this whole kerfuffle to the Princesses.”
“...Oh.”
Her eyebrows crashed together for a frown. “I hope you like toilets and toothbrushes, private. You’re going to see a lot of both for several weeks.”
Without another word, she helped Nazgoroth’s unconscious form onto the earth ponies’ backs. In silence they carried him through the streets, past the gates, across the courtyard and into the barracks’ infirmary. Once the medic on duty had thoroughly looked him over with a magical scan, Nazgoroth was found to have suffered no serious damage, though the apple-sized lump on his head would be tender for the next few days. Erring on the side of caution, the unicorn applied an ointment to prevent further swelling, in addition to relieve any throbbing.
***
All it took was rolling over to jolt him awake. Amazed at what a welt can do when under pressure. Nazgoroth sat up and clutched the back of his head with one hand, as the other rubbed his eyes.
“Good thing you woke up on your own, the guards were about to try in five minutes. You were asleep for like, six hours.”
He cracked an eyelid to see Moonlight, floating glass of water in her magic. Slowly, he reached out and took it, whispering a soft, “Thank you.”
Turning his face away, he downed the glass in a few gulps. Opening his other eye, he took in the surroundings. Bare stone walls, white cloth curtains, and a large number of cots which were mostly empty. Two guards stood not ten feet away, watching him intently.
“Where are we?”
“We’re in the infirmary. Some crazy guard, like, smacked you with a spear.”
Blinking away some of the grogginess, Nazgoroth’s eyes settled on her new attire. “What’s with the bags?”
Moonlight pointed to them. “Needed these to carry my books in. Forgot we left the summoning book at the shop. Had a hard time getting back in here, though. Guards at the gates changed shifts while I was out.”
“How’d you get past them?” he asked, easing his legs over the side of the cot.
“Told them I was the one who summoned you here, and that I’d summon an even bigger demon if I couldn’t check on you.”
He winced, then frowned. “But, you didn't summon me in the first... place…”
A smirk slowly crept its way across Moonlight’s face.
Nazgoroth stared for a few moments, before a snicker escaped his ears. "Wow. That is devious."
She shrugged. "It was the quickest way to get the book to the Princesses, and to make sure you were okay."
A throat loudly cleared itself, causing them both to look at the guards.
“We’ll take you to see the Princesses now,” said the one on the left.
With a nod from Nazgoroth they made their way into the castle proper, walking briskly down the opulent halls. Exotic tapestries, detailed paintings, and colorful stained glass windows provided a visual feast for the eyes. The doors they stopped at were no less masterfully crafted, despite their massive wooden frames. Another pair of guards stood on either side. With quick nods, they opened the doors, and motioned for the small group to go inside.
The escorting guards closed the doors behind them, taking positions that mirrored the ones outside. The room instantly got darker, blocking any light that came in from the windows. At the end of the hall, seated on twin thrones, were the Princesses in all their radiant and stellar glory. Celestia’s face bore no emotion, though Luna sported an open frown.
Once they were close enough, Nazgoroth and Moonlight bowed.
“Good evening, your majesties. I am Nazgoroth ug Avernus, son of Felleeri and Maschonus.”
Luna narrowed her gaze. “What are you doing here, demon?”
His eye twitched. “I beg your pardon?”
“I have asked what you are doing in Equestria, demon.”
Nazgoroth clenched a fist behind his back, before taking a deep breath. “Princess… Luna, I presume?”
She nodded tersely.
“Allow me to make things abundantly clear. Firstly and foremostly, I am not a demon, I am a devil.”
“The difference being?”
Celestia shook her head as she sighed. “You would know if you’d paid attention to the cultural advisor at last year’s Interdimensional Peace Summit. Do you remember Ambassador Zariel?”
“I do,” she said, frown morphing into a smile. “She enjoyed the conversations as much as I did, though she actually voiced her disinterest, if her snores were any indication.”
With a roll of her eyes, Celestia continued. “She was a demon. The difference between her and a devil is like that between an earth pony and unicorn.”
Her eyes went wide, ears down, before turning back to Nazgoroth. “Oh. My apologies. That was… quite thoughtless of me.”
He unclenched his fist, bowing once more. “Thank you, your majesty. It is greatly appreciated.”
Moonlight raised her hoof, and received a nod from Celestia. “Your majesties, my name is Moonlight Raven. Some of my friends thought it’d be funny to try and use this book,” she levitated it out of her bag, “to try and summon a demon. They didn’t think it’d actually work, but thought they might get a laugh out of it.”
Celestia openly stared at the book. “May I see that, my little pony?”
With a nod from Moonlight, she brought the book up to her eyes with magic, and groaned.
Luna raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”
“These books,” she sighed, “were all supposed to have been destroyed. While you were away, a large number of would-be villains attempted to summon and bind demons as living weapons. Over the course of many years, all of the summoners were sent to Tartarus, and all of the copies were found. Until today, that is.”
With a small frown the book caught fire in her magical grasp, slowly turned to ash, and then disappeared entirely. She smiled. “Now that that’s been dealt with, we can address the more serious issue of how to get you home, mister Nazgoroth. I believe now would be the time to consult Equestria’s version of the D.I.L.D.I.B.”
Both Moonlight and Luna raised an eyebrow, speaking together. “What’s the dildib?”
Nazgoroth raised a finger. “If I may, Princess Celestia?”
She nodded, keeping her smile.
He stood up straighter. “The D.I.L.D.I.B., or Diplomatic Immunity Laws for Displaced Interdimensional Beings, is exactly that. A set of laws governing the safety and lawful treatment of individuals who find themselves transported outside of their own dimension. The the specifics differ from place to place, but the majority of the laws boil down to helping the displaced being returned home, if at all possible. In addition, they are granted temporary diplomatic immunity, to further help protect them in a foreign land.”
“Thankfully, this is a simple matter to fix,” she said, charging her magic. “We’ll simply teleport you to Cerberus’ gate-”
“Actually,” he cleared his throat, “there’s the small matter of the Tartarian Recompense Act.”
Celestia blinked, her magic sputtering out like a flustered candle. “You’re kidding. You’re kidding, right?”
He shrugged. “I would be remiss in my duties as a lawyer not to point them out.”
One of Luna’s ears went off to the side. “Sister, what is he referring to?”
“What he’s referring to,” Celestia groaned, “is a clause. As a show of goodwill, Equestria is legally obligated to provide him with a minimum of fifty bits, in addition to a few other provisos. I’ll explain it all later, Luna.” She yawned. “It’s late, and we can discuss the details in the morning. While you were unconscious, mister Nazgoroth, we had the maids make rooms ready for you and miss Moonlight in the guest wing.”
Nazgoroth bowed to them. “Thank you, your majesties. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Moonlight’s eyes went wide. “Wait, why am I staying here?”
Celestia blinked her baggy eyes. “We assumed you would be tired at this hour. And we seldom have guests for breakfast. But if you’d prefer to return home-”
“I didn’t say that!” she quickly interjected. “I was just, like, curious.”
Celestia nodded and gave a kind, motherly smile. “Then with that, good night, everyone.”
Chapter 2: Down the Mountain
Nazgoroth begrudgingly cracked open his eyes. A shard of dawnlight crept into his room, but it was enough to jar him awake. With much groaning and occasional scratching, he made his way to the bathroom. After his morning rituals, he closed the curtains and sat down in the cushioned chair. The darkness delivered a measure of homely comfort, bringing his thoughts more into focus.
He crossed his legs, chin in hand, and began to think. Darting his eyes around the room, he was once again reminded of being in a different dimension. The smallest things told him he wasn’t home, from the style of furniture to the color schemes, though his train of thought made a stop at a familiar face; his dimensional studies teacher.
A chuckle escaped his ears, imagining the look she’d give him. First draining of all color, only to flush with warmth, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She would poke and prod his mind for detail after detail, cataloguing every minute scrap of information for further research.
With a blush, his hands covered his face as he pictured her questions about Moonlight. How deep blue her mane was, how her eyes were always half-lidded and the soft, soft fluff that was her coat-
A knock at door brought him back to reality. Removing his hands, he called out, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Moonlight. Mind if I come in?”
“Uh, just a minute.” He rose and threw open the curtains. Too little too late, he’d realized his mistake. He let out a cry of alarm and fell to the floor, covering his sun-pierced eyes. While curled into a crumpled ball of pain, he heard the door open and felt a presence by his side. She knelt beside him, and opened her mouth to ask what had happened, but a brief glance to the curtains made her close it.
“You forgot about the sun again,” she deadpanned, one ear flicking.
“What gave it away?” he groaned. “The open curtains, me lying in a fetal position, or the blinding ball of fire outside?”
She rolled her eyes, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “Since it looks like we’ll have the time, how about we, like, get you those sunglasses today?”
He nodded, the heels of his hands still rubbing at his eyes. “I’ll likely be needing them for what’s ahead.”
Moonlight raised an eyebrow, closing the curtains with her magic. “What do you mean?”
Carefully, he removed his hands and blinked into the dark. Pushing himself up to a sitting position, he stared at her. “If it’s okay with you, would you mind waiting until we meet with the Princesses? That way, you won’t have to hear it twice.”
She looked up at the ceiling, tapping a hoof to her chin. After a few moments, Moonlight looked back to him and nodded.
As if on cue, a maid knocked on the door to escort them to Princess Celestia’s personal quarters. The walk was mostly silent save for the occasional yawn, until a guard trotted down the hallway towards them. He stopped perhaps five feet away.
Nazgoroth raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “Can I help you, sir?”
The guard nodded. “I’d like to apologize for yesterday. I’m the one who knocked you out.” His gaze dropped to the ground. “I was so caught up in my own fantasies that I disregarded the situation in front of me.” He bowed his head. “ And for that, I’m sorry.”
After a few moments, Nazgoroth nodded. Unfolding his arms, he knelt down and looked the guard in the eye. In the space of a blink, the hallway was flooded with the dark light of grey fire. “There are many who would sooner strike you down than accept an apology. Not all are as kind as I.” He leaned in closer to the shaking stallion. “Be grateful we didn’t meet in the Cavern of Echoes, lest I would have shown you what true repentance is.”
He somehow managed a trembling smile. “B-believe me, that’s a lesson this featherbrain won’t be forgetting.”
With a slow nod from Nazgoroth, the fires went out as quickly as they’d come. He and the guard shook hand and hoof before continuing on their respective ways.
Once out of earshot, Moonlight looked up at Nazgoroth from the corner of her eye. “Glad to see things worked out between you two. Didn’t expect to like, see him again so soon.” A small smirk crept up the side of her face. “A bit over-the-top, but I guess he did kind of deserve it after knocking you out.”
Nazgoroth shrugged. “The chances are good that his superiors made him do it. His actions yesterday soured the whole situation, but today his words were full of sincerity. He’s fortunate I’m a devil and not an actual demon, though.”
“Why’s that?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
His eyes crinkled in a mouthless smile. “The spear would’ve broken over a thicker skull. He’d have gotten reprimanded, and would’ve had the cost taken out of his pay.”
Before she could say anything in response, they arrived at Celestia’s chamber door. Upon entering, Nazgoroth and Moonlight glanced around in surprise. Everything they saw had the mark of a master crafts-worker, but bore less decoration than they expected. The sparse furniture was light in color, contrasted by the deep orange of cushions and seats. Seated at the table was Celestia herself, sipping from a floating cup of tea. She waved them over, gesturing to the two other chairs with a smile.
“Good morning you two. I trust you slept well?”
Moonlight spoke first as they took their seats. “Yes, Princess Celestia. Like, thanks for asking.”
Nazgoroth scooted his chair up. “If you don’t mind me asking, where’s Princess Luna?”
Celestia’s ears lowered a fraction, as did her smile. “Unfortunately, after our conversation last night, she spent nearly all of her time dealing with an outbreak of nightmares. She was so exhausted that I found her not more than a step away from her bed, sleeping on the floor.”
He tilted his head to the side. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Princess Luna can, like, go into ponies dreams,” Moonlight supplied. “It’s one of the reasons she’s Princess of the Night.”
His eyes nearly shot out from his head. “Wait, that isn’t just a legend? That actually happens?!”
“Among other things,” Celestia raised a hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle. “Now then, before we begin any other discussions, what would the two of you like for breakfast? The castle kitchen is open for anything you’d like.”
Moonlight’s eyes went wide, a stream of drool forming at the corner of her mouth. She quickly rubbed it away and cleared her throat. “Could I, like, have waffles? With bananas? A-and blackberry syrup? Please?”
Celestia nodded, turning her attention to Nazgoroth. “And for you?”
He gulped, soundlessly drumming his fingers on the table. “You wouldn’t happen to have any… coal… would you?”
With a flash, a piece of parchment and a quill appeared in her magical grasp, and quickly scribbled. As swiftly as it appeared, it vanished.
“Should we discuss the finer details of the Tartarian Recompense Act while we wait, Esquire Nazgoroth?”
He groaned, rubbing his temples. “Princess Celestia, we're not in a courtroom. Tacking on the 'Esquire' isn't necessary. Please, just call me by my name.”
“Only if you agree to stop calling me Princess,” she countered, the corners of her mouth quirking upward.
“Bargain struck!” He stuck out his hand wreathed in grey, illusionary fire, which Celestia shook. “And if it’s not too much trouble,” the flames went out as he pulled it back to rub his neck, “could we save the details for after we eat? Legal matters are best settled on a full stomach.” His gaze narrowed. “Though I will give you credit for trying to get the jump on me so early in the morning. Well played, Celestia. Well played.”
She smiled playfully. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to ‘deal with a devil.’”
He barked a series of laughs and clutched his stomach, desperately trying to keep his face from smashing into the table. Moonlight raised an eyebrow, but kept her silence throughout the spasms that rocked his frame. Nazgoroth eventually noticed her stare and, wiping the tears from his eyes, gave her his full attention.
“Sorry about that, Moonlight,” he chuckled. “Devils, such as myself,” he touched his fingers to his chest, “are more often drawn towards intellectual careers such as doctors, lawyers and professors. The phrase ‘deal with a devil’ means having to dispute an argument with a very knowledgeable individual. One who is likely to turn things around towards their own favor. I just wasn’t expecting Princess Celestia to be familiar with the term.”
“I’m more interested in why you chose coal for breakfast,” Moonlight said, resting her hooves on the table.
Just as he was about to speak, Celestia cut in, “Would you mind if I explain this, Nazgoroth?” With a shrug, he motioned for her to go on. She offered her thanks and then faced Moonlight. “The inhabitants of Tartarus are geovorous, much like the dragons in our world. Minerals and stones such as basalt, granite and sandstone make up the majority of their diet. While they can subsist on other sources such as vegetables and even meat, doing so for too long is detrimental to their health. Coal is considered a delicacy.”
One of Moonlight’s ears went to the side. “Why’s that?”
“Coal is basically composed of plants that died a long time ago,” Nazgoroth chimed in. “The flavors accumulate and build over the course of many years, making coal one of the most sought-after treats to my people.”
She blinked. “Huh. Neat. So like, how expensive is coal in Tartarus?”
“In bits? It’s, um, hmm. I’m not too sure, exactly.” He turned to Celestia. “Do you happen to know the exchange rate of bits to drachmas?”
The Princess tapped a hoof to her chin in thought. “I believe the current rate is roughly two drachmas for every bit.”
He nodded. “Then a pound of coal would be two hundred drachmas, or one hundred bits.”
“Whoa,” Moonlight yawned. “That’s a lot of bits.”
Nazgoroth scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry this isn’t the most exciting thing to talk about first thing in the morning.”
She waved it off with a hoof. “No, it’s fine. I’ve just never been a morning pony.” A smile grew across her face as she continued, “Learning all this stuff is actually pretty neat.”
A knock on the door stalled any further conversation. “Princess Celestia? Your order for breakfast is ready.”
With quick precision, the group of servants and a couple of miners served the plates of food and coal respectively. Not even a full minute had gone by before they bowed to Celestia and made their way out.
As Nazgoroth stared at his plate, the Princess gently cleared her throat. “There’s a small library through that door if you’d like to use it, Nazgoroth. I can assure you that nopony will disturb your breakfast. Feel free to take the time and enjoy your treat.”
With a nod, he lifted his meal. Taking a step back, he bowed with the plate above his head. “Many thanks, Celestia.”
Moonlight watched the door close behind him with a raised eyebrow, before looking back to Celestia. “Um, Princess Celestia? Like, what’s all that about?”
She sipped at her tea. “Hmm?”
“Why did Nazgoroth go off to eat on his own?” she asked, her ears down.
“Ah, that.” Her ears perked up as she put down her tea. “In short, it’s a cultural norm. Tartarians always converse before a meal, but disperse when it arrives.”
Moonlight blinked, staring back at the door. “Wonder why that is.”
“It would be simple to just ask him.” She smiled before continuing, “But it would be best for him to tell you of his own will. Meals are a,” she twirled her hoof in circles, looking for the right word, “sensitive topic for his people. However, it would appear that Nazgoroth would be more inclined towards an explanation.”
“What makes you say that?” she asked, crossing her fetlocks on the table.
“Something rather simple, actually,” Celestia replied, raising her teacup. “His birthplace.”
“Wait, what?” Moonlight’s eyebrows shot up. “When did he mention that?”
She sipped before answering. “Last night, he introduced himself as ‘ug Avernus.’ Avernus is a city in Tartarus, one of the Nine Circles. At last year’s Summit, Ambassador Zariel was kind enough to share some stories of her childhood home. Her citizens are among the most friendly towards outsiders.”
One of her ears went to the side, as the other perked up. “Outsiders?”
“It would be best if Nazgoroth explained it.” At which point the library door opened, causing Celestia to smile. “Speak of a devil, and he shall come.”
Nazgoroth snorted a laugh and nearly dropped his empty plate. His gaze switched back and forth between Moonlight and Celestia much like that of a colt who had broken the good plates. “Um, can you two forget that happened?”
They looked at him with blank expressions, before looking at each other. Slow smiles mirrored their faces before the giggling began. Which quickly devolved into chuckling, then full-on, gut-busting laughter. While Moonlight quickly settled down to wipe the tears from her eyes, Celestia’s guffaws rang so loud that one of the guards poked his head in to check. She waved him off, and he nodded without a word.
Nazgoroth watched the entire scene with an unamused frown. “It wasn’t that funny.”
Once she had settled down and used a handkerchief for her tears, Celestia apologized. “Indeed, it wasn’t. But the fact it sounded like a kitten snorting dandelion fluff was.”
He rolled his eyes. “Well now that you’ve both gotten it out of your systems, I think it might be a good time to go over the Tartarian Recompense Act. That map in your library says I’ve got a journey ahead of me and the sooner we start, the better.”
Celestia rolled her eyes with an insincere pout. “Spoilsport.”
Their bantering went back and forth for hours as they haggled and rationalized for nearly every single bit like a pair of stingy merchants. One of the castle staff was kind enough to bring Moonlight some popcorn as she intently watched the whole exchange. Most of Nazgoroth’s arguments were met with a coy smile and a counter-offer he just couldn’t refuse, though there were a few moments where he managed to have Celestia momentarily pause in surprise. Her smile reappeared at those times, and she’d humbly acquiesce to his reasoning. Had it not been for his stomach growling, they likely would have continued until sundown. After lunch, the details had been hammered out, drawn up and signed by the two of them.
With a smile, Celestia rose from her seat. “As enjoyable as that was, I’m afraid I must return to day court. Feel free to roam around Canterlot for any additional supplies you might need or want for your trip. I’ve made a statement for the city’s newspaper, and notified the guards to spread the word you’re not a monster intent on devouring the citizens.” As she walked towards the door, she called out over her shoulder, “Do be back by sundown, however. There’s a great deal of paperwork that needs to be signed. It should be ready for you by then.”
He nodded. “Will do, Celestia.”
Moonlight stood up and stretched. “I’ll keep an eye on him, Princess. He’ll need a guide for Canterlot, and I’m the least likely to freak out around him.”
Celestia’s smile grew sly. “I see. Very well, Moonlight Raven. Be sure to take care of him.”
Once she’d left, Nazgoroth and Moonlight made their way down to the castle gates. He kept one hand on her back and the other over his eyes as they walked past the guards on duty. They had to walk the whole way as every carriage and taxi either refused to take them as passengers, completely ignored them, or in three cases, sped away in wild-eyed terror.
“Remind me to never again try bargaining with Princess Celestia. She’s ruthless enough to give my mom a run for her money.”
Moonlight looked up at him as they rounded a corner. “What’s your mom’s job?”
He nearly crashed into a pony with their face in a newspaper. “She owns a small pawn shop, ‘Traded Treasures.’”
“So is the shop in Avernus?” she asked, stopping with him at a crosswalk.
Nazgoroth frowned behind his hand. “Wait, how’d you know that? I never told you where I was from.”
“Princess Celestia explained it.” She looked up and down the street. Seeing no carriages, she led him forward.
He hummed in thought. “That… huh. That makes a great deal of sense. Anyway, what does your mother do for a living?”
Moonlight’s ears lowered a fraction, and was thankful he couldn’t see her. “I’ll tell you later. We just need to cross one more street and we’ll be at Canterlot Mall. Cool Shades has a stand outside.”
“Why not set up shop inside?”
She chuckled, walking across the street. “The outside vendor spots are cheaper. Besides, it’s easier to test out sunglasses in actual sunlight.”
His ears wiggled. “I know you can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes right now. Smart business move, though.”
“Thanks, my dude!” a familiar brown stallion all but shouted, his hoof raised high.
Nazgoroth tilted his head towards the new voice. “Mister Cool Shades, I presume?”
“That’d be a major positive,” he said with a grin. “And Moonlight! How’s my fave gloom-cookie doing?”
Moonlight smiled. “I’ll be a lot better once you, like, give me a better nickname.”
He shook his head, dropping the smile. “Sorry girl. No can do. Once a gloom-cookie, always a gloom-cookie. So, this the new coltfriend Sunny’s been talking about? Thought she was kidding when she said you were into tall guys.”
Moonlight’s eye twitched. “Has she told everypony in Canterlot or something?”
“Nah. Just everypony she knows,” he said, grinning. “Besides, she didn’t tell me. Just heard her talking to the new sno-cone pone two stands over.”
She frowned. “Shades, my sister knows almost as many ponies as Pinkie Pie.”
“Aww, but you two look totes adorbs together,” he said, nudging her with a brown wing.
After pushing it away and rolling her eyes, she pointed to her blind companion. “Just for the record, no, he’s not my coltfriend. His name is Nazgoroth, and he needs a pair of your custom frames.”
Shades lowered his sunglasses. “I can tell. Hands are a really bad substitute for shades. You from underground, bro?”
Nazgoroth and Moonlight’s ears perked up together. Speaking as one, they asked, “How’d you know?”
He snickered. “Saw a diamond dog with the same prob last month. Kept saying hi to everything with his face. You lucked out with Moonlight here, Naz.” With a smile, he put his sunglasses back up and looked at her. “Think I got just the thing for our friend-o here,” he said, reaching under the stall with a wing. “Try these.”
Moonlight gently levitated them to Nazgoroth’s open hand. As quick as he could, he brought the frames over his ears and cracked open an eye. Much to his relief, the light didn’t hurt at all.
Nazgoroth snapped his head around, looking every direction but down. “These are perfect, Shades!”
Shades grinned as he held up a string of leather. “Thought they’d work out. Oh, and take this strap, too. Since you don’t have a nose, you’ll need it to keep them from falling off.”
“How much do we owe you?” Moonlight asked, pulling out a pouch from her saddlebags.
He tapped a white hoof to his chin. “Tell you what. Any time somepony asks where you got those awesome specs, tell them where they can find me. Deal?”
Nazgoroth paused and Raven thought she almost caught a smile as grey flames erupted behind his horns. He stuck out his hand and shook Shades’. “Bargain Struck.”
They bade goodbye to a nervous-looking Shades, venturing once more into the streets of Canterlot. With his newfound eyesight, Nazgoroth finally saw the expressions on ponies’ faces as they looked at him. While a small number still passed out or scrambled away in fear, most simply gave him a wide berth and wary glance. He made a mental note to thank princess Celestia once he got back for putting in a good word with The Canterlot Chronicle.
***
Moonlight couldn’t help but snicker every time she caught a glance of him.
Nazgoroth frowned, keeping his gaze forward while holding firmly to the plastic bottles in his arms. “You know I can hear you, right? I still don’t get what the big deal is.”
She shook her head with a smile. “Most guys I’ve seen don’t gush about all-natural shampoo. I swear, your eyes like, almost popped through your sunglasses with sheer joy or something.”
He looked up and away from her in indignation. “Can I help it if normal shampoos and soaps wreak havoc on my skin and scalp? You try getting anything done with a full-body rash!”
“Okay, okay,” she smirked, “calm down, mister sensitive.”
“Hmph!” His grip on the bottles tightened.
Though she stopped snickering, Moonlight kept a small small on her face. For three blocks they walked in relative silence, until Nazgoroth sighed.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
She turned an ear towards him. “Hm?”
He grumbled before raising his voice, “I said I’m sorry. My classmates used to make fun of me when I was young. Even after the rash had run its course, I was bombarded with jokes and impolite nicknames. Though one in particular stayed with me through my teenage years. Took me forever to finally shake it off.”
“Now I don’t get what the big deal is,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You had a really big, really bad rash. So what? I don’t think that’s enough reason to keep making fun of somepony for so long.”
“Perhaps if I was a pony,” he sighed, “it wouldn’t have been. But because Tartarians live and tunnel underground, it’s something like a source of pride to have tough skin, regardless of heritage.”
Moonlight looked up at the sky. “So it’s like making fun of somepony for impure bloodlines or a particularly traumatic experience with pastries?”
Nazgoroth stared down at her while he walked. “Precisely. Does that happen here as well?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “Sounds like it sucks about as much. Here, the name’s just ‘blank flanks.’”
He frowned. “Blank flanks?”
She stopped in front of a door. “I’ll tell you about it later. We’re here.”
A quick look at the window answered his question, Gilbert’s Satchels & Saddlebags.
Inside was row upon row of stocked shelves, each sporting various styles, colors and materials. Even the walls were lined with products, hanging off hooks from floor to ceiling. A griffon sat behind the counter, absently reading a book. Without looking up, he addressed them in a deep, raspy voice.
“Feel free to look around,” he said, not even bothering to look up. “If you’re having trouble finding something, or want to put in an order, just let me know. We’ve also got a discount today, half-off on any color changes.” He thumbed the next page, going silent.
Thankfully, signs were placed to help prospective customers. When Moonlight walked over to Mares section, Nazgoroth went to the Stallions. It wasn’t too long before he found one that caught his eye. A simple denim bag, with separated spaces inside. He brought it up to the counter as Moonlight watched him from the corner of her eye.
The griffon kept his eyes on the book. “Ten bits for the bag. You want it as is, or interested in a color change? ”
Nazgoroth raised an eyebrow. “Color change?”
His expression remained neutral. “It’s usually ten bits, but we’ve been running a special this week. I’ll let my assistant do the explaining. I make satchels for a living, not magic. Spectrum Shift!”
At his raised voice, a young unicorn mare stumbled out from the door behind the counter. “Y-yes boss? What-”
Before she could say anything else, her eyes fell on Nazgoroth. Her pale gray coat blanched to as white as Celestia’s feathers.
Moonlight rolled her eyes, but kept silently watching.
She tapped his shoulder with a hoof. “Gil-b-b-bert?”
He didn’t so much as blink. “What have I said about bothering me when I’m reading?”
“That I’d get d-docked five bits e-each time I do it?” she gulped.
Gilbert smiled. “That’s five bits, Shift.”
“But, boss! He’s a-a-a-”
“Company policy number one!” he barked, turning another page.
Shift suddenly snapped to attention, standing as straight as she could, still shaking. “Company policy number one. It doesn’t matter if our customer is a griffon, pony, dragon or living pile of bubble gum, we’ll serve them to the best of our abilities!”
He nodded. “Good. Now explain to our customer what a color change is.”
She saluted, looking at Nazgoroth. “I can use magic to alter the colors of any of our products to suit a customer’s preferences. By manipulating the dyes and pigments on a molecular level-”
Gilbert poked her in the cheek. “Company policy number two.”
Spectrum Shift sighed, pushing away his talon. “Company policy number two. A customer should be given an in-depth explanation only if they ask and express an interest in hearing one.”
He patted the top of her pearlescent mane. “Good mare. You’re learning.”
She grumbled something under her breath.
“I heard that,” he said, poking her cheek again. “So, mister. Interested in a color change?”
As Nazgoroth looked towards Moonlight, she quickly returned her gaze to a pair black canvas saddlebags. Trying to look as oblivious as possible, she stopped listening for a moment. Though even a deaf pony would’ve heard Shift’s shout of, “A-are you M-m-moonlight’s coltfriend?”
Moonlight’s eye twitched, her ears perking up ever so slightly. Without even taking her eyes off the saddlebags, she called out over her shoulder, “He’s not my coltfriend! Sunny’s just been gossippingagain.”
“S-sorry, Moonlight!”
With a roll of her eyes, she considered the saddlebags more intently. Her own pair were far from falling apart, but it wouldn’t hurt to have an extra set just in case. And while the standard brown wasn’t a bad color, she liked the black better. But before she could make her final decision, her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of jingling bits, a register’s ring and the telltale chime of magic. With a sigh, she resolved to come back for them later, and trotted up to the front.
Moonlight stopped mid-step as her eyes fell on Nazgoroth’s new bag. It hung off his shoulder as if made for him, and was already bulging from his bottles. What made her pause and stare, however, was that its colors matched her coat and mane.
One of her eyebrows rose up in confusion, before it clicked in her mind. Within the space of a blink, here eyes shot wide open, trying to bore a hole into the bag with her gaze. She could feel the beat of her heart grow quicker and stronger, keeping pace with the smile climbing up to her eyes. With a fierce shake of her head, Moonlight freed her mind and trotted towards the door without another word. Less than ten steps down the street, and she heard Nazgoroth’s steps quickly catch up to her.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, sounding concerned.
Moonlight’s ears drooped halfway. “I just remembered I need Sunny to mind the bookshop while we’re gone. Business hasn’t been great, and mostly we’ve been scraping by. Doesn’t help that my landlord raised the rent a few months ago.”
Nazgoroth scratched his head. “Is that where I was summoned?”
She nodded. “And if we can’t make rent, we’ll lose the shop.”
Nazgoroth raised a finger as if to say something, but let it fall to his side instead. Moonlight shot him a thankful smile as he looked off in thought. They arrived before too long and found Sunset Smiles sweeping the outside, humming a cheerful tune.
Once they were in her sights, she stopped to wave. “Hi Moony, hi Nazgoroth! Like, how’d the talk go with the princesses? How scary was Princess Luna? How much cake does Princess Celestia eat? Did you two share a r-”
Moonlight’s hoof quickly plugged her sister’s mouth. “Talk was good, she’s not really scary, and not much unless you count pancakes. Listen, Sunny, I’ll be gone for a few days to help Nazgoroth get home. That means you’ll have to watch the shop until I get back, okay?”
Smiles nodded, her brow creased with determination. Once she saluted, Moonlight removed her hoof. “You can count on me, Moony! We kind of have a little problem, though. Blueblood came by and raised the rent again.”
Closing her eyes, Moonlight sighed. “How much this time?”
“... a hundred bits?” she said, tapping her hooves together.
“What?!” Moonlight whispered through clenched teeth. She quickly took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Composure restored, she looked her sister square in the eye. “Okay, okay. Here’s the plan. Get Spectrum Shift to help while I’m gone. She only works part-time for Gilbert, and probably wouldn’t mind the extra bits. Once I get back, we’ll plan out what needs to be done.”
With a nod, Sunset pulled her sister in close for a firm hug. “Love you, Moony. Stay safe on your trip.”
Moonlight returned the hug. “Love you too, Sunny. I know I can count on you until I get back.”
They held each other at hoof’s length, smiling all the while. Once done, Sunset waved goodbye as her sister and Nazgoroth made their way back to the castle. Nazgoroth left Moonlight to her thoughts, as she didn’t say a single word the entire walk. After seeing the mountainous heap of paperwork when they walked into Celestia’s room, though, a few choice ones sprang to her mind.
Their signatures were necessary on hundreds of official forms, documents and identifications that needed to be swiftly taken care of before they left. Not only for Nazgoroth’s safety, but for Moonlight as well since she’d volunteered to be his temporary guide and guardian. By the time they were done it was well into the night, and both never wanted to see another quill or inkwell for at least a year. Celestia reminded them of the stops they’d be making on their way the Gate of Tartarus, the first of which would be in nearby Ponyville.
After the numerous hours of slogging through paperwork, Celestia filed away the last sheets with a smile. “I’ve already sent word ahead to my former pupil of your arrival. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, and I’d like for you both to meet with her tomorrow. She’ll be able to help you along your journey, and I’ve no doubt she’s currently poring over the D.I.L.D.I.B as we speak. Now, you’ve both had a long day, and I think a late dinner is in order before your train leaves. I’ve also made arrangements at a newly opened hotel, they have an attendant who’ll meet you at the station and escort you to your rooms. Enjoy your dinner, and have a safe trip.”
After dinner, they thanked Celestia for all her help and boarded the train. Though the ride was relaxing, it nearly lulled Nazgoroth to sleep with its repetitive melody of ka-chunk a-chunk. He and Moonlight had a private room all to themselves, and while there was only one bed, the couch suited him just fine. A yawn escaped his ears in dark comfort as the train passed through another tunnel. Moonlight snored softly, which brought a mischievous smile to his eyes.
