Nightmare: Rise of the Demons

Chapters

Chapter 1: Novae Terrae, Novum Corpus
Chapter 2: Novis Initiis
Chapter 3: Incertae
Chapter 4: Accommodatio
Chapter 5: Eruditio
Chapter 6: Impetus
Chapter 7: Consequentiae
Chapter 8: Firmamentum
Chapter 9: Praecantatio
Chapter 10: Coena
Chapter 11: Incantamenta
Chapter 12: Discere
Chapter 14: Tenebrae de Canterlot
Chapter 15: Insidiae
Chapter 16: Possibilitates
Chapter 17: Praeparationes
Chapter 18: De Ficta ad Rem
Chapter 19: Damnum Intulerat
Chapter 20: Effugium
Chapter 21: Semitae
Chapter 22: Veritatem Quaerere
Chapter 23: Salvos
Chapter 24: Silva de Semper Liberi
Chapter 25: Insidiae et Abscondita
Chapter 26: Secretum et Praecantatio
Chapter 27: Pactum
Chapter 28: Arbitria
Chapter 29: Vitale Indicium
Chapter 30: Potentia
Chapter 31: Ars
Chapter 32: Benedictio et Maledictio
Chapter 33: Devotio
Chapter 34: Socius
Chapter 35: Primum Pactum
Chapter 36: Verum Horribilis
Chapter 38: Regia De Noctis
Chapter 39: Potentia Et Magicum
Prologue: Infernum
Chapter 13: Lux de Canterlot
Chapter 37: Destitutione et Potentia

Chapter 1: Novae Terrae, Novum Corpus

The night was at its end. The clock hands continued their motion, and finally, they took their exact positions to mark the beginning of the morning: three on the hour hand, twelve on the minute hand, and twelve again for the second hand. A click sounded, and the morning hour began.

The moon made its way to the horizon, and the sun was quick to take its place above the lands. It slowly rose, brightening the surroundings, and the sky turned from night-blue to a lighter pleasant shade. The threat of the Night Eternal was gone, and the darkness dissipated, making way for the light, both visible and spiritual. The early rays coated the lands in soft light with a barely noticeable pink hue.

The two princesses were finally reunited after a millennium of loneliness. Celestia hugged her sister tightly, wanting to save this moment for all eternity. Tears of happiness rolled down her face as she imagined all the different things they could do together after such a long separation.

Their separation was long and painful, and perhaps Celestia was the one with the most pain. Each night, she went to bed in silence; each night, she went to sleep wishing her sister was there to protect her dreams and comfort her. Alas, for a thousand years, her dreams were unpleasant, scraping her mind for all the dark thoughts she had, digging up every bit of guilt and regret. Some say time heals, but her wound only grew deeper with each passing year as the image of Nightmare Moon watched her from above, making her feel the weight of her uneasy decision.

It was a painful but not unjust punishment for her negligence, for her ignorance of the problems of her younger sister. Too consumed by the politics and pleasures was Celestia, casting a long shadow from which her sister couldn't get out. Praised for her sun, Celestia enjoyed a life of comfort and happiness while her sister was shunned and ignored. Bitterness and jealousy festered in her, and for too long these dark, destructive feelings had gone unnoticed, hidden in the shadows of the night. The darkness took its reign, unleashing its contempt onto the light.

This harsh but not undeserved lesson was learned. Celestia wished she could see it coming, but the past couldn't be changed or altered. She would not dare attempt, for it could bring dire consequences, much worse than she had already experienced. So, the only thing she could do was ensure that neither her sister nor their subjects would see such a thing happen to them ever again.

The thoughts of the solar alicorn shifted towards another being. The dark shape of the Nightmare lay on the floor motionlessly, breathing lightly and raspy. Underneath the creature, a scorch mark glowed ever so slightly – the same mark that brought Mike to this world. For a short while, Celestia looked over the strange equine, carefully studying it with her eyes but didn't dare to come closer. She took in all the odd and unusual features that set it apart from other equines: the unusual placement and shape of the horn, great musculature, and the protective exoskeleton. Her magic could sense the warmth radiating from its body, a greater warmth to the one of a usual pony by a noticeable margin.

"His situation is my fault, sister..." Luna spoke, her voice weak and weary after her return. Her eyes looked at the Nightmare with pity and regret, "I have promised to guide him back home, but I knew not where his home is nor who he was. He was desperate to reach where he was snatched from, and... I believe he is my responsibility now."

"Are you sure about this, Luna?" Celestia asked slowly, half-turned to her sister. Despite the Nightmare being unconscious, she kept a keen eye on it, a few spells prepared in the back of her mind. "None of us know who he is nor where he came from."

"I understand why thou art being uncertain, but I have made a promise to him, a promise I cannot fulfill," the alicorn of the night looked at Celestia, "Truth be told, he doth not look like a danger to me. Lost, fearful, that he is, but evil, malicious? He is not."

"He could be tricking you, sister," Celestia warned, "As I said, we don't know anything about him, but he is obviously a demon. You know what comes out of Tartarus, and we have learned to keep it locked."

"Sister, please... trust me this once," Luna begged, "He is not evil, that much I understand about him. Let me take care of him, for I have fooled him and used him. 'Tis a just repayment, and I must do it."

The silence took reign in the ancient hall. Luna was nervously shifting in place, her eyes turning from her sister to the hellish equine and then back, anxiously waiting for the final verdict. Even if it was Nightmare Moon who made the false promise, Luna couldn't leave the creature like this. Lost and afraid, he reminded her of herself. In the shadow of her sister, she felt like she didn't belong and couldn't turn to anyone for answers or even a piece of simple advice.

While their situations were different, Luna couldn't help but feel drawn to this creature. Was it pity, was it a sense of guilt, or was it something else that she could not yet grasp? She wanted to know, and yet it eluded her like a dandelion seed flowing by the wind. So light, reaching for it would blow it away.

The six ponies stood behind the princesses, whispering among themselves. The powerful Elements of Harmony were theirs now, but they couldn't muster the bravery to approach the fearsome creature that chased them through the forest. Now it lay defenseless before them, unconscious, posing no danger. Even Rainbow Dash, the bravest of them all, didn't want to come any closer to it. All of them were afraid to even as much as look at it, fearing that it would burst into flames, and the fire would consume them as well.

"I have summoned the guards," Celestia finally said, her horn glowing with magic, "We shall take the creature to the castle. Once he awakens, we shall find out who he is and what he wants," she turned to the six mares, and her expression changed to a more pleasant one as a small smile appeared on her face, "My little ponies... Can you share your story with me? How did you acquire the Elements?"

"Ah suppose Ah can start," Applejack, the farmer mare of orange fur and blonde mane, a Stetson hat on her head, said, "At first, Ah was unsure of everything. Ah didn't know what to even think... I had to be honest with mah friends and admit to them how Ah felt. And... Ah felt afraid, Ah felt like it would be all for nothing. By being honest, Ah have gotten the Element of Honesty."

"I wouldn't want to brag, but I suppose it makes no harm in sharing my experience," Rarity was next, a beautiful well-groomed mare with white fur and violet mane, "When we traveled to the castle, I noticed a crow following us. For some time, she stayed away from us, but I could see her beauty: groomed dark-blue feathers glistened in the moonlight, her blue eyes shining like gems... I could notice that something was missing, however – the poor thing had her head ruffled. I have given her a tip of my tail, weaving it into a beautiful crest. It works so well with her feathers and eyes, it's a marvel to look at!

"I have spent many hours working on my tail, making sure all hairs were even and combed just the right way. I will have to redo it, but it's nothing in comparison to how beautiful the crow looks now! I suppose that the Element of Generosity became mine because I shared one of the things I value the most – beauty."

"Um, I can be next, if you don't mind..." Fluttershy spoke, a timid mare of soft yellow fur and pale-pink mane, "When we were walking through the castle, a snake blocked our way, hissing at us very angrily. We wanted to go around it, but I felt that something was wrong with the snake. It wasn't angry at us – it was just scared, protecting itself. A brick fell from above, and its tail got stuck underneath it. I freed the poor snake, and, um... it's no big deal, but it gave me the Element of Kindness."

"Oh, me, me, me!" Pinkie Pie jumped joyfully, forgetting about the Nightmare for a moment, "That... thing that chased us was scary, very scary, but... Would it be scary if it wore a pink dress? Or danced like a ballerina? All those ridiculous, funny things are what makes the fear go away! By making myself and others laugh, I have earned the Element of Laughter."

"I... don't really know why I got mine," Rainbow Dash said, "Loyalty? Of course I'm loyal! I wasn't afraid a bit, why would I leave?"

"And all of it resulted in me earning the Element of Magic that binds all the Elements together," Twilight finished with a proud smile on her face.

"Very well, my little ponies, you have my congratulations!" Princess Celestia told them, "You have done a great deed, all of you. But don't forget that the Elements have a mind of their own. To earn them is one thing, but to keep them is another. Remember it well."

A groan came from the hellish equine, reminding everyone of its presence. The ponies quickly turned to it, silencing themselves. A long moment of fear and anxiousness passed, but the Nightmare was asleep, merely rolling from one side to another, a grimace of discomfort visible on its face.

Inside the head of Mike, there was burning chaos. His thoughts were mixed together in an incomprehensible mess, his sense of identity and mind shutting down to preserve themselves. The Elements did not banish nor turn him to stone, and neither did they evoke any other punishment. He felt as if he were placed under a dome of metal, and heavy sticks were banged against it, scraping his ears with sound-shattering noise. His ears rang with pain, his headache uncontrollable and devouring, and yet he was alive and whole.

Hours later, the sun was high above the lands. Ponies resumed their usual daily routines, living their peaceful lives under the watchful eyes of their princesses. Luna's return marked a new age in the history of Equestria, for but a few ponies remembered her or believed she was real. But now, the evidence was right before their very eyes. Pale-blue body, light azure mane, and a mark of the night sky and the moon on her flanks.

Luna didn't know what to expect, but the reactions to her made her feel uneasy. Ponies were confused, even scared, believing her to still be the fearsome Nightmare Moon. A figure of frightful tales, myths, and legends, she was embedded into the minds of ponies as an evil, malicious being despite all the effort put into dispelling that unfair image. Luna understood that years were needed for ponies to accept her, but it didn't ease her mind. In truth, she didn't know how she would adapt to the world that perceived her as a figure from a legend and not a real pony with her own thoughts, fears, wishes, and desires.

With a long, tired sigh, the lunar alicorn made her way through the Canterlot Castle to her bedchambers. The guards in the halls stood stoically and unmoving, but Luna could sense their fear and uncertainty. Their bodies were tense, and it took all their will not to turn their heads to the princess as she passed by. She tried not to look at them either, fearing to see their true emotions behind their eyes.

In the same hall, a peculiar door stood, two guards standing watch over it. The door was made of fireproof materials and was further reinforced by magical symbols carved into it. Behind the door, a regular guestroom lay. It consisted of a simple but comfortable and large bed, a wooden table with a few bookshelves above it, a soft carpet on the floor, and a bathroom behind another door. The window in the guestroom showed the city of Canterlot from high above, for the room was in one of the upper halls of the castle. The window was reinforced with magic, its symbols carved into the window frame.

On the bed, the Nightmare lay asleep, surrounded by the comfort of pillows and a blanket. Luna made sure that such things were delivered, for she felt sorry for the state the strange equine was in. Additionally, a plate of food lay on the table, covered by a piece of white cloth. A pitcher filled with fresh water along with an empty glass were next to the plate as well.

Finally, after hours of laying unconscious, Mike woke up. His eyes opened slowly, a dull headache present in the back of his mind. The heat rose inside him, but he willed the fires not to spurt from his body. He felt the comfort of the bed and didn't want to burn it down. He closed his eyes, releasing a sigh, and then opened them again to look around the new room.

The last thing he remembered was jumping towards Nightmare Moon. Consumed by the bright white light, he was sent into a dream-like state. There, he saw strange visions of darkness and many eyes looking at him with wonder. Gray, red, and black shapes surrounded him and bowed to him in unison, praising him for coming to them. Then the scene shifted, and from high above, Mike witnessed a desolated land. Dark, filled with smoke and fire, and yet it was filled with life that clung to it like a moth to the light. He could sense hope coming from the living shapes around him, and that hope was aimed at him.

When he finally woke up, he didn't understand where he was. And yet, he was glad he found himself awake in bed, even if this bed wasn't his, and the room was very much different from where he rested after tiring days as a human. This peaceful state made him reflect on what had happened to him during the past day. From playing a game with a friend, he was thrown into a completely different world filled with many things he thought were only imaginary, parts of a fairy tale perhaps, but not real.

He knew not what to think or how to think about it. The state of panic mostly passed, leaving but a few traces in his mind. A long time ago, his father told him not to fear the change, but go along with it, see where it led. At the time, Mike didn't give it much mind, but now he could see the meaning. Perhaps, if he couldn't go back right away, he could see where this way led. However, he had left things on Earth that he valued: friends and family. Without a goodbye, he left, whisked away by an invisible force, thrown into a world that was not his.

He didn't have many friends, but those who were with him, were valued by him. His best friend Alex, the one he played with during the fateful day, deserved to hear at least a simple goodbye. There were others, and they too deserved to know where he disappeared to. Though, even he didn't know the reason why he was forced out of the world of humans.

And yet, the words of his father resonated inside his head. Adapt to change, flow along with it, and see if that change can lead to more. Guide it, but not control it; follow it, but not obey it. He couldn't turn it back, but he couldn't stay in place and do nothing, wailing about what he lost.

He got up from his bed and sniffed the air. The smell of fresh vegetables and a toast reached his nostrils, so his attention turned to the plate of food left on the table. He slowly walked up to it, and remembered how he stopped a rock flying at him by using some form of magic. He imagined reaching out to the cloth covering the food with his hand, and grasped. To his surprise, it worked, and both the cloth and his horn glowed with red. Slowly, he moved the cloth away, revealing the food on the plate: a salad of cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, carrots, and cabbage, and all of it was sprinkled with some fine salt and black pepper. On the corner of the plate, four small pieces of toast lay, still warm. On a smaller plate next to the big one, two apples were placed: green and red.

It all smelled delicious and begged to be eaten. Unfortunately, the table was low, and the chair wasn't big enough to handle him, so he had to awkwardly sit down on the floor. And even when sitting, his head was well above the table. He didn't feel hungry, but he wanted to eat the food anyway, so he looked around for cutlery. He found none and immediately realized that he could use magic to grab the food and eat it, and nothing on his body would get dirty from it.

He had seen magic many times in different movies and games, but he never imagined he would be able to use any of it, even something as simple as telekinesis. Nevertheless, there he was, and telekinesis felt as easy as using his hands. Perhaps, in the future, he would learn more magic. Despite the unfamiliar world, despite being thrown into it unwillingly, he was excited about it.

All the changes to his body and his surroundings left him feeling confused, however. He couldn't banish this thought from his head, and so he couldn't help but think about everything that had happened to him during the past day. As long as he had known himself, he was a human, a simple guy living a somewhat average life. Not fat, not skinny, but not muscular either; not handsome, but not ugly; average in every way when appearance was concerned. Or, at the very least, unremarkable. But now, he was a strong, muscular equine straight from hell, transported to a different world full of magic and wonder. He had no doubts that he stood out among most if not all of the inhabitants of this world.

On one hand, he was scared of it, wanting nothing more than to go back, to wake up and find himself in his room. Play a game or two, hang out with his friends at a local park or a fast-food place, do something usual, and that's it. On the other hand, however, he was excited, no matter how much fear he had.

The future will show and reveal what side of him will prevail and lead his life from this point on. The wheel of fate was spinning, and Mike was caught in the center of it all.

Chapter 2: Novis Initiis

The clock ticked slowly, rhythmically, and predictably. The thinnest and longest clock hand moved one small division on the clock face each second, making a quiet but sharp sound – a tic. Sixty tics made one minute; one hundred and twenty tics made two minutes; one hundred and eighty tics made three minutes. A louder tic of a slightly different tone sounded each time the thicker and shorter clock hand moved at the end of the previous minute and the beginning of a new one. The thickest and the shortest clock hand barely moved, and even if it made a sound, it was so tiny it could only be heard if one were to put their ear right against the clockwork. Even then, this tic was overshadowed by the tics the second and minute clock hands made.

At the moment, it was thirty-five past eleven in the morning. Another twenty-five louder tics would sound before it was noon. All clock hands would make their way to the number twelve on the clock face to stand in a perfect line.

The sun was already high in the sky, but not quite at its zenith. The capital city of Equestria, Canterlot was already busy. Perhaps not quite as busy as it was during the work days, but life went on in it nonetheless. Ponies chatted with each other, made plans and arrangements for this day and the more distant future; their foals ran around and played with each other, carefree just like children are supposed to be at their age. Various merchants and shop owners were taunting their numerous wares and services, attracting the attention of many ponies in the streets of the old and beautiful city.

Mike gazed at it through the window in his room inside Canterlot Castle. He made numerous observations, including noting the main inhabitants – ponies. They came with seemingly all possible colors, ranging from simple combinations like white and blue to more than three colors, which were often accompanied by the colors of the clothes the ponies were wearing. However, Mike did notice that most in fact wore nothing just like ponies of Earth. Of course, there was even more to it; each pony had distinctive appearance not only by their colors, but another visible quality Mike had labeled a race. A horn for a unicorn, a pair of wings for a pegasus, and a bigger overall size for an earth pony. The former human made an observation that no ponies he could see had wings and a horn at the same time, marking Nightmare Moon an exception; the only alicorn he had seen so far.

At least half an hour passed since he had woken up in the guest room; no one had come for him yet. Despite his anxiety, he tried to distract himself with watching the outside. However, he could hear someone making steps right outside his room, but they never knocked or called. He could only assume that he was guarded, and someone would come for him eventually. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for them to put him in a reasonably comfortable room if they didn't intend to at least talk to him.

Mike had plenty of time to explore his new but oddly familiar body. He could feel the ears on top of his head swiveling around, and he could even control them rather easily. He spent a while making taps with his hooves and turning the ears in different directions so that he could hear the difference. He was like a kid with a new toy, only this 'toy' was his own very body. Another thing he had no control over before was his tail. In humans, tail was extremely short and rudimentary, but here, it was long and had plenty of bones and muscle, much more flexible than an arm. The tail could move in many different ways and even make a circle if Mike so wanted. In fact, it was so flexible he could bite it if he turned his head towards his tail and then moved his tail just the right way.

He said various words, testing his voice and carefully listening to how it sounded. Indeed, this new voice of his was very unlike the one he used to have before. Deeper, with a certain rumble to it, it was a powerful voice. It would be perfect for narrating something or making speeches, for example. Perhaps not quite as perfect as the voice of, say, Morgan Freeman, but it could sure contest. His old voice was certainly no match for the new one – it was a generic voice with a generic American accent; thousands of others had similar if not the same voices. This new one had more personality even though his character had not yet changed.

Mike also had to check a very important thing about his body, the one that defined his sex and, by extention, gender. To his great relief, he could see that he still had a proper mammal male genitalia. Due to some... questionable searches he had done on the internet during his lifetime, he was fairly certain he now had the genitalia a stallion would have. However, he wasn't sure he would get to use it – he was now a fearsome hellish horse. He wasn't sure he'd be considered attractive by anyone around him. In Heroes of Might & Magic 5, Nightmares are portrayed as evil and certainly not beautiful, and his own looks weren't too far away from them.

Such relatively small concerns aside, he had more problems to deal with. He was stranded in a foreign world without friends or any guidance at all. It was the first time he was truly alone and had nothing but himself.

When he was a human, his life was rather simple, and the days consisted of simple routines. When he was younger, he would wake up in the morning, go to school, then hang out with his friends, do the homework, perhaps watch a cartoon or two, and then go to bed for a new day. When he got older, not much had changed, and he had a similar routine, just with college instead of school and fewer cartoons, playing more digital games instead. In fact, it was his last year of college when he was whisked away to a completely different world. He had been studying to learn more about computers, basics of coding, and general things that would help him in life; unfortunately, nothing prepared him for anything like his current situation.

Knock knock.

Mike swiftly turned his head to the entrance; his mouth opened, and yet no words came out of it. At first, he wanted to say 'who's it?', then his mind switched to a simple 'enter', and then it all became blank. No matter what he could say, nothing felt right. So, he stood there in the middle of the room, unsure of what to say.

Knock knock.

He raised a hoof in preparation to walk straight to the door and open it, and yet he didn't budge from his place. Once again, doubts and hesitations took over his mind, his anxiety skyrocketing and preventing him from thinking clearly.

"He must be asleep," a female, somewhat familiar voice came from behind the door, "We shouldn't disturb him yet, then."

"I..." Mike finally spoke up rather loudly, but paused for a moment. Then, he continued rather awkwardly, "I'm... awake."

"May I enter?"

After another moment of hesitation, the former human said, "Uh, sure."

The door slowly opened, revealing Luna, the Princess of the Night. She was quite a bit smaller than Mike, standing at least a head lower than he did. Her overall shape was smaller as well with seemingly less power in it than in the muscular, bulky body of the Nightmare. Despite the very different appearance, one detail was unmistakable – the mark of the moon on her flank. He was in haze when he saw it first, but he still remembered this mark and whom it belonged to.

"Nightmare Moon?" Mike asked in a quiet voice. Luna winced as if she was hurt, and a small sigh escaped her lips.

"I'd prefer if thou callest me Luna," she replied. She took a step inside the room, told the guards to leave, and now was alone with the Nightmare. Then, she continued: "I... I am sorry for what happened to thee. Nightmare Moon is... my second personality, I suppose. She used thee to further her own goals, and I had no control over it. But I am willing to take full responsibility for it."

"Um... but can you send me back home?" the former human asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"I'm afraid this promise she gave to thee cannot be fulfilled," Luna shook her head guiltily, "I wish I could help thee, but it is out of my power to do so."

"But... do you know of a p-place called United States of America?" he asked, his voice faltering once.

"It is the first time I hear of such a country, I'm afraid," the alicorn shook her head again, avoiding looking at Mike, "I'm truly sorry, but I believe I can do nothing to help thee in this regard."

Mike sat down and looked at his hooves, unsure of what to say or do. Dullness filled his mind, the answer he received resonating inside his head many times, hammering the thought down. He wanted to refuse to believe it, but something told him it was the truth, and he had to accept it. Friends, family, all was gone far, far away, and he could do nothing but move forward in a world that was not his. The last hope disappeared, and only anxiety remained.

The fear of the future was upon him, for he had nothing and no one in this world but himself. Before this moment, he chased the thought away from his mind, but it returned to strike him harder than before. He was an emotionally strong man, but now he gave in, letting a lone tear roll down his cheek and fall on the floor; a small wet stain appeared on the carpet.

"I promise to do everything in my power to help thee find meaning and life in Equestria," Luna finally said, "This promise is the one I shall see to be fulfilled, and I swear on it with my honor."

"I... thank you," Mike nodded, "But, uh... I have no idea where to start, to be honest. I'm... this-" he looked at his body "-and... I don't know what to do. I mean, um... S-sorry, I can't think very well right now."

"I understand," the alicorn nodded empathetically, "I see thou art lost. Frankly, I feel so too – I only have my sister, but even then I feel... out of this world. It hath been many centuries since I was here last, much hath changed. Barely anyone remembereth me, and the fear reigns among those that are supposed to be my subjects. I can understand thy situation well, but even it cannot compare with what thou must be feeling right now."

"Many centuries?" Mike asked with confusion in his voice, "Does that mean that you're... at least two hundred years old?"

"Thou art correct," she nodded, "I see 'tis surprising for thee. Thou art from another world, so I suppose no one liveth that long in it?"

"None that I know of," he shook his head, "Even just a hundred years is not easy to reach."

"For most ponies, that is also true. At least, it used to be during my time," Luna replied, "However, my sister and I are exceptions to that. Dost thou know what an alicorn is?" after receiving a shake of his head, she satisfied his unspoken curiosity: "An alicorn is a pony of all the pony tribes. Unicorn, pegasus, and an earth pony in one body and mind. To receive such a gift, one must achieve something greater. I wouldn't want to boast, but I suppose it is obvious that my sister and I managed to do just that. Such a gift not only grants powers beyond most, it also prolongs one's lifespan indefinitely. We are eternally young, just as strong and agile as we were in our prime."

"So... Equestria is the land of... ponies, right? And alicorns are their rulers?" Mike asked with interest, forgetting his anxiety for a moment.

"Indeed," the alicorn nodded in confirmation, "Though, it wasn't always the case. Anyway, before we can delve deeper into history of this land and this world as a whole, may I ask thee thy name?"

"Oh, right, of course," the former human nodded, realizing that he was yet to introduce himself. He opened his mouth to speak his name, and yet nothing came out.

A loud tic sounded as the time stopped all around the former human. The clock stopped, the alicorn was frozen in place, and a few small specks of dust lingered in the air in the same place for longer than they should. At first, he panicked, not realizing what was happening, but a calming song appeared out of thin air. Someone sung in his ears a wordless, ethereal song. Gentle and soft, it murmured into his ears, easing his mind until his thoughts were clear.

From the depths of the unknown and yet the very familiar, a new name was granted upon him. A true name, it radiated with purpose and meaning, calling to him to accept it fully and completely. In his darkest, emptiest times, this name would guide him towards the future and the proverbial light of the soul. No matter where the stream of fate brings him, he will always carry his new name proudly and with honor, for it was a name worthy of greatness.

However, greatness is an achievement and cannot be gifted through names or numbers; it must be earned by hard work and dedication. Many names were swallowed by history, leaving not a trace or a memory, and yet some remained through centuries, even thousands of years. Powerful names that would be remembered for longer than the length of lives that belonged to the people carrying them. Many would name their children with the names of greatness, and yet those names brought nothing by themselves.

Indeed, it required thought and care to be put into a name before it becomes great and above others. And no matter the name, it must be accepted first, for it must belong to the person and be fully theirs.

The time returned to its regular course as the clock resumed its ticking, the subtle movements returned to the body of the alicorn in front of the former human, and the specks of dust slowly descended to the floor, disappearing from sight. A certain ring was left in the his ears, and his heart was pumping. In the depths of his mind, this sudden change scared him, but another part of him wanted it and was ready to accept it. That part, the brave part, prevailed, and he was ready to finally present himself to the Princess of the Night.

His powerful, deep, and rumbling voice slowly spoke the three words that began his purpose in the new world, and a certain glimmer appeared in his eyes as he did: "I am Andromalius."

Chapter 3: Incertae

Andromalius... A foreign name, a truly unusual one for the former human, for he had only heard of it just a few times in his life at most. Was it the name of an artist, a hero, a warmonger, an emperor, a king, or a scientist? The person associated with the name was known, the needed words were at the tip of his tongue, and yet he couldn't remember. The more he tried to think about it, the further away it seemed. So, he had to drop this fruitless endeavor for now. Perhaps, a return to it would be warranted some other time.

Despite the oddness surrounding this new name, it felt right as if it was a cog in a precisely-fitted machine. Well-oiled, effective, this proverbial machine connected his thoughts and dreams, wishes and fears; it was there to make his mind work as it should. A quick machine of thought and intelligence, one that was intended to be used cleverly and to its full potential. However, he didn't quite understand it just yet.

Before he could delve even deeper into his own self, his thoughts were cut short as the conversation between him and the princess continued. His bubble of thought was popped, and for a moment, he couldn't understand what was happening around him. However, it came back to normal in just a moment.

"Thy name is certainly unusual," Luna said, a curious expression on her face, "And yet, it seemeth distinctively... familiar? I'm unsure of what to think, but it can be put aside for now. How art thou feeling, Andromalius?"

"...It's all weird," the former human replied with a huge sigh as his ears drooped and he slightly hung his head, looking downwards, "What do I do? I... have nowhere to go to."

"I understand, and I shall do everything I can to help thee," the alicorn assured him in a confident tone, "For now, thou mayst remain at the castle. As long as thou dost not bring any troubles, thou art welcome to stay until thou figurest out what thou shalt do next."

"A-alright, thank you, Princess Luna," he nodded in gratitude.

"Now, I suppose we can begin by going to my office and filling some paperwork to introduce thee to this world and especially Equestria," she gestured at the entrance door, "However, if thou feelst thou needst rest, I can wait."

"No, it's fine," Andromalius shook his head, "I think it's better to do it sooner anyway."

Princess Luna nodded and opened the door and walked out of the room. A wave of anxiety washed over Andromalius as he followed her; each his step felt heavy and resonated loudly inside his head. His heart beat faster, threatening to jump out of his chest. He forced himself to take the first step. A second step came no easier. Then the third. The door was closer and closer, and behind it, a hall was visible. Polished floor, painted walls and columns, flowers in the pots hanging from the said columns, and even a carpet of a soft shade of lavender. Almost instinctively, Andromalius glanced at the bottom of his hooves to see if there was any dirt. To his relief, his hooves were clean, so he proceeded out of his room.

The first thing that hit him after he entered the hall was the size of it. The arched ceiling was lost high above his head; he could see his reflection on the floor, and it was almost perfectly clear; even the smell was something to enjoy – the flowers gave off a nice earthy scent. For a moment, this sight made the former human forget about his anxiety and fears.

He had never been to a castle or a palace before; unfortunately, the United States of America didn't have many historical castles he could visit. This palace was his first experience when it came to such things, and he was completely stunned. He knew palaces were supposed to be grand and majestic, but even he didn't expect such beauty, especially from an alien castle. Truthfully, he held a somewhat mainstream view of aliens, imagining them to be humanoid aliens with technology far beyond what humans could achieve in the current day and age.

In this castle, however, medieval architecture and general way of things were present. The halls were lit by candles from chandeliers and natural light coming from outside the windows. No wires or cables were visible, no electrical lamps could be seen. If not for the talking ponies, Andromalius would think that he traveled back in time.

"Andromalius?" Luna called. He came back to reality and looked apologetically at the princess.

"I'm sorry, your majesty, it's just... This palace is beautiful," he said, "I've never been to one before, only saw them on photos."

"What is 'fotos'?" the princess asked with both curiosity and confusion.

"Uh..." the former human tapped his chin, "It's like... like drawings, but they're not drawn. A photo is an image of surroundings, close to how we can see it with, uh, our own eyes... I can't really explain it better."

"Very interesting," Luna raised her brows slightly, "I would like to know more about the things from thy world, but let's reserve it for later."

Andromalius nodded, and the two continued along the hall. Two guards that the former human didn't notice before followed them, looking at him with wariness and caution. Their bodies were tense and they were ready to draw their weapons if a need arose. It unnerved Andromalius, but he forced himself to look forward and try not to turn around. His steps were stiff, his ears were turned back, aimed at the guards, listening to their own steps. Each second, each moment Andromalius feared that he would hear them draw their weapons. He knew there wasn't a huge chance it would happen if he behaved, but the fear prevailed inside him.

At the end of the hall, four guards stood, all of them dressed in full plate armor. Two unicorns, one pegasus, and one earth pony stood guard, ready to act if they saw any suspicious movement. Unicorns were armed with swords and crossbows, the earth pony had a spear attached to its armor, and the pegasus had metallic claws attached to his hoofguards.

"Fret not, thou shalt not be hurt," Luna assured Andromalius, but it didn't make him feel much better. He remained silent and followed the princess into the next hall.

On standby near the entrance, another group of heavily-armored guards stood, greeting the former human with heavy gazes. Andromalius didn't look at them, but he could feel their looks on the back of his head as he passed by them. They were waiting for him to make just one small wrong move, and then they would spring into action, and their swords would make their bloody way into his body. He shivered and banished such thoughts to the back of his mind, focusing on the hall instead.

It was slightly narrower than the one before it and featured carvings on the columns. Bigger, taller windows were decorated with stained glass. Early night with the sun just below the horizon, midnight with the moon shining brightly, and early morning as the sun peeked into the sky. Each piece of glass was carefully fitted together with the rest and polished to perfection, creating a smooth, beautiful picture. The lighting inside the hall was dim and had a soft blue hue that made one feel relieved and at ease. At the very least, Andromalius felt better as he looked at the beauty of the hall.

"A long time ago, I made the glass for these windows," Luna spoke, noticing the curiosity of the former human, "It had taken many days and many tries, but I succeeded. And now, this glass adorns the windows quite nicely, dost not thou think?"

"It's very beautiful, your majesty," Andromalius agreed without a doubt in his mind, his voice full of awe.

"Oh, thank thee," a bright smile appeared on the face of the alicorn, "It warmeth my heart to hear that someone enjoyeth what I have made."

The two continued on their way and soon came to the personal office and study of Princess Luna. She ordered the guards to stay outside as she and Andromalius entered the room. With a spark from her horn, she ignited the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Candles emitted soft, blue light that washed over the room, making soft and gentle shadows. The windows in the room were dark-blue, barely letting any sunlight in, leaving the room in dim light. Luna made her way to the table and took a seat, then used her magic to bring an armchair for Andromalius to sit on. Fortunately, this one was of adequate size; he carefully took his place, but his weight made the armchair creak.

"Very well, let us begin," Luna said, a few pieces of paper coated in her magic as she arranged them on the table and pulled out a quill. She opened the inkwell and dipped the quill's sharp end in it, "Alright, thy name is Andromalius. I suppose it doth not make much sense to ask for thy date of birth, but thy age is certainly needed."

"I'm eighteen years old," Andromalius replied, eliciting a raised from the princess.

"Eighteen? I had an impression thou wast at the very least in thy twenties," she said, surprise evident in her voice, "In any case, let's continue..." she furrowed her brows, "Hm, 'tis certainly not as easy as I'd hope. Thou art a being from another world. However, I cannot assign thee the place of birth as something none of us ponies are aware of. Would it be alright if I pick a location of this world for thee?"

"I... don't really know if it even matters," the hell stallion replied with uncertainty, "Here, no one knows me at all. My childhood or anything..." he let out a heavy sigh, "Just... write down anything, I guess."

"I'm sorry thou wast forced in such a situation, Andromalius," Luna looked at him, pity in her eyes, "If not for my dearest sister, I would've been lost in this changed world just like thou art. For all that it is worth, I shall lay a helping hoof for thee. I know I have said it enough times already, but I'm not sure how I can repay thee for... using thee when I was Nightmare Moon."

Andromalius was silent without any idea what to say to her words. He refrained from looking at her at all, taking interest in the material of the table instead. He felt infinitely empty and extremely tired despite not having any fatigue. He felt neither hunger nor thirst, he simply existed. Despite the promise of purpose and meaning that came from his new name, he wasn't so certain anymore. The proverbial spell faded, leaving him with nothing but the feeling of being lost in the infinite sea of events.

Not more than two days ago, he was Mike, a regular human doing human things. Did he have a purpose or meaning? Perhaps not, but it felt like he did. He had friends, he was thinking about finding a partner for a romantic relationship, getting a job; however, it all disappeared in a matter of seconds. Thrust into an unfamiliar world, put into a foreign but recognizable body, he was truly lost for the first time in his relatively short life.

"Is everything alright, Andromalius?" Luna asked him with worry, helping him break out of the dark thoughts that plagued his mind.

"...No," he admitted with a sigh, "It's not..."

"I understand. Let's finish the paperwork, and I shall escort thee to the gardens. Thou shouldst feel slightly better once thou getst some fresh air," she told him, "Alright, one last thing we have to fill is thy race. I... don't suppose thou art a pony," she looked at him with uncertainty, "Neither art thou a kirin nor a changeling..."

"I guess I'm a demon," he shrugged, his mind elsewhere.

"I'm not sure how ponies would react to it, but that is our only option," Luna frowned slightly, writing it down, "I suppose that is all for now. Perhaps, I may find thee a job in the castle if thou so wishest. Of course, it goeth without saying that the ponies should get used to thee first."

"That'd work," he shrugged once again, "But... I don't really know what job I can do. I guess I can haul heavy stuff and similar things."

"I believe thou hast more to offer than carrying things around. Thy knowledge may help thee here, I believe. So, dost not thou worry, thou art welcome here, and we shall help thee find what thou canst do, I promise," she assured him and then stood up from her armchair, "Now, let's take a walk. It should clear thy mind and help thy spirit."

Andromalius nodded without much thought and stood up as well. The two proceeded to exit the room and head towards the gardens with Luna leading the way. As they passed through the halls of the castle, Andromalius noticed some maids. They were dusting off the many decorations of the castle, cleaning the floors, watering the flowers, and doing other simple maintenance work. When they noticed him, they often gasped, quickly going out of his way. The hell stallion could see the fear in his eyes as he passed. He tried to smile without showing his teeth, but it didn't help him. A less cheerful expression soon took over his features, and now he tried to ignore the stares and whispers that followed him.

He now realized that he would be very lonely. How would he make friends when he looked like a hellspawn? He abandoned his dreams of ever finding a loved one. It made him feel a tightening sensation in his heart, tears welled up in his eyes. He blinked rapidly, trying to hide them. Fortunately, Luna was in front of him – she couldn't see what he felt.

Out of nowhere, strong assurance of brighter future came. It whispered calming words into his ears, telling him that it would not be long until he acquired someone to talk to. He didn't fully trust Princess Luna, he didn't know whom to trust, but the invisible and silent voice told him that he would soon know.

The two reached the gardens in a few minutes. They were hidden inside the castle, surrounded by three walls and a cliff. A small stream ran through the middle of the gardens. Lush trees provided a nice shade during the day; the bushes were carefully placed in a way that allowed the visitors to choose multiple paths through the gardens; elegant wooden benches were placed around the gardens to provide a place to relax at and enjoy the scenery; lamps were hidden in the trees, waiting for the night to fall. The air was fresh and clean, smelling of flowers and earth; the many colors of the leaves and flowers were nicely mixed together to create a unique and pleasant palette; the birds and critters chirped cheerfully.

A small smile appeared on Andromalius' face. Despite his worries, the calm of nature made him feel better as he took in the wonderful view of the gardens and what could be seen from them. The soft wind brushed against his face, carrying many pleasant scents with it. His nostrils flared as he took a lungful of air, his eyes slightly widened as he took in the colorful surroundings.

"It worketh wonders, doth it not?" Luna asked rhetorically, "When I was just a young filly, I used to visit the gardens often. Even now, these memories are very dear to me. Thou art free to look around. Wouldst thou like for me to leave thee for now?"

"...Yes, I do," Andromalius replied after a few moments of hesitation, "I just... need time to think."

Princess Luna nodded silently and left him to his devices. The clop of her hooves soon faded away, and only a pair of guards were left at the entrance. The hell stallion used the opportunity to venture deeper into the gardens by himself. Unlike the Everfree Forest, the gardens were taken care of; they radiated an atmosphere of calm and serenity. The wind freely rustled the leaves, making a pleasant noise, creating a special kind of ambiance. Andromalius found it relaxing as he slowly walked through the gardens, inspecting the many different flowers with his eyes. Some of them reminded him of flowers he could find on Earth like roses and dandelions, others were foreign and different. Most of the trees were thin with many branches, and he couldn't figure out what they were. The bushes often had beautiful flowers on them, but nothing was recognizable.

In a few minutes, he reached the edge of the gardens. The trees and bushes parted, and he was greeted with a view that spanned to distant lands. While the curvature of the horizon was familiar and reminded him of the Earth's rounded shape, it seemed that this new world was very much different. As far as eyes could see, there were sprawling forests, cultivated farmlands, and plains; they were dotted with small farming villages, most of which were situated by the lone river that flowed to the south.

Andromalius wasn't sure if the laws of nature were the same as those on the Earth. For all he knew, the sun could be rising in the north and setting in the west. In fact, the sun was dimmer and yet much bigger than the one that circled the Earth. The moon was nowhere to be seen, and the clouds were of different, more elaborate shapes.

All these lands were not what he knew, all of them were foreign to him. It ignited his sense of wonder and feeling of curiosity. Perhaps one day, he would be able to walk across these lands freely and to travel them how he saw fit. He wasn't much of a traveler as a human, having more important things to deal with than dreams of other countries. However, now he felt he had the freedom to explore what he wanted. His future was uncertain, his destination unclear, but one day, he hoped he would be able to see more of this strange world. No matter how this uncertainty scared him, a feeling deep inside his heart told him to be brave and to live his life to the fullest, to explore the unknown, and to travel the world like no one before him did.

And yet, the feeling of loneliness ate him from the inside. When he was a human, it was easy to make friends, it was natural. But he became a demon, a Nightmare. Would anyone be willing to approach him? Would he be brave enough to approach anyone by himself?

He sat down and stared off into the distance. His nostrils flared as he exhaled loudly, his ears drooping and a frown appearing on his face. Before he could dwell on it any longer, a voice appeared inside his head. Clearly feminine, it was soft and yet seductive, curiosity about the hell stallion very evident in it.

"Hello~," the voice said slowly, stretching out the last vowel. Startled, Andromalius swiftly stood up and looked around. The voice continued after a small giggle, "I think you wouldn't mind some nice company..."

Chapter 4: Accommodatio

Author's Note

I finally got the inspiration to write again. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4: Accommodatio

The heart inside Andromalius' chest was pounding as his eyes darted around in search of the owner of the strange voice he had just heard in the gardens. Just a few moments ago, he was sure he was alone and undisturbed, left to his own thoughts. He didn't know where the sudden voice came from, but it sounded very close. There weren't many hiding spots, and those that were there seemed to be a bit too far away from the position of the voice. Confusion and puzzlement continued to rise inside his mind as he looked around and saw nothing out of place and nothing suspicious. It was as if the voice was never there in the first place. For a few long moments, nothing reached his ears but the thump of his heart and the sound of his breath. However, he didn't have to wait too long until the same voice finally spoke again.

"Don't fear, I don't bite," the mysterious female voice said playfully, "Well, unless you ask me to..."

"Who are you?" the hell stallion replied quickly, his eyes darting around the scenery. The voice sounded so close, seemingly right in front of him, and yet there was no one and nothing in the vicinity but a few small critters that couldn't possibly be speaking the words he had just heard. Before the voice could reply, Andromalius added another question in a lower and more confused tone, "Where... where are you?"

"My name's Inanna, and I'm a succubus," she replied, "As for where... Far from where you are. Have you ever heard of a thing called telepathy?"

"I have..." Andromalius reluctantly nodded, "So... you're talking to me from far away using magic, right?"

"Simply put, yes," the hell stallion felt her nod.

"And you're a succubus, so that means... you're a demon, right?"

"As if you aren't one," Inanna replied, and Andromalius could swear he felt her roll her eyes, "But yes, I'm a demon," and before the hell stallion could say anything, she added, "Oh, and you don't have to speak out loud. You know... telepathy."

"A-alright... But what do you need from me?" he asked as he nervously walked in circles around an invisible spot.

"That's a bit... complicated. I'm here to test you and to prepare you."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Andromalius stopped and shook his head, "That just... came out of nowhere. What test? And prepare for what?" he furrowed his brows, "Look, just... slow down a bit, alright? I have no idea who you are, I have no idea how you even found me, contacted me, and... What do you really want?"

"As I said, I'm here to test you. More specifically, find out who you are," Inanna replied, "But I can't tell you what it's all about just yet."

"Uh, alright, well... I don't know anything you might want to know," he admitted, "I don't even know what this whole world is. So, whatever you want to do with me, it won't really help you with... whatever you're after."

A pause in the conversation ensued, and Andromalius could feel Inanna's thoughts circulating. It was an odd thing; it was a feeling of thoughts that weren't his own. He couldn't understand them either, for they were faint and incomprehensible whispers at the edge of his mind. More precisely, the border between his and Inanna's minds, for the two were connected in a magical way, allowing either of them to feel the other's mind and the processes within to a certain degree.

"So, you're from... some other world?" Inanna asked. After Andromalius nodded, she continued, "Well, well... That's... huh..." her thoughts trailed off, leaving a faint trace. Soon, however, she spoke again, "That makes you very interesting indeed..."

"So, what's this all about?"

"As I said before, I can't tell you yet."

"Then, uh, what should I do?" Andromalius asked, hoping to hear something reassuring from the succubus. Having some goal was better than having none, even if it were vague.

"There's always an option to have sex," Inanna grinned and let out a giggle. The face of the hell stallion became red with blush, however, "Aw, it seems you're a virgin on top of being otherworldly. And you know, you can get on top of someone else too..."

"What does that have to do with anything?" he retorted, his blush intensifying.

"Being a virgin isn't a bad thing, and it's definitely not my place to shame you – or anyone else, for that matter – for being one," Inanna's grin remained on her face as she spoke, "My, that makes it even better... A muscular stallion with quite a handsome, masculine face... I'd say you're ripe for picking by a female. Or a male, whichever you happen to like."

"O-okay, whatever, let's return to, uh, the topic of things," Andromalius returned the conversation to its roots, "So, uh, what am I to do? Right now, I'm just... staying here as a guest, I suppose."

"You should definitely take your time. Read books, look around once in a while, and generally pay attention to things," Inanna advised, "No matter where you came from, I bet you'll find something interesting, be it something or someone."

"Okay, I guess that makes sense," the hell stallion nodded reluctantly as his blush faded away, "So, you came here to tell me to... read stuff?"

"Not really, but you can begin with doing just that," Inanna nodded, "It looks like you don't know anything at all about what happens around here, so I suppose I can help you get accustomed to things. However, you will still have to figure some of those things out by yourself. I can't exactly read books to you. Well, I can, but you're not a foal, are you?"

"I can read books..." he replied awkwardly, "And... you're going to be here? Like, in my mind?"

"It's not a bad idea, and I don't have much to do anyway, so I might as well make sure you don't do something stupid," the succubus nodded, "Not to say that you're stupid, but..."

"Hey!"

"Relax, stallion, I didn't say that you're actually dumb," she rolled her eyes, "I'm just saying that you might make something stupid just like a lot of others do. And since you don't know anything about this world, the chances of you doing something stupid are higher than average, let's put it that way. For now, just forget I'm here and go about your business. You can surely start by doing something productive."

Andromalius nodded and headed back towards the castle halls. Heeding Inanna's advice, he decided to find out where the local library could be. He doubted ponies had computers or the internet for the ease of access to information, so he most likely had to do everything the old-fashioned way. He didn't mind it much, however – it might just help him relax and think about something else other than the disturbing realization that his mind was basically invaded.

"I can't read your thoughts, by the way," Inanna said suddenly, "Well, outside of the immediate thoughts concerning me. I know you don't feel good about this, but I promise I won't pry."

The hell stallion remained silent, but it was enough for the succubus, for she too continued the silence. Almost instinctively, Andromalius pulled most of his thoughts deeper into his mind, only letting simple ones stay. One step, two steps, looking ahead and at the same time up, to the sides, and down; inhale and exhale; more steps. In just a short few minutes, his legs brought him back to the entrance. As the guards saw him, one of them went inside the hall and returned with Princess Luna a few moments later.

"I see thy thoughts are still plagued by uncertainty," she said, disappointment and a hint of guilt in her voice, "I thought the gardens would help thee relax, but it seemeth they haven't had much effect on thee."

"I guess I just need to get used to things, your majesty," he replied, omitting the part about Inanna. He wasn't yet sure about the succubus and whether or not he should tell anyone about her. Keeping to himself, for now, seemed like the best and probably the only reasonable thing he could do.

"Ah, I understand," Luna nodded, "When I returned, I saw a familiar but changed world. When thou appearedst here, thou sawst a foreign world full of things thou hast never seen before," Andromalius nodded to her statement, so she continued, "Thou certainly hast to spend plenty of time to accept this world as thy new reality. But thou dost not have to be alone, for I shall help thee as promised."

"And so will I," Inanna added, making him shiver as the voice once again seemed so close and yet not present outside of his mind.

"Maybe I can begin by reading some books," Andromalius said, remembering the advice, "I, um, think that's the best place to start."

"Thou art completely right, I wonder why I haven't thought of it myself," Luna nodded enthusiastically, "I need to visit the library also and especially study the language and the history. However, I have recently found out that the main library was moved outside the castle to the center of the city. I mean no offense, but thy appearance is... unusual, and thou standest out from the crowd if thou knowest what I mean."

"Y-yeah..." he nodded nervously. His heart sunk to the bottom when he realized that he would have to go through a crowd of ponies, and he couldn't just stay in the shadow and not attract attention. He was anything but unnoticeable, and even a cape or a robe wouldn't be able to hide all of his features. His big stature, his curved horn on the muzzle, his long tail, it all would stand out like a dark spot on white cloth.

"I understand thine anxiety, but I believe there is nothing we can do to help thee stay... relatively unnoticeable," Luna shook her head, "I suppose I can bring thee the books."

"You know you won't stay at the castle forever, right? Go outside, get some fresh air," Inanna encouraged, once again making him shiver, "Besides, I think they'll get used to you someday," Andromalius was about to reply but the succubus continued, "I know you're doubting it, but you can't really do anything about it if you just stay here, can you? And maybe you'll get to learn about this world if you, you know... care to go outside and actually see it. Get your muscular butt moving, Andromalius. I'm sure you can deal with a few stares and weird looks."

Andromalius furrowed his brows and almost snorted but ended up not retorting to her words. Despite the uncertainty, he knew she had a point, no matter how bad it seemed.

"No, I'll go," he told Luna, "I... can't just stay inside all the time."

"I suppose thou art right," the princess nodded, "I feel thou art afraid of what ponies might think of thee, but my sister is fairly certain they shall get used to me, and I suppose it translates to thee as well."

Princess Luna watched as Andromalius put on a cloak she had managed to find in her garderobe. Obviously, that cloak wasn't fitted to the figure of the hell stallion and ended up being shorter than needed, revealing his hooves and lower parts of his legs. Bumps were visible on the cloak where the exoskeleton was especially prominent, and the curved horn on the muzzle couldn't be hidden. His eyes glowed under the dark of the hood, but it was barely noticeable. The alicorn looked skeptical, but gave up on further attempts to conceal the demonic looks of the hell stallion, and let out a sigh.

"I suppose 'tis the best I can do for thee," she told Andromalius, "Far from perfect, and thou shalt still stand out among the ponies, but... perhaps not as much as thou wouldst have otherwise."

"Thank you, your majesty," Andromalius bowed, hoping to show that he appreciated what was done despite the obvious futility of her efforts. However, the hood that covered most of his face helped him feel somewhat safer; if not hidden completely, then just partially. He wasn't afraid of looking people in the eyes before, but now he wasn't sure. In any case, he had to make his way to the library through the streets, walk out in the open, and show himself to the world unfamiliar to him. He was a complete alien, both in mind and appearance, and that was what scared him most at that moment.

The troubling thoughts continued to disturb his mind as he accompanied the princess to the main entrance of the castle. Additionally, two guards followed them, keeping an eye out for trouble and making sure their princess was safe. No matter how they personally felt about Luna, they had their orders and they wouldn't dare to disobey them. However, they weren't so sure about Andromalius – his imposing stature made the guards worry that they were too few to stop him from doing anything bad if it came to it. Unfortunately for them, nothing could be done about it – Princess Luna requested no more than two guards to accompany her, and her word was law, no matter how much guards or anyone else disagreed.

The entrance to the Canterlot Castle and, by extension, the exit to the main Canterlot City, presented itself as a wide walkway with shaped trees at the sides along with a few featureless pony statues in different poses. A fountain ran along the middle of the walkway, separating it into two lanes. Guards stood at intersections of pathways, providing security to the whole area. Just a few regular ponies were enjoying themselves around this park-like area, but their peace was disturbed as Princess Luna and Andromalius made their way to the main city. The ponies went silent, watching the two carefully and fearfully, but they didn't dare to move from their spots. Andromalius averted his eyes, feeling out of place; he wanted to pretend like no one was around him.

"Good day, Our subjects," Luna spoke to them, "Please, do not mind us. We shan't trouble you."

The ponies nervously bowed, remaining silent. The alicorn turned away from them, disappointment and sadness encompassing her features. She continued on her way, clouds of darkness assembling in her mind. Each her step was heavy despite her best efforts to appear confident and at ease. The way from the castle gates to one of the main streets was painfully slow: each step brought her closer, and yet the path was impossibly long, each brick underneath her hooves lengthening and lengthening infinitely.

Andromalius walked mechanically, counting his steps to reduce his anxiety. One, two, three, four. A game from his childhood appeared in his head – don't step on the seams. Place the hooves right in the center of the bricks. He couldn't see his second pair of hooves, but it didn't matter. One, two, three, four. The steps were that mattered. Another four steps, and then another. He lost count many times, but it didn't stop him from restarting his count again.

The noise of a busy city grew louder and louder as the two neared one of the main streets. Different houses appeared in their view, all of them not higher than four floors. Each of them was unique and different from the other and yet all of them had a similar style, perfectly blending together. The main street was wide and entirely pedestrian – Andromalius could see the signs forbidding the use of carriages. However, there were special streets leading straight to the castle from other parts of the city.

As the noise of the living streets grew closer, it became quieter. Andromalius noticed many ponies silencing themselves and giving looks of fear to Luna and himself. Whispers arose in the air as it tensed and thickened with a heavy feeling of wrongness.

"Look, the princess..."

"Someone else is with her, look! Who is that?"

Andromalius tried to ignore the whispers, focusing on his steps once again. One step, two steps, three steps, four steps, and onwards. He felt his hooves moving him forward along the street to the destination. He didn't know where the library was, but he hoped to reach it soon lest something bad would happen. He had no idea what could go wrong, but he had a disturbing feeling about it, one that warned him about what was to come.

Princess Luna hid her emotions behind a calm mask on her face, stepping with regality and faked confidence. She uttered not a word as the whispers of her subjects reached her ears.

"This is Nightmare Moon, and that big... thing next to her is definitely some evil... thing!"

"Thou insolent welp!" Luna bellowed, shattering the quietness as she turned to the one who spoke the hurtful words. Andromalius folded his ears and looked away from her, fearing that his look alone would bring her wrath onto him, "Do not call me by that cursed name or I shall see thee..." as suddenly as her anger rose, it began to fade when she saw the frightened faces of her subjects as they scattered, fleeing her wrath. The last word fueled by her anger left her maw: "Punished..."

"I-I am sorry, your majesty!" the pony immediately bowed, shaking with fear, "I'm t-truly sorry! I didn't mean t-to say that!" and without waiting for a response, the pony bolted and soon disappeared among the alleys. The guards dashed for a chase, but Luna stopped them.

"No... leave her be," she ordered, "I..." she looked around the now empty street as her lip quivered. She turned away and quickened her pace, "To the library," she said raspily, hiding her tears.

For a short moment, Andromalius was frozen in place, trying to process the events that happened so quickly and yet so slowly. His ears were ringing after Luna's booming voice, and the fearful faces of the ponies remained in front of his eyes. Without knowing what to say, his only option was to follow the princess silently and leave her undisturbed. Even Inanna chose to be silent, having no words to use for this situation. The group continued on their way to the library, now through the empty, lifeless street.

The silence reigned.

Chapter 5: Eruditio

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 6: Impetus

The sun made its way across the sky, and now it was descending to let the moon take its rightful place and for the day to change to night. The lighting dimmed, the lamps came to life, and the bustling city of Canterlot prepared for its sleep. As the evening came, the whispers about Princess Luna and Andromalius spread; from street to street, the rumors spread like a wave, only growing in size and distorting at the same time. The truth was mixed with imagination, the reality twisted into lies and fears, and soon only a small number of ponies accepted the accident as it truly happened. Others, however, were content with reaffirming the notion of Luna's evil.

The talk about a strange demon accompanying her received an even worse welcome. Such a being had not been seen nor heard, and so it was easier to attribute an even bigger evil to it. Andromalius hadn't hurt anyone, but the rumors cared not about spreading the truth; instead, they talked of assumptions and guesses, one worse than the other. None knew his name nor his thoughts; his intentions and deeds remained hidden. The intelligent mind does not like emptiness, and so it feels it with things that it knows not to be either true or false. Minds alike come up with ideas similar, it's known very well among the knowledgeable few; it would not be long until those ideas are assumed to be true just because of how many people think them as such.

However, those concerns weren't on Andromalius' mind just yet. Perhaps, they were there in the corner of his mind waiting for their turn. And yet, his slit eyes were wide open, glued to the books as he hungrily consumed them, filling his mind with knowledge of this foreign, and also very interesting, world. The wonderful tales of magic intertwined with dry historical facts, the stories of many different people came together to form the world as it was; many creatures thought mythological by humans were very real in this world, and things that seemed impossible were possible.

Neither Luna nor Andromalius noticed the coming of evening, but soon most ponies left the library and only but a handful remained. The crickets were chirping from the outside, the noise of the streets disappeared, and soon it faded into the night's quietness. The hell stallion was so absorbed by the books, he subconsciously refused to acknowledge the coming of the night; he felt neither thirst nor hunger, and no other bodily need bothered him. However, the alicorn was growing weary and tired, her eyelids growing heavy and her mind wandering away from the books.

"I believe..." she begun, but then yawned, "I believe we should head back to the castle."

Andromalius raised his head and looked around, only now noticing the absence of ponies and the background noise they made.

"But... can I take some books with me?" he asked, hoping to have something to read before going to bed. After all, he didn't feel tired at all.

"Hm, I believe so, yes," Luna nodded, "I may take some as well. In any case, we should ask the receptionist about it. Back in my day, books were less plentiful. They were guarded very seriously, and not many would be allowed to as much as touching them without explicit, written permission. Now, however..." she looked around, "This library triumpheth my own at least sevenfold, and mine used to be the largest in Equestria. Very interesting..."

"In my world, books used to be rare, too," Andromalius replied, "They became more available once printers were invented. They made it way easier to make a book, from what I know."

"And what is that invention, exactly?" the princess asked with curiosity.

"Um... uh..." he tapped his chin, "I... I know what it is, but I don't know how to explain it," he chuckled sheepishly.

"Ah, a common problem," she made a small smile, "Well, I suppose I can ask my sister. She ought to know all about the recent inventions while I was gone."

"I bet she would like to know about the sex machines. Wonderful inventions for the lonely lot..." Inanna giggled, almost making Andromalius jump.

"W-what? I'm not about to tell a princess about... about that!" he stuttered out.

"In any case, it's time for us to go," Luna stood up from her comfortable armchair. A few of the books she collected flew across the air to their bookshelves while some remained floating near the princess. Trying not to think about what Inanna had just said, Andromalius stood up as well and followed Luna to the reception desk while carrying a few books of his own interest.

"Very well, I see both of you are eager to learn," the receptionist greeted them with a smile, although a look of wariness was aimed at Andromalius, "You want to take those books to study outside the library, correct?"

"Indeed," Luna nodded, "What doth it require? Do we need to sign certain papers?"

"It's rather simple, don't worry," the mare put a blank list of paper on her desk and started scribbling the titles of the books, "Hm, alright... now, all I need you to do is to place your signature under this list."

Luna put her signature without hesitation - a crescent moon with a capital L inside it, all made in one line. Andromalius, however, wasn't certain what to put there. He doubted that his old signature would matter, so he decided to put a unicursal hexagram on the paper with a capital A next to it. The alicorn glanced at the symbol with interest but didn't comment on it. Once it was done, a pair of bags were offered to the two to make it easier to carry the books.

Andromalius and Luna soon finally exited the library building along with their guards, who were already nodding sleepily. The fresh outside air was quiet and calm, the streets were peacefully empty, and only a handful of ponies looked out their windows at the two. Luna ignored the looks of interest and fear, choosing to head straight back to the Canterlot Castle and setting her mind on that only goal. Andromalius, surprisingly, was less nervous. After retrieving his cloak from the library cloakroom, he felt safer, and his dark attire blended well with the darkened city streets.

"Ah, the nightly streets haven't changed a single bit since I was here last..." Luna let out a sigh, "Calm and serene... peaceful, it is. And while it still saddeneth me greatly that ponies do not see the night's beauty, I came to realize that the night is beautiful in its tranquility," she turned to Andromalius, "What dost thou think about the night?"

For a long moment, the hell stallion was silent, his mind devoid of an answer he would consider right. In all of his life, he hadn't thought much about the night. Most of the time, he was sleeping during it or doing homework and similar things. In his moderately busy life, he hadn't had much of a chance to stop and think about such a simple thing as the night. And now, faced with this question, he hadn't an answer that would satisfy even himself.

"I... I don't really know," he admitted, "Haven't thought about it."

"'Tis a shame..." Luna sighed, and Andromalius couldn't help but feel guilty, "I suppose that's how the night will remain in the minds of others – a time not to remember but to cast aside, take for granted, and never acknowledge that 'tis there..."

"I'm sorry..."

"Thou needst not be," she shook her head, "I understand it now. This burden is mine and mine alone to bear."

Not knowing what to say to that, Andromalius was silent. He wanted to console the princess, to assure her that the night is more than a forgotten thing, and yet it would only highlight his hypocricy. He who knew not the night had no right to assure that he did, after all. Even if this feeling weighed heavily on his heart, he couldn't say what he hadn't already said.

Their walk continued in an almost perfect silence. Their hooves tapped against the road; the armor of the guards creaked from time to time, their steps subconsciously synchronized as they escorted the princess and the demon to the castle; the calm breaths; the invisible thoughts buzzing inside their heads.

A few dark figures appeared out of the alleyway and walked to the middle of the road in front of Luna. The group stopped, the guards stiffened as they slowly took their place in front of their princess.

"You! The accursed Queen of Nightmares!" one of them yelled as the pony gestured at Luna, "What evil will you bring to us now? Didn't you have enough ruining our celebration?"

"Put under an evil spell Celestia was!" the other spoke, "We know what you will do, and we shall stop you before you plunge our beautiful world in eternal darkness!"

"You steal the light from the sky and our very souls!" the third one continued, "Under the cover of the night, you steal our foals to turn them into beasts!"

Luna gasped, tears welling up in her eyes. And yet, she didn't say a word as the hateful tirade continued.

"We shall defend this world! In the name of the Sacred Light!" the fourth one yelled out, and blades rustled out of their scabbards. The guards readied themselves for battle, pointing their spears at the attackers.

The princess lowered her head, her body shaking. Tears rolled down her cheeks and dropped on the ground, making a tiny sound each time a drop hit the pavement. She inhaled deeply, swiftly rose, and let out a cry of desperation and suffering; her horn lit up bright as a star, blinding the four, and then she disappeared in a loud flash that shook the windows of the nearby buildings and raised dust from the ground. The four cloaked figures fell to the ground, dropping their swords; the guards stood firmly against the gust of wind and then rushed to arrest the four. Andromalius, unsure of what to do, was frozen in place, his mind blank and his heartbeat quickening.

"You shan't get me!" one of the four ponies shouted, a blade sparkled in the moonlight, and a gasp was heard – one of the guards was stabbed in the side. The pony rose from the ground and attempted to escape, but the wounded guard knocked him down with a spear by cutting the leg.

The second guard was more careful, knocking out the remaining weapons with his magic and spear. Chaos ensued as the attackers attempted to flee and struggled against the arrest. Andromalius could stand in place no longer – summoning his magic, he lifted the attackers up in the air and threw away their weapons. He swiftly looked around and noticed clothes hanging on a rope to dry. He yanked the rope and crudely tied the four attackers together. They attempted to break free but the rope tied them along with their cloaks so well they could barely move their limbs. Then, the four were dropped on the ground; they landed with an audible thud, a few pained cries escaping their maws.

Andromalius rushed to the wounded guard. The blood was gushing out of the opening on his side as he lay on the road, breathing heavily. Panic overtook the hell stallion as he was frozen in place once again, having no idea how to keep the guard alive. Meanwhile, the other guard pulled out a syringe from his saddlebag and injected a bluish liquid next to the wound.

"We need to get him to the hospital, it's not too far away!" the guard turned to the hell stallion and shook him back into sense, "Look at me. Don't panic. Carefully grab him, go down the street. There is a fork at its end, take the right turn. The hospital has a glowing red cross on the front, you won't miss it. Now go!"

Andromalius swiftly picked up the wounded guard as he weakly moaned in pain. Each second counted, so the hell stallion galloped down the street as instructed, his heart thumping like drums. The remaining guard blew a horn, alerting the rest of the city guard. The hell stallion didn't notice it, however – only one thought was in his head; he must deliver the wounded to the hospital as quickly as possible. He willed himself to go faster and faster, almost flying through the street at a speed he had never run before. He saw the fork and turned to the right once he came to it, almost tumbling during the sharp turn. He could feel the blood of the guard dripping on his back and he tried not to think of it. Most importantly, he needed to reach the hospital. It wasn't his life, but he didn't care – fast as the wind, he galloped, not caring about anything else.

There it was, the cross. Red and glowing, it stood there at the end of the street. It seemed impossible, but Andromalius quickened his pace even more, his cloak flapping like wings as the air brushed past him. The burn in his muscles rose as they propelled him like a dart, but he didn't care. The time was running out, the guard was almost silent. The hell stallion must deliver him to the hospital at once, he should've done that as soon as the guard was wounded. A thought passed his mind – he must learn teleportation. No matter how quick he was, no matter what speed he could achieve with his powerful legs, it was nothing compared to the instant of teleportation. A blink of an eye would be the only thing he would ever need.

The doors of the hospital flew off their hinges as Andromalius yanked at them. The hospital staff screamed in terror as he almost crashed into the front desk. They began to run away but he caught them in his magic and forced to look at him.

"He is dying!" he yelled, gesturing at the guard, "Shut the fuck up and help him!"

He had to shake them a fair bit before they stopped panicking. Their training kicked in as soon as they saw the wound – a stretcher was brought in an instant, and a blue gel was applied to the wound, sealing it and stopping further blood loss.

"What- what happened?" one of the nurses stuttered out.

"Stabbedintheside," Andromalius replied so quickly his words were almost unintelligible, "Don't... don'tknowifthere... therewas... poison..."

"Alright," the nurse turned around and then shouted: "Protocol E-SSD-PP, everyone!" she returned to Andromalius, "What exactly happened, can you tell me?"

"Princess Luna and I along with two guards were walking to the castle from the... the city library," he reported, "Four ponies attacked us. The princess teleported away, the guards tried to subdue the ponies, but one was stabbed by them. The four are captured, and the last guard is alive."

"Very well," the nurse nodded, writing it down into a notepad, "Thank you for bringing him in time. We have the blood for him, so the chances he'll live are high."

Andromalius let out a huge sigh of relief as he plopped down on one of the benches, which creaked under him but managed to hold his weight. He hung his head, calming down and coming to his senses. It all happened so quickly, and yet he remembered all the details. The hurtful words hurled at the princess, the threats, and then the arrest that almost ended in death of one of the guards. Even now, it was uncertain whether he would live or not. Despite the high chances, it was still not a hundred percent.

The hell stallion tried not to think of the possibility. His mind grew numb, and one question remained in his head – what must he do next? Should he go back to the castle to find Luna or should he stay here and wait for the news about the wounded guard?

"Excuse me..." one of the nurses addressed him, "I mean no offense, but there's talk... Are you, um, the demon who escorted Her Nightly Majesty today?"

He nodded while staring at nothing in particular.

"I just have to say... your appearance fooled us all," she continued, "I want to apologize for that. You've proven you're not what many think you are. I, I will spread the word about it so that others would know."

"No idea if that'll change anything," Andromalius replied, "And... my name's Andromalius."

"A-alright," she nodded, "But, sincerely... thank you."

Having not a word to say, he was silent. Understanding his need for privacy, the nurse returned to her business. In his mind, he knew he didn't save the guard because he wanted to get a true recognition. He didn't do it for ponies to treat him better. He only did it because he felt it was the right thing to do. Even then, he wasn't thinking about it when it all happened. The best he could explain it was that he did it because he did it. He had no reason, he had no goal. During the moments before the attack, all he wanted was to read.

His eyes widened as he realized something. He dropped his books at the scene of the attack. He stood up from the bench and headed outside, deciding to place the trust to the doctors and surgeons to heal the wounded guard while he was away. And besides, there was nothing else he could do that he was aware of.

This time, he made the way back slowly, taking in the night's air. And yet, it reminded him of the attack – a barely noticeable scent of iron was in the air he breathed, the drops of blood glistened on the ground he walked, and the uneasy feeling reigned supreme. Subconsciously, it made him quicken his pace, and soon he was back at the scene. The four ponies were tied and gagged, placed in the middle of the street under the watch of no less than ten guards. A few civilians were around, cautiously observing the situation.

"Halt!" one of the guards noticed Andromalius and pointed his spear at him. Without a single question, the hell stallion obeyed.

"Relax, he's not one of them," another guard walked in and looked at the hell stallion, "So, will he live?"

"The doctors said he most likely will," he replied, "I... didn't stay to find out."

"Alright," the guard nodded. It was obvious he wanted to ask more questions, but he had another task to fulfill, "Also, the books for you and the princess," he gestured at the two bags placed nearby, "It won't be troublesome to deliver them by yourself, will it?"

"I don't think it will," Andromalius shook his head as he picked the bags up, "I..."

"You should go and rest," the guard said before the hell stallion could continue, "I see it's your first time seeing something like this. It's mine, too, but I was prepared, trained for it," he said sympathetically, "And once again... thank you."

Andromalius nodded and set on his way to Canterlot Castle. As he departed from the scene, the air grew quiet again. The pale moon sent its light to the ground below, and the stars twinkled in the dark sky. The smell of blood was gone, the uneasy feeling dissipated. Nothing spoke of what happened on that night. The four attackers were rounded up and escorted to the dungeons; the blood was cleaned from the streets; the guards patrolled the city with twice the attentiveness; and the wounded one awoke to continue living after the blood transfusion. The mental and bodily scars will stay as will the memories of this incident, and yet the night will remain quiet.

On the inside, Andromalius shook from anxiety and fear, suspecting that this attack could be not the last one. What if it happened again? Would he be prepared for it? He used to live in a relatively peaceful neighborhood – assaults and worse crime evaded him, appearing in news reports only. They seemed so distant, as if they were from some other world that he could never touch but only look at. This illusion was gone in an instant as a peaceful day almost turned into bloodshed.

And maybe if he didn't stand stupidly when the four appeared and drew their weapons, no one would be stabbed. No blood would've been spilt. No one would be on the verge of dying. Maybe if he was quicker, if he knew how to react...

"Andromalius, it's not your fault," Inanna said softly, "Things... happen."

"I feel I could've done more..."

"Maybe, maybe not," she replied, "But you can learn from it. You did what you could, and if you train, you might do better next time. You know, that's how you gain experience – you, well, experience things and learn from them. You can, of course, read about things in books, but nothing is better for learning than seeing it all by yourself. Sorry, I can't really find good words to explain it, but I hope you get the meaning."

"...Thank you," he said after a few moments of hesitation and thought, "Thank you for saying that."

"Don't mention it," Inanna said, her voice light, "Anyone can use a word of advice from time to time. And besides... I doubt anyone would expect you to do more than you managed already. Now, go back to the castle and rest. You need it."

Chapter 7: Consequentiae

After returning to the Canterlot Castle, Andromalius mechanically went through the halls to his room. Once inside, he took off the cloak and tossed it aside. Sitting down on the bed, he looked out the window. He could almost see the guards moving across the city, checking each and every alley for the rest of the group if there was anyone. A carriage arrived on the place of the crime, and now it was on its way to the dungeons, the attackers bound behind the reinforced doors. Further, the wounded guard was recovering and his comrades visited him to cheer him up and assure that the criminals were caught.

Unfortunately, Andromalius had none but one to rely on, and even then it begged a question – should he rely on Inanna? He knew next to nothing about her, what she wanted to do with him, or, frankly, anything outside of her frequent remarks about sex. She appeared out of nowhere, telling him about some sort of test, so would it even be right for him to trust her like he would trust his friends? Uncertainty gripped his mind, anxiety crawled in to freeze him in place. He had to do something, but what?

He sat on the bed almost motionlessly, rarely adjusting his position as he stared off into the distance. However, despite not having a single need, he felt mentally exhausted. With a loud sigh, he allowed himself to fall on the bed. Sleep didn't wait long after he closed his eyes.

At first, there was the pleasant nothing of a sleepless night. But a dream crawled inside his mind, born from both his subconsciousness, his imagination, and an outside force he wasn't aware of. Woven with his own thoughts, the force made him see something he needed to see but didn't know about it just yet.

Above the ashen ground and broken rock, below the hardened black skies, he flew through the air, carried by the wings not his own. In the distance, a lake of red glowed, and in the center of it, his home. Untouched by the heat, it stood like a castle; incorruptible, indestructible, and yet ever-changing. Around the lake of red, crowds stood, watching his majestic flight in anticipation. The charred wind blew past him, trying to push him away from his destination. And yet, he soared ever-higher, reaching the black skies. Effortlessly, he broke through them, revealing the blue canvas dotted with stars, and a full moon shining brightly above. The snow fell, water it became, and washed away the soot and ash it did.

Then he flew above the nearly infinite plains and mountains. From horizon to horizon, all was covered in a white blanket made of biting cold and hateful frost. For centuries, it lay untouched, and even the warm sun was unable to thaw it during the hottest days. And yet, through the deadly snow, a path lay, one that couldn't be walked alone and unprepared.

In the distance, near the border of the deadly snows, a spire stood. Wrapped around it, a shadow was – hungry and yet growing, cast in ice and yet alive. The spire was frozen with it, lying in wait for the heart full of love to thaw the ice away and reveal what was once lost to the darkness. The snow will thaw away, making the way for the spring, for life to come. Whether it will continue to thaw, none could say.

Further away, where the snow had no reign, ponies stood, fearful. They looked and yet didn't see neither the snow nor the spire, neither soot nor ash; what lay beyond was left unseen, too. They walked closer and closer to the border between their world and the world of snow, and yet none dared to cross it, fearful of what was left long times past.

Carried by the wings, Andromalius saw the train hurrying along its tracks, a trail of smoke behind it. The train's boiler was hot, red, ready to burst, and yet it would last enough to reach its unintended and yet purposeful destination.

The hell stallion awoke with heartbeat quick, startled by something. The dream soon started to fade away, and yet the details stayed in his mind. The flight, the things he saw, it made him wonder what it was all about. For some reason, it was very familiar, and yet so different he couldn't quite place it anywhere in his mind. After a while of thinking, he sat up and let out a long sigh. No matter what his dream was, he had more to think about that concerned him when he was awake.

"Still thinking about that incident?" Inanna asked, seemingly clueless about his strange dream, "I should tell you that you actually did better than I'd expect. Really, that was a quick reaction. I'm not too good with wording stuff well, but you deserve some praise for sure."

On one hand, he wanted to agree. Deep down, he knew he did what he could, and no lives were lost. He managed to outrun death this time, saved a live. He's never done anything remotely similar before, and maybe it was indeed a source of pride. On the other hand, however, a nasty feeling nested inside his mind – the infamous 'what if?'. It gnawed at his mind, worming its way deeper and deeper, letting in the guilt and shame. Out of everything, he couldn't figure out what to go with. One thing was certain, however – he wouldn't wish to experience such a thing ever again in his life.

"Then what should I do now?" he wondered, hoping to set aside those dark feelings, "I just... don't know."

As Inanna thought about what to say to him, knocks came from the door to Andromalius' room. He swiftly turned to the entrance, silencing his thoughts. His heartbeat slightly increased as fears entered his mind. He was certain that he wouldn't be punished for anything, and yet irrational fear gripped him from the inside, making him wonder whether his efforts were enough.

"Don't worry, Andro. If it's the guards, they came to thank you, I bet," Inanna assured, "And if not, well... Doubt it's anything bad anyway."

"I sure hope so..." he replied darkly and then stood up from his bed.

"You know, if they came to punish you for... whatever, they wouldn't gently knock on your door," Inanna rolled her eyes, "So, quit being so paranoid and open up."

Nodding, the hell stallion made his way to the room and opened. He raised his eyebrows when he saw that it was a different kind of guards this time. Their armor not golden but blued, and a viper eye embedded into the chest plate. Draped over their armor was a black cape with silky dark-blue lining. Dark-gray in fur, the two guards were nearly indistinguishable from one another. From under their helmets, two slit-pupil yellow eyes could be seen.

"Her Nightly Majesty Princess Luna wishes to see you," one of them said, stepping aside, "Follow us, please."

Understanding that this invitation was non-negotiable, Andromalius exited his room and was escorted by the guards to Luna's quarters. The castle halls were awfully silent and empty, devoid of anyone but the guards. They stood at their posts, alert and ready to jump into action. Some of them still eyed the hell stallion with suspicion, although quite a few were looking at him positively, nodding as he passed.

For some unknown reason, this time, the trip to the chambers of the princess was shorter than before. In a blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the door, behind which Luna was waiting for him.

"Her Nightly Majesty wishes to speak to you alone," one of the guards said, him and the other one positioning themselves at the sides of the entrance.

Andromalius nodded nervously and then slowly opened the door. It swung silently, revealing the room bit by bit. The inside was dim, the windows covered by curtains, and only one candle was lit on the chandelier above. The shadows were sharp and dark, hiding most of the room.

"Please, enter and close the door," the voice of the princess came; emotionless and empty it was.

The hell stallion did as asked, and soon the room was as dark as the moonless night. However, in just a few moments, his eyes adjusted, allowing him to see much more, including Princess Luna herself. She was sitting on her bead, her head hung, a sullen expression on her face. Silently, she moved an armchair for Andromalius to sit on not too far away from her. Obeyind her silent request, he made his way to the armchair and took his place. This time, the armchair seemed far from comfortable. Too soft in one spot, too hard in the other, and still too small to support him properly.

"I have heard... tragic news," Luna spoke slowly, "Is it true that a guard was... injured?"

"Yes," Andromalius nodded, the word he said came out hushed.

"Tell me everything that happened after... after I was gone," she lifted her head slightly up, looking directly in his eyes. This dark look almost made him shudder. However, there was something else to it. He could see redness in her eyes, and trails of tears were under them, dampening the fur.

Andromalius did as asked and told her about everything that came down at the attack. Despite how fast it happened, he managed to remember every single detail, important or not. The struggle, the injury, the rush, and then the relief. As he finished, the room filled with an eerie silence. For a long moment, Luna looked down at the floor. A quiet sniff was heard.

"Will..." her voice almost broke but she recomposed herself, "Will... the guard live?"

"I, uh, think he will," Andromalius tried to assure her, and yet it came out half-hearted. Nevertheless, Luna nodded to his reply. Another sniff was heard.

The hell stallion didn't dare move from the armchair despite the silence. It grew and grew, crushing him with anxiety and uncertainty, but then something broke it. A louder sniff. Luna's body shook as tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She didn't lift her head up, avoiding looking at Andromalius. He too didn't want to look at her, trying to avert his gaze, and yet it always returned to her.

Letting a woeful cry, Luna broke down in tears, her body shaking and shuddering as the wave overcame her, crashing against her will and breaking the dam that held her emotions in check. She jumped at Andromalius and hugged him, her tears dripping from her face onto his back. At first, he did nothing, his body as stiff as a rock and his eyes open wide. Then, hesitantly, he wrapped his front legs around her in a warming embrace.

"T-thank thee for s-saving h-him..." Luna whispered into his ear, "I-if anyone d-died, I... I..."

"Your majesty..."

"T-titles aside!" she cut him off, "It... doth not matter when I d-did nothing to p-protect m-my subj-jects..."

"But... it's not your fault..." he tried to argue, but was quickly cut off once again.

"It is wholly mine!" she separated from him and looked into his eyes, "If I have not fleed like a scared old m-mare, if I stayed and fought the bastards, I... I..." another bout of tears came over her, and she closed her eyes as she cried. She forced herself to calm down slightly, opened her eyes and looked at Andromalius again, "Thou... thou art n-not at fault unlike thou t-thinkest... 'Tis I who could have done more, 'tis I who could have p-prevented it... I sense g-guilt inside thee, but it is misplaced. Thou art n-not guilty, thou art not at f-fault, but I am."

Andromalius opened his maw to argue, but a glance from the princess made him reconsider. He didn't know what was going on in her mind, but he didn't blame her. At the very least, he didn't want to – it was obvious the hurtful words she heard left a mark in her mind. Leaving wasn't the worst option she had. If she stayed, if she let her wrath take control, would the four attackers even be alive? Andromalius wasn't aware of her true powers, but he suspected she could pulverize the attackers if she wanted, turn them into nothing but ash. And yet, instead of retaliating, she simply disappeared, hiding from them where they couldn't reach her. She had all the power to make sure they wouldn't hurt her, but instead, she let them be. And now, it didn't seem like she would want to execute them or do other things Andromalius didn't want to even think about.

There she was, a ruler of a country, crying in front of him. It was so surreal Andromalius started to doubt whether he woke up or not. Probably one of the most powerful ponies, the one they call Princess of the Night, was sitting there, looking like a trembling leaf.

"Forgive me for this show of weakness..." Luna said in a weary tone once she calmed down.

"No, it's fine, really," the hell stallion assured her and then awkwardly added, "You have a reason to... feel bad."

"To cry, yes," she corrected him, "In any case, I believe I have taken enough of thy time. This day wasn't... the most fortunate," she looked at him, "But thou hast proven to be honorable and thoughtful. Saving a guard from a death most certain – 'tis a deed worthy of my respect. And 'tis a deed in need of repayment also."

"Thank you, but..."

"Anyone who doth a good deed must be rewarded," Luna continued, ignoring his attempt at refusal, "And I believe 'twill interest thee. I would like to set thee on an interesting path – studies of magic."

Andromalius' eyes widened. He didn't want to admit it aloud, but it was exactly what he hopen to get.

"I can see sparks of interest in thine eyes already," a small smile appeared on her face, "Come to me next evening, and I shall teach thee. For now, I require some rest, so I'd like thee to leave me for the day."

"A-alright, your majesty-"

"For thee, I am Luna. Besides, I am not thy princess, for thou art not Equestrian," she stopped him, "Thou needst not to be a subject to me, but... a friend, perhaps?"

"A... friend?" Andromalius blinked in surprise, "I... don't know what to say..."

"Thou shalt have the time to think about it, I shan't push thee," she assured him, "So, go and rest, for learning magic is no easy achievement. If thou needest food or drink, thou needest but to say a word to the guards outside thy room, and they shall bring thee what thou ask for."

"Thank you, Luna," Andromalius rose from his seat, "I..."

"As I said, thou shalt have the time for everything, including gratitude," she told him in a soft tone, "I'll see thee next evening, Andromalius."

Chapter 8: Firmamentum

The darkness of the night faded away as the morning sun rose above Equestria, its light basking the land in a soft pinkish glow. The city of Canterlot awoke from its nightly rest, the streets began to fill with ponies. Rumors about the attack spread through the city like wildfire, and they were only exaggerated when the ponies saw the increased number of guards. Usually, they were almost unnoticeable, blending into the crowd, but now the golden helmets and armor could be seen around every corner. The guards surveyed the area attentively, inspecting the slightest disturbances. The usually busy streets were hushed and even quiet, uncharacteristically so for the capital of Equestria. Everyone felt an invisible presence of an odd feeling — one of uncertainty mixed with fear.

The Canterlot Castle was closed to visitors that day; armored guards were patrolling the hallways with diligence and readiness. It felt like the castle was under siege, for the guards stood on walls and towers, surveying the surrounding area with great care. The main gate, as well as any other entrances, were closed and well-guarded. Pegasi guards patrolled the sky, making sure no one could fly above the castle no matter their intention. The sky was cleared, not a stray cloud was left untouched.

The two princesses of Equestria were having a rather unpleasant talk inside one of the many rooms of the ancient castle, away from prying eyes and sensitive ears.

"Sister, I'm sorry this happened to you, I truly am," Celestia spoke in an apologetic tone, "If I knew they'd do that..."

"But thou didst not," Luna cut her off in a strained voice, "Thou knewest they prowled the streets, thou knewest their... organization. But thou didst not think 'twas suspicious."

"I thought they were harmless, and I admit I was wrong," the solar alicorn nodded, her ears down, "I should've looked better into it, I really should've... Forgive me, sister..."

"I need not thy forgiveness. The guards on duty do — they could've died, all because..." before she could say anything hurtful she would later regret, Luna took a deep breath to calm herself down, "Because a crazy cult is on the loose. Sister... We have gone through it before, why hast thou lost thy sight?"

"I thought things have changed, but alas... I was very wrong," Celestia hung her head in shame, "I shall make sure it won't happen again. The guards will be doubled–"

"There is no need," Luna shook her head, "All thou needst is an investigator. They shall find the culprits, devise their plans, and find their weak spot."

"But what if they try to attack you again?" Celestia pleaded, "I won't be able to forgive myself if you're hurt, my dear sister. So many years without you... Please, allow at least someone to protect you."

"I am not in need of any protection," Luna shook her head in response, "Any attacker would quickly regret their actions if I retaliate. I didn't do it then, but I shall do it if circumstances repeat themselves."

"But sister–"

"Thou knowest how weak our subjects can be," the lunar alicorn didn't let her sister finish, "Fragile, easily scared, they need but a cut to die. We are alicorns, Tia. We move the sun and the moon, we are among the most powerful known beings in this world. We are not invincible, but the two of us could stand against the entirety of our own guards if ever needed."

"But it's their duty to protect us and Equestria, and they've done it well for many, many years," Celestia tried to argue.

"And one of them almost died for me while I could have fought the attackers off," she replied in a harsh tone, "What wouldst thou have them do, lay their lives down when mine wasn't in danger?" she huffed and looked away for a long moment, "Sister, it doth not matter how many guards surround me when the root of this issue lieth deeper," she looked her sister in the eyes, "'Tis clear to me that the ponies still hate me and my night..."

"But they don't-"

"They do, 'tis obvious!" the lunar alicorn raised her voice again, "Dost not thou see? A thousand years ago, they refused to acknowledge what I did for them! Now, they want to wipe me off this world. Perhaps, I should've remained at the moon, for it is the only place where I belong..."

"Lu-lu, please don't say that... Ponies don't wish you death," Celestia tried to convince her, "They don't hate you. Those that do are extremists, they are very few and they don't represent what most think of you."

"But I can see how ponies react to my presence. They... hide. They look away, whisper among themselves," Luna lowered her voice and sniffed, "They are afraid of me..."

An uneasy silence fell on the two; the air thickened with a heavy and dark feeling. Celestia tried to think of something, anything that would convince her sister that ponies weren't against her, and yet all she found was a burning, stinging shame. Shame that belonged to her.

Celestia put naught an effort towards easying ponies' minds about the return of her sister. She did nothing for them to remember her and accept her. For the longest time, she kept Luna all to herself, all to her memory, wishing for her to return. And yet, nothing was done to prepare the world for her return, and it was all Celestia's fault. Luna was aware of it but didn't want to voice it or talk about it in any way, for she too was not prepared for her return.

Nightmare Moon was Celestia's creation, for she was the one who ignored the signs. She barely gave her sister any attention she so desperately needed, and even now it made her feel pain. This same mistake was repeated, and Celestia had nothing to say for herself, not a thing to justify her inaction. The only thing she could do was remain silent as the shame ate away at her, reminding her of her biggest failure.

"I... need to unwind," Luna stood up and headed towards the exit.

"I understand," Celestia nodded and found her mouth dry. She wanted to help her sister, and yet all she could do was watch her exit the room and close the door behind her. Silence took reins, and for a long moment, there was nothing. Celestia sighed deeply and closed her eyes.

In the other part of the castle, Andromalius was trying to read a book in his room. The events of the night shook him greatly, making it difficult to concentrate. The words jumped around, their meaning missing his mind completely. After realizing that he made no sense out of the book, he put it down and let out a huff. He stood up and paced around, trying to ease his mind. Unfortunately, the room was too small for him, barely allowing him to stretch. In fact, if he were to stand in the middle of the room, his neck and his tail straight, he would almost be able to reach the walls in front and to the back of him. The furniture in the room made it even more difficult to move around.

"You could use something to alleviate this terrible boredom," Inanna spoke up from his bed. Once again, her astral projection was there with him, "I would love to help you in a certain, interesting way~" she waved her tail and winked at him, "But, unfortunately, we can't do that just yet."

"Do what?" the hell stallion asked, turning to her. She was lying on his bed on her side, her hind legs crossed.

"You know very well what I can offer," she moved her hind legs apart, allowing Andromalius to see just what she wanted to give to him. Unfortunately for her, he looked away and grumbled, his cheeks flushing with red.

"Look, I don't want that," he said, "And if you continue doing that, I will..."

"Spank me?" she asked in a cute and yet seductive voice.

"Just throw you out of my head!" he snapped at her, baring his fangs, "I know you for less than a day, and you've been more willing to get into my pants than to help me!"

"But... you're not wearing pants," she chuckled girlishly.

"That's beside the point," he huffed, furrowing his brows, "So, either you stop it or I will throw you out."

"Very well, I see you're not playing around," Inanna nodded, assuming a less erotic pose and a serious voice, "But you do need to relax. I know that's simple to say but difficult to do, especially in your situation, but... You can't remain stressed forever."

"Reading books doesn't work," Andromalius shook his head, "I don't want to sleep, and I have nothing else to do," after a moment of silence, he quietly muttered to himself, "They don't have internet here..."

"Internet?" Inanna slightly leaned in, her ears perking up with interest, "What's that?"

"Well..." the hell stallion began but had to pause to figure out how to put the words for her to understand. After all, he doubted she knew what a computer was. "See, it's... difficult to explain. Imagine having a... box. Others also have their boxes, and these boxes can be connected to each other so that each box can access the same content. By reaching into that box, you can find information very quickly without having to... to go to the library, for example. You can also talk to people no matter how far away they are. As long as their box is connected to yours, you can talk. And this connection is... invisible. It's not a piece of string or anything like that, but, uh..."

"Something like a radio?" Inanna suggested, making the hell stallion raise a brow.

"You have radios? Huh, that's nice to hear. And yes, that's pretty close," Andromalius nodded, "So, using the internet, you can get access to pretty much everything if you search long enough."

"Everything? The good, the bad..."

"And the ugly. Don't even ask about that," he shuddered as he remembered what he sometimes accidentally stumbled on, "Trust me, I'd sleep better if I didn't know what the internet has deep inside."

"Like what?" the succubus could do nothing but be curious about it even though she had a nagging feeling she would regret it quickly.

"...You don't want to know," Andromalius replied after a small pause. His tone made Inanna lose all the curiosity she had, "Anyway... a lot of things are harmless. Tutorials, books, movies... You know what movies are, right?" he asked, and she nodded, "Alright, so there are plenty of good things aside from those I mentioned."

"Sounds fun," Inanna nodded, deciding to ignore the darker bit, "All books in the world with instant access? My, that's wonderful! Do they have pornography, too?"

"Yeah, plenty," he decided to be direct this time, for he knew how much erotic material there was on the internet. Probably more than there should be, but he decided to omit this part.

"I'd love to visit your world and see all that stuff! And do all males look like you there?" Inanna wondered aloud, making Andromalius blush once again.

"No, they don't. I looked different, too. Like a, uh... how do I explain it..." he tapped his chin in thought, wondering if he would do humans a disservice by calling them big monkeys or apes with fur problems. Until now, he didn't realize how difficult it would be to show humanity without being able to provide an example. After all, his body changed into an equine one, losing all features that made him a human. Fingers, toes, hair and its color, color of the skin, body complexion, small scars, eye color, the shape of his face, all was gone and replaced by the new features he never thought he'd have.

"I think I can see your mental image," the succubus squinted her eyes as if looking at something. After a moment, she looked back at him, cocked her eyebrow, and then continued: "Alright, you looked kinda weird, not gonna lie. But... as long as all the parts are there between the legs and you can give consent... We can communicate."

"You turn everything into sex, don't you?" Andromalius deadpanned, having an urge to slap his forehead and, in turn, slap her.

"Yes, just like the king from a legend that turned anything he touched to gold," Inanna let out a short laugh.

"King Midas?" the hell stallion widened his eyes in surprise.

"Mid Ass? What an... interesting name," the succubus commented, "But no. I don't remember what his name was, but it wasn't... that. Why'd you ask?"

"Because we have a similar legend. It's not from my country, but it's well-known."

"Stories about greed — that's classic," Inanna nodded with a smile and then changed the topic, "Anyway, what about those tutorials you mentioned? What do they teach?"

"A lot of things, from how to cook to how to understand quantum physics," Andromalius explained.

"I have no idea what quantum physics is, but alright. Your internet... an interesting thing. Do you think you can somehow bring it here? I bet everyone would love it," Inanna suggested with interest.

"I mean... I could maybe talk to someone about it, but... I don't know how internet works. I don't know how these boxes I told you about work either. By the way, we call them computers. All I know is that they use a bi... bi... Uh..."

"Doubt you mean bisexual," Inanna remarked with a sly smile.

"No, not that," Andromalius scrunched his muzzle, "It's bi... ugh, I don't remember what it is, but basically, computers use a bunch of ones and zeros to work. Ah right, binary!"

"Seems pretty restrictive to use just two numbers," she noted, "Wouldn't it be better to use more?"

"I honestly have no idea," he shook his head, "I studied a bit about that, but I don't really remember. In any case, it seems that having just two numbers isn't a serious restriction, considering the things I've seen. Imagine... a movie. One can be made with a binary system almost entirely."

"Wow, that's pretty fascinating," Inanna replied with interest, "I'd really love to see something that is purely... binary."

"Digital. That's the right word to describe something made in binary. And yeah, I wish I could show you just what computers can do, it's really impressive when you think about all the things that happen to make it," Andromalius nodded, a dreamy look on his face, "I was studying how to make such things happen, but I wouldn't dream to make what some people do."

"Your world sounds awesome for sure," Inanna commented with a bright look on her face, "You know, I could probably listen to you talk about it more, but I'd really like to experience the real thing. You know, that's better than listening to words. Oh, and how, what do you think about this world?"

"It's interesting, but I've not seen much of it yet," Andromalius replied, "And... it seems as if myths from my world became reality. Unicorns, pegasi, succubi, none of them are known to exist in my world. And magic... magic's really something," he used telekinesis to grab a pillow, "I couldn't grab a pillow without touching it before. It's... amazing," he spun the pillow around and threw it in the air, "And it takes barely any effort now."

Andromalius and Inanna continued to chat into the day about many different small things. The succubus, being who she is, didn't miss a chance to insert some innuendo or a tease, but generally restricted herself in this matter, preferring to follow along with what the hell stallion thought interesting to discuss. It all resulted in a pleasant talk both of them greatly enjoyed, which ended up in getting to know each other better. It would be a long way to establish any meaningful relationship between the two, but the sparks were there – one only needed to fuel them to turn this relationship into a passionate fire of friendship or more.

Feeling more relaxed, Andromalius allowed himself to lie down next to Inanna and relax as their small talk continued through the day. The hell stallion would try to draw some of the things he mentioned, trying to show the succubus what his word was like. He wasn't a great artist, but he did the best he could to picture the town he lived in, the cities he visited, and the things he had seen during his life on Earth. Some of the things weren't foreign to the new world while plenty of them managed to fascinate Inanna just as much as magic and similar things fascinated Andromalius.

"Alright, I think..." Inanna yawned, "I think I need to take a nap. I really liked talking to you, Andro, so I'm looking forward to seeing you again," she smiled at him, "Try to get some shut-eye yourself, too, and don't forget Princess Luna wants to see you in the evening. I have a guess why~" she winked at him.

"No, that's definitely not that," Andromalius protested.

"You doofus, you're so easy to tease!" she laughed, "I know it's magic, and I wish good luck with that! I'll be seeing you soon!"

And so, Inanna faded away from the room, leaving Andromalius all to himself. For a moment, he lay on his bed motionless; then he turned to where Inanna was. That part of the bed looked undisturbed, and he extended his hoof to touch it. Surprisingly, it was warm as if someone was indeed sitting there, chatting with him. He chuckled, a stray thought passing in his head – what if he hit his head and was imagining things?

He disregarded that thought, having a feeling that Inanna was indeed real and was there for him. He doubted he could imagine someone like her in the first place; after all, within this world of magic, Inanna wasn't out of place at all. He let out a soft sigh and sprawled on his bed, closing his eyes. The sun was out in the sky, but it would still be around an hour before noon; so, he might as well get some sleep before his meeting with Princess Luna. He had a feeling learning magic wouldn't be easy.

Chapter 9: Praecantatio

The sun began its slow descent to let the night come and the moon to take its place in the sky. Stars blinked in one by one on the dark canvas of the universe, the moon rose from below the horizon. Its pale, soft light gently enveloped the lands with the sunlight fading away. Right on time, Andromalius awoke feeling refreshed and ready to study magic. He silently remarked on the time of awakening, wondering how he managed to sleep the precisely right amount of hours. He chuckled to himself, remembering how he joked with his friends about having an ability to sleep the set amount of hours. He never thought he'd be able to do what videogame characters could, but there he was.

With his mood light and relaxed, he sprung out of his bed and stretched himself. Pouring himself a glass of water, he downed it in one go and proceeded to exit his room and was met by a guard right outside.

"Her Nightly Majesty is waiting for you," he told the hell stallion, "Please, follow me."

Andromalius nodded and went with the guard. He expected him to travel to Princess Luna's chambers but they took a different turn, which led to the floor below. After descending a flight of stairs, they walked through a plain hallway. It was decorated much less than the upper halls of the castle, and yet there were more guards. Surprisingly, some of them didn't have their helmets or even any piece of armor on or weapons ready. Curious glances followed the hell stallion as he was led to the end of the hall. Exchanging the nods with the guards stationed at the last door, the escort turned to Andromalius and gestured for him to enter.

With a touch of hesitation, he pushed the door, allowing it to swing open silently and reveal a large circular hall. It was, for the most part, empty, and some training equipment lay near the walls in organized fashion: gambesons and other pieces of padded armor hung on hooks, training weapons made of wood in the weapon racks, along with other equipment Andromalius couldn't readily identify. The other side of the hall was separated from the equipment by a clear panel of what looked like regular glass. Behind it, there were training dummies, targets for archers, and plenty of pillows and matts. On one of the matts, Princess Luna was sitting, waiting for the hell stallion. She greeted him with a smile and gestured to the side where a small door stood.

Once Andromalius entered the second half of the hall and closed the door, the alicorn stood up.

"Good evening, Andromalius," she said in a serene voice, "Didst thou sleep well?"

"I did, thank you," he replied, feeling weird that he didn't have to address her as royalty. Immediately, he noticed an interesting thing – she wasn't wearing her regalia. Neither her crown nor the chest piece were present. Her light-blue mane was tied behind the back of her head, too.

"I'm glad to hear it," Luna nodded, and then her expression turned more serious, "So, I believe we are ready to begin."

"I'd imagine we would start at a library, to be honest," Andromalius noted, "To study theory."

"I believe in a more practical approach," she replied, "Theory is important, 'tis true, but what is theory without practice? And besides... thou didst not read about how to walk before thou learnedst to do it, didst thou?"

"But... magic is harder than walking, right?" he asked carefully.

"It is indeed, but so is running and flying. However, there is one thing that unites them all – they are all natural," Luna explained, "A pony learnth to walk. A pegasus learnth to fly. A unicorn learnth to use magic. There is a certain difficulty to each, of course – that is the reason we're not equally strong or fast or skillful in any single thing. No matter how natural something is, it taketh time to develop. As a foal, thou stumbledst, fellst, but thou gotst back up and persisted until thou knewest how to do it well."

Luna paused, lit her horn, and let the bluish light fill the room. Then she grabbed some items and let them float in the air with her magic. She made them spin and dance in a variety of ways, for figures and shapes, even spell words. The light on her horn become more intensive, then less, then it blinked.

"Light and telekinesis are the most natural things for any unicorn," she continued, her voice just as calm as before, no struggle evident on her face, "So, any unicorn can do it, including thyself. Do it now."

Andromalius nodded and lit his horn, a reddish glow surrounding him, then appearing on different objects as he lifted them up. He could feel their weight, temperature, and texture, and yet it felt very easy to hold them in place. No muscle fatigue, no random twitching. The items simply floated in the air as he commanded them through his magic.

"Very well," Luna nodded and returned her things to their places, and Andromalius followed her actions, "What thou hast just done is the basic form of magic, the Natural Magic. Most of the times, unicorns use it without any active thought, just like breathing or walking."

The hell stallion nodded, his face bright with curiosity and interest. It was akin to the sensation he felt when he had just begun studying software, but here, the sensation was at least doubled. His burning passion for learning returned sevenfold, and he was ready to listen to anything Luna had to say about magic, and he was willing to go through years of learning to achieve the heights of magic. He had never expected to be so interested in something before, but now his childhood dream of magic was coming to life.

In many computer games, there was magic. An assortment of spells, reserves of mana, and many things that could be achieved with its right usage was astounding. In Heroes of Might & Magic 5, he often did his best to develop the magical abilities of his heroes, for magic was extremely useful on the virtual field of battle. The Light Magic buffed and healed his troops, and its usage could lead him to victory even when greatly outnumbered. The Dark Magic too could help him win the battle if he used it well for its intended purpose – weakening his enemies over a period of time. The Destructive Magic's purpose was obvious in its very title – destroying the enemies with direct spell damage. And then there was the Summoning Magic which could use the forces of nature as well as conjure additional troops. Truly, magic had many uses, and now it was within Andromalius' grasp.

"Now I shall teach thee a very important and interesting thing," Luna continued, "'Tis a spell almost as old as magic itself, it goeth beyond the written history."

Her horn lit up, deep electric buzz appeared in the air, and then a loud clap. Luna disappeared in a flash of light to immediately reappear behind Andromalius.

"This is called teleportation," she explained, making the hell stallion turn around to face her, "Some say it is Natural Magic, but we do not yet know any living creature that can naturally teleport and which hath no other means of movement. True, it can become natural to teleport, but thou hast to learn it first."

Andromalius' eyes widened. He had witnessed teleportation once already not so long ago, but to learn it was another matter entirely. From fantasy stories to science fiction, teleportation could be seen almost anywhere. Scientists of Earth have been working on it for a long time, too. And now, it was something that could be learned. If he were a few years younger, the hell stallion would be jumping with excitement, a bright grin on his face. However, he was in the presence of royalty now and couldn't afford to look like a child.

"We don't know how teleportation was invented – it was probably an accident," the princess continued on with a small theoretical lesson, "Someone wished to appear in another place, and they did it via magic. We can't verify it, and it's extremely difficult to test due to the fact that everyone knoweth teleportation is possible. In any case, it is done simply. Thou needest to think of a place thou wantest to appear at. However, thou needest to know the place or see it."

"Sounds simple," Andromalius nodded, his excitement evident on his face despite his rather calm tone.

"That it doth, but there is a difficult part," Luna raised her hoof to emphasize her point, "To make teleportation possible, thou needeth to imagine it. Thou needeth to imagine appearing at the place thou wanteth. Thou must not imagine running, flying, or walking through a physical portal to reach thy destination. Then thou must pour thy magic, thy energy into thy horn. Once it is done, thou must envelop thyself in magic, imagining thyself becoming an infinitely small dot."

"Now that sounds like a long process."

"At first, it is. Thou needeth to clear thy mind so that thy thoughts don't interfere and cause problems. Teleportation must be precise or else it won't happen. On the positive side, it meaneth thou shalt never get stuck in a solid wall or any items."

"But what about, um... Dust particles, drops of water?" Andromalius asked, "After all, if I'm thinking right, we still need to displace something. Including air, too."

"I don't have the concrete answer, but there are possible explanations to this," Luna replied, slightly furrowing her brows in thought, "One of the theories behind teleportation I am aware of is that it might be us becoming an infinitely small object that then rapidly expands upon successful teleportation. There is emptiness between things, after all, and we can replace it with ourselves. 'Tis like displacing water in the bathtub, more or less. That might be why we feel wind after teleportation at both its points. However, we don't exactly know what teleportation truly is."

"Teleportation in my world is just fiction as far as I'm aware," the hell stallion said, "Portals, too. We can only travel using planes that go... I don't know, two thousand kilometers per hour?"

"What are 'planes'?" the alicorn asked with interest.

"Well, a plane is... uh... Imagine a large bird made of steel that is controlled by someone inside of it," Andromalius tried to explain, "But it doesn't flap its wings, it uses engines. Wings and the tail are fixed, and only small parts of them can turn to let the plane turn."

"Engines like those on trains, yes?"

"Much more powerful, and they work differently," he replied, "Sorry, I don't know much about them, so I can't really explain that well."

"I'll talk to my sister about it, maybe we shall make use of it. This idea of air travel soundeth fascinating," Luna cleared her throat and then returned to the main topic, "In any case, let's continue with our magic lesson. I don't expect thee to be able to teleport right away, but 'tis worth a try. I shall guide thee, and thou shalt do as I say, alright?"

"Teleportation sounds a bit scary, but I still want to try it, yeah," Andromalius nodded, shifting his weight from his right hooves to left and back again. On one side, he couldn't wait to begin; but on the other, he was unsure, even nervous. Even bike rides could end in accidents, so what would happen if a teleportation goes wrong?

"Very well, then the first thing thou hast to do is to concentrate, focus," Luna told him, "Look at the place within this hall thou wantest to teleport to. Now, thou needest to imagine thyself appearing there. Not walking, not running, simply appearing."

With a nod, Andromalius furrowed his brows and concentrated. There it was, a spot on the floor he wanted to teleport to, right behind Luna. The spot was clear of obstructions, and it was even slightly discolored compared to the rest of the floor. He deeply inhaled and imagined appearing there, one of his hooves covering the spot. One moment, he wasn't there – the next, he would be.

"Pour the magic into thine horn and envelop thyself," Luna said, her voice seemingly muffled.

Andromalius felt the energy that coursed through his body. A great potential for spells of all sorts, it was lying in wait for him to use it however he saw fit. It was his mana reserve – harmless in itself but could be used in a variety of different ways. A passing thought reminded him that there could be battle magic, which he would like to learn even if he never had to use it.

"Clear thy mind, all thou wantest and needest is to teleport. Anything else is irrelevant," the alicorn reminded him.

The hell stallion released the magic. It enveloped him in a tight but comfortable cocoon and then lightly squeezed him. His heart missed a beat when he felt himself falling; with a loud gasp, he lost the grip on his magic. It exploded around him, knocking the air out of his lungs and forcing him off his hooves. With a loud thud, he landed on his side, shaking the floor.

"Andromalius!" Luna rushed to him, "Art thou alright?"

"...Y-yeah," Andromalius blinked slowly as the senses came back to him and his ears stopped ringing. Slowly, he stood back up and shook his head, "I... I felt myself falling, and it just... didn't work."

"Ah, this is a very common thing that unicorns feel when teleporting," the princess nodded in understanding, "But otherwise, what else didst thou feel?"

"Magic was around me and I could... feel it. As if I could touch it, I guess."

"This is supposed to happen, so I think the only thing thou needest to deal with is the feeling of falling," Luna nodded, her body lost tension as an invisible wave of relief washed over her, "Thou needest training and getting used to the feeling. I would say that everything is going rather well for thee. Dost thou feel tired now?"

"...No, not really," he replied after a small pause, "I'm all fine. Should I try again?"

"No harm in it, so go ahead, Andromalius," the alicorn nodded and stepped back, giving him the space he needed.

Andromalius went through the same motions. Concentration, pouring magic into his horn, and then release. Unfortunately, it ended just like the last time – he let his magic loose and fell on the floor. Releasing a huff of disappointment, he got back up on his hooves.

"Thou needest not rush it," Luna told him, "If thou feelst frustrated, thou shouldst wait for the next day. Negative emotions will only fail thee."

"Alright," he nodded and then let out a sigh, "Then what will we do now?"

"Question is, what dost thou want to study?" the alicorn asked him, "I am certain thou mightst be interested in something particular. In this case, I shall do my best to teach thee what thou askest of me."

"Well, I... I don't really know," Andromalius admitted, "There's just so many things I could learn from you, and my mind is jumping all over the place right now."

"Is that so?" Luna raised a brow, "My, it seemeth thou shalt be an excellent student. However, I sense there is something thou wantest in particular. Name it, and I shall teach thee."

The hell stallion went deep in thought, furrowing his brows slightly and tapping his chin with one of his hooves. Luna proposed to teach him anything, he thought, so he could ask anything. But what type of magic did he want to learn about the most?

His mind went to his gaming sessions. There was rarely anything more satisfying than seeing magic rack up damage and completely decimate his enemy. The fire, the ice, anything was satisfying to use when it made his opponents weaker in a spectacular fashion. One would say he had an affinity for magical destruction, but now he wasn't certain if he could ask to learn it. After all, in the games, everything wasn't real – his enemies, the spells, everything was just lines of code made for the entertainment of players. It was a safe way for many to experience what they otherwise wouldn't be able to, and it was the biggest allure of the videogames for a long time.

But then he remembered destruction. When he was frustrated, nothing relaxed him more than beating a punching bag. Each hit resonated inside him with something immensely satisfying and primal, something that he couldn't quite describe if he tried to. Each punch, each kick, everything that he unleashed on inanimate objects felt good, especially if it resulted in them breaking. He had gotten into real fights during his lifetime, and although he didn't revel in violence, he couldn't deny that it felt good to punch someone who had been bad-mouthing him or threatened him.

"I want to learn battle magic," Andromalius blurted out at once despite his train of thought not coming to a stop just yet. After realizing what he had just said, he added, "I, I think it would be good to know it because, um... well, I'd like to be able to defend myself better."

"...I see that thou hast more things in mind than just self-defense," Luna noted after a few moments of silence, "However, I doubt thou shalt use such knowledge for evil deeds..." she looked him in the eyes, "But then, morality is in the eyes of the beholder."

"Um, I... I do like to destroy things," he admitted, deciding that hiding the truth would be futile and counterproductive, "But I wouldn't hurt anyone unless they try to hurt me."

"Thou art placing me at a difficult position, Andromalius," the princess said, her voice serious, "It would be right to honor thy request, for thou hast done a deed that needeth a reward, and I promised to teach thee magic. But on the other side... I shall be honest with thee – thy request is suspicious at best."

"I understand," the hell stallion nodded, "I, um, suppose I can settle for something else."

"But then there is another thing," Luna added, "I can see thou wantest to learn battle magic, and none shall be able to stop thee from aquiring the knowledge thou desirest unless thou art locked up forever..." she looked at him again, "I don't want to do such a thing," she let out a heavy sigh, "Well... I suppose 'twill be safer for thee to learn under my guidance. This way, I can make certain thou shan't hurt thyself or others on accident. But if I do teach thee, thou hast to vow to use this power with great care and responsibility. Thou must swear an oath."

"I..." Andromalius began before Luna cut him off.

"Do not take such a thing lightly," she warned him, "If thou failst, the consequences shall be severe. Thou shalt be put on trial and judged. If thou art found guilty, thou shalt have thy magic restricted for a time. But if the consequences of thy failure are too great... Thou shalt lose thine horn."

An uneasy silence fell on the hall as Andromalius gulped. His thirst for knowledge of magic didn't diminish at all, but he couldn't take the learning lightly anymore. Knowing the consequences for the misuse of such magic, he indeed had to think twice about it. This world was not a game that he could simply restart if something went wrong. His actions had consequences on other living, thinking, sentient beings.

"I suppose thou shouldst take thy time to think over it once more," Luna suggested, "There is no rush for either of us, and I would rather have thou realize what thy decision can bring."

"Does... anyone else use or even know battle magic?" Andromalius asked carefully.

"Warlocks of Royal Guard still do, as far as I'm aware," the alicorn replied with some uncertainty, "They are trained for years, and this is why I can't take thy desire lightly. If thou goest down that path, thou shalt need to learn well and have the discipline to wield such magic. The only reason I do not refuse thee here and now is because I see thy potential, Andromalius," she stepped closer to him while looking him in the eyes, "With or without my guidance, thou shalt learn what thou desirest. The majority of ponies do not have that capability, and yet thou dost."

"If I'm so dangerous..." the hell stallion began, trying to be cautious, "Wouldn't it make more sense to restrict my magic?"

"I'm... surprised that thou art asking such a question, but nevertheless, I don't believe that doing so would be the right decision," she replied honestly, "Yes, I could order to place a restrictor on thee. I am well in my right to believe that thou art dangerous. However... Thou hast shown that thou hast the capability to do good. Despite thine appearance, despite the power I sense within thee, I believe that thou canst and shalt do good. The way thou actedst on that night when..." her voice cracked ever so slightly. She cleared her throat before continuing, "When I was attacked... Thou hast shown something that convinced me thou shan't do evil."

"I just did what I could..."

"Thou art missing an important detail, Andromalius," Luna raised her hoof and gestured at him, "Thou art physically and magically strong. However, instead of resolving the situation with brutal violence thy strength would suggest, thou incapacitatedst the attackers and rushedst the wounded guard to the hospital. And most importantly... thou didst so without thinking. In this short moment, thou hast chosen life over death."

Struck by her words, the hell stallion didn't know what to respond with. He knew Luna was right – he very well could kill the attackers instead of simply incapacitating them. He could tear them limb from limb, break all their bones, and yet he didn't. He hadn't asked the question of whether he was or wasn't a good person, but now that he was thinking about it...

"So, the decision lieth on thee now," the princess said, interrupting his thoughts, "I shall give thee the time to think it over. But for now, I have one request..."

"What is it?" Andromalius asked semi-absent-mindedly, for his thoughts were jumping from the battle magic to what Luna had just told him.

"I shall dine soon. Wouldst thou like to accompany me to the dining hall?" she proposed.

"Y-yeah, that sounds good," he nodded after a slight delay, "I will accompany you."

"Very well, I'm glad thou agreedst," Luna made a small smile, "Come with me now, I shall show thee the way."

Chapter 10: Coena

Author's Note

I finally managed to finish this chapter. I hope you will enjoy it!

Chapter 10: Coena

The hooves of the hell stallion clicked against the polished marble of the Canterlot Castle as he accompanied Princess Luna to the dining hall. The dim candlelight flickered, casting peculiar shadows on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The last rays of the sun faded away, and the sky turned black, more and more stars covering it. Andromalius couldn't help but gaze at the night sky through the windows, looking over all the stars and their constellations. He had never studied them, but he was so accustomed to the night sky of his own world, he was able to spot the obvious differences. If there were any doubts left deep inside his mind, they were now disappearing and replaced by a different thought – he was indeed in an unfamiliar world far, far away from home. But hope isn't a reasonable thing, so some of it remained inside him, for he longed to return to the familiar surroundings. See the town he lived in, visit his friends, go to college and study, do all those things he knew and got used to.

However, things have changed. Everything he knew was whisked away by fate, including his own body. And yet, it felt frighteningly natural. The way his legs moved, how his tail kept itself from touching the ground, how he breathed, it was all distinctively different and yet natural and familiar in a way he couldn't explain or describe. He could feel the pressure in his hooves as he stepped, he felt the shifting in the muscles as he moved, even the horse-like bounce of the head was natural. All these little things made him realize that he was stuck in the new world and the new body for a long time, maybe even until his very death of old age... if he could age.

He stood in the land ruled by the ageless. Princess Luna, imprisoned for a thousand years in the moon, and Princess Celestia, the sister that ruled for a thousand years. On Earth, a thousand years ago there was Kievan Rus, Byzantine Empire, and America was yet to be discovered. A thousand years was a span of time most people could barely comprehend. On average, a human lived around seventy years; very few could see a century pass. And yet, the Equestrian Princesses lived more than ten human lifetimes. Despite their age, they didn't sound much older than thirty; Andromalius was yet to understand how to recognize what age a pony was just by looking at them.

He thought about how surreal it all was. He was an alien to this world, a demonic stallion which no one had seen before. Magic was all around him, and it was as real as he. And there he walked, accompanying a millennium-old alicorn princess to the dining hall in the castle situated in the capital of the country she ruled.

"I have been thinking about... my return," Luna spoke, breaking the silence, "The night no longer feelth the same. I can still raise the moon, arrange the stars however I want, but... I have no control over the night anymore. It hath become what I greatly affear — the time when the evil crawlth," she looked at Andromalius, "Tell me... how is the night treated in thy world?"

"I think it's the same, but... we can't control the night or day," Andromalius replied, "We can't control our world for the most part. We built giant cities, dug our own rivers and lakes, but that's like... a speck of sand on the beach. I don't think we even understand half of what we see. As for the night... it was always the time of mystery. We humans live during the day, we can't really do anything at night without... a torch, for example. But the night is known for the crimes people commit and for, um, the unknown. I don't really know how to explain it because, well, I've not really done much during the night, I mostly just slept."

"Thou sayest thy kind hath no control over thy world? Then who doth?" she asked with interest.

"Well... some people think there is a God who does everything," he replied with slight hesitation, "But... there are tales of many gods. Some people believe in one God, some believe in many. One religion I know has... millions of gods, if I remember right. And no one knows who is right."

"We have our own Gods, and we call them Spirits," Luna explained, "My sister and I fought the Spirit of Chaos when we were much younger... before we became alicorns," after noticing a confused look from the hell stallion, she elaborated, "An alicorn is a pony with the strength of all three tribes: earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn. We have the magic, the flight, and the strength. Thus, we are bigger than most and have wings and horn," after receiving a nod, she continued, "There are other Spirits mentioned in ancient writings and scriptures, but we have yet to encounter their embodyments, if there are any."

"This world really is magical..." Andromalius commented, "I, well... read a lot about magic and myths, but they were just... legends. I don't think magic exists in my world. Or dragons, or spirits, or... I don't know, it seems my world is boring in comparison to yours, heh."

"I believe that there are fascinating things about thy world as well," Luna disagreed, "For once, thy kind is all alone on Earth. I cannot imagine how 'tis like to be the only intelligent species in the whole world. It must feel very lonely sometimes."

"Maybe that's why we have so many books when we meet or live together with other peoples," Andromalius chuckled, "In some other world... maybe this moment would be in a book. Can you imagine that?"

"I would've never thought about something like this, to be honest," the alicorn admitted, "Thy perspective is certainly fascinating, that I must say, it giveth me the insight I didn't have before..." a small pause ensued, "Hm, perhaps we can learn from each-other? Thou hast things to learn about my world, and I am very interested in thine own. What dost thou say?"

"I'm fine with that, so sure, why not?" he nodded with enthusiasm, "But, as I said before, I don't really know that much... I've never been into history. I know some general things, bits from here and there, so yeah..."

"Well, thou art the only person in this whole world to know anything, so I would say thy knowledge is better than anyone else's anywhere in Equestria," Luna noted, "As it is said, knowing something is better than knowing nothing. Of course, thy information might be wrong in some places, but such is history. We never know what is and isn't true, we can only assume based on our sources."

"My history teacher once told me that," Andromalius nodded in agreement, "But he also said that at least five sources must be taken into consideration. I'm just one, and, well, not that reliable, to be honest."

"I agree with thy point, but 'twould still be interesting to hear what thou sayest, regardless of the truth behind it," the alicorn pointed out, "In any case, we have arrived."

The doors to the dining hall stood before them. They were unremarkable, but Andromalius could smell the scent of food coming from behind them. He couldn't exactly recognize the smell, but it made him excited for supper. He still didn't feel hungry at all, but he felt it would be nice to take a bite of Equestrian food. After all, it was a good situation to get accustomed to what the new world had to offer, and what better place to start with than food?

The guards opened the doors for the two, and they entered the dining hall. From the ceiling, a banner of Equestria hung: a swallowtail light-blue fabtic with a white trim, sun and moon in its center with two stylized alicorns circling them, and thirty-nine stars. A long and well-decorated table of oak stood in the center of the hall, a simple white tablecloth with golden trim laid on it; two chairs were at its farther end, one of which was occupied by Princess Celestia. There were many other chairs at the sides of the table, most of them taken by guards or maids. To the left side of the solar alicorn, Royal Guard Captain was sitting; that side was mostly occupied by the guards. The other side was when the maids were situated. Behind the princess, a fireplace was glowing dimly, casting warmth across the hall. There food on the table was simple and consisted of various fruit and vegetables, as well as nuts and desserts.

When Princess Luna and Andromalius entered, all eyes were immediately on them. The ponies tensed up but tried not to show it, although it was obvious to both the hell stallion and the lunar alicorn.

"There is a chair to my side, thou art free to take it," Luna told him and then trotted to her place near her sister.

Andromalius followed her and found his chair. It was bigger than the rest, probably even bigger than Celestia's. It was thick and made of oak as well, so the hell stallion managed to take a seat without much problem. It slightly shifted under his weight but not to the extent most other sitting places he had used so far.

Once everyone was sitting, Celestia took the first bite of her food, and everyone followed her. The hell stallion remembered hearing about such a tradition – the ruler eats first, and only then others can start eating. Not knowing what to expect, he took a look at his plate first. Among diced vegetables, small cubes of meat lay, all under some sort of oil he couldn't recognize.

"I hope the meal is to thy liking, for I thought that thou wouldst be interested in meat," Luna told him. Some ponies turned to the hell stallion and glanced at him warily, "'Tis tuna and salmon, it should be soft and juicy. Our chefs know very well how to cook all sorts of food, meat included."

Replying with a nod, Andromalius looked around for a fork. A look of confusion appeared on his face, but then he realized he didn't need one – he had magic. He carefully lifted a piece of fish from his plate, wrapped it in vegetables, and opened his maw. He noticed a few maids outright staring at him wide-eyed. He quickly put the food on his tongue and closed his maw to chew it. After he was done and swallowed it all, he used his tongue to feel around his teeth. To his surprise, they were all rather sharp and pointy, but not to the extreme. He could still feel molars in the back, and they were certainly bigger and wider than before.

If he had to guess, his teeth would be a scary sight for a simple pony. His demonic features didn't end on his outer body, but continued well inside. His teeth were designed to tear flesh, and the strength of his jaws would be able to break bones. He shuddered from the thought – he was akin to a lion, almost a carnivore. Without a doubt, it unnerved the rest of people at the table. The few who seemed calm were the princesses, the majority of the guards, and their captain.

The dining hall was unusually silent for a while, but then small talk appeared among the ponies. Andromalius knew no one but Princess Luna, so he focused on eating the food. It was unusual to say the least; it had certain flowers as ingredients, and the hell stallion found out that they had a rich taste he didn't expect from them. The bread offered along with the food had a different texture and a more earthly taste, and one of the deserts was chocolate-covered rose blossoms. The latter had a unique taste Andromalius couldn't recognize at all. But in the end, all of it was food, and it was prepared rather well.

After a short while, the hell stallion allowed himself to relax and enjoy the meal while also trying to listen in on the conversations the ponies were having. The guards talked about how boring it was to stand on duty for hours on end without anything happening at all; maids complained about tapestries collecting a lot of dust; and all discussed how they would spend the next holidays with their family, friends, or lovers. Andromalius could also hear some whispers relating to him, and wary glances went his way from time to time. Unfortunately for him, he could barely hear what ponies were saying about him. However, a certain conversation reached his ears.

"What do you think about him?" one of the maids asked the other, throwing a glance at the hell stallion.

"He is a demon," the other maid replied in a hushed tone, "Demons... they come to us while we sleep and drain our life energy. I have no idea what he is doing here, eating with us. Did the princesses make a deal with him?"

"No idea. And if I were you... I wouldn't ask," the first maid glanced at the princesses and then lowered her voice even more, "Who knows what they want to do with him... Maybe they summoned him."

"Thou canst hear them talking, canst thou not?" Luna addressed him quietly, almost making him shudder, "Gossip is grass and bread of Canterlot, I'm afraid. Ignore them, for they are harmless. Eventually, they shall find something or someone else to gossip about."

"But what about you and... your sister?" Andromalius asked slowly.

"Oh, both of us have heard many things being said about us," the alicorn let out a chuckle, "Thou shalt not believe some of the things they said... For once, we were believed to having been sent from heavens. Two beautiful sisters created by Gods to be the image of beauty and justice... But in truth, we were born like regular ponies. We are imperfect just like any other living creature."

"And... what do ponies say about demons?" he asked another question.

"Just as many if not more things than what they say about me and my sister," Luna replied, "Some say demons are absolute evil which trieth to destroy the whole world as we know it. Others say that demons are merely our imagination. And some say... they say that demons come in dreams to seduce ponies for sexual activities," she took a sip of grape juice from her glass, "Even I am uncertain about who demons are, if they exist at all. But thou definitely fitst the description of a demon... so, I can't say I know what is true."

"So, what if... what if there are other demons?" Andromalius carefully asked.

"If there are, they certainly do not like showing themselves openly," the alicorn replied after eating a chocolate chip cookie, "But I believe there is nothing to worry about just yet. So, I'd rather see both of us enjoy this meal. How dost thou find it?"

"Unusual but pretty tasty. I've not had some things, but yeah, it's good, thank you," he made a small smile of appreciation.

"Very well, I'm glad thou findst enjoyment in our cuisine, Andromalius," she replied with a smile of her own, "Tell me... dost thou know how to cook? I would love to try something from thy world."

"There are some things you would probably like, but I don't really know how to make them," he admitted, "And... a lot of them have meat. Chicken, pork, beef, all kinds of meat, I guess."

"The griffons would certainly love to know everything about it," she let out a short laugh, "But I would still like to know even if I myself won't find them desirable."

Andromalius spent the rest of the supper explaining various foods to Luna, including fast food. She was fascinated by the idea of a chain of diners selling affordable and tasty food, but the hell stallion explained to her how unhealthy it was. She put the worries aside, however – alicorns couldn't get fat, unhealthy food had barely any effect on them. After she asked him about something that doesn't contain meat, he told her of a growing vegan trend among humans. He even knew about attempts at creating lab meat and meat from soy, which Luna found fascinating. All in all, the conversation lasted until the very end when everyone began to leave the hall either for work or to sleep.

"'Twas a pleasant supper," Luna said, rising from her chair, "But my nightly duties await, so please, excuse me."

As Andromalius prepared to return to his room, the voice of Luna's sister stopped him.

"Andromalius, may I have a moment with you?" she asked him. However, behind her friendly tone, he sensed that it was more than a request he could deny.

"Yes, your majesty?" he turned to her, his body tensening.

For a long moment, Celestia was silent as she looked at the hell stallion. She had already heard all about him from ponies who had seen him or heard him, and a clear picture was painted in her mind. While he was a mystery yet to be understood, he was a demon with a set of abilities he probably wasn't even aware of. The alicorn could sense great power inside him, which was more than his well-trained body or his size. There was more to him, she was sure of it.

"I don't know who you are, and I don't know what your plans might be, but I have to tell you one thing," she finally spoke, "I see that my sister trusts you, finds pleasure in your company..." she turned away for a moment and made a few steps towards the window, "I shall be honest with you, Andromalius. I do not trust you," she looked back at him, "You are a demon, and your kind is known very well among ponies. Perhaps there have never been any concrete evidence, but the tales appear for a reason. And the tales I have heard... they don't paint a pleasant picture. So, I hope you understand me clearly when I say that you shall not harm my sister."

"I never even thought about it," Andromalius shook his head, slightly raising his voice in defense.

"My sister and I lived for a long time, and many tried to take advantage of us," Celestia continued in the same calm voice, "They tried to fool us, use our naivety for their own gain," she looked him in the eyes, "Perhaps my sister is more trusting, but I am not. Consider this your warning. You may go."

With a nervous nod, Andromalius turned around and walked to the exit.

"Goodnight, Andromalius," Celestia's voice reached him as he opened the doors, making him shudder. He muttered a reply under his breath and quickly disappared into the hallways.

Chapter 11: Incantamenta

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 12: Discere

Two Equestrian weeks had passed since Andromalius began his training in the art of battle magic. For twenty days, he had been spending most of his time studying magic in theory and in practice. With barely a distraction to catch his attention, he found himself learning more than he would've expected at first. Without the internet, TV, or any other things he used to spend his free time on, the only thing that presented itself to him was mind-numbing, all-consuming boredom. So, he made up his mind to learn instead lest he would go insane from the lack of things to do.

Despite being completely exhausted by the end of each training session, he came back every day with his strength replenished. He wasted not a single minute, indulging in reading between training sessions to make sure he would be ready for the future. The last time he remembered doing something like this was back in school when he was taking his final exams. Days and nights, he would try to cram as much knowledge into his head as he could to make sure to pass the exams, for they would define his future... or so he thought. He wondered if what he learned could be used in the new world, but so far, he had only been learning what he had no idea existed. It was fascinating and exciting, bringing out his desire to learn and using it to the full.

Both Princess Luna and Inanna the Succubus were surprised to see his zeal for magic and learning in general. In truth, the alicorn was unprepared for it, and fear rose inside her. She had seen a great many ponies trying to gain the arcane knowledge in her lifetime; she was one of them, in fact. As a filly, she had all the time in the world to dig into Canterlot archives and the vast knowledge of magic stored within. As she grew up, her grasp and mastery of the arcane arts became greater and greater; and day by day, the magic corrupted her, contributing to her downfall. To this day, she didn't know what it exactly was, but she suspected some of the knowledge she obtained influenced her mind, for many spells and books were in the archives, and perhaps not all of them were suitable for someone as young as she was at the time.

Andromalius, in some ways, reminded her of herself and other ponies that were twisted by the knowledge. Of course, what she was teaching him didn't come close to the complicated matriсes, ancient incantations, and obscure rituals of the deepest magic. Princess Luna was careful in presenting the spells, but it didn't guarantee he wouldn't find something he wasn't supposed to.

The Canterlot Archives of the Arcane was a restricted section of the castle, lying deep within the mountain on which the city was built. Powerful runes were etched into its walls, protecting it from being accessed by those who weren't supposed to be there. The Royal Guards were absent from the halls, and only magic was present; its buzz could be sensed even by the weakest unicorn who would happen to be near.

Princess Luna stood at the entrance, feeling the seals on the seemingly unremarkable doors. The seals were intact, although there were signs of repair done not too long ago. When she was there last, she was too young to even hope to strengthen the protective spells; and even now, she was weak. Her long imprisonment on the moon left her with no means to obtain the knowledge, so all she did was experiment with magic. As her rage burned, she wanted nothing but to figure out a spell that would defeat her sister and the Elements of Harmony. Her power grew, as did her knowledge, but it was outclassed by Celestia's own power even now.

However, Princess Luna was finally powerful-enough to contribute to the protection of the Archives. The alicorn closed her eyes and ignited her horn; it glowed blue. The hidden runes appeared on the doors, glowing with the same color as her horn. Slowly, a few more runes were burned into the surface, adding to the many others: Celestia's sun-rune, Starswirl's star pattern, and marks of those before, going back to Clover the Clever, the first Court Spellwright and Master of Magic in service to Equestria.

With the seal complete, Luna opened her eyes and released her magic. The symbols on the doors glowed for a few more seconds before fading away until nothing but smooth wood was there.

"It hath been a thousand years since I was gone," Luna spoke, "Were there no powerful unicorns ever since?"

"There were, more than one," Celestia replied, standing next to her, "However, I didn't see them fit to contribute to the Door Seal, nor did I see them fit to access the Archives."

"But if we don't find someone suitable before we are gone..."

"I know, sister, but we must be vigilant," the solar alicorn replied, "There are many who would want to learn all they can from the Archives, and we both know how dangerous it can be."

"I understand, but if no one is found, then the knowledge would be lost with us," Luna looked at her sister, "Dost thou understand what it meaneth?"

"It's a fair price for the safety of our subjects," Celestia said, "If it is to disappear with us, then so be it."

Luna looked at her sister with disbelief but could find no words to say to her. Her maw opened and closed, and yet nothing came out of it.

"Tell me, sister... how is Andromalius doing?" the solar alicorn changed the subject as she turned around and headed to the main halls of the castle.

"...I would say he's doing rather well," Luna replied after a small pause, debating whether or not to pursue the original subject, "He is an interesting person to converse with. He knoweth many things about his own world, and I find myself enjoying listening to every little thing he hath to say."

"And are they believable?" Celestia inquired, raising a brow.

"Some things he told me are incredible and seemingly impossible, that is true," the alicorn nodded, "He sayeth there are libraries thou canst access from the comfort of thy home without so much as standing up from the bed. He sayeth that hundreds of books can be stored on things smaller than a bottle cap."

"This would be efficient, but how can these books be read?"

"I am trying to wrap my mind around it myself, but apparently, there are... com-puters, which decipher the storage and make proper words appear on... screens," she tried her best to explain what Andromalius told her, "I think 'tis a projection of some sort, but it can be manipulated on the screen itself. Incredible, simply incredible."

"And very hard to believe," Celestia pointed out, "Does he know how to make those com-puters?"

"Unfortunately, no, but he had worked with them in his world," Luna replied, "He doth say that they work on electricity and are made of metals and silicone... but he did say he might be misremembering something."

"Oh, so electronics?" Celestia's eyebrows rose with the realization.

"I know not of what thou speaketh, sister, but if thou dost know what it is, perhaps 'tis worth a try to recreate using our technology."

"Possibly," the solar alicorn nodded, "However, we must evaluate how such technology can impact Equestria as a whole. Did Andromalius mention any downsides?"

"Well..." a frown appeared on Luna's face as she spoke, "There are some, of course. But I'm reasonably certain we can make sure they won't happen to us."

"And what are they?" Celestia pressed on.

"For once, those... libraries in com-puters aren't always true," Luna said slowly, "Some are utterly false and exist for no other reason than to make money. He said that this net of libraries goeth deep, and some things that can be found there are... disturbing, to say the least. He refused to elaborate, but 'tis clear something can go very wrong with this net."

"Then perhaps this 'library net' is not to be," Celestia stated firmly, "If it can't be controlled, if it can spread blatant false information and harmful ideas... for the sake of our subjects, we'd better not allow it to happen."

"That could be the right way, but I can't help but wonder about how beneficial it would be for all of us," Luna suggested, "Certainly, there shall be downsides, but we can do our best to minimize them."

Celestia nodded slowly, but her mind was focused on their demonic 'guest'. If he had such knowledge, what else could he have? What other ideas did he bring over from his world? And, most importantly, how would these ideas serve Equestria if not against it? She would need to watch him closely, for he could destabilize the peace she had worked on for centuries. After all, his knowledge could prove dangerous to her subjects, perhaps even more so than the things stored in the Archives.

On his twenty-first day, Andromalius once again returned to his room after the training and collapsed on his bed. His horn was buzzing with soreness, and something inside him felt uncomfortably empty. He let out a long sigh of relief once he felt the cool bedsheets pressing against his body. The passing days were a blur of training and recovery, and this one was no different.

"Luna gives you no rest, doesn't she?" Inanna said, materializing on his bed as she usually did. Andromalius turned to her but was silent for a few more moments as he caught his breath, still winded up from the training.

"She says... if my potential is so great, then so... then so must be the training," he replied in a strained voice.

"That's what she said, yeah," the succubus nodded, adjusting her position on the bed, "But hey, it's paying off. Just seven days ago, you couldn't hit the dummy at one hundred meters with that Ice Bolt spell. Now, though... you could hit it with a droplet of water straight in the eye, I bet."

"Yeah..." he nodded weakly, "But there's... so much more..."

"What did you think would happen? That's magic for you," Inanna grinned, "Were you expecting it to be as easy as walking up to an altar and reading a spell from a book?"

"...That'd work," he nodded once again, a small chuckle escaping his lips.

"If it were that easy, everyone and their mother would be great and powerful," she replied with a roll of her eyes, "Anyway, with that aside, you've been stuck in the castle for, what, two weeks already? I think it's time you go out and see the world. The city of Canterlot, at least."

"I need rest..." he replied while giving a deadpan look to the succubus.

"You just need to lie down for a few minutes and you're gonna recharge," she shrugged, "You didn't burn out, after all. If you did, it'd hurt, trust me. Same thing happens with sex if you do too much of it."

Andromalius groaned and turned away, the bed creaking slightly under his weight.

"You know, when you have sex eventually, you should be on the bottom," Inanna commented.

"Huh?" the hell stallion turned back to her, making the bed creak again.

"You're heavy," the succubus pointed out, "It'd be safer if you were on the bottom during sex."

"Whatever..." he groaned with a blush on his face and turned away again.

"But it's actually important. You're twice as big as an average pony, and you're at least four times heavier," Inanna continued, "Now, I'm just warning you to make sure that you don't end up bruising someone or, worse, breaking something. You look pretty tough, but ponies? They can be hurt easily."

Andromalius was silent, although he did understand what she was saying, and it did make sense. However, he didn't feel comfortable with discussing his sexual life, past, present, or future, with the succubus. In any case, there were things to worry about when it came to his size. Regular pony-sized furniture struggled to support him, even the big bed he was given during his stay noticeably bent when he lay on it. If he were to get his own apartment or house, he would have to make sure it would have enough space for him and be strong enough to support his weight. Otherwise, he would be risking getting impaled in his backside if, for example, a chair broke from under him.

When he was a human, he didn't worry about any of it. By all means, he was just average height with average weight. Most clothes fit him, most furniture was right for him, and the height of ceilings didn't bother him unless it was extremely low. However, now he was possibly one of the largest equines in Equestria, and also one of the strongest. Therefore, he was possibly one of the heaviest as well. After all, he had plenty of muscle and bone, not even counting the protective plating growing on his body, which probably weighed a lot by itself.

Despite his size, however, he didn't feel hungry at all. Each evening, he would dine with castle staff, and that was usually his only meal for the day. He had a crawling suspicion that something was wrong, for such an amount of food shouldn't be able to satisfy him for the day. One thing remained unchanged from his previous life, however – some time after consuming food or water, he had to visit the toilet room. When he had to sit, he did so in a rather uncomfortable position in fear of breaking the toilet with his weight, and he certainly wasn't looking forward to the mess it would've caused.

So, his size was definitely a problem he had to solve somehow. But for now, all he could do was be careful and avoid sitting or standing on things that wouldn't be able to support his weight.

His mind trailed off to different thoughts as he closed his eyes to rest. Size, muscles, sex, all of it didn't really matter. All that mattered to him at the moment was rest. He didn't expect the training to be easy, and it was certainly much more than visiting a building in a castle and looking at the spell once. Each spells requires the mind to work, and then there was mana that he needed to pour in the right amounts to achieve the correct result. Of course, some things could be tweaked here and there for a particular situation, but precise control was what safety required.

Whole buildings could be toppled if battle magic were to be used incorrectly. As a matter of fact, the city of Canterlot once almost fell from the mountain when a powerful unicorn mishandled their spell. It shook the city, damaging its supports, and a combined effort of many unicorns was required to help the city stay in place before the supports were repaired and reinforced.

"You know, I've wondered..." Inanna broke his line of thoughts, "Ever since I met you, you've not been that open about sex. Is it just you or is it your people?"

"I don't really like talking with people I barely know about this stuff," Andromalius explained, "Definitely not in... this detail."

"Detail?" the succubus blinked in confusion, "That's pretty surface-level, nothing even close to, well, detailing anything. Tell me, why are you so ashamed of speaking about it? I just don't get it."

"In our society, talking about sex is a bit taboo."

"Taboo?" Inanna rolled her eyes, "What kind of nonsense is that? How do you reproduce and have fun without talking about sex? How do you teach people about it so that they don't make a mess?"

"We... don't really do that, as far as I know," he shrugged, "I mean, some do, some don't... We just don't discuss it much."

"Well, maybe you should," she pressed on, "I mean, there's really nothing wrong with talking about your desires. It's worse if you just keep them down. Next thing you'll say is that your 'society' doesn't accept nudity."

Andromalius was silent, knowing full well that Inanna wouldn't like his answer. However, she didn't need to hear it to understand.

"Really?" she crooked an eyebrow, looking at the hell stallion, "No nudity? That's worse than the snobism of Canterlot nobility, and that is saying something. But hey, at least you're making progress – you're nude right now."

The hell stallion had no idea how to reply to that. But it was true, he was completely nude, leaving everything on display. At the very least, he had to use four limbs to stand, so he wasn't flashing his manhood around for all to see. He really tried not to think about it too much.

"And everyone you ever interacted with is nude, too," Inanna continued, finding an opportunity to tease and teach him at the same time, "Even the guards. Sure, they wear armor, but they don't have anything where their stuff is. Even the princesses usually don't wear anything but their crowns and chest... things. Yes, even the rulers are nude, Andro."

He groaned, trying to make the mental image of princesses' open backsides disappear from his mind. However, a sentence repeated in his mind – the princesses are nude.

"See? Not such a big deal here," the succubus finished, "You better get used to it. Don't be afraid of popping boners either. They're counted as compliments."

"W-what?" Andromalius looked at her with bewilderment as heat rose in his cheeks.

"You heard me right," she let out a small laugh, "My, look at your face! So red I swear you could be a tomato in some other world!" unable to hold herself, she exploded with laughter, tears welling up in her eyes. She rolled on her back, her belly shaking as she guffawed. Andromalius couldn't help but look flustered, his ears down and his eyes turned away from the succubus.

"What did I do to deserve this weird world?" he said mostly to himself, rolling his eyes to the back of his head and sighing deeply.

Inanna continued to laugh for a good few minutes before she got a hold of herself and calmed down.

"Well... maybe it's time you accept this stuff," she said, wiping away the tears of laughter, "As fun as it is to see you so embarrassed of literally nothing that should be embarrassing, it'd be embarrassing for me to see you getting into awkward situations because of this," she looked at him more seriously, although a smile was still present on her face, "Besides, ponies would be weirded out if they knew you had these weird... views. You'll have to change them, considering that it's likely you'll have to spend the rest of your life here."

"...You make a point," he agreed, a defeated expression on his face, "But... just... how can I be nude all the time? In front of others?"

"You did a fine job being nude in front of the princesses, the castle staff, and a few others- actually, scratch that last one, you were dressed in cloak that time," Inanna listed, "You didn't really have a huge problem. So, just keep doing what you're doing and you'd be fine. And... can you tell me why you are ashamed of being nude?" she looked at him questioningly, "What makes you personally feel that way?"

"I... I don't know," Andromalius admitted, "I mean, I've never been around fully nude people. I'm just used to the fact that everyone is clothed."

"So, you don't really have anything against nudity as a concept, right?" Inanna suggested.

"I guess... not really," he replied, "It's just... unusual."

"It's good that there aren't real problems, then," the succubus nodded, "I suppose you'll just take your time to get used to knowing that no one's privates are covered. You know, something is only considered 'weird' if it's unusual. Being nude here isn't, so no one would even as much as bat an eye if you're walking around without any clothes on. And if it makes it easier, your tail is pretty thick and covers your balls as long as its down. So yeah, there you go, no nudity problem!" she grinned, "Anyway, seems like you're rested. Maybe it's time to go outside and see Canterlot?"

"I'm not sure if I can..."

"Oh, come on, no one's keeping you prisoner!" Inanna groaned, "You're a difficult person, did you know that? Just think about it... who would dare to stop you, a towering mountain of muscles? Act with confidence, and roads will be opened to you, that's my advice. Remember the talk we had?"

"Yeah," Andromalius nodded, "You're right... you're right too much," he chuckled.

"That's what I do," she replied with a wide grin, "I give you kicks in the butt you desperately need to act like a stallion, not a colt. I hope you'll remember these lessons, because I'm not gonna teach them each time you hesitate to do simple things."

Author's Note

As you can see, Andromalius' personality shifted from how I originally described him. To be honest, I don't think he even had much of a personality back then. Sure, he got angry or sad, but I don't really think that qualifies.

In any case, Andromalius wants to be careful in the world he found himself in. Sometimes, he's a bit too careful in his decision-making, but perhaps Inanna will make him more confident and less doubtful. We'll see!

Chapter 14: Tenebrae de Canterlot

Andromalius spent a few more hours walking around the city aimlessly, just exploring whatever he could while mapping the city in his head. Everywhere he met, no matter how rich the ponies were, he was received the same way: stares and whispers. However, he noticed that richer ponies more often than not looked at him with hostility, and it worried him. The violent sun cult that attacked him and Princess Luna two weeks ago could very well have the support of some rich people, although not openly. Back on Earth, financial ties of different companies were often obscured, but when unveiled, they revealed many bad things. Andromalius wanted to hope that Equestria was better than this, but it was obvious it wasn't. Shady things happen even in the best countries.

The guards patrolling the streets followed him with neutral gazes; they didn't deviate from their patrol paths, but it was apparent some of them wanted to keep an eye on the demonic equine. However, none stopped him or even asked him a question. He began to realize that he was indeed not a prisoner inside the castle of Canterlot, for he would've been caught and brought back to it long ago if that was the case. Although he was free, he doubted he would be able to leave the city; not that he wanted to do it just yet, he had no money to support himself and knew no one outside the princesses. Despite acquainting with the owner of Homely Tea House, he didn't think she would offer to house him and feed him. Even then, her tea house was in Canterlot, so that left him with no one and nothing if he ventured outside.

And he didn't know just yet how to get to other cities. Canterlot was high above the ground, perched on the side of the mountain, overlooking Equestria. If there was a way out that didn't include flying, he had yet to find it. However, he did hear some whistles that reminded him of trains.

There he stood at the edge of Canterlot, winds whipping around him; his cloak swirled in the wind, and the fresh mountain air entered his nostrils. Surprisingly, he didn't have to narrow his eyes to avoid the harsh winds, although it was obvious ponies were bothered by it: walls were built around the edge of the city, protecting it from the wind. Some holes were present, placed carefully in order to introduce more ground-level winds to the city. A fence separated the edge of the city from the long fall, and some nets were placed there, extending a good ten meters from the edge to catch any and all that could end up there.

Andromalius was never afraid of heights, but then he was never this high above the ground. He could see the curvature of the planet, and the ponies below seemed like insignificant dots. At the very least, no one that couldn't fly would ever be able to lay a siege to the city. It was in the perfect position to oversee vast areas of land, and it could not be attacked in any way other than from above. Even then, strong winds were also a strong deterrent. One would only be able to take over the city through a massive attack or a diversion from the inside.

And what a wonderful view opened to the eyes of those at the edge of the city! Andromalius noticed how many rich houses stood there, huge windows made in the walls so that they could see the marvel that was open to them. Forests, rivers, even distant desert sands could be seen. It seemed like the planet was way bigger than Earth, and so many more things could be seen from a high position; Andromalius suspected that Canterlot could oversee all of Equestria.

Amazed by what he could see, he just stood there, allowing his cloak to flap around him like wings. It was a view to die for, and he doubted he would ever see anything like that in his life ever again. Maybe ponies already got used to it, but he was new to this world, and seeing it, feeling it, hearing it was a new experience. And there was more, way more than he could ever imagine.

Through the whistling and whispering of the wind, Andromalius heard a clop of hooves heading his way from behind. He swiftly turned around and saw five ponies, all dressed in tight cloaks; only their wings or the tips of their horns, could be seen from under the clothes. Two of them were on the wall, crossbows armed and aimed at the hell stallion.

"You will come with us now, freely," one of the ponies said, "Or you will die here and now."

Alarms were blaring inside his head; there was no way he would come with them. But then, if he didn't, he would be shot.

"Don't you fucking dare agree to that!" the voice of Inanna penetrated his skull, "Fight back! Show them that you're not to be messed with! Trust me, it's better if you don't even consider going with them!"

"A spark of magic and we'll shoot," the pony issued another warning, "You have ten seconds to consider."

The gears in the brain of the hell stallion spun almost out of control as he tried to come up with a solution. He had no idea how fast crossbow bolts traveled, but the ponies seemed sure they would be able to hit him; so, jumping away wasn't an option. But then, there was magic he could cast... lighting, for once. Electricity is faster than any bolt could hope to be.

As if in slow motion, Andromalius' horn ignited. The trigger of the first crossbow was pulled, and the bowstring propelled the bolt forward. A lightning erupted from his horn, faster than the bolt, and it went straight through it, charring it, burning it to nothing; without stabilization, the tip of the bolt soon surrendered to the wind and was carried away. The second crossbow let its bolt loose, but Andromalius was already firing a lightning at it as well. Charred, the crossbows fell on the ground.

Still in the same slow motion, the ponies pulled out their swords and clubs and began their attack. Somewhat unorganized and rushed, it was doomed to failure. Despite being outnumbered five to one, Andromalius stood his ground, his horn alight with magic. A bolt of lightning struck the closest pony, their limbs convulsing as they fell; the second pony dropped to the ground soon after. The third one seemed unaffected by the lightning, so the hell stallion grabbed them by their hooves and pulled. With a yell of pain, he hit the ground with his side, and remained lying down even when Andromalius let him go. The fourth one was just as unaffected by lightning and was almost in range to strike with their sword when their hooves were yanked, making them fall. The fifth one stopped and swiftly pulled something out of the depths of his cloak. A sky-blue sphere with something smoky and red on the inside.

"Thou shalt be gone from the surface as I cast thee to hell!" he roared, holding the sphere high above his head. The smoky substance inside moved faster, but otherwise nothing happened. The pony blinked in confusion, and then said, "I banish thee!"

Andromalius stood in place, but in the midst of confusion fired off a spell at the last pony standing. It hit him square in the chest, and they dropped to the ground like a ragdoll. The sphere, freed from his grasp, fell to the ground, but Andromalius managed to catch it before it could hit it.

"Yargh!" the first pony exclaimed, jumping from their place, aiming their sword straight at the chest of the hell stallion. Without time left to react, Andromalius tried to jump back, but the tip of the sword hit him before he could.

He felt it as it simply bounced off the plate, leaving not a scratch. He felt the pressure, and in some way, felt the blade even after it bounced off; but he wasn't wounded.

"Cease hostility!" guards shouted from behind the attackers, rushing into the scene, only to find the five ponies lying on the ground, and Andromalius standing above them with a puzzled expression on his face and the sphere still in his grasp.

"Call Princess Luna," he said in a raspy voice, breathing heavily as his heart thumped like drums.

"No need, we will deal with this," the leader said, stepping closer.

"Call Princess Luna," Andromalius repeated in a more hostile tone, stepping closer to the guards.

"You don't order us around, demon," the leader spat but didn't advance further, "I said we will take it from here."

"And I say bring Princess Luna," the hell stallion growled out, "I don't trust you. Bring her or I will fight you."

The leader of the guards and Andromalius glared at each other for a few long moments, measuring each-other, and neither were willing to give the other ground. The hell stallion didn't believe the guards were actual guards; they appeared too quickly and only after he defeated the attackers. He had no idea what was going on, but something inside him told him to wait for at least one of the princesses before letting things get out of his control. It was apparent the attackers were related to those from two weeks ago, and Andromalius wasn't just going to let it pass now.

Finally, the stand-off ended when the leader nodded to one of the guards. The younger guard nodded and took off in a hurry. Andromalius sighed internally in relief, but he knew he couldn't leave just yet, not until the princess arrived. Something was in the works in the very capital of Equestria, and now it was obvious he was heavily involved in it.

Princess Luna appeared on the scene shortly after, teleporting straight to it in a flash of magic. Her mane was somewhat flat, and her expression was none too pleasant either. The attackers were rounded up and individually bound with rope and magic nullifiers.

"Nightmare Moon..." one of them spat as she appeared, earning him a glare of disgust from the alicorn.

Andromalius explained what happened to him and the attackers; Luna listened silently, only turning from the attackers to the hell stallion from time to time. The story was short, and it left her thinking about what the group wanted to achieve. It was obvious they expected it to be easy, but then they would be stupid to assume he, a demon, had nothing against them in terms of power and abilities. What was their goal, exactly?

"I shall interrogate them tomorrow," Luna finally said in a quiet but stern voice, "Sergeant, thou'rt to bring them to the dungeons, all of them. Do not let them speak with anyone on their way to the dungeons or in the dungeons themselves. Put them in separate cells. If anything goeth wrong..." she stepped closer to him. His expression remained calm but sweat appeared on his forehead, "Thou shalt be held accountable."

"Understood, your majesty," the guard bowed, "I shall do as you command."

"Indeed thou shalt," she kept her eyes on him, "Otherwise, thou shalt lose everything thou hast... maybe even thy life. Carry on, Sergeant, and report straight to me once they're placed in their cells."

Bowing once again, Sergeant and the rest of the guards put the attackers into five separate carriages for transport. Soon, they disappeared from sight, and only the princess and Andromalius remained standing at the edge of Canterlot.

The alicorn stood silently, gazing into the distance within her mind, a deep frown on her tired face. Her mane waved in the gusts, her ears folded to muffle the sound of winds. And so she stood there for a long while, and Andromalius stood with her, waiting for her to speak.

"Something is brewing in the city," Luna finally spoke up, turning to the hell stallion, "Thou cannot deny something is in works."

"I think the same, yes," he replied with a nod, "But I have no idea where to begin."

"Someone doth not want me on the throne," the alicorn continued, "Fanaticism for the light is just an excuse, 'tis obvious. But... let me take a look at that sphere they had with them."

Andromalius carefully handed her the sky-blue orb. The red smoke inside it was unmoving.

"An artifact of great power, or... a part of one" Luna commented, "It was supposed to work on thee in some way, but it didn't... Just like the Elements," she looked at the hell stallion again, "Whoever attacked thee knoweth it now, most likely. I don't know many who would possess such artifacts, but a few names spring to my mind," she looked away, "There was certain opposition to me when I was a filly. My sister was a better candidate in their eyes, and removing a possible 'threat' was what they deemed necessary. If those families still live, then perhaps their goals have not changed."

A pause ensued. Andromalius knew little about politics, but he wasn't unfamiliar with intrigue. It happened in every country, and the reason was almost always the same – power. Someone was interested in Celestia having it, but not Luna. If so, why? What was the point of it? The spider web ran deep, that was certain. There were reasons for everything, and Andromalius was introduced to it in the worst way possible. He managed to fight them off this time, but would he be able to do it again and again if they kept coming? It fell upon him now to help Luna discover the roots of the attacks, for he was now a part of the mysterious scheme to remove Luna from power.

"I will help you, Luna," he promised, "I can't stay out of it, couldn't if I tried."

"I see thou hast come to the same conclusion I have," Luna nodded, "Very well, then. Thou shalt certainly be helpful, as long as thou art willing. I can't imagine thou hadst to deal with it before, but I suppose it is inevitable now."

"That's what I think," he nodded to her words, "And... thanks to your training, I managed to fight them off."

"Indeed. That is why thy training will continue," she agreed, "But remember, do not misuse the power I give thee. Otherwise, thou art no better than those we stand to uncover."

"I understand."

"I certainly hope that thou dost," she sighed deeply, "It seemeth thou art one of the only few allies I have. Very well, let us learn this web and discover its weaver..."

Chapter 15: Insidiae

"No one saw or heard anything, your majesty," one of the guards reported to Princess Luna once the initial on-site investigation was concluded. The alicorn scrunched her muzzle and closed her eyes, suppressing a curse boiling in her maw. She knew she was tired, easily irritable, but she needed to think clearly.

"Disappointing, but not unexpected," she replied with an unsteady sigh, "Very well... return to thy assigned patrol route and continue as normal."

"Right away, your majesty," the guard bowed, and his patrol disappeared in the streets of Canterlot soon after, leaving the princess and the hell stallion alone. With the prisoner transports gone and the guards back on their assignments, the place was clear, and nothing reminded of the attack that happened barely twenty minutes ago. The high mountain winds blew, whistling and whispering as they always did at the edge of Canterlot.

For some time, Luna simply led Andromalius back to the castle in silence, taking one of the more crowded routes. The ponies parted as soon as they saw the two coming, allowing them to pass without slowing down. A deep frown was present on the face of the tired alicorn, her body tense and her ears down. She stared ahead of herself without looking at anything in particular, ignoring the ponies that turned to look at her as she went. She half-yawned before refocusing her mind on the task, namely figuring out who was behind the attacks.

The attackers were five in total, and their steps led from the busy streets straight to Andromalius without a stop at any particular point. They were mostly untrained, and the weapons found on them were unremarkable – could come from any blacksmith in the city. It wasn't forbidden to carry weapons within city limits, but certain limitations were in place, disallowing anything above a certain length of blade and hilt; carrying crossbows within city limits, on the other side, was prohibited completely. The charred remains of those the attackers had could still provide insight, however; weapon manufacturers were required to stamp serial numbers and their special mark on the most durable parts of the weapons, and the metal bowstaves were still relatively intact.

The attackers themselves were unremarkable; they would easily blend in with the colorful and diverse crowds of Canterlot. Of course, there were records about these ponies somewhere, but it was unlikely for anything useful to be found. If anything, Luna expected to find out that their families knew nothing about it either.

With these thoughts in her mind, Princess Luna returned to the castle and decided to head straight to her personal study. If anything, privacy would help her a great deal; however, she decided to bring Andromalius along just to make sure she wasn't missing anything. There was always a bigger picture in mind, and having an extra head to think would considerably widen her own view, opening it to new possibilities she wouldn't be able to reach on her own.

"'Tis obvious they are being very careful," Luna spoke, looking at the map of Canterlot she laid on her table, "Thou wast attacked here. I wouldn't draw any conclusions just yet, but this is the rich part of the city, so 'tis probably worth keeping in mind. May I ask what thou wast doing there, by the way?"

"Just exploring the city," the hell stallion replied honestly. With the benefit of hindsight, he would've probably noticed ponies following him; alas, he did not. He realized he needed more awareness, especially knowing that someone persistently wanted him gone from Canterlot and Luna's side.

"Very well, canst thou draw thy path?" the alicorn suggested, "It might be nothing, but every little detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant, would help us in the investigation."

Agreeing with her, Andromalius picked up a pencil and drew a line through the city, placing dots on specific points he stopped at. He didn't know what could be concluded from this, but he didn't know the city nearly as well as Princess Luna did, and neither did he know its citizens.

Luna thought for a long time, her eyes traveling along the line time and time again. Sometimes, her eyes shifted to nearby mapped objects, and a deep frown was ever-present on her face. She also kept scratching her chin with the other end of the pencil. She even chewed it for a moment, but then noticed the hell stallion staring, and it forced her to place the pencil on the table.

"This doth not lead anywhere," she sighed, a flash of anger and frustration in her eyes, and then said through gritted teeth, "They are careful indeed..."

"What about the prisoners?" Andromalius suggested, although he suspected she had already thought about them.

"I doubt they know anything useful," she waved her hoof and stifled a tired yawn, "They were most likely dispensable, and their fanaticism for light removes the possibility of reasoning with them. Most likely, they were given simple instructions and even simpler reasons to follow them, but I suspect it was done via proxy. The only real lead we have is the strange artifact..."

The sphere flew into the room, carried by Luna's magic. She carefully placed it on the table in such a way that it wouldn't roll off. The smoke inside it was still. The surface of the orb felt hot to the touch, and there was some sort of strange pulsation, magical in nature. Luna pulled out a magnifying glass and stared at the sphere through it, narrowing her eyes until they were slits.

The clock ticked loudly, second passing by second. At first, Andromalius hoped she would suddenly spring up and find an easy solution they both overlooked until then. But as seconds turned into minutes, his hope faded away, turning into disappointment and frustration, and he felt Luna shared it. However, even if that was true, she wasn't showing it, focusing all her attention on studying the artifact instead.

Andromalius thought he was lucky he managed to catch it before it hit the ground, but it would be for naught if there was nothing helpful about it. It was certainly an interesting artifact, but if it was but a dead end, it would cease being useful to either of the two for the time-being.

"Thou saidst it was used on thee," Luna reminded, turning to the hell stallion, "And thou felts... naught?"

"Nothing at all," he shook his head, "But I remember that the... mist inside it was moving. It definitely doesn't now."

"Interesting..." she peered through the magnifying glass again, "I can see... symbols. But they're too small, hard to decipher amidst everything else. But if it was supposed to work on thee, then maybe there's a reason the attackers and those behind them thought so," she put down the magnifying glass and started pacing along the side of the table, "I believe 'tis fair to assume they took into account the fact that thou'rt a demon. I've not heard much about them, but supposedly, they were banished quite a long time ago. Maybe this is the artifact that did it? But then, if it is, why would they risk losing the only supposed weapon they have against demons?" she forced herself to a stop and looked at the orb yet again, "Or... alternatively, this is but one of many artifacts used to banish demons. And..." her brows went up as she nearly pressed her muzzle against the orb, "Aha! This might just be the confirmation of my thoughts... some symbols are obviously torn. So, this is a part of something larger!" she turned to Andromalius again, "Art thou following?"

He nodded in confirmation. He had read plenty about artifacts that were broken into pieces for various reasons; in Heroes of Might and Magic 5, for example, a portal was locked by a key, and the key was broken into two parts, which were then hidden away. Andromalius found it entirely possible that this sphere was a part of a bigger artifact or a set of them; maybe finding the rest would prove to be the key to unlocking the mystery he found himself in, be it the conspiracy against Luna or his appearance in Equestria. However, where would he even start? Unlike the game, this world wasn't designed with gameplay in mind; another sphere or a similar artifact could be hidden anywhere in Canterlot or outside of it. There could be magical defenses placed around the artifacts, and Andromalius had no idea how he would deal with that. The possibilities, all in all, were endless, and he needed to narrow them down before proceeding.

"We need to find out who used to own such an orb, but we must do so discreetly," Luna continued, "A few Canterlot families might help, for their loyalty lieth with my sister and I. But we must be careful not to tip off those we pursue, otherwise it would all be for naught. I suggest that thou getst some rest, for there is training ahead, and perhaps even more than before. Thou hast to be ready in case any other attacks happen, especially if our adversary decideth to be more... devious in their plans."

"I think I know what it is," Inanna spoke inside Andromalius' head once he was back in his room. Until then, she was completely silent, deep in her own thoughts following the attack.

"What?" he asked, slightly startled by her sudden reappearance. And this time, for some reason, she didn't project herself near him but simply talked inside his head.

"If stories are true... This is probably the part of the Sphere of Purity, a powerful artifact that banished all demons... five thousand years ago, I think?" she explained slowly and with uncertainty, "I don't really know that much, but... it's strange that the artifact didn't work on you."

"Maybe because I'm not from here," he offered a plausible explanation, "I... can't really think of anything else."

"Could be that, yeah... or something else," the succubus replied in a hushed tone, "Do you realize what this could mean? The princess really said it all – the Elements did nothing but knock you out, and the fragment of the Sphere did nothing. Even a blade just bounced off of you!"

"You think I'm immortal?" Andromalius rolled his eyes, "Pff, that's definitely not it."

"But if you are?" Inanna pressed, "Just think about it... And even if you're not, there's something really important about you. Maybe you have a purpose here, don't you think? I mean, why did you change bodies? Why were you given the body you have now? It's really, and I mean, really far-fetched to call it a coincidence, luck, or whatnot. Such things don't happen randomly."

With each word coming from the succubus, Andromalius found himself agreeing with her. There was no luck about what happened to him, things were just too specific. An equine, yet demonic body; capability to do great magic; some form of invulnerability; and who knows what else. What she said made complete sense, and it scared him. He never believed in a higher power, it never made sense to him, but now... something was working, someone was offering him powerful abilities. But why, and who could be his mysterious benefactor? A bigger question would be, what purpose did he play in this world? Truthfully, there was no answer to that – yet. But if someone was indeed guiding him, aiding him, then why didn't they speak to him? Inanna was a weird case, for she appeared out of nowhere, but it didn't seem like she was the one behind it. However, there was a question lingering in Andromalius' mind about her...

"Inanna, why exactly did you contact me? he asked carefully and slowly. And for a long moment, there was nothing but silence from the succubus – uncharacteristically of her, that much was true.

"It is said..." she began quietly, "An otherwordly demon would come, bringing freedom and knowledge. He would destroy the barrier, free the demons, and rule them justly and fairly..."

"And you think...I am that demon?" Andromalius felt his eyebrows rise, and a shiver ran down his spine, chilling him to the core. Prophecies weren't uncommon by any means, but now he was a part of one. He was that demon, the coincidences were simply impossible. His mind was spiraling out of control as he tried to make sense of Inanna's words.

He wasn't a demon, however – he was a human... was he? On the inside, he definitely was, but certainly not in body or anything else. However, why would he be a candidate? Compared to smarter and better people on Earth, he knew nothing at all, especially when it came to governing. Like any human being, he had a list of random trivia in his head, but that barely constituted for proper knowledge if at all.

"That's why I'm talking to you – I was tasked with testing you," she admitted, knowing full well that lying her way out would be impossible at this point and would do nothing but alienate the hell stallion, "While you're, frankly, not the best candidate for a ruler, and you have a lot to learn, you do still fit the prophecy, and... nothing shows a better candidate anytime soon."

Andromalius let out a long, shaky sigh as he sat on the floor in his room. He remained silent for a long time, staring at the ceiling as if it could burst and free him of all the burden. Or, at the very least, collapse and knock him out or kill him outright. After all, what was he to do with all this? First, he was a part of some grand conspiracy to remove Luna from power, and now he was revealed as a part in an ancient prophecy relating to demons. Was there a way to deal with it without losing his mind? In fact, he could already feel himself slipping through.

Out of nowhere, a thought came to his mind – it was all going to be alright. As if a pleasant voice whispered to him, he could hear the words: he was strong, and he could learn to be stronger. In the face of unfair odds, he would prevail; in danger, he would fight his way out. While he lacked understanding as of now, he could gain it through time and effort. It was a calming, reassuring thought; but it wasn't enough.

"Andromalius, are you alright?" Inanna asked, genuine concern in her voice.

"Just... give me some time, please..." he replied weakly, stood up and then stumbled to the bed; almost breaking its legs, he crashed onto the bedsheets and sighed, enjoying how cool they felt. He would have to confront the prophecy one way or another, but for now, he desired nothing more than a few hours of good sleep.

Chapter 16: Possibilitates

An orb was floating high above, the red smoke inside it swirling like a bottled storm. The stars in the sky died out, replaced by the pure nothingness. The sun was bloated out by the moon, which then faded like the stars. Screams of terror echoed, muffled by the great buzz of the orb as it pulsated; the ground caved in, opening up like a giant maw. Deafening rumble rose in the air, drowning out the rest of the sounds. A few moments passed like eternity, and then there was silence. The ground swallowed them all, and nothing remained but a polished rocky surface. One might be able to hear thuds coming from below, but they too disappeared soon. The orb, exhausting its power, collapsed and shattered into five pieces; they disappeared into the darkness.

Nothing remained.

Andromalius woke up to the quietness of the deep evening; only around half an hour remained before his regular training. He rolled from one side to another, and the bed creaked under him. The strange dream imprinted itself in his mind, and he wondered what it meant. The images were blurry, but the sounds were clear, and they unnerved him to the very core. Many questions filled his mind, combining with the memories of the day before. It was clear to him that something was happening, but it was a tangled web, and he was but a struggling fly.

He blinked a few times and then sat up, releasing a waking yawn. In a moment, he stood up and stretched, the thoughts of the previous day replaced the dream, pushing it to the back of his mind; he had important things to discuss and think about, and the dream could wait.

What he heard yesterday sounded unbelievable, but he knew there was truth to it, and the amount of evidence presented to him could not be denied. This was his new reality now whether he liked or not, and it expected him to act. Which actions he would take, however, depended solely on him.

With these unreassuring thoughts, he went to the bathroom to relieve himself and clean his teeth. It was a routine he kept to for more than twenty days, but each time, he wondered about just how much had changed in his life. The only familiar thing still left was his mind, and even that was questionable. His new body was completely different, changing the way he walked and interacted with things, but as he first noted, it felt as natural as his human body used to. The legs, the head, the tail, everything moved how he wanted them to without any active, thoughtful input. The loss of hands and the dexterity that came with them was replaced by magic, which proved to be capable of more things than his hands could ever hope to achieve. Telekinsesis in itself allowed him to forget about forks and spoons – he could move liquids as if they were solid. His grip was all-encompassing, so he might even be able to grab the very air that he breathed if he so wanted.

After finishing his waking procedures, he had around fifteen minutes left before his training. Inanna was strangely silent in his head, so talking about things was out of the question. Of course, there were important things to discuss, but he hoped to avoid them for the time-being. So, with nothing else to do, he headed straight to the training hall – it was better to be early than late anyway.

The atmosphere in the Canterlot Castle remained the same as before with the guards patrolling and standing at the various entrances. It was yet another day for the castle staff, and none of them suspected that a conspiracy was on the move in Canterlot; Andromalius' possible connection to an ancient prophecy was another unexpected thing. In any case, they didn't need to think about it – they had to do their job the best they could, and that's the most they could do to help the princesses.

By this point, most of the ponies working in this castle wing had gotten accustomed to the presence of the hell stallion, although some of them still followed him with their gazes. Some guards tensed in his presence, fighting the urge to stare at him, always expecting something to happen. To them, Andromalius was a potential danger, considering his unknown origins and large, clearly battle-ready size. One guard wouldn't hope to stand alone against him, and now, with the recent news of the second attack, perhaps ten or more guards would be needed to subdue him if the need arose. But for now, all they could do was hope he was on their side.

He soon reached the training hall and stepped inside. Princess Luna was already there, carrying a rack of weapons.

"Thou'rt early today," she said, turned away from him, arranging the weapons, "Bad sleep?"

"Somewhat," he replied, "But I'm ready for training."

"Very good," the alicorn nodded, "We shall change the routine from this day on, the training will be longer. Alongside magic, thou shalt learn to use weaponry. Tell me, how much dost thou know about combat?"

"Nothing much," he admitted. Despite years of playing strategic and other games that required thought and planning, he knew it wasn't enough to succeed, especially when it came to personal combat. Swinging a stick around wasn't considered skill, obviously, and he realized that.

"Very well, then thou shalt learn from the very beginning," Luna nodded, "Proper stance, defense, and attack... 'Twill take time, and thou shalt learn even after our trainings are concluded. However, despite the mountain thou'rt about to take on, thou needst but a few months of training to become able to defend against most opponents. As I found out, most Equestrians know little to nothing about proper fighting, so thou'lt certainly raise above the average quickly. Thou hast to keep in mind that those who do learn and practice shall be more than a match for thee. And here is thy first lesson – never underestimate thy opponent, no matter how harmless they look. Always expect thy opponent to be a master of the art."

"I've been following that with some games I played," he said carefully.

"Games have rules. Life doth not," the alicorn told him sternly, "Thy actions shall determine whether thou live or die, Andromalius. There is no resurrection, no second chances. Thou hast proven to be resilient, but everyone hath their weaknesses, including both of us. This is the second lessons, and thou shalt do well to remember it."

"I will," Andromalius nodded, "You're the one with experience, not me. I'd be stupid not to listen to someone who lived for centuries."

"Even someone like myself would do well to learn from others," she replied humbly, "But thou'rt right, for I have plenty of experience when it cometh to combat. I'm glad thou'rt mature enough to understand it, for it is the advantage thou hast over many, many other students I've seen in my life. But let us finally begin."

For a few hours, Andromalius was taught basic swordsmanship: various stances, each having an advantage and a disadvantage; areas of attacks and blocks; and basic techniques of parrying and feinting. It wasn't difficult to understand, but he needed to build muscle memory in order to benefit the most from the training. The most important thing in combat was quick decision-making, and training the body to overcome the slowness of the mind was vital.

"Keep threatening thy opponent," Luna reminded him, "The point of the sword must always be aimed at whom thou'rt fighting. Keep them at bay, make them hesitate. If they jump at thee, thou wouldst merely need to point at them to stop them, for not many would be stupid-enough to jump into a sharp steel blade."

Andromalius nodded, lowering the blade slightly, angling it more sharply.

"Very good. However, thy opponent might try to kick thy blade away," the alicorn said and then demonstrated just that, swinging at Andromalius' sword, knocking it away. She then quickly step in, and stopped herself from finishing the swing at his head, "They need but less than a second to strike while thou'rt vulnerable. Thou hast to maneuver, outsmart them, and always, always threaten them. Not with words, of course, but with actions. Thy size and musculature would already deter most. And when it cometh to blows, thou must show that what thou hast is not merely for show."

Luna swung again, but this time, Andromalius moved the blade away, and the swing missed it. While Luna's sword was down, the hell stallion stepped forward, immediately covering the distance between himself and the alicorn, and he pressed his blade against her chest. A smile appeared on her face.

"Excellent," she said encouragingly, "'Tis a simple trick, but even the strongest and most skilled fighters fall for it. As thou hast just seen, I felt for it, and thou barely hast an hour of training. Do not let it fool thee, however – under different circumstances, it could and would end badly for thee."

Surprisingly, the training barely made the hell stallion feel anything but the sense of accomplishment. No tiredness, no soreness, nothing but the warm feeling of gaining useful knowledge. However, he didn't let it get deeper into his head – Luna had more tricks up her metaphorical sleeve, which she swiftly demonstrated with three consecutive feints that left him confused, allowing her to press her blade against his neck.

"Confusion is what thy enemy will always try to make thee feel," she explained, "If thou canst not predict their actions, they can act freely. Of course, prediction is nothing – thou must respond before thou canst think. Remember, however, that fights aren't fluid – they're always changing, for no one would want to be predictable in a life or death situation. So, thy opponent will try to confuse thee, and thou must respond in kind. Do not overextend, follow their eyes and movements with thy own, and being observant might just save thy life."

Another point was demonstrated when Luna used an unconventional technique; mid-fight, she grabbed her sword by the blade and swung it around, stopping short of hitting Andromalius with the pommel.

"This technique is usually used against armoured opponents, but 'tis useful to strike from unexpected angles during combat," the alicorn explained, "Sword blades are nearly useless when it cometh to piercing. If thou hast no mace or warhammer at the ready, use this technique, which is called half-swording. It might not be as good as having a dedicated anti-armour weapon, but 'twould be better than nothing."

And the lessons went on for quite some time, deep into the night. The city became silent, and the street lights turned off to give the ponies peace and calm. Only the moonlight bathed the streets, seeping into the castle through its windows. The clash of swords, explanations, and combat theory went on until Luna felt Andromalius had a solid base to work from. He would need time to properly process it, of course; all work required time, effort, and consistency.

Then came the training in the arts of magic. For Andromalius, it felt like finally flexing a muscle that was almost atrophied by the years of lying still and not being used. Bit by bit, his magic improved, his strength and endurance grew, and it turned from simple linear progression to more efficient one. As if someone flipped a switch inside him, he felt this invisible muscle free from its confines, and now it was ready to grow.

"Chain lightning is more difficult than the regular lightning bolt, but it would help thee deal with multiple opponents," Luna explained a new spell, "When thou foughtst the five, thou only drew a straight line from thyself to the attackers. Thou wouldst achieve the same result quicker if thou madest thy lightning arch. Make it jump from one target to the other. Although the impact would be less on the consecutive targets, it would be enough to give thee time to strike again."

Demonstrating the spell, Luna effortlessly struck five targets with a single lightning, and the burn on each after the first one was obviously less. Andromalius nodded, understanding the concept, and then tried the same thing. Summoning his magic, electrifying it, he then hurled it at the first target. The lightning hit it and then diverged its path in the direction of the rest of the targets. Unfortunately, only two more were struck before lightning sizzled out in random directions, causing no further damage.

"Not bad, but thou lackst control," Luna commented, looking at the targets, "Guide the lightning, don't let it loose until thou'rt finished. Of course, it would naturally follow thy intent, but for now, make sure the intent is turned into action completely."

Andromalius nodded and focused again, trying his best to control the power inside of him. It rumbled like a storm, begging to be released, and yet he had to do so cautiously, for the full extent of his powers would drain him and cause more damage than he intended. He didn't know whether he caused burns to the attackers the day before, but he suspected he did; he only intended for the lightning bolts to paralyze them, not hurt them. The charred remains of the crossbows suggested that he had yet to grasp the full control over his spells.

It was not a game anymore. There were no clear numbers to work with, no obvious path to follow. He needed to learn, and learn properly, not just reading, but practicing. Practice, practice, and practice again; learn from mistakes and practice more, that was the only way to learn such things as control. It can't be explained on paper, it can't be demonstrated for all to immediately understand; it needed consistency and effort, as well as feeling.

Ever-elusive and mysterious, magic wasn't something one could understand easily, however. For generations, ponies wondered about this invisible force, a form of energy that could be used in many different areas of their lives. No one knew if magic always existed or developed over time with the various species gaining intelligence. Ponies and other beings were curious about their world, their thirst for knowledge insatiable; and so, through centuries and ages, they accumulated the knowledge, desiring nothing more than to pass it on to the next generation, and this cycle was eternal.

Wonders one could do with deep understanding of magic were unimaginable, and the names of great wizards and magicians were firmly etched into history as one of the most important people who have ever lived. Starswirl the Bearded is said to have discovered a time-travel spell, which trumped them all. Even centuries past his lifetime and unexplained disappearance, his teachings were widely accepted and used to help the younger generations learn about magic.

Andromalius had only just begun his own venture into the world of the arcane. He had read some things about magic and the great wizards, but he had yet to grasp many of those things. Formulae and equations, ancient symbols, everything was intervowen with purpose to achieve the spells of magic known to exist. And yet, there were certain things that remained undiscovered, the secrets of immortality and resurrection among them.

However, that was a long way ahead of him, and he knew there was only a slim chance he would be able to contribute to the research of magic if at all. Although, he might just be able to do something, now that he had discovered his great potential. Maybe one day, his name would be remembered as well.

But first, he must learn from what was already there, presented to him by Princess Luna. She had many years of experience with magic, which trumped anything Andrimalius would be able to bring to the table anytime soon. And so, he learned, humbling himself and locking away his ego. He thought such a chance to be taught by one of the princesses of Equestria was rare, and so he must never take it for granted. After all, it could be easily taken from him, and no amount of pleas would help him.

"Very good," Luna told him after he repeatedly hit all five targets with one lightning, "Thou'rt a good learner indeed, and a fast one. Thou graspst the spells as if thou'rt familiar with them."

"I read a lot of books featuring magic," he replied, "Never thought it could be true, but now... It's all different."

"Perhaps thy familiarity with the concept of magic and what it might offer is what driveth thee forward," she suggested, "Very good. Well then, tell me... what dost thou think is impossible to do with magic?"

"...I don't know," he replied after some thinking, "Creating a planet, maybe? I've read about many things that were done with magic. Though... maybe creating a planet is possible."

"'Tis good that thou dost not know the limit of magic," Luna nodded, "No one knoweth, and thou hast the capability to push the known boundaries. It pleaseth me to hear this."

Andromalius straightened slightly, proud of himself in a certain way. Maybe years of playing games with magic didn't go to waste after all, contrary to what some of his friends and teachers believed. Maybe it was just a start of something bigger, and now the hell stallion was thankful to his father for showing him all the interesting, strategic games that included the imaginary. As it was now proving to be, certain things might not be just the fantasy of their creators.

This made him think... why did he look exactly like one of the creatures from his favorite game? Not one to one, obviously, but the similarities were undeniable. Was there something more to that game that met the eye at first? Was that world real?

Anything was possible now that he arrived in the new world. Before, he might think it impossible, but now, uncertainty settled in. If what he witnessed was real, then what couldn't be? Just like with magic, there seemed to be no limits to what was possible. It sounded completely crazy, but Celestia and Luna could move sun and moon, the land was filled with magic, and weird, unusual creatures roamed it naturally. If this was possible, what limit was there to speak of?

If anything could be possible, then there was a possibility of his games not being just code, models, and textures, but real, physical worlds. For some unknown and unexplained reason, Andromalius expected to discover at least one of them to be true very soon. As scary of a thought as it was, he could only accept it and prepare for it. In his mind, it could as well be inevitable.

Chapter 17: Praeparationes

Deep underneath Canterlot, in one of the many abandoned mines and caverns, the conspirators gathered for a meeting. For centuries, they were unchallenged, ruling from the shadows, manipulating the country to their advantage. Bribery, promises of fortune, and clever planning yielded positive results that benefited them all, but now a challenger long-gone was approaching yet again, threatening the established status quo.

Gathered around a carved stone table, ponies sat, clad in gray robes that hid their bodies. Smooth identical masks were on their faces, concealing their identities and facial features, and yet each of them knew whom the others were. They were a hidden union of Canterlot families, each of them controlling one thing or another, interwoven with the lives of ponies in Equestria. And now, with the gears of fate turning, they had to act to preserve their power and remain hidden.

"The demon is stronger than we initially thought," one of them spoke, their voice emotionless and featureless, as well as genderless, hidden behind their mask, "The artifact had no effect on him, and now he possesses it. I'm not certain, but supposedly, his body can't be penetrated by blades."

"Then we shall take it as truth," the other nodded, their voice nearly identical to the first, "If there is a chance something won't work, we shall take it as the absolute certainty. Now, please, continue."

"I have yet to initiate the retrieval of the artifact, but I believe it would be very difficult to accomplish," the first pony continued, "I suspect Princess Luna is keeping an eye on it at all times."

"Then we shall proceed without the artifact," the second pony nodded again, "It proved to be useless anyway. An expensive and rare trinket, yes, but not a necessary asset. Not anymore. Please, proceed."

"Princess Luna suspects the conspiracy," the first pony resumed their report again, "However, as of now, I'm uncertain whom she considers suspect. That is all."

"Very well," the second pony nodded and then turned to another pony, "Third, any suggestions to our plans?"

"The demon has a larger impact on it than we anticipated," the third pony said, their voice almost the same as the first two, but some differences could be heard if one were to focus, "He appeared out of nothing, and he is extremely resilient, and it seems like he knows some battle magic as well. Nothing above the beginner Royal Guard level, as far as we're aware, but then it's the only magic he has demonstrated to us outside of usual telekinesis. Perhaps, he knows more than he lets on. Our priority must shift to getting rid of him before we can approach Princess Luna."

"It would be extremely difficult," the first replied, "My sources indicate he's at friendly terms with Princess Luna, and they also train together. He is close to her, living in her wing of the castle, which is the most secure from our influence. I believe it is obvious Princess Luna made it even more impenetrable now."

"Then we can use Princess Celestia to get rid of him," the third nodded, "She distrusts the demon. If we can somehow make him her enemy, then he will be eliminated from the picture, allowing us a clearer strike on Princess Luna. However, the demon has no hostility towards either princess, as far as I'm aware, so it would be difficult to convince Princess Celestia to banish or imprison him. Fourth, any suggestions?"

"There is a possible route," the fourth pony spoke, slightly leaning forward, "However, it has certain risks. Might be unconvincing, thus easily seen through. It would require at least a week of preparations, and this time might allow Princess Luna to find a lead on us, possibly. There is an even riskier plan, no more than two days of preparations, and it will be very convincing. At the very least, we can use Princess Celestia's bias against the demon to our advantage, for this plan would ensure she would have the right thoughts about him. However, it is very likely to result in damage to the princesses, especially Princess Celestia. If she is out of the picture, then we will have failed."

"Can we start both preparations?"

"Of course, but it might be suspicious," the fourth nodded, "However, that might be the only way for us to proceed and ensure the best chances for success. We need to vote."

"I agree with enacting both plans," the fifth pony spoke.

"I agree with enacting both plans," the sixth echoed.

"Then it is decided," the third nodded and rose from his seat, "Let us proceed with caution. Never underestimate, take everything even remotely possible into account."

Andromalius was walking through the streets early in the morning, heading to the Homely Tea House. He decided that earning some money wouldn't hurt, especially considering that not many would hire him. To them, he was nothing but a strange demon living in Canterlot Castle for no apparent reason. No one knew him, and barely anyone wanted to know him. Thankfully, the streets were nearly empty at the time, making it easy for the hell stallion to make his way to the tea house without being disturbed. However, that didn't mean he didn't look around from time to time – this would be the perfect time to strike at him again.

The streets remained quiet in the coming sunrise. A few lone ponies swiped the streets, some went around the trash bins to collect what was left from the previous day, and none paid too much mind to Andromalius, consumed by their tedious work.

Just like in the streets, quietness reigned in his mind. Inanna still hadn't returned, and it slightly bothered the hell stallion. What was she doing back in Hell or wherever she was? He had grown somewhat accustomed to hearing her small comments and remarks here and there, and this complete and utter silence worried him in a certain way. He was all alone to his thoughts, and now it felt strange, as if something was missing. Maybe he began to like Inanna and her antics; they didn't hurt, and some did elicit a chuckle or two out of him from time to time. Now, he felt even lonely.

"Hello, Andromalius!" a voice called him from the entrance of the tea house, making him realize he reached his destination, "Come in, let's talk."

With a silent nod, the hell stallion slipped inside the Homely Tea House. The door remained slightly ajar, and he didn't bother to lock it. Still Waters was rustling somewhere in the kitchen and soon emerged, holding a few differently-colored bags.

"Well, if you want some work, there are a few things you can help me with," she said, placing the bags on the floor, "It's all manual, simple work, but I'm afraid I don't have much more to offer."

"I'm fine with that," Andromalius nodded casually, "So, what do I have to do?"

"These bags go in the trash containers behind the building," she explained, "They're already sorted, you just pick the right container. Simply match the colors, and you're all set, nothing difficult. Once you're done with that, you will water the flowers in the front and inside, the watering pot is somewhere in the kitchen. Just make the soil slightly damp, no need to make it a swamp."

"Alright," he nodded and grabbed the trash bags. It seemed simple-enough, so why not just do it? Maybe it's not the best work he could've gotten, not by a long shot; however, one knew him or his skills, so he was fine with doing some manual labor for the time-being. It was funny in a way – a powerful and strong demon from the other world was throwing out the trash. It elicited a chuckle out of him as he hauled the bags outside and to the back yard.

As Still Waters said, there were a few containers standing in the corner, hidden from everyone by a tall wall with greenery growing around. To Andromalius' surprise, it didn't smell bad, and so it didn't take him long to place the bags in the appropriate containers. Apparently, ponies knew how to take care of their garbage – last time Andromalius checked, most of humans still dumped theirs, probably hoping that it would disappear by itself. Ponies seemed all too eco-friendly to do something like this.

With these thoughts, he returned to the tea house and went to search for the watering pot. Maneuvering between chairs and tables, he made his way behind the counter and squeezed through the door to the kitchen. He tried his best not to as much as nudge anything standing or lying around the room. He barely squeezed between the sink and one of the cutting tables, and then he saw it – the watering pot was right in the corner of the room, placed underneath a small table. He grabbed it with his magic and gently lifted it up, testing it. Thankfully, it was full of water, and so he didn't need to do much but to-

*CRASH*

He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned his head. Thankfully, it was just a pair of steel cups that made the noise when he pushed them off the table with his tail. Tucking it in the best he could, he slowly backed his way out of the kitchen and into the bigger main area. With a sigh of relief, he finally turned to water the flowers. The water murmured quietly as it rained on the plants and the soil underneath them, bringing a sense of calm. The hell stallion moved from one plant to the other until all of them were well-watered. Then he headed to the outside and did the same with the flowers there, and soon he was done.

"Did something happen in the kitchen?" Still Water's voice appeared to his right, almost startling him.

"Just dropped a few cups. They should be fine," Andromalius replied, "Sorry, I'm just... a bit big."

"Oh, I should've thought of that," the mare realized, a look of embarrassment on her face, "Anyway, there's one last thing... my bread supplier is running late, says his cart broke. I think you can haul everything I need just on your back. There are a few bags, shouldn't be difficult. The baker's down the street and to the left, you won't miss it. He's still working on the cart, I bet."

With a nod, Andromalius headed where she pointed, a small smile playing on his face. For a moment, he felt like he used to again – just doing regular things for regular reasons. Taking out the trash, watering flowers, and going to pick up some products to bring them somewhere else. A hint of normalcy in his new life, maybe even a promise of eventual peace. No conspiracies, no prophecies, but a simple life. Perhaps, it would never come, but one could dream.

This dream, however, seemed to be out of his reach; ponies were waking up and going out in the streets, and they gave him the same looks they gave him before. Suspicion, distrust, interest, curiosity. It would take quite a while for them to get used to him, he knew it. Each day he spent around them was a reminder of that fact, unfortunately.

In the distance, he could already see a broken down cart, one of its wheels broken in two, and a stallion was trying his best to replace it. However, the remains of the wheel were jammed tightly, and the axle was cracked in a few places, meaning that only completely replacing the axle and the broken wheel would solve the problem.

"Still Waters sent me for bread," Andromalius spoke once he was close-enough.

"Yeah, gimme a mom- oh crap!" the stallion turned around and finally saw the hell stallion. For a moment, he was silent, and then stuttered out, "W-well, she said she'd send a strong stallion, but... oh my..." he got up and went to the back of the cart, trying not to look back, "A-alright, ahem, the bread's all here, plus a bag of flour she asked for."

With a nod, Andromalius grabbed it all and put a few bags on his back. Those that couldn't be put on remained hanging in the air by his magic. He could feel the weight of the bags, but it wasn't straining him at all. After nodding to the stallion again, Andromalius turned around and went back to the Homely Tea House. He had no idea why Still Waters needed so much bread, but it wasn't his place to ask – he was just a delivery guy, technically. She ran her business and she obviously knew how to do it. All he needed to do was to make the delivery and then see if she had anything more for him to do. If not, he would return to the castle and possibly get some sleep unless Inanna reappeared. As of now, she was still gone, leaving a part of his mind unusually quiet and empty.

The Canterlot streets began to fill with life as more and more ponies woke up and went out. Some looked at Andromalius with suspicion, but none dared even ask why he was carrying the bags. It made him chuckle – he could probably rob someone and no one would do anything about it. Of course, as long as it didn't reach the guards and princesses' attention. He shook his head – he wouldn't use his new appearance like that. And besides, what was the point of becoming a criminal if he was very capable of earning money legally? He was doing it right now, even if the job wasn't prestigeous, and it definitely wouldn't pay for a house. But in time, he would get something better, hopefully.

"Ah, thank you for your help!" Still Waters said once Andromalius brought the bags. Then she directed him to where he needed to place them, "It's all done now. Here's your pay," she handed him a bag of coins.

"I... don't really know much about currency around here," he said slowly, levitating the ten big golden coins and a few bronze ones."

"Well, this amount would guarantee you can buy food for around half a week," she tried to explain, "The golden coins are bits, the bronze ones are bytes. One bit is eight bytes."

For a moment, he wanted to open his maw and say just how inaccurate it is. But then he mentally slapped himself – their definitions are simply different and, as far as he knew, there were no computers; even if they were, there was no guarantee they ran on binary. It would take him a while to get used to this terminology, however.

"Although, I'm not sure it would be enough to feed you for just a few days," Still Waters continued, her eyes going up his body, taking in the parts that were exposed from under the cloak, "In any case, I'll be waiting for you in the evening to close the shop, if you want to earn more."

"I'm not sure I'll be able to, I have training," he replied honestly, but almost slapped himself mentally again. He wasn't sure anyone needed to know about what he was doing with Princess Luna unless she gave him permission to talk about it.

"Ah, I understand," the mare nodded, "To keep those muscles, you have to exercise plenty. Very well, then I'll be waiting for you next morning."

Andromalius sighed in relief internally – it was a good cover-up, and he didn't even have to come up with it. This reminded him that perhaps he should do some weightlifting in order to keep his muscles strong; he would have to talk to Luna about it in the evening.

Exchanging goodbyes, the two went their separate ways, and the hell stallion headed straight back to the castle. Maybe he would get a normal life someday, although something told him Inanna's reappearance would bring something that would deny him this simple wish. And yet, she was silent, and it worried him. Did something happen to her? Or was she discussing things with someone, and could those things concern him?

He could only wait and see.

Chapter 18: De Ficta ad Rem

The next evening passed as usual with Andromalius training under Luna's tutelage. Weapon combat went along with battle magic quite well and, of course, could be combined to become even more effective. Weapons could be enchanted temporarily or permanently, and temporal enchantments could be cast during combat to a devastating effect. For once, the lightning spell could be cast on a weapon, and such tactic was often used by Royal Guards to subdue the lawbreakers without wounding them.

"But remember, certain spells can only weaken thy blade," Luna explained the theory after the practice, "There were legends of warriors with flaming blades, but do not let thyself be fooled – extreme heat weakenth steel, melteth it. Equally, frost maketh the blade fragile. Electricity is the safest when applied to the blade for the purposes of fighting. Of course, even damaging spells can be cast on the weapon if it is enchanted to resist them first."

Andromalius nodded almost automatically to Luna's explanations, soaking them up like a sponge. This knowledge made its way through his immediate memory to his long-term memory without much resistance, placing itself on one of the many metaphorical storage shelves inside his mind. Yet another day of training ended as usual – he was tired, but he gained insight into battle magic, and now he even made progress with close combat using physical weapons. Of course, he still looked much like a child swinging a stick around in the game of pretend, but his movements became less exaggerated and his swings and hits more focused.

"Thou'rt a fast learner, I shall give thee that," Luna told him with a small smile on her face, "Thou hast discipline, thou dost not complain, and thou hast no rest. Why is that?"

"I don't know," the hell stallion replied honestly, "I just want to learn, and it's not really that difficult. Things just... make sense."

"Then thou art gifted," the alicorn declared proudly, "Trust me, not many have this talent for learning," her eyes glanced at his flank, and yet it was simply black like the rest of his skin, "Hm..."

"Is something wrong?" Andromalius asked in confusion, following her eyes. If Inanna were there, she'd whisper inappropriate thoughts into his head, but he knew better than to think that way. In a sense, he felt it would be wrong for him to think so if he did; maybe it was because she was a teacher and he was a student?

"I see thou art no pony, and yet there is something about thee that maketh me think otherwise..." she said slowly, "But if thou wast, thou wouldst have a talent mark by this time, and yet thou dost not."

"I mean... humans don't have any marks," he shrugged with uncertainty, "I never did, others never did. That is, unless they decided to get a tattoo," seeing the questioning look on Luna's face, he explained: "Permanently painting their bodies with images that they like."

"Very interesting..." she nodded, "But, thou'rt not a human now, art thou? The only thing left is thy mind, and our minds are not much different, I believe. Would it be correct to call thyself a human if thou art no longer one?"

"...I suppose not," he agreed hesitantly and then looked at his flank again, "But... I don't think a mark should be there."

"Perhaps that is true," Luna replied with a bob of her head, "In any case, our tonight's training is concluded. Thou hast adjusted well – thy tiredness doth not show itself as much as it used to."

For a few minutes, they cleaned up the training hall together: removing targets, placing the weapons where they belonged, and cleaning the burn marks and splinters from the targets. This reminded the hell stallion why he was training in the first place.

"How is the investigation going?" Andromalius asked carefully.

"Rather slowly," the alicorn admitted, "There aren't many things to follow, although I do believe I have a lead. Certain things... changed. I wouldn't have noticed if I weren't alert... 'tis like coming back home and seeing thy furniture moved around the house by just a few... millimeters. Or centimeters... I still need to learn the new measuring system," she trailed off for a moment before returning to the topic, "In any case, thou perceivest a change but dost not realize what changed. This is exactly the feeling I'm having."

Andromalius nodded silently; although he hadn't ever had such a feeling in his life, he could understand what it meant.

"Something is on the move," Luna said, confirming his thoughts. She put the final target back where it belonged, and then the alicorn frowned deeply, "The conspiracy runth deep, and I believe some of the castle staff is compromised. However... We shan't let them know we're aware of it" she looked at the hell stallion, "Let us see their plan. Once it is revealed, we shall know what we need."

"But... what if the plan is to kill someone?" Andromalius voiced his worries, "Shouldn't we stop it before it happens?"

"They shan't risk killing anyone within this castle," Luna shook her head, "As for the outside... Well, the attempts on thy and my lives might continue, but perhaps 'tis not death that they want... My sister's fury knoweth no bounds, and she hath already begun her own investigation."

"Her own?" the hell stallion blinked, "You... told her nothing about what we're doing?"

"Exactly," she nodded, "I see thou'rt puzzled and in disagreement with it. I believe 'tis best for us to leave her in the shadows, for she is an unknowing participant in the conspiracy. It paineth me to lie to my sister, but I don't know whom she consults, and I'm afraid they might as well be a part of the conspiracy. Perhaps my worries are paranoidal, I have considered it, but my plan will help us draw the conspirators out."

Luna paused and sighed deeply, her posture weakening for a moment. An eternity of tiredness washed over her body, and for a small, tiny moment, she imagined it would be better to stay on the moon. She banished the thought to the depths of her mind – returning to the moon would not solve Equestrian problems. She had to dig deep to uncover the evil, and then purge it. Only then she can have rest and maybe, just maybe, allow herself to fully enjoy the night once more. Rest under the moonlight among the stars, carefree as she once was a long time ago. A dream of a filly it was, and perhaps it will never be realized, but one can dream, and Luna knew more about dreams than anyone else.

Unaware of her thoughts, Andromalius wondered if what she was telling was true or just an onset of paranoia. However, she was right in one thing – the conspirators manipulating Celestia could be her advisors, so feeding them all the information would be unwise. The hell stallion could agree to follow Luna's plans as long as it didn't involve hurting anyone that wasn't proven to be guilty. The alicorn didn't sound insane, and yet there were things Andromalius didn't understand. Maybe it would be for the better for him not to know too much as well. Let the events unfold, for he could do little to uncover them on his own. His own deductive skills needed work, and he was no investigator.

This conversation left a dark, sticky puddle in his mind. Just what was happening in this world?

Andromalius was enjoying a warm shower, scrubbing his exoskeleton with a sponge he found. After each training, there was plenty of dust on him, and he had to spend quite some time getting rid of it, for his many plates of armor made it difficult to clean quickly. When he was a human, a simple shower was enough to refresh him and clean his body, but now he had too many places where the dust and dirt could accumulate, so he had to be thorough.

"Enjoying yourself?" a familiar voice appeared out of nowhere, making him jump. He turned his head and saw Inanna sitting on a sink, looking at him with a grin, "Hello again!"

"Where have you been?" he replied, still scratching his back with the brush.

"Discussing what I saw and heard from you with other demons," she replied, her expression becoming serious, "That artifact you found is a piece of Sphere of Purity. So, you are the promised demon... At the very least, all things point to that," she hopped off the sink and came a bit closer, "So... are you ready for what comes next?"

"W-what comes next?" he asked with a slightly trembling voice. He almost managed to banish the thought about the prophecy, and yet here it was, resurfacing and reminding him of its existence.

"Some will try to stop you no matter the cost," she told him, her voice dead serious, "I know you don't want this, but... you can't fight fate. One way or another, you will have to take responsibility."

"I doubt I would be a good ruler..." he tried to argue.

"Well, you're already better than most by thinking that way," the succubus allowed herself to let out a short laugh, "I'm sure you'll do fine as long as you simply listen and learn from others. And, for now, it is my duty to teach you about us demons."

"A-alright. Just... let me get done with the showering."

Andromalius soon returned to his room, feeling anxious and uncertain. He, a ruler? If anyone else told him that, he would laugh and congratulate them on a good joke; but laughter died down inside him before it was even born. His tail was swinging from side to side nervously as he thought deeply about his own future. His gaze distant, and yet his breath calm. In the time Inanna spent away from him, he begun to accept his destiny. His new body, abilities, and potential screamed at him, demanding him to use them to the best of his ability, to not let them go to waste. And yet, what was the right thing to do?

It was obvious he wouldn't be able to evade the responsibility placed on him. He never asked for it, and yet there it was, waiting for him to act. But maybe, just maybe, he would be able to make things right without avoiding his destiny?

He loved strategy games as a human, and he was pretty good at them; however, those games had rules, and he just had to be good at following them. Heroes of Might and Magic 5 features only warfare, and the story was scripted without the possibility of any real input from him. His only goal was to collect resources, build an army, and then defeat the opponent. Perhaps, he would make a decent general, but not a good ruler. And if he got stuck, he would be unable to look up the walkthrough anywhere.

"I can sense you're pretty nervous about the whole thing," Inanna said, "I'm a simple succubus, I really have no idea how you feel right now, but... Just so you know, I'll be there for you and do my best to help."

"Thank you," he replied, his throat dry and his voice distant. He mentally slapped himself and returned to reality, "So... what do I need to know?"

"First of all, demons aren't united. There are four big tribes and some smaller ones," Inanna begun, "Most believe in the prophecy, but some would oppose you, that's for sure. You'll have to win their favor. I have no idea how you'd do that, but you're smart... somewhat."

She grinned at the hell stallion as he snorted at her with a frown on her face.

"In all seriousness, you are pretty smart," she continued, "As Luna said, you're a fast learner, so I bet you'll find how to unite all the tribes around Hell. Anyway, the four main tribes are led by Pit Lords, who are pretty powerful in their own right."

"Pit Lords?" he echoed, remembering the weird creatures from Heroes of Might and Magic 5. They looked somewhat like dragons, but instead of hind claws, they had hooves; and in front, they had relatively human-looking pair of arms, although the hands only had four fingers instead of five. Their wings were powerful, yet lacked the membrane necessary for flight, and were also inverted as if someone glued them upside-down. Armor protected their arms and chest, and they wielded a giant broken sword; the vorpal blade always left at least one being dead after a strike. Along with their melee prowess, they wielded powerful area-of-effect magic: fireball and meteor storm.

And yet, Andromalius had to remind himself that Pit Lords could be much different in the Hell of this world. However, a sneaking suspicion told him they would look similar; he already looked like a creature from the same game, and Inanna seemed to be an equine version of the succubus. This raised the question he already had in mind before – was that game he played at least partially real? Did its artist pick inspiration from something otherwordly?

"Seems you're somewhat familiar with them. Their looks, at least," Inanna said, "You know a bit too much for someone from the other world, don't you think?"

"You tell me..." he let out a deep sigh, no longer sure what else could become reality from the games he called fiction. Was there Darth Vader in some far-away galaxy? Did Narnia exist? Game of Thrones? It was all possible now, and he didn't know what came first – the fiction or the reality.

Whichever was the case, he would need to learn about the reality surrounding him. He lay down on his bed, and Inanna begun the tale of demons. Many years ago, when Equestria was not even a thought, pony tribes lived in disharmony, forced to coexist and cooperate. Dislike, distaste, even hatred reigned over many minds; the peace was fragile and was often broken by skirmishes between settlements. Fed up with this constant pressure, many left their homes, seeking to build new communities away from others.

And so they did, coming together in the northern mountains. The hardships they faced strengthened their bonds, and soon a small settlement was born - Dêmos. It grew through the years, inviting all manner of beings who sought to break their ties and embrace the new. Some griffons joined, and through their knowledge of mountains, Dêmos became richer. Minotaurs, too, heard of the settlement, and some arrived to join the peace; with their strength, Dêmos became capable of defending itself against those who sought to harm them.

A few years before the onset of Long Hateful Winter, an event that forced all ponies to move southward, a war erupted. Greedy for the riches of Dêmos, a pony tribe attacked, seeking to claim the gold and the gems found within the mountains. Nobody remembered or had any idea what transpired that year, but a powerful artifact was created by the unicorns – the Sphere of Purity. In their misguided attempts to return Dêmos unicorns to the unicorn tribe, they used the artifact; and yet, the unity of Dêmos resisted it, and the peoples were unbroken. However, they were banished into the depths of the world, wiped from the surface for thousands of years to come.

Through years of struggling in the darkness of Hell, peoples of Dêmos adapted but lost who they were before, twisted by the power of the artifact and the ambient magic of the abyss. Disagreement came, and with that, the demons separated into tribes, returning to how it was before Dêmos many years ago.

"I don't really know if all of it is true," Inanna warned Andromalius, "But this story is the most common among demons. I've been to a few other tribes, and their story is pretty much the same. No one really knows how to return to the surface, but maybe you are the key to it. I'll have to search for the answer in the Grand Library... as long as they let me in."

"So, it's my task to... free you all?" the hell stallion asked carefully, not fully believing the story. Just like Inanna, he wasn't sure how true it was. Besides, he remembered demons from many novels and stories, and they were rarely if ever good. Inanna didn't seem all that bad, but he would need to find out more before even thinking about doing what the demons asked of him.

"That's what the prophecy says," the succubus shrugged, "And... I don't know, but the prospect of seeing the sky with my own eyes makes me anxious. Happy, but anxious. I've seen it a few times, but never through my own eyes, only through magic. How does it feel to have nothing above your head? How does it feel to... feel the sun? Or to feel the cold?"

"I'm not sure how to describe it..." Andromalius replied slowly.

"The temperature is almost always the same down here," Inanna continued as if she didn't hear him, "I can't feel it through the astral projection... I don't know if you'll be able to do it, but I'll be forever grateful, really," she looked at him, "I just... want to see what you see every day. I know, it might not be the best reason to free us, but... That's what I'm asking of you."

Andromalius couldn't help but pity her in a certain way, and the image of demons as violent and spiteful creatures almost all but vanished from his mind. Inanna's words couldn't be faked, he was sure of it; and while she might not be his friend just yet, her words sank into him deeply. He saw the sky every day, and yet she lived all her life underground, in Hell, among magma and rock. Would it really hurt to let at least her see the sunlight?

Maybe it was his destiny to show the world to the demons and show the demons to the world. Maybe the common image of the demons wasn't true and they were just victims of a bad situation... but it was for him to find out the truth and see what to do with it. Perhaps, he was the only one who could free them from their underground prison; or leave them forever in darkness.

A question arose – which option did they deserve to realize?

Chapter 19: Damnum Intulerat

The morning sun rose in the sky as it usually did, ending the night and bringing forth the day. To most, it was a day like any other; a standard routine of either working or studying with some rest and entertainment in between. For centuries, ponies lived a peaceful, carefree life under the monarchy of Celestia, thanking her for the stability and harmony she brought. And yet, an ulterior motive was behind this peace, and not of Celestia's design. Peace hid corruption, stability hid stagnation, and harmony hid vulnerability. Ponies grew soft, weak, and although a millennium of peace allowed them to live happy lives, a sinister plot hid beneath, making the very few ponies that managed to find it unsatisfied with their lives.

The return of Princess Luna signalled a beginning of new age; she had many years to think about what led her to where she was, and she learned the truth. Both she and her sister were masterfully manipulated in the game of power, leaving both of them in the dark about the deals of Equestrian nobility and their reach. The lunar alicorn intended to root them out, remove their influence, and allow Equestria to progress once more. And yet, it seemed like the whole country was against her.

Luna spent hours upon hours in her study, rustling through many a book, trying to find the right answers to her quest for justice. Hidden from even her sister, the investigation proceeded slowly, only gaining specks of information here and there. A list of suspects formed, and those ponies could be connected to the conspiracy. However, the alicorn had to tread carefully lest she fall in a trap or accuse the innocent. If she misstepped, would she be any better than those who stood against her?

As the sun rose, she was still in the study; her mane was moving slowly, lethargically, and her ears were drooping. Her aqua eyes were ever so slightly bloodshot, bags under them. She yawned forcefully from time to time, her mind's gears turning slower and slower as tiredness overcame her. And yet, she couldn't allow herself to retire to her bedchambers, for there was work to be done. The sooner she did it, the better, and the possible dangers looming over herself and those loyal to her made her forget sleep.

Andromalius was one of the very few she could trust. Over the course of their training, a semblance of a friendship formed, and he proved to be good-hearted and well-intentioned. Perhaps somewhat naive, inexperienced, but such things could be remedied. Unfortunately, the conspirators saw him as a danger, and Luna suspected they would act against him soon enough. They might not know much about him, but she believed it was fair to assume they saw him as an obstacle between themselves and her. Once the demon was removed, they would continue on to harm Luna directly.

Luna sighed deeply, slumping in her seat. This investigation drained her of strength both physical and mental, making her worry about every little detail. She tried not to overthink, but the lack of information and slow progress left a void in her plans, and every void always begged to be filled. As much as she chased these thoughts away, they wormed their way back into her mind, poisoning her thoughts with far-fetched assumptions and guesses.

The alicorn slammed a hoof on her desk, and the ensuing spike of pain brought her mind clarity. She could always doubt herself or delve deep into the realm of possible conspiracies, but she needed to operate with facts to be efficient. If she didn't act right and act soon, she might just find herself back on the moon for another thousand years. Worse yet, the country would be continued to be ruled by a band of power-hungry nobles who would only struggle for more power. It was not yet obvious who benefited from the current position of Equestria, but many things were ever so subtly wrong with the country.

Luna sighed yet again, suppressing a yawn of tiredness that washed over her as the pain subsided. It would be a long time before she could rest.

Andromalius was readying himself for his second day of work. He decided to put away the money inside a drawer, for he didn't plan on spending it anytime soon. He didn't know what he was saving it up for, but letting it sit there wouldn't hurt him, and it would help him avoid compulsively spending it on things he didn't need. When he was a human, he used to spend at least some money on things he would almost instantly regret buying for one reason or another, so it was time for him to learn financial responsibility. In this foreign world, he might just need that extra money to ensure his survival. He might not need it now, being a guest of the princesses, but he couldn't stay in the castle forever. Thankfully, he had a way of earning income, and all he needed was show up on time and do some simple work.

"You know, if you're gonna be a ruler one day, knowing how to spend money will do good for you," Inanna told him, materializing on his bed as she usually did, "And it's not a couple hundred bits. It's... well, at least a thousand times more. It won't be about spending money on some fancy stuff, it'd be about things like education and healthcare and warfare and... a lot of other things I'm forgetting."

Andromalius nodded silently, having nothing to add to her words. He might not be ready to rule yet, but if he did end up as a king, he'd better be ready for it. When he played strategy games, money and resources had to be used cleverly lest he fail in his task. He always needed to think ahead and plan his spendings in order to succeed; however, the difference between games and reality is the fact that games had rules and restrictions. Even if he wanted, he would be unable to buy a thirty meter tall statue of himself in, say, Heroes of Might and Magic 5. He was unable to hold feasts or spend the resources on anything other than what would benefit his cause. The real world had many more variables and possibilities, making it much more difficult to come to the right decision at the right time.

"I like how you think, Andro," Inanna commented, making him shiver. Could she really listen to all his thoughts? "Maybe you'll make a good ruler after all... But that remains to be seen. I will definitely slap you if you even think about building a statue of yourself."

"You'll slap a king?" the hell stallion replied jokingly.

"Well, you're not a king yet," she blew a raspberry at him, "But seriously, don't build statues."

"Don't worry, I won't," he assured the succubus, "I will do my best to, uh... do my best..." he smiled sheepishly.

"That's better than nothing," she shrugged, "Anyway, onwards to work! It might teach you a thing or two aside from the trajectory of throwing trash in the containers."

Chuckling to her words, Andromalius put on the cape and headed out into the city. The morning air was crisp, and a few clouds hung overhead, some of them pushed by the pegasi to their proper position above the city. The hell stallion stopped and gazed at the clouds, wondering just how good it would be for humans to be able to do such precise weather control. If anything, starvation due to bad harvest would be no more, and the fine-tuning of climate would allow more places to grow their food; maybe even deserts would be turned into sprawling forests and green fields. Using ships for travel would be safe as well if a precise path could be navigated, avoiding the spots where the rain and high winds were; plane travel would be much safer as well.

As he descended the steps to the city, he wondered about just how much magic mattered in this world and what it could accomplish. If he were to be a ruler, he would make sure to explore the possibilities, especially the scientific application of magic. He knew little about this new world at large, but maybe he would be able to contribute to the good of society, be it demons, ponies, or someone else. He could see the potential for a great, developed world, and he might just be able to make it a reality.

But first, the mundane. Ponies that were awake during this time were wary of him as usual, although fewer of them paid much mind to him. The street sweepers did their work without noticing the demon at all, and same went for the early delivery ponies. The hell stallion was able to reach his destination without attracting too much attention, and soon he began his work.

Another meeting was held in the abandoned caves underneath Canterlot; the six conspirators assembled, and one of them had a victorious look on their face, although it was hidden by the mask.

"The plan is ready to be executed," the pony reported in a forced neutral voice, "Preparation are in place, everyone has been notified."

"I have also discovered that this plan may be more successful than we initially thought," the First added, making the Fourth nod in reply, "As it turned out, Princess Celestia is mostly unaware of what Princess Luna and the demon are doing together. I believe we can use it as a leverage against the demon, and we already managed to bring some rumors straight to Princess Celestia."

"Exactly," the Fourth nodded again, trying to hide their excitement, "The secrecy Princess Luna has will undermine her and the demon's position in the castle. I suggest we initiate the plan now for maximum efficiency."

"We shall call for vote," the Third said, turning to look at the Fifth and the Sixth.

"I agree with initiating the secondary plan now," the Fifth nodded.

"I agree with initiating the secondary plan now," the Sixth nodded, echoing the Fifth's words.

"Then it is decided," the Third said, a smirk on his face behind the mask, "Let us proceed."

The work for the day turned out to be almost completely the same as yesterday, but this time Andromalius had to go to the baker right away – his cart was still broken, and the replacement was delayed for some unknown reason. The hell stallion didn't care much, however – it was easy to carry the bags by himself, and it was arguably faster; his stride was at least twice that of a regular pony even when he was walking normally, and it only increased the faster he walked.

"I think I can hire you for delivery," the baker told him when he put the bags on his back, "That'll definitely make things a bit easier for me. If you want to work, come see me tomorrow, I'll discuss the pay and the amount of work to do, alright?"

"No problem," Andromalius nodded with a small smile on his face, "I need money, you need stuff done, and I can do it."

"As simple as that, true," the baker returned the nod, "I'll see you tomorrow after you're done working for miss Still Waters, then."

The hell stallion exchanged goodbyes with the baker and hauled the bags to the Homely Tea house. A smile played on his face – he managed to get a second opportunity at earning money. Despite how alien he was to ponies, they slowly accepted him as just another person; and although it might not go as quickly as he would like, Andromalius was gaining reputation of a good worker and a decent person, and he thought it would help him earn more recognition for his personality and not his strange looks.

He finished the work for the day, received his pay, and headed back to the castle. A certain bounce was present in his step, and relief washed over his body and mind. However, he tensed up when he saw a pair of guards heading straight to him. He didn't think he did anything wrong, but then there was a possibility he broke some obscure and stupid law. Or maybe he wasn't in trouble at all, and hopefully, that was the case.

"Princess Luna is waiting for you to discuss something important," the guard said once he was close enough to the hell stallion, "Please, follow us, it is urgent."

"What did she say?" Andromalius asked slowly.

"We were not told," the guard shook his head, "We were only told to bring you."

With a nod, the hell stallion followed the two guards back to the castle, silently wondering what could be so urgent for Luna to send after him. Did she finally manage to get a solid lead on the conspirators? Or was it something else entirely? He was leaning towards the former, for there wasn't much else to elicit such an urgency from her. He looked at the guards, but they could offer no explanation. Perhaps, what Luna had to say was for his ears only, considering her secrecy surrounding the investigation into the conspiracy.

Andromalius began to worry when the guards led him through different halls into the basement; it was not the way to Luna's office or chambers. However, maybe some extra secrecy was required, and the hell stallion knew little about the castle layout to warrant any real worry. For all he knew, Luna was waiting for him with something he didn't expect, something that had to be kept away from her chambers or office.

"This smells like trouble, don't you think?" Inanna voiced his worries.

"I think it's all fine... Luna told me she has to be secretive to catch the conspirators," he said, trying to convince both himself and the succubus. However, something deep in his mind told him the situation smelled fishy. Something was off, but he couldn't quite point out what it was. The guards had a relaxed gait, their gazes aimed forward, only looking back at him infrequently. Their weapons were sheathed, and nothing indicated of anything foul. And yet, there was something Andromalius couldn't catch. As if he was in his room, and all the furniture was moved slightly by someone else.

"The princess is waiting for you behind this door," one of the guards said, and the two positioned themselves to the sides of an unremarkable wooden door. Andromalius could feel a strange buzz coming from behind it.

Hesitantly, he went to the door and reached out with his hoof to push it; and yet he stopped, feeling that buzz stronger, and his hoof almost touched it. There was something else about it – a sense of want, as if it invited him to open it. And so, he put his hoof on the door.

A screeching sound appeared in his ears, his head exploding in pain as he recoiled from the door, an itch traveling through his whole body, and a weakness appeared in his muscles. The door trembled as if it was made out of water. He shook his head, his vision blurry, and saw guards rushing from either sides of the hall. The two that led him seemingly disappeared.

"Stand right where you are!" one of the guards ordered, unsheathing their weapon and pointing it at the hell stallion, "Drop that cloak!"

Through pain, Andromalius obeyed, although confused; he removed the cloak and put it on the ground along with the pouch of money he was carrying from the Homely Tea House.

"Did you think you could get in the Archives unnoticed?" the same guard spoke, slowly moving towards the hell stallion. Others stood in a spearwall across the hall from both ends, preventing Andromalius from escaping, "You're going to answer to the princesses!"

His head still buzzing with pain, Andromalius was led to the throne room. Three guards in front of him, three behind him, and two by each side escorted him, their weapons at the ready. The hell stallion was confused, although a realization slowly creeped into his mind – someone tricked him into trying to open a forbidden door. The two guards that led him there were nowhere to be found, and now it was his word against the word of the guards. Luna might believe his story, but then... would she? As friendly as the two became, Andromalius was still mostly a stranger to her, an otherworldly one. And even if she believed him, Princess Celestia was unlikely to even listen to him; he still remembered the veiled threat she gave him.

The doors to the throne room opened before him, and his presence was announced to the two princesses. They sat on their respective thrones and looked at him: Celestia's lips were tight and her gaze expressed danger; Luna was more confused, and her posture was slumped. At least six more guards were present, standing near each column of the throne room.

"Andromalius," Celestia spoke, her powerful voice reverberating across the room and making the head of the hell stallion hurt more, "You have attempted to enter the forbidden section of the castle. Explain your actions."

"I had no idea it was forbidden," Andromalius replied honestly, his voice somewhat weak and strained, "I don't even... I don't know what's behind that door."

"Nosense. You couldn't have stumbled there by chance," the princess replied sternly. Luna's expression shifted to a deep frown as her eyes gazed at nothing in particular.

"I was... led there by two guards," he continued, the throbbing pain in his head making it difficult to concentrate.

"For what purpose?" the alicorn pressed, almost glaring at him.

He opened his maw but stopped. Telling Celestia about the investigation would undermine Luna. However, lying about the reason why he was there would most likely not work. He didn't know where the two guards that led him were, and he doubted they would admit to leading him to that door.

His eyes widened as he put two and two together. It was a trap, and he fell for it.

"Honestly, you're fucked," Inanna told him, "In a really bad way. Wish I could help, but..."

"You cannot keep up your lies," Celestia interpreted Andromalius' silence her own way, "Now, reply honestly or suffer the consequences... I heard some rumors about your training with my sister," Luna's eyes immediately shifted to Celestia, "It is said... you're learning battle magic. Is it true?"

"Yes, it is," Andromalius nodded, seeing no sense in lying and no possibility to get out of it any other way.

"Sister, what were you thinking?" Celestia turned to Luna, "Why are you teaching him battle magic? He is not a guard, he is not police, he is a demon from some other world or dimension."

"I asked her to teach me," the hell stallion said and then immediately regretted his words when the solar alicorn turned to him with a shocked expression on her face.

"That is how it is..." she said in a low voice, "I see you're trying to gain our secrets. For what ends, I cannot imagine, but I believe you are intending harm against either my sister or my subjects. I cannot allow this to happen."

Luna opened her maw to say something but no words came out; a defeated expression appeared on her face, and her ears folded against her head.

"I see your plot has failed," Celestia said triumphantly, "A demon, trying to worm his way into our midst... As I suspected, as I have read about. Your kind always brings trouble and disharmony. And like all demons, your place is in Tartarus, not among my little ponies."

Luna's horn glowed slightly, her gaze aimed at Andromalius. He felt like a door opened in his mind; the same feeling he got when Inanna introduced herself.

"Run," Luna's voice spoke inside his head, "I know thou'rt innocent, I know thou wast trapped. There is no escape from Tartarus. Run, don't look back, I'll do everything I can to convince my sister thou wast fooled. And I, too, was fooled..."

"She's right, Andro," Inanna added, and it elicited a wide-eyed look from Luna, whose horn was still glowing, "Princess Celestia isn't going to let it slide."

For a moment, the hell stallion stood in place, only able to hear his heart beating. And from his heart, a burning heat rose, one that pushed him to act. However, he was yet frozen.

"For fuck's sake, run!" Inanna almost screamed at him, breaking him out of his stupor. The burning heat was in his head, and flames rose from his body.

Andromalius exploded in violent hellfire, throwing the surrounding guards away from him in a shockwave. He swiftly turned around and darted, in a few jumps reaching the doors. Celestia fired off a spell, shouting something, but it missed him. He burst through the wooden doors, charring them, one thought in his head.

He must run.

Like never before, he galloped through the halls of the castle, the guards chasing him and casting spells. They bounced around him, hitting marble and stone, burning the tapestries; one hit him, and he stumbled, crashing on the floor and sliding a good dozen meters before he sprung up and dashed forward again, ignoring the pain and the tingling.

Some guards stood a spearwall in front of him, but he crashed into them like a storm, the spearheads breaking against his armor. The guards yelled in pain as he rammed through them, leaving a fiery trail behind.

Run. He must run. He didn't know where, but he had to run away from Canterlot, away from Celestia. A memory quickly appeared - the whistle of a train in the distance. That was his destination.

He burned through the castle entrance doors, leaving charred remains behind as the hellfire swirled around him. The burn he felt was pleasant, unleashed from its cage, and now it propelled him forward like a rocket. The guards were already far behind, struggling to keep up, wildly casting spells in hopes of hitting the fleeing hell stallion. As if a third eye opened inside him, he dodged, feeling a buzz as the magical energy zipped past him.

The buildings of the city were close now, and ponies scattered, screaming and yelling, as they saw the flaming demon galloping their way. He leaped high in the sky and landed on the roof of a small restaurant; the screams of ponies below followed him. In another leap, he jumped on a taller building.

A train's whistle sounded from afar, and yet Andromalius caught its direction. He jumped from roof to roof like a flaming comet, leaving scorch marks behind. Run, he must run. His heart was pounding, his powerful muscles working like never before, sending him into short flights across the buildings, over the streets, and then onto more roofs.

A train's whistle sounded again, and he dashed towards it. The train was either arriving or leaving, and he must catch it before it left the city or fully stopped. He had no idea how he would proceed next, but that wasn't on his mind right now – he must run.

In the distance, he could see the train station and the smoke rising from the train inside. A thought briefly passed – a steam train. He slightly changed his course and galloped over to the next roofs.

Pegasi guards flew above him, and unicorns appeared on the nearby roofs, trying to catch him. He knew he may regret his actions later, but he could do nothing but cast a Chain Lightning; some guards fell on the roofs, convulsing as electricity passed through them. Hurt, but alive, Andromalius thought, and that was all that mattered about them.

Sooner than he expected, he approached the train station. He crashed through a glass roof, the shards scratching him; the ponies fleed in terror of a fiery beast. But there it was, the train that was just speeding up. Andromalius forced his flames down and galloped to the locomotive. He jumped on the coal cart behind it and blasted the coupling off, melting it into a puddle of metal. The following train carts slowed down, and the locomotive jerked, instantly picking up more speed.

He had no idea how he made it, but he did; now, it was for him to make sure the locomotive continued to run. He jumped to the forward of the coal cart and saw a pony operating the locomotive. He yelled a curse and jumped off, rushing away from the train and the hell stallion.

Andromalius jumped down into the locomotive and looked around; valves and levers surrounded him. He stopped in confusion, trying to figure out what to pull to increase the speed, for he could already hear the guards rushing into the train station. He reached his goal, now what?

"You have fire, coal burns with fire, and that makes steam," Inanna told him rapidly, and he understood her immediately.

He grabbed a bunch of coal and put it straight into the furnace part of the engine; then, he summoned his hellfire. This time, he felt a pressure in his maw, so he opened it, and a roaring flame emerged from the depth of his throat, rushing into the furnace. The locomotive jerked again, picking up speed even faster than before. Andromalius turned around and saw the guards, which stepped back when they saw the fire dancing in his maw. The delay allowed the train to exit the station and continue its way out of the city.

Andromalius let out a deep sigh and slumped near the furnace, feeling its heat spreading through the cab. The fire in his maw disappeared, returning to the depths of his body. The locomotive went faster and faster, and soon the hell stallion was able to feel the chilly mountain winds passing through.

"That was... something," Inanna said, "Stealing a locomotive... I wouldn't think of that. But you escaped, and that's really all that matters. I can't imagine what would've happened to you in Tartarus..."

For around a minute, Andromalius was silent, gazing behind the locomotive. The pegasi chased it but gradually fell behind, leaving them with no option but to return to Canterlot. No matter how good they were at flight, the train was still faster, and it would only pick up more speed.

"Is... Tartarus where you are?" he finally asked the succubus.

"No, that place is a prison," Inanna replied with a shake of her head, materializing among the coal, "Hell... is different. We live here. We can't escape, but we live free, at least. Tartarus... is a much worse place, trust me. You don't want to go there."

"He has escaped on the train, your majesty," the Captain of the Royal Guard reported to Celestia. She and her sister stood atop one of the many towers of the Canterlot Castle; far away from them, they could see the locomotive rounding the mountain and disappearing from the view.

Luna let out a silent sigh. Even if Andromalius was out of the picture and could no longer help her, he was still alive, and he wasn't in Tartarus. In a certain way, she admired him for the bravery he displayed when he dashed through the city faster than anyone without wings could do, and then he even stole a locomotive. Ingenuity was apparent, although Luna swore she heard a second voice inside his head, a female one. Did Andromalius hide something from her or was it just her sleep-deprived brain playing tricks on her?

"I see," the solar alicorn replied, a deep frown on her face, "Very well, he has only one way to travel on that road. Order the second platoon to place explosives around the Everfree Bridge. Proceed."

The Captain nodded and disappeared into the castle, leaving the two sisters alone.

"Sister?" Luna looked at Celestia with barely hidden horror, "Art thou suggesting..."

"Andromalius is dangerous, Luna," the solar alicorn cut her off, "I do not believe in coincidences. The train arrived perfectly for him to escape on. He had a plan all along, I can clearly see it..." her gaze softened when she looked at Luna's expression, "Sister... I'm sorry he tricked you. But he's not your friend. He's a demon, and demons are dangerously deceptive. I'm sorry I couldn't see it, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you to turn you away from it."

"I..." Luna wanted to protest, but this desire quickly deflated. If the conspirators wanted to play this game, then she too could lie, "I... can feel... something going away. Maybe thou'rt right... maybe he tricked me."

"I know it's a lot to take in," Celestia said softly, "But everything is going to be alright, Lu-lu. I'm here now," she hugged her little sister tightly.

Luna shed tears, but those were tears of regret – she has just lied to her sister, manipulated her. She loved her, but she knew telling her the whole truth wouldn't help uncovering the big truth. One day, she would tell her everything as it was, but only when the conspirators are eliminated and the peace restored. Just like Andromalius, Celestia was a victim – a victim of power-hungry nobility that used all they could to maintain their power.

The lunar alicorn must work to uncover the plot; to avenge Andromalius, avenge her sister, and avenge herself. Chased off, manipulated, banished, and all because of a bunch of criminals who thought too much of themselves.

Anger, rage boiled inside her, and she wished nothing more than to find the conspirators and make sure they pay for what they did. She would strangle them, hit them, and let out all the suffering she faced because of their plot to use her sister to rule from the shadows. And once Celestia found out, they would face no mercy. The two sisters would unite in revenge and bring down the biggest threat to their subjects: not a demon, not a spirit, but those of the pony kind, the same people Celestia and Luna were.

This was where Celestia was wrong – she assumed an outside threat was out for ponies when it was coming from the inside all along. Luna would make sure she realized her mistake and saw the truth.

Wiping away the tears, the lunar alicorn almost smiled to herself – the conspirators made a mistake as well. They allowed Luna to know that some guards were on their leash, and this was exactly the lead she could pursue. Andromalius said just enough for her to know exactly where to search for the answers.

Chapter 20: Effugium

Luna paced in her room, tension in her body; her eyes jumped from one thing to another without focusing on anything in particular. Just a few minutes had passed since the train Andromalius stole left Canterlot, and it would be at least an hour before he approached the bridge Celestia set to destroy. The hell stallion proved to be resilient judging by the reports the lunar alicorn received: he broke spears by ramming them with his body, even dulling the tips that struck him; he also quickly recovered from spells that would incapacitate most others. However, Luna feared he wouldn't survive what her sister was planning. As resilient as he was, he had his limit somewhere, and the alicorn had no desire to find out where it lay.

As helpful as his presence was to uncovering the conspiracy, he didn't deserve to die for it. It wasn't his battle, it wasn't his war. Luna refused to allow him to die a pointless death in the name of power struggles, and so she must act quickly before it was too late. There was a small chance even the explosion wouldn't kill him, but the alicorn wasn't about to take it as fact.

Soon, a few thestral guards entered her office, dressed in camouflaged cloaks, which covered them from head to hooves. The viper-like eyes of the ponies looked at their princess, waiting for her command. She stopped in her tracks and looked at them.

"A friend of mine is in great danger," Luna spoke in a strained voice, "He was falsely accused, trapped by the conspirators who seek to bring an end to me. Right now, he's on the way to the Everfree Bridge, and my sister plans to demolish it as he passeth. Your task is to undermine her efforts, weaken the explosive charges and do your best to save Andromalius from certain death. Do not let yourself be seen or captured, but kill no one, for they are unaware of the insidious plot against Equestria. They, like my sister, are unknowing participants, and they mean well by their actions, however misguided they may be. Take this to prove to Andromalius that you're from me, tap it when he asketh."

She handed each of them a crescent-shaped necklace. They accepted the necklaces and locked them around their necks. Princess Luna proceeded to explain the details of her plan to them, making sure each of them memorized the whole list perfectly. Once it was done, she stood before them to offer assuring words before their departure.

"Good luck, and may you succeed."

The ponies simultaneously bowed to her and silently exited the room, hurrying to obey their princess. Luna turned around and looked out the window, a deep frown and a look of uncertainty on her face. Her plan could fail, and the chances of failure were high; however, this plan was better than none at all, and she refused to accept what her sister was doing. In time, Celestia would see how she was fooled, but for now, all Luna could do was prevent her sister from doing something she would later regret deeply, even if it meant Luna had to go against her in secret.

"And what do we do now?" Andromalius asked as the train took a turn, following the railroad around the mountain. The wheels of the locomotive made a steady beat against the rails, and a cloud of smoke rose above. The coals burned hot, making water boil and propel the engine with steam.

"You should jump off the train when you can," Inanna suggested, her form lying in the coal, "I think they won't just let you travel all the way along the road. They will stop you somewhere, and I think you'd rather not be there."

"Where do I jump off, then?" the hell stallion asked, looking to the side. The edge of the railroad was protected by a sturdy-looking rail, for a cliff was right after it. The land was still way below, and Andromalius estimated it was at least a kilometer or two away. He, unfortunately, had no wings, so he had no desire to abandon the train just yet.

"I don't know," Inanna sighed, "I know, like... some things, but... I have no idea where the closest jump off point could be."

"Wait, what is that?" Andromalius gestured at an interesting dark spot on the ground far away. It was certainly a forest, but it was much darker in comparison to the surrounding land, looking somewhat sickly as well. He could also see some buildings in the center; towers of a castle. Even from such distance, it reminded him of something, but he couldn't place his mind on it just yet.

"That? The Everfree Forest," the succubus narrowed her eyes as she looked in the direction the hell stallion pointed to, "You know... that's not a bad idea."

"What is not a bad idea?"

"Going to the Everfree Forest," Inanna elaborated, "Ponies don't go there unless they absolutely need to. If you manage to sneak in there... no one will go looking for you."

"I bet there's a reason no one goes there," Andromalius pointed out, "What's in that forest?"

"Hm... lemme think..." Inanna tapped her chin before listing off what she knew about the inhabitants of the strange forest, "Timberwolves, manticores, hydras, serpents, snakes, spiders..."

"O-okay, I get it," the hell stallion shivered, "A lot of things that would want to eat you. You sure I should go there?"

"Well, do we have any other choice?"

For a moment, the two were silent. Andromalius could admit he had no choice in his next actions: he didn't know the land, didn't know whom to turn to, and he had no money with him to as much as pay someone off. For all he knew, he was a dangerous criminal, and Princess Celestia wouldn't stop until he was caught.

The train went into a tunnel and immediately light almost entirely disappeared. Andromalius seemingly didn't notice, wondering what his next steps would be. He couldn't return, this was certain; however, he didn't have anything to look forward to. No one was waiting to help him, he was all on his own now, not counting the ever-present Inanna the Succubus, the only aide he had left. Now, he understood he couldn't go anywhere near a pony settlement – his looks would immediately arise suspicion, and Celestia would be on him shortly after. Luna might help him, but he couldn't count on it – she had more important matters to attend to.

The train emerged from darkness back into the light as the tunnel ended. It swayed slightly as the railroad went downwards at a rather steep angle. The locomotive picked up speed, almost making the hell stallion fall. He awkwardly stepped from hoof to hoof and managed to remain standing. Soon, the train reached the bottom and then the railroad went mostly flat again. However, soon it turned around the mountain and entered yet another tunnel, but this one was winding like a spiral, and the train went deeper and deeper downwards.

"I've never seen a railroad like this..." Andromalius commented in the nearly complete darkness of the tunnel as only the light from the burning coal illuminated the cab.

"What did you expect? Mountains make everything weird," Inanna shrugged, "If you didn't notice, Canterlot stands on the side of the mountain. Side. Of. The. Mountain."

"You have a point," the hell stallion nodded in agreement, "Anyway, do you know how long it is until we reach the ground level?"

"Not sure, maybe around half an hour," she replied, "If I were you, I'd take a nap. Or, at the very least, try to think of... calming things. We're going to be here for a while."

The Everfree Forest. Crooked trees made gloomy thickets, strange and dangerous creatures roamed, even the air was filled with something unusual. Few dared to go inside, much less explore it thoroughly. For centuries, it remained a mystery. However, the needs of Equestria grew, and so did the web of roads that went through the country. A railroad went along the edge of the forest, and a bridge was built over a wide chasm at one point. At the moment, a few unicorns were carefully setting up charges underneath the supports of the bridge. Wires were carefully connected to a single detonator that would allow the bridge to be destroyed in a controlled manner with the possibility of being rebuilt after the demon was gotten rid of.

However, the ponies didn't notice one of the rocks shift. When they looked away, it carefully moved from one shadow to the other, closer to one of the charges. Similar movements happened with other bits of the environment. The time was ticking down, but they had to be slow, otherwise they would be discovered and the entire plan would fail. The rock made its way underneath one of the charges and readied for tampering.

A howl sounded from the forest, making the workers and the guards around them turn their attention towards the Everfree. Another howl joined, and the infiltrators began doing their work while the workers and the guards got together and armed themselves, preparing for the beasts to attack. The first charge was disabled entirely as the thestral nudged the detonator wire out of its socket ever so slightly, making it seem as if the workers didn't put it in correctly. The second charge was weakened as another thestral pulled out around half of the explosive and replaced it with a similar-looking bag of sand. After the explosion, no one would be able to tell the difference.

The howls continued and the rustle from the forest came closer to its edge. The guards loaded their crossbows, aimed, and waited. Meanwhile, a thestral planted a few Poison Joke flowers near the support that was yet to be set to explode. The flowers were placed in such a way as to make it seem like they grew from the damp soil surrounding the support.

Half of the work was done, another half was yet to be complete.

***

Meanwhile, the train finally exited the winding tunnel and rode down the railroad to the very bottom of the ground. From then on, it would be mostly flat terrain. Andromalius had to narrow his eyes when the light appeared, for he had already adapted to the darkness of the tunnel. He stepped closer to the edge of the locomotive, intending to jump at that very moment. It would be painful, certainly, but he needed to do it.

"Wait, it's too early!" Inanna quickly warned him, "They'd expect something like this, don't you think? Besides, where are you going to hide? This forest isn't big, and there are only fields for kilometers around. Gonna hide in the grass?"

"You have a point..." Andromalius admitted with a sigh, stepping away, "I've not thought of that..."

"I mean, you can try to run away from the guards that will eventually show up, but unicorns can teleport, and pegasi can fly way faster than you can gallop," she offered another point.

"I guess we don't have any other options, do we?" he deflated and sat down.

For quite some time, the locomotive went along the railroad in peace. The wind harshly whipped by, but the cab and the windows inside it protected the hell stallion. The furnace was burning hot, and it had no intention of slowing down, especially not with Andromalius throwing coal into it from time to time, anxious about the possible pursuit.

As the hell stallion rode further away from the mountains, he could see Canterlot again. The spires, the towers, and even lower, technical levels of the city were visible; small dots flew around it, moving clouds. As if his escape didn't happen. However, Andromalius knew he would be unable to return to it anytime soon. A trap was set and he fell right into it, and now it was for Princess Luna to clear his name... if she could. After all, what was he to her?

The hell stallion sighed, for his future was uncertain. For all he knew, the train rode into nothing as no destination was set. He remembered what Inanna told him about the prophecy, but it seemed ridiculous... but at the same time, it made sense. Should fulfilling the prohecy become his goal? If not, then what else was there for him to achieve?

A small voice appeared in his head, and it reminded him of his name. Andromalius. It was not a name of a common being, it was not a name of a baker or a cobbler. It was a name that belonged to someone who was destined for greatness. It was not to be forgotten, it must not be left at the background of history.

A plan formed in his head. His training in both magic and combat was incomplete, and he must seek someone who would teach him. For some reason, he felt the Everfree Forest would be the right place to search for such knowledge. He didn't know much about it, but there was something familiar about the name and the view he got from above. Was it the same place he appeared at when he first gained his new body? If so, there was a castle deep inside the forest, and he had a sneaking suspicion it held many secrets just waiting for the right person to discover.

The train jerked slightly at the intersection and changed its course to the left.

"Hm, didn't remember this intersection..." Inanna commented, "Anyway, this way should lead to the Everfree Forest. I think. I don't know much about the surface, sorry..."

"But how do you even know anything about it?" Andromalius asked with interest.

"Well... you see, ponies often dream of things, and we the succubi get in some wet dreams to feed on lust," she explained casually, almost throwing off the hell stallion. However, he managed to gain control of himself and not display much externally. Inanna chuckled silently to herself, knowing that her explanation didn't fail to tease him, "Sometimes, ponies dream of real places, and I distinctly remember this railroad... at least partially. There was only a straight road, no intersections. So, uh... I guess I know a bit?"

"But you're present here right now as an astral projection, don't you see everything around me?"

"Well... the closer to you things are, the easier they are to see," Inanna replied, "The mountains behind us are already pretty blurry. Canterlot? A weird spot of mixed colors."

The train jerked again. It groaned as one of its sides rose by a few centimeters above the rail on a turn. Feeling the disbalance, Andromalius shifted his body, allowing the locomotive to return to its normal position.

"Maybe we should slow down a bit," Inanna suggested, "But I've no idea how to do that."

"I don't know a thing about steam engines either," Andromalius shook his head and then looked at a variety of valves, levers, and dials on the dashboard of the locomotive. Some dials clearly displayed pressure and temperature, but the purpose of most controls remained unknown, and there were no instructions nor ponies around to provide any helpful information.

A magical solution, however, could be used. If he understood it correctly, all he needed to do was to lower the temperature of the furnace so that less water boils. Sounded good in his mind, so he got to it. His horn ignited, and he willed the flames in the furnace to go down. However, his first try barely did anything, for his grasp on the flames was weak. He closed his eyes, concentrating, feeling the heat using his magic, and not his vision or his body. He reached out, and there it was, heat. But to make it go away, he had to find a way for the energy to dissipate.

Energy could not be created from nothing or made into nothing, it could only be transformed. Magic was also energy, one that could manipulate other forms of energy if the user had enough skill and knowledge.

Andromalius felt something and used the magic to amplify it. However, the flames surged, licking the doors. Instead of extinguishing them, he accidentally opened a way for more oxygen to feed the flames. Trying to keep himself under control, he willed things to return to how they were before. In a few moments, the flames lowered, and now they weren't as high as before. It worked, but he needed a better solution lest the locomotive blow up.

He reached out with his magic again. This time, he drew the hot air from inside the furnace and directed it outside and past him to dissipate into the air. The colder air entered from below, heat up, and he siphoned it out, cooling the furnace. The temperature dial showed the progress as the arm slowly made a counter-clockwise motion. After dropping the temperature by a quarter, Andromalius stopped and shut the doors. In a few more minutes, the steel surrounding the furnace also cooled, and the train finally slowed down to acceptable speed. From then on, it was a smooth ride.

Andromalius sighed in relief and opened his eyes, the glow of his horn disappearing. By the time he completed his spell, the train had covered a huge distance, and the crooked trees of the Everfree Forest were within sight. Behind the next turn, the bridge was placed. Charges were placed and, although tampered with by Luna's thestrals, they would still work, and no one knew if the bridge would remain intact long-enough for Andromalius to pass.

"We're nearing the destination," Inanna commented, narrowing her eyes to look at the dark foliage ahead, "That for sure is the Everfree, even I can see that."

"Alright, then I should prepare to jump," Andromalius sighed deeply, walking to the edge and looking past it. The railroad was on an enbankment, which raised above the ground for at least two meters. However, it lowered closer to the forest, as far as the hell stallion could see, so he had chosen to wait until the best moment to abandon the locomotive. However, a thought stung him, "Wait, we can't just let the train go on, what if it crashes into something?"

"Just extinguish the coals," Inanna shrugged, "It should come to a stop eventually, and the road ahead is still long before any settlement.

Andromalius nodded and opened the fire doors once again, channeling his magic. It would take a few minutes if he hurried, but unbeknownst to him, he might not have enough time to finish before the bridge. Alas, even the existence of the bridge was unknown to him, and so it was left for the fate to decide what would happen next.

Back in the Canterlot Castle, Celestia and Luna stood before a communicator – a long-range radio, one of the very few in the world. Taking almost an entire room with antennae sticking out of the top of the tower, it was a technological marvel, the peak of radiotechnology in Equestria at the time.

"Sergeant Bright, report. Over," Celestia spoke into the microphone after pressing a button. She released it immediately after, allowing the static to take hold. Soon, a beep sounded, and a voice spoke from the speakers.

"The preparations are complete, although we were delayed by a pack of timberwolves," the pony replied, some static muffling his voice, "The scouts report the estimated arrival of the train is fifteen minutes. Do we proceed as planned? Over."

"Proceed as planned and report the results immediately," the solar alicorn replied, "I wish you good luck, sergeant. Over and out."

Luna almost smiled to herself – her plan, at least partially, worked. The thestrals managed to distract the workers, possibly long-enough to sabotage the charges. However, it was too early to celebrate – she needed to know whether Andromalius would survive or not. In under half an hour, she would receive her answers; until then, all she could do was hope.

Hope, as irrational as it often was, saved her from thinking too much about what would happen if her plan failed. And yet, hope made people do things they would've never done otherwise, and Luna did her best to ensure the best survival chances for Andromalius. As strange and mysterious as he was, he was just another person, and like many before him, caught between the hammer and the anvil of power struggles of the nobility and royalty. Hopefully, he would escape the gruesome fate prepared to him by the conspirators. However, there were other things Luna had to attend to, those that concerned the future of the country as a whole.

"Sister..." she turned to Celestia, "I think we should investigate into how Andromalius found the way to the Archives. I believe he could have allies inside the castle."

For a moment, the solar alicorn was silent, wondering about the suggestion Luna posed.

"You... did not tell him about the Archives?" she asked quietly, a frown forming on her face.

"No, I did not," Luna shook her head, "Why?"

"I... assumed you did..." Celestia replied awkwardly, but then seriousness returned to her voice, "Very well, then this raises the question of how exactly he found out about it if you haven't told him. I was under the impression that he asked you a lot of questions about magic, and I thought the Archives would come up."

"We talked plenty about the arcane, that is true, but not a word was spoken about the Archives," the lunar alicorn shook her head and then reasoned, "Thou and I both know how dangerous it is to reveal the existence of the Archives to anyone. I... I wanted to test him first to see if he could be the candidate. However, as the recent events have proven to me, I was wrong in my judgement," she bit his lip. Yet another lie she had to tell her sister, "I seek to rectify what I have done, sister. This is my mistake, and I believe I can make things right. Allow me to investigate the security breech, and I shall make sure all conspirators are brought to light."

Celestia was silent again. Her sister was, in a way, still young and inexperienced. Rash, although thoughtful; determined, although naive. She had trusted a demon, a being known for trickery and deceit; but now, with her error exposed, she accepted the fault and wanted to fix it.

A possibility opened in the back of her mind – maybe Andromalius was innocent and was simply tricked. However, this possibility quickly closed – there was no one else that knew about the Archives and what was stored inside, for Celestia made sure even the guards remained unaware of what they were guarding. They were picked with the help of her advisors, and she had no reason to doubt them, for they ensured the safety, security, and prosperity of Equestria for many years. Her ponies grew happy and enjoyed their lives to the fullest, just what she always wanted for them.

So, another possibility remained open – Andromalius had external help in figuring out what door to pick. Of course, this assistance couldn't have possibly been entirely external, for the plans of the castle were kept secret and were stored nowhere outside of the building itself. However, it wouldn't stop anyone from drawing their own map of the place, and some information could have leaked out when Celestia's previous student left the city to pursue the knowledge that was denied to her. Could this be a revenge plot against Celestia? If so, she had to find out what it was exactly and, hopefully, have a talk with her former student if she could be found and reasoned with.

"Very well," the solar alicorn nodded, "Anything you require, the guards will provide. Make sure you root them all out, for their presence is detrimental to the safety of knowledge and, most importantly, the safety of our subjects."

"I shall do what I must," Luna nodded, preparing to leave, "Thank thee, sister, I... I very much appreciate thy faith in me."

The lunar alicorn had to leave swiftly; tears welled up in her eyes and her ears folded against her head. All the lies, and yet Celestia saw nothing and believed in her sister unconditionally. One day, lies would be gone away with, but until then, Luna would have to carry the guilt and the shame.

Hopefully, not much longer.

Chapter 21: Semitae

The train was slowing down more and more as the time passed; the coals inside the furnace, although hot, were no longer burning. Andromalius was at the edge of the locomotive, preparing to jump off and disappear into the Everfree Forest. However, fate was seemingly laughing at him, and before the train slowed down sufficiently, a rocky chasm grew underneath. One, two, five meters separated the level of the railroad from the ground below, and it only kept growing. A bridge was right ahead, inviting the hell stallion to wait until the ground was at the appropriate level again. Deciding not to wait any longer, he got onto the coal cart to jump off behind the train and make his way along the railroad until he could slip into the forest. It wouldn't take longer than a few minutes, and he hoped it would be enough to disappear before anyone found him.

An explosion shook the ground, the locomotive jerked; Andromalius lost the balance as the coals underneath him shifted. Metal of the bridge groaned and creaked as it slowly collapsed, sagging deeper and deeper with each moment. The hell stallion got up as quickly as he could, his body working separately from his mind, but then another explosion, and a third one, and another one happened at the same time; the train screeched like a wounded beast and fell on its side, the coal cart spilling its contents. The hell stallion fell down, landing heavily on the enbankment; he was rolling down when yet another explosion happened, a much closer one. The locomotive turned into a fireball, and a wave of hot air pushed Andromalius down the chasm, making him tumble like a ragdoll. His ears were ringing, his body was a sack of pulsating pain, and he was completely disoriented. Burning coal rained all around him, and a crooked wheel rolled past his head. A quickly expanding cloud of smoke and steam covered a significant portion of the railroad, and no one saw Andromalius tumbling to the bottom of the chasm.

The chilly wind whipped past Princess Luna, and yet she stood on the tower of the Canterlot Castle, observing the Everfree Forest from afar. The dark blotch on Equestria's face, an unstable, uncontrollable place it was. All attempts to tame it failed, but the lunar alicorn remembered what it looked like a millennium ago. As wild, as chaotic as it was, it used to be beautiful in its own way. However, now it turned into one of the most dangerous and darkest places in the country, and none would dare to venture inside without a strong cause. Without care, the trees, the grass, the plants, and the very atmosphere of the forest became gloomy, and the beasts took back what was theirs for so long before a pony ever set hoof inside.

The explosions could now be seen; the fire rose. Luna closed her eyes and sighed, and soon the booming sounds of the explosions reached her ears. They rolled across the land and soon faded, leaving silence in their place. Fire burned and smoke swirled; it was done.

The princess hoped Andromalius managed to evade the gruesome death prepared for him and escape. However, she needed to wait to hear the reports of the guards, both the demolition squad and her own. Only then it would become clear which fate the hell stallion faced.

Something was not right with him, however. Luna still remembered a voice in his mind, one that belonged to neither him nor herself. Where did this voice come from? Was there something Andromalius was hiding from her? She couldn't sense anything malicious in his words or thoughts, and yet this discovery she made was, in a certain way, unsettling and odd. Was there a chance her sister was right about him?

However, she had made her decisions, and it was no longer certain when she would meet Andromalius again. Their paths were now separate, and they had to walk them by themselves. From Luna's side, she had figured out just who might be responsible for the trap the hell stallion got into. Questioning that guard was of paramount importance, and she had to focus on this task first.

"Good luck, Andromalius," Luna whispered, genuine in her words despite the doubts about him that she had. She looked at the site of the explosions one more time and then turned around and left the balcony. As things stood, there was nothing else she could do for him at the moment. However, there were plenty of things to attend to, and she believed one of them would be there soon.

She returned to the main room of her private chamber and took a seat in a comfortable armchair. She knew not to relax, and yet sleep overcame her, for she had neglected it for far too long. Her eyelids drooped lower and lower until she closed her eyes and immediately went into the deep sleep. Carried by the Dreamscape, she slept peacefully despite her worries and her desires. However, she couldn't escape reality even in her sleep.

"My dear..." a booming voice entered her mind. There she stood, small and vulnerable, amidst the impenetrable darkness of the deepest night. She shivered as the cold penetrated her, and two eyes emerged from the darkness, watching her closely with their narrow pupils. "I have always known all would abandon thee, did I not?"

The words struck the princess like a hammer, leaving her without a reply. She knew precisely what those words meant.

"They lie to thee and they seek to use thee," the voice, painfully familiar, continued, "It hath been so and it will be so."

"It will not be so..." Luna spoke, and yet her voice was but a small whisper. The eyes looked at her with amusement.

"Dost thou truly believe thine own words, my dear?" the voice replied with unrestrained mockery, "Thou hast found the one to trust... and yet even he, the one who had nothing in this world, lied to thee. Thou hast to accept that he did, for it was a foreign voice that gave it away, a voice neither his nor thine. The voice he hath not told thee about."

"Everyone hath their secrets..." Luna tried to defend that position, "He was as honest as he could be... he did not hide it out of malice."

"Or did he?" the voice spoke again, "Thou canst not pretend thou knewst him. Thou didst not, and 'tis of no surprise thou wast mistaken once again."

Luna hung her head; in a way, her adversary was right. However, the alicorn had to remind herself that being right about one thing didn't mean the adversary was right about everything. And yet... it ate at her like a rabid dog, for she must see what was true and what was a lie.

"Thy naivete will be the end of thee, my dear," the voice said, a disappointed sigh in her voice, "One day, perhaps, thou shalt learn. But until then, thou shalt suffer."

Unconscious, Andromalius lay at the bottom of the chasm, wounded and battered, beaten and bruised from the fall. The air was filled with smoke and the cracking of fire as the coals were burning all around him, turning the chasm into a hellish maw of heat. The rocks turned black from soot; the metal of the bridge and train was scattered around, now shapeless; the wood of the railroad and the bridge added to the growing fire.

The hell stallion was motionless amidst the heated chaos and debris, lying breathless. However, he could see, and it was not what surrounded him but what showed itself to him in his unconscious mind. A vision from the outside or a feverish dream made by his mind, one couldn't yet tell.

Andromalius stood on a long, endless road; behind him, a portal was, and cyan was its color. It trembled silently, and yet impenetrable it was for his gaze. Shapes appeared and faded, muffled sounds went past his ears, and different colors could be seen within the cyan canvas. To the sides of his road, were other roads, infinite in their lengths, and all of them started with the same cyan portal. The road he stood on continued into a black portal, white star-like dots inside it. The road next to him was empty, and the other road by the other side of him ended with not a black portal but a void, infinite and endless, and all light disappeared inside it. No sounds, no shapes, nothing could be heard, seen, or felt in that void.

There were many different roads, all parallel and yet connected, spanning as far as eye could see. The sky was of an undescribable color, one which contrasted with every other color Andromalius could see. Wondering about the roads, Andromalius stepped on the one with the void at its end. A strong chill ran down his spine, a sense of dread entered his mind, and he felt the cold. He swiftly jumped back to the first road and breathed rapidly, the dark feelings slowly disappearing from his mind. He let out a shaky sigh, and looked around once more.

Different portals were scattered on different roads: cyan, teal, red, purple, blue, black, and white. The one he was on featured a cyan portal behind him, a black portal in front of him, and some other portals he could not see, for they were blurred behind the black of the next portal. He also noticed that nothing except the road was solid; everything was waving ever so slightly, with no truly defined shape or form.

A choice was made, and he stepped forward on his road. For a reason he couldn't explain if he tried, he felt it was the right decision. The black portal opened, and he went straight through it.

With a gasp and a cough, he awoke amidst the fire and smoke. His body was pulsating with pain, and some wounds on his body leaked blood. On shaky legs, he stood up; trying to figure out the way, he stumbled a few steps forward before he fell, his world spinning. Releasing a few more painful coughs, he forced himself on his hooves and moved away from the fire and into the unaffected part of the chasm, where trees grew, and tall grass and moss covered the rocks. His body worked without a thought, and soon he was away, hidden by the shrubbery from those that would want to pursue him. Unbeknownst to him, however, a pair of eyes followed him as he disappeared - viper-like those eyes were, much like his own.

Andromalius had yet to grasp the events that transpired, but he knew he had to get as far away as he could as quickly as possible. Stumbling on roots, hearing the thorns scrape against his exoskeleton, he walked, breathing heavily and with his heart beating fast. The beating of his heart combined with the ringing from explosions, and it was all he could hear as he struggled through the flora.

He walked and walked, not looking where he was going, and soon he was far in the depths of the Everfree Forest. The crooked trees covered the sky, and the ever-darkness underneath the canopy hid him from the outside world. The sounds were muffled, and the fire could no longer be seen. Owls hooted, crickets chirped, and wolves howled in the distance. The land of eternal twilight greeted the hell stallion, watching him closely as he stepped in it once more.

The towers of the old castle loomed above the treetops, distinguishable even from beneath the twisted branches and thick canopy of the forest. Andromalius decided that it would be best for him to search for a place to rest inside the castle, for it would be safer inside it than in the wilderness of the Everfree. Setting his course, he moved his legs, mentally dragging himself through the forest. Remains of lamp posts and ancient roads were still visible even covered in vines and moss, and he stuck to them, for there was only one place they could lead to. Some of the lamps still glowed, although it was no longer the glow of electricity or candles but of bugs that took residence inside the broken glass and rusted metal.

Howling of the wolves grew closer the further Andromalius went, and glowing green eyes soon appeared in the darkness. For a while, the hell stallion continued to move, trying to keep all those eyes in his line of sight at all times. The timberwolves were stalking him, no doubt about it, and it would be best for him to reach the castle before the beasts reached him.

Quickening his pace, he trotted along the overgrown path, stumbling here and there, but he couldn't stop, for the vicious predators were after him, and he was uncertain he could hold them off by himself in this state. His head was pounding with pain, his lungs burned, and his vision was hazy. The castle was still too far, almost taunting him with the view of the towers.

The timberwolves moved silently, not a growl came from them as they slithered through the bushes, hiding in the tall grass. Their green eyes were fixated on the hell stallion, not looking away for a single moment. They were closing in.

Andromalius, realizing that his escape was unlikely, turned to face them. As soon as he did, the closest timberwolf quickly covered the distance between itself and the hell stallion and lunged, opening its maw, revealing a set of sharp teeth. The timberwolf wasn't destined to reach its target; Andromalius sent a powerful telekinetic wave of energy, shattering the beast into a thousand twigs and chips. Taking it as a signal to attack, the rest of the pack formed a half-circle around the hell stallion and attacked at once.

The hell stallion managed to obliterate one of them mid-flight, but the second tackled him, throwing him to the ground. The wooden claws scratched against the exoskeleton, and the timberwolf flew slightly over its prey, unable to get a firm grasp. The third one latched itself on one of the hind legs, its sharp teeth penetrating the thick black skin of the hell stallion. Andromalius yelled in pain, fire erupted from his body; the timberwolf whimpered, jumping away, its whole head and paws in flames. The rest of the timberwolves quickly retreated behind the nearest trees.

Groaning in pain, Andromalius stumbled forward and fell, the wounded leg giving out from underneath him. The fire burned around him, and the injured timberwolf soon perished from the flames, turning into a pile of charred sticks and twigs. The hell stallion forced himself back on his hooves, the flames on his body subsiding. With a sharp inhale, he continued on his way, limping as he went. He couldn't give up, he couldn't rest, for it would be death for him to lay in the middle of this gloomy forest. The timberwolves, recovering from the sudden fire, were already stalking him again, this time more carefully.

All of sudden, a smell of citrus appeared in the air. The wolves whimpered, quickly disappearing from the scene. Andromalius collapsed on the ground once more as adrenaline wore off and the pain took over. His wounds were pulsating with pain, sticky blood covered his hind leg.

"Who is he that comes here wounded?" a female voice spoke. He turned his head and saw a cloaked figure, a rope with citrus fruits hanging around her neck. In the darkness of the forest, he couldn't make out the details, but she certainly stood on four legs. "Who is he that by wolves is hounded?"

"I'm... Andromalius," the hell stallion replied weakly, slowly getting up, "I... need help."

"I see a devil..." the figure slowly said, "But I sense no evil. I shall help you, and soon you'll feel like new. Come with me now, for the wolves won't stay for long down."

Nodding once more, Andromalius limped after the mysterious figure, wondering about who she was and what she was doing in such a place. As suspicious as she was, the hell stallion didn't have much of a choice – it was either her or the timberwolves, and the latter could not be negotiated with.

Chapter 22: Veritatem Quaerere

The timberwolves stalked Andromalius and the mysterious figure as they walked through the gloomy forest, but the citrus scent kept them at bay. They howled and growled, and yet they could do no bite. The hell stallion still kept an eye on them despite the throbbing pain in his leg, which hinted at infection already at work. The only thing he could hope for was that ponies or someone else came up with antibiotics and ways to clean the wounds properly, otherwise he faced a certain death, for an equine with three legs wouldn't walk very well, let alone gallop or even trot. In this dark forest with its many carnivorous inhabitants, it would be especially dangerous.

Andromalius had no idea where he was led, for the forest seemed infinite and the same everywhere around him. No road could be seen, and the remains of infrastructure that still fought the flora were seemingly chaotic: a tree grew around a lamp post, another tree had stone tiles and rocks in its bark, and similar oddities. Entangled in the roots of one of the trees, a sign was visible; only three faded letters could be seen, making a word seemingly completely out of place - sun.

After what seemed like an eternity of walking in circles, the two reached what looked like a decorated thick tree, which turned out to be a house. Randomly colored bottles and masks were hanging from the branches, and a relatively small door was in the base of the trunk. Hazily, the hell stallion stumbled inside the tree-house and collapsed on a bed as soon as the mysterious figure pointed it out for him. It groaned under his weight, bending and creaking, but managed to withstand him. The figure took off her cloak and hung it on a hook, revealing herself to be a zebra. The hell stallion rested on the bed with his eyes closed, although the pulsating pain prevented him from falling asleep from exhaustion.

"The maws of wolves are unclean and pungent," the zebra said, "Cleaning your wounds is certainly urgent."

The hell stallion nodded weakly, and the zebra moved a stool to the side of the bed. A few pristine white sheets and a bucket of clean water were soon ready, and she began tending to his wounds. She used the water and some sheets to clean the dirt and the blood around the bite marks first, then she stood up and went to rummage through one of the shelves. A small vial with clear liquid inside was found, and the zebra returned to Andromalius.

"Now, please, hold still," she said, carefully placing the vial nearby, "I cannot allow this medicine to spill."

The zebra removed the cork from the vial and carefully made a few drops fall into the wounds of the hell stallion. He hissed in pain as he felt like his leg was stabbed multiple times. A bubbling noise came from the wounds, and the zebra quickly wiped with one of the clean sheets.

"It's like... I was stabbed with a fork..." Andromalius tried to lighten the mood. He winced immediately after as the pain spiked once again.

"This painful sensation you feel is the result of wounds starting to heal," the zebra explained, "This medicine is expensive and rare, but in case of timberwolf bites, using it is better than facing last rites. No money has worth the moment you are underneath earth."

"Thank you..." the hell stallion nodded, letting out a sigh when the pain began to fade, leaving nothing but a tight and tingling sensation. He rose slightly and looked directly at the zebra, "But... who are you?"

"Zecora is my name," she finally introduced herself, "Unlikely that you heard of me, for I don't strive for fame. But I certainly did hear of you – in these parts, you seem to be completely new. However, the rumors spread quickly, not even evading the lazy; but certain things are, hopefully, clearly made-up and crazy."

"I know that..." he let out a small sigh, "I'd say some are not true, but I don't know if you'll believe me..."

"For all things, one must always deeper look," the zebra replied, "For it is not wise to judge a cover of the book. Anyway, aren't you supposed to be in Canterlot, fighting alongside Princess Luna against the Sun Worshipers' devious plot?"

"Um..." he blinked, unsure of what to say. How could Zecora know anything about the political intrigues of Canterlot?

"They have already attacked you twice," she continued, "Wouldn't you want for them to pay the crime's price? It's clear they want to remove both of you, so you two worked to make their plans askew. But now I hear of an explosion and fiery rain – so, why did you go here by a small train?"

"I got into a trap, and I'm accused of doing something I... well, I did do, but I didn't know that it was a crime or that I was led to make it." Andromalius replied honestly, "I... had to run and stealing a train was, uh... the best thing, seemingly... that I could do at the time."

"But if you stayed, wouldn't Princess Luna be able to provide aid?"

"I don't think she could do anything at that point..." he let out a sigh, "Anyway... how do you know about the train?"

"A vow I made not to talk of whom here came," she shook her head, "But they asked me to assist you in this situation dire, for it was possible for you to the realm of dead retire."

"Thank you for help, Zecora," he said, "Sorry I didn't say it right away..."

"To forget it is completely alright, you simply haven't yet rested your mind," she let a small smile appear on her face, "In any case, it's time I gave you another medicine, which, I warn you, has horrible taste."

She looked at one of her shelves again and soon found a small bottle with a muddy red liquid inside. She uncorked the bottle, and an earthly yet unpleasant smell entered the room.

"What is that?" Andromalius asked, making a grimace as the smell reached his nostrils.

"A mold liquefied," Zecora replied, "Bad it tastes and has a horrible smell, but by drinking it you will sooner get well."

The hell stallion hesitantly nodded, used his magic to grab the bottle, and then downed it in one swift motion, trying to ignore the smell. As it traveled down his throat and into the stomach, he let out a few coughs and fought the urge to throw up. Thankfully, he was soon fine, and only a bitter aftertaste was a reminder of the medicine he had taken. He breathed deeply a few times before relaxing on the bed, his eyelids drooping. The pain-relief had finally came, and he felt nothing but a tiring numbness in his body.

"I suggest you rest, close your eyes," the zebra told him, taking the empty bottle and placing it on the shelf with other empty vials and vessels, "Exhaustion of mind and body is the struggle's price."

Already nodding off to sleep, Andromalius completely surrendered himself to the real of dreams, and soon he was in deep slumber. His wounds, cleaned and taken care of, were already healing, and healing quickly. When he woke up, he wouldn't even see the scars.

Princess Luna sat up in her armchair, her eyes open wide. A few hours had passed since she fell asleep, and even slumber brought her no rest. Something awoke her before she could benefit from her sleep, and it was a knock coming from the door. For a moment, the alicorn sat there silently, her mind slowly and painfully waking up.

"Your majesty," a few knocks sounded again, and a voice of a guard spoke, "The demolition squad returned with news."

"O-of course," Luna shook her head and blinked, forcing the gears in her head to turn, "I shall... hear them soon. They are... shall be in the throne room, yes?"

"That is correct, my princess," he replied, "But may I ask... are you alright?"

"I have been sleeping, but 'tis alright, I must hear the news myself," she finally stood up and stretched, "I shall be there in five minutes. Please, notify my sister of that."

"I will, your majesty," the guard said, and soon the sound of his steps faded away.

Luna let out a deep sigh and collapsed back into the armchair, resting there for some more time before forcing herself back up. A yawn escaped her maw, and she rubbed her eyes with magic to help herself wake up faster. She jumped a few times, forcing her body to warm up and ready itself. She stretched deeply as well, and soon her mind was working flawlessly.

Her hooves clicked against the floor as she exited her chambers and made her way to the throne room. Her posture and gait were stiff, her eyes looking directly ahead, and yet her thoughts were wild, jumping from one thing to the next. Did Andromalius survive? Was he merely knocked unconscious and was now being transported to the dungeons? Or was he simply obliterated in the explosion with not a thing left of his body? Or... did her plan succeed? And if it did, where was Andromalius now?

She didn't notice how she reached the throne room, and the doors opened before her. Princess Celestia was already there, sitting on her throne, and a five-pony squad of demolitionists stood before her. Luna swiftly made her way to her own throne and sat down, anxiousness in her body.

"Report, please," Celestia spoke, signaling for the squad leader to lay out the events.

"The bridge is destroyed, your majesty," he spoke, "The train was also destroyed, and now firefighters are trying to extinguish the flames around the site - the coal in the cart caught flame and covered the majority of the site immediately after the explosion."

"What about the demon?" the solar alicorn pressed, "Was he found?"

"We believe he perished in the explosion," the squad leader replied, "But the majority of the site is still in flames, we can only say for certain once everything is extinguished. No body was found so far."

"Were there any problems before the detonation?"

"We were attacked by timberwolves, and one of our squad members stepped in the Poison Joke on accident. He's now being treated," the stallion reported without missing a beat, "I believe one of the charges did not detonate immediately, but the force of the explosion was sufficient."

"No one could've survived that explosion, your majesty," another squad member added, "Trees within twenty meter radius are bent outwards, and the closest trees to the explosion broke."

"And even if he did survive the initial explosion," the squad leader continued, "He wouldn't survive in the Everfree. The timberwolves are very active this time of the year. He wouldn't be able to get far."

"Very well," Celestia nodded, "I understand how dangerous it is in the Everfree. I won't send any of you there, but I'd like to establish patrols around the entry points of the forest for at least a week," she looked at the Captain of the Royal Guard by her side, who nodded in response, Aerial patrol should also be established, but, as we know, even flying above the forest can be dangerous... therefore, all patrols are to be done along the perimeter, twenty meters away from the forest. Your job here is done, demolitionists."

The squad bowed and soon left the throne room. Once the doors closed behind them, Celestia turned to her sister.

"What should we do now?" she asked, "The demon could still be out there, plotting..."

"I have confidence in the words of the demolition squad," Luna replied, "Spreading our resources to catch him would certainly be our undoing, considering it would weaken our position here in Canterlot. We have yet to apprehend his accomplices, assuming he had them. We should divert our attention to it immediately – the... demon, alive or not, is no longer an issue. The Everfree Forest will swallow him either way. Alone, confused, hurt by the explosion, he hath no chance."

Unless he managed to survive thanks to her plan. However, this is the part she left unspoken. She knew not if Andromalius was immortal or merely just another being among many susceptible to death, but there was always hope. If his body - or the brutalized remains of it - weren't yet found, hours after the explosion, then perhaps he indeed lived. Her own squad had yet to return, which was both good and bad news. She had to resist the urge to assume without sufficient evidence.

What was worrying, however, was her sister's view on this whole situation. She was unusually ruthless in her pursuit of harmony and safety for her subjects, very unlike Celestia Luna knew from a thousand years ago. When the sisters had just taken the throne, the solar alicorn was eager to change the criminals for the better; she saw good in many, and although she had her limits, she was willing to go further than most just to find the truth about someone's guilt or innocence. However, it all changed after all these centuries, and changed for the worse.

"Very well, then we should aim our efforts at the possible conspirators inside Canterlot," Celestia nodded in agreement, "Whatever they were - or still are - planning, it threatens our safety and the safety of our subjects."

"Certainly, and my investigation hath already been commenced," Luna replied, "Someone had to remove the guards to allow Andromalius to pass so far... or the guards were replaced with the corrupt ones. I'm certain I have a lead, and I shall notify thee if I achieve anything with it."

"Alright, but don't exhaust yourself, sister," the solar alicorn said, looking at her sister with worry, "You aren't getting much sleep, are you?"

"Rest is for the accomplished," Luna stood up, "I have work to do, and it must be done before anything bad happenth. The conspirators must be uncovered, brought to light, and judged for their actions. And until this judgement is done, we cannot allow ourselves to rest, for it is a threat to us and the whole of Equestria."

Celestia wanted to disagree, but Luna's words held truth, no matter how hurtful it was to hear. This wasn't how the princess of the day imagined their reunion would be; she wanted to go on something that was foreign to her for many years - a vacation. No time would be enough to spend with her sister after the thousand years she had spent on the moon, but any time would be better than none. And yet, this chance to be a family for once, a pair of siblings relaxing together, seemed out of reach.

The solar alicorn knew not of the true conspirators Luna spoke about, she knew not that Andromalius had no part to play in it, but for now, unknowingly, she was helping to uncover the real evil plan within Canterlot. The lunar alicorn knew it, and hoped it would come to light so that the truth finally finds the one in dire and yet unknowing need for it.

As Andromalius lay asleep and healing, Zecora put on her cloak and sneaked outside her house, locking it from the outside. She carefully walked through the gloomy forest until she appeared in a small clearing devoid of any crooked trees or thorny bushes. To an untrained eye, the clearing would be empty: only grass and flowers were visible. However, if one pays enough attention, they would be able to see a few suspicious rocks. One wouldn't easily tell what was suspicious about them, however.

The rocks moved and turned into a pair of thestrals covered in camouflage. They stood upright and looked and the zebra, question in their glowing eyes.

"Andromalius is fine and healing," Zecora said, "To notify the princess of this, you should now be leaving. His wounds are clean, infection gone – by morning, he will be good and done. I will provide him the much needed aid, and of this forest he will soon learn to not be afraid."

"Thank you, Zecora," one of the thestrals said, giving her a nod, "Princess Luna also has a personal message for him – give him this medallion once he awakens. And I hope you will not tell of this to anyone until everything is sorted out."

"Secrets I can keep, my maw will be shut," the zebra nodded, placing the medallion in one of the inner pockets of her cloak, "No matter who comes to my lonely hut. As strange as Andromalius looks, I never judge covers of books. He speaks like a regular person, one that had his life significantly and suddenly worsen. Lost and falsely accused, he was obviously for evil plans used. Secluded in the forest, away from pony folk, and yet I hear of all the different talk. Having helped a teahouse and an unfortunate baker, he certainly is no troublemaker."

"I'm glad you trust us despite the situation," the thestral nodded in gratitude, "We will report about all of this to our princess as soon as possible. Farewell, Zecora."

"Good journeys to you, servants of night," the zebra bowed politely, "Safe and quick, may be your flight."

Author's Note

This was quite a thing to make because of all the rhyming. Some rhymes might be poor as it is my first attempt at rhyming and writing Zecora specifically, but I hope it's good. Tell me what you think!

Chapter 23: Salvos

Deep underneath Canterlot, in the long-abandoned mines of crystal, the conspirators gathered yet again, hidden behind robes and masks as they usually were. The candlelight was still, reflecting off the many remaining crystals, lighting up the cavern. One of the conspirators rose from their seat.

"The problem is neutralized," the First reported, "Everything indicates towards the Demon being dead. While the explosion did not go perfectly, there is no reason to believe he did not perish."

"But is there a chance he could have?" the Second inquired, leaning forward slightly, "If there is even a small chance he did survive, we should treat it as an absolute certainty and move accordingly."

"While he may not be a threat anymore, a keen eye must be kept on him, provided he can be found," the Third added.

"There is a small chance he made it out alive, I must admit," the First nodded, "Demons are a mythical kind of creatures – not anymore, I must add – and they certainly have many different characteristics depending on whom you ask. The Demon might be immortal or, at the very least, very resistant to all kinds of damage. However, I don't believe these tales are anything other than exaggerated myths made by superstitious and uneducated folk. He couldn't have survived that fiery inferno, and thus treating him as any kind of threat is dishonest and unnecessary."

"Should I remind you that we survived only thanks to taking every possible threat seriously?" the Third raised their voice slightly, stiffening in their seat, "Our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, all the way to a millennium ago, had the foresight to be cautious and attentive."

"And less than half of those threats came to be true," the First argued, "None of us have failed once so far... except you."

"...Pardon?" the Third said coldly, raising from their seat.

"You have consistently failed to deliver a worthy heir to replace any of us when we eventually pass away," the First replied, "Your younger foal is not interested in politics but in art, and their older sibling is nothing more than an incompetent idiot. They-"

"Are you disrespecting me?!" the Third slammed a hoof on the table, a thump resonating across the cavern.

"Silence," the Fourth said coldly, their voice allowing no opposition, "This bickering can't continue," they let out a long, drawn-out sigh, "It is a rare day when you two do not engage in this foolishness. It is time to settle the conflict once and for all. Constitutio must be done."

The table fell deathly silent. With small nods, the First and the Third stood up and made their way to the center of the cavern. Flat and devoid of obstacles, it was a rectangular plane big enough to fit a passenger train cart. On one of its longer sides, a chasm was visible, stretching downwards into darkness.

Both conspirators knew the rules – only one was allowed to emerge victorious. The threat of destabilization could not be allowed to grow, and it was necessary for the numbers of the conspirators to dwindle if they hoped to survive. All disagreement must reach a satisfying conclusion for everyone involved, and if such a conclusion is not found, one side must perish while the other continues on.

"I hope no one needs a reminder of the rules?" the Fourth spoke up. Receiving silence as the answer, they continued: "Well then, begin and do not stop until it is settled."

Both ponies unsheathed their hidden swords, their horns glowing in distinctively colored auras. In complete silence, they advanced, each in their own stance, their weapons at the ready. It wasn't long until the first clash came.

The blade of the Third sliced through the air; the First raised the sword to block. The Third redirected their swing, swiftly turning it to strike from another direction. The First realized the move and managed to step backwards before the blade could connect with their neck. Immediately afterwards, the First recomposed themselves and stepped forward, using their sword to redirect the blade of the opponent, pushing against it in the effort to control it. The Third moved his sword underneath the sword of his opponent by doing a U maneuver, and thrust; despite the dodge, the First received a blow. The hood of the robe flew backwards, revealing gray fur and black wavy mane; a cut on the neck became visible. They hissed under their breath, stumbling backwards. While the blow wasn't serious as it didn't reach the artery, it could incapacitate them if allowed to bleed long enough.

The Third continued to move forward with a twisting motion and a swift swipe; the mask of the First was scraped, but it was just a surface blow. The First stepped sideways and attempted to stab the Third, but the Third expected it, striking the head of the First with the flat side of the blade. Stumbling away from danger, the First made a wide swing in an attempt to dissuade the Third from attacking.

The swing made the First vulnerable as they overswung, and the Third immediately went for a quick stab in the center of the neck. The First gagged and gurgled as the sword pierced the wind pipe and the blood ran straight into the throat. Still standing, the First started swinging wildly, their focus gone. The Third used it to their advantage, guiding the First to the chasm. As soon as the First was close enough, the Third moved in, knocking the sword of his opponent aside. Using the mass of their body, the Third rammed into the First, sending them stumbling and, in a swift moment, falling into the chasm. The First screamed with bubbling sounds coming out of their maw as they fell to their doom. Seconds later, loud cracking sounded, and the silence took its place with the echo of the scream dying off soon.

"Very well," the Fourth nodded, their voice ever calm and collected, "Constitutio is concluded."

The Third nodded, breathing heavily, and sheathed their sword. Soon, the conspirators were reassembled - one seat missing its member.

The Fourth turned to the Fifth and asked, "I believe your foal is ready for the responsibility, are they not?"

"I believe it is too early," the Fifth objected, "They have yet to learn the necessary... tricks of the trade, so to speak. In a few months' time, perhaps, they will be."

"What about yours, Sixth?" the Fourth turned to another conspirator, "You have three... one of them should be ready by now if I remember correctly."

"They are ready for responsibilities, but I don't believe they would approve of this," the Sixth shook their head, "The elder two are too idealistic for their own good. One of them, for a reason I'm not certain of, adores Princess Luna, which would obviously put them in conflict with our goals. The youngest, perhaps... But it's too early for them, at least a year is necessary."

"Understandable," the Fourth nodded in acknowledgement, "What about you, Second?"

"My foal, unfortunately, has no interest in politics whatsoever and wouldn't hear of any of it from me. I tried my best, and yet the more I pushed, the more they resisted," the Second shook their head, "Although, I believe they will come around once their rebellious phase is done with. In any case, the foals of the First might be ready, but... in the light of the recent events, they must be discarded."

"Very well," the Fourth nodded and let out a small sigh, "In this case, we must bide our time and take on the responsibilities of the First until one of ours is ready to take their place."

"I will double my efforts on my eldest foal," the Third finally spoke up, "Yes, they are... not yet ready, but in time, they will be, no matter what the First said."

"We all certainly hope so," the Fourth nodded, "In this case, this question is concluded for now. We must start on the cover-up of the First's unfortunate... disappearance."

After a dreamless and uneventful slumber, Andromalius awoke to the sound of wildlife disturbing the silence of the night in the coming morning. His body ached slightly as he stretched on the bed, but the pain from the wound was seemingly gone. After glancing at the wound site, he discovered it completely healed, no scars left. He tentatively touched the place where the wounds were, and the black skin seemed thicker than before. He touched the same spot on the other hind leg, confirming his discovery. He let out a sigh and spread out on the bed, groaning as he stretched once again.

As his senses became clearer after the slumber, he could feel a tingling and painful sensation in his horn. He scrunched his muzzle and sneezed loudly, only for it to disturb the horn and cause a jolt of unpleasantness.

"Explains why Inanna isn't here..." he thought and let out a sigh.

He rolled over onto the other side and was finally able to explore Zecora's house with his eyes. The space was more round than square, the walls and the ceiling made of wood; the floor, however, was made of packed earth with some hay lying here and there. A cauldron bubbled quietly in the center of the room, a light of green emitting from it, contrasting to the warm fiery light of the many candles around the space.

"I see you are finally awake," Zecora said, coming from an adjacent room, "Many hours of sleep you certainly did take."

"How many?" Andromalius asked, turning to the zebra.

"From the day's noon to the next morning you slept," she replied, "But safe within my house you were kept. The wolves provled the night, across the forest they swept. And yet, at finding you they were inept."

"That's... good to know," the hell stallion replied awkwardly, "And, uh, if it's alright, I want to ask... why do you always rhyme?"

"This is a question many who know me ask," Zecore made a chuckle, "But finding the answer is an impossible task. This is one thing I have to keep hidden, as revealing it is strictly forbidden."

"A-alright," Andromalius nodded hesitantly but decided not to push forward. After all, even if rhyming every sentence seemed at the very least weird, it still conveyed the message clearly enough. However, he continued to wonder why such a thing needed to be a secret.

"With that aside, you must drink this tea," Zecora said, bringing out a simple clay cup with a dark liquid inside, "Swift recovery from injury it certainly does guarantee."

With a nod, the hell stallion accepted the cup and moved it to his muzzle. But first, he took a sniff, and was surprised to find that it was no different from the smell of regular green tea. Putting worries aside, he took a sip and soon drank it all, finding the taste just as close to regular green tea as the smell. Or was the brew just green tea?

"Thank you," he said, letting Zecora took the cup and place it on one of the shelves, "And I already feel much better," he stood up; a tingle of pain shot up his hind leg, prompting him to sit back on the bed, "Not... completely alright, though."

"Wolves' bites often keep ponies bedridden for months," the zebra said, "In my memory, one of them was out for a whole year once. But you aren't a pony, this is an undeniable fact. And it is certain like one you don't act. But one conclusion from this can I make, and I believe it will be an interesting take... You can't be a foreigner, this is clear, so the only answer is that you from a different world did appear."

"Well... yeah," Andromalius nodded, watching the expression on Zecora's face. It remained unchanged, "And... you're alright with that?"

"The existence of different worlds is undebatable if one were to study our own," she explaned, "The fabric of reality is of many planets and stars sewn. It was a matter of time before we found ways to others or others came to us first. After all, many of us are consumed by a peculiar itch - a knowledge thirst. It opens many ways, and one opened to you. The question now stands - was it an accident or was it what you pursue?"

"I... don't know if it was an accident, but I definitely didn't expect it," the hell stallion replied slowly, "I knew there were other worlds, uh, planets... But I didn't know magic was real. What happened to me was probably not some weird accident, but I just... really have no idea."

"What you are saying is that you lack a goal?" Zecora asked, "Do you feel like a newborn foal?"

"Uh, yeah, pretty much..." he nodded and hung his head, "I thought I would do, uh, something, but... Now? I don't know..." he drifted off as he remembered the strange prophecy Inanna told him. A prophecy seemingly about him, one that would define his life. And yet, he wasn't sure if he was ready to accept it or even if he wanted it.

"By your voice, I see you are troubled about what the future holds," the zebra noticed, "Perhaps... something interesting for you unfolds?"

"That's one way to put it," Andromalius let out a dry chuckle, "It is... interesting, yeah, but at the same time... I don't know if I can or should accept it," he looked at the zebra, "At the very least, it implies a huge responsibility I'm not sure I'm ready for."

"No one is searching for responsibility, and yet it finds us all the same," Zecora replied, "The world is ever-spinning, and this spin is what you'll have to tame."

Andromalius remembered the thoughts he had not so long ago, and it was indeed the same as what Zecora told him. He would either let the world make him, or he will have to take the reins and make the world his, in a sense. Despite the major setback that was his forced escape from Canterlot, he was still alive, and he could learn from this lesson.

"I know," he replied with a nod, "I don't know if I will take the responsibility, but at least I can be ready in case I have to," he once again tried to stand up, but the unpleasant sensation forced him to go back to bed, "Once I'm alright, I suppose."

"Very well, in this case, you must stay here and rest," Zecora nodded, "But I have a message for you marked with a certain princess' crest."

Andromalius' eyes widened as the zebra gave him a medallion in the shape of the crescent moon, L engraved in its center. As soon as he touched it, the medallion began to glow blue...

With a long drawn-out yawn, Luna met the sunrise deep in her research. Papers were scattered around her study, comparisons of different events and their links to the nobility of Canterlot were the only writings stacked neatly on the table. The candlelight of shortened candles flickered, the smell of dust was in the air.

A knock came from the door.

"...Enter," the alicorn replied tiredly, suppressing another yawn. The door opened and her thestrals walked in. Immediately, her vision sharpened and she straightened herself, clearing the fog in her mind at the same time, "Finally... What news do you bear?"

"Andromalius is safe," one of them reported, eliciting a sigh of relief from the princess, "Your message will be delivered, your majesty. Do you have any other tasks for us?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," Luna nodded, standing up from her chair and went to search through the papers, "A moment, I need... This, indeed!" she picked up one of the newer-looking papers, "This person might be responsible for what happened. Follow him and find out if it's true. I allow you to break in if necessary, but keep your trace clean and don't be caught."

"We shall do as you ask, my princess," the thestral bowed, "We shall find the truth."

"I wish you luck nevertheless," the alicorn replied, "Our enemy is resourceful and their eyes and ears are plenty in and out of the castle. However, justice must be done, for it is of utmost importance to ensure fairness and harmony in Equestria."

Chapter 24: Silva de Semper Liberi

The next couple of days were calm and uneventful, allowing Andromalius to heal under the care of Zecora. With nothing left to do, the hell stallion spent most of his time sleeping or reading books that the zebra gave him at his request. He didn't speak with Zecora much, however, as her presence emanated a certain odd feeling... Like she was from a different world, but not just in a way everyone around Andromalius was. An aura of mystery surrounded the zebra; what was she doing so far away from civilization, secluded in this dangerous forest all by herself? In his mind, he believed zebras lived in savannas, not thick dark forests. He didn't dare ask questions about it, of course – he realized there must be a huge reason for Zecora to live how she did, and perhaps prying wasn't the best idea.

Thankfully for the hell stallion, the peace within Zecora's tree-carved hut remained constant throughout his stay, and the zebra herself was away most of the time, leaving him to his own devices. He couldn't be happier to sustain this relationship.

Aside from the crawling suspicion he had about the zebra, he had a different worrying thought on his mind also – his inability to contact Inanna. Ever since the explosion, she was gone from his mind with no sign of return. No presence in his head, nothing but the usual silence and a flow of his own controlled thoughts. Whether to count it as a blessing or a problem, he didn't yet know.

In any case, he couldn't afford to stay in place and do nothing; once he completely healed, he was ready to depart. His next destination was the Summer Palace or, as it was more commonly known by most, the Castle of Two Sisters. A ruin of a previously magestic castle, it stood amidst the gloomy forest of Everfree, abandoned for centuries following Luna's Banishment.

Following Andromalius' escape from Canterlot, Princess Luna was no longer able to provide him direct assistance, but the message she made gave him directions to continue his studies not just of battle magic exclusively but also of the arcane arts in a broader sense. All the necessary information was stored inside if the library part of the castle was still intact, which Luna believed it was. It was the best chance for the hell stallion to learn without endangering himself by going near pony settlements.

Andromalius silently walked through the forest, his steps light and yet careful as he treaded on the dark soil. Patches of rough grass crunched and bent under his hooves, and branches brushed against his exoskeleton, rustling the leaves. His ears swiveled around, catching the slightest noise, looking out for anything that might signal danger. His eyes scanned the surroundings attentively, inspecting the surrounding bushes and the canopy above. Luna's medallion lay on his chest along with a few citrus fruits tied around his neck. A pair of saddlebags were by his sides, containing some food, water, a vague map of the forest provided by Zecora, a sleeping bag, and various small tools.

The dark soil was soft underneath his hooves, clinging to them as he walked; the air was humid and rich with various scents most of which Andromalius couldn't recognize. The trees creaked, the birds twitted and squeaked, and the insects chirped from their hiding place among the tall blades of grass.

The hooves of the hell stallion clicked, prompting him to look down; underneath the dirt and the moss, small boulders could be seen, making the remains of the pavement. To the side, almost indistinguishable from the crooked trees of the forest, a bent lamp post stood. The glass at the top was shattered and smoothed over time, and a small nest replaced the lamp itself. For a moment, Andromalius stopped and took a look at the map – and indeed, the post was marked on it. He was on the right way.

The sun was high above the forest, its rays penetrating the thick canopy of the forest, making way for the light to guide the hell stallion. The atmosphere was seemingly peaceful and calm, but various rustles and creaks warned of predators and dangers lurking around. Timberwolves stalked their prey yet again, keeping their distance because of the impossibly strong smell of the citrus fruits. For a while, they followed Andromalius, trying to close the distance, and yet the smell kept them away. The hell stallion was tense, his magic at the ready as he often looked around, scanning the surroundings for the glowing eyes of the predators. Thankfully for him, they soon dropped their pursuit, growling in displeasure; and yet, there might be simpler prey around the forest, one that didn't threaten to bite back.

After a while, the ground become steeper, leading Andromalius up to a big hill. The ancient steps of stone made long ago by the ponies eroded over time, turning into a smooth and overgrown slide, and yet it continued to serve its purpose in leading to the castle.

A roar came from the top of the hill, making chills go down Andromalius' spine and making him look up. A manticore was standing there, glaring at the intruder; its tail was high in a striking position, its fangs were bared, and its body was low to the ground. Andromalius paled, his body tensening, and he looked straight into the eyes of the manticore hoping that it would signal the beast not to attack him. However, he didn't know whether eye contact was a display of hostility or not, so he could only have hope.

For what seemed like eternity, the staring contest went on. Then the manticore headed towards Andromalius, moving slowly and carefully. Not sure whether to fall back or stand in place, the hell stallion decided to do the latter just in case running away was seen by the beast as a sign of weakness, and thus a trait of prey. He stood his ground, not once looking away from the eyes of the manticore. It came closer and closer, and yet didn't attack; however, its expression was hostile as far as Andromalius could understand.

The one thing animals always fear is fire, he remembered. And he always carried fire with him, inside him; it was always there, waiting to be released and used. However, he must be careful, for the fire could get out of control and result in untold destruction once it became wild. But when his life was on the line, he could summon it to aid him.

A streak of flame erupted along his spine and on the tip of his tail and hooves; at first it roared like the manticore did minutes before, forcing the beast to jump back in surprise and fear. Then the fire subsided somewhat, calming down. For a moment, Andromalius feared it burned his belongings, but a quick glance at them spoke otherwise to his greatest surprise. Despite the grass turning black underneath his hooves, the saddlebags, the medallion, and the cirtrus fruits remained unharmed.

Andromalius moved further up the hill, scorching the ground in his path, and the manticore finally submitted to his will, running away from the flames. After a while, the hell stallion finally extinguished his flames after making sure the manticore was nowhere in sight.

At the top of the hill, the forest opened into a big field separated in two by a chasm; the two sides were connected by a wooden rope bridge. On the far side of the chasm, the ruins of the Summer Palace were visible, overgrown like the rest of what once belonged to the pony kind in the Everfree. Andromalius sat down to rest and admire the view; as abandoned as the castle was, it still emitted a feeling of majesty and power... and a certain dark feeling. The hell stallion fidgeted, considering returning to Zecora for a moment. However, he needed to learn, and Princess Luna promised there was a secret room where he could study and sleep without disturbance.

With a few reassuring thoughts, he closed the distance between himself and the rope bridge. Hesitantly, he took a step forward onto it, still remembering how he fell from it when the ropes were cut so many days ago. The wooden board underneath him creaked but didn't give in much, giving him hope. Step by step, he crossed the bridge, trying not to look down; after many slow moments of uncertainy and fear, he was finally on the other side. He let out a sigh of relief and headed into the castle.

The double doors were slightly ajar, allowing him to sneak inside without disturbing the rotten wood and the rusty iron. A round chamber presented itself to him, a pedestal in its center: an orb surrounded by five stone arms ending in round plates. A trace of powerful magic could be sensed coming from the pedestal. The top of the chamber was gone completely, rubble lying around; another trace of magic could be sensed, a different one – raw and unbridled, powerful and filled to the brim with angst and bitterness. Shivers ran down his spine as if cold, and for a moment, he swore he heard a cry. And yet, the castle was silent, abandoned by all a long time ago.

He carefully moved further into the palace; through a small corridor, he appeared in the central hall. Overgrown with moss and small trees, broken and gone in many places, the floor lost its majesty; chips and webs of cracks ran along the walls and arches of entryways, from one of which the hell stallion emerged. The ceiling, previously arched glass, was now gone, exposing the hall to the elements. Nests of birds were perched on light fixtures, filling the abandoned castle with a sense of life, albeit different.

When he was there last, he was in a rush, galloping to save what he thought was the only chance of returning back home. Now, slower, more carefully, he walked amidst the ruins of a once majestic palace, feeling it, seeing it, and hearing its creaks and groans, like those of an animal slumbering in an unpleasant dream. He could feel its essense, he could feel the traces of those who lived there so long ago. And a familiar darkness welcomed him as if he were a part of it; it embraced him, whispering into his mind the thoughts and dreams of the night.

Andromalius' steps were soft and silent as he made his way across the hall to the stairs. His eyes scanned the surroundings, his ears swiveled to the most subtle of sounds. He looked up at the stairs and paused, his eyes narrowing – it seemed a figure was standing on the top, looking at him. Once he focused, he realized it was just a weirdly-shaped dark stain on the wall. Shaking his head, he continued on his way to the stairs and then up to the big double doors leading further into the castle. If he understood Luna's message correctly, he was soon to reach his destination. However, the state of the castle didn't give him much hope.

One of the doors groaned as he pushed it, disturbing a millenium of dust; a dark chamber opened before him. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting of the chamber, and it revealed rows of bookshelves full of differents tomes, journals, novels, and everything else a curious mind could desire. He sneaked inside, closing the door behind him, and went to explore the chamber.

He looked up at the ceiling, and it turned out to be intact; however, plaster was coming off of it, exposing the stone used to make the many supporting arches. The chamber smelled of old books and dryness, which surprised the hell stallion – if anything, he expected it to be overgrown and rotten after centuries of abandonment. However, it raised his spirits – if the chamber was in such a good condition, he would be able to find the secret lever to the hidden room without many issues as long as the opening mechanism was also still intact.

He walked across the rows, heading to the one on the far right. Once he found it, he ventured further until he came to a particular table with two chairs on the opposite ends of it. One of them was tipped over, lying on its side, but the other was standing still, square to the table. He reached out with his magic and pushed it forward. Instead of sliding across the floor, it tilted, revealing a curved piece of wood attached to the bottom of one of the legs. Something clicked underneath the floor, and one of the shelves opened outwards, revealing a hidden entrance. Smiling to himself, Andromalius let go of the chair and quickly entered the passage as the bookshelf slowly closed itself behind him. Once it did, total darkness enveloped the hell stallion, prompting him to light up his horn.

The passage was short and empty, and now he had to search for a certain brick to push to open the next door. If he remembered right, it would be the fourth brick of the tenth row from the bottom. He pressed on it and nothing happened; his brows furrowed. Maybe it was the tenth brick of the fourth row instead? This guess proved to be incorrect also. Stiffling growing uneasiness, he decided to pick the fourth brick of the tenth row from the top. To his relief, the brick moved, and the wall in front of him slid open, revealing a round room. If he didn't know better, Andromalius would think someone was still using it – the windows were intact and clean, the pillows and the beds looked like new, and there was not a speck of dust in sight. Even the carpet on the floor hadn't lost any of its colors.

The hell stallion took off his saddle bags and set them by the wall, then pulled on one of the candle holders to close the passage behind him. Now, he was alone and secure in this small room, although there was a regular door nearby leading elsewhere. He couldn't dare to step on the carpet, however, as his hooves were caked in dirt from his trip through the forest. So, he sat down and started cleaning them with his magic, making sure no dirt would go anywhere near the undoubtedly ancient carpet.

Once it was done, he walked onto the carpet, then to one of the big pillows, and lay down on it. The pillows was as soft as a cloud, its texture was nice and smooth, welcoming him into its embrace. For a while, he just lay there, enjoying the comfort, resting from his trip to the castle. The flow of his thoughts slowed down, and he released a yawn. Maybe he could rest a little longer...

The veil of darkness and magic wrapped around him, cocooning him, whispering things in his mind. Soon, he was asleep, and the dark trails of the tragedy of the castle entered his dreams.

Peace wouldn't be on his mind in this slumber.

Chapter 25: Insidiae et Abscondita

They say ignorance is a bliss. One can be happy not knowing the world beyond the doorstep of a house, the edge of a field, or walls of a city. To such people, this is their entire world, the only world they know and likely will know for the rest of their lives. They might think about the outside from time to time, but it concerns them little in their day to day life.

However, being aware of the outside can be beneficial, for knowledge is power. A larger world encompasses all things; by influencing just one thing, it's possible to change the tide of history. And yet, in such power, there is great sorrow and dread. Many atrocities were committed using it or in lust and hunger for it; cities destroyed, farms and fields razed to the ground, entire populations wiped out or brought to the edge of extinction. Lasting consequences always follow.

Such power must be wielded cautiously and responsibly, for this power can also be easily taken away. There always was and always is the fight, the struggle for the ability to change the world. Countries were born out of battles and died in revolutions or takeovers, societies rose and fell, persons became prominent and faded into obscurity. The unstoppable tide of history eventually got them all, for there is always someone willing to do anything to change the world for their own benefit.

Princess Luna knew it very well. Whilst she was born into royalty just like her sister, they did not became rulers until they were into their twenties with many achievements proving their strength to the world. The struggle for power and change erased their parents from the planet, and chaos rose; with chaos, its spirit awoken and terrorized the whole world in his twisted games of fun. Celestia and Luna then managed to defeat him and rise above all, earning their high place among others. And yet, one of the siblings was bound to fall, and it was by pure chance she was not destroyed like many others before and after her.

The nightly alicorn knew this cycle, knew this unending struggle for power and change. She had seen it all in her lifetime despite spending the majority of it on the moon in isolation, banished by her own sister. Now, Luna finally returned... and what did she see? The same thing yet again – nobility and politicians fighting for dominion over others, the masses struggling to live a life, and the few poor souls cast aside in the "perfect" society of Equestria. Corruption was ever-present even in those who were supposed to teach, help, and lead. A special talent each pony possessed did not guarantee food or shelter, or, in some cases, even life. The situation had vastly improved under Celestia's rule, no doubt, but certain things seemingly could never disappear.

A question arose – how could her sister not notice it? How could she not see what was so painfully obvious to Luna? Or did she notice and simply decided not to care?

No.

Such a thought was quickly banished from Luna's mind. Celestia couldn't become uncaring. Perhaps, she knew what was happening but couldn't bring herself to accept it. Or, perhaps, someone directed her gaze away from the unfortunate and the poor. If only her eyes could be made to open... however, Luna knew not how to help her sister, how to free her mind and allow her to see the bigger picture and the whole untainted truth of the world.

However, the lunar alicorn could start taking her first steps towards freeing her sister of that veil just like Celestia helped her free herself of the blinding hatred and deafening angst. She didn't remember her time on the moon very well, but it did teach her one very important thing – a clear mind is the key to staying true to yourself. And despite her nearly constant lack of quality sleep she had been experiencing for a while, she managed to keep it as sharp and as observant as ever.

In her investigation, she came across many interesting pieces of a larger puzzle; once put together, it could uncover the conspiracy to all. After meticulous searching and comparing different staff records, questioning witnesses, and tracing the events, she came upon the first piece of that puzzle. It stood before her, chained, quivering like a leaf in the wind – here he was, one of the guards partaking in the conspiracy, naked before her eyes.

Finding him was not difficult, for he was just a simple coward working for money, thinking he would never get caught. How typical for a criminal... and now he was here, held in place by four of the guards loyal directly to Luna.

In truth, any large plan had to have holes, for it is always difficult to keep track of every little thing. Nothing was too large to fail, and in fact, the larger something is, the louder it could fall if the underlying support is compromised. And so, this one thing Luna found, might as well have been the key to dismantling the whole conspiracy, no matter how much time it would take to accomplish.

She stood in front of the stallion, studying him with her eyes; his expression and body language betrayed him just as well as he betrayed his duty to her. There was no doubt about him, especially now. And yet, she felt no anger; it would be wasted on a simple pawn like him. All beings were susceptible to corruption for one reason or the other, and ponies were no different.

"I know what thou hast done, 'tis of no use to deny it," she began, speaking clearly, looking him straight in the eye, "I know thou wast the one who led Andromalius - the demon - to the forbidden section. Thou hast thus forsaken thine oath to the Crown and made thyself a criminal of high treason..."

She let a small pause take the place in the small dungeon cell. The stallion was silent, still shaking and looking away as if Luna's mere gaze could turn him inside out and boil him alive. In her younger years, when the heat of action blinded the reason of mind, she would perhaps consider something similar to bring results quicker. However, her banishment taught her another important thing – patience and focus.

"But 'tis not thee I'm looking for," Luna continued in the same tone, "Perhaps, if thou'rt cooperative, I shall... forget this incident and allow thee to willingly retire... prematurely. Of course, that meaneth no additional benefits to thy retirement, but I believe thou'rt willing to accept such a proposition," she insisted and then took a step forward, "My sister would otherwise be very displeased to learn that it was thee who showed Andromalius where to find the forbidden material he wasn't supposed to touch. She would simply throw thee in prison for... a long time," she looked at the stallion closer, "I certainly know how long the sentence from her could be."

Another pause of silence hanged in the air for a while as the alicorn simply stood and waited for her words to sink in as deep as they could. Simple blackmail would work finely on a simple pawn, for he had much to lose and nothing to gain by resisting her. He was the weak link among the conspiracy, and she intended to exploit it to the best of her ability. She could see he had taken the bait, and now she had but to give a slight tug in the right direction...

"So, I require that thou sharest every little thing thou knowest about the ponies - or anyone else - involved in thy... side job," Luna finally spoke, maintaining her calm tone, "Once we verify the accuracy of thine information and find uses for it... thou shalt be free to go, and thou shalt remember this time as consequences for thy poor decision-making. A life lesson that will not be forgotten, indeed."

The stallion was silent yet again.

"Well then, dost thou accept my proposition?" Luna spoke louder, emphasizing every word coming out of her maw. A simple question, and only two answers were permitted. An illusion of choice, of course, for the stallion could offer only one of the options if he had any sense in his mind at all.

"I, I do," the stallion stuttered out finally to no surprise from anyone in the room, "But... how long do I have to stay here?"

"As long as I require," the alicorn replied coldly, "So, 'tis in thy best interest to provide me with correct and useful information. The sooner thou getst it all done, the sooner thou shalt go back to thy life. I shall leave thee for now to let thee think thy next words carefully. I shall come back in the evening to hear what thou hast to say."

Satisfied with the outcome, Luna exited the cell and allowed her guards to unchain the stallion and let him rest. After all, it was not her intent to torture him physically – some mental pressure along with subtle magic could do the trick just as well, not to mention different psychological tricks she had learned over her lifetime. For now, all she desired was some sleep, and she hoped nine hours of it would be enough to regain all her strength back. After all, rest was required after this moderate success.

As she walked, deep in thought, she remembered her younger years. Passionate and strong, she found no place unless it was in the middle of action, no matter what it was. Sitting in place, reading books, was not her desire, for she strived to destroy the corruption she could see clear as day. Equestrian society was plagued by inefficiency, infighting, and petty competitions that brought nothing to the society at large. She dreamed of overcoming them all, to rid the society of all its sickness... and yet she failed, falling herself to a kind of corruption most deep. She came to hate her sister, hate the very subjects she sworn to bring to light, and she failed them all. At the time, the burning shame and agonizing rage came over her, and she was herself no more.

That was when she learned corruption couldn't evade even the strongest minds.

Despite her steady flow of clear thoughts, a yawn came over her, and a haze descended upon her mind. Days upon days of poor sleep and coffee-fueled research had worn down her body, and rest was certainly required lest she passed out at the most unfortunate of times. With another yawn, she made her way to her wing of the castle, slumping more and more with each step as sleep quickly came over her.

A sudden quiet laughter made her rapidly aware. Her eyes opened wide and she looked around, fear in her heart.

"Is there an issue, your majesty?" a guard stationed nearby asked, "May I be of assistance?"

"...No, 'tis fine," Luna replied after a short while, furrowing her brows slightly, "I shall be on my way."

As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Not by a physical entity, however, but something else entirely. Or was it her sleep-deprived mind playing tricks on her? She wasn't sure. Her eyelids were certainly growing heavier and heavier with each moment she spent awake, so perhaps a good long sleep would clear her mind.

She didn't notice the alarms going off inside her head. Or, perhaps, it was nothing relating to being noticeable or not...

Soon, she reached her bedchambers; she tiredly pushed open the doors and then locked them behind her as she stepped into her barely-lit room. She yawned yet again and went straight to bed, not even bothering with taking off her royal regalia. Perhaps she would regret it later as the regalia wasn't even close to a comfortable sleep attire, but it was a problem for the future her.

As her head hit the pillow, sleep quickly overcame her, and her tired body finally relaxed. As she made her last sleepy blink, however, she was a pair of eyes looking at her from across the room. A dark shape zoomed in and whispered into her ear:

"I shall show thee the truth, my dear... Sleep, and thou shalt see."

The sound of a breath, the beating of a heart, the flow of blood, they could all be heard even in the most silent room. Such was the quietness when Andromalius opened his eyes, and yet it seemed they stayed closed. He blinked, and yet nothing changed – the absolute darkness remained. He could feel his own body, but nothing past his tail or hooves; it appeared he was simply floating in the air, although he wasn't falling. There was no wind, no feeling of the outside at all. Confused, he stood up and looked around, and yet nothing could be seen nor heard. The only scent he could catch was of himself, so even his nose couldn't help him find out where he was.

The hell stallion cautiously took a step forward and stopped; it felt like walking in place. No wind passed him to indicate that he moved, absolutely nothing changed. He wasn't even sure if he had taken that step at all. But of course he had – his memory couldn't lie to him about it... at least he hoped so.

The silence was then pierced by what could only be described as a lightning strike. A moment later, none other than Inanna appeared in front of Andromalius among the same blackness. A few moments passed as the two came to their senses.

"Uh, what are you doing in my dream?" Inanna asked slowly, looking around the lightless blackness, "I have a feeling I'm not just dreaming about you," she paused for a moment as she turned around and then back to Andromalius, "And I've never dreamt of anything this empty."

A feeling of danger creeped up, and yet neither of the two demons knew what to do.

"This is weird, it shouldn't be like this," Andromalius said, frowning, "And if it's a dream... I can't wake up."

"Okay, that's starting to creep me out," Inanna tensened, her voice concerned, "At least I'm now sure you're alive... but I guess something happened. Any idea what that is?"

To the hell stallion, Inanna sounded increadibly calm considering the situation. No playfulness and no panic either. Did she always think this way in her dreams or was there something else? However, he did feel pretty strange himself, so perhaps personalities shifted somewhat during dreaming. For now, he had no time to think about it in depth.

"I'm... in the castle that's in the middle of the Everfree Forest, I think," he replied, no longer certain if it was true or if something else happened to him. His thoughts were unorganized, confused even, and he didn't know why. Perhaps it was the nature of dreaming? After all, dreams are easily forgetful, and thinking clearly during sleep wasn't a thing one could achieve without dedicated practice. He believed it was called lucid dreaming, "I think I went to sleep, and now I'm here."

"Maybe you're just really tired or something, but that doesn't really answer why I am in your weird dream-"

And just like that, she disappeared without a sound or a visual clue. One moment, she was there, and then she wasn't. It took a small while for Andromalius to process it, but he stayed silent. Alarms were going off inside his head, but there was no one to fight and nothing to run to.

"The truth hath been made clear," a familiar dark voice spoke as a cloud of stars faded into existence; if he were in reality, he'd start to panic. For some unknown reason, his dream self was outwardly calm, albeit worried and alarmed on the inside, "Where one demon is, another followeth... and hidden, both strive to be."

Nightmare Moon stepped out of the starlit mist, her expression victorious with a hint of anger.

"None can fool us, not even thee," she spoke to Andromalius, "And now, Luna knoweth thy secret."

An image of Princess Luna appeared in front of the hell stallion, her eyes open wide with shock. Andromalius wanted to say something, to explain that it wasn't how it looked, but words failed to escape his maw. What explanation could he offer that wouldn't bring her wrath? Would any explanation even be believable at all, considering the sense of a certain darkness surrounding him? Nothing he could offer could even sound believable, let alone be believed.

"Thou hast never acted alone," Nightmare Moon continued, her voice rising, "The secret is unveiled, and now thou shalt face judgement for thy secrecy!"

A spell erupted from her horn, and all things disappeared.

Chapter 26: Secretum et Praecantatio

Bright sharp blue light emitted from the many torches on the countless columns along the endless castle hall. Moon and stars shone through the windows and the skylight, adding a certain softness to the artificial light. The perfection of the infinite hall under the night's sky was interrupted, however, by a creature of black and red; alerted and aware, he scanned the surroundings, puzzled by the sudden change of scenery.

By the majesty of the eternal night, a mare of black and blue appeared before the demon, ethereal darkness radiating from her as her starlit mane and tail danced and shimmered. Armor-clad, the Queen of Nightmares bore a triumphant grin of malice on her face, exposing her long and sharp fangs. A look between cold focus and magic-fueled madness was in her aqua eyes, her viper-pupils looking directly at the hell stallion before her.

"One cannot keep secrets from us," Nightmare Moon spoke in a booming, powerful voice that demanded obedience, "Thine is revealed, and thus thy judgement will come soon."

As soon as Andromalius began to open his maw, a lightning struck outside the hall, its deafening sound denying any speech.

"Silence!" the alicorn spoke, her voice loud and clear amidst the lightning strike, "My dear Luna will arrive shortly and judge thee in the waking world, but my judgement is complete in the dream realm. Thou shalt now suffer the consequences of thy secrecy, for no conspiracies shall be hidden from my gaze!"

The dream twisted and contorted, stretched and squeezed, turned into impossible shapes, and Andromalius was thrown around, flying in every direction possible, all the chaos around him quickly passing before his eyes, denying him concentration and focus; the face of Nightmare Moon was clear before him, however.

"The dream realm is my domain, thou hast no power here!" she gloated and laughed as she manipulated the surroundings; not a moment passed without something changing. The stone flowed, the flames rose and fell, the glass danced like fire, the floor opened and closed like a giant maw, hungry for the hell stallion. He remained unhurt, and yet he could do not a thing to stop it, losing all control.

The gravity changed and now he was free falling through the hall, torches passing quickly before his eyes, and he had nothing to hold on to. In a second, he was thrown into the ceiling, then at a window, then spun around like a ragdoll, and finally mercilessly slammed into the floor. He let out a small gasp as he felt a painful tingle across his whole body. Before he could stand up, the disorienting carousel paired with a twisted roller coaster continued, and once again the hall blurred before him; if it were real, he would've passed out, but this experience was worse. He couldn't fall unconscious despite feeling sick to the bone, and a crushing headache pulsated inside his mind.

It wasn't right. Wasn't he dreaming, and thus wouldn't it be his own dream? If it belonged to him, he had the power over it, he had to have it; and so, before the spell was complete, his mind focused on taming the dream and bringing it to an end.

The entire hall shook, forcing Nightmare Moon to abort her manipulations as she tried to balance on her hooves; Andromalius finally became still, lying on the floor. Cracks appeared on the previously smooth walls, bricks flying out of them and scattering in every direction. Laws of gravity did not define this dream reality, but they were now under the command of the hell stallion at least partially, and so many bricks floated in the air or spun around the curved columns. The hall turned and twisted in the impossible stretch real stone would never be able to do, and soon the entire dream was filled with a different kind of chaos, familiar and yet different from what the alicorn of the night conjured. With a yell and a thud, Nightmare Moon fell on the floor and slid around as the dream tried to end. Alas, it soon stopped, and now it was stable again.

Nightmare Moon grunted and stood up from the floor, a befuddled look on her face. A moment later it changed to a look of determination, and no more words came out of her maw as she cast a straitforward battle spell. A blinding white light grew on her horn, and the hell stallion couldn't do more than conjure up a shield in the mere moments before the spell broke out and a lightning struck forward; his shield shattered, and the tremendous force made him slide on the floor, almost falling. As he recomposed himself, Nightmare Moon took a step forward, light on her horn growing again.

Andromalius was unsure whether he could even hurt her in the dream realm, and he wasn't certain he even wanted to do it – after all, Luna could be connected to her in some way. However, he had to act, and act quickly if he hoped to escape.

This time, he decided to try deflecting her spell instead – he didn't conjure a flat shield but instead a half-sphere in front of him, hoping that the spells would listen to his wish; the dream might not follow the laws of reality, but it was his dream, and he believed he could dictate what laws applied to it.

Not one, not two, but a dozen bolts of magic erupted from her horn, flying straight at the shield – one impact, glanced off; two more impacts simultaneously, partially absorbed, but the shield was still holding; the rest followed, either absorbed or deflecting into nearby walls and columns, raising dust and shattering bricks. Nightmare Moon's eyes widened at the display, but her expression quickly cleared and was replaced by pure concentration.

The hell stallion cast a single lightning, making it travel around his shield before darting straight at the alicorn. To his surprise, she caught the bolt of electricity with her magic and led it around her, redirecting it and sending it back to him, empowering it with her own magic and making it into a ball. He stepped to the side, moving the shield along with him, and the lightning barely nicked the shield, making a crack appear on its surface, and a few tendrils of electricity made tiny holes around the crack. The lightning shattered a column behind him once it passed.

With his eyes focused on Nightmare Moon, he failed to notice the bricks gathering beind him and then being hurled at him with tremendous force. His legs, back, neck, and head were heavily impacted, forcing him to drop the shield and almost fall to the ground in pain.

Seizing the opportunity, te alicorn conjured a number of sharp icicles and shot them at the hell stallion; in disorientation, he barely managed to dodge them, and one of them managed to scratch his exoskeleton.

Andromalius huffed, stumbling into a more stable position, his mind scrambling for a way out. The alicorn of the night held dominance over his dream despite his attempts to shake it off, her power amplified by lack of any restraints seen in reality. However, he was not completely powerless, and perhaps he would be able to kick her out of his head and, hopefully, wake up.

A barrage of stone spikes rained from the ceiling, and he had to conjure a shield as well as dodge, feeling every impact the heavy spikes did on the shield. Removing a part of his shield, he shot at Nightmare Moon with another lightning, hoping to hit her quickly this time. His attack forced her to drop her spell, but her reaction was quick, and the lightning was redirected back at him again, empowered. He begun closing the opening in his shield but the lightning managed to get through at the last second, hitting him square in the chest. He grunted in pain, his magic uncontrolled for a second as he focused on not falling to the ground, his muscles spasming.

In but a mere moment, a tornado swept through the hall, effortlessly picking Andromalius up and slamming him against columns, walls, floor and ceiling; the deafening sound of the wind breaking his concentration and focus. On instinct, he launched a lightning, but it only electrified the tornado, and many lightnings struck back at him, stinging his body time and time again. His limbs hopelessly flailed around, and his mind was lost among the turbulent winds.

Without a thought or any conscious command, fire erupted from his body, pushing in every direction; the tornado was soon gone, and Andromalius stood on wobbly legs in front of Nightmare Moon. She narrowed her eyes, still focused, and decided to fight fire with fire.

The torches brightened, and the blue flames flowed from them like a river, gathering into a blazing ball in front of Nightmare Moon; Andromalius summoned the strength to conjure the shield, reminding himself to learn more things to counter battle magic with. Once the ball grew to the size of hell stallion's body, the alicorn hurled it at him with tremendous force. Mostly recovered from the thrashing, he managed to complete the spell and now braced for impact. Suddenly, a large lightning bolt pierced the flame and struck his shield, breaking it apart, and a moment later the fire engulfed him.

His eyes were closed as the blue fire roared and screamed around him, the flames licking at his body with infernal hunger. It was different from the regular fire in how it sounded and felt, and yet... no pain came. The heat surrounding him was comforting, bringing no harm. Fueling his power and resolve, the flames were absorbed by him, and he finally opened his eyes. The blue fire danced along his spine and tip of his tail, his hooves were ablaze, and blue glow emitted from his eyes. Soon, the fire of the nightly alicorn was under his absolute control.

Nightmare Moon stared at him in surprise, her eyes open wide at the sight; she took a step back, attempting no spell.

Using this moment, Andromalius concentrated on the fire, commanding it forth towards the alicorn. As the flames were about to touch her, the whole scenery suddenly changed to a starlit sky – no, simply replaced by the all-surrounding cosmos. The hell stallion felt light, and now he couldn't inhale – there was nothing to breathe in. Deafening silence surrounded him, and he felt nothing but the alarming sensation of something wrong happening.

For a moment, his flames faltered, diminishing, and he simply drifted in space, limbs dangling helplessly as he tried to find a ground to stand on. Panic rose inside him as his body simply couldn't get any air in, and whatever he had left inside his lungs was escaping. He tried to inhale, but it did nothing but slightly slow down his forced exhalation. The fear rose swiftly.

He had to force himself to stop and think – it was simply a dream. He wasn't floating in the vacuum of space, he was sleeping and having a dream Nightmare Moon conjured. In a dream, he didn't need to breathe. It was all an illusion cast by the alicorn, something to make him struggle and suffer.

As the air completely escaped his lungs, he felt nothing unusual. No pain, no darkening of vision, nothing that would signify real suffocation. He reached out with his mind, stabilizing his body. All it took were few moments of control to make him stand on nothing as if it were solid floor. When his hooves touched the imaginary surface, ripples of energy appeared around them.

"Thou art much stronger than I anticipated," Nightmare Moon spoke, a mix of surprise and anger in her voice, "Defying me in my own realm... Thine ability for dreamwalking is another secret I shall learn, in time. I shall allow thee to awake, for there is no escape now."

His eyes opened to greet the room he fell asleep in, and a sinking feeling in his stomach told him the near future wouldn't be kind to him.

Luna was wide awake, pacing in her room, sleepiness completely gone from her body. Indecisiveness shackled her mind, and each second, each small moment passed painfully, and the dream she had just seen did not fade like dreams should. Sweat dampened her fur, her heartbeat deafened her, denying concentration and focus. Her steps were rigid, methodical – a way to calm down.

She stopped and took a few deep breaths. Counting in her head, she repeated it a couple times and recomposed herself. She arranged her thoughts and began to filter them in, one by one. First question was simple – whom should she trust, Nightmare Moon or Andromalius? She had barely any trust for her dark side, but she had plenty of reasons to trust the hell stallion. He had saved a life, he seemed honest, and nothing showed a hidden agenda; and yet, she remembered the voice she heard inside his head, and this voice belonged to the succubus she had just seen in the dream Nightmare Moon summoned.

However, it could very well be something the dark side made up from her fears and imaginations. That voice she supposedly heard could be just a figment of her tired imagination, and dreams could easily create impossible situations, especially if they're conjured for such a purpose. What Nightmare Moon would be able to gain from this was unknown, but Luna knew she had to be careful lest she repeated her millennium old mistake. She was warned about tampering with dark forces that tempt, and yet she listened not to the warnings but to the promises or power and justice.

She exhaled slowly and sat down to help her shivering legs relax. Her horn glowed for a moment as she wiped the sweat from her forehead before it could trickle down to her eyes. She had to think rationally and act accordingly. Even if Andromalius kept the succubus secret from Luna, it didn't imply maliciousness. But if he was indeed from a different world – and there was little doubt about it – then how did he come into contact with the succubus? Or were they together since the beginning, was she a friend or a lover he didn't mention?

What Luna knew was the fact that Andromalius was a demon who claimed he wasn't one prior to his appearance in Equestria; a sense of mystery surrounded him, and he knew – or at least he claimed to know – many things which were too precise to be simple imaginations and yet too vague and generalized to be something he specialized at. Logically, a regular pony would know a similar amount of things if one were to appear in some distant land or unknown dimension.

However, she could very well be wrong about him in a number of ways. After all, it seemed suspicious of him to know the Common language despite his claim of it being identical to his language of English. Such coincidences seemed completely impossible.

There was only one thing she could do – confront Andromalius directly and not back down until she got the answers. While he did seem innocent for the most part, she had to check, for even the tiniest possibility of wrongdoing should be investigated. Perhaps it was a paranoid thing to do, but she had experienced her fair share of warnings ignored in favor of comfort.

Luna walked to a cupboard nearby and opened it, revealing a couple shelves filled with various useful potions: some were colorful, others looked like simple water; some glowed, others absorbed the light. After a moment of thinking, she reached with her magic for the blue sparkling liquid. It would help her stay awake and be at her best, although she preferred not to think of the headache it would bring her the next day. She opened the container and drank it in one go, then placed it back into the cupboard, making a mental note to replace it later.

A sensation of power grew inside her body, the sleepy mist around her mind disappearing almost instantly, and her body was restored in strength and endurance. Whatever awaited her at the Summer Palace, she was ready for it. However, bringing in some help wouldn't be bad either. She was almost certain she was more powerful than Andromalius and would be able to subdue him if necessary, but 'almost certain' was never 'perfectly certain', and ignoring such seemingly small things could very well be her downfall, for small details have destroyed many throughout thousands of year.

Just in case, she looked into one of the drawers and found a small sword-shaped necklace. She locked it around her neck, knowing how useful a simple sharp blade could be even in a battle of magic. She tapped her royal regalia twice and headed to the balcony of her quarters. She opened the door and slipped out of her room, four thestrals already waiting for her.

A minute later, Canterlot was growing smaller and smaller, and wind whipped at her face as she flew through the air, her eyes aimed directly at the hidden ruins of the Summer Palace. Perhaps she could teleport there straight away, but it would likely result in an ambush. Approaching from a distance seemed like a more reasonable choice despite giving Andromalius more time to prepare.

Luna hoped her worries and fears wouldn't realize.

In the Summer Palace, unseen darkness assembled, seeping into every crack, and yet it was hiding. One would get the feeling of wrongress if they approached the ancient ruins; turning away and leaving would be the wisest choice. A trap was set, the plan was in motion, and all it required to complete was time.

And time... time goes on forever without stopping.

Author's Note

Sorry for the kind-of-cliffhanger here, but the chapter was growing big. I'll see if I can release the next one quicker.

Chapter 27: Pactum

As Luna flew through the air towards the Summer Palace, the doubts continued to creep inside her, making her unconsciously slow down mid-flight. Did she need to approach Andromalius about keeping such an insignificant secret from her? Summoning a succubus was a practice Luna was aware of, and it was nothing more than harmless adult fun. However, to summon a succubus, one needed to know a certain incantation, as well as paint symbols in proper order and shape. How would the hell stallion know about it? Something didn't seem right, but she had to think about it.

The spires of the Summer Palace were visible even from this distance, not covered even by the tallest trees of the Everfree forest. Ancient ruins, a reminder of her failure, they towered above the forbidden forest, now but a shadow of the former dominance. The forest grew dark and unruly since all those centuries ago, and beasts returned to their habitat, prowling for prey day and night. Nightmare Moon is a dark spot in the history of Equestria, and the Everfree forest is an existing reminder for all, warning of what could happen if one were to succumb to powerful darkness.

Shaking these dark thoughts off, Luna decided to send a mental transmission to the castle in hopes of reaching Andromalius and perhaps talk to him that way - this option only occurred to her after the potion substantially cleared up her mind. She cast her spell, and yet silence and white noise was her answer, for the chaos of Everfree hid the hell stallion from both sight and magic. Realizing she had no other options, the Lunar alicorn continued her flight.

She dreaded the moment of her arrival – what would she ask? More importantly, how would she voice her questions, concerns, and worries? Would it be right for her to demand or would she simply be too inquisitive about his personal life? On one side, Andromalius was an otherworldly demon who might have an agenda; on the other, he hadn't shown to be malicious in any of his actions or words. Even during his escape from Canterlot, he caused no harm despite having enough raw power to bring down quite a few squads of Royal Guards by himself. When he stole the train, he managed to minimize the material damage as well, stealing only what he needed. He would likely abandon the train after getting off, which would result in but a relatively slight delay in the cargo transportation across Equestria. It would undoubtedly cost some, but in the end, things would return to normal sooner than the next day. Whether it was his conscious choice or not was unclear, however.

Luna had to be honest and admit his actions didn't speak of evil, his words didn't speak of it, and the only piece of evidence of any harm he might be harboring for others is obscure, vague, and supported only by statements of Nightmare Moon and a dream she could have easily made. Her sister Celestia distrusted Andromalius as well, and perhaps it was getting to the nightly alicorn as well.

The Princess of the Night was rarely wrong about people regardless of their species or affiliation, and she sensed Andromalius meant no harm and was indeed simply a confused person stranded in an unfamiliar world doing his best to adapt. However, she needed to make sure she was right about it, otherwise the itching doubt would drive her insane over time. But if it was indeed just tricks of Nightmare Moon meant to drive them apart, what was the end goal? Where did this trickery lead, what would it accomplish?

Luna had yet to see the end of it, but the castle was growing closer, and so was her talk with Andromalius. She had to prepare herself.

Andromalius had exited the cramped space of the study and returned to the main hall of the castle for the breath of fresh air. His mind felt tired, deeply exhausted by the fight he had with Nightmare Moon in the dream realm, and yet he was afraid to go back to sleep, afraid to as much as lie down. She let him go this time, but it was apparent she was not forced to do it; if he fell asleep once more, she could easily ensnare him and turn his mind inside out if she so wished.

He paced and turned, kicking up ancient dust and disturbing the deep silence of the ruined palace. The hell stallion couldn't stop, for he needed to stay awake, and constant movement seemed to help him. At the very least, he soon grew calmer, his steps slowed down and became more measured, precise.

Perhaps it would be best to leave the castle – the entire atmosphere of the place made shivers run across his body. He could sense the dark magic surrounding and penetrating the decaying walls, shattered glass, and many tomes of knowledge stored within the withering halls. Was getting this knowledge worth staying in such a place, feeling paranoid as if someone was watching him? His entire mind was screaming at him to leave this place and never return without a good deal of exorcism knowledge and practice of it. An imprint of something wrong was present, and it needed to be erased before the palace could be considered a simple abandoned structure.

A realization struck him. The feeling of wrongness, the dream he had, his fight with Nightmare Moon... He figured out what was going on and what was going to happen soon. With this realization, he dashed towards the exit, almost flying through the hall, and the doors seemed painfully close...

"No," a dark female voice whispered and he was suddenly suspended in the air, frozen in place, "Thou shalt remain here."

Andromalius struggled and grunted, and yet he could barely move a muscle. Panic rose inside him as the forces of darkness squeezed around him.

"Thou hast figured it out, hastn't thou?" Nightmare Moon spoke, her voice quiet yet powerful, getting to him through his racing thoughts, "Very good, but much too late for thee to stop my plan. Thy struggle is futile now."

She threw him back deeper into the palace and his body tumbled to a stop near the very opposite of the exit.

"I thank thee, for thou hast taken the main role in my plan and acted it well," she continued, lifting him up and placing him back on four hooves, "Unknowingly, thou hast helped me... I'm willing to forgive thy transgression and even reward thee once all things are concluded."

Andromalius lit his horn, desperately wishing to teleport out of the castle; in a moment, he felt searing pain inside the horn as if someone clamped it with red-hot metal. He yelled, his mind filling with white nothingness, ceasing his magic, and his suffering immediately ended. He stumbled a few steps backwards but managed not to fall, although his mind was in disarray. He panted, sweating, slowly recovering from this moment of intense pain.

"As I've said, thou shalt stay here, Andromalius," Nightmare Moon continued. Yet, despite the apparent presence of her voice, it did not belong to a physical vessel. As a side note, the hell stallion realized souls could very well be a thing, "At least, for now... Thou shalt do well to listen."

The gears inside his mind turned – he had to warn Luna about Nightmare Moon, tell her about the danger of coming to the castle if she was already on her way... but how? He must get out of this situation, escape... but how? These questions repeated themselves over and over again in his mind, and yet he could find no solution, nothing that would work. He stood in one place, unrestricted, but he couldn't try to run away or teleport or even send any message out to anyone.

"There is a hole above thee. Look up," Nightmare Moon said, and Andromalius couldn't disobey. For a moment, he wondered why she told him to do it, but soon he could see small dots slowly growing bigger. His eyes widened, his heart sunk, "They're on their way here, Luna and her Night Guards. Just as I expected."

"What do you want to do?" Andromalius asked, his voice filled with caution.

"Retake what belonged to me first," she humored his question, "Then I shall conquer the day and turn it to night."

"Why?"

"Despite being cornered, perhaps even on the brink of death, thou art interested in my plans?" the invisible alicorn or a spirit chuckled ghastly, sending shivers down the spine of the hell stallion, "I would imagine survival would concern thee more. Unless thou realizedst I could've killed thee already but haven't... perhaps thou knowest I have plans for thee as well. Very well, I shall indulge thy curiosity, but all in due time. Now, thou shalt stay out of sight and gaze upon the finale."

He was frozen in place by magic again, and shadows cloaked him, making him invisible in the dark corner of the main hall. He could barely move, but opening his maw proved impossible. The grip on him was strong, and he didn't know how to break it. He hoped Nightmare Moon couldn't be too powerful without a body – assuming he was right about what she was going to do. If not, then Nightmare Moon's trap for Luna was nothing more than...

He tried to break free again, struggling to the best of his ability, and feeling the give in the dark magic of the spirit. With enough time, with enough willpower, he would break through it.

"Dost thou think I shall kill dear Luna?" Nightmare Moon whispered in his ear, "No, that is not my plan. I need to... reunite with her. Now stand still unless thou wantest pain."

Minutes painfully passed as Andromalius stood, deprived of freedom to move. Silence reigned in the hall, rarely disturbed by the noises the abandoned palace made as if it were yet alive: stone creaked under the weight of a thousand years, drops of water fell from the eroded walls and ceiling, and ghastly winds blew their cold air. Every twenty-eight seconds, a plop was heard. After three plops, the hall was still empty, and the dots in the sky became bigger. Five more, and the emptiness was the same, but the dots disappeared from view. Eight plops after that, the visitors came in silently, passing the threshold of the palace.

"Andromalius, art thou here?" Luna called out. He wanted to answer, he really did, but his maw was clamped shut. He could only think one thought - 'Don't go here, leave!'

Not getting her answer, the alicorn went further, and step by step she came closer to her doom. Her guards followed, ignorant to the danger looming inside the ancient palace. Andromalius struggled to move, to say, but the grip around him tightened, rendering him still. His heart skipped a beat when Luna stopped mid-step, her expression suddenly changing.

He felt it.

"My princess?" one of the guards asked, stopping as well.

"It is..." she said quietly, and then went silent with a gasp, closing her eyes. The guards readied themselves, quickly forming a square around her, weapons prepared.

Painfully, seconds passed. Andromalius closed his eyes, a quiet sigh escaping his lips as the grip on him loosened. Alas, it was too late to do anything about it.

When Luna opened her eyes next, they were no longer hers – viper-like, emitting a certain intensity, they belonged to another. She put her hoof down and straightened her posture, spreading her wings.

"Guardians of the Night," she spoke, the booming voice of Nightmare Moon coming from her, radiating with power and majesty, "Your queen hath returned."

The guards turned to her, astonishment on their faces. She looked at each of them, inspecting them with her eyes, getting their names from the mending fractures of consciousness belonging to both of the beings inside the same head.

"Your families have sworn fealty to me, and I call on you to fulfill it, for things shall now change," she continued, "I, Nightmare Moon, shall realize a dream of mine, and it is your duty to aid me," she walked from one guard to another, looking them deep in the eyes. They thestrals were frozen in place, uncertainty evident on their faces, "What say you? Uphold your honor or cast yourself into darkness?"

Somewhat reluctantly, the guards lowered their weapons and bowed to their queen. They might question her judgement or actions, but never aloud, for they were loyal to a fault, unwavering. For generations, their families passed down the tale of Nightmare Moon – the Moonlit One. From father to son, from mother to daughter, the tale was told of a mare who embraced the night and turned into its vessel, the carrier of power and will.

Luna was believed to be this mare, and yet it was clear something more powerful awoke inside her, the true Moonlit One. She now stood before them, expectations in her gaze. Her gaze softened, and a look of pride appeared on her face, making the guards straighten themselves even more than before.

"Perhaps as Luna, I lacked the will to do what is right, but it endeth today when my soul is reunited, now a whole," she declared, "I see you are confused, but worry not – all things shall make sense, in time."

The alicorn turned to Andromalius, making his blood run cold in his veins. Shadows fell back, revealing him, and he could move freely once more. For a moment, nothing was said as the two looked at each-other. The guards noticed him too, and now looked at him warily, forming a half-circle in front of Nightmare Moon, but not raising their weapons yet, waiting for their mistress' command. A passing thought made the hell stallion shiver, an irrational stumble of mind – would she now order him to be imprisoned or killed or... worse?

"Very well, demon, thine assistance is dearly appreciated," she spoke, "And now... tell me, what is thy goal?"

"...My goal? I... I don't know," he replied honestly after a few moments of consideration. He decided to omit his supposed role among the demons who thought him a part of a prophecy, a prophecy he wasn't sure he was ready for or even willing to accept.

"Indeed, thou art without a purpose... yet," she took a few steps forward, "Thou hast done one thing only – survive. Survive and learn, to be precise. Dear Luna hath done well to help thee on thy journey of discovery, but alas 'tis not enough. But first and foremost, I must apologize for my earlier treatment of thee – I used thee without thy knowledge twice in my own plans and I have hurt thee. However, I can see great potential within thee now, potential that I can help nourish and expand."

This offer already sounded devilish. What reason did Andromalius have to trust her, especially after she admitted to using him, especially if he knew she was using him for purposes many would consider suspicious at best and evil at worst?

However... what else was he left to do? Pony society was now at large against him, for he was fooled and trapped. Demons, or at least Inanna, were seemingly willing to help him achieve success, but he had yet to bring himself to trust them. There was also this prophecy, and he didn't even want to think about it yet. His only reliable ally, maybe even almost a friend, Luna, was... not gone, no, but... not accessible anymore, perhaps.

He now stood truly alone in front of a powerful alicorn, one that attacked him before. Perhaps she wasn't an outright foe, but she was far from a friend either. He might have been able to keep up with her in the dream realm somewhat, but that made sense to him – it was his dream, he could change it. The outside reality was not his playing field, however, and it would be foolish to fight.

"What do you want to do... to the world?" he asked carefully.

"Such an interesting question coming at this time..." she replied, curiosity in her voice, "But I think I understand. Tell me, then – what dost thou believe I want?"

"You want to drown the world in eternal darkness, making the night last forever," he began, reciting what he knew about her, "Wouldn't that kill everything? Sun gives warmth, it makes plants grow... you can't do without the sun!"

Nightmare Moon huffed and took a step towards Andromalius; his body tensed, various spells going through his mind just in case. However, her horn did not light with magic and neither did her expression become more threatening. She merely... let out a laugh. And then it grew into a guffaw as her whole body shook and tears welled up in her eyes. The hell stallion watched her, not sure how to react. The guards were likewise puzzled, uncertain of what they should be doing. And so the ancient hall of the palace was filled with nothing but the mad-like laughter for a solid minute before it subsided and Nightmare Moon could control herself again.

"Dost thou really believe I would try to bring forth Eternal Night if that was truly the case?" she asked rhetorically, the last of her chuckles dying down, but an amused grin remained on her face, "Of course not, I do not aim to destroy this world but merely to reform it. Plants and animals shall live under moonlight better than they ever could under the sunlight."

The alicorn looked up at the sky – the sun was peeking ever so slightly over one of the towers. She stepped aside, now fully under the shade, and her expression became serious.

"In summer, the sun maketh days unbearably hot, and heat killeth both animals and plants alike often," she continued, "In winter, it provideth no warmth, for sunny days are cold, and animals have to hide while plants lay dead underneath the snow. Thou canst not even look at the sun. Dost thou truly believe it can be the only and the best source of what life requireth?"

"But that's just how nature is, you can't just... change it," Andromalius argued, although he was losing conviction, feeling he was missing an important detail. Not to mention the fact his argument came out awkward.

"Perhaps in thine own world it doth," Nightmare Moon pointed out, making him realize where he was at fault, "In ours, it is not so. Magic sustaineth life, and magic is everywhere, and magic can likewise be manipulated to bring forth the change. The power of moon and stars is far greater than one measly orb of heat. Perhaps 'tis best for thee to silence thine ignorance and learn instead."

She let out a sigh of a certain kind of tiredness, looking away for a moment. She could feel the effects of the potion Luna took slowly but surely fading away, and fatigue now grew in place of power. However, it was not the time to show it – she straightened her posture and looked once again at the peculiar demon before her. A curious otherworldly creature he was, bearing great potential in power and wisdom... if such potential is guided correctly, if such potential is fulfilled to the best of her ability to teach and his ability to learn, he could become a worthy ally in her quest. Perhaps she could convince him despite their earlier conflicts.

Inside Nightmare Moon's mind, now that her consciousness was not divided between the collapsing ruins and the head of Luna, calm reigned, serenity unlike before. The disturbances from her fractured consciousness stopped, clearing her thoughts and putting them back in order. Perhaps she and Luna were no longer one and the same, but they shared many things, and perhaps the princess will come to understand the queen and, once more, unite. Until then, her objections could be ignored until it was the time to have a talk with her.

Her mind returned to reality, and she noted Andromalius uttered not a word. Perhaps it was good, perhaps he was willing to listen to her indeed. And if not, he was considerate of angering her. Either way, it was a smart decision, and it could very well be a step towards recruiting him to her cause.

"Bringing Eternal Night is just one step towards reformation," Nightmare Moon said after she recomposed herself, "Such a huge change is but one of many, for the world needeth to move forward. I shall move it forward, unwilling as the world is. This world is full of terrors I refuse to call my own, for the night is not meant to be known as the time of dread, treachery, and crime. Its destiny must not be grim, for the real fate of the night lieth in being the beacon of prosperity, peace, and beauty."

"If... if your goal is so good, why-"

"Why was I struct down by the Elements of Harmony?" she cut him off. It wasn't the exact question the hell stallion was going to ask, but it was close enough, "It was my error of judgement, and perhaps the deep conviction of the Bearers that they were good and I was evil.

"I had a long time to think in my banishment, yet my return was unplanned, chaotic... I was thrust back into this world without a chance to prepare. Such a rush leadeth to mistakes in all of us. Fortunately, the Elements do not kill, and I now realize where I failed and how to remedy it."

Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Maybe the potion was weaker than it should've been, maybe it was expired, or maybe her possession took a great toll on Luna's body. Her strength was waning quicker than she expected. She couldn't see whether Andromalius was convinced of her cause or not, however, and it made her feel desperate, for losing him would be a waste of great potential going who knew where without proper guidance.

"Exploitation and suffering are still widespread in this world," she continued, speaking slightly quicker and more forcefully than she intended, "I have lived for long enough to recognize the rot within us and those who let it take control, and they would then spread it to others, poisoning us all. Celestia, despite her noble spirit, failed to bring the world to prosperity in a thousand years, Andromalius. She was poisoned by the unworthy, by the scum who should rot in prison, and do so away from others so they wouldn't infect more minds. She made her effort despite the corruption, that is true, but it was not enough!" she put her hoof down to emphasize the point, sending a vibration throughout her tired body, "Dost thou not realize this corruption nearly caused thy death?"

Nightmare Moon looked in the eyes of the hell stallion, waiting for him to speak. However, he found no word of objection, and now he began to wonder – indeed, what was his real opposition to her? Ponies in general saw him as suspicious, Celestia herself distrusted him and wanted to get him killed just like Nightmare Moon pointed out. Luna was hunting for the conspirators to prove Andromalius was innocent, but how long would it take her to do at this pace? Weeks, months, maybe even years? All the while, the conspirators would continue to operate, their influence keeping Equestria in its current state and maybe even making it worse. He had seen it happen on Earth, he did learn about setbacks in progress caused by those who wished to exploit others and cause harm for the sake of becoming more wealthy and powerful. And now, he had the chance to change it.

What Nightmare Moon said simply made sense.

"But what about Luna?" he asked, "What will you do to her?"

"To me, Luna is but a misguided sister," the alicorn said softly, "Just like Celestia is to her. I wish to help, and perhaps I shall be able to create a body for myself, for Luna and I cannot be joined easily. Now, tell me," she extended her hoof, "Hast thou decided? Shalt thou join my cause?"

He was reluctant to agree. What she said seemed right, he even thought it was right, but... There were some things he couldn't agree to do.

"Only... only if none are killed or tortured or... worse," he finally said, "Killing is irreversible, and I won't be able to do it, it just won't be right."

Nightmare Moon looked at him with a certain kind of surprise on her face. In certain circles, demons were rumored to be violent in one way or another – mythology covered them as beings of chaos and destruction. And yet, one of them stood before her, unwilling to perform such acts.

A voice of morality present by her side would help her not stoop low, she realized. Perhaps such a voice would've prevented her first fall. It would be foolish to disagree even if she didn't share his opinion on life.

"The criminals must be punished, but I agree with thy words," she nodded, "But thou must realize others might not share thy sentiment, and they shall seek to maim and murder thee. Think not of saving lives of they who would gladly take thine."

Andromalius gulped, realizing he might get into such situations. What Nightmare Moon proposed sounded like an invitation to change the whole world, which is a task not many were willing to undertook during the history of humanity. This position, while perhaps noble in spirit, introduced many dangers regular people didn't usually face. And yet here he was, standing at the crossroads, choosing a path he would have to follow until its end, and many dangers awaited regardless of his choice.

He never expected to be in this situation. The worst kind of decision dilemma he experienced was during playing various computer games, but at least you could go back to a previous save or look up the right choices. In reality, looking into the future was impossible. Even if magic did allow it, he lacked the ability to use it, so it didn't matter.

He let out a quiet sigh, wishing nothing more than to wake up in his comfortable bed, stretch, and wonder what an amazing but stressful dream he'd been having for so long. But there was no waking up – this was reality. He would be a coward to reject a proposition to change the world for the better, especially if he could do it. He didn't know what it would cost, and even games with similar scenarios didn't prepare him for it in the slightest.

He remembered his father talking about it on his rare visits: "Son, be prepared to make choices you never thought you would have to. Life is uncertain, it can change many ways, and sometimes so quick you wouldn't get it until it is already done." At the time, he was but a young teenager, more interested in running around and playing than learning wisdom. Now father's words resonated like never before, and he would do well to listen now.

Regardless of how he would decide, the outcome would remain unknown until he reached it. There was only one option that made sense to make, although a part of his mind reminded him to be thoughtful and remember what happened between him and Nightmare Moon before. At the very least, it was the best choice he could make if he wished to survive and become stronger; if she lied to him, he would hopefully recognize it and act. After all, if there were possessions, then there should be spells and rituals of exorcism. He only wished he would know what is right and what is wrong.

It all depended on the future and information he didn't possess, however, so there was only one thing he could say.

"I will follow you," he finally spoke, feeling a giant mountain sliding off his shoulders and freeing him of weight of the indecisiveness.

The choice was made.

Author's Note

While I was writing this chapter, I decided to edit the picture of Andromalius slightly. What do you think about the result?

Chapter 28: Arbitria

The sun moved across the sky as the evening drew near; the shadows lengthened, ponies finished their work for the day and went back to their families to spend the last few precious hours in relaxation. Unbeknownst to the sunlight dwellers, the night gained power and gathered in the ancient ruins of the Summer Palace, spelling a change in the entire world soon to come. The accursed forest surrounding it was certain to change – be changed – as well, for order cannot stand uncertainty and inconsistency that chaos is. An iron grip was thought to be required, and it would soon clasp around the Everfree and squeeze tightly.

Far from the forest, oblivious to what was happening inside it, Celestia dined alone in the Canterlot Castle. She chewed slowly, looking at the entrance doors from time to time in wait. Subconsciously, she shifted her weight from leg to leg as time passed, sometimes lightly tapping the front hooves against her seat. Luna was rarely late, and it seemed like forever since the dinner began. Was she busy again or trouble got to her?

Celestia let out a soft sigh – she must not overthink. However, she couldn't help it; her sister had enemies, and although raids were successful in capturing more sunlight fanatics, one could never be too certain. The daylight alicorn could not not worry – the return of her sister was chaotic, and she feared it could not last. However, despite her attempts, the sisters remained distant – perhaps not in hostility, but... in a lack of trust. Celestia never imagined reconciling with her sister would be so difficult.

The guards stationed in the dining hall were still as ever, paying attention to the surroundings and not bothering to think about what went through the head of their princess. Their duty was to stand guard and protect the princess - princesses - with their lives. Some of them might dream of things becoming more personal, but every single guard knew it was impossible. Celestia went for centuries without looking for a suitor, why would she start it now?

The maids who served the food might have their own thoughts about the princesses, but they would not voice it outside of private conversations. Generations of maids served in the castle, and their job remained ever monotonous, but the Crown paid well. There was no need to worry about anything for either the maids or the guards.

Until Princess Luna returned to the surprise of many, and Andromalius appeared out of nowhere, the status quo remained unbroken for many decades. Legends about the sister-princess were somewhat well-known, but no one expected a demon to appear inside the walls of Canterlot Castle alongside her. Uncertainty rose and rumors spread – to some, Andromalius was a mysterious figure, and many legends, both known and obscure, resurfaced as the populace tried to figure out who he was and what he came to Equestria for. To others, he was a suspicious being whose place would be in Tartarus or, at least, away from Equestria. And to a select few, he was an unknown variable appearing in a long-standing plan of dominance and control.

Things promised to become interesting after the hell stallion saved a guard from death by rushing him to the hospital. Was Andromalius a noble and kind being contrary to how demons were often portrayed in stories and legends? When he appeared out in the open again, fewer treated him with suspicion, yet doubt remained. After all, looks did matter after all...

Some heard he began working somewhere, to the surprise of many. Was he just like a regular person? However, these thoughts were quickly overshadowed by his sudden escape. Many would talk about it afterwards,describing him as a fireball of speed flying through the city, avoiding the guards in his pursuit effortlessly. After stealing a train right as the guards were about to reach him, he departed to parts unknown. And yet, this was where his story seemed to end – the train was blown up, and he was presumed dead.

Some, however, believed otherwise. Such an interesting being couldn't simply appear and die so quickly... could he? The official position on the matter was clear – he was dead, killed while attempting an escape and resisting arrest. What was his crime? That was not known. However, this did not stop rumors from spreading. Some said he survived, albeit was now without a body; others believed he managed to escape still; few believed him to be captured and held in prison secretly.

The guards' job was to keep any possibility in mind as long as it concerned the safety of the princesses. If Andromalius were to return, they would have to capture him and bring him before Celestia and Luna. Not all guards agreed on it, however, and one guard in particular could find no reason to believe the official position despite his loyalty to the Crown.

This very guard was now on duty, faceless to the eyes of the princesses. After his injury, he declined early retirement and returned to his work shortly after Andromalius escaped. He walked now through the halls of the castle, in his grasp – a sealed letter. The wax seal was a crescent moon, addressee – Celestia herself. The scar on his side itched – a sign of nervousness. Should he... or shouldn't he?

With a sigh, he put the letter back into his side pouch and continued his way through the castle to the dining hall. Whatever this letter contained was none of his business despite how he might have felt. Even if this letter could be a clue to the whereabouts of the one who saved him... if he was still indeed alive.

The temptation was high. Just a paper tear away... and then he could run. Maybe he could lie if asked instead, conjure up a reason. He needed to know. Such things could not be forgotten, for he owed his survival to the mysterious demon, and learning what he could about him was paramount.

No, it wouldn't be right. His duty was to serve the princesses, not look into what didn't concern him. He swore an oath to them, and he must uphold it until his very death, for it was an honorable thing. Not just anyone could join the Royal Guard, and he intended to serve his role dutifully and diligently.

But how could he forget about the one who saved him from certain death, the one who rushed without restraint, practically flying through the streets? Andromalius didn't need to care, yet he did. He was a demon, a suspicious being, but what the guard saw that night was undeniable – the hell stallion was not, he could not be evil. No matter if he looked straight out of Tartarus, no matter how he sounded, he was first and foremost... his savior.

He would search for him, he would find the hell stallion. Honorbound, the guard could not simply forget this life debt. But for now, he must deliver the letter. Being rash wouldn't be good for him, his training reminded.

"Letter for the princess," he spoke automatically as he neared the dining hall door. One of the guards by the door nodded and opened it, allowing him to enter.

There Celestia sat, absentmindedly making the food float just slightly above the plate. Her eyes, for a moment, lit up as she saw the guard come in, but the glow quickly diminished when she saw who it was. Nevertheless, she made a polite smile appear on her face despite her eyes not quite reflecting it.

"Good evening, protector Shield Bearer," she greeted him semi-casually – her usual way of addressing the guards during relaxed hours, "How is your side if I may ask?"

"It doesn't bother me," he replied, not surprised the princess recognized him. Despite the identical armor and enchanted looks, it was not an obstacle for the alicorn of the day, "I have a letter for you, my princess. From your sister, Princess Luna."

"Oh? Very well, let me take a look," Celestia said with interest, and the letter was open in but a moment. Judging by how quickly her eyes shifted from the parchment back to the guard, the letter was short; a hint of a frown appeared on the face of the princess, "Tell me... by any chance, have you seen my sister?"

"I believe the last time I saw her was in the morning," Shield Bearer replied after a moment of thinking, "Is there something wrong, my princess?"

"...No, I don't think so," Celestia said, although a hint of worry betrayed her otherwise calm voice. Then she put the letter back into the the envelope, "Can you please deliver the letter to my chambers? I might have need of it after I'm finished here."

There it was, the opportunity. The seal was broken, the letter was now free to be accessed by anyone. There was his chance, all without the slightest risk.

"Of course, my princess," Shield Bearer said in a neutral tone, the usual tone of the guards, "I will do it right away."

Hiding his excitement, he took back the letter and exited the dining hall. As he disappeared from view of the nearby guards, he stopped and pulled out the letter to read it.

Dear sister,

I need to inform thee I may have a clue for the whereabouts of the possible traitors. I shall be tracking them personally, and I cannot allow others to know when I departed and where I headed. This letter could fall under the wrong eyes, for I have reasons to believe the guards are compromised.

Compromised? She likely didn't mean him, but then whom did she think of? Were there guards... plotting against the princesses? Eager to learn more, he continued to read:

Despite the supposed death of Andromalius,-

Supposed death. It was not certain, Shield Bearer noted.

-the possible conspirators did not lay low. I have all the reasons to believe they still operate in Canterlot and perhaps in certain other places. I shall return when my investigation is concluded, but until then I shall send no letter and send no messengers. Until all things are done, I cannot return, for my deeds must remain secret for now.

Luna

This didn't give him much information, unfortunately. He quickly put the letter back in the envelope and headed to Celestia's personal chambers. What he did now know was the departure of Princess Luna to search for the so-called traitors, and the official position on Andromalius was unconfirmed. What was brewing inside the Canterlot Castle?

A frown crept onto his face. If he was thinking correctly, this letter bluntly said someone was conspiring against the benevolent princesses, but the lack of information left too much to the imagination. However... could Andromalius have fallen into a trap, could it be a step in the hidden plan?

Shield Bearer must be vigilant now and be careful with whom he could share this information... if he could do it at all without putting himself and the princesses at risk.

Perhaps Andromalius would know more, for he was rumored to having spent most of his time with Princess Luna. Last the stallion heard of him, he was presumed dead at the edge of the Everfree Forest. However, there was a possibility, however small, that he managed to survive and heal. Quite a few guards were ordered to patrol the edge of the forest, leaving barely a possibility for escape. If Andromalius could teleport and used it, it would've been detected. If he tried to cross the edge on hoof, he would be spotted. He had no wings, so hiding among the ever-moving clouds above the forest and escaping that way was not an option unless, by some strange demonic miracle, he managed to grew wings after his escape.

If he indeed managed to survive even in this accursed forest, he would remain in hiding until things calmed down, it was the logical thing to do. Shield Bearer needed to find out the truth, and so he must venture into the forest. However, the guards were explicitly forbidden from entering it, for the dark trees hid many dangers from sight. Timberwolves, manticores, hydras, and worse creatures inhabited the Everfree Forest, their presence serving as a warning to all who may dare enter.

However, there was a legend, a myth – someone lived inside the forest and had no fear of the lurking dangers. A pony, a griffin, maybe a zebra, this was unknown. However, if one were to find them, they would no longer have to fear the forest as long as the guide is by their side.

A plan began forming in his head, but he needed some time to think before he acted, for his decision could prove to be irreversible.

The skies darkened in the final hours of twilight, and the sun was at its last rays. The shadows were long and soft, covering the land in a deep evening shade. The moon slowly rose, bright and clear in its pale majesty, its pleasant light slowly creeping over Equestria. One by one, the stars appeared, seemingly blinking into existence as the blank blue canvas turned to deep black.

Nightmare Moon returned to the long-abandoned personal chambers of Luna to rest and get ready for the nights to come. Her grand plan, her design begged to be fulfilled, yet her new body was a limit she couldn't easily bypass. As her eyelids grew heavier by the moment, she collapsed on the old bed, welcoming its dusty but unusually comfortable sheets. Finally, she could feel it, she could experience the world yet again.

Throughout her time on the moon, there was only rock and dust. No life, no change in the environment except craters filled with the same rock and dust. For a thousand years, she somehow survived on the barren satellite of her world, watching over it without being able to do anything.

When her return filled her with a sense of freedom, it was quickly taken away as the Elements tore off her very soul and then cut it in two, leaving her both without a body and without a feeling of being whole. Each day passed agonizingly slow as she was forced to watch through Luna's eyes all that was happening, unable to do a thing about it. If she was there when the cultists attacked, nothing but ash would be left of them. She would root them out, overturn the entire city if she had to, but she would do it quickly, and she would punish them harshly.

Yet, she could only dream of it until Luna willingly came at the nexus of her powers, the very birthplace where she was made through dark magic and Luna's will. It felt good to be... home.

"Was it thy plan all along?" the voice of Luna appeared as the Queen of the Night dreamed, "To lure me in and take over?"

"Plan?" Nightmare Moon replied, her spirit strong in the dream realm, uninhibited by the limitations of the physical world, "No plan surviveth the meeting with reality. I merely pick opportunities to act. Thy methodical approach doth not work as well as thou thinkst it should, dear Luna."

Irritated by the inefficiency of her maker, annoyed and angered by the state of the world, Nightmare Moon could not skip a chance to make her discontent known, for it was her time now. The time of darkness, the time of night was now, and she needed to make it known as well.

"Thou'rt going to ruin everything I'm working on," Luna continued, ignoring her reply, "Thy way will not work, I realized it."

"Under thy leadership, it could not," the Queen retorted, feeling her anger rise. How could her maker say such things? "Thou wast always too soft, too uncertain in thine actions... But I am not. Remember, thou madest me to make thee stronger."

"And I realized my mistake," the alicorn of the night countered, "Thou didst not make me stronger, only more ruthless, less caring. This is what caused our banishment!"

"I have the strength to do what is right!"

"And how much doth the world need to suffer because of it?!" Luna yelled, "Dost not thou understand? Changing the day and night cycle would break many things! It would cause wars! How canst thou be so dismissive about it?"

Suddenly, Luna found it impossible to talk. The possession spread, the will of Nightmare Moon overpowering her own. In some way, the Queen of the Night felt satisfaction over being stronger than her maker. This freedom, this independency was almost intoxicating as she felt the power coursing through her spirit, stronger than ever before. She would certainly need a new body to reflect it, for the mortal form of Luna couldn't possibly accommodate her. Perhaps she would start the process... tomorrow.

"The world must change," the dark alicorn spoke to Luna, "Thou knowest it as well as I do. The world must be reshaped, remade. I can't allow thee to stop me, not when I have the chance to do what is right. Or dost thou give up? Dost thou surrender despite what thou hast seen?"

A silent pause lasted for a few seconds – Luna had nothing to say.

"Thou'rt not ready to do what it takes to destroy suffering, once and for all. It will require sacrifice, it will need the full strength of will. But 'tis what must be done. The suffering might be great as the world changes, but dost thou think continuing the existing suffering is a better option? I can lead the change, for I was created for it," Nightmare Moon continued, her voice becoming calmer, "I... I am grateful for this life, dear Luna. Despite our history, despite the missteps... I am truly thankful for the chance to be alive and make this world a better, more beautiful place. For this is my purpose, this is how thou madest me. Perhaps thou hast lost the vision, perhaps thou'rt fooled like thy sister is... But all things shall be revealed in time, and thou shalt see the truth. Now, sleep, for thou needst rest, and so do I."

Before Luna was even able to think of any objections, the void of dreamless slumber took both their souls.

Andromalius had no sleep in his eyes as he walked around the Summer Palace. His steps echoed as his hooves clicked against the exposed stone, the soft carpet having rotten away a long time ago. He wandered aimlessly, his mind anxious with the thoughts of the future. Unwillingly, he was playing a role much bigger than he was ready for, and yet it was unavoidable. Every choice he made, every choice Luna made, led to this moment, and going back was not an option he could choose.

The hell stallion had no firm opinion about the concept of free will or determinism, but he found it hard to see how things could've turned out differently. Other options, options he didn't pick when the decisions were made, only became apparent when he gained the kind of knowledge he couldn't get without experiencing the decisions in questions - the knowledge of hindsight. The benefit of it could only appear after the outcome became apparent and not a second, not a moment earlier.

Was there such a thing as fate, then? Were his actions predetermined without his knowledge? Could anyone possess such knowledge in the first place? And if no one could... Was the direction of fate aimless, was destiny blind?

These were the questions he never thought about. Of course, questions about his own existence came up from time to time, but he never seriously considered them. After all, his path was clear to him then – finish school, finish college, and get a stable job. A standard fate for many people, perhaps, yet t was the clearest. Now, however, his future was clouded and uncertain... unless the prophecy was right. The prophecy he didn't want to think about.

While wandering, he came into a big hall with tapestries still hanging from the ceiling. There seemed to be more rubble than in the rest of the castle, even a collapsed column lay on its side, overgrown with moss and flowers. A certain kind of atmosphere was in this hall - the one of despair and anger, as well as sorrow and guilt. The ancient emotions continued to linger even after a thousand years, a reminder to the events that took place.

At the far end of the hall, two thrones stood atop the stairs: one painted the colors of the sun and day, and the other of moon and night. Cracked, overgrown, they were but remnants of ancient majesty, now nothing but a sorry sight.

Andromalius walked up to the thrones, looking at them with a distant gaze. Could he imagine himself on a throne, crown atop his head? He made his way to the left throne, the nightly one - the stone was surprisingly comfortable to sit on despite centuries of slow degradation.

He imagined sitting atop his own throne. Would it be inside a giant palace with wonderfully painted walls and amazing gothic architecture? Or would it be a simple castle, purely practical? Would the throne itself be elaborate, decorated with beautiful carvings, maybe even painted with real gold? Or would it be simple like the person he thought he was?

Perhaps as a child, he would want a grand castle with many intricacies. But then, he didn't remember much from his childhood, maybe he didn't actually want what he thought he wanted as a child. Maybe he used to have simple dreams back then as well?

He now found he had no preference when it came to castles and thrones. In truth, he would rather like to see things be practical than grandiose. Would this make him a better ruler than those who lusted for wealth and power? He would like to think so, but doubts remained inside his head.

He imagined all the people gathering in the hall, coming forth to him with their pleas for help, offers, maybe even demands. How would he answer them? How could he know what was the right thing to do? There he was, a visitor offering an alliance to Andromalius' kingdom; a treaty that would make both kingdoms prosper... or it would coerce the hell stallion to declare war on the enemies of the allied kingdom. And then there she was, a beautiful ambassador from distant lands – did she come in peace or would she use her charm to try to control and manipulate him? What about a rich noble pushing his demands that would only further his agenda and hurt many in the process; but if Andromalius refused, precious technology would be destroyed and the entire country would fall, and the rich would escape with their wealth to other countries.

Decisions, one more difficult than the other, awaited him if he took the throne. What obstacles would be in his way before he could even see the said throne was unknown. One thing, for now, was certain – Nightmare Moon, a powerful being with a grand plan for the entire world was on her quest to take over Equestria and bring forth her design. What it truly entailed was uncertain, hidden inside her mind, but he could sense it – things would not remain the same. As with any choice, the consequences would remain hidden until it is made, and Andromalius felt he needed to do something to make sure the said consequences would not lead to ruin and destruction, a possibility that always loomed during the great world-changing events.

He stood up from the throne – his time wasn't there yet. However, what he could do, what he needed to do was to contact Luna... somehow. She would know more both about ruling and Nightmare Moon in particular. If anyone could help him figure out this mess, it was the Princess of the Night, the only person in this whole world whom he could even start to call a friend.

The fate of the entire world might be resting on his very actions... or inaction.

Author's Note

I hope I didn't butcher anything because I felt quite sleepy by the end of the chapter. But I hope things are becoming more interesting! It's definitely a lot different compared to what I've written in the original. Now the world is less centered around Andromalius, it is now Andromalius inside the world. Things continue to happen when he's not around, and the web of events is weaved.

However, Andromalius leaves an impact on the world, so it is quite fair for it to... return the favor back to him, so to speak.

Chapter 29: Vitale Indicium

Hammering of nails, squeaks of cranes, and chatter of ponies surrounded the broken bridge next to the Everfree Forest. The construction was underway with ponies working day and night. The disruption of the supply lines was perhaps not disastrous, but the delays accumulated; expenses rose little by little, and prices followed suit.

Equestrian industries were a well-oiled machine honed by centuries of stability, and this sudden, deliberate change swept across the businesses, harming many even in the short amount of time since the destruction of the bridge. Some recognized the issue, but, as well-oiled as the industries were, significantly changing their course might as well be as difficult as moving a mountain. Thus, returning to the defined normalcy was paramount.

The noise at the construction site was high, the work not stopping for a single moment. One shift after the other, the ponies worked under both the sun and the moon. Sometimes, timberwolves appeared at the edge of the Everfree, attracted by the sounds and the smell of prey. However, even these fearsome predators didn't dare to approach such a large number of ponies. And even if they did, the Royal Guard was there to repel any attack. A temporary wooden palisade was erected along the Everfree border as well.

However, what the guards weren't paying attention to was the sky. On late evening, a number of shapes crossed the aerial border of the Everfree. Hours later, some time past midnight, the very same shapes reemerged from the depths of the forest and flew off without being seen. The guards, as attentive as they were towards the known and expected danger of the dark forest, wrote off the sky as a safe space in no need of being observed. This night, such negligence cost them nothing, letting them off without a trouble. Perhaps one day, it would not be so.

In the distance, a cargo train was making its way from Canterlot to some far-off destination at the border of Equestria. The destruction of the shortcut extended its ride by a number of hours, for the train now had to pass through a number of small settlements; thus, its schedule was changed and more cargo added to deliver or take on its way, prolonging its travel even more. An annoyance for some... an opportunity for others.

The first stop was an Apple family farm; such was their influence and importance to have their own train station. Unload fertilizer and a few crates of various farming equipment, get a shipment of apples and apple products, and back on track. Once the train departed the small station, shapes appeared in the sky, now following, observing. As the Apple farm disappeared behind the trees, one of the cargo carts opened its doors. Two pegasi flew out of it, a long simple wooden box strapped to them. One of the shapes in the sky separated from the group to follow the two.

After fifteen minutes of traveling through the wilderness, the next station appeared; it was an unremarkable village in the middle of the forest, divided in two by a small stream. The train stopped, unloaded some mail and equipment, then immediately departed. As it reentered the thicker part of the forest, a train cart opened and two pegasi flew out of it just like after the first stop, carrying the box looking exactly like the previous one. The group in the sky slowed down for a moment, discussing; a small while later, one of them decided to follow the second pair of pegasi. The train, however, continued on its scheduled way.

The remaining members of the group gathered in the sky, discussing, worry and uncertainty in their voices. The train had many more cargo carts, and any number of them could contain similar boxes. Their task was simple at first – collect one box that two pegasi were carrying out of the train in secret, but a complication arose as soon as a second box appeared. Now the group needed to find out where the real box was. A lucky guess wouldn't cut it, especially if fortune was not on their side.

For a moment, they considered stopping the train. However, it would undermine the mission, for it was paramount not to alert anyone of it, least of all ponies responsible for the mysterious cargo. And even if the train was stopped, who guaranteed the amount of boxes was manageable? Frustration was peeking into the minds of the group.

Unbeknownst to them, they were trailed by two pegasi, who hid amidst the clouds scattered across the night sky. They nodded to each other, and one of them took off in the opposite direction, going back to the train's starting point – the city of Canterlot.

Midnight passed, and the conspirators were assembled in the depths of the crystal caves once more, dressed in their formal, identity-concealing attire. Five instead of the six like they used to, they listened to the report the pegasus brought to them; he, however, wore no concealing clothes.

"Very well, thank you," the Second nodded as the report concluded, then turned to the four conspirators as the pegasus disappeared from view, "They have taken the bait. Everything will proceed as planned, the maintenance train should be..." they thought for a moment, "Exiting Canterlot at this very moment. Even if it is caught and searched, the package will not be uncovered, and not a trace will be revealed leading back to us, just as we discussed."

"Someone spilled the information," the Third said, leaning closer to the table, "We have a leak."

"Yes, this much is apparent," the Second nodded, "The exact location of a leak is not certain, however one of ours was compromised, likely captured and questioned. That, or they decided to escape for whatever reason, but the former situation is more likely. However, it doesn't explain the leak as the disappeared one would not be aware of the information at the time of their possible capture. The only way for them to relay the info would be to lead Princess Luna to one of the ponies whom I fed the false info to. The list is quite short, thus the leak will be found quickly."

A pause ensued, letting each conspirator digest the information, perhaps ask questions. Since the death of the First, the Second had to take the role of both the information gatherer and questioner until a suitable candidate could take the first role fully; because of the wider focus, a chance of making a mistake was higher, therefore other conspirators had to share the questioner role as well. It was less efficient than the established one role per pony, perhaps, but they had to make do in the meantime.

"No questions?" the Second said, raising a brow behind their mask, "I'm disappointed, but it's not unexpected. I would ask if Princess Luna could recruit the leak. The answer is, of course, no - she doesn't work with criminals, she captures and questions them. Her straightforward and perhaps honorable approach is a weakness we must remember and exploit. So far, it works by itself - she cannot continuously gather relevant up to date information. Thus, there will always be a delay."

"Then there is no chance she can stop us," the Third said triumphantly, leaning forward slightly.

"Arrogance will serve us ill," the Fifth remarked, earning a glance from the Third.

"I quite agree," the Second nodded, "Her mistake may be fatal, but it may not be so. Perhaps, we misjudged and she does work with criminals. Our current evidence suggests she does not, but newer evidence might prove us wrong."

"I... apologize," the Third said heavily, leaning back in defeat.

"Very well," the Second nodded, "In this ca- wait..." their ear twitched, "Searching spell. Someone is in the cave, they know we're here. Our identities are concealed, but we must disperse. Fourth, plan of action?"

"I detected the spell, we have roughly ten minutes to act," the Fourth spoke, "First, the spell likely doesn't show our number or precise position because of the distance and interference from both rock and crystal. We must all take tunnel C, walk as close to each other as possible to make it more difficult for the spell to define our numbers. A message must be sent to the Observer, they must not report until we allow them. I suspend vote on the plan, we must hurry."

"Message...," the Second said slowly after a moment of their horn glowing, "I'm uncertain if it was sent, but we must act now."

"There is someone inside the cave system. We must sweep the system thoroughly and detain everyone suspicious," commander Midnight Wing spoke after the squad sorcerer reported, "We must act quickly, let none escape. Her Nightly Majesty depends on us."

Nodding in agreement, the squad of six Night Guards hurried into the caves, the horns of two unicorns constantly glowing, providing both light and direction. The entrance behind them saw a second, backup squad standing guard, ready to assist if need arose. A third squad was ready to replace them as well if things went rough.

As the first squad went deeper into the caves, the ambient light was almost completely gone. The top caverns were stripped of all crystals, glowing or not, centuries ago, leaving the stone bare, showing ancient marks of pickaxes. Despite the darkness, the squad moved at a quick pace, not showing a sign of nervousness if they felt any.

The crystal mines underneath Canterlot were one one of the places they were tasked with searching, and many a rumor surrounding this place. Some said the souls of dead miners still haunted it, searching for the exit; some said an ancient monster was asleep deep within. The myths deterred most, attracted some, and were the perfect cover for anyone wishing to remain unseen.

The records regarding the mines, however, were far less interesting - it was merely a crystal extraction operation for the entirety of its lifetime. Countless logs of kinds of crystals and the weight of a given day's haul were stored in the more dusty part of the archives, likely never seeing the light of day after the initial submission.

The squad passed a few long-rusted carts and the remains of a narrow railroad. Not a single spot of shine could be seen on the reddish-brown rough surface of the once gleaming metal. The mines were abandoned a long time ago, in the times when the country required no shiny rocks to trade but iron and steel to make weapons and armor to fight. The First Griffon War left the country exhausted following grueling years of warfare, and Equestria declared many projects and operations too expensive to continue, including the deep mining of crystals underneath the capital. Following the abandonment, the mines faded from memory, and whatever equipment left was doomed to deterioration.

A few collapsed tunnels were passed by the squad, a couple of the guards tensing up. The rumors about ghosts and apparitions of dead miners were not unfounded, plenty of accidents had happened in the ancient mines. However, complete silence greeted them, and the dead bones crushed by rock lay still. But it didn't stop one of the guards from shivering when he noticed something white lying on the ground.

The map of the place was ancient, a copy of which was in the bag of the squad leader. An enchantment would prevent them from getting lost inside the maze of the caverns, although the rails - as deteriorated as they are - could potentially lead them back to the main entrance. Of course, only as long as the guards knew the right direction and memorized the various marks along the way.

In utter silence, the squad continued making their way deeper into the mines, thoroughly checking every path they came across, all of which turned out to be dead ends. The natural formation of the upper caves represented a tree with many branches, making it almost impossible to get lost. However, as the guards went deeper, the tunnels became more complex. A proper system of navigation made by the miners have long since rotted away, including wooden signs and differently-colored ropes. Some remains were visible, but they could no longer be helpful.

Stopping at another junction, the squad dimmed their lights and listened. Far from them, deeper into the dark system of caves and artificial tunnels, steps could be heard. Certainly a four-legged creature, and its steps were careful and slow. One of the unicorns remembered the stunning spell while the other readied a blinding flash of light to confuse whoever was in front of them. Soon, a male voice could be heard.

"Rock Climber? Please, it's not funny anymore, where are you?" he pleaded to the darkness. Then, he added quietly, "Oh please, please be alright..."

Silently, the commander of the squad double-tapped a gem hanging around their neck. The second squad was on their way, and the third squad would observe the entrance instead. A long minute later, the one to whom the new voice belonged appeared.

"Subject," Midnight Wing spoke loudly and clearly as the unicorns brightened the light, "Do you require assistance?"

"Y-you're the guards, right?" the stallion asked, somewhat startled, "Thank goodness you're here! I lost my partner, Rock Climber. I told him to go ahead while I, um, relieve myself, and I was quick, but he was just gone! I think I heard something, but..."

"When did it happen?" the commander inquired while giving a nod to the squad sorcerers. Their horns lit up, the searching spell going through the rocks once more.

"I don't know, maybe ten minutes ago?" the stallion fidgeted, and his ears were down, "I take it... you didn't see him. Damn..." tears welled up in his eyes, "I h-hope he's still alive..."

"We'll find him," Midnight Wing promised, "You'll have to stick with us now, however. Show us where you relieved yourself."

"A-alright, I'll try to, it shouldn't be far..."

"Sir, there are multiple ponies deeper in the caves," one of the unicorns reported, "One seems to be separated from the rest, but we can't pin-point his location, only his general direction. Others are further from him."

"I've not seen anyone else," the stallion's eyes widened, "C-could they be... some sort of criminals?"

"Entirely possible. We must find them and your partner, it's likely they're injured," Midnight Wing said, then nodded to his squad, "Move it, we must be quick."

For a few minutes, the squad and a lone pony went through the caves at a brisk pace, the pony directing them, their light in the lamp flickering as it bounced up and down. The gem around Midnight Wing's neck vibrated, signaling him that everything was in order. He silently sighed to himself - the situation was getting worse. One thing was for sure - someone was indeed inside the caves hiding, and they likely hurt Rock Climber, whoever that person could be. Of course, if it was not a simple distraction.

"I never got your name," the commander turned to the stallion, raising a brow.

"I'm Light Stroke," he replied, and the commander took note of the special mark on the flank, which was thankfully unobscured. A paintbrush, defining an artist in the area of drawing. Nothing suspicious despite the timing of the incident. The sorcerers raised no alarm, meaning the stallion used no concealment spell. It was clear he was a simple earth pony who happened to be in the caves at the same time as the operation commenced.

"Very well, pleased to make your acquaintance," Midnight Wing nodded, "We'll find Rock Climber, I promise."

Soon, they arrived at the spot where a spot on the cave's floor was wet, and a faint scent of ammonia was in the air. Unicorns lit up their horns again, and in but a few moments, they had the results.

"One pony is very close, but others are at roughly the same distance as before," one of them reported, "Don't know how many, don't know the exact location."

"Hopefully the second squad will catch them. Our task now is to find Rock Climber," Midnight Wing said, "What of his location?"

"I can see it. Around one and a half hundred paces from here," the unicorn replied, "This way."

The squad moved, quickening their pace; Light Stroke did not lag behind, but his breath became heavier and heavier. Thankfully, the destination was reached quickly, and it was one of the junctions. On the floor near the side, a pony body lay in darkness, the lamp lying to the side, smashed.

"No!" Light Stroke gasped, rushing to the body, "No, no, no..."

"He's still alive but unconscious," one of the unicorns reported after studying the body with a spell, "Blunt head trauma. Stretcher, now!"

Gently pushing the civilian aside, the squad acted as one and quickly yet carefully put the unconscious Rock Climber on the stretcher. In just a moment, they were hurrying back to the entrance to the mines, Light Stroke keeping close to the stretcher. After a few minutes of determined silence, the eyes of the injured ponies twitched slightly. Soon after, he opened his mouth to speak.

"Wha... what... happened?" he asked, his voice weak.

"Someone attacked you!" Light Stroke replied, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there, I... I'm really glad you're alive!"

"Damn it..." he closed his eyes and sighed, the pounding in his head preventing him from drifting back to unconsciousness, "G-guards... Did you catch... them?"

"Hopefully, we will," Midnight Wing replied, "Do you remember how they looked?"

"Not... sure," Rock Climber replied, his eyes still closed, "I think... they wore black. Clothed entirely. I... heard one of them, but... that's it."

"Very well, now rest," the commander said, "We'll take you to the hospital, you'll be as good as new."

Many hours later, it became clear the unplanned distraction made by the conspirators allowed them to escape undiscovered. However, as many unplanned things often did, this one proved to the conspirators' disadvantage. Perhaps they were not captured that day, making it a victory - yet the more ponies they interacted with, the more ponies knew about them. The more a secret was known, the less of a secret it was.

On the next night, after a good day's rest, Nightmare Moon sat in her new office, a smile of satisfaction on her face after the report of her commander. Perhaps he considered it a failure of the main objective, but she knew when to discard such thoughts. Because of the actions of Midnight Wing's squad, a life was saved, and two allies were recruited, and one of them possessed knowledge, however minimal, about her adversaries.

There was no big plan to catch the conspirators. In Nightmare Moon's mind, no plan survived the impact with reality just like her own did not a thousand years ago. However, she could always take opportunities and exploit them, and one just presented itself to her.

"Thank thee, commander Midnight Wing," she spoke in a soft voice, "Thou didst well. Make certain to question Rock Climber thoroughly as soon as he recoverth, and certainly keep thine eyes on him before he doth. He is very valuable to us, we cannot afford his silence."

"Understood, your majesty," Midnight Wing bowed, "May I ask..."

"Why is he so important?" Nightmare Moon guessed, and the commander nodded, "I have seen his medical papers, the impact on his head was from the front. He hath seen them. They were in a hurry and they interacted with him. And thou didst say he also heard them. We must extract his memory of their voices and forms, it may help us greatly."

"Understood, your majesty," Midnight Wing nodded, tapping the gem in his armor three times, then whispering the orders into it. A vibration soon after confirmed the acknowledgment of the orders.

"The site of his attack is also secure as I asked, correct?" Nightmare Moon asked when the commander returned his attention to her.

"It is indeed so."

"Go through everything thoroughly. They shan't be returning for a while," the alicorn ordered, "Now, I would like to see Andromalius. Please, send after him."

"Will be done, my queen," Midnight Wing bowed again and then exited the office, the ancient door creaking as he closed it.

All was going excellently in Nightmare Moon's eyes. The investigation Luna started into the wretched conspirators was beginning to be fruitful even if the mysterious package was not recovered.

The alicorn bared her teeth slightly. She would enjoy getting every single little bit of information out of the conspirators once she inevitably caught them, whenever it would be. She would squash them like the annoying bloodsuckers as they were, and they would trouble her no more. They had been a nuisance for far too long, and it was her duty to rid Equestria of them for the sake of herself and everyone else.

But first, she needed a strong, powerful ally. As history had shown, acting alone would never give her victory. However, she was not alone anymore, and the demon, as untrained in all aspects of life and combat as he was, would provide her with victory if properly taught and directed.

And Nightmare Moon intended to do just that.

Chapter 30: Potentia

In one of the less damaged halls of the Summer Palace, debris was cleared as was the pieces of furniture - anything that could make the coming lesson more difficult. Now the hall was bare save for the candles illuminating it. The moon shone brightly through the windows and the cracks, adding to the light. On the opposite sides of the hall, Nightmare Moon and Andromalius stood. After a good day's rest, the alicorn stood strongly, her mind clear, and her gaze sharp. She wore a ceremonial suit of armor: breastplate, helmet with neck protection, and hoofguards. Blue steel was polished to perfection, the bends of the armor were smooth, and the decorations had not a nick.

Andromalius was well-rested and ready to learn, as nervous as he was about the dark alicorn. Deep within her, another person was bound - Luna. She was imprisoned inside the body that no longer belonged to her, and the hell stallion knew nothing he could help her with. Nightmare Moon had grand plans, and despite being pushed to assist her, he remained unsure of the alliance or the truth of her words. After her speech about the world, he was moved to help her a great deal, but his reasoning for doing it was not yet solid. Unseen holes were there, and he subconsciously recognized them even without being able to reason himself to understand them. However, no matter what the thought now, a word once given couldn't be taken away without repercussions. He wasn't yet ready to stand against Nightmare Moon without suffering himself or threatening the life of Luna.

"Do not be fooled by the emptiness of the hall," Nightmare spoke, disrupting his thoughts, and her voice traveled easily across the hall, "Any sorcerer with even a little mind for creativity could use many objects to fight thee. Telekinesis is by far one of the more useful spells, as basic as it is."

She stomped on the ground, and a few tiles flew up, spinning around themselves and around the alicorn. Without much of a delay, she hurled one of them at the hell stallion. He was surprised for but a moment before he raised his shield, and the tile exploded in dust and shards upon impact. However, immediately after, another tile hit him behind the neck, disrupting his focus and removing his shield; at the same time, a second tile was hurled from where Nightmare Moon was standing and impacted him straight in the chest with force just a moment after the shield went down, knocking the wind out of him.

"There is not a place where telekinesis is useless," Nightmare Moon said, her voice steady and relaxed, watching as Andromalius recovered, "Aside from certain situations where magic of any kind was suppressed or otherwise blocked."

"I understand," he nodded, now standing back in position. His natural armor prevented him from feeling any pain, and not a scratch on it was left after the demonstration. Nightmare Moon noted it by letting her brows rise a little bit before her more neutral expression returned.

"Good. Now, tell me, what did I do to get to thee?" she inquired, looking him in the eyes.

"...You distracted me," Andromalius said after a moment of thinking, "I didn't hear the tiles from behind me rising. I thought I only needed to shield myself in front, not in the back."

"Very well," Nightmare Moon nodded simply, "Thou hast a grasp on basic logic. So, what is the lesson here?"

"Um... be prepared for anything?"

"Thou canst not be prepared for all things," she shook her head, "Possibilities are endless. Thou never knowest what kind of opponent or opponents thou'rt facing. Thou canst never prepare for all possibilities. I ask thee again - what is the lesson?"

Andromalius took his time to think, the gears in his mind turning. In this moment, he regretted not trying harder in school. He had simply trudged through it like many other students, never doing his best even when he could. At the end of school, his grades were unremarkable, average. Years of studying yielded him few good results. His affinity for computers, while important on Earth, had little use in the new world. There were, of course, skills he could've obtained to help himself even so far away from the world he knew, but he never bothered to learn them. Now, he couldn't afford ignoring the lessons, and he needed to put effort into them. His own life and the lives of others depended on it.

Nightmare Moon, at the beginning of the fight, distracted him by raising floor tiles where he could see them. Did she do it slowly on purpose? After all, what stopped her from simply hurling them right from the floor at him? He didn't know if he would be able to raise his shield in time then. Perhaps there was something else about it. She used those tiles as a distraction to make it easier to hit him from behind where he didn't expect anything. With his mind entirely focused on the front, and he wasn't aware of what was happening in the back.

Something clicked in his mind with a satisfying feeling. That was it. It was simple, a basic lesson in combat. He remembered now - he used it during his time playing Heroes of Might and Magic 5. Perhaps gaming wasn't simply an otherwise useless recreational activity for him.

"I need to be aware of things around me," he spoke, more or less confident in his claim.

"This is correct," Nightmare Moon nodded, "Awareness is what is important to have for a sorcerer or anyone in the battle. It may not prepare thee for everything, but it would give thee enough time to react to what is happening."

Her horn glowed, and Andromalius didn't have time to raise his shield when a tile flew at him from the front, impacting him in the chest once again. He grunted and staggered back, then finally rose his shield.

"Thou hast yet to learn this lesson," she smirked at him, "Let us continue."

Andromalius shook his head and then began taking the ready position. Another tile made an impact, this time with his side - the armored part of it - making him grunt.

"Enemy never waiteth," the alicorn said, "Again."

Before she completed the last word, two tiles flew at the hell stallion. This time he blocked the hits with his magical shields. More tiles were hurled.

"This is not a defense exercise," Nightmare Moon said, her voice relaxed, "Defeat me."

After making a hole in the shield, Andromalius sent a bolt of lightning at the dark alicorn, and she effortlessly redirected it by making a curved magical shield. The loud pop of electricity sounded somewhere behind her. The hell stallion moved forward, his eyes on her while he kept the surroundings in mind and in his peripheral vision. He heard a rumble from above and immediately jumped to the side. A piece of stone ceiling fell where he had just been, shattering into dust on impact. The floor was yanked from under his front legs, and he stumbled, his concentration faltering. In the moment after, pieces of stone and floor tiles impacted him from all sides, making him finally fall. Even then, Nightmare Moon gave him no rest, paltering him with small pieces of the hall.

With an effort, he willed the magical shield to surround him again, blocking the flying debris from reaching him. He made a few strained steps towards Nightmare Moon, and she stopped not for a single second, keeping on her assault. With a grunt, Andromalius lowered the shield for another attack, this time hurling raw magic at the alicorn. It whistled through the air, and she barely managed to jump aside to evade it. With an eardrum-shattering sound, the magic exploded behind her, and that part of the hall collapsed into rubble, making Nightmare Moon stumble forward and stop her assault on the hell stallion. He likewise stopped, staring at the pile of stones as the moon shone through a bus-sized hole in the ceiling. A few more pieces collapsed on the floor with a rumble, and the air became still.

"Thou... hast much power," Nightmare Moon said, glancing behind her, "Raw, unrefined power. Savage, destructive... unstable," she looked straight into his eyes, "Never use it lightly."

"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to do, uh, this. I thought it would just reach you and maybe push you over. Not... destroy the hall."

"Raw magic is difficult to control," she nodded, "That is why we invented spells. Magic must be tamed, given form, lest it hurteth us. Perhaps the lesson I needst give thee is not of awareness, of battle tactics, but a basic lesson, one of control," she looked at the destruction again, "Very well, 'tis good I found out thy fundamental weakness, a piece of ignorance I must fill with knowledge. Luna perhaps would never find it on her own, and neither would thee..." she turned her eyes back at him, "Until 'tis too late."

Andromalius shuddered at the tone of her voice, and deep realization struck him. She was right, and his lack of control could lead to horrible things, those that wouldn't just demolish buildings but destroy and remove lives.

However, there was something he didn't fail to notice. When his multi-colored raw magic flew at Nightmare Moon, she flinched. Even now, despite her calm voice, her body language displayed tension, wariness. If he was willing to push his thoughts in a certain direction, maybe the dark alicorn displayed fear.

"I shall make certain thou art of no danger to thine allies and friends," she continued, and it was obvious where she wanted him to see her, "Let us continue, then. 'Twould require... a change of scenery."

Andromalius silently followed her out of the hall and through the ruined palace. He shivered at the dark thoughts inside his head - it would indeed be easy for him to hurt whom he didn't want. It was perhaps by pure luck that he hadn't done it yet. When he trained with Luna, he acted with restraint, following her exactly. During his escape, he focused on avoiding harm to his pursuers and bystanders. Nightmare Moon demanded more of him, demanded creativity and power. She wanted to push him to his limits, to force him to see where he stood and where he must stand. He was but a learner, and she was the master.

Now the two were outside in a large courtyard, a stream separating it in two. Overgrown, the walls crumbled around it as the wild retook what belonged to it so long ago.

"Control demands attention, focus," Nightmare Moon said, stopping near the stream, "When thou hast learned, there would be no difficulty for thee-" she used her magic to lift a good amount of water and form it into a thin, untrembling column right above her head, never stopping or pausing in her speech "-to have it regardless of situation."

Then the dark alicorn guided the column of liquid back to the stream and released it, making not a splash.

"Now 'tis thy turn, Andromalius," she declared, "I shan't distract thee yet. Thou shalt spend thy time here trying to replicate what I have done, alone," she turned around back to the palace proper, "Thou art free to return inside at any time, but the only one thou'rt cheating out of is thyself if thou thinkest thou can return before thou art ready."

And just like that, she left. The clip-clop of her hooves faded away, leaving the hell stallion alone in the overgrown courtyard. With a sigh, he readied his focus, steadied his mind, and begun. Water rose from the stream, trembling and glistening under the moonlight. Slowly it rose above his head, forming into an elongated S shape, far from the straight and steady column Nightmare Moon displayed.

For a couple of seconds, Andromalius thought everything was going to be alright. However, as he stood there motionlessly and silently, various thoughts invaded his head. First few were simple questions: when was it time for him to stop? How perfect should the captured water be? These seemingly innocent questions invited more thoughts: how long would it take him to perfect magic? What other lessons did Nightmare Moon have for him? His focus wavered, unsteady. He tried to keep the random thoughts out of his head, but even this effort was a thought in itself, taking away from the concentration of holding the water above his head.

He then realized – Nightmare Moon left him alone without distractions so that his own mind would distract him. He never noticed before how much buzz there was inside his head, how many thoughts were thought regularly. He was now acutely aware of them, of how they influenced the rest of his mind. The water bobbed and twitched above his head, reflecting his inner struggle.

He wished to drop it and go back inside the palace and do something else. However, he remembered Nightmare Moon's words – he would only make it worse for himself if he didn't learn this lesson.

Nightmare Moon walked through the Summer Palace, heading to its depths, far under the earth. Most of the underground acted as a storage for various things, most of which had gone bad in one way or another over the course of a thousand years. After Luna's Fall, Celestia couldn't bear to visit the palace anymore, dooming it to slow and dusty ruination. Yet, many things remained to this day, including tomes of power. One such thing was what the dark alicorn needed to rise again, stronger.

The ancient corridors basked in the bluish glow of her horn as Nightmare Moon descended to the lowest level of the Summer Palace. An old oak door stood in her path, yet the hard wood was not the only thing denying her the tome - defensive wards were cast on the door a long time ago, and only those with magical keys could open them. However, the chaos of the forest corrupted the wards, and many years of abandonment drained them of most of their magic. Perhaps they would fade away completely in another century, but Nightmare Moon didn't have such time. Thankfully for her, she was also in the possession of the key - a spell still present in the memories of Luna. No matter how hard the princess could protest, Nightmare Moon was in control now.

The dark alicorn touched the door with her horn, and it lit up in a sequence of colors. After half a minute, she finished the spell, and the door silently opened before her. A plain room, all white plaster, revealed itself. It looked unremarkable, nothing like what a storage of ancient knowledge was supposed to look like. There were but a few wooden bookcases lacking any decoration. The plain wooden shelves stored many books, although it was a far cry from the Canterlot Archive. However, even the relatively few books this room had were abundant with knowledge. However, only one tome of power interested her, and it lay upon a pedestal in the center of the room. She walked to it and looked at the tome, and its title was one simple yet powerful word.

Ascension.

Nightmare Moon's eyes shone as she looked upon the ancient tome, knowing how much power was within. A ritual described there took exactly seven hundred pages, which described a seven-day preparation and seven-hour spell to complete the ritual. It was a long and arduous process requiring magnitudes of effort, will, and focus, and it would fail anyone but the most determined and resourceful. Some time ago, both Celestia and Luna considered it next to impossible. Now, however, with the arrival of Andromalius from a different world, the ancient tome was proven to be truthful of its claims.

Nightmare Moon regarded Ascension for a long moment. Tentatively, she opened the first page and began reading; she would need to refresh her memory before she could begin preparations.

The tome consisted of fourteen chapters: seven about the preparations, and seven for the spell. Every chapter was written in an ancient language said to be the language of the Spirits – powerful beings who shaped the world after its creation. It was believed this tome captured words from all the Six Spirits: Order, Chaos, Magic, Life, Death, and Creation. Perhaps it would never be possible for one to become a Spirit and stand among the Six, they could still get power rivaling alicornhood. The tome was sought after for millennia, and the Pony Sisters decided it was best kept under lock and key until such time as there was no other option than to use it. After all, great power was never achieved without a price, and Ascension had yet to reveal what would be taken away for what was offered.

With those warnings in mind, Nightmare Moon continued on reading. She believed herself ready for the responsibility, convinced it was the best she could do. Perhaps there were safer options, but they required decades upon decades of studying and training, and they would not bring her anywhere near close what Ascension offered. The world didn't wait, the suffering continued, and the Tyranny of the Sun reigned supreme. Enemies of Equestria were on the move, and Nightmare Moon couldn't afford to let them act so freely anymore.

For around an hour, she read, changing the page every other minute. The preparations seemed simple enough, although there was one thing that seemed impossible, one thing that made everyone who ever obtained Ascension scratch their heads in confusion. However, now the dark alicorn was certain – it was possible.

One thing left was to train Andromalius for this task, for it was he alone who could complete it. His nature would allow him to travel where Nightmare Moon could not, and if all went well, he would obtain what was required for the ritual. It was simply a matter of skill and power, and he certainly had the latter. The only thing he required was guidance, and Nightmare Moon would gladly provide it to him.

For it was in her best interests to do so.

Chapter 31: Ars

Andromalius stood in the dark yard, focused on the task even after what seemed like hours. However, the moon still shone brightly above him, and there was no sign of the morning. The stars twinkled, and the palace was almost perfectly silent. However, this serenity did little to help his concentration as his thoughts slipped to and from different things on his mind. The water he held with his magic wavered in turn, becoming less steady the more he thought about other things. He refused to give up just yet, pushing back the thoughts of admitting defe-

"Hello, Andromalius."

There the water went, falling on top of his head after his focus was broken by Inanna the Succubus. He snorted, making some drops spray in her direction but going right through her projection, leaving not a spot.

"I'm glad to see you're alright," she said with a smirk, not commenting on his wet head and visible frustration, "I see you're... busy."

"I... was," he replied, finding the words, "It's... nice to see you again."

"And here I thought you couldn't wait to get rid of me," she replied with a short laugh, "In any case, I finally figured out how to contact you again. This forest is... really weird, it didn't allow me to get to you."

"That explains it," the hell stallion nodded, sighing in relief internally. Now he had someone to talk to outside Nightmare Moon, and he was glad to take the chance.

"Well, yeah, here I am. So, how have you been doing since..." the succubus stopped, a thoughtful look on her face, "Actually, was it a dream or was it real? You know what I'm talking about... right?"

"Yeah, I know," the hell stallion nodded, "I'm, uh, not dead."

"That much I can see," she snorted.

"I, well... I study under Nightmare Moon now," he explained slowly, "Luna is... trapped somehow, sort of locked away. So... yeah."

"I guess I missed the most interesting stuff," the succubus raised her brows as she also took a look around the ruins, "But... do you need my help? From what I've heard, Nightmare Moon... isn't the kindest, let's put it that way. At least that's how legends and tales go."

"She's harsh, but she has some good points about the world, in my opinion," Andromalius replied, gathering his will to grab some water and try again. This conversation could be a nice challenge to what he was trying to learn, "I'm worried, though... What if she's not telling me everything? Some of what she said chilled me, too."

"Isn't that the case with everyone who wants to take power?" Inanna snorted and rolled her eyes, "Not the first time, that's for sure. I don't think you should trust her, plain and simple."

"Yeah, you're right..." he sighed, wishing the weight of responsibility on his shoulders wasn't there.

"So, what's your plan to deal with all of this?"

"I... I wish I had one..." he replied awkwardly, a degree of shame visible on his face. Until this point, he didn't realize he had almost nothing but vague goals. He thought about freeing Luna - but how? Doing this isn't the first step - there were more he needed to take. And, assuming he manages to do it... then what?

"Really? Nothing at all? Man, you gotta come up with something, otherwise, well..." Inanna looked up and began to list, "You're gonna get gangbanged by those conspiracy guys, the scary alicorn, the sun cult of the scary alicorn, the dark scary alicorn, maybe her cult, and also maybe some more people who don't like you or want to use you or whatever," she looked back at him, worry on her face, "And believe me, this isn't the fun kind of gangbang."

"I'm still thinking of what I can do to get out of this in one piece," Andromalius said, furrowing his brows, "All I can do is... learn, for now. I don't think I have enough power to do much otherwise."

"And that is precisely why you need my help," Inanna nodded, "So, you say Princess Luna was locked away? Where?"

"In her own body, I guess."

"Well, that makes things easier," Inanna stood completely still for a moment, her projection not moving in any way whatsoever, "Ah-ha! Yeah, there it is. I keep some books around, and one of them might help."

"Help with... what?" the hell stallion asked while moving the captured water to above his head. It was less steady than before but it didn't drop.

"Well, if Nightmare Moon possessed Princess Luna, we can banish her from the body," Inanna explained, "It's not really a difficult spell, but... getting ready to do it is."

"So, what do I need to do?"

"Uh, let's see..." her image froze once again for a solid minute. Meanwhile, Andromalius did his best to focus the water into a straighter and more stable shape. To his disappointment and frustration, it didn't even come close to his initial attempt. Inanna finally spoke again, slowly, "Well... I'm not really sure... I wouldn't really try to tell you what it does because, uh, as simple as it is, the wording is... weird. I wouldn't try to do it without understanding it, and I'm not the smartest spellcaster."

"Then where can I read about it?" Andromalius asked, the water above him wavering.

"Ideally, I should get you this copy," she replied, "We can probably do that but try to find the book somewhere else. The title's "Magicae Vocationis". There's a tome number, I think it's three? Maybe four? The book's old, so yeah..."

"Wait..." the hell stallion said, his ears turning away, "Someone's coming, you better go."

Inanna nodded and her projection disappeared in a blink of a way, leaving not a sight nor a feeling. Hoofsteps could now be heard clearly, and they were slow and steady. Nightmare Moon came into sight, her eyebrows slightly raised. She didn't fail to notice the wetness still present on Andromalius' head. However, she decided not to talk about it... yet.

"Thou art doing well," she said, making the water above the hell stallion waver just a bit more, "Thou needst time to master this, but what I see so far is... acceptable. However, thy focus must not be lost during peril as well as peace."

Her horn lit up and produced a bright and loud flash of light that made Andromalius drop the water. Before it could fall on his head, he managed to catch it, and now there were individual drops hanging in the air, no longer representing a whole. A few moments later, however, the hell stallion managed to bring it all back together to the previous shape.

"Reestablishing thy focus after thou hast lost it is not enough," Nightmare Moon said, "Loss of focus might not allow thee to recover as quickly as thou didst now," as she said the last word, her horn once again exploded with sound and light. This time, the water merely shook a lot but remained mostly intact.

"This is... harder than I thought," Andromalius struggled to say.

"Nothing worth doing is ever easy," the dark alicorn confirmed with a nod, "Now, breathe steadily. It is not thy body that struggleth but thy mind. Thine own will is what struggleth. It seemeth thou had a peaceful life in thy world, didst thou not?"

"I... guess," he replied with less strain in his voice.

"The strong make good times. Good times make the weak," Nightmare Moon said, "'Tis not thy fault thou'rt not as strong as thou needst to be, but 'tis truly thy responsibility to amend it. The world is an unforgiving place, especially with who thou art now. Thou hast to be strong to overcome the great many obstacles in thy path."

She hurled a small rock at Andromalius, impacting him in the chest. He took a step backwards, barely keeping the water together. He stabilized it soon, and the dark alicorn looked at him with approval.

"Good. Thou art learning," she said, "Now for a test."

"So quickly?" he asked, surprised.

"What is the purpose of learning if thou dost not use it practically? Holding some water together is no difficult task. I have something more for thee. Let the water back to the stream and follow me."

Andromalius did as asked and went after Nightmare Moon. The two went back to the palace and traveled through a few halls before appearing in the throne room. By far, it was the most badly damaged out of the entire palace: many holes were present in the ceiling and the walls, the thrones themselves were cracked and dull in color. The tapestries, those that still survived, were tattered and rotting. Moss and vines took over the walls and the floor, slowly but surely destroying the majesty that one was present there.

"This palace is in an unacceptable condition," the dark alicorn said, her eyes noting all the damage the throne room sustained during her fight with Celestia. She felt nothing but disappointment at herself over losing this fight, but Luna, still present in her mind, remembered how it hurt. Bitter and angry, she attacked her own sister, and the horror of realization of what she had done did not reach her until many years later. Even after her return, she could hardly look into Celestia's forgiving eyes, and the divide between the two seemed to grow ever wider no matter what. With her body taken away, Luna could do little but watch as events unfolded, and she refused to think of what Nightmare Moon would turn Equestria into and what would happen to Celestia herself.

"Alright, so what are we going to do?" Andromalius asked, eyeing the ruins.

"We shall mend and remake, of course," Nightmare Moon said, "Follow my lead, thou shalt understand what to do."

Her horn lit up and she concentrated, bringing the spell into perfect, unwavering focus. She remembered how the throne room was a thousand years ago, then willed this memory to change into a vision of her future. She cast her spell, and the Sun Throne shattered into splinters along with the Moon Throne, and the two came together in the dance of wood and paint as she reassembled them into one Night Throne. The colors mixed, bringing the deep blues, purple, and silver. The night would reign supreme in this palace once all is complete, and it would be transformed into the Night's Domain. Remaking the throne room was just the first step.

Meanwhile, the rest of her picked up the debris and put it back into the walls and ceiling, forcing them to become whole again. Andromalius helped her with the latter, repairing the surroundings as best he could. He stripped the moss from the floors and tried his magic at cleaning and fixing the tiles. The remains of the beautiful decorated carpet were removed and tossed aside, now just rotting rags. Then came the turn of the windows, and many glass shards were brought together to remake them. However, Andromalius didn't manage to make them perfect - the glass had many bulges and, in the end, wasn't even transparent. Nightmare Moon noticed it and fixed the windows with a brush of her magic, making them perfectly smooth again.

The entire throne pedestal was disassembled brick by brick and then made anew. The two stairways became one, leading up to a lone Night Throne. The sun symbols on the walls and columns were erased along with the crescent moon, now replaced with the majesty of the full moon instead.

Andromalius didn't miss the changes to the throne room. It was, after all, not a simple return to the former glory but a start of something new, something that made him shiver and tremble internally. As the changes were finalized and the repairs finished, a question appeared in his mind.

"What will happen to Princess Celestia?" he asked. He didn't have particularly warm feelings towards the solar alicorn, yet he did not wish her death. From what he had understood so far, she was fooled and manipulated. However, it did not erase the fact that she held hostilities against him since the first day.

"She standeth in opposition to me. This, unfortunately, necessitateth her removal," Nightmare Moon replied calmly yet coldly, "Not death, but removal from power and influence. It is true she was played by the Conspirators, yet it doth not excuse her blindness. She is unfit to rule and lead."

The hell stallion had nothing to respond with, and he didn't particularly want to protest. In part, he even agreed with her. However, there was something sinister in her voice that suggested more than she was letting on.

"Thou didst reasonably well with the repairs," she said, changing the topic, "There are areas to improve, but thou shalt do better next time, of course."

She lit her horn and one small piece of the debris flew at Andromalius. He reacted by raising his shield at the last moment, and the piece shattered against his magic into dust.

"Thou art learning," Nightmare Moon said with approval then returned to work, using her magic to light the candles and the chandelier above with silver fire. The room was now basked in a soft glow, and the moon shone through the windows, adding to the lighting. The dark alicorn admired this perfection before ascending to the throne and looking at it for a long while.

The night must reign, she knew it. It was her sole goal in life, her only desire, it was why she was created. Each night, she stepped closer and closer to it, yet it remained out of her reach. The sun still shone and the night knew the end when the moon disappeared, giving way to the scorching light of the day. The sun's hateful rays burned with strong intensity, forcing the creatures of the night to hide in fear to await dusk and the coming of the calming darkness.

One night, she would take the throne. Yet it was not this night, and not the next night. However, there was time destined for her, time of her ascension. It would be the time of the Eternal Night, and she would be its herald.

Nothing is given freely, and all things have to be fought for. Nightmare Moon would not sit idly by as the opportunities pass and the world grows ever-older and becomes stagnant, even more so than it was already.

She would take them.

In Canterlot, a certain noble house was hosting an invite-only party deep in the night. It was mostly quiet and sophisticated as all such parties tended to be. However, this simplicity hid something more, something secretive. Such parties were hosted regularly by the members of the Equestrian Court, and as such didn't cause much suspicion, allowing those who wanted to go unnoticed to blend in and communicate without exposing themselves.

At parties deserving attention, at least one member of House Blueblood was present, as was the case here. The head of the House, Stalwart Blue, attended this one and mingled with the crowd. He was dressed in an expensive and impeccable light-blue suit with the crest of his House proudly displayed right under the collar like a medal - a golden shield with light-blue edges, and a drop of deep blue blood in its center. Some would call it tasteless - such as naming the House and its members after a phrase describing important ponies - but Stalwart Blue wore it with pride, for he managed to keep his ancestors' wealth and improve it in the years since he became the head of the House. Under his perfect suit, there was only a small layer of fat which hid a wide and reasonably impressive white-furred frame. He might be the head of one of the most disliked Houses, but no pony would say it to his face. In turn, his features were perfect and angular, his blond hair featuring quite a few streaks of silver in his age. He bore a pleasant smile which didn't reach his gray eyes as he surveyed the party.

Another noble was making her way through the crowd in his direction. She was a gorgeous unicorn mare of pale blue coat and brilliant white mane, her age hidden by the toned look of her body under a black dress. Her blue eyes fixated on Stalwart Blue as she approached him.

"Good evening, Lady White," Stalwart Blue inclined his head in a greeting, "It's a pleasure seeing you here tonight."

"Likewise, Lord Stalwart Blue," she inclined her head in turn, "It's a beautiful night. Princess Luna blessed us with a full moon."

'Indeed," the stallion agreed, "I hope you found the party entertaining. It's on the slow side this time of night, unfortunately."

"That is why I came to you," Lady White let a small smile touch her lips, "Your company is always pleasant, my lord. Do you remember the time when we were just foals, careless and, dare I say, adventurous?"

"I do," Stalwart Blue replied, his body stiffening slightly.

"I still distinctly remember how the two of us ran across the rooftops," she continued, her tone unchanged, but her eyes flicked to her right, to the buildings on the other side of the street from the yard where the party was taking place. Slowly, Stalwart Blue followed her gaze, then flicked back to her, "It was indeed a good time, one I treasure to this day," she looked into his eyes, "Would you like to join me on the rooftops tonight, to remember those times?"

"I-I'm afraid I can't do this now while others may be watching, my lady," the stallion stammered in the beginning but recomposed himself by the fourth word, "Perhaps... at a later time."

"Very well," Lady White nodded in acknowledgement, "So, how is your eldest son doing?"

For many minutes, the two discussed mundane things, smoothly flowing from one topic to the next. They talked about family and the relationships inside their respective Houses, about business and how to make things more profitable and less prone to mistakes, and about leisure and how to spend their free time. With an excuse, the mare left Stalwart Blue and mingled with the rest of the guests, talking to some of them extensively. The head of House Blueblood followed her with his eyes, a frown on his face. His eyes flicked to the rooftops, but the moonlight revealed nothing. The moon slowly disappeared behind the horizon, and the rays of sun appeared. The guests were departing, the party closing to an end.

"This was a pleasant night," Lady White said as Stalwart Blue escorted her out of the yard and into the Canterlot streets, "I shall be certainly seeing towards our next get-together, my lord."

"And I shall look forward to it as well, my lady," the head of House Blueblood bowed to her, "May I escort you to your home?"

"No, but thank you," the mare said, bowing to him in turn, "Have a pleasant day, my lord."

Chapter 32: Benedictio et Maledictio

Author's Note

I am very sorry for the delay, but I hope you all enjoy this chapter just as much as I enjoy writing this. Despite how long it sometimes takes, I do really enjoy writing this story, and this delay allowed me to think of more and better things to show you. Hope you have a good time reading this!

Chapter 32: Benedictio et Maledictio

After a day of rest, Andromalius was summoned to Nightmare Moon in the evening. As the sunlight faded above the Everfree, casting the ancient forest into darkness it is so used to, the hell stallion entered the repaired throne room of the Summer Palace, wondering what the dark alicorn had for him this night. However, something else was on his mind as well.

His exile from Equestrian civilization resulted in him feeling like he barely got enough sleep or food. Nightmare Moon and her guards provided, of course, but he still felt no hunger, no thirst, and no desire to sleep. Of course, he still required rest after strenuous exercises or, as he remembered, when he was healing from an infected timberwolf bite, but otherwise, he was perfectly able to stay awake and without tiredness. He had a feeling it wasn't just how he felt - it was something more than that. He had a suspicion before, and now it grew even stronger - it seemed a different kind of energy sustained him, the kind that required no usual sustenance like food, water, comfortable temperatures, and sleep. If he was right, he was supposed to eat at least twice if not thrice the amount of food he consumed daily, considering his muscle mass and overall size, which was at least four times as large as his human body. Despite not eating enough, he saw no deterioration in strength or endurance, which raised a troubling question - what exactly kept him alive? He suspected he was not invincible - after all, he could get hurt and wounded.

"I've no idea why," Inanna told him when he spoke to her about it during the day, "I mean, yeah, you should be eating a ton of food to keep that impressive body of yours, and you also need to spend, I dunno, at least a few hours working out. But you do neither, right?"

"Yeah..." he replied, "I never really exercised all that much in the first place."

"Man, you're the dream of almost any stallion," the succubus let out a short laugh, "You do nothing yet have one of the most impressive, no, the most impressive body I've ever seen."

"That is nice, yeah," he let out his own chuckle, "But... I just don't know why I'm like this," he furrowed his brows slightly, "It's not bad, you know, but... I just want to find out why."

"I'll try to help you," Inanna promised him, "I think I know where to start, actually... Can you tell me who your parents are?"

"Well, uh..." he furrowed his brows deeper as he remembered, "I... was not born like this, as far as I know. My parents were human, and they didn't look like that, I think," and, after a pause, he added carefully, "Definitely not my father."

"And what about your mother?" the succubus raised one of her brows slightly, catching on.

"I... never knew her," Andromalius replied, a deep, thoughtful expression on his face, "I think my father would've told me about who she was if she was, you know, like how I look like now. A-and I also didn't look like this until I appeared here. But anyway, my father told me my mother couldn't visit me, she was... in some other country doing important stuff."

"Have your mother ever written to you or anything?"

"My father always told me she was busy, but she cared about me," he replied slowly as he went through his memories trying to find anything about his mother. Yet, he didn't remember how she looked, how she sounded. There was nothing about her at all aside from what his father told him. Was he even being truthful? He didn't doubt it as a child but now, with Inanna nudging him to remember, he finally saw that something was not right about it. He feared what it would lead to, and so he simply said, maybe a bit too quickly, "I really don't know..."

"That's probably the link you need to investigate," Inanna replied with a nod, "I don't think it's just an accident that you're like this. Things can be... weirdly connected, you know? Magic stuff, destiny, fate, whatever," she waved her hoof but stopped, her eyes becoming more serious, "I... didn't take it seriously for the longest time myself, maybe not completely seriously even now, but... things are definitely happening, you know what I mean?"

He still had this conversation in mind as he approached Nightmare Moon. She was standing at a window, gazing into the night as she raised the moon, her horn aglow. One of the guards was next to her, whispering something to her. She listened with a neutral expression on her face for some time before a frown took its place. After the guard finished speaking, the alicorn nodded and sent him on his way.

"Good evening, Andromalius," she spoke, half-turning to the approaching hell stallion, "I believe thine assistance is required in this matter."

"What is it?" he asked warily.

"We now have some information about the conspirators that may prove useful, and I need of thee to take a look at it," Nightmare Moon said and started walking away from the window, the moon now high above and shining its pale light onto the land, "Come with me."

Andromalius nodded and followed her. The two went through a couple halls before descending a stairway, going deeper down into the palace. The alicorn was silent, deep in thought, and the hell stallion had no reason to disturb her. For a time, the two walked like this, and the only sound was their steps echoing through the abandoned halls. Soon, there were no windows to provide light, and the two went into the basement. The dark corridors were only lit by their respective horns. Nightmare Moon glanced back at him for a moment, an unreadable expression on her face. However, the hell stallion failed to notice, having been consumed by his own thoughts.

"Tell me, Andromalius," Nightmare Moon spoke up, her voice echoing eerily across the basement, "For the longest time, thou hast remained a follower, one that listenth yet doth not speak first."

"What do you mean, your majesty?" he asked carefully, trying to get what she was hinting at. The tone of her voice, however, made him stiffen somewhat.

"Ever since thou hast appeared, thou hast been... apprehensive," she continued, leading him on, "Thou hast an impressive frame, magical potential like few others, and strength not many can easily achieve. However, thou hast not pushed for recognition, thou hast not pushed for leadership," she looked him in the eyes, "Why is it that thou art so unsure of thyself?"

For a moment, there was silence. Nightmare Moon looked at the hell stallion expectantly, wondering what his answer would be. Was it all a deliberate ruse as not to make himself a target? Was he hiding what he was truly capable of? It was no accident he appeared in this world, and his great power had a purpose, undoubtedly. If she could catch him on a lie, perhaps it would give her more than if he simply told her the truth.

"I, well..." he inhaled deeply, "I wasn't always... like I'm now. I never expected any of what happened to, uh, happen. I'm just your average guy, I guess."

"Average?" the alicorn blinked in puzzlement, "Yet thou art not. Apologies, but is it some kind of a jest?"

"Uh, no?"

"Then I truly do not understand..." she said slowly, "How canst someone like thee be so powerful in all but spirit? Unless..." she peered deeper into his eyes. An old proverb was true here - eyes indeed allowed others to see inside a soul, if only for a brief moment and for vague information. Some could close this window, letting nothing be seen, but she quickly found out Andromalius possessed no such skill - instead, the knowledge about him was there for all to see if they were willing.

In his eyes, Nightmare Moon saw deeply-rooted hesitation, a desire to stay out of trouble. It was a simple thing present in plenty of ponies she gazed into during her lifetime, but this one was different. These roots grew ever-deeper, shifting and contorting into a certain, yet unknown, pattern. Behind them, perhaps at the very basis of his soul, there was desire - desire, although simple, contradictory to what was on the surface; he wanted, even if he couldn't accept or realize it just yet, to escape the pit of the average, the trap of the middle ground, and the grasp of mediocrity. Not just hidden, but put there, there was the desire to become the best he could be. Perhaps it would've been on the surface once, yet it was replaced by the fear and doubt.

"Thou art cursed..." Nightmare Moon finally said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Andromalius asked, afraid of what the answer would reveal to him. However, the more he thought of it, the more the pull of the unknown affected him, making him want to figure it out, to find the reason. He could feel there was something amiss, something misplaced or put in the wrong place on purpose.

"Thou art destined to lead, not to follow, I am sure of that now," the dark alicorn replied with great conviction, "Thy potential is to be realized, thou must grow strong, never to cower. Thou canst feel it, canst thou not? Thou wantest more, yet something is holding thee back from what must be rightfully thine. Chains are wrapped around thee, preventing thee from becoming who thou art meant to be!"

Andromalius almost recoiled at how sharp and bright her eyes became looking at him. There was a fire in them, flames of passion, flames of something he couldn't quite describe. Yet there was also disappointment in those eyes, aimed at something or someone either than him. He couldn't yet understand, but there were seeds of thought inside his head, and he begun to recognize.

"Now I truly understand," Nightmare Moon said in what was almost a whisper, "Thou art indeed cursed. 'Tis a subtle curse undoubtedly, yet one is present. Now that I know where to look, it is indeed there. It pullth on thee, drags thee back into the darkness of ignorance and weakness. Canst thou not feel it?"

"I... I don't know... maybe there is something..." he said hesitantly, but deep inside, he knew she was right about it at least partially. Where did that feeling come from? He wasn't sure, but it was certainly his.

"There is the doubt, it is certain now," the alicorn nodded, her eyes bright with understanding, "Thine potential is limited by this curse. It must be undone."

"A-alright, but what about the thing that you wanted me to help you with?"

"It can wait, but thou canst not," she said firmly in response, turning around, "Come with me now, I believe I know the solution."

With fear and hesitation, Andromalius followed Nightmare Moon back up and then outside the castle. All this way, he wondered if he could simply run away, go elsewhere. The possibility of him having a curse scared him - when was it cast? How? By whom? For what purpose? How long had it been influencing him? There was one more question to it - was Nightmare Moon being truthful about it or was it a part of her plan? The answer to it was simple, he realized - she was truthful. He didn't think she could make something like this up out of nowhere, and he felt she was right. Many times in his life, he was excited about something, yet quickly grew either lazy or disinterested in it. At that time, he thought that's just who he was - a person who easily loses interest in things. He still lived a decent life, had friends - or maybe just acquaintances, he thought fearfully - and did just like pretty much everyone else. Of course he was never as successful as some, but he was not a loser either. At that time, he was content with having that position, and perhaps he would still be if not for the sudden turn in his life.

Now... there was more to his life, and he knew he had to do something about it, and he was doing what he thought was his best. However, this 'best' was perhaps not enough, he felt he could do even better if he could just... do better. As simple and as obvious as it seemed, there was an obstacle in his way that he didn't know anything about aside from what Nightmare Moon suggested. If it was indeed a curse, he needed to lift it, no matter what the consequences to that will be.

He started to recognize where they were going - it was almost his precise path through the Everfree on his first appearance. In fact, he swore he could see the imprints of his steps in the dark soil, barely covered by some new vegetation.

"Where... are we going?" he asked warily, looking around just in case of danger.

"There is a certain place in this forest, I think it will be able to help thee," Nightmare Moon answered as she strolled through the forest as naturally as its predators did, "For a curse to be lifted, one must know which curse it is. I can sense what it is, yet I cannot act on this alone. Instead, I shall put my trust in one of the wonders of this place... a cleansing pond. Any negative magic will be gone from thee once you take a swim in it... or so I have heard."

"Should we really try it, then? What if it does something, I don't know, opposite?"

"Thy worries are sensible," the alicorn nodded, "Yet I believe this folks' tale will prove to be true indeed. Luna, from what I understand, hath been to that place once. However, she is unwilling to reveal its precise location for... reasons neither I nor she seem to know."

"Then how can we find it?"

"Her thoughts reveal the way," she replied, "Despite her unwillingness to tell me the location directly, I have a vague sense of familiarity with this way. This sense... doth not belong to me, and I hope thou understandst what it implieth."

Andromalius thought for a second and then nodded in understanding. He didn't speak up again, choosing to try to sort his own thoughts instead.

Meanwhile, Nightmare Moon wondered whether freeing him from the curse would be beneficial to her. Her initial impulse of freeing him was replaced by cold, calculated, thoughtful logic. If she was right, the curse made him somewhat obedient, and it was undoubtedly a good reason to keep him under the spell. Power such as his could not be unchecked and uncontrolled. However, perhaps he would be able to fulfill his potential completely if the curse was lifted, in which case he would be much more powerful and thus far more useful to her cause. With the ability to grow beyond his current imposed limitations, and if properly guided and taught, he could prove to be a very competent ally in her quest. Of course, it would also mean he would become more independent and have an entirely free will of its own. However, Nightmare Moon had no thoughts to offer about it - she was created for one purpose only, and she knew not what it means to have a different one. Neither did she think about it in a negative way - her purpose was her purpose, and it gave her meaning in life, allowed her to not dwell on things she considered useless. Eternal Night must come, she had to work towards it, and the rest didn't matter much if at all to her.

There was, of course, the matter of Luna - she was still there, nagging at her mind, and Nightmare Moon desired to get rid of her. Yet she couldn't kill her - such was the pact. Perhaps Andromalius' growing power, as well as the possibilities his very existence offered, Luna would be given a new body and thus leave Nightmare Moon's mind for good... provided she didn't become an obstruction.

Weighing both options about Andromalius, the dark alicorn was more inclined to free him of the curse than to leave things as they are. She understood her choice might become regrettable in the future, but one more thing was clear to her - those who take no risks are doomed to mediocrity. Her own failures can either be amended or bring her downfall, both of which were acceptable from her perspective. She could never be gone from this world, she would always return. Every failure is an experience, and one day, those experiences would outweigh the possibility of making another fatal mistake. And on that day, whenever it would be, there would be success.

And so Nightmare Moon led Andromalius deeper into the forest, closer and closer to the pond. She could feel it was nearby, waiting for the two to come forth and wash themselves in its clear water. She wondered why Luna went there, yet the fragments of her memories and feelings provided little information. In truth, it was largely irrelevant - what mattered was the pond and Andromalius' curse.

"Art thou worried about something?" she asked the hell stallion, noticing a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I really think this is where I first appeared in this world," he said slowly, "And that's... weird."

"Truly so?" the dark alicorn raised a brow, "I find this peculiar, now... I wonder if 'tis no coincidence. Perhaps thou wast meant to find the pond but, at a turn of fate, thou didst not until-" she parted a thick bush, allowing the two to enter into an enclosed space containing a clear pond "-this moment."

"Wow... I think I saw these bushes before..." Andromalius stopped, an expression of genuine confusion on his face, "So... this is the place?"

"I believe so," Nightmare Moon nodded and looked around. The pond was surrounded by tall green grass. It was that nice color of green, not a muddy or grayish tone one would expect to see in the Everfree. The space was softly lit by a few big glowing lily-like flowers on the water, wrapping the surroundings and the two within in a sense of warmth and comfort.

"I feel like it, too..." he slowly nodded, taking in what he was seeing, "So, I just... go in there?"

"I'm reasonably certain thou hast to take a dive," the dark alicorn said, "This is the place where one cannot drown, so thou shouldst have no worries. I shall stand back and keep watch in case the forests' creatures come lurking. Go on, now."

With a nervous nod, Andromalius took the first step. The waters of the pond seemed inviting, yet there was some hesitation in the deep of his mind. He didn't think Nightmare Moon would trick him this way - it was too much out of nowhere. Besides, he now knew she was right, so why was he doubting himself? Was it the effect of the curse?

Now that he was there, he had to take those steps, be what it be. He didn't think he would die, he didn't believe it would cause him harm. Nightmare Moon was not an open person, certainly not an entirely honest individual - or so he felt - but, for some reason, a part of him believed - and wanted to believe - her. He took another step, his front right hoof now touching the water. It felt comfortably warm and... soft. It was not a physical sense in any way but a magical one - he felt his inner magic pleasantly resonate with whatever was inside the pond, and it eased his mind. Another step made his other front hoof touch the water, and the pleasant feeling grew in intensity ever so slightly.

Slowly, he went further into the pond, and he couldn't deny he enjoyed every second of it. His worries and troubles were gently eased until they pulled on his mind no longer, restricted to residing at the back of his thoughts, allowing more courage to go even further. Soon, he was covered up to his chest, and he could describe the feeling in only one way - it was good. He continued on his way even deeper into the pond, and his features slowly disappeared below the crystal-clear water surface.

Nightmare Moon remained standing where she was, watching him as he went. She had a thought about getting into the pond as well, yet there was fear inside her - perhaps this magic would restore Luna and thus render all her efforts null. Even more, the pond might unmake Nightmare Moon in her entirety, and this was a fate she did not and could not seek.

All of sudden, Andromalius completely disappeared in the water and could no longer be seen despite the transparency. The dark alicorn frowned, yet something assured her he would reemerge soon.

In a soft blue void, Andromalius floated aimlessly, dream-like. He thought he was supposed to be worried, even panicked - yet he wasn't. A sense of calm and serenity washed over him, keeping him from drowning in his own negative thoughts.

"Hello, Andromalius," a voice called, genderless and ageless, yet soft in its tone.

"Hello... pond," he replied somewhat awkwardly, but a pleasant smile didn't leave his face.

"I know why you are here," the voice continued, "I know your doubts, your fears. I know who you are and who you were. There is indeed a spell on you, one that is supposed to keep you from achieving greatness."

"...Alright," he said, becoming silent for a few seconds, "As simple as this? You can lift this curse, right?"

"Indeed I can, but this is no curse," the voice told him, their emotions unreadable, "Do you still wish for it to be lifted?"

"Wait, it's not a curse?" the hell stallion blinked in confusion, "Then what is it?"

"From the perspective of the caster, it is a blessing," the reply was, "It was conceived of no ill will, and it was not made from indifference to you. Details... evade me-" the tone changed to a slightly surprised one "-but this spell was made to protect you."

"How?"

"I don't have an answer to that," the voice replied, "And I know not where or when to find it. However, there is one thing I am allowed to know - this protection is at your discretion. Do you believe you need it or do you believe it must be lifted?"

"I... I think it should be lifted," Andromalius replied nervously, "I do want to do more, to become more. All my life, I was... average. I didn't see a huge problem with it then, but now... I think I do. I'd rather achieve something, but not for the sake of glory or wealth, just... just because I want it. So yes, I think this curse or blessing or whatever it is has to be lifted."

"It is your choice and your choice only," the voice replied simply, "The consequences of the said choice are yours also."

"Ah, and... who are you?" the eyes of the hell stallion became clearer this moment as he focused his mind away from the softness and comfort he felt.

"I am this pond," the voice answered his question with as much emotion as before, "My nature is to lift spells, curses and blessings alike, at the request of those who find me."

"Are you... a pony?"

"No. I am this pond. How we communicate is the easiest way you would understand me," the voice replied, "Are you ready for the spell to be lifted? After this, you will emerge, and soon after, our encounter would be mostly forgotten like dreams are forgotten."

"Yeah, I am ready."

Without a pause, Andromalius was standing in the pond, his head above the water just enough to allow him to breathe. He blinked a few times, coming back to his senses - the water was still warm and comfortable, but his head was now clear. He felt... relieved. Something was no longer pressing on him, no longer taking space in his thoughts. The closest explanation he could think of would be like taking off the slightly too tight clothes at the end of the day. One wouldn't notice the tightness during the day, but the relief from getting rid of it was always apparent.

"Welcome back, Andromalius," Nightmare Moon said from the shore, breaking his line of thoughts.

"How long has, uh, have, I been... away?" he asked, finding it just a bit difficult to speak at first as his thoughts came back together.

"Perhaps a minute," the dark alicorn replied, "I can see thou feelst the release from the curse, dost thou not?"

"Y-yeah, I do," he nodded, deciding not to tell her what he heard from the pond about the supposed curse.

"Then let us come back to the palace, I have yet to show thee what I originally planned to have thee see," Nightmare Moon nodded and turned away, "Perhaps now, with thy mind clear, thou shalt notice what thou otherwise wouldst have not."

Andromalius followed the dark alicorn out of the area, and the bushes closed it off once they exited. He looked back, and now nothing looked out of the ordinary. He knew the pond was there, but he would have never found it without Nightmare Moon's help otherwise.

And now one question about it remained inside his head - how could this curse be a blessing?

Chapter 33: Devotio

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 34: Socius

Shield Bearer barely opened his eyes, a strong headache permeating his mind. He blinked, trying to focus on his surroundings, and the headache soon faded to an annoying pattern of painful thumps in the back of his mind, the focus of the pain around the base of his horn. After a few moments of haze, he remembered what happened to him before he became unconscious, and his eyes finally focused. He was in a relatively small room with cracked paint and dusty floors. However, someone put him on a simple bed, so his body wasn't sore from lying on cold stone. He looked to his sides and noticed a pair of Night Guards standing there, adding to the confusion he had already felt. He noted all his belongings were taken away, and a magic suppression ring was locked around his horn. Judging by the amount of light shining through the lone window in front of him, it was around evening. In front of the window, an alicorn stood.

"What..." Shield Bearer cleared his throat and opened his somewhat dry lips, "What is going on? Princess... Luna?"

"Not quite," the alicorn replied, turning to face him, and her viper-eyes certainly were not those of Luna, "Welcome to the Palace of the Night. I am Nightmare Moon."

Shield Bearer's eyes went wide at her introduction and he tried to stand up, yet he couldn't move his legs. A paralysis spell, he noted in the back of his mind.

"Do not be alarmed, my subject," Nightmare Moon continued, her voice gentle with a hint of steel edge to it, "I wish thee no harm. However, I do require some answers," she slowly walked up to him, a cup of water in her magical grasp. She put it to the lips of the stallion, allowing him to take loud and thirsty gulps. After he finished, she teleported the cup away, "It is most interesting a Royal Guard made his way here, all by himself, yet clearly prepared for the journey. What is thine objective?"

"I'm... not here officially, your majesty" he replied carefully, trying not to look into the eyes of the dark alicorn. From what he knew of Nightmare Moon, she was quick to anger and didn't hesitate to use force. She was also extremely powerful, and he remembered a report of how easily she dealt with the guards assigned to the Summer Sun Celebration not all that long ago. And now he was there in front of her, without armor or weapons, and without magic. He knew his very life depended on what he said, and it was clear he wouldn't be simply let go after he answered the questions. However, he intended to be honest and respectable - he had nothing to hide. Besides, he reasoned he didn't have a choice - the alicorn was powerful enough to get answers out of him one way or another, and it was a blessing she decided to be nice to him.

"Oh?" Nightmare Moon raised a brow and then inspected him with her eyes. She didn't fail to notice the scar on his side, "Ah, I see... 'Tis a personal obligation that led thee here."

"Yes, your majesty," he nodded, "I'm looking for Andromalius. He saved my life, and I want to repay him."

"Most honorable of thee," the dark alicorn replied a respectable nod. She could appreciate someone with strong moral principles among the Royal Guards. Perhaps it could serve her, "Very well, what dost thou think of him?"

"I think he's innocent of what he was accused, your majesty," he replied slowly, "I just don't believe someone who so readily saved a stranger's life could just... try to take over Equestria or something. He should've been given a fair trial instead of being chased away to what would be his death, and I know he's alive."

"And what dost thou think of Celestia?" Nightmare Moon continued, "She is the one who ordered his execution."

Her emphasis on the last word made the stallion shiver. He knew it was execution, yet he always reasoned that it was something else. However, he couldn't deny what it truly was.

"It... wasn't right of her to do it, your majesty," Shield Bearer paused for a moment, frowning, "We guards aren't supposed to go against her word, but... I just don't see why she would do something like this so readily."

"And thou dost suspect what led her to it, dost thou not?" the dark alicorn finally found his eyes and locked her gaze with his, and he couldn't turn away, "Thou knowest more than thou shouldst, dost thou not?"

"Y-yes, your majesty," he admitted somewhat shakily, "There's... something going on in Canterlot."

"An understatement of a century," Nightmare Moon snorted, somewhat breaking her calm outer demeanor, "Thine apprehension is understandable, but I can see thou knowest a band of conspirators is working in the shadows. This was what Luna was investigating before, well... before me."

"Where is Princess Luna?" his ears perked up at the mention of her name. If Luna was still there, then maybe the situation wasn't as disastrous as he thought.

"She is safe and sound, yet unreachable, for now," the dark alicorn replied, evading a straight answer, "Thou hast to deal with me, young stallion. Now tell me... what dost thou think of my goals?"

"From what I've learned," he carefully began, gathering what he remembered about her. He decided to omit some of the stories he heard about her stealing foals at night. Such rumors were as ridiculous as claiming Zecora wanted to turn everyone into frogs by poisoning the water supply with Poison Joke, and he had heard that rumor countless times, "You want Eternal Night, your majesty," he paused for a moment, and she nodded in confirmation, "I... don't agree with that, your majesty."

"And this is the only goal of mine that thou knowest," Nightmare Moon nodded once more, "Very well. I can understand thy perspective, guardian of the day. However, my goal is not simply the establishment of Eternal Night, no, my goals go further and deeper than that."

She slowly circled around him, letting him digest the statement. He knew she wasn't as simple as a monster who sought to eat the sun and leave the world in a perpetual darkness, but he had no idea what other goals she had in her mind. He didn't show it, but he feared what she would say next.

"The pony society is sick," the dark alicorn continued, slowly unveiling her thoughts to the young and certainly impressionable stallion.

The notions of honor were often espoused by the naive, and the naive were easy to convince to do anything with the right words. He managed to get into the Royal Guard, so Nightmare Moon knew he could resist magical control... to a certain degree. However, what she was doing was not magic, but merely a conversation with which many young ponies would agree no matter who presented these words to them. As long as she was thoughtful in her approach, she would have recruited an ally in no time.

"A disease of incompetence, malice, and plotting hath taken deep root in it, and it hath been growing for a thousand years. The power of the nobility became stronger than ever before, and the power of the Crown diminished. Princess Celestia was blinded by this disease, manipulated by its spreaders. The inequality hath been growing more and more for centuries and, no doubt, would erupt in a conflict only few would survive," she looked deep into the eyes of the unicorn, "Of course, it wouldn't be thee who surviveth."

Judging by his expression, he had taken the bait. Not that Nightmare Moon was dishonest with her words - everything she had said was true. She only needed to present it correctly. She had painted a clear picture where an unseen but certain enemy threatened what the stallion swore to protect, and she only needed to add a little touch of personal threat to him, veiled behind vague words. It would be enough to get most to listen, and ponies were most pliable to such influence.

Shield Bearer was ignorant to her manipulations as the expected fear crept deep into his mind, just like Nightmare Moon wanted. He reasoned the words of the dark alicorn had meaning and truth behind them, for he could poke no holes in her speech. Nobility was certainly allowed more than they should've been, he could readily agree with that. Many times, the young sons and daughters of the nobles along with the nobles themselves could get away with more than the common pony. A word there, a bribe - one nobody could prove - over there, and the small 'mistakes' were ignored like nothing ever happened. Everyone in the Royal Guard was aware of this issue in one way or another, and most did well by ignoring it. After all, it didn't affect them, and idealism had to give way to earning money.

Shield Bearer himself came from a reasonably well-off family in Canterlot, and had spent all his life among similar ponies, never knowing the struggle to survive or to get justice. The nobility usually avoided the ire of the guards, and the guards avoided looking too closely into what was happening among the high society. Likewise, the guard had the most presence among the assets of the most powerful, leaving many smaller villages and cities alone as long as they kept supplying the powerful with what they needed. Shield Bearer was ashamed to admit that he too ignored the many problems right up until they literally stabbed him in the side. Maybe if the Royal Guard worked better and for the interests of ponies at large, they would've noticed the rise of such a violent cult that almost killed him. And, if he was right, the said cult served darker interests within the high society.

"Ah, thou art beginning to see," Nightmare Moon commented, sending another chill down his spine, "Not just the princess, but the Royal Guard, too, was blinded and corrupted. Luna saw it, yet she did not have the strength to act. I do."

She stopped in front of him again and looked him in the eyes once more, gazing into his very soul, leaving no room to hide.

"This corruption must be stopped," she said, her words firmly etching themselves in his mind, "I shall restore the power to the Crown, and I shall purge those who seek to destroy Equestria from within. They have been successful at making themselves more powerful, they have taken the power away from those who know how to wield it, and now they use it for their pathetic selfish needs.

"So, I shall ask thee... a question," she leaned closer, "Dost thou stand against it?"

"I do, your majesty," he readily replied, eager to redeem himself.

"Dost thou seek to make Equestria great and prosperous?"

"I do, your majesty," he nodded again.

"And dost thou seek to defend the ponies from evil?"

"I do, your majesty," he said, both unable and unwilling to say he stood against the ponies. He remembered his oath to serve and defend the ponies from those who would seek to harm them, and now he was more motivated than ever to do his duty.

"Then thou shouldst stand with me, Shield Bearer," she finished, a determined expression on her face, "With thy help, we shall be a step closer to cleansing Equestria of evil that hath taken such a deep root in it. Thou mayst disagree with me, but at least thou understandst what I want to accomplish, and there is middle ground between the two of us."

He didn't know what to say. On one hoof, his allegiance lay strictly with the rulers of Equestria, of which Nightmare Moon was not. He was supposed to obey without question because the princesses knew better than him. On the other hoof, his values aligned more with what Nightmare Moon hoped to achieve than with what he had been supporting with his actions so far.

"Thou must be thinking about Celestia and where it leaveth her," Nightmare Moon continued, holding his attention, "She hath proven to be an incapable leader, allowing such corruption to take over her. She must be replaced by someone more competent, someone who knoweth the path to prosperity and true harmony.

"I know thou art torn between allying thyself with me and thy duty to the ruling princesses. Let me ask thee this - dost thou want to simply follow the rules laid out in front of thee by those who care not for thy being? Or wouldst thou want to fight for what thou believest is right by thy allies' side?"

"Your majesty, I... I'm not sure," Shield Bearer said, "What you're saying is right, but... removing Princess Celestia from the throne? It doesn't seem right... and, in the past, wasn't it what led to your defeat?"

Nightmare Moon's eyes became sharper for a moment as she looked at him. An uncertain pause ensued.

"Thou art... observant," she had to admit, pushing her anger down, "However, a thousand years ago, I was young, I was full of anger and disdain and many other confusing emotions. My... imprisonment... hath taught me well, I had much time to think over my actions."

Another pause ensued as she thought, a deep frown on her face. It wasn't a surprise he brought this up, but it did reveal a hole in her plan - she needed to be always in control if she hoped to achieve victory, and meeting Celestia once more would likely throw her into a blind rage. She needed to restrain herself from unthoughtful actions lest she fell in defeat once more.

"I shall not rush this time," she declared, "And I shall do my best to ensure ponies do not suffer because of my actions. If it worrieth thee so, let it be known that I have made an oath to kill no one. Celestia will remain, only without her title and powers that come along with it."

"I really shouldn't have come here..." Shield Bearer muttered to himself, wondering how he would get out of this mess.

"And why is that?" Nightmare Moon replied sharply, almost making him jolt in his place, "Wouldst thou instead be satisfied if thou remained ignorant? This is not the way of the Royal Guard, thou shouldst know."

"That's not what I meant, your majesty," he replied quickly, "I'm just... confused. I wish I had more time to think everything over."

"Ah, that is acceptable," the dark alicorn nodded, calming down again, "No decision should be made in a rush indeed. I shall allow thee to remain here and think over my proposal, but thou art forbidden from departing this forest. Doth anyone wait for thee on the other side?"

"Not really..." he frowned, "But if I disappear for longer than a month, someone might come looking for me."

"Very well, then," Nightmare Moon nodded again, "Thou certainly shalt have time to think about everything. Now, I know thou hast come here for a different purpose, and I shall allow thee to fulfill it," she used her magic to release the paralysis spell and to remove the ring from his horn, eliciting a sigh of relief from the stallion, "Andromalius is currently in the courtyard practicing magic. Thou canst go and talk to him, my guards shall lead thee."

Once more, Andromalius was standing next to a small stream while doing his best to keep some water in a straight line above his head. His breath was even, his body was relaxed, and his mind was at rest. The line above his head was almost completely straight, wavering just a little bit. As he heard hoofsteps approaching, it trembled a little bit, but he managed to keep it steady with his focus. Judging by what he could hear, more than one pony was approaching him at the time, so it likely meant Nightmare Moon needed him for something, and the practice was thus over. He released the water back into the stream and turned to face the entrance to the palace. To his surprise, a regular-looking stallion came out, escorted by two Night Guards. The guards left the two by themselves, and the stallion looked at Andromalius with both amazement and gratitude.

"You really are alive," he said, relief on his face, "You might not remember me, but you saved my life when we were attacked by cultists. And... I want to thank you."

"I, well, just did what was right," the hell stallion replied slowly as the memory resurfaced in his mind, "But... weren't you with the Royal Guard? Why are you here alone?"

"Because I thought it would be better to go by myself instead of roping others into this," he replied, "And... now I know something bad is going on. You should've been given a fair trial instead of driven out of Canterlot and nearly killed. I also learned there's some sort of conspiracy working against ponies... is it true?"

"Yes, it is," Andromalius nodded, internally relieved to be speaking to someone other than Nightmare Moon or Inanna. Both were special in their own right, and this new pony seemed to be, in a certain way, normal, regular. Maybe he could get some new perspective on things from him, "Before I escaped, Princess Luna was on their trail, and I was helping her. Now... it's all a lot more complicated."

"I noticed," Shield Bearer let out a chuckle. Despite various rumors circulating in Canterlot since the escape of the hell stallion, he sounded just like another person, not some evil being that sought to destroy Equestria through strange rituals and black magic. However, there was one important question he needed to ask, and so his expression became serious, "Do you stand with Nightmare Moon?"

"Yes... so far," he replied carefully, "I can't really go anywhere else. At least Nightmare Moon treats me well, which is more than I can say for Princess Celestia."

"Fair point," the stallion nodded, "Can you tell me more about what's going on?"

Andromalius proceeded to explain what happened to him at the fateful day of his escape, leading to Shield Bearer shaking his head at disapproval of Celestia's rushed actions. Even he could see this situation as problematic, as something that would take time to resolve right, but the princess of the day, for whatever reason, wasn't interested in it. As the hell stallion continued to talk about the conspiracy at the highest levels of Equestrian society, the unicorn's frown deepened. If anything, this showed just how wrong the Royal Guard was - they protected the princesses from possible outside threats, never once considering a band of traitors could scheme so well behind their backs. At the end of the conversation, the guard was properly shaken - just what would it take to unravel the conspiracy and save Equestria?

The two spent some time talking about how they came to be in the situation they were in. As the conversation progressed, Shield Bearer even managed to relax as his thoughts were confirmed - Andromalius was merely a victim of a conspiracy, not a criminal himself. Perhaps now more guards could be convinced to look deeper into the shady politics at Canterlot, to see what and who hid there, plotting in the dark. Shield Bearer was thoroughly convinced to support this part of Nightmare Moon's plan, yet her goal of taking the throne for herself rubbed both him and Andromalius the wrong way. How could it be assured corruption wouldn't happen again? Nightmare Moon was strong and driven, but so was Celestia.

In the end, the two agreed to help each other however they could and keep an eye out for trouble. Despite how different the two looked from each other, one thing united them - they were thrust into this world of lies and deception against their will, and they had to figure out what was true and what was not, as well as find a way out of it and restore peace and harmony in Equestria. Andromalius knew he wouldn't be able to live his life without solving this issue - he would have to hide forever otherwise. As for Shield Bearer, it was simply his duty as both a citizen of Equestria and as a member of the Royal Guard. The two bumped hooves on it, swearing to stand by each other's side against the unknown.

Unbeknownst to them, Nightmare Moon was listening in, watching from one of the upper windows of the palace. A smile of satisfaction was on her face - Andromalius had indeed taken the initiative, and Shield Bearer would certainly prove to be a useful ally as well despite being just a regular guard. His gratitude towards the hell stallion would bind the two together for a long time, even if it was out of sense of obligation and nothing more. What Nightmare Moon expected to be very useful was Shield Bearer's promise to convince more guards to look into the politics of Canterlot, and it would undoubtedly sway at least some of them to Nightmare Moon's side, and it would be very good for publicity, at the very least.

Eternal Night will come, she was certain of it.

Chapter 35: Primum Pactum

Closer to midnight, Nightmare Moon summoned Andromalius to a certain part of the palace he hadn't seen before - it was a flat platform on one of the towers, the surface of which bore evidence of markings of some kind. The tower rose above the Everfree, clearing the tree tops, allowing anyone on top of it to look far and wide. This night, a carriage was being prepared on the platform. The wooden spoke wheels were attached to the main body and adjusted to ensure the carriage was always parallel to the ground when on land. Unicorn guards were casting spells that renewed the old paint and fixed various cracks in the wood, making the ancient carriage look as good as new. A group of four winged thestrals stretched their limbs not too far away, preparing for the flight. The carriage, once it was back in a presentable condition, was quite a marvel - it was of an enclosed design, made entirely of some kind of dark wood, and was richly decorated. On each door, the symbol of the full moon was present, painted meticulously to accurately represent the same celestial body up in the sky. The edges of the windows and the doors were painted with silver in an elaborate pattern. The dark-purple seats inside were richly cushioned, which would certainly make the ride comfortable.

"Tonight, we shall visit one of our possible allies," the dark alicorn told Andromalius as the two waited for the preparations to be complete, "Art thou aware of what a changeling is?"

"I don't think so," he shook his head. He had heard of the name before, perhaps from some game he played a long time ago, but he doubted it was what Nightmare Moon was talking about.

"A changeling is an equine creature that can turn into anyone and, some say, even anything," she explained, confirming his thoughts, "They also feed on love, as strange as it may sound to thee. Nevertheless, thou canst see why they could prove to be useful allies, thus we must do everything reasonable to get them on our side."

"So, what am I going to do?" he asked, wondering why she wanted to take him along.

"Thou shalt listen and thou shalt learn," Nightmare Moon replied, "As well as guarantee my safety. Their queen, Chrysalis, is known to be... rather eccentric, if I may say so. Thy presence will assure the changelings shan't try to cause trouble."

The dark alicorn proceeded to put on a simple black hooded cloak and gave Andromalius another one, and he put it on as well. The thestrals were already putting the harnesses on themselves, and the unicorns gestured for the pair to get into the carriage.

"With all the spells in place, we shouldn't be noticed as long as we're quick in both our departure and return," she said, stepping into the carriage. Andromalius followed her, making the carriage slightly tilt to its side and creak under his weight. It sprung back in place after he sat down opposite of Nightmare Moon, "By my estimations, we shall arrive to our destination in around two and a half hours, arriving half an hour before dawn. We shall discuss the matters with the Queen, rest during the day, and return the following nightfall."

"And if we're seen?" Andromalius inquired.

"If Royal Guards approach us, I shall speak as Luna, and they shall know no better," she replied, "They shan't give us much trouble, I'm certain."

"And what if they see me?"

"Thy cloak hath a spell of invisibility, I shall trigger it using my own magic if needed," Nightmare Moon assured him, "If things do turn sour, then we shall have to... improvise. With our combined power, I believe it wouldn't be of much difficulty."

Andromalius nodded, accepting her assurances. He couldn't have thought of anything more himself - not that he knew of many tactics concerning covert operations. He used to play strategy games and that's it, after all. Maybe it would one day prove to be useful, but likely not - at least he didn't expect his simple games to give him much of an advantage over anyone experienced in the real thing.

The carriage soon took off into the air and turned south, swiftly flying to and over the edge of the Everfree Forest, heading towards the distant mountains. The carriage rose above the clouds, hiding itself from the ground below. For a while, Nightmare Moon and Andromalius were both silent, deep in their own respective thoughts. The dark alicorn was wondering how the negotiations would turn out to be - she had little information to go off of. It was by luck that she managed to contact the changelings despite the confusing historical accounts of them. Perhaps they even let her find them, which she should keep in mind just in case. Andromalius, on the other side, was thinking about how he could free Luna if Nightmare Moon managed to gather enough allies. He couldn't stand alone against them, it would be foolish and result in nothing but his imprisonment or death, depending on how Nightmare Moon felt about it. He shivered - he had never thought his life would be in such danger. There were several attempts on his life already, and he hadn't been in Equestria for even half a year. He feared to think of what could await him in the future.

They suddenly heard a yell coming from behind the carriage at some distance. The dark alicorn immediately activated Andromalius' invisibility spell and turned her head to the thestrals pulling the carriage. After exchanging a few words with them, the carriage slowed down, and soon a pegasus of the Royal Guard was flying alongside it.

"You came from the direction of forbidden flight space, please identify yourselves," he said, looking into the window of the carriage. The darkness inside didn't quite allow him to see who was sitting there, and his eyes completely missed the seemingly empty spot where Andromalius was hidden.

"We did indeed come from that direction. Flying over the Everfree was a faster route, protector," Nightmare Moon spoke in a perfect Luna voice.

"Princess Luna?" the guard asked, startled.

"Indeed," Nightmare Moon nodded, looking at the guard, "If thou excusedst me, I shall be on my way. I am in a hurry."

"Where are you heading? Do you need any assistance?"

"This is purely on a need-to-know basis, protector," her eyes flashed from under the hood, "If thou needst an answer, my sister would undoubtedly be glad to provide one. Unless there is anything urgent, I request thee to head back. We must be on our way."

"...Of course, princess," the guard nodded and turned around, leaving the carriage.

After the dark alicorn said another few words to the thestrals, they sped back up, bring the carriage to the needed pace. Her horn lit up for a short moment, and her head sharply turned to look at the side from which the pegasus talked to her. She opened the door, looked out, and then retrieved a small round stone which was attached near the bottom of the carriage. She crushed the stone, which elicited a small burst of magic as it turned to dust.

"Most interesting," she said, closing the door and settling back down, "A tracking stone..." she turned to the thestrals, "We must land at once."

Soon, the carriage was pulled to the ground by the thestrals, then stopped completely. Nightmare Moon told Andromalius to stay in place, then proceeded to inspect every centimeter of the carriage meticulously, using a variety of detection spells, as well as her own sense of touch as she traced her hoof along every surface of the carriage. After being apparently satisfied, she got back inside and ordered the thestrals to rise back up to the skies and continue on their way to the intended destination.

"Something is wrong, yes," Nightmare Moon replied to an unspoken question from Andromalius, who was once again visible on the opposite side of the carriage, "Not with the carriage, however - I inspected it, there is nothing there. However, the fact that we were almost tracked is worrying. 'Twould be good if we could capture that pegasus and interrogate him... but 'tis for when we return."

"I guess it's the conspirators' doing?" Andromalius asked, putting the pieces together.

"Undoubtedly," she confirmed with a nod, "Trackers are by no means uncommon in the Royal Guard array of equipment, but they're not supposed to be used on the princesses without explicit permission. The guard that approached us is in league with the conspirators, I don't doubt it for a moment. 'Tis another mistake they have committed without knowing the consequences of it. Once we capture the pegasus, we shall be able to find a lead to the conspirators, their contacts, perhaps their whereabouts."

"But how would you find that guy?" Andromalius asked, "All Royal Guards look pretty much the same, at least to me."

"Of course, this is precisely what thou wast led to see," Nightmare Moon replied, "A spell on their armor maketh them look and feel identical in every way. However, this spell hath an exception for the princesses and, by extension, me. I know who he is, and his armor also tells me where he is stationed. No one but myself, Celestia, and Luna are aware of this."

"What about the one who enchanted the armor?" the hell stallion pointed out, "Wouldn't he or she know?"

"Every piece of armor is indeed enchanted by the armourer, but the final spell - the one that granteth the exception to the spell that hideth the identity of the wearer - is placed by us personally under the guise of inspecting the armor," the dark alicorn explained, "Of course, a simple detection spell will reveal the armor had an additional spell added, but it would not reveal what the nature of that spell was. The conspirators should not be aware of this unless Celestia, in her foolishness, decided to reveal such an important secret. On the off chance that they are aware, I know a simple memory investigation shall either confirm or deny my suspicion. Memory modification is a very difficult process that can be done flawlessly only by the likes of Luna and I. I believe I shall be able to notice if any such modification took place."

Andromalius nodded, satisfied with her explanation once more. He could perhaps continue various 'what if' questions if he really wanted to get to the bottom of it, but it would take many hours and was likely going to annoy the dark alicorn. Unless the conspirators were infinitely wise and had infinite resources, they would make a mistake sooner or later. And, of course, he had to remember an important thing - the more complicated something is, the more likely it is to fail. If the conspirators relied on a large number of layers to function, then they would've been revealed sooner. It was simply much more likely that they kept everything as straight as possible to avoid jeopardizing themselves with the amount of details they would have to take into consideration otherwise.

The flight continued.

As the moon began to disappear, the carriage made its way to the distant mountains and over them, now flying above Badlands - a desolate desert environment with nary a soul as far as an eye can see. A rare cactus could be spotted among the sands, and some rocky, wind-eroded formations could be seen across the landscape. All the various inhabitants of this desert were currently hiding in their holes, away from the cold of the night. With the sunrise, they would return to the surface and prowl the ground for sustenance.

The carriage flew to one of the nearest group of the rock formations and slowed down as they had to navigate around them. After going past one of the bigger rocks, the final destination finally became clear - it was a hole-dotted mountain in the center of a small valley. Small black figures buzzed all around it, making the mountain look like a giant beehive. Or, to Andromalius, a wasp nest. The analogy that came to his mind was worrisome, to say the least.

"The changelings are certainly expecting us," Nightmare Moon told him, "Don't forget, I negotiate, thou standst guard as well as listenst. Do not show hostility and do not fall for provocations. However, if we are attacked, I give thee full permission to fight back in any way thou deemst necessary."

"Is it going to be that dangerous?" he asked, his worry deepening.

"Most likely not," she replied, "However, it doth not hurt to be prepared, wouldn't thou agree?"

With the directions the changelings provided them, the carriage found a landing platform at a middle point of the hive-mountain. The landing platform was completely surrounded by changeling guards, and they formed a corridor from the carriage to the entrance to the hive once it landed. Nightmare Moon directed Andromalius to open the door and step out first, which once again rocked the carriage. The dark alicorn followed him, gracefully stepping to the ground and straightening her posture.

"Our Queen is expecting you," a lone changeling dressed in bright cyan armor, contrary to the purple armor worn by the rest of the changeling guards, said to Nightmare Moon, "If you please, follow me."

"Very well," Nightmare Moon nodded and continued after the changeling captain, and Andromalius followed close behind. He tried not to look around too much, but he did notice that the changelings bore neutral, unreadable expressions. He also managed to take a good look at how they looked: they were more insect-like ponies, in a sense. Their bodies were visibly separated into segments, covered in hard black carapace, their eyes were solid cyan, and each of them had both a horn and a pair of wings. Even more notably were holes in their legs - they didn't look like wounds, but they were still quite upsetting to look at. Compared to ponies, the changelings were smaller by about half a head, which made both Nightmare Moon and especially Andromalius tower above them. If the changelings were afraid, they didn't show it openly.

The inside of the hive was dim, lit only by cave fungi and an occasional blob of green goo. Changeling guards stood at every intersection, and many changelings gathered around to look at the visitors, forming an impenetrable corridor. They were quietly chittering among themselves as the two visitors passed them, following them with their interested gazes. It seemed there were thousands of them, and even more that were hidden from sight. An excited buzzing permeated the entirety of the hive.

Nightmare Moon and Andromalius were led through many confusing hallways until they finally reached the throne room - a big round room filled with holes leading to other parts of the hive. In the center of the room stood a leaf-shaped throne with jagged edges, yet the Queen who sat upon it couldn't seem more comfortable. The similarity between her and other changelings ended at the basics: her body was segmented, and she had both a horn and a pair of insectoid wings. Unlike other changelings, she had a mane, one that reminded Andromalius of seaweed in some sense. Her eyes were more like pony eyes, having separate sclera, iris, and pupil. It was hard to judge from her position, but she would be at least as tall as Nightmare Moon if not more so. She greeted the two visitors with an interested and calculating look. Many changelings surrounded her, watching from the floor, walls, and even ceiling. They were silent.

The dark alicorn took off her hood and nodded, then used telepathy to instruct the hell stallion to take his hood off and bow. The surrounding changelings were looking at Andromalius with both fear and interest, noticing his interesting body. Undoubtedly he wasn't someone they should trifle with unless they got a significant number advantage or the element of extreme surprise.

The Changeling Queen nodded to both of the visitors in turn before opening her maw to speak.

"Welcome to the Hive," she said, her voice having a strange buzz to it, "I am pleased to receive you here. I am Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings."

"We are likewise pleased to be here," Nightmare Moon spoke, her voice loud and clear, far more official than the tone she used to talk to Andromalius, "I am Nightmare Moon, Mare of the Night, and the future Queen of Equestria. My companion is Andromalius, a demon."

"I have heard of the Demon of Canterlot," the Queen nodded, her eyes shifting to the hell stallion, "He has caused quite a ruckus among ponies. I am somewhat surprised to see him alive - my scouts reported him dead."

"The rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated," Nightmare Moon replied, "He is far stronger than he looketh."

"Quite," Queen Chrysalis agreed with a nod, her eyes never leaving Andromalius. However, she then switched her gaze back to the dark alicorn and asked, "Now, what is your proposition, Nightmare Moon?"

"I believe we have much to gain by aiding each other," she began, "Both thou and I suffered by Celestia's magic. We were cast out, thrown away. I propose we aid each other for the benefits that would suit us both."

Queen Chrysalis nodded, gesturing for Nightmare Moon to continue, clearly interested.

"My proposition is quite simple - if thou and thy hive assist me in taking the Equestrian throne, I shall legalize changelings throughout Equestria," the dark alicorn proclaimed, making a wave of murmurs pass through the attending changelings, "On the condition that neither thee nor the members of thy hive try to replace ponies. You shall be free to gain love as long as my subjects are unharmed. Of course, it goeth without saying the Equestrian Law will apply to them as well should thou choose to accept my proposition."

Queen Chrysalis nodded and thought it over for a while, letting the throne room be silent. She reasoned it would be wise to take the deal - it would allow her changelings to go about their business without the risk of being caught, and the Hive would certainly thrive on the freely-gained love. She had a different plan in mind, but this one was a suitable compromise.

"What is the guarantee you won't turn against us once your own goals are achieved?" she asked.

"I swear on my love I shall uphold my end of the deal as long as thou upholdest thine."

Another wave of murmurs passed through the changelings, and the Queen seemed to be surprised as well. For a long moment, she was silent, her eyebrows slightly raised as she looked at the dark alicorn.

"I hope you are aware your oath means it will become the duty of each and every changeling to hunt you and drain you of love completely should you fail to deliver on your promise," Queen Chrysalis said slowly, a calculating look placed on the mare.

"I am entirely committed to fulfilling every promise I make," Nightmare Moon assured the Queen, nodding, "I believe it is... sufficient?"

"Without a doubt," the Changeling Queen nodded in turn, "Very well, I accept your terms, Nightmare Moon, Mare of the Night, and the future Queen of Equestria," she looked over the congregation, "Let it be known that, starting today, changelings and the followers of Nightmare Moon are allies. None of you is to threaten or harm her or her representatives," she turned back to the dark alicorn, "I believe we can begin discussing our plan."

Back in Canterlot, three particular ponies were meeting each other in the morning, gathering for a small breakfast at a cafe. They chatted about various things as they enjoyed the sunrise through the window. Two of them were nobles: the first being Stalwart Blue, the unicorn head of House Blueblood. The other was simply known at large as Lady White, a unicorn mare from a rich family, bachelorette. The third was a plain and average-looking earth pony of neutral natural colors. His suit was, in comparison to Stalwart's, quite plain, and completely unremarkable among the majority of ponies in Canterlot.

"I've seen the most beautiful bird today," the third pony said in a dreamy voice and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "The moon raven, the rarest of the rare, came out this night with her flock."

"Truly? Do tell," Lady White said, "It's not often such a bird is spotted. While I, as you know, am not as interested in birdwatching as you are, I would still like to hear of what such an exotic bird did. She has the most unusual habits, last I heard."

"She does indeed," the earth pony confirmed with a nod, "However, I didn't have a chance to take a good look - as soon as I averted my eyes for but a moment, she seemingly disappeared," he said with disappointment, "And I was so looking forward to learning more about her..."

Meanwhile, Stalwart Blue tried to remain calm as he sipped his tea, his eyes looking sharply through the window. His teacup wasn't quite steady.

"Do not be so upset, my dear," the mare leaned forward, offering the earth pony a smile, "I am sure you'll have your chance eventually. Perhaps you noticed where the bird disappeared - maybe you'd be able to find her again if you look around."

"I wouldn't be quite sure myself," he replied, "Winter is approaching, and she flew towards the south. I'm not sure I will see her again before next spring."

"Maybe you should get into contact with Saddle Arabian birdwatchers," Lady White suggested, "I believe they know all manner of exotic birds from all over the world. Perhaps they shall invite you for a visit, and Saddle Arabia is the most interesting country - the local cuisine is quite delicious if I say so myself," she turned to Stalwart Blue, "I believe we too should take a vacation of sorts, wouldn't you agree?"

"Perhaps," he replied, his voice not quite as relaxed as the mare's, "My choice would be either Zebrica or, as you have so generously suggested, Saddle Arabia."

"Good choices indeed, but my own suggestion for the two of us is the Sea Griffon Kingdom," the mare said, "The country has become quieter and more open to pony tourists, last I heard. I've not met many griffons, and I heard they're quite... unusual in their traditions."

"We should think this over some time later," the stallion said, "First and foremost, I have some unfinished business I must attend to before the thoughts of a vacation can truly be considered. Perhaps, in two weeks?"

"I agree, it will definitely give us time to sort things out at home so that everything runs smoothly in our absence," Lady White nodded in agreement, "Besides, it would allow us to note places of interest we should visit while we're there."

The three continued their chat into the noon, yet none of them could ignore the shadow of danger that hung above them all, ready to take them if they made a misstep. However, they couldn't rush - just like predators, the shadow would pounce on them if they made a move too sudden.

Chapter 36: Verum Horribilis

Princess Celestia was sitting on the balcony in Canterlot Castle after having raised the sun, her mind heavy. She knew Luna was out there doing her investigation, but she hadn't heard from her since her last letter. This silence was ebbing on her mind, a constant worry in the back of her head. Her sister shouldn't have had to work so hard after returning so soon. She should've been reconnecting to the world, experiencing the joys of Equestria. Yet... it wasn't the case. And Celestia couldn't blame anyone but herself.

Caught up in ruling the country all by herself, she had all but forgotten about Luna's return a thousand years after her banishment. She never even intended to banish her for so long - she never wanted her to be banished in the first place. She simply wanted to cleanse her of the darkness that enveloped her heart, she wanted her sister back from the monster that took her. Yet the Elements didn't take it into consideration - they were never made to do that. That was when Celestia decided to metaphorically bury them, trying to forget how much her mistake in trusting them cost her. The first clue should've been Discord - he was turned to stone and he was still stone, far more than a thousand years later. Her second clue should've been the Crystal Empire - the two sisters only wanted to defeat Sombra, not bring down the entire Empire and lock it away from time and space. She tried to tell her it was Sombra's last curse that did it, but she couldn't help but think - what if it was her? What if it was she and her sister that did it? An entire city-state, frozen in time for who knew how long. Days, years, centuries passed, and yet they didn't return. Celestia and Luna tried to bring them back, but nothing they did worked.

Was it a mistake using the Elements? They were powerful weapons, true. They helped the two princesses defeat their enemies, but what about the cost? There was no cost when it came to defeating Discord, but what about the Crystal Empire? What about Celestia and her own sister?

Years and centuries passed with Celestia looking at the moon, waiting. However, there was nothing - not a sign that her sister was even alive. The Elements weren't supposed to kill, but what if they did? She didn't know at the time, and so she mourned. After so long, she thought her sister dead or as good as. A thousand years of loneliness left no one sane. She never saw her even in her dreams, in Luna's domain. She was gone.

When she returned, Celestia was overjoyed. This prophecy came true, and the two sisters were finally reunited. Yet this union didn't last long - first there were these assassins who wanted nothing more than to get rid of Luna, then there was this demon who proved to be a menace. It was as if this reunion could never be a happy time.

The alicorn of the day sighed heavily - it seemed like she got her sister back only to be separated from her once again, this time willingly. Luna was deep into the notion that there was a conspiracy going on in Canterlot - something Celestia had trouble believing. Yes, there was this cult that apparently worked in Celestia's name without her knowledge, but how could they be connected to the ruling class? She had trusted the families to help her rule the ponies justly and fairly for centuries, how could they betray her? It was completely unthinkable.

However, Luna insisted it was true. Despite the doubts she had, Celestia trusted her sister and thus was inclined to believe her claim wasn't made up. But if there was a conspiracy, then what was their goal? If they were a part of the ruling class, belonging to the elite of society, didn't they already have all the influence they could? Why would they want to act out, thus betraying their existence? Was their goal to take over Equestria, depose the two sisters, and rule their own way, completely without the alicorns' input?

Celestia knew Equestria had persistent problems like tribalism, poverty in areas farther from the capital, a degree of corruption, and xenophobia. However, the alicorn of the day was convinced those problems could somehow be solved. The governors she appointed to various areas reported moderate success of her policies, and the advisors told her Equestria was improving day by day. Sometimes, she visited the places that were the worst off, and she was shown that things were indeed becoming better. However, ponies from there didn't seem welcoming of her. They regarded her with suspicion, looked at her with hostility, and she didn't know why. Didn't they know she was doing all that she could to help them?

Then there was xenophobia. For many years, Equestria stood alone against many outside dangers ever since the reunification of the three pony tribes. Many sought to conquer ponies by sword, and all of them had been driven back. Some desired to annex the country through diplomacy and political machinations only to be defeated. Changelings attempted an invasion a long time ago but were banished, griffons stretched their sharp claws over the lands but were beaten, diamond dogs tried to build a slave empire but were driven away, and those were only the worst things she remembered. Ever since she became the ruler of Equestria, she had to face many outsiders in battle of either blade or wit. History had proven it was better to keep them away as much as possible so that ponies remained safe.

However, now more than ever, a creeping thought appeared in her mind - what if her vision for Equestria was... wrong? She had to consider it from time to time - during the old times when she and Luna ruled together, they balanced each other out. Celestia used to be quite arrogant and sure of herself, as well as naive. Luna was sometimes impulsive and inconsiderate, but mostly stubborn, always focusing on something until she had her way. However, Celestia was also kind and benevolent, as well as a great teacher - or so she was told. Meanwhile, Luna was collected, quite clever, and had a deep understanding of ponies. Both of them managed to rule together in peace, making their country prosperous while defending it against those who would wish to harm their subjects. Since Luna was banished, Celestia thought she did her best as one ruler, never letting this loneliness get to her. But now, she was more unsure than ever before. If she did a good job in the first place, then why did Nightmare Moon happen? If she did a good job, why did her sister seem even more distant than before? If she did a good job, then why did more unexpected things appear in the recent time, things she should've seen coming?

Knocks came from her door, making her ears twitch. She sighed, stood up from her place, and went back into her room.

"Enter," she called, and the door to her chambers opened. Her secretary, Raven Inkwell walked in with a list of ponies attending the morning court this day.

"Is something wrong, your majesty?" she asked, "You look... down."

"It's nothing, Raven," the princess said, grabbing the list and straightening her posture. It was not the time to look weak in front of her secretary and, dare she say, even a friend. The two had grown close since Raven rose through the servant ranks two decades ago. She was always diligent in her work, performing to the best of her ability. Yet she wasn't as distant as the majority of the staff was - she could lend an ear in more personal matters too, "Not many ponies today... hm, nothing unusual. A few petitions for funding, uh-huh..."

"Have you gotten enough sleep, my princess?" Raven Inkwell continued, "You could postpone the court."

"I know, but I'm alright, truly," Celestia assured him, "I was simply... thinking."

For example, she wondered who the conspirators were and who sponsored them. There was no report of any huge discrepancies in the budget, no real thread to follow. So, could the support come from overseas, from all the countries that looked at Equestria as possible land to expand into one time or another throughout history?

There were quite a few nations across the seas and oceans that once stood against Equestria. Tauria - the country of minotaurs - was one of them. They came in force a few centuries ago, sailing their ships into the docks of many Equestrian ports, taking them and blocking trade. Yet they were repelled and hadn't tried to even trick Equestria since then. Could it be them that sponsored the conspiracy? Celestia had to struck that thought down - the minotaurs had long since improved their relationship with Equestria, and the trade between the two was very successful. They wouldn't try to bite more than they could chew, they now depended on Equestria more than ever.

There were the many villages and small towns in kirins throughout the world. No one really knew where they came from, but they were content with remaining isolated from others, rarely trading. It couldn't be them - they lacked funds and influence to attempt something like this.

There was one country that could, and it was an absolute pain in Celestia's flank - the Free Territory. On paper, it was a part of Equestria, of course, but it was an independent self-proclaimed state that broke off soon after Luna's banishment. It mostly consisted of thestrals, who were once the followers of Luna. Now, however, they successfully lived in communes on the south side of Equestrian Peninsula, ruling themselves and not letting anyone bully them. There wasn't a ruler - the communes were largely independent and self-governing, yet they could band together if ever threatened. They accepted everyone as long as they didn't cause trouble, and their population was at the very least a quarter of Equestria, comprised of not just ponies but minotaurs, kirins, griffons, even dragons, all living together.

Celestia was often told she needed to deal with them, to show Equestria couldn't be denied what rightfully belonged to it, but she didn't want it. The Free Territory didn't cause trouble, so she preferred to leave it alone to its devices. It was unlikely it suddenly decided to conquer Equestria through either direct measures or political conspiracy.

Another country across an ocean from Equestria was not a country at all but a bunch of kingdoms warring with each other almost constantly. They were the remnants of a once large and powerful Griffon Empire. They too tried to conquer Equestria, only to be repelled from the peninsula and fought back to their own continent. The war was long and bloody, and griffons were eventually forced to swallow their pride and surrender. Herbivores and carnivores were natural enemies, so neither was willing to back down until griffons were threatened with total extinction. It was a measure Celestia hoped to never even speak of, but the griffons were vicious and violent, and the ancient alicorn had seen too much death to allow it to continue. She gathered her power and pronounced that she would burn down the entire Empire if the griffons didn't surrender. Contrary to what many ponies thought, they did. The Empire broke down into a civil war after it, fracturing into many self-proclaimed kingdoms under the rulership of various former generals and commanders. Equestria left the continent and returned to its peaceful existence, letting the griffons sort themselves out. To this day, the kingdoms waged war against one another, and it had been so for centuries. It was unlikely there was a force among them clever and resourceful, as well as ambitious enough to attempt revenge on Equestria. They had far too much to deal with by themselves.

With the big players out of the picture, Celestia didn't know who else could be behind it. Various smaller countries around the globe either depended on Equestria or were too small to be any threat to it. There was simply no one left whom Celestia could think of as enemies who plotted her and her sister's demise.

One would suspect the ruling class from inside Equestria, but Celestia didn't. The nobility depended on her for power, and the Guard was loyal to her to their very core. Her advisors likewise depended on her good will and wouldn't go against her. However, maybe she did have to keep a closer eye on them just in case.

There was one somewhat questionable situation - a few days ago, Shield Bearer approached her asking for a vacation in order to deal with his thoughts and injury. Of course, she granted it, but she wondered why he decided about it so late. However, she didn't think it had anything at all to do with the conspirators - why would someone who was injured by them join them? Perhaps he realized that he still needed to deal with what happened, and she was perfectly fine with giving him time to do so.

Maybe sorting her work would clear her head a bit.

Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be the case - the workload only added to the now clearly-felt headache. Celestia sighed deeply and ended the court early, deciding to go for a nap before dinner, hoping it would help her. She returned to her chambers and flopped down on her bed, and it immediately enveloped her in the feeling of serenity and surety. She was just a bit more stressed, everything was alright. Clearly, she would be in a better shape once she took a good long nap.

Something, however, made her frown. She stood up, and the feeling of serenity, of everything going right, quickly faded away as if it was never there. She hadn't slept in her bed for quite some time now, having most of her time spent in the study looking over various books and reports as she tried to track down where and when exactly did the cult in her name start. Even more, she kept a close eye on various guard reports to see if there was any suspicious activity since Luna departed. More often than she'd like, she fell asleep at the table in her study, having spent countless hours way into the night on her own investigation. Her bed now felt... foreign, odd. It wasn't quite right.

Slowly, she got on top of it again, and the feeling of serenity returned. She sprung back up and away from the bed, her heartbeat increasing. This wasn't right at all. Carefully, she grabbed her bed with her magic and put away the pillows and the blanket. Then she took off the sheets. The only thing that was left was the unusually-shaped mattress. She tried to lie down again, and the feeling entered her mind as soon as her body touched the mattress.

She unzipped the cover and slid it off. Then she took off the first, softer layer of the mattress. She found what she expected - flat polymer disks attached to the second layer. The polymer had bits and pieces of magical crystals embedded in it, connected by thin metal wires. It was a somewhat recent invention - polymers themselves came mostly from the minotaurs, and the patterns on the polymer could store and direct magic like nothing else. These disks were supposed to host comfort spells that made the bed warmer or colder depending on the ambient temperature, as well as removing excess moisture. They were activated by the tiny bit of magic coming off the princess when she lay on the bed.

She looked closer at the crystals - they were faded, clearly the enchantments would need to be redone soon, maybe in a couple of months. Such disks were expensive and tended to degrade relatively quickly compared to old stone inscriptions used for long-lasting but much cruder enchantments. However, something about those disks was... wrong. Celestia had yet to study the new magic and technology in depth, but she knew the basics. If the disks were doing what they were supposed to be doing, they wouldn't be so complex. Celestia decided to play it safe, so she ripped the disks from the fabric, summoned a small wooden meteorite-lined box, and put them in there, assuring they couldn't interact with outside magic. She would need to look at them closely, preferably with Twilight - she could be trusted, and she had more knowledge on the matter.

Celestia sat down, unsure of what to think. These disks, they did something to the way she thought, they did something that they weren't supposed to do. Luna was certainly right - a deep conspiracy against Equestria was in motion. But who started it? Who was behind it? How would she find them? She desperately needed to get into contact with her sister.

Her desire for a nap was completely forgotten.

"If thou art to be of any use, thou hast to learn," Nightmare Moon spoke as she oversaw Andromalius sparring with her guards. The hell stallion held a sword in his maw by a D-shaped handle, "Magic can be taken away, but thy physical strength if always with thee."

Andromalius grunted and continued, doing his best to defend himself and retaliate whenever he could. The future Queen insisted he learned to fight against multiple opponents. It wasn't going too well - he lacked experience in sword combat, and so many hits rained down on his body. He barely felt them thanks to his thick skin and armor, but it didn't mean Nightmare Moon would let him off the hook for letting the attacks get to him.

"Enough," she spoke after a while. Her guards were winded even though Andromalius was still fine, "Thou hast strength, thou hast endurance, the only lack in thee is skill. Now, thou shalt show me thy magic."

Nightmare Moon let her guards go rest for the day as she stepped in front of the hell stallion. Their duel began - she mercilessly sent a spell after spell at him, and she was pleased to see he blocked and redirected them relatively well. He still had many lessons to go over, but he was progressing at a good pace. By the time her plan entered the final stage, he would be ready.

"Very good," she nodded after a while. She felt slightly tired, and Andromalius was definitely winded now, "Thy performance hast improved. Thou needs to work on the speed of your casting and on the variety. Debilitating lightning bolts are quite useful, no doubt, but thou needs to learn how to melt the earth, ignite air, turn flames into ice, and burn water. Everything others think impossible, thou must learn to accomplish. I shall show you the spells and thou shalt practice them by thyself first."

Nightmare Moon instructed him and then left, a pair of changelings escorting her to their Queen. There was still much to be talked about. The basic plan had already been made, yet the details needed to be finalized, and then the consequences of either failure or success needed to be discussed.

The talents of changelings would prove very useful indeed.

Twilight Sparkle appeared mere moments after Celestia sent her a letter, ready and eager to help the princess to the best of her ability. The alicorn smiled at her student, glad to see her, and sighing silently in relief at knowing she could always rely on her.

"This is an advanced enchantment," Twilight commented as she examined the disks, "On top of the simple layer of warming, cooling, and drying charms, there is a second one, fused with the first expertly. The two layers come from different enchanters, I think."

"Very good," Celestia praised the unicorn, motioning for her to continue.

"The complex second enchantment influences the mind," she said, "It is meant to calm and reassure, but it is done in a way that would be too much. It's a difference between a friend telling you that everything will be alright and someone ordering you what to think. I believe this enchantment influences others to be too sure of themselves, not to question their own choices. It also makes them susceptible to outside influences like suggestions and such."

Celestia's blood chilled in her veins. So it was true - someone was trying to take over Equestria. What was worse was the fact that they had enough funds to afford something so complex and something so illegal to ensure Celestia would act like they wanted her to. She always was a bit arrogant, and this enchantment fueled her natural feelings. That was why she failed to notice it until the enchantment stopped interacting with her regularly.

"Princess?" Twilight asked uneasily, "Is something wrong?"

"I'm afraid so, my student," the alicorn let herself sigh deeply, "There is... something wrong going on in Canterlot. You've just confirmed it."

"How can I help?" she asked seriously.

Celestia looked away, unsure. She knew Twilight could be trusted - she was a terrible liar, a worse actor, and she had studied under her since she was just a filly. Talented and loyal, strong in spirit and magic, that was Twilight Sparkle. Yet the alicorn hesitated - she didn't want to drag the young unicorn into the possible hellscape that was this conspiracy against Equestria. Twilight was completely unprepared for politics, lacking subtlety and the needed amount of cunning.

To be entirely honest with herself, Celestia saw her student as more than that. She had never been a parent, but the level of affection she had for the young unicorn could only be described as motherly. She cared about her and didn't want her to get hurt, and she knew the conspirators could harm her well beyond what she was prepared to face.

"Twilight," she said softly, "I'm grateful, but... it's too dangerous here in Canterlot. I..." an idea appeared in her mind, "I think there's something you can do, but not here. I need to tell my sister about it. Can you - and your friends - find her?"

"Of course, princess!" she grinned, "We'll do everything we can!" she turned to leave but was stopped.

"Luna was last seen heading south," she supplied, "I've a report here somewhere..." she ruffled through the papers in her office until she found it, "Here. That's all I have to give, unfortunately."

"We'll not fail you!" Twilight swore, eliciting an amused chuckle from the princess. Even grown, Twilight had retained her ability to be excited in that adorable childish way Celestia always liked.

"I know, my student," she smiled at the young unicorn, "Now go. And please, be careful. This mission is only for you and your friends - don't let anyone else know it. I... don't know whom else I can trust."

Celestia watched as Twilight left the castle and made a series of teleportations back to Ponyville. The alicorn knew she couldn't do it alone - she needed her sister for this.

She wouldn't let herself be fooled and remain arrogant anymore.

Author's Note

For those who don't know, you can play as Andromalius in Heroes of Might and Magic 5: Tribes of the East. I've made the mod before, but I've updated it since.

Blog post about it.

Chapter 38: Regia De Noctis

Andromalius was panting heavily by the end of training. Nightmare Moon had certainly pulled no stops - spell after spell came at him at a steady and fast rate, giving him no rest as he did his best to block, redirect, or deflect them. He was drenched in sweat from the effort, his legs trembling. At that point, the dark alicorn stopped and told him to rest, which he gladly did.

"Harsh teacher, isn't she?" Inanna the succubus spoke in his thoughts, You really are in trouble here. Knee-deep in the shit for sure."

No doubt about that, but it's not as bad as it could be," the hell stallion replied, glad to have her company again, "I take it you've been looking for ways to free Luna."

"Well... I did spend some time on it, yes," she said slowly, "Remember what I told you before, about banishing Nightmare Moon from Luna's body? This is still the best bet we have. The other would be the willing transfer of a soul from one willing body to another. So, unless Nightmare Moon decides to perform that ritual, there's nothing we can do but try to fight her or take her by surprise."

Andromalius hummed in thought as he returned to his room. It was quite simple: a cot, a shower - with water flowing from a hole in the ceiling non-stop - and a toilet, which wasn't more than a covered hole in the floor. Changelings apparently didn't expect guests, although the hell stallion suspected Nightmare Moon got something at least a bit better.

He stepped under the natural shower and sighed in relief, feeling the cool water wash over him, taking away the sweat and the grime.

"Nothing better than a cold shower after a workout," Inanna projected herself on his cot, looking at him, "You've got a nice butt."

Andromalius blushed and did his best to cover his backside with his long tail as the succubus chuckled.

"You're way too easy to tease," she commented with mirth in her eyes, "Anyway, I think it would be for the best to wait for Nightmare Moon to give Luna a body. From what I've seen, Luna's former body assimilated Nightmare Moon's soul really well. So, banishing her from it would be really difficult without doing some kind of permanent damage to either the body and the soul," she shrugged, "At least that's what Beledal told me. He's way better at magical theory than me. Which is funny, considering that he can't naturally cast spells."

"Whos' Beledal?"

"Ah, he's a friend of mine, nice guy," she replied with a fond smile on her face, "Unfortunately, he prefers guys, so can't snag him myself. Hippogriffs can be quite an adventure, that with their claws. When they're nice, those claws can do wonderful things."

"You know you don't need to tell me your... sexual adventures, right?" Andromalius replied, flustered.

"You better get used to it," she grinned, "I'm not the only succubus around, you know. If you think this sort of light teasing is frustrating, wait until you hear Aeshma. I bet you'll explode then," she let out a laugh, "She has that way with words I can't ever hope to gain. And her voice... if I were into gals, I'd do all I could to hear that angelic voice moan my name."

Andromalius pointedly ignored her as he applied some soap to his body. There was even a brush, which he intended to use to polish his armor. He never really cared about looking good before, but now it was different. He quite liked how he looked, and he thought it wouldn't be bad to take care of himself more.

"One word about soap and anything sexual and I'll sic Nightmare Moon on you," he threatened half-jokingly, "Honestly, I'd rather get through showering without, well..."

"Your dick falling out of your crotch pocket?" she snickered, "Yeah, I can understand that. Not like showers are good for sex anyway. It's way too slippery, too dangerous to get rough. One time, someone broke their d-"

"I'd really rather not hear it," the hell stallion winced, "I can guess the implications, thank you very much."

Silence hung in the air for some time as Inanna hummed a tune to herself while Andromalius finished cleaning his body. He shook the remaining water off and then returned to the room proper.

"So... have you given any thought about, you know..." Inanna looked shifty, "The prophecy?"

"The thing about them..." he sighed heavily, "Is that they go wrong, every time. At least in fiction. I don't remember reading about any real prophecies, but then it seems anyone who gives them is a fraud. Anyway, you want to fulfill a prophecy? It will happen, but not in the way you want. You want to prevent it? Your very actions will fulfill it. You want to do nothing? It will find you and make you miserable because other people want to either fulfill it or prevent it."

"You know, a lot of people think the same way about it," the succubus said, "I've overheard a few things here and there, and no one's entirely happy about a prophecy. Those who believe in it and want it to happen want you to hurry your ass and do what the prophecy demands and, well, also become a ruler."

"As if some vague words are a good basis for a government," he snorted, "I've zero experience in ruling, well, anything. I've never been in charge of more than myself. I've never been a leader either. What good can I do there? Why do people think it's a good idea to have me in charge of anything just because a prophecy said so?"

"Then there are people who want to prevent you from doing anything, and let's just say some of them don't want you to exist at all," she admitted, looking away, "You know what that means, right?"

"They want to kill me?" he asked, blood stilling in his veins. He had already experienced attempts on his life, but he did his best to forget about them. To think that some people actively wanted him dead not because of anything he did - or anything that they perceived that he did- but simply because of a prophecy... it was both absurd and quite scary. Sure, his armor was thick and durable enough to withstand many things, his skin wasn't the weakest either, but he would much rather not have to deal with possible assassins.

"Yeah..." Inanna nodded, "Most... don't really care either way. Unless you make their lives worse."

"And where do you stand in all this mess?"

"I..." she avoided his eyes, "Well, I don't want you to die, that's for sure. But, I mean, the prophecy is pretty specific, no? It is speaking about you. I think. I, I don't know."

She suddenly looked completely unlike her usual joyful teasing self. Her blue eyes surrounded by black still weren't looking at the hell stallion, and she looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"You know, I guess I just want to help you," she finally said, her voice quiet, "At first... well, they did tell me seduce you and teach you and all sorts of stuff so that, well... so that you did what they wanted. And they want a symbol to rally behind, right? So yeah, you fit there."

Andromalius frowned. This certainly explained her attitude... somewhat. He didn't know if he should be angry at it - in the end, nothing really happened, after all. But then he also wished she told him all of that initially. However, it all reminded him that he needed to be careful - he was no longer a face in the crowd, unnoticeable and unimportant. He was thrust into this new world without a way for him to avoid notice. He sighed internally - he had gathered plenty of attention already, far more than he would previously be comfortable with.

"I, I'll leave you to think about it, okay?" she said and then disappeared without waiting for a response. Andromalius tried to call her but she didn't answer, although he felt she could still hear him.

Andromalius let out a long, tired sigh. His life was already complicated enough, and now he learned the demons wanted to use them for their own plans as well. He needed to deal with that, then there was Nightmare Moon, and then there was Equestria and Celestia... One problem after another, obstacle after obstacle. His human life was so much easier - go to school, do well, socialize a bit, then go to college, do well, socialize a bit, then get a job, socialize, and so on and so forth. It was a simple way of life that millions of people followed. However, this way had been taken from him, and he wasn't even sure he would want to return to it given the chance.

With his previous life's goal gone, what did he actually want to achieve in the new life? What was there for him to strive for? He was never particularly interested in anything specific. Granted, right now, it was quite exciting to learn to cast spells and learn about magic and about the world, but what was his goal? After lifting the curse, he felt freer than before, fog disappeared from his mind. However, being able to think clearly didn't give him the answers to things like existential questions.

When he became strong, when he became powerful, when he dealt with those problems... What would come next?

Nightmare Moon sighed in relief after a long night and an even longer day - with the plans finalized, she and Andromalius were finally able to return to the Everfree, away from the barren rocks and hot sands of the Badlands. Not only that, but she had fulfilled more than one objective - changelings were more or less firmly on her side, and she also stumbled on the six Element Bearers. She was surprised by how easily they were taken - the mares were found sleeping in their tents, leaving no one to look out for danger, and not even a detection or alarm spells were cast on the campsite. This made her annoyed - an alicorn's student should know to protect themselves.

Twilight Sparkle, however, was a disappointment. Undoubtedly strong in magic - even now, under enchanted sleep, she struggled to break through the binds. She had determination in droves, which was quite a positive quality. However, there were still many qualities she thoroughly lacked. To think that Celestia sent her to Ponyville to, to, to make friends of all things, spoke of the alicorn's complete ineptitude when it came to foals. Twilight Sparkle was led and made to focus on studies, not on socialization. Ponies were social creatures, they stood strong together - it was completely unnatural for them to be loners. This, apparently, Celestia didn't understand. Or, worse, she had perhaps neglected her student deliberately.

Thankfully for Nightmare Moon, it meant Twilight Sparkle wouldn't be nearly as dangerous as she feared the unicorn could've been if she were properly trained and prepared for the real world.

A carriage was loaned by the changelings to carry the six Bearers to the Summer Palace. Of course, keeping them close to the Tree of Harmony that resided underneath the castle was certainly not a good idea, but there was little choice to be had. An eye needed to be kept on them, and it couldn't be done away from the palace as long as their forces were so low in number. There was still much to do before a major part of Equestria fell under Nightmare Moon's control. The thestrals still remaining in Equestria were thoroughly loyal to her, but they were an insular and small part of the population, living in caves and dense forests away from the bulk of pony civilization.

However, Nightmare Moon didn't intend for the majority to support her before she took control of the country. They would fall in line if they knew what was good for them - ponies, now more than ever, were cowardly and detested fighting. As long as their way of life wasn't threatened too much, they would remain placid. A show of power would also keep them from rebelling - centuries under the alicorn rule had taught them who was on top, after all. They wouldn't rumble too much as long as an alicorn was in power - such was tradition, such was right and proper.

Soon, her show of power would commence. However, before it was to be done, she needed to establish good connections between the nearest neighbors: changelings were one of them, but so was the Free Territory. They recognized no authority and were not a part of Equestria anywhere but on paper. Giving them formal independence along with loosening taxation on trade and similar things would certainly convince them not to intervene in internal Equestrian affairs. Perhaps it wouldn't gain their support, but they at least wouldn't be against Nightmare Moon.

"Your majesty," a unicorn thestral entered Nightmare Moon's office, "The Free Territories have sent their replies."

"Very well," Nightmare Moon took a sizeable stack of letters from the unicorn, "Thank thee, Bloom. Thou art most timely."

"I live for the night, your majesty," the unicorn bowed and then was dismissed from the throne room.

Nightmare Moon looked through the letters thoroughly. Quite a few of the various communes wanted nothing to do with her and refused to meet her outright. She knew what they expected for this - retaliation. Equestria, for all its peacefulness, did not tolerate insults well. However, she intended to give no punishment. Instead, they would be thanked for their responses and left alone. Unless she gave them cause to unite and stand against her, they would remain on the sidelines, and she intended not to make them enemies. Of course, it didn't help that she wasn't yet holding a position of power - if a conflict arose between her forces and the united Free Territories, she would lose simply because of the numerical disadvantage.

A few communes were more polite in their refusal to meet her, citing one semi-valid reason or the other. However, still some communes were interested in her proposal and wanted to meet with her at the earliest opportunity to discuss it in person.

Nightmare Moon wasn't stupid enough to reveal her real name and used Luna's instead. If anyone inquired, she would merely answer that she wanted to reintegrate the Free Territories into Equestria. Which was what the letters she sent vaguely implied, for the sake of deniability of course. Perhaps that was what the communes that rejected her saw - it wouldn't be the first time Equestria tried to take them through either force or diplomacy. However, some saw it for what it actually was.

Penning a reply to each letter took time, but it would be worth it. As long as she was polite, there would be no cause for others to go against her. Which was exactly what she wanted - if they didn't want to join her, they should stay away. She recognized that the old adage of 'if you don't stand with me, you stand against me' is foolish, short-sighted, and counter-productive. One did not make enemies without a good reason.

Once all the letters were sent, Nightmare Moon exited her office. The quietness of it was replaced by the noises of construction. The Summer Palace was undergoing much needed renovations in order to return to its former glory and improve further. While the progress was slow, it was acceptable - despite a thousand years passing, not many architectural changes had to be made to accommodate the modernity.

The majority of the workers around the palace were thestrals, loyal to her for centuries. Yet there were still some regular ponies, recruited for their ideological differences with the current Equestrian government. They were undoubtedly loyal to Nightmare Moon's cause, even if they didn't dare voice their personal objections to Eternal Night. As far as she was concerned, they were very aware of how little of a price it was for the sake of a better Equestria.

Nightmare Moon looked out the window and saw a couple of cannons being unloaded. They were rusty and lacked proper carriages, but they would function well enough after repairs. She couldn't yet afford to buy them new lest she attract unnecessary attention and spend all her available funds before they could be replenished.

Cannons were certainly a good invention, much better for sieges than trebuchets. They were able to shoot further and harder, perhaps even able to strike Canterlot's walls from beneath the mountain if properly designed and built. No trebuchet, enchanted or not, would be able to do it. She also had a plan to improve the design further - perhaps Andromalius encountered something similar in his world.

"We have cannons on Earth," he confirmed when asked, "But we've improved them a lot. This," he gestured at one of the cannons, "Is a design a couple of centuries old, I think. We no longer load cannons from the muzzle - instead, we have breeches. As in, we load the cannons from the rear. We also don't use projectiles and powder separately - instead, they're encased together in a cartridge. It's made of brass, and it expands during firing to seal the barrel and prevent gas leakage from the chamber. I'm sorry, but I don't really know much about cannons, so I couldn't tell you how to make the breech properly."

"Very interesting," Nightmare Moon nodded, "The improvements thou art suggesting may improve the rate of fire. Those cartridges thou speakest of, they shall certainly simplify loading as well as prevent the gunpowder from suffering moisture. Tell me more about how a cartridge is made, how it functions."

"Well, the projectile is in the front," he explained, "It's usually conical in shape, not round. Then there is powder behind it, and all of that is in a brass cylinder. On the bottom of it, there's a primer - when it's hit by a firing pin, it ignited the powder, and then the explosion propels the projectile. Also, are the barrels of the cannons rifled?"

Both the engineers and Nightmare Moon looked confused at the term. The former were writing down everything he said, even making a sketch of the cartridge. To demonstrate his point, Andromalius bent down, lit his horn, and looked into the barrel.

"Ah, it's smooth," he commented, "So, by rifled I mean that the barrel has grooves - not straight grooves from one end to the other, but curved grooves. They make the projectile spin before leaving the barrel, improving accuracy. I don't know the specific ratio or angle of the grooves or whatever, though."

"We'll get it right," one of the engineers nodded, "This has been very... enlightening."

"Indeed," Nightmare Moon nodded, "Then I request you proceed with Andromalius' ideas and see what can be done. As soon as you have favorable results, notify me. However, there are no firing tests to be done without my explicit approval. Andromalius, come, I require thine assistance for an important matter."

They walked through the palace, passing by various workers. Most of the work was focused on repairing the damage sustained a thousand years ago as well as all the natural damage from centuries of neglect. Roofs and walls were either repaired or replaced, old rotting wood removed and stripped for firewood, and the floors were being cleaned or redone depending on their state. The enchantments on the palace that protected it from harm were barely there, slowly fading away, sustained only by background magic.

"Tell me, Andromalius, what dost thou think of the defenses of this palace?" she inquired after some time, "Thou hast provided the most useful ideas in regards to our artillery, so perhaps thou mayst offer some information on fortification as well."

"I'm really far from an expert on this," he shook his head slightly, "But I think the most important defense the palace has right now is that it's in the middle of the Everfree. Ponies, from what I know, don't go here."

"Indeed," Nightmare Moon nodded, motioning for him to continue.

"I also think that, considering it's called a palace and not a castle or a fortress, it wasn't build with defenses in mind," he said, "Unless the defenses are magical that I can't see. I didn't notice any good walls or towers for archers or cannons. I mean, the current walls and towers can be used for defense, but I don't think they were built for defense. They seem... thin, I suppose. And they're made of stone and mortar - in my time, defenses were made of reinforced concrete."

"Reinforced concrete is well-known and used in modern coastline cities," Nightmare Moon nodded, "Its defensive potential, however, was rarely discussed."

"Well, you might want to look into that," he advised, "Although cannons can still do a lot of damage to just around anything. The defenses need to be thick to stand up to a barrage of cannon fire, that's for sure. Or they need to be hidden underground, protected by a thick layer of earth on top."

"Most useful indeed," she let herself smile in praise at him, "Perhaps those are simple solutions, but such is only obvious in hindsight. For once, no ponies had yet to think of using concrete for defensive purposes. We have castles and fortresses scattered around Equestria since the days of Unification, so I imagine they would not stand up to your standards."

Andromalius wisely decided not to speak of all the other weapons humanity have invented. He certainly didn't want Nightmare Moon or anyone else to develop a nuke or such horrible things like chemical and biological weapons. World War I advanced weapons like never before, but he would much rather prefer it never happened. To this day, certain lands can't be safely accessed because of all the unexploded ordnance along with storages of chemical weapons. The unmarred lands of Equestria were much more preferable to that.

"What dost thou think of Canterlot, then?" Nightmare Moon asked.

"I don't think it would be easy to lay siege on it," he replied, answering the implied question, "It's high up in the mountains, and I know the main road is twisted and rather steep. An easier access is the railroad, but you can't really transport an army that way. Then there are walls and towers that were obviously built with defense in mind. I don't know much history, but I don't think anyone has ever laid siege on Canterlot, let alone taken it. Not even cannons could help much, especially since the defenders will have an easier time using them from their high ground."

"That is correct," Nightmare Moon nodded, "Despite thine general ignorance of the topic, thou hast given thoughtful answers. So, tell me, which of the two - Summer Palace or Canterlot - should be the seat of power?"

"Canterlot," he replied, "Much better defended, and it's... well, it's also a symbol of Equestria. You can see it from almost everywhere. The Summer Palace should remain what it is, probably. Maybe added defenses could make it into a backup castle. Or maybe it would be good as a castle for a prince or princess, to help them learn how to handle it all before they inherit the throne."

"Not a bad suggestion," the dark alicorn agreed as the two exited the palace ant traveled some distance until they stood just near the chasm separating it from the main road through the Everfree. A new bridge, a solid one made of stone, was being constructed, and the road was being paved, "Now, the reason I brought thee here is simple. Before long, someone will notice what is happening to the Summer Palace. Of course, it's unlikely anyone will travel here, but this activity will certainly be noticed from the distance. If one used a telescope to look here from Canterlot, they would see it. Thy purpose is to provide me power while I cast a spell - it will mask the Palace, make others disregard it as unimportant. The spell will redirect attention away from it, in simple terms."

"How do I do it?"

"Thou merely needs to touch thine horn to mine as I cast," Nightmare Moon explained, "There will be a sensation - do not fight it," she then turned to the palace, her horn lit with a spell. Her voice boomed across the grounds: "Attention! A spell will now be performed! Put down your tools and remain in place!"

Once the Palace quieted, Nightmare Moon begun her spell. She chanted in a language Andromalius didn't know, yet he could discern the meaning from the feeling going through his body - obscuration and obfuscation. He felt her magic tugging at his, bringing it out of him and to her through his horn. It was difficult not to resist the feeling - it felt like he was being drained of energy. However, he trusted Nightmare Moon wouldn't just kill him there and then. So, he reluctantly let her cast the spell.

Far too soon, it ended, and he was left confused. Why was he standing in the middle of the forest? Wasn't there supposed to be something here? He didn't... remember.

"The Palace of the Night is in the center of the Everfree Forest," Nightmare Moon spoke, and the fog on his mind cleared as he was able to look at the Palace again. It felt almost as if it materialized out of thin air, yet he knew it was always there, "A peculiar feeling, isn't it?"

"It felt weird," he readily agreed, "I thought I was in the middle of the forest. I couldn't remember there was a palace."

"That is very interesting," she commented, "The spell wasn't supposed to go quite this way. Hm, perhaps thy magic improved it. Thou wast supposed to see the palace but have a hard time looking at it without thinking of something else. To have it removed from thy perception... a most useful improvement."

"I suppose we should tell others. I bet they're as confused as I was."

"That we shall do, then."

Chapter 39: Potentia Et Magicum

Shield Bearer was uncertain. When he first departed Canterlot to look for Andromalius, he expected to encounter him hiding in a hole somewhere, not being allied with Nightmare Moon, who apparently managed to return after her second defeat not too long ago. However, he had learned a lot since then.

Thestrals weren't common in bigger Equestrian cities, preferring isolationist existence among various settlements hidden within deep caves and dense forests. Because of the mystery surrounding the only nocturnal kind of ponies, many rumors about them were spread. Some said they robbed ponies at night, others insisted they ate unwary travelers. However, the truth was much simpler - they were just like every other being, living their lives.

Shield Bearer remembered his apprehension when he first joined the Night Guard for dinner - in their case, it would be more accurate to say that it was breakfast. The scarred stallion expected them to stare at him, perhaps to make snide comments about his service to Princess Celestia, maybe even threaten him. However, none of this happened - no one paid him more attention than a glance here and there. As nervous as he was, he still managed to finish his meal without hurry, and he was left in peace.

"Ask away," one of the thestrals said him during their third shared dinner.

"Uh, what?" Shield Bearer blinked in confusion, surprised he was being addressed at all. He barely noticed a hint of an accent of some sort coming from the thestral.

"No one misses your stares," she said. Like the majority of the thestrals, she was of the winged kind, and she had gray fur and bright, glowing slit-pupiled orange eyes. Her most distinctive feature was a head of golden hair, but her talent mark - if there was one in the first place, Shield Bearer has yet to see an uncovered flank - was hidden underneath a light gambeson, on top of which plate armor was situated, "You've not seen us up close before, so you have questions."

"Well," he cleared his throat in uncertainty, "I don't know where to begin."

"I can certainly tell you that we don't kidnap ponies or eat them," she said wryly, "We'll be very pleased if those prejudices were left at the door," the stallion opened his maw to protest, but she cut him off, "Don't deny it, every pony has prejudices against us. At least you've yet to call us a bat pony."

"Is it... insulting?" he asked carefully.

"Well, we don't call pegasi bird ponies, now do we?" she raised a brow.

"Yeah, that's true," he nodded, relaxing a bit when he saw she wasn't getting angry, "So... where do you live?"

"Forest and caves next to forests. As long as there's enough fruit nearby. On the topic of not eating ponies, we very much prefer fruit," at that, she dove into her bowl and slurped up a few cubes of mango.

"Then why do you have fangs?"

"To pierce the skin of the fruit, obviously," she rolled her eyes, "Have you tried to bite a lemon? I can tell you it's not easy."

Little by little, Shield Bearer relaxed completely, and the small talk with various thestrals became an usual occurrence for him. There was no longer a sense of mystery surrounding them - they were just like every other pony. He learned about them and shortly came around to treating them like he would treat anyone else.

"Why do you ally yourselves with Nightmare Moon?" he asked one time. His companion at dinner was a unicorn thestral stallion this time.

"We're not exactly welcome under Princess Celestia, are we?" he replied, "And it was worse a thousand years ago. We were shunned, told we were evil. Everyone turned on us then. Princess Celestia wasn't actively hostile towards us, but she didn't do anything about how we were treated, now did she?" his voice turned bitter, "And we've not forgotten, you can be sure of that."

"So, the enemy of your enemy is a friend?" Shield Bearer couldn't help but ask, furrowing his brows.

"Goes deeper than that," was the reply, "She came to us, told us we matter, and she showed it. We've been living alone for centuries now, doing the best we can to survive. No help from the government, that's for sure," he snorted, "Nightmare Moon promised us it would change, and I believe her. You know how we won't even be served food in some places?"

"I've not heard of it before," Shield Bearer's frown deepened, "That's illegal, too. Unless you're making trouble, you should be free to buy things from anyone."

"It's not like the courts cared," the stallion snorted again, "Well sure, once in a while there was a victory, but going to court isn't free either. It's not worth the time and effort to sue someone over a few bits meal."

"But that's not right."

"When you're a thestral, you're used to it," the stallion shrugged, "At least it's going to change now. And even if it won't change, Princess Celestia never bothered with it, so it's not like it'd be any worse under Nightmare Moon."

Princess Celestia was raising the sun once again, her eyes looking over the hills, the forests, the fields, and the settlements from the top of the Canterlot castle. Once more, her ponies were waking up for another day. However, this idyllic scenery did nothing to quench her worries - she had yet to hear from her student. Twilight Sparkle had written every single day since she moved to Ponyville, yet there was nothing from her ever since she went in search of Luna. Celestia knew no troubles met her on her way to Ponyville and neither did anything bad happen to her when she departed with her friends. However, now that the six were out of her sight, there was nothing, not a speck of information. It was as if they simply vanished.

Celestia breathed deeply - it wouldn't do good for her to panic. She knew her student, she knew her friends - they would prevail. They stood together against Nightmare Moon and won, solidifying their friendship and becoming the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. If anyone could find Luna and bring her back, they would do it. Celestia needed to have faith in them.

The alicorn, however, suspected something was wrong. While Luna did lower the moon each morning and raised it each evening, the feel of her magic was... different. Not in a way that would prove it to be tainted - it was merely an odd sort of feeling. The princess of the day wondered what it was but couldn't quite figure it out. Without leaving Canterlot in search of her sister herself, there was little she could do, and she couldn't afford to depart when it was clear something was amiss.

So, she resigned herself to patient waiting.

Twilight Sparkle groaned when she woke up from the enchanted sleep, her magic finally unraveling it. Her head ached despite the comfort her body felt, and she blearily blinked for some time, trying to figure out where she was and what happened to her. Then her eyes widened.

She was not home. She was not with her friends in a tent. She was... and then it hit her. She was captured by Nightmare Moon! She needed to warn Celestia!

The unicorn jumped from her bed and immediately fell to the floor as her energy was sapped from her, leaving her fatigued, the grogginess of sleep returning to her in force. She didn't know how much time it lasted, but she finally managed to stand up and look around. The first thing she noticed was not the details of the room but something on her body - a set of runes was painted around each hoof, circled her talent mark, and there was a feeling of muteness in her horn. She didn't recognize half the runes, and those she did seemed wrong, unfamiliar. However, they were certainly functional - she could feel a pattern of magic in them, steady and focused.

The room was small and simple: it featured a simple bed set low to the floor, a nightstand with three drawers by the bedside, an empty bookshelf, and two doors. One of the doors was solid oak reinforced with metal. It also radiated magic, although no runes could be seen from this side. Another door looked flimsy in comparison and wasn't enchanted at all.

Twilight Sparkle expected something far worse from Nightmare Moon, perhaps wet dungeons strongly smelling of mold and wood rot. At best, she would have a stone box with iron bars on one side with some old hay for a sleeping space and a bucket for her needs. Here, however, everything was clean, dry, and smelled not unpleasantly. If she didn't know better, she'd think she was at some sort of cheap hotel. There was also a small window that let the sunlight in, but it wasn't a real one - it was made with magic, showing an unidentifiable forest and the sky above Equestria. Despite her knowledge of the stars, she couldn't seem to figure out where she was - the night sky was undefined and blurry if she focused on it.

"Thou art awake," Nightmare Moon's voice sounded from the walls, startling her, "Impressive."

"You won't get away with this!" Twilight snapped immediately, the rightful anger sparking inside of her.

"I believe I'm beyond 'getting away with this', Twilight Sparkle," came the dark alicorn's dry reply, "Thou art restricted in magic and in body, and thou art in a place unknown. Despite thy skill in magic, there is very little thou canst do. 'Twould be interesting to see thee try, however."

"Where are my friends?" she demanded.

"So much anger in thy words," Nightmare Moon replied, "I sincerely wish Celestia taught thee how to act appropriate to the situations around thee. It is unsurprising to learn thou hast not had genuine friends before... the incident."

Twilight Sparkle deflated - the alicorn was, unfortunately, right. However, her anger quickly returned - just because Nightmare Moon was right, didn't mean Twilight would just lay down and accept it.

"As if you could understand anything about friendship!" she retorted, although a pang of hurt sounded in her chest - there were ponies she hadn't visited or even written to since she moved away from Canterlot, and they did call her a friend.

"Perhaps," was the mild reply, "However, that doth not change thy situation. As for thy friends, they are safe, asleep like thou wast. No harm will come to them."

The door to her room opened, and the dark alicorn stepped through it. Twilight Sparkle froze in place, but it wasn't her fear that made her do it - it was the runes painted on her body. Then, once more, they sapped her energy, and she was forced to lie on her bed, powerless, with only enough strength to glare at her captor.

"Thou hast managed to break through my spell," Nightmare Moon said, eyeing the unicorn with an impassive gaze, "However, that was quick work, nothing I cannot improve now that I have the time and the means. Thou shalt sleep, and so shall thy friends, until such a time when all of you can be released."

Her horn lit up with magic as she weaved a spell, and Twilight could barely fight as her eyelids drooped, her energy lowered further, and a sense of sleepiness invaded her mind. Despite the magic suppression she was experiencing, she did her best to delay the inevitable, and she grinned triumphantly when beads of sweat appeared on Nightmare Moon's forehead. The alicorn gritted her teeth, her horn brightening, and then sleep finally took over, smoothening the unicorn's features and releasing the tension from her body.

"Powerful, skillful," Nightmare Moon breathed out, then straightened, "Trained. Yet not enough."

She exited the room, closing and locking the door behind her, leaving the unicorn to the enchanted sleep, now much more powerful than the initial spell. Barely a stir could be felt from Twilight Sparkle now.

However, Nightmare Moon knew one thing - if she hoped to dethrone Celestia, she needed more power. If a half-trained unicorn could make her feel the strain, then she was weaker than she thought. This situation needed to be remedied as soon as possible. Thankfully, the ritual for increasing her magical strength was almost ready. Only one thing remained, and If she could obtain it, her power would grow tenfold if not more, and none would be able to stand in her way. She would no longer struggle even against Celestia and Luna combined.

She could still feel her creator - Luna now spent most of her time asleep, unable to do anything but think. Truthfully, Nightmare Moon felt sympathy for her. She remembered her lonely imprisonment on the moon, and this kind of prison was hardly better. Before the ritual commenced, Nightmare Moon would release Luna into a new body, letting her be free. It was only just after what they've both experienced. And with time, Luna would understand that Nightmare Moon was right about the Eternal Night, and she would accept it. After all, it was her who first thought of it.

"Thou hast no idea what consequences shall befall Equestria if thou succeedst," Luna's thoughts echoed in her mind. Her voice was dull, almost lifeless. The dark alicorn felt a pang of guilt - this wasn't what she wished for her creator. Alas, it needed to be done.

"Nothing I cannot deal with once I have the power," Nightmare Moon replied dismissively, "Thou shalt see it soon."

"If only I haven't created thee this blind to what thine actions would entail..." Luna sighed and fell silent, retreating to a safe corner of her mental prison.

Nightmare Moon didn't ponder long on this, her mind shifting to what she needed to do to complete the ritual. The sooner she did it, the sooner Luna would be free, and the sooner she would be able to stand against Celestia openly. She needed to get but one artifact - as translated, it was 'The Tear of Goddess'. The books hadn't given her an answer to what it actually was, but it promised to be a powerful artifact that made miracles possible. Once it was in her possession, things would certainly move swiftly.

With purpose, she walked through the palace, her hooves clicking against the ancient stone. She made certain to lock the many doors she passed behind her with strong charms, as well as to ward the walls against damage, magical or otherwise. No pony was to remain anywhere close to the six Bearers of the Elements - they would be monitored distantly instead. Their vitals would be supported by magic as well, making sure neither their bodies nor minds wasted away as they slept. And as long as they remained in that sleep, they would be of no danger to the dark alicorn.

After making her way through the palace, she emerged in a hall deep underground. The power thrummed around her - the Tree of Harmony was nearby. Despite its name, it had little to do with the purpose of the Elements. Instead, it was a point of magic where it concentrated and presented itself visibly and physically. The hall was specifically built for power-intensive rituals and was thus used very rarely. Locked away, it had not a speck of dust, its six walls, the domed ceiling, and the floor smoothed to a matte perfection.

Nightmare Moon stood at one of the six points of the hall, focusing on the spell she was going to cast. Her horn lit up in a swirl of blues and purples, illuminating the otherwise dark room. She uttered the ancient words of the spell, pronouncing each with precision and purpose. The magic responded, the intention of it lightening the hall without ever revealing a light source. With her focus, Nightmare Moon shaped the runes into the walls - six runes for each. Ever since the magic was explored by the ponykind, the importance of the number six was drilled into the minds of the many magicians - it had power, as had the number three. Three pony tribes, six Elements of Harmony, and now there was three alicorn sisters. To ignore such signs would be foolish.

A circle was formed by Nightmare Moon's magic in the center of the room, equidistant from the walls. She continued speaking the spell, switching to a different language - a sibilant one. An eye was painted in the center, six symbols surrounding it: the three runes for the three base colors, then a symbol each for length, width, and height.

A surge of magic raced to the painted eye. A flat disk formed above the ground, perfectly black, its surface facing the dark alicorn. The spell was over, and so the darkness receded, allowing a vision to take its place. Nightmare Moon stepped forward - now that magic was properly stabilized, it would take a few minutes until the spell unraveled itself due to how much power it was consuming. If the Tree of Harmony wasn't there, the alicorn would've collapsed under the strain of the spell halfway through the casting.

She gazed into the disk - in the swampy lowlands, among the reeds and the rot, clutched in the mud-covered hands of a bipedal skeleton, a book lay, as pristine as the day it was created. A thick tome, it was closed and locked shut, yet the gems set in its cover glowed ever on. It wasn't what she was searching for, but she felt it was important nevertheless.

Among the bones surrounding the artifact, treasures lay aplenty - gold, gems, crystals, vials, piles, and boxes, contents spilling from them freely, glinting in the haze. In the distance, the mountains could be seen, tall and imposing, spreading wide across the land. A broken tower lay at the foot of a mountain, abandoned for years untold. Among the mountains, guarding the long-abandoned mines and quarries, hulking figures of stone treaded. The dead lay among the treasures and the paths around the swamps, some more alive than they should.

In the distance, spires pierced the skies, capturing the glow of multiple moons even at day, and an eerie green glow rose above the towers and the walls. The denizens of those dead cities stirred, feeling Nightmare Moon's gaze on them. Eyeless skulls looked up to the skies, seeing yet not seeing, lacking understanding of what the dead, magic-bound bones felt.

Nightmare Moon breathed a deep breath, hoping they couldn't look back at her. The vision continued, showing an old, weathered monolith, many runes etched into it. She knew now that she would need to find them and activate them to find the Tear. Finally, the spell unraveled, ending the vision and stopping its tremendous draw on the magic of the land. Yet Nightmare Moon shivered - there was a sensation, a feeling of being watched back for the briefest moment before the vision stopped. She sincerely hoped the attention of those on the other side was not firm - she had no idea how they would react to her intrusion. However, now she knew how to find the Tear.

Now, there was only one step left before she could start on obtaining it.

Prologue: Infernum

Mike was sitting in front of his computer, playing a game of Heroes of Might & Magic 5. The room he was in was dim, and only the soft light of his monitor lit it in the deep evening. Mike had been playing with his friend for hours, and it was time for the final battle between them. Armies assembled, heroes trained, spells learned. Mike was playing as the Inferno faction – the demons. His friend was the opposite, playing for the Haven faction – the humans. Inferno was focused on raw power, and their special ability was Gating. If developed to its full potential, this ability allowed the Inferno hero to summon nearly fifty percent more units on the field of battle. Haven had its own advantages, such as Training. It allowed the Haven hero to train his troops to bring them to a higher level, thus increasing the strength of his army.

All of it comes down to strategy, both short-term and long-term. You not only need to think one step ahead of your enemy, but you also need to think a step ahead of the step he is thinking ahead of yours. Being a turn-based strategy, Heroes of Might & Magic 5 allows the players to think about their plans carefully for virtually indefinitely. If one were to rush, they would surely lose the game even if they gain short-term victory.

Each player starts the multiplayer game with at least one castle, depending on the map. In a castle, buildings can be erected and upgraded to produce units for the army of the owner, increase defensive potential, bring more money and resources, or discover the spells to be learned and then used in combat or travel. Each building and upgrade requires wood or ore or both, for they are the foundation of most buildings. Then there are rarer resources such as mercury, crystals, sulfur, and gems. Without them, you couldn't go far, and in fact, the most powerful units can only be bought if you have a certain type or those rare resources. And, of course, the most important resource, the one you cannot win without, is gold. Virtually everything that can be bought or built requires it, and it is essential to have a high income to afford a great army.

You have to protect your resources as well lest the enemy take them and benefit from them instead of us. Usually, the players don't meet until later in the game when armies are hired, but one must always keep the unexpected in mind. The game is not the one where you compete with simple might, it is a game where you have to think, make plans, and build strategies to secure the victory.

With all of that in mind, a single game can last for more than ten hours, and sometimes days would be poured into it until the players come to a satisfying conclusion or destroy each other until only one or one team stands victorious.

It was the final battle between Mike and his friend Alex. The latter was in his castle, having a huge advantage over the attacking demons. Walls of stone, three towers with archers on them, and a sturdy gate. Only one unit of the attacker's army could damage the walls – the trebuchet or, how it was known in the game, a catapult. At the beginning of the battle, Alex successfully destroyed it, making it much harder for Mike to bring his troops inside the castle.

However, he knew the advantages of his own army and used Gating. He summoned the additional troops straight to the inside of the castle and begun his attack. Alex was expecting it, and yet he found it difficult to destroy the summoned troops. Meanwhile, shooters from outside the castle attacked the humans with hellfire that spread on multiple troops, dealing plenty of damage. One of the most powerful creatures of Inferno, Pit Lords, bombarded the defenders with spells of fireball and meteor rain. Small and weak, Vermins supplied the Pit Lords with mana stolen from the enemy hero, granting an almost infinite source of huge damage output for Mike's army.

The silent air was filled with tension, and both players were focused on winning the battle. Despite the battle going almost equally, the tide seemed to be turning in favor of the attacker. Mike had some useful tricks up his sleeve, which he knew when and how to use.

As the opening appeared in the army of Alex, Mike used the spell Teleportation, transporting one of his mightiest units from outside to the inside of the castle walls. Nightmares, hellish equines burning with hellfire, sowed fear and destroyed the morale of Haven troops. Heavy hitters, they did easy work of most units they stood against, and many of the said units would run away in fear and lose their initiative.

Mike blinked slowly, feeling a certain heat inside his body, an unpleasant one. Perspiration ran down his forehead, and he brought up his hand to wipe it off. However, the feeling of heat continued to increase. Deciding to ignore it for now, he continued the game, albeit at a slower pace. His mind grew weary, his thoughts moved like rusty gears, and he found himself staring at the digital flames of Nightmares. They captivated him, and as suddenly as his odd feeling came, he found beauty in the fire. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, but it didn't fix anything, blurring his vision instead.

A soft voice appeared in his head, speaking a language Mike had not heard before. He put a hand against his forehead and squeezed lightly, closing his eyes. He cracked his neck and leaned back in his chair. He miscalculated, the chair leaned too far back and started falling. He yelped, immediately opening his eyes, trying to bring his chair back, but it continued falling for a short eternity.

An empty chair hit the floor.

Far away from Earth, deep into the infinite multiverse, a world lay among the countless stars. Populated by magical creatures, both sapient and wild, the world was rich with things of wonder and beauty, as well as of the arcane and secret. Bright, colorful, it was like the world of humans in many ways: green were the various plants, blue was the sky, and the water brought life. Civilizations rose and fell, thousands of years of history were made, and the world was divided into many countries ruled by all sorts of interesting beings. On Earth, they would be the myths and the legends, creations of fantasy and imagination; but here in this world, they were very real.

In one of the countries of this world, a celebration was being held. Praise was given to the one moving the sun on the longest day of the year. And yet, this night, the sun didn't rise when it should have been. Princess Celestia was gone, and a wave of fear passed through Equestria. The sister of the Sun Princess returned as the stars aligned after a millennium of her banishment, releasing her from her prison. The night-blue shape with snake-eyes of aqua, starlit sky as her mane, she had risen above all, proclaiming herself the Queen of the Night and the ruler of Equestria. The Night Eternal was upon all living beings.

And yet, something unexpected happened. A connection formed between Earth and this world, and a being was transported from one world to another. Like a shooting star, the being traveled through cosmos quickly, covering great distances in a matter of seconds. In the depths of the Everfree Forest, a patch of chaos and uncertainty in the land of Equestria, a symbol appeared: a unicursal hexagram in a circle, and each point of the hexagram had a smaller circle with a symbol embedded into each one.

The hexagram glowed intensively, a fiery hum rose in the silence of the trees, and soon it erupted in a loud low rumble across the dark forest. In a flash of blinding light, a creature appeared. A large, muscular equine with dark-gray skin, most of its body covered by a red exoskeleton of bone-like material, including a part of his long tail of skin. A crooked horn protruded from the top of the creature's muzzle, sharp as a saber. The creature was lying motionlessly on the soft ground, its eyes closed, its chest rising and falling in a slow, calm rhythm.

Such a disturbance couldn't go unnoticed. The trees whispered among each other, the wind carrying their words across the Everfree. Timberwolves howled and growled, closing in on the creature. More powerful beings listened and observed, waiting to see what the disturbance truly was. And, of course, the Queen of the Night caught the whispers and learned from them.

The hellish equine awoke, slowly opening its eyes. They glowed in fiery red, and their sclera was orange. The snake-eyes of the equine carefully studied the surroundings as its mind awoke. The mind of Mike was inside that creature, confusion reigning in his thoughts. The first thing he noticed was the muzzle. Bigger and of a different color than his nose, it protruded from between his eyes. However, it didn't do much to cover his vision. In fact, he could almost look behind him without turning his head.

Mike felt the wetness of the soil under him, the chilly night air blowing past him. He could hear the creaks of the wood, the chirps and murmurs of the creatures in the forest, and the soft taps against the ground made by the timberwolves. He inhaled the thick, humid air, and exhaled a cloud of vapor that soon dissipated.

Once his mind began to think, an alarming sensation rose inside him, and flames erupted from his back, the tip of his tail, his hooves, and even his eyes. Panic took over his mind, he rolled around in the mud, trying to smother the flames and extinguish them. The flames weren't bothered by it, burning without restraint, boiling away the water around them with loud cracks.

In a few long seconds, Mike managed to understand that the flames didn't harm him. They were a part of him, and he felt a pleasant hum and warmth inside his body. The light from the fire dispelled the surrounding darkness, showing him the crooked, twisted trees; patches of rough and sharp grass; small pools of stale water; mushy mud underneath him that dried where his flames burned.

Seeing his flames, the timberwolves whimpered and retreated deeper into the forest, knowing well not to attack the equine. The ears of the equine twitched, acknowledging the noise of the distancing steps. Soon, the quietness regained its rule in the Everfree Forest.

Mike lay on the ground, breathing shakily as many thoughts rushed to his head. Where was he? Why was he different? What happened? He wanted to run away, he wanted to shout for help, and yet he remained in place silently. A gentle sensation calmed his mind, telling him that all was good. It told him he would find the way, its silent words assuring him of success. However, it didn't do much to ease his mind. He had no direction, no clear way or path even as much as to simply exit the strange forest. Despite it all, however, he knew he couldn't stay there forever.

Unbeknownst to him, a dark mist was watching him from behind the trees, hidden from his sight in the gloom of the forest. The Queen of the Night was observing him, keeping her distance in fear of it. This odd sensation, this fear was foreign to her, for she feared none. And yet, now this strange being made her hesitate and doubt herself. The looks of the strange creature were foreign and yet ever so slightly familiar. She had a feeling about it, and she didn't know what it was. A connection, perhaps? No matter what she felt, a thought found its way into her head — she could find a use for this hellish equine in her plans.

Finally, Mike slowly stood up. Surprisingly, his new body obeyed his commands swiftly and properly. It felt natural, it was as if he had done it before. Such a thought scared him, and he pushed it to the back of his mind. He made a few steps in a few different directions, testing his mobility. Powerful muscles shifted beneath his dark-gray skin, moving his legs with ease, working harmoniously with each other. He tilted his head, feeling his powerful and long neck that allowed him to look around effortlessly and swiftly if needed. He even managed to look at his back, noting the red exoskeleton he had. No doubt, he was a creature from the game he so loved – a Nightmare.

He walked, and did so with ease. No roots made him stumble, the mud couldn't make him slip and fall, he had full control over his new body. He knew how to trot, how to gallop, and how to stop. He didn't know why it was so easy, but it felt natural, it felt right. Even his usual awkwardness in his human steps was gone, replaced with a sense of power and absolute control.

However, without a way to go, where would his destination be? As far as the eye can see, there was a thick, dark forest under the night sky. One couldn't see anything past the trunks and thorny bushes, past the thick foliage and the dead, rotting trees. In all directions, there was only the forest and nothing else.

"Creature..." a dark feminine voice appeared, penetrating the darkness and coming straight to Mike as if the one who spoke was close. He looked around, and yet he couldn't see the owner of the voice.

"Who..." Mike began to say but stopped when he heard the tone of his voice. Deep and rumbling, it was much different from the one he had before. However, he didn't have the time to think about it. Reluctantly, he continued while looking around: "Who are you? Where are you?"

"I am Nightmare Moon, the Queen of the Night," the voice fulfilled his curiosity, although only partly, "Thou art in my domain. What art thou looking for? I see thou art confused and scared as if thou wast thrown out there against thy will."

"I... I don't know where I am, what I am, and... I don't know anything!" he couldn't contain the panic in his voice, "Please... help me out of here!"

"Perhaps, I can fulfill thy wish to get back where thou belongest," Nightmare Moon said slowly, "However... I suppose I can offer thee a deal. I shall help thee if thou providest some assistance to me first."

"H-how do I know you will fulfill your part?" Mike asked carefully.

"Hast thou not heard of me?" the voice seemed offended, "Hmpf... Thou art as ignorant as others are to my existence..." she let out a long sigh of disappointment, "Very well, I suppose the only assurance is my word. Shalt thou take it?"

Before answering, Mike had to think carefully about the offer. First and foremost, it looked like he was in another world entirely. This Queen of the Night bore an unfamiliar name, and she spoke using the old form of English. Even while it was still English he was familiar with, something told him that he was far away from anyone who would call this language English. If it wasn't so scary, Mike would chuckle at the idea that he became a part of a fantasy story. However, what was happening to him was no laughing matter – he had to get back home to the life he knew. The only way out seemed to be what Nightmare Moon was offering. For the lack of the alternative, he had to take it.

"I will," Mike nodded, "What do I have to do?"

"The task is rather simple but perhaps tedious," Nightmare Moon replied, "There are six mares on the way through this forest. Thy task is to scare them away, hurt them if necessary."

"Uh, mares?" the former human raised a brow, finding the statement of Nightmare Moon somewhat ridiculous. Why would he want to scare away horses? Or were they sapient just like he was?

"Thou seemst to be more ignorant of things than I expected," the Queen of the Night replied with a surprised tone, "Thou art an... equine, art thou not? The six look... somewhat close to thee, but they are half thy height and have different colors. Lavender, pink, orange, yellow, cyan, and white. I suppose that maketh it easy, doth it not?"

"I, uh, suppose it does..." Mike was still confused even after the directions became clearer.

"Very well, then I shall guide thee through this forest," Nightmare Moon said, and small blue lights appeared above the ground, making a path.

After some hesitation, Mike followed them; his hooves ablaze left scorch marks on the ground he walked. The water evaporated, rising from the dark soil; the equine left warm air and mist behind himself. The creatures of the forest hid from him, not daring to step in his path, much less appear in his gaze. Even the mighty manticore ran away from him, fleeing to the safest spot it could find. This night, the fire reigned in the dark, damp forest.

A few hundred meters away from him, the six future Bearers of the Elements of Harmony made their way through the forest. Their path was clear, and yet they stepped warily, often looking around. Twilight Sparkle led them, and even she had doubts inside her head. She had heard many frightening tales about the Everfree Forest. Rumors, some true and some not, stated that this forest was a dangerous place for a pony, and one should be careful not to step off the path lest they find themselves lost and unable to get out from among the crooked trees and bushes of thorn. Having lived all her life in Canterlot, Twilight had rarely ever been to a forest, much less one as mysterious and as dangerous as the Everfree.

The moon was high in the sky, reigning over the land of Equestria. The clocks had stopped their ticking, and the sun could not rise from below the horizon. The world anxiously awaited, and yet it was afraid to act. Only the six mares followed the solution, and they did not know how their journey would end. The Elements of Harmony were artifacts of great power, lost to time and hidden deep inside the Everfree Forest, in the old and abandoned castle of Royal Pony Sisters. For a thousand years, it had stood empty and dark, traces of malice and desperation inside its halls of stone.

Were the Elements still in the castle, no one knew, not even Princess Celestia. And yet, a unicorn mare by the name of Twilight Sparkle had hope, and she knew that if she couldn't do it, then no one else would be able to. Despite her fears, despite the comfort of Ponyville trying to pull her back, she continued on into the forest in search for answers.

The wind blew from behind them, and a certain smell appeared. Rarity was the first one to notice, a grimace appearing on her face. Soon, others caught a whiff of it as well.

"Is something burning?" Twilight asked, turning around. Her eyes widened when she saw orange fire behind her friends, only around fifty meters away. Among the flames, the Nightmare stood, its eyes focused on the six. Soon, all of them turned around and were frozen in fear. Like statues, they stood, their fearful gazes aimed at the hellish equine.

"It is thy time. Act."

Knowing it was the only way, Mike growled lowly, hoping to scare the six away. And scare them it did – with screams of terror, they scattered, galloping as fast as they could in any direction that was away from him. Disregarding the thorns and roots, they dashed through the forest, hoping to get as far away from him as they could.

When Mike was just a child, he would often play with his friends in their imaginary fantasy world. Monsters and heroes, they clashed time and time again. It was all for fun, however – no one was ever hurt or scared. He loved the game, but now, he felt terrible for what he had done. Their frightened screams resonated inside his head, and he was sure he had done something terribly wrong.

"What art thou waiting for? Chase them! They must learn this terror, they must run away from it, and never return!" Nightmare Moon commanded, hastening him onwards.

Mike had to remind himself why he was doing it in the first place. He needed to get back home, and he could only do it with the help of the Queen of the Night. The sooner he did it, the sooner he would depart, and the six mares wouldn't have to see him anymore. Despite the justification, however, he couldn't make himself feel any better.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy fled from the fearsome Nightmare together, their hearts beating rapidly, deafening them to the sounds of their surroundings. They flew through the forest, dodging the trees until Fluttershy collapsed near the bank of the river. She tumbled down, almost falling into the river if not for her friend to catch her. Both of them lay down, breathing heavily, sweat running down their bodies.

"I think we lost it..." Rainbow Dash said, huffing loudly, "You're... alright?"

Fluttershy simply nodded, hiding behind her wings which were wrapped around her like a protective cocoon. Moments passed in silence as their heartbeat calmed down, and soon the relaxing sound of the flowing river entered their ears.

"Everything is fine, Flutters," the cyan pegasus assured her friend, "As long as you're with me, I will protect you, no matter how scared I may be!" she proclaimed, putting a hoof against her chest, making Fluttershy smile.

"Thank you..." she replied quietly, finally able to stand up, "Is... is it gone?"

"Seems so," Rainbow Dash nodded, looking around. The hellfire was nowhere to be seen, and the forest was quiet again.

The rainbow-maned pegasus watched the forest, looking out for any signs of the Nightmare returning. Her ears were swiveling around, reacting to the quietest sound. Her eyes were open wide, trying to see more in the darkness of the forest. Pale moonlight barely shone through the thick leafage, casting peculiar shadows on the ground below.

Among the flow of the water, another noise appeared, the opposite of what the river emitted – cracking of fire. Out of the forest, the Nightmare stepped, its eyes fixated on the two ponies. The reluctance was still present, but he knew there was no other way. Either he did it or risk getting stuck in the forest and this world for much, much longer, perhaps even forever. He felt the might radiating from the dark voice of Nightmare Moon. She spoke regally, putting power behind her every word. He knew not to anger her, for the consequences might be drastic.

"Flutters, to the other side!" Rainbow Dash yelled out, "I will hold it back!"

Without saying a word, Fluttershy took off and flew to the other side of the river, hiding in the bushes and fearfully waiting for her friend. The cyan pegasus picked a stone, throwing it at the Nightmare.

Mike watched as the stone flew straight to his head, but a force from inside him stopped it in mid-air, catching it in a bright-red magical aura. He blinked and soon understood that it was his will to protect himself that acted. Like with hands, he could feel the texture of the stone and its weight. Curiosity took over his mind as he moved the stone with his mind. The weight was there, but moving it was easy and effortless. He also noticed that the same aura was surrounding the horn on his muzzle.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash took the opportunity and flew to the other bank of the river to Fluttershy. Instead of running further, however, the cyan pegasus stood near the water, glaring at the Nightmare.

"You can't cross it, can ya?" she taunted, showing her bravado.

Mike released the stone, letting it fall down with a soft thump. He took a few steps towards the water surface, looking at it carefully.

"You know what happens to flames when they're put in water? They're extinguished!" Rainbow Dash continued, "You can't do anything now, huh? You're not that scary, do you know that?"

Slowly, the Nightmare rose its hoof and touched the water. Mike expected to feel pain or discomfort, but all that happened was water evaporating, and the flames burned on. He took a few more steps forward and found out that he could stand on the water. It bubbled and hissed under his flaming hooves, but he was able to keep himself steady. Crossing the river didn't seem like such an impossible task anymore.

The eyes of Rainbow Dash widened, and wordlessly, she took off into the forest, Fluttershy quickly following her. Mike continued to cross the river until he stepped on what seemed like a boulder. It twitched, breaking his stance, and he fell into the water. He hurried to the other side and was soon on the opposite bank.

"Ow, that hurt!" a voice from the river spoke, and a serpent rose from its bottom. It had a long scaly body reminiscent of a dragon from Asian myths and legends. However, the serpent had orange hair, eyebrows, and mustache, much to the bewilderment of Mike. "I'm sleeping here, resting my head, and suddenly, my side is on fire!" the serpent complained, glaring at the Nightmare, "You know that's not very nice of you, right?"

"Uh... I'm, um, sorry..." Mike muttered and then galloped out of the view of the serpent as fast as he could. Groaning in displeasure and rubbing his burned side, the serpent silently cursed and then went back into the river.

A powerful, clearly magical being, the Queen of the Night, colorful sapient ponies, and now a serpent. If Mike wasn't sure he was in a different world, he was certain about it now. He wondered what other surprises it had in store for him, what other creatures he would meet before departing, and what magical things he would be able to experience. He was glad that it wasn't a hostile serpent, however – he had no idea how to fight one if it came to that.

He didn't have much time to think about it, however. Despite following Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, Mike noticed two other ponies: Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. They noticed him as well, and screamed, dashing away from him. Knowing what to do, he galloped after them, making sure not to come too close or lose them amidst the many trees. He saw the horn of the lavender unicorn being lit, and soon a flash of light caught him by surprise, making him stop in his tracks, digging his hooves into the ground. Once the flash was gone, it was apparent that the ponies were gone with it.

"It seemeth thou art driving them further towards the castle..." Nightmare Moon spoke inside his head, her voice full of disappointment, "I have given thee one task, and it seemeth thou art failing at it. Or... perhaps, there are other forces at play.

For a long moment, she was silent. Mike held his breath, fearing to think about what the Queen of the Night would say next. He could be cast away for his failure, doomed to walk the forest alone in search of the exit. And even if he did leave the forest, there was this world – he had to return to Earth, too. He looked up, and what he could see was wrong. The stars lay in different patterns, the moon bigger and was all wrong as well, and even the sky looked off. The hope of this world being a distant corner of the Earth was completely gone, no matter how much Mike wanted it to be one. He could be thousands of light years away from home or in another universe entirely. And yet, hope lingered – if he managed to travel from Earth to this world, he would be able to take the same route back. The question is, what was that route?

Suddenly, the trees parted, allowing the Nightmare to step into the clearing. Once he did, he saw an old castle on the other side of the chasm that separated the land in two. The six mares were already nearby, making their way across a rope bridge that connected the sides of the chasm.

"They are close, thou hast only one chance to draw them away!" Nightmare Moon spoke again, her voice anxious and fearful, her words quick. "Do it or else I shall punish thee!"

Not having any desire to know what that punishment entailed, Mike charged at the six mares. The earth flew behind him as he tore it from the ground, galloping through the clearing to the bridge. His breath heavy, his heartbeat quick, he made powerful lunges towards the mares. They too noticed him, hastening to the other side. The old bridge creaked and groaned underneath their weight, and began to swing as the heavy Nightmare stepped on it.

"Quick, cut the rope!" Rainbow Dash yelled out, "Twilight, do your magic thing!"

Too late had Mike realized that he would not be able to make it to the other side in time. The ropes were snapped by magic, and it all started falling down to the bottom of the chasm. He yelled out, his eyes widening as the wood disappeared from below his hooves, and soon he was falling. He yelled and yelled, but soon it all stopped as he crashed against the hard stone at the bottom of the chasm. The flames on his body lessened, barely burning; and yet, he was still alive. Pain resonated through his body, soon transforming into a dull ache.

"Thou hast failed me," Nightmare Moon said coldly, and her presence disappeared from his mind.

For a few long, painful moments, Mike lay on the ground, gathering his strength and will. Slowly but surely, he managed to get up and stand on all his four legs. No bones were broken, his head was still intact, and so Mike hazily looked around, trying to ignore the pain. Gladly for him, there were some rocks that made their way from the bottom to the top of the chasm. With some time, he would be able to climb back up. He hoped it wouldn't be too late for him to reach Nightmare Moon and beg her to help him, no matter what he had to do.

With grunts and groans, he jumped from one boulder to another, trying to keep his balance and not fall back down. Slowly and steadily, meter by meter, he climbed back up. In his haze, he could still hear different sounds coming from the abandoned castle, even the voices of the six were still audible.

Refusing to give up, refusing to stop and lay down, Mike struggled up the rocks, almost cutting himself on the sharp jagged edges. and soon came atop the other side of the chasm. With a few tired coughs, he shook his head to clear his mind, and trotted to the castle, having no strength to gallop anymore. Once he reached it, he ascended the stairs and walked through the ruined, dark halls. Pain thumped inside his body, and so his flames extinguished themselves, giving their energy to him. Tired and hurt, he could barely understand where his destination was, let alone where he was in the first place. The old paint was gone, lying as dust underneath his hooves, exposing the gray stone of the walls. Each hall looked the same to his tired mind, and yet he didn't stop to think. Everything became muffled, his vision blurred. He focused on one thought – find Nightmare Moon and try to persuade her to help him despite his failure.

"Thou still dost not have the sixth Element!" the voice of Nightmare Moon echoed through the hall, gloating. Mike quickened his pace, following the voice, "Thy pitiful attempt at creating a 'spark' did not work! Thy struggle is temporary, but my night is eternal!"

"But it did work!" another voice disagreed, "It's a different kind of spark. Despite your attempts at separating us, we stuck together, because we are... friends! This spark is not the visible one, it is inside our hearts."

Mike entered the hall from the side, and he could see Nightmare Moon on a raised platform to the left of him. If only he could reach her before the six...

"You see, Nightmare Moon..." the same pony continued, "When the Elements are together, when the friends are together, the spark in our hearts ignites," a rumble went through the hall, a magical hum rising in the air, "And it creates... The Element of Magic!"

The hall became lit with white as the Elements hummed in harmony, their power flowing through the six ponies. Their eyes glowed white as they rose above the floor of the hall. Nightmare Moon took a step back, fear evident on her features.

"No!" she yelled out, desperately looking around in search of escape.

The hum became louder and louder, the ponies were cocooned in many bright colors. Mike knew it would soon be too late, and if Nightmare Moon was gone, the six wouldn't help him. He had only one chance, and his desperate mind was unwilling to look for other solutions.

As the ray of pure light erupted from the center of the magical cocoon surrounding the six mares, Mike jumped to Nightmare Moon, hoping to knock her out the way. As soon as his hoof touched her, both of them were consumed by the light. It ate them whole, and Mike's consciousness drifted into the thoughtless void of nothing.

Author's Note

I hope you liked the rewritten prologue. Tell me what you think about it!

Chapter 13: Lux de Canterlot

Andromalius mentally prepared himself to go out into the city of Canterlot. He was well aware of his looks and the reactions they elicite from ponies. Unfortunately, he could do nothing but prepare for them; thankfully, however, he could wear a cloak to conceal most of his body. He didn't know how ponies would react if they saw the entirety for him, and he didn't want to gamble on it anytime soon. After all, there was a possibility that the same ponies who attacked him and Princess Luna were still in the city; and while he could fight, he would rather avoid it. He was rather successful in his training, but the real application of his new powers would test him in a much different way.

He sighed deeply as he donned his cloak – no matter what he did, the walk wasn't going to be as easy as it ideally should. In his human life, he rarely if ever felt wary about going around the cities, even those unfamiliar to him. After all, he was just another man in the crowd, and the crowd was faceless. However, back then, he was as average as average could get. Not tall, not short, and his clothes blended in well with what other people wore; nothing would make him stand out at a passing glance. Now, however, he stuck out like a sore thumb: huge, muscular, and demonic. He doubted there would be a crowd to conceal him anymore.

"They'll get used to you eventually," Inanna told him, still lying on his bed, "Might take a couple years, though. But don't worry, most of them would do nothing more than whisper between themselves about you. And as long as you don't do something stupid, you'll be fine."

"...Maybe," Andromalius half-agreed. What the succubus said made sense, but then ponies were ponies. Humans loved to spread untrue rumors contrary to the evidence presented, so why would ponies be any different? They're no less smart than humans, and they seemed to think in roughly the same way.

In any case, he couldn't stay hidden forever. Maybe Inanna was right and ponies would warm up to him if he simply spent enough time around them. He wouldn't find out if he didn't try – results came only to those who worked for them.

Andromalius finally exited his room and headed towards the castle entrance. The sun was already peeking over the horizon, its pink-tinted light warming up the land. The night-time guards were being replaced on their stations and patrols, but none paid too much mind to the hell stallion. Despite his fears, no one tried to stop him no matter how close he got to the exit. He tried to look casual, although some anxiety was present in his head. He knew he wasn't breaking out of prison, but he felt like he was. And yet, no one came to him, no one asked him any questions, no one stood in his way. His hooves clicked against the marble floor loudly, but the guards stood still as they usually did, only giving him a glance as he passed.

Soon, the double doors leading outside were within his sight, and he headed straight for them. Only two guards were left in his way, standing to the sides of the doors. Andromalius neared them, his heart beating; the guards stood still. Once he was close enough, they opened the doors for him.

In silence, he took the last few steps to exit the castle. One, two, three, four, five, six. The doors closed behind him. Seven, eight, nine, ten. He sighed deeply in relief and stopped for a moment. His anxiety disappeared almost entirely, and now the morning wind was brushing against his body, making his cloak swirl slightly. He inhaled the air, enjoying its smell. The city in front of him was quiet, only beginning to wake up to see the new day. The sun rose higher and higher above the horizon, and the shadows shortened. To the hell stallion, it was a marvellous and unusual sight: the sun was way larger than its Solar System counterpart, but it didn't seem nearly as bright. He could look at it freely without having his eyes hurt; or maybe it was just him.

His eyes were certainly different now, with a larger field of view and possibly even a wider spectrum of waves to perceive. After all, he could see very well in the dark environments, and he had yet to see a total darkness. When he looked in the mirror, he saw his eyes: crimson iris with vertical pupils, surrounded by orange sclera; and his eyes were glowing faintly. Maybe it was some sort of night vision? He wasn't sure, but it did feel like it. All he knew about nightvision goggles was the fact that they needed light to function, so they sometimes had to generate their own light. What if his eyes did just that?

Then there was his face and body. It was covered in a smooth, sturdy black skin. No mane, no brows, no kind of hair was present aside from small eyelashes. Most of his body was covered by a weird, bone-like natural armor. It wasn't too thick and, despite its hardness, segmented in just the right way to allow the full range of motion. His legs were long and muscular, and the skin seemed the hardest on them, along with his stomach. He still didn't get used to seeing his body, let alone feeling it; each day, he would spend around an hour in the bathroom just studying his body and feeling it. His tail was especially weird – long, covered in armor and hard skin, it was like a fifth limb to him. He could even use it to grasp things like a tentacle. At first, he was weirded out, but also fascinated. Like a kid picking on a scab, he touched his body in many ways, seeing how it would react and how strong it was. To this day, he couldn't stop looking at himself in the mirror and studying what he could see.

"Did you just think about touching yourself?" Inanna's voice appeared, shattering his thoughts.

"Not in that way!" he defended himself, "My new body is weird, that's all."

"Don't worry, I'm just teasing you," the succubus grinned, "It's fun!"

After a moment of grumbling and suppressing his flushed cheeks, Andromalius regained his thoughts and finally went into the city. The ponies had just begun to wake up, and the streets were mostly devoid of life. A lone carriage of goods passed from time to time, stopping at various shops in the area; a few ponies went to their businesses to prepare them for the day; some foals were led to schools; all was calm. Of course, the appearance of the hell stallion didn't go unnoticed – some ponies outright stared at him as he passed.

"Good morning," he said, surprising even himself. But it was for the best if he showed the ponies he was friendly.

The ponies replied in kind, albeit slowly, with hesitation; some even stuttered. However, these two words coming from him seemed to ease the ponies, and they went back to their own things soon after. Andromalius continued to greet others as he passed by, and it looked like some sort of magic, for some ponies even smiled at him. He replied with a smile of his own, trying not to show his sharp teeth.

"You know, you have a very nice voice, Andro," Inanna said inside his head, "Deep, rumbling... sexy. You should narrate books to foals, I bet they'll love it."

Andromalius left her without a response, but he knew his voice sounded pretty good, and Inanna's idea looked enticing. He had never narrated books before, but he could give it a try, especially if it meant gaining the acceptance of ponies. However, he wasn't sure how he would get to the point where foals would be allowed near him. It was a long road ahead indeed.

He continued his walk through the city, admiring its architecture. It was very unlike the uniformity of the cities he visited: devoid of skyscrapers, the city seemed much more friendly, and the sense of community was apparent. Ponies talked, traded, did activities together instead of staring at their phones and walking past each other. Despite being the capital of Equestria, the very center of the country, the city wasn't nearly as big as Andromalius would expect. If he had to guess, less than half a million ponies lived there.

The architecture, the abundance of small private enterprises hinted at the city being a rural center at best. Of course, there were mansions dotted around the city, belonging to nobility, but otherwise, it didn't speak of a big center. Theatres aplenty, circuses, and even a cinema could still be found in the city, however. Various gyms and sport centers were around every other corner, too. And yet, there was something missing. Namely, alcohol and cigarettes. Not a single shop offered them, which was very unusual for the hell stallion. But then, he heard that a small dose of nicotine could kill a horse. Maybe cigarettes simply didn't exist, and nicotine is banned for being a lethal poison. Doesn't explain the absence of alcohol, however – he didn't remember reading anything about horses dying from it. He wasn't a drinker, but it still made him wonder how one of the most popular drugs in the world wasn't used in Equestria despite the fact that it obvously exists – he remembered a scent of alcohol from when he visited the hospital.

However, instead of bars and pubs, there were many tea and coffee shops that offered a huge variety of both from all over the world. Coffee from Zebrica, tea from Tauria, mountain grass tea from various Griffon Kingdoms, and many other things that made Andromalius' brain spin. One of these shops caught his eye, the scent of tea finding its way into his nostrils, and he soon found himself in front of that shop. 'Homely Tea House', it said on the signboard on the door. However, the hell stallion wasn't sure he should enter – he had no money on him at all. For the past twenty days, he was fed in the castle entirely free of charge, and so far, he had earned no money of his own.

His eyes drifted around the signboard and stopped at a mention: 'First cup is free of charge.' After searching for some hidden text or fine print, but finding nothing, the hell stallion nudged the door open. A bell rang as the door moved.

"A second, please!" a female voice came from the back of the shop.

Andromalius entered fully and closed the door behind him. Aside from him, no one was in the tea house at the time. As he waited, he explored the interior: it wasn't too big, but it had enough room for a dozen of differently-sized tables, and many chairs seemingly picked from random houses. A half of candles and a chandelier were lit at the time, feeling the tea house with a warm light and a pleasant scent. At the far end of the room, the wooden counter could be seen, various teacups standing on it. A door was ajar behind the counter, and the hell stallion could see a mare working in the kitchen.

He thought it would be rude to cover his head, so he slowly lowered his hood, exposing his bald, furless black scalp and the upper part of his neck armor growth. He looked around for a place to sit, but the chairs didn't look too sturdy, so he made his way to the counter. His steps were heavy, resonating across the room, and some of the floorboards groaned under his weight.

"Sorry, I'll fix that creaky floor later!" the same voice came from the kitchen again.

Not knowing what to say just yet, Andromalius positioned himself in front of the counter. However, he found himself squeezing in between a table and the counter itself, but he couldn't just sit down on the floorboards. They did look clean, but he didn't want to gamble on it.

"Is there a pillow I can sit on?" he asked slowly, "I'm sorry, I'm too tall for regular chairs."

"I think I have some, yeah, give me a moment," the mare replied, rustling in the back area of the shop. In a few seconds, she finally emerged: a middle-aged unicorn of sandy-yellow fur and light-blue mane tied behind her head. A slightly stained apron covered her lower neck and chest. When she saw her first customer of the day, she fought hard not to drop everything she was holding and run away.

Andromalius looked away and sighed, knowing full well that it was exactly what he expected to happen. Some hope was inside him, however – after all, the mare didn't scream but merely stared at him. But perhaps it was just the initial shock. He hoped that wasn't the case, but he couldn't know for sure.

"I... I didn't expect to see someone like you," the mare finally spoke after regaining her voice.

"I can leave if you'd like," the hell stallion replied in a quiet voice.

"No, no, it's fine, I just..." she put a hoof to her face, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't judge you like that. Please, accept my apologies. And... here's the pillow you requested."

Andromalius nodded in gratitude, placed the pillow underneath him, and finally sat down. He moved his tail out of the way so that others wouldn't trip over it when they come into the tea house. And besides, he already took too much space.

"Oh, and I'm Still Waters," she finally introduced herself, "I... Well, I heard a bit about you. You are... Andromalius, right?"

"Yes, that's me," he nodded slowly, "Is it true that the first cup is free? I'm sorry, I just haven't earned anything yet."

"The first cup is always free," Still Waters emphasized, "Otherwise, how would customers know what they're buying from me?"

"Makes sense," Andromalius agreed. Then, a somewhat awkward silence followed as the mare poured her tea in a cup that seemed tiny in comparison to a hoof of the hell stallion. Once the cup was full, he lifted it up and brought to his lips. He expected it to feel hot, but surprisingly, it was only pleasantly hot. He took a sip, and he felt nothing but the good taste of the tea. In fact, he didn't even need to sip – he could easily drink it as he drank water. However, he decided to savor it instead.

"So..." Still said with a hint of uncertainty, "I heard that you've saved a Royal Guard."

"I did what everyone would in my place," he replied, "He needed help, and I could help him."

"...I think that deserves another cup on the house," the mare smiled, "And, to be honest... no one knows who you are, but you already did a good deed. You might look... unusual, but to me, only what ponies do matter. Or, well, what anyone does. I'm... not sure if it's correct to call you a pony."

"It's fine," Andromalius sunk slightly, "I don't know what to call myself either."

As his cup emptied, Still Waters poured another one, as well as offering a few chocolate-covered cookies of her own making. Andromalius tried to decline, saying that he had no money to pay for it, but the mare insisted. And so, he sipped the tea and munched on the cookies, and they were delicious. A pleasant silence came on the tea house; the hell stallion deep in thought, and the mare preparing her business for more visitors. A few more ponies came and, although vary about the demon, decided to stay and order their tea once they saw that Still Waters was reasonably comfortable around him.

An hour passed, and Andromalius finally stood up from his place, preparing to head back outside. As pleasant as it was, he didn't want Homely Tea House to suffer because of his presence. Some customers were clearly uncomfortable and wanted to leave but didn't do so out of respect for the host.

"Thank you very much for the tea and the cookies," he bowed slightly to the hospitable mare.

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine," she replied with a smile, "And if you're looking for a job, come here tomorrow at six in the morning, I might be able to offer some. Good day to you!"

After making a nod, the hell stallion turned around and carefully made his way between the customers to the exit. He almost knocked down a chair but managed to catch it with his magic before it could hit the floor. Apologizing for it, he placed the chair on its legs and exited the tea house after putting the hood back on. A smile played on his face, and now he was sure he would find a way to be accepted. He needed but to try and be patient.

Chapter 37: Destitutione et Potentia

It was evening when Twilight Sparkle and her five friends set camp at the border between the lush green lands of central Equestria and the mountain-closed Badlands. The harsh hot winds blew even as the sun set, polishing the windswept boulders scattered across the unending rocks of the desert. The air wavered above them still, and no clouds covered the desert. Without weather control, the weather was constantly dry, unchanging for many years. Maybe there used to be a forest, a swamp, fields, but any evidence to that had long since been erased by the heat and the wind. Now, it was just a wasteland where few lived and even fewer were known to live.

Twilight Sparkle decided it would be best to wait until the desert cooled before stepping into it. Instead, the six will wait until a few hours before morning when the rocks and the sand are at their coolest, and they would travel until they either found Luna or had to set up camp to avoid the searing heat of the day when it became too much. For now, they sat around a campfire, chatting between themselves.

"Are ya sure Princess Luna headed that way?" Applejack asked, using a stick to poke into the fire to make sure it burned correctly. Out of all of them, she had the most expertise when it came to the outdoors, "Ain't nothing worth visiting there, definitely not for a princess."

"Indeed," Rarity easily agreed, "Oh, I'm very glad it's not entirely a sand desert. I don't like sand - it's coarse, rough, and so very irritating, and it gets absolutely everywhere."

"Princess Luna is there somewhere, I feel it," Twilight assured, "Maybe she's on a special mission. You know I can't tell you much, I promised."

They made some small talk before going to sleep in their tents, none of them noticing eyes watching them in the dark. Just like they didn't notice the black shapes closing in and casting spells, making sure the ponies wouldn't wake up just yet.

Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis were in what amounted to a conference room, a map of Canterlot on the table before them, various writings and signs on it. The plan was quite simple, although it required Chrysalis' direct participation undercover. No one but her could possibly do it without rousing suspicion, considering her vast experience in infiltration and mind control of her victims. Nightmare Moon didn't precisely like what the changeling queen admitted to doing, but the two reached an understanding. Kidnappings and replacing ponies would stop completely and immediately once changelings could freely walk the pony lands. As the two discussed one of the stages of the plan, a pair of changeling guards entered the room, standing at attention once their Queen graced them with a look.

"Your majesty, there has been an intrusion into our lands," one of them spoke, "Six ponies were apprehended at the border. They're currently detained, unconscious under spell."

"Six ponies?" Nightmare Moon looked sharply at them, "Are they mares? Was anyone else with them?"

After Chrysalis motioned for them to answer her, the changeling continued:

"They are mares, no one was with them," they said, "They only had camping supplies on them as well as a letter."

They gave the letter to their Queen. She opened it and read, her expression neutral. Wordlessly, she handed the letter to Nightmare Moon, who read it quickly.

"I need to see them," the alicorn demanded, "It is of utmost importance."

"Lead her to them," Chrysalis agreed, "In regards to those ponies, listen to her as you would to me."

Through the cavernous maze that was the changeling home, Nightmare Moon was led deep down below the surface, to the dungeons. They were a small complex of cells in the driest part of the underground, a half-circle around the guard post, separated into three distinct sections by walls. Only the guard post had a view of all the cells. They were currently empty save for one cell where six ponies were bundled together, still asleep and unaware of their predicament.

Nightmare Moon was pleased by this development. The Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, the most troublesome bunch that could prove her undoing, was there, right in front of her, defenseless and ignorant of what befell them. If there was a perfect time to deal with them, it was now. Preventing them from making a mess of her plans was a must - she couldn't underestimate them, not when the Elements chose them as their bearers.

Perhaps they could even be swayed to her side with enough effort, although there was little hope for it. While they were young and impressionable, they were very loyal to Celestia. Twilight Sparkle would certainly be the most problematic out of the six - she was practically raised by the solar alicorn, guided through her studies and into adulthood. The two would always share a connection that would never be possible to break completely.

"They need to be separated," she spoke to the guards, "The six are at their strongest when together. They should be spread out in different cells, unable to help one another even with words. And allow me to take the lavender unicorn with me to an interrogation room - I believe she holdeth the answers I seek. Restrain her as well - her talent in magic is great and cannot be allowed to be used."

Once the mares were separated and Twilight's hooves and horn were bound with magic-nullifying restraints, the unfortunate unicorn was carried to the interrogation room. It was as dimly lit as the rest of the hive, featuring nothing but two seats and a table between them. It was hardly necessary - crime didn't exist among the changelings, and they rarely brought ponies to interrogate in the first place. The room was certainly quite dusty, making the alicorn's nostrils twitch in irritation.

Nightmare Moon placed Twilight across from her as she sat down on one of the seats. She told the guards to leave and lock the door. A simple spell was needed to reawaken the unicorn. She blinked groggily at first.

"P-princess..." she trailed off as her eyes widened. At this point, Luna's body changed enough to reflect who was in control. Much darker fur, the mane and tail flowed ethereally as an ocean of stars. Her eyes were a piercing aqua, her vertical pupils studying the unicorn with interest and a certain amount of wariness.

"No, I am not," Nightmare Moon spoke in a calm, measured voice.

"Nightmare Moon!" Twilight Sparkle shouted and attempted to jump, only to slump as the magical restraints drained her energy enough to prevent her escape.

"There is no use trying to run away," the alicorn said, "Thou art restrained, physically and magically. Thy cooperation would let thee free far quicker than resistance."

"When the princesses find out!-"

"They shall, in time," Nightmare Moon interrupted, "Now, calm thyself. Panicking will not do thee any good - there is no way for thee to escape. However, thou needst not fear - I shan't hurt thee."

"As if I'll believe that!" Twilight spat.

"Have I hurt thee before?" she quirked an eyebrow, "First time we... met, Andromalius was sent to scare thee and thy friends away from the forest. None of you was to be hurt."

"He's always been in league with you, hasn't he?"

"Oh, he was not," the alicorn denied, "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fortunate for me, but quite unfortunate for him at that moment. I suppose that is why Celestia-"

"Princess Celestia to you!"

Nightmare Moon let out a long sigh. Twilight's attitude wasn't exactly out of character, but the alicorn expected her to be at least somewhat fearful and polite to her, considering that the unicorn was at her complete mercy. Aggravating the captor was never a wise decision.

"In a way, she is still my sister," Nightmare Moon spoke calmly, hiding her irritation, "There is no need for anger. The sooner thou answerst what I have to ask, it will be over."

"Why do you think I'll tell you anything?" she turned her head away, "You won't learn anything from me."

"There is a conspiracy against the princesses brewing in Canterlot," the alicorn began simply.

"Led by you?"

"Be silent, petulant foal!" Nightmare Moon hissed, anger clear in her eyes, "Thou art wearing my patience thin! Thou shalt listen or I shall... deal with thee," the exact threat went unsaid. Not that the dark alicorn would hurt Twilight - the unicorn was a promising student regardless of her allegiance. It would be a waste to get rid of her.

The unicorn gulped in fear, closing her maw. The alicorn smoothed her features once more, pushing down her anger. As temperamental as she could be, it was neither the time nor place. Even if Twilight Sparkle, the student of Celestia herself, had yet to prove herself worthy of the alicorn's tutelage. She wore emotions openly, seemingly having no cunning at all.

"This conspiracy," Nightmare Moon continued slowly, "Was not started by me nor is it led by me. Luna hath learned of it some time after her return."

"Luna? You're not Luna?" Twilight blinked in confusion.

"We were inseparable at one point," the dark alicorn nodded, "However, due to thine and thy friends'... exploits, I was given a separate mind. How, I do not know, and neither doth it matter in the grand scheme of things."

"What happened to Luna?" the unicorn whispered, fearing the worst.

"She is quite safe, I assure thee," the alicorn said, "She heareth us even now, although she is unable to act. In time, either I shall get a new body or one will be made for Luna instead. It is undecided. However, I do assure thee Luna will walk among us again someday.

"Now, let us return to the matters underhoof. As I said, the conspiracy stands against the princesses, aiming to use them for the ends of the conspirators. Unfortunately, it hath been quite successful for the longest time."

"Who are they?"

"Patience, Twilight Sparkle," Nightmare Moon's voice sharpened at the interruption, "Now, their true identities or numbers are unknown. However, it is clear they have a certain degree of control over Equestria. Celestia hath been blind to their machinations, but it appearth something is beginning to clear her head," she summoned the letter, "Truly, she may yet not be a sorry excuse for a ruler, not completely."

"Don't call her that!" Twilight bristled.

"What thou failst to understand, young mare, is that she hath failed," Nightmare Moon replied harshly, "'Tis her duty to ensure her mind is clear and her thought process is logical and reasonable when governing. Nothing less must be expected from a ruler. Yet she hath let herself fall to the whims of mere mortals," she huffed, "It is completely and utterly disgraceful to be fooled like this. Ponies are but foals to us, never to achieve what we can. However, Celestia hath failed to see the ambitious slithering their way into the circle of her trusted. She hath failed to notice the opportunists trying to usurp the rightful place of their betters."

Nightmare Moon took a deep breath, calming down. It was of no use pouring her anger at Celestia on a much younger and much more ignorant student of hers.

"Now, Twilight Sparkle," she spoke calmly and slowly again, "Thou shalt tell me what exactly prompted dear Celestia to open her eyes."

Some time later, the dark alicorn marched out of the interrogation room, bristling with anger she had not felt in many years. Celestia, in her utter foolishness, had forgotten one very important rule they were taught - to inspect every enchanted object interacting with them regularly and without fail. No enchanted object was to be ignored, no matter the seeming simplicity of one. Celestia had grown far too trusting, far too lax. No wonder Equestria hadn't had much progress since Luna's banishment - it was surprising the country hadn't fallen apart in the thousand years.

"This arrogant, naive excuse for a ruler..." she muttered to herself as she made her way to Andromalius' temporary quarters, "Incompetent, lazy, foolish, idiotic..."

Not only that, but Twilight Sparkle was the perfect product of Celestia's teachings. Skilled in magic and its textbook use, but not very creative or sociable. To think that she was the protégé of a princess of Equestria! Unthinkable how far the standards had fallen since Nightmare Moon's time. Undoubtedly the doing of the conspirators, may they rot in Tartarus. Cunning, ambitious, smart, and resourceful - the worst combination to deal with. And apparently they managed to keep it together for generations, proving them to be more than capable, dangerously so.

Despite the grudging respect Nightmare Moon could give them for fooling an alicorn of all ponies, she held much contempt towards the said alicorn. Beings such as the two sisters and herself should never allow themselves to be fooled. Being an alicorn meant great power and agelessness - and one must spend their time learning, always finding and figuring out new things to be not one, not two, but many steps ahead of all possible competition at all times. They had earned this advantage and needed to use it. Yet Celestia had become lax, lazy, unambitious, completely destroying the image an alicorn was supposed to represent.

"Andromalius," she addressed the hell stallion once she found him, "Come, we should train."

"You look really annoyed by something," he commented, noticing the stiffness in her body and a blaze in her eyes.

"Indeed I am, and that is why I expect thee to withstand my magical assault for as long as it taketh me to unwind," she said, continuing to the hall the two claimed for training. Deciding it would be unwise to argue, he followed her without a word. Then she continued, "When emotions get to thy head, when thou canst not block them out, thou shalt need to aim them productively. Spellcasting can be benefitted from thine emotional state, so use it to thine advantage. When thou art calm again, analyze and see what can be used differently next time. Do not let thine emotions hinder thee, harness them instead, direct them for thy benefit and advantage."

The two reached the training hall and soon Nightmare Moon released barrages of all kinds of spells from all sorts of angles at the hell stallion. He did his best to block or redirect them, even sending some of them back her way, which pleased her. Andromalius perhaps wouldn't be able to play politics due to his looks, but his strength didn't lie in the subtle and the hidden - he had magical and physical power unlike anyone else, and honing the two would prove to be very useful, especially if he also learned to be smart about them. He would be feared and respected, and none would dare to even mutter anything about he looked as long as he was thoughtful about using his much stronger sides to his advantage.

As her anger at Celestia faded, she studied Andromalius. He was struggling under her power, yet he wasn't about to give up nor would he be the first to call it off. There was a fire of determination in his eyes, something she hadn't seen in him before he removed the curse from his soul. Now, he was different, and she was pleased to see he was growing to become a powerful and smart wielder of magic.

She was wise to take him under her wing.