Believeby MellowSoulChaptersCollisionKnowledgeInfernoInterlude: CompassionCollisionFluttershy dropped her book bag by the door. She looked around. Her parents weren't home yet. She assumed they must have either still been at work or somewhere in town. Between studying for tests and hanging out with her friends after school, the Pegasus was exhausted. She trudged to her room. The young mare gazed through her window. She saw her pet rabbit, Angel, hopping around in the back yard. She figured he must have been trying to burn off any excess energy he had left over before nightfall. Fluttershy sat on the foot of her bed. That's when she noticed the shadow in her corner. A thick, heavy darkness occupied space between two of the room's walls. As dusk progressed, it grew more menacing. Fluttershy tried to rationalize it, assuming it must have been a trick of the light. She would soon discover this was not the case. When the sun was halfway behind the western horizon, the silhouette began to fade. It was gradually replaced by something else - the shape of a living creature. It kneeled in front of the crevice. Fluttershy was beginning to feel frightened. She could make out the flexibility of its limbs and the oily shade of black hair covering its eyes. "Are those...Wings...!?" The being rose to its feet, giving the startled pony a clearer view. The terror almost instantly melted away. Instead, Fluttershy felt herself swoon. Her face grew hotter with every passing second as he approached her. "Who are you...?" He placed two fingers over her eyelids and closed them. She could have sworn she saw him smile... Fluttershy woke up the next morning fully energized. Not a single shred of yesterday's tension remained. "Was it all a dream...?" She got up and went to the kitchen. Her father greeted her. "Morning, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?" "I slept well," she replied truthfully. "Good to hear it. Breakfast will be ready soon." Fluttershy nodded. She filled Angel's food and water bowls and grabbed her school bag. After eating with her family, she left. It wasn't until Fluttershy reached the school building that she noticed her notebook was missing. "Did I leave it at home?" "Is something wrong," Twilight asked her. "My notebook's not in my bag." "Here. You can borrow mine. I always keep a spare. You can copy the notes later and return it tomorrow." "Thanks..." "No problem. Are you sure you're okay?" "I think so." "I'll take your word for it." Fluttershy found herself continually distracted throughout the day. She couldn't push the previous night's events out of her mind. There was something terrifying about the creature who made his presence known to her, but also something else unnaturally attractive about him. She was so fixated on her thoughts that she barely noticed Rainbow Dash nudge her during lunch period. "Hello! Equestria to Fluttershy!" "Huh...?" "You've been spacing out all day." "Sorry..." "What you drawing?" Rainbow Dash took the notebook. "Damn! Is this a character you made?" "Maybe..." "He looks badass. What is he supposed to be, anyway?" "I don't know." "What's his name?" "I don't know." "So you just recently thought him up?" "I guess." "Check out those wings. I'd kill for a pair like that. They put Celestia and Luna's to shame." "They're beautiful." "Maybe in a morbid kind of way." "Do you think he's a good or bad guy?" "I have no idea, honestly. He looks like he could be either." "I hope good." Rainbow gave her childhood companion a "that's a weird way to phrase it" look, but she let it slide. "Come on. Let's get some grub." Fluttershy nodded. "Mm." Fluttershy went home early. She told her friends she could study on her own tonight, but her real motivation consisted of waiting for the creature to return - that is, if he returned. She greeted her mother and father. "How was school," her mother inquired. "Fine. I'm gonna' do my homework now." "Okay. Let your father know if you need any help." "I will." The Pegasus went to her room and shut the door behind her. "Is that my notebook!?" That one shred of evidence was all Fluttershy needed to be certain. Everything that transpired less than twenty-four hours prior was real. She cautiously picked up the collection of paper. There was a message written on the open sheet. "Hey, Fluttershy." "How does he know my name!?" Without warning, she felt a hand glide across the side of her neck. It took all of her willpower not to scream. When the sensation eluded her, she turned around. "You're here." He nodded. "Who are you?" He placed his index finger over his mouth as a request for her to lower her voice, then pointed at his own throat. "You can't talk...?" He shook his head. "I get it now..." Fluttershy moved to her bed and sat down. "Here. You can use this." He nodded before writing another message. "I don't have a name, but I can tell you what I am. I'm a disciple of Lucifer." "Who's Lucifer?" "The punisher of damned souls." "What do you mean 'damned'?" "Souls who have done great harm without just cause." Fluttershy felt her stomach churn. "Did I do something wrong...?" He shook his head a second time. "Then...Why are you here?" "..." "Please, talk to me." "...Because I wanted to see you..." "Me...?" "Yes. I'll explain everything. May I sit with you?" "Um...I suppose." "Do you know anything about God or religion?" "No." "It's a belief in a higher power or powers that was created long ago in another dimension." "And you're part of that higher power?" "Yes. I'm from hell, where evil souls go to atone for their transgressions. You could call me a demon." "A demon?" "My role is to administer punishment on Lucifer's behalf. There are many others like me." "That's why I was scared of you - you have to be intimidating to frighten them into repentance." "I played a practical joke last night. It kind of backfired. That's why I put you to sleep: so you could recover." "Why would you do that?" "I was indirectly poking fun at the misconceptions surrounding us." "Misconceptions." "There were ill-informed books and documents written about hell and its inhabitants." "What did they say?" "Those who wrote them believed my father was cast out of heaven because of his disdain for God's creation of humanity. That's a lie one of my idiot brothers started. My father did have a dislike for certain humans, so he volunteered to create his own plane of existence to teach them a harsh lesson. Hell eventually drew evil souls from other dimensions in as well." "How come you can't do anything to stop them here?" "A mutual agreement with God. We have to let them try to repent in life before we can step in." "Do they?" "Not very often." "What does it have to do with me?" "Nothing. I came here because I wanted to." "Just to see me...?" "Your soul is unique." "How?" "You are one hundred percent pure. You haven't committed a single sin against anyone. That's an almost non-existent quality." "Have you been watching me?" "I have. Since the day you were born, I knew you were special." "Can I ask you something?" "Sure." "Do you like my soul?" "You caught on. Your soul to me is what sugar is to a child." "It must taste really good." Fluttershy giggled. She gave the demon a warm smile. "Thank you." "What for?" "I'm grateful someone thinks I'm doing the right thing." "I'm grateful as well." "Hm?" "For your smile." The hot feeling in Fluttershy's face hit even harder than the previous night. "Um...Would you mind helping me study? I have a math test coming up soon." "Wouldn't that basically be cheating? I've had a few thousand years to ace this stuff." "Call it my first sin." "Deal." KnowledgeWith the demon's assistance, Fluttershy completed her homework in just over two hours. She barely noticed the passage of time, too preoccupied by his charm to care. "You're getting the hang of this quick. You're really smart." "Thanks." "I suspect your family will be calling you for dinner soon." "That's right. I almost forgot." "I shouldn't keep you much longer." "Wait." Fluttershy grabbed his hand. "Please don't go." "You want me to stay?" "I want to know more about you and your home." "It's funny - in all my time in existence, no one's ever asked me about that stuff. Then again, you're the first sentient being outside of hell I've ever spoken to." "I am?" "Yeah." "Then...Will you stay?" "Of course." Fluttershy smiled. "I'm glad we met today." Fluttershy finished eating as quickly as she could without seeming too eager. True to his word, the demon waited for her to return. "What do you want to know?" "What is hell like?" "It's made mostly of extremely hot fire and stone. It's a lot bigger than Equestria or Earth." "What about Earth?" "It's inhabited by people who look like angels and demons without our abilities." "So you do have powers." "Guess that part was kind of obvious." "You probably know already, but I have a few friends who can use magic." "Unicorn and Alicorn magic isn't very strong." "It's not?" "Do you want me to show you what hell's capabilities really are?" "I don't know..." "Don't worry. I won't let you get hurt." "Well...Okay." Fluttershy opened her window. She climbed out with the demon following close behind her. "First, I'll demonstrate my physical prowess. Angels and demons are highly trained in hand-to-hand combat, whether the battle is on the ground or in the air. Our bodies have been conditioned to be sturdier than reinforced steel." "What should I do?" "Hit me as hard as you can." "I can't." "It'll be okay. I've left my core vulnerable enough to keep you from breaking your hoof." "I've never hit anyone before. I hate violence." "I know, but I need you to trust me." "I do." "Give it all you've got." "...Alright." With her mightiest strike, Fluttershy laid into the demon. He didn't even flinch. "Wow! You really are strong!" "Told you." "Can I see your magic?" "Watch closely." The demon concentrated his energy. A circle of fire sparked beneath him. Fluttershy stared in amazement as the light grew more intense. "Want to see more?" She nodded, her mouth agape. The demon put the pen in the binding of the notebook and held out his dominant hand. A bright glow momentarily materialized, then subsided. In his palm rested a long chain. "These are the chains we use to bind corrupted souls. They're forged from my father's hatred and the pain of the evildoer's victims." "What kind of people do you punish?" "The lowest of scum - murderers, rapists, child molesters: you get the picture." "I hope they feel every ounce of pain they ever dealt out." "They do. Those who would inflict suffering upon the innocent receive no mercy." "The literal definition of divine justice..." The chain and flames disappeared. "I want to show you one last thing. Get on my back." Fluttershy did as she was instructed, clinging tightly to his form. The demon spread his wings. Fluttershy closed her eyes. The two ascended into the air. Fluttershy could feel the wind sway with the demon's motions... InfernoFluttershy strolled to school lost in her own world. The cool breeze reminded her of the demon. She recalled the warmth of his skin against her fur: how safe she felt in his arms. "Hey, Flutter-" Rainbow cut herself off when she noticed Fluttershy's right ear. She gawked at the bent crystallized spike sticking through its upper half. The way its reddish orange hue reflected the light of the sun summoned forth the illusion of a raging mystical blaze. "What's with the piercing?" "Someone made it for me." "That's so sick. Can I get one?" "I'd have to ask him." "Wait - did you score a dude!?" "No..." "Bull! I can see it written all over your face!" "What's going on over here," Applejack interrupted. The rest of their friends were with her. "Fluttershy bagged herself a stud!" They all clamored around the yellow Pegasus, asking her questions faster than she could answer them. "Well, don't keep us in suspense," Pinkie exclaimed, "Who is he!?" "Does he come here to our school," Rarity inquired. "Well...He's a little older," Fluttershy admitted. "Woah! You made it with a college student," Rainbow blurted out. "What is he, anyway," Applejack asked, "a pony, a griffon, a dragon...?" "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." "Yeah, right," Rainbow teased, "You gonna' tell us he's a ghost or somethin'?" "He's a demon..." All of their pupils shrank at the same time. "Uh...Yeah, Fluttershy...We totally believe you...Not like demons are hell-bent on total annihilation or anything..." "Do you remember the guy I was drawing in class yesterday?" Rainbow shook her head. "No. No way. Are you trying to tell me he's REAL!?" "What are you guys talking about," Twilight groaned. "Look," Fluttershy said as she opened Twilight's notebook. "Holy snake apples," Applejack yelled, "He's mighty fine." "Oh my...," Rarity blushed. "Don't take this the wrong way, shy, but I think you might have a few screws loose," Rainbow surmised. "I know you think I'm crazy, but I can prove it. Come to my house after school. I'll show you." "This oughta be good..." After the group exchanged salutations with Fluttershy's parents, they gathered in front of her bedroom door. "He's a little nervous around new faces. Try to contain yourselves." "A shy demon? Hah! That's a good one." Fluttershy glared at Rainbow before opening the door. "Am I just seeing things," Rainbow thought to herself. "Looks like you brought a few friends," the demon spelled out. "I forgot to mention he can't talk." "You guys are seeing this, right," Rainbow beckoned. The others nodded in acknowledgement. They crowded into the room. Fluttershy shut the door behind them. "Can you show them your powers?" The demon nodded. He summoned two chains: one in each hand. "Do you believe me now?" "Guess we've got no choice," Rainbow conceded. She refocused her attention on the mighty figure before them. "Alright, demon dude. Spill it. What are your intentions with my friend?" "Rainbow," Fluttershy scolded. With an evil grin, the demon wrote down a playfully menacing response. "That depends." "Oh yeah? On what?" "On what she wants me to do with her...Or maybe...To her." Fluttershy covered her face in embarrassment. Rainbow burst out laughing. Pinkie joined her. "I didn't think the forces of evil had a sense of humor. Talk about one hell of an icebreaker." "Knock it off y'all," Applejack reprimanded. "Forces of evil? As if." Rainbow's demeanor went from raucous laughter to confusion in the blink of an eye. "What do you mean?" "I bring righteous retribution upon evil. That's why I exist." "Wait a sec, you're telling demons are good guys?" "Consider us the POW division of God's army." "We're gonna' have to start from square one." The demon explained everything about Lucifer and his race as well as Earth. A great sense of relief washed over the party. "Honestly, I'll probably sleep a lot better at night," Applejack stated, "Bein' from redneck territory, I've always been worried about Apple Bloom dealin' with creeps and such. Good to know if somethin' happens to her, they'll get their just desserts." "I'll let you in on a little secret - if you kill someone who's committed a heinous act, it won't affect your standing with God. Basically, you've got a free ride if you feel like smiting evil and sending them to us early." "I thought you were cool before, but damn, now I feel like I should be worshiping you at an altar," Rainbow praised. "It's all in a day's work." "By the way, I noticed your wings. Think they're strong enough to take me on in a race?" "I don't know, actually. Your bodily structure is more aerodynamic than mine, but I've had a lot of time to make up for my weaknesses. Unfortunately, we won't be able to find out today." "Right, the whole torture and damnation thing." "We'll take a rain check on it." "By the way, what should we call you? Fluttershy told me you didn't have a name." "I thought of one," Fluttershy voiced. "What is it?" "Siel Reiniger. It's Zebra for Soul Cleanser." "I like it. It sounds very mystical." "Then it's settled. Siel Reiniger: the bane of depravity." Interlude: CompassionFluttershy strolled through heaven's droplets. The sky was a cold, dark shade of bluish grey. Around the time she was halfway home, she found something sprawled across the asphalt. "What is that...?" With a few more steps, she witnessed the horrifying truth. Earlier in the day, someone had run over a baby kitten. The bleeding continued long after its death caused by the crushing of its organs. Fluttershy wanted to scream. She wanted to vomit, but all she could do was stare in agonized pain. Never in her life did she expect the reaper to scar her in such a shameless fashion. She only pulled her eyes away when the tears came. "Siel..." Lash after lash, Siel etched misery into the skin of the monstrous men strung up before him, reminding them again and again of their misdeeds, when all of a sudden, without warning, he fell to his knees, his teeth, tightly clenched. A sharp, burning feeling pervaded his chest. "Yo, you okay," one of his brothers asked. "She needs me." Siel spread his wings and flew away. His quickness was so great, those present believed he'd simply vanished into thin air - a feat said only to be attainable by a true warrior of God. A black streak cut across the concrete behind the bawling Pegasus. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her tightly. "Siel...?" He nodded. "Th...There." "Oh, Jesus..." Siel blocked Fluttershy's view of the mangled corpse. She'd seen more than enough. "We can't leave it here." Just as he had done the day they met, Siel closed her eyes. However, this time, she remained very much awake. It was a symbolic gesture on his part. Using his powers, he materialized a shovel. He took the kitten into the nearby woods, using his supernatural strength and endurance to hastily dig a hole. He stripped large chunks of bark from the tress around him and crafted them into a durable coffin. In that moment, death was the cruelest joke nature ever played. After burying the kitten, Siel returned to Fluttershy. He rested his palm upon her cheek. She wrapped her foreleg around his arm in response. "I want to go home..." Siel lifted Fluttershy onto his back. The emotional pressure was too intense for the mare. She faded into subconsciousness...
CollisionFluttershy dropped her book bag by the door. She looked around. Her parents weren't home yet. She assumed they must have either still been at work or somewhere in town. Between studying for tests and hanging out with her friends after school, the Pegasus was exhausted. She trudged to her room. The young mare gazed through her window. She saw her pet rabbit, Angel, hopping around in the back yard. She figured he must have been trying to burn off any excess energy he had left over before nightfall. Fluttershy sat on the foot of her bed. That's when she noticed the shadow in her corner. A thick, heavy darkness occupied space between two of the room's walls. As dusk progressed, it grew more menacing. Fluttershy tried to rationalize it, assuming it must have been a trick of the light. She would soon discover this was not the case. When the sun was halfway behind the western horizon, the silhouette began to fade. It was gradually replaced by something else - the shape of a living creature. It kneeled in front of the crevice. Fluttershy was beginning to feel frightened. She could make out the flexibility of its limbs and the oily shade of black hair covering its eyes. "Are those...Wings...!?" The being rose to its feet, giving the startled pony a clearer view. The terror almost instantly melted away. Instead, Fluttershy felt herself swoon. Her face grew hotter with every passing second as he approached her. "Who are you...?" He placed two fingers over her eyelids and closed them. She could have sworn she saw him smile... Fluttershy woke up the next morning fully energized. Not a single shred of yesterday's tension remained. "Was it all a dream...?" She got up and went to the kitchen. Her father greeted her. "Morning, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?" "I slept well," she replied truthfully. "Good to hear it. Breakfast will be ready soon." Fluttershy nodded. She filled Angel's food and water bowls and grabbed her school bag. After eating with her family, she left. It wasn't until Fluttershy reached the school building that she noticed her notebook was missing. "Did I leave it at home?" "Is something wrong," Twilight asked her. "My notebook's not in my bag." "Here. You can borrow mine. I always keep a spare. You can copy the notes later and return it tomorrow." "Thanks..." "No problem. Are you sure you're okay?" "I think so." "I'll take your word for it." Fluttershy found herself continually distracted throughout the day. She couldn't push the previous night's events out of her mind. There was something terrifying about the creature who made his presence known to her, but also something else unnaturally attractive about him. She was so fixated on her thoughts that she barely noticed Rainbow Dash nudge her during lunch period. "Hello! Equestria to Fluttershy!" "Huh...?" "You've been spacing out all day." "Sorry..." "What you drawing?" Rainbow Dash took the notebook. "Damn! Is this a character you made?" "Maybe..." "He looks badass. What is he supposed to be, anyway?" "I don't know." "What's his name?" "I don't know." "So you just recently thought him up?" "I guess." "Check out those wings. I'd kill for a pair like that. They put Celestia and Luna's to shame." "They're beautiful." "Maybe in a morbid kind of way." "Do you think he's a good or bad guy?" "I have no idea, honestly. He looks like he could be either." "I hope good." Rainbow gave her childhood companion a "that's a weird way to phrase it" look, but she let it slide. "Come on. Let's get some grub." Fluttershy nodded. "Mm." Fluttershy went home early. She told her friends she could study on her own tonight, but her real motivation consisted of waiting for the creature to return - that is, if he returned. She greeted her mother and father. "How was school," her mother inquired. "Fine. I'm gonna' do my homework now." "Okay. Let your father know if you need any help." "I will." The Pegasus went to her room and shut the door behind her. "Is that my notebook!?" That one shred of evidence was all Fluttershy needed to be certain. Everything that transpired less than twenty-four hours prior was real. She cautiously picked up the collection of paper. There was a message written on the open sheet. "Hey, Fluttershy." "How does he know my name!?" Without warning, she felt a hand glide across the side of her neck. It took all of her willpower not to scream. When the sensation eluded her, she turned around. "You're here." He nodded. "Who are you?" He placed his index finger over his mouth as a request for her to lower her voice, then pointed at his own throat. "You can't talk...?" He shook his head. "I get it now..." Fluttershy moved to her bed and sat down. "Here. You can use this." He nodded before writing another message. "I don't have a name, but I can tell you what I am. I'm a disciple of Lucifer." "Who's Lucifer?" "The punisher of damned souls." "What do you mean 'damned'?" "Souls who have done great harm without just cause." Fluttershy felt her stomach churn. "Did I do something wrong...?" He shook his head a second time. "Then...Why are you here?" "..." "Please, talk to me." "...Because I wanted to see you..." "Me...?" "Yes. I'll explain everything. May I sit with you?" "Um...I suppose." "Do you know anything about God or religion?" "No." "It's a belief in a higher power or powers that was created long ago in another dimension." "And you're part of that higher power?" "Yes. I'm from hell, where evil souls go to atone for their transgressions. You could call me a demon." "A demon?" "My role is to administer punishment on Lucifer's behalf. There are many others like me." "That's why I was scared of you - you have to be intimidating to frighten them into repentance." "I played a practical joke last night. It kind of backfired. That's why I put you to sleep: so you could recover." "Why would you do that?" "I was indirectly poking fun at the misconceptions surrounding us." "Misconceptions." "There were ill-informed books and documents written about hell and its inhabitants." "What did they say?" "Those who wrote them believed my father was cast out of heaven because of his disdain for God's creation of humanity. That's a lie one of my idiot brothers started. My father did have a dislike for certain humans, so he volunteered to create his own plane of existence to teach them a harsh lesson. Hell eventually drew evil souls from other dimensions in as well." "How come you can't do anything to stop them here?" "A mutual agreement with God. We have to let them try to repent in life before we can step in." "Do they?" "Not very often." "What does it have to do with me?" "Nothing. I came here because I wanted to." "Just to see me...?" "Your soul is unique." "How?" "You are one hundred percent pure. You haven't committed a single sin against anyone. That's an almost non-existent quality." "Have you been watching me?" "I have. Since the day you were born, I knew you were special." "Can I ask you something?" "Sure." "Do you like my soul?" "You caught on. Your soul to me is what sugar is to a child." "It must taste really good." Fluttershy giggled. She gave the demon a warm smile. "Thank you." "What for?" "I'm grateful someone thinks I'm doing the right thing." "I'm grateful as well." "Hm?" "For your smile." The hot feeling in Fluttershy's face hit even harder than the previous night. "Um...Would you mind helping me study? I have a math test coming up soon." "Wouldn't that basically be cheating? I've had a few thousand years to ace this stuff." "Call it my first sin." "Deal."
KnowledgeWith the demon's assistance, Fluttershy completed her homework in just over two hours. She barely noticed the passage of time, too preoccupied by his charm to care. "You're getting the hang of this quick. You're really smart." "Thanks." "I suspect your family will be calling you for dinner soon." "That's right. I almost forgot." "I shouldn't keep you much longer." "Wait." Fluttershy grabbed his hand. "Please don't go." "You want me to stay?" "I want to know more about you and your home." "It's funny - in all my time in existence, no one's ever asked me about that stuff. Then again, you're the first sentient being outside of hell I've ever spoken to." "I am?" "Yeah." "Then...Will you stay?" "Of course." Fluttershy smiled. "I'm glad we met today." Fluttershy finished eating as quickly as she could without seeming too eager. True to his word, the demon waited for her to return. "What do you want to know?" "What is hell like?" "It's made mostly of extremely hot fire and stone. It's a lot bigger than Equestria or Earth." "What about Earth?" "It's inhabited by people who look like angels and demons without our abilities." "So you do have powers." "Guess that part was kind of obvious." "You probably know already, but I have a few friends who can use magic." "Unicorn and Alicorn magic isn't very strong." "It's not?" "Do you want me to show you what hell's capabilities really are?" "I don't know..." "Don't worry. I won't let you get hurt." "Well...Okay." Fluttershy opened her window. She climbed out with the demon following close behind her. "First, I'll demonstrate my physical prowess. Angels and demons are highly trained in hand-to-hand combat, whether the battle is on the ground or in the air. Our bodies have been conditioned to be sturdier than reinforced steel." "What should I do?" "Hit me as hard as you can." "I can't." "It'll be okay. I've left my core vulnerable enough to keep you from breaking your hoof." "I've never hit anyone before. I hate violence." "I know, but I need you to trust me." "I do." "Give it all you've got." "...Alright." With her mightiest strike, Fluttershy laid into the demon. He didn't even flinch. "Wow! You really are strong!" "Told you." "Can I see your magic?" "Watch closely." The demon concentrated his energy. A circle of fire sparked beneath him. Fluttershy stared in amazement as the light grew more intense. "Want to see more?" She nodded, her mouth agape. The demon put the pen in the binding of the notebook and held out his dominant hand. A bright glow momentarily materialized, then subsided. In his palm rested a long chain. "These are the chains we use to bind corrupted souls. They're forged from my father's hatred and the pain of the evildoer's victims." "What kind of people do you punish?" "The lowest of scum - murderers, rapists, child molesters: you get the picture." "I hope they feel every ounce of pain they ever dealt out." "They do. Those who would inflict suffering upon the innocent receive no mercy." "The literal definition of divine justice..." The chain and flames disappeared. "I want to show you one last thing. Get on my back." Fluttershy did as she was instructed, clinging tightly to his form. The demon spread his wings. Fluttershy closed her eyes. The two ascended into the air. Fluttershy could feel the wind sway with the demon's motions...
InfernoFluttershy strolled to school lost in her own world. The cool breeze reminded her of the demon. She recalled the warmth of his skin against her fur: how safe she felt in his arms. "Hey, Flutter-" Rainbow cut herself off when she noticed Fluttershy's right ear. She gawked at the bent crystallized spike sticking through its upper half. The way its reddish orange hue reflected the light of the sun summoned forth the illusion of a raging mystical blaze. "What's with the piercing?" "Someone made it for me." "That's so sick. Can I get one?" "I'd have to ask him." "Wait - did you score a dude!?" "No..." "Bull! I can see it written all over your face!" "What's going on over here," Applejack interrupted. The rest of their friends were with her. "Fluttershy bagged herself a stud!" They all clamored around the yellow Pegasus, asking her questions faster than she could answer them. "Well, don't keep us in suspense," Pinkie exclaimed, "Who is he!?" "Does he come here to our school," Rarity inquired. "Well...He's a little older," Fluttershy admitted. "Woah! You made it with a college student," Rainbow blurted out. "What is he, anyway," Applejack asked, "a pony, a griffon, a dragon...?" "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." "Yeah, right," Rainbow teased, "You gonna' tell us he's a ghost or somethin'?" "He's a demon..." All of their pupils shrank at the same time. "Uh...Yeah, Fluttershy...We totally believe you...Not like demons are hell-bent on total annihilation or anything..." "Do you remember the guy I was drawing in class yesterday?" Rainbow shook her head. "No. No way. Are you trying to tell me he's REAL!?" "What are you guys talking about," Twilight groaned. "Look," Fluttershy said as she opened Twilight's notebook. "Holy snake apples," Applejack yelled, "He's mighty fine." "Oh my...," Rarity blushed. "Don't take this the wrong way, shy, but I think you might have a few screws loose," Rainbow surmised. "I know you think I'm crazy, but I can prove it. Come to my house after school. I'll show you." "This oughta be good..." After the group exchanged salutations with Fluttershy's parents, they gathered in front of her bedroom door. "He's a little nervous around new faces. Try to contain yourselves." "A shy demon? Hah! That's a good one." Fluttershy glared at Rainbow before opening the door. "Am I just seeing things," Rainbow thought to herself. "Looks like you brought a few friends," the demon spelled out. "I forgot to mention he can't talk." "You guys are seeing this, right," Rainbow beckoned. The others nodded in acknowledgement. They crowded into the room. Fluttershy shut the door behind them. "Can you show them your powers?" The demon nodded. He summoned two chains: one in each hand. "Do you believe me now?" "Guess we've got no choice," Rainbow conceded. She refocused her attention on the mighty figure before them. "Alright, demon dude. Spill it. What are your intentions with my friend?" "Rainbow," Fluttershy scolded. With an evil grin, the demon wrote down a playfully menacing response. "That depends." "Oh yeah? On what?" "On what she wants me to do with her...Or maybe...To her." Fluttershy covered her face in embarrassment. Rainbow burst out laughing. Pinkie joined her. "I didn't think the forces of evil had a sense of humor. Talk about one hell of an icebreaker." "Knock it off y'all," Applejack reprimanded. "Forces of evil? As if." Rainbow's demeanor went from raucous laughter to confusion in the blink of an eye. "What do you mean?" "I bring righteous retribution upon evil. That's why I exist." "Wait a sec, you're telling demons are good guys?" "Consider us the POW division of God's army." "We're gonna' have to start from square one." The demon explained everything about Lucifer and his race as well as Earth. A great sense of relief washed over the party. "Honestly, I'll probably sleep a lot better at night," Applejack stated, "Bein' from redneck territory, I've always been worried about Apple Bloom dealin' with creeps and such. Good to know if somethin' happens to her, they'll get their just desserts." "I'll let you in on a little secret - if you kill someone who's committed a heinous act, it won't affect your standing with God. Basically, you've got a free ride if you feel like smiting evil and sending them to us early." "I thought you were cool before, but damn, now I feel like I should be worshiping you at an altar," Rainbow praised. "It's all in a day's work." "By the way, I noticed your wings. Think they're strong enough to take me on in a race?" "I don't know, actually. Your bodily structure is more aerodynamic than mine, but I've had a lot of time to make up for my weaknesses. Unfortunately, we won't be able to find out today." "Right, the whole torture and damnation thing." "We'll take a rain check on it." "By the way, what should we call you? Fluttershy told me you didn't have a name." "I thought of one," Fluttershy voiced. "What is it?" "Siel Reiniger. It's Zebra for Soul Cleanser." "I like it. It sounds very mystical." "Then it's settled. Siel Reiniger: the bane of depravity."
Interlude: CompassionFluttershy strolled through heaven's droplets. The sky was a cold, dark shade of bluish grey. Around the time she was halfway home, she found something sprawled across the asphalt. "What is that...?" With a few more steps, she witnessed the horrifying truth. Earlier in the day, someone had run over a baby kitten. The bleeding continued long after its death caused by the crushing of its organs. Fluttershy wanted to scream. She wanted to vomit, but all she could do was stare in agonized pain. Never in her life did she expect the reaper to scar her in such a shameless fashion. She only pulled her eyes away when the tears came. "Siel..." Lash after lash, Siel etched misery into the skin of the monstrous men strung up before him, reminding them again and again of their misdeeds, when all of a sudden, without warning, he fell to his knees, his teeth, tightly clenched. A sharp, burning feeling pervaded his chest. "Yo, you okay," one of his brothers asked. "She needs me." Siel spread his wings and flew away. His quickness was so great, those present believed he'd simply vanished into thin air - a feat said only to be attainable by a true warrior of God. A black streak cut across the concrete behind the bawling Pegasus. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her tightly. "Siel...?" He nodded. "Th...There." "Oh, Jesus..." Siel blocked Fluttershy's view of the mangled corpse. She'd seen more than enough. "We can't leave it here." Just as he had done the day they met, Siel closed her eyes. However, this time, she remained very much awake. It was a symbolic gesture on his part. Using his powers, he materialized a shovel. He took the kitten into the nearby woods, using his supernatural strength and endurance to hastily dig a hole. He stripped large chunks of bark from the tress around him and crafted them into a durable coffin. In that moment, death was the cruelest joke nature ever played. After burying the kitten, Siel returned to Fluttershy. He rested his palm upon her cheek. She wrapped her foreleg around his arm in response. "I want to go home..." Siel lifted Fluttershy onto his back. The emotional pressure was too intense for the mare. She faded into subconsciousness...
