Fiend of a Doomed world.

(dream/flashback)

“And he’s down for the count!” cheered a younger Krieger this time with blond hair instead of his dyed red. shouted as he slammed his pillow onto the floor. “And Krieger at the age of nine has become world champion!”

“YAY KRIEGER!” cheered out a younger voice as a little five-year-old girl with short blond hair cheered while watching the little performance from her little bed. “And with the money, you won you’re going to make our home better!”

“You know it, Jeanne!” The young boy said as he did a few victory poses. All to the delight of the younger child who had stars in her eyes. Letting out a few giggles as she clapped her hands excitedly at the display.

“Yay~!” the girls cheered as joy danced in her deep blue eyes. You’re the best!”

“You’re right about that,” little Krieger said while puffing out his chest. “No one can beat me, not even the older kids in the orphanage.”

“Oh really?” asked an elderly voice, causing the two children in the room to nearly jump. “You know you’re not even fighting in the right way.”

“S-sister Ariela!” cried out the children as she saw the grinning figure of one of the nuns. Said woman was showing her years with wrinkles starting to appear on her tanned skin and her once brown hair now fading out and silver streaks took up most of it. Mirth danced in her brown eyes as she looked at the two children who were no caught staying up late… again.

“Pequeños, you know you shouldn’t stay up so late.” the elderly nun said with a smile.

Letting out a nervous chuckle the young boy stammered out. S- sorry sister, it’s just we couldn’t sleep, and little Jeanne wanted to see my new moves!”

“Nuh-uh!” cried the small child as her cheeks puffed up in anger as she tried to give Krieger a scary glare… it looked more like a puppy trying to be tough. “You woke me up so you could show off the stuff you learned on tv!”

“You traitor!” cried out the boy as he shook his fist. “I thought we were always in it together little Jeanne!”

“Not when one of us can get out of trouble~!” Jeanne said with a little impish smile.

“You little Judas!” Krieger shouted with a glare. But before any other insults could be thrown their argument was stopped when they heard Ariela let out a polite cough to get their attention.

“Now now,” Ariela said with a chuckle. “No reason to be at each other’s throats. Besides I didn’t come here because you were staying up.”

“Then why are you here?” Jeanne asked with a cute tilt of the head. Her eyes blinking in confusion.

“Isn’t it obvious?” the nun asked with a raised brow as she gave the two children a smirk. “I overheard little Krieger say something about being the champion.”

“Oh… you heard that?” the young boy muttered with a gulp as sweat trailed down his face.

Now giving both children a full smile that showed off a few gold teeth the nun said. “Yes, and I have to say, pretty brave of you to call yourself the champion without taking on the real champ!”

“Hey now!” Krieger cried out. As he looked at the grinning face of Ariela, who by the way was a former female masked wrestler champion before she retired to spend her remaining days working for the church. “There’s no need for that! Besides, Jeanne is probably tired.”

“You can do it, Krieger!” Jeanne cheered out with stars in her eyes. “Become the real champ!”

The young boy wanted to cry but before he could say anything, Ariela closed the distance between the two of them with speed that belied her age and put young Krieger into a headlock as she started to give the young boy a noogie.

Letting out a laugh the old nun continued her attack on her young ward. “Still too early to call yourself the champ!”

“Ahhh!” the boy cried out as he squirmed around in the nun’s arms. “Not the hair!”

This only made the old nun laugh louder while Jeanne watched and giggled out while clapping at the two.

And that’s how the night continued for a few hours until their horse playing got all three of them in trouble with sister June, who then spent the rest of the night lecturing all of them for such boorish behavior. Though ever since that night, Krieger would go to the former masked wrestler and ask her to train him to fight like a true wrestler.

Those were happier times. Times that Krieger would need to think about if he wanted to get through the hell he was about to be put through.

(waking world.)

Something wet and cold caused Krieger to awaken with a start. “GAH! I’M UP! I’LL SWEEP THE ALTAR!”

Looking around the half-asleep redhead tried to find out who splashed him with what he HOPE was water. It didn’t take him long to spot the culprits.

“Oh… it’s you three,” Krieger muttered as he stared at the three glaring children, while also taking notice of the fact he was now tied up to a tree…, THE SAME FUCKING BENT ONE FROM BEFORE!

Grumbling the adult man gave the three a flat look. “So…, mind telling me why I’m tied up, furthermore why are you glaring at me like tha-ACK!!!”

He quickly shut his mouth once the red-headed of the trio pointed a pitchfork at him.

“Woah!” shouted Krieger shouted. “Be careful with that, you could poke an eye out with that!”

“Shut it, demon! We’re askin’ the questions!” the redhead with the accent demanded.

“Demon? Okay, rude.” Krieger said with a glare. “Is that any way to thank the guy who saved you?”

“Y-Yeah, well… you called yourself a Fiend. No good pony calls themself a thing like that!” The one with the horn tried to butt in.

“Yeah! That’s like saying ‘don’t worry, I’m a good evil pony’!” the orange-skinned one with the wings added.

“Pony?” that’s what you all are?” the older redhead asked with a raised brow. “You might have the ears, tails, and hooves, but you’re all lacking everything else.”

“L-lacking!?” the horned one shouted with a blush as she wrapped her arms around her chest area. “I’ll have you know I’m still growing!”

“He didn’t mean that kind of lacking Sweetie Belle,” the one with wings muttered.

“Sweetie Belle? Really? That’s your name? Who are you two then, Cinnamon Roll and Sugar Plum?” Krieger snarked.

“Hey! Leave the others from Ponyville out of this!” the winged orange one shouted in anger.

“Scootaloo!” shouted the young red-headed girl of the group.

“Wait, there are people with those kinds of names?” Krieger shouted wide-eyed. “Also you live in a place called Ponyville?”

“We’re askin the questions here!” shouted the redheaded girl as she pointed her pitchfork at him again. “Now tell us what you’re doing here demon!”

“Why are you calling me a demon!?” Krieger shouted. “I’m human! H.U.M.A.N!”

“We don’t know what a human is but we sure as heck know a demon when we see it!” the orange one shouted while pointing at him. “Like those markings!”

“These are just some tattoos that some jack off put on me!” the ‘human’ shouted.

“What’s a jack off?” Sweetie Belle muttered.

“Yeah right! Like Ah’m supposed ta believe that some tattoo artist can make marks that glow!” the one with the accent shouted, pushing the pitchfork back into his face.

“Stop waving that thing around!” he shouted, grabbing the shaft the shoving it away. “It’s seriously danger-” he stopped when he noticed they all looked terrified. It was only then that he noticed he had broken free of the ropes without even trying. “... Oh.”

“The demon’s loose!” squeaked out the Sweetie Belle.

“Dang it Applebloom!” shouted Scootaloo. “I thought you said those ropes were tough!”

“They were!” the now-named Applebloom cried out. “Not even Big Mac could break them!”

“Uh, look, I didn’t mean-” Krieger tried to interject.

“Great, now he’s gonna kill us because you never paid attention when Applejack tried to teach you how to tie a knot!” Scootaloo added, all three of them apparently too caught up in arguing to notice him.

“Or… or worse!” cried out Sweetie Belle as she tried to cover herself with her arms as she gave Krieger a teary look. “You can SEE the lust in his eyes!”

“... Okay, I’m concerned about why you even know what the word ‘lust’ is,” Krieger muttered.

“He’s gonna make us slaves, and walk around naked for him!” Scootaloo screamed.

“Ew, no.”

“Or use us to breed more demons!” cried Applebloom.

“OKAY, STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!” he shouted, causing them all them be quiet and look at him in fear. He pressed his fingers together and brought them to his face as he inhaled. “Girls,” he began, pointing to them. “I’m NOT a demon, I’m NOT a rapist, and I’m DEFINITELY not looking for slaves. I’m just some guy who’s lost.”

“If you’re not a demon then why do ya have a horn on the back of your neck?” Applebloom said in a quiet voice.

“Uh… what?” he asked before reaching around to the nape of his neck, surprised to feel a large and several inches long horn extending from it. “Okay, that definitely wasn’t there before.” He tried pulling on it, only for a cold jolt of electricity to race through his body. “Okay, that doesn’t feel good! Yeah, that’s definitely part of my body now.”

“You seem… calm about something you didn’t even know was a part of you,” Sweetie Belle said with a sweatdrop.

“Oh no, I’m definitely panicking on the inside. Speaking of, can you distract me from that with something? Anything? Please?”

“... are you SURE you’re not going to make us into sex slaves?” Scootaloo asked with a raised brow.

“YES! FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, WHY DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS!? WHAT ARE YOU, LIKE EIGHT?” he shouted, seriously concerned for their parenting.

“Eleven,” they all responded at once.

“Still too early, as far as I’m concerned,” he muttered with a growl in his tone.

“So…,” started Applebloom. “Why did you save us?”

Krieger just stared at the younger redhead for a good solid minute. “... Because you were in trouble?” he replied, honestly surprised he had to explain that.

“You… just wanted to help us?” Sweetie Belle asked with a tilt of her head. An action that made Krieger think of a certain young nun back home.

Shaking his head from the mental image the marked man gave them a nod. “Yeah, you were in danger from those aliens and I couldn’t just watch you get eaten.”

“Aliens?” Applebloom asked with a confused blink. “Those weren’t aliens.”

“Yeah!” shouted Scootaloo. “Those were demons like you!”

“Demons!?” shouted Krieger. “Why would Demons be attacking aliens!?”

“UGH! WE’RE NOT THE ALIENS HERE! YOU ARE! YOU AND THE DEMONS ARE NOT FROM HERE!” Sweetie Belle shouted in exasperation.

“What!?” shouted the ‘human’. “You have to be joking right!? Last time I checked, I was still in San Diego!”

“San a what now!” Applebloom asked with a raised brow. “What in the sam hill are you saying, you’re in Equestria!”

Hearing this stunned Krieger. “Wh-what!?”

“Equestria,” Scootaloo repeated like it was obvious. “In fact, you’re like in the center of the kingdom.”

“Yep,” Sweetie Belle said with a nod. “You’re really close to our home town of Ponyville!”

“Y-yeah,” Krieger muttered while putting a hand on the tree he was tied to earlier for support. “You did mention a Ponyville before…”

“Are you ok?” Scootaloo asked with concern. Now that she knew he wasn’t going to do anything bad to them, the orange-skinned girl was worried the friendly demon might be upset about something.

“I…,” began Krieger. Taking a second to calm down before forcing a smile on his face once he saw the worried looks of the three children. “I don’t know, but I can’t panic right now. Especially when I should make sure you three get home before any more…, demons attack.”

“You still want to help us?” Applebloom asked with a blink. “But don’t you want to find your way back home.” the younger redhead pointed out.

“Well, honestly… I get the feeling you three aren’t supposed to be here, and you probably have parents worried about you. And, a town with more people to talk to sounds like a good way to get my bearings.”

Nodding at his own words Krieger was about to ask them to lead the way before noticing the sad looks on the girls’ faces.

“Hey,” he muttered to them with a worried look. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing,” Sweetie Belle muttered before she and the others started making their way through the forest. “We should get going before anyone back home notice we’re gone.”

“Right, um… lead on.” He motioned for them to go.

As the group made it through the forest this time not getting lost like a certain marked man. They passed the time making small talk.

“So you’re saying you can’t say your real name?” Sweetie Belle asked with a tilt of her head.

“Yeah, it’s the darndest thing,” Krieger muttered with a thoughtful look. “It seems every time I try to say my name, all that comes out is Demi-Fiend.”

“Maybe it’s a curse?” Sweetie Belle suggested while walking next to Krieger. “Princess Twilight said that some spells are made to keep secrets.”

“Maybe it’s also why ya look like that,” Scootaloo added, putting her arms behind her head and leaning back as she walked the tomboy of the three girls shrugged. “It’s the only thing I can think of.”

“Still can’t believe that magic is real in this world,” the male of the group muttered as he rubbed the back of his head while trying to avoid touching the horn jutting from the back of his neck. “That stuff was just fairy tales back home.”

“I can’t believe that it took Sweetie Belle showing you her magic for you to believe us,” Scootaloo muttered with a flat look. “I mean you JUST fought demons who threw fire at you, and you still needed proof.”

“Hey!” Krieger said defensibly. “It’s all still a little too much to take in, so sorry that I’m still processing things!”

This caused the three girls to giggle at his outburst, which in turn caused him to let out a sigh but smile. ‘It might’ve been a misunderstanding at first, but I’ve made some good relations with the locals. Hopefully, this’ll at least help me get some information on where I am and how to get back.’

Sadly the optimistic thinking grinded to a halt as soon as they left the forest and the sight that greeted him left him speechless… in the worst way.

“Wh… What in the Lord’s name is this?” he gasped. Only a few miles ahead of him he saw a town that looked like it was once an idyllic farming town, somewhere a bit between the medieval and industrial ages. Of course, there were a few exceptions, most notably being the giant palace resting above a crystal tree that would normally have shone brilliantly, and a university of some kind that looked like it would have normally been beautiful. But that town had fences and gates fortified with pikes and barbed wire. That university looked like it had been attacked and hastily repaired several times. And that normally gorgeous palace looked dreadful and ominous silhouetted against a blood-red sky. And off to the right, he could see the rest of the town in ruins.

Houses either burnt down or even looked like they were crushed as if something huge stepped on them. He could also see a massive graveyard on the outskirts of town with MANY makeshift grave markers.

“It’s not much, but it’s home,” Scootaloo sighed out as soon as she saw the place she called home.

“Has… has it always been like this?” he asked, horrified.

“Not always,” Sweetie Belle said with a frown. “But ever since the demons came around, we’ve been doing everything we could to survive.”

“It’s been hard keepin everypony fed, but at least we still got Sweet Apple Acres,” Applebloom said with pride.

“D-don’t you guys have help?” Krieger asked in a panic tone. “Like an army to fight the demons!?”

“Back in Canterlot,” Scootaloo muttered in a defeated tone. “But not anymore…”

“What?” the ‘human’ asked. “What happened?”

“That…,” Applebloom said as she pointed towards some mountains in the distance.

Krieger was about to ask why she was pointing there, but he soon noticed he was able to see in the distance that the nearest mountain from the bunch was heavily damaged. Craters lined it’s frame and chunks of it looked like it was torn off of it. And at the base of the mountain where what looked like a pile of stone and… gold?

“What… is that?” Krieger muttered as he rubbed his eyes. Wondering why he was able to see so far. “Why did you show me that?”

“That’s Canterlot,” answered Sweetie Belle.

Swirling his head towards the horned girl, marked man looked at her with a stunned look.

“W-what?”

“It was the kingdom of Equestria,” Scootaloo said. “Where the first two princesses lived and where our army was stationed.”

“Until the demons attacked,” Applebloom spat out, hatred burning in her eyes. “They tore the entire city of Canterlot right off the mountain!”

Stunned from hearing this Krieger could only look at the three girls who looked defeated. As if they accepted whats happen and little hope for them was left. He then looked back at the sad state that the town was in, and the ruined land around it.

Clenching his fist as he tried to wrack his brain for a solution. Breathing out his nose as he closed his eyes in thought. But any alternative idea he thought up disappeared when he heard the sound of crying.

Snapping his eyes open, the young adult of the group whipped his head towards the source of the sound to see Sweetie Belle whipping away some tears while her friends tried to comfort her.

“I-it’s not fair!” Sweetie Belle said between her sniffling as she tried to keep herself from crying. “Why did this have to happen to us.”

“Sweetie Belle, calm down,” Scootaloo said with a sad look. “It’s going to be ok.”

Glaring at the orange-skinned girl Sweetie Belle shouted. “NO! It’s not going to be ok, it’s NEVER going to be ok!”

“S… Sweetie Belle?” Scootaloo said in shock.

“Can’t you see!?” the horned girl shouted. “We’re standing on our last leg! The demons keep coming and Princess Twilight and the others haven’t found a way to help us!”

“They’re doin their best,” Applebloom interjected. “She and our sisters are doing everythin to help us!”

“And it’s not working!” Sweetie Belle argued. “They keep leaving to try to get help but come back beaten! What adults we have can barrly find food that isn’t from your farm and even that’s running out soon!”

“We just have to keep trying!” Scootaloo shouted. “If we keep looking and working hard we can get through this!”

“I don’t want to keep trying!” the pale-skinned girl shouted. Tears running her cheeks. “I want our home back the way it was! I want to see the blue sky and to play again! I… I want my parents BACK!”

With that final rant out of her system, what little strength she had left her and Sweetie Belle fell to her knees and broke down crying Her friends were quick to act and rushed to her and bring her into a group hug. Letting her cry as they tried to keep their own tears at bay, and falling at it.

“I do too,” Scootaloo whispered as she hugged her friends tighter.

“Ah miss Granny,” Applebloom cried silently.

Seeing all this play out before him, Krieger could only clench his fist as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes again and thought about all of his family back home.

“Sorry guys,” he muttered before opening his eyes, which now filled with determination as he walked towards the three crying children. “I think I might be gone longer than I thought.”

With those final words to the people back home, the marked man walked up to the girls and bent down to talk to them.

“Hey,” he said, getting the three’s attention as he tried to give them his best smile, hoping that it didn’t come off as scary as the other times. “It’s ok, you guys aren’t alone in this ya know?”

“What?” Applebloom asked between sobs.

“I mean, you’ve got each other. And you’ve still got people back in town that cares for you. And, for what it’s worth… You’ve got me.”

“You?” Scootaloo asked, wiping her eyes.

“Don’t you want to find your way back home?” Applebloom pointed out while drying her eyes.

“Well yeah,” he said with a small shrug. “And I still want to, but I figure while this princess of yours looks into it, I can help out while I wait.”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle whispered. “You’d do that?”

He nodded. “I was raised not to abandon those in need. If I just left you all behind for my own benefit, I’d never be able to look at those who cared for me in the eye ever again.”

Reaching out, the ‘human’ ruffled Sweetie Belle’s hair as he gave a big smile towards them.

“So cheer up!” he said as he ruffled the other girls’ hair as well. “Big Bro’s got you covered!”

Getting up the man then stuck a strong man pose. “And if any demon shows up I’ll show him what happens when you mess with my little buddies!”

“... Wow, you’re kind of a dork.” Scootaloo deadpanned, only for her smirk soon after.

“But a good kind of dork,” Sweetie Belle giggled out while wiping the last of her tears away.

Laughing as well Applebloom gave him a smile. “And sorry, but for me, that spot’s taken. Ah already got-”

“APPLEBLOOM!” bellowed a deep, masculine voice.

“... Ah’m in trouble,” she squeaked as she turned white.

“Who was tha-AHHHH!” Krieger was about to ask before he was struck by a large blast of what he would assume while being in agonizing pain as a magic blast. Said blast sent in a few feet away until his little trip was halted by slamming into a tree.

‘Hello forest, my old friend,’ he was able to think while trying to endure the INTENSE PAIN he was in.

“Demi-Fiend!” the girls called out, it being the only name they knew to call him by.

“Appelbloom, you and your friends get back to Ponyville now,” a female voice ordered.

“But-”

“NOW!”

‘No, please don’t leave adorable children who can prove my innocence.’ Krieger snarked internally.

Cracking his eyes open Krieger was greeted to the site of a MASSIVE red man with messy orange hair. His green eyes glared at him as he cracked his knuckles. His rippling Muscles barely being contained in his red button shirt and blue jeans. His tail violently swayed behind him like a whip.

And standing behind him was a woman with light purple skin and a head of dark Purple Hair with lighter shades of purple highlighting the darker hair and even a streak of aquamarine hair as well. She was dressed in a simple gray shirt and a pair of jeans as well.

Said woman was also leading the kids away. Oh, joy that means he’s stuck with big red over here.

“This should be fun,” he muttered while trying to get up. Only to get punched back to the ground. “I don’t suppose saying I want to resolve this peacefully will change anything.”

“Nope,” the big man said as he picked up Krieger and threw him away from the forest. Most likely not wanting Krieger even thinking of running away.

‘That would have been a smart plan,’ said human thought as he used the distance to allow himself to get up. “Ok big guy I know what you might be thinking. Should I beat this guy or not? And the answer might surprise-!!!”

Whatever he was going to say was silenced one the red mountain of a man punched him in the face… again.

“Okay… fine. I’ve seen enough anime to know how this works… even if I’ve only seen one.” He made sure his nose wasn’t broken before cracking his neck. “Bring it, tough guy. I’ve dealt with worse than you.”

The man charged and threw a punch that Krieger just barely moved to the side to avoid. He then grabbed the man’s wrist and swiftly moved behind him, twisted the muscular man’s arm and pinning it to the small of his back before kicking the back on one of his legs and forcing him to one knee, much to the taller man’s surprise. Krieger then wrapped one arm around his neck and squeezed.

“Now you wanna listen to me, or should I wait until after you pass out?” Krieger asked as the man used his one free hand to try and pry his way out of the hold.

“... Nope!” the man managed to say before bringing himself up to a standing position, hopping up and leaning back to crush Krieger under his weight. Krieger let go and managed to push off the man’s back, getting away just in time before getting crushed, and then rolling backwards and then onto his feet.

“Okay, so you’re not a dumb brute,” he muttered. “Then I’ll wear you down first.” He charged as the other man took a boxer like stance, ready to respond. Krieger then surprised him with a dropkick, nailing the man in the chest. Even as he fell and prepared to land safely he was shocked to see the mountain of a man lift off the ground for a good second before falling on his back. ‘That’s right, I’m way more powerful than I was before. I need to hold back a little.’

Despite the devastating hit the red man managed to get back to his feet at the same time Krieger did, a grunt of pain and effort the only indication it had actually hurt. This time the man charged, his fists raised and sent out a quick jab. Krieger dodged and tried to grab it like before, only for the other man to spin away, then try and elbow him in the face with his other arm. Krieger ducked under, expecting something, before trying to give a chop to the neck. The hit landed at the same time the man punched down and hit him in the face, knocking him to the ground while the man stumbled back a bit, gasping for breath.

“Know your way around a fight, huh?” Krieger said, getting up as he wiped the blood from his nose.

“... Eeyup.” the man replied after a short moment to catch his breath. Krieger charged and this time the man sent out a kick, hitting the young man in the solar plexus. The attack winded him a bit, but he quickly recovered and took advantage of the outstretched leg. He grabbed the ankle tightly and pulled, causing the man to lose balance and fall, before quickly positioning himself on the ground, pinching the man’s knee with his legs and then pulling on the leg in a classic kneebar. The lack of an actual foot and toes made keeping it in place a little difficult, but he could feel the man groan in pain. He braced himself for retaliation and sure enough, the man tried punching him in the side and head, but the awkward position took a lot of the force out of his hits, and Krieger just pulled harder.

“Give up before I break it!” he warned.

“STOP! BOTH OF YA!” came a voice. Both of them turned to see Applebloom and the other girls running towards them, panic obviously on their faces. Krieger stopped pulling, and the man stopped fighting back. Then all of a sudden Krieger’s body was encased in some kind of seafoam colored aura and he was yanked off of the other man before being suspended in the air.

“Girls, I told you to run!” the other woman from before said, a similar aura radiating from around her horn and her outstretched hands.

“And I said you need to let me talk to those two!” the young girl said with a glare.

“I’m floating… how am I floating?” Krieger asked, still surprised.

“Magic remember,” Sweetie Belle answered. The answer reminded Krieger that he saw Sweetie Belle do something similar when she showed off her magic to him when they were walking through the woods.

“But this is on a whole other level,” the changed man gasped out as he tried to move to no avail. “Sweetie could only make a few rocks float!”

“It pays to be a magical prodigy,” said the woman as she glared at Krieger. “Starlight Glimmer is the name, now who are you and what were you doing with the CMC?”

“CMC?” Krieger muttered. “What the heck is the CMC?”

“That be me and ma friends…,” Applebloom answered with a blush. “It means Cutie. Mark. Crusaders.”

“... Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Krieger snarked.

“Enough!” shouted Starlight as she brought Krieger closer to her. Face to face to the point their noses where touching as she glared into his eyes. “TELL ME WHO YOU ARE!”

“Um, okay miss… um-”

“Starlight Glimmer.”

“Right sorry. So, uh listen, my name’s Demi-Fiend… No, it’s not, but… Okay listen, I’m a human, I was just in San Diego at some convention when I met this kinda creepy guy that sold me some stuff, and then one of the things turned into a worm and burrowed its way into my eye, and then I woke up in some weird forest, and someone stole my shirt and now apparently I’ve got a horn growing out of the back of my neck and tattoos made of glowstick fluid and apparently magic is real and I fought off some small red demon things and for some reason I can’t say my own name and you guys are apparently not humans but ponies and honestly I don’t know how I got here and I’m kinda freaking out and I JUST REALIZED HOW CRAZY THIS ALL IS AND I REALLY, REALLY JUST WANT SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A DAMN EXPLANATION PLEASE GOD ALMIGHTY I JUST WANT SOME ANSWERS!”

You could hear a few crickets going off as the silence that followed Krieger’s little rant was getting too uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry. I just… I think that had been building up for a while.”

“... ok, it seems you girls brought a crazy demon into our town,” Starlight stated with a flat look.

“Yeah, well… he’s a nice crazy demon.” Sweetie Belle noted.

“And he can fight!” Scootaloo shouted her tiny wings flapping in excitement. “I mean HE BEAT BIG MAC!”

“Nope.” The man, apparently named Big Mac, crossed his arms and huffed, not conceding to the loss.

“Big Mac?” Krieger muttered as he looked towards said pony. “Yeah…, that name fits.”

“And the best part is that he said he would help us!” Applebloom cheered. “We have a demon on our side!”

“Not a demon!” shouted said demon in denial.

“Girls,” Starlight sighed out. “You can’t trust a demon, no matter how friendly he might be, he’s too dangerous to be around.”

“Says the pony who put the timeline in danger HOW many times?” Sweetie Belle asked with a raised brow.

“... That’s low.”

“Or used her magic to force better outcomes,” Applebloom added in. “Like messing with ma brother’s way of speaking?”

“Girls, I’m warning you.”

“Big Mac couldn’t talk in his normal voice for weeks!” Scootaloo yelled.

“Eeyup,” the pony in question said in agreement as he rubbed his throat. His throat was sore for a week after the spell wore off.

“OKAY, FINE! Yes, I screwed up a few times…” the other raised their brows at her. “SEVERAL times. But that does not make my concerns any less legitimate!”

“Excuse me? Could I interject?” Krieger spoke up.

“No,” Starlight said before going back to arguing with the CMC.

Letting out a sigh Krieger looked at Big Mac. “Is she always like this?”

“When she’s nervous,” he shrugged.

“... Wow, you say things other than Yep and Nope?”

“Eeyup.”

“Ok that one was on purpose,” Krieger said with a glare as the two males went back to watch the argument between the ladies.

“And finally!” Starlight said to the CMC. “You’re all not ready to look after another living being.”

“But starlight~!” the CMC cried out while giving the older woman teary looks.

“Don’t Starlight me!” shouted the mare.

“But we promise to take care of him!” Scootaloo cried.

“We’ll make sure he’s well behaved,” Applebloom added in.

“Are… are they comparing me to a dog?” Krieger muttered.

“Eeyup.”

“... Now I see why she used magic to get you to talk.” the demon/human muttered as he went back to watching this shit show.

“And we promise to take him out for walks too!” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. “We’ll even put a leash on him.”

“SAY WHAT NOW!” cried the man in question as he looked mortified at the thought of being on a leash.

Looking at the three girls Starlight tried to keep a stony appearance but just looking at the pleading looks of the CMC broke the older woman’s resolve.

“... Fine,” sighed out Starlight as she let Krieger go from her magic. Letting him fall face-first into the ground.

“Ow…” the older redhead said with a face full of dirt.

“But!” Starlight said as she pointed at the girls. “He stays away from the main part of town, AND he can only come into said part with me or Big Mac escorting him, and he needs to wear a cloak as to not freak everyone out.”

“Yay!” cried the CMC as they rushed passed Starlight and helped Kriger off the ground.

“Also while the whole story with you not being unable to say your real name might be true, I believe it would be easier if you responded by the name you CAN say.” Starlight instructed.

“... Call me Demi-Fiend then,” he sighed, defeated.

“... that’s a villain name if I ever heard one,” Big Mac said with a flat look.

“I suppose I should be glad I wasn’t stuck saying Mr. Baron von EvilSatan then,” Krieger snarked while also telling himself to start calling himself Demi-Fiend for now.

“I guess you’re right,” Starlight said with a small smile. “But for now I think we should head inside, the others will wonder what happened and Big Mac will need to sneak you to his farm.”

Letting out a sigh said pony started making his way towards the graveyard while gesturing for Kriger to follow. Said human now demon quickly did just that while waving bye to the CMC.

The two men walked through the graveyard all the while Big Mac questioned the demon in his company.

“So be honest with me, Why do ya wanna help?” Big Mac asked, still eyeing him suspiciously.

“... Look, I don’t know why I’m here, and I definitely want to get back. But when I see someone in trouble, I help them. It’s what I do, and it’s how I was raised.”

“... Hm,” he replied with a grunt that ALMOST sounded like approval. “Welp we’re getting close to the farm if we hurry we can both get some sleep.”

“Sleep sounds good,” sighed out Krieger. “I just want this… night? Yeah, let’s go with night. I just want this night to end.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said with a nod. “Let’s hurry then Demi-Fiend.”

“... Gonna have to get used to being called that,” the now newly named Demi-Fiend muttered.

‘Well, at least things should be calm for a while,’ Demi-Fiend thought with a smile as he spotted the nice-looking farmhouse with a large acre of apple trees in the distance.

All the while not noticing the small glowing light watching him from on top of one of the apple trees.

“Teehee~!” giggled the small creature as it spread it’s fairy-like wings and flew down so it could follow its fellow demon from a safe distance.

“This is going to be fun~!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter end. Next time: tricky Pixy!

Thanks to ShinigamiSparda for the awesome fight scene yet again!