Fiend of a Doomed world.

The sun rises to greet the new day… the hellish, bleak, and miserable new day. As the morning sun is able to pierce through the dark clouds to give the people of Ponyville some degree of comfort, there was one person who wasn’t appreciating its effort to light everyone’s day.

“Why does the sun wake me even in this new world,” muttered Demi-Fiend as he placed a pillow over his face as he tried to get back to sleep. Ignoring the sun’s rays as they seem to be extra focus to shine through his room’s window.

“None a’ that,” came a deep voice, wrenching the pillow out of his hands. He looked up to see a familiar, stoic face.

“Oh, hey Big Red. How long you been up?”

“Three hours. You’ve rested enough.”

Shocked from the hearing that tidbit Demi-Fiend. “... what time is it?” the human turned demon asked as he got up while trying to get the sleep from his eyes.

“‘Bout a bit past 6.”

“Why in the world have you been up for so long?”

“It’s the farmer’s life,” Big Mac said with a shrug as he walked out of the room while muttered about city folk.

Grumbling from being woke up the Demi-Fiend got up and stretched to get the kinks out before getting down to both knees and started to pray.

“Lord, I don’t know why I’m here, but please look after me as I help these people and give me the strength to make it through this and find a way home,” he prayed as he got up and made his way downstairs.

As he walked downstairs he soon heard some noise coming from the kitchen. Curious, he decided to indulge in some good old eavesdropping.

“Ah’m hungry,” muttered the voice of Apple Bloom as the sounds of rummaging could be heard.

“Aren’t we all,” the dry tone of Scootaloo soon followed.

“Well Ah don’t see you doing anything to help,” Apple Bloom snap as a sound of pots and pans falling was soon heard and a few panic yelps soon followed.

Wincing at the sound of the poor cooking tools being abused, the Demi-Fiend decided to make his way into the kitchen, were the site of pots and pans lining the floor and a few apples as well. And the CMC staring wide-eyed at the new person in the kitchen.

“Please tell me this doesn’t happen every day,” he asked.

“Uh…” they all trailed off.

“Lord, give me strength,” he muttered.

Letting out a sigh, the red-haired demon started picking up the scattered pots and pans while the CMC helped by picking up the scattered apples.

“So,” he began as he started to put all the pots and pans back in place. “Why did you decide to make the kitchen look like a war zone? Did the pots and pans do something to offend you?”

This earned him a few pouts that only made him chuckle. Grumbling Apple Bloom soon answered. “We were just trying to make something to eat.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo butted in. “We missed dinner last night when we were out looking for stuff to help out the town.”

“Told you we should have brought some apples with us,” Sweetie Belle said with an, “I told you so” tone.

Ignoring her friends, Apple Bloom continued. “So I was going to make something but…”

“We suck at cooking,” Scootaloo finished with a sigh.

“And we’re still hungry,” Sweetie Belle whined. All three girls’ stomachs all decided to let out a few grumbles to drive their point through.

A sweatdrop ran down the back of the Demi-Fiend as he let out a strained chuckle. “I see…, so why not ask Big Mac or even that Starlight woman? She might be willing to make you something to eat.”

“Big Mac is working the farm,” Apple Bloom sighed out. “He gets up early to make sure the town has food and he doesn’t bother to cook, because a few apples are good enough for him.”

“And starlight is busy keeping the town from falling apart while Twilight is out trying to get help from any one of the other kingdoms,” Sweetie Belle added while letting out a sigh.

Seeing the three looking down sparked an inner fire in Demi-Fiend, Jeanne would always tell him it was his need to be a big brother kicking in that made him want to help any sad children, and right now it was kicking in.

“Well how about I make you something to eat?” he asked. Much to the surprise of the CMC.

“Really?” Apple Bloom asked with a raised brow.

“You can cook?” Scootaloo asked, doubt showing in her voice.

“Hey!” Demi-Fiend asked with a raised brow. “What’s with those looks?”

“Sorry, it’s just,” Sweetie Belle muttered. “You don’t look like the kind of person who cooks.”

He scoffed and grabbed a nearby apron hanging by the oven, one of the frilliest, pinkest, girliest things he’d ever seen, and put it on. Once he was finished tying it he grinned. “Better?” he asked sarcastically.

The three girls could only stare at him before they burst into roars of laughter.

“Oh my Celestia!” cried out Scootaloo. “Why would you WEAR THAT!?”

“My tummy is starting to hurt!” Sweetie Belle said between bouts of laughter.

“And ah thought Spike wearing that was funny!” Apple Bloom said as tears of laughter spilled down her face.

Smiling at his handy work the Demi-Fiend quickly guided the laughing children out of the kitchen as he did what he did best back home… well besides busting the heads of morons that messed with his friends.

“Let’s get to work,” Demi-Fiend said as he got to work.

He started off with a quick scan of the supplies available, checking the drawers for utensils, cabinets for a better idea of what pots and pans they had, as well as the cabinets and pantries for spices and other ingredients. As he was tallying off what was and wasn’t there the recipe options began to fall into place. The stove was gas, as was the oven, but the refrigerator looked modern enough. He opened it up and found the all-important eggs, but noticed something missing.

“Hey, Apple Bloom? Do you keep the bacon somewhere else?” he asked. He figured if it wasn’t there they probably were out, but it didn’t hurt to ask.

“What’s bacon?” she called back.

His brain stopped for a moment to process what he’d just heard. ‘Doesn’t know what bacon is… All of them are ‘ponies’... Ponies are herbivores… they appear to be the dominant sapient species on this world…’ He inhaled sharply, trying to calm himself. ‘Lord, am I not being tested enough as it is?’

“Never mind,” he called back.

He grabbed the milk, and a stick of butter and set them out on the counter before grabbing a well worn cast iron skillet and setting it next to the other ingredients. He grabbed the white sugar from the cabinets, flour from the pantry along with some baking powder.

‘This should work.’ He nodded and checked the drawers again, pulling out a match. ‘Good thing I know how to work with the old stuff.’ He opened the oven, turned on the gas, and lit the burner with the match before letting it heat up.

While the oven was heating up for him to use the top part the Demi-Fiend grabbed the mixing bowl and poured in the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. He then began to mix it together before adding the milk and some of the butter he had sitting near the stove so it would be melted enough to mix easily into the batter. After that was done he went to check if the stove was warm enough. Seeing that it was the Demi Fiend went to grab the pan but noticed a bag of chocolate chips on the counter.

‘That should go nicely,’ he thought as he grabbed the bag and poured its contents into the mixing bowl, and started to mix the new ingredient together all the while whistling a small tune he heard from one of the older nuns back home.

(play: 1933 Ted Weems - The Old Kitchen Kettle)

After mixing that for the second time the Demi-Fiend went to the stove and placed the black iron skillet on top and placed some butter and allowed it to melt. Soon he poured some of the batter mix into the skillet.

After a moment of flipping, the red-haired demon slowly made multiple stacks of pancakes… maybe too many in fact.

‘Maybe I went a little overboard,’ the red-headed demon thought with a sweat drop as he stared at the large stack of pancakes. ‘Oh well, farmers have big appetites right?’

Looking around he grimaced when he saw the mess he made.

“Better clean up before the pancakes get cold,” Demi-Fiend muttered as rushed around the kitchen putting away the ingredients and putting the bowls and skillet into the sink to be cleaned later.

As soon as that was done, he soon started stacking a few pancakes onto some plates.

“I don’t have any whipped cream or smaller fruit, but at least we have butter and syrup,” he said as he poured the sacred sap of breakfast goodness on each stack of pancakes.

Looking over his handy work the apron-wearing demon decided to take them all in one trip, holding the plates in his hands as well as balancing them on his forearms putting his new strength to good use. He then made his way to the door by walking backward as to use his back to move the door open. As soon as he made it through, he quickly turned around with a big smile.

“Breakfast is ready!” he cheered. Though he was surprised to see someone else in the living room with the kids.

“... Well, clearly I’m not getting enough sleep, because there’s no way I’m actually seeing something this ridiculous today.” the woman from before, Starlight, noted in a deadpan voice.

“Don’t know what your talking about,” Demi-Fiend said as he started handing out pancakes to everyone in the room, even giving Starlight the plate of flapjacks he was going to eat. “Nothing strange about making some food for some hungry kids.”

“... You know what? Fine. Embrace the crazy, that what I had to learn living here, even before everything went really insane.” she sighed and sat down. After a moment she looked at the meal and her horn lit up, and aura covering all of the other pancakes for a moment.

“... What are you doing?”

“Making sure you didn’t lace them with a mind control serum or something.”

“Why in God’s name would I do that?” Demi-Fiend asked with a hint of hurt in his voice.

“Because you’re a demon.”

“And you apparently mind raped people before, but here I am not on guard around you,” he pointed out with a hint of venom lacing his words. Mentally counting down from ten to keep his temper under control.

Starlight puffed her cheeks out in an offended huff, but stopped her magic all the same. “Never gonna live that down…” she muttered, before grabbing her utensils and digging in.

The three kids did the same and they all moaned in delight after the first bite. Demi-Fiend smiled and went at his own, enjoying it for a bit, before he heard sniffling. He stopped to see the girls were struggling to hold back tears.

“What’s wrong?” he and Starlight asked in concern at the same time, catching the woman a bit by surprise.

“This tastes like how granny used to make them,” sniffed out Apple Bloom as she took another bite.

“Also like my mom when she was ever home with dad after a job at a dig site,” Scootaloo said between bites as tears ran down her face.

‘Oh man.’ He thought. He’d never been the best at comforting people, his big size and scary features intimidating features being off-putting. He’d mostly just been the bouncer for those around him, scaring or fighting off those who meant to do harm. ‘Jeanne, how would you handle this?’

(flashback)

“H-hey now,” Krieger said in a panic as a small child was crying in front of him both were at the park near the church and this child was one of the newest orphaned to come to their orphanage. “Come on little buddy! No need to cry, it was just a balloon!”

The small child just cried harder as he pointed at Krieger. “Scary man!”

Hearing this made him wince. ‘Damn my scary looks…’

As the scene continued to play out a soft humming could be heard.

Walking towards them was a young woman in a nun outfit as she made her way towards the two a soft smile on her face and a pure kindness dancing in her eyes. Her eyes were bright blue, bits of her blonde hair peeking out from under her habit.

“Now now,” the girl said. her voice sounding like the soft chimes of small bells. “Why is there so much crying? This is a park, laughter is what should be filling the air.”

“S-Scary man,” the boy whimpered again, hiding behind her and away from him.

“Oh, don’t you worry about him. He’s just a clumsy teddy bear, that’s all.” she chuckled.

“Yeah!” Krieger said with a smile. Though this just scared the kid even more. “Dammit…”

“Now, now,” the nun said with a smile. “No need to be down, now tell big sister Jeane what’s wrong.”

“Sniff… my balloon was popped by some mean men,” the boy whimpered. “It was given to me by the nice preacher and now it’s gone.”

“And where were you Krieger?” asked Jeane asked with a raised brow. Not in an accusing tone, more in confusion. She knew Krieger would never let a kid get harmed in any way if he was around.

“I was getting the kid some ice cream from the vendor over there,” the redhead said as he pointed to a spot lacking any such vendor. “And he ran off from all the commotion… with the money, I gave him too..., great.”

“Well that won’t do at all,” Jeane said with a soft sigh as she embraced the young kid while humming a soft song. After a while, the small boy calmed down. “Better?’

Nodding the small child gave Jeane a smile before running towards the church.

“Jeeze, Jeanne. Wish I could do that.” Krieger sighed.

“Might be easier without the hair dye,” she noted.

“No way. Gotta remind you of your short-lived hairstylist career.” he joked back.

This earned him a small jab to the ribs from a pouting Jeane who gave him a flat look.

“Don’t remind me of that,” the young nun muttered with a half-hearted glare.

“Why? You seem so proud of it when you did it,” Krieger laughed. “Though I’m happy the good Father kept you from adding sparkles.”

This earned him a few more jabs but it didn’t stop him from laughing.

“Joking aside, that was still amazing Jeane,” Krieger praised with a small smile. “You were always the best when it came to making people feel better.”

“Yeah, well, I think it’s time for your specialty now. After all, we can’t have a group of troublemakers picking on the children, now can we?” she said with a slightly playful grin.

“Yeah,” Krieger said with a more vicious grin. “Besides they owe us ice-cream.”

Later that day Krieger would come back with enough Ice cream for all the kids back at the orphanage and the police somewhere in town would wonder why some thugs were beaten and covered ice cream.

(flash back end)

‘Well… Might as well give it a shot.’ He got up out of his seat walked over to the girls, ignoring the suspicious look he was getting from Starlight. He put a hand on Apple Bloom’s shoulder and began to whistle.

(play Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bob Marley)

“Sniff,” Sweety Belle looked towards Demi-Fiend while wiping away her tears. What are you doing?”

Stopping from his little whistle session Demi-Fiend gave them a sheepish smile. “Just trying to cheer you three up…, did it work?”

They stared at him for a bit, then Scootaloo started to chuckle. “You really are such a dork.”

“Hey!” said dork shouted comically.

The other girls all laughed at his expense, making him blush and pout a bit in embarrassment.

“... Thanks.” Apple Bloom said with a smile.

He smiled back. “You’re welcome. Now finish it before it gets cold.” Everyone went back to eating. “So, what’s on the schedule for today?” he asked Starlight.

“Well while Big Mac is busy at the field I’m going to have you accompany me as I make my morning rounds around town.

“You sure about that? Demi-Fiend asked with a raised brow. “I don’t want to freak out the locals.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Starlight said as she pulled a long cloak from behind her.., somehow.

“... So, is that magic too, or were you hiding that under your shirt?” he asked, still looking dumbfounded.

“You learn a few things when you have a friend who is a master of sleight of hand,” she smirked. “Now finish eating so we can go,” she said before casually tossing it at him.

“Fine just let me get some pancakes for myself,” The Demi-Fiendsaid as he went to the kitchen to get some leftover pancakes. but once he went through the door he noticed all the pancakes were gone not a single crumb was left much to his shock there were at least three stacks left!

“What the heck? I didn't even get to eat anything,” The redhead ground as he tried to find any scrap of food. sadly there was nothing left, much to his annoyance.

“Maybe Big Mac ate them,” Apple Bloom said as she and the other CMC ran into the kitchen to put away their dishes. If he ever gets hungry while working he sometimes just comes into the kitchen and eats whatever the first thing he sees.”

“Well I’m glad he liked it, I guess,” he sulked. “I guess I could just have a few apples.”

“Make it one,” Starlight said with a sigh. “I’m late on my rounds and I need to make sure everything is in order.”

“Fine,” Demi-Fiend sighed out as he grabbed an apple that was handed to him by Apple Bloom. Taken a bite he gave the apple a look over. “Hmmm pretty good.”

“Hurry up!” Starlight shouted already out the door.

“I heard you already!” Demi-Fiend yelled back, scarfing down the rest and grabbing the cloak and putting in on, pulling up the hood before walking out with her.

No one noticed a small figure sitting on the old clock on the wall of the kitchen.

“Tee-hee, that was tasty,” said the small figure as she flew out the kitchen window and over the house itself to spy on her object of interest.

Walking outside the red-headed demon started walking beside he Starlight “So, what’s first?”

“First you need to keep your distance and keep silent,” the unicorn girl said as they made their way into the outskirts of town

“And what if they ask who I am or try to talk to me? Got a story for that at least? Kinda doubt you want to announce there’s a demon walking around.”

“So you admit that’s what you are?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure what I am now,” he muttered with some self-doubt before putting on a brave face. “but I know I’m still me where it counts. A human”

“If you say so,” Starlight muttered. Still not believing his story. “Just behave and you stay until you find somewhere else to go.”

“How sweet of you,” Demi-Fiend muttered as they made it into town. “So let’s see what.. We’re… dealing with,”

“Oh my god,” he said as he stared at what he saw.

Even having seen it from afar, the state of the town was even more terrible up close. The houses that once looked like they were almost like they were from a children’s fairy tale were cracked and broken, hastily rebuild with whatever could be found. Ill-fitting planks of wood replacing missing doors, tarps covering the holes in thatch roofs, and windows securely boarded up. One building literally looked like a gingerbread house, somehow made to be more intimidating with giant fake wooden candy canes sharpened into pikes for protection against possible raids.

“Yeah,” Starlight said in a hollow tone. “This place used to be so cheery, now? Now the Everfree Forest would be a more welcoming place to stay.”

Demi-Fiend said nothing as they walked, taking in more of what he saw. Few ponies walked the streets, and most that did were armed, wearing grim expressions on their faces. The few that weren’t were either carrying out some kind of task like building or carrying supplies, and a scant few were hurriedly trying to walk, probably to get back home. They were all either outright afraid, depressed, or using their anger to cover up their other emotions.

“Jesus,” Demi-Fiend muttered as he watched the depressing scene in front of him while Starlight talk to a few ponies about how everything was coming along.

“Not good boss,” said a REALLY buff man with pure white skin and golden hair in a buzz cut style and wings way too small to carry him into the air. “We could get any food from the abandoned farms, too many demons, and the other party couldn’t get any were near Canterlot top find anything of use, too many demons between us and there.”

“Wonderful,” Starlight growled out in anger. “What about the wall? Is it at least fixed?”

“If you can call it that,” muttered a man with swept back hair and wearing a ratty but still fancy suit. “It will hold up against the small fries but if a big guy shows up we’re doomed.”

‘It will have to do,” the horned women said with a sigh. “We might need to risk sending some people out to chop some trees for wood.”

“Speaking of guys boss,” the buff guy said while looking at his boss’s cloaked companion. ‘Who’s that?”

“And please tell us he’s not staying,” the rich looking one said with a sigh. “We can’t afford more mouths to feed.”

“I know Filthy Rich, Starlight muttered. “But you and Bulk don’t have to worry. He’s someone who volunteered to help and I intend to cash in on the promise.”

“You sure he’ll be any use?” asked Filthy Rich. he looked towards the cloaked man as if he was some object worth keeping in stock.

Demi-Fiend moved to respond, but caught himself when he saw Starlight shoot him a glare.

“Don’t worry about how useful he is,” the unicorn said. “He’s going to help us with some skills he has and I’ll make sure he takes care of some problems.”

“Looks like you got him on a tight leash,” commented Bulk. “Why’s that? If he’s here to help then he’s ok in my book.”

“Agreed,” sighed out Filthy Rich,” but only if you keep him from causing trouble.”

“Don’t worry,” Starlight said with a hard look pointed at Filthy Rich. “He won’t do anything without my say so.”

Letting out a dry laugh Filthy gave her a mocking look. “Ya, I can tell.”

Confused Starlight looked behind her to see her companion nowhere to be seen.

“..., he’s dead,” Starlight muttered with a flat look on her face.

Where did that moron go?

(at the center of town)

“Thank you again for lending a hand kind sir,” said a woman with the wavy and styled grey hair, dressed in a fancy brown business suit with a green cravat, both having seen better days. “It was quite hard to carry all these cleaning supplies before you showed up.”

“No problem,” Demi-Fiend said with a smile hidden under his hood. He was currently carrying a wooden box filled with some cleaning supplies. “I just couldn’t just stand by and watch a young lady carry all this stuff now could I?”

“Oh my,” the woman said with a bit of pink dusting her tan skin. She adjusted her glasses before giggling out. “You’re quite the flatterer. Making me blush like a schoolgirl.”

“Huh?” was the intelligent response from Demi-Fiend. Only to get more giggling from the older woman who just gave him a wink and continued walking ahead of him with extra sway to her step.

Demi-Fiend had to keep his eyes from looking down as he kept muttering about the temptations of the flesh.

It was only a few more minutes of walking until they made it to the spot the lady needed to be, and the sight made Demi Fiend nearly drop the box in his arms.

In front of him stood a massive stone monument, about a foot taller than he was. Carved into the front was a symbol of a brilliant sun over a crown, framed by two wings. Even without reading what was on it, he could tell this was a somber memorial, what with being shaped like a tombstone. He looked to read the inscription and felt a knot well-up in his throat.

Beloved Princess Celestia
Gave her Everything for Us to her Last Breath
May We Be the Kind of Ponies She Always Believed We Could Be

He looked upon the massive tombstone for a few more minutes until he started hearing someone crying. Looking down he could see the woman that he escorted to the area on her knees praying with tears running down her face.

“Oh, dear Celestia,” the woman said, her voice cracking as she held back a sob. Her tears still ran down her face freely as her hands trembled still firmly grasp in prayer. “If only you were still here your subjects miss you and Twilight is trying her best to keep us all together. Well, I can see that the stress is getting to the poor dear, along with her friends.”

“I'm not from around here,” Demi fiend said as he put a comforting hand on the crying woman’s shoulder. “Was this Celestia important to you all?”

Holding back a sob the older woman wiped the tears away from her face while giving the red-headed man a nod. “She was our ruler. She helped to safeguard us and lead us to peace and happiness, and when the demons and tore down her castle she still led her army to defend us, and when the time came when the Great Demon was about to kill us all she... she gave her own to save us to the very end. She still loved us more than herself no matter what it cost she gave it so that we may live.”

Not being able to hold back anymore the woman turned around and hugged the Demi-Fiend, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and she cried. Needing something desperately to hold onto as she wailed in agony the loss of a beloved ruler and of all the lives that were lost because of this tragedy.

The Demi-Fiend could only remnants as he slowly patted the woman's back as she sobbed on his shoulder. Looking around he had to hold back a frown as he saw other ponies just walk by ignoring one of their own in such distress. More than likely they all were just too tired and broken at this point.

“And we don’t know where Luna is,” the crying women muttered. “She left as soon as her sister died fending off the powerful demon.”

Again Demi-Fiend said nothing as he continued to comfort the sadden mare.

Luckily he wouldn’t be doing it alone.

“Mayor Mare?” said a male voice. Turning slightly towards the voice. Demi-Fiend saw a man in ratty clothes. He had pure white skin and long blond hair that was pretty dirty from living in such conditions. He was a unicorn and his blue eyes held worry as he looked towards the now named Mayor Mare. “Are you ok?”

Letting out a small sniff as she parted from Demi-Fiend, the gray-haired woman gave a small smile towards the worried newcomer.

“It’s ok Blue Blood.” Mayor Mare said as she wiped away her tears as the now named Blue Blood walked towards the two.

“You sure?” he asked. “It’s hard for everyone when cleaning duty for… Aunty’s grave is needed.”

“Aunty?” DF (short for Demi-Fiend) asked with a raised brow. This ended up getting Blue Blood’s attention. Though DF could guess that the male unicorn must of forgotten about him while trying to make sure Mayor Mare was ok.

Jumping a little, Blue Blood looked towards the cloaked figure that Mayor Mare was hugging.

‘How did I forget someone THAT tall was here?’ Blue Blood thought before calming his racing heart. After a sec the male unicorn was able to calm down, he then gave the stranger a smile as he held out his hand.

“Hello!” the stallion said. “The names Blue Blood,I must thank you for helping out Miss Mare.”

“Someone had too,” DF said as he shook hands with the stallion.

“Still, thank you for that,” Blue Blood said with a smile. “Kindness like that is rare in these times.”

“I can tell,” DF muttered as he saw that still, no one bothered to even look in their direction.

“Please don’t blame them. They’ve suffered so much, it’s honestly a miracle they can even keep going. Honestly, I think this is the only option they have left to avoid breaking down entirely,” Mayor Mare said sadly.

“Agreed,” Blue Blood said with a nod. “Aunty was well-loved amongst her people. Losing her was a harsh blow.”

“That reminds me,” DF said with a raised brow. “Why are you calling the kingdom’s ruler Aunty?”

“Oh?” the stallion said with a surprised look. “You must not know, well no matter I’ll answer your question. You see Celestia was my adoptive Aunt.”

“Really?” DF said in confusion. “Didn’t know a Princess would do that.”

“Aunty was amazing like that,” Blue Blood said with a sad smile. “My parents were former nobles but they passed away from illness. So Aunty adopted me because I had no family to go to.”

“Huh,” DF said with a smile hidden under his hood. The red-headed demon looked towards the tombstone with newfound respect. “She sounds like a great leader.”

“A-HEM!” came an exaggerated, and thoroughly angry cough. DF turned to see and angry Starlight Glimmer, her arms folded and her foot tapping as she glared at him. “Well… have fun touring the town?”

“Oh… hey Starlight,” Demi-Fiend said with a forced smile as he laughed nervously. “You done with your business?”

“You are my business,” she seethed at him. “Thanks for making me look like a fool in front of Bulk and Rich, by the way.”

‘Ah… so that’s their names,” DF said trying to change the subject. “They seem nice! Bet they work hard and might need help! You know what I should help them!”

“No need. They’re both quite done for the day. Just like you,” she glared daggers at him, seeming to try and burn him to ash with her gaze.

“Um… If I may?” Mayor Mare nervously butts in.

“What?” Starlight asked with a fake smile that would have fitted one of her victims from her days as a villain. “Do you NEED something from this moron?”
“Starlight, I understand your job is quite stressful, but this young stallion here only came to help me carry some heavy supplies. He’s been nothing but courteous and helpful. I know you’re under a lot of pressure trying to keep things running, but there’s no need to be so cross with him,” Mayor Mare replied in a professional tone.

“Yes!” Blue Blood agreed. “He seems like a nice stallion for how he helped Mayor Mare.”

Starlight hesitated for a moment before clearing her throat, her expression a little softer but still stern. “I apologize. I didn’t know you were off helping somepony else. Still, you’re a newcomer and, I don’t exactly trust you just yet. So if you’re going to go do this kind of thing, at least let me know instead of disappearing, would you?”

“Uh… sure,” Demi-Fiend said. Feeling a little guilty for stressing her out. “I’ll do that but please, can you just loosen the leash a little?”

“Leash?” Blue Blood said with a raised brow.

“Oh my,” Mayor Mare gasped out with a blush. “I didn’t know you had doing THAT for you.”

“Huh?” DF said with a tilt of his head. Wondering what Mayor Mare was talking about. All he was asking was for Starlight to be a little more lenient with her watching over him.

“N-Not like-! That’s not-!” she stammered.

“Though I can’t blame you,” the older mare said with a thoughtful look. “You have been under a lot of stress lately, and I can tell with how he talks to a mare, he could be useful in relieving a lot of that pent of stress in you.”

This little jab was finally blunt enough for Demi-Fiend to understand, his face not as flushed red as Starlight’s. It seems Blue Blood caught on too but unlike them, he was laughing.

Also was it just him or was there another person laughing? It was hard to tell, whoever it was sounded pretty small.

“J-Just come on already!” Starlight growled, grabbing Demi-Fiend by the collar and practically choking him as she dragged him away.

“Don’t be too rough with him~!” Mayor Mare laughed. “I know you need to relief but don’t wear the poor boy out!”

This just made the younger mare let out a frustrated yell as she stormed off with a stammering Demi-Fiend. This scene caused a few of the villagers to look at the crazy scene. Some would just sigh and go back to their self-pity, while others would actually laugh.

“You’re awful,” Blue Blood laughed along with Mayor Mare as said mare went and started cleaning around the tombstone.

“True,” Mayor Mare said between giggles. “But I think we all needed a laugh.”

“I can’t argue there,” Blue Blood said as he noticed a little bit of life shining in the villagers who were laughing at the angry unicorn and cloaked stallion. “Though I feel bad for the newcomer. I didn’t even catch his name.”

“Me ether,” Mayor Mare said as she finished picking the weeds around the tombstone, and started to grab a rage and started wiping away some dust and dirt from it. “I was just so happy someone was willing to help, It just slipped my mind.”

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. We’ll find out next time. After all, somepony who helps others without a second thought is the kind of pony you cross paths with quite a bit,” he noted as he helped her clean the gravestone. “Isn’t that right, Aunty?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~( back with DF and Starlight)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Um… I’m-”

“Shut it,” Starlight cut him off she stomped ahead of him.

“But I-”

“Zip. It.” she seethed.

“... Sorry.” he managed to say meekly.

She stopped and sighed. “Look, I want to be wrong about you, alright. I really do. Everypony here needs something to lift their spirits and the idea of some…creature helping us would be nice. But I am not going to let that hope leave us vulnerable. You want my trust, you better damn well be ready to work yourself to earn it.”

“... Okay,” he said simply. ‘This is another trial from the Lord, and I will rise to meet it.’

As the two kept walking, with Starlight leading the charge, DF noticed a small light flying down from the sky.

‘What the?” DF said quietly as he saw the light come near him until he could make out a figure from the light. Soon the light died down and he gasped at what he saw.

Floating in front of him was a small woman! But not any woman but what looked like a fairy! She had short and wavy auburn colored hair, orange eyes, and insect like wings. She wore a blue one piece leotard with blue arm length gloves and blue thigh high stockings.

The fairy looked at him with a small smile as it enjoyed his surprised look, but soon it’s smile became more impish as she floated towards Starlight. Said mare was completely oblivious to what was going on behind her.

“Umm Starlight?” DF called out as he watched the small fairy like creature get closer to the mare.

“I said be quiet,” the Mare said. Not even looking at DF as she kept walking.

“But Starlight!” the red-head cried out as he saw the Fairy started floating towards Starlight’s…, Rear?

Blushing, DF watched as the Fairy float close to Starlight’s rear, Giving the young demon a devious look the Fairy reared back one of her arms, and with one mighty swing she SMACKED Starlights ass with enough force to cause a cracking sound to be heard.

“Eep!” Starlight gasped, then froze as the fairy quickly dashed away. The mare then slowly turned her head to look at her ward, eyes burning in fury as her lip quivered in a scowl.

“... Lord, protect me,” he muttered before he saw her horn light up. The next thing he knew his head was repeatedly slamming itself into the ground hard enough to leave an imprint of his face. This stopped after a few times, only for him to hear the enraged scream of one very angry mare as she tackled him to the ground.

Laughing at the two the small demon floated up to stay out of view of the mortal that was now tackling the cloaked demon she had been watching ever since he got to this world. Though her merriment was cut short as she sensed a large amount of demon energy to the west.

“Well…,” the small creature said as she looked towards the west. From the distance, she could see some smoke rising, and with her sharp hearing, she could hear the faint sounds of horns…

“Things are about to get hectic real soon.”

chapter end.

next time: bonds forged, bonds tested