Chapter 6

After demolishing a quarter of Ponyville and slaughtering all the Caribou and traitor males, I managed to capture the Caribou in charge of Ponyville since Lucifer insisted we take him back to the castle for interrogation. I’m flying back to Canterlot with my new crimson red wings and carrying an unconscious Caribou over my shoulder. Makes me sick to my stomach that this guy is on my person but I can’t just drop him, literally, regardless how much I want to see how much his body would splatter all over the ground.

I eventually make it back to Canterlot and touch down outside the gate. I was a little worried, only slightly worried more like, that the Caribou I was carrying would burst into flames once he passed the barrier but apparently he was just fine. Guess as long as they’re close to me they won’t be affected, gotta keep that in mind and be careful.

I pull over my hood and was about to retract my wings but I kinda liked how they looked so I decided to keep them. I walk past the gates through the streets of the city and as I’m walking through town, the ponies are starring at me with mixed expressions ranging from utter confusion to total shock. I ignore them as I make my way to the castle and I glance to my right and see my reflection again in the window.

Again, my face is completely covered in the shadow of my hood but my large crimson red wings make me look badass. I decided to get a little creative and activated my flames a little so there were small cinders running along my feathers. My wings had a little smoke trailing behind me and little embers floated in the air. I smirked at how even more badass my wings looked and made a mental note to use the appearance the next time I want to intimidate my enemies or when I want to make an important declaration. Although I probably could’ve waited to get creative since the ponies around me back away as I walk past them but again, I didn’t really care.

I make it to the castle and deactivate my flames and I see Flash and the other pony guard, if I remember his name was Onyx Shine, standing at he entrance and they spot me and go wide eyed. Onyx Shine grips his spear but Flash walks up to meet me halfway and he stares at me in awe and his eyes widen when he spots my wings.

“How’s it going, kid?,” I greet.

“Lock…you have wings!” He said.

“That I do, like them?” I ask as I spread my wings. They’re both over 8ft wide when at full length and Flash bobs his jaw up and down like a fish as he’s completely speechless at my wings.

“Careful kid, you’ll catch flies like that,” I chuckle.

“Oh man,” he said still starring at my wings, “those wings looks so awesome. How did you get them?” He asks.

“Eh, it’s part of my power so I decided to keep them,” I said

“Cool, by the way who’s that you’re carrying?” He asks gesturing to my passenger. Guess he couldn’t see who my hostage was since I was carrying him with his lower body facing Flash.

“I’ll show you, but try not to freak out,” I warn while also looking at Onyx. I turn my body to show them the Caribou’s face and the both gasp and Onyx glares at me.

“With all due respect, Mr. Lockdrom, but why the buck would you bring a Caribou into the walls of this city?!” He demands.

“Look I know what you’re thinking but there’s nothing to be worried about. As you can see he’s completely unconscious and the reason I brought him with me is because I need to ask him some questions,” I respond.

“Oh yeah? And what “questions” are those?” Onyx asks.

“That’s my business, bub, so do yourself a favor and mind your own,” I snort. Onyx gets annoyed and was about to say something else but Flash raises his hand and glances over his shoulder to him.

“Sergeant Onyx Shine stand down right now, that’s an order,” Flash demands. Onyx stares at Flash in shock but nods reluctantly and steps back.

“Mr. Lockdrom, I must also ask why you have brought a Caribou with you within the walls of Canterlot. I don’t mean to pester you about your business since it is your own, but this is merely a matter of security since everypony is on edge as of late,” Flash said.

Acting like a proper guard huh? Alright, I’ll play along, I think as I smirk under my hood.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, Lieutenant Flash Sentry, but I too must insist I keep what I do to myself. All I can tell you is there’s a looming question I’ve recently had and I believe this Caribou can provide the answers I seek. I request that you escort me to the dungeons so I can interrogate him properly,” I said in a respectful manner. Flash stares at me for a moment but smiles and nods at my respectful tone.

“Very well, Mr. Lockdrom, please follow me,” he said as he turns and gestures me to follow him.

“But sir, he has a Caribou with him! We can’t trust he’ll keep his word!” Onyx protests.

“You should know I just came back from liberating Ponyville from the Caribou just recently. It’s now nothing but empty streets and there’s free mares and shackled brainwashed stallions waiting to be picked up and brought here. I’d also like to report this to the Princesses so can you send a transport to go and pick them all up?,” I said as I look at him from the corner of my eye.

“I don’t take orders from you, demon…” he sneers.

“Sergeant, consider that your first warning. You may not like it but Mr. Lockdrom is right and he’s done more than enough to earn our trust. The sooner you realize that the better,” Flash snaps making Onyx shut up, “now go make sure a transport is sent to Ponyville as soon as possible. I don’t want those mares to be waiting any more than they already have.”

“Bu-I-he,” Onyx stutters but sighs and nods and walks in the other direction towards the train station and starts rallying guards along the way.

“Sorry about that,” Flash said, “Onyx means well, it’s just this whole invasion has got him on edge.”

“No harm, no foul,” I said as I follow Flash, “and he’s not the only one on edge so I can understand where he’s coming from.”

“Thanks, so where in the dungeons do you wanna interrogate that guy?” He asks.

“Take me to the deepest part of the dungeons, Flash, I’m gonna make him scream the answers I’m looking for,” I said with a dark smile under my hood.

“Uh, sure not problem,” he said nervously.

“Ooh, this is going to be very interesting,” Lucifer said as he appears and walks beside us.

I’m sitting on a chair with my arms crossed in front of a table and the Caribou I brought is shackled to a chair he’s sitting on across from me and is blindfolded. He’s still unconscious and is slumped over with his head hanging out and the only movement is his shallow breathing. So many ways I wanna torture this guy yet so little time to do it. I could rip out his antlers and gouge his eyes out with them, or I could boil his blood from the inside out and make it hotter the more he resists and watch him bloat up and explode drenching the room in blood and guts. There’s also the option of cutting off one chunk of flesh every minute that passes by and I’d purposely drag the interrogation on so I can keep cutting off chunks of flesh. So many ways, yet so little time…

“If you’re done fantasizing how you’d like to make this buck suffer, perhaps you would actually begin?” Lucifer said breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Sure, let’s get started,” I said and I reach over and place a hand on the Caribou’s chest. I concentrate on my hand and little sparks of electricity jump around my hand as I charge the electricity.

“Clear”

I pulse the electricity through his body and he jolts in his seat and takes a deep sharp breath. I lean back in my seat and cross my arms as he looks around frantically in a panic.

“What the? Where the buck am I? Why am I chained up?!” He shouts.

“Shut up…”

He snaps his head in the direction of my voice and immediately starts trembling. He tried to back away but the chair and chains prevent him from doing so.

“Wh-Wh-Who are y-y-you…?” He mutters.

“Someone you don’t want to piss off more than he already is. So if you want to keep those antlers of yours on your head and not somewhere less pleasant you’ll listen and only speak when told,” I order as my flames start to flicker from my body.

He notices the change in temperature and trembles more and nods slowly. I then lean up and grab his head and make a small incision on his shoulder making him yelp. I use my other hand to lift my finger over over the incision and a purple slimy substance oozes from my finger and a single drop drips into the small wound. The Caribou winces and I let go of him and lean back.

“What did you do to me?” He asks.

“I’ve given you a limited time to live, depending how well you cooperate. What I just did was infect you with a poison that will force you to tell the truth. Any time you lie or refuse to tell the truth, even in the slightest, the poison will eat away at your flesh and bone causing extreme pain and suffering. However if you do tell the truth, it will remain dormant in your system. So my advice, make sure you tell the truth,” I explain.

“You-you’re bluffing, there’s no poison like that! I’ll never talk!” He said with a new found confidence.

Though as soon as he says that the veins around his wounded shoulder start to show a sickly purple color and the Caribou starts to shake violently and scream in agony. A few minutes later, he stops screaming and the veins on his shoulder return to normal but he’s sweating profusely and there’s a little blood dripping from his mouth.

“Still think I’m bluffing?” I mock. “Now then first question, what is your name?” I ask. He tilts his head slightly but clears his throat to answer.

“K-Kol…” he wheezes. Kol flinches thinking he was gonna feel pain again but nothing happens.

“Ok, Kol, second question, where is King Dainn?” I ask.

“I-I don’t know…” Kol answers. I was expecting the pain to start but for some reason nothing happened.

“What do you mean you don’t know? Didn’t he come here with all his forces when he invaded?” I ask.

“Y-yes he did. When we invaded, he sent his battalions to the different corners of these lands to conquer. One massive army for each kingdom such as the Griffon, Diamond Dog, Minotaur, Dragon, Yak, Changeling, and Zebra kingdoms. Even the long thought hidden kingdom of the Hippogriffs,” he explains.

They found the Hippogriff kingdom? If I remember correctly back home, that kingdom shouldn’t have made an appearance by now or even be known until the movie, I think.

“It appears the Caribou are more resourceful than we expected,” Lucifer said as he appears beside me again. “Keep going.”

“Continue,” I said.

“A-after we invaded and Lord Dainn dispatched his armies, he set off on his own personal quest somewhere. I-I swear I don’t know what and he didn’t even join the army I was apart of when we went to conquer the Crystal Empire and Canterlot and any neighboring cities. When we took the Crystal Empire and changed the Crystal Heart to the glorious Crystal Cock, conquering the rest of the lands was easy since all the other males became cleansed from the tyranny of the slut Princesses,” Kol said.

I curled my hand in a fist and punched him hard across his muzzle as he fell on the floor. A few teeth flew out of mouth and there was a burn mark of my fist on the side of his muzzle since my hand was coated with flames.

“Just because you’re forced to tell the truth, bastard, does mean you can’t watch what you say. So unless you want to keep using that tongue and keep what’s left of your teeth, you’ll refrain from ever addressing the Princesses like that…” I sneer with enough venom to poison the very air he breaths. He whimpers and nods as I grab his chair and sit him up and sit back down.

“Dimitri, as much as I enjoy watching this wretch squirm, I believe it’s time we get to the point of this questioning,” Lucifer reminds me. I nod and face Kol as I try to calm myself.

“Now then, you say you don’t know where Dainn is, fine. But what I truly want to know is how?” I ask.

“H-how…?” He repeats.

“Yes, even for Dainn, the Dragon, Minotaur, and even the Yak kingdoms would have put up more of a fight against his forces. The Crystal Cock aside, I know they wouldn’t have been taken so easily. I’m even inclined to believe not even the Crystal Empire fell as easily as you claim, since I also know the Crystal Ponies weren’t affected by it the same way as you hoped.” I hypothesize. Kol starts to fidget nervously which means I’m right on the money.

“So, Kol, again I ask…” I said as I lean forward, “How did Dainn gain the power necessary to take Equestria and the other kingdoms?”

“I-I-I,” he stutters as the wound begins to grow purple veins again. He starts to panic as the the pain sets in and hyperventilates. “I-I don’t really know that either…” he answers.

Unfortunately for him he was lying and the veins spread along his shoulder and the rest of his body up to his face and he screams and convulses again. Blood starts to seep through his blindfold and down his face and he starts bleeding heavily from his nose and more from his mouth. Meanwhile I simply sit and watch his suffering with a blank expression as he continues to scream in utter agony.

“HIS OVERLORDS!!!” He cries and he starts to calm down.

“Overlords?” I repeat.

“He, cough wheeze L-Lord Dainn…had acquired…the assistance…of new overlords…who he bestowed…strange power to each. I don’t know…what he did…but it…was thanks to them…that we…were victorious…in our endeavors…” Kol said between bloody wheezes.

“Strange power? What do you mean?” I ask.

“I don’t know…much myself, since I’m merely…a stockade chief. It was…my task…to capture both Ponyville…and Canterlot…as was my…Overlords orders…” Kol said.

“Who is your Overlord?” I ask.

“I only…saw him once, right before…he left for…the Crystal Empire. He…along with…the others…was a Caribou. But, he was turned…into something…far more sinister…I could tell. The only name…I heard he went by…was Overlord Lust…”

Suddenly, three serrated spikes burst from his chest and he gasps for air only to choke and vomit blood and I stand up in shock. From behind him Lucifer appears and he looks beyond angry as he forcefully pulls his pitchfork out of his body and he falls to the floor.

“So, even here they dare challenge me…” Lucifer said with a dark echo in a haunting voice.

“What the hell, boss?! I had more questions to ask him!” I snap.

Lucifer looks at me as his red eyes glow brighter from the shadow of his hood and walks up to me until his face is mere inches from mine. I couldn’t help but tremble a little at how menacing he’s being right now, more so than usual. After a minute of him basically starring into my soul, he sighs and steps away and glances to the Caribou he just skewered.

“Clean this mess up and meet me outside the cell. We have much to discuss…” he said as he fades through the door.

I sigh and shake my head as I snap my fingers and sparks fall on the blood and Kol’s body and they all burn away. I turn towards the door and was about to open it but I glance behind me to the now ashy remains of Caribou named Kol.

“I almost was tempted to let you go, almost…” I sigh as I open the door and leave.

I was walking through the halls of the castle following Lucifer and we haven’t said anything since my interrogation with Kol. After Lucifer killed him, he said something about some people challenging him again and I’ve been wondering who it could be. I mean I kinda figured he’d have plenty of enemies since he’s the Devil and all but I guess whoever these people are, Lucifer has quite the vendetta against them.

”Um, boss?” I think so I don’t talk out loud. Lucifer says nothing and keeps walking.

“Boss, you haven’t said anything since we left the dungeon,” I think. He still says nothing as we round the corner and I see we’re walking towards the throne room. I stop walking since I can’t stand being in the dark.

“Lucifer”

He stops and pauses for a moment and turns his head to glance over his shoulder at me. He still looks very pissed but I keep my composure.

“Tell me something, Dimitri, before I brought you here, did you ever make any personal enemies out of your comrades?” Lucifer asks. I look around to see if there were any guards or servants around and thankfully there weren’t any so I could speak out loud.

“Uh sure I guess, I mean there were plenty of people on my platoon who didn’t like me but-“

“No, Dimitri, I mean did you ever make enemies who personally wanted to kill you?” he asks.

“If you know my past as well as you say, Lucifer, then you would already know the answer to that,” I said as I crossed my arms.

“I want to hear you say it,” he insists.

“Yes…yes I have…” I said while placing a hand over my eye and my scars start to throb.

“Then you know what it feels like to be betrayed and take responsibility for yourself against said enemies,” he said as he continues his trek to the throne room.

“Is there a point to this?” I ask as I follow him.

“Indeed, I shall explain everything soon and I would like you to request to speak with Celestia, Luna, and Cadence privately.” Lucifer instructs.

“Why just those three?” I ask.

“Just do as I ask, Dimitri,” He said as he gestures me to open the throne room doors.

I sigh and nod and step towards the doors and push them open. As usual, I see Celestia, Luna, Cadence with Flurry Heart in her lap, and even Twilight and her friends who were off to the side. Guess Celestia wanted to keep an eye on them at all times so she keeps them in the throne room. Celestia and the others notice me walk in and some of them gasp since they seem to notice my wings. Twilight and her friends walk over to me to meet me half way but a certain rainbow maned pegasus beats them to it and flys up to me and behind me.

“Whoa, when the hay did you have wings?” She asks as she examines them.

Rainbow placed a hand on my right wing and I move it away from her and she flys in front of me with a pouty face. I smirk and cross my arms and give my wings a sharp flap and spread them as wide as I could. Everyone goes slack jawed and wide eyed and I could see some of them were blushing at the size and length of my wings, even Celestia and Luna were blushing a bit.

“I take it you all like my new wings?” I tease as I remove my hood revealing my face.

“Oh my…y-your wingspan is amazing…” Luna said.

I feel something brush along my left wing and I turn to see Pinkie Pie running her hand along my feathers. She then smiles widely and buries her face in my wing feathers and hums contently.

“They not look super amazing, but they’re so warm and fluffy…” she sighs. No sooner than I could try to shake her off, one by one each of the mares take turns examining my wings up close.

“My word, these feathers are indeed lovely,” Rarity coos as she runs her hand along my wing, “the way the crimson red glows slightly is positively breathtaking.”

“Pinkie is right, they are very warm…” Fluttershy mutters as she also hugs a bunch of feathers.

“Gotta admit, partner, them wings of yers look and feel mighty powerful,” Applejack compliments as she gives the wrists of my right wing a squeeze.

“Oh yeah I agree, these beasts look like they would whip up one heck of a tailwind,” Rainbow said squeezing my left wing wrist.

“This is amazing, Lock! You must tell me how you got these wings! You didn’t have them when you arrived here!” Twilight shrieks as she furiously writes something down on a piece of paper jumping around me.

I can only stand there with a blank expression as these mares are caressing, poking, and hugging my wings to their hearts content. I glance up at Celestia and see she’s giggling up a storm and Luna seems to be in a bit of trance since she’s still starring at my wings. Meanwhile I notice Cadence was actually smiling a bit seeing her sister-in-law as energetic as she usually is whenever she sees something new.

“Uh, not that I don’t appreciate you all admiring my wings, but do you mind?” I said making them all stop.

They all look at me and to each other and all smile sheepishly and all back away from me, or at least most of them do. Pinkie Pie was still burying her face in my feathers. I sigh and retract my wings and Pinkie is now hugging nothing but herself. She opens her eyes and looks around and looks at me and I arch a brow at her. She just smiles happily and bounces back to the others.

Celestia calms herself from her giggling and stands from her throne along with Luna and Cadence and walks towards me.

“Where have you been, Mr. Lockdrom?” She asks calmly.

“Liberating Ponyville,” I said bluntly.

“WHAT?!?” The Mane Six shout.

“Subtle…” I grumble rubbing my ear, “but yeah Ponyville is now Caribou and traitor male free. All that’s left are former enslaved mares and unconscious brainwashed males who should be shackled and restrained. Your Sergeant, Onyx Shine, is probably almost there with a transport of soldiers to collect them. I even took the liberty of placing another barrier around the town so it won’t be taken again.”

All mares in the room are completely speechless. Twilight walks up to me with tears in her eyes.

“Um, did you see a young dragon boy there?” She asks.

“If you’re referring to your assistant, Spike, no I did not. I didn’t see him anywhere nor did I sense his presence, not even in your former castle. I’m sorry Twilight…” I said.

Twilight frowns and looks down as tears drip from eyes. I feel bad since it’s obvious now that Spike has gone missing. She must be at the brink of losing herself since she just lost her older brother and she now has no idea where her little brother is. I sigh and step forward and and bring her into a gentle hug. She flinches a bit but I also wrap my wings around her. She relaxes and sighs in my embrace and looks up to me.

“I know times are not easy for you or anyone else right now, Twilight, but I know Spike is out there somewhere. Along with freeing this kingdom and the others from the Caribou I swear I’ll find Spike. You’ll soon have your number one assistant by your side just like the old days,” I said with a smile.

Twilight whimpers a bit and wraps her arms around me and cries into my chest. I hold her close to me and stroke her mane to console her so she can let her emotions out. I look up and see the others are smiling sadly at their distraught friend but they’re now satisfied knowing I mean them no harm. Celestia and Cadence step forward and I unwrap my wings and release Twilight and step back.

“Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lockdrom. And thank you so very much for freeing Ponyville. Knowing that little town is now free of the Caribou brings me hope that we may one day be actually free of this nightmare we fine ourselves in,” Celestia said as she places a hand on Twilight’s shoulder.

“Yes,” Cadence said, “my husband seemed to see something in you before he passed. You may be a violent warrior on the battlefield but you have a gentle heart and that speaks volumes.”

“I admit, I was unsure about you due to your appearance and actions. But I see now you mean us no harm and are serious when you say you will free us,” Luna said.

“Thank you for your kind words everyone, and since we’re now on good terms you may all call me Lock if you wish,” I said but then gain a serious expression. “Also, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to ask to speak privately about something to you Princesses. It is something I must discuss with you and you alone.”

Celestia tilts her head curiously but nods and gestures the Mane Six to wait outside.

“I think you should hear what I have to say as well, Twilight,” I said making her stop. The others stop as well but Twilight gestures them to go on and they nod and leave the room. I wait until the door is completely closed and it’s just me and the four alicorns.

“So what is it you wished to speak to us about?” Celestia asks.

I sigh and begin pacing back and forth with my hands on my hips trying to figure out how to tell them what I have planned. They’re not gonna like what I have to say but it’s the only way I can focus more on my mission.

Lucifer, I think.

“Yes?” He said appearing beside me.

I’m going to tell them what I am, I think.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” He questions.

This is war, Lucifer, war is won more effectively with trust and I need them to trust me, I think.

“Very well, just be sure you choose your words carefully,” he warns.

“Lock?”

I stop pacing and look to see a Twilight with a worried expression.

“Is everything ok?” She asks.

“What I’m about to tell you may seem a bit shocking but I must reassure you that I am still your ally in this war,” I said.

“Why are you saying this, Lock?” Cadence asks.

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, even you Twilight and Princess Cadenza, have all faced your share of dangers for the sake of Equestria. But now you find yourselves facing an enemy that is undoubtedly the worst threat that Equestria has ever faced. You asked who I am, more specifically what I am, when we first met but I was interrupted before I could say anything. But before I tell you, just remember I made a promise to Shining Armor on his deathbed that I would bring this world’s happiness back so Flurry Heart can smile again,” I said.

Celestia and the others look at each other with worried expressions but they nod in understanding making me sigh.

Well, here goes everything, I think.

“I should start by saying I’m not originally from this world. I am what’s known as a human, or at least I am visually speaking,” I said.

“You’re a human?” Twilight asks in shock.

“Yes, but I am now something much more…dark on the inside,” I said.

“Dark?” Celestia asks now cautiously.

“My power was bestowed upon me by a unholy being who brought me here to enact judgement upon Dainn because he committed unforgivable sins against him. My now dark master gave me a choice to either simply turn away from you all and continue my life back on my world or become his servant to help you even at the cost of my soul. After seeing the state this world is in, the lives that we’re lost, and the peaceful days that were snuffed out by Dainn I chose the latter,” I said.

I stepped back and extended my wings again and activated my flames like before making the cinders flicker off my wings and smoke to trail off. Small embers start to appear on my body and the mares begin to grow a little fearful but this is necessary since I need them to understand what I am.

“Sometimes in order to fight evil, you must become a necessary evil to counter it. If I was given another chance to choose wether or not I would come here to free you all, I would choose to help again in a heartbeat. The unholy being who brought me here…was the Devil himself,” I said making them gasp.

“S-So,” Twilight said, “wh-what are you?”

“My name, is Dimitri Lockdrom. I am…The Devil’s Hand,” I said in my demonic voice.

Author's Note

Thank you all so very much for your patience for the next chapter. Things have been crazy with me irl with all that’s going but I still am trying my best to write these stories of mine. I’ll continue to try to post as many chapters as I can since I’m starting to make a schedule which story gets posted on what day. Thanks again for reading and I hope you all enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…