Fire and Shadow: The Rebirth of Spike and the Descent of Sombra

A storm unlike any seen in ages beset the Crystal Empire. Those who protected the high up walls sounded horns in alert, a number frozen mid-scream as a flurry of Windigos swept over them. Instantly they were cased in solid ice, some tumbling off and smashing into bloodied chunks below.

The soldiers who escaped were tossed about in the gales or hurtled to the frozen earth. The entire sky was shrouded in white; the sun blotted out with the coming of another doomsday scenario.

Shining Armor rallied what forces he could, a number of them busy keeping watch over the captured army, and they rushed to meet this old threat. His blazing, rune-enchanted broadsword formed a protective barrier around him, buffeting the blizzard.

Still, his boots struggled to trudge through tufts of snow that were already threatening to bury the capital. “Damn bastards! I can't even reach them!” He suddenly wished he'd taken his magic studies more seriously.

A colorful beam rose skyward, a Windigo exploded in a howl and dissipated back into the ether. He turned around to see Cadance, dressed in heavy armor, wings fully spread. “Forgive me, love. I know you meant well,” she called over the wind. “We can't afford to squabble anymore! We have to stand united if we hope to drive these monsters out!”

He grinned at her, then his snout fell. “But what can we do?”

“I'll take command. Please, seek out Lily Longsocks and request her aid. Tell her we'll offer her army a full pardon in return.”

He pursed his muzzle, encased by her in a protective bubble. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. Their leader may be a tyrant, but I don't think they're evil.” Hesitating a moment, the Paladin stared at the warped creatures that whirled above and solemnly nodded.

He left his troops in her hands and pushed against the winds, headed to the stolid area where Penumbra's soldiers were imprisoned. Most were packed into a crowded place, lacking room for all of them.

He found Lily, who stewed on a slab that served as a seat in a private cell. A keyring he'd taken from the jailer jingled in Shining's grasp. Her eyes watered, and she grimaced, asking, “Come to taunt me, huh?”

“Not at all! We...need your help. We're prepared to offer you a full pardon in return, if you accept.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Why the sudden change of heart? You plan to have us run a suicide mission?”

“Honestly, kinda. But my wife and I will be there too, along with the majority of our numbers. The Windigos has returned, stronger than I've seen them, and without the Crystal Heart, we're all screwed, you included. We don't have time for hostility between us. Please, I know you hate me for what I did to Penumbra, but...don't let spite cost the lives of your troops.”

Lily crossed her arms, lost in thought. “...okay. I'll do it.” The keys rattled in the door, and it creaked open.

He offered her the armor they'd confiscated, then turned around once she hastily stripped down to her underwear, until she was adequately dressed for combat.

Hoping that his wife could hold out over the hour against impossible odds, Shining helped Lily release her army and armed them. Soon their combined forces headed to battle, the enemies united despite the tensions that still brewed between them.

*****

“...and that's what we know so far,” explained Radiant Hope, huddling in the cathedral around her sworn sisters.

“I don't remember any of that,” admitted Inky Rose, who massaged her restored wing.

The twins took her hands on both sides of her. “We're here to support you,” reminded Foal-Bearer. "You're still our queen."

For the moment, Cerise Silhouette left them behind and explored more in-depth into the church. Finally she discovered Bellatrix Primadonna, bathing in a private chamber. “H-hey,” she spoke softly to the she-devil.

Bellatrix paused between running soapsuds into her ample curves. In her prissy voice she asked, “What do you want, little wench?”

Stood before a tub, Cerise scrunched up her snout but forced herself to remain polite. “Why did you decide to come here?”

There was a splash as Bellatrix shrugged. “I'm free to go where I wish, am I not? I'm not like the rest of you. All I really desire is freedom. I take sides simply for the sake of those I care about. I wasn't born to any nation, so why should I be loyal to one?”

“You...” Her fists balled up, and she trembled, ready to deck the she-devil. “How can you be so selfish?! You...really are a demon!”

“You wouldn't understand, wench.” She swished back her black mane, currently in her succubus form. “Imagine, if you were a piece of fiction by some twisted author, a mindless plaything used to sate his basest needs for eternity? To then be abandoned and left to wander like a mindless animal? Maybe you aren't so different, though. A partial reincarnation of a doomed mare-”

“Don't you dare talk about my mother! I doubt you really knew her! And I'm nothing like you, demon!” The dancer fumed and stormed out, so overcome by raw emotion she had momentarily forgotten why she'd come; to seek answers from the she-devil.

Shrugging off her wounded pride, she headed onwards down the halls. She stopped at the sound of a muted feminine snore and paused at the cracked doorway, where she spotted Fleur de Lis, who had hastily stripped naked and practically slipped unconscious as she tumbled onto her bed. Gently her sizable breasts rose and fell, delicately pale, her nipples a pastel pink.

Unable to help but stare transfixed a moment at her unbelievable beauty, Cerise turned to leave. “Wait,” came a gentle voice.

“F-Fancy Pants?” She whispered back at him and carefully slid the door open. Closing it behind her, she settled on the bed next to Fleur, her unfortunate husband embedded on her neck. “It is really you, or...?”

“It's me,” he assured her and managed a weak chuckle. “I didn't understand it, myself. My mind's been a blur ever since I returned. The last thing I remember was an unfortunate battle with the Eldritch, where my abdomen was split open.”

“I-I see.” Her sad eyes wandered once more to Fleur's denuded, pallid form.

“You hear it too, don’t you?” Fancy lamented. “The weird disorienting tune buzzing around her. This is the price of our reunion. My beloved wife would sacrifice anything for me, despite my protests. She's been a lover and bodyguard ever since we hit it off.” His eyes were glassy as old memories of their whirlwind romance surfaced. “Unfortunately, I fear what happened to Fleur will start to befall your mother, dear Cerise. Her mind dwindles more each day. And her flesh…well, as you can see.” He nodded at Fleur.

Cerise reached out a trembling hand and caressed Fleur's slender arm. “It's kind of...cold and clammy.”

He sighed. “Yes, it's difficult just for her to remain awake. So far, she’s only able to remember me, herself, and her hatred for your father. Whatever miracle Zeloph has done is causing more pieces of herself to burn away. And I suspect my return is only draining her of precious life. At this rate, she may be dead before the year's end.”

“No! I-I won't let that happen!” She shot to her feet, threw the door open, and scrambled to find their supposed savior.

*****

“Teacher, is it really...?” Beatrix's mouth went dry, eyes locked on him across a restored table where the alliance met. The heads of the group were hastily assembled in a chamber, aware that each second could mean more deaths. Twilight Sparkle had already teleported away to the Crystal Empire, warned by Sombra that his son, Penumbra, had been sent to conquer it.

“It's me,” the dark unicorn assured her as he rounded the table and met her in a warm embrace. He sighed, reluctantly pulling away. “There’s little time to catch up. I must return home and repair all the damage I’ve caused.”

Spike nodded before turning to the alliance council. “Was anyone able to figure out where Zeloph’s nation is located?”

“Somewhere in the neutral territory,” answered Somnambula, the priestess laying out a map. She drew a circle around the desert where based on her calculations it most likely lied. “Scouts have reported that the desert becomes grey and desaturates the closer they got. Somehow, he has bent the spirits housed in the area to his will.”

“Well, that’s one issue down, but what do we do to confront him?” Sombra crossed arms over his chest plate. “We’ve never fought an actual angel before, and I doubt he’ll appear to fight us in just robes and a halo.”

“Far from it, actually!” Near them, Stygian slammed down several weighty tomes. Excitedly he opened them up to bookmarked pages. “In preparations, I’ve researched all I could read about angels and their origins,” he huffed between breaths. “Did you know that most depictions of angels are wrong?”

“You mean they don’t look like Bellatrix does?” Spike asked, earning a shake of the unicorn’s head. He opened one up to flip through pages before finding one that showed three depictions, much to the fascination and horror of everypony present.

One looked like the Ophanim, the spiraling wheel of eyes that protected Beatrix from Somnabula’s attack. Another looked like a chimera, sporting four different creatures’ faces while hiding its body under another pair of wings. The last one was the most ethereal looking, composed of nothing but plumes, eyes, and a burning face.

“Eeeeeeh,” Trixie quivered. “That explains the mass amount of peepers.”

Stygian's robes rustled once the scholar turned to Lady Ewe. “Do you know which of these angels Zeloph might classify as?”

Over his shoulder, Oona's honey eyes scanned the opened pages. “Mmm, it’s hard tae say. Mah best bit wuid be th’ Seraphim, given it holds higher power than th’ others. Ahh! Bide a min’!” She leaned over, tracing her finger over each angelic visage, highlighting the strange symbols above their heads. “Sweet lucid dreams, that’s Aether!”

“Aether?” The scholar furrowed his brow.

“A form of arcane magic?” Sombra asked, to which Ewe confirmed with a nod.

“One o th’ strongest forms. Those who arr blissed can wield divine light in th’ f’rm o ancient symbols materialized intae halos. Each one represents an angel an’ comes wi’ different abilities. If thes is th’ case, Zeloph wields Aether as his Onoma.”

Each council member turned to the other, not fully understanding this outlandish magic the dream faun clamored about. But if their foe was capable of such magic, defeating Zeloph proved ever more unfeasible.

“Is there a drawback to this magic?” Somnambula asked.

“Thaur is,” Oona confirmed. “Th’ conjurer can only hav one halo up at a time. An’ it’s e’en mair taxin’ if they’ve placed their halo’s ontae others. We main hav a windae o opportunity tae strike doon Zeloph.… Though Ah must confess.” Her tone switched from determined fervor to somber regret. “Ah feel guilty fur Zeloph’s descent tae madness. When castin’ him intae th’ Necronomicon, ah believed aw th’ darkness ‘at infiltrated Equestria wood follaw. Ah thought Zeloph was th’ soorce, but whit if it was due tae th’ Demiurge, efter aw? An’ all ah did was help it contaminate him in th’ Necronomicon?”

“You didn’t know,” Beatrix murmured. “It’s not your fault, teach. Zeloph’s hard to figure out as it is…. But this doesn’t make sense! The Demiurge was ‘born’ from me. How would that be possible...?”

Lady Ewe shook her head. “Ye simply provided th' Demiurge a physical f'rm. Its likely always existed in th’ Necronomicon, asleep in yer flesh an’ awaitin’ th’ day th’ Eldritch wood awaken it. Several dark creatures waur spawned frae it an’ gained sentience. That's mah speculation, at leest. Thaur’s still sae much we don’t noo…”

“It matters not,” stated Somnambula. “The Demiurge has been rendered impotent, while Zeloph remains a threat.”

“Right,” Spike nodded. “We’ll have to plan accordingly. I will lead my forces to secure the city, while Sombra rallies up after returning home.”

Sombra nodded, turning to address his student. “Beatrix, I…. Huh? Where is she?”

“She main hae returned tae her cove,” said Lady Ewe. “Excuse us.” Belladonna's two teachers exited the cramped chamber.

They explored the Pleasure Gardens which were now quiet, including Beatrix's cove, only to discover she was nowhere to be found.

Lady Ewe said, “Ah, shite! She woodn't-”

“You know she would. My foolish, reckless student.” Sombra shook his head and exhaled. They didn't need to say it aloud, both confident that she had headed to Zeloph's mysterious nation on her own. “I have to deal with my nation. Will you-”

“Aye, ah'll look efter her. Ah understand. Yer people an’ famlae need ye,” she reassured with a tender smile.

With a final nod, Sombra blinked away, desperate to reunite with his loved ones and start to make amends.

*****

“Uuugh, c’mon!” said Flurry Heart, blushing furiously. “For some reason, I can't transport us any closer to this place.” Repeatedly she tried to blink directly to the place they'd seen on the map, only to end up lost somewhere in the middle of the desert. Muted winds howled and whipped up dust. Dawn broke over a sea of dunes, a few half-buried bones visible. “Just gimme a second, and-”

“No, it's okay,” assured Beatrix, brushing her half-sister's arm. “You did your best! Though I suspect Zeloph placed some sort of enchantment over his nation that prevents any attempts to breach it. Might be why we keep warping into random directions.”

“So it looks like we’re taking the long way, huh? Not a problem,” Flurry replied in her chipper voice.

Beatrix shook her head with a sigh, kicking sand with her heeled boot. “Even if you flew us there, it could take forever. And walking around is becoming more difficult, as it is. Ugh, talk about coming half-cocked.” Usually, she would've gone to Lady Ewe for help…but she knew her mentor would heavily be against this course of action.

And much as she didn’t want to go against Oona, Beatrix couldn’t afford to sit around anymore. She needed to confront Zeloph directly. To not simply be a victim.

A sudden cramp almost made her double over, stumbling down to a knee.

“H-hey! Take it easy,” Flurry insisted with concern, rubbing a hand over her swollen tummy. “Ate too much? Maybe we should camp here for now, unti-”

“No!” Beatrix refused, standing back with clenched teeth. “We don’t have time. We gotta keep moving!” But doubt crept in, uncertain which was the best action to take.

Was it too late to turn back now? Was she still so helpless by her lonesome..?

“Don’t push yourself, Mommy,” came a familiar voice. “You’ll only get hurt like that…”

Beatrix rose her head in alarm before spotting her daughter ahead of them, wearing her wide-brimmed witch hat on her head. Was she a mirage? No...

“Abadonna?!” She rushed up to her, almost tripping before wrapping her arms around the small unicorn. “H-hey, little one! What are you doing here? Why have you...” In rubbing down her arms, she noticed something off about her daughter’s hand.

A whimper of sympathy escaped as she looked over the deformity, fingers webbed together. “Is this Zeloph’s doing...?” She asked, anger slithering through her sorrow. The monochrome filly shook her head.

“Father’s been trying everything to cure me. But no matter what, I’ve been trapped in this unstable form. It’s hard to interact with this world.... H̕͟ņ̷͢͡ģ̴͡h̢̕̕͟͝!̢͢” Her figure glitched, straining Abadonna as her horn twisted slightly. “B͠u͟t͘ I͞.͡.̸.I wanted to see you again, mom!” Her pale white eyes looked up lovingly at the violet mare before burying her snout into her chest. Beatrix only held her daughter tighter, her resolve renewed before a loud squee came from behind them. Both unicorns turned to Flurry Heart, who fluttered behind with her massive wingspan.

“Beeeeee! You never told me your kid would be so adorable!” She beamed, squatting to Abby’s head-level to get a better look at her.

“Heehee! Hello,” she greeted with a giggle.

Beatrix scooped the filly into her arms, cradling her a bit before putting on a more serious expression. As much as she wanted to just stay like this, let her half-sister interact with her niece, they couldn’t afford to fool around, especially in the boundless desert.

“Sweetie, I need to speak with your father. Can you help mommy get to his city?” She asked. The young unicorn’s eyes widened before nodding enthusiastically.

“Uh-huh! E-even better! I can take you there.” With a spin of her webbed hand, Abadonna focused some energy to tear open a hole in reality. The rift to a monochrome void constantly shifting before their eyes, glitching in flux. Beatrix stared on with disbelief.

“W-what?! How did.… Have you inherited my powers?” She gasped and froze up, not certain whether to be proud or horrified.

Abadonna bowed her head. “Not exactly. I can only take people into my own plane of existence! You can't stay long though,” she warned. “It’s a pocket dimension that’s not supposed to exist yet. So It’ll tear normal people apart! Still, it’ll be our shortcut to get to dad in no time!” She waved a webby hand.

“That sounds dangerous,” said Beatrix, shivering at the side effects if they got lost. It can’t be worse than the Necronomicon, yes..?

“I think it will be fun!” Flurry added in with a skip and hop. “A chance to see something new that few have?” She fluttered on into the rift, and with a resigned sigh, Beatrix cast away her doubts with a smile, lifting her daughter onto her shoulders for a piggyback ride. The filly giggled, clinging onto her hat before they set off after the alicorn.

She wanted to tell Abadonna how proud she was of her, but questioned whether she should encourage such recklessness?

In her own world Beatrix and that version of her half-sister, Flurry Heart, had run circles around her father's army, getting into all kinds of mischief. It was how they had learned advanced alchemy, which included making a potion that had allowed them to reach adulthood in a short amount of time.

A risky move that meant she'd ultimately been slow to emotionally mature.

Not so different from her mother, then. Having a child had forced her to settle down and take responsibility. Would her string of crazy adventures soon be behind her?

Looking at the sweet little face of her daughter as they stepped through the threshold into the unknown, maybe that wouldn't be so bad. The nexus closed behind them, their senses overwhelmed by stimuli.

*****

Wriggling in a sticky cocoon that tethered her to a slimy wall, Cozy Glow blinked heavy eyelids, unsure how long she'd been bound here. An eerie emerald glow brightened and dimmed in the hollows, and a drip-drop echoed, the skeletal remains of past victims attached to the obsidian rocks.

She trembled, her nose running, repeating in her mind that this wasn’t real.

Across from her was the wizened figure of Tirek; the old centaur's eyes shimmered in the dark. He struggled to rise, his stringy silver hair falling down his thinning back. “Hold on, little one,” he coughed weakly, teeth yellowed and muscles strained.

“Y-you're not real! None of this is,” lamented Cozy, sure the Necronomicon was drawing on her memories. A time when they and Chrysalis had been captured by the Eldritch, the treacherous changeling outing them for power. To the evil queen, not torturing them too much was her idea of 'mercy' to her old companions, preferring they be left to rot until their broken minds decayed.

“The Eldritch want my power,” the old centaur ranted. “Imagine the weapon they could make out of me. An unstoppable force of nature.” He closed his eyes, taking in sharp breaths between wheezes. “Forgive me, little one. I can’t last for much longer...”

Illusion or not, Cozy couldn’t stop the feelings of affection she had towards the elderly centaur. He'd become a father figure to her.

And despite their mutual spite, the three of them had bonded in unexpected ways, even after Chrysalis had doubled down on old habits. “Tirek, I-”

“What have we here?” A narcissistic titter tinged by a mechanized sound met their ears. They turned to Chrysalis, who strolled in garbed in black leather, machinery embedded in her pulsing skull. “Poor, simple fools. All you had to do was give in,” she teased, stroking a finger under Tirek's chin. “And you would have become far greater, as I have. A far superior version of you awaits~!”

Cozy Glow had never been given such an offer. Not only did the Eldritch not see much use for a common pegasus, except as leverage to make the centaur spare her from further atrocities, but she suspected they feared her wits, her ability to turn the table if she were left to run amok. Whimpers escaped her as the changeling lifted her leather gown and dropped her ovipositor.

“Ready to resume where we left off?” Chrysalis toyed with Cozy's ringlets, warm urine tinkling down the mare's inner thighs.

Groans arose from Tirek, who strained in his cocoon. “Chrysalis! Leave.... Her.… ALONE!!” Somehow, against all reason, the centaur's thin frame expanded, the strands wrapped around him audibly straining as he bulked up into a mass of veiny muscles.

Chrysalis snapped back to face him. “What!? No! This isn't possible!!”

He raised his arms as the cocoon snapped, towering over the tall queen. She raised her shiny stinger, screamed as it pumped a sliver of venom from the tip, gossamer wings buzzing as she hissed and sailed at him.

Hooves shook the caverns as he charged her head-on, grunting and snorting, ignoring the burn of the sting that skewered his midsection in a red splotch as he seized her.

“Unhand...me,” demanded Chrysalis, shaking in his powerful arms, squeezing her. In desperation, she pumped the full payload of her poison into him, and he slowed but refused to release his strained hold, refused to release his traitorous prey.

A snap sounded, and Chrysalis went limp, eyes rolling into her head and drool running down the side of her slack mouth.

The centaur chuckled dryly, veins pulsing all over his discolored musculature, blood running with her spiteful release.

“Tirek...why...?” Cozy sniffled.

“After so much time alone, I’ve…I’ve come to consider you my friend,” he admitted, eyes half-closed. “The only one I've had since I disowned my brother.” He dropped the queen's body, swayed on his hooves, a sickening mess washing out his open wound. “Live on for me, Cozy Glow…. Live.… on...” The last of Tirek’s ragged breath escaped before the once proud centaur collapsed to the, his eyes closing for the final time.

Cozy Glow tore out of her cocoon, the seams having weakened. It dissipated into nothingness, as did the bodies of Tirek and Chrysalis. The murky caverns faded as Cozy realized she was back in the void, interrupted only by the twisted faces of the Eldritch.

The ghostly remnants circled the area, stirred up, whispering alien babble that made her skin crawl and her feathers ruffle.

Perhaps he wasn't real, but Cozy knew Tirek would have sacrificed himself for her. She'd been correct to choose this path.

But was she now condemned to die by the Eldritch anyhow? Or worse, end up trapped in this labyrinthine maze forever?

Her question was answered with another miracle. A pool of light shone through a void, scaring the ghastly figures away. The light comforted and warmed Cozy Glow, a soothing voice beckoning her,

“B̮͔e̮̱͟͠ ̙͚͕̘̳̰̯̻͎n̬͔̪͔͕̫o̵͇̥͜t̰̥̻̗͜͢͝ ̨͙̗̝̭͉͕͢͠a̶̢̞͈̳̘͔f̛̬̯̳͞r̩͚̣̳͎̪a̳͔̬̩͖̗̰̜͞i̻̜̬͖̤̦͓̻d̴̫̮̪̻̗̦̦͓͟͡.̰̙̪͚̞͝ ̢̛͏̪̹̭̝̠͔̗C̲͉̺̲͙͙͘͘o̷̯͔͓͎͕̬̪̬̘m̩͘e͞͏̪̹ ̢͈̟̬̘̭̹t̞̜̣̭̞͖͎͡ͅó̴̤̰̘ ̲͍̮̙̲̫̣̰͟͝ͅm̺̺̗̖ḛ̶̭̰̥̙̩,̶̩̜̳͡ ͏̴͝ͅç͙̹̬͉̰̟̹͚̜h̷҉̖̘͔̖͔ḭ̖̺͉̤͍̩l͉̣͙̝̞̪̫d̟̠̟̙͇.̨̟͈̳̪̦”

At once, she spread her small plume and ascended to the heavenly anomaly, the outline of wings and feathers welcoming her.

*****

Storming about the cathedral, Cerise Silhouette threw open double doors. She tired of being underestimated, no longer caring what the personal cost was anymore. She was the daughter of King Sombra and Inky Rose, two noble heroes of the alliance! And she refused to be undermined by anyone, especially the holy abomination wearing a pegasus shape as his guise.

Her breasts rose and fell with each step until she found the host of this synthetic sanctuary, the light illuminating from stained glass, cascading the angelic visage of the pale emperor. “Zeloph!” She called forth, stomping over through the aisles, bells jingling on her clothes, fists balled. She took up a stance, ready to knock his lights out.

Zeloph turned around to face the earth mare, Cozy Glow held in his arms, draped in a white robe. Behind him, the open tome fluttered in the draft, pages that once contained the pegasus now rendered blank.

The little pegasus stirred awake, gasping in alarm as she jumped out, taking in her surroundings. “I-I was…. It was all.… I-I’m okay,” she whimpered, turning to her savior, who smiled in kind while casting his glance to the astonished dancer.

“She’s safe now, Cerise. As I’ve promised.”

“You…. You actually saved her!?” She stated in disbelief, relaxing her tense muscles before she and Cozy rushed to embrace one another, wrapping her plume around Cerise.

“Cerise, I was so scared,” the young pegasus blubbered. “I didn’t think I’d make it…. How? Where are we? And who is that?”

“Someone not to be trusted,” Cerise insisted, holding her friend tightly while glaring up at the seraphic immortal.

Zeloph sighed with a shake of his head. “Still holding on to your prejudice against me? Even after I rescued your friend from perdition?”

“Don’t get it twisted, Zeloph,” Cerise sneered. “I’m thankful that you saved Cozy. But don’t think I’ve forgiven you for what you’ve done to Fleur and my mother, you vile fiend!”

“How long do you plan on being a stubborn brat,” Fleur groaned as she stepped through the door, boots clicking on the floor amidst her march. Fancy Pant was resting on her neck, panting weakly. Bellatrix hovered behind her, resuming her shimmery angel shape while staring crossly over Cerise. “Grow up! I’ve already told you, Zeloph only did what I requested. I’m fine!”

“You look anything but fine! Your skin is shriveling; your hair is losing its sheen. You can hardly remember anything? You’re the one being stubborn, Fleur!”

“Cerise, stop!” Bellatrix insisted, mouth pursed. “You don’t understand-”

“And you,” the dancer pointed to the false angel accusingly. “How could you betray your own sister?! Your friends!!”

“Enough of this!” Fleur demanded, stomping her halberd into the ground. “One more word out of you, and I’ll-”

“Y̱̗̱̞̱̘̳̙o̷̗̯͍̺̪̳͖̘̕ù̷̬̗ ̳̭̠͓w̛̠͕̻̮ì̴͖͙̙̹͓̜͢l̝̠̥̙͎̩l͘͏̝̩͍̥̙̭ ̻̼̖̹̩̞͇n̬̯̩̥̫͟o͏̩͈͓̲͓̹̬͡ͅt͓̺̕͠ ̩͕̲h̡̭̝͖̠à̯̠̥̥͠͝r̨̧̘͜m҉͚͓̠̣̺̦ h̯̞̝͓͟͞e̵̢͍̰͎̝͚̘r̵̠͎̹̮̪̲̣,͍̮͈̺̺̪̫̱̞͡” Zeloph instructed, wings outstretched, eyes flared pure white. The two acolytes froze, quivering while avoiding looking at him directly. “Pay no mind to her qualms. She is a guest, and I will not tolerate any bloodshed in our sacred home. I only wish to establish peace.”

“By erasing the minds of everyone around you?” Cerise cried between her bared teeth. “By slaughtering anyone who opposes you?!”

“As if I would stoop to the level of your father,” he chuckled mockingly, earning a snarl from the daughter of darkness. He resumed with a frown. “It’s not my intention to provoke you, but I can’t understand why you’re so bull-headed. I’ve shown you the truth, and yet you refuse to accept it!”

“And what truth is that, Zeloph?!”

He waved his staff. “That mortals are inherently violent by nature. The core, the very essence of their souls, is conflict. Most believe that without it, the world would grow stagnant. I am here to prove them wrong, that life can flourish and bloom beyond stubborn wars and pitiful skirmishes. That through acceptance and love, we can end the chain of suffering once and for all!”

“No.… This isn’t the way! I won’t let you trick me!” Cerise knew she sounded like a petulant child, but she could see no other option to convince anyone after seeing the results of his work. She glanced fearfully at Fleur, knowing she was running out of time.

Zeloph’s eyes dilated briefly, a small jolt through his body before he shook it off. “Child, as much as I would love to discuss this over dinner, there is something I must attend to first.” Waving his staff, a portal of light shimmered behind him, air and sound blowing through his robes. Cerise shielded her widened eyes. “I’ll return soon. Until then, I’ll entrust Fleur and Bellatrix to look after everyone. If you’d be so kind~.”

“Of course,” they both answered and nodded. With a gentle smile, Zeloph closed his eyes and vanished through the rays of light before the portal diminished, leaving his servants to lead Cerise and Cozy back towards the bathroom.

The coal-coated earth mare struggled to figure out what to do while stripping out of her shorts and top before joining her mother Inky Rose, Radiant Hope, and the twins to wash in the wide bath.

When Zeloph opened his eyes, he arrived in a realm constantly blurred about him. While the water there remained still to step on, the world looked more incoherent and harder to recognize—no hint of color in sight.

“Abby?” He called, his voice echoing. “Sweeting, are you here? Abado-”

His eyes widened in shock as three figures stood before him. His daughter waved to him with a massive smile, but next to her was a pink alicorn, examining the space around them. And next to her was the witch the angel shared grace with, her conflicted violet eyes mirroring his magenta ones.

“B̯͇̠̝̀ͅe̺͎͔͚ͅa͔t̨̤̟̖̺̣r̰̪i̦̱̩͓͉͙̥̕x̘̰͍̤̼.̫͔͖͓͔̟͟.̦̦̩̻̜̭͞!”

“... Zeloph!”