The alliance stood starstruck at the brawl happening before them. Those not fighting against Zeloph’s forces watched as he and Beatrix swung at each other with fierce velocity, each strike of their swords blinding to the naked eye. Sombra and Spike could only gaze briefly, hoping their friend would claim victory as they continued to rush survivors and refugees outside the plundering city. The twins and Radiant Hope escorted Fleur de Lis and Inky Rose’s unconscious bodies outside the walls. Meanwhile, White Shadow Penumbra lead the fight against any who sworn faithfully to Zeloph, if only to keep them at bay.

No matter how she’d tried, Cerise couldn’t touch, let-alone damage the Seraphim, the six-winged apparitions continuing to feed off the feeble memories of their hosts like parasites. Flurry Heart and Shining Armor took the fight to the Cherubim, trying to tear its gaze off of the alliance frozen in place.

Sadly Beatrix Belladonna couldn’t worry about the alliance, far more concerned with her glimmering foe. The pale crusader swiped upward, causing her to deflect, sending the witch soaring into the skies. But Zeloph flashed right above her, blasting her with white flames, causing Beatrix to scream. Thankfully, the power of Erebus helped mend her searing wounds as she faced the winged immortal, taking a proper stance.

“I’m gravely disappointed in you, Beatrix,” Zeloph proclaimed. “Even you, who I’ve come to trust and view as an equal, would jeopardize my vision of paradise. You went so far as to bind yourself to that…thing! And for what? To interfere with divine justice!? Open your eyes! T͚̠h̹̘e̴̮̼͕̰̤̼̟͠y̕҉̱̱̜͡ ̢͎̼̯͈͔̥̞͚a̧̼̙̕r̥͚͓͚ͅe̵͎͔̟ ̶̪̝̻n̡̯̮͖͉͚͈̺̜̻ó̸̬̹͎t̞̯͈̤̠͉̪͜ ̹̱̥̙̪̪w̻̠͚̦o̧̦̜͙͓̗r̨̜͈͕̞̭̠̯͔t̝͙̮̭͓́͡ḩ̮̮̩̰̯̼̯ ̶̭̗̞͉̖̼̤̻ş̶̦̩͙à̹̟͕͠ͅv̛̼͈͜͠i͚̦͚̱̳̱n͡҉̝̫͍͉̳ģ̻͕̜̹͙̯͍͢ͅ!̣̥̞̰̟̙̩”

“SHUT UP!” Beatrix retorted, launching a beam of cosmic energy to knock the angelic being aside. “You’re the one who's too blinded by sanctimonious bullshit to see the harm you've caused to the ones you claimed to love. You think Abadonna wants this!?”

“D̶̡̢̕͟O̸̴̢̨̕ ̸̵̀͠͝N͘̕͝҉͟OT̸́͜ ͏̸̸̢B̸̵̸͠͏R̶̡͢I̧͠N̸͝G̸̡̛͢͠ ̧͜͝Ò̢̡̡͠U͟͠͠Ŗ̶̢͘ ̛͘D́͡A̶̕Ú̡͜Ǵ̷H̨͢Ţ̢̧̛E͏͏̷̢Ŗ̀ ̀͝I͝͡Ǹ̷̸͟T̷̛́̀Ò̢̡ ̴̕͢͜T̴H̡͡I̸̷͝͞S̸̡!̶̵̡́̕!̷̶” The Nephilim yelled, launching another assault as their swords clashed with such force, they sparked and threatened to unravel the very fabric of reality itself. Beatrix rebutted with a multitude of advanced spells, swirling around her like the cosmos cutie mark on her flank, swallowing Zeloph’s righteous fury and glaring light.

It was no use. Both were convinced they were completely in the right, that the two avatars of light and darkness needed to push themselves to the absolute limit for Abby’s sake. The little mare in question watched from the sidelines. Tears dribbled down her face, just wanting the fighting to stop between her parents. “Mommy...! Daddy...!”

For a moment, Beatrix faltered, the trance Erebus induced in her broken once she heard screams and whimpers of pain from her wounded foe. That second of weakness was met by a barrage of light, which she barely reflected in time, her palm raised to redirect the brilliant rays away from civilians.

Zeloph released a scornful laugh. “It appears you have no control of your Onoma. You lack the proper training of both an archmage and a swordsman. Surrender now, Beatrix. Defeat is inevitable!”

“Never,” she snapped back, rushing to exchange blows and slashes. The witch reminded herself that should she fail, all life would be wiped from this planet. Digging deep into the Demiurge's power, the darkness of the cosmos itself appeared to surround her, as if her cutie mark sprung to life to envelope her in its cool, lonely touch.

Each time Zeloph struck, she was pushed back, silently admitting her lack of experience. Sure, she'd been in many battles, but she was an entertainer and explorer first, one who typically played support and relied on tricks to win. Were it not for the awakening of her arcane magic, the pale crusader would have torn her apart instantly. It was starting to feel hopeless to oppress him, that she could never defeat him alone.

Luckily for her, she wasn’t alone.

Before Zeloph could swing his zweihänder across Beatrix’s head, a blue bubble appeared to absorb the blow, much to his visible frustration. All eyes glared at the interference of Lady Ewe, a misty aura swirling around her form as the dream faun rose beside Beatrix, wooly mane flowing in the wind.

“Ye are nae welcomed haur, ye multi-eyed glaikit shitelord!” Oona declared, her brows furrowed, the painted runes shining brightly. With a swing of her staff, a wave of magic forced Zeloph away while Beatrix looked back at her, alarmed by the foulness that just spewed from her mentor’s mouth.

The mystical doe channeled her own archaic magic as more bubbles lifted from the ground, drawing from the hope settled in the alliance. They hovered around before glowing gold and taking shape, manifesting into creatures of bizarre origin before sending them down to ward off Zeloph’s angelic forces. The Seraphim screeched as they were chased after, causing each victim to fall into a more comfortable slumber. Cerise cried in relief, her mother resting more comfortably.

Zeloph glared spitefully at the ram. “G͏e̵͞t̸ ou̧t̴ ͟͠o͢͏f̧̛͝ ̢͢m͘͏y͠ ̷̧͠s̵̡i͝͝g̴̢͏h͝t͏s̷,̸͞ ͘͝yó̵͢u̴ ̸̡w͞r͘͜͝e̷̷͡t҉̀c̕h!” He hissed, launching to cut down the annoying shepherd before Beatrix intercepted, pushing him back as she and Oona stood by each other.

“Can ye feel them, Ceann Oga?” Oona asked, motioning to the alliance below. “E’erybody coontin' oan ye tae succeed. Lit their hope guide ye tae victory!” The dream faun quickly descended to the cathedral, continuing to aid the alliance from there.

Beatrix nodded, their presence comforting her. She felt as if all her friends and family stood beside her, redoubling her efforts to best him in combat. The blade in her hand appeared to be carved from space itself, connected with his own morning star, which in turn burned like the core of the sun itself.

“Gaaaugh! Why do you continue to defy me!?” Zeloph demanded, his eyes dilated. “Have you given up on changing your path? Are you content with your destiny!? T͈͖̠̲͕̖̭͠͠o̧͎̩̪̗ ̲̺̺̜̭̦̟l̡͚͈̘̕ͅi̵͓̙͖͞ͅv̸̹͝e̵͔̰̙͞ ̨̢͏̙̩̝̳̮̥̝͍͉l̷͏̙̦̘̺ͅͅi͡҉̞̬͍̥f̯̫̭͖̬̻̀ę͉̬͖̪͡ ̯͙͙̕à̳̹̗̤͉s̸̶̡̼ͅ ҉͓̘͡a̲̗̼̱͖͜n̴҉̗ ̢҉̼̹ͅà̻̫́b̼͘͢ó͈̙̳̥͕͘ͅm͚͍i͉͔͔͇̟n̢͇͓̫a̵̫͔̩̥̤̩̼͖ṱ̘̭̠i̴̭̫̘̯ͅo̴̡̤͕̭̞̰̘͓̩͢ņ̷̟̦̲̩!̢͕̻̝̙͞?͕̞̩̻͖͠”

No. He was wrong. Beatrix no longer believed her powers were evil. It was a part of her, an ability for her to use and wield responsibly. She caught sight of their daughter from the corner of her eye and allowed herself a small, warm smile.

“I'm not an abomination,” she announced, more to herself than the stubborn angel. “And I’m not following destiny. I’m simply who I am! And I will always stand in your way if it means defending my family! Protecting my friends!”

More power surged throughout the witch, to the point where her entire body ran hot and cold, tingled with electricity, made her dread she'd finally burn herself out. With a mighty cry, she lifted the blade off Zeloph’s own, before knocking it from his grasp.

Disarmed, the Nephilim tried to fire another beam until she shattered his helmet, face bloodied under her strike, yelling in immense pain. With her foe disgruntled, Beatrix used the full might of her magic to slash through his glowing halo, severing the sigil in half.

Zeloph screamed hysterically, light oozing from all his eyes before the dark witch sent him plummeting back into the cathedral, the entire building collapsed on itself. The Seraphim shrieked, their ethereal bodies and wings dissolving into flames until snuffed out entirely. The Cherubim roared, splitting apart before it too vanished from thin air, its captives free from its petrifying gaze.

All the acolytes that remained paused, removing their hoods, looking dazed and confused. Penumbra immediately called for the battle to halt, Spike and Sombra backing away from the awakened victims.

Beatrix hovered down to the ground, amazed by the magic she could conjure, reminded that the Demiurge had infinite potential…if one knew how to seize it.

Her astonishment returned to severe matters, approaching the stones and broken pillars rumbling. Zeloph emerged from the rubble of his collapsed spire, liquid oozing from his mouth and forehead, his wings bent at crooked angles. His broken halo finally extinguished, leaving the immortal powerless, staring down at the intergalactic material flowing off Beatrix’s blade, the witch staring him down with a steely expression.

“It’s over, Zeloph,” she stated, unable to hide the cold fury in her voice. His magenta eyes watered, clear tears running down his pale face, coughing out a bitter laugh.

“No.” Zeloph solemnly shook his head. “We both know this won’t end until one of us is dead. So please…finish me off...”

The words made Beatrix tremble, her eyelids widened. A gasp left her lips as he shakingly grabbed the cosmic blade and brought it towards his chest, teeth clenched together.

“Zeloph, I--”

“Ẃ̢H̵͡A̴͢T̷̨ ̸A͏͡͠R̴̨͠E̶͢ ͘͘͠͏̀Ỳ̨͝O̕͢͡͝Ú̷̵͟ ̷̧W͝͠͠Ą͡͡ĮT̸̷͘Í̕N̕͝Ǵ̵͠ ̶̢̕͜F́͢O̡͠R̷̛?̵͟͟!̴̸̧͢ ̸̸̶͟G̷̶̶O͏̸͢ ̧͏̵̢̀A̴H̷̢̡̨͠È̕͠A̕̕D̢!̧ ̛͢D̸̢̡̛O̶̧̢͘͢ ̷͢Į̷̵͜͏T̷̨̛̀!̷̵҉͘!̨̢ I nearly killed you and your friends! Brought agony to those you love, almost brought mortal kind to extinction out of pure madness! If you don’t destroy me, I will only grow worse. This darkness…this evil.…it’s forever bound to my soul. I am beyond help, so just K҉̝̝͎͘I̶̢̖͈̗͕̝L͚̘̙͠ͅL͕̗͔̳̺̩̜͕ ͖͎̖͉̀M̩̣̲͕̥̗̤̭E̕҉̭͈͈̹̙!҉̛͓̫͍̖!͚̗̤”

Zeloph hung his head low, unable to hold back the aching sadness and guilt weighing down his shoulders. Beatrix trembled at this vulnerable display, hesitantly lifting her starry blade to do what he requested.

After all, he did deserve this, right? Zeloph claimed vengeance out of love and heartbreak, threatening the lives of many upon realizing he was an outcast.

A sentiment that struck within the dark witch, a potent reminder her of the bitterness and self-loathing she once felt.

And while Beatrix could not forgive Zeloph for the atrocities he committed, she felt deeply sorry for how twisted he had become. If circumstances were different, had the Nephilim not been sent down this degrading path, he could have achieved a better world. But, as he stood before her now, wept and pleaded for penance, she wondered was it too late for him? Was there no other way..?

“Daddy, no! Don’t do this!!”

Both parents turned to their monochromatic child, who landed beside them, then rushed to wrap her arms around her fallen father.

Abadonna nuzzled her head into his bruised chest, balling her hands into fists. “You don’t have to die! You’re better than that!”

Her words pierced through the winged immortal’s soul, breaking Zeloph from his self-destructive mindset. He gazed down at the little unicorn, staring down as Abadonna bawled for him. She continued to cry out, “You’re not alone, you don’t have to live like this! We can help you find a new path!”

“A-Abby…. But I--”

“Listen to her, Zeloph,” Beatrix insisted gently, kneeling down to hold his shoulder. “You told me you wanted to defy destiny together. Isn’t that something you still want?”

Zeloph looked up to the violet unicorn, a glimmer to his eyes, before slowly nodding.

“Then let me help you. I…I can’t forgive you for what you’ve done, but that doesn’t mean you deserve to die. You’re a victim, too. And I think deep down, you just need the right people to help your spirit shine.”

“Beatrix…Abby,” Zeloph sobbed, his daughter wiping away his tears as the two deeply embraced each other. With a soft smile, she closed her eyes to focus on the fallen angel.

“What are you doing?”

“Just relax,” she quietly assured. “I’m going to remove the rest of the Demiurge from you. At least then, you won’t go crazy. Just stay calm and let me in.”

While uncertain, Zeloph did as she said and remained neutral, Abby backing away to give her mother space to concentrate. Beatrix reached forward, her palm upon his chest as she attempted to draw out the corruption chained to her former lover.

She brimmed with confidence, convinced their shared love for Abadonna would shine through. And like Sombra and the Pony of Shadows, Zeloph could be saved from his fate. Once he fully healed, a bright future of a better Equestria awaited them both.

Yet, for reasons she could never hope to comprehend, fate had different plans.

The essence the dark witch extracted was unfamiliar, a wave of pressure bowling over Beatrix who struggled to maintain focus. Then that pressure burst into immense pain. Agony spread throughout her arm, causing her to back off with a scream. Opening her eyes, she was shocked to find her entire arm engulfed with red metallic flames, veins blacker than her own archaic magic.

“GGAAAAAAANGH!!” Beatrix bellowed once the fire consumed her flesh, spreading all over her quivering body. Her pupils dilated whereupon muscle, tendons, and bones instantly melted into a charcoal color.

“P-put it out! PUT IT OOOUT!!” She begged, only to be met with a choir of agonized screams. The pale world around her vanished, replaced with an enormous wall of flame: multiple faces, skulls, and heads shrieking through the menacing licks. Visages of horror, sorrow, and indescribable anger roared all around Beatrix.

The intense urge to maim and harm overwhelmed her molten mind, hissing snarls replacing her harrowing screams as she dug into the ground with boney digits. But Beatrix’s wrath gave way to terror upon recognizing the faces of Lady Ewe, Sombra, Shining Armor, Cerise. Everyone suffered this heinous fate! And sobs returned to her dry throat upon making out her poor daughter burning away into a crisp.

The horror only grew as the metallic fire completely immolated her, a charred husk with black flakes peeling away to reveal her skull. Her bleeding sockets widened as a figure emerged from the immense heat, back facing her. Lit over its head was a crown, wrapped within the hateful flames.

And as Beatrix let out a pained cry, the figure turned to leer back with her, vermillion eyes piercing through her wounded soul.

“AAAAAUUUAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!” Beatrix shouted, panting heavily. Frantically, she looked around, back in the crumbled ruins of the cathedral.

“M-mommy?! What’s wrong!” Abadonna whimpered, having only seen her mother jump back in alarm, repeatedly screaming to ‘put something out.’

Sweat dripped off Beatrix’s body, taking shorter breaths to calm herself. Her arcane magic had depleted during the experience, fatigue leaving her sore all over. “I-it…it felt so real! The anger.... The violence!”

“Yesss,” Zeloph hissed, weakly rising to his feet. A sinister expression returned to his face, his numerous eyes pinpoints once he mustered what little power he could left, his damaged halo shimmering back to life.

And at that moment, Beatrix realized that it wasn’t the Demiurge that compelled him down his path. Something else had tainted the fallen one, long before his imprisonment.

“Don’t you see?” He crowed. “The core to a mortal soul isn’t just conflict. It’s h̀a͡͠͡t̸͜r͏̛͏e͜d!̕ The innate desire to harm all who stand in your way. It has bred war, chaos, famine, and death. And so long as one soul is compelled by sin, that chain of violence can ņ͏̟̟͈̯̼̣̭̙̼̖̱̦̞̼͘é̴̡̯͔̻̺̞͔̻͓̮̮̼̗̤̖ͅͅv̴͕̻̘̣́ȩ̷̲̠̪̯̥͙̖̝̫̲̟͕̺ŕ̞̻̞͉̥̞͉̘̜̗̕ be broken! Hence why…”

Zeloph raised his hand high in the air, light emanating from his palm, preparing for the final attack. “...I must eliminate e̴͜͡v̛e̷ry̢͢͏th̴̵inǵ̢ so that the universe can be reborn anew! A͏̪ņ͎̰̻̕͜ḓ̯̖͖̫̼̹͟͝ ̴̧̼͇̲͖̝̹͓̘͚t̶̟̝͖̙͈͎̣͍ͅh͔͎͕̬̻̳̼͓̀͞i̷̩̟͓̲̮̕s̶͔̟̮̬ ̩̩̘̼̱̖͞p̡̜̯̀́l̗̯͠a̛̱͕͎͚̖͘͞ṋ̵̶̨̹̥̣̹̙̗̫ͅe͇̱̲̲̪̝ṱ͚͙͖̭̜͙͙̝̀ ͚̙̣͞s͓̘͘h̠a̗̝̜̼̰͉̞̝͓l͔̘̙͓͓͇̘̣l̛̩̱̯͖̱̘̞͉ ̸̘͠b̰͓̦͍̟͉͍͜ę̯̻̘͖̭̤̪͟ ̸̯͙͕͜t͙̩͘h̞̯͉̭̖͘͜e̢̻̯̯͕ ̛͇͈̥͎͙̪f̢̨͙̼̯̦̯̦̬̙i̖̗̥͇͓̙r̸̼̘̰͔͇̼̱̞̱s҉̱̜̮͝t͇̞̀͘ ̶̣͈̝͖͙̰̩t͏̢̻̺o͇̲̕ ̴̗̙̞̙b̹̱̤͚̙̲̺ͅẹ̡̝͞͞ ̲̤̬̭̀͞p̮̲ù̵͔̻͔̻͚̦̳͟r̼͔͙̦͖̤g͙̝͖̠̥͖͔͖͢͞e̴̤͔̝̼ͅd͏̦̙̦̲͟!̙̖̬̪͠͡”

“N-NOO!” Beatrix exclaimed, yet she could barely get up again.

Abadonna ran up to her father in an ill attempt to stop him. The taller angel gently brushed her aside with a wing, causing her to stumble onto her rump. “Daddy, no! Please!!”

“Worry not, my child!” Zeloph insisted. “You and your mother will survive. Together, we can fulfill our duty and bring the cosmos into a new light! We can become…a family~!!”

“Nae if Ah hae anythin’ tae say abit it!”

Irritation drew his face to Oona Ewe, hand resting on a broken pillar, a sigil having long been drawn underneath her palm.

Then new rays of light began to glimmer from beneath Zeloph, his eyes widening to see a sacred seal emerging over the ground. Realization and panic settled in as the energy in his hand slowly dissolved into nothingness. “W-what!? No! Ǹ̷̷̪̫͇͙͇͎Ơ͕͉͟O̡̦̝͈̻͍̮͚̖̝Ơ̷͙Ǫ͕̺̯͍ͅ!̴̵̱͕̫͕͢!̛̲͕”

Beatrix didn’t know it, but she had unintentionally bought enough time for Lady Ewe and Cerise to conjure the banishing circle around Zeloph, the dancer’s curved dagger drenched in dirt and blood.

“𝔹𝕖𝕘𝕠𝕟𝕖, 𝕦𝕟𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥! 𝔽𝕦𝕣 𝕒𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕚𝕣𝕔𝕝𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕖'𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕕, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕪𝕠𝕟𝕕 𝕪𝕖𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙!!”

“No, no, no! NO! Ņ̸̡̢͝Ǫ̀Ò̴̢́͞Ơ̡O̷̢O̵̧̧̧̧!҉̢͜͡!̡̡͏͜” Zeloph roared, bashing his fists and wings against the transparent barrier keeping him caged. Yet no matter how the Nephilim tried, his fate was sealed as the rune’s arcane magic became blinding, his feet and wings starting to unravel in the light, his entire vessel being ripped from this reality. Zeloph turned to Beatrix and Abadonna, desperation clear in his magenta eyes as he tried in vain to reach for them. “Beatrix, stop this! Ỳ̵̹̲̼͈̯͙͕̹͉̼̝̺̙̥͔̖͚̙̕ͅƠ̸̴̖͕̟͇͘͟U̢̝̞̰̜̫̬͘͟͜ ̡̢҉̜̪̫̳̤̱D̛̩̩̼̩̝͈̠̱̘̖̰͠ͅͅO̴̡̭̫͖͖͙̫̱̰͙̠̙̫͓̥̯͓͢N̸̶̝͉̙͚͉̦̘̝̫͎̳͉̲͜͠ͅ’̨̧̳̼̰̭̗̮̀͘͟T̞͔̥̹̠̣͔̗̥̻͡ ̷̧͉͓͎̣͠U̱̖͙̻̦̱͙̹̼̬͟N̷̡̳͇̪̯͕͖̗͓̻̳͚̪͢ͅͅͅD̶̝͔̦̤͙̝̦̝͎̗̦̟̕E̴̵͕̝̰̜͉̳̥̱͔͇̜͞͞ͅR̵̨̝͎̹͔̭͙̖̻͘͠͠S̡͖̘͚͔̲̙͎̲̖͇̺̖̖̙̺̰͈͙̠̀͘̕͢T̷̰̮̯͕̀͜͞À̳̭̗͓̦͚̖͙͔̞͓̞̦̦̲̦ͅṈ̸̶̠̞̟͖̪̘̘́ͅḐ̷̡̪̞̣̹͇͉͍͟!̡̧͏̼̦͈̤̲!͇͖̮͍͉͚̤̫̪̹͘!̶̨̟̰̞͈̻̰̮̟̲̖̖̀͜͟”

Beatrix shielded Abadonna with her cape, giving her foe one last pitiful glance as his time in Equestria came to an end.

“If we don’t exist in the same realm, Abadonna will--G̨̡͜͜A̕͟A͞H҉̵̨K̢͟͏̨̀!̡̀ ͢͠͡Ģ̨R҉̡̢R̸̛̀R̶̵̶̀͞Á̴̸̢͠Á̵͜A̢̨A̶̷͠Á̵Ų̷̴͠G̵̴͏́̕H͏͜!̸̛!̕҉̛͘͡ ͘͜͞A̕҉̵À̸̢̨͞Ą̶͡Á̢͜A̵͠B̸̢̕͝͝B̧͘Y͜͢Y̴Y̶̢͜͡͠Y̵̶Y̛͘͞͠͝Y̸̕͜Y̷͢Ỳ̸̨̡͠Y̶̡͠͝!̷̢̧̛͢!̵̕̕” The fallen one shrieked, evaporating entirely into the light once the circle completed Zeloph’s banishment.

Only his molted feathers remained, gently falling onto the scorched ground.

Poking her head from out of Beatrix’s cape, Abby rushed towards where her father once stood, picking up the loose plumage, bawling out, “Daddy!? Daddy!!”

“Abadonna...” whispered Beatrix, who closed her eyes and warmly crushed her daughter to her bosom. A few tears dripped down as she squeezed her, thankful that for all the horrors they experienced, it was finally over.

As she powered down the weight of pregnancy had returned to her belly, a reminder that Abadonna hadn't physically been born yet. That for now she remained a concept willed into existence by a shared love between her and Zeloph.

“W-where did he go?” Abadonna asked, turning to Oona, who sadly shook her head while kneeling beside the child.

“Ah don’t know,” Oona quietly confessed. “Hopefully, tae a place whaur his heart, min', an' spirit can properly heal.”

“I-I’m scared…” Sniffled Abadonna, her too-large witch hat drooped sideways on her head.

“Don't be,” replied Beatrix, smiling softly while brushing some of the tears from her watery eyes. “I'll never abandon you, no matter what.” The little unicorn nodded before she nuzzled her head back into her chest, arms wrapped around her. Oona and Cerise both sat to hug Beatrix tightly, until a shared wave of relief washed over them.

Zeloph’s reign of terror, at long last, had come to its end.

*****

The monochrome city faded back into particles of sand with its creator gone. The alliance openly celebrated the fallen one’s defeat, shouted and raised their weapons, danced and embraced amidst the ruins.

The only positive mark left on Equestria by Zeloph was that this once uninhabitable region was now calm and still. Dragon Lord Spike had already considered expanding their territories, continuing to fill their scarred world with new life. Talk and laughter filled the jubilant atmosphere.

Color returned to Equestria, bleeding in like vibrant, spilled paint. Troops were sent back to their respective nations to tend to those who survived ‘purification.’ Stygian cradled up to the Sphinx's fur, who tended to the scholar’s bloodied bandages. Likewise Flurry Heart looked after Bellatrix Primadonna, similarly badly wounded, but assured she would recover in time, if she rested.

Sombra checked in one Fleur de Lis, who had color returned to her skin and coat while still unconscious. While he was uncertain how scarred her psyche still was, Radiant Hope promised to help him look after her.

“I can't forget what you've done,” admitted his first love in a hushed voice. “But maybe, in time, I can learn to forgive it. After realizing how far you’ve come for your wife and Cerise, I…I see it wasn’t fair to keep dredging up the ghost of your tyranny.”

Sombra sighed with a nod. “It will take time to rebuild. But you're always welcome in our court.” His arm wrapped around Inky's waist. The twins curtsied, still sworn in service to their queen. Cozy Glow and Diamond Tiara had returned to Somnambula's side.

His smile warmed up on the approach of Cerise Silhouette, relieved she had come out of this relatively unharmed, his free arm hugging his daughter tightly to him.

Upon letting go, Cerise reached out to Radiant with her knife in hand. But the crystal unicorn shook her head, smirking.

“Keep it. I don’t need it anymore. Hopefully, you won’t, either.”

Cerise bashfully grinned, hugging the small blade to her chest, a promise to cherish it before safely tucking it away. With his family safely back on his side, Sombra went towards Penumbra and Lily Longsocks, making preparations for the long trip home.

Beatrix remained in the street, continually holding her child to her soft breast. Everywhere she turned, she saw a member of the alliance, happy as could be, waving to her. She waved back, smiling brightly before tucking her head to Abby. “We did it!”

Abadonna nodded, meeting her eyes, a small smile on her stubby snout. “I’m glad everyone is okay! And that we're together.”

“Hopefully soon, given how much you’re kicking around inside me,” the witch teased, patting her bloated stomach, earning a giggle from the small unicorn.

“Do you think…we’ll ever see daddy again?”

Beatrix’s smile faltered as she looked to the spot, the banishing circle blinking with magic every five minutes. “At the very least, we could find him. But not yet. You need to understand your father did terrible things.”

“I-I know…”

The witch gave her daughter a reassuring nuzzle, eyes looking up to Oona, who shared her troubled look. Neither of them wanted to speak about how many died at his hands.

The planet, already on the brink of collapse, had been further set back from recovery thanks to the false messiah’s presence.

Beatrix brushed stray locks from her child's tender face. “C’mon. Let’s go see grandma! I’m sure she’ll want to see you!”

With a nod, the little filly dropped to her side, ready to walk back with her. But suddenly, another episode of glitching occurred, causing Abby to stumble to her knees in her thick robes. “A-Aaach-ch-ch!”

“Oh no, Abby! Hang on, I’m sure we’ll…” But a sickening lurch twisted Beatrix’s core. Her searching hands only phased through her flickering child, as if she had turned intangible. And no matter how she tried, the witch couldn’t hold onto anything tangible.

“M͟҉̀-̴͜͡͏̷Ḿ͢҉͢a͏͜͜͡͠-̶̶̢̛͠m҉̴̶ą̷̡͟h̴̶̡͘͟-͞͏̧m͢͠͝a̴͘͏ḩ̸̶̢͟-̵̛̕͢͠m̶̸͟o͘m̷̀͘͝͝m̴̡̡͞y҉͜͠͝.̶̴̴̴͜.̡͘͜͡?̴͢͟͠!̧͝”

“I-I don’t…. Oona?” She turned to her mentor, who shook her head, gazing over the child in horror with uncertainty.

It was at this moment Beatrix thought back to Zeloph’s final words. Initially, she brushed it off as a desperate plea to spare him. But as mother and daughter trembled before Abby’s state, she could no longer deny the inevitable…. Zeloph’s light was what gave Beatrix the means to conceive Abadonna.

And with him gone, so too would she. And the evidence was right in her face, the tiny unicorn struggling to maintain her presence, her form being pulled away from this plane.

“No...NO!” She yelled in a pleading tone, gagging as her round belly slowly compressed back to normal, her insides twisting. Beatrix nearly vomited on the spot, her throat filled with an acrid, acidic taste.

She understood it was more than a physical union that made their daughter possible. It was their belief in her becoming, the possibility of Abadonna, who simultaneously did and did not exist, trapped in a higher dimension. Zeloph’s magic provided Beatrix with a fertile womb to sow his seed.

But banishing him meant removing any trace of his essence, reality ‘restoring’ her womb to its sterilized state by the Demiurge. Any sign of her pregnancy was lost, the child that would be now miscarried to the ether.

“Please...no...!” They desperately tried to hold onto each other, quivering and unable to hold back sobs. There was so much Beatrix wanted to show her, teach her! To take little Abby on her own adventures! She railed against their fate, her heart breaking.

“M-Mommy… I-I… I̷̶̶͢͏ ̨̡͡͏҉l̶͟͠ò̴-̷̧̨͘l̶͟͟o̡̕͘͢-̧́l̵҉͡ơ̸ơ͘͟o̡̢̡͜͞o̶òv̶̛͟e̷͞ ̵̵̡̀͝ý̧̀̕o͞ú̧̕͜҉!̵̕͝!̷̛̕” Abadonna cried out, clinging to her cape for dear life, sobbing messily through the audible distortions that consumed her.

“I love you too! I always will, no matter what, I-I’ll--” But before she could finish, the little mare dissolved like a phantom, and Beatrix's arms closed around empty air.

The only evidence of Abadonna left behind was the witch's hat she’d given her that slowly floated down. She sat on her knees, sunk forward, bawled her eyes out while she clutched the bent hat to her breast.

Lady Ewe rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around the grieving mare. Beatrix’s cry alerted Sombra, Spike, and all the rest in proximity, who still felt sobered by events.

Beatrix sensed Abadonna was still out there. So long as she and Zeloph remembered and loved their daughter, she had yet to be conceptualized, trapped in a would-be state.

At the moment, her ability to tear holes in reality were too weak to reach her. Given time spent in other worlds, her newfound power would evolve to the point that there would be no wall she couldn’t tear down!

“I'll find you,” she quietly swore under her breath. “Somehow, I’ll find you, Abby. Even if I have to explore a billion worlds, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure we're reunited. I swear it!” Her balled up fist seized around the cool metal of the Prima Materia.

She kept the hat close to her heart, cried until her eyes were dry, unable to fill the empty pit inside her. Enveloped by a warm presence that from behind, she pressed back into Lady Ewe's wooly fur, who cradled her to her bosom and stroked her mane.

“Ah’ll dae whatever Ah can tae help ye fin' 'er,” she promised, resting her head against the distraught mare.

Beatrix nodded in response, whimpered, let out the woes into Oona’s fleece and silky robes, aware she needed all the support she could find. And while the loss of her child devastated her, she needn't suffer alone.

*****

The world around Zeloph was pitch black, save for a single spotlight that highlighted his decrypted form. Fragments of what appeared to be glass floated around, occasionally forming into a small mirror that reflected different worlds and timelines.

And yet none would form into the dimension that banished him, eternally severed from other realms. So the Nephilim wandered the void of fragmented realities aimlessly, head hung low, face drawn in naked bitterness until the turmoil proved too much.

The fallen angel dropped to his knees, pounding his fists into the tiled floors, releasing all his anguish in a drawn out cry, which echoed off the distance.

Abby was gone. Zeloph would likely never see her again. Even if he recouped, he had no access to the spatial powers Beatrix possessed to find her.

Every minute, he could feel the power of Aether slip away until he could no longer summon its heavenly glow. And with it, whatever love he ever held for mortals or anyone alike. Affection turned poisonous once it ate away at his battered spirit.

With nothing but eternity left for him, Zeloph curled into a fetal position, broken wings enfolding around his once-proud form.

Then, for what seemed like eternity, a new sound graced his ears. The sound of an old music box, slowly chiming close by. Lifting his head, he turned to the source, a small box opened to reveal a twirling ballerina figure. And just beyond it was a long shroud, a lithe figure slowly approaching the scene.

“Povero angioletto,” her soft voice greeted, her red lips visible underneath her hood. “Someone has broken your wings. How will you ever fly home now~?”

Zeloph glared at the woman, familiar with the melody the music box sang to him. Rubbing his face free of tears, he fully turned his body to face her. Her malicious smile matched by the glowing amber eyes shining through the vail.

“Madame Doppia,” Zeloph stated, the Vice Lord curtsying at her name. “What are you doing here?”

“I reside here, signore! If it weren’t for me, you would have been hurled to the far reaches of space and time. And we can’t have that, can we~?”

“I would have preferred that than to be rescued by the likes of you…”

Doppia laughed, kneeling down to hold his cheek. “The likes of me? Such mighty words for such a lowly, miserable creature~! Let’s be honest here, sweetie. You’ve done a lot of bad things. Just look at yourself…”

Shattered pieces forged together to show Zeloph’s reflection, the hooded woman gently turning his head to take a long look. “...you were never meant to be a savior~!”

Zeloph’s eyes had dilated into slits, tiny scales of prismatic colors growing along his jaw, causing him to scratch at them. His hand closed tightly, repulsed at what he saw, breath seething. Yet the truth was undeniable, his appearance changed to befit his status as a fallen angel.

Feeling her tug his face towards hers, his eyes stared into the soft orbs of a hooded woman. “No…I believe you are meant for more!”

“M-more..?” He weakly asked.

Doppia nodded. “Fate was cruel to reject such a beautiful creature, play at his heart like a used toy, just to be discarded into the trash. And that witch,” her entire demeanor changed, frowning upon mentioning Beatrix. “She was the only one you could relate to. Maybe even love! And even she would abandon you! Claiming to offer redemption, yet seeing you as nothing but a foe to vanquish.… Che sfortuna.”

“And because of her, the Child of the Lightendark prophecy is lost somewhere,” Doppia said, stroking Zeloph’s cheek with motherly affection. “Your child!”

“My child.… Abby...! Beatrix…. B͠e̴a̷̕t̨r͘͝i̸͜҉x..̷́!̴͞!” He rose from his feet, wings unfurling as he directed his loathing to the dark witch. His archaic signature shifted, Aether flaring up, n longer the pale flame of purity.

Zeloph’s halo glowed so brightly, darkness was highlighted around it. And the more his fury burned, the more his flesh became scaly, feathers sprouting from his pores.

“That’s it, Zeloph. Accept who you are~!” Doppia laughed, twirling around in delight. “Embrace the violence that stains your immortal soul! Use it to enact revenge against the ones who denied you sanctuary!”

“B̶̶̛͠È̛A̷̢̛Ţ҉͠R̡͜I̵X̨͘͜͠!̴̛̛!̧́͡” Zeloph bellowed, blasting the mirror with a renewed blast of luminous magic. His many eyes opened, clasping his head, his reflection scattered with each severed piece. His hatred for the cosmic traveler overtook the last remnants of the once caring and just pale emperor.

Now all that remained was the fallen one, a title he accepted full-heartedly. Zeloph looked towards Madame Doppia. “Why did you bring me here?” He asked, earning a most unsettling smile.

“Because he has a purpose for you,” she answered. “Join us, Zeloph, and together, we can restore your former glory in a new light. A light that will cause all who gaze upon you to weep. Make them envious of how glorious you truly are~!”

Zeloph turned away to consider her proposal. For so long, he had fought to prevent the rise of the Burning King. To keep the souls and mortals safe from his evil.

But after his harrowing experience in the Necronomicon, the humiliation and despair Beatrix brought to him, the Nephilim realized how futile it was to continue that mission.

And for as much as he despised his father, he now understood why he wanted mortals wiped from existence. They could never be saved. They deserved to suffer.

With the only decision clear to him, Zeloph returned to Doppia with an answer.

“I want my daughter. Help return Abadonna to me. Only then will I serve the Burning King.”

Author's Note

To anyone who's enjoyed the tale so far, stick around! There's an epilogue to come that will close up the tale!