Final Chapter (Part III): L'ultimo Ballo

As the horizon continued to crumble apart, the ebb and flow of reality threatening to spill over, Beatrix, her allies, and the court of the defeated Canterlonian Queen glared at the perpetrator wearing Cerise’s visage. Using the princess’ entrancing powers, the Vice Lord had tangled the entire platoon, as well as a few bystanders, into her web. Their magically infused weapons kept the group at bay, some even summoning ethereal chains should anyone attempt to flee.

“I have to say, Oona. I’m impressed!” Doppia mockingly praised the dream faun. She then turned to the trio of Starlight, Sunset, and Trixie, guarding Tatyana, who was still locked in a nightmare-induced slumber. “I never would have expected you of all people to cast such a malicious spell! Molto bene~!”

The flustered shaman said nothing back, her heated honey-brown eyes lowering to the ground. Even if she wasn’t in control when conjuring the nightmare spell, a tang of guilt hung onto her heart. She would have never subjected anyone to that level of punishment, no matter how deserving.

“Don’t speak to her as if you’re alike!” defended Beatrix, who stepped forward. “She is nothing like you!”

“Oh, I beg to differ,” the demoness countered. “Underneath the skin, we all share the same goals and desires. Some are just better at acquiring what they want than others~!”

“Castin’ yer allies aside like worn tools is not strength!” Dion spat.

“You lied and cheated!!” Midnight growled.

“You stole my body!!!” Cerise berated, her fists balled, shaking with rage. “And I want it back!”

“N’aaaaaw, povera ragazza,” Doppia playfully pouted. “And just when I was getting used to the way these curves felt...” She teasingly felt up her hips, sides, and breasts before flicking her mane. Then she laughed. “Oh wait, that’s right! You have no real magic to threaten me with. I took everything away from you~!!”

“Your mind games end now, Doppia!” Beatrix declared, her horn flaring with archaic energy.

But the Vice Lord wasn’t faltered. Instead, her brow rose accompanied by an amused smirk. “Bold words, considering you’re still fatigued after your bout with Tatyana,” she said, noting the sweat pouring off Beatrix, her aura dim and flickering. “Seems that godly touch of yours isn’t up to snuff, Zeloph.”

Her attention turned to the cherub, who hardened his cold glare once his abuser strutted closer. “And to think I once fantasized about you! Oh, how foolish of me. How could anyone love such a vile creature like you~?”

Shadow Scythe protectively to a stance in front of him, scowling. “Back off, Babylonian whore! You know nothing about real love!”

“Oh, and you do? Please, cagna! The only love you’ve ever shown was for power. Quit lying to yourself!”

The reaper drew her signature sickle from her shadow, icy eyes swiftly scanning the guards that tried boxing her in closer.

Grimmwald remained stoic once he calmly replied, “That’s interesting coming from the weakest link in the Burning King’s court. Surely, you’re the most power-hungry out of all of us?”

She shrugged off his insult and affirmed, “Never said I wasn’t. Why else would I backstab those two dolts the moment I had an advantage? It is a natural law for the strong to take from the weak. To make themselves more prominent! And, while you were busy having your’ contest,’ I weaved my way through your subject’s hearts and minds until they only knew submission…”

Her neon pink eyes glowed as wisps of energy rolled from them, revealing energy threads that tethered the guards and civilians to Doppia. A crystalline spear erected from the ground made entirely of obsidian and sparkling jewels. The body really did belong to Sombra’s daughter, but Beatrix had never seen Cerise manifest anything like this before! And certainly not on such a scale!

Pointing her weapon at the bull-man’s throat, the possessed thestral continued, “...as you shall too. Now, if you want to avoid being my puppet, relinquish the Crystal Heart shard and the alicorn princess! I may even give you the privilege of watching me rearrange the cosmos to my image~!”

“I knew it,” muttered Shadow Scythe. “You were never planning to aid your fellow demons in releasing the Nuckelavee!”

“Doesn’t take much of a genius to figure that out,” the bat mare confirmed with a sneer. “You really think any of us want to bring forth the End of Days? No. We were brought into Pathos by our shared hatred for life. Made into instruments of pain and misery to fuel that monster’s cruelty. And so long as this mark persists…” She pulled up her sleeve to show off the singed sigil that carried over from her soul transfer. Shadow Scythe and Zeloph cautiously clutched their own forearms. “...we are bound to perpetual torment. The only way these come off is when the Burning King rises. And then, reality will be forever scorched.”

Doppia shifted focus onto Beatrix and Oona, eying them coolly before continuing. “But for that to happen, your daughter must shatter the artifact that keeps his infernal majesty trapped within his realm. So what if… I simply take what remains of the Child of Lightendark and use her power to destroy the Burning King? Rather fitting conclusion, don’t you think~?”

“Over my dead body!!” Beatrix yelled.

“Calm yourself, Belladonna,” Brutus advised, his tunsen gaze fixated with the bat mare. “Her plan is highly dubious.”

His statement made Doppia scoff. “Look at the skies, you cow. That is the result of the child challenging fate itself! If that level of magic can free the Burning King, surely it can bring his undoing!”

“Indeed… but what makes you so confident you can obtain her power?”

Her smile finally dropped, her brow furrowed with annoyance. “W-what a stupid question! Look at what I’v-”

“I am,” the minotaur acknowledged the eye socket of his half-mask glimmering. “Underneath that shadowy veil of neon-lit fog, sparkling like jewels is a small shroud of emerald smog. The magic you’ve stolen has done very little to amplify your own prowess. So even if we surrendered and opened the portal, You’d still be no match against the Child of Lightendark.”

“Preposterous! I-I would just-”

“I also wouldn’t recommend that soul swapping spell if I were you,” Grimmwald continued, predicting her thoughts. “Considering how unstable Abadonna’s body is, you’d only die in the process.”

“Stai Zitto!!” Demanded Doppia, pushing the tip of her spear at his throat. “You know nothing of what you’re talking about! I am in control here!”

“Do you feel in control?” the minotaur snorted, gently lowering her weapon with two fingers and a thumb. “Clearly, this devious plot of yours wasn’t well thought out. However, this does bring up an excellent question. If the Burning King knew Abadonna was powerful enough to release him, why would he send only one Vice Lord to ensure the Omega Prophecy?”

Doppia’s composure steadily broke down, her conflict and rage surfacing through clenched teeth.

“Actually, yeah,” Cerise interjected. “Why did he just send Doppia?”

“Didn’t you say there were three other Vice Lords?” Pondered Beatrix, who looked to her lover.

The azure sheep nodded, saying, “Aye…”

“Come to think of it,” Zeloph added in, stroking his chin. “There was no one else in Pathos when we arrived there. It was only her and the Burning King.”

“Unless… we never did meet the Burning King,” suggested Shadow Scythe, who recalled how Doppia hid behind while she and her partner had to withstand a bunch of demons. “Back then, she claimed her magic wasn’t working. But knowing her now, that might have been a lie…”

Their gaze hardened on Doppia, who couldn’t stand to look at either of them. Her entire form shook like a leaf, trying to constrain her frustration of being found out.

“You were lying!” the reaper accused. “You cast an illusion of your master to scare us into cooperating with your plot!”

“If that’s true, then that would mean-” the cherub’s eyes lit up before he turned towards Shadow Scythe. “Check your arm!”

Catching on, the pale unicorn pulled up her sleeve and unraveled the bandages covering it. And, to her surprise, she found no visible burn mark or scar on her forearm. “I-it’s gone! But how?! I thought-”

“We were never bound,” Zeloph theorized. “My touch can restore any injury. Our marks were still fresh. It might have been cleansed while we took shelter in the mountain.” Curiously, he checked his own forearm, the wicked-looking sigil still embedded in his flesh. “The only reason mine wasn’t healed is because I’m immune to my own effect!” His eyes narrowed back at Doppia, who was heaving heavily like she was on the verge of breaking down. “You used that knowledge to pull off your subterfuge!”

“S-so what if it’s true!” The panicking mare confessed bitterly, aiming her weapon at them. “I still managed to string you along like puppets on strings!”

Grimmwald chuckled, shaking his head. “I disagree. The real puppeteer has yet to reveal themselves.”

Lady Ewe gazed up at the minotaur with a perplexed expression. “What are ye suggestin’, Brutus?”

“Well, take a look at her! She can barely stand the thought of anyone seeing through her poor facade. Despite all she has done, Doppia is not as clever as she’d want you to believe. Someone so cowardly would never be brave enough to conspire against the Burning King. Which leads me to believe that someone else is behind this ploy.”

Beatrix and her entourage looked at each other, perplexed by this development. The bull-man’s smile widened when his proposal made the twitching Vice Lord visibly tense up, glaring daggers at him. This gave him all the evidence he needed to confirm his suspicions. “Why don’t you tell us who that is, dear? Is it a fellow Vice Lord, perhaps? Someone who needed your talent for distraction from certain eyes. I’m quite curious to know who sent you on this suicide mission...”

Doppia answered with a violent shriek, lunging to piercing the nosey minotaur through his stubborn skull. Little did she know that Trixie had been secretly channeling her magic to launch a teleportation spell the moment the bat mare decided to strike. The coven, Tatyana, Brutus, Beatrix, and Oona, disappeared in a flash.

“W-what!? No!! NOOOOO!!!”

Seizing her moment, Shadow Scythe conjured shadowy blades out from her allies’ shadows to repel the guards, giving the group enough time to summon their weapons and magic, backs facing each other while the possessed soldiers reformed.

“Whoa! Where did they go?!” Asked Midnight, who gripped his lance firmly.

Zeloph noticed a flash of blue light within the palace windows and responded, “They’re inside. Hopefully, that means they’re proceeding towards getting to the library!”

“Then it’s up tae us tae make sure Doppia stays outside!” declared Dion, whose Onoma blazed through his claymore and shield.

“Won’t be a problem,” agreed Shadow Scythe, a vicious smile on her snout. “About time we settled the score with this cunt!”

Cerise spoke not a word, far too focused on Doppia to make a witty retort. Instead, she took up a battle stance, her cherubic ally placing his halo around her head, linking their energy together, not once tearing her eyes off her prize.

‘Such an intense glare’ noted Rheneas, whose spirit manifested to view the entire ordeal. ‘Do you really think we’ll have what it takes to reclaim your body?’

‘As a matter of fact, I don’t,’ the princess responded internally. ‘I know we have what it takes!’

Doppia locked eyes with every one of Beatrix’s allies before letting out a deranged cackle. “You think you can oppose me? Very well then! I’ll make sure they listen to your wails as I flay your corpses all across Canterlot!!”

Her army of mind-controlled paladins and civilians powered up their magic, aura alit over their horns and hands. The chaotic mastermind pointed towards the travelers and cried,

“Uccidili!”

Swirling clouds of magenta fog exploded as Beatrix, Lady Ewe, Lord Grimmwald, and the Troika appeared inside the castle halls. The bull-man adjusts his tie before commenting, “A little sooner next time, please? A second off and I might have been butchered steak!”

“You do realize casting that spell as quietly as a mouse takes effort, right?” berated Trixie, who, along with Sunset and Starlight, carried their comatose ruler with their combined magic.

“Regardless, take the Queen back to the chambers and alert the guards! No one is to infiltrate this castle while the ritual is underway!!”

The trio of witches nodded and was off, the azure unicorn pausing to look back at her’ daughter’ and offer, “Good luck, hun! When this is over… I’d like for you to visit again.”

“I will,” promised Beatrix, who smiled sadly, watching her mother and friends exit.

“Wait here,” commanded Brutus. “I’ll go explain everything to Twilight.” The minotaur rushed towards a corridor, up a long staircase. Beatrix wondered what form Flurry Heart would take, her heart heaving at the thought that her half-sister was also a victim of Tatyana’s despotism.

Her ears twitched at the commotion outside, drawing her face towards the window to watch her allies battle the unhinged demoness.

“It doesn’t feel right leaving them to fend for themselves,” confessed the violet unicorn. “M-maybe I should-”

But her lover took her hand to pull Beatrix away, shaking her wooly head. “We can’t! We’re too close tae turn back now! Have faith that they will succeed. Ye need tae conserve yer energy. We’re goin’ tae need it when we face Abadonna…”

“Face!?” Horrified eyes found the sheep’s honey gaze. “A-as in fight?!? No! N-not that! I’m not going to hurt her!! I-I wo-”

“We might have tae, Ceann Oga,” insisted Oona, who bit her bottom lip. “You saw how distressed Abby was. Ah can already feel her-engaah!”

The shaman’s form briefly jolted with distortion, causing her to stumble onto her knees. Pain spiked through her abdomen, her hand clutching over her stomach. Instinctively, Beatrix knelt down to hold her close. Her expression contorted with conflict, unable to comprehend the idea of battling her own daughter. But if they didn’t, her beloved would continue to share that same anguish…

“She doesn’t look too good,” a soft voice came in. The witch raised her head to find concerned light opal eyes on her. Entering the hallway was Flurry Heart, adorned in a teal decorated gown as expected of royal lineage. Accompanying her was Lord Grimmwald and the former princess of friendship herself. Twilight appeared to have seen better days, with bags under her eyes, her mane pulled up into a messy bun, and the nub on her forehead where her horn used to be. A terrible reminder of the caribou’s carnage.

Helping Lady Ewe up, Beatrix bowed her head towards her half-sister. “I-I can’t tell you how grateful we are to see you. Thank you, your highness.”

“No need for formalities,” giggled the pink alicorn.

Twilight fixated her violet gaze on Beatrix, noting the similar shade of their coats. With an arched brow, she questioned, “I’m… noticing a lot of resemblance between you and me.”

“U-uhm, yeeeah! It’s a long, kinda unpleasant story…” Admitted Beatrix, who rubbed the back of her mane while eying her severed horn. “Though clearly not as bad as yours. I mean, to have the most important part of your identity taken? How deplorable!”

“Well, at least I can still fly,” shrugged Twilight, ruffling her wings. “And my magic isn’t gone, per se. I just don’t have a proper way to channel it. And I refuse to allow anything from that tree to attach itself to me…”

Her eyes shifted to glare down the corridor, where the ‘life-bearing’ tree stood behind the throne.

Clearing his throat, Brutus cautiously approached the pair, asking, “Are you sure you should press onward, Lady Ewe?”

“A-aye,” assured the sheep sage. “Once we’ve restored Abadonna, these minor glitches will stop. Besides… A’ll need tae be used tae this when Ah get further along wit mah pregnancy.”

“That’s the spirit,” Twilight offered with a smile. “We’ll need you to help set up the ritual. Flurry Heart, keep Beatrix company in the meantime. Tell us if anything happens with the intruder outside.”

“Yes, Auntie!” The younger alicorn nodded, watching as the minotaur escorted the dream faun and her aunt towards the throne chambers. Along with the violet witch, Flurry fluttered onto the window ledge to monitor the ongoing fight. “I heard a bit about what was going on. I hope your friends are strong enough to take out this Vice Lord lady…”

“You and I both…” Beatrix nodded, her snout down and heart racing as she observed Dion and Midnight handle the guards. Meanwhile, Cerise, Shadow Scythe, and Zeloph went after Doppia, dodging the combination of her shadow magic and geomancy. She clenched her hands tightly, silently urging, ‘ You’ve got this, guys!’

Both burly warriors blocked any attempt to apprehend the paladins and mages. Thanks to Ares’ magic nullifying effects, Dion quickly brushed off their infused chains and spears. He bashed his shield against one bloke to shove a wave of soldiers down.

Likewise, Midnight twirled his lance around, swiping unicorns and creatures off their feet. When some sent their familiars to attack, he batted them away with his massive wingspan. Yellowish veins pulsed through his musculature and eyes, his hyper-stallion instinct kicking in. But this time, the soldier was in complete control, careful to not pulverize opponents with enhanced strength.

Noticing his friend cutting down foe after foe, Midnight reminded, “We shouldn’t be too aggressive, Dion. Half of them are innocent bystanders!”

With a huff, the white ram retorted, “Yeah, well, th’ other half ridiculed us in chains. Ah ain’t pullin’ no punches, laddie!” One soldier tried to strike with an overhead swing, to which Dion responded by catching his arm, flashing a grin before pulling the poor sucker to meet his iron-like cranium. The paladin mage collapsed, a sizable dent in his helmet.

“COME ON! FIGHT ME, YE BASTARDS!!” The burly ram bellowed, rushing headfirst into another wave of soldiers.

“And he told me not to get carried away,” Midnight huffed before shifting focus back on the fight before him. The more guards and spellcasters they subdued, the fewer casualties the Vice Lord would make.

As Cerise and Shadow Scythe chased after her, more cackles erupted from Doppia, who pushed her stolen vessel to its limits. Every time the reaper struck with Thanatos, she summoned fragments to shield herself. And when the pale unicorn tried a different tactic, she’d manipulated the crystalline shards to reform around her.

“See what you’ve been missing, amica?” The Vice Lord hooted, tracing her charcoal breasts, belly, and thighs. “See how powerful this body is when in the right hands?! I pity poor Sombra, wasting his potential on a puny, pampered princess~!”

“My father would never let his power be used to harm innocent people. Let alone trick them!” Cerise rebutted, swerving around launched projectiles.

“Sort of ironic, considering who he was…” Zeloph added, managing to keep pace with the ballerina.

“Not helping!!” Shadow Scythe grunted, using her own weapon to slash through the dark beams.

Elated laughter echoed through the area while Doppia launched hairlike threads to tether more soldiers. Even preoccupied, she was able to send out more strands that wound about the wizards closest to her, bedlam quick to erupt as the ensnared puppets were swift to retaliate against Dion and Midnight.

“Inutile!” Doppia declared. “I will never run out of pawns. How long do you think those two neanderthals can hold out until-”

“Zeloph, now!!”

In haste, the small demi fired an orb that exploded right in front of her. Light so bright, the demoness was forced to shield her eyes. And, just like in the Crystal Empire, the reaper used the enhanced silhouettes to disappear into, emerging right behind Doppia.

Shadow Scythe cut through most of the threads with a single swipe, guardsmen, and magicians falling unconscious in heaps. Then, with half of the Vice Lord’s armor down, the two warriors had an easier time walling off minions.

Shadow Scythe’s snout was drawn in seething resentment, posing her sickle right over Doppia’s head. “This is where you die, cagna!”

“W-wait, don’t!” warned Midnight, his eyes and mouth wide open. “That’s still my wife’s body! If you harm her-”

The reaper’s grip loosened, understanding the consequences if she carried out her action. With a groan, Shadow Scythe resisted the opportunity to lop off the head of her hated foe. While she couldn’t deny her feelings towards her allies, the pale mare remained uncertain why mortals were so attached to the meat they were cursed to inhabit.

And the bitterness only grew worse as Doppia continued to laugh mockingly. “That’s right, amica~! Slay me, and poor little Cerise will have nothing to return to! Go ahead, Shadow Scythe!” The charcoal mare taunted, spreading her arms. “Carve me up into pieces! Rip out her tender little heart!! You know you want to~!!!”

“Shut your whore mouth!!” The reaper yelled, slamming the butt of her scythe into Doppia’s midsection, trying hard not to cause any permanent injuries.

More deranged laughter rose from Doppia, crimson leaking out the side of her snout as she bared a bloody grin. She endured a couple more strikes before launching her counterattack. Her lance broke into crystal shrapnel that struck Shadow Scythe from behind. She screamed as thousands of tiny shards lodged through her flesh, providing Doppia an opportunity to kick the reaper’s torso, sending her into the ground.

“Ha! Idiota! You don’t stand a chance against-oof!?”

A whoosh sounded by the Vice Lord as Cerise used the distraction to launch her sneak attack. Shimmer golden light sparkled off her form, Zeloph embrewing her with his power while attached to her shoulder. Her energized roundhouse smashed into the Vice Lord’s maw, spraying spit and blood.

“That’s a fractured jaw bone,” the cherub observed. “I thought we were avoiding doing lasting harm!”

The dancer’s flesh jiggled when she bounced in place, shaking her head. “Nu-uh! Can’t afford to hold off if I want to regain my body. Besides, you’ll patch me back up, right~?”

Her statement made Zeloph grimace with annoyance. “E-ehh?! What do you think I am, your personal first-aid kit?! I’m trying to return to my natural form as well!!”

“Well, the sooner you do that, the better. But until then, cover me!”

The side of his lips curled. “Hmph! Look at you, acting all grown up and bossy.”

“Better late than never…” Cerise muttered. She’d known the possible consequences of this journey and accepted the punishment of losing her form to the treacherous schemer. She even considered the likely outcome of not being able to reclaim her own flesh. But that didn’t matter to her anymore. Her friends accepted her.

Whatever it took, the dark dancer swore to put an end to this Vice Lord!

Doppia rubbed at her bruised cheek, sneering at her enemies. “You will pay for that, princess!” Her crystalline weapon reformed when she erected glass pillars from the cracked earth. Then, her reflections came to life, twirling out from the surface to aid the deceitful demon.

Cerise’s response was to lift up her hand and beckon her foe to bring it.

Doppia sent her doppelgangers to attack, the dancer and cherub sailed towards her opponent. She tripped every decoy in her path with precise strokes, swift kicks, and ballet-inspired steps. Each of them shattered into blossoms of dust while Cerise came closer and closer.

Infuriated, Doppia shattered the pillars around her and launched them at her foes. But Zeloph intercepted by activating his ring. An ophanim shield appeared, the turning wheels of topaz lined in eyes and wings, deflecting the projectiles before vanishing. And the Vice Lord reacted too late to flee, trapped between the assault.

With the distance now closed, Cerise laid into Doppia with a flurry of kicks and punches. Inside, Rheanas’ spirit resonated brightly, watching in astonishment. How long had she waited to see the demoness get her comeuppance...?

Shadow Scythe, Dion, and Midnight paused to watch their friend unleash a week’s worth of pent-up fury in a series of precise strikes and kicks.

The ram pumped his fist. “That’s it, lass! Get her! Wallop th’ lousy wench!”

“Make sure there’s plenty left for me!” The reaper called.

“Do it, Cerise!” The blue pegasus yelled. “Finish her off!!”

Cerise poured every last bit of anguish and rage into an uppercut with a loud cry, knocking Doppia off her feet and sending her into a wall, which crumbled upon impact. Blood, tears, and perspiration soaked the crystal mare’s form, breathing heavily, her lithe muscles tensed.

“We got her!” Zeloph proclaimed.

“It’s not over yet,” spat the princess as she approached her foe, who couldn’t stand up after enduring such a relentless assault.

Doppia gazed up, battered and bruised, trembling in Cerise’s shadow. More crimson splattered out her mouth when she tried to speak. “N-no, please! You can’t! If you kill me, you’ll never...”

The princess shook her head. “It doesn’t matter if I’m stuck in this body forever!”

‘What?’ the ballerina’s true spirit exclaimed. ‘But how will we-’

“We’ll find a way to coexist, Rheneas,” assured Cerise, who clasped her hands over her heart. “Unlike her, I will never try to overtake you.”

The mention of that name made Doppia snap. “Rheneas!? N-no, that’s not possible! I assimilated her! I-I thought… how can her soul still persist!?”

“You assumed a lot of things,” Cerise berated, her eyes fixated on the silver ring still wrapped around her finger. From the looks of it, Doppia tried desperately to get it off. “You thought you could tear us apart. But our love is stronger than that! It doesn’t change who I am!”

She turned back to flash a smile at her husband, who returned it once he and their allies stood beside her. Then, taking Doppia’s spear into her hands, leveling the tip to rest right over the Vice Lord’s heart, she hardened her face and continued. “You chose to live a life filled with lies and deceit, Doppia. And for that, no one is going to remember you!”

But before she could plunge the spear through her enemy, the demon let out a hoarse sob, slamming her fist into the ground like a toddler during a tantrum. “IT’S NOT FAIR!!” She bawled openly. “I DID EVERYTHING YOU ASKED! AND THIS IS HOW I’M REPAID!? YOU PROMISED!!!”

“Well… this is kinda silly,” admitted Dion.

“What is she rambling about again?” Midnight asked.

“That bull said something about this doomed plot not even being her idea, did he not?” recalled Zeloph.

“Oh, who gives a shit?!” Interrupted Shadow Scythe, who raised her sickle in preparation to take her head. “Just kill the bitch already, or I will!!”

“Hold on,” Cerise called, holding her arm out to prevent the reaper from fulfilling her claim. She narrowed her gaze at the sniveling Vice Lord and almost pitied her. She had never slain another creature who wasn’t a monster. And against her better judgment, she couldn’t help but feel curious about what Doppia was talking about. A trait passed over by Beatrix, she guessed.

With a sigh, the princess questioned, “What drove you to do all this, Doppia?”

“Like you would understand,” the charcoal mare whimpered. “You, who grew up privileged in a safe home with loving parents and friends. Why do you think I stole your body?”

“You were jealous,” said Cerise, who also felt envy, surrounded by those she once felt inferior to.

Doppia nodded. “You don’t know how hard life is being the lowest demon in Pathos. I was born tiny, only able to feed on leftovers like a scavenger. I assumed many forms to survive until I was finally brought before the Burning King himself. I became a Vice Lord. And I relished every moment of tormenting every soul I could claim. Making them suffer the same hatred and envy I felt!”

Her gaze lowered to her wounds, her palm completely red. “But it wasn’t enough. No matter whose face I took or which lie I told, I could never become powerful like the others. To them, I was a joke. Not even that fiery warmonger noticed my efforts when serving him. All he cares about is destroying everything!” She hissed. “Oh, how I coveted their annihilation. But it seemed like a day that would never come... until he arrived.”

Her eyes turned back up towards her towering foes, resting on the cherub’s bewildered expression. “He saw my curse as a gift. Offered to build me a body I could call my own. All I had to do was carry out this diversion, and we would all be free from the reign of fire.”

A broken chuckle left her throat, more tears oozing down her face. “It’s ironic, really. I’ve been a deceiver all my life, and yet I fell for a simple lie! I realized he had no intention of keeping his word right before I went through that blasted forest just to get here! I came all this way just to die for his cause. It was at that moment I learned a harsh truth. Life was the biggest deception of all…”

Impatient, Shadow Scythe seized Doppia by the throat, growling, “Enough talk! Who is this advocate of yours!? Tell us now or-”

Her accusation stopped as the deranged bat mare began laughing again, her form cracking into pieces before collapsing into dust. Another decoy.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me-gaaaagh!!!”

A crystal spear pierced through her stomach from behind her. The party jumped back while Doppia yanked her weapon free, watching with sadistic glee as the reaper collapsed to her knees, clutching her leaking gut as blood dripped.

“Don’t worry yourself, amica,” answered the charcoal mare. “You won’t live to meet him. Consider that a mercy~!”

Dion and Midnight rushed at her, releasing a battle cry. But Doppia waved her hand as obsidian stones wrapped over their bulk. In little time, both warriors were encased in a crystalline chrysalis.

“NO!” Cerise cried as she and Zeloph ran to attack, only for stray guardsmen to secure them in their ethereal chains. Magical strings still tethered them to Doppia, who commanded her paladins to punch and batter the princess until she was driven down on her knees.

“Principessa sciocca,” Doppia chastised, grasping her hand around the cherub’s throat as she lifted him away from Cerise. He squirmed feebly, his halo disappearing from the crystal dancer’s head. “Look what you need to mimic a fraction of my power~?”

“Stop it, Doppia!” Sneered Cerise, who struggled in her bonds. “Y-you won’t… win!”

“Oh, I don’t need to,” the Vice Lord retorted, forming a crystal cage around Zeloph, leaving his head bare. “So long as I take you lot down with me, I’ll be satisfied with my demise.”

“You bitch!” The small demihuman gasped.

Doppia merely snickered, stroking his chin with her index finger. “I still don’t understand his obsession over you. I sullied you, and you’ve become so sensitive and pathetic. Your death will especially be satisfying since it will thwart whatever plans he had in mind!”

The Vice Lord sighed. “Such a pity, really. You could have been so much greater, Zeloph. But instead, you threw it away for love.”

She gestured towards Shadow Scythe, who shakingly lifted herself up only for a guard to knock her back down, digging the shards further into her back as blood pooled below her.

“Well, before you die, let me show you what happens to true love~!”

At the snap of her fingers, the paladin enforcers began to shred the reaper’s clothes. Panic gasps and hollers arose when she squirmed under their bulk, surrounded by the enthralled brutes.

“Noo..!!” Zeloph cried out, feebly trying to break out while Doppa strutted over to Cerise, who would suffer the same fate. His eyes stared at the broken mare, helpless to do anything to save her.

No. They both had come too far to fail here. They were given a fortuitous opportunity to redeem themselves for their past crimes. And Shadow Scythe, whether she realized it or not, had given Zeloph purpose to live. A reason to love.

And the Fallen One would not allow their future to be snuffed out so quickly by the wretched Vice Lord. His eyes burned vermillion, glowing brightly when he began channeling his passion and anger into ancient magic.

Cerise yelped as her tender breasts spilled free after the guard pulled at her top, glaring defiantly at her oppressor. “You won’t get away with this!”

“I already have, cagna,” Doppia grinned victorious, raising her hand to slap her adversary across the face. But something caught her attention. Her brows furrowed at the rising gleam reflecting off the guard’s shiny armor.

Her head snapped back, realizing that Zeloph’s entire form was shimmering with luminescence, the heat melting away his crystalline imprisonment. He was absorbing so much light, the area grew dimmer and dimmer. Neon eyes widened in alarm. “N-no! What are you-!?”

Everyone stopped as the warm illumination engulfed the demi fully, gently rising into the air. The essence swirled around, growing larger and brighter, threatening to blind all who looked directly. A cyclone of light funneled within the quart yard, pillaring into the skies. And once the sunlit tornado unraveled, Zeloph spiraled out fully formed, his six swan-like wings unfurled. The midnight coloring of his hair brightened into sky blue, a royal orange streaking through his bang. His eyes shined in celeste, what remained of the Necronomicon’s corruption having been cleansed.

The area was filled with jubilance, allies and enemies alike in awe of the seraphic creature. Streaks of sunlight poured from the dark clouds as if the very heavens welcomed his return. Cerise was especially taken aback by the scene, letting out an elated laugh. Before, the sight of Zeloph hovering above sent terror through her soul. Now, despite his crimes, she couldn’t be more relieved to have the demi on her side.

The same couldn’t be said for Doppia, who appeared appalled by her feathered adversary. The many eyes within his covert feathers stared intently while Zeloph looked upon her blankly.

“Sei un cazzo enorme!” She spat. “Bastardo! How dare you look down on me!! Don’t think that-”

The seraphic angel seized her by the neck, bringing her gasping face to his. Calmly, he spoke. But his words betrayed his fury. “You confused my love for weakness. Allow me to show you why it is your downfall!”

He tossed her into the paladins holding Cerise and Shadow Scythe at bay, the dancer rushing to help the reaper up to her feet. Icy eyes gazed at her heavenly partner, who touched the ground.

Doppia recovered onto her feet, commanding her stringed puppets to advance Zeloph. The fallen angel soared into the fray, using his plumage, hands, and kicks to topple the Vice Lord’s forces. One by one, they were thrown, knocked aside, or unconscious. Their numbers eventually overwhelmed him, forcing him down onto the ground, pinning him with bodies and chains.

That was until the aura of his Onoma shined brightly around his winged form, unleashing a nova of energy to scatter the mind-controlled soldiers off. The waves rippled over the crystal-sealed Dion and Midnight, weakening their bounds enough for both to burst free. Thanking their former enemy with a nod, the warriors leaped back into the fight, warding the rest of the guards and mages away from their allies.

Realizing that she was losing the battle, Doppia flapped her bat-shaped wings and took to the skies, only for Zeloph to pursue her.

“You won’t get away!” He proclaimed, flash stepping in front of the demoness, catching her with a left hook. The force behind it knocked the air right out of her lungs. “Not until you’ve paid for all you’ve done!”

Zeloph punched her upwards, soaring above to deliver a swift ax kick to project her downward. As Doppia fell, the Fallen One crossed his arms over her and increased their velocity, ensuring she hit the ground hard.

“NAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!”

Gravel and stone erupted upon impact, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. Zeloph emerged first, folding his wings when he landed next to his allies. Cerise had finished pulling the last bit of shrapnel out of Shadow Scythe’s back. Placing illuminated hands on their shoulders, he closed their wounds without leaving so much as a scar.

“Thanks, Zell,” Cerise smiled graciously.

“I-I am quite capable of healing myself,” complained Shadow Scythe, whose cheeks flushed.

Zeloph simply laughed in response. But the moment was cut short when a spear pierced right through his back, earning an agonized scream. Then, while her wings were bent in unnatural angles and struggling to stand on broken bones, Doppia twisted her weapon further into the demi.

“I-I told you, amica,” she heaved, blood gushing down her chin. “I-If I must die… s-so will you!”

Zeloph collapsed to his knees with a clean yank, yelling in anguish. With fearful eyes, Shadow Scythe clasped his shoulders, pulling her beloved into her arms, trying to seal off his wound.

“Zeloph, hang on! I-I can try to heal you,” she promised, her severed horn sparking with magic. She didn’t know if that spell could work on others, but she wasn’t about to let the demi die!

“Lass, watch out!!” Dion warned, still engaged with the resilient guardsmen.

SHLUK!

Turning up, the pale unicorn found the tip of crystalline a few centimeters away from between her eyes. Doppia almost succeeded in impaling her foes had Cerise not stepped in and shoved her own spear right through the demon's chest.

Pinpoint neon eyes wavered to discover not the amber orbs of her former vessel but indigo eyes.

“Y-you..!!”

“No longer will you torment anyone again!!” Rheneas cried, finally able to repay all those years of silent suffering with a single stab. The charcoal thestral threw her head back and let out a harrowing shriek, vomited out foul emerald smog before the abandoned body fell limp.

Midnight soared past to catch his wife’s soulless form, hugging it to his chest while staring at the mist with big green eyes.

In vain, the mist tried to hold a solid form, shifting through all the victims and faces Doppia had stolen. Limbs, wings, tails and grew out and dissolved in rapid succession, the demoness screaming madly, pitifully crawling away.

Giving Zeloph over to Dion, Shadow Scythe wasted no time to jab her shadow tendrils into the Vice Lord, forcing the monstrosity onto its knees and preventing her escape. Then, the reaper readied her swing with her scythe poised above Doppia’s nape. The two enemies locked eyes, the demoness stabilizing fused visage of Rheneas and Cerise with her sorrowful amber eyes. It almost made the reaper feel sorry for her wretched existence. Almost.

“Arrivederci,” Shadow Scythe coldly muttered before bringing her blade across the Vice Lord’s neck. And, during that brief moment, a happy smile appeared on Doppia’s lips as she closed her eyes and uttered her final words.

“Sono… finalmente… libero…”

SHLINK!

The demoness’ head lopped off as her body stopped constantly contorting and dropped lifelessly. Any eyes or mouths closed, blood pooling out the neck wound. The treacherous Doppia finally put out of her madness.

With the Vice Lord gone, her possessive threads severed into nothingness. All the guards, unicorns, and spellcasters shook off the effects like a hazy dream, wondering what happened and why there was so much collateral damage.

Rheneas dropped the weapon, sitting on her rump while breathing heavily. “It’s over… w-we did it!”

“Wait, what happened to Cerise!?” Midnight demanded, on the verge of tears. “Why hasn’t she-”

“I-It’s okay,” the ballerina assured, placing a hand over her chest. “She’s still here, ready to return to her body.”

“Better hurry,” coughed Zeloph, who leaned on Dion for support, almost spent after that display of power. “Her body will die if I don’t heal it!”

“Allow me,” Shadow Scythe offered, dispelling her Onoma before placing both hands over the crystal pegasus’ shoulders. “I’ve never used my abilities in this way. This may hurt a little…”

“I’ve been through worse,” joked Rheneas, who did her best to keep calm breaths. Then, with a nod, the reaper channeled her magic through the dancer and carefully extracted the extra soul, causing her to groan in discomfort.

“Almost there…” She said soothingly until tugging out Cerise’s soul, a baleful ball of hot pink color. The ram helped the wounded angel kneel next to the princesses’ body, waves of light rippling over her curvature while mending all the shattered bones and torn muscles. Once the vessel was fully healed moments later, Shadow Scythe gently guided the spirit back into her rightful body, phasing through her bare breasts to settle in.

With a gasp, Cerise lurched upward, eyes wide as she examined her own hands and feet. “I-I’m… I’m back! Haha!! I’M BACK!!!” She laughed, whereupon tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks. Her husband hoisted his beloved up and swung her around in powerful arms, met by happy squeals.

“You’re back!” Cheered Midnight with his wife, who clasped her to his fluffy chest. Cupping her hubby’s cheeks, she showered him with hundreds of long-overdue kisses. Then, pulling away, they noticed their rings, her silver and his gold, now glimmered to life once their fingers touched. “H-hey! How come Doppia never took this off?”

“She couldn’t,” answered Dion, who observed the wedding bands. “Th’ runes were empowered by yer love over time. Sae even with all her might, that ring won’t come off unless ye wanted it tae. It’s one ov th’ rarest forms ov protection spells available! Moon Hammer did fine work!”

“I’ll have to repay him for crafting them!” Exclaimed Cerise, beaming widely. Her attention shifted towards the crystal ballerina, pulling away from Midnight. “Rheneas! You’re-”

“Free,” she nodded, a bright smile stretching her snout, her eyes also watery as she trembled. “And it’s all because of you! Thank you, Cerise!!”

The pair of dancers joined together in a tight embrace, utterly relieved to be unburdened by the Vice Lord’s trickery. Midnight wrapped his arms and plume around his wife once more while Dion approached Zeloph, who fastened a bandage around his wounded back.

“Ah believe Ah owe ye an apology as well,” the ram confessed between pats on his shoulder. “A’ve been nothin’ but a hardass on you an’ th’ death goddess. But ye both came through when we really needed it. Sae… thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you,” chuckled the Fallen One. “Had you’d not given me this chance at redemption, I would have rotted away in that ce-yeeoooww!!”

Their conversion was interrupted when Shadow Scythe smacked Zeloph across his cheek, glaring sternly. “You bastard! How long have you been able to transform back to your original self!?”

“I-I wasn’t sure if I could!” He insisted, rubbing his face.

“Oh, please! Like you wouldn’t hold back at the last possible moment to make your ‘grand’ ascension even more of a spectacle. We would have died, asshole!”

“I would never risk your life for that! I meant every word of what I said! That my love for you proved stronger than anything Doppia could conjure.”

Despite how weak she still felt, the reaper flared to life with a flustered look. “Ohoho! Trying to butter me up with sweet talk!? How dare you think me susceptible to your charms, you pompous, shit eating, megalomani-muumph~!?!”

Her icy eyes went wide when Zeloph silenced her mouth with his own, much to the crowd’s audible amusement. She felt every nerve in her body screaming to murder the son of a bitch for kissing her! But, fortunately for him, Shadow Scythe’s heart won that battle, and the reaper slowly wrapped her slender arms around his neck, pressing back into his liplock with fierce, unbridled passion.

“Looks like our resident ice queen finally thawed over,” teased Cerise, earning snickers from her friends who watched the couple.

They pulled away with hot breaths, gazing longingly into each other’s mirroring eyes. Realizing what he had done, Zeloph’s cheeks lit up, and he stammered an apology. “I-I am so sorry!! I-it was the heat of the moment, and I–”

Shadow Scythe placed a finger to the angel’s lips, shushing him. Then, in as serious of a tone she could muster, she playfully stated, “If you ever pull out of my kiss again... I will strangle you!”

The Fallen One let out a nervous chuckle before resuming to make out with the reaper. Their newfound allies cheered before they tended to those manipulated by Doppia’s influence.

Cerise collected the crystalline spear used to expel the Vice Lord. Just holding the enhanced weapon made her feel more substantial.

But her expression fell when she failed to locate the other spear used against Zeloph. The charcoal mare could have sworn she spotted it only meters away.

“Where did it go..?”