Phillip and Daring opened their eyes, looking around cautiously.

All around them was an expanse of white, with no indication of where the ground ended and the sky began.

A shadowy form moved to their left and they both jumped. Where Lucifer had been standing was an entirely different figure that towered over them, at least another three ponies higher.

She stood upright, with two legs and two arms ending in five-fingered hands. Her skin was a pale apricot. She was dressed in Lucifer’s suit, along with black slacks and matching heels. Her hands were covered by white gloves, and a long, thin tail with a barbed tip flicked behind her. Her rounded head had Lucifer’s hair and familiar mole, along with a pair of curved white horns out either side of her head.

The tall figure paid them no mind – her attention was focused skyward. “About time you showed yourselves,” she said, her voice matching Lucifer’s as well.

Phil and Daring slowly followed her gaze, gawking at the sight. The giant striped horse-like entities were the size of mountains, seemingly made of thundering clouds. Each had three pairs of wings spread out from their backs, crowns of flashing lightning bolts encircling their heads, and glowing white eyes. One possessed a long beard and the other a long white mane, but neither had mouths.

“Our children are in danger,” the male of the two said in a deep rumbling voice that echoed in the ponies’ heads. His calm voice was laced with an anger that made both ponies think of a stormy sea.

“We want answers, fallen one,” the female added, her voice similarly telepathic, and carrying a similar, barely restrained fury.

Lucifer huffed. “An Old God’s loose, on the puppet strings of an interdimensional being of considerable power and being aided by a traitorous demon of a most dangerous variety.” Her eyes narrowed. “So, you have a stake in their souls.”

“What’s she talking about?” Daring hissed to Phillip.

He opened his mouth to speak, but felt a cold chill against his chest. Reaching into his vest, he pulled out his necklace, the carved pendant glowing softly in his hoof. Noticing that, Daring pulled out her own and found it reacting similarly.

Lucifer’s eyes lingered on the two of them for a moment, then downward with a brief thought, then back up at the entities. “You want to keep them safe, your chosen heroes. On that we can agree, it is nowhere near their time – so let me make an offer.”

“We are listening,” the female entity said.

“If they pledge their souls to me, I can promise their survival. You have my word,” Lucifer said, holding up one hand while pressing the other to the center of her chest.

A growl of thunder and a buffet of wind rocketed past the demon, but Lucifer stood unfazed. “Explain yourself,” the male demanded.

“Should they perish, their souls will be mine to do with as I please. All I would have to do is keep their souls from passing, heal their bodies, and restore their souls,” Lucifer explained calmly. “And once they’re restored, their souls will no longer be mine.”

“And should they not perish?” the female inquired, an eyebrow raised.

“Then as soon as Beelzebub is resealed in the Abyss and the Old God is detained back in her pit, I will relinquish all stake in their souls. No strings attached.” Lucifer looked between them. “You two are formidable, but even you can’t interfere with the afterlife. I can. I’m the best chance you have to keep them safe.”

The male hummed in thought, a crackle of thunder reverberating across the blank plain. He turned to the female, who gave a sigh like a soft gust of wind and nodded.

“Very well, Lucifer,” the male said. “But know that if you betray us, we will see to it that you are imprisoned with your damned for all eternity.”

Lucifer gave a soft sigh and nodded. “I accept these conditions,” she said. “I am a demon of my word. I will not fail you, or them.”

A soft smile, warm and welcoming crossed her face as she turned to Phillip and Daring, crouching down to their height and offering them her hand. “Pledge your souls to me, please. I will keep you safe,” she said softly.

Phillip and Daring looked between her and the two entities. The female gave a nod, smiling down at them.

“You may trust her, my children,” she said.

“Phil… is that…?” Daring asked.

Phillip swallowed. “I think so… but there’s something more pressing.” He turned to Lucifer. “I want to alter the deal.”

Lucifer frowned. “How’s that?”

“Promise to give those protections to our friends, should this all go south,” he said. “Can you do that?”

Lucifer’s crimson eyes glowed softly, and Phillip felt memories bristle against the back of his mind before they faded along with the glow. Her smile returned. “Done.”

Phillip turned to Daring, giving her a nod. She returned an uneasy smile. “Well, as long as we’re all covered by this insurance,” she said with a weak chuckle, looking at Lucifer. “So… how do you… pledge your soul to a demon?” Her snout scrunched up. “That does not sound right.”

“Simply say ‘I pledge my soul to Lucifer,’ and place your hooves in my hand,” Lucifer explained. “After that, leave it all to me.”

Phillip and Daring shared a look before nodding. “I pledge my soul to Lucifer,” they said in unison, setting their hooves into Lucifer’s palm.

Lucifer shut her eyes and bowed her head. “The pact is sealed. Your souls are mine,” she said quietly. “And I will keep you safe.”

Under the judging gazes of the two entities, the trio faded from the empty plane.

When Phillip and Daring opened their eyes again, they were back in the precinct’s lobby, and the creature in front of them was back in her pony form. Lucifer set her hoof down as Phillip and Daring looked around – no one seemed to have noticed anything.

“I appreciate you trusting me,” Lucifer said with a small smile. “Not many would.”

“You’ll be keeping your end of the bargain though, right?” Daring asked, frowning at her.

Lucifer nodded. “But of course. I’m mischievous, not evil,” she said, her smile reverting back to its usual smirk.

“Right. Were you able to find out Nightmare Moon’s location?” Phillip asked. “The sooner we take care of her, the better.”

“We believe we’ve found her. A cemetery in the western part of the city, cliché as it is. But there is something else you should know – Beelzebub took more souls from Tartarus than just Nightmare Moon.” Lucifer glanced down at Charlotte’s remains. “And given what the Mirror Twin is capable of already, we should be on our guard.”

“Who is this Mirror Twin anyway? You mentioned she was… interdimensional?” Daring asked.

“A demon of unspeakable power, with a proficiency for mental trickery and mechanical tinkering, and she’s no colleague of mine. If she were in this plain of existence, believe me we’d know about it. She must be relying on some of her puppets to do her dirty work,” Lucifer explained. “I’m still trying to parse out what she wants with Luna.”

“Lovely,” Daring huffed. Phillip just grunted.

“Justice and Judgement are with Luna now. I figured we should all march on Nightmare Moon together – strength in numbers and all. Are you two fit for fighting?” Lucifer asked, turning to the door.

“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Phillip grunted.

Everything hurt.

Every muscle in Beelzebub’s body burned. She had forgone flight shortly after fleeing in exchange for walking. Her breath came out in wheezes that made her sound like her chest was hollow. She tried to keep weight off her one forehoof as she went – it and the gash down her barrel were coated in a crimson amber to help expedite healing.

She wasn’t sure what she had expected entering the service of her liberator. A being that powerful was not one you just brushed off – and stealing souls from her former jailers had made it all the sweeter.

In hindsight it had been more than she could chew yet again. She’d expected Lucifer to follow after her – she hadn’t expected ponies with holy weapons, and no doubt holy protectors behind them.

She blinked her compound eyes, trying to get them to focus. Normal vision was difficult enough, but as she scanned buildings in the slumbering metropolis, the souls she saw inside took the shapes of multi-colored blobs.

Beelzebub knew she needed shelter, lest the ponies track her down and finish the job they had started in the police precinct. A building across the street with a blueish blob located on the first floor seemed like the best bet.

Stumbling over her sore legs, she crossed the street, winced as she raised her good hoof and put weight on the sore one, and knocked.

A white unicorn mare with a blue, flowing mane and tail and the cutie mark of a blue rose answered the door, eyebrows raised as the crimson changeling before her. “Can I help you?” she asked.

Beelzebub blinked at her. “If… If I could please… step in a moment and rest… please…” she panted. In her foggy mind, she wished she were acting.

The mare carefully eyed Beelzebub from horntip to hooves, eyes lingering on the encased wounds, before locking eyes with her. After a moment’s pause, the unicorn nodded and stepped aside. With a grateful smile, Beelzebub limped into the house, the mare’s eyes on her the entire way in and over to the couch.

“What’s your name?” the unicorn asked.

“Beel… what’s yours?” Beel shut her eyes, concentrating her willpower towards her wounds.

“Blue Rose. What happened to you?” Blue’s eyes darted between Beel’s battered form and a nearby telephone.

“A stupid fight for stupid reasons,” Beel said bitterly. It was as close to the truth as she was willing to admit. “I hope… I didn’t wake you…”

“I’m waiting up for my daughter,” Blue said briskly. “She should be home soon.”

Beel’s eyes opened, her mind clear enough for her to scan her environment. On a shelf across from her, she saw pictures of Blue Rose and a younger changeling and her gaze softened. “This late at night?”

Blue nodded. “She’s out with her friends.” Her gaze focused back on Beel. “So, Beel, you’re new to town. What brings you here?”

“Business,” Beel said, some of her bravado returning. “Though I’m beginning to think I’m the one getting the business – this fight I was in was a part of it.” She sighed. “Honestly, I think… I think I’ve made a mistake.”

“Ponies around here are still getting used to changelings. Might be best to come up with a disguise,” Blue replied. She and Beel turned to the sound of the door opening.

“Mom?” Ocellus asked as she shut the door behind her. She dropped her saddlebags by the door. “What are you doing up?”

“Waiting for you,” Blue said, walking over. “Did everything go alright?”

“Yeah. Sandbar was struggling with some of the ecology terms.” She smiled up at her, then it fell away as her eyes shifted to Beel. The crimson changeling flashed her a smile and a slight wave. “Who’s this?”

“Just a visitor, she just needed a moment to rest, she won’t be here long.” Blue shot Beel a frown past her daughter. “Better head up to bed.”

“Alright. Night mom!” Ocellus pecked her mom on the cheek and ran upstairs.

Beel smiled warmly after her, then looked to Blue. In her new changeling form, she could taste the honey-sweet love that wafted off the two. “You’re a good mother, Blue,” she said.

“I try. In this city, I have to be on my guard,” Blue replied, walking over to Beel. “Now, you can stay a little while longer, but if you need some love to help patch yourself up, there’s a brothel two blocks down the street.”

“Thank you very much for your hospitality,” Beel said with a nod. The love she had sampled was already added to her growing energy reserves – she felt the burns and cuts shrink, her muscles sighing with relief.

Blue nodded, heading into the kitchen. There soon came the sounds of water running and the quiet clatter of dishes and silverware, but Beel felt the burning gaze of maternal instinct every now and again as she curled up and lowered her head.

A soft buzzing filled her head, and she looked up to see a shadow on the far wall. It was difficult to make out due to its faintness, but it seemed vaguely triangular.

“How are you feeling?” a familiar voice asked in her head.

“Holy weapons weren’t a part of the deal.” Beel frowned.

“I thought you were the most dangerous kind of demon there was, dear Beelzebub.” The shadow flickered across the shelves as if regarding their contents. “So, is this why you couldn’t get me Queen Chrysalis’s soul? Hmm?”

Beel bit her lower lip, a tinge of panic at the back of her mind. “I was pressed for time, and you know it. Liberating an Old God was going to cause a stir and I had to be quick.”

“Well, I need you on your hooves. Lucifer and company have the Nightmare’s location. After what happened with Charlotte, I was able to disable the weakness in the… rogue’s gallery, but the Nightmare’s body still requires my power for total control.”

“So, what’s our next step?” Beel tilted her head.

“I need you to take out Phillip Finder and Daring Do. If they use their holy weapons on Nightmare Moon’s new body, I’ll lose all control of her – and that will spell disaster for this world as well. You don’t want that, do you?”

Beel growled softly as the shadow lingered over the picture of Blue Rose and Ocellus. “No, of course not.”

“The new plan is simple: Nightmare Moon will weaken Luna’s mind and I’ll force her to make a Tantabus for me, and for that I need to be in full control of the Nightmare. I need you and the rogue’s gallery to run interference – kill those two mortal detectives if you have to, but keep them away from Nightmare Moon!”

Beel nodded. “It will be done.”

“Then rise, Beelzebub. We have work to do.”

The shadow slunk away into the darkness of the living room. Beel’s eyes lingered on the spot for a moment more before giving a sigh and bowing her head.

The amber shattered around her forehoof and down her barrel, the burns and cuts no longer visible. A clicking growl sounded in her throat as she rose to her hooves, muscles ready for round two.

Her gaze softened on the pictures before Beelzebub turned and walked out the front door, wings buzzing as she took flight.

Blue stepped out of the kitchen at the sound of the front door closing. She looked around, frowned, and went to check on Ocellus.

Author's Note

Demons have soft spots, believe it or not. Justice, Judgement, and I love small, furry, talking animals – which is why we are so fond of these ponies. And honestly, kirin are just the best of the bunch. If someone could get that delightful Autumn Blaze to damn her soul for all eternity, I would make her my most treasured lap pet.

Beelzebub, as it turns out, has a soft spot for bugs, insects, and anything insectoid in nature – and that includes changelings. They’re not that bad to look at really, but not really meant for cuddling. To each their own, I suppose.

Who knows – maybe it will change some outcomes.

~L