Deep in the Everfree forest lives a force unknown to this world, a force of light and darkness. A creature slept for the last 2 days, the sun setting causing the forest to become darker, body recovering from the injuries it had received last. The Creature was near death as the body it inhabited was failing and only being kept alive by unseen magic. The body of a Bat-pony lay in the brush, A broken blood-red sword lay beside the pony. The Bat-pony herself had injuries most common with corpses, wounds that should have been fatal, but her body was not dying. Her normally powerful muscles were unseen and weakened, her usual cloak and long coat were tattered and blood-soaked. She had been banished by the Demon Lord, for being a traitor to their kind. She was now alone in an unknown world, powerless and weak. All of a sudden her eyes opened and the confusion was evident, she was supposed to be dead was she not?
I opened my eyes slowly and looked around confused, 'Why am I inside a forest? I am supposed to have died, with my sword broken I was powerless he had more power than I thought possible.' I felt odd like something was missing and something was added, but I didn't know how to react to the feeling. I rubbed my face and gasped, My hand was now a hoove?! A nearly black one at that, 'Why did I have a hoove! This must be a terrible dream!' It wasn't a dream it was real because when I saw my broken sword I knew right then that I had been banished. I groaned well priorities. 'Find a safe place and heal my injuries, check my body for broken bones. Start training again and find a way to return to my old body if that's possible. If not I need a way to get my old power again, I have no idea what I will be facing here.'
I quickly sat up looking around causing the bush I was lying on to rustle, but I expected that what I did not expect to hear was the most adorable squeak. I looked around a saw a yellow, why yellow, a horse with wings and a pink mane and tail, again why, with blue eyes. Three butterflies on her flank, 'huh'.
The pegasus was backing up in fear, and I don't blame her, I had to calm her. I mean if I can think maybe they can also, it's better to try and be wrong than not try and be wrong. I spoke calmly and softly, "Hey calm down miss Is everything okay?" The pegasus seemed very shy so I decided, so I looked around and hid my sword inside my tattered coat, oddly my coat was not loose as I expected because of my size shift it seemed to have a fitting enchantment. "So miss where is the nearest town I don't wish to be stuck in this place for long." I kept a calm relaxed tone, which seemed to scare the pegasus more. I shook my head, "Look into my eyes do you see any malicious intent in them." Upon looking into my eyes she shivered, that was the reaction I didn't expect.
A snarl echoes through the woods, a snarl all but familiar to me. The pegasus squeaked and full-on sprinted, that pegasus was trying to die! I grabbed my broken sword in my mouth and attempted to run, only for my feet to tangle causing me to fall on my face. I groaned, great more pain! Lifting off the ground I looked around mystified, 'Why is everything spinning?' I shook my head attempting to remove the spinning only to make it worse. I groaned in agitation, 'Why does reality hate me? I swear it seems like something in this universe wants to kill me!' The snarling got louder and louder as whatever was making that all but familiar sound, got closer. I sighed, 'If running won't work. Fight! Fight until you are unable to move!' I gripped the sword in my mouth harder, 'Fuck it' spreading my Hybrid feather-leather wings I growled prepared for a battle. 'Half dead, likely outnumbered and overpowered, the ruins of my sword as my only weapon. Yeah, life sucks.' I looked around checking my surroundings, yeah bushes, trees, and flowers just what I expected for a forest. 'How am I going to win this one? My own fighting style will be useless, I don't have fingers!'
A set of glowing green eyes peering at me from inside a bush. My only thought was, 'The fuck?!' Before I could recover from the shock, 3 forms jump from behind trees and bushes, all with the same glowing green eyes. My broken sword seemed to glow in the moonlight, it likely looked just as scary as those eyes. Though I quickly realized the fighting had started as one of those creatures pounced, I side-stepped the attack as best I could, earning a slash across my flank. I blinked as I saw the creature up close, a wolf completely made of wood?! 'So they are quite weak, I assumed something larger or at the very least like twenty of them. This is actually disappointing, where is the great challenge?!' I quickly regretted those thoughts as the wolves seemed to notice my static pose and all charged at once. 'I am an idiot they are pack-animals.' I flexed my wings in one powerful downwards gust, sending my body straight into the air. Quickly realizing my old flying techniques are actually about to have me killed, I switched my style from a powerful gust of winds to weaker but more frequent. 'Huh I was overestimating my own weight, I'm not fat!'
Sadly not paying attention to where you fly has side effects, like hitting a tree going 200 miles an hour, or it felt like that anyway. I heard and felt something in my face crack, 'Fucking fuckety fuck! Why am I so damn clumsy! I was a skilled warrior, not a klutzy teenager! And to top it off I was a Hybrid! Flying is like my specialty!' My body which has lost all its forward momentum slid down the tree in a very painful manner. Feeling my frustration and anger rising, most of my kind would attempt to control those emotions. Me, I used them like a sharpened sword. Having enough bull shit, I backflipped off the side of the tree using my wings for propulsion and landed on the ground right on my back legs. Holding my sword in a way similar to how I used to hold it, only for it to fall to the ground. My eye twitched, "Someone is gonna suffer for making me have no finger!" I have wings and a useless sword, my powers are either gone or missing, and all my skills need hands. 'Worse day ever.' 'Well since I can't run, and I'm shit at flying..again, I suppose I will just die!'
'That's what they would want, easy prey hum?' A voice spoke in the back of my head with the power of millions of others, 'Kill' You know what fuck it, my vision starting to take a red tint. 'Welcome to hell you muts, and I'm the devil' A faded blood-red aura formed around me, 'Weaker than normal I suppose it is expected.' Runes started to form inside the aura, looking at one, in particular, the rune of fire. 'Fire beats grass.' Selecting the rune inside my mind, having no way of transferring the rune into actual power, I had only one choice. My mouth opened and started to glow as dark red flames leaked from my nose and mouth. The wolves seeming taking the hint, I was done playing, whimpered at the sight of the flames, and fleed. Bluffing, I coughed up smoke, and spit up some blood. 'I hate doing that, I need to make new attacks that will work in this body!' I grunted and attempted to walk forward only for my left rear hoove to spike with pain, not having my years of pain resistance, I whimpered. 'Why does my life suck?'
I sat down hard and looked at my left back leg, and I could see the swelling, but I sighed when I realized it wasn't broken. I looked at where I spit up blood and grimaced, 'Oh I broke a tooth.' i limped over to the tooth and tilted my head, 'A fang? That's no K9, That is a fang. What have I become?' i picked up my broken sword and stepped into the moonlight, my blood-red sword while was dark still shone in the moonlight. I saw my reflection and I could only blink in confusion, I looked like a pony but a few things were different. For one my eyes, huge eyes, and blood-red vertical slits. 'Ah, I see my demon blood actually had an effect on my body it seemed?' And before my eyes, the blood-red color started to fade and shift into a light grey. 'Color-changing eyes? Well, at least this body has something in common with my last one.' The next thing that caught my attention was the single fang that stuck out of my mouth. 'I do hope those regrow, otherwise, it will be awkward...and painful to eat.' I looked up at my mane and blinked, why was it Dark blue, and what's with that single light purple strip. I looked away from my reflection and grabbed the broken fang and placed it inside my tattered coat pocket. 'At least I still have my clothes, even if they are shredded from battle, this jacket may save my life later.' I placed my sword inside the cracked sword scabbard on my back.
'Good sword, I will have to heal you later it would seem, a healthy dose of blood should help.' I started to walk in the direction that cute pegasus fleed in it might take a few hours to find that town she was likely running towards. Then I froze, 'Did I just subconsciously think that pegasus was cute?' The only response I got was 'Kill' I snorted, 'Bad sword! You don't kill innocents, I will have to give you blood sooner rather than later if you are begging for death.'
I kept walking, quickly noticing this forest was creepy as fuck, I don't know how to explain it. It just felt evil, overbearingly hostile, it considered me an intruder and wanted me gone. I wanted to leave also, my powers are empathy, I can feel emotions better than most creatures. I also feed on all emotions on all sides of the spectrum, this place seemed to be absorbing that emotion I so required. Being half Demon and Angel gave me those gifts, doesn't mean they don't have drawbacks. Without emotions to feed on I will slowly die, I only need one side of the emotional spectrum positive or negative though, basically, I need emotions of any kind.
Before long I saw a light at the edge of the forest and also voices, I quickly rolled behind a bush covering my muzzle with a hoove as I nearly screamed from the pain in my leg. The pain quickly faded, So I started to listen to the voices. "B-But T-Twilight!"
"I know it's scary Flutter Shy, but if somepony is lost inside the forest we should try and find them, Or at the very least find out if they are okay!" I heard a small 'Eep!'
"Twilight doesn't be rude darling, she didn't mean to leave that poor pony alone in the woods. You know she is easy to scare, and those Timberwolves likely scared her senseless. Those brutes, I hope they didn't hurt that poor pony!" 'Ahh, they were talking about me, then I mentally slapped myself. Of course, they are I am likely the only pony in the woods.' I froze, I didn't even breathe. 'I just thought the word where person or creature would have sufficed,' My thoughts were derailed completely as I looked to my left on a hunch and saw, bright blue eyes connected to a Pony that was just pink, was staring into my soul. My scream would likely be heard all across the planet, I jumped so high that I thought I was flying. 'HOW?! I would have sensed anything in my close proximity! What is this pony some kind of master of stealth!?' The ponies eyes were hard as stone, she was looking me over, with an almost terrifying expression. Her eyes seemed to have deemed me not a threat and she smiled almost too wide to be possible, 'The fuck?! Bipolar? Or was this mare just that hyperactive? An that stare! That was the look of somepony who had killed before and not afraid of doing it again, just who was that pony?!'
The pink pony bounced and almost screamed, "I found her, hehe I may have snuck up on her!" She was smiling softly at me, that schemer! She checked if I was a threat to her friends or not and upon finding out she relayed that to her friends. Though what if she deemed me hostile, I did scream, maybe she would act like it came from that direction and cause her friends to travel on a wild goose chase. That mare scared the fuck out of me, she moved like a master at combat and her stealth is off the charts.
I shook my head and returned to my stern, calm expression, focus. I need a name, with the name I heard Twilight and Flutter Shy, I had a good idea on the name I would use. It would go good with my nickname, just gotta keep my real name silent.
A soft lavender unicorn mare with a dark purple and tail with both a Pink and light purple stripe through them. The yellow pegasus I saw earlier, I assumed was Flutter Shy. and a second Unicorn that was white with a curled purple mane and tail. When all three of them saw me, they took a cautious step back, and when I didn't pursue they relaxed. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Hello, I'm Double Ace! But please just call me Ace, It's like my nickname."
The Lavender mare spoke with an irked tone but also a curious one, "Okay Ace, why are you in the woods, especially at this time at night? Most ponies stay away from this forest," Her eyes widened at the sight of me, I must have looked terrible. Body covered in blood, my clothing tattered and ruined hell I am missing a fang! "You need a hospital, and rarity can you fix her clothing?!"
The White unicorn mare noded who I understood as Rarity, her horn glowed in a light blue aura, and my cloak and jacket detached from my body. Almost instantly I felt odd, I was naked. An Rarity on the other hand, hoove? Her eyes widened at its surprising weight, I would also if I wasn't me. That cloak was armored to help resist crossbow bolts, and that coat was actually armored with steel plating. It weighed a good 120 pounds, and that was my lightest coat! I shrugged and smiled. "May I ask why this coat is so heavy and why do you have a sword?"
"Well, you see I am a warrior, but I just wanna sleep." My words made everypony but that Pink mare gasp, they looked at me with a shocked expression.
Twilight looked at me in wonder, "May I ask you questions later, when you exit the hospital." I looked at her confused.
"I am not going into no hospital, my wounds are minor I would prefer healing on my own." Even that pink pony looked surprised at me with that comment. "If my injuries are not life-threatening it is pointless, I will heal in time. I just need a bath and some soap, do you have hot water?"
Twilight nodded happily, 'She must love shot showers, that or the idea of answers makes her happy.' I shrugged, "So where is this town?" Twilight's eyes widened and looked at me examining my body.
"Before we head out I need to do something so I can ensure you will hurt innocent ponies, I don't trust you, something about you just scream evil." 'Maybe my demon side you dote!' I sighed and nodded, Her horn flared And a ball formed at the end of her horn. She launched the ball forward and it hit me directly between the eyes, and nothing changed. 'Huh Odd'
"That was actually pleasant!" Rarity who was looking at my coat nearly screamed, everypony present pinned their ears back. 'Oh shit. What's wrong now?'
"This coat is hideous! Why would you wear something like this in the first place its so ugly! Why would wear something so ugly it hides your natural beauty!" My only reaction was a blink, I was stunned.
'This has to be the first time I heard anything close to a compliment, that pointed towards me anyway.' I looked between Twilight and Rarity, 'Why?'
"Was I just complimented for the first time, in my life?" Rarity's eyes widened, and even Twilight looked surprised. "Huh, I ... kinda like it." An for the first time in 50 years I smiled, not those drunken or even my battle-loved smiles. No, I actually smiled as a small feeling of warmth filled my stomach. I could see that Pink mare twitched at that comment, but she seemed occupied, but I could tell, she wanted to hug me.
Twilight blinked but also smiled, 'I wonder what that spell was? I doubt it was lethal or even dangerous, these ponies seem innocent besides that pink mare. It could be a stun spell, possibly.'
Rarity coughed, "Well Ace would you like to stay at my place, you need a wash." she scrunched up her muzzle, "Badly, you smell like death dear, and you need some medical attention if you refuse the hospital." I sighed, great, Doctors. Just what my life needed, more annoyances.
Do you know what I hate? Not being able to walk, fight, and use my powers. I feel so damn useless, as I started following The purple and white unicorns. I lost to a bunch of weak wild animals! The old me would be able to easily destroy them, but now I find myself lacking. My skills are useless, and my powers are blocked. Hell even flying is impossible something I used to love, had been taken from me! I just wanna go back and destroy that Demon King! Though in my soul I knew he had me outmatched, he beat me at my best and defeated me in such a humiliating way! He didn't even move from his throne! I was so pissed I didn't think clearly, how dare he! He blocked my sword strikes with such a 'bored' expression it enraged me! He was bored, he was fighting me while he was bored! I felt someone poke my side and I resisted the urge to snarl, but the expression of rage on my face was very visible.
"Ace dear, what's wrong? You look so angry and terrifying." I blinked and smiled as I reminded myself to act as calmly as possible. Ponies hopefully won't have to deal with them, those demons will stay away from here. Or else
"Yeah, I'm fine Rarity, just some....unpleasant memories."
"Does it have to do with your missing tooth dear? we should really get that checked out, I'm not sure how you damaged it but you do need to have injuries checked dear."
Twilight perked up and looked at my muzzle and grimaced. "I will look at it later, Though I'm not sure why Fluttershy was in the Everfree. I'm concerned something big will happen."
I sighed and wanted a nap, why was I tired all of a sudden? I wasn't this tired before hoove so why now, something must have changed but what? I yawned, and everything started to spin. 'huh why is stuff spinninnnggg' I promptly fell directly on my face blacked out unconscious.
I was sitting on my rock looking over my home village, a small smile formed on my lips. I looked up seeing my favorite tree to relax under, I grabbed my book and started to read. I felt something in the air change, The air that used to be warm and calmy. Had become oppressive and malicious, I only knew this feeling from books I had read as a child. They only had one thing in common, they were formed from the reclusive race of demons.
I shot up from my place under the tree and reached for my sword, only for my hand to touch empty air. I mentally cursed, the one day, and demons attacked?! That couldn't have been pure luck! I never leave my sword behind, the only time I ever do it is when it's a training day. My eyes shoot wide open in rage, and today was that day! That bastard!
My shirt and jacket began to tear, I have kept my wings hidden for too long! It was time to use them! My wings shoot open from my back, causing blood to spray on the tree behind me. The skin that normally covered my wings, had been split open. I growled as I launched off the ground with one sweep of my wings. I looked at my house dead ahead of me, 'I have to have my sword! It is the only weapon that is the bane of Angels and Demons alike! I must-' Before I could even react, my body was slammed into the ground far below. I heard my bones crack and snap from the immense impact. I attempted to scream in pain but only whimpered weakly as my air had been stolen, I had been hit by a surprise attack! They were targeting me first! These demons were not rogue, my book stated rouge demons are foolish. These have intelligence, attacking the strongest opponents when they are their weakest and ensuring they cannot interfere!
I groaned and spit up some blood, I had to fight! I rolled over only to feel a Powerful kick to my ribs, The air that had returned to my lunged escaped my grasp again. "Well, the boss said, we would find a halfbreed here. Thought we killed them all, No matter. This one won't have a chance to resist, but I was ordered to not kill it" He said that word with such disgust it was palpable, "So I suppose I will have to take an easier approach, the boss better pay extra." The demon turned me over and punched me directly in the skull...hard. My world started to fade away as I heard mad laugher, I will kill you all!
Waking up in a pool of my own blood was a first, getting up groaned. Why did they not just capture me? I looked over to my house on the hill, and my blood froze. The house was gone, not like it was burned or even collapsed. No the whole hill where the house stood was just....gone. Something destroyed an entire house plus the hill it was standing on. 'But my sword, the only thing my parents gave me. The only thing able to protect others, the only thing I cared for.' Getting up I started walking towards the location my house once stood and fell on my knees crying.
After what felt like an hour, I fought for my composure. "Never again, NEVER AGAIN YOU HEAR ME! I won't let anyone take from me again!" But as I turned around my words died on my lips, behind me where the village once stood. Was lava, nothing remained of the small town. Even from here, I could see pikes in the earth that proudly showed what was on the ends. Heads, heads of my close friends. My rage boiled over as I screamed, A bright red aura erupted from my body. Voices in my head screamed for blood, suffering, justice, and death. I was all but eager to listen, too much had happened too quickly and I could not resist. My normally powerful willpower had crumbled, I was now powerless to my true nature.
Horns that were normally hidden from sight became visible. My sword was gone, the only thing that truly repressed those urges. Without it I was nothing. All I saw was Red.
Gasping I looked around, 'Fucking nightmares, it is always about that night or when I got those kids killed. I won't let that happen again, not to anyone!' I suddenly realized I was on a bed, not just any bed. It was...comfy, and smelled nice. I shook my head and sighed, stay focused Ace. I looked around the room and smiled as I saw my broken sword, even broken it begged to be used. I noticed a small pool of blood formed under the sword and sighed, I need to heal him soon. He won't be able to last for much longer if I don't find a blood altar or an um energy pool. Yes my sword is a sentient creature, it was formed to be self-repairing and also used as a calming agent. This sword was forged with my blood, other swords like it are very picky with who they allow to use them.
I got out of bed and picked the sword in my teeth, and winced at the sharp pain in my mouth. I hate dentists, but I need one. This kind of injury is serious. My sword let out a happy Murr when I picked it up, even though I could feel its pain it wished to fight. It wanted to fight alongside me, and I would allow it. It was my only companion after all. I walked to the door to the room and opened it, showing a large marble hallway. My confusion and intrigue piqued, I attempted to leave the room only to feel powerful resistance. I attempted to push forward, and only got pushed back by some unseen force the door closing and locking in my face. I growled, but I shrugged. 'If I am a prisoner I will just have to wait.'
So I sat down on the ground and examined my sword. The entire blade was covered in cracks, I could still see the faint light of a spiral inside the blade. I smiled, I spun the sword in my hoove and sighed. 'I need hands or claws. Whatever I just need something to hold this sword! I can't fight while holding it in my mouth! It would dampen my balance, and slow me down. So I need to find out a way to use this sword, in a way it was meant to be used.' I blinked and smiled showing my fang, 'What if I did what the Demon King did? He used spectral hands, a rare ability that is normally only formed by powerful Demons/Angels. So maybe I could? How did The Gods explain it? 'Imagine your power wrapping around the object in question, but think of hands. Try and form those hands, it will be tiring but it is a useful skill.' I blinked and sighed, 'Expect I have no power to use, I need to remove this block in my flow.'
I heard a knock at the door, looking up from my sword I saw a glorious white Pony/horse with wings and a horn. Her mane and tail were a rainbow flowing in an unseen breeze. The thing that most irked me was the picture of a sun on her flank. I blinked and waved then kept looking at my sword.
"Well it seems you have woken up, Twilight stated that you had taken a beating. When I heard this, I thought it was a joke. I should have warned her not to use that sleep spell when the pony was walking." Oh, that's why I passed out of nowhere, I just shrugged. "But that is beside the point, I am Princess Celestia Diarch of Equestria, But you may call me Tia." I smiled and nodded, "Now why is a demon inside my realm? Much less one that holds the spark of Light." Fuck, she is very smart. I hoped I could keep quiet longer but that's mute now.
"Well you see, I'm not a full blood demon." Tia blinked, tilted her head.
"What do you mean not a full blood? Who would want to marry a demon in the first place? Isn't your species a bunch of bloodthirsty ruffians?" My rage flared and I glared.
"Not my species! I have never held loyalty to those brutes! Not after what their King did to my family. If I ever hear you say I'm a demon again I will snap!.... I try to be better than them at every turn." Tia looked shocked but smiled, "I'm a Nephalem, a Hybrid if you would...or I was. Now I don't have any power and I'm useless again! I cant be of assistance when I'm this weak!" Tia tilted her head.
"Be of assistance? I thought you came here to invade my realm?" I couldn't help but laugh.
"Invade, me? Of that's a funny joke, hell no I'm, called Double Ace for a reason. I only attack Demons, them and them only. Hell other creatures are below my radar, I only ever attack them when I am forced to. " Tia's jaw dropped, "I just want to return to my realm and kill the Demon King, is that possible?" Tia shook her head and I sighed, "Fuck, FUCK."
"Well, I could still use someone of your skills." I looked at Tia in shock, "You have skills that most ponies would only dream of. Also if you don't attack the ponies of my country I see no point in you not helping me. Otherwise, I would have to execute you in secret, we must not have demon invade." I chuckled, She had no idea of my power.
"Sure I don't mind, it's not like I have anything else to do. Seriously though would you expect me to do? Though I prefer fighting demons, I don't mind fighting anything else." Tia looked smug, which confused me. "Only issue I would be able to fight, my sword can only be used at full capacity with hands. Something I am missing, as you may tell." I picked up one hoove and sighed.
Tia smirked, why would a princess look smug?! "I have a remedy for your affliction, I only share it if you help us with any confliction." Why did she just rhyme? She saw my reaction and giggled, she was teasing me! I also smiled, I kinda like her. I expected her to be Uptight but it doesn't seem that way. "Being serious though, I have an Item you will find to be quite useful. I think some other realms have something similiar, It is called the Hands of God. It has lost its true power over the years but...." Her horn lit up with a golden aura, a necklace floated out from nowhere also glowing with the same aura. How? I shook my head and looked at the necklace with curiosity. "This is a fragment of the Hands of God, It will allow you to form the hands you so wish." I blinked and stared at Tia.
"I'm just confused, why give this to me?"
Tia frowned, "Because the Demon King is coming, and he threatened to conquer my entire realm. So I need a warrior capable of fighting him, you are the closest thing I could find." My jaw dropped, But I failed! Why did she ask a failure to fight someone who they failed to defeat! "You have fought him before yes?" I nodded weakly, She smiled. "Good Just because you have failed, doesn't mean you will fail again I assume?" I shook my head with a determined look. "Good because as of now, You will be leading an Anti-Demon force."
My only response was a, "huh?!" My vision started to darken at the edges, everything became foggy. I looked at Tia in fear, What are they planning?!
Tia giggled, "Now sleep because when you awake, You will be stronger. Sadly it will be up to you to Reform your power, as you will sadly lose them all."
The last thing I saw was a blinding white flash, why does everything love to knock me unconscious?
'Great more dreaming! I hope my nightmares are not as bad, I have almost become numb to nightmares.'
I was sitting on my chair overlooking 3 kids that had been playing with their practice swords. I smiled happily, 'I'm so proud of them, it had been years since I even thought of having children. I just have to watch over them until their parents return, I must protect them.'
I was covered in my own blood and weakened, The Demon King was powerful. Dying was not an option though, I must win! The Demon King just looked bored, I was furious. I spun my sword in my palm and grabbed it in a reverses grip, I pushes all my rage out of me causing a very powerful aura to flare around my body. I glare at the Demon King, he wasn't even impressed. I kept pushing out more and more power! The aura grew in intensity, Humans all across the land could feel the power. In that instant everything changed, the Demon King snarled and pushed out a fraction of his power. Such a small fraction of power....and it completely overshadowed my own. My instincts told me to run and flee, but I couldn't not now anyway. It was Do or Die, My own sword shivered in fear. We both knew it was a lost battle, it was only a matter of time until the Demon Kings finds me an annoyance. Then it would be all over, The Demon King just smiled.
"Finally." That one word caused the ground to shake with such power it caused my knees to shake. "Someone who does not fear me, but they are weak! Such a disappointment, I want someone to beat me. You will not do." He pointed directly at me, his finger glowing with such incredible force. "Perish" A red beam of light slammed into my chest, causing me to slide back and groan in pain. The Demon King looked momentarily surprised but it quickly faded. "Interesting."
I launched forward with one sweep of my wings and charged towards The Demon King my sword in hand, My body weakened from the long fight I had endured I was slower and weaker. My sword slashed in a vertical slash, but I didn't feel the blade sink into flesh all I felt was a powerful force that slammed into my sword. I heard the wind being sliced in half when a metallic clatter sounded off from behind me. Looking at my sword my eyes widened, my sword was squirting blood. 'No no no!' My sword had been broken! The Demon King hadn't even pulled out his sword, he did that with an aura blast. My sword was screaming in pain, I looked behind me and saw the other half of my sword. I just didn't understand, why me? I tried so hard! I only wanted to help others! I trained for years and years! What was I missing!? Whatever I was missing was required, and I didn't have it. I heard The Demon Kings and Demon lords were powerful then it dawned on me that very instant. The Demon Lords had fragments of the Demon King's power, I should have targeted them first!
The Demon King sighed in disappointment, "Without that blade of yours you may as well be useless! You cannot fight without it, It is your weakness. You are such a huge disappointment, I spent years attempting to make you powerful enough to challenge me. I can see it was a waste! Just like that failure of a son you have for a father!" My blood boiled at the comment, I glared at the Demon king and snarled. Only to see his sword pointed at my skull, and it came crashing down.
I jumped out of bed and gasped, 'That was new, though I should have expected it' I looked at my body and my eyes widened, 'All my scars are missing?! Scars that weakened me from a young age are just missing?!' I saw something new though, with my body, I had a gem fused to my chest, likely connected to my heart. As I was feeling some weird things happening inside me, but they were not completely unpleasant. I looked around but my room was different instead of the guest room I was in, I was now inside a hospital room. Strapped to the bed, I also saw something different about my body besides everything else. My grey fur was no longer grey but instead was a vibrant magenta, and my mane and tail were half red and half blue. What the hell happened to me? I just relaxed into the bed and tried hard to think about my dream. To defeat the Demon King I need to kill the Demon Lords.
I waited.
The Rooms door opened slowly, To show a yellow Pegasus, with a mane and tail so similar to mine it was almost the same. Expect her's was darker. She eyed me with both Anger and Love, and I was so confused. "Hello Mother, it will be a long time before you see me I suspect."
What? My brain completely stopped working at that point, I just lay my head on the bed. The pegasus just giggled, "Heh Fluttershy did the same thing, hmm come to think of it so did Celestia."
I shook my head and looked at her, "You are not my child, I'm a virgin!"
She smirked, "Yes for now anyway, plus biologically yours. I am biologically Fluttershy's, She just had an.... 'accident' during childbirth. Sadly the only way to save me was to give me all your powers." Transfer? That means she holds all my skills and knowledge. "Yes, mother I know everything about you, though I am here to be helpful."
"Why?"
She snorted, "Because otherwise, this world will suffer the same fate as my own. Destruction, The Demon King invaded, and guess what! You were dead! I fought for as long as possible, but it was pointless. So I changed my stragety, instead of fighting him I would find you! Thank Celestia I found the Hands of God, they were weakened but I recharged them with all my Angelic power. Now I am stuck here forever, also you may call me Eternity."
I blinked and smiled, "Who named you that?" She looked at me with a stare, I quickly got the message. "Oh, clever I have to admit I like that name!"
"My full name is The Eternal Infinite Ace, something again you thought of. I go by Eternity or Infinity. I would go by Ace, but the ponies in my world hate that name because you failed them."
"Because I died?"
"Because you died."
"Huh."
"Yep."
"How many survived?"
"None."
"Damn."
"Yep."
"The twins?"
"Dead or worse."
"I understand." I sighed, "Do you know how to fix my sword?" She shook her head.
"I do but I am not allowed to tell you anything that may possibly break the timeline, and that will break it. Also, You have to prepare." My expression just screamed 'for what?', She sighed. "The Griffins, Dragons, and Zebra are preparing for a war with Equestria. This war if not stopped will end with planetary ruin, massive superweapons will destroy the planet if you are not careful." I just gawked, "Don't worry I will be helpful and sigh alongside you, after all, mother you need to stay alive."
I nodded, 'So I am important, I was not just banished here I was also summoned here.' I attempted to get up but forgot about the straps holding me down.
"You want me to release you?" I nodded and she sighed, Her wings lit up with a pale blue aura, and the same aura formed around the straps and they just disappeared.
"Huh, odd." I quickly got off the bed and stepped onto my hooves, "I thought you would just unclip them."
"Eh, I'm lazy." I rolled my eyes and stretched. "Also nice cutie mark." Do what?! I looked at her in confusion. She was staring at my flank! "Huh, a ball of green flames surrounding a scythe?" She looked, up and right into my eyes. "Oh, so that's nice I suppose it matches your special talent." I look at my flank and stare at it in confusion, when did I get that? That must have happened when I was asleep, I didn't have one before. Also, why would they allow me to have my sword if they are afraid of me? This shit just doesn't make any sense, then again, most of my life has been confusing and chaotic.
"So Eternal, where am I supposed to be going?" Then a question came to mind something she can sure answer, "How are you from the future and not be afraid of changing the future?" She blinked for a second and smirked.
"Possibly because I'm no longer from any timeline, I'm a Time Keeper, one of the last ones." Okay, that made no sense, but from her expression that is all the answers, I will get for the time.
I got to my hooves and noticed that I was not actually in a hospital but part of a castle, I shook my head. "So where am I supposed to go?"
A voice spoke from behind me causing me to jump, I looked behind me seeing a cute nurse. "You are supposed to meet the Princess, and you miss Eternal are not supposed to let the subject move yet. It could cause side-effects if we are not careful, we have never transplanted a foreign object to a ponies body." In a much quieter tone, the nurse whispers but just barely loud enough for me to hear. "Much less the fragment of the Hands of God, Side effects could possibly be life-threatening." I mentally screamed, They transplanted an artifact into my body?! Is that what the gem in my chest is?
"It's fine nurse, She seems more confused than in pain." I looked to Eternal and sighed, Why would I even name her that?
"I'm more concerned for her body slowly dying than to have the patient in pain. Whatever just come by for regular checkups understand?!" I waved her off, yeah I likely will.
Eternal smiled and led me through the castle it was like she knew this whole place, I shrugged it off. We made it to large double doors, I blinked as I looked up. Holy shit those are large doors, why are they so big? I shook my head as External pushed open the doors to show one large, long room. A room with two thrones at the end, And two Ponies in those chairs. One was familiar Tia, the one wasn't. She was Dark blue with a mane and tail similar to the night sky, she has also had a crescent moon on her flank that was on top of a black spot. The room was enormous, this must be where the princesses did their court. The room was also had 6 ponies, 4 of which were familiar. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, And that weird Pink pony. I also noticed an Orange mare with a blonde mane and tail, she had 3 apples on her flank, wearing a hat one that was unfamiliar to me. The next was a Cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail, Magenta eyes, and a cloud and a rainbow lightning bolt. They all were looking at me, some with confusion, some with worry, though that rainbow mare just looked intriguing.
I had to say something, but nothing came to mind so I said the best thing anyone could. "Yo." And that was all, just followed Eternal as she went to sit in front of the throne and the 6 ponies. The two ponies on the throne hid their playful smiles well, anyone else would not be able to tell.
But Tia broke my smile first and her expression changed to serious, "We have an issue, one that we want to test how well you work Ace without violence." Without? Okay, I will try my best. Though I'm terrible at stealth, it has only likely got worse.
The Dark blue pony sighed, "It has seemed one of our nobles have gone 'rogue'." She said that word with disgust. "One going rogue is similar to a case of treason, they are taking information that is better left hidden. This one is serious though, he has taken one artifact that is better left in storage." I tilted my head, What can be so important that have need of me? "The name of the artifact I called the Alicorn amulet, it enchanted a ponies natural abilities but also takes control of the ponies mind. It can be a severe danger to the nation if it was in the hooves of the wrong pony. This is just one such pony, He goes by the name of Summer Breeze. I will give you the file, while we would love you to take him in peace, we understand that it may not be possible. That amulet cause ponies to go berserk and they can no longer be reasoned with. Also, this will be a solo mission, you will not have anyone along with you." She looked to eternal who gave a sheepish smile, "That includes you Time Traveler, you will not assist, or even join her." Eternal sighed but looked away. "Now the reason why we want this pony alive is to find out where he found it, this object was lost 3 hundred years ago. We just knew where it was all this time." I nodded, That is fine.
I sighed and looked at my sword, "Do you have a blacksmith and a butcher?"
"Yes the Blacksmith is in the Guard district of the Castle, but why a Butcher?" Her eyes widened, "You eat meat?!" I gave her a flat look, really? My teeth are sharp as razors, why wouldn't I?
"Yes, that but I also need blood to help repair my sword, I would normally use my own as it is preferred, But-" Tia cut me off, my eye twitched slightly.
"-You don't have enough blood to do so after nearly dying, so you want animal blood to replace your own." The ponies in the room gasped, and Fluttershy looked downright angry. Everypony else was shocked and horrified, I just shrugged.
"You would be Half correct. I don't need blood to Fix my sword, I need Blood to feed it. My sword is a living creature, one that had nearly died in my last battle. You can think of the heart of the sword in the handle, the actual blade of the sword as the skin. This blade is so rare that it is nearly impossible to find, I'm surprised that my sword has lasted this long without dying. Without it I may as well be useless, it took my 20 years to make this word. I have been alive for 50 years, so in the last 30, I have had to replace swords almost regularly. They cannot take the force I hit with so they snap." I blinked and also thought about something, "Also how am I going to fight now? Without hands, my sword may as well be useless."
Tia and The other pony Smirked, okay what had they done? "Well you see, that object that has been transplanted to your chest will work. It may take some work but soon you will be able to use your sword better than you have ever been able to. All you have to do is feel the energy inside you and push it out and shape it into the object you want."
I blinked, that sounded familiar to how to form an aura, except you don't mold it. What's the harm in trying. I started releasing all my energy with a small push, I knew I could not force it. I must guide my powers out, I started to hear a soft grinding noise. So I have the aura now.
To everyone else, a pale red aura with gold and blue highlights formed around my body. A small cracked halo formed over my head, but also small horns started to form on my head. The 6 other ponies in the room gasped at the sight, And Tia whistled. "So she wasn't lying about being a hybrid, that means that the fates have chosen her. I can only pray that the future we are given is one of peace and not one of suffering. This means when she gains her powers back I will have to listen to her." Tia shook her head, Focus.
I pulled the aura into my self causing it to fade away, I pushed my aura into my chest. This caused my chest to feel fuzzy, real fuzzy. Then I heard the ponies shout in alarm, I opened my eyes and prepared for an attack that never came. I looked at all the ponies to see them all staring at me. "What?"
The Orange blond maned mare spoke slowly, "Well sugercube ya see, ya kinda formed armor that looks downright terrifying!" I did what? I turned my head and blinked, ohh.
My body was covered in Black armor, that small tendrils of darkness escaped from. But what scared the daylights out of me was my cutie mark. It was a blood-soaked skull, I shivered in fear. I knew that mark, The Demon King. "Why?" I spoke so softly that it was barely audible even to me. Rage crept in my voice, "WHY!?"
Tia, sighed, "I see the Demon King actually did something he killed you, I bet it was just paranoia. He placed a Curse on your soul, one that needs to be purged or we have to erase your soul."
Twilight blinked at the curse part and looked at her mentor. "But Celestia I have read curses are just myths. Don't tell me all the books are wrong?"
Tia sighed, "They are real, and there are good reasons why the books lie. These curses are like magic but worse, curses are only used for negative things. Most curses are nearly harmless, they don't harm the pony as much. This one is named Soul Ripper, it rips the soul of the afflicted till nothing remains to except a blood-thirsty monster. Also called the Demon Curse, It makes the afflicted slowly turn mentally into a demon. Only wanting to kill and harm others, and only take orders from the Demon King. This curse may not be removable if we found it later, thank Faust we found it. All because you formed your soul armor, Now we must find a way to purify this. Your mission still stands, afterwards, we will inform you of a way to remove this curse." I saluted, this makes the two sisters giggle. "Now I haven't introduced you yet. This is Princess Luna but please call her Luna" Luna smiled and nodded, Okay then. "Also now that we have found out Ace is cursed with Soul ripper, Eternal you are ordered to stay with her at all times," Eternal smirked, she is so weird.
"So princess where do I find my target at?"
Tia rolled her eyes in thought, "You will find a trail inside his mansion, also you can resort to any means to take him in alive." I smiled my smile caused the room temperature to drop, to the point where we could see our own breath.
"Good, He may be terrified of me when I'm done though. Unlike you ponies, I'm half demon so half of me enjoys seeing suffering and fear. If I don't feed it sometimes, it can end badly for everyone involved. I can turn into a starved animal, one reckless careless animal." The 6 mares shivered, Ti and luna frowned.
"We will have to change that in you soon, we can't have you going berserk. We really need you alive. Now you are dismissed."
I walked out of the throne room, and my armor disappeared. It was time, I have to protect this world. I won't fail again. This time I will help all I can, and I will defeat all that stand in my way to protect this world.
"Where did she say the location was?" I said for like the 15th time, Eternal sighed.
"Again she said it was right down the road from the castle, I just don't understand why we haven't made it yet! It was literally just down the road! Pfft, it's like we are walking in circl- Oh horse apples!"
I blinked and looked at her in confusion, "What?"
"We have been walking in circles! Whoever did this will get hit, it must be the amulet."
I snorted, "Unlikely...." I thought about it for a second before sighing. "but possible." External just sighed.
"I am starting to doubt that you are actually smart, seriously what else could this be?!"
"For one, This could be a Demon Seal. If demons are a no-go, I would have to say it may be an illusion. But I would have detected one that....is familiar...to..me...huh I see your point. My knowledge is useless until I understand this world better. So What is it?"
"Well like you said it is an illusion, mixed with hallucination magic, but also it has a hint of Dark magic. No doubt in my mind, Alicorn Amulet. The only issue is where is it coming from, it's hard to find a magic trail, so I have no idea where it is." I smiled, but then frowned. Your sword is broken fool, you can't use it.
"Are you supposed to help?"
She snorted, "Celestia may not like it, but I don't give a damn about her little country or her rules. She can go fuck herself, My mission is more important. That mission is getting you powerful, powerful enough to beat the Demon King. She gasped and closed her mouth. "I said too much, I may have already ruined it. Anyway, Celestia is not my Boss and she will soon know this, you will be my boss."
"Anyway, what's the plan?"
"Besides you gain all your powers and defeat every single Demon Lord in the known universes? Well, we have, survive, oh and create me! Let's also put past, find a way to may put you back in your human body?"
I sighed but smiled, "No I mean how are going to get this mission complete?" She looked at me for a second before smiling.
"Oh, I have a great idea." she looked at me with a devious smile.
"Oh, I wanna hear it!" Why was she looking at me like that? I didn't like how I was being looked at!
"I hate this, Why do I have to do this?"
"Honestly you are the only one able to, I would, but last time I tried it ended badly."
"Oh, How badly?"
"Me getting blasted across the country, by the Demon King."
"Last time I did it I died!"
"Yeah, I know taunting can do that."
I snorted, "Whatever, why would this work anyway?"
"This kind of pony hates insults and usually will act after being insulted, they are egotistic. They have no care for others only them selfs, so if we destroy what he holds dear. Aka his own pretty picture of himself, he will attack."
"Pfft, I understand that. It's just why does it have to be me?! My taunts are pathetic! even the Demon king thought so."
"The worse the better!"
"Uh, why?"
"What do you think he would hate worse, being insulted by a 'lower class' or someone smarter than him."
"Point taken, You better back me up if things go south! I would rather not suffer critical injuries. After all, that would be pointless." Eternal rolled her eyes, I honestly doubt that is actually her name.
"Fine, fine don't get your feathers in a twist. I won't let you get hurt if I can help it, I care too much to lose you again."
I blinked but ignored the last part, a topic for later. "Hey yo! Dumbass bitch! Why don't you show yourself and stop hiding!" Eternal face hooved, 'What did she expect me to be better at insults? Well, excuse me that I'm pathetic!'
"You listen here, mister! I have had a bad day, you are in between me and a nice hot shower! You are also holding an artifact that my boss wants! An I will get it. The only difference is if it will be a nice way or the mean way!" Eternal groaned, 'What's wrong with it?!'
I waited.
And waited.
"Really? am I just that pathetic with insults?!"
Eternal sighed, "Fine, let me handle it." She took and deep breath and basically screamed, "HEY DWEEB GET YOUR FLANK OUT HERE BEFORE I SHOW EVERYONE HOW PATHETIC YOU TRULY ARE." She coughed and smiled, I just rubbed my ringing ears.
"Why would that work?"
"Because I just called him pathetic, just like your insults."
"Ouch, I actually felt that. I am sorry but I'm just scared of insulting anyone, after last time."
She growled but sighed. "It's fine, just don't lose your confidence. You need it, your Demon powers run off confidence, that, and anger."
The fog surrounding us started to lift, and what we saw was a unicorn. He must have been the one we are searching for, He had a necklace that had an alicorn pendant, or was the necklace made into the alicorn pendant. Whatever he looked pissed, his color didn't matter because well he was hooded. The Only thing I saw was his eyes and horn color, Piercing brown eyes, and he had a grass green-horn. "What do you want peasants, can't you see I am busy?!"
I looked at Eternal and she nodded, "Well you see sir, Princess Celestia is requesting you inside the castle."
The stallion twitched, his horn started to glow. "That false Crown wants to see me?! Well, I will kill her, after I am finished with you two!"
Eternal sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why is everyone so dumb? Doesn't he understand, power has little to do with winning a battle?" That's not what I was taught, Power is important in a battle.
"What am I supposed to do Eternal?! I'm fucking powerless, and my sword is dying!" The Stallion points his horn directly at me sending a blast of red magic, which I quickly sidestepped. He growled louder, "What do you expect me to do Celestia?!"
The stallion unleashed a rapid-fire spell. My eyes widened as I saw the volley of magic, 'Dodge!' Only I couldn't. So I was hit by multiple magic spells. My body was sent flying and slid on the ground, And eternal looked at me and sighed.
"Ace you are too focused on the power you have inside you are not focused on the power you have. You don't need those powers to always win fights. You need to have confidence and faith in your own abilities, You are currently lacking both! That sword doesn't make you, you. Those powers only make you better, but you are stronger than them. You just have to prove it!" I looked at the stallion, for some reason every time I looked at him I only saw the Demon King looking disappointed. Every time I tried to move I heard his voice, 'Pathetic'. Tears ran down my cheeks, 'Why can't I even fight his image in my head? Am I just as Pathetic as he says, why am I here if I cant even fight what my brain thinks of him?! I can't protect anyone, not if I am too scared to fight!'
I opened my eyes, to see the stallion standing over me. My body started to shake in fear, his eyes reminded me of The Demon King's. So much hate and disappointment. Why do I even try and fight! The stallion was suddenly blasted from my vision with a beam of blue energy. I was still shaking in fear, tears running down my face. I saw Eternal walk into my vision, she was also sad.
"I see, you are not ready yet. Maybe we need to actually erase your memories to fix this. We need you on the double." I chuckled weakly and quickly wiped the tears from my eyes. "No but seriously we have to erase your memories it seems, this is not something you can just overcome. You have PTSD, every time you get put in a stressful situation you remember what happened that day yes?" I nodded weakly, "So we have no choice, we must erase all your memories." I didn't want them gone, but I had little choice but to accept it. "That's what heroes do, they make sacrifices that others won't or are too scared to take. Don't worry, I will be by your side for the entire journey. When this great mission is over or when I think you can handle your failures, I swear I will return them to you."
"Y-you swear?" My false confidence crumbled, I just wanted to hide from my sadness and fear. I can't, It is too difficult. I need to remove it.
"I will do it when we are back at the castle. Just know, I didn't want this to happen. I wished we could work around your fear, but it seems the Curse the Demon King inflicted is more powerful than I suspect. Without that memory, the Curse will take longer to take control. Maybe 5 years or so, And since the Demon King won't be here in 6 years that should be plenty of time to get it removed. Sadly this world won't have the ability to remove it."
"Okay!"
