Daemonbound

The storm was finally letting up.

One didn’t have to be a genius or a student studying weather patterns to realize that.

All they had to do was pay attention to the world around them.

They bothered looking, they’d notice that the rain was starting to grow light. They bothered listening; they'd notice that the thunder was starting to grow more distant as the lightly trailed off in the distance. Things were going back to normal.

Well, as normal as things could here in Equestria – or rather what had become Equestria…

Taken by the black tide, corrupted by the Burn, it was a shadow of what it once was.

Most of it was littered by the ruins of the old queendom, and small scattered outposts that rose and fell with every new dawn.

Of those settlements, the eldest was known as the Ringed City; and it was the last real fragment of what had once been. Located to the south east of a ruined queendom, it had It had been built during the final years of a losing war, and continuously built of as survivors flocked to this once insignificant and little camp.

Can’t say how long it took for the Ringed City to get the way it was now. All one could say is that now it’s a labyrinthine web of a world cut off from the old one. Dozens upon dozens of miles end only when they reach the great wall that stretches some hundreds of miles high. There’s no doubt that the ringed city is beautiful, but more than anything it’s just a gilded cage.

One that had the dregs of the Black Tide clawing at its gate and one with snakes lurking behind them.

One stallion didn’t really care for that little fact, instead simply taking a moment to release the tension in his neck before looking ahead, his attention turned to see the cityscape spread outside the window while taking a moment to light up a smoke.

He really wasn’t a smoker, preferred to kill his liver than his lungs, but the old Warden had a few on him so… why not give one a shot?

Just one of course.

He knew this shit killed.

But one smoke wouldn’t really hurt hum. Besides if it didn’t kill him the black tide would. So with that in mind, he took a smoke, let it sit before breathing it out.

His thoughts on his first - and last - smoke?

“Tastes terrible.” He muttered, dropping the smoke and grinding it under his hoof. That done, he turned back to warden, sitting at a desk with their head in their lap. “Not sorry.” He told the corpse before walking around to get to the door. “But just know this was nothing personal.” He opened the door and returned to the building. In wandering he found himself taking a moment to check his work.

So many bodies littered the tile. Each of them helped to build the crimson stain that was decorating once pristine floors. Everyone he found was dead. All of them were either cutdown or shot to death by the weapon he made disappear not a moment ago.

None of this had been personal; at least that was what he told himself. Killing these followers of the Black Tide was simply part of his ‘Community Service’.

His hooves hit a floor decorated in blood and meat and offal, and every step he took was leaving that telltale sound hooves make when one steps in a puddle of some kind. That sound only changed when he left the red puddle and started leaving new stains in the shape of his hooves

Raising his free hand to his lips, the stallion breathed on it and seemed to smell it for a second.

He caught a whiff of the one cigarette he had taken, worse he could actually still feel it on his tongue. “Gonna need some mouthwash.” He told himself as he headed towards the entrance and stepped out into the city, leaving the little building that was hidden away from the rest of the world. Again, that sound one gets when they step in a puddle of sorts hit his ears as collected rain water started to wash the blood away.

He walked for a while; his drifting seemingly aimless as he searched for something out of place.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a bar, and considered stepping inside for a drink. “Why not…” He muttered to himself. He had a bit of time to kill before the day was up.

With that in mind, he stepped in and he found it to be exactly what he expected.

It was quiet, sure there was noise, but it was mostly quiet. People either talked in hushed tones or were busy downing as many drinks as they could before they blacked out.

There was a woman singing up on stage, and he’d admit it to anyone that she sang like an angel. She sang something local to her crowd, something that seemed to lift some spirits and cause others to reflect on days past.

He didn’t mind.

Walking up to the bar stand, he took a seat, looked up at the bartender as he was looked over in turn.

Dust wasn’t a terrible looker – sure he didn’t have the best looks money could buy, and his looks sure as hell weren’t so great that they could rival a natural charm spell; but he wasn’t that bad to look at

He was somewhere in his late teens to early twenties, with a blue fur and two toned purple and pink hair and tail, not to mention orange eyes that had this faint glow from overuse of certain magics. The weapon on his back didn’t bother the bartender; no, what stood out though was the iron collar he wore.

“What can I get you?” There wasn’t any animosity or fear leaving the bartender. He actually thanked him for that.

“What’s the heaviest drink you have?” Was all Dust asked as his older counterpart prepared him a drink. The moment he got his hands on it he chugged it, smiling after he did and released this relieved sigh. “That’s the good stuff.” He admitted as he returned his gaze to the older man. “Strong too, keep it coming.”

The bartender just nodded his head and served him another drink.

“So…” They began. “What’s your name?”

“Dust.” The stallion admitted as he got a look.

“Dust?” The unicorn in question just nodded his head. After a moment the bartender just shrugged. “Titan.”

“Nice name.” Dust stated. “It’s a strong name.” He stated before finishing his cup. “One more please.” Titan poured him his drink. “Again, I have to thank you.”

“For the drink?”

“Not just the drink, but for serving us in general.” He stated making a gesture to the others here that had a collar wrapped around their necks.

“Who am I to turn you away?” Titan asked.

“You’re not scared of us?”

“I’ve seen what you can do, I’d be stupid to not fear you guys.” Titan stated. “But, you come pay for your drinks like everyone else does, and you don’t try to start fights just because you can.” He stated. “I can work with that, I can respect that.” Dust just released a light smile as he nodded his head. “Still, you guys aren’t what I expected.”

“What do you mean?”

“You convicts are a lot more reasonable than I expected.” Titan admitted. “Since you’ve been released, it hasn't caused us any trouble.”

“Can thank ‘this’ for that.” Dust muttered, tapping his collar. “We step out of line; our lives are forfeit.”

“Fair enough.” Titan grumbled as he poured Dust another drink. “If that bomb wasn’t strapped to you, I don’t know what you would do.” Dust shrugged.

“Maybe overthrow the city, maybe disappear into the wastes and never be found again.” He took a drink. “Who’s to really say.” The two fell silent as Titan took a moment to serve someone else before coming back.

“Still, why did you do it?”

“Do what?” Dust asked. “My crime or choose to let them put a collar on me?”

“Collar.” Titan stated. “I know how the stories go. Convicts get a visit in their cells and given a choice. You work – do some ‘community service‘, or you stay in your cell till your sentence is up.” He explained. “Why did you leave your cell, might just be me, but you’d certainly live longer if you stayed there.”

“That’s exactly why I left.” Dust shrugged. “I’d rather die doing my ‘community service’ instead of spending a life sentence doing nothing but sleep in the Vault.”

“You’re serving a life sentence.”

“Everyone in the Vault is serving a Life Sentence.” Dust admitted to Titan’s surprise.

“All of you are?”

“All of us.” Dust tapped his collar. “Being given the choice on putting these on and stepping out is the only way we get to stretch our legs.” He admitted before taking another drink as he turned his attention to the mare that was still up on stage as her song ended up coming to an end and an applause broke out.

“Hey, hands off, buddy.” A lady, a worker from the looks of it, called out as she pulled a guys hands off her hips.

“Awe~ come on my little bunny.” A man who’d obviously had too many drinks slurred as he kept clinging to her. “How bout you take a break and join me?” He asked as he trailed that hand of his down her waist and towards her ass. Another pull at his hands and the woman gave him a look.

“Sorry, I’m on the clock. Maybe later?”

“Come on bunny, just this once? Promise I’ll touch you just right.” He slurred as the dancer twitched slightly as his friends tried to get him to back down. Dust didn’t so much as hear them, choosing to just finish his drink and walk up to the stallion as several others started to stand before noticing him and nodded their heads. He put a hand on the guy’s shoulder to get his attention.

“Excuse me.” He told the drunkard as they turned to him. “Sorry, but you heard the lady, no touching.” He told him before looking at the guy’s friends who immediately backed off. It wasn’t that Dust scared them, they didn’t know who he was, it was more they knew where this was likely going.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Just a concerned citizen.” Dust rolled his eyes as he moved around the stallion and stepped between him and the woman. “Ma’m.” The mare stood behind him with a tight nod. “Anyway, if you want a spend time with her it has to be on her terms, maybe when she’s not on the clock.” He stated as he heard the man hiccup. “In the mean you’re going to have to keep your hands to yourself, that is a bar house rule if I’m correct.”

The drunk snorted. “What if I don’t wanna?”

“Come on man~,” One of his associates muttered. “Let’s just sit down and enjoy the show.”

“But I wanna pet pussy!” He shouted looking at the woman. “I swear something about you, bar ladies just get me so hard.” The woman actually shivered at the drunken lust that left the man’s lips. “I bet you feel real tight.”

“Sir.” Dust spoke up, still trying to be polite. “Please sober up or leave.” He told him. “If you like I can buy you something to get your head together. Otherwise-”

“Fuck you!” The man shouted. “I wanna be drunk, and I wanna nut!”

“Well, you can’t do that here.” Dust stated, taking a step back. “We have no problem with you being drunk, but rules are rules. No touching the girls.” Dust muttered.

“You’re fucking touching her.”

Yeah~” Dust couldn’t make a comeback to that.

“Why can’t I?” Dust made to respond, stopping only when the man started ranting. “If you’re allowed to touch her, so should I!”

“Mate…” One of his associates muttered.

“So move you little shit, the little whore’s mine!”

Not a sound left the bar. The singer stopped on a dime and everyone seemed to give them some space as others with glowing eyes started getting to their feet and walked over. Titan just finished pouring a drink for someone.

“Yep~”

“Sir.” Dust muttered, his tone dropping a few octaves. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“No.” The man said smugly as his companions just glanced at each other, having one of those unspoken conversations.

“Sir.” Dust repeated. “This is your second to last warning. Please leave.”

“Oh yeah?” his counterpart countered. “What you gonna do if I say no?”

“We’ll have to kick you out and turn you in for disrupting the peace.

Dust started as the man just laughed in his face.

“You?” You look like you can’t even handle a bottle of piss let alone throw me out. So why don’t you get out of the way, and I take that bitch to the back and -”

Before anyone could blink the man was on the ground, a knee digging into his back and a hand on his throat. Dust’s one eye burned, glowing so bright it seemed to leave a vapor trail flowing out of it. He squeezed slightly and pressed down.

Everyone heard the wood start to creek.

“I would watch your tongue.” Dust’s tone was deep and questionably smooth. “I can not speak for others, but I don’t tolerate that form of language being directed at a mare.” He muttered as the others with collars walked up to him. “Besides, even if that wasn’t the case…” He trailed off for a moment as he looked to the others and stared at them. Without a word he nodded his head, getting to his feet as he released the drunk stallion. “Leave.” He ordered. “Go home and sober up. Maybe try again when you get your head straight.” The drunk crawled, then stumbled to his feet as he bolted, leaving the bar as everyone watched him leave.

“T-thank you.” Turning Dust looked at the mare before shrugging.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Sorry everyone.” One of the drunk’s associates stated, having the decency to look embarrassed. “Shouldn’t have brought him here.” He muttered as Mar put a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s cool, he probably wasn’t acting that way sober, right?”

“Yeah, told him to slow down but he wouldn’t listen.” The stallion admitted as Mar just nodded. “How bout I make it up to you guys, drink on me tonight?”

“You got that much to spare?” The mare asked as she crossed her arms.

“Yeah, drunkard paid me a good couple Jewels to bring him to a good place.”

“Well, in that case.” Titan muttered from his bar before making a gesture with his arm and everything seemed to go back to normal. Dust just glanced at othered collared folk as they returned to their seats, seeing that they didn’t have to interfere tonight.

Dust stepped out, deciding that he’d had his fill on drinks right now before starting to look elsewhere.

“You know.” He began. “I wouldn’t mind getting some tail myself.” He muttered before checking his phone to see how much coin he had on him after his few drinks. “I got plenty.” Dust muttered as he started looking for a mare of the night.

If one wanted to give the city districts names, they would call the district he headed into the Red-Light District. It had plenty of mares and stallions working the streets and old clubs. Drug vendors liked to prowl the backstreets of these parts too and the end result of a deal gone bad often haunted these streets.

Of the City districts, drugs sex and guns ruled this shard.

Still, it’s not a terrible place to live. People are kept together in a form of community that might not be all that expected from those living in poverty. They help each other survive down here.

Foods not that terrible either. Sure, it’s not first class, but it won’t make your stomach revolt against you and punish you later with near death inducing runs.

Dust had a place down here in these parts of the City. It wasn’t the best place but it beat what his Warden had set him up with when he got out the months ago.

Only reason that was important right now was because his feet betrayed him.

Leading him through the vendor and club filled streets before stopping at his little hole in the wall.

“Motherfucker.” He muttered to himself as he looked at his apartment. He sighed in annoyance running a hand through his two-toned mane before walking up to his door. “Guess I’m not getting anything tonight after all.” He grumbled as he pushed his door open and stepped inside.

“Welcome home Dust.”

Freezing, the stallion stared ahead, his attention focused on the one that was invading his home. A smile crossed their face as Dust felt his blood start to boil. His horn sparked with orange-hued magic and his teeth started to grind together, out of nowhere he brought his hand up, his weapon, a gunblade forming in midmotion as he pointed it at the intruder. As he did several phantom blades found themselves pointing at him in turn.

“Easy, easy.” The intruder, an older stallion just grinned as he got to his feet, hooves hitting the floor as he walked towards the younger pony. “I’m not here for a fight, little brother.” The stallion admitted.

Dust didn’t say anything, just kept his weapon poised as he glared at his elder. His brother, Sunbreak as people liked to call him was a stallion in his mid 20’s- early 30’s with orange-colored eyes. Handsome bastard that was for sure, but at the same time there was something ‘off’ about him. With a bit of reservation his raised his gunblade, pointing it at the roof as his brother dismissed his phantom blades. “What do you want?”

“Can’t an elder sibling check in on their junior?” Sunbreak asked as he leaned against the table. “It’s been what, one - two hundred years since we last saw each other?” He muttered as he smiled. “I gotta say, you look exactly as I remember you do.”

“Getting put to sleep in the Vault certainly helped slow the aging process.” Dust muttered, dismissing his weapon. “Course, I’m certain you already know that, they put you to sleep as well.” Sunbreak just smiled. “Who let you out?”

“Don’t wanna say.” The stallion stated as he gestured to his neck. No collar. “Just know that the one who woke me up, didn’t want me to do community service.” The stallion shrugged. “Anyway, how you been “Dust?”

“I’ve had better days and I’ve had worse.” The stallion admitted crossing his arms. “What do you want?”

“Come on little brother, humor me, will you?” The younger of the two stayed silent as he just stared from under his hoodie as his eyes started to glow gold. “Come on, don’t bring out the eyes, you know there's no need for them.” Sunbreak started rocking his head from side to side in thought. Man I haven’t seen you use those eyes in two hundred years…” He mused.

“Your point?” The younger brother grits his teeth as his counterpart just looked elsewhere in thought.

“It’s been two hundred yeasr~” Sunbreak mused. “It’s been two hundred years since we last had a face to face…” He mused. “And I don’t even get a hug.”

“You don’t deserve one.”

“Oh you got that right.” Sunbreak admitted as he reached into his shirt and pulled out a necklace with a clump of crystal hanging from it. “Still, even the devil wouldn’t mind a hug every now and then.” He started playing with his necklace. “And I certainly would.”

“I’m not humoring you.” His brother muttered as he stared at the necklace. “If you’re not going to get to the point, I’m leaving.”

“Honestly~” Sunbreak made a noise that sounded too humored to be annoyed in the slightest. “I gotta job for you.”

“Pass.”

“Now now, don’t be like that…” Sunbreak began as he stopped messing with his necklace for a moment. “You’re doing community service anyway, might as well get a few days to years knocked off your sentence.” He seemed to pause. “Well, you’re serving a life sentence so that probably won’t really happen, but who knows.” Dust didn’t say anything. “Anyway, there’s this teeny tiny little job I need you to do for me and a… ‘friend’.” The stallion admitted holding up a hand as he revealed this sphere of magic. “We’re testing out magic, and we need a volunteer.”

“You mean a test dummy.”

“Tomato-tomato.” The stallion stated. “The spell won’t hurt you or anything, but I do want you to test it out.”

“Pass.” Sunbreak chuckled.

“you know I wasn’t asking.” Dust narrowed his eyes as Sunbreak dismissed the spell and seemed to glance elsewhere. “Do it.”

Dust barely heard the sound of fingers snapping before his world went white.

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