Canterlot Academy Trials

With an exasperated groan, the source of the impish voice would hop onto the table. It was the same tiny mage with a massive witch hat that had brought the news of their arrival to Grimrose’s father.

It spoke up. Its voice now a bit louder than before, “I am the Orcus Family’s premiere familiar. The best magical servant in the entire nation of Trotsylvania! You’d do well to remember zat!”

The robes and hat made it hard to tell who was speaking. To be exact, the robes were a rather muted violet, and the hat was equally so. But nobody could tell what exactly was under it.

That is, except for Grimrose.

“Oh, it’s you, Seven,” said the mare with a neutral tone, “Everyone, this is Șapte--or Seven in our language.”

“A floating hat and robes?” Blue commented as he tilted his head to get a better look, “Wicked. I wonder what its deal is.”

“It strikes me with the vibe of a wraith…or maybe a spectre?” Mei mused about what it could be.

“Close,” Seven replied before it finally settled on a physical form. An imp demon woman with horns protruding out of her forehead. She had blue skin, and her horns were the same color as her body. Beneath the robes, she wore a pair of black, panty-like underwear to serve as coverings for her lower half while her upper half was covered by nothing by the robes themselves. “I’m a demon from Tartarus. I was summoned here to serve the Orcus Family and that’s what I intend to do.”

“Oh…uh…that’s neat?” Blue replied with an unsure tone.

“Do you possibly know the theme to Dante’s Inferno?” Nebula asked, “I’ve been trying to perfect it for a while now ever since I got this flute here but--”

“What the--” Seven sputtered as she glanced at Nebula, “Are you trying to summon Paimon you fool?! Don’t mess with what you aren’t prepared to deal with!”

Nebula rolled his eyes, “No faith, I swear…”

“Seven,” Grimrose interrupted, “Is my father available? I’d like to speak with him as soon as possible. We need to gain permission to enter the Kobold Canyon so we can find a dangerous criminal that’s been rumored to be lingering around.”

“Bonetail is his name,” Mei added, “We suspect that he’s a lich dragon that’s able to walk around as a mere skeleton and nothing else. No flesh, no organs.”

“What they said,” Blue spoke up, “We dragons don’t want anymore trouble made for us so we need to take him out.”

“Your old man will be down soon,” the imp lady replied, “But there’s been far more work on his plate ever since you left for university dear Trandafir. I hope you appreciate all he’s done for you.”

Grimrose paused and took a moment to process what Seven told her. Her father being busy with extra work was all due to the fact that she had left for school. But it was thanks to her mother’s support that she was even able to go in the first place. The pegasus admittedly felt a tad guilty the more she thought about it.

“...I’ll…thank you, Seven,” she replied under her breath, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Hmph. You better,” and with that, the imp snapped her fingers and teleported out of the room.

Blue would then comment, “...’Trandafir’?”

“It’s my name in our language you dope,” Rose grumbled as she leaned back in her chair. “Sorry…just feeling a bit off today.”

“...let’s take a moment to relax,” Nebula suggested, “We just arrived here and I’m sure coming back to your home must be a bit mentally taxing for you. Some food will really do us good. Shouldn’t be much longer now, yeah?”

“Hmmmph…” the pegasus mare gave a defiant huff.

About 20 minutes later…

Soon enough, Grimrose’s mother would return with bowls filled with what appeared to be a gumbo-like stew levitated with magic that she’d set down in front of them all.

“Here you are, bebes,” she called out as she set down the bowls in front of them, “Eat up. You ain’t had nothin’ this good before, I’m sure of it. And for desert, we got some sweet potato pie afterwards.”

“...thanks, mother,” Grimrose replied with an anxious sigh, still concerned over whether or not her father would show.

Everyone else had decided to eat--Mei and Nebula levitating their spoons and Blue eating with his spoon by claw. Almost instantly, smiles would creep onto their faces from the taste.

“Mm…this is amazing,” Nebula complimented Mrs. Orcus’ cooking, “I’ve had stews before but nothing like this!”

“Damn straight!” Blue added as he picked through and slurped a bit of crab that was in his bowl, “Stuff like this is rare where I’m from.”

“Is that a hint of andouille roux?” Mei commented, “I need to write this down…”

The goat woman smiled and clapped her hands. “Oh thank ya, child. Don’t worry, if ya want more, there’s plenty.”

“Ugh…” Grimrose rolled her eyes with the side of her face resting on her hoof. “Any day now, father…”

Soon enough, her prayers would be answered. A regal-looking pegasus stallion with a cool indigo body color and a jet black mane that was slicked back would enter the room. His eyes were red and he wore a black suit with a red undershirt on his upper body with his lower half exposed--showing his cutie mark which was a swarm of bats. Interestingly, he had a small overbite complete with vampire-like fangs, suggesting that he was only partially batpony.

“Sorry I’m late,” he spoke straight to the point with a deep voice, “Welcome back, dear daughter. I hear you and your friends need my permission to enter the Kobold Canyon, yes?”

“Yes, please,” Grimrose replied with a nod, “As soon as you can.”

“I’m afraid I won’t allow it.”

“WHAT?!”