Demon Bonds

Cadance got wind of my upcoming date with Eight Bit despite us rarely catching up with each other ever since Shining Armor started taking up her attention like a greedy sponge. Work also got in the way most of the time, but sometimes, it felt like we were avoiding each other for entirely different reasons. Me because I couldn't stand seeing her together with the white unicorn stallion, being a cutesy couple and whatnot, and her... what did I know? Maybe my negative energy was too much for her to be around me. I wouldn't put it past her. I wouldn't want to be around me, either.

True to his word, Eight Bit didn't flee at the first sign of trouble once we tracked down the bugbear. He didn't even abandon me to distract the humongous, ferocious beast all on my own. He was kind of courageous when it came down to it. Too bad my grouchy behavior didn't scare him off.

The bugbear was one Hell of an ugly monster, but we managed to recapture and imprison it. It wasn't simple, but Agents Furlong and Sweetie Drops had it grounded in no time, and we ensnared it in several layers of enchanted ropes. It almost got me with a swipe of its claws, while Eight Bit barely avoided getting stung by it. Despite that, my pegasus friend proved invaluable on this mission, baiting the bugbear into crashing through trees or breaking through boulders (and no, that wasn't an exaggeration; it was one tough nut to crack).

Which brought us to now...

"Cady, I don't need your help getting ready," I complained listlessly, suffering through her fussiness as she tried braiding my mane into something more presentable. It had gotten kind of long since I never bothered cutting it. Only her own mane beat mine (aside from Aunt Celestia, that is).

"Oh, come on, Ish," Cadance pouted in a counter-complaint, giving me the sad, puppy dog eyes in an attempt to persuade me. "Don't you want to look nice for your date with Eight Bit? You're finally giving dates a chance! We have to make sure everything goes smoothly. I'm not risking you never giving it a chance again! That's like... the worst thing that could happen."

"Yeah, right. Sure..." I sighed, reluctantly agreeing with her in the hopes she would spare me from her romance shenanigans. I was certain Eight Bit was putting in even more effort than I did, making this more than awkward enough. Mentally, I kept repeating my mantra, which had become my go-to method of pretending I wasn't miserable. Put on a fake smile and act like everything is okay, Ishtar. It will get better. Eventually.

Maybe Eight Bit wouldn't make me cry every time I orgasmed. That was the only thing giving me hope right now. It wasn't like I was able to cry anymore, either way. My dead gaze stared back at me in the vanity mirror while Cadance was oblivious to my inner torment. How could she notice it, anyhow? I was doing my best to fake every emotion on my face. If anything, I was a damn good actor. Not even Aunt Celestia could tell. Or so I told myself.

"Oh, I'm so excited to hear how it goes!" Cadance gushed in excitement. Then, more subdued, she said, "We will have to go on a double date once you make it official. That is... do you want to go on one with me? A-as long as the guys are fine with it, of course!"

I smiled awkwardly, dying a little bit more on the inside. Twist the dagger in my heart even further, why don't you? "Sure."

"Yes!" she exclaimed, nuzzling me affectionately before going back to tearing my mane style apart. She did so with a happy fervor, trying to come up with something in line with my 'style.' Not that I had a style beyond 'wild' and 'untamed,' to be honest. I gave up trying a long time ago (before I gave up on everything else, too). If Cadance thought she could do it, she was welcome to try. It wasn't like it mattered to me anymore. I wouldn't be looking nice for her.

In the end, after much frustration and futile tugging, Cadance changed her approach, and... I looked exactly how I always looked, only without the tangles and hair strands sticking out of place whatsoever. Somehow, she tamed the rat's nest that I called my hair.

"Perfect," she stated, kissing the side of my head. I blushed, suddenly feeling warm inside. Her compliment meant a lot more to me than she could possibly comprehend. And it hurt even worse because of it.

She did my makeup next, going for purple eyeshadow, voluminous eyelashes, and some subtle eyeliner and lipgloss. Once I was allowed to look into the mirror again, I was speechless. She made me look so nice. Even without the silky black dress, my tiara, and the lace choker she gifted me last Hearth's Warming, I looked stunning.

"Cady, I..." I began, eyes shimmering with actual, genuine tears. I kept them at bay before they ruined all her hard work.

"Yes, Ish..?" she asked, a hopeful tone in her voice. Oh, how I wished I could just confess my treacherous feelings to her, kiss her right then and there. All it would take would be for my succubus charm to poison her thoughts, and she would forget all about Shining Armor. Then, I could seduce her, keep her all to myself... bend her to my will...

I... n-no. I couldn't do that to her and ruin our friendship. I was a monster for even thinking such horrible things. She was too good for me, I reminded myself. I had to stop thinking of her that way, and Eight Bit was the convenient distraction I needed. Maybe if I committed to dating the pegasus, I could finally put her out of my mind.

Yes. That's the only way. "Thank you," I whispered with shaky resolve, swallowing thickly. "Eight Bit is going to be all over me."

Cadance deflated. "I... yes, he will. Y-you're welcome, Ish," she said, smiling wobbly. She rubbed at her eye, sighing shakily, trying not to burst into tears herself. A part of me wondered why she was so emotional about it. The rational part of me knew it was just her being a romantic, touched that I was giving romance a chance. Or so I thought, at least. There was no way she could be the jealous one, right? I... I wasn't making a mistake, was I?

Before I could ponder my sudden doubts, there was a knock on my suite's door, and Aunt Celestia entered like the proud mother hen that she was at the sight of me. "Oh, my. Look at you," she fawned eagerly over me. "All grown up~." She grabbed me in a tight, enthusiastic hug, and I grumbled.

"I'm over two thousand years old," I pointed out in a low whisper, keeping in mind that we weren't entirely alone with her guard present.

Aunt Celestia rolled her eyes at me good-naturedly. "You tell yourself that," she said, patting my head affectionately. I stared back at her in a deadpan. "Fine. You tell that to the young, strapping stallion waiting for you at the door, then. I must say I'm surprised you changed your mind, my dear niece."

"Yeah, well..." I said, swallowing tightly, trying to avoid Cadance's eyes. "I've got to give it a chance, don't I? The guy has wanted to date me since we knew each other, and... I, uh... tried to... wait?" Was that the right word for it? It wasn't like I could just tell her I gave up because Cadance chose to date Shining Armor instead, and Eight Bit was a persistent idiot.

"If you want to call 'sleeping around' waiting, then you made him wait a long time," Cady snorted accusatorily. I forced myself to glare half-heartedly back at her. I didn't need to fucking justify myself to her, damnit. "Aww, don't be like that, Ish. You know it's true. The poor guy even blamed Shiny because you kept ignoring him."

"That's dumb," I muttered. Why did everyone assume I had the hots for the nerdy unicorn? I would sooner have sex with his mom than get closer to him.

"Now, now," Aunt Celestia chided us, smiling teasingly. "Not everypony can be as innocent and chaste as you, Cadance. Let's not blame Pleasure for having a very active libido. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sure Shining Armor will be the jealous one soon~."

Cady's muzzle changed from pink to a deep red as she shifted uncomfortably on her hooves, ears drooping. "I..." she mumbled, trying to appear smaller than she was. "I just want to... wait."

I blinked as she guiltily looked away from us. Her wings sagged slightly, tail lashing in agitation. "Aren't you the least bit hungry?" I asked, using the euphemism since Aunt Celestia brought her guard with her everywhere she went. The pegasus stallion still stared at me for my choice of words. Eh... I wasn't very subtle there, was I? Fuck him.

"Ish..." Cadance squeaked. "I... I can't!"

"Not even a kiss?"

"What? No! I..." she babbled before quickly escaping the scene with a huff. Wow, way to be a drama queen. What has gotten into her all of a sudden?

"...okay, then," I muttered, confused.

"Ah, young love," Aunt Celestia tittered, amused. "There never is a dull moment with you two around, is there?"

"I guess..." I deadpanned.

Aunt Celestia frowned at me in concern. "Are you sure you're okay? I know the situation with the bugbear must have been scary, but you seem... different... lately. Are you sure you don't want to see Tender Care? I've known the mare for a while now; she is trustworthy."

I shook my head. "It's just... nerves," I told her, faking a smile, shrewd as it was. Perhaps I wasn't as convincing as I thought I was. I would have to be more careful in the future. At least Aunty Celestia seemed to buy my excuse this time around, though.

"I suppose that's understandable," she nodded, stroking my mane gently. "I'm sure once you're having a good time on your date, you will feel silly for being so nervous." She squeezed me slightly with a wing, smiling warmly.

"Right..." I said. I doubted I would feel anything.

"Go on," she encouraged me, shoving me lightly with an extended wing. "Don't be home too late now. I want to hear every detail tomorrow morning, alright?"

I grumbled, faking embarrassment while Aunt Celestia's guard watched us with impassive but attentive eyes. Honestly, the enchantment on the armor made them all look like emotionless husks.

Outside, at the end of the hallway leading to our private chambers, stood Eight Bit, wearing a tuxedo. He stopped fiddling with his sleeves, openly gaping at me once he saw me. "Pleasure! I-I mean, P-Princess!"

"Pleasure is fine for this evening," I told him, smiling in a hopefully disarming way. Here goes nothing, I thought. Make me forget. Please. "You look nice. Handsome," I complimented him.

Eight Bit flushed, rubbing his neck. "I, uh... thank you?" he responded uncertainly. "To be honest, I'm not really into wearing suits. But for you? Wearing this is worth the trouble." I snorted. Smooth going there, Bit. Really smooth. "You look great, yourself. I find it very..."—he struggled for a moment, grimacing for a bit—" Does it offend you if I say alluring? I don't want to objectify you in any way! It looks great. Very feminine." In a small, almost inaudible voice, he mumbled, "Wish I could look that nice..."

I mean... I couldn't care less how fancy his suit was; I had something else in mind. He wouldn't need clothes for that~. "I am the personification of lustful desire, so..." I whispered hotly, placing a hoof on his chest in a teasing way. "I'm not offended. I prefer it if you don't hide how you feel. Go on, undress me with your eyes; tell me exactly what dirty thoughts my appearance gives you."

My friend and date for this evening gulped thickly, turning pale. "I, uh... I really hope I can give you a good night kiss after our date," he admitted nervously, and I blinked. That was... huh. I didn't think it was going to happen, but he did impress me. Was he really that much of a gentlecolt? I would have to step up my game if I wanted to appeal to his carnal desires, then.

I felt a slight thrill as my inner succubus couldn't wait to corrupt him into living out his deepest, most profound, naughtiest desires. I wanted to twist him into my plaything...

"Well..." I hummed, kissing the side of his muzzle before closing in on his ear. I breathed hotly into it while my eyes glowed ominously. "I'm willing to do at least that much," I told him, smirking as his ears stood up ramrod straight as he almost swooned. Aww, how cute! If he wasn't careful, I might think he wanted to be treated like a lady instead~. "Are you ready to go out, then?"

"It w-would be my pleasure," Eight Bit stammered, fidgeting with his wings. I could tell his main problem with the tuxedo was that it wasn't tailored to him specifically. We would have to change that for the second date. If he survived this one, that is~.

Cadance admittedly made me curious about her double date idea. Saying no to her... I was still heavily reluctant to disappoint her in any way, so... I would have to put up with Eight Bit for at least two dates. Who knew? Maybe he would keep impressing me. I did love a good hunt; playing with my prey might give me that particular thing I've been missing lately.

As long as he could keep me from crying, I might even be willing to keep him around. But first, let's turn that mind of his into a dirty, sex-obsessed pony. Mhh, the sweet and innocent act might be cute, but I wanted him to fuck me by the end of this date.

We left the castle, and the brownish-gray pegasus stallion escorted me to a place I didn't expect he would take me to: a lone, decorated table at the edge of Canterlot, next to a cellist playing romantic music. I gave Eight Bit an unimpressed glare, and he chuckled nervously.

"Don't say anything yet," he said, quickly moving to one side to pull out a cushion from underneath the table for me. "Madam, your seat awaits."

I sighed and sat down, having hoped he would take me somewhere more fun. He moved to the other side opposite mine and pulled out a cushion for himself before taking out a wine bottle. "Bit..." I grumbled, but he merely shushed me, filling our glasses with red liquid. He rang a bell, and a fancy waiter arrived, putting two covered dishes in front of us before they promptly left.

"Alright..." Eight Bit began. "I know you said you don't want a romantic date, and I promise, this isn't going to be a starlit, lovey-dovey dinner date. That's too much even for me," he explained. I furrowed my brows, skeptical. He chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, I know. This looks exactly like that, and you wouldn't be wrong. If it weren't for one thing: this not being a dinner date."

"Okay?" I hummed, curious. "Then what is this, exactly?"

"Why don't you lift that cover?" he prompted me, smiling eagerly. I did as he requested and found an envelope on the plate instead of food. Inside was a key with an address that shouldn't be too far from here if I was right. "I know the owner of that place, so I asked him if I could borrow it for one night."

"And what place is that?" I asked, nonplused. Don't tell me he was going to take me to the theater.

"You will see soon enough," Eight Bit told me, almost giddy. "You will love it, I promise. But first,"—he lifted the cover of his plate, revealing steaming tagliatelle with a freshly made spinach sauce and grated cheese on top, enough for two—" I didn't bring you here to leave you hanging on an empty stomach. So, with that in mind, it kinda is a dinner date, too?"

I rolled my eyes. Of course, it is. "Well," I said, levitating my plate over so he could give me a helping from his plate instead of awkwardly sharing the meal from one. "I'm not into the 'Oops, we are eating the same noodle from both ends' cliché, so if you were hoping to kiss me that way, you can forget it."

He winced. "Right," he mumbled, blushing warmly. "That's not what I had in mind, I promise. They're from Presto's, by the way."

I gave him a surprised look and gave them a nibble, tempted to moan in delight at the taste. "How did you..?"

"Get a reservation?" he asked rhetorically. "I pulled some favors with Shining, and he got his parents to place an order for me."

"And the waiter? The cellist?" I wanted to know.

Eight Bit rubbed his neck. "Those were Cadance's idea. The starlit dinner as a whole, to be honest."

"Of course she did," I groused. It was like she was trying to set Eight Bit up for failure. I knew she was a major romantic, but she should have known better than to get Eight Bit to date me on false pretenses.

...unless she wanted him to fail, but she wouldn't do that to me, would she? After all, she insisted that I give romance a chance again. Souring the first date I went on since forever would accomplish the exact opposite of her goals.

No matter. Those were just suspicions born out of paranoia. I shouldn't give in to my mistrust until I could base my presumption on facts instead of feelings. Cadance was still my best friend, wasn't she? She couldn't have deceived me all this time, right?

Right. What was I thinking? We'd been friends long before we even knew the guys. She wouldn't let something so silly get between us, nor would she ever manipulate me so cruelly. She probably was just concerned my first date would be a disaster if she didn't intervene on Eight Bit's behalf. It was still his choice to let her help him, and how could she blame him for seeking her aid? He was already a bundle of nervousness; it was impressive enough that he wasn't making a total fool out of himself so far.

I should cut him some slack, I supposed. If anything, I didn't want him to be too much of a wreck if this didn't work out like he hoped it would. It would be unfair of me to crush his spirit like mine had been crushed, lest he end up with a similar mindset to mine in the future.

We ate our meal relatively quickly (nothing from Presto's remained on the table for long; their food was just that good). Despite the gaping hole in my heart, I was appeased and satisfied, walking beside Eight Bit as he showed me to the next part of the date. It was a small-ish movie theater, surprise, surprise. Not. They had all the latest movies, from comedy to romance to science fiction and everything in between.

We watched a romantic action comedy as a compromise since Eight Bit wasn't entirely comfortable watching a mature romance flick I knew was said to be quite steamy with naughty scenes in it. I swear to God, if it turned out that he was asexual, I would throw in the towel and become a nun or something.

The movie itself was, interestingly enough, about a pegasus stallion wanting to date a batpony mare, and the parents of said batpony mare made it hilariously difficult for him to get their approval due to the ancient batpony traditions demanding that he be able to navigate the dark blindfolded in case he ever needed to defend the love of his life while unable to see. It was utterly ridiculous, and the hijinks that ensued from there were even more hilarious as Light Fog's parents started to make things up so it would be harder for Steady Flight to gain their approval.

"I don't need to do all that, do I?" Eight Bit asked me once the credits started rolling. I looked at him sideways with a raised brow while munching on some of the popcorn he got for me.

"I don't know," I drawled, pretending to think. "It would be impressive, certainly... but I never grew up with those traditions, remember? I won't make you go through ridiculous trials just because you want to date me."

"Oh, good," he said, releasing a relieved breath. "Because I'm not that good in the dark."

"It's not that hard," I shrugged.

"Says you," Eight Bit snorted. "I don't have ultra-sensitive ears that I can use for echolocation."

"And I wouldn't even need those or my eyes to go home from anywhere," I proclaimed, not even making things up. Okay, yes, sure, I was maybe exaggerating a teensy, tiny bit, but being able to sense emotions had its advantages. As long as I was around civilization, I could reliably find my way home.

"Oh?" my friend and date hummed, skeptical. "Are you willing to prove that claim, then?"

"Is that a challenge?" I smirked. "What are you willing to put on the line for that, hm?"

"If you can do it? I'm going to do anything you ask of me. Within reason, of course," Eight Bit said.

"Even sex?" I grinned like a shark. Let's see how you handle that.

"W-what?" he squeaked, surprised.

"Is that not the ultimate goal of going on a date?" I asked him, curious. "To find a partner you want to share your life with and raise a foal or two together? You want to go on more dates with me, right?"

His cheeks burned with heat. "N-no. I mean, yes to the dates, but..." Eight Bit answered, running a hoof awkwardly through his pale, arctic-blue, and cerulean mane. He looked a bit ill thinking about it. "I don't want to become a... a f-father. Not yet, at least. I... I need to think about it before doing... that."

"I see," I hummed, intrigued. "You are an enigma of a pony, Bit. I'll give that to you."

Eight Bit shuffled nervously on his haunches. "Is... that a good thing?"

"Mhh," I purred. "I'm not sure yet. I'll give you a chance, at least. There's one final thing I have to know before I can tell for certain..."

"And that is..?"

"You do know 'what' I am the princess of, right?" I reminded him, and he gulped, trying to hide his crotch futilely. "There are a few things that are non-negotiable for me. I am oh-so-hungry for the lustful desires of those I invite to my sanctuary. I live to serve and nurture those naughty feelings of everypony living in Equestria. You know what that means, don't you?"

"I-I have h-heard the stories whispered among the other guards," Eight Bit admitted, breathing shakily. "I-I don't k-know if I'm r-ready for that yet."

I tutted at him, reaching out a hoof to trace it alongside his, going up his leg with slow, sensual motions. Oh, poor, sweet summer child of mine. I wanted him. Now. "And here I thought you were the type to jump at the chance. I guess I was wrong about you," I admitted, biting my lip softly. "I'm astonished. Even Shining Armor has proven himself capable of keeping it in his sheath around Cadance, much to my surprise. Nor would I have expected Cady to not jump his bones the first chance she got. I find myself stunned time and time again at how you ponies can resist temptation so easily."

Eight Bit mumbled the last part as a confused question to himself, wondering what I meant with 'you ponies,' but I didn't concern myself with answering his curiosity as I continued, "What I meant by that is a crucial condition to dating me: I won't be 'yours' exclusively. I will have sex with other ponies, whether you want me to or not."

"But..." he whined ever so slightly, ears folding back. "I thought that—"

I growled, sneering as I got up right in his face. "What do you not get about non-negotiable?"

"Am I not enough?" Eight Bit asked me meekly, insecure.

"No," I stated bluntly. "Even if you were... Shining Armor..."—I felt bile rising in my throat at pretending he was the one my heart longed for—" I wouldn't be satisfied with only one pony. You either accept that, or this date ends here and now, and there won't be another. Period."

"Isn't that an abuse of power?" he frowned.

I frowned back. "Are you sure you want to talk to your princess that way?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't get pissy at me now for asking! I didn't mean it as an accusation," he shot back, scowling unhappily. "I'm just saying. You're playing with my heart here; I want to know why I'm being treated like a toy you could discard anytime."

I raised a brow at his analogy. Not that I would admit to him I wanted to do exactly that with him. But unlike other ponies, I would keep him around~. "I think you are mistaken here. Where did you get that idea from?"

"Wait... isn't that what happened with every other stallion you've dated?" he asked me, confused.

I blinked. "I... haven't dated anypony else before, though," I told him, and Bit looked even more confused. "Did you think I broke up with everyone I had sex with? That I went around tricking ponies into a relationship only to move on to the next pony the day after?"

Eight Bit rubbed his foreleg uncertainly. "I, uh... kinda?" he admitted. "So you didn't go on dates with any of them? I... I don't understand. Isn't that how it works?"

I snorted humorlessly. "Which part of 'I don't do dates' didn't you get when we met?"

He made an expression reminiscent of understanding. "That's why you thought I was only out for... that."

"Duh," I deadpanned. "Imagine my surprise when you told me you weren't."

"Oh," he simply stated. He gave me a curious look afterward. "What changed your mind?"

"You did," I shrugged. "After what you told me about Shining, I kind of..."—I gestured vaguely, refusing to say that I lost hope and the ability to care about anything anymore—" I let go?"

Eight Bit sighed. "I guess that makes sense. I'm sorry, Pleasure."

"For what?" I asked. "About Shining Armor?" (Cough, Cadance, cough). "Or because you thought I was a heartless bitch?"

My friend winced. "...both?"

"Well, my conditions are still the same," I told him unapologetically. "I like having sex, and I like doing it with different ponies. Those are casual and consenting flings without any meaning. If you can't bring yourself to share me with other stallions—or mares—I won't be having a lasting relationship with you."

"And if you want to date somepony else?" he asked.

I gave him a pointed look. "Then I would date them, too," I explained, voice monotone as if it was obvious. I sighed. "Look, I get it. You have this idea of being somepony's special somepony. It's a nice idea, don't get me wrong, but I'm not Cadance.

"This is literally the reason why I was so reluctant to have a serious relationship with anypony. You all expect to find the 'one' pony to spend the rest of your life with, to grow old and shit, do the family thing, and indoctrinate your kids into wanting the same.

"I'm different because I'm going to outlive everypony. Cady hasn't realized that yet, Shining Armor hasn't realized that yet, you haven't realized that yet, and so has nopony else except for Aunt Celestia. If you want to do this, that is how it will be."

Eight Bit had this sad and contemplative expression on his muzzle as he listened to me before it was replaced with acceptance and understanding. Or what amounted to understanding with his pathetically limited, mortal perspective. "It wasn't Shining Armor you wanted a relationship with, was it?"

My heart missed a beat while my insides were doused in ice-cold horror. "What? No! Eight Bit, I—" I tried to deny it, but he didn't let that stop him from saying it out loud. My deepest, most profound regret was the secret I kept from my best friend even after my heart broke.

"All the glares, the jealousy whenever somepony confessed to her, you being so snide and bitter to us... the dead look in your eyes whenever you see Shining Armor together with her," Eight Bit listed each thing individually, cutting even deeper into my tortured, suffering heart with the metaphorical dagger already stuck in there. "The dead look that hasn't left ever since I told you about that day," he continued, tears glistening in his violet eyes. "You love her."

"I..." I tried to say, but my voice got stuck in my throat. Fear, unlike anything I've ever felt before, replaced the numbness and agony in my heart. "I-I... I don't." I can't...

"Please, don't lie to me, Pleasure," he begged, grief-stricken. "I can tell. It all makes sense now. The rumors, your reluctance to date anypony... everything."

"Stop..."

"You cry because your heart—"

"I said stop!" I shouted at him, vision blurry and breathing heavy. "Stop! Stop! Stop..!"

"Pleasure, I—"

"Save it."

"Pleasure, please! I—"

I glared hotly at him, the foul odor of rotting eggs in the air. "Do not presume to know what I feel," I growled, voice distorting as my visage unraveled. "You will speak no more of this, or you will regret every moment of your life. I will break your heart, turn your mind into a hellscape—"

Eight Bit shrank before me as he fell from his seat, staring into the fiendishly glowing... red... eyes... of my... "W-who—What are you..?"

"I..." I flinched back at the terror reflected back at me in his eyes. I was a monster. I... I didn't deserve love, whether from Eight Bit or Cadance. I was an abomination.

Instead of responding, I fled. I reapplied my alicorn visage and teleported away. I left behind a very confused and scared pony who saw my true form. For the first time in my life, I lost control of my careful hold over my visage. Eight Bit knew.

Eight Bit knew, and I didn't do anything about it.

My life in Equestria was over.