A Slayer's Love

Retreat felt like failure. No matter how many times the Princess had emphasised the importance of knowing when to escape, leaving her work unfinished, nearly a dozen people in agony, and over a hundred more in looming danger tore at Sunset's heart. But none of it tore it asunder like the vivid memory of Twilight's pained expression as she lodged her own sword deep into her abdomen.

Even now, the doubt clawed at her. What if that had been the only truth in that encounter? What if that voice had truly been hers, begging her for help? She told herself it wasn't, that it couldn't be, that no rational view would support that fear. And yet none of it swayed her heart.

Regardless, both her weapon and body were broken, she was lacking in resolve, strength, and knowledge. But she couldn't move on, travel all the way back to Canterlot, to seek aid from her mentor or her friends. She needed allies quickly, tonight, and she could only think of one place.

Compared to where she had come from, the clearing in which she arrived was peaceful and welcoming. Moonlight lit up the petals and leaves of countless herbs and vegetables in the overgrown garden, a parade of unsorted colours, which carried on along the sides of the hut, some of the bending stones painted with symbols and patterns, while the mended part of one wall was a mosaic of many-coloured pebbles, and shawls and dresses drifted gently in the breeze as they hung from the upstairs windows.

Sunset almost felt deafened when she stepped closer. Without the rustling of leaves and bushes around her boots there was only the thumping in her ears and the dull pounding of her wounds. Even the gate did not creak when she unlatched it and pushed forward through the garden. And yet her arrival must have been noticed, because the front door swung open before she had even made it to the steps.

The woman in the doorway looked young, but deceptively so, as Sunset reminded herself. Her dark braids rested on both shoulders, on her vibrant yet aggressive clothes, as she affixed Sunset with a glare. "Well, if it isn't the heroic knight, dragging herself back."

Sunset stood straight, though she knew she didn't make an imposing figure right now either way, with blood pooling in her glove and the broken blade tucked in her belt. "Aria. I need your help." Her voice was tired but she was trying to will it to be firm, while not sounding like a demand.

"Of course. You only ever come when you need something." She stepped out of the doorway and back into the interior of the small home, leaving the door open. It was as good an invitation as Sunset could expect from her, so she sighed and headed up the steps and inside, closing the door behind her.

It was a cozy home, small for three women - four at one point - but undeniably filled with life, between the mismatched dishes on the table, the plants along the windows, coats and shawls scattered around on various chairs and hooks, and a warm fire crackling in the small hearth. Sunset was briefly overcome with the desire to just drop everything and lie down on the old sofa, far too big and gaudy to match any of the other furniture, to let sleep and comfort take her.

But before she could even honestly consider it, as out of the question as it was regardless, she became aware again of Aria's eyes on her, and of the steps coming closer from different parts of the home. The hurried pitter-patter from upstairs arrived first, bringing the shortest of the sisters into the room, her long ponytail following behind her like a standard as she barrelled in, her sharp teeth and wide eyes somehow adding up to an endearing grin. "She's here! I told you she would be! I was right!"

The more measured steps stopped, in the door left of her, just out of Sunset's view as she had turned to face Sonata. Adagio must have been in the kitchen, or more likely below, where the three of them practised their real trade. Simultaneously, she wanted to see her and embrace her, and never lay eyes on her again. But that choice was already made when she had started to drag herself here.

"So I see," the soft, warm voice said. "Come to make another bargain, o sunlit champion?"

Sunset felt her chest tighten as she finally turned. Adagio leaned in the doorframe, in a long dress and a wide shawl over her shoulders, her arms crossed over her chest and her voluminous hair barely tamed by tight ribbons. At once she was reminded of a hundred regrets, and just as many apologies she still owed but couldn't form.

"I... need your help," she said instead, weakly repeating the same words, while Sonata slipped the broken hilt from her belt and lifted her hand to sniff at it.

"What kind of help?" Adagio asked more pointedly, pushing herself off the frame and walking closer. A slim smile played on her lips, as if there was barely more than a little fight in their past. "There was a time I would have killed for you, but..."

"I just need information. And... a new weapon." Her tone dropped, exhaustion starting to drag on her shoulders. She didn't resist while Sonata unbuckled and pulled off her glove, holding it up by one finger so the blood pooled into her open palm.

"So that's two bargains," Aria pointed out sharply, prompting Adagio to quietly shush her.

"Come downstairs and tell us about it. Then we'll discuss payment." With a slight touch to Sunset's shoulder, she turned again and headed back towards the door. Sunset avoided the glare she could feel Aria levelling at the back of her head and followed.

She briefly became conscious of the mud she was now dragging through the sisters' kitchen, before she followed Adagio down the stone steps, leaving the moonlit living space and entering the dug-out cavern beneath the house, candles standing in small alcoves next to books, preserving jars, animal skulls, and other oddities. The centre of the room was dominated by a circle, carved into the flattened floor and featuring several additional circles, stars, and other shapes within.

Sunset stopped near the bottom of the stairs while the sisters walked past her, standing beside one another along the edge of the circle, facing her with Adagio in the middle. "Now then," the oldest began, her voice growing more serious, "you come before our coven in search of aid." Sonata waved her hand and one by one, every candle's flame flickered, shifting from its warm light to a sickly green. "Make your request."

Sunset shakily stepped forward. She knew these formalities nearly as well as the sisters did, having seen them multiple times, even when it wasn't her their unblinking eyes were fixed upon. She flexed her hand, still feeling the smear on her numb fingers, while she thought through her words.

"I encountered a monster, in the Northern parts of these woods," she began, dropping all sense of familiarity as she addressed the coven. "It bore the face of people I know and care for, to lower my guard. It lures people away from their homes with this deception and traps them in strange cocoons. Its skin snapped my blade and its wounds heal rapidly. I beseech you, tell me: What is it? And how can I destroy it?"

After making her case, Sunset raised her bare hand, holding it hovering over the circle. The blood that still wet her hand slowly ran towards her fingertip, flowing easily like water, and fell in a rapid trickle, hitting the edge of the carving. With a sharp hiss, her blood ignited, green flames travelling along the carved shapes until the entire circle was lit.

Sonata and Aria's voices rose together in a rhythmic hum while Adagio's lips parted in slow annunciations, her low voice reverberating among the stone walls. Quiet rattling and the fluttering of pages joined additional harmonies to their song as things among the alcoves seemed to spring to a taunting facsimile of life. The flames in the circle hissed again, shooting upwards in a sudden flash, the green cinders dancing in the air before halting in place, as if time simply stood still, outlining a grotesque sketch of long limbs, sharp talons, and many masks surrounding a horned visage. At once, all sounds seized again, as the sisters' voices ebbed away.

"Changeling," all three said in unison.

"A Queen in the making," Aria added in a flat tone.

"Reader of Hearts," Sonata whispered almost reverently.

"Consumer of Love," Adagio finished with harsh annunciation.

All three looked to Sunset again and Adagio spoke more evenly. "She will trap you in lies and delusions to harvest your love. It makes her strong. It breeds offspring once she has enough."

"You have to burn out her heart," Aria said in a commanding voice, "or sever her neck. But neither will be easy."

"She is ready for both blade and spell. Instead of cutting, you must break her," Sonata explained, grinning excitedly at the last part.

"You have your answers," Adagio said, dismissing the cinders with a casual gesture, "now what can you offer in this bargain?"

Sunset looked down at her hands, one gloved, the other smeared with her own blood, with fingers that had not stopped trembling since she started running. She knew better than to give in to this feeling of weakness, but there truly wasn't much material she could offer. They were not interested in coins, not over something like this, she had left most of her supplies in town, and none of her bloody leather would be sufficient.

Adagio hummed quietly after watching her hesitate for a time. "An act of service, then?" She stepped closer, across the glowing green embers lingering in the circle.

Sunset looked up, meeting her with a firm gaze. "My oath forbids--"

Adagio cut her off with a soft finger on her lips. "...acts of evil and cruelty, I know. I'm sure we'll find something agreeable." Her smile was calm, but there was a wildness in her eyes, a scheme forming in the inhuman depths. "When I come to collect, who knows, you might even enjoy yourself."

Sonata made a loud heaving sound and Aria spoke up with a disapproving groan. "You're letting her off too easy again."

"Okay, fine." Adagio turned to her sisters, leaning back against Sunset's shoulder. She straightened her back and lifted her arm slightly to support her. "One service to each member of this coven. How does that sound, o knight?"

"Costly," Sunset muttered, looking across at Aria, who glared back, before her eyes were drawn to Adagio again. Her hand tingled, hovering just inches from her hip. "But if that's how I'll destroy that changeling tonight, so be it."

"One service, then," Adagio confirmed.

"To each of us," Aria reminded warningly.

"It's sealed in blood, so don't try to wiggle out," Sonata added cheerfully.

"So!" Adagio clapped her hands, all candles suddenly flickering back to their natural, warm flames. "You two prepare the gallant knight's arms. I'll see to her rest."

"Oh, of course," Aria muttered with a roll of her eyes, starting to make her way to the stairs with the younger sister in tow.

"I don't need much rest," Sunset said firmly, "I'll be off as soon as--"

Once again, Adagio put a finger over her lips. "As soon as I've cleaned your wounds and not a minute earlier."