Fallen

Chapter Five

Reflections of Darkness

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Rainbow Dash watched as the stallion stormed down the stairwell, following him after a moment. As she reached the bottom of the stairwell Rainbow could see what had caused the noise. A brick lay on the floor among a multitude of broken glass shards. The stallion was looking from the brick, to the window, and back again to the brick. He snarled as he opened the door and stomped outside. Rainbow followed behind him from a distance.

Rainbow Dash saw what she could hardly believe, Gilda was back. The griffin had another brick in her talons and she was glaring daggers at Rainbow. The two once friends stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity wrapped in the couple of seconds it lasted before Gilda started yelling.

"You think you are so cool with your new friends don't you Rainbow?!" Gilda screamed, her voice betraying a hint of intoxication.

"Gilda what are you doing? How did you even know I was in that house!" Rainbow yelled in return.

"Oh, you're not as sneaky as you'd like to think. I saw you go into that house, but you can't escape from me now. I'm going to teach you a lesson about betraying me!" Gilda reached back and hurled the brick at Rainbow with all of her might. The projectile sailed with stunning speed, only to be knocked down by a large white wing. The brick exploded on the ground from the sheer force of its descent.

"I don't care if you have a bone to pick with this little spy, but you have made a mistake vandalizing my property..." Venom dripped off Azrael's voice.

Gilda only now seemed to take note of the large stallion that had come out of the mansion. As he drew closer, Gilda realized just how big he was, much bigger than her. Gilda however only faltered for a second before yelling at the stallion.

"Don't think that just because you're so big that you can get in my way! Griffins are predators by nature, and some wimpy pony could never be an actual threat to me!" Gilda yelled angrily.

Azrael kept his own glare fixed upon the griffin who had thrown not just one but two bricks near his property. He did not speak a rebuttal however, he only moved closer to the intoxicated griffin, a look of anger turning into murderous intent. Gilda even in her inebriated state picked up on the look in his eyes and took note that he was not like most ponies in regards to shying away from violence. Gilda knew then that she had to make the first move.

Gilda lunged, talons extended as she propelled herself with her wings towards the exposed throat of the stallion. He did not react until she was a mere inch from his throat. The crowd of ponies including Rainbow Dash that had formed watched in the dim light of the sunset as the griffin Gilda was smashed into the ground. Nopony saw what did it however, nopony but Rainbow caught the quick movement Azrael made. Rainbow could not even believe her eyes, he had moved faster than she during a sonic rainboom, and he did it instantly, without having to build up speed.

The town's guards the showed up, having heard complaints that a drunken griffin was causing trouble and had stolen a couple of bricks from a mason. What they saw when they arrived however was a strange, and surprisingly large pegasus stallion standing over a now bleeding griffin on the ground. The guards exchanged glances before moving up to the stallion who was looking down with a disgusted look at the griffin.

"Umm, sir... Did you apprehend this griffin?" One guard asked.

At the strange look the stallion gave the guards the second spoke up, "We had heard complaints about a griffin causing some trouble..." explained the guard.

"Well then, good job apprehending this criminal officers. It was very brave of you to take down this viscous griffin." Azrael said with a sly grin.

"But sir we-"

"Fought bravely to protect my house, yes. If anyone asks I will be sure to tell them of your bravery." Azrael cut the guard off as he turned and walked away, towards Rainbow Dash.

The guards shot each other confused looks, but went along with it, acknowledging that the griffin needed to be taken into custody. Azrael meanwhile closed in on a stunned Rainbow.

"Now, since we are no longer being interrupted mind telling me why you find it necessary to  intrude upon my privacy?" He said.

Rainbow stared open mouthed for a second longer, until she finally found her voice. "You moved too fast..."

Azrael stiffened at this, he was sure he had moved faster than the normal eye could see. Was there something special about this mare? Azrael shook his head to clear it and lowered his head to look eye level with the cyan pegasus.

"Do not make this public knowledge. I wish to be left alone for the time being. Can I trust you will honor my wishes?" Azrael squinted his eyes at Rainbow as he said the last part. Rainbow stared for a moment before nodding, afraid of what the stallion might do to her.

"Now, if you don't mind... Leave." He firmly said as he shut his door.

"Twilight I saw it, he took out gilda with a single blow! He moved so fast.. Only I was able to see it!" Rainbow exclaimed to her friend. She was hoping Twilight would have some answer as to how somepony could move that fast, but Twilight only seemed to dismiss the notion as impossible.

"Rainbow moving that fast would tear your muscle fibers, it is simply not possible. Besides I heard the guards took down gilda." Twilight said waving a hoof dismissively.

"No, I was there. And Gilda went down before the guards showed up!" Rainbow complained to her friend.

"What were you doing there anyways. You are usually napping by then..." Twilight said as she scrutinized her friend.

"Well, he was being kinda suspicious... So i kinda sorta went to spy on him..." Rainbow pawed the ground shyly with a front leg.

"You were what?! Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed.

Rainbow smiled sheepishly at her friend. Realizing she should have kept her mouth shut. Twilight had that crazy look in her eye when somepony did something so unheard of she felt she needed to do something to fix it.

"Rainbow, you are going to go an apologize to him first thing tomorrow morning!" Twilight scolded.

Rainbow groaned and let her head bang on the table. She knew she was not going to get out of this one, "Fine, fine Twilight..."

Rainbow was promptly shoved out of the library door by Twilight's magic, and the door was shut behind her via the familiar purple aura. Rainbow grumbled as she flew back to her cloud home.

The next morning Rainbow Dash made her way up to the mansion that stood in the middle of town. She knocked on the door and hovered impatiently off the ground. She wanted to get this apology business over with so Twilight would forgive her. Rainbow looked over to the broken window from last night, but something was off. Rainbow then realized the window was no longer broken.

"No way he got that replaced that fast..." Rainbow mumbled to herself.

The door slowly opened revealing the large stallion. He looked down at Rainbow with impassive eyes. Rainbow looked over, meeting his gaze at eye level thanks to her hovering.

"To what do I owe the visit this time? Come to do some more spying? No, you look a little sincere..." The stallion commented dryly.

"I want to... apologize to you..." Rainbow said, setting herself down to the ground.

"Hmm..." Azrael gave Rainbow Dash a scrutinizing look, as if he was searching for the slightest hint of sarcasm or a joke.

"No really, and I would also like to thank you for dealing with Gilda..." Rainbow smiled and studied his features, watching to see if she surprised him. But the stallion's face remained void of surprise.

"You have a quick eye, but I already noted that you could see what I did to the Griffon. You are welcome however." Azrael then moved to close the door but a cyan hoof stopped it from closing.

"Hey uhh, you know daring... And you beat a Griffon like it was nothing..." Rainbow Dash said, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"Yes?" Azrael sighed, a hint of annoyance at the question.

"Are you some sort of bad-flank explorer, or treasure hunter?" Rainbow said, a giddy tone to her voice.

"Not exactly, though I recently met Daring on her most recent quest. She also is the one who brought this town to my attention. Quiet little place, the kind I was looking to settle in." The stallion looked across the town as he spoke to Rainbow.

"Uh huh, and what were you doing when Daring met you? She went into the Everfree on her last adventure..." Rainbow now scrutinized the stallion.

"Moping the loss of my brother" Azrael said flatly.

"Oh..." Rainbow said, her ears flattened against her head as she said this, realizing she had hit a sore spot. Rainbow also felt she had overstayed her welcome.

"I am Rainbow Dash by the way." Rainbow said as she turned to leave.

"Azrael" The stallion stated flatly as he closed the door gently, leaving Rainbow Dash to her thoughts.

'Why would he be mourning in the Everfree Forest? Did his brother get killed by something in there?' Rainbow thought as she trotted off to tell Twilight she had done what she was told.

Celestia paced back and forth in her throne room, Luna watched with a worried look on her face. Celestia had been running herself ragged ever since the Angel had appeared before them. The crime had stopped, and the two sisters noticed the lack of the headache that had throbbed in the back of their minds.

"Where could he have gone? A being as powerful as that doesn't just disappear. Not even Discord can hide form a magical sweep of the land..." Celestia sat upon the throne with a frustrated huff.

"Perhaps he is sealing his power in something, that could work." Luna offered.

"Yes, but he did not seem eager to be sealed again. He may have picked a new body to host his powers in, he might be able to hide from scans then..." Celestia thought out loud to herself.

"I would not put it past him, he did cause crime and even murder to break out just because he thought we would enjoy it. He probably wouldn't care about separating a soul form it's body to settle in..." Luna offered.

"So, we have no lead as to where he is, and he could be anypony at all..." Celestia said in a defeated tone. The princess of the sun closed her eyes and rested her head on her forelegs.

Luna looked solemnly to her sister before leaving the throne room. Celestia was taking this the worst, she had known a few of the ponies that had fallen to the angel's influence. Something puzzled Luna however. The angel claimed to have control over wrath in all of its forms. True he had been able to drive ponies to crime and worse, but why had some ponies proven resistant, only getting migraines when he attempted to force his influence. Frustration soon turned to anger as she found herself unable to come up with a reason for the resistance of some ponies.

As Luna made it into her bedchamber she nodded to the guards who opened the large doors for her and closed them behind her. Luna sat herself in front of the mirror that hung over her dresser. Luna looked at her reflection in the mirror, and adjusted her crown as she brushed her disheveled mane. Luna then looked down as she pulled off her silver shoes. Luna then rest her head down on the large pillow she sat upon, the fatigue of staying up with her sister to search for this possible new threat to Equestria was taking its toll. Luna let out a huff as she closed her eyes and attempted to sleep.

A tapping noise roused Luna from her attempted slumber. The princess of the night rubbed her eyes with her hooves and looked towards the closed door with a confused look. The tapping occurred again, and Luna turned her ears to locate the noise. Luna then looked toward her mirror to behold a set of glowing red eyes set on a flat pale face that she had seen once before. Luna's jaw dropped as she beheld the angel's grinning face.

"Well well, look who is calling out to ancient powers. If it isn't the little goddess of the moon." The angel said in a teasing, triumphant tone.

"Wha-what are you speaking of?!" Luna exclaimed at the accusation.

"I can sense your anger, you hate me. You hate what I did to those ponies, and you hate how your beloved sister is reacting to it. That hatred sustains me you know." The angel seemed more energetic than when Luna last saw him, as if he was fasting before, but now had just had a feast.

"So what you are saying is I am feeding you?" Luna said with gritted teeth,

"Correct" Azrael grinned.

"And why would you tell me this? Why not just silently feed off me and grow stronger?" Luna hissed, sensing a hidden motive.

"I want you to stop hating so much. The remaining angels are already growing active once again after they felt my return, and if I take any more power from a goddess they will be able to track me. And trust me, neither of us want to have to deal with the other angels." Azrael warned.

Luna blinked at this, anger forgotten as she was completely taken off guard, "The other angels? How many are left? And what will they do?"

"They will try to kill me for what I did, a  vain attempt but they will try... And they will also find you and your sister. Two young gods, who already have a massive amount of followers is a very attractive option for angels. They will offer to serve you, but you are not powerful enough to command them, and they will ultimately shape this land to be like their last." Azrael's face grew grave as he spoke.

"Why?" Luna mumbled.

"Angels are beings created to serve the gods. Right down to our very core we crave to serve greater beings than ourselves. And the only entities grater than us are the gods. Currently there are no gods as powerful as my old master or his enemies, and if there are any other than you and your sister I do not know, for they are too weak to pinpoint if they exist." Azrael explained.

"But if you angels crave servitude, why do you hide from us now? If you want to keep my sister and I away from the other angels, why not seek serving us first?" Luna asked, a hint of suspicion on her voice.

"Because I will never serve again, I was betrayed multiple times by my old master. When I rebelled I became a fallen angel, and was overcome by darkness and evil. Or so the rest of my kin will claim at least. Truthfully falling merely allows us to free ourselves, at the price of a curse." Azrael traced the scars over his eyes with a finger as he spoke.

"Curse... Surely something like curses do not truly exist,,," Luna argued, for the thought of such a dark use of magic appalled her.

"Mine was wrath, but that is a story for another time. You have been warned. Stay away from your own feelings of anger, and do not associate with any of the angels that may seek you out." Azrael began to fade from the mirror.

Luna watched the image turn back into her own reflection, and a shiver ran down her spine. The princess of the night then left her room to tell her sister of what transpired.

Azrael stretched his host body as he reentered it. If he left it for too long rigormortis could overtake it without him forcing it's heart to beat fresh blood through it. Host bodies were always so troubling, but at least this one seemed superior to the ponies of the common day. Over the millennia of peace, the ponies had evolved to be less hardy, and better suited for delicate work such as art, instead of being hardy and meant for surviving as Icarus had been. Shame he had to be evicted, Icarus as a loyal servant.

Azrael left his manor and headed for the town library, he was going to need to read up on customs if he wanted to fit in and stay under the radar. Freedom was going to prove tedious if he wanted to avoid constant attacks by the remainder of heaven's host. Despite the fact that every angel in heaven died when he attacked, many more were not in heaven, instead on the frontlines of the battle with the demons. Worst of all, the angels that were left were all hardened warriors, they would not go down as easy as the others of his kin.

Lost in thought Azrael did not notice the orange mare who walked beside him giving him a strange look as she silently accompanied him.

"Ya' look troubled partner, what's on yer' mind?" Applejack asked the large pegasus with a furrowed brow.

"Hmm?" Azrael stopped and looked to the mare.

"You look mighty gloomy, and yer' stormin' right toward the library... Ya' don't happen to have a beef with Twilight do you?" Applejack asked suspiciously.

"Ah, no. I was lost in thought of... Family matters. But if you must know, I am going to the library to read get some books." Azrael explained.

"Aw, geez. Normally I can tell when someone is lyin' but there is no way you are thinkin' of family with that kind of look on yer' face." Applejack chuckled to herself.

"I cannot lie. And if my kin found me they would attempt to kill me." The stallion's face lost it's angry expression and adopted a passive one.

"Now, I don't think they would do that partner, but I don't feel like your lyin..." Applejack eyed the large pony.

Azrael then walked once again toward the large tree that served as a library for the town. Applejack swore under her breath and followed the stallion that now disregarded her. The two made it to the library in silence and the stallion knocked on the door and patiently waited. Applejack looked strangely at him, not liking the way he blew her off.

The library door opened and the purple librarian noticed that she was being towered over by a large white pony with a massive wingspan, At first she suspected it was an alicorn by the size, but she noticed the lacking of a horn. Then she recognized the town's newest resident.

"Oh, umm... Can I help you?" Twilight asked nervously under the cold red gaze.

"I wish to obtain some books upon the subjects of history, laws, and etiquette. Azrael stated. Twilight perked up at the news of a pony interested in reading and allowed him in.

After Azrael entered Twilight noticed her friend who was obscured by the massive stallion.

"Applejack! what are you doing here?" Twilight exclaimed.

"Well, I kinda followed this feller here. He was broodin something fierce when I saw him on the way here." Applejack explained.

Twilight looked over to the stallion who was amassing a pile of books on a library table, "He seems alright to me..."

Applejack smacked a hoof to her forehead and gave her friend a 'seriosuly?' look.

"He probably had something on his mind, he at least is showing manners. He could have just burst into the library without knocking like Rainbow always does." Twilight giggled.

"He was talkin' about his family wantin' tah' kill him Twi'! And I couldn't tell if he was lyin' or not, actually it seemed like he was tellin' the truth..." Applejack whispered to her friend with a hint of urgency on her voice.

"Oh come now Applejack, I'm sure he was just joking. I mean, whose family would be so mean as to want somepony dead?" Twilight countered.

"Well, I dunno to be honest here... But he gives me a weird feelin'" Applejack conceded.

"You probably just need to get to know him better, remember how you all were suspicious of me because I was a little strange when I first moved into Ponyville?" Twilight smiled.

"True, but you didn't come in an' buy the biggest house in town though." Applejack offered.

"But I did have a dragon with me." Twilight smiled triumphantly as Applejack's face fell.

The girls looked over to the stallion at the sound of a heavy book closing. Both mares then widened their eyes to dinner plate circles, as their jaws hit the ground.The entire stack of books were on the opposite side of him when he has sat down, and he stood up as if he was finished. As the stallion made his way to the door he nodded at Twilight.

"Thank you for the use of your books." Azrael said as he left.

"No way..." Applejack mumbled.

"No, he couldn't have... We only took our eyes off him for a minute..." Twilight responded.

As the two mares stared at him as he left, Azrael headed to gather a few supplies from the marketplace. As he trotted along the road he contemplated what he had read in the books. A lot had transpired in the land while he was stuck in the garden. Icarus had told him of the old ruler of the land. A god of chaos by the name of Discord who was currently in a statue in Canterlot gardens. He never would have guessed about Luna being banished to the moon however, she seemed to be fairly easy going if not a little protective for a goddess.

Azrael then wondered what had happened to end the banishment, had the thousand years actually brought about the return of the banished princess? And if so, why had she ceased her crusade for an eternal night? The questions buzzed through the angel's mind as he made his way to a store labeled 'Carousel Boutique'. Azrael entered the store and was greeted by the sight of many odd garments, all colorful and in the spirit of the holiday he learned was coming up.

"Welcome to my boutique how may I help... you..." Rarity called as she sewed on a project, looking up and faltering at the sight of the large stallion.

"Oh my, Rainbow said you were tall, but I never guessed you were this big..." Rarity mumbled.

Azrael cocked his head to the side with a questioning look at the mention of the mare who had delivered an apology earlier that morning. Was this seamstress a friend of hers?

"Umm, is there anything you needed darling?" Rarity said with her composure once again intact.

"I would like to commission a costume for the upcoming festivities." Azrael stated looking around the store.

At this Rarity perked up, "Ooh, this should be interesting. Anything you wanted to be in specific for nightmare night?"

"I need just one simple piece from you, a long black cloak that will be long enough to billow in the breeze, with a hood that will be able to obscure the face. The rest of the costume I will be able to create." Azrael said with a smile.

"Any preferences on material?" Rarity asked, levitating a pad and pencil over to begin sketching what it would look like.

"The heaviest cloth you can get, wool if you can, and perhaps a satin or silk interior?" Azrael suggested.

"Ooh, I like the way you think. How does this look for a rough sketch?" Rarity asked levitating the notepad for the stallion to see.

"Perfect" Azrael gave a toothy smile at the sketch.