Fallen

by Dizastrous

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Sad, Dark
Length: 34537

In the dank atmosphere of a seedy tavern, Daring Do hears a tale that piques her curiosity.

Some say that the world was not always as it is, that the sun and moon did not always rely on an alicorn to move them. But no documents survived the reign of Discord, and the two sisters do not remember themselves. Tales are told however, that were first whispered by the most ancient of dragons, about a single place that the history of the world could be learned.

Daring learns of this tale while in a rundown, backwater tavern near the gates of Tartarus itself. The tale piqued her curiosity, and as a result Daring sets off to find the location of this hidden knowledge.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-03 18:40:07 UTC

2 - Eden

Chapter Two

Eden

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Daring followed the pegasus stallion across a meadow to where a simple wooden cottage sat, surrounded by fruit bearing trees and a vegetable garden. The cottage, Daring realized as they drew closer was massive in size, much larger than a pony should need. The stallion set himself down on in the shade of a tree that had the most peculiar fruits Daring had ever seen. The fruits were round and purple, about as large as an apple, and their fragrance hung in the air even from a distance.

Daring's mouth began to water but she steeled herself and instead decided to sate her appetite for knowledge, "What kind of fruits are those?"

The stallion followed where Daring pointed with a hoof to above his head before meeting her gaze and replying, "They are the forbidden fruit. To eat of this tree is to give up the right to stay here in this safe haven, and it would mean giving up your chance at obtaining what you seek."

Daring realized the game he was playing, he brought her to where the temptation to eat would be the greatest. She would not be bested however, and decided to set to work at setting up her tent. As much as the cottage piqued her interest, Daring was not going to trust it.

"So, that cottage seems a little large for a lone pony to live in." Daring stated as she began to attach tent poles together, making the skeleton of the tent.

"I do not live in it, and it is off limits. Inside there are many treasures, one of which will be yours when you leave should you succeed." The stallion stated simply as he watched a few clouds lazily float on by.

Daring after finishing setting up her tent watched the sky as well until something dawned on her. She looked around and really paid attention to the serenity of the land.

"Why is it so peaceful here? I understand the shrine is here and all and the animals stay out, but even the weather. This land is like a chunk of paradise..." Daring said with her eyes still on the sky.

"This area is called the Garden of Eden. In this very spot all life was born and started. It was once the spot where all creatures prospered, but sin overtook the garden, and all the creatures were cast out to save the garden from corruption. Only after the fall of man did the garden reopen, but before a new life had taken its roots into the world the shrine was built and rules were set. So the garden was lost to the world again." The stallion never once broke his gaze with the clouds.

"Huh, but does it get lonely here then? Or even boring?" Daring pressed on.

"There are always things to do should one seek it here, I usually tend to different flower gardens I started, or even do some landscaping. As for loneliness..." The stallion finally looked towards Daring, "If you keep an open mind and a light heart you will find company here."

At this Daring was about to raise a question as to what he meant but a sound startled her, from inside the cottage a metallic *clank* could be heard. Daring stared at the cottage for a time, peering into the darkened windows for a minute or so until she wrote the noise off as something shifting or falling inside.

"By the way, I am Daring Do, and I never caught your name..." Daring said awkwardly.

"That is because I did not give it." The stallion stated simply.

"Well... can I have your name please?" Daring said, her nerves beginning to act up.

"Of course, all you needed to do was ask, I am called Icarus." He replied.

"That... Is a very strange name..." Daring said.

"The master gave it to me after he found me in the garden." Icarus stated.

"Wait, what master?" Daring said suddenly shifting her gaze to the cottage again.

"The angel that lives in this place, he found me broken upon the ground, for I had fallen from the sky after being chased by beasts from the forest long ago. He told me my name was from a story of a human who constructed wings of wax and flew too close to the sun, causing the wings to melt, and for him to plummet to his death." Icarus said, no emotion on his face.

Daring took in everything the stallion said bit by bit, processing all of the story before responding, "Icarus... How long have you been here?"

"I first came to the garden almost two thousand years ago during the reign of Discord. I fled as far as I could in hopes of escaping his madness. But in an attempt to get away from a harpy I flew too high, and passed out from the altitude." Icarus finished his own tale.

"T-Two thousand years?!" Daring exclaimed, taking a new light to the pony before her.

"That is correct" Icarus said with his signature lacking of emotion.

The first two days were not so bad, the fragrance of the forbidden fruit grew heavy on Daring however. But every day under the supervision of Icarus the guardian, Daring inspected the temple and the surrounding area, taking notes and sketches of what she found interesting. But as the day wound to a close, and the sun began to set over the horizon the two pegasi made their way back to the cottage.

Daring had been sleeping in her tent, while Icarus merely lay on the ground under the forbidden tree. If she had not felt how soft the ground was the sight would make her call him crazy, but even Daring had to hoof it to the place, everything was comfortable.

As they drew nearer Daring could hear the sound of music drifting on the light breeze coming from the direction of the cottage. The tune was sad, and Daring could hear singing as well. Drawing closer Daring found that the sound came from within the cabin. She shot a questioning look to Icarus.

"Who is in there?" Daring inquired.

"The master, he is singing for it is the anniversary of his brother's death."

"By the way Icarus... Do you mind me asking about your personal past?" Daring asked as they walked closer to the cottage.

"Go ahead, I will tell you what I remember. Do you wish to know of how life was like during Discord's reign on the world?" Icarus said in return.

"No, I want to know if you had family before you came here." Daring said as she stopped and looked at Icarus.

"Yes, I had a wife and two young fillies." Icarus answered.

"What happened to them?" Daring asked.

"I can not say for sure, when I was found broken in the garden, the master forbid me from ever leaving. For if I do, the spell on me will fail and I will die as I was meant to before he saved me." He returned.

Daring gasped at this, Icarus not only gave up his own life to the garden, but also his family, "Does this place mean that much to you that you are okay with all of this?"

"No, I care not for Eden to be honest..." Icarus for once expressed emotion in his voice, "Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off dying. Perhaps then I could have seen my little girls and my beloved in the afterlife..."

"Well, if you miss them, why have you not... left the garden and accepted your fate? Why have you stayed so long?"

"I was afraid of what would await me after death. The master often spoke of his exploits into the underworld. And by the time I had worked up the courage to move on, I realized that many centuries had passed and my family had probably all but forgotten me in the afterlife..."

Daring stared at the Stallion before her, and she looked at him in a new light. She had thought him to be merely callous and reserved, but she now realized he was merely broken. He had nothing to live for, but he feared death more than the everlasting servitude in this garden.

Daring gathered her feelings and pushed them down however. She still had to make it through the rest of the night before she could collect her prize and escape from this realm of sorrow. The pair then moved onwards again to the cottage to take their rest for the night.

As Daring got to her tent she noticed the music had stopped playing as she entered and unrolled her sleeping bag. Daring lay down on top however, for it was too warm to be bundled. Daring began to doze off in the peaceful silence. Only the sound of her growling stomach stopped her from falling completely into slumber.

Daring sat up with a start however as she heard a creaking noise outside her tent. She opened the tent flap and looked outside only to realize she must have dozed off for ti was nearly pitch black out now. The only light came from the moon that hung in the sky behind the cottage. But Daring's eyes were drawn to a silhouette against the moon. A large creature with wings that stood on its hind legs stood on the roof of the cottage, its back to her.

The silhouette strongly resembled the statue in the shrine, only this being had long hair that waved in the light breeze. There was no doubt in Daring's mind, this was the angel who lived here in the Garden of Eden.

Daring took a step outside of the tent, but despite her not making a single noise the angel slowly turned towards her. Daring froze as it faced her, and she slowly worked at her courage to call out to the being. Before she even uttered a single noise however the angel's eyes opened to reveal glowing crimson eyes that seemed to draw in the world before them. All Daring could think about was the fierce look in those crimson eyes as she fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

Daring awoke to the sensation of being shaken. She stood up slowly and steadied herself against the pegasus stallion she had spent the last three days with.

"You have endured the fast Daring, but before you can have your prize you must fulfill the other part of the bargain." Icarus said.

"Wha-what happened last night... I heard something outside the tent and..." Daring started.

"You saw the master, he can be a little much for mortals to take in sometimes. Especially when he is in a foul mood like he is every anniversary." Icarus said, an actual note of sympathy on his voice.

"Oh my... Those eyes..." Daring shuddered as she remembered her last sight before fainting,

"But back to business, the last part of the bargain, what had you learned after putting your faith in me and fasting for three days without breaking any of the rules?" Icarus pressed on.

Daring took a couple of minutes to gather her thoughts before finally responding to the question, "I have learned that even though at first glance this is paradise. This garden is a hell of its own, a place of sorrow and self pity for those who wish to wallow in it."

Icarus was taken back by the strength in Daring's voice. He stared open mouthed at her for a moment, before smiling at her.

"Very well done, I shall retrieve your gift so that you may have proof of your find here. But do warn other ponies of the sorrow this once grand garden now holds." Icarus said as he moved towards the cottage door.

"You spoke of this place being a pure paradise in the past, was it the brothers that corrupted it?" Daring asked sadly.

"Yes and no, while it was the actions of the brothers that caused this garden to be corrupted, it was the immortal gods who set in motion the events that led to this. At least the master has stopped the spread though..." Icarus said as he opened the cottage door and stepped inside.

Minutes passed and Daring could hear rummaging from within, until Icarus finally emerged with a long bundle in his mouth. He set it before Daring, and then he moved over to a pear tree and picked one of its fruits.

"Eat this blessed fruit, and it shall sustain you for days to come, spill not a drip of its juices and your thirst will be quenched as well. And after you are sated and slaked, take the gift I have for you." Icarus said in a cryptic tone.

Daring graciously dug into the pear, being careful not to let even a drop drip down her chin, and true to his words she was completely satisfied and refreshed. She then looked to the bundleon the ground and then back up to the stallion before her.

"Thank you for this, while not as dangerous as my other quests, this has truly been an interesting one indeed." Daring said with a smile.

"Farewell Daring, I will miss your company, but let us both pray our paths never again cross." Icarus said solemnly.

Daring reached down and picked up the bundle in her mouth, it was bigger than she was, but felt strangely weightless. As she looked up to give an inquiring glance to Icarus, what she saw made her jaw drop open, and the bundle fell to the ground.

Daring was once again at the edge of the Everfree Forest, now looking over to Ponyville. She looked around incredulously, unable to believe that she was suddenly out of the forest. Were it not for the bundle she now bore at her hooves she would not believe where she had been herself. Daring moved to pick up the bundle again, but this time she strained against the weight, it was as if it was a giant hunk of metal inside of it now.

"Darn... thing..." Daring said with gritted teeth as she dragged it into Ponyville.

It had been three days since Daring had left Ponyville for Canterlot, and the bundle Icarus gave her still remained unopened. There was a magical enchantment upon the bundle, and it refused to open. Currently however, she was waiting in the Canterlot royal museum for the two princesses to arrive. She had sent word to them telling of an artifact that was magically sealed that not even Twilight Sparkle could open.

"You are Daring Do I presume?" A regal sounding voice asked behind Daring.

Daring turned to behold both Celestia and Luna before her. Daring bowed low before addressing them.

"Yes, and thank you for coming. It has been bugging me that I have been unable to open this when it contains the proof of my most recent expedition." Daring said, motioning with a hoof at the wrapped bundle.

Celestia raised an eyebrow at the size of the item in question, but it was Luna who spoke, "Thou speaketh of finding this deep in the Everfree yes? Where did you acquire a wrapped bundle if you knoweth not of what is inside?"

"The place I visited had a guardian, and it was he who gave this to me after I passed his test of fasting and then a question. He did not tell me what it was, merely gave it to me, and when I picked it up I found myself outside of the forest." Daring explained.

"Hmm, interesting... Well sister shall we give it a try?" Celestia said to Luna who nodded in return.

The sisters then combined their magic and slowly but surely they pried the cloth wrapping from the bundle. Once the cloth was free the sisters gasped at what was inside, for there, now floating off of the ground was a massive sword whose blade was sheathed in flames. Immediately the princesses felt the magical energy bleeding from the sword. Being in it's presence was almost choking at first, but the flames calmed after a moment, and the magic stopped trying to choke them, and instead merely pulsed in the back of their minds.

"Daring Do, you appear to have been given a powerful gift by this guardian... What do you intend on doing with it?" Celestia asked with a hint of concern on her face.

"To be honest I was going to donate it to the museum here, but... I think you may want to watch over it... If this belongs to the master of the garden then I do not think it is safe in public..." Daring said nervously.

"Master of what garden?" Luna asked.

"I got this from the ancient Garden of Eden... It's master is an angel who lives there. I only saw him once though, and I uh... Passed out when I met him." Daring said rubbing the back of her head and blushing slightly in embarrassment.

Celestia and Luna froze at the mention of an angel. They had only heard tales themselves of the ancient beings, but there were not supposed to be that many of them left. But Celestia unlike Luna had also recognized the  name of the garden, for she had heard Discord speak of it once long ago. It was apparently the one place that he feared.

"We will keep watch over this Daring, and fear not. We will keep it on display in our castle for any who question your finds. Your journey will not be for nothing, but I believe it will be safest to keep it locked up for now until we can be sure that it can not harm anypony." Celestia said as she levitated the sword in front of her.

"I will take it to the vault sister." Luna said as she took the sword in her own field of magic.

Celestia nodded at this and began to ask Daring about her adventure as Luna teleported away with the sword.

Luna had teleported to the vaults that held the Elements of Harmony, among other things, and placed the sword on a pedestal where it then dropped and sank into the stone, embedding itself a few feet in until it stopped. Luna stepped back and watched the flames burn for a minute. She then with a flash of her horn teleported to rejoin her sister and Daring, she did not want to miss much of the tale about this angel's home.

After Luna left, the sword's flame turned from a bright orange, do a deep crimson. A dark chuckle could be heard from within the blade, only nopony was around to witness it.

3 - My Name Is Azrael

Chapter Three

My Name Is Azrael

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Feather Duster was having another rough day on the job, being a maid in Canterlot castle was truly an honor. But when she was assigned to the sections of the castle that prince Blueblood spent most of his time? Feather had many stressful days of the week. Today was no exception, and she could already feel a throbbing in the back of her head. Hopefully a migraine would not set in before she was done with her tasks.

While Feather Duster was cleaning one of the noble's studies, a duster held in her mouth as she worked. She had just flown up to dust the top of a bookshelf when she heard a sneeze from below her. Feather narrowed her eyes as she prepared for what she knew was going to come.

"You peasant! Can you not see I am reading here? Go clean elsewhere if you insist on kicking up dust into the air!" Scolded the terror of the maid staff, prince Blueblood.

Feather answered this with a sarcastic salute and flew off to another room to clean, grumbling under her breath. Blueblood 'harrumphed' at this and went back to his reading. In a mere minute however he was distracted again by the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Blueblood looked up to the doorway with an incredulous look on his face as he beheld the maid he had just scolded with an evil grin and the vacuum in her hooves.

"You will pay for your insolence!" Blueblood yelled as he dropped his book and took off in the direction of the maid Feather Duster.

"You will have to catch me first princess" Feather chuckled darkly as she hopped on the vacuum and propelled herself down the hallway with her wings.

Blueblood gritted his teeth as a vein began to bulge on the side of his temple. He would have used his magic to grab the maid of he was thinking straight, but he was currently seeing red. Nobody called him princess.

The two chased each other through the halls twisting and turning in the maze that was the castle. Feather finally lost control however of her makeshift getaway vehicle, and she crashed through a set of doors. Blueblood jumped into the room after her and tackled her to the ground as she began to pick herself up. The two wrestled with each other, and though one would think a stallion of Bluebloods size would have no trouble with a petite mare like feather, the match was near even.

"Ahem..." The pair froze at this, both mid swing, hooves near each other's faces.

"Care to explain?" princess Celestia asked, an eyebrow quirked up. The pair had crashed into one of the spa rooms where Celestia currently sat and soaked in the hot water of a mineral bath.

Blueblood was the first to recover the ability to speak, "This peon had the audacity to trouble me while I was reading, and she then called me a princess."

"He was being a stuck up jerk and got in the way when I was trying to clean." Father returned.

"Well, I normally don't have a problem with small pranks like that... But why the violence? Perhaps I should suspend your duties for a while Feather. Just to have you see a therapist. I know the work around the castle can be stressful." Celestia cut in before the fighting could resume.

"No, thank you princess... But with due respect... I quit." Feather turned her nose in the air and walked out on a stunned Blueblood and Celestia.

Blueblood after a minute looked over to Celestia, and smiled sheepishly. Celestia shook her head and rose from her bath.

"We are going to have a talk before I lose more of my staff." Celestia said calmly.

Celestia had just finished scolding Blueblood when Luna walked in to the throne room. Blueblood walked past the princess of the night with his tail between his legs as he hurried out. Luna gave this a quizzical look before turning to her sister.

"One of our maids quit because she got into a fight with Blueblood." Celestia exlpained.

"But sister, why then wouldst you talk with Blueblood? If the maid hath not the desire to work it is her own right to leave." Luna argued.

"They got into a physical hoof fight with each other." Celestia said as she rubbed her temple with a hoof.

"They what?!" Luna exclaimed.

"Yes, they burst in on me while I was having a bath and they were fighting." Celestia said.

Captain Shining Armor then walked into the room flanked by a few guards who had an earth stallion cuffed behind them.

"My princesses I have here a criminal that awaits your judgement on him." Shining said as he walked up and bowed before the princesses.

"You have a what..." Celestia said slowly.

"This criminal was found beating his wife, a most heinous crime." Shining said sternly.

"I-I don't know what came over myself I swear!" pleaded the stallion.

"How is his wife?" Celestia asked softly.

"She has been hospitalized but she is stable..." Shining said solemnly.

"But sister, you said Canterlot hath been free of any sort of crime for a hundred years now..." Luna mumbled

"It was..." Celestia said as she stared at the first pony to be sent to the Canterlot dungeons in almost a hundred years.

A week had passed since Feather Duster had quit her job, and she was currently living off of her savings from working as a maid. Albeit this was a fair sum, the maid staff were paid well for their hard work and they did not have to pay for things such as room and board while working. But things had gone terribly wrong.

The first few days were like a dream come true, Feather had found an apartment to live in and she had been stress free. But by the fourth day she began to notice how much the ponies of Canterlot truly were jerks. While in the marketplace to buy some fresh produce Feather had gotten into an argument with one of the stall owners. Since then she just could not shake the feeling of anger she felt all the time.

It only grew worse with each passing day, her headaches grew more often, the throbbing often was unbearable. Today she swore to herself however, was going to be different. She was not going to give in to her anger and argue, she was going to be bright and cheery to everypony she met. Perhaps acting positive would result in a positive outcome.

As feather left her apartment instead of brushing him off, she gave the geeky looking apartment owner a bright smile and asked how his morning was. The stallion gave a nervous smile and they had a short conversation before Feather returned on towards the market place again.

Feather headed straight towards the mare she had the argue with a few days previous.

"Back to tell me my goods aren't worth what I charge again?" The mare scoffed.

"No, I came to apologise, I was in the wrong and I should not have yelled at you." Feather started. The clerk looked at her with a surprised look.

"Oh... Well... Apology accepted, and I am sorry too I guess." the mare said nervously.

The two shook hooves and Feather walked off to buy some tomatoes so she could make a salad later. Things were already looking up for her as she went on with her errands. Perhaps she would even look for a job tomorrow. Many nobles lived in Canterlot, most of them not even at the castle, somepony was sure to need a maid.

On her way home however, Feather Duster was stopped by her landlord.

"Hey, um... I was wondering if you... Wanted to go out sometime..." The nervous stallion started good, but was mumbling by the end.

Feather was stunned by this, she was flattered at the honest advance, but she had no interest in the geeky looking stallion.

"Oh, I'm sorry but... I uh... Am kinda not interested in a relationship at the moment..." Feather said with a smile as she slipped past the stallion, her shopping bags held under her wings.

The stallion hung his head, and as Feather disappeared from his view, a single tear fell to the ground.

A few days had passed, and Feather's job hunt had finally turned out in success. She was going to start her new job next week, working for a rich fashion critic Hoity Toity. She was giddy for her new job, but she had a nagging feeling she was hired more for her looks than for her impressive resume of working at the Canterlot Castle for three years.

But that did not matter, she was finally back on her hooves. Her life was looking better already. Her pay was not going to be as good, but she was going to be staying at the maids quarters and no longer needed to pay for a room.

Feather was going to tell her landlord that she no longer needed the apartment, but as she opened her door to leave he was already there.

"Oh hey, I was just looking for you. I found another job and starting next week I won't need to keep renting this room." Feather said with a smile.

The landlord only glared back at her.

"It's okay though... you can keep the rest of the months rent, and still rent out the room. I understand we had a contract for the entire month." Feather said nervously.

The landlord pushed Feather further into the room and closed the door behind him. He then turned to her, the glare still present on his face. He slowly advanced on her.

"Hey umm, what are you-" Feather was cut off by a hoof smashing into her face.

The landlord continued to lay into the mare as she quivered on the floor and was mercilessly beaten. With each collision, a dull fleshy sound was released. The landlord openly wept as he glared down at Feather and continued his assault on her face.

Fifteen minutes passed of Feather screaming and whimpering before a guard finally broke down the door, having been informed by a passing pony of the commotion. The landlord was taken to the castle, and Feather Duster was sent to the hospital.

Feather awoke a full three days later, she opened her eyes slowly and took in the sterile white environment of a hospital. A nurse with a red cross cutie mark was adjusting her pillow, and looked down as she noticed Feather's eyes were open.

"Hey there, don't worry you're stable now." The nurse said.

"W-where..." Feather mumbled out. Her whole face was numb, and it was difficult to move her jaw.

"No! don't try to talk... Your jaw was broken, and the doctor's magic could only mend so much of the damage. If you strain too much it could reopen some of the cracks." The nurse said.

"My new job..." Feather mumbled.

"Sorry but... About that... Your employer wanted us to let you know you don't have to worry about that, and they already have your replacement." The nurse said with a solemn look.

Feather slumped and the throbbing of a headache began again, she had just gotten back on her hooves. Now this...

Luna had just raised the moon, and she returned to the throne room to meet her sister. But when she arrived in the throne room Shining Armor was there again, talking to Celestia. Over the last few weeks this had become a common occurrence.

"What happened this time, hath crime rates risen again?" Luna said wearily to the solemn look her sister gave her.

"No Luna... Remember the maid that left and was hospitalized three days ago?" Celestia asked.

Luan nodded in response, she remembered hearing about that quite well. The mare's landlord had asked her out, and she had turned him down. A few days later he had assaulted her and left her hospitalized. Luna found this especially atrocious due to the fact that the stallion felt no remorse for his actions.

"I just received word that... She committed suicide in the hospital..." Celestia said. Luna the noticed how red her sister's eyes were, she was on the verge of crying.

"S-suicide! But... Nopony hath committed suicide in over a thousand years, even during Discord's reign nopony even considered it." Luna said, unwilling to believe what she had heard.

"It is true, she bit her own tongue off and bled slowly to death... The doctors and nurses did not find her in time for she his herself in a closet when she committed the act..." Celestia said.

"Princesses... What is going on? First crime and now this, Is there something causing all of this?" Shining said, looking between Celestia and Luna.

Celestia rubbed her forehead with a hoof, and Luna took note of this, "Sister, you hath had headaches a lot lately... Is something wrong?

"Well Luna... To be honest I have been feeling a little off. Every time I hear of these crimes and such I get so... Angry." Celestia said through gritted teeth

Luna and Shining exchanged glances before Luna spoke up again, "Sister, when did the headaches start? Perhaps what is affecting our ponies is what is giving you these headaches."

"Well they began shortly after... Daring..." Celestia froze and her eyes widened.

"Did Daring mention something about the angel Luna? I can't remember correctly with this throbbing..." Celestia said her teeth still gritted.

"Oh no..." Luna mumbled her eyes becoming as round as dinner plates.

"What was that sister? Please speak up it is becoming hard to focus, I think this is going to turn into a migraine... " Celestia said.

"Sister, I think she mentioned the angel had fallen into wrath..." Luna stated, as she began to cast her eyes about the shadows.

"Princesses... What is an angel?" Shining said, a nervous look on his face.

"Angels are ancient beings that used to be the personal soldiers of the gods... There are not that many left these days supposedly. Most of them were supposed to have died according to legend." Celestia explained, holding her head in her hooves.

"Sister, should I fetch a doctor to get some medicine for you?" Luna said, taking a step towards Celestia.

"That will not be necessary." A voice that seemed to emanate from every direction called.

Celestia suddenly jumped from her throne and bucked in pain before collapsing onto the floor weeping from the migraine.

"Hmm, you are not taking my gift all that well are you? Hold on, I will take it back..." The voice called again.

Celestia suddenly stopped moving. Luna's breath caught in her throat, as did Shining's. After a moment Celestia picked herself up off the ground however, and she turned her attention to the shadow that hung in the corner of the throne room.

"I know you are there angel, what do you want? your kind has left this world alone for longer than even I have been around. Why are you here now?" Celestia said, her voice filled with bravery, despite the shaken look on her face.

"We have left this world alone because the last of the gods bound us to different places across the world. Do not fret however, I come in good faith that we can be friends..." The voice trailed off into a hiss at the end. The shadows in the corner of the room drew in upon each other and began to take form.

Out of the darkness stepped a pale skinned bipedal being, with long, straight black hair on the top of its head. It wore a bright white toga, that left open the right half of its chest and part of its stomach. The toga stood stark against the jet black wings that were folded against it's back. The eyes though, were the most captivating feature of the angel. The irises glowed a deep crimson, and were held in a pitch black sea where the whites of his eyes should have been.

The angel's face held scars over both eyes, starting above each eye, and continuing to the top of his cheeks, as if his eyes had been cut out at some point. His expression held a carefree smile, that clashed with the intensity of his gaze. Celestia fought down her shivering, and pressed on.

"What have you done to my little ponies?" Celestia's voice held barely suppressed anger.

"There it is! Let your anger show, do not hide it." The angel's carefree smile turned into a joyous grin.

"Tell me now!" Screamed Celestia.

"I have given them the gift of anger and wrath. A trait that this world seems to lack in..." The angel said offhandedly as he looked around the throne room.

"Wrath... Your wrath had caused crime to start! A pony committed suicide today!" Celestia was furious, and the angel seemed to revel in it.

"All violent crime starts in anger... And what more violent a crime than to harm oneself? All anger and violence falls under my gift of wrath. Why? Do you not enjoy it? All the gods before you reveled in the carnage wrath and greed brought upon the mortals." The angel explained, a look of confusion on his face.

"I am not a god." Celestia confirmed.

"You may not call yourself one, but look how your precious 'little ponies' depends on you and worship you. You are a god, though a more pure and innocent one than any I have ever seen before. Your sister too, though she has a linger scent of envy on her..." The angel eyed over Luna.

"If I am a god then why do you not fear me?" Celestia puffed out her chest, gaining courage.

"Because, unlike the others I have a unique power among the angels." The angel then ran his fingers through his long hair and flared his wings as he yawned.

"A-and what would that be?" Luna finally spoke up.

"I can take the life of an immortal god..." The angel said with a vicious smirk.

Celestia and Luna froze, to take the life of an immortal was unheard of. Sure immortal did not mean invincible, often times immortal beings were sealed away once they had run rampant for too long. But to be killed? The whole reason Luna was banished and Discord sealed was because of this fact.

"I thought you would enjoy the power one can gain off of the blood of mortals. But I see I was wrong, and I will admit that. Truly I was trying to thank you for freeing me from the garden I was bound to. I am glad to be free, even if it means I cannot return to see my brother's grave." The angel took on a more solemn pose.

Before Celestia or Luna could respond the angel melded back into the shadows, and after a brief moment, light again retook the corner as the shadows faded. Celestia and luna both fell on their rumps. This entire time, all this crime was meant to be a thanks to them.

"Truly the world was a darker place before discord took reign." Celestia stated numbly.

"You don't think all this could have caused him to break free again do you?" Luna said as she looked out the window towards the gardens.

"No, Discord would not emerge if he felt the angel's presence. He apparently knew of this angel if it really came from Eden. He told me once that the only things he feared was boredom, and the one trapped in the Garden of Eden..." Celestia looked over to where Shining armor had fainted halfway through the angel's visit.

The guard captain then began to stir and picked himself up, "What happened... Wait, where did the angel go?"

"He left in peace, though I fear what his influence will have on this world..." Celestia stated.

"Let us hope instead of 'gifting' us with crime, he instead gifts us with peace." Luna huffed, still embarrassed about fearing the angel.

"How did we free him though? Daring was the one that went to Eden..." Celestia mumbled.

"The sword!" Luna exclaimed.

The sisters shared a glance, then took off to the vault. After teleporting inside they found the angel sitting on a throne inside the vault, the sword lay across his lap, no longer on fire. And held in his hands was the element of loyalty. His eyes no longer glowed as if they were burning coals as he eyed the element.

"I was loyal once... To both the kingdom of heaven and to my kin. But when I had to choose between them... I lost them both." The angel looked up, and a crimson tear of blood ran down his cheek.

Celestia and Luna stared, glancing between the angel and the element. The angel then dropped the element on the ground, grabbed his sword and faded into darkness once more, taking the throne with him, and leaving only the necklace that represented loyalty on the floor.

A single pegasus stallion walked through the streets of ponyville. Normally the streets were bustling with activity, but everypony was outside Ditzy Do's house, for her famous cousin was back in town. Daring however, had snuck out a back door and evaded the crowd of fans. She was looking over her shoulder when she bumped into the stallion.

"Oof, sorry. hey please don't tell anypony where... I... Icarus?" Daring looked up to the tall stallion she had spent three days in the Garden of Eden with, but his eyes were shut.

When he opened them Daring took a step back and gasped. She then began to shake her head and mumble to herself. The Stallion was a spitting image of Icarus, white coat, long black mane. But his eyes were a deep crimson. Daring then noticed his cutie mark was the same old tome as Icarus had.

"No, not anymore. I am his master." The stallion said to Daring, a smirk on his face as he towered over her.

"And my name is Azrael"

4 - House Of The Damned

Chapter Four

House Of The Damned

============================================================================

Daring Do stared at the stallion before her, she then looked around to make sure nopony was within hearing range before turning back to address the pegasus who was once called Icarus.

"Why are you here? No, what happened to Icarus?" Daring said in a hushed voice, glaring at the stallion.

"Icarus is gone, why are you whispering? Are you hiding from someone?" The stallion said looking around the deserted streets.

"What do you mean gone?!" Yelled Daring.

Immediately after yelling Daring clamped a hoof over her mouth and looked over towards her cousin's house. She could see a few fans starting to rush over to where she and the stallion stood. The fans all had a different copies of the Daring books in their mouths as they charged. Daring cursed quietly to herself as she took to the air to get away from at least the majority of the fans who were land based ponies.

The pegasus fans continued their chase of Daring, but the earth and unicorn ponies skidded to a halt as they closed in on where Daring has previously stood, and saw the massive stallion. Azrael looked blankly at the crowd of ponies, meeting many stunned stares. He then turned and walked off down a side street towards the town hall.

Daring in the meanwhile was trying her best to outmaneuver her fans. She dove through a cloud bursting it, and dropping suddenly. Daring flew low and next to the buildings, breaking away from sight. She opened the first window she could find and slammed the shades shut behind her. Daring panted heavily as she smiled triumphantly, hearing confused shouts asking where she had gone.

"Are they running you out of town?"

Daring spun around and saw Azrael standing next to the town's mayor, Mayor Mare. Daring's mouth hung open as she saw a stack of strange looking golden coins on the mayor's table next to a rolled up scroll. The large stallion tracked where Daring was looking, and then looked back to her.

"I bought a house. Was not sure about property values though..." Azrael rubbed his chin with a hoof.

"Like I just said, this is enough to buy all of Ponyville..." Mayor Mare mumbled with a stunned look at the bits on the table.

"A single residence is sufficient. Keep the extra as a gift of good faith that I will be getting a quality home." The stallion smiled at the mayor.

Daring and the mayor's gazes met each other with a look on their faces that showed both shock and confusion. The mayor was the first to recover.

"Miss Daring, the fans chasing you again? I asked them not to cause so much trouble." Mayor Mare said shaking her head.

Daring smiled sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head, "They are just excited, it's not often that I stay in a town so my autographs are kind of rare."

Azrael cleared his throat to grab the mayor's attention, when she looked at him he nodded towards the scroll on the table. The mayor then sighed and opened her desk drawer and after a second of sifting through it's contents she produced an ornate brass key. She placed it on the table next to the scroll and looked up to the stallion.

"The house you purchased is only vacant mansion. It was left by a wealthy architect who passed away without any family to pass it onto. It may be a little dusty, but all of its facilities should still be functioning." Mayor Mare explained.

"Thank you mayor, that should not be a problem." Azrael picked up the key, putting it into a saddlebag, "Miss Daring I wanted to have a chat with you, but now is not the time. Would you mind showing up at my new house for Dinner? Say before sunset?"

Daring blinked several times, but then snapped back to attention and nodded as the Stallion left. Daring then looked at the Mayor.

"Mayor, where did he get all these gold coins? They look ancient... And he did not have a saddlebag when I saw him not ten minutes ago." Daring said.

"I don't know, He came in with it..." Mayor said, staring at the pile of gold. She was going to need to make a trip to Canterlot to have all of them turned into regular bits, the local bank did not hold enough minted bit coins to trade in for this much gold.

Rainbow Dash trotted next to Twilight, the pair were chatting as they shopped in the marketplace. Rainbow was eagerly telling Twilight of meeting the actual Daring Do, and about how Derpy was her cousin.

"I am actually very impressed that Derpy is such a skilled writer. I am surprised that her cutie mark isn't a quill or book." Twilight mused.

"I know right? Daring really doesn't like her nickname though. She almost bit my head off before Derpy told her she likes the nickname." Rainbow said in return.

The two friends stopped chatting as they noticed a rather large white pegasus stallion walking up to the abandoned mansion. The stallion stopped to reach into his saddlebag for something.

"What do you think he is doing at that old mansion?" Twilight asked.

"Dunno, nobody has lived there for over three years now." Rainbow said in response.

"What, why?" Twilight asked, breaking her gaze away from the old mansion.

"The old geezer who lived there didn't have any family to pass it onto. The town itself owns the mansion now." Rainbow explained.

"You don't suppose he bought it do you?" Twilight asked, giving a quizzical look to her friend.

"No way, that is the biggest mansion in town. It is even bigger than Filthy Rich's house." Rainbow laughed at the notion.

Off in the distance the stallion pulled a key from his saddlebag and opened the front door of the mansion. Rainbow's jaw dropped at this, and Twilight gave an 'oh really' look as she trotted off to finish her grocery shopping.

Rainbow lingered for a moment, eyeing the old mansion suspiciously. Rainbow then grumbled something along the lines of how suspicious a new pony coming into town and buying a mansion was.

Nearby another pony glared toward where her two friends were just staring. The pony in question had been trying to track down the stallion since he came into town, but her target had proven quite crafty. Every time she tried to head him off, he suddenly disappeared only to reappear a way off in another part of town. Not even with her keen sixth sense had she managed to track him down. But she had him now, and she was going to get that stallions name to throw him a party, or her name wasn't Pinkamena Dianne Pie.

Azrael gave a huff as he made it into his new home. He had been forced to cheat on his way to his house a few times, stepping through the shadows to avoid being cornered by a pink mare who seemed hell bent on cornering him. He could not risk doing things out of the ordinary if he wanted some peace, lest the ponies find out he is not one of them, and if that happened it would only be a matter of time before he is sought out by the new generation of immortals. Azrael did not want to have to kill any more gods, every one he slew caused himself to move closer to godhood himself, and if that happened he would become history's biggest hypocrite.

Azrael stiffened up as he sensed someone at the door, a second later he heard the knock from behind him. He looked around him at the messy state the house was in and frowned. The mayor did mention the house was vacant for some time, but this was ridiculous. He could not have company over with this mess.

Azrael's eyes began to glow red and his entire body began to emanate a red aura.

Pinkie Pie meanwhile knocked on the door a second time, a frown on her face. Suddenly Pinkie had an ear flop, eye flutter, and knee-twitch. She stepped back as the door flew open missing her by an inch. The stallion that opened it gave her an apologetic look.

"Ahh, sorry. The door sticks and I had to give it a bit of a shove to open it that time... Going to need to get that fixed..." The stallion said offhandedly.

"You have been very troublesome to corner mister! How am I supposed to throw you a welcome to Ponyville party if you don't let me get your name?" Scolded Pinkie.

The Stallion blinked several times, betraying no emotion on his face.

"Well? What is your name?" Smiled the pink mare.

"I would kindly ask you to vacate my property. I do not have the time for a party, and I am preparing to have an important guest over for dinner tonight." He said to the pink mare.

"How can you have a guest over? This house is full of dirt and dust bunnies!" Pinkie exclaimed, thinking the stallion was not telling her the truth.

Pinkie then looked behind the large stallion and saw a sparkling clean front room, with no sign of the ill repair it was once in not even a week ago when Pinkie had looked in out of curiosity. Pinkie looked up and met his eyes and squinted at him as she inched closer to his face.

Azrael held his head high as he looked down at Pinkie, keeping his face out of her reach, when she attempted to get up on her hind legs to meet eye to eye with him he pushed her back down with a hoof.

"I ask you again, please leave. I do not wish for more attention than what is needed." The stallion's eye twitched slightly.

Pinkie noticed the twitch and backed off slowly, keeping her eyes locked with his, "Don't think I have given up mister.... What was your name again?"

Pinkie smiled slyly, but the stallion merely shook his head and closed the door.

"And then the meany pants just shut the door on me, didn't even tell me his name! How am I supposed to throw him a surprise party without his name?!" Exclaimed Pinkie to her friends as they sat down for dinner together.

"Hate ta' burst yer bubble partner, but I think that was the intent." Applejack laughed.

"I don't trust him! He seemed to get really angry at me, he tried to hide it, but I could tell!" Pinkie said as she jumped up and put her hooves on applejack.

"I hear you pinkie, I may not have gotten close to him but he seemed suspicious to me too." Rainbow Dash said as she munched on a daffodil sandwich.

"What was he like though darling? He must be prestigious to have bought that huge mansion." Rarity said as she sipped a glass of iced tea.

"He was really really big, bigger than big mac!" Pinkie exclaimed getting off of Applejack.

"What? But he looked like a pegasus, they aren't supposed to get as big as earth ponies, no offense girls." Twilight said, looking to Rainbow and Fluttershy as she said the last part of her statement.

"No, you're right Twilight. I've never seen a pegasus as big as Big Mac, least of all bigger. I thought he looked strange, but I couldn't tell from the distance we were at." Rainbow said thoughtfully.

"What do you make of him Fluttershy?" Twilight asked her timid friend.

"Umm, I don't know. I haven't seen him yet..." Fluttershy said as she looked out the Diner window to where the mansion loomed.

"Kinda an odd place fer a mansion, don't ya reckon? It's always been there but Ah've never paid attention to it..." Applejack mumbled.

"Yeah, but I read the old architect that used to live there used it as an office as well. Guess that kinda makes sense to have it in the middle of town if it was used like that." Twilight said.

The girls grew quiet as they noticed a light tan pegasus pony wearing a green shirt and an explorer's hat walk toward the mansion they were just talking about. The pony then knocked on the door, and after a second was let inside.

"Was that Daring Do?" Asked Twilight.

"Oh man that was- wait... Why is she in that house?" Rainbow asked incredulously.

"He did mention something about company for dinner..." Pinkie mumbled as she rubbed her chin with a hoof, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Daring knows that new guy? I bet he is some kind of famous explorer or something himself!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Maybe, seems likely..." Twilight mumbled.

Daring knocked on the door, looking over her shoulder for fans. The door opened and she rushed inside, Azrael closing the door behind her. Daring then turned around to address her host.

"You said you wanted to have a talk?" Daring said to the large stallion.

"Over dinner." Azrael said as he lead Daring over to the Dining room.

On the long table was arrayed a feast of fruit, vegetable, and to Daring's disgust meat dishes. Azrael took a seat next to the meats and looked expectantly at Daring. Daring took a seat next to the fruits on the opposite side of the table. Azrael smiled at her as he opened his mouth and leaned down to take a bite out of a roasted turkey leg. Daring grew green as he neared it, until she felt as if she were going to throw up.

"Sorry, I could not resist." Azrael smiled as he sat up, having played his prank on Daring.

"Ugh, for an ancient godlike being you sure are childish." Daring stated, an annoyed look on her face.

A hoof slammed on the table, breaking it in half and sending the food crashing to the floor, "Do not dare compare me to one of those bastards!"

Daring had jumped back and tumbled over her chair in fear. She stared wide eyed at the enraged stallion whose eyes had begun to glow an eerie red, "Sorry, sorry!"

Azrael calmed down and breathed deeply. After another moment his eyes stopped glowing and he looked apologetically towards Daring, "Forgive me, but do not mention gods if you will please. My anger can get a little out of hand at times, though I suppose that is why they branded me the fallen angel of wrath."

"About that, why are you here? And why are you in Icarus's body?" Daring said as she stood up.

"I am here because when you had the seal lifted off of my sword I was freed form the Garden of Eden. I am in this body because I evicted Icarus. He had over lived his stay anyways, if anything I did that poor bastard a favor by putting him out of his misery." Azrael said, looking down at the ruined food.

"But... He feared what death would bring him..." Daring said, a solemn tone to her voice.

"Do not worry, I gave him the most merciful end any soul can achieve. The same mercy I granted the gods of old." The stallion said, as he began to stare off into the distance as if remembering something.

"And what is that?" Daring asked hesitantly.

"True death." Azrael said simply.

"What, he wouldn't just go to the underworld when he died like everyone else after you killed him?" Daring scoffed.

"You misunderstand, I killed even his soul. No purgatory, no hell, and no eternity. Icarus has forever ceased to exist, Forever gone." The stallion shook his head as he continued to stare off sadly.

"You... Can do that?" Daring asked in a quiet voice.

"I think it is time for you to leave miss Daring, I was hoping of toying with you and playing some games with your mind, but the moment is ruined. I find I can no longer enjoy in the fun that my kin once had with you mortals. Please, leave me." Azrael stated firmly.

"But-"

"Now." The stallion;s tone left no room for negotiation.

Daring walked out of the Dining room back into the main entryway and looked back. But what she saw was not the large stallion and a ruined feast on the floor, but a pristine dining room with its table still intact. Daring thought on this for a moment before she excused herself from the mansion.

Rainbow Dash watched from a cloud as Daring left the mansion, she was about to fly down to greet her idol, but Daring looked shaken. Rainbow Dash paused to think of this for a second, what had happened to her inside of the mansion? Rainbow decided finding out what was wrong with her by investigating.

Rainbow flew down and knocked on the door after Daring had gone out of sight. After no reply for about half of a minute Rainbow knocked on the door a second time. This time, after a few seconds the door slowly creaked open.

Rainbow poked her head inside and saw a dimly lit empty room. Rainbow slowly walked inside, looking from side to side as she went, waiting for somepony to try and jump her. Rainbow crept along the floor, keeping low and moving as silently as she could. As she crept past the stairway she could hear some shuffling from upstairs. Rainbow crept up the stairs, taking in the odd decorations as she went.

The paintings hanging on the wall depicted odd two legged creatures fighting, winged greater versions of themselves flying over the fighting ones. Rainbow did not understand the artwork, but she guessed it was supposed to be showing some old historical event.

A noise from further up the stairwell got Rainbow's attention. She crept further up the stair until she came to a hallway leading both left and right. Rainbow followed the sounds that were coming from the left until she reached the door the sound was coming from. The doorway was open slightly, and light was leaking out of it.

Rainbow Dash pushed the door open slowly and she beheld a large room being dimly lit by a fiery sword, casting its dim orange light on a throne. Sitting in the throne Rainbow could see a shadowy figure, but she was unable to make out any details of it. Rainbow was about to step into the room to get a better look but a massive white stallion stepped in her way and pushed her back into the hallway, closing the door behind him with his tail. The stallion flared his wings out wide, as he addressed Rainbow.

"Tell me, why have you been spying on my house for the last half hour?" The stallion stated.

Rainbow Dash paled at the size of the stallion and his wings, she felt as if she were a mere filly who had been caught by an angry adult. Before Rainbow could muster the courage to speak up however the two pegasi heard a crash from downstairs.

"You wait right here, I have something to take care of..." The stallion muttered darkly under his breath as he headed towards the stairwell.

5 - Reflections of Darkness

Chapter Five

Reflections of Darkness

============================================================================

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.

6 - Nightmare Night

Chapter Six

Nightmare Night

============================================================================

Celestia had temporarily given up on the search for the angel, she was not deterred by the warning that was delivered to her sister, but she simply could not afford the time to investigate Azrael's location without her sister, who was currently getting ready for one of the biggest celebrations in her honor. Normally Celestia would tell Luna to cancel any previously set ceremonies to search for a possible threat, but this was something special, and was a good time for Luna to gain more friends. Especially since last years was such a success thanks to Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia watched with a small smile as her younger sister left via chariot towards the nearby town of Ponyville, where she had promised the children she would return this year to make the holiday extra special. As the chariot was carried off by a few of Luna's night guard pegasi, Celestia could only smile as she thought of her sister getting along with the children of Ponyville. The adults right now might not trust Luna, growing up with the stories of how scary Nightmare Moon was they were hesitant about the lunar princess. But in time the new generation that Luna was befriending would love and accept her.

Celestia waved as Luna waved back from the chariot as it disappeared over the horizon towards Ponyville. The sun was setting, and soon everypony would be donning their costumes to partake in the festivities. The princess of the sun then finished lowering her celestial globe, making way for the moon before departing to bed.

Luna was giddy, she had prepared many a prank to play and many a scheme to give the children of ponyville a fright. Though she still did not understand why anypony would be so eager to feel fear, she enjoyed the time she got to spend with the colts and fillies. As her chariot landed on the outskirts of Ponyville by the large statue of Nightmare Moon, she gathered her bag of tricks and hid them behind the statue.

The noise of foals laughing caught Luna's attention and a smile was brought to her face. As they approached the statue that Luna was hiding behind to give their offering of candy, Luna enveloped the statue in her magic. The statue then came alive in a flurry of bats that swarmed over the crowd of children who screamed in panic, and Luna jumped up where the statue once stood.

"Your offerings are wise, for they will sate my hunger so that I may not have to gobble you!" Luna said with her royal canterlot voice, while her eyes glowed white from magic.

The children screamed in fear and ran off into the bushes. Moments later Luna could hear the sound of joyful giggling as the children returned with smiling faces.

"Happy Nightmare Night children. I hope you are all having a good time this year?" Luna asked with a kind smile.

A small familiar colt walked up wearing a lunar guard costume, "Thanks for coming back again princess. I know you will make this the best Nightmare Night ever!"

Luna smiled down at the colt named pip, "I will do my best, now if you'll excuse me, I have other pranks to pull."

Pip waved as he trotted off with the other foals to continue their night of revelry. Luna looked up and saw the perfect cloud to spook a few ponies. Luna flew up and found herself face to face with the element of loyalty. The two shared an awkward look and blinked at the same time.

"Uhh, hi princess... Fancy meeting you here." Rainbow Dash said nervously with a small smile.

"haven't learned your lesson from last year yet have we Rainbow Dash? Must I show you yet again that I am the greater prankster?" Luna said with a smile.

"Perhaps a contest then?" Rainbow said with a smug smile appearing on her face.

"Very well Rainbow, I like the way you think. Shall we have a contest to see who can scare the most ponies?" Luna said with a confident smile.

"Nah, that would be too easy... How about we find the bravest pony and find who can surprise them the most with a prank." As Rainbow said this Luna's smile grew.

The two shook hooves at this and looked over Ponyville looking for their victim. They would most likely need a stallion, but some of the tougher mares might be a good choice. The two floated the cloud over Ponyville and began looking around the town.

"What about Applejack? She seemed to have a sturdy will." Luna asked Rainbow.

"Nah, wouldn't be fair since I know what she is afraid of..." Rainbow admitted.

"Twilight Sparkle then? She was the only one not afraid of me last year." Luna offered.

"No, you hold a book over a puddle and she will faint..." Rainbow mumbled in thought.

"What about that stallion over there then?" Luna said pointing out into the open town square where the games were going on.

Rainbow Dash followed where Luna's hoof pointed, and saw a pegasus stallion wearing a flowing black cloak that obscured all of his features, under the hood however a jack o' lantern with a vicious smile carved into it's face could be seen. The eyes of the jack o' lantern glowed by magic means in a red hue. The stallion also held a scythe over his shoulder in the nook of his foreleg, the blade curving dangerously into the air. The ponies around him either shied away in fear or applauded his costume.

Rainbow Dash smiled and looked to princess Luna. "Perfect."

Azrael was enjoying himself, it was nice to have the mortals get so close to him, to treat him with respect instead of suspicion and fear. The town's ponies were loving his costume, he was going to have to thank Rarity again when he saw her. The pumpkin and scythe were his own little touch, and it was easy to enchant the eyes to glow. Seeing with the jack o' lantern on his head was tough though, so he was cheating and using magical vision to see around him. With the magical clarity he had already avoided three pranking attempts by seeing them coming with eyes practically in the back of his head.

With the magic vision he could see Rainbow Dash floating above him on a cloud, she no doubt had her own prank planned. Azrael decided not to give her the chance however, and poked his scythe into an apple that floated in a tub, he then flicked the blade sending the apple straight up, hitting Rainbow Dash on the nose and dazing her. The mare tumbled backwards off the cloud and fell to the ground with a thud.

"You will have to be sneakier than that girl..." Azrael said with a smug grin hidden under the pumpkin.

Rainbow gaped openly at Azrael, "H-how did you see me?! You can't be able to see well with that on!"

"Trade secret..." Azrael mumbled as he trotted off towards some of the other games.

"Now I know you had to have been a spy or something..." Rainbow muttered.

Azrael came upon a bowl of rubber spiders that ponies were throwing at a cobweb shaped net, trying to land the spiders to stick on the net. Azrael sunk the blade of the scythe into the ground, and picked up a spider in his hoof. As he aimed to throw the spider he could feel a tingle of magic on his hoof. Paying attention he could see a trace of magic on the spider and he stopped to consider it. Suddenly the spider came to life and moved up his foreleg and onto his back.

Azrael shrugged and grabbed another spider, immediately throwing this one dead center into the net. The first spider now scampered on top of his head where it sat clicking it's fangs together trying to get his attention.

"You liked that lil' fella?" Chuckled Azrael.

Azrael then reached up a tendril of magic of his own and snuffed out the power that gave life to the rubber spider, in it's last moment of animation the spider jumped off his head and into his hoof. Azrael then threw the once moving spider onto the cobweb net. He then looked up into the cloud where Luna was hiding and gave a bow, as if he had just finished a performance.

Azrael then pulled his scythe out of the ground and trotted off to where he saw a crowd of ponies laughing and cheering. As he approached he could see it was a pie eating contest. Currently the local apple family were dominating, as all three of the young apple siblings were chowing down and were already the last ones standing in the competition. Off to the side of the contest table was an old mare with a green wrinkled coat and white braided hair who was sleeping with her head resting on a pile of empty pie tins. Azrael regarded her for a moment before turning to face Rainbow Dash who held something in her hooves.

"Hey I got something for you as an apology..." Rainbow said solemnly.

Azrael accepted what was offered and noticed it was a nicely wrapped gift box. He turned it over in his hooves briefly before pointing the lid at Rainbow and opening it. Immediately Rainbow was showered in fake cobwebs, spiders, and bats.

"The gift box is a little early in the year to use." Azrael said with a chuckle as he turned back towards the contest, observing that now only the older sister and brother remained. Azrael cast another glance at the old mare before trotting off through the crowd.

Rainbow was about to fly off towards the stallion before a hoof on her shoulder stopped her.

"Wait, something isn't right about him Rainbow Dash..." Luna whispered to the element of loyalty.

"I know, there is no way that new guy is this good! He won't even let me get near pranking him!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Something is definitely wrong about him. Let me handle him, I think we can call this contest a draw for now." Luna said, breaking eye contact with Rainbow Dash and looking for the stallion who had now vanished from sight, "Where did he go? He is too tall to hide in a crowd..."

Applejack smiled triumphantly, having beaten her older brother and winning the pie eating contest. The blue ribbon that was now pinned to her costume brought pride and a smug smile to her as she walked with her family. Granny Smith was having a little trouble walking with the way her knees were wobbling in the chilly air, so Big Macintosh was supporting her as he lead her back to the orchard to get some rest.

A huge stallion dressed in a concealing black cloak with a jack o' lantern on his head  holding a scythe approached from the shadows of an alleyway as they passed. Applejack jumped slightly, but soon recognized the stallion by his size, being the only pony she knew bigger than Big Mac.

"Hey there partner, ya' startled me there. Whatcha need?" Applejack chuckled nervously under the gaze of the pumpkin's glowing eyes.

"Miss Applejack, I would like to have a word with you at my house. Alone if you will, it is of an important matter..." Azrael said.

"Uhh, sure. You guys go on ahead. Make sure Granny takes her medicine before goin' to bed Big Mac." Applejack said to her sibling before following Azrael to his house.

As the two walked to the mansion Azrael started the conversation, "I haven't met your parents or heard of them Applejack. Where are they?"

Applejack did not respond for a moment as they walked. After a few minutes of walking she sighed sadly before telling the stallion, "Well... I don't rightly know... They are out there somewhere, but they abandoned the family to go start anew. Granny is the one that raised me an' mah' siblings."

"I see... Is there anyone else who helps take care of the farm, or to raise Applebloom?" Azrael asked carefully.

"No, but we manage well. Granny Smith might be gettin' on in years, but she is a tough old mare and she is still kickin' strong." Applejack said with a proud smile as she thought of her Grandmother.

"Sounds like your family relies heavily on Granny, don't you?" Azrael asked.

"Yeah, I guess yer' right." Applejack admitted with a sad smile.

The two reached the house and Azrael held the door open and let Applejack into the mansion. He then closed the door behind him as he entered the house. Taking off the pumpkin from his head Azrael then addressed the orange mare.

"I have something to show you, it is over here in the library." He said as he trotted towards a room and flicked on the light.

Applejack took in the view of row upon row of books that had not been there a week previous. Applejack was dumbfounded by where so many books had come from. Azrael's eyes then glowed red and a massive tome was levitated from a pedestal in the middle of the library, onto a table in front of the two.

"D-did ya' just use magic?! B-but you're not a unicorn..." Applejack said with a confused and slightly scared look on her face.

Azrael did not respond to this, he merely opened up the large tome and flipped to a page. Azrael then looked at Applejack with a solemn look before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You are the one who will be the hardest to keep my secret from, with your affinity to the truth. I know that you have felt that something is wrong with me, and you are right. But I want you to be on my side if anything happens, because my secret will not last for long. I will not ask for much, just that you look at what I am about to do and realize that I mean you no harm." Azrael explained.

Azrael then pointed to the book and Applejack leaned in to read. It appeared to be full of names, some faded on others still bold. Applejack then saw something that made her heartbeat hasten, and the fur on the back of her neck stand straight up. She read in very faded letters and in an intricate font 'Granny Smith'.

"What... Why is Granny in yer' book?" Applejack asked dumbfounded.

"All sentient creatures names are written in this book. The living ones at least... The more faded the letters the closer to death they are..." Azrael explained.

"So... No... You mean to tell me Granny is..." Applejack mumbled, tears in her eyes as she could detect no lies from the stallion.

"She will die within a week without my intervention. I will give her more time to help raise your younger sister, if you will give me your word that if anything happens you will stand up for me." Azrael said with a stern face.

"Please, I promise to do anything within my ability!" Applejack pleaded in a panicked tone.

Azrael then closed the book and levitated it back to the ornate pedestal. He then nodded to Applejack with a small smile, "Good to hear, you may go back to your family now, I will take care of your grandmother's health. But remember, what I can give can be taken more easily if you betray me..."

Applejack nodded at this and hurried out the mansion to check on her grandmother.

Azrael sighed and looked to the entrance of the library where Luna stood and beckoned her forward. The princess of the moon hesitantly entered into the company of the large stallion.

"Who are you?" Luna said in a commanding tone.

"You can already deduce that from what you just witnessed." Azrael said softly.

"I think I know, but how can I be certain?" Luna asked cautiously.

"Go upstairs, it is the room down the right hallway that is currently lit." explained Azrael before he slumped to the ground with a thud.

Luna took a quick step back away from the still body of the stallion she was just speaking with. She was just about to check to see if he was alright when she felt something emanating from upstairs, a familiar pounding in the back of her head. Luna then left the library and headed for the stairway. Luna took in the art as she ascended the steps, most of it depicted angels watching over wars between what Luna suspected were humans. Luna noted that the humans looked like wingless, and less glorious looking angels.

As Luna made it to the top of the stairway she looked down the right hallway and saw light emanating from a door. As Luna entered the room she saw the fiery sword floating on a pedestal in the middle of the room, casting shadows on the angel who sat in his throne, staring at Luna.

"Welcome to my humble abode..." Azrael said with mock grandeur in his voice.

"Biggest house in town can hardly be called humble" Luna huffed.

"When compared with my two previous 'homes' it is quite less impressive. But at least this belongs to me... Legally too, bought it with a pile of gold." The angel adopted a smug smile when he saw Luna was about to object with his ownership of his house.

"So then, are you going to accuse me of breaking into your home then?" Luna huffed.

"No, I let the protective ward allow you to teleport in. In a way, you were actually invited. But that is not important now is it?" Azrael sighed.

"You promised Applejack to prolong her grandmother's life so she could care for her little sister. Do you toy with her for your own amusement?" Luna asked, an accusing look in her eye.

"Angels cannot lie Luna." Azrael explained.

"Then why. Why would you do this for her? What is your ulterior motive?" Luna said with gritted teeth.

"Ponies are getting suspicious of me, and I need someone who is well liked and will stand up for me if any trouble shows up in town. Just so happened Applejack met my needs and had a service that only I could do for her." Azrael said with a stern look.

"Can all angels do that? Prolong the life of mortals in exchange for servitude?" Luna asked, a dark look now on her face. Not even her sister or herself could prolong life, and the power troubled her greatly. If the angels started offering eternal life in exchange for servitude, they would without doubt get a large following.

"No, only me." Azrael said keeping his stern look.

"And what makes you so special then? Is it why the other angels want to kill you?" Luna asked, prodding to get as much information out of the angel as she possibly could.

"Angels are organized into tiers depending on their power and rank. I was of the highest rank, the archangels. And I am the archangel of the most feared thing." Azrael said, donning a solemn look.

"I am the Archangel of Death" Azrael said firmly.

7 - What Do You Ask of Death

Chapter Seven

What Do You Ask of Death

============================================================================

Celestia awoke with a start, something had made her break from the peaceful dream she had, a dreadful feeling. Celestia felt a chill run down her spine as she peered into the shadows of her bedchamber. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she could feel the buzz of power in the back of her mind, similar to when the angel had appeared.

"He has reappeared!" Celestia exclaimed to noone.

The princess of the sun then operated her own magical sweep of the nearby land, and pinpointed where it was coming from. Celestia gasped as she realized it was coming from Ponyville, almost right on top of where she could feel Luna.

Luna stared at the angel before her, unable to believe what she had just heard. The princess of the moon found herself in an internal conflict. She knew his words to be honest, but she told herself it was a jest, how could a being be a caretaker of life and death? Luna then came to a realization.

"That book... What exactly is it? And give me the full detail." Luna said in a commanding tone.

"It is something that I created as a physical manifestation of my powers. Once when I was still what would be considered to angels as 'young' I had to continually write in and erase names for life and death to occur. As time went on and my powers grew, the book took care of itself, and I was free of my duty. The book itself now records the names of all life, mortal and otherwise, provided they actually have souls. Beings without the ability to produce intelligent thought lack souls and are merely run by spiritual energy instead of a soul." Azrael explained.

Luna was taken back at the information that was casually tossed at her hooves. She did not expect him to give her so much, and thus she was unsure of how to react. A silent minute passed as Luna collected her thoughts, and all during that time Azrael patiently watched.

"Is my name in that book, if you tell me I am a god because of my immortality..." Luna asked carefully.

"Yes, the name of all immortals I come into contact with appear in my book." Azrael replied calmly.

"Wait, you have to meet them? And does being in the book make my sister and I mortal?" Luna pressed on.

"No, you are not mortal by being in my book, however, it does give me the ability to take away your life at any given moment." Azrael replied with a sigh.

"You act as if taking the life of an immortal is a power you wish not to have,,," Luna pointed out with a raised brow.

"This 'gift' of mine has brought me great trouble. And a lot of work. Did you know this world used to be the home of hundreds of gods?" Azrael asked, finally seeming to gain interest in the conversation.

"Hundreds!?" Luna exclaimed with widened eyes.

"Each of them fell to my power, only a handful I never actually met got away from my judgement. Those that did I suspect still walk the realms keeping an eye over their shoulder for me..." Azrael said with a dry chuckle.

"Why? What could warrant that much hatred for gods?" Luna asked softly, feeling something she had not felt in a long, long time. Fear.

"The gods were to blame for the only being I ever loved to suffer, and die. They treated us angels as slaves, and we loved them for it, We were made to have joy in servitude, and they abused that. He was a brother to me. When I tried to save my brother, I became a fallen angel. When we fall, we are branded with a sin. There were seven of us who fell in total, one for each of the deadly sins, and I was wrath. And I made the gods tremble under the might of my hatred." As Azrael finished he slammed a fist onto the arm of his throne, shattering it.

Azrael's eyes burned a deep crimson and Luna did her best not to shy away from the gaze. One thing however did not make sense to Luna. She needed one more piece of information before she departed from the house and left to tell her sister of what had transpired.

"Why are you being so compliant? You could have denied me access. You could have made me leave. Why are you answering my questions?" Luna asked with a trembling voice.

"Because it is too late to hide. My kin know of my escape and are coming for me." Azrael said as he stood up and walked behind his throne.

The sound of clapping resounded off the walls of the dimly lit room. Luna briefly wondered what was doing that, only dragons and diamond dogs could clap like that. Suddenly the room was flooded in a bright light. Luna whipped her head towards the door where a fiery figure stood tall, wings spread wide. The figure was similar to Azrael, but it had longer red hair, and its body structure had more curves to it. Flames playfully whipped about her figure, obscuring it's nudity.

"Once again you amaze me brother, I thought for sure you would be stuck in the garden forever. But here  you are, mocking our old master with your refusal to stay down." The newcomer said in an aggressive, but alluring voice.

Azrael stepped out from behind the throne with a massive, gruesome looking scythe. The shaft was composed of a long spinal cord with a skull sitting on top, face away from where the long thick blade curved dangerously.

The newcomer tensed visibly at the sight of the weapon, but only wasted a moment before winding her arm back and throwing a fiery ball towards the archangel of death. As the ball flew the skull's eye sockets began to glow, and the ball curved in its flight and struck the ground behind and to the right of Azrael.

"Aww, I missed you too Gabriel..." Azrael said in a mocking tone as he strode closer to his fellow angel.

Normally a being that was approached by death would turn and run, or plea for mercy. Gabriel however detested cowards, and chose to dive at her brother, fiery claws outstretched as her body began to change, the more human figures becoming bestial. Azrael allowed the claws to tear into his skin, cauterizing the wounds they caused. Azrael regarded the wounds with amusement before snapping his hand not carrying the scythe up, grabbing the throat of the fiery angel. As soon as his hand came into contact with her, the fires died and Gabriel was left smoldering and naked, no longer shrouded in her flames.

"Now now, have we forgotten our manners? I have an important guest over," Azrael said tilting his head towards Luna. Gabriel followed his gesture to the princess of the night and her eyes widened, "Do I need to discipline you little sister?"

Azrael let go of Gabriel, and the moment her feet touched the ground he punched her in the stomach causing her to double over and clutch her stomach. She then backed up against the wall where she used it to get herself upright while covering her exposed body.

"Even your flames can die, now please leave. I do not wish to slay more of my kin." Azrael said, clearly fighting back his own anger.

Gabriel gritted her teeth, looking between Azrael and Luna. A clearly confused look was apparent in her eyes that Azrael picked up on. He gave her a questioning look and waited for her to regain her breath.

"Why are you in the company of a goddess? I thought you slew all gods you came into contact with." At Gabriel's statement Luna realized she had been told the truth of his power over the immortals.

"I never killed without judging them guilty, you know that. And I found this one and her sister deserving of their eternal lives. Unlike the others they do not actually see mortals as toys to be used and broken at will." Azrael said lifting Gabriel's chin with the scythe.

"Now, will you leave peacefully, or eternally quietly?" Azrael asked with a murderous look in his eyes.

"Don't think this is over traitor!" Gabriel spat as her flames once again shrouded her form and her body took on a less bestial look.

"It would not be in your nature to forgive sister. But warn the others not to attack me while I am in public, If any of you involve the innocents I will utilize my power to end it immediately." As Azrael finished his warning Gabriel departed in a puff of smoke, winking out of existence.

Luna was at a loss for words at what had just transpired. She made several attempts to ask what had happened but she failed to find the right words, this was not lost on Azrael who sighed and ran a hand through his hair calming himself down.

"I know you no doubt want an explanation for this, but for now I want you to leave. We will be in contact, goodnight Luna..."

Luna blinked as she felt an itch begin to bug her eye, and she jumped slightly as she realized she was now standing outside of the manor, staring at the front door. Luna looked around slightly confused and noticed the form of Twilight Sparkle approaching her.

"Princess Luna... What is going on? All the unicorns in town could feel quite a bit of magic coming from Azrael's house... Is everything alright in there? Twilight asked, knowing that only the princesses should have that much power.

"Y-yes Twilight Sparkle... Everything is... Fine." Luna stated uncertainly as she spread her wings and took off into the night.

The other ponies waved her off as she left, but Twilight couldn't help but feel shaken. Luna looked scared and confused, what could have happened in the house. Perhaps it was a haunted house the large stallion had put on just for Luna Twilight's mind tried to rationalize. But the lavender unicorn's heart told her otherwise.

Azrael stretched his equine host body, getting the blood flowing once more in the veins that moments before were lifeless. If his brothers and sisters started showing up more frequently he was going to need to find a way to stop or delay the process of decay. If nothing else he would need to capture a soul to keep on hand to have inhabit the body to keep the functions going while he was not in it.

Lost in thought Azrael failed to notice the sound of the front door open and a lavender mare coming in. As the large stallion paced back and forth occasionally casting a glance at the book sitting on the ornate pedestal. Azrael moved the book to him and opened it up to a random page. Sure enough the name he was searching for appeared as always. Azrael then conjured a magical pen that was made from carved bone and had a tooth for a nib. The pen jabbed itself into the stallion's neck and with the blood he wrote over the letters  'Granny Smith'.

After his promise was carried out he pondered why a mare would be named Granny. The dominant species of this world sure were strange to the archangel of death, but he still found them to carry a certain charm that kept the world interesting.

"Umm... Hello?" Called a voice, but Azrael did not register it, too lost in thought to be troubled with the physical world at the moment.

Azrael then leafed through a few pages until his eyes found an interesting name. Daring Do was fading, and was almost gone. The stallion cocked his head at this with a bemused grin, the adventurer seemed in good health, must not be a natural death. It was not a murder either though, because you did not slowly fade away from those, unless the attempt failed and you bled out.

Azrael once again dipped the pen in the blood dribbling down his neck and wrote over the name he gazed at with a smile. He had just paid off two debts in one go.

"Oh my... A-are you using magic?" The voice asked with a frightened undertone, Azrael heard it this time.

The stallion turned his head to the doorway of the library where the town's librarian Twilight Sparkle stood mouth agape. Azrael then looked from the pen floating in the air, to the blood running down his neck, and finally to the book floating in front of him.

"Why are you bleeding? I-is that dark magic?" Twilight asked, her mind whirling with thoughts of Luna's face and what this stallion could have done. She then recalled how swiftly Azrael had read the books.

"What are you?" Twilight asked suspiciously. Azrael levitated the book over to its pedestal and banished the pen. The wound on his neck then closed as the blood was sucked back inside of him.

"I am a friend Twilight Sparkle. If you doubt me ask your friend Applejack. Now, please leave me be for now, I have recently expended my patience with your princess and my sister. I do not have any left to deal with an uninvited guest... Breaking and entering is a crime in this town is it not?" Azrael said rubbing his eyes with a hoof.

Twilight froze at this, though she could tell something was not right he was correct that technically Twilight was breaking the law. She wondered what he meant about asking Applejack though. Twilight decided on making sure her friend was alright, instead of pressing the issue further here.

"Fine, I will let myself out. Happy Nightmare Night Azrael..." Twilight said. The stallion waved her off, and Twilight could swear it looked like he was gritting his teeth by the way the muscles worked on his face.

As the lavender librarian mare left Azrael huffed, he had been so lost in thought that he let his guard down and a pony got this close to him unnoticed. His mind was slipping after so long in the garden.

"Perhaps having a little scuffle with the others will be a good thing after all. I'm going senile without anything to do..." Azrael mumbled to himself.

Daring cracked her eyes open, and immediately screwed them shut. The light was blinding wherever she was. Slowly she let her eyes adjust by fluttering them in brief intervals. Finally, blinking back a few tears from the light, Daring took in her surroundings.

She was in a stark white room, laying in a bed. Daring moved to lift a hoof to her face but noticed she was too weak to move. Daring cast her eyes around once more and found the sleeping form of her cousin Ditzy Do. The gray mare slept in a chair with her head on the mattress at Daring's side.

"D-Ditzy?" Daring mumbled.

The gray mare stirred instantly and blinked a few times before breaking into a huge grin. She sat upright and beamed as she fought to find the right words.

"A-are you feeling okay? Oh, I was so scared..." Ditzy finally said eyes brimming with tears.

"What... Happened?" Daring asked weakly.

"They found you out in the forest with a dart stuck in you. They suspect Ahuizotl tried to get you... The dart had a deadly poison on it. You were rushed to Canterlot Hospital, the doctors still don't know how you survived..." Ditzy said patting her cousin on the foreleg.

"Perhaps you had a guardian angel that day?" Offered a voice.

"A wha?" Ditzy asked looking to the other side of Daring.

Daring turned her head slowly and her eyes widened as she noticed the familiar large stallion who wore a smug grin.

"Were even by the way." He said as he placed a ticket on the bed next to Daring, "Make sure she doesn't lose this, she lost the last one I gave her."

The stallion then left as Ditzy gave a bashful look at forgetting her train ticket. Daring however only had eyes for the stallion who left. He had saved her, but how? Sure he was powerful but he shouldn't have been able to do this for her.

"Thank you!" Daring managed to shout, before going into a coughing fit from straining her voice.

"Hey, don't strain yourself you're still weak!" Ditzy scolded her cousin.

Daring smiled weakly as she let her head fall back into the pillow. She was going to need to take a break from adventuring for a while. Perhaps she would focus instead on studying some older texts. There had to be something on the angels somewhere in the Canterlot Library.

Celestia walked through the hospital corridors, She heard Daring had awoken and she had some very serious questions to ask her. From what Celestia had heard Daring should not be alive. Nopony had ever before survived the poison that Daring had been injected with. Only one thing could have saved her, but Celestia wanted to confirm it in person before jumping to conclusions.

As Celestia passed a waiting room window she stopped abruptly causing her guards to almost bump into her and give her a questioning look. The princess of the sun then backed up a few steps, the guards moving out of her way. Celestia looked into the window to confirm what she had seen in the corner of her eyes. A massive pegasus stallion was standing in front of a vending machine, putting bits into the coin slot with his wings.

"Wait right here men, I will be right back." Celestia said as she made her way towards the door.

As Celestia entered the waiting room she was greeted by a couple of bowing staff members who were on stand bye, Celestia nodded at them but then moved to where the stallion was.'

' "You are an extinct breed of pegasi I hope you know..." Celestia said carefully.

The stallion turned around with a chocolate bar in his mouth as he chewed slowly, almost tall enough to see eye to eye with the princess of the sun. The stallion chewed the chocolate, and finished it as the silence dragged on in the room.

"I take it your sister filled you in on what happened?" The stallion asked in a voice that made Celestia freeze up. There was no doubt that this was the Angel, his voice did not hold the power it did on the first day she met him, but that might have been due to the fact he was not showing off his power.

"yes... What are you doing here?" Celestia asked getting a hold on her nerves.

"Eating a snack, I've been waiting for Daring Do to wake up for a full day now and this mortal body is famished." Azrael replied.

"Why were you waiting for Daring?" Celestia asked calmly.

"Because if it were not for her you wouldn't have freed me. I had a debt and now I have paid it off." Azrael explained.

Celestia considered this for a moment. Then an idea popped in her head, it was only a hunch but it was worth a try.

"Do you consider yourself still in debt to my sister and I?" Celestia asked.

"Yeah, twice over actually since my first attempt at settling failed." Azrael said casting a look back at the vending machine, eyeing another candy bar hungrily.

"So, am I right in suspecting if we ask for something you will be obliged to accept the task?" Celestia said with a hopeful look in her eye.

Azrael looked away from the candy and stared Celestia dead in the eye. A grin broke out on his face and the light in the room seemed to dim and flicker. The stallion's eyes began to glow and his wings flared in anticipation. Perhaps he could get rid of his final debt quicker than he imagined.

"What do you ask of death?"

8 - New Heaven

Chapter Eight

New Heaven

============================================================================

Azrael Hefted his scythe and slung it over his back. He then attached the book of the dead to his belt with a chain of gold, inscribed with runes. Sheathing the fiery sword and pulling the hood over his head he was ready to depart. It had been a long time since he marched out in full battle regalia. The weight upon his shoulders felt nostalgic, and the thrill of the possible battle to come made his wrath boil in anticipation. He needed to keep a cool head however, lest he forget he was doing this to fulfill what The sun goddess had asked of him.

"I want you to give the other angels a message. I do not want to know where they are, or how you give it to them. Just make sure they get this scroll, and understand that my sister and I do not want anything to do with them. Equestria has survived for over a thousand years without the influence of your kind, and it has been a thousand years of peace." Celestia said, levitating a sealed scroll over to the large Stallion.

"Very well, is that all then?" Azrael said with a wicked grin as he contemplated his task.

"Please do not provoke them against me. I want them to leave Equestria alone, not feel the need to destroy it." Celestia said with a hard look in her eyes.

"Do not attack without provocation, got it." Azrael said, flaring his wings and taking off to return to Ponyville.

Azrael strode out of the room that contained his relics, the memory still fresh in his mind as he looked down to the scroll he now held in his hand. Just one more thing had to be taken care of before he departed. The host body needed to be double checked before he left.

As the angel strode down into his basement, the frosty air greeting him to the refrigerated room, he took in the sight of the body he had been inhabiting laying in the sealed glass case he had made for it. The embalming fluid had stained the white coat on the side of its neck where he had drained the blood and injected the preservative liquid. Azrael then checked the blood bags that were hanging, blood frozen and waiting to be reheated and injected back inside the body when he needed it.

The angel of death nodded to himself as he concluded that everything was accounted for. He then let the darkness swirl around him and he shifted through the shadows in his incorporeal towards where he suspected his kin might have hid in the thousands of years since he had destroyed their home.

As he shifted he thought of home, of memories that still left him bitter, and others that had brought him the little warmth he had ever known.

Azrael sat in the shadow of a pillar with an ornate bone pen in his hand as he wrote a name into his book. 'Nathaniel' he wrote in the crimson blood he used as ink for the book. A small sad smile adorned his face as he rose and re-hooked the book to his belt with the golden chain he had crafted. He then picked up his scythe and strode through the gardens of heaven, using it as a walking stick. Azrael made his way towards the grotto of the lord, where the angels were birthed into existence.

As he came to the entrance he was greeted by two guards who quickly stepped out of his way. Azrael smiled apologetically to them for bothering them as he strode inside and flared his wings, basking in the light that emanated from the crystals that were embedded into the cave walls. Azrael then continued towards the center of the grotto where he could meet the new angel.

Azrael rounded a turn in the cave and was greeted with the view of the new angel in his form. Azrael guessed it was a 'he' by the name he had been compelled to write. The angel was a large white lion with a mane of fire. Azrael smiled warmly as he strode up to his new little brother.

"Hello there young one, I am here to welcome you into the kingdom of heaven. I am Azrael, your older brother." Azrael said drawing closer.

The great lion growled a warning at the dark angel, the force of its vocals blowing the hood off of Azrael and causing his long hair to blow in the force. Azrael simply smiled and put a hand on the lion's head.

"Here we go, you might find this form easier to converse in." Azrael said as he guided the lion's powers into forming a new body in a form resembling a human with wings.

Nathaniel then looked down at his fingers and ran a hand through his blonde hair. He then noticed the white robe he wore.

"There we are Nathaniel, how are you feeling? I think you made the new body alright, I only guided you so you may have made a mistake in choosing the details. If anything comes up I will be glad to help." Azrael said swiveling his head taking in the form his little brother had chosen.

"How do you... know my name...?" Nathaniel managed to say, getting used to the new body.

"Because I wrote it in my book here." Azrael said motioning to the book hanging at his side, "I write the names of all life in here, and when their time comes to pass on and cease living I erase them from the book."

"You mean... You control when I die?" Nathaniel blurted out in horror.

"Yes, but do not worry, I do not use my gift without the permission of our lord and god. And his verdict is merciful to his faithful servants." Azrael said with a smile.

Nathaniel then noticed the ominous scythe and he shied away from Azrael. Nathaniel then jumped slightly as he noticed a figure wrapped in flames stride into view. The figure nodded curtly towards Azrael in greeting, then fixated her gaze onto him.

"Azrael, I was told to greet our new brother by our lord. What is his name?" The newcomer demanded with authority.

"He is Nathaniel, the angel of fire. And he is to be your subordinate Gabriel." Azrael said with a smile to his sister who merely scoffed.

"Very well, come Nathaniel. I shall show you the ropes, and get you away from the deathbringer here..." Gabriel said with a piercing glare at Azrael.

"I told you I was sorry, but it was by the lord's will that I erased her name, I miss her too." Azrael said with a sigh.

"Hold your tongue brother!" Gabriel spat the final word as she strode forward and took Nathaniel by the arm, "You do not fool me, you care not about what you did. And do not 'write off' your butchery of our sister as anything less.

"One last thing Nathaniel, do not show anyone your true form unless it is an emergency. Showing your true body to a mortal will cause their eyes to burn from their sockets, and showing it to another angel, or a demon is a sign that you wish for a fight to the death." Azrael warned.

Nathaniel took one final glance back at the dark and foreboding angel, before gratefully following Gabriel out of the presence of death incarnate.

Azrael materialized in the shadow of a great dome that loomed over the surrounding desert. The dome itself was proof of what Azrael was seeking, for no mortal could craft a wall this great, and imbue it with this much magical defense. No creature in existence could breach this wall, not even Azrael himself could, unnoticed that is.

Azrael lifted the fiery blade and gently dragged the blade across the face of the giant dome, immediately it parted around the blade and Azrael witnessed as the twelve foot thick wall of marble formed a hall for him to walk through. As he strode inside he was forced to squint against the magical light that radiated from the false sky from within the dome. Like all other creations made of angels this was a miracle, an entire world housed within this shell, a false heaven to house the remnants of the angels that were not in heaven when he fell to wrath.

Azrael took out the sealed scroll and held it in one hand, the sword in another. He then cast his gaze around the land, watched his brethren slowly take notice that something was wrong. Azrael found a small scrap of happiness in the fact that they had all kept using their false bodies that he had taught them how to form. In truth it was the most selfish thing he had ever done, because since they all learned from him to hide their true appearances, he could hide away his own true visage.

The memory from before once again began to swirl in Azrael's mind.

Azrael watched as his sister and new brother left his presence, and he sighed wearily. It did not matter how much he tried, the others always feared his presence. The look on Nathaniel's face when he confirmed that he held his life in his hands drove a dagger through Azrael's heart.

"You always make sure to tell them that last part. Normally one would leave that for the one chosen to teach them. Why are you so persistent on that 'social rule' we have?" A voice asked from the darkness.

"Hmm? Your voice is familiar... You are one of the older angels like me however aren't you? I can't quite seem to remember but I'm sure I was there for your birth..." Azrael said spotting an angel in the shadows holding something.

"Not as old as you of course, being as you are the eldest brother. I have not been around this section of heaven in a long time. Too busy, but I finally got a break." The angel said walking out of the shadows.

Azrael noticed what he was carrying to be an acoustic guitar, an instrument of interest to Azrael.

"Wait, I remember you brother! You are Lucifer, the leader of heaven's choir." Azrael said greeting warmly another angel willing to converse with him.

"I'm impressed you can remember me. It has been a long time since we last saw each other." Lucifer said with a kind smile.

"Well, you remembered me." Azrael offered.

"Yes, but no one forgets you." Lucifer chuckled shaking his head.

"So, did you come here to greet our newest kin?" Azrael asked as he took down his hood.

"No, it was more out of curiosity. I knew I would find you here when the new angel was born. So, why do you want us to hide our true faces? I understand about protecting the mortals, but our lord did not make that rule. You did didn't you?" Lucifer asked.

"Uhh... well..." Azrael stammered nervously.

"Was it to reduce your workload from mortals viewing us?" Lucifer asked with an accusing but playful smile.

"No... It was so I did not have to show my true form if you wish the truth." Azrael stated simply. He knew it was too good to be true that another angel wanted to simply share company with him.

"Huh, don't want to strike fear into your own brethren huh?" Lucifer stated solemnly

"Yeah, do you find it pitiful?" Azrael asked with his shoulders slumped.

"No, I think you are the kindest angel in all of heaven and that no one else cares about how kind you truly are..." Lucifer said, placing a hand on Azrael's shoulder

Azrael looked up and met Lucifer's eyes with a sad smile. The look he gave Lucifer was that of a dog who had been kicked all of its life, and Lucifer picked up on that.

"Hey, why don't you come with me for a little while? I know for a fact you do not have much to do at the moment, and I am free. Would you like to come and listen to my personal group play some music? I have just composed a new masterpiece, and I would like some outside input before we play it for our lord." Lucifer said motioning for Azrael to follow.

Azrael gave the guitar and his brother a skeptical look, but decided it could be interesting, "Very well, shall we?"

Azrael snapped back to attention as he saw a small mob of angels gathering about a mile off in a valley.

"Seems they have noticed..." Azrael mumbled to himself.

"It is not hard to notice when the shadow of death encroaches onto the kingdom of new heaven..." A man's voice called off to the side of Azrael.

"Nathaniel, I was just actually thinking of you earlier." Azrael said with a faux smile.

"You are not welcome here brother, and not just because you are a fallen angel either." Nathaniel said with a fair amount of anger in his voice.

"You are smart to suppress your anger, but you need work at it, I can still feed off of you like this." Azrael said offhandedly, "So, the 'kingdom of new heaven'... Who is the new god you have sitting on the throne?"

"There is no throne... And we are waiting to find a god..." Nathaniel said with gritted teeth.

"I know, I only know of two gods not sealed away or deceased at the moment. And the throne is still in my possession." Azrael said, remembering what he came for and looking down at the scroll.

"We figured you had something to do with our lord's throne disappearing. Wait, did you say you know of two gods?" Nathaniel did a double take and stared slack jawed at Azrael.

"Yeah they wanted me to deliver this. They do not want anything to do with you guys and this letter says it all." Azrael said tossing the scroll at Nathaniel.

"So Gabriel was telling the truth... What have you told them of us to cause them ill feelings towards us?" Nathaniel demanded.

"That is no way to talk to your elder." Azrael said in a warning tone that made Nathaniel back off slightly.

"Now that sounds like you are here for a fight..." A humored voice called from a short ways off.

Azrael turned to address the newcomer, and saw with a small amount of surprise it was one of the few angels he had come to call a friend.

"Abaddon? I did not expect to see you here. Given up on your quest of destroying hell?" Azrael said with a warm smile.

"The angel of destruction has had very little motivation after what you did Azrael..." Abaddon said with a welcoming smile, "Your act of destroying heaven though dreadful was beautiful in my eyes."

Nathaniel snarled at Abaddon as he drew a silvery sword from his side and pointed it at the angel of destruction, "Watch your tongue, your stay here in new heaven is on thin strings as it is. Consorting with this blasphemer will have you thrown out."

"Well, I see I have caused a fair amount of trouble so I will let myself out." Azrael said touching the marble wall with the flaming sword, causing the marble to ripple as if water that had a stone tossed into it..

The marble began to ripple and the two angels watching their eldest brother gasped at what they saw.

"You not only took his throne but his sword too?!" Roared Nathaniel.

"And with it hell was broken loose and heaven was destroyed..." Azrael murmured, just low enough to strain the ears of the two as he strode through the corridor he made, trailing the tip of the blade along the wall as he went, causing it to close behind him.

The two angels stared at the place where a hole was once in the marble dome that housed the realm of new heaven. The angel of fire spun in place and flew off with a mighty burst from his wings to warn his superior Gabriel. The other smirked darkly as he contemplated what he had just seen.

Applejack knocked once on the door to the large manor. The farm pony waited for a minute before knocking again. The orange mare then checked to make sure the steaming apple pie on her back was still doing fine. Granny's health had improved, and all signs of her old age aside from physical appearance had vanished. The old mare had been running around the farm and working as hard as a mare a quarter of her age. When she had asked Applejack told her a half truth, saying Azrael had 'given her some medicine or something' to help Granny.

Granny had baked this pie with apples she had bucked herself to give thanks to the large stallion. Applejack was more than happy to pass the gift along, though she still wondered what Azrael could possibly mean for her to stand up for him if anything arose. Did he expect to get into trouble for anything? Applejack could only hope that if so it was nothing too serious.

Applejack knocked for the fourth time before trying the door herself. The door opened for her, since it was not locked she assumed he was inside somewhere he could not hear the door. Perhaps if she could not find him she would just leave the pie somewhere.

Applejack looked around the house, searching many of the rooms but finding nopony at all. She had left he pie sitting on the kitchen table before she headed upstairs. Even there however her search for the large stallion proved fruitless, all she found was a few tidy rooms meant for guests, a study of some sorts, and a room with a large throne and a few odd items scattered around it. The farmer pony was about to give up and leave the manor, she was had opened and was almost out the front door when she noticed something. A door was slightly ajar, tucked at the side of the stairwell where she had not noticed it before.

Applejack moved to the door and pushed it fully open, only to be greeted by utter blackness and a gust of cold wind. The dark doorway caused a chill to go down her spine and her fur to stand up on the back of her neck. Applejack stared into the darkness for what seemed like an eternity.

"Applejack?" A voice called from behind the orange mare, causing her to jump a few feet and scream before falling to the ground on her rump and heave in deep breaths to calm herself.

"Oh... Gosh... T-Twilight its you..." Applejack said after a minute finally having caught her breath.

"Applejack what are you doing in here? I saw you about to leave but then you went back in." Twilight asked in a concerned tone.

"I brought a pie to thank Azrael for something, but I can't seem to find him. I left the pie in the kitchen and looked for him. But this is the last place I haven't checked." Applejack said with a bashful smile.

"So you aren't just breaking and entering?" Twilight said with a teasing tone.

"Me? Shucks nah." Applejack laughed.

"So what did he do for you anyways?" Twilight said cocking her head to the side in a questioning gesture.

"Uh, he gave me some uh... Medicine to help Granny... She had been feeling not so good and he noticed it and gave me some on Nightmare Night." Applejack told her half truth. She was not sure if it was truly medicine he had used, though she suspected it was not she had no proof so she wasn't technically lying. Perhaps the book he showed her only warned when somepony would die and he acted himself to fix it.

"Yeah she wasn't looking too good. I wonder what it was he used..." Twilight said in contemplation.

"Well, he should been down there if he is home at all... Maybe he'd tell yah" Applejack offered.

Twilight looked down into the pitch darkness of the stairwell and felt the cold air emanating from it as she drew closer.

"Oh wow that is dark... Here lemme fix that..." Twilight said illuminating her horn, casting purple light around her illuminating the stairs that spiraled down.

The two mares then trotted down and down a long ways, for what seemed like minutes.

"You know I've actually seen the blueprints for this place, they are in the library." Twilight said striking up a conversation to lessen the near deafening silence.

"Oh yeah?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah, but it did not have anything on it about a basement..." Twilight mumbled.

"Huh..." Applejack said in thought.

Twilight stopped abruptly causing Applejack to run into her.

"What is it Twi'?" Applejack asked.

"There is another doorway here, no door though... Something is in the way..." Twilight said.

Applejack trotted beside her friend to see what she was talking about, "What in tarnation..."

The two mares saw what looked like stiff drapes of some strange stiff looking material over the door. Twilight moved forward and pushed on one of the hanging pieces and noted that it pushed out of the way easily. She then took note that they let light through, but obscured what was on the other side. Twilight had never seen this kind of a material before. The two mares continued on into the room but it was too big for the light glow form Twilight's horn to completely light the room.

"Hey Twi' check it out, there are some torches around the room. Think yah could light 'em?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah once second..." Twilight said as she closed her eyes to concentrate then opened them after completing the spell to ignite the torches. What she saw made her want to scream had the sight not knocked the wind out of her lungs.

The room was tiled from wall to floor, and weird metal hooks and blades hung on the wall. In the middle however Twilight saw, suspended inside of a glass casket was the large white stallion they had gone looking for. Next to him hung several bags made from some transparent material that were filled with what looked like blood. Both mares felt sick to their stomachs, and the chill that ran down their backs was not from the cold of the room.

Twilight crept forward despite her fear however to get a closer look at the stallion inside of the glass case. With a closer inspection she saw a hole in his neck where two different colors of liquid had dripped down, one red and one yellow. She then noticed two needles connected to tubes close by. Twilight deduced from this that his blood had been drained and the yellow liquid injected into his body.

"Applejack... Something was done to his body... They drained his blood and injected him with something." Twilight said to her friend, bu she did not receive a response.

Twilight inspected the tube that had held the yellow liquid closer and followed it to a metal canister that had a strange language written on it.

"Applejack I think I found something, wanna help me get this out?" Twilight asked, again with no response.

"Oh, please tell me you haven't fainted..." Twilight moaned to herself as she turned around.

What Twilight saw however made her scream, the noise echoing around the room.

9 - Plotting Shadows

Chapter Nine

Plotting Shadows

============================================================================

Twilight awoke with a start, her heart pounding inside of her chest and her eyes darting around the room. She was in her bed in the library, spike was curled up in the basket by her bed, and everything seemed normal. But something was bothering her, why was she so worked up?

Twilight rolled out of bed and landed on her hooves, she briefly shook her head in hopes of calming herself down and waking up completely. She must have had a nightmare, but she could not remember what it was about. Twilight lifted a forearm and sniffed, as she suspected she had been having cold sweats during her nightmare.

"I should take a quick shower..." Twilight mumbled with a yawn.

The purple librarian trotted into her bathroom, and let the water run as it began to fill up the tub. As she began to wake up fully short pieces of memory came back to her.

"At Azrael's house..." Twilight mumbled as she climbed into the tub and settled into the soothingly warm water.

"Applejack was looking for him..." Twilight continued on, a thoughtful look on her face.

"We went into his basement, it was so dark..." Twilight said quietly to herself as she blew a cluster of soap bubbled off her nose.

"And we saw... Something horrible. He was dead in some glass case!" Twilight exclaimed at the horror of the thought.

"But when I turned to leave with Applejack, something was holding her. Something tall and dark with glowing... Red... Eyes." Twilight said her eyes widening as she began to think it was not just a dream.

The purple mare noticed something in the corner of her eye and she slowly turned her head to where the bathroom mirror lay fogged on the wall. Twilight climbed out of the tub to get a better look at what she saw. Somepony had wiped something across the glass, and the fog was not sticking in the places it was wiped, showing a message for the librarian as if it knew she would take a bath first thing in the morning.

'Don't Snoop'

Twilight lost the will to stand and fell on her rump as she stared at the writing on the mirror. She did go into the house after Applejack, and something was in fact down there with her friend and herself.

"Oh no Applejack!" Twilight exclaimed as she ran out of the bathroom and teleported outside of her library, breaking off into a full gallop toward Sweet Apple Acres despite her coat still dripping with moisture from her bath.

As Twilight galloped she attracted a few confused stares as she went, but these barely registered to her as she hurried to check if her friend was alright. With hopes she had been given the same warning Twilight had and was in her own bed or already working on the orchard. But if she wasn't, Twilight dared not even think of it.

As the purple mare drew closer to the farm she noticed immediately something was off, it was a Saturday and nopony was in sight, Granny was not sitting in her rocker on the front porch like she always was, Big Macintosh was not in sight and his apple cart was parked by the barn, still loaded full of apples that needed to be taken into town. And Applejack's market stall was sitting next to the cart, untouched yet for its weekly market trip.

"Where could they be?" Twilight asked herself out loud as she looked across the vacant apple orchard.

Twilight checked inside of the house and the barn hoping for a clue, but not a single apple pony could be found, not even young Applebloom. Twilight finding nopony on the farm raced back into town towards the manor. On the way she heard the sound of flapping wings approaching her and she looked up to see Rainbow Dash hovering closer to her with a concerned look on her face.

"Everything alright Twi'?" Rainbow asked her friend.

"Rainbow! Good thing you're here! I may need your help when I go to Azrael's manor. Applejack and I went in there yesterday, but something happened and next thing I know I'm waking up in my bed a day later. None of the apples are on the farm and I think something might be wrong!" Twilight belted out as fast as she could, hardly taking the time to take in breaths.

"Woah,woah. Calm down Twilight, I'm sure everything is fine. But if it makes you feel better I'll come with you." Rainbow offered with a small smile, but Twilight could tell Rainbow did not believe her story.

The two hurried to the house and Twilight knocked on the front door as hard as she could, the sound getting the attention of the ponies in the streets. Twilight waited a few seconds before giving the large door another series of blows. Twilight waited a few seconds longer and was about to knock again but the door slowly swung open revealing Applejack with a confused look on her face.

"Oh hey Twi, whatcha up to?" Applejack asked with a smile forming on her face.

"Oh Celestia... Applejack you're okay!" Twilight said pulling her friend into an embrace.

Rainbow shook her head at this while Applejack shot the pegasus a look that asked what was going on.

"She had a nightmare that something happened yesterday, must've spooked her a lot because she ran out to the orchard and then here." Rainbow explained.

"But... Something must have happened... Azrael was-" Twilight started only to be cut off.

"Shucks Twi, don't worry none. 'Fact mah whole family is here having some grub with Azrael. Granny cooked him up some more stuff cause she thought one pie wasn't enough of a thanks, so he invited us all over to eat it with him." applejack said with a smile.

"But Applejack... We found Azrael's body in his basement. He was dead..." Twilight said with a sickened look on her face.

"If I am dead then you must be psychic to talk to a ghost." Azrael said as he trotted up behind Applejack.

Twilight's jaw dropped as she saw the large stallion, alive and well. Azrael gave her a knowing look however and raised a hoof to his lips and 'shushed' at her. Twilight then knew something was wrong.

Twilight was about to speak, but Azrael beat her to it, "Don't forget the message I left you Twilight, and have a good day."

Azrael then gently shut the door with a wing, the last thing Twilight or Rainbow Dash saw of the interior of the manor was Applejack smiling warmly to her friends, and Azrael with a smug look on his face.

"See Twilight, everything is fine. Maybe you should go check with Fluttershy, maybe you have a fever or something..." Rainbow offered her friend with a sympathetic smile.

"I don't think I do, I have some research to do..." Twilight said as she trotted back towards the library.

"Do you think her delivered the message by now sister?" Luna asked the princess of the sun.

"I do not know, they are definitely hidden if they have not been seen in over two thousand years... Perhaps they are even on another continent." Celestia offered.

Luna paced back and forth, neither her sister or herself had given the angel instructions to tell them when the task was done, but there was the possibility he did not know where the others were hiding.

"Perhaps I will contact him tonight..." Luna offered her sister.

"Well, if you feel it is necessary... Be careful though, he is dangerous." Celestia said with a small loving smile.

"I do not think he wants us harmed, when he was talking to his sister he talked as if you and I were the first gods he approved of." Luna said quietly.

Celestia thought over this briefly before responding, "Yes, first impression aside he seems to be quite passive towards us, at least he is willing to leave us alone. It sounded like from what you tole me the other angel gave you a longing look when she heard you were a goddess."

Luna shivered at the memory of the fiery and bestial thing staring wide eyed at her.

"Those angels seem so powerful, why would they crave to serve a god so badly..." Luna asked her sister.

"Perhaps when you check up with Azrael he will tell you, but be careful he did not seem to like questions about his past." Celestia warned.

"Perhaps..." Luna mumbled.

"You did well Applejack, your friend knows something is wrong with me but she seemed willing to accept that you trusted me for the time being." Azrael said to the orange farmer.

"Shucks it was nothin'. Sorry again fer' snoopin through yer' house like that." Applejack said bashfully.

"Just don't let it happen again, you were lucky I had forgotten to erect any defenses or traps. From now on I may have to however..." Azrael said as he shooed Applejack out the door.

Applejack waved to Azrael as he closed the door with a wing, a small smile on his face. Azrael then turned away from the door and trotted over to the kitchen where he sat down in front of an already prepared cup of tea. Next to his cup was another cup, both emitting steam into the air. Azrael regarded the cup with mild interest, for the enchantment he had put on the kitchen would prepare meals and drink for himself and any company he had over.

"You can come out now, your little ponies are gone." Azrael called to his seemingly empty house.

From the shadows stepped Luna the princess of the night in all her regal glory. The dark mare trotted over to where Azrael stood and noticed that there were two cups of tea waiting on the table.

"Well, you even had some tea prepared. And I was sure I had hid my presence perfectly..." Luna said, dejected slightly over her skills proving useless against the angel.

"Actually you had me fooled, my enchantments not so much..." Azrael said with a small laugh.

"Pardon?" Luna asked confused.

"The enchantment I placed on this kitchen is to prepare meals and drink for myself and any guests. There were two cups waiting, so I had company in the house. And you are the only one who would visit me so late." Azrael explained.

"Ahh, I see... So, have you managed to find the other angels yet?" Luna asked as she levitated one of the cups over to herself.

"The message has been delivered." Azrael said as he levitated his own cup over and took a sip. Azrael scrutinized his cup and looked at Luna's.

Luna took a sip and nearly spat it out, giving a disgusted look at the cup in her magical aura.

"I think you have my cup, it prepares our favorite blends, and I know for a fact that mine is a little stronger than this." Azrael said offering over the cup in his possession.

"Is this filled with alchohol?!" Luna nearly yelled, her chest still burning from the sip she took.

"Yeah, its mostly absinthe..." Azrael said, taking the cup form Luna's aura and downing it in one go.

Luna stared at the stallion for a moment before sipping the cup that was offered to her and smiling.

"I did not think anypony but my sister and myself could cast an enchantment that could not only detect someone's presence, but also act to their specific preferences..." Luna said offhandedly.

"That is because it is divine magic, something only the gods should have access to, and angels to a minor degree so long as it pertains to their special talents." Azrael explained watching his cup magically refill itself and downing it again.

"But... Then you should not be able to cast this kind of an enchantment should you?" Luna asked with a concerned look.

"I am... A little more than a mere angel. Turns out when one kills a god you inherit some of their power. If I wished in all honesty, godhood could be mine. But I do not wish that, for I value freedom above all else. And I know for a fact that if I ascend to godhood I will get followers who will throw their freedom away to my so called 'glory', and then I will be nothing more than a hypocrite." Azrael said bitterly.

"Oh... So..." Luna said trying to change the subject, "You found the other angels so soon, did you already know where to find them?"

"I had a hunch that turned out right. They decided to take residence in what our old lord called his 'promised land', a place on the continent across the vast ocean to the east. They must have pooled their efforts and they made a giant marble Dome, might have even been a sphere that was half buried... But inside of it they have created a new heaven to reside in." Azrael explained waving a hoof sarcastically.

"So it is done then? We can count on you to stay out of Equestria's business, and the angels will leave us alone?" Luna asked with hope in her eyes.

"Well... About that. They know I have a few things they need. And they suspect we are in league with each other no doubt... Do not let your guard down, and come to me if any show up on your doorstep." Azrael explained.

"Oh... That is what my sister and I feared..." Luna said somberly.

"But above all else, if an angel by the name of Abaddon, Samael, or Asmodeus appear do not listen to anything they say and contact me immediately. Those three were ones I once called friends, but i suspect they are up to no good. Abaddon I met in new heaven and something was wrong with him, he seemed... Darker... Nothing good can come of those three." Azrael warned with a stern tone.

Luna nodded at this, ingraining the names into her memory. The princess of the night then finished her tea and departed from the house. All the while Azrael kept a leveled stare on the princess, as if measuring her up for something.

"This is turning out to be quite the mess if those three decide to act up..." Azrael said looking down at his once again full cup.

Azrael thought back on when he saw Abaddon the angel of destruction last. He was living in new heaven but Azrael could see evidence of taint on his essence. His halo seemed dim as well. Azrael then subconsciously lifted a hoof over his head to where his halo would have been, unseen by mortals, if he still had it.

In a flash of anger Azrael hurled the cup at the floor where it shattered, spilling its contents.

"I saw our dearest brother today..." Abaddon said to the other occupants of the dark room.

"Define 'dearest brother'..." A gruff voice said with a hint of hostility in it.

"Azrael paid us a visit here in New Heaven, he even had a message from two goddesses apparently." Abaddon explained.

The other figures in the room snapped to attention and stared at the angel of destruction. A few of them started whispering to each other, but one of them kept silent and still as he stared at Abaddon.

"He... is free?" the once silent figure asked, confusion and wonder in his voice.

"Yes my lord, and if I am not mistaken he looks as powerful as he was all those millennia ago, his captivity in the garden has not taken a tole on him." Abaddon said with a smile.

The figure contemplated this briefly before running a hand through his hair, letting his fingers run along his horns.

"We will need to start planning then won't we?" Asked the figure.

10 - Darkness and Silence

Chapter Ten

Darkness and Silence

============================================================================

"So? Has he delivered the message yet?" Celestia asked her younger sister.

"Yes, but he gave warning that they might not have accepted our letter to them. He also said to contact him immediately if we are contacted by a few angels... Oh what were their names... Abaddon, Samael, and... As-something..." Luna said to herself, not quite remembering the last name.

"What? Why would he warn us about those ones specifically?" Celestia asked, concern in her voice.

"Asmodeus! that was the last ones name. Azrael said they were friends a long time ago, but that he suspected they were up to no good. Perhaps they had a falling out?" Luna offered.

"Oh... It always saddens me when friends fight. Though I guess the angels have a bit of a complicated history... I wonder if they tried to stop him when he rebelled, or if he doesn't trust him because they let him go." Celestia said, contemplating what could break friends apart.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"He seemed to have come to terms with the other angels hating him, but why would he care about old friends specifically. Something must have happened to set them apart as a foe instead of a friend. Perhaps they even conspired against him and pushed him to do what he did." Celestia offered.

"Hmm, you may be right. Speaking of friends sister... Is it alright to allow Azrael to stay in Ponyville? Is it not dangerous to allow him so close to the Elements of Harmony's bearers?" Luna asked.

"He does not seem hostile to the ponies, and he is currently a legal resident of the town anyways. What is the worst that could come of it?" Celestia asked.

Twilight hunkered down behind a bush, binoculars levitating in front of her face as she watched the house she had been in not so long ago. She could make out movements from within the windows every now and then, but not what she was waiting for. Hours passed while Twilight watched diligently.

Finally Twilight saw the front door open, and Azrael strode out, shutting the door behind him and locking it. The large pegasus took to the air after locking his home and flew off in the direction of the Everfree Forest. Twilight wondered briefly what he would be doing in that direction, but then focused her mind on the task at hand. He was hiding something, and she was going to find at least enough evidence to present a report to Celestia or the authorities.

Twilight's horn began to glow as she readied a teleportation spell, aiming for the inside of the home, just past the front door. As the spell was released something went wrong. Twilight;s spell was blocked and she ended up materializing and colliding against the side of the house with a loud thud. The purple mare then fell unconscious to the ground, a large lump forming on her head.

Azrael felt the telltale tingles of his wards, they had stopped an attempt to teleport inside. Azrael allowed himself a small smile, but it was gone in an instant. There was business to attend to. There was a creature somewhere in these woods that held intelligence, and was about to die, leaving its species extinct. Azrael was going to judge this poor creature if it deserved life, or if it was justified in being destroyed.

Azrael need not manually visit every soul of the dearly departed anymore, not since he crafted the book, but Azrael still took pride in his work and the last of a species was always an interesting case. Sometimes Azrael even felt its kind deserved another chance, and in those rare instances he could gather the genetic information from the final one and recreate the species a few pairs at a time until a community could be large enough to repopulate on their own. Azrael had done this once long ago in the past for the humans in the garden that was his prison under his old master's orders. Funny how death prone that species proved itself, and it was another reason why Azrael had refused to save them a second time.

As Azrael continued through the trees, weaving through the gnarled trunks and avoiding any brightly colored plants, as bright colors generally meant danger. After a few hours of travel like this, still unbothered by the feral animals who could sense his true nature, Azrael found what he was looking for. As he approached the starving creature cast its glowing green eyes upon the large stallion.

Red glowing eyes met the once lustrous but now dull green ones of the once Changeling Queen. Chrysalis was now the last of her kind, her ploy to take over the Equestrian capitol Canterlot had ultimately been defeated, and her kind starved as a result of the following purge of all changelings found in towns across Equestria. The ponies now wary of changelings were not as easy to fool, so food was impossible.

"Hello there Chrysalis, are you ready to be judged?" Azrael asked as he sat before the withered form of Chrysalis.

"Who are you... To address me as such? How do you know my name?" Chrysalis asked weakly, but with an edge to her voice.

"I am either the death or salvation of your species, depending on how you do in this interview. And I know your name because it is in my book." Azrael stated simply.

Chrysalis rose slowly to on her hooves and raised herself to her full height, looking eye to eye with the large stallion Chrysalis realized then there was something off about this stallion. He was no normal pegasi, and Chrysalis could feel an aura of darkness coming off of him. Chrysalis also realized she could feel a small amount of love seeping from him.

"You... You know what I am, but you still have a small amount of love in your heart for me. Why?" Chrysalis asked with a confused face.

"I love all life that holds respect for life. You treated your kin well enough, and those you fed on you did not needlessly kill, imprisoned perhaps, but not killed. That is commendable and deserving in my eyes. Unfortunately this feeble amount of food is all I can offer you. Not enough to live perhaps but enough to prolong your life for a while longer." Azrael said, his eyes never blinking as he measured Chrysalis's personality.

"If you are and can do what you say... What do you want me to say?" Chrysalis asked as she set herself back down on the ground.

"Start from the beginning, tell me what I cannot gleam from history books." Azrael said with a small smile.

Twilight rose slowly and rubbed her head with her hoof. The lavender librarian looked up at the sky and noticed the sun had moved a considerable distance. Twilight figured it had been roughly a couple of hours that she had lost consciousness for.

"Hmm..." Twilight hummed to herself as she sized up the house.

There was a magical defense around the house, much like the defense King Sombre had used that she hadn't the time to figure a way around before. Twilight prodded with her magic only to have it be rejected the moment it touched the house. Twilight rubbed a hoof under her chin in thought.

"Hey Twilight, what'cha up to?" Rainbow called from the air above Twilight.

Twilight however was too far in thought to hear her friend and continued to stare at the house and mumble to herself.

"Hey! Rainbow, ah need ya' fer' somethin'." Applejack called from across the street.

Rainbow took one last glance at Twilight before shrugging and hovering over to Applejack.

"What is it A.J.?" Rainbow asked.

"Well, since we raised the new barn the old one is ready for demolition like the last one." Applejack explained.

"geez, did you at least get better lumber this time? It can't be cheap to have to put up a new barn every year because the lumber in the old one is rotting..." Rainbow said.

"Yeah, we double checked the lumber this time, no termite infestations in the wood." Applejack laughed.

Meanwhile Twilight in the background was focusing a spell into her horn, the energy was beginning to shed sparks and glow dangerously. Applejack and Rainbow Dash noticed this, and took in the fact that Twilight was trembling from the power she was channeling.

"Hey uh, Twilight, I don't reckon you need help with anything do ya'? applejack asked.

"Yeah Twi, What are you up to?" Rainbow asked as she flew slightly higher to get a better view of what Twilight was doing.

At that moment, Twilight launched her spell that was meant to breach the barrier. However, the spell instead of impacting on the house was reflected and ricocheted off and flew, directly at Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus had no time to react and the magical blast struck her square in the chest, scorching the fur and shocking her body with the force of the blast.

Rainbow fell limply to the ground, landing in a heap with a sickening crunch. Applejack's face widened in horror, and Twilight spun around at the sound and gasped sharply at the display of her burned and broken friend.

"Oh no! Rainbow!" twilight wailed as she ran toward the still form of her friend.

"After a while, my hive grew. We became too large to infiltrate a mere town, and were forced to stretch ourselves across many, impersonating or even becoming new ponies to live life and get love to feed on. But that became not enough... so the invasion plans started to take over Canterlot..." Chrysalis said as she finished her story to the angel of death in his pony body.

"Hmm, a noble start... You were a hero to your people, but unfortunately you lived long enough to see yourself a villain..." Azrael commented.

"So then, what is your verdict?" Chrysalis asked, hope in her eyes.

"Reviving a species takes time, rebuilding a source of food will take longer. I can make sure you live long enough to see the mortals who hold a grudge against you fade into time. Your kind lives as long as you must as long as you maintain a food source, an interesting thing that age does not effect you. After your kind is forgotten once more, we can go about creating a new queen for you to teach,and start a new hive. At that time you will then die." Azrael explained.

"Oh, thank you... Thank you. But, what of me in the time it takes for ponies to forget about my kind? That could take centuries..." Chrysalis asked.

"You will live under the protection of my domain, Without my blessing you will not die. Be warned however, you will be unable to die, not unable to be harmed." Azrael warned.

Chrysalis nodded her head with a smile, she had succeeded in saving her race after all.

"What do we do?!" Twilight exclaimed, fearing the worst that her friend was dead.

"Twi, help me get her inside!" Applejack said in a commanding tone as she galloped to the large doors of the manor.

"Applejack that's no use Azrael locked his house, and what do you hope to find in there? We need to get her to a hospital!" Twilight yelled after Applejack.

Applejack procured a key from under her hat and unlocked the door, she then bucked it open and motioned for Twilight to hurry. Twilight stared for a second, but then shook her head and lifted Rainbow's body gently in her magical aura.

The two after getting Rainbow inside stared at the blackened chest and the seared flesh of their friend. Twilight began to cry at the sight of what she had done. Applejack had tears in her eyes but she kept a strong look on her face as she looked at the stairway and took off up it.

"Applejack... Where are you going?" Twilight choked out between sobs.

"Ta' get Azrael, only he can help us now..." Applejack called.

"But he left, I watched him go!" Twilight screamed in frustration with herself and the situation.

"No he hasn't..." Applejack mumbled to herself as she ran up the stairs and burst into the room that had the sword wreathed in flames, and the throne that held Azrael's true body when he was controlling the pony body he had. Applejack ran over a shook the still form with her hooves, nudging his legs.

Azrael told Chrysalis he lived in Ponyville, and she halted.

"The six that were responsible for my defeat are there, other than Shining and Cadence they most likely hate me the most..." Chrysalis mumbled, barely loud enough to hear.

"We will hide your presence do not worry. If need be we--" Azrael suddenly stopped moving and his eyes went blank as if he was a thousand miles away.

"Azrael?" Chrysalis asked hesitantly.

"Wait here and watch over this body will you, something is wrong... Someone is touching my body..." Azrael said before going limp and falling to a heap on the ground. Chrysalis jumped back at this and stared at the now lifeless form before her.

Azrael opened his eyes and stood up form his throne. He looked down and saw that it was Applejack who was touching him.

"What is it Applejack? I was a little busy, but I trust this is an emergency? You wouldn't bother me like this otherwise..." Azrael said in a neutral tone assessing Applejack's tear filled eyes and look of panic.

"Rainbow Dash was hit by a spell Twilight cast that ricocheted off yer' house... ah'm not so sure she is still alive, so please... Can you save her?" Applejack asked, tears streaming down her orange cheeks.

Azrael considered this, there was something about the rainbow haired pony that struck Azrael's interest, but if she was already dead he was going to have to commit to her.

"Where is she now? I am going to need to commune with her spirit before I undo her death. And even then, it is not guaranteed. Souls have a tendency of preferring the eternal bliss of death, to the brutal reality of life." Azrael explained.

"Downstairs just inside your door with Twilight." Applejack said in a hurried voice.

Azrael strode out of the room and down the stairway, Applejack in tow. As Azrael descended and came into View Twilight let out a sharp gasp, freezing at the sight of the angel. Twilight remembered the angel as the form that was in the darkness holding Applejack from before. Twilight's shoulders shook with her repressed sobs.

"I told you not to snoop, and look what your disregard for my wishes has brought you. I hope you are satisfied miss Sparkle..." Azrael said with a lip curled in disgust at the mare who carelessly slew her friend.

"Hey now, it was an honest accident..." Applejack tried to defend her friend.

"One that would have been avoided had she heeded my warning, now silence. I am going to need to focus, it has been a long, long time since I last did this..." Azrael said as he knelt over Rainbow Dash's body.

Rainbow was alone in the darkness, but she felt oddly at peace, almost as if for the first time ever, she was complete. The feeling was pure bliss, to float for eternity with no worries. Rainbow was truly happy. The absence of any feeling was making her become drowsy, and Rainbow could feel herself slowly drifting off to sleep. A nap sounded simply wonderful and Rainbow began to close her eyes. But her eyes stopped descending half way when she saw something.

A set of red eyes appeared from the darkness and drew closer to her. Rainbow looked into these eyes, and giggled in wonder as to why she felt no fear from the piercing glare. The eyes held a certain intensity that she felt even a dragon would whimper at. But nothing mattered to her, she was dead. What was the worst anything could do to her?

"Rainbow Dash, I have come to take you home." A familiar voice called from the direction of the eyes.

"Why would I want to go back? This place is so nice, and I finally get it... Everything is so clear as to why they happened..." Rainbow said dreamily.

The eyes began to glow brighter, almost as if building energy, until they were two blinding suns and the entire world turned from blackness, to pure white. Rainbow looked down and she could once again see her body, and she noticed how bad the burns on her chest looked. But once again, she found herself unable to care.

Rainbow looked up and saw what would normally frighten a pony to madness or death, but in her current state, the ponies mind was unbreakable.

"To return to the living, you must want it. Overcome the peace of darkness and silence Rainbow Dash..." The horror's voice echoed in the white nothingness.

1 - To Seek The Truth

Chapter One

To Seek The Truth

============================================================================

"Say that again ya' mutt! I dare ya'..." hissed a voice.

"I will not waste my breath repeating what you too stupid to hear!" Barked a second.

"Har har, and that is coming from a Diamond Dog!" Bellowed a third voice.

Daring meanwhile sipped a mug of spiced cider, a specialty only brewed here in the town of Brimstone, a backwater town near the gates of Tartarus. She loved taverns like this, there were always interesting people to meet, and even more interesting stories to be told. And if Daring had learned anything about stories, it was that most of theme had some shred of truth to them. It had been through stories told in such taverns that Daring got a lead on most of her adventures.

Daring grabbed her mug and flew up sever feet to avoid a flying Diamond Dog. Daring looked towards where the heap of fur now lay on the ground not far away, as a muscular kobold walked over to its victim. Daring shook her head and smiled as she hovered and sipped her beverage. She then cast her eyes around, weighing the bars current contents for any promising looking storytellers. Daring's eyes caught on a grizzled looking demon.

The Demon in question had the head of a jackal, and the body of a hairless ape. The demon wore a white linen skirt, brown sandals that wrapped up to the knee, and was adorned in gold jewelry on his arms and ears. He towered over all the other bar patrons, and his muscular frame was covered in scars. Anywhere else the demon would have raised eyebrows or struck fear, but not this close to Tartarus. The guardians of the gates often ventured to nearby towns on their days off from guarding the entrance to the underworld. The demon suddenly met Daring's eyes with his own predatory stare as if he could feel her gaze upon him. A chill passed slowly down her spine, and she smiled at the sensation. She loved the dangerous ones like this, they had the best stories to tell.

"Can I buy you a tall drink?" Daring asked as she flew toward him.

"I am no mere pup, what is the game you intend on playing with this ancient one?" The demon said with a slight snarl.

"Woah there, no game. I was merely hoping to loosen your lips for a story. I am hoping to find my next lead for an adventure, and you look like a knowledgeable-"

The jackal headed demon cut her off with a deep gravely laugh that shook the entire tavern itself. The inhabitants of the bar all stopped and stared at the ancient demon. Some of the less hardy fled the tavern, not wanting to see if the demon grew violent. Daring held her ground however, and pressed on.

"As I was saying... I am Daring Do, and I have traveled far and wide on adventure uncovering secrets and finding ruins. I was wondering if you could enlighten me of any stories of lost knowledge or treasure." Daring said with an air of confidence that stunned the other bar patrons.

"You are not familiar with me are you? No, of course you are not, lest you would not have approached me. But I tell you what, you interest me. How about a tale for a tale, if you tell an interesting story, I will tell an equally interesting story. Quid pro quo if you will..." The demon smiled his eyes still eyeing Daring as if she was prey.

"Hmm, what if I am looking for something more interesting than any of my other stories?" Daring stated matter of factly.

"Quantity over quality then, it has been awhile since I have heard a tale. Most know better than to approach me." The demon grinned.

"We have a deal then, bartender keep the drinks comin' we're going to be here awhile." Daring called as she pulled up a chair and stopped hovering over the table to recite all of her exploits.

Hours had passed of Daring regaling the demon with her exploits and adventures. She had gone through many drinks and had used up a fourth of her bit pouch on the drinks. As she finished her most recent tale she nodded and looked expectantly to the demon who sat there leaned back and smiling.

"You have entertained me well, I am willing to part with some ancient secrets and a tale of my own."

Daring smiled at this and shifted her explorers hat forward, meaning business.

"This tale is older than any of yours however, so old that it happened far before the two sisters who now raise the sun and moon. Only the eldest of dragons remember this tale. Well, them and the damned." The demon's grind grew wider at the mention of his kin.

"Older than Princess Celestia and Luna? This has to be good!" Daring was getting giddy at the thought of what the story could entail.

"There is an old shrine which holds secrets of the past, secrets that tell a tale of when the world was much younger. There is a statue that was built by a beloved brother inside of the shrine. It is said only those who wish to pay their respects may enter. For the shrine was built to honor an angel who died there." The demon began.

"Wow... But, I was kinda hoping there would be something to uncover or explore..." Daring said, for once showing nervousness as she asked the demon for more.

"The shrine still stands mortal, And it's guardian still watches over it." The demon said, a solemn look on his face.

"It still exists?! How can anything so ancient still stand? Even naturally anything should have been overtaken by nature or destroyed by animals or new inhabitants." Daring reasoned.

"The architect left a guardian to tend forever to the grave, be warned when you venture there however. Violence is not allowed in the area the guardian protects." The demon said, gazing into Daring's eye as he gave his warning.

"Do you... know where it is?"

"Yes, it lies deep in a forest that retains some of the old natural magics that kept the world in check so long ago. The land is harsh and only the strong or wise survive there. The forest stretches far beyond what you mortals have explored of it, and it is in the deepest part that the shrine that serves as the grave is found." The demon said as he picked himself up and grabbed a golden staff that was propped against the chair. The demon began to make his way towards the door, the other patrons scurrying to get out of his way.

"That sounds a lot like the Everfree..." mumbled Daring as she watched the demon leave.

After the demon's departure some of the other patrons came over to the explorer and one began to talk to her in a panicked tone.

"Don't you know who that was?!" The gargoyle said.

"No... why?" Daring asked, her ears flattening as she realized she was surrounded by the patrons.

"That demon was once a lord of the afterlife. They say he even had a religious following long, long ago. That was Anubis!"

Daring gasped at this, even she had heard of Anubis, but she did not in a million years expect to meet the once god. But if that truly was Anubis, then the story held weight to it. She would have to prepare for an expedition into the dark forest known as the Everfree. Perhaps she could even visit her cousin when she stopped at Ponyville for supplies.

Daring knew if she could find proof of what Anubis had said, that she would truly go down in history as the greatest pony explorer of all time. Daring felt giddy at the aspect of such a find. Perhaps she could even convince the guardian to part with a trophy for her personal collection. Daring left the town of Brimstone without further delay as she flew towards Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash was resting on her cloud bed as she read the most recent Daring Do book. The day had been peaceful, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were staying out of trouble today, The apple Family was busy working, Rarity and Fluttershy were at the spa, Pinkie was working, and Twilight was staying out of trouble instead of looking for something worthy to put into a friendship report. All in all, it was a perfectly peaceful day for Rainbow to laze and read her favourite book series.

Even the weather was perfect, it was a warm summer day and the weather team had made sure that there would only be a couple of clouds in the sky today. Were the story not so captivating, Rainbow would have surely fallen into her beloved state of slumber. Something was off though Rainbow realized as she heard a commotion from Ponyville below her.

Rainbow peeked over the edge of her cloud and noticed a crowd had gathered around the marketplace. This piqued Rainbow's curiosity and she stuck her bookmark in and flew down with the book stuck in her saddlebag. As she landed, Rainbow looked around at the crowd and tried to find what the commotion was over. She read the sign of the shop she was outside of, it read 'Pitch's Camping and Tent Emporium'.

Rainbow wondered what the fuss was about with the camping supplies store until she saw her. Daring Do herself walked out of the store with a backpack filled to the brim with what one could only suspect was camping supplies. She even had a machete strapped to her side. The crowd gave awed ooh's and ahh's as Daring passed them by.

Rainbow zipped in front of Daring, causing the explorer to give a startled intake of breath and step back slightly. Rainbow hovered towards her with her book and a pen in an outstretched hoof.

"Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh, Daring Do will you please sign my book? I am like your number one fan!" Rainbow squealed like a fangirl.

Daring smiled at this and kindly accepted the book and pen as she set the book on the ground she gave her signature on the inside of the front cover.

"Hey, thanks for being a fan of my books. I may not write them, but a close friend does and the revenues from the books really help her care for her family." Daring said with a smile.

"Huh, really? you let your friend take all the revenues to care for her family? That is a loyalty I can respect, I can't believe it but I think I like you even more Daring!" Rainbow beamed as she took the book back and replaced it into her saddle bag.

"Thanks, would you like to meet her? The author is my cousin and she actually lives in this town. Perhaps you can even help me find the address, I'm not too familiar with the streets here even though I know the address." Daring said.

"Sure thing! Who is it by the way I bet they are totally awesome if they are related to you." Rainbow smiled back.

"Here I have the address written down here, she should be home by now too. She works as a mailmare you see and since it is sunday she should be off." Daring explained.

"Ahh, thats cool. The house is down this way I believe follow me!" Rainbow said as she zipped off through the air leaving a rainbow trail behind her. Daring stared for a second before she took off to follow her speedy fan.

"Here it is! Wait... I know this place... Don't tell me your cousin is-"

Rainbow was cut off by the sound of Daring knocking on the door. In mere second the door opened to reveal a gray pegasus with a blonde mane and crossed eyes.

"Ditzy!" Daring said as she pulled her cousin into a hug. Ditzy in turn smiled and exclaimed.

"Cousin Daring what brings you here?!"

"I am going on an expedition near here and decided to stop and say hi for once instead of just sending a letter." Daring smiled as she broke the embrace.

"Derpy is your cousin?" Rainbow said a look of shock on her face.

Daring shot a look at Rainbow before growling, "Don't call her that."

"It's okay Daring, I kinda like my nickname. It grew on me and I don't mind. Besides, Rainbow is my friend." Ditzy said with a smile.

Daring humphed at this and turned away from her fan.

"Wait, did you say you were going on an adventure near here?" Rainbow said, eyeing the backpack again.

"Yeah, there is supposed to be something very interesting in the Everfree Forest, something older than anything else in all of the Equestria." Daring said, a look of wonder on her own face and the look of anger gone from her face.

"Wow, are you going to stay for dinner though? My little muffin would like to see you, she is a fan as well!" Ditzy said to her cousin with a smile.

"Sure, if you don't mind serving one more." Daring said.

"No problem at all." Ditzy said as she smiled brightly.

"Well thanks... Rainbow was it? Perhaps when I get back from my expedition I will tell you some of my adventure before I tell Ditzy for her to start writing her new book." Daring said with a small smirk.

Rainbow beamed at this and waved to Daring before zipping off to tell Twilight about what had just happened.

Daring had only been in the forest for an hour and she was already flying for her life. She had to hoof it to the inhabitants of the forest, they were truly impressive hunters. She had more than one close call as various creatures jumped out of trees or from under cover at her. If this kept up for much longer she might mess up. On the bright side however the pace she was keeping was quickly taking her to the edge of the map of the Everfree, this meant she was making her way closer to the destination. It was a good thing she decided to stay with her cousin for the night and rest before taking off for her adventure. Daring was going to need all her strength because she suspected she might be flying all the way to the shrine with no rest.

This went on for another half of an hour before she attempts to eat her became fewer and fewer, the further she went, the more massive the treas became, some towering to half the height of Canterlot Castle itself. In this larger part of the forest the creatures were bigger, and Daring suspected deadlier.  Most did not find her to be a worthy meal, and Daring wondered if she should take comfort, or dread this fact.

Daring did not slow when the attempts to eat her stopped however, she knew better than to let her guard down. Most likely there were stealthy predators waiting to pounce the moment she stopped. It was another two hours before she noticed the forest begin to thin, and she noticed a lacking of forest life. Was she already there? Daring decided to risk landing so she could take a drink from her canteen and eat some dried grass jerky she had packed.

As Daring drank and ate she took note of how silent the forest was, as if it was holding it's breath. Daring soon realized her mistake as she stuffed her canteen in her pack and flared her wings. She flew close to the ground and fast as the predator moved through the trees above her.

Daring risked a peek up and noticed glowing red eyes filled with murderous intent that leapt from tree to tree after her. Daring could not believe her eyes, that creature was definitely supposed to only be a myth. The creature had dark gray skin, with black spines coming from its back and head, its had a long rat like tail, and its legs ended in terrifying black claws. Daring was being chased by a chupacabra.

"Oh come on!" Daring yelled as she tried her hardest to out speed the creatures that was gaining on her, there were now three of the red eyed monsters following her. They hissed at each other as they chased, daring each other and warning that the meal was their own.

Daring was growing tired at this point, and she knew she could not continue on much further. She was just about to give in to her exhaustion when she noticed something was amiss. The sounds of pursuit had stopped. She looked back and saw that the three chupacabras were staring at her from a distance, as if they dared not cross an invisible line. Daring then set herself down on the ground and caught her breath before looking around herself. She noticed that the trees slowly thinned out. As Daring made her way forward she came across a lake, and on the other side was a flat grassy field. In the middle of the field stood tall a large marble temple. The temple itself sat on a large platform and was nothing more than pillars supporting a large marble roof.

Daring could not believe how pristine the temple looked. The marble was in perfect condition, as if it was only built a few years ago. Daring flew over the lake and slowly made her way into the temple. Daring took in the fine detail that was put into every pillar and she noticed carvings on the roof. Whoever made this put a lot of love and care into the craftsmanship. As daring made her way around a pillar she took in a large statue of a winged bipedal creature, clad in a robe with a solemn look on it's face. The statue was on a platform that bore a golden plaque that was written in an unknown language to Daring.

Daring made her way over to get a better look at the letters on the plaque to see if she could recognize any of the letters to begin deciphering its message, but as she got close she noticed that to read the plaque you had to stand under the sorrow filled gaze of the statue. Daring hesitated a second longer before she bowed her head to the statue and gave a silent prayer to Celestia for whatever poor soul this shrine was honoring. As daring lifted her head she got to work trying to figure out what language the plaque was in.

"Here lies the fallen prince of heaven

Branded as on of the sins of seven

Unjust was his banishment to hell

Cast down to the bottom of that well

captive to a demonic horde

saved only by a brother's sword

were it not for his sin of pride

he may not, on earth, have died."

Daring jumped and turned around at the sound of a deep voice behind her. There stood a white pegasus with a jet black mane and cold blue eyes. The stallion was larger than a normal pony, and his cutie mark was that of a large tome. Daring took in the stallion for a couple of minutes before she finally responded to the intrusion.

"What are you doing here? I thought this place was supposed to be well hidden and out of the reach of anypony..." Daring said, fearing someone else could claim the glory of this find.

"I am the caretaker of this temple." The stallion stated matter of factly.

"Wait, you are the guardian the demon spoke of?" Daring said, sounding scandalized.

"Hmm, a demon told you of this place did he?"

"Yeah, wait..." Daring looked back at the plaque, "Is that poem what the plaque says?"

"Yes" He stated matter of factly.

"How can you read that? What language is that?" Daring inquired.

"It is in the tongue of the angels, and I can read it because I am the guardian of this place." The stallion returned with no emotion.

Daring thought over this for a second before finally asking, "What can you tell me of this place?"

The stallion walked under the statue's gaze and met it with a solemn look. Without looking away he began to recite a tale to Daring Do.

"Long before the two sisters, and even before Discord plagued the surface world, the land was much different. Tartarus was not accessible from the mortal plane for the gate did not yet exist. The world moved on its own accord, the weather was governed by the natural forces of the world, and the sun and moon moved all on their own. During this time the world's dominant species was the humans, a greedy war driven race who ultimately destroyed themselves and almost the world around them. They did not do this of their own however, for they were influenced by higher powers." The Stallion paused as he cracked his neck to both sides.

"You mean the humans actually existed? I thought they were an old tale to tell fillies to be good..." Daring mumbled.

"Oh they were real, and so were their deities. They worshipped many higher beings of both divine and evil nature. Over the millennia that the humans ruled the world, the gods used them as entertainment and a source of power. For these higher beings could be fueled off the worship of lesser races, and some even gained power from the bloodshed of the wars the humans waged on one another. But the gods grew greedy with their power and wanted more, so the wars grew in scale and power, until all of the humans had destroyed one another. The world was left scarred and desolate because of the weapons the humans had developed. The higher beings of hell became busy with the task of watching over the underworld and accepted that their time of fun had come to an end.

The heavens however, were not content. They began to cast blame around, and eventually some of the angels spoke against the rest and their lord, he told them that they were all to blame for pushing the humans so far. The angels who spoke up were cast out, and their leader was banished to the lowest layer of the underworld to suffer eternally for speaking against their master. The leader however had a younger brother, the most powerful of the angels who was not in heaven at the time.

When the younger brother returned and found out what had happened, he swore vengeance. He broke heavens gates on his way to the world of the mortals, and there he tore a hole open into Tartarus itself. He marched for seven days through the depths until he found his brother, slaying all that stood in his way. He was an unstoppable hurricane of hatred and death. I suspect he even absorbed some of the underworlds powers into himself.

After freeing his brother he returned to the mortal world and was stopped by the entire host of heaven. He fought alongside his brother against the other angels, but the fight ended up being in vain. While the younger of the two brothers was unmatched in combat, the older was felled in battle, and his essence was ripped asunder." The stallion finished his tale.

"What happened to the younger brother?" Daring asked in wonder, the story had nearly taken her breath away.

"Driven by the loss of his brother, the younger went on and destroyed all of heaven. In the end he, like his brother became a fallen angel and was named by hell the embodiment of wrath. The world suffered for many years after the loss of heaven. And soon the divine magic that moved the sun and moon failed. Immortal creatures then were forced to use their own power to raise and lower the celestial bodies. All because of the lust for power the gods had." The stallion explained.

Daring did not know what to make of this discovery, could this stallion be trusted? The notion that this was the history of the land was absurd. But she could not be completely skeptical, she had been chased here by mythological creatures, and she was sent by an elder god.

"I am an explorer, and I would like to know if I could bring back any proof that I found the shrine, or proof of the past you have told me of." Daring asked, putting on her best smile.

The stallion finally looked away from the statue with his sad eyes and met hers, "Stay here for three days and fast with me. If you show good faith in my words I will grant your prayer and give you the proof you wish for. But if you break the fast and fail my task you must leave and never speak of this place to anyone you meet."

"You mean anypony right?" Daring corrected his grammar.

The stallion merely stared for a second before shaking his head, "Do you agree?"

Daring hesitated for only a minute. She weighed the option she had been given. The summer was warm,  but here in the forest it was comfortable in the shade. Three days without food or water should be easy. But the part about faith, that had to mean something. But Daring did not come this far to return empty hoofed.

"I accept."