As Fluttershy and Discord followed Celestia, several questions started to rush through their heads. "What's happening?", "What were those things?", "What did they want?", among others. But one question in particular was bothering Fluttershy the most. "Where were her friends?". Discord also had a question that was bothering him, It being: "Why did his magic not work that time?". While both were asking thousands and thousands of questions to themselves, Angel, Fluttershy's pet rabbit, was just happy to not have been captured by whatever those things were.

As they passed by a window, Fluttershy saw that the streets were filled with guards, most wielding spears, though some were holding swords, crossbows, and other weapons. They were all facing the entrances to the city, as if ready to intercept an oncoming attack. Among them however, were ponies wearing grey trench coats and hats. but she couldn't quite make out who they were.

As they finally reached their destination, the castle's library, they spotted Princess Luna standing near a bookshelf in the back. At first, she looked a bit nervous, but when she saw them approaching, she got confused.

"Uh... Cel? Why is Fluttershy the only one with you? Where are the others? And why is Discord and her rabbit here?", Luna asked.

"I'll explain that in a moment.", Celestia said. "As for Discord and Angel, i couldn't leave them behind to get captured. You know what the demons would to them."

"Wait... Those were DEMONS?! You're joking right?", Discord blurted out. Fluttershy looked at him in confusion. She didn't know what a "demon" was.

"Yes, they were.", Celestia said, before turning to the bookshelf. Using her magic, she pulled a book which had her Cutie Mark stamped on the front. When she pulled it, a click! was heard, and the bookshelf sled away, revealing a secret room.

"OH, geez, i can smell the dust from here!", Discord said, covering his snout. "How long was this room sealed off? And couldn't you have AT LEAST hired someone to clean it before we got here?!"

"For long enough.", Celestia said. "Alright. It's time to explain all of this."

She seemed somewhat nervous, as if she wasn't expecting this occasion to ever happen.

"Hope this doesn't trigger my allergies...", Discord mumbled to himself.

Fluttershy, Discord, and Luna followed her into the room, but not Angel, who decided instead to wait outside. After all, as far as he was concerned, this was none of his business.

The room was quite a sight. It was filled with old books, most of which seemed to be hundreds and hundreds of years old. These books were labeled things like "Daemonology 101", or "A guide on Daemons". But the book Celestia was looking for was on a pedestal, and looked even older than the other books in that room. It was quite large, as large as an encyclopedia, though noticeably thicker. It was labeled in a language that Fluttershy and Discord had never seen before.

The book was labeled "Historiae Malis", it's cover was a dark red, and there was a symbol similar to a horned skull adorning it. Celestia opened the book, before flipping through the pages using her magic. "This is an enchanted book which catalogues all the evils in history.", she said as she slowed the flipping down. "It has recorded information of most, if not all, of the villains that have ever existed in all of recorded history, and their atrocities. And thanks to it's magic, it constantly updates itself.". She stopped at a page labeled "Origines Scelerati".

Then, she looked at Fluttershy and Discord and asked something. "Have you ever wondered who or what was the first to receive the title of "Villain"?"

"Ummm... I don't know...", Fluttershy said. Discord however, had a few guesses.

"Oh, i know this one! It's Nightmare Moon.", he said, confidently.

Luna somewhat cringed at hearing the name of her evil Alter Ego.

"No.", Celestia said. "The term has existed long before my sister lost her mind."

"Oh...", Discord said. "Then, how about that shadow king dude? Sombra, right? Was he the first one? I mean, it has to be hi-"

"No. Not him either.", she responded.

"Oh, dear, this is harder than i thought it would be...", Discord said, rubbing his chin in thought. "That centaur guy? Or maybe even... Me? My, oh my! How flattering that would be..."

"No". Celestia replied once more. "Neither Tirek nor you were the first villain."

"Aww... That's a shame.", Discord said, disapointed . "But oh, do tell me, who was it then?"

"He was.", Celestia said, flipping the page to reveal an illustration of a blue colored goat surrounded by red flames, with massive horns, and a red collar with a small bell. It also appeared to have sharp fangs. In addition, it appeared to be doing some sort of gesture with it's hooves, one was pointing upward, the other, downward in a strange fashion.

"Wait wait wait wait wait WAIT! Wait...", Discord said rapidly, as if he had to do multiple double takes. "I-is that... No... No it can't be!"

"But it is...", Celestia said. "That is Grogar, the King of all evil."

Fluttershy froze in fear when she heard that name. She had never heard it before, but the mere mention of that name made her blood run cold.

"I thought he was only a myth! A bedtime story my dear, precious mother used to tell me when i went to sleep!", Discord said. "You're telling me, that this... Rather... Unsavory individual (yeah, let's go with that)... existed?!", he said, trying to control his language in front of the ladies. Especially Fluttershy, who probably should NOT hear the amount of foul language he could use when he was by himself.

"If what is happening outside is actually happening, then yes. He was, or rather is, real.", Celestia said.

"W-w-who is he?", Fluttershy asked, still scared by that name. "W-what does he want?"

"That is what i'm going to tell you two.", Celestia said. She grabbed the book with her magic, and after clearing her throat, she started to read.

"Long ago, before the universe was formed, there were two gods, one was the Alicorn of Creation, while the other, Grogar, was the Goat of Malice. For reasons lost to time, the two had a battle of massive proportions. Grogar lost, and was banished to a realm created specifically to contain him, called the Underworld. He swore as he was banished that he would one day return. After that, the universe was formed, and after millions of years, Ponies evolved, and could finally achieve a greater level of intelligence, and form society as we know it. Only a few knew of Grogar's existence, as he had been reduced to a legend, and the ones who did kept it a secret. However, in the case he ever did come back, a group was created to combat him, and any other creatures that decided to emerge from the Underworld. They were the Demon Hunters."

"...Demon Hunters?", Fluttershy asked.

"That is the next thing i'll tell you about.", Celestia said.

"Before we go...", Luna said, looking at the Pegasus and the Draconequus. Fluttershy looked shocked, but Discord had somehow pulled out a sheet of paper out of nowhere, and was seemingly taking notes.

"Do any of you have any questions?"

Snapping back to reality, Fluttershy nodded.

"Huh? Oh yes, of course i have.", Discord said, looking up from his notes.

"Well, i figured.", the Moon Princess said. "Alright, me and Cel will answer your questions, but we must be quick.", she said, as she and Celestia left the room, Fluttershy and Discord following them, ready to ask away.

"Ummm...", Fluttershy pondered, before speaking. "What's a... demon?"

"Really, Flutters?", Discord asked. "You don't know what a demon is? Did your mother never tell you that "if you don't stop being naughty, a demon is going to drag you away!"? Like, at all?"

"Not really...", she said, a bit embarassed.

"It's fine not knowing what one is.", Luna said. "After all, i believe nowdays, most ponies don't."

"Geez, what do these ponies' mothers even teach them nowdays?", Discord thought to himself. "Next thing i get told is that they don't teach them about the Boogeymare anymore..."

"But what are they?" Fluttershy asked.

"Essentially, they are evil spirits.", Celestia said. "They are the souls of evil individuals that were further corrupted by Grogar's own malice and hate. Although some of them are direct creations of Grogar."

"Oh...", Fluttershy said. "That sounds... bad..."

"My dear mother always told me they were evil spirits...", Discord said. "By the way, princess, if you don't mind, i happen to have a few questions of my own."

"Which are?", Celestia asked.

"Well, first off...", he said, summoning a chair, sitting on it, grabbing his notes, and putting on reading glasses he summoned. "Now, you said that the book we saw records all the villains in recorded history, and yet Grogar was around long before that. After all none of us, not even me, were there. How is that possible, hmmm?", he said, raising one of his eyebrows, and giving a slight smirk.

"Well, my mother told me about him.", she responded.

"Ahhhh, but how was your mother there if you ponies didn't even exist yet? Let alone invented written text?", Discord asked, once again, with a slight smirk.

"Have you seriously figured it out?", Luna asked back.

"Oh, i have, but i just want to hear you say it."

"*Sigh*, Our mother was the Alicorn of Creation herself. She told us about her fight with Grogar, and that's how we recorded it in the book.", Luna said. "There, are you happy now?"

"W-wow... Really?", Fluttershy said, surprised by this revelation.

"Ha! I knew it! I knew, you two weren't just any old regular ponies when we first met on that fateful day!", Discord said. "Ah, the day i was first turned to stone. I know it's been years, but it still feels like yesterday to me..."

"Speaking of that Discord...", Celestia said to grab his attention. "Remember when we freed you for the second time?"

"Oh yes! You ask as if i could forget that special day, the day i made my first ever friend...", Discord said, reminiscing about the past in a dreamy tone. "Oh! What fond memories! What about it?"

"This is the real reason why we freed you from stone.", Celestia explained. "We needed your abilities if this day was to come."

"Wait, what?"

"Your abilities to bend reality could be used to protect the land from these demons. That is why i decided to free you, so you could help us."

"Oh, is that so?", Discord said raising an eyebrow. "Well, i'd be glad to help, but i have planned a wonderful date with my boyfriend at 6:00 pm, and i need to get myself ready for it."

"What?", both Celestia and Luna said, in confusion.

"Oh, did i not tell you two? Me and the Smooze are dating now.", Discord said. "Ever since we left that Gala, we realized how much we-"

"N-no, no, that's not what i meant!", Celestia said. "It's wonderful you identify as a homosexual, Discord, there's nothing wrong with that, but... You're just going to leave us hanging?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that we've been planning this date ever since last month, and..."

"Discord please, you must help!", Celestia said. "If you don't, there is no telling of the suffering these demons will bring!"

"Again, dear princess, i'd love to help, believe me, but-"

"Have you seen what they're doing to everypony out there?"

"No...?"

"Then take a look..."

Celestia then used her horn to cast a vision on the wall. The vision showed the demons attacking various parts of Equestria, from big cities, to small villages, no place was safe from the demons. When Discord saw it, his mouth dropped in shock. Fluttershy was even more horrified, seeing these creatures she had never seen before, the demons, destroying places she and her friends had been to previously.

When the vision faded, Celestia turned to Discord. "Do you see now? That is why we need your help."

"My word...", Discord said, when his tone shifted to one of anger. "They're bastardizing my precious chaos!"

"Wait wha-"

"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?! This changes everything!", he said, before summoning a telephone on his hand, and calling someone, despite the fact that it wasn't connected to any outlet.

"Hello? Smoozy? Yeah it's me, Discord. Listen, i know our date was supposed to be tonight, but i got some sick, sick sons of...", Discord said, before looking at Fluttershy. "Just a moment... Fluttershy dear, would you please cover your ears?"

"Ummm... Why?", she asked.

"Just do it, trust me, you do NOT want to hear this..."

Fluttershy then proceeded to cover her ears. As soon as she did, Discord turned back to the telephone.

"Now, where was i? Oh yes, i have some sick sons of BITCHES bastardizing my favorite art form, and i will absolutely NOT stand for it!", he said, clearly furious. "Can you see if the restaurant we were going to can change the date of our reservation? Ok? Bye, love ya!", he said before throwing the telephone away.

"Alright, Cel, slight change of plans. Guess i am going to help you ponies after all..."

"Oh! Uh, very well then...", Celestia said, regaining her composure. "We have no time to waste! Follow us."

And so, the two Alicorns, the Pegasus, and the Draconequus ran towards their destination.

Meanwhile, outside the castle...

As the guards mentally prepared themselves for whatever could happen, the Guard's Captain, Tempest Shadow, stood right in front Canterlot's entrance, ready to face the incoming demons. Suddenly, one of the guards on a watchtower yelled something.

"Captain! I see them!"

"What?! Already?!", she asked, before turning to the guard next to her. "You! Tell the rest of the guards to come to the entrance, and fast!"

"Understood!", the guard said, before taking off to warn the others.

Tempest grabbed her crossbow, and loaded it, since her horn was broken, this was easier said then done, as she had to do all of that with her hooves, but once she was done, she looked towards the horizon.

She could see an entire batallion of demons, rapidly advancing towards Canterlot.

She then looked behind her to see the rest of the guard had arrived, a few ponies wearing grey trenchcoats and hats, which she recalled Celestia had called "Demon Hunters", were present as well. She then looked back at the demons, who were still getting closer.

"EVERYONE IN POSITION!", she yelled, as the other guards readied their weapons.

"This is going to be the toughest battle of all of our lives..."

Author's Note

The sign the picture of Grogar was doing is the "as above, so below" sign. This sign has a lot of meanings, one of them being that what happens in the physical world, reflects in the spiritual one as well. The reason it was referenced is due to an image of the occult deity Baphomet doing this same gesture.

Demon profile

Shadows (Earth Pony Variant)
Threat level: Low
Class: Corrupted Spirit
Since Shadows are the corrupted spirits of deceased evil ponies, they can come come in several different forms. The Earth Pony variant is the most common, but there are also Pegasus and Unicorn variants, which will be discussed later. Earth Pony Shadows are physically the strongest, but are the second slowest.