“W-What is this?” Luna murmurs, stepping away from Nightmare Moon. “How can you be here?”

“Hahaha!” Nightmare Moon bellows. “Awe, is the scared, little child so frightened she can’t remember what happened?” She says, mockingly. “And here I thought you were smarter than that!”

Luna looks over at Dante, still standing before the throne with his sword drawn, before turning back to her alter ego.

“This isn’t real.” Luna says, piecing it together.

“Close, friend.” Nightmare Moon says, circling Luna. “We were dragged into the mirror and into…our mind.” She grins at the lunar princess. “And now, we can see which of us deserves control of our body.”

“What nonsense is that!?” Luna yells. “It’s not our body, it’s mine!”

Nightmare Moon looks towards the throne. “Sir Dante?” She says with a small bow. “Would you care to enlighten this foal? I do not wish to pervert your explanation of these events.”

Dante sheathes his blade before sitting on the throne, crossing his arms. “When two souls share the same body, there is usually a power struggle; one soul tries dominating the other, like with myself and the gestalt of demons in me. Despite this, I am still a mortal; my body and soul are separate. Outsiders such as yourselves don’t have a dual nature; your body and soul are one. You cannot be possessed unless you are bodily manipulated by an outside force. From what I’ve heard, that was not the case. Therefore, I concluded you must have created this alternate ego, Nightmare Moon, as she is presently before us.”

“So, what, you’re saying this…thing!” Luna points a hoof at Nightmare Moon. “This thing has some right to use my body!?”

“You splintered your body and soul and made it look how Nightmare Moon looks. You gave up your full claim to your body a long time ago.”

“If what you say is true, then why hasn’t she tried taking over before?” Luna demands.

“Simple: the Elements of Harmony. They’ve kept her in check since they were used by Twilight and her friends.”

“In that case, why am I here? What’s the point if she can’t control my body?”

“Well, that’s it, isn’t it? The moment we entered the mirror, I dismantled that binding.”

“You WHAT?!” Luna snarls at Dante.

“You see, when an outsider splinters their soul like you did, they do it for power. If the two halves work together, provide synergy to each other, they create a force stronger than each individual half, stronger than the original. However, when they aren’t working together, or when one opposes the other, the power produced is no stronger than one of the halves. With Nightmare Moon bound, you are no more than half as strong as you used to be. Surely you’ve noticed.”

Luna looks to the side, seething with anger. “I thought I was still weakened from my banishment.”

“If Nightmare Moon wasn’t bound, or even if you never split yourself to begin with, you and your sister would have beaten me when we first fought. I can guarantee that. Hell, you might have been able to land a blow on Aselith when you charged him. So, let’s fix this.”

He leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees and locking his hands together under his chin.

“You and Nightmare Moon will decide who gets to be in charge, just like me and my gestalt of demons.” He cracks a small grin before removing it from his face. “If you win, Luna, you will retain control of your body and become stronger than you were before. If Nightmare Moon wins, however, she will be in charge and you will amplify her power.”

“And if I refuse to play this game of yours?” Luna asks.

Dante shifts his eyes behind Luna.

Out of the corner of her eye, Luna sees the energy collect in Nightmare Moon’s horn. The moment the blue beam launches, Luna teleports away and into the air. The beam collides with the nearby wall, cutting through it effortlessly.

Nightmare Moon looks to the black sky. “Not bad, friend!” She flares out her wings and immediately takes to the air after Luna. Her horn again charges with energy. “If you want to fight in the air, you need merely say so!”

Luna dips and banks around the night sky, narrowly dodging the energy blasts flying at her. She charges her own horn to counter attack, but the moment she does, Nightmare Moon shoots a more powerful beam at her. Luna has no choice but to use the energy in her horn to block the attack with a beam of her own.

As the attacks clash, the air fills with a smoky remnant of the spells. Before it clears, Nightmare Moon again fires out at her through the smoke. Luna dodges out of the way for most of them, but a ray strikes her in the side, eliciting a yelp from the princess.

Diving down, Luna moves into the small valley surrounding the castle. Unfortunately, she finds Nightmare Moon right behind her. Her counterpart continues repeatedly firing bolts of magic at her as she soars through the ravine.

‘This isn’t right.’ Luna thinks. ‘How can she fire this fast? I could never fire this fast!’

Luna pulls up and spins around, firing a blast of magic right at Nightmare Moon. The blast passes right through her, just before she disappears. Hearing the hum of magic below her, Luna looks down to see Nightmare Moon fire a blast right up at her. She quickly swings to the side, her front hoof getting burned in the magic.

Lifting higher into the air, Luna clears the ravine and lands on the ground in front of the castle. As Nightmare Moon follows her up, Luna shoots a ray of magic at her, only for Nightmare Moon to effortlessly dodge to the side. She follows up with an attack of her own, but Luna easily dodges as well. Before Luna can attack again, the blast from Nightmare Moon bounces off the nearby castle wall and strikes Luna on her wing.

Hissing in pain, Luna teleports away and into the castle, right back into the throne room. She sees Dante floating in the air, looking where she was a moment ago. He looks down at her, his expression stoic.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Luna bellows at him.

“Of what?” Dante asks, slowly descending.

“These aren’t Nightmare Moon’s powers! Leaving an afterimage, magic bouncing off the walls, even the rate of her attacks. I could never do any of these, but I know someone who can!” She glares up at him as he seats himself once more.

“Hmmm. You caught on quick enough. Yes, I am amplifying her power.” He says, resting against the throne.

“How am I supposed to defeat her when she has her power plus yours?!”

“That’s not really my problem, now is it?” He asks, tilting his head up ever so slightly. “But I can see yours.”

Eyes widening, Luna teleports from her spot as a beam passes right where she was. She reappears a few feet away, closer to the throne.

“You might as well relent.” Nightmare Moon says. “With this power, I’ll defeat you soon enough.”

“Well, would you hurry it up?” Dante says, shifting to rest his head on his hand. “I thought one of you would have ended this by now. What, have you just been flying around and playing tag?”

“Of course not, sir Dante.” Nightmare Moon again gives a quick bow with a smile. “Just tiring her out.”

“Well, don’t mess around too much. When your back’s against the wall, you come up with some shrewd ideas.”

“As you wish.” Nightmare Moon lowers her horn at Luna, quickly charging it with magic and firing at Luna. With a smirk, Luna quickly teleports away, leaving the beam traveling towards Dante. He quickly launches a violet blast of magic at the incoming attack, directing them both upwards. Nightmare Moon shifts her eyes about the room, searching for Luna.

Up above, angled with the beams of magic between her and Nightmare Moon, Luna fires a beam of magic at the combined two, pushing the gestalt of magic down at Nightmare Moon. Before she has time to dodge, the beams slam into Nightmare Moon, exploding upon impact. Luna falls to the ground, barely landing upright with one working wing, and examines her handiwork.

As the smoke clears, she sees Nightmare Moon on the ground. Her black fur is scorched, revealing patches of burns over her skin. Her armor is cracked and broken all over. Her eyes are closed as she lies on the floor, moaning ever so slightly.

Luna hears clapping from behind her.

“Marvelous.” Dante says, standing in front of the throne with a smile plastered on his face. “When I said you’d come up with something shrewd, I wasn’t expecting you to come up with something right away.”

“You said it yourself.” Luna turns to face him. “When two halves work together, the power is stronger than the previous whole.”

“Huh. I guess I did. I didn’t mean that as a hint.” Dante walks down the few steps from the throne, approaching Luna. “So, how do you feel?”

Luna looks herself over. “I don’t feel any stronger.”

“Not you.” He says, gesturing to the semi-limp form on the ground.

“Ugh. Like I was just hit by the Elements…again.” Nightmare Moon groans out.

Luna jumps back before lowering her horn.

“Easy.” Dante says, raising his hands. “Fight’s done. You won.” He lowers himself to Nightmare Moon. “I’m going to need that power back now.”

“Right.” She says, shifting on the ground.

In an instant, Nightmare Moon’s body ignites in a black fire. It fans out as if blown upon by a gust of wind before wrapping around Dante. The flames cease their flapping as they connect with Dante’s back, forming into a pair of shadowy, black wings. Luna looks over his shoulder to see what’s left on the ground.

“A foal?” She asks, looking over the almost miniature Nightmare Moon. The foals coat is indeed black, but her mane and tail are a shade of violet. When the foal opens her eyes, Luna sees the familiar teal coloring, but the slits in the eyes are gone.

“What did you expect?” Luna’s miniature opponent says in a higher pitched voice as she stands.

“Think about it.” Dante turns to face Luna. “You were struck by the elements of harmony, which burn my flesh on physical contact. This side of you,” he gestures to the foal, “was completely crippled by the power, while you remained unscathed. Admittedly, I was a bit surprised when I freed her to find her in this state, but it does make sense.”

Luna steps toward the foal, looking her over. Nightmare Moon just glares back at her.

“Then…the power you gave her?” Luna glances over at Dante.

“It was only to level the playing field. In fact, she was no stronger than you. She’s just more…aggressive.”

“You mean more willing to use my power!” Nightmare Moon yells up at him. She looks to the ground, a scowl on her face. “But…a deal’s a deal.” She looks over at Luna from the side. “I guess I’m working with you again.”

“What deal?” Luna asks, looking between the two.

“Well…” Dante scratches the back of his head, turning away from the princess of the night. “You see, your little fight didn’t have much impact on who would be in charge.” He starts pacing around the throne room. “Nightmare Moon is far too weak to pose a threat…for now. It’s all about willpower. With the seal gone, she could have overtaken you in a few decades, I imagine.” He stops his pacing, turning back towards the mares from across the throne room “But if she won that fight, I would have helped her bind you.”

Luna stares at the human, blinking a few times. “You what?” She deadpans.

“Hey, can you blame me?” He shrugs. “You were being all doubtful and shit. It was actually starting to bum me out. Besides, after the whole conflict with Aselith was finished, I was probably going to undo that binding anyway.”

“You WHAT!?” Nightmare Moon bellows at him.

“Ey, I’m a friggin’ demon. What did you expect?” He smirks before turning around and heading towards the throne. “At least your mutual distrust of me will give you something to talk about. Come along, Luna. We’re leaving.”

The two alicorns look at each other, clearly annoyed.

Nightmare Moon is the first to break the silence.

“When this whole thing is over, I want him dead.” She seethes with anger.

Luna looks over at Dante before turning back to Nightmare Moon. “I might just agree to that.”

She trots over to Dante, who’s leaning against the back of the throne.

“You ready?” He asks.

“Ready?” Luna repeats.

Dante flicks his wrist at the wall behind the throne. Instantly, a wooden, midnight blue door appears. He casually walks up to it and pulls on the metal handle, opening the door.

“Yeah, to get out of your soul.” Dante steps through the doorway, entering a hallway.

Luna looks the doorway over before stepping through. As Dante closes the door, Luna gets a look at her surroundings. The hall is made of old looking stone bricks, barely lit with occasional torches. Down the hall is another door on the opposite side as the previous one. From where they were, it looked to be made in a similar manner, but with a red door. At the end of the hall stands a mirror; the same mirror that she and Dante were pulled through.

Dante starts walking towards the mirror with Luna following him.

“Hmmm.” Dante hums to himself. “This was too short to be an adventure.” He comments.

“What do you mean?” Luna asks, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Well, when I fought Razorwind it seemed to take a lot more time. Then again, I was in a fight, and I don’t have a good perception of time in a fight. Hell, it may have lasted only half as long as your fight.” Dante looks over his shoulder at Luna. “The whole experience just seems lacking, don’t you think?”

“I don’t really see how that’s the case.” Luna deadpans. “In fact, I…”

Luna stops at the red door, a few yards short of the mirror.

“Something wrong?” Dante asks, turning around.

Luna just stares at the door for a moment before gazing back to Dante.

“Can I meet him?” She asks.

“Meet who?” He returns.

“The demon.”

Dante tilts his head to the side, looking at Luna. He shrugs and walks up to the door. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”

He grabs the metal handle and pushes at the door, revealing another hallway leading away from them.

“After you.” He gestures towards the hall.

Luna enters, with Dante following right after and closing the door. She walks down the hall, Dante at her side, observing the new layout. She sees door upon door in this hallway. Some look old and worn, others locked with chains, and a few that look as if they’re just a frame that leads into the solid stone walls.

“Why are there so many doors here?” She asks, passing one with a silver frame.

“I may not look it, but I’m actually a very organized thinker.” He says. Luna gives him a look. “I know. But really, I learned and mastered spellcasting without a master, all by myself. I’d have to be organized.”

“I didn’t know you were self-taught.”

“Well, yeah. When the world is out to get you, it’s pretty hard to find a master willing to teach you.” Dante says nonchalantly.

Luna looks him over. “Was your life so terrible?”

Dante lets out a long breath. “Unbelievably.”

Luna looks to the floor, thinking what to ask next.

“Please don’t die.”

Her eyes shoot up, turning to Dante.

“What did you say?” She asks him.

“Huh?” He looks over at Luna. “I said unbelievably.”

“No,” Luna shakes her head, “after that.”

Dante shifts his eyes back and forth, confused. “I didn’t say anything after that.”

Luna opens her mouth to speak again, but thinks better of it. They continue down the hall, passing several more doors.

“Don’t leave me.” She hears Dante’s voice again.

This time, she was watching his face out of the corner of her eye. His lips didn’t move.

“Are you just toying with me?” She asks, scowling at him.

“What are you talking about?” He raises an eyebrow at her.

“…Never mind.” Luna turns her attention back to the hall.

The pair stops in front of a large, metal door adorned with fiery red chains and skulls at the corners. The metal itself is a dark iron and completely smooth, save for a handle protruding near the middle-side of it.

“Remember.” Dante says, grabbing hold of the handle. “He’ll say whatever he can to trick you.”

Luna affirms with a nod and Dante pushes open the door. Inside, the room is completely dark. The light from the hallway dimly shines into the room, showing a few feet of stone floor before being swallowed by the darkness.

The two step into the room, looking into the darkness.

“Where is he?” Luna asks, surveying the room.

In an instant, the blood red face of the balor appears in front of her in a roar, jolting the princess a few paces back.

The balor chuckles darkly, slowly being pulled back by burning chains until its back is against the wall. The chains wrap all around its body, from its neck and hands down to its feet. The wall it’s pulled against is made of metal; the same metal the door is made of.

The balor looks down at his two guests before speaking.

“A bit jumpy, aren’t we, princess?”

Luna steps forward again, sizing him up.

“Someone in your position shouldn’t be making jokes.” She says.

The balor does his best to shrug. “A momentary inconvenience. I’ll be out in due time.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention.” Dante says, joining Luna. “He’s also completely delusional.”

“Whatever you say, lord.” The balor says with a smirk.

Dante just swats the air before turning away. Luna moves a few feet closer.

“Do you have a name, or should I just keep referring to you as your species?” Luna asks.

“His name is Astaroth.” Dante interjects. “And he just loves it when people say it.”

Astaroth glowers at him. “Remind me to skin that elf bitch alive the next time I’m in control, mortal!”

Dante just snickers at him.

“Well then, Astaroth, I would like to thank you for saving us in Tartarus.” Luna says, giving a short bow.

“Same here.” Dante bows as well. “Thanks for preserving your own existence and all.”

Astaroth grins widely. “Why, of course. How can I exact my revenge on you if you’re dead, Dante?”

Luna looks up and turns to Dante.

“Dante, would you mind if I speak with Astaroth in private for a moment.”

Dante looks her over for a moment before turning to the door.

“Yeah, sure.” When he reaches the hall, he grabs the handle and holds up a hand. “Remember: tricky.” He closes the door behind him, leaving Luna alone with the beast.

“So.” Astaroth says before Luna can start. “Have you conquered your own…demons? Heh.”

Luna eyes him. “You know about that?” She asks.

“I know everything that fool does.” He says darkly.

“I see.” Luna paces around him. “Then, can I assume you also know everything he’s done?”

Astaroth holds her gaze. He bares his teeth in a wide grin.

“Ahhh. So that’s what this is all about, hmmm?”

“Iatril told me what happened years ago; about the accident. She told me how it bound their souls together. Dante, Iatril…and Garret. How, if one were to die, they couldn’t be brought back.”

Astaroth grunts. “If you’re expecting me to give you some hidden piece of information, you’re wasting your time. I’ve spent centuries among others of my kind, masters of interrogation. I know of every trick and ploy, and more than enough methods of torture. But I am a Tanar’ri; torture means nothing to me. And the only true threat to me, the ending of my life, is not possible in the mirror. The only information you’ll get is the information I choose to give you!”

“Is that right?” Luna walks up to Astaroth, looking up at him. “Then answer this.” She looks him dead in the eyes. “Where is he?”

“Around.” Astaroth answers plainly. “Somewhere.” He turns his head to the side and grins again.

“If I search around in Dante’s memories, perhaps I’ll find him.” Luna poses to the demon.

“Perhaps, but who says that’ll be the real Garret, and not just a memory.” His grin continues as he speaks.

“Fine.” Luna paces around him again. “If you won’t tell me about Garret, then tell me about Aselith. I thought there was no peace between a demon and a devil. That’s what Iatril told me.”

Astaroth turns back to Luna, still grinning. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

Ignoring him, Luna presses on. “Why not aid Dante in defeating Aselith, and then settle your difference with him.”

“Oh, yes. Why not aid the man who killed me and bound me to his soul; the man who killed demons of lesser station and added their power to his own as well; the man who will have me bound forever once this conflict is at an end. Yes, you make a very persuasive argument.”

Astaroth pulls at his changes before being pulled back against the wall.

“I tire of your foolish questions. I will take control, and I will end this whole conflict one way or another. Perhaps after I kill you and your sister, I’ll raise your corpses as puppets and run your little kingdom into ruin. Better yet, I’ll kill the guardian of Tartarus and alert my brethren to this plane. With the power I’ll wield, it will be a trifling matter.”

Luna turns from Astaroth, heading towards the door of the room, a scowl on her face.

“Don’t worry, dear princess!” He calls after her. “I’ll be sure to save you for last. You will pay the price for your arrogance towards me!”

Luna grabs the door handle with her magic and pulls it open. She quickly leaves the room and slams the door behind her.

Closing her eyes, she lowers her head to the ground.

“That was quick.” She hears Dante say to her.

She looks up at him, seeing him before the mirror.

“That didn’t go as planned.” Luna starts walking towards him.

“Yeah, that’s how it goes with demons.” Dante nods at the mirror. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

~ _ ~ _ ~ _ ~ _ ~

Back in the tunneled out room in the mountain, Dante steps out of the mirror, followed closely by Luna.

Dante looks over at Luna, walking backwards from her.

“So, now how are you feeling?” He asks.

Luna looks herself over. “I feel…stronger.” She realizes.

Dante cracks a toothy grin. “Good.” He stretches his arm out to his sides. “Let’s test that, shall we?”

Luna sees Dante with his back nearly against the wall. “What are you talking about?”

“I want you to fire at me with all you’ve got; no holding back.” Magic starts collecting in Dante’s hands. “I want to see what kind of boost that gave you.”

Obliging him, Luna lowers her stance and charges up her horn.

“Are you sure about this?” She asks him, worry in her voice.

“Don’t worry.” He says, the energy fully formed into swirling purple spheres in his hands. “I’m not sure at all!”

In an instant, Dante slams his hands together, shooting his magic right at Luna. Luna counters with a blast of her own. When the two magics meet, Luna pushes Dante back effortlessly. In less than a second, Luna’s beam reaches Dante.

With a swift twist of his arm, Dante lets out a burst of fiery white energy into his blast, immediately colliding with Luna’s magic and exploding. Bits of white fire fly off and land on the ground, burning into the stone.

Luna backs off with her magic, trying to see Dante through the billowing smoke.

“Dante!” She calls out. “Dante, answer me!”

She hears coughing coming from the black smoke.

“Here…” He wheezes out. “I’m—cough—fine.”

He sweeps his arm in the air, clearing part of the smoke. Small burns cover the left side of his face.

“You don’t sound fine.” Luna states, taking a few steps forward. “You sound…” She trails off, looking at his left arm. Or, rather… “Your arm!” She yells.

Dante looks down at his missing limb. Nothing remains past the shoulder blade.

“Huh. That happened.” Dante looks blankly at the wall for a moment. “Okay, just told Iatril to meet me at the castle. I know she keeps a Regeneration spell prepared for this sort of thing.”

Pointing a finger at one of the white fires on the ground, it quickly diminishes until it completely disappears.

“I have to say, your good magic is a real pain in the ass.”

“My good magic?” Luna asks, watching Dante snuff another small fire.

“Yeah, your—”

“Lord Dante!” the glabrezu yells as he teleports into the room. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Just missing an arm. Resume your post.” Dante says stoically.

The demon remains where he is, eyeing Dante.

“Did I stutter?” Dante raises his head at the glabrezu. He sees the demon just staring at him, glaring even. “Oh, I see. You think that, just because I’m missing an arm, you can take me now, right?” Dante takes a few steps forward. “I could be missing both of my arms and still take you on. But, if you think I’m bluffing,” Dante sweeps his arm in front of him, “come at me.”

The demon hesitates for a moment before teleporting from his spot, reappearing in front of Dante. He quickly grabs Dante’s right arm and cuts it off with his pincer, blood spurting from the opening. He then slams Dante with his other claw, throwing him back.

“Dante!” Luna calls, lowering her horn at the demon.

“Back off!” Dante yells at her, staying upright after unfurling his wings. “This is insubordination! I’ll deal with him!”

The demon charges at him, pincer back and ready to strike.

Dante opens his mouth, a mixture of purple and white energy forming in front of it. As the demon nears him, Dante lets loose the energy right at him, striking the demon in his abdomen and exiting the other side. The energy slams into the opposite wall, lighting the stone on fire.

The demon hobbles a few feet before falling forward, covering its open wound with one of its pincers while trying to keep himself off the ground with the other. Violet liquid pours out over his pincer.

Dante walks up to the hunched over demon, slamming his foot into its enormous back.

“Now you listen to me.” He says coldly. “I am stronger than you. I am better than you. You are an ant facing a dragon. If you ever cross me again, I’ll tear you apart and use your corpse as spare energy.”

He swiftly kicks the glabrezu in the head, eliciting a shout of pain from him.

“Now, get up and go guard the door!” He yells at him.

“…yes sir.” The demon says, teleporting from the room.

Dante slowly looks around the room, observing the fires. Nothing but stone seemed to be on fire. He turns to face Luna, who’s watching him.

“Hey, you think you can dispel those fires?” He asks, walking over the nearest fire, glaring at it. “It’s warlock magic, so it should be similar to yours.”

Luna shakes her head, coming out of her daze, and walks over to the fire closest to her.

“Sure.” She says. “But…your other arm now.” She lights up her horn, wrapping the white fire in front of her in the aura and quickly snuffing it.

“A minor inconvenience.” The white fire before Dante quickly vanishes, letting Dante move on to the next one. “It will regenerate on its own. It’s already started.”

Luna looks over at him. Sure enough, his right arm has already begun rebuilding itself. A piece of bone is slowly growing, reaching where his elbow will be, with muscle and skin right behind it.

“Then why ask Iatril for her spell?” Luna asks, snuffing another flame.

“I can’t regenerate damage from good magic, which you wield.” Dante observes the regeneration of the arm, bending his newly formed elbow. The regeneration has almost reached his wrist. “It’s actually a good thing your magic is still holy. It’ll affect Aselith as it affects me.”

Dante pauses for a moment, letting his right arm completely reform. When it does, he clenches his fist a few times before continuing, point at the fires to snuff them instead of glaring at them.

“Note to self: dimensionally lock this room.” He snuffs the last fire near him. “I mean, what’s wrong with me?” He asks aloud. “That should have been the first thing I did.”

“We all have off days, I suppose.” Luna says, approaching the last fire, and the largest one at that. She observes it for a moment, noting how the fire is actually burning into the stone wall. “Say, Dante. What is this power you used?”

Dante looks over at her, seeing the fire on the wall.

“It’s hellfire.” He says. “An eldritch fire that burns a lot hotter than normal fire. It can even harm devils, who are immune to fire.” Dante steps over to the table with the tomes on it, looking under the books.

Luna starts snuffing the fire on the wall, seeing the hole it’s already begun forming on the surface.

“Why haven’t you used it before?” She asks.

Dante flips over a book, feeling around the table. “It takes a toll on my body. If I’m in my demonic form, it’ll cost me energy I’d otherwise use to keep Astaroth in check.”

As Luna finishes off the fire, seeing almost a foot of stone gone, she starts walking closer to Dante. “What are you looking for anyway?” She asks.

“Are we friends?” Dante asks without looking up.

“Excuse me?” Luna asks, making sure she heard him right.

“Are we friends?” He repeats, still looking through the objects on the table. “I consider you my friend. I want to know if you consider me a friend.”

“I…well…” Luna ruminates over the question. Sighing, she continues. “Dante, you’re a vicious creature. You show no respect for authority or others. You do as you please and ignore the consequences of your actions. You desecrate the dead, deal with great evils, and don’t seem to give a second thought about the lives you take. Given the power, you would likely be worse than Discord himself. But despite all this…”

Sighing, Luna takes a few steps closer to Dante, who has stopped his searching. She closes her eyes, breathing out.

“Despite this, you still care about what happens to us. Iatril has told me as much, and I’ve seen you act in such a way. You oppose a great threat to Equestria, gave me peace of mind (in your own insane way), and saved my life. I can’t speak for Tia, but…I consider you my friend.”

“Iatril?” Dante inquires. “That’s right, you spoke with her.” He looks over at Luna from the table. “I assume she’s told you about my memory issue.”

Luna’s eyes shoot open. “I…you know?”

“I remember…for now.” Dante looks back down at the table. “I won’t remember for long, but as long as I do, as long as Astaroth can’t hear my words, I need to ask you a favor. It’s a rather large favor.”

“What is it?” Luna asks, not hesitating for even a moment.

Dante grabs something from the table and throws it right at Luna. She grabs it from the air with her magic, observing it. She sees a hilt sticking out of a metal scabbard.

“A dagger?” She asks, pulling the blade from its sheath. She sees a dark metal blade. “Is this…”

“The same dagger Aselith gave to Shade.” Dante says, walking towards Luna. “This is my request. When this is all over, when the final blow has been dealt to Aselith, use your newfound power and this blade to end me. Infuse that blade with your magic and stab me anywhere in my torso. That should be enough to kill me. If not…well, I doubt I’d be able to beat you.”

Luna looks over the blade before re-sheathing it. “Why are you asking this of me?”

Dante looks Luna dead in the eye before averting his gaze. “I’m a monster, Luna. I have been for a long time. I have a good feeling I’ll continue being a monster long after this is over. A few decades ago, I would have been fine with that. Hell, I even tried to cheat death and live forever. But now? I’m tired. I’m tired of this game of cat and mouse with Astaroth. Eventually, he will take over. I’ll fail to keep him in check and everything I care about will burn. I can’t let that happen.”

He looks back at Luna, holding her gaze. “Has she told you what happened to Garret?”

Luna nods. “She told me he died. She told me that, because of the accident, his soul merged with yours and Iatril’s when he died, and that you took his soul into your body to save Iatril from the suffering you’ve been facing.”

Dante looks away again. “When I die, my soul and his will go to Iatril. She has a strong will, but no stronger than mine. She will lose her mind for quite some time with our souls in her.” A tear slowly forms in Dante’s reddening eyes, but he quickly wipes it away. “She’s my only other friend. She deserves a good life, a life without killing and suffering, a life she’s never had. When I’m gone…please help her through it. Her life will be much better without me. A long life with family and friends, a life anyone would love to have. That is my last request: help her.”

Luna looks into his eyes. She sees the pain, the sincerity. “Of course, Dante.” She says, lowering her head.

Without looking up, she feels Dante wrap an arm around her neck, closing the gap between them. She feels him shake next to her.

“Thank you.” He mutters, holding back a sob. “Thank you so much.”

Luna brings up a hoof, rubbing his back.

They hold each other for a few moments longer before Dante breaks the hold. He takes a few steps to the door, not facing Luna.

“Keep that dagger out of sight. I can’t know you have it.” He says, standing before the door.

Luna nods, moving the dagger to her side and hiding it under her wing.

Dante stands there for a few seconds, looking at the door. Eventually, he wipes the back of his hand against his eyes and looks it over.

“Huh. Damn. Fighting that demon must have made me work up a sweat.” He looks back at Luna with a grin. His eyes are still red, but completely calm. “Come on. Let’s get back to the castle. I’ll need my other arm if I’m going to start working. I think some golems are in order.”

He goes up to the door and pushes it open.

Luna slowly walks up to the door, a frown on her face.

“Right behind you.”

END CHAPTER

Author's Note

Hello one and all! Wow, it feels like it's been a long time, but it's only been a month! Well, I guess that is a long time for some. Long chapter though.

So yeah, Luna's stronger and Dante needs her help. I guess Dante's not so bad after all. Well, he's still an arrogant asshole. That hasn't changed at all. I mean, who taunts a friggin' demon? Really! But, you know, a few good guy points.

Secret's out on Dante and Iatril. Soul sharing. It's like a timeshare! (Sorry, my seriousness/comedy switch is broken.)

I'm really looking forward to a few chapters from now. Without giving any real spoilers, you'll learn a lot about Dante's and Iatril's past. That'll be nice to write finally.

See you in a month! (hopefully less)