Chapters The mind of a child should be pure and unscaved, as are all child-like minds. They are too ignorant and sweet to know the true darkness of the world. Of everything for that matter. But, alas, there is always something out there, preying on innocent lives, feeding off the sadness and guilt of the good. One in particular, a young alicorn filly named Moonstone. She was a very good little filly. Never argued, fought, cried or yelled. She was indeed, very good. Very cute too. She was a light plum color, crimson and ebony mane, and big, pretty white eyes. No iris, no pupil, just white.
She was seven years old when it all happened. The day that she went from a normal pony, to a very deadly supernatural creature. She had started the day as she did any other day. She woke up, ate breakfast, brushed her teeth and mane, got dressed and left for school. She lived in a large church on the outskirts of Ponyville. She always walked with her best friend Pinkie Pie to and from school. She would arrive at Pinkie’s rock farm, go to school and walk her home from there. Today was just a regular day. She showed up late, got yelled at by Mr. Firestar, and got bullied in class. She didn’t really like her school, but at least she had Pinkie. She walked home on the same dirt path home as she always did.
“Hey Moony, tomorrows career day! Are you bringing anypony?” Pinkie’s high pitched, perky voice asked.
“Yeah.” Moonstone replied. “My Momma. She was the scroll keeper for King Malnesh.” She said.
“Wow! That’s cool!” Pinkie cheered.
They arrived at Pinkie’s rock farm, Moonstone hugged her friend good-bye, and went home, as always. When Moonstone arrived to the church, a scarlet mare awaited her. Long, raven mane and big teal eyes, filled with fear.
“Hai mommy!” moonstone called as she ran up to her mother, hugging her waist. She quickly glanced inside to see a strange stallion in her house. She stared for a moment in shock. She’d never seen this stallion before, and she knew just about everypony in town. “M-mommy? Who’s that?” She asked frightfully, unaware of her mother’s absolute terror.
“Moonstone, t-this is your f-f-father… Lucius.” Primrose whispered to her daughter, hiding her fear rather well.
Moonstone took in the scary form of her father, a tall black stallion, with a knee length brown mane. He had a curved horn, and what looked like 4 bat wings. He turned to face her and moonstone was shocked to see that he had bright somber white eyes.
“My, daddy?” She asked, not really believing her mother.
Both were hesitant to go inside, but once Primrose regained her courage, she stepped inside her living room and little Moonstone was not so far behind. The stallion observed the tiny purple alicorn and sneered.
“Cerburus...” he said in a deep, demented voice..
Moonstone looked around, confused.
“Do you not know your own name child?” He asked again, looking directly at her with a cold gaze.
“M-me?” moonstone asked pointing to herself.
Lucius nodded slowly, still holding a stern frown. “Yes dear, you. Your name is Cerburus… Right Primrose?” He asked, giving off a very very evil energy.
Both mare and filly started to feel sick and uncomfortable. Moonstone didn’t really feel safe, and primrose was on the verge of tears.
“Y-y-yes honey… Your real name is Cerburus…. But, Moonstone sounded nicer, so that’s what I’ve been calling you…”
“Cerburus, do you know why I’m here?” He asked at last.
Moonstone shook her tiny head, “no”.
“Well,” He began, his tone becoming lighter and sweeter. “I never get to see you, and that kind of bothered me. I mean, you are my child, I should be around for you more.” He said looking down on her, smiling.
“I came to visit you. To do something fun with you…”
Moonstone’s face instantly lit up. She loved to have fun, especially with family. “Really?” She asked excitedly.
“Would I lie to you?” He asked, looking at her mother.
Primrose glared at him, her teal eyes filled with rage and hatred. She had a bowling ball in her stomach, and a desert in her mouth, but if she could, she would kick Lucius out and give him a piece of her mind. But if she was to give him a threatening breath, it would be her last.
Moonstone simply beamed. She happily cheered and skipped around her father’s feet.
“Oh wow! This is so great! I get to do fun stuff with Daddy today!” She cheered.
Lucius watched her play and cheer and smiled at her.
“That’s right my dear. But, I’ll have to bring you home when we’re through.”
Moonstone stopped dead in her tracks and frowned. “But, can’t you stay-“
“NO!” Her mother nearly shouted.
This caught Moonstone’s attention. She was curious as to why her father couldn’t stay.
“But-“
“Daddy is a veeeeeerry busy stallion.” Primrose began. “He can’t stay; his business would get in the way of things…”
Lucius saw clean through this. “Now Primrose,” He hissed grotesquely. “Don’t break your little filly’s heart. I will visit her anytime I can.” He whispered with a sadistic grin.
Moonstone’s mother felt her stomach flip. She felt faint. Moonstone saw this and shoved her over to the chase in the far corner of the room.
“You look sickish mommy. Sit down!” She said.
Primrose looked at her daughter, taking in all her innocence, purity, and light. She reached out and hugged her daughter tightly. Tears teased their way out of her eyes and she kissed the sides of little Moonstone’s head.
“Honey?” She said, trying to stiefle her sobs.
“Yes Momma?”
“I want you to be a good girl for me… No matter what… Alright?”
Moonstone smiled and nodded her head. “I promise!” She then swiped an x over her heart and raised her right hoof. “Cross my heart.”
Her mother smiled and kissed her cheeks. Lucius, however, frowned at the sight. His sneer was noticed by her mother, which cringed at the sight. She didn’t want to let her only child go off with this devil. She was afraid that little Moonstone would never return. She felt like she was about to swallow herself whole. Scared for her baby’s life.
“Come now child. We’re burning daylight.”
And, with that, moonstone was on her way out of the church. She looked forward to the day ahead, hoping it to be filled with laughter and fun.
Moonstone ran throughout her home in a terrified haze.
“MOMMY?! WHERE ARE YOU?! I CAN’T FIND YOU MOMMY! WHERE’D YOU GO?!”
Her cries and calls were laudable, but nopony heard her. Nopony was there. She was all alone. Scared, sad, and confused. She ran hysterically throughout a house, now unfamiliar to her. So many stairs, so many rooms, so many doors, but only one filly. She had tried to go outside, maybe into town. Alas, the front door sent her right back into her room. She found herself running in circles. She collapsed onto the tile floor and sobbed.
“Mommy, where are you?”
Hours earlier…..
Moonstone and Lucius walked throughout the streets of Ponyville. Everypony, giving them odd looks. Not because of the strange new stallion, but at the fact little moony was with him. Her father had taken her to the park, the local cake shop, the library, and a few other fun places. She walked down the street, holding her fathers hand.
“Daddy, don’t you want anything?” She asked, seeing her father not buy a single thing for himself.
He would only shake his head and smile at her.
“I get plenty full watching you eat.”
By the time the two were finished with their day, it had gotten dark. Almost everypony was inside, asleep, of just relaxing from a long day of work. On the way home, Lucius noticed how many times Moonstone would stop to yawn and rub her eyes.
“Tired I see?”
Moonstone nodded and wiped her nose. Her father smiled and leaned over to pick her up, then the two were back down the road home. As moonstone fell asleep, Lucius changed. He blinked slowly at a rogue pony passing by to expose huge red eyes with thin slit pupils. He held a sadistic grin as they would receive an uneasy feeling and walk away as fast as they could. The ground he walked on seemed to decay with every touch. Streetlights burnt out as he passed. All animals of the area fled in response to his presence. The closer he got to the church, the hotter he became. The very dirt path he walked upon seemed to catch on fire.
He strided up to the alter of the church….
Opened the huge doors…
Tiptoed inside….
And, with a glorious white light, he and Moonstone were gone.
† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †
Moonstone could only remember waking up in her room, just like every other morning. She rose up sleepily and rubbed her eyes. She walked into her mother’s room to see she wasn’t there.
“Must be making breakfast!” She said to herself as she shut her mother’s door and headed for the kitchen.
She swung open the kitchen door and darted inside, but to her surprise, nopony was there.
“Mommy?” She called.
No answer.
“Momma? Where are you?”
Silence.
She continued to call and search, but there was nopony home. Just her. All alone. She looked all over, and just as she felt she was coming to the end of her search, a new door, staircase, or corridor would appear out of nowhere. Many rooms and hallways seemed as if they would never end, but somehow Moony pulled through. Each new room grew more terrifying than the next. Filled with evil clowns, (moony was very scared of clowns) giant spiders, ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. She was very scared. This sort of thing was just too much for a little filly, but she found the courage to move on, closer and closer to what she thought was the end of some crazy nightmare. She had finally found herself at the top of another staircase, but this one was different. There was absolutely nothing up here. It was like an empty white void, filled with nothing but air. There was however, a lone door at the other side. A black door, adorned I golden roses, and etched with what looked like glitter. Yeah, glitter and gold all over.
“This door looks nice…” She thought to herself.
She reached out to open the door, her eyes filled with jubilation and relief; thinking the nightmare was over….
But she was wrong.
She was very, very wrong.
Her innocent childish eyes were met with the sight of her father, staring amongst a realm of fire and brimstone, a sadistic grin glued to his features. The world around her was torn apart. Mangled creatures ran rampant, and the shrieks and cries of untold pain, suffering, and fury filled her ears. She clamped her tiny hooves over her mouth and took it all in, the black skies, the thunder and fire and monsters, and death. The stench of rotten flesh and smoke filled her nostrils, making her gag. She looked up for a moment and saw her father a few yards away, but was terrified to move from her spot. She thought that the monsters would try to get her. She was frozen, frozen in fear.
“I see you’ve found your way home…” Her father spoke at last, loud enough to make the entire earth beneath him shake.
His voice was dark and demented, his tone was filled with fury, rage and hatred. Moonstone stood still, not moving, not speaking.
“I asked you a question…”
“……..I……….”
Lucius frowned and glared at Moonstone, making her cringe.
“Come…”
“but- but daddy-“
“COME HERE NOW!”
Moonstone jumped and looked around. No attention being directed towards her, she hesitantly stepped out onto the brimstone path. She looked around, but nothing happened. She wanted to run to her father, but she was a little scared of him. She treaded carefully towards him and wiped her nose. By the time she was standing in front of him, she felt as if she had a bowling ball in her stomach, and a desert in her mouth. Her father gazed upon her, riveted by her innocence. He took her hoof and led her towards a large black castle. Large, creepy bird-like monsters were either perched up on the edges of the roof, of flying around the great big palace. She shivered as he lowered opened the large iron gates, releasing a living draft of freezing cold air. He led her inside and gave her a gentle shove forward. She stepped timidly at first, than boldly as she passed through the hallway, seeing paintings of life-like moments. Moments in fact, that were familiar to her. Like her 5th birthday, her first day of school, and the day she first met her father.
“Daddy, where are we?” She asked quietly.
He opened his mouth, as if to answer, but said nothing. He just shook his head and urged her on.
She was very confused. How had he known about all of these moments, but never had even been there to see them himself? Moonstone was rather suspicious.
“Daddy-“
“No…” he said coldly. “I am not your daddy, I am Lucifer. Your father…”
Moonstone froze at those words. She quickly turned to face him and held a stunned look. She started in disbelief and shook her head.
“no, nononononononononoooo~” She whined as she collapsed onto her knees and started to cry.
Lucifer walked over to her and put a hoof on her shoulder.
“Why do you cry my dear? You should be happy. You are part of something much, much better than the regular mortal ponies. You are royalty. You are a destined ruler. You are-“
“The antichrist!!” She shouted through tears.
“I know this stuff daddy! Once you have bred or, somthin, the aplocolypse will start!” She cried.
Lucifer frowned and stood over her, thinking of a way to convince her that this sudden change was surly for the better.
Or for what was easier for him.
To be continued.
Lucifer stared at his daughter. Somewhat remorseful that suck a weak, spineless worm had come from his loins. He sighed through his nostrils and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“My dearest, this isn’t such a bad thing-“
“YES IT IS!” She barked, throwing his hand off of her. Her white eyes fell dark with anger, tears still welling in them.
“Cerburus…” the devil spoke, kneeling down and taking her tiny plum hands in his. “Do you know the reason I fell from heaven? The real reason?”
Although angry at her father, the little alicorn couldn’t find it in her heart to lie. She shook her head from left to right, sniffing and wiping her eyes.
“It’s because I loved god too much.” He simply stated.
Moonstone’s eyebrows furrowed, her head tilting with curiosity.
“when Father created the heavens and the earth, he saw that it was good…” Lucifer quoted from the bible. “He then created animals, plants, the sky and the sea.”
He paused and sighed again, his face turned sour and distraught.
“And then, he created mortals. Equines, griffons, mules, you name it. Anything that isn’t like us… and, God said, ‘Bow yourselves to these, my incredible creation.’ “- Lucifer looked into his daughter’s eyes, filled with wonder and innocence.
“But, I couldn’t… I said, ‘Father, these creatures are flawed… murderous! These are mistakes!’ and you know what he did to me?”
“What?”
“He had Michael, my big brother, cast me out. And a few other angels that felt I was right, they fell too.”
Moonstone stared at her father as he stood up. He was a good 8 feet taller than her, so she nearly fell backward trying to keep eye-contact. She had no idea that’s what really went down… or was it?
“How can I believe you daddy?” She asked bluntly.
Lucifer smiled and took his daughter’s hand, starting to walk. “You’re smart to question that, and I will give you an answer: I would never lie to you. You are my daughter, and you deserve to know the truth. It might be sad, or scary, or mean, but it’s true.”
Moonstone was silent for a moment. She pondered on the information just received. She lightly squeezed her father’s hand and sighed loudly.
“I’m sorry dadd- Lucifer.” She said reluctantly.
Her father only smiled and returned the gentle squeeze. “It’s quite alright dear.”
The two walked on, soon reaching what looked like some sort of throne room. Inside the room were six other creatures. A few ponies, a few griffons, a big, snake-like thing, and a fox-like one with at least 8 tails. All stood and stared upon her entry with her father. Lucifer held up his daughter’s right hand and smirked.
“This is what we’ve waited so long for brothers. This is our savior! Our messiah! This is Cerburus Moonstone.” He spoke loudly, the others in the room remaining silent. Finally, a tall, slender mare walked up to her, kneeling down in front of her.
“This is our savoir? A little filly? You must be joking Luci…” She taunted flirtatiously.
Lucifer scowled at the mare and waved his hand dismissively at her. The mare rolled her lime-green eyes and pinched her lips shut. She then turned her attention back towards Moonstone.
“Hi sweetie. I’m your auntie Lilith… My, you look like such a little sweetheart… good enough to eat…” She teased, her slit pupils becoming more thin and elongated.
Moonstone blinked and backed away from the mare behind her father. She grabbed the ends of his long, black trench coat and swallowed hard upon that comment.
“Oh, COME ON?!? You expect this little monster to hold up to her father’s rep if she can’t even stare me down?” Lilith scoffed.
Lucifer swatted her away dismissively and sneered.
“Cerburus, these are the Cardinal Vices. I’m sure you’ve heard of them?”
Moonstone thought for a moment. “Wrath, pride, gluttony, sloth, greed, lust, and envy.” She listed at last.
Lucifer hummed in content and pet her head. “Very good…”
† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †
Lucifer had shown his daughter the ins and outs of his, most frightening of realms. All this time, Lucifer had hoped that she wouldn’t be phased by all this, but in all reality, she was terrified. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with this place. She wanted so badly to just cry, but she felt crying in front of her father would get her in some serious trouble. Not the “time out” kind of trouble either.
The two had made it back to the Devil’s magnificent palace after a few long hours of terror and gore. He finally knelt down to her and brushed her mane out of her white eyes.
“So, what do you think? Of all this? Of your future; all of our futures…” He asked. His tone was more eager and gentle than before.
Moonstone looked at her black rubber boots, trying as hard as she could to avert her father’s eyes. She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to go home. She wanted to see her mommy again. She wanted her friend, and her school, and her room and her mommy…
“Daddy, I wanna go home…” She whispered.
She looked up into her father’s ruby red eyes and froze, paralyzed by fear. Both were silent for the longest time. Moonstone could see, however, his face darken with an untold rage.
“Is he angry with me? Will he hurt me?” she thought.
She fumbled with her dark blue dress, toying with the pockets of the apron overtop and went on to rub her nose.
“Ummm, daddy?” She shuddered, wishing to break the silence between them.
He sighed heavily and turned his back to her. “I’m, so sorry Cerburus…” He started, waving his hand over the ground. “I didn’t want to have to do this…”
With a few short strokes of his hand, a seal glowed below Moony’s feet, a portal opening. The second it opened, a white-hot pain surged through the little filly’s body, making her shriek with pain.
“Feed her to the souls…” Lucifer growled, almost to himself as flaming hot skeletal hands grabbed and tugged at Moonstone’s dress.
The little alicorn screamed and cried in pain and fear. “DADDY! PLAESE HELP MEE!!”
Alas, he did nothing. She cried as she felt herself being locked away in a plain of fire. Near the end of her attack, she was aware of heat, but not pain. Remembering how those souls of the damned had tried to tear her apart. One thing stood out though: one monster killing his way through to get to her. But she didn’t see him. She had blacked out from fear. All of that, even for just the shortest amount of time, is just too much for a little filly. Too much to handle.
† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †
She jolted awake, gasping for air and shaking like mad. She looked around, even though her fear of looking into the eyes of another monster still lingered in her mind. She wasn’t in that plain anymore. She was in a cell. It was a moist, moldy, smelly cell, but there wasn’t any monsters or fire. She sat herself up, heaving loudly as she struggled to her knees. Her lungs burned and her eyes were very watery. She coughed hoarsely and hugged herself, realizing she was all wet. She was cold, tired, and very thirsty. Her back hurt. Very badly. She placed a hand to her back to feel if something had cut her wing, but was only to find out that her wings were gone. She winced when she felt her own flesh against her fingers. The pain of the sudden contact made her want to cry. She rubbed her eyes and sniffed, trying to find an opening, or a door. She crawled over to the wall of bars behind her and pulled herself to her feet.
“Hello?” she called, her voice choked off and hoarse, hardly audible.
Not receiving an answer, she tried again. “Helloo~”
She didn’t get an answer, but was met by the sounds of heavy footsteps in the corridor outside. She held on tightly to the rusty bars and wiped her eyes again. She opened her eyes to see a tall, dark figure stand before her. His face wasn’t readable, nevertheless, it terrified Moonstone. He reached out, opening the cell with a loud, eerie creak, and stepped inside. Moonstone wanted to panic and hide, but she was exhausted. She couldn’t even stand up. She could only fall on her side and attempt to crawl into the corner. She collapsed not even a few seconds later and heaved, coughing sickly onto the floor.
“P-pl-please, don’t hurt m-me..” She muttered, tears welling in her eyes, their whiteness replaced by a burning brown color. The creature, most definitely a stallion, kneeled before her, gentle grasping her head.
“Shhhhhhhhh~” He whispered quietly to her. “I’m not here to hurt you…”
He lifted her head up and pulled a flask out of his dirty grey duster. He removed the cap and placed it to her mouth, giving the child a much needed drink. Moonstone nearly choked, but was still satisfied with this demon’s kindness. He put the flask back and lifted the child up, silently exiting the cell. Moonstone could only watch as he carried her off and out of the sullen prison where she was kept. She wanted to ask him what he was doing, but for fear he was just another demon, she remained quiet.
† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †
Moonstone winced and flinched constantly as he stitched her back together. Somehow, he had known she was only semi-mortal compared with the rest of this realm. He must’ve taken her to what looked like a study, or a personal thinking place. His shelves were littered with books, scrolls, maps, and talismans. She couldn’t focus on them, however, she was distracted by pain. She hated this, what he was doing, sewing her wounds back together. It hurt her, but she knew it was to help her.
Once he was finished, he helped wipe all the blood off, and tie her dress back. She watched him, just moving things around, occasionally looking out his window, reading things and placing them apart, like he was doing some puzzle.
“Why did you do that for me?” She asked at last.
He sighed through his nostrils, his huge blue eyes took her in and stared dismissively. He didn’t answer, he just glared angrily at her.
“I mean, you don’t know me-“ Moony started.
“I know everything about you.” He interrupted.
Moony paused, swallowing her breath and watching him intently.
“…I’m doing this for my own reasons, nothing more.” He said.
His voice was quiet and stern, almost like a whisper. Moony could tell he had an accent, Scottish maybe. She didn’t reply. She just stared at him. He was a dark stallion, rich ebony coat with prominent blood-red stripes. He had large, piercing, icy-blue eyes, seeming to glow in the low light of his study. His mane was short, but seemed very well groomed. He wore jeans, a sleeveless denim jacket, a black t-shirt with combat boots.
Silence loomed over the two for what seemed like forever. When at last the stallion spoke, his voice was breathy, yet, tone was determined.
“My name is Vindictus Vulnere. I’m… one of your father’s business partners.” He stated, not really caring how he’d put it to the child. He didn’t need to, Moony already knew full-well what he meant.
“That doesn’t tell me why you saved me.” Moonstone reminded, rubbing her eyes.
He scowled for a moment, giving a grim sigh.
“You know what happens if you change, or if your father forces you to change?” He asked.
Moonstone shook her head.
“No sir. All I know is, that if what he told me was all true, I’m supposed to kill everything…”
Those words stung. The very thought of ending the world, everything she loved, made her want to cry. She sniffed and wiped her burning eyes, attempting to disregard the unpleasant thoughts.
“Well, once that is done, all hell will break loose on earth and The Holy wars begin. Have you read revelations?”
“Mommy says that book is too scary for me.”
“I see. Well, when all hell raises, Lucifer and his army will be at the expense of Michael and the God Squad… I already know what happens to us… to Lucifer… to hell… and I want no part of it.” He explained.
Moonstone swallowed hard, thinking that he would try to hurt her as well.
“But he just saved me, he wouldn’t fix me then kill me… would he?” She thought.
Vindictus stood from his placed and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“You are more powerful than me, that’s why I couldn’t destroy you if I wanted to. You are more powerful than most of the angels I’ve encountered. You’re more powerful than Lucifer.”
That right there made Moony feel just a little better.
“I saved you because of who you are. You’re not all demon, are you?”
Moonstone shook her head “no.”
“You’re half mortal, correct?”
“Yes sir… at least I think so… my momma’s not a demon. So, I guess not.” She replied.
“Then you still have the ability to change your destiny. You know what’s right and wrong, your mother ensured that. That right there could save your world. All of your souls.” He said.
Moonstone stared at him. He was right. She didn’t want to rule over an army that wasn’t going win anyway; nor did she want to destroy a world she loved. She blinked a little, the cold feeling his huge, icy orbs gave her felt as if he was staring into her soul.
“But,” She whispered, unable to look away from him, “How will we get out of here?”
Vindictus sighed, removing his hands and staring out the lone window.
“You will be thrown out of those gates there.” He replied, pointing out to the fiery gates just across what looked like a demon-battleground.
Moonstone stood on her tip-toes and saw what he was talking about.
“What about you?” She asked.
He blinked. Directing his attention from the outskirts of hell, to the child beside him.
“Why can’t you leave too?”
He frowned, swallowing air, almost as if to reply in a mild- manner. Maybe lie to her. Something however, in his chest, forced him to speak the truth.
“I cannot leave…”
“Why not Vinny?!”
“What?” He snapped.
Moonstone flinched and gasped quietly. Her lower lip quivered slightly, her eyes widened, and her form shrunk. She stared up at him, and he saw the utter terror in her eyes. The ragged shade of brown showing the faintest sign of a pupil, reflected him and his form. He looked away from her and sighed. Clenching his fists, he returned to his seat. Moonstone could tell that question upset him. He was silent for a while, not moving a muscle. After a few moments, he buried his face in his hands and exhaled.
“I’m trapped here, Lucifer bound me to this realm…” He whispered.
His face was emotionless, but little Moony could feel the sadness and loneliness in his voice. She stepped toward him, gently taking his hands in hers.
“Look at me.” She said, her voice was soft and subtle.
She had no idea what she was doing, but she felt something in her gut telling her that what she was doing would help her out a lot the whole 9-yards.
“You say I’m more powerful than anything you’ve ever encountered, right? Well, if I can, I’ll try to get you out of here too.”
“What?” Vindictus scoffed.
“You’re doing this for me, so, why don’t I do something for you too? It’s only fair.” She replied.
Vindictus gave her a puzzled glare, the slight anger in his eyes not seeming to phase her. She smiled at him and softly kissed his knuckles.
“It’s the least I can do.”
He was silent. The expression on his features went completely slack jaw. He just stared at her. Her eyes somehow developed thin, slit pupils. The deep brown color seemed caramel in the dim lit room. She smiled again, not releasing his hands from hers.
“Well, what’s the plan sir?” She asked eagerly, awaiting to help her new friend escape this literal hell-hole.
