Inner Demons

Alpharius, Chaser, Riku, and Zio grabbed their gear and went out and walked to the edge of town, as they got to the edge They saw Sketch Heart waiting for them. "Hiya Alpharius, took you long enough!" She beamed at the group, Alpharius and the others smiled back at her. "We had a late start but were ready now." Sketch nodded. "Who is everypony else?" She asked. "I'm chaser glad to meet you." "I'm Riku it's nice to meet you." "I'm Zio pleasure to meet you." She smiled back at them and the group started walking down the path to the Unicorn Range.

As the party was walking Zio asked Alpharius. "Are you excited about visiting home Alpha?" Alpharius replied. "I'm not from the Unicorn Range, what made you think that?" Zio said. "Oh...I just thought... because of your skills in dark magic." Zio felt dumb for asking the question. Chaser, Riku, and Sketch Heart stopped and the all said. "You use dark magic!?" Alpharius got defensive. "Yes I use dark magic who cares! Lets just get moving again." He continued walking."No you never told us about what kind of magic you use, What else are you hiding from us.?" Riku demanded."No I don't need to tell you anything about myself." Riku was upset and was approaching him, Sketch Heart spoke up. "Please don't fight, Alpharius can explain when we get to our destination." Riku calmed down and she said. "Sorry for getting upset I don't like it when ponies hide things from me." Alpharius nodded quietly and the party started moving again.

The sun began to set they were walking next to the edge of the forest, Alpharius was ahead of the others trying to avoid conversation. Chaser asked Riku. "You don't trust him do you?" She sighed. "I don't trust him at all, I think he doesn't trust us either. But he does know what he is doing." Chaser nodded in agreement. "I'll talk with the others about him, he does seem to know more than he's letting on." Chaser moved up to talk with Zio and Sketch heart. The night sky was out and they found a place in the woods to set up camp. "We need some fire wood. Alpharius and Zio can you get wood for the fire?" Sketch Heart asked. The two nodded and went into the forest to find firewood."Alpharius, can I ask you something?" Zio said. "Ask away." Alpharius replied. "Do you trust us because the others are saying you don't trust them."

Alpharius was very distrusting of others because of past experiences. "I might in time but for now you are all just allies nothing more." He said as he lifted some branches with magic. Before Zio could say anything the two unicorns heard something near by and investigated it. Alpharius and Zio came to another small clearing and there was a group of cultists with a prisoner. Zio whispered. "What are they doing here?" "Sketch Heart said something about some ponies sulking around,she must have been talking about them,but we need to free that prisoner they have." Alpharius whispered back, and began moving in closer to hear what the cultists were talking about.

When Alpharius came closer he listened to them talk while Zio was on over watch. "Why do we need this pegasus, why not just kill him and move on?" One said. "Because this one has no soul he will be useful for our cause." He said to the other one with an angry tone. Zio watched them and waited for an opportunity to sneak in, as the two went into their tent Zio moved in and Alpharius moved in shortly afterward. The prisoner was asleep by the fire, Zio woke him up and untied him.

"Were here to get you out of here." The pegasus nodded and followed Zio and Alpharius back to their camp. Chaser saw them "You're back, and I see you brought somepony with you." Zio replied. "There were cultists of the Order and they had him as a captive." The pegasus spoke "Thank you for saving me, but why did you risk your lives to save me?" Alpharius answered. "Those cultists belonged to the order,and they're bad news, what is your name?" The pegasus said. "I'm Gale Mist, and thanks again for saving me." "It was nothing, you were in trouble." Zio said. Chaser pointed behind them. "Uh guys, we have company!" There was a small group of cultists charging in at them. Zio and Alpharius began firing bolts of magic at them while Chaser, Riku, and Gale flew at them to closer.

Chaser threw a cultist against a tree,breaking its neck. One of the cultists came at Riku with a dagger, she dodged the swing and disarmed the cultist and stabbed him with the dagger. During the fight there was a shout "For Vect's 4th legion, slaughter them all!" A group of griffons charged in attacking the cultists. In the chaos of the fighting the group ran away into the forest. "What was that all about?" Chaser asked Alpharius. "I have no idea, but we need to keep moving and get as much distance between us and them as possible." Chaser and Riku flew ahead to find a safe place to camp for the night. Alpharius moved up to Gale. "I need to know somethings about you, why did the cultist say you had no soul, Is it true?"

Gale replied. "Yes it's true I had my soul taken from me when I was young. I've been trying to get it back ever sense." Alpharius was intrigued by Gales story. "You should come with us and maybe we can get your soul back."Gale thought about the request. "Fine, I'll help you." Gale didn't trust Alpharius or the others but he felt that he owed them for saving him. Alpharius put his hoof out. "It's good to have you on the team." Gale shook it. Chaser and Riku got back. "There is a cave not far from here." Riku said The others nodded and hurried to the cave.

The cave entrance was well hidden for it's large size. Alpharius made sure everyone was in the cave, as they were entering he noticed Zio was limping. Sketch Heart casted a barrier to protect the entrance. Zio laid down and Alpharius looked at his injury. "You were cut by a sword, luckily it's not serious." Alpharius had Chaser wrap the gash. Riku said. "We need to get some rest, I want to be out of these wood as soon as possible." "I agree with Riku, something big is happening and we need to stop it."