//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Meeting the Mares // Story: A Devil's Night // by Dude With No Life //------------------------------// Back at the clearing, I was standing there watching as the Ursa faded from view. I twirled Rebellion and rested it over my shoulder, the sharp blade not even cutting into my coat. I contemplated what had happened, how I went from Mark, a high school kid, to Dante, a Devil Hunter in Equestria. I sighed, before a snap interrupted my musings. Without hesitation, I spun, swinging Rebellion. Fortunately, I saw who was there, and managed to stop my blade just before it cut into the neck of Princess Luna. She stood there, wide eyed, as my blade hovered, barely touching her neck. I watched a pair of midnight blue hairs floated down, before looking up and into Luna's fear filled eyes. I sighed, smiled, and dropped the blade, the tip stabbing itself into the dirt between us. I knelt, putting my forehead to the pommel in a bow. "My Princess." I greeted. "My apologies, I did now know it was you." "Rise, please." She said, her voice betraying her relief. I did so, pulling Rebellion from the ground and sheathing it. "Who are you, and how do you know me?" Luna asked, looking up at me. It was then I noticed the difference in our heights, she was a few inches shorter than me. "I'm a Devil Hunter, Princess. My name is Dante. And you are known to many in my world." I answered, and she nodded. "You must have incredible power to vanquish both an Ursa Minor and an Ursa Major so effortlessly." "The blood of the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda runs through my veins. I am more Devil than man at times." I answered, and she shook her head. "I do not recognise the name. But I believe you are not here with the intent to harm. Would that be true?" She asked, and I nodded, opening my mouth to answer, when a loud droning sound interrupted me. "Get away from Princess Luna you freak!" An angry yell was heard from the sky. The buzzing grew louder, and I glanced up, tensed, and jumped. My timing was flawless, as the angry cyan pegasus that had tried to hit me missed. She skidded to a halt and jumped over in front of Luna, head down and wings spread in a display of aggression. "Stay back!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "Woah, woah, slow down, babe." I said, copying Dante from the intro of DMC 1. I took a step forwards, smirking. "I said stay back, freak! I won't let you hurt Princess Luna." "Dear Rainbow Dash, he didn't. . . ." Luna began. "And you wont get to enslave us or whatever your evil plans are!" The multicolored pegasus interrupted, stomping a hoof. "Not without going through me first." I chuckled, pointing at her with Glacius. "You really believe that you could stop me? I've faced beings that would be gods to you, and won. I've travelled from the blackest pits of the Underworld, and lived. Do you really believe that a lowly mortal pegasus could stop me?" I asked her. Her eyes widened momentarily, before snorting. "Maybe not, but I'll die trying, beast." She yelled, making me smile. "You're brave. I like that. But you have nothing to fear from me, I am not here with evil intent." I said, and her eyes narrowed, not trusting me. "Then why are you here?" Dash demanded. "You know as much as I do." "What's that supposed to mean?" "It means he doesnt know." Luna broke in, going around Rainbow Dash to stand between us. "Princess!" Dash protested, but Luna silenced her with a look. "I do not believe that Dante is here to harm. He had the chance to kill me but did not." She said, making Rainbow lower her ears and look sheepish. The cyan mare trotted sat down and gave me a sorrowful look. She was about to speak when I heard wingbeats "Rainbow Dash! Oh my goodness oh my goodness. . ." I heard from behind me, before Fluttershy landed beside me. She looked up at me and smiled, before noticing the Princess. "Oh my goodness! Princess Luna!" She said, bowing. "Please stand, dear Fluttershy." Luna replied, with a gentle smile. As the butter yellow pegasus did, she looked around. "What happened?" She asked. Rainbow's sheepish look returned, and she smiled half heartedly. "I might have thought that Dante was trying the Princess. . .and I might have attacked him." She said, with a nervous laugh. Fluttershy affixed the other pegasus with a glare. "Rainbow Dash! What have we all told you about attacking strangers?" " 'M sorry, Dante." Dash mumbled. I chuckled. "I forgive you. Just. . .dont do it again, alright?" "You forgive me? Just like that?" Rainbow asked, looking up at me. I shook my head, smirking. "Oh, don't believe you're getting off easy. I'll think of someway to get back at you." I warned, and then grinned. "Now, Princess, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash. . .I don't think that any of you are enjoying this wonderful place as much as I am, so shall we move somewhere more comfortable?" I suggested, and Flutterhsy nodded fiercely. "Please." She half whined. I glanced at her and crouched, bringing myself to her eye level. I reached out and brushed a bit of her pink mane out of her eyes. "Don't worry, Fluttershy. You're okay, and nothing can hurt you." I soothed, and she blushed a bit and smiled. I heard a cough behind us, and turned to find a smiling Luna and a rather embarrassed Rainbow Dash. "I hate to ruin the moment, but we should leave." Luna said, and I nodded. "One moment." I concentrated on being back in my pony form. A itching feeling ran over me, and I opened my eyes to find myself back as a pegasus. The other three ponies were standing there, eyes wide. "Wha. . . ." Rainbow Dash stuttered, blinking rapidly. I grinned and raised my wings. "Shall we fly, ladies?" A good twenty minutes later, we were making ourselves comfortable in Fluttershy's cottage. The three mares sat down and turned to me, waiting for answers. I sighed, closing my eyes. "Go ahead. . .ask away." "What are you?" Dash asked, to the point. "I'm a human. Half human anyway." True enough. I mean, I wasnt born as Dante, but it's who I am now. "How did you get here?" Luna asked, studying me as if I was a painting. I tried to shake off the feeling that she was staring at my soul, and shrugged. "I don't know, really. The last thing I remember, I was in my room, at my computer. I pulled up my email, and nothing." I said, more to myself. "Whats a computer?" Dash asked. "Um, huh. Its like. . .a library. All in one box." "Thats impossible." The cyan flier denied. "Supposedly, so was your Rainboom." I countered, and she looked suprised. "How did you know about that?" She asked, flabbergasted. I sighed. "In my world, you, and your friends, are. . .legends. Myths, stories told to educate and entertain." "What?" They all asked after a minute of gaping at me, open mouthed. "You already knew about us?" Luna asked. "Yes, I did." I answered. "Do you know whats going to happen?" Fluttershy asked, as soft as ever. "That depends. How long is it since Twilight came to Ponyville?" I asked, and Dash thought for a minute. "Two years." She said, finally. Hmm, I thought. "When was the last time Discord was free?" I asked. Luna immediately frowned, while the other two mares looked confused. "Who?" Fluttershy asked. "I cant tell you, it might change what I know, and lose that advantage." I said, shaking my head. "We understand. We, I, must contact my sister." Luna said, momentarily slipping into her archaic speech. I merely nod in reply, and close my eyes.