//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: The Phantom Menace 
// Story: A Devil's Night 
// by Dude With No Life 
//------------------------------//

Shit, I thought, standing up and grabbing Rebellion.
"Is that bad?" Fluttershy asked, startled.
"Not for me, but for a pony, Phantom is incredibly deadly." I answered. "Stay here." I hugged them all tightly, and nodded to Celestia. "Canterlot?"
She nodded. "How will you get there?"
I smirked. "You'll see." I walked outside, far away from the cottage where nothing would get hurt. I sighed, closed my eyes, and focused. For several minutes, nothing, until I finally found what I was looking for. A dam, holding back a tide of power. With a grin, I breached it, letting the devil come to the surface.
I really don't know how to describe the change, except that it was euphoric. 
I looked down, to see that my whole body was covered in a black, chitinous armor. Runes covered the different segments, and fire seemed to run through veins between them. Spikes ran off my shins and forarms, and off my shoulders. My feet ended in a four clawed foot, covered in armor to where it resembled a clawed boot. Inferno and Glacious were glowing on my hands, dark red and blue energy pouring off of them. They seemed melded into the armor, powering it, in a way. I looked over my shoulder to find a huge pair of skeleton wings, covered in a flowing dark energy. I raised them up and flapped them, driving myself into the air. I pulled Rebellion off my back to see it too had changed. It now resembled Neo Angleo's sword from DMC 1 in size and shape. Huge, with a jagged saw backing it to halfway down, it ran to a curved point at the end, sweeping back to a gut hook. A fang curved over the handguard, rubbing from blade to pommel, covered in spikes. I twirled it in one hand, noticing it seemed no heavier than before. I smirked, and looked up to Canterlot. Flapping my wings powerfully, I flew at speeds that would make Rainbow Dash green with envy.
It took me moments to arrive. I slammed to the ground, driving my wings forward to slow myself down. I stood to my full height, now a foot or so taller than before, and stared across the Canterlot Square to the waiting Phantom. 
"Son of Sparda."
"Beast. Why have you come?" I asked, leveling Rebellion at it.
"To kill you." It answered, crawling forward.
"You can try." I dropped the sword, point first. It immediately became clear just how heavy and sharp it was, because it cut through the massive flagstones like water. I summoned Ebony and Ivory and levelled them at the massive spider.
"DIE, SON OF SPARDA!" It charged at me, at blinding speeds. I jumped, pouring magical bullets down on it. They splashed harmlessly on the shell as it skidded to a stop. It closed its mouth and shuddered, before spewing out a stream of lava. I rolled to the side and started shooting in the open mouth. It keened, reared up, and jumped. I tried to dodge it, and mostly succeeded. I got just far enough out of the way to avoid the body, but a leg swept around and threw me across the square. I smashed into a statue of something.
Felt like Celestia's ass. 
It hurt. Not badly, no worse than you would expect a five ton demon lava spider throwing you into a statue of somepony's ass would. I stood up, and brushed myself off. I looked up to see the Phantom charging at me. With a roar, it slammed into the rubble of the statue. At the last second, I jumped clear, landing Glacious first on its back. It let out a keen, as I slammed the gauntlet into its vulnerable neck over and over. It finally got smart though, and jumped, throwing me off. I opened my wings and flapped slowly, staring at it. I clenched my fists, collecting power in them. They started to glow brightly, light leaking around my fingers. I raised a fist, and pointed it at the Phantom, releasing all the power from Inferno. A ball of energy leapt from it, slamming into the huge spider, throwing it back across the square. I watched as it was covered in rubble from a shopfront. A cloud of dust rolled over the area, making it hard to see. I landed next to my sword and pulled it out of the ground, twirling it in one hand. I summoned Ebony in the other, and strode over to the Phantom. It was lying on its side, struggling to get up. I levelled Ebony at it, pouring as much power as possible into the gun.
"You will fall, son of Sparda." It said, glaring at me. 
I pulled the trigger.
I was sitting leaning against the rubble, twirling Ivory in my fingers. I had long since let the demon form fade away, and I was waiting for the inevitable flood of ponies. I knew they would arrive anytime, so I just waited. 
"Dante!" I heard a familiar voice call. I looked up to see Fluttershy flying at my at speeds to rival Rainbow Dash's. She smiled at me, landing in front of me, before leaping into my arms and kissing me.
I'm not sure how to describe kissing Fluttershy.
It was alot like kissing a human girl, granted a little furrier, but it was. . .amazing.
I stopped thinking, breathing. . .I'm half certain that even my heart had frozen up in shock and happiness. 
Before I could come to my senses and kiss her back, she pulled away. Blushing hard and trying to hide behind her mane, she stuttered in embarrassment.
"D-Dante I don't k-know what came o-over me. . ." She squeaked out. I smiled, and brushed her mane behind her ear, turning her chin to look at me.
"It's alright. . ." I whispered, leaning over, and kissing her  back. We stayed like that, her wrapped around me, my arms wrapped around her, for what felt like days. It was only when a voice cut in that we pulled apart.
"Ahem. . ." 
Fluttershy and I looked over to see Luna, Rainbow Dash, and Celestia, all with blushes and smiles.
"That was adorable, I must say." Luna smiled, making Fluttershy blush ever harder. I smiled and set her down, turning to the others.
"Well. . .just how long have you girls been there?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Not long after she got here." Rainbow grinned. "Shy sure can fly when she wants to." 
If it was possible for a pony to blush any harder, I'm sure Fluttershy would have. She retreated behind her mane with another squeak of embarrassment. 
"So, is it done?" Celestia asked, looking around at the damage. I nodded. 
"It's dead."
"You sure did do a lot of damage, Dante." Rainbow Dash commented, eyeing the rubble.
I shrugged. "It would have been worse if I hadnt been here to stop the Phantom."
"Did it say why it was here?" Luna asked, stepping up beside me.
"It only said it was here to kill me." I shook my head.
We stared out at the square in silence for a long time. I had a hand on Luna's withers, and the other was gently rubbing Rainbow Dash's ear. Fluttershy was leaning against my legs, obviously fighting sleep.
Celestia looked over with a smirk.
"You should probably get your mare home, Dante."
I chuckled, and nodded. 
"And what about my other two girls?" I grinned, looking between Luna and Rainbow Dash. They both blushed, and Luna frowned. 
"I'm sorry Dante, but I have royal duties to attend to, with your appearance and that of the Phantom. I will return as soon as possible, however." She leaned over and nuzzled me, before flying off. I watched her go, before picking up Fluttershy, who was still drowsing against my leg. She curled up in my arms, an adorable little ball of butter yellow and soft pink. Rainbow Dash stood up and stretched her wings. 
"I have weather duties, but they wont take long after we get back."
I nodded, and grinned.
"Watch this."
I focused the demons power again, this time willing only a single change. After a moment of concentration, a pair of wings erupted from my back. I opened my eyes to an awestruck cyan flyer.
"Wha-huh?" She stuttered, and shook her head. I grinned, and took off, heading for Ponyville. Fluttershy still slept in my arms, and Rainbow Dash was lazily flying alongside me. I closed my eyes and sighed.
This was the life.