Chapter 7: My Little Demons
After an incredibly hectic, tiring, infuriating, and terrifying day Twilight Sparkle was asleep almost the second her head hit the couch cushion downstairs. Thoughts of demonic attacks, infectious mana, and transformed friends were forced from her mind as she sought the sweet embrace of sleep.
Alas even in her sleep she couldn’t escape the insanity her life had become. Visions of demonic ponies and cackling Overlords plagued her rest. She tried to fight fruitlessly against the shadowy monsters in her own consciousness but they were the hardest to stand against of course. She could feel herself being swallowed up in a tide of rage and hatred, losing more and more of herself by the second. Mouth open in a soundless scream she raised a hoof as if searching for something to cling to lest she be submerged and lost completely.
Her silent cry for help was answered as a silver shorn foreleg reached out, gripping the young Princess’ hoof tight and heaving her from the demonic morass. Twilight found herself face to face with Princess Luna. Her harsh words with the dark diarch fresh in her mind she looked away blushing heavily. “Thank you.”
Luna regarded the alicorn silently for a time. Now and again she would shift her attention to the churning mass below. “You seem to have much on your mind Twilight Sparkle. Perhaps if you had talked with me like a rational adult at the castle you would be more at ease.”
Twilight sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “You’re right. I’m so sorry for how I acted toward you Princess Luna. It’s not YOU I’m angry at. The things your sister said…I’ve never heard Princess Celestia speak like that to anypony! She was so…”
Luna quirked a brow. “So unlike herself?”
“Yes! Exactly! So un…” Twilight’s eyes widened and her ears drooped. “Ponyfeathers. I’m an idiot. It wasn’t really Princess Celestia was it? Is Queen Chrysalis back?!”
Taking a deep breath of her own Luna banished the nightmares below landing lightly on the ground. “Oh how I wish it were so simple Twilight Sparkle. Sit with me and I will tell you of my sister’s latest bid to keep herself entertained…”
***
“Sweetie Beeeeelle! You’re being ridiculous! Come out of that wardrobe this instant!”
“Not until you tell me what you did with my sister!”
Rarity snorted so indelicately that if she were seen by anypony else she may very well have fainted in embarrassment on the spot. “I AM your sister Sweetie Belle! I’m just…bigger! More majestic!”
“More monstery!”
The transformed unicorn flinched back from the closed wardrobe as if physically struck. “You don’t…you don’t REALLY think I look like a MONSTER do you?!”
Something in her tone gave Sweetie Belle pause. All the shrieking and whining was definitely starting to SOUND like Rarity. And the tall, dark mare who entered definitely carried herself like her big sister. Frowning suspiciously the little filly peeked out of her hiding spot. She wasn’t prepared to find the Princess sized mare hunched in a corner moaning about her cruel fate. She was even wearing her black exile cloak even if it was comically tiny on her now.
“My own sister! Terrified of me! I’ll have to go into exile…again! Oh woe is mee-hee-heeee!” She degenerated into heaving, (and in Sweetie’s opinion) overly dramatic sobs.
Chewing her lower lip a little Sweetie Belle cautiously approached. This big Rarity creature had the same cutie mark…and definitely the same sense of drama. Still barely able to do little more with her magic than create a few sparks she wasn’t trained to feel out a pony’s mana but Rarity’s felt familiar. Sort of the same but with something new mixed in.
Taking tiny steps the filly slowly reached the huge, sobbing mare. Tentatively she reached out resting a hoof against her flank. “I…I’m sorry um…Rarity. You just kinda…scared me. It’s been a scary day really. Timberwolves and demons and all sorts of stuff. So…I’m sorry. You’re not monstery. It’s actually a little neat.”
Instantly Rarity’s mood did a one eighty, the sobbing stopping in a second. “Oh Sweetie Belle thank you!” She scooped up the much smaller pony in her forelegs hugging her to her chest.
Squirming a bit under her sister’s greatly enhanced strength; Sweetie Belle took a huge gasp of air when Rarity finally let her go. The little filly gazed quietly at her much larger sister now. “So what happened?”
Heaving a sigh Rarity tossed her mane flippantly as she rose. Sweetie Belle had to resist rolling her eyes. She was DEFINITELY Rarity. “Well! Laharl and I were collecting gems in the mountains when this absolute brute of a demon attacked us. Poor Laharl was badly hurt protecting me. Since he can’t use his powers he gave his mana to me and I transformed into this impressive vision before you.”
The young pony sat quietly pondering her sister’s words. “So you’re still you? Just bigger and cooler looking?”
“Indeed! I wouldn’t quite put it in those words but I assure you Sweetie Belle, I’m the same Rarity as always.”
A smile was forming on Sweetie Belle’s muzzle. “Can you share it?”
***
“Aaaaaaaagh!”
Twilight snapped awake flailing wings and legs as the shriek from overhead jolted her both from her sleep and her conversation with Princess Luna. She noted with a small bit of irritation that the sun was only just beginning to rise outside. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been up so early. Heaving a sigh she rolled to her hooves tucking her wings against her sides and making for her room.
“Laharl there had better be a good reason you…oh dear…” She trailed off as she beheld not a demon in her bed, but a pony. A young earth pony stallion, maybe just out of his teenage years. His coat was a healthy rich royal purple color, while his mane and tail were the same blue his hair was. He even had the same antennae rising above his head. Laharl’s scarf and golden bracers remained intact, and his eyes blazed the same ruby red. But he was most definitely a pony.
“What’d you do to me?! This is some crazy pony spell! I know it was you!” The enraged Overlord thrashed about in the bed getting to all fours and immediately tumbling onto his face when he tried to rise onto his hind legs.
Twilight felt her own temper flaring. “What makes you think I had anything to do with this?! I told you absorbing Equestrian mana could be dangerous! I TOLD you to take the mana you gave Rarity back! And now you’re a pony! So WELCOME to Equestria Laharl the pony! I’m sure you’ll fit RIGHT in!”
Laharl was blazing with fury as he surged back to his hooves. “Don’t gimme that crap! We’re going to open those gates and send me home right now! I’ll just get rid of this crappy mana and get REAL mana back! Or else I’m gonna…”
“You’re going to WHAT? You’re an EARTH pony Laharl. No horn means no spells.” Twilight couldn’t contain a smug grin at that.
The earth pony in question’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Twilight’s own widened as she felt his mana gathering and building into a massive spell. Eldritch flames began to lick about his hooves as he summoned the fire spell. Thinking quickly Twilight doused him with a water summoning spell.
Flames safely extinguished Twilight hastily raised her forehooves. “Stop! Just stop!” Laharl was already building his mana for another spell. “Alright so you can use your magic as an earth pony. Blowing up my library isn’t going to help anypony! Like you said we just need to get you home and this will all be fixed! Right?”
Sucking in several deep breaths Laharl’s fury was slowly cooling. “…right. So let’s go to these stupid gates before anyone sees me like this!”
Offering a faint smile Twilight allowed herself a relieved sigh at having diffused the situation diplomatically. “How about we have something to eat then we’ll be off? You’ll be home before you know it!”
Giving a grunt as a replay he stood to follow her again, again doing a spectacular face plant. “Grah! Forget it! I Don’t NEED to walk!” His scarf flared around his neck forming a pair of suspiciously pegasus-like wings that lifted him from the ground. Now mobile without the need to coordinate four legs he followed her downstairs.
Deciding not to comment or offer her help unless asked for Twilight just went to the kitchen fixing a simple breakfast of toast and apple jam. Carefully Laharl was settling by the table. “So where’s your dog?”
Levitating the meal to the table Twilight looked at him curiously. “I don’t have a dog.”
“Then why the he…ck d’you have a dog bed in your room? That basket with the ratty old blanket?”
He was surprised by the look of pain that flashed across her face. “It belonged to Spike, my assistant. He left to learn about himself. The dragons that is. Can’t learn much about dragons in a pony town right?” She tried to smile but he could see the pain in her eyes.
“You made your assistant the dragon sleep in a basket at the foot of your bed? No wonder he took off.”
He physically recoiled from the sudden anger radiating from the pony across from him. “That’s NOT why he left! I loved him like a brother! I hatched him when I was a little filly and he REFUSED to sleep anywhere BUT in that basket! I tried giving him his own room or a real bed all the time but he never used them! You do NOT talk to me about Spike! Do you understand?”
Wordlessly he nodded shifting his focus to the food in front of him. Grimacing at the useless hooves where his hands used to be he just sighed and leaned forward eating it right off the plate. He waited until Twilight had calmed before speaking again. “I know what it’s like. Losing someone…like that. My chief vassal Etna left me for a while.”
Twilight’s expression softened as she regarded Laharl. “Really? What happened?”
“Hmph. Some idiot demon stole her most important memories of my old man. He’d only give them back if she betrayed me. We worked it out in the end but…” He looked unusually somber as he recalled the events. “…but it hurt. I guess.”
“I can’t imagine how I’d feel if one of my best friends betrayed me. I mean of course she had good reason but still it must have been hard on both of you. I’m glad you made up though.”
He huffed again licking the last of the jam from his plate. “She’s a pain in my ass is what she is. She’s supposed to be my chief vassal! My first and most loyal minion! She’s always stealing my snacks or resetting my high scores just to get under my skin!”
Twilight giggled softly seeing how flustered he was getting. “Do you have any other friends in Tartarus?”
“It’s the NETHERWORLD. Not Tartarus. And…I guess a few. Mostly my old man’s vassals who stuck around. Then there’s Flonne. She’s…” He grimaced rubbing his chest.
“Laharl? Are you alright?”
“I…I don’t know. My chest hurts. Your stupid pony mana is probably killing me!”
Tilting her head she regarded him curiously. “It didn’t start hurting until you mentioned Flonne.” He flinched again at the mention of her name. “Laharl is Flonne maybe…special to you?”
His eyes widened. “Wh-what?! No! Of course not! She’s just some stupid, love obsessed…pain in my…butt…” His voice softened and grew quieter as he spoke.
“Laharl you look like you’re about to drop dead or something, that’s not normally something that happens just for talking about somepony.” Levitating the dishes back to the sink she tapped a hoof to her chin. “Would it be safe to assume demons typically experience negative emotions like anger first in response to any given situation?”
Laharl leveled a deadpan look her way and she chuckled softly. “Right, right. Well anypony in Equestria’s first response in a tense situation is diplomacy or conversation. We DO get angry but it takes a long time and a lot of stimulus to do so typically. I suspect the massive amount of Equestrian mana inside you now has tempered your emotions more toward a typical citizen of Equestria.”
“Well I could have figured that out on my own! It doesn’t explain why I’m having a heart attack!”
Twilight’s ears folded back as he raised his voice again but with some effort she kept her own temper in check. “It does though. You’re feeling your positive emotions more than before. Joy, kindness, generosity…love.”
If his eyes widened any further Twilight suspected they might have rolled out of his head. “Get me to those gates NOW.”
Huffing softly Twilight magically swung the door open. “Oh! I almost forgot the big news Princess Luna gave me last night! She said that…” A faint frown crossed Twilight’s face as she strained an ear leaning out the doorway slightly.
Laharl’s scowl deepened. “She said what? Don’t just stop in the middle of a sentence!” His grimace eased slightly at the glazed look in Twilight’s eyes. The Princess ignored him entirely as she began to walk at a stiff, but steady pace toward the town square. Craning his head in the direction she was walking he strained his ears to hear whatever seemed to be afflicting her but he couldn’t hear anything.
“What the heck is going on?” Catching himself before he tried to take a step forward and trip all over his legs again Laharl spread his wings taking to the air. It looked like every pony in the whole town was migrating toward the town square. Almost everypony he amended quickly, seeing a distressed looking Rarity moving about from pony to pony trying to shake them from their stupor. Folding his wings he angled toward her landing clumsily. “Don’t bother! They’re enthralled.”
The imposing mare raised her eyebrows at Laharl’s appearance. “My you’re quite the handsome young colt all of a sudden. Decide to settle in Equestria did you?”
Feeling his temper flare his antennae stood on end. “I didn’t do this on purpose! Your stupid world’s mana did it to me! Don’t you think there are more important things to worry about than me being a…” He blinked. “Huh, really? Handsome?” Looking over his form with a more critical eye now…he saw a purple horse. “…do I have a butt mark?”
“A cutie mark. And you do! A rather impressive one. It’s very ‘you’ darling.” Her horn shimmered as she drug a mirror from her boutique outside setting it down for him to see. Indeed there was a cutie mark on his flank. A sword lined in blazing flames with a large golden crown dangling off the hilt.
Staring at it from every angle he hmph’d. “Well as far as butt marks go it’s probably the best one on this whole planet.” Movement from the doorway caught his eye. Glancing over he recognized the white filly that hung around Scootaloo. Though he only recognized her because he could feel the presence of a large chunk of his own mana circulating in the filly. She was about half his size, so maybe twice as large as her friends. Her horn was longer and sharper though her mane and coat were unchanged. Her eyes still shined the same shining green, though her pupils were vertical slits like her older sister’s.
Rarity took a step back as she felt Laharl’s anger building. “You…you gave my mana to your little SISTER! I didn’t say you could do that! It’s not a bag of cookies to pass around to every idiot who asks for it!”
The mare in question sighed softly. “Well I know. And it was just a LITTLE mana. She was very adamant about my sharing.”
Grunting Laharl looked back toward the town square. “Something’s going on and it’s not affecting us. Probably because of the Overlord’s mana in our bodies. This IS something unusual right? It’s not some weird pony herd thing?”
“I assure you it is not. Sweetie Belle you stay in the boutique. No arguments! If I see you set one HOOF outside you’ll be grounded for a month! Ponyville isn’t entirely safe as it used to be at the moment.”
Hearing the sternness in her sister’s voice the little filly sighed and shrank back into the building. With a sigh of her own Rarity turned to Laharl. “Well shall we Overlord Laharl?”
Puffing his chest a bit at her using his title he grinned. “Let’s go!” Momentarily forgetting about the current state of his body he turned on his hooves tumbling over his own legs. To her credit Rarity didn’t so much as snicker as she levitated him back to his hooves.
Seeing the embarrassment written across his face she smiled softly. “Watch how I move. Front left, back right, front right, back left. See? With a little practice you’ll be galloping in no time.”
Despite himself Laharl was watching attentively as she gave her impromptu lesson. Shaking his head violently he took to the air once more. “I don’t want to be galloping I want to be normal again! I’m going on ahead!” Not waiting for a response he soared above the rooftops of Ponyville toward the large gathering of ponies below.
Now that he was closer he could hear loud, carnivalesque music blaring obnoxiously from a tacky stage where a unicorn was in the midst of performing cheap magic tricks. Performing them badly too. Trying to pull…something from a hat she ended up punching a hoof right through the bottom. Flailing her leg wildly to get it off her face lit up in a smile as Laharl approached.
“Ah! The Great and Powerful Trixie has been waiting for you Overlord Laharl!” She seemed like a normal unicorn at first glance. She even had a stupid butt mark of a magical wand or something. Her horn was constantly glowing with magical usage but instead of the normal colorful twinkling it was surrounded in a black miasma that flowed from the stage over the crowd like a creeping moss.
Landing shakily on stage Laharl looked out at the crowd recognizing a few of the enthralled mass. “Who are you? How d’you know my name? And what are you doing to these ponies?”
Her smile grew toothier. “You’re not a good listener are you? I DID just say I am the Great and Powerful Trixie did I not? And how could I NOT know your name? It’s not every day a demonic Overlord makes his way to Equestria. Though you seem to have gone…native.”
Laharl glared suspiciously. Something was very off about this pony, and it wasn’t just that she seemed to have enchanted the entire town. It was her eyes he decided. Every pony he’d met so far had every open expressive eyes. Trixie’s were cold, lifeless. No that wasn’t it…he could see SOMEthing in them but it wasn’t normal.
Not one given to deep though Laharl made up his mind quickly. He didn’t know who or WHAT this pony was but he DID know one thing, he didn’t like it. And when he didn’t like something there was always one surefire way of dealing with it. With a shout he flared his wings soaring higher into the sky and twisting around mid-air, diving straight at a distressingly unconcerned Trixie.
He might not have hands to hold a sword but the stupid hooves on his forelegs seemed hard enough to beat someone to death with. Already grinning at the upcoming crunch of breaking this smug mare’s face he was considerably surprised when he collided and bounced back painfully. Rolling across the ground he blinked up at the now laughing Trixie in astonishment.
“Oh dear! Level one?! Did the little Overlord not just change physically, but get reincarnated? Tsk, tsk. I suppose the base stat boost is nice but a level one Overlord…pony…thing is no match for me.” With a wicked peal of laughter she unleashed a barrage of magical lances. Laharl flailed his wings just barely managing to fling himself back out of the way as Trixie’s spells scorched the earth.
Growling furiously Laharl gathered his mana for the strongest fire spell his reduced state could conjure. His foe looked on unconcerned as he built the flames bigger and bigger, flinging them toward her with a shout. Her eyes flared with eldritch light as the magical fire slammed into an unseen shield surrounding her body, rebounding and colliding with him in a spectacular explosion.
Fur and flesh burning he couldn’t even attempt to pull out of the dive he was in heading right for the ground. Bracing himself for the impact, a sheath of magic flared to life around him slowing his descent and gently resting him on the ground. Cracking an eye open he saw an incensed Rarity standing over him protectively.
“Not the REAL Trixie I presume?” Rarity was keeping her cool but there was a cold fury burning in her eyes. “I suggest you release my friends, and Trixie I suppose from whatever control you have them under.”
Trixie tilted her head regarding Rarity curiously. “And who’s this? One of your pony vassals? That’s adorable. Though she does look a fair bit more impressive than you do little Laharl. Well come on then pony vassal let’s see what you… hey! Hey don’t ignore me!”
Rarity had turned her back on the bellowing possessed Trixie to help Laharl to his hooves. “Are you alright darling? You got a bit singed.”
Laharl scowled fiercely. “This stupid pony body reincarnated me! I barely have any strength now that I’m at level one. You need to deal with this! That pony is being possessed by a demon. Probably a bubble-chested succubus.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow regarding him coolly. “I’ll chalk your rudeness up to the stress of your day thus far. How precisely am I to deal with this? Is there some trick to forcing the succubus creature out?”
The demon-turned pony shook his head. “Not one you’ll like. I’m sure this won’t be easy for you but you’ll just have to beat the demon out of her.”
The imposing demonic mare got an unpleasant glint in her eye. “Beat it out of her? As in I’ll have to thoroughly rough the ‘great and powerful’ Trixie up?”
“Yeah…why are you smiling like that? Aren’t all you ponies super best friends or some crap?”
“My dear Overlord, while it’s true that everypony shared a certain bond thanks to the magic of harmony…some ponies need a good thrashing now and again. Trixie is most certainly one such pony.” Rarity trotted toward the stage with renewed determination.
The possessed Trixie watched her approach head tilted to the side. “How about you just step aside and give me Laharl. Then I’ll leave your little town alone. Not so high a price hm? Certainly he doesn’t belo-“ She was cut off by having to leap back as a shard or gleaming emerald burst from the stage between her hooves.
“I offer YOU one chance. Leave Trixie’s body and get out of Ponyville.” Rarity stood tall amidst the enthralled ponies of Ponyville, her gaze steely and leveled Trixie’s way.
The pony in question regarded Rarity with burning excitement in her eyes. “Well if we’re to do this we may as well do it right hm? I can’t fight very well like this.”
Despite her strong confidence Rarity involuntarily took a step back as a powerful aura of magic flared around the show mare. Black flames licked about Trixie’s form as she started to grow. Raising on her hind legs her body changed rapidly. Her forehooves softened and split into blue skinned hands. Her fur was receding all over her body leaving smooth unblemished skin, save a bikini-like patch around her now sizeable bosom and curvaceous hips. Sizeable horns pierced the brim of her hat growing to full size while her tail slimmed down to a silver heart-spade prehensile shape. Her cape was blown away as large bat-like wings sprang from her back.
Wings flapping gently the demon hovered inches above the ground. “Proper introductions are in order yes? I’m Linette, chief infiltrator of Overlord Malbreche.”
Rarity regained her composure quickly. “Rarity, element of generosity. Charmed I’m sure.” No sooner did she finish speaking than she reared back and slammed her hooves into the ground bringing a geyser of glittering gems erupting beneath the demoness. With an alarmed yelp she was swallowed up in the cascade and carried high into the air. The elegant mare was already galloping through the crowd, guiding the torrent of gems away from the town square.
Growling in the back of his throat at his helplessness Laharl prepared to follow. He might not be able to help hurt this big-boobed monstrosity but he could give Rarity advice. A sudden voice from behind brought him up short.
“What in tarnation is goin’ on around here?!”
***
Near the edge of the Everfree Forest Rarity felt her control over the gems falter and putter out. Confused she watched as they fell away from a seemingly unharmed Linette. “Are we far enough from your little town you feel we can fight properly?”
Not happy that her attack had so little effect, and that the demoness had figured out her plan Rarity simply tossed her mane. “I suppose so, if you insist on continuing this unpleasantness.”
“I do!” Linette thrust a hand at Rarity conjuring a blast of flame. Snorting softly the mare summoned a magic shield of her own letting the flames crash against it harmlessly. When the fire stopped she smirked about to deliver a retort when a block of ice following in the wake of the flames collided solidly with her muzzle sending her reeling back in a daze.
“Not very experienced with magical combat are you? Too busy primping that rat’s nest you have on top of your head?”
“Uh! UH!” Rarity’s mouth snapped open and closed sharply as she gasped, trying to process the demons hurtful words. “How DARE you! I’ll have you know my mane is one of the best kept in all of Ponyvi-“ Another brick of ice smashed her in the face as she was speaking, sending her staggering back to land on her rump.
“Tsk, tsk. You’re much too easy to get riled up dear.”
Shaking her head dazedly Rarity had to admit the demon was right. Groggily she lifted her head to regard her foe. That’s when she noticed the creature wearing Trixie’s skin was primping her own hair a little. “…you’re certainly one to talk about one’s hair darling.”
This seemed to get her attention. “Excuse me?”
Getting back to her hooves Rarity eyed the demon casually. “I just mean it must be difficult keeping your mane looking as good as you can. You’re doing the best you can I’m sure. Being on the road at all hours hunting down innocent demons. Why the bags under your eyes are barely noticeable darling.”
Bristling now the demoness opened her mouth to retort but she seemed distracted suddenly. Shooting Rarity a dirty look she summoned a mirror of ice. “There’re no bags under my eyes you lying little…” She turned to look back at the large demon touched pony, just in time to see a pair of ashen grey hooves flying at her face before Rarity’s buck collided firmly with her head and sending her careening back into the woods behind her.
Trotting casually after her quarry Rarity called out in sing-song tones. “Are you alright darling? One little kick didn’t do you in did it?”
Her confidence evaporated at the huge release of magic coming her way. She raised a shield to try and block the gist of it but to her horror the gleaming gems melted to slag as she magical flames blasted into her, searing her coat and burning her badly sending her tumbling head over hooves to the ground.
A fuming Linette stormed up to the fallen mare, eyes blazing. “No. It didn’t.”
***
“I don’t have time for this! Get this thing off me before I strangle you with it!”
The infuriating orange mare in the stupid cowboy hat stood solidly on the lasso she’d snared around Laharl’s barrel. “Now yer not goin’ anywhere til ya tell me what’s goin’ on here! What’s wrong with everypony?!”
Both ponies’ ears splayed at the sudden explosion of flame coming from the direction of the Everfree. “A demon’s enthralled all the stupid ponies of your stupid town! Rarity’s trying to fight it but she’s in way over her head! Beating a knight is one thing but this is a succubus, they’re tricky. Now get. This. OFF!”
Applejack’s eyes darted around the glazy eyed ponies staring aimlessly ahead, then to the obnoxious flying earth pony she had lasso’d, and finally out to the direction of the explosion. “Well then what’re we standin’ around here for?” With a quick flick of her neck she undid the rope and coiled it at her flank.
Free of the rope Laharl’s wings flapped hard carrying him toward the sounds of battle. “Sorry for the rope there partner. Don’t think I recognized ya. You a friend of Rarity’s from Canterlot or somethin’?”
Glancing down at the earth bound pony keeping pace with him in mild surprise Laharl grunted. “Or something. Where do you think you’re going?”
“Ya said Rarity’s in trouble didn’tcha? Well I ain’t the type’a mare t’turn tail an run when one’a my friends is in a scrape.”
“Hmph. You’re just gonna get in the way! Stay here!” Trying to ignore the indignant call behind him Laharl pumped his wings harder. He wasn’t sure if he was frustrated or impressed that the pony was matching his air speed on the ground.
They came upon the demonized humanoid Trixie holding Rarity off the ground by her throat. Applejack nearly tripped and fell on her face seeing the imposing mare her friend had become. “That’s Rarity?!”
Ignoring the confused mare Laharl landed in front of her and focused his magics summoning a powerful whirlwind, using it to blast the combatants apart. Rarity skidded along the ground to come to a stop near the newly arrived duo, while Linette was flung into a tree hard enough to snap the trunk.
Applejack watched Laharl’s display of magic wide-eyed. “How’d y’all do that?! Yer an earth pony!”
Snorting softly Laharl glanced the earth pony behind him over. “You can do magic to. If you weren’t too dull to figure out how.” He quickly cast a healing spell over Rarity healing the worst of her burns.
Her eyes fluttered open as her breathing eased. “Th-thank you darling. She took me by surprise.” She looked passed Laharl to Applejack in surprise. “Applejack? You’re not trapped with everypony else?”
“Was bringin’ a cart back from the Greene clan’s farm up the way. What’s goin’ on Rarity? Who is this? And… is that Trixie?”
“I’m afraid it’s a demon wearing Trixie’s body. This is Overlord Laharl, a guest of Twilight’s and a hero who saved many lives yesterday.”
Applejack turned to regard the blue furred earth pony colt as he dodged about the recovering Trixie-creatures magical attacks, returning fire with the occasional spell of his own. “He’s doin’ magic. How’s he doin’ magic? An how’re YOU so big?!”
“I’d love to answer any questions you have but right now I think I should give Laharl a hoof in there. Stay back though; this is too much for you.”
“T-too much?! Who d’ya think yer talkin’ to?” Applejack looked to the battle seeing the powerful blasts of magic flung around and a frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Never seen magic like that b’fore.”
Rarity nodded a touch grimly. “She even melted through my gemstone shield. I need to help Laharl even if just a little. Oh if only Twilight were awake. I’m sure she could help!”
“Now hold on! I may not be all big an fancy like you but that don’t mean I still can’t help Rares!” Applejack kicked into a charge at the demon but was stopped short as Rarity’s magical aura flared around her, hoisting her off the ground and drifting her closer to her friend. “What’s the big idea?!”
Rarity was smiling however. “You’re not all ‘big and fancy’ like me. Though would you like to be?”
***
“Poor little Laharl. It looks like your pony vassal deserted you.” Linette was quite pleased with this turn of events. Laharl’s spells stung but weren’t anything too serious. The giant grey unicorn however had caused her serious damage in that torrent of gems. It was only thanks for a healing spell just before she broke free that she appeared unharmed. Her mana was getting pretty low however, between enthralling the town and possessing Trixie.
The Overlord was looking more worn out than she fortunately. He was doing an admirable job avoiding her attacks but when he tried to return with a powerful spell of his own it fizzled. “D-dammit!”
Flapping her wings lazily Linette closed on Laharl. “Aww, is the cute pony Overlord out of mana? What a shame.” With a surprise burst of speed she closed the gap and back handed Laharl hard across the muzzle. Normally a succubus preferred to deal with her opponents with magic and guile but she wanted to use as little of her drained mana reserves as possible. Even with the brat being reincarnated to level one, slapping him still felt like hitting a brick wall. She feared he wouldn’t even feel it but he was indeed reeling.
“So inconvenient, losing all your levels like that. Oh! But on the plus side your base stat increases are up right?” Grinning wickedly she dove after the young Overlord as he struggled to his hooves shaking off the slap. Clenching her fist tight she prepared to deliver the finishing blow, when out of nowhere a rope lashed around her neck snapping taut. Her eyes bulged wide as the air was abruptly cut off and she snapped backwards crashing to the ground painfully.
Groaning softly she followed the rope to its source. It was yet another demonic pony! This one in gleaming green armor trimmed in red. She was covered entirely in the ridged plates of metal all the way up to her muzzle. Between the armor and her strangely metallic looking hat perched atop her head, all that was visible of her face were the gleaming green eyes with the demonic pupils. “Reckon that’s about enough outta you missy.”
Snorting contemptuously Linette tried to tug the rope out from under the hooves of the armored pony. She may as well have tried tugging the mountain Canterlot made its home on with the rope. She couldn’t see the ponies face but she had the distinct feeling she was smirking at her. Snarling with rage the snared demoness sent a line of fire racing across the rope incinerating it as it grew in size to a raging inferno by the time it reached her quarry.
Applejack didn’t even try to avoid the magical flames. She casually tilted her hat down to cover the rest of her face and allowed them to engulf her. With a cry of triumph Linette leapt to her feet. “Idiots! You can’t match my power!”
Her eyes soon widened as the flames died down revealing an unharmed Applejack. “Well lookee there. An here I thought you were some big shot fancy magic pants.” Linette’s fear grew as the mare slammed a forehoof into the ground causing a noticeable tremor through the area. “S’pose that means it’s my turn right?”
Wanting no part in fighting this armored behemoth, Linette spun on her heel prepared to grab Laharl and fly off. She was met with the grey mare from earlier standing protectively in front of the dazed Overlord. “I’m sorry darling, were you planning on leaving so soon? I thought you’d like to meet one of my dearest friends first.”
Judging by the heavy booms coming from behind her Linette correctly guessed the pony had kicked into a charge. Snapping her wings open she leapt from the ground flying as quickly as she could into the air. She was momentarily confused when the sound of the armored pony charging stopped and risked a glance downward.
Rarity had gathered Applejack in her magic and flung her through the air to collide unerringly with the fleeing demoness. Wrapping her armored forelegs around the shrieking demons neck she briefly wondered exactly how somepony was supposed to buck another in mid-air. Bringing her head back she snapped her armored forehead into the very un-armored forehead of the possessed Trixie. The reaction was immediate as her eyes went crossed and her wings stopped flapping. Applejack shoved her away and was caught by her unicorn friend, gently levitated to the ground.
Linette wasn’t quite so lucky and she crashed head first to the ground below. A scowling Laharl looked from Applejack to Rarity. “You gave HER my mana too?!”
Sighing at his over dramatic tone Rarity rolled her eyes. “Well my magic wans’t working against that wretched creature. Yours wasn’t either. I thought perhaps a non-magical solution would be in order. And I was right, wasn’t I?”
The argument stopped as a slim white skinned hand reached out of the small hole the demons impact caused. Linette hauled herself up and out leaving the once-again fully pony Trixie unconscious behind her. “You…you killed me…”
Frowning faintly Applejack cantered up casually. “Land sakes girl you’re just as big a drama queen as Rarity. Uh…no offense of course Rares.”
The only slightly offended unicorn rolled her eyes. “None taken.” Though she didn’t hide all the sarcasm. “And Applejacks right darling. While we may have given you a sound thrashing Trixie’s likely in far worse shape than you.”
The three ponies could feel their fur stand on end as Linette’s mid-section began to glow with expanding mana. “I wasn’t…talking about YOU…”
Acting quickly Rarity snared the unconscious Trixie from the hole and broke into a gallop away from the doomed demoness. Confused as to what was happening but not wanting to stick around and find out Applejack raced after her friend. Only Laharl remained. He was feeling the strangest twist in his guts over her coming fate. “…sorry. That you’re gonna die I mean.”
The look of pain contorting the demoness’ features turned to one of surprised. “…you really are. Aren’t you?”
“Don’t make a big deal of it! Malbreche is a shitty Overlord if he just throws away his vassals when they screw up! My vassals are the biggest bunch of bumbling idiots in any Netherworld but I’d never do this! It’s just…” His voice softened. “It’s not right.”
Another surge of mana raced through the dying succubus and she had to grit her teeth from crying out in pain. “…thank you Overlord Laharl.”
Nodding once he turned to run, only to be stopped short by a flash of purple before his eyes. Twilight took in the scene with alarm. “You’re hurt! What happened?! Who’s she?!”
“She’s about to explode like the last one. We need to go!”
Linette was unable to hold in the anguished wail of pain as she began to near her explosion point. Twilight looked from her to Laharl wide-eyed. “No. Nopony else is dying. We have to help her!”
Laharl shook his head scowling. “You can’t. The only way to help her is if….” He frowned faintly. “…you have to get all of her old Overlord’s mana out of her, and replace it with some of yours. If you do it quickly enough you might save her.”
Mana transference wasn’t a terribly complicated concept for the magical prodigy. Twilight raced to Linette’s side, horn glowing brightly as she began to draw the killer mana from the demon’s body and expel it into the air. Eyes wide the demoness watched as Princess Twilight Sparkle funneled the massive amount of power out of her body and into the sky forming a wickedly swirling pillar of red and black magical energy.
She looked to Laharl, confusion clear in her eyes. He nodded once toward Twilight and the succubus shifted her focus back to the Princess. She felt her connection to her former Overlord severed entirely as the last of his mana was forced out of her. Though with that gone she was also losing hold of her physical form. “Th-thank you...miss. I’m still a goner but at least dissipating is a lot more pleasant than exploding. Sorry for…all the trouble.”
Looking back to Laharl for confirmation, at his nod Twilight swung back around to focus on Linette. “I’m going to try and give you some of my mana alright?”
Laharl stepped up to Twilight’s side gazing down at the fading demoness. “You have to give her a good sized chunk. Refill her entirely with your own energy.”
A bit daunted at the task but determined that no more life was being lost in Equestria Twilight nodded. Her horn flared again as her brightly glowing violet mana infused the form of the dying Linette. Soon a bright sheathe of purple light cut off the royal pairs’ view of her.
Laharl couldn’t hide a triumphant smirk as the light faded. A pegasus mare lay where the succubus had moments ago. Her coat a brilliant reddish pink color like her hair had been, her mane and tail were jet black. She was a bit more well-rounded in the flanks than the other ponies he’d seen and her fur was definitely puffier around the chest but she was a pony through and through.
Twilight wobbled on her hooves and was pleasantly surprised when Laharl moved to support her weight. “What…what happened to her?”
Looking from the recovering pegasus to the Princess leaning on his side Laharl frowned thoughtfully. “Congratulations. You’ve created your very first vassal.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Wh-what?!”
Jaw set firmly Laharl looked to the distant Canterlot. “It’s time you took me to meet your Princess. It’s about time you learned the truth about yourself, and your world.”
Looking from the confused pony recovering at her hooves then to Laharl’s unusually determined features Twilight Sparkle had the distinct feeling her life was about to change forever.