//------------------------------//
// Episode 3: Fresh Start of a Nightmare - Part Four 
// Story: All is for my Princess 
// by Hoppa_21 
//------------------------------//

It didn’t take long for us to walk up to the ‘Castle of the Two Sisters’. A name that certainly has to be revised to a more fitting one that represents the Princess of the Night better. But that can wait for now as we still have a tour to guide.

Jason looked around, his hands in his pockets. “Geez, is this place a dump in every universe?”

I mused as I looked at the decrepit castle, “It looked better back then in the moonlight. But I guess our little coup did cause some damage. I can’t say for other universes though, since I have all hands full and am also lacking the proper knowledge of such travel. Though I assume with a bit of research and your little trinket I could use one of our demon portals to pass through other universes. Maybe the Gate Keeper I hired might be of help then.”

Jason chuckled, putting a hand on a wall. “I’ll save you one trip. I rule the Everfree from here. Though, we turned this place into a changeling hive.”

“Save one trip?” Luna asked inquisitively.

“We live in another version of Equestria,” Bartz reminded, “Jay rules over the Everfree and the town of Valhalla. He tends to butt heads with King Aspen a lot.”

Jason nodded. “After Fenrir broke Canterhorn mountain, a good number of Canterlot’s citizens moved into the Everfree. We rebuilt the old village that surrounded the castle.”

“So, what are you offering with this saved trip?” I asked as we neared the castle doors.

Jason gave me a flat look. “It’s a figure of speech. You just said you’d look into go to other universes and I’m ‘saving you a trip’ to mine by telling you about it. It’s not that hard to grasp.”

I huffed, “You mentioned a place called Valhalla, so I wasn’t sure if you meant your universe or another one in which you are active. Remember that I have no knowledge over your universe, just like you have no knowledge of mine. For example the story of how the demons came to exist in this world.”

Just in that moment we reached the castle entrance. The two large doors were quickly swung open for us by two well-trained buff Night Guards. Aurora gave a curt nod to them as we marched through the double doors, before they were quickly shut behind us.

In the castle we were greeted still by the holes in walls and ceiling like expected, but the guards also had taken the time to roll out a nice night blue carpet in the corridor. And as I was seeing they were also currently covering up the holes with foils for now to protect it against the weather.

We quickly trudged along as Aurora led us, while bragging over how her guard is making quite some progress in making this castle the home of the Night Princess.

Soon enough we reached the foyer. It was a large room, which led to the different parts of the castle with doors on the side and stairs leading up to the throne room. We however turned left walking along some stairs to another big room. The room we would meet most of the important staff in this castle.

As we walked by we could see a few bat ponies and demons walking around setting up a shop. Among them was a thestral with a white coat and blonde hair with twirled pigtails and a small golden crown with embedded rubies on her head. Her red eyes twinkled mischievously as she looked at the progress, while her two small fangs protruded from her muzzle. She wore a victorian-styled dress, which had holes in the back clearly to let her leathery white wings roam free and she had her hands on her hips. She was smaller than the average mare and also had a rather small bust, much to her own chagrin, but it didn’t take away her confidence as was clearly seen at how she commanded some bulky guards and demons around to do her every bidding. In this case the bidding of setting up her shop in the castle.

A counter could already be seen that was along the wall in an L-shape. At the edge where the counter knicks a skull was placed, while supplies were strewn behind the counter. There also was a door behind the counter. No doubt for storage purposes.

“Ah, Rose. I see you are already putting up your shop,” I said in greeting.

She turned to us with a cocky smile, beaming at our group with pride.

“You better bet your fluffy little butt I do! He, fluffy.”

I skillfully rolled my eyes before gesturing to the Princess.

“Ignoring that… Princess this is Rose, CEO of Rosen Queen Co. She will equip us with armor and weapons, as well as potions and other items that might come in handy.”

“Tis a pleasure,” The Princess said with a nod.

Rose grinned as she held her hand up in a high-five motion.

“Put ‘em here Princess!”

Luna smiled shyly as she did just that, high-fiving this uncivilized mare.

Rose squee’d out of excitement before she pointed a finger at her face.

“You still remember me, right?” she then said excitedly.

But Luna only shuffled, as she nervously avoided her gaze, trying to remember where she met this energetic mare.

Rose seeing that the Princess luckily forgot her threw her hands up in annoyance.

“Come on! Don’t you remember me in court? I wanted Fenrich’s head back then since he stole from my new shop I set up in Canterlot?”

The Princesses eyes lit up in recognition.

“Ah, yes. You ended up giving one of the nobles a bloody nose, correct?”

Rose nodded excitedly.

“Exactly! That dude definitely got it coming!”

I simply got in between them, glaring at Rose for being all buddy-buddy with the Princess instead of minding her manners.

“You shouldn’t talk to the Princess like that!” I reprimanded her, “At least try to execute some proper etiquette!”

“You know me, Fenrich. Too poor for proper etiquette courses.”

“Says the richest being of Griffonia.”

“I will just act like I didn’t hear your blasphemy,” she then noticed Jason, “And who do we have here?”

Her eyes started to twinkle dangerously as she couldn’t help the grin on her face as she circled the unknown being, scanning every inch of him..

“Nice build, some waist length mane, almost like Fenrich’s, albeit definitely much more coarse…” she commented with interest, as her hands went through his hair.

Jason eyed her closely, reaching up and grabbing her hand. “Only Rares can molest my hair, thank you very much.”

Rose simply huffed while crossing her arms, “You got a real grump as a new friend, Fenrich, but then again, what do I even expect from such a grumpy puppy.”

I growled at Rose, who simply shrugged it off as she turned back to Jason, musing what piece of equipment would suit him best.

Jason was just about to say something as Rose snipped her fingers with an enlightened look gracing her features.

“Eureka! I just have the perfect thing for you! Really, high class armor! It just arrived today! Just give me a moment!” she said before jumping behind the corner and digging through some chests.

“I feel like I’m buying from Umbra again...” Jason grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

I allowed myself to grin as Rose was all too enthusiastically digging through pieces of equipment, throwing each piece she didn’t seem right behind her and littering the floor, much to the workers chagrin and disappointment.

“You get used to it,” was my simple answer.

Just then Rose seemed to have found what she was looking for as she let out a loud cheer drawing everyones attention. She then stepped in front of us, with her hands behind her back, clearly holding the piece of equipment with giddyness.

“Now prepare to be awed my grumpy friend! BIKINI ARMOR!” she said before almost thrusting her hands with the equipment into his face. In said hands were armor, yes, albeit like the name suggested it was made in the form of a bikini. Not to mention that it seemed several sizes too small for Jason.

Rose simply enjoyed this moment with closed eyes, waiting for the awe and praise and excitement her truly perfect armor for this being would bring.

Jason stared at the piece, then looked up at Rose. “Why?”

She then noticed Jason staring and registered his words at the piece of cloth. His stare wasn’t exactly ecstatic to say the least, neither were his words. A lightbulb when went on above Rose’s head.

“It’s the size, isn’t it? Don’t you worry none! All my products are enchanted to adjust to the size of the wearer! So even a wood golem could wear this nice piece of metal! Satisfaction guaranteed!”

Jason shifted his gaze to her. “Eh... no thanks. I have too many sets of armor as it is.”

“Come on, big guy! Here!” she then pulled a body-sized mirror to her side right behind her back, utilizing her pocket dimension I would guess and then stood by Jason’s side, a hand on his waist, while her other helt the bikini over his body, “You’d look absolutely stunning!” she squee’d and her cheeks turned a bit red too as she adopted a dopey grin, “In more than one way.”

Jason rolled his eyes, suddenly shifting form. I felt a bit of a blush as he transformed into a female version of himself. He eyed the mirror, shaking his head. “This makes terrible armor.”

Rose looked at this new female form with disappointment as she sighed, but got back into her role as saleswoman quickly, “It is enchanted. It might not cover all the important bits but has the Geo Effect Disperse woven into it, meaning even not covered places are getting just as well protected as covered ones. Or do you think I’m doing scams? I let you know that my goods are the best in all of Griffonia AND Equestria!”

Jason  blinked, resuming his original form. “Ah, so no Griffonstone here then.”

“Griffonstone? Did anything happen with the treasure of Griffonstone in your dimension?” I wondered out loud.

Bartz spoke up. “At some point, centuries ago, a creature stole the idol. Griffonstone’s government fell apart and until eighteen years ago, they lived in anarchy and abject poverty.”

“Hm, things went different here. Indeed a creature wanted to steal the treasure but my demon troops quickly took care of the creature. It was a real boon then that most demons and thestrals immigrated there then after the Demon Purge of Celestia started.”

“Demon Purge?” Luna asked hesitantly and I nodded sadly.

“Like I mentioned once earlier, after you were banished Celestia hunted down every thestral and demon. I helped them to evacuate to Griffonia just in time. Even Commander Hurricane and our other friends were helping out in that dire situation. The circumstances of course meanwhile relaxed and more demons can be seen in Equestria, but ponies are still sometimes judgemental and hold fear and hate towards such beings like myself. I can tell you more about that later, Princess.”

Rose meanwhile had her cheeks puffed out in a pout as she jumped between us, looking rather miffed, “Hey! Don’t barge into my business Fenrich! I still have the bikini armor to sell!”

Jason sighed, eyeing the set. “Fine, how much?”

“That makes 75,000 bits!” Rose said with a mad glint in her eyes as she thrust the bikini armor in Jason’s hands, “No refund!”

Jason stared at her, narrowing his eyes. “I’m not paying that much for armor. Not only do I not carry that on me, it's a gross misuse of funds.”

Rose pouts up at him even harder now, “Tightwad. You could simply go into the Item World and fight for 10 or 20 floors and then have the money ready. But if you really want to be that way...30,000 bits.”

“I’ll just give you diamonds, how about that?”

“Ooh! That would work too!” she said in excitement as stars twinkled in her eyes, before she got all serious and suspicious, “But no low quality! They have to be adequate! See the crown?” she asked rhetorically while pointing at her crown on her head, “I’m a girl with high standards, so you better not make me unhappy, comprende?”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Omnitrix, Diamond Head.” He shifted in a green flash, now a tall, blue being, that appeared to be made out of diamond.

Rose’s eyes went wide at this sparkling demonstration and her mouth formed into an ‘O’ of wonder. He morphed his hand into a blade, stabbing it into the floor. A burst of diamond spikes grew from the ground, reaching up to the ceiling.

Rose had a bit of trouble realizing what happened, but her brain caught up after half a minute and a huge grin split her features as she let out the most annoying squee I ever heard of her.

“I’M SO RICH RIGHT NOW!” Rose cheered as she jumped up and down, while flapping her wings in excitement, before taking flight and flying around the large diamond whooping. After a few rounds she then took course straight towards Jason her arms held out wide and tackled him in a big hug.

“Woohoo! Jason, buddy, I take back every time I badmouthed you and called you a grump! And I also give you a life discount for equipment, potions, cakes, the whole shebang! You really know how to treat a lady! Oh please, say you are single! I bet I have an engagement ring around here somewhere!”

Jason chuckled, patting her head. “I have a herd, but yeah, I’m married.”

“By Luna’s teats! I knew it!” Rose cursed as she let go of Jason, and let out a disappointed sigh, before a lightbulb went on over her head again, “...Say, do you have a twin brother?”

Jason shook his head. “I have a sister.” He reverted back to normal. “I never said my relationship wasn’t open though.”

“So there is still hope!” Rose squee’d, “Either with you or your sister! Faust really loves me! So many happy endings! I knew someday I would find my prince!”

Jason put his hand on her head. “Oi, relax. Just remember, don’t flood the market with all this diamond. You don’t want the value to go down ya?”

“Aye, sir!” Rose said with a smile while saluting. Another light bulb yet again went on over her head, “I better go and look up my old courting book! I’m so rusty when it comes to romance! I have to get back into the swing of things!”

With that she run off, her two twirled pigtails bouncing with each of her happy leaps she took.

I could only look on with a raised brow as I turned my head to Jason, “I hope you know what you are doing. Rose has...some unique tastes. God only knows how many times she tried to put me in bikinis or dresses. ...Then again, I’m glad if I don’t always have to deal with her.”

Jason chuckled. “I’m married to a changeling queen, it's fine.” He knelt down next to me, holding his arm out. The device chirped, passing a yellow light over me.

“I assume you are like a changeling, considering your shapeshifting capabilities. And this device, it is undoubtedly your way to accomplish it. Even though I would appreciate it if you ask for permission and don’t just scan me with it. I granted not many beings Lycanthrope demon genes. There were only two…” I said as my mood dropped slightly.

Jason stood back up. “Half right, I’m a natural shapeshifter. I’m jotun, or ice giant. The Omnitrix allows me to change into various alien species. It has over a million samples in it at the moment.”

“Over a million? You travelled through many different universes then I assume?”

“Nah, it came with over a million. I’ve added a few dozen, but nowhere near that much.”

“Ah. Yes, that logic is sound. I had some changes myself after meeting this...being. So it makes sense when I assume this device comes either from a game or maybe even a television series.”

Jason held it up, so I could get a better look. “What? Never watched Ben 10?”

“Ah, I heard about that series, but never got around to actively watch it. I personally also watched more animes and played more japanese games like Disgaea. Funny how that ended with me being an subservient right hand. Back then I would have never bowed to anyone.”

“And I never thought I’d be ruling a land of magical talking ponies,” Jason chuckled. “Or that I was the grandson of Hel.”

I nodded, “Yes, this situation is truly quite interesting. You will need to tell me more about this later. But we best postpone that for the Gate Keeper. Then we can establish a stable connection between our worlds too. I personally would prefer it to the usual summons. A portal offers more control after all.”

Jason nodded in agreement as we turned back to our tour guide.

Aurora meanwhile stared at us with a grin, clearly amused by the whole situation.

I ever so skillfully rolled my eyes.

“Just get on with the tour,” was my curt response to her grinning like a fool.

“Alrighty, hospital is next,” Aurora then said chipper as she led us towards our next destination.

I briefly wondered if the rest of the tour would be like this stop, but already knew the answer. This wasn’t going to be a normal tour. The staff I chose is...unique. Things going haywire is to be expected and it was not always comfortable. However, this craziness, no matter how much it sometimes annoys me also kept me somehow sane over the past millennia while I waited for the Princess. It reminds me of the things the Princess gifted me with and how she enriched my life. I somehow have grown fond of it, how crazy this might sound. I would never say this out loud though… Just looking at the satisfied face of Luna, as she takes in all this with clear nostalgia... This craziness felt like home. A home for the Princess of the Night. A home that was worth to protect.

...And maybe, just maybe, it could also be my home.