Just as I had predicted, trouble started the moment I tried to get on the train.
“Why don’t you go ahead, Armor,” I told the Captain, noting the stares from the other ponies.
“You sure?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “This is my problem.”
Shrugging, Shining Armor climbed on. But the moment I tried to follow him, the conductor blocked my path.
"I'm sorry..um...sir,” the conductor stammered. “But we're all full.”
“Really,” I mused. “Then why do you still have a car only half full?”
I pointed out the empty seats, but the conductor didn’t even give me an answer. With a panicked look at the empty seats, he slammed the door closed and locked it, racing away. An instant later, the train gave a loud whistle.
Rolling my eyes, I pulled my shotgun and blasted the door lock. Before the train could pick up speed, I hopped on, quickly finding Shining Armor staring out a window.
Sheathing my boomstick and making sure my chainsaw was off, I took the seat next to him. As we sat in silence, I noticed the concern and conflict on his face.
"You okay, Armor?" I asked.
"I'm worried about Twily," he replied, lowering his head. "I couldn't protect her. A-and she called for you first over me. Over her own brother.” He sighed. “Then again…”
"We'll get her back," I assured him. I noticed the glint of a blade coming behind us. “Assuming these idiots don’t get in our way.”
Before Shining Armor could ask what I meant, I whipped my gun out, pointing it at a grey pegasus pony with the armor of a royal guard, and a sword in hand.
“Step away from the Prince!” the pony growled, pointing his blade at me.
"Stand down, soldier,” Shining Armor ordered.
"But sir!”
Before he could protest, I adjusted my aim… and sent a round into his foot. The pegasus fell to the ground, shrieking bloody murder.
Tossing my gun to Shining, I yanked the guards helmet off and pulled him up by the straps of his armor. Slamming my head into his, I ceased his screaming and dropped his body to the ground. The rise and fall of his chest indicated he still lived, but every pony still stared at me in abject horror.
I glared right back at them. “Anyone else?!” I demanded.
The ponies jumped before squishing themselves into their seats, trying to make themselves look as meek and submissive as possible. Kicking the unconscious guard away, I sat next to Shining. The captain was holding my broomstick like a teddy bear, staring down at the guard with disbelief.
"How'd you…?” he began, but I just smirked.
"Celestia's order was that I couldn’t kill anyone,” I pointed out, watching as a nearby unicorn dragged the beaten pegasus away, and started using magic to heal his wound. “I didn’t kill him,” I added with a grin.
Shining stared at his guardsman, blinking slowly as he processed that fact. “Huh.”
“There’s always a loop hole if you know where to look,” I concluded, before taking my gun from him. However, after a moment’s pause, I handed it back.
“What…?” He tried to ask.
“If Celestia’s spell keeps me from killing the things that took your sister,” I pointed out. “Then you’re gonna need to know how to use this baby.”
Shining Armor’s eyes widened, and he started trying to handle the boomstick like it was a spear.
“First things first,” I said, “Finger off the trigger.” He moved it in haste. “Now, there are two rules with weapons like this: Rule 1; don’t aim unless your going to use it. And Rule 2; never put your finger on the trigger unless you plan to pull it.”
Shining Armor adjusted his grip. “Got it,” he said.
I took the gun from him, popping it open and showing him the shells.
“This is a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun,” I explained as he examined the shells. “Those shells are packed with primer, metal pellets, and gunpowder.” I showed him where the switch was. “Hit this switch to eject spent shells. New ones immediately take their place.”
Sure enough, we both noticed new shells in place of the ones in his hands. Shining nodded, his eyes creased in concentration.
“Now for the most crucial part,” I continued. “When facing a deadite…”
“Deadite?”
“The demonic spirits who inhabit a human - or in this case pony - body.” I jabbed a thumb behind us. “The things that took your sister.”
He gulped. “Right. Sorry.”
“A piece of advice for you,” I continued. “Is that once they’re possessed, they’ll do anything to try and trick you. Lower your guard and make you easy to kill. And sorry to say it, but the only way to expel the demon is to kill the host.” I flipped the shotgun closed. “So always aim for the head.”
Shining Armor’s coat somehow got more pale, but he managed a nod. “Okay.”
A thought crossed my mind. “And also,” I added. “Don’t let them bite you. They can infect whatever they bite and take control of it.” I flashed the chainsaw at him. “That’s how I ended up with this.”
Shining Armor blinked at the sight, but before he could ask for details, we felt the train slow. And when we glanced out the window, we found the small town of Ponyville coming into view.
The instant the train stopped, every pony bolted off the train in fear.
“Gee,” I said mockingly. “I wonder what’s got them so scared.”
Shining Armor glared at me before rolling his eyes with a sigh.
Sheathing my shotgun and with Shining Armor by my side, we left he train and made our way to the Everfree.
"Remember what I said,” I added. “If you see a cabin in the woods, do not, and I mean do NOT, enter. Just find Twilight, kill the demon, and get out. Simple.”
Shining Armor’s gaze flicked to ahead of me. “I wouldn’t say completely simple,” he noted.
Before I could ask for details, I heard an odd ‘EEEEEEEE’ like a pinwheel. I spun, and found a pink blur launching at my face.
"OhmyyournewhererightohcourseyourareI'veneverseenyoubeforeheywhathappenedtoyourhandandwhydoyouhavealargeswordattachedtoitwhere'dyoucomefromwhat'syourfavoriteflavorofcake!”
It was only thanks to my memory of the show - and more specifically, Andrea Libman’s Pinkie Pie - that I didn’t gut her the second she launched at me. Shoving her off me and trying to ignore her drone of chatter, I accepted the hand Shining Armor offered me, getting back to my feet.
“Sorry about that,” he said, even though the grin he had didn’t indicate that much regret. “I probably should’ve warned you about Twilight’s friends.”
I brushed myself off, glancing over at Pinkie as she bounced eagerly, still chattering like a squirrel.
“Believe me,” I said. “There’s no warning that can prepare me for that.”
It was honestly nice, in a weird way. Everyone else in Ponyville was just giving me the same fear filled looks, but Pinkie Pie just kept bouncing and skipping after us, acting like we were the greatest thing since cake.
Not that long after her enthusiastic welcome, we were graced with more neutral looks from four other familiar mares:
A white unicorn with styled purple hair and tail, wearing a light blue dress with frilled sleeves, a black form-fitting skirt, a sapphire-jewel bracelet around her left wrist and a pair of red heels. An orange earth pony with a Stetson hat atop her head of blonde hair, tied near the end with a red hair tie. Her attire consisted of a red flannel that was tied just below her breasts, a pair of jean shorts, and a pair of cowgirl boots. A cyan pegasus with a rainbow hair and tail, with clothing that looked like something from a airforce veteran; white shirt under a leather jacket that had a lightning bolt with wings on it with a pair of gray pants and plain sneakers. Sunglasses hung from her shirt collar right above a pair of dangling dog tags. And finally, a meek looking yellow pegasus shivering in the background, her long pink hair covering her face, and a long-sleeved green sweater covering her body. Fitting enough, since I could feel a slight chill in the air. Aside from the sweater, she also wore a pair of white pants.
"What in tarnation is that with ya, Captain Armor?” the orange earth pony asked Shining, in a voice I recognized as Ashleigh Belle's Applejack.
"Yeah what are you?' the cyan pegasus asked me, oddly enough also in Ashleigh Belle's voice. Though this time in the rough, scratchy tone of Rainbow Dash.
"Ugh,” Tabitha St. Germaine's voice shivered, now in the more delicate tone of her character Rarity, “And what are those horrid rags you are wearing?” She scrunched up her nose in disgust.
"Um…” Andrea Libman's voice whispered, now in the meek voice of Fluttershy. “I think there's something wrong with his hand.”
“Girls, if I could get a word in…” Shining tried to say.
"Shining, what are ya doing here?” Applejack asked. “I thought Twilight was in Canterlot with the princesses?"
“She was. But, you see.."
"She is,” I said over him. “But she needs me and Prince Armor to retrieve a special herb that grows deep in the Everfree Forest. So if you’ll excuse us…“
I pushed Shining Armor towards the forest, leaving the five mares discussing this new development among themselves.
"Why'd you lie to them?" Shining Armor whispered.
“I’m not causing anymore of a panic than I already have,” I whispered back. "If they knew that Twilight was in trouble, they would run head first into a danger that would make cancer seem like a zit.”
“They are loyal to her,” Shining admitted. “So… ignorance is bliss?”
"Ignorance is bliss" I answered, just as we reached the edge of the Everfree forest. I drew my gun. “Okay. Where are they?"
Shining fired up his tracker spell. The map of Equestria reappeared, and he zoomed it in on the Everfree, and a strange if slightly familiar ruin.
"It looks like the demon has stationed himself in the Castle of the Two Sisters,” Shining said pointing out a blinking dot with the confines of the castle ruin.
“Castle of Two Sisters?” I asked, trying to remember what that had been.
"It's Celestia's and Luna's old castle,” Shining Armor answered for me.
“Oh,” I mumbled. “Well, okay. Come on.”
Together, we headed down the path. Soon enough, we spotted the castle. But not without trouble that wasn’t deadite-related.
A rustling echoed in the trees above us. Without hesitation, I spun, firing a round and sending a rainbow blur out into the open.
“Dude, easy!” Rainbow Dash cried.
"Rainbow Dash?” Shining Armor demanded. “What are you doing?"
"Following you,” she replied with a shrug. “Got nothing better to do. And if Twilight sent someone with a sword for a hand, then it must awesome!” She lowered herself near me, glancing at my boomstick with intrigue. "What's that?” she asked, pointing at my weapon. “A wand enchanted with a destruction spell?"
“It’s the none-of-your-damn-business-wand,” I replied, pointing it back to Ponyville. “Now get the Hell out of here.”
Her grin faded. She flew closer and got in my face.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” she demanded, jabbing at my chest. I grinned.
"I'm someone with a shotgun aimed at your chest,” I say.
She looked down, and noticed the barrel of my gun aimed at her chest. And yet, she still held her grin, glaring up at me defiantly.
“Nice try,” she said with a smirk. “But you’re with Twilight’s brother, you wouldn’t dare…”
“Alright,” I replied, dropping the gun and grabbing her wings. “How about this?” I lifted my chainsaw. “If you don’t leave right now, I’ll cut your wings off and mount them on my wall of trophies!”
She said nothing, but judging by the wide eyed stare she gave me, I could tell she wasn't willing to push anything that got her wings involved. Kicking out of my grip and flipping me a gesture that probably wouldn’t have flown with the studio censors, she raced away in a rainbow blur.
"Was that really necessary?" Shining asked.
"She's gone, isn’t she?”
Shining opened his mouth to say something, before reluctantly closing it in defeat.
"Alright come on," I said, picking up my gun and reloading. "We've got a alicorn to rescue."
We continued towards the castle. A few timber wolves and a manticore tried to stop us, but fled for the hills the minute I fired a warning shot at them. I reloaded and continued.
When we reached a rickety wooden bridge, we started to hear the familiar voices of demonic deadites.
“Sounds like he’s not alone,” I commented, silencing my chainsaw.
Creeping up carefully across the bridge, I glared into the castle courtyard. No one was there, but I could still hear that demonic whispering.
"Come on,” I whispered to Armor. “And keep your guard up. They can literally attack from anywhere."
We moved like soldiers into the courtyard, before an idea came to me.
"Hey! Can that spell of yours tell us exactly where he is in this castle?”
Shining brought up his tracker spell, which had zoomed in on the Castle of Two Sisters, showing it in careful detail.
“Hmm…” he muttered as he watched the yellow dot blink around several other gray dots. “I’m not as familiar with this castle as Twilight and her friends are…”
“Hang on.” I pointed to the grey dots. “What are those?”
Shining peered at them. “Dunno,” he admitted. “But it looks like they’re stationed in the throne room.”
Jogging forward, I followed what seemed to be the path to the throne room. Shining struggling to keep up. Though it was a good thing; when I reached the throne room, I saw…
I backed up, pushing Shining back against the wall. “Those gray dots were deadites,” I commented.
Shining sighed. “Great,” he muttered, as I peered back inside.
There were at least six or seven of the possessed ponies. 12 more were bound in a circle in the center of the room. Before two cracked and ruined thrones, Twilight lay unconscious on a large slab of stone.
“W͡hy̨ b͢o͢t̶h͞èr̛ wįth͢ t͏h̴e̸se ponie͝s̨?” a deadite with a red coat and black hair demanded. “Y͠o̧u ̷hav̛e͟ ͞t̸h̀e͞ b̸oo̸k!”
“Ǐ̗ ca̽n̍’̹͛t͋ ̑rea͒d̳̽ ̼̾i̗ẗ́!ͭ” the mutated deadite that had taken Twilight growled, throwing the book next to Twilight. “T̶h͠is ͜po͏ny͡ i̕s͏ ̛the͠ o̢n͟l̨y͝ oņe w͜h҉o̵ c͜aņ.͟ She̸ ̕refu̶s͞e̡s t͟o…̸ ̸even w̛he̕n͞ ͘I̸ ͡thre̷a̡t̴en o̴ther͡ ͞poni̵e͠s͘!̧”
With a chill, I noticed the slash marks across the bodies of the bound ponies.
"S͙o̲͢,͉ͯ͞ ͌͘w̡h̵aͪt̝’̨s̘ ̌́t̪ͬ͝h̤̃ė ̛̬̐p̪l͊͞ạ̸n̥̓?̗͊" what looked like a humanoid bug demanded. "Ò̷ŭ͟r̢ Quͭeen̚ do͏es̀n̄'̉͘t ͜l̇͜i̓k͐e̽ ̸̂f͟a̡iͮļu͢re͜!̑͠"
The other deadites glanced at each other with a mutual shrug. With a hissing growl, the walking bug pulled a dagger from a sheath on his thigh.
My eyes widened. The dagger was… Kandarian!
I tried to stifle my gasp, but Shining heard me.
“What is it?” he asked, peering inside. His eyes widened as he beheld Twilight. “Twi…!”
I forced my hand over his mouth and pulled him back, but I could hear the growl of deadites detecting his scream.
“Are you fucking stupid?” I hissed at Shining.
Before he could respond…
“Ẉh͖a̸͓t w̸aś̪ ̸that̕?” the mutant demanded.
“A͟ ̧v̨i̴s̡it̢o̷r,͜ pe̡ŗha̵ps̨?” the bug deadite replied. I heard footsteps. Approaching both of us.
“I don’t suppose you have an invisibility spell or something?” I hissed at Shining.
Shining’s eyes widened, and I could feel his lips spread in a smile. He shut his eyes, and his horn glowed a bright pink. Seconds later, we both faded from sight. And not before time; we had barely blended in with our surroundings when the deadite stepped out. Standing inches from us, smelling the air.
With the chance for a closer look, I realized the bug human was actually a changeling. There was probably a story to that, but I didn’t have time for details.
Removing my hand from Shining's mouth, I slowly and quietly pulled out my gun and took aim.
Yet, as I aimed at his face… my resolve faltered. His eyes were white, but oddly surrounded by a green sheen as well. Not only that, but while the changeling had the demonic tone of a deadite, it’s face wasn’t mutated. It was like it was a full demon!
The changeling huffed. “Only t̵hi̵n̕g ͘I sm͠elļ is ̧p͜o̕n̴y ̶bl͠oód͟,” he dismissed.
I gave a relieved look to my bloodied chainsaw. For once, I was glad I had killed those ponies. Still, we waited until the changeling was gone and out of sight before Shining canceled the invisibility spell.
"Never let a deadite know where you are," I hissed angrily.
"But Twilight..."
"I know!" I struggled not to shout. "But if you pull that stunt again, not only are you going to kill yourself, they’re going to make you kill Twilight, and maybe try to kill me!” I drew Shining Armor’s sword from his belt and pressed it into his hand. “Now, one rule you need to follow when it comes to Deadites? Shoot first, ask questions never!”
Pushing Shining behind me, I peered back into the throne room. But the scene had changed. The mutated deadite was stabbing the mouth of one of the ponies, emptying their blood into a big stone bowl. Meanwhile, the changeling was carving into the body of another pony, pulling out a thin strip of flesh. The other ten bound ponies watched, too scared to scream or even whimper.
"Oh fuck" I whispered, adjusting my grip on my gun.
"What is it?” Shining asked, following my gaze.
"They're making another book!" I said. And without further explanation, I tore into the room, firing my gun at the nearest deadite.
Unfortunately, Celestia’s restriction came into place. I was only able to hit it in the chest. And while it did hit the ground stunned, it’s voice still worked fine.
"M͞ort̀a̷l̡s̡!!" yelled the mutant deadite.
The others charged. I swung my gun like a baseball bat, clobbering a deadite with a green coat. But as I swung in another arc, the deadites jumped back from me, fixing their gaze on Shining.
“Oh, fuck…” he mumbled as they leered at him.
“Armor, catch!” I roared, throwing him the gun.
Thankfully, Shining must have played some equivalent of baseball. He caught the gun out of thin air. Spinning with his fall, he shoved his sword into the chest of a deadite, finishing it off with a shot to the head. As the deadite fell, I ran for Shining Armor and used my momentum to power slide, slicing three pairs of legs from three deadite’s bodies. Jumping back to my feet, I stood back to back with Armor as the deadites surrounded us.
"So…” Shining Armor struggled to keep his voice level. “Any chance we can just take Twilight and leave?”
"Well, there are only four left,” I noted, stomping in the head of a deadite that tried to bite me. “Leave the bug and mutant to me and we might have a chance.”
Revving my chainsaw I stood my ground. But the deadites didn’t attack yet. The changeling and mutant exhanged a look.
"G͞et͏ the͞ gir͟l a͠n̕d͘ ̶dag̨g̡er͞s,” the changeling ordered. “T͝h͝er͠e's̴ ̀sti͏l͢l̶ t͏ime̛ t̴o͡ contiņue͝ ̸th̸e ̢r̢i͟t͠u̶al͠ l͢ate͝r͘!"
Nodding, the mutant raced to the lavender alicorn.
“Twilight!” Shining barked, before turning to me. “Give me your hand.”
Before I could ask, he threw my gun into the air, giving the deadites an open invitation to charge us. Without time to question him, I grabbed his hand.. and was lifted off the ground.
I recognized the maneuver!
Straightening my foot, I kicked all three deadites, throwing them back. With another spin, Shining launched me at the mutated deadite as he tried to grab Twilight. Aiming my chainsaw carefully, I plunged the weapon into his back. Turning back, I grinned as Shining caught the gun out of the air and shot another deadite’s head off.
"Twilight's the priority,” Shining barked to me, whacking the other two deadites with the gun butt like he was using a bo staff. “Get her and get out of here!”
I turned back to the mutant and prepared to pull the chainsaw up through his head… only for the collar to grow heavy again.
“Damn you, Celestia,” I snarled, before I pushed the chainsaw down, ramming it further into his body. The demon screamed in agony before falling to the floor. Ripping my chainsaw out of him, I raced over to Twilight. To my relief, her chest still rose and fell with life.
"Ash, look out!" Shining barked.
I turned… only to feel something stab my back. Knocking whatever had hit me back, I found myself dealing with the changeling. I swung at him with my chainsaw, but Celestia’s spell took over, and I only managed a glancing hit off his chest. The changeling laughed at my attempt and caught me by the shirt, throwing me across the ground. I hit the ground rolling, my eyes landing on Shining as he struggled agains the other deadite.
"Yơu wer̕é a̵ f̡o̶o͟l͟ ţo ̶c̷o̕m͝e ͜he̛re͞, mo͡rta͘l͟,̸” the changeling boasted, bearing down on me. “T͢h͡e ͟g̵i̕rl͠ ̛i̧ś the͝ onl͠y w͠ay͢ to ̀co̕nn̷ec̀t̕ o̢ùr ̸wo͡r̢l͠d ̷a͠n͠d bri͟ng ̴ęvi̵l ͡b͘ác͟k in͠to ͢thi̶s͘ ͢woŕl͘d͏. ̶A̵s ̵it d̷id be̶f͜or̸e ͟ţh͟a̧t b͢lasţed w̴i̢z̢a̧r̨d ͠ba͘ni͡s̢he͜d ͏th͞e̴ ̀bo͜o̧k!"
“Wizard?” I asked.
The changeling simply snarled and pounced, ready to claw my throat out. I readjusted my chainsaw, and once again, Celestia’s spell had no problems with impalement. But the Changeling didn’t scream in pain like others had. Instead, it pulled itself closer, snarling at me with those strange white and green eyes. Millions of questions plagued my mind, but only one got the chance to leave my mouth.
"How are you so much like a deadite, yet still in control!?"
"Be͞ca̕us̵e ţho̕śe ̕o̧t̛he̷rs͢ a̧re̡ ̷d͢ȩmo͜ns̡ pos̀s͞e͟s̵s̛iǹģ a̧ morta͘l̷ s̴he͜l̵l," The changeling explained. It grabbed me by the shoulders. “I̵ ͝am ̀a Trųe̡ D̸émǫn, g͞ive͡n͟ p̡h̡y̵s͜ica͘l fo̢r̢m!̴"
The changeling opened his mouth, displaying rows of razor sharp teeth.
"An̕d ̢o̧ur̡ ͡Q̷u͠e͏en s͏hal͝l f̷e̡as̴t͜ u͡pon̛ ̸yo͢ur so͟ul͞s!" the changeling proclaimed, before moving to bite my neck. But he paused as the ‘click’ of a reloaded shotgun sounded behind him. The changeling turned, finding himself staring down the barrel of Shining’s shotgun.
"Tell your Queen the kitchens closed," Shining growled, before pulling the trigger.
I was blinded by black-green blood, and hit the ground. Yanking my chainsaw from the demon’s remains, I wiped the blood from my face to find Shining Armor extending a hand to me.
"Thanks, man," I said with a grin, accepting the prince’s help in getting up. "Nice one-liner, too."
Shining handed my shotgun back with a grin. “I was hoping it’d work,” he replied, sheathing his sword while I sheathed my boomstick. While Shining raced over to Twilight, I went to untie the other living ponies. Unsurprisingly, the second I cut their bonds, they shot away from the castle, with barely any time to say thank you. Shaking my head at their antics, I walked back over to the siblings.
"Twilight?" Shining said nudging his sister. “Twilight!”
However, the alicorn did nothing
"Twilight?!" Shining started to yell, shaking her. "TWILIGHT!?” I went to touch him, but he spun to me, desperation entering his eyes. “Ash, she's not waking up! What's wrong with her?"
I looked over her. Her coat was a little pale, but she was still breathing.
“I… don’t know,” I admitted. My head lifted, remembering a certain shaman that lived in the forest. “But I might know who does.”
I unhooked my chainsaw, handing it to Shining Armor. Before he could demand an explanation, I picked up his sister bridal style before darting out. Leaving the castle ruins behind, we made our way through the forest until I found a familiar tree with a door and two windows. Without time for formalities, I kicked the door open, scaring the zebra inside almost out of her fur.
“What in Equestria could you be?!” Zecora demanded.
“Help!” I replied, holding Twilight out to her. Zecora’s eyes locked on her.
“Is that Princess Twilight Sparkle before me?”
“Yeah,” I gasped, struggling not to trip into her. “Help her!”
Zecora felt Twilight’s brow. Her eyes narrowed.
"She looks almost dead,” Zecora commented. “Quick put her on the bed! So, I may see what fills her with dread."
Obeying, I set Twilight on her bed. Shining Armor stood next to me, staring down at his sister with fear. But as Zecora tended to Twilight, a chill settled over me.
"Oh, shit," I muttered.
"What?" Shining Armor asked, turning to me.
"We forgot the Book!"