//------------------------------// // Mission 17: The Demonic Maw // Story: Devil hunter among Ponies // by Dusk Stalker //------------------------------// Authors Notice: Were about one secret mission and very close to the end, regarding epilogues, there will be one unless there is clamoring for another story then there will be a second epilogue. You can guess what the Secret mission will be about, but you will see when it pops. MISSION START!! Canterlot Twilight could not believe what she was seeing, none of them could as they were running through the streets of Canterlot and made their way to the castle. They could see blood coating the walls or splattered among the clean streets, adding more to the group's fear. But the one thing that would never get out of their minds, were the bodies and the screams of pain that littered the air. The night absorbed all the agony and pain and bathed itself in it, making the bare thought of the noise almost... Like ecstasy to one pony, one with a sadistic mind and a terrible heart. She could see the gaping hole in the sky, radiating with its evil energy and permeating its stench from it, the six couldn't believe it either, all sharing the same reaction as Twilight, tears and a broken hope as they ran to the castle hoping to get some answers, hoping to at least find out if they can do anything, Hoping that some pony was alive. Canterlot Castle Elements Vault Vergil could feel the familiar tug of the portal pulling his heart, he could feel the steps he took in the demon world and the trials he had to face in order to reach his goal, he could feel the sorrow that lay within its world as he looked up into the sky as a lightning crackled around the portal, it was all too familiar. Celestia and Luna, on the other hand, were afraid and curious, mostly afraid, they could feel the energy of the demon world pouring out, they too could feel the tug of the demon world calling them, whispering to them. The corruption that they once felt from the corrupted elements was nothing compared to this, never in their years of ruling the sun and the moon would they live to this much evil into their land. But on the other hoof, or hand, they could feel some sort of...serenity. Uncommon, but they could feel a whisper in their hearts lulling them to sleep, to gorge themselves on the corruption, tempting them to give in to the demonic power, to embrace it all and show no fear or remorse. But they had a stronger will as both of them fought it off, knowing that their first goal was protection of their home...nothing more than that. "Princess!" Celestia and the others turned to see the six galloping towards them as they skidded to a halt right in front of Celestia, a disgruntled but tired Twilight gasping for air "We... Dante... White light." “Twilight, take a few deep breaths, calm down for a few seconds and tell me everything that happened." Celestia reassured Twilight, as she was heaving in a few deep breaths. Vergil could see Twilight and the others taking peeks at the hole in the sky, the only odd part for Vergil, was that no demons were pouring out, not even a Bloodgoyle, but he kept his hand near Yamato, waiting for that single head to pop, that wing or any part of the body would be greeted by Yamato and Beowulf. Luna was looking up at the sky too, seeing the reflection of the portal, feeling how Nightmare Moon was trying to force herself out, she could feel her fury stirring inside of her and the energy of the demonic realm only fueling that rage by only a little. Vergil took notice of it, as he felt Nightmare's presence trying to force herself, he could see Luna sweating and worried by the look on her face, as she was doing everything she could to keep her down, he laid a hand on Luna's head and looked into her eyes, she was blushing like mad, but knowing what he was doing, as she felt Nightmare's presence wither down to nothing. This was it, the time to tell him, she gathered up her courage and tried to let his name out... “Vergil." The half demon turned to Celestia, who now seemed worried, she could see something hidden behind those eyes but she made it clear, she gestured for him to come over, the six were gone as he could see Pinkie hopping into the castle. Celestia also gestured with a simple nod to leave them alone for a while, Luna looked like she was about to protest but catching Celestia and Vergil's look, she complied as she headed off towards the castle. Now, Vergil and Celestia were alone, the only noises in the background were distant hooves and the noise of the lifting ground that held the only entrance to the demon realm. “From what Twilight told me, it seems they found the Elements but it seems to not have a form or shape," Vergil nodded as Celestia continued, "And to top it off, it seems Dante was left behind, telling them to go from whatever was coming after them." “And you fear the worst for my brother?" Vergil said. “Yes." Celestia answered, “I don't know if he can face whatever it was that was in the tomb." “My brother is a buffoon, a fool," Vergil stated, the next thing was really going to take half his strength to admit, "But he isn't a fool when it comes to fighting an opponent, he stayed behind for reasons beyond me and for all his heroic fervor, it is unknown whether it was out of good intentions or that idiotic 'fun' he has." “I see." Celestia seemed a bit assured, but not totally assured as she turned to the present event that was shadowing them, "Well... I was hoping Dante would be on time to help with this," She gestured to the portal to the Demon World, "But now I don't know if we are able to do anything, even with the Elements of Purity." “Not entirely." Vergil stated, which made Celestia's head perk up her spirit seem to be waxing at the answer he provided, Vergil sighed, “When the Demon World was opened in my world, the only way it closed was separating the amulets when me and my brother fought." “You fought each other?" Celestia was surprised at this as Vergil nodded, “Three times, the final one took place in the realm that is now threatening your world." But he shaved it off as he coughed a bit, “But the matter at hand right now." Celestia gasped and giggled a bit despite the conditions this land was facing knowing there was a way to stop this. “The amulets you had were the only thing keeping the portal to the Demon World open?" Celestia asked. “They are anchors merging that realm with any other, but there are many ways to enter the demon realm or to open it." Vergil answered. “So what are you saying?" Celestia knew what the answer was, but she wanted to see if he would confirm it. “I am saying that, whatever he is using, anything that is solid, that can hold a tremendous amount of power, can be destroyed or any method that can be done with it." Vergil explained as Celestia's spirits rose at this news as she answered what he was explaining. “So you are saying that, if we separate or make it a null anchor, the Demon World will shut?" “Yes... But there is an obvious catch." Vergil took a few steps forward towards the portal, feeling the familiar tug and the pain it wrought when he took his first steps, “In order to do, one must enter the demon world and deal with whatever is holding the very entrance between the two realms." “I gathered as much." Celestia kindly answered, but she finally asked the one question that was on her mind the whole time when he mentioned anchors, “Do you think the Elements of Harmony will be the same? Do you think the Elements of Purity can rid of the corruption from the Elements of Harmony and return them to their normal state?" Vergil contemplated it for a while, as he tapped his foot, he had heard about the Elements of Harmony from Luna, about how they were used against her and how she was banished for a thousand years to the moon, When the six arrived, he could sense something in them, something clear and true, but wild at the same time, knowing it had no intention to harm anyone or any pony in this matter. Vergil sighed as he gave his answer, “Those are your items that are corrupted and one that I have no knowledge of, beyond that I do not know." Celestia drooped a little, knowing that it may or may not work, that there was the possibility of destroying them, Vergil gave a very tiny smirk, which could not be noticeable at a distance, ‘Somehow, Dante makes this easy.’ As Vergil turned to Celestia, he said, “But it doesn't mean we can't put that theory to test." Celestia grinned knowing that it would be given a chance at least as Vergil turned to the portal, the tip of Yamato's scabbard set on the ground as his hands were still around the handle. Celestia immediately whispered something into some mist, as her horn was glowing a golden hue, six mists shot into the castle, content with the situation that Vergil presented, she looked at Vergil and noticed he was scratching his arm, she could sense, barely past his demonic energy, the keyword being barely because just being able to pierce through that energy almost took half her concentration, but she managed to penetrate through it to see a dim blue glow around his arm, and it seemed Vergil didn't notice, during her time examining it she could recognize what it was as she took a few steps back as Vergil kept scratching his arm. "Luna has marked him... But that means..." That hasn't been used since the days of old, her mother told them such tails on how an alicorn would mark their cutie mark on a pony or any other creature, whether it would be Gryphon or Donkey, it was a sign of an Alicorn’s trust and friendship, how they knew this creature to be truly trustworthy despite their attitude meant, the faint glow around the mark meant something more than trust... Beyond friendship and trust... She thought to herself that it was just a fickle thought, something to dust aside, but seeing the faint aura around the mark confirmed her suspicion that- “Princess?" She was interrupted by Twilight and the other five behind her, Applejack and Rainbow Dash seemed confident but on the inside they were scared out of their minds. Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie seemed to be a bit nervous, mostly on Twilight and Rarity's side, Pinkie seemed to have green things right next to her leg which had a pinkie smile on the face which Vergil could see out of the corner of her eye was a grenade. "Don’t worry Vergy; these aren't real grenades, THEY ARE PARTY GRENADES !" Vergil's was looking around to find the source of the voice only to see Pinkie hopping right in her spot. "Did... Did she just read my thoughts?" Vergil thought. "Yeppity Yeppers, and sorry about your appearance that's coming up in January, Fedoras don't seem to match with you." Pinkie answered in her cheery voice, Vergil began to question and only one answer came to him that pretty much rectified the situation with Pinkies random mind reading abilities. "...... What ?" Vergil decided that answer would suit it rather than question on how it happened, better that way. “Princess, you're saying that, there could be a chance to save Equestria after all?" Vergil now paid attention to Celestia and the others, as he could see Luna walking out of the castle. “Yes Twilight, as Vergil said, we need to destroy the anchor, getting rid of the corruption in the Elements of Harmony could also do it, but it’s just a theory." “B-b-b-but that m-means... That we have to go in..." Fluttershy was pointing to the gaping maw of the Demon World as Celestia nodded, she gave Fluttershy a warming smile as well as the others, "I have faith you girls can do it... But you aren't going alone." This managed to make every pony perk up at this bit of news. “You’re going to come with us right, your majesty?" Rarity asked excited to know they wouldn’t be alone, but Celestia shook her head as cleared her throat, “Vergil will be accompanying you girls into the Demon World." Vergil barely snorted at this bit of news as he called it in his head. “But why your majesty?" Applejack asked. “He has been in the demon world; along with Dante, I take it you know the reason." Applejack and Fluttershy seemed a bit uneasy as they played with their hooves a bit they remembered it clearly in their head. “I would have asked Dante to come with you and have Vergil stay here in case anything else comes out of the gate." Celestia explained as she could see sense the nervousness of the six, along with Luna, whose nervousness was more uneasy than the rest. "But hang on a second," Rainbow Dash said butting in a bit, Vergil was on her mind but she had to get one thing out of her head, "We don't have the Elements of Purity, so how can we hope to put this theory of purifying the Elements of Harmony to the test if we don't have squat?" Celestia looked only at Twilight and Rarity, they were showing the most out of them that they indeed had the Elements of Purity, but it would come in time. “I have faith that you already have them." Rainbow Dash was about to ask what it meant but was suddenly quiet when Celestia had a kind smirk on her face, “I have faith, despite Vergil's wishes that he will make sure you are safe." “But-." Celestia quickly returned to Twilight who was about to nervously rebuttal a bit, but knowing her teacher and the faith she had with her when she was her student, she quickly set it aside. "Twilight, I will always have hope and faith that you will always pass insurmountable odds, I am asking you to not question but have faith, that you can save Equestria, that is all I have ever asked Twilight." Celestia gave Twilight a motherly smile as she nuzzled her cheek, "I will always have faith my little ponies, and you are the one that I chose to become my student, I always had faith in you when you were hatching Spike, I always knew you would defeat Nightmare Moon and Discord; And I know, that you can save Equestria from the demons, along with your friends and Vergil." “But what abou-." It seemed Pinkie was the only one to bring it up, the one absent being here that struck most of their chords, Vergil sighed as he turned his attention to the girls. “I know my brother." Was the only thing Vergil said to the girls, Vergil knew Dante would come, despite the foolish and flippant nature of Dante, he would no doubt come. ‘You sure know how to throw a party, No food, no drinks...and the only babe just left.’ Knowing him, Dante would make a grand entrance, an habit Vergil couldn't stand about his brother, one of the million habits he couldn't stand about him. Before anypony could ask, Celestia looked at Vergil, her eyes looking into his blue eyes, she could see why Luna fell for him, but pushed it aside, barely once she had talked with her about Vergil, but she could see, despite his cold nature; that he would do it anyway. Vergil knew what she was going to ask and held out a hand, "I will do it." Vergil approached the foot of the lift to the demon realm and gestured the girls to come, but before Vergil could take a step in- " Vergil." The half demon turned to see Luna, looking a bit embarrassed and blushing madly, "There is something I have been wanting to tell you. Something I need to know." Luna was trying to find the words to tell him, knowing that it could happen, " I-." "Luna." Vergil said as she stopped knowing, hoping he was going to take the words right out of her mouth, but it didn't happen, as he took a step into the lift entering the demon world, he was casually lifted off the ground and floating up to the gate effortlessly, he looked down to see Twilight enter the lift, but with a bit of hesitation as she let out a gasp to feel her whole body feel weightless and being lifted off the ground, the others followed suit as they let out gasps even Rainbow Dash who could have flown up there but wanted to know what it felt like. Vergil could see the entrance closing in, knowing if he took one step back in, he would come... One hundred percent back with vengeance, as he was closer to the gate. Even if they did manage to defeat Dreadwing, there would be no doubt he would track him down. "I am ready for you this time...Mundus." "There is no turning back." Authors Notice: They are entering the Demon World, and we are getting closer to the end. Don't worry about the Last Secret Mission, you'll know when it comes:) I hope you enjoyed the mission and don't be afraid to leave a review. Chapter proofreaded by LyonAzakura. Authors Notice: They are entering the Demon World, and we are getting closer to the end. Don't worry about the Last Secret Mission, you'll know when it comes:) I hope you enjoyed the mission and don't be afraid to leave a review. And sorry Lyon if you are reading this, I am in a bit of a rush hopefully to get to the near end when Season 3 starts. So next chapters are all yours:)