Chapter 5: A Generous Decision?
"So Lilith wants to redeem herself by bringing us all back to life huh?" Rainbow Dash said. "What are you going to do with her when shes brought us all back?"
"That's assuming she can first of all." Cadence said. "Her condition seems to be getting worse with each resurrection she completes."
"If everything does turn out successful, we plan to release her from imprisonment." Luna said.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean yea, shes been helping everyone and all now." Rainbow Dash said. "But who knows what could happen if you just set her free unsupervised!"
Concerning looks came over all their faces.
"I'm sure that she hasn't been entirely cooperative with you." Rainbow Dash said. "There must have been at least one outburst right?..."
"...It's true that before we resurrected you, she lost control of herself and killed several castle guards." Celestia said. "As well as attacking us too."
"You see! If we allow her to go free after all this, there's no telling how many more lives she'll take outside of Canterlot!" Rainbow Dash said.
"It wasn't her though! It's like a completely different entity takes her over..." Fluttershy said. "One that's a sadistic psychopath..."
"You mean her true self." Rainbow Dash said.
"Rainbow Dash lay off her! That's not her anymore! Shes changed!" Pinkie said. "She might still get those urges... but it's not her fault, and our decision to let her go free after this still stands!"
"Don't you get it? She-" Rainbow Dash said.
"Rainbow Dash, you may be right, but shes been giving you all back your lives." Cadence said. "The least we can do... is give her back hers as well."
"Look! She's waking up!" Fluttershy said.
Lilith's eyes opened slowly as she laid in the infirmary bed. She glanced up to look at everyone by her bedside.
"I didn't expect you to heal so fast, its only been a day since the ritual." Celestia said.
"I focused most of my healing to the vital organs, just so I could regain consciousness and speak." Lilith said. "I'm in no position to do anything else right now though, It'll take some time for the rest of my body to heal."
"That's fine, you take as much time as you need to recover." Cadence said.
Lilith turned to look at Rainbow Dash, who was glaring at her.
"Is something the matter?" Lilith said.
"...Hmph." Rainbow Dash said, turning to walk out of the room.
""Don't mind Rainbow Dash Lilith, she's just unsure if our decision to let you go free is the right one." Pinkie said.
"That's because it's not the right decision." Lilith said.
"W-What?" Fluttershy said. "But... don't you want to be free?"
"Of course, but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do." Lilith said. "You've seen me lose control of myself, who knows what kind of a rampage I'll go on when it happens again..."
"So... are you saying you want us to lock you up again after all this?" Celestia said.
"I don't want to be locked up again obviously, but with my instability it might be the right thing to do..." Lilith said.
Everyone was silent.
"For now, let's just finish up the other resurrections." Lilith said. "After everything is done, then you can decide what you want to do with me."
"Lilith..." Pinkie said sadly.
"Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep." Lilith said. "I heal quicker when I'm sleeping anyway."
Lilith closed her eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep. Everyone left the room and headed in their own direction. Pinkie walked into the courtyard, where she saw Rainbow dash sitting in front of the remaining graves.
"...So what's next?" Rainbow Dash said. "Tell her to get out here do the rest."
"It doesn't work like that Dash, she's in a lot of pain right now and she needs to rest." Pinkie said.
"How long is that gonna take?" Rainbow Dash said.
"Few weeks, maybe a month." Pinkie said.
"A month!? That's ridiculous! We're supposed to sit here and wait a month for her to wake up!?" Rainbow Dash said.
"Her body gets destroyed every time she resurrects someone and it gets worse every ritual!" Pinkie said. "She needs to rest!"
"I don't care what she needs! I just want the rest of my friends back!" Rainbow Dash said. "As far as I'm concerned, she hasn't been anything more than a nuisance since she came into her lives, and that's putting it lightly!"
"What is wrong with you!? You haven't even spoken with her since she brought you back!" Pinkie said. "She's changed! She isn't the same pony she was before!"
"I don't need to talk to her! All I know is that she is still the reason we were all killed!" Rainbow Dash said.
Yea, you're right, she is the reason we were all killed. But she's different now Dash." Pinkie said, walking up to Rainbow Dash. "If it wasn't for her resolve, Fluttershy wouldn't be here right now! I wouldn't be here right now! YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW!"
"...She's a demon." Rainbow Dash said directly. "That's what she'll always be, and that's what I'll always see her as."
Rainbow Dash walked past Pinkie and returned to the Castle. Pinkie turned around, glared at Rainbow Dash, and let out a disappointed sigh.
-1 Month later-
Lilith opened her eyes drearily and sat up from her bed. She looked around and noticed a nurse pony across the room.
"Excuse me." Lilith said. "But can you tell me how long I've been out?"
"Oh, you've finally awoken!" The Nurse said. "You've been out for about a month Lilith."
"I was afraid of that." Lilith sighed, getting out of bed. "Do you know where Princess Celestia is?"
"I think Celestia, Luna, and Cadence are in the Courtyard, the others might be with them as well." The Nurse said.
"How convenient." Lilith said. "I'll be heading over there now then."
Lilith walked out of the room and towards the exit in the back of the Castle. Before she entered the Courtyard, she heard arguing from behind the door.
"Rainbow Dash! You have to calm down!" Cadence said.
"I can't! I've waited long enough! I want my friends back!" Rainbow Dash said.
"I told you already! We have to wait for Lilith to-" Cadence said, noticing the Castle door opening.
"I've finally healed." Lilith said, walking towards the group.
"Lilith!" Pinkie exclaimed, running up to hug her." I'm so happy you're awake!"
"Thanks, but it'll only be for a few minutes, since I'll probably be back in the infirmary shortly after this resurrection." Lilith said.
"Stupid consequences..." Pinkie muttered.
"But before I do begin..." Lilith said, turning to look at Rainbow Dash. "I ask this question to every successful pony I resurrect."
"Yea? Well spit it out then." Rainbow Dash said.
"...Do you hate me? Or anything of that nature?" Lilith asked. "I'd like to know, please."
"I don't hate you... in fact I really appreciate all you're doing for us, and hope that after all this, we can become even closer friends..." Rainbow Dash said, with a smile.
"Really? You want me to stay?" Lilith said. "Because I recall back on the first day of my recuperation... you were the one who suggested I be re-imprisoned..."
"What? Well, that may be true...but since then I've had a real change of heart about you!" Rainbow Dash said. "Pinkie helped convince me of that!"
"Is that so?" Lilith said, walking towards Pinkie. "Is what she's saying true Pinkie? Did you convince her to think different of me?"
"Umm... Well I..." Pinkie stuttered, looking at Rainbow Dash, who was signaling her not to say anything. "I... I can't..."
"I'm sorry Pinkie, I shouldn't have asked you such a question since you are always willing to protect your friends." Lilith said. "Instead, just give me your hooves."
"My hooves?" Pinkie said.
"That's right, just hold your hooves out in front of me." Lilith said.
Pinkie held her hooves out in front of Lilith. Lilith then put her hooves on top of hers and closed her eyes. After a few seconds of concentration, Lilith's head flew back and her eyes opened and they were pure white.
"L-Lilith? Are you okay?" Pinkie asked.
Suddenly, the area around them became black and white.
"What's going on?" Cadence asked. "What is this?"
Pinkie looked around and noticed another version of her arguing with Rainbow Dash.
"This is my memory!" Pinkie said. "...I think Lilith is showing us what happened in the past through my memories."
Everyone became silent and watched the argument between the two of them in awe, all except for Rainbow Dash, who was extremely paranoid.
"...She's a demon." Past Rainbow Dash said. "That's what she'll always be, and that's what I'll always see her as."
The memory dissipated shortly after and Lilith regained consciousness. Everyone turned to look at Rainbow Dash with mixed feelings. Lilith then began to walk towards her.
"...Well what do you want me to say now? You know how I feel after seeing that." Rainbow Dash said.
"I don't want you to say anything, but if you hate me and my presence, then I would prefer you just say it to me." Lilith said. "Rather than giving me false feelings and lying to me."
Lilith walked past Rainbow Dash, who remained silent.
"Now then, I'm going to prepare the next ritual." Lilith said. "Give me a few minutes."
Pinkie walked over to Lilith as she was preparing everything.
"Hey Lilith? You're not mad are you?" Pinkie asked.
"No, I'm not mad, just disappointed." Lilith said, as she finished up the diagram. "Anyway, we're ready to begin."
Everyone backed away from the diagram to a safe distance, except Pinkie who insisted on staying by Lilith's side.
"Rainbow Dash, come on! We have to back away from the diagram in case something goes wrong." Fluttershy said.
"...Yea, sorry I was just thinking some things over..." Rainbow Dash said, walking back with Fluttershy.
Lilith used her magic to lift the fourth coffin into the center of the diagram. Pinkie placed her hoof on Lilith's back.
"Are you ready Lilith?" Pinkie asked happily.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Lilith said. "You're going to stand with me again?"
"Of course! I won't let you stand up here by yourself anymore." Pinkie exclaimed.
"Well just be careful alright?" Lilith warned. "The more I perform, the more unstable it becomes."
Lilith got into position and closed her eyes. Her horn started to glow a bright red. She continued to focus her magic, but something was wrong. Lilith had already started to breathe heavily and her horn was flickering.
"Lilith? What's wrong?" Pinkie asked.
Lilith's magic dissipated and she fell to the ground.
"What happened?" Fluttershy said.
"Lilith, are you alright?" Princess Luna said, helping her up.
"...I'm fine, don't worry about me." Lilith said. "It's just getting much more difficult is all..."
"Is there anyway we can help to make things easier?" Cadence said.
"From this point on, I think I need your help to complete the rest." Lilith said.
"What do you need us to do?" Cadence said.
"Right now, I need one of you to get on the opposite side of the pentagram." Lilith said.
"I'll do it." Cadence said, walking to the other side.
"Now all you have to do is focus your magic on the coffin, I'll harness the excess magic to make the spell more powerful." Lilith said.
"Will this hurt me?" Cadence said.
"You'll only suffer a few cuts and scratches for assisting, I'll take the full brunt of it again." Lilith said.
"...Lilith let me ask you, can non-demons perform the ritual?" Cadence asked.
"Why are you asking me this?" Lilith said.
"I'd like to take your spot in the resurrection process." Cadence said.
"What? But Cadence you-" Lilith said.
"You said that resurrecting others is taboo for demons. You never said anything about us not being able to perform it." Cadence said.
Lilith was silent.
"Lilith, what aren't you telling us?" Cadence asked.
"...It's true that you could perform the resurrection in my place." Lilith said. "But the outcome would be much worse."
"Why? What's so different?" Cadence said.
"The penalty for anyone who performs it is death, simple as that." Lilith said.
"Death!? Really?" Cadence said. "But you've performed it so many times already and you're still here!"
"It's taboo for demons because it's our own forbidden art, but the consequences for performing it won't kill us instantly because of our resilience." Lilith explained. "But if a regular pony were to perform it, they would die the minute the ritual is completed."
No one responded. It was quiet and despondent looks overcame everyone's faces.
"I appreciate your offer, but if you were to attempt it, then it would completely defeat the purpose of what I'm doing." Lilith said.
"I see... but there is something else I have to say Lilith." Cadence said. "Every time you perform a resurrection, your condition worsens each time and you're out for a longer period of time."
"I'm aware of this." Lilith said.
"I don't think we have the patience to wait if the time span keeps getting longer and longer." Cadence said. "Isn't there some sort of... mass resurrection? So you can revive them all at once?"
"No, there's no such thing." Lilith said quickly.
"Are you lying to us?" Cadence said, with a serious tone. "You've already hidden many things from us... if this is possible, then please say it."
Lilith was silent for a few seconds.
"...There is a form of mass resurrection, but the consequences for performing it are absolute." Lilith said. "...The one who performs it must give their life in exchange, whether you be demon or pony, there are no exceptions."
"I don't want you to die though..." Cadence said.
"Listen, I'll leave this up to you... if you want me to perform it, I will." Lilith said. "My fate, is in your hooves."
Cadence froze, she thought deeply about what to do. Sacrifice Lilith for her friends, or keep waiting? Suddenly, a question arose in her mind.
"Well... how exactly does the exchange work? Do you lose your entire body in the process?" Cadence asked.
"Your soul is drained, with your body remaining behind." Lilith said.
"But aren't you technically a soul since you're a demon?" Cadence asked.
"Yes, but I never left my corporeal flesh, so I was able to remain within it, that's why I still bleed when hurt." Lilith said.
"I see..." Cadence said. "I wonder..."
Lilith grasped her head in pain, she looked up at Cadence and the other ponies with one of her eyes switching between sane and hollow.
"My head... it's my other side... it's trying to take over again." Lilith said. "You have to make a decision... and quick!"
"I've made up my mind, and this is actually perfect timing." Cadence said. "Lilith, please perform the mass resurrection!"
"Okay, get all the coffins together! I'll prepare the incantation." Lilith said.
"Cadence what are you doing! I don't want to lose Lilith! She's-" Pinkie cried.
"Don't worry, if everything goes according to how it should, then we won't lose Lilith." Cadence said. "At least I hope not..."
Lilith put the remaining coffins into position, unaware of the conversation they were having.
"Okay! Everything is- AGH... everything is in place!" Lilith said, holding her head in searing pain.
"Alright..." Cadence said, looking at Lilith with a confident smile. "Let's do this Lilith!"