Demonic

by DJDemitri


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The couch itself wasn't too impressive, but it certainly more comfortable than the dirt he laid in only a few moments ago. Caleb managed to keep the weight off his hurt foot and the birds away from it as he took in his surroundings. It was a cozy little cabin that was very modern but still very much like nature. He also took note of little animals coming in and out as they felt necessary. They took food and bed making Caleb feel that this was more of a zoo than a home if not for the kitchen right across where only one little critter would find a carrot and munch at the counter. Nothing besides the over abundance of animals really stuck out. It was kind of serene and would be relaxing if not for the fresh injury. As he had his back turned a certain mare had flown a first aid kit next to him. She spoke so sweetly as she gently grabbed the hurt hoof "How does it feel?" Caleb kinda winced as she moved his hoof up and down "Fine!" She immediately stopped moving it at his obvious pain "Alright this is going to sting a bit."

She took the broken hoof and wrapped it up and and put a splint on it. After about a minute of wrapping, asking if he was okay, and ice Fluttershy made Caleb lay down on the couch. He protested "please miss but I think I can go now, you have done enough and I must find my friend." She denied his attempts to sit up by gently but forcefully placing a hoof on his chest. "Now, I wont have any of that. You got hurt in my yard now I'm taking care of you. When you feel better we will help you find your friend." Caleb reluctantly laid down and waited. He never had been waited on and it was uncomfortable to think that he was some kind of burden on some creature he just met. There was still this new feeling tugging at him. He was unsure of what it was, like a heavy feeling, perhaps it was a feeling of frustration? The sun was starting to set by now and Fluttershy came in with a blanket and a pillow. Caleb protested "Please you don't need too, I don't sleep." She looked at him with a smile and continued to fluff the pillow. She placed it behind his head and started to unroll the blanket "I can tell, you look exhausted you poor dear." The blanket gently puffed over him finally resting on his lower half. "If you need me my room is upstairs, it might get cold tonight so don't be shy to ask for another blanket." Caleb didn't fight it, he figured that he can simply leave when she was asleep. He had read that creatures usually sleep during the night, so he would just wait until he could no longer see the sun.
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-The next morning-

Caleb woke up the next morning to the smell that he had smelled before he was injured. This must have been where it came from. "How the hell..." he groggily sat up making sure that he kept pressure off of the wrap. He lazily stood on three legs gaining his balance before sitting back down. "What happened to me? Was I drugged?" Caleb yawned. Fluttershy, who was wearing a light green apron, came into the living room with a bag full of feed. "Oh your awake!" She saw him sitting on the floor "Did you fall on the floor while you were sleeping? Oh my I'm sorry I didn't notice, I'm so dumb. I should have noticed and put you back up..." This was a sensitive situation and had to be handled with the utmost care, after all, mares are known to be irrationally emotional when it came down to it. Caleb knew exactly what to say and he mustered up enough strength to speak...
"There, there..."
Nailed it.
Fluttershy stopped beating herself up "Look at me being selfish and thinking about myself again, you must be starving." Caleb came to the sudden realization that he was no longer feeling that happy, light,feeling that he had when he arrived but instead one of a rumbling sensation in his stomach. He was an idiot for not realizing that the things he was used to not dealing with were important factors in this decision he made. Sleep, hunger, boredom, "companionship", things like that which he could ignore forever if he wanted with no real drawback would now psychologically and physically hurt him. He was mortal and he had to remember that or else he would go back to where he was not as a Soul gatherer, but a soul. Something about the sudden realization that death was a new factor made him desire food that much more. He stood to his feet and walked his way to the kitchen behind the pink maned mare. He sat at a small three seated table while she continued to work on the meal. Looking around everything seemed to keep the same nature like theme, she was defiantly a care giver for animals and the sick.
"Alright, you eat up, I have to feed the animals." She laid a plate full of glazed looking swirly things in front of Caleb. "I will be in and we can check on your hoof." Caleb nodded as he poked at his food. "Their called cinnamon swirls, Pinkie showed me how to make them. She says everypony she knows loves them and she knows everypony so... I assumed..." He looked up at her with a confused look "Who?" Fluttershy looked at her own hoofs "Oh sorry, I should have known you aren't from around here. I mean, Pinkie is my friend who works at the bakery." Caleb didn't change his expression in the least bit. "There are others?" He questioned a little too enthusiastically. She didn't bother coming out from behind her hair for her very common squeak. He didn't press anymore and let her leave as he poked at his meal. He leaned over and bit into it. It was absolutely lovely! An assortment of flavors perfectly mixed into each other and created a very sweet bread. He could not help himself and pigged out and ate three of them from his plate without even a breath of air in between. It was a very delicious meal but it left him a bit parched. He stood and walked to the sink and drank straight from the faucet. He had no idea how thirsty he really was until the water hit his lips, he must have been there forever. He stood up panting and looked over to a mare stifling a giggle. "What?" Is all he could say through dripping glaze and water dribbling mouth.
"Here, go ahead and clean yourself up. Do you need me to...ummm...unwrap your bandage?" She blushed as she motioned to the bathroom. Caleb spoke very frankly "No, I may need you to help me put new ones on." She just nodded and closed the door behind him. He looked into the mirror to see a very messy looking creature. His mane was wild and leaned to the left as well as his weird eyes and dark coat. "Red eyes, black fur, black hair, pony, wings?" He looked on his side to see wings, weird, but the fact he never touched the floor in his old job was one of the things he loved and it made since considering his new companion had wings. He did contradict this world in every way possible and looked more like he would belong in a vampire movie rather than a color filled world of helpful ponies. He looked scary no wonder that mare was so shy around him. First things first, he used his teeth to remove the splint and bandage. It took a little longer by himself but it got done with minimal pain. He turned on the sink and grabbed a wash towel. Scrubbing with the wet cloth he got rid of the morning meal and some dirt from his face but that was just the start.
It took a few hours cleaning himself with the one towel and sink but he was sure he was considered clean except for his head which he was going to soak in the sink and use another, dry, towel to clean off. He pushed his head the best he could under the sink and wet down his mane. Grabbing a new towel he dried his hair only to rip it with his horn. "Wait what?!" Caleb became alarmed, why did he have horns? The mare didn't have horns and he was sure that the ponies he had seen and read about didn't have horns.
"Like it?"
"Who said that?"
"Down here Thatanos"
He looked down to see a little red man with goat horns and a rather luxurious looking suit looking up at him. "My name is Caleb, I am not death, I quit my job and you should know that Lucifer." He was confident that he did not break any rules and was free to live his new life as he saw fit. Lucifer smiled and climbed onto his shoulder "You should know that I do not just let things go without being involved in some way, and as I recall you are too afraid to just become mortal." Caleb didn't like the truth, but he could not hate his boss for telling it. He was afraid of being mortal and was more than willing to at least listen to Lucifer. The red man pointed to the mirror "you like the horns? They come with the job, and so do the wings. I am offering another life, another more, hands on experience. You stay in this world and collect souls as Thatanos, and you can live normally as Caleb." Caleb looked at himself "How do I collect every soul and still live a normal life? This sounds like a trick."
The little devil smiled "contrary to popular belief death does not deal with every soul. Most find their way to my gates but others we call lost souls. You only deal with the souls who don't know where to go or refuse to leave which is not too terribly common. Hell, I'll even sweeten the pot by giving you a hint to find Lana." Caleb's ears perked up at that.
"Got your attention now?" Lucifer smirked.
"Why can't you just tell me where to find her?" Caleb protested "this sounds too fishy to just be simple.
Lucifer nodded "I never said it was simple, you just have to enjoy the ride on your own by having your own experiences and learning how things work in this world both spiritually and in the world of the living. You don't have to take it, you can be normal with your hurt foot and have no idea where to go."
Caleb couldn't argue with him "What do I do if I accept?"
Lucifer once again smirked "Well I can sense your concerns, only you and those who are dead can see the horns and other things. All you have too do is find those who can see you for you and guide them to a portal to the gates, then we take care of the rest. Sometimes it's sad, other times it's frustrating but it has to be done. You understand? And don't worry, if there is an abundance of dead or a VIP I will personally guide you to them."
Caleb nodded "Well it seems like you have everything figured out."
Lucifer spoke again "I have done this more than you will ever know. Once you accept this injury, sleep, and hunger will no longer be a problem. But because you want to be 'normal' you can keep your feelings that you didn't used to have. Love, desire, pain, hate, ect. All of that stuff."
Caleb looked a little wary "Why pain and hate?"
"Because life has good and bad, you have to have both."
"Makes sense." He puffed.
Lucifer adjusted his tie "So do we have a deal?"
Caleb looked at himself in the mirror again and his hurt foot. "I do this, I am going to feel pain, but just not be injured?"
"That's correct, no more broken bones, just a short pain relating to what hurt you. You will figure it out." Lucifer was getting anxious. "Can I have an answer soon I am a busy guy."
Caleb looked at the little man "I'll do it."
"Great! You'r clue to finding Lana is sticking with Fluttershy and looking for the starts."
With that Lucifer flashed a bright light and was gone.
"The hell does that mean?"
A knock on the door brought him back to reality.