//------------------------------// // Unchained // Story: Anima Mea Tenebre // by Nixus //------------------------------// The shutters of the royal bedroom of the Changeling's hive rattled as a large gust of wind passed the earthy walls of the large spire. A stray wind managed to get passed the black wooden shutters, prying through a crack between two blinds, and stirring the humid, pheromone filled air within the room. It passed by a single pair of insect like wings, agitating the membrane and causing them to flit slightly as the form they were connected to groaned in annoyance. As his eyes began opening slightly, revealing the dark blue irises beneath them, the figure frowned as sleep crept away from him. The white and green antennae that served as his ears twitched, catching the steady thrum of the worker castes still flying about in the core of the hive. That soft hum of thousands of individual wingbeats that reverberated even to the top where he stood now. The sound of progress made within the revitalized kingdom -thanks to his own efforts- made him smile and he groggily pulled off the covers and made his way to the window, guided by a glowing moss whose name he could not remember. He opened the shutters, allowing the cool winds that swept the desert to enter the room and circulate the stale air. He enjoyed the feeling of it as it ruffled his shaggy green bed head and washed over his bare skin. The coat of sweat from the night of passion he had shared with the shifting form in the bed cooled, and he shivered in delight at the feeling. He heard the covers shift and a long soft yawn follow before the changeling queen left her soft bed. "And what has you up at this hour, Izzy?" Chrysalis asked tiredly. Izzy smiled and ran a hand through the dark cerulean mane. Pulling a lock of hair to his face, he inhaled through his nose and took in the sweet scent. Chrysalis tittered slighty before she pushed him away playfully. "It better be worth waking a tired changeling queen who you crippled with a limp." "Just getting a breath of fresh air, my queen. Thinking of the past and what's in store for the future," he said quietly as he ran a finger along her chin. Chrysalis chuckled and playfully nipped at his fingers. Izzy smiled and lifted Chrysalis' chin, enjoying the feeling of her black chitin on his finger. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips for a moment, bringing a content sigh from the changeling. "As much as I love the smell of our efforts, I can only enjoy it for so long. Besides, why revel in the scent when I can see how stunning you look while you sleep?" "Your affection is sweet, but give me too much and you will find yourself a consort to a rounder queen," she joked, purring as she nuzzled his cheek. "Then again, knowing your appetite, I doubt that would hinder you. She rubbed her stomach and grinned. "I can't remember the last time I felt so full. You really are the miracle worker you claim to be." "There are few mares who can keep up with me. Even fewer can satisfy me," he replied as he ran a finger along her spine and breathed into her ear. Chrysalis shivered in anticipation, licking her lips as his wonderful hands caressed her. "I could probably go another round if you aren't sated to your heart’s content. The morning is still so far away." Chrysalis broke away from him and hovered to her bed. She smiled, inviting him back to the warm sheets. There were none that she trusted enough to open herself as she was doing tonight. Only Izzy had been able to secure that right. "My desires are fulfilled for tonight, Izzy. Right now, I only wish to fall asleep in the arms of the so called 'fairy' who has resurrected my lands, who has wormed his way into my life and worked his way under my covers.” She nipped at one of his ears playfully and he grinned ecstatically as she began to kiss his skin tenderly. “But perhaps you could indulge one of my requests for my next meal?” “And what would that be?” “Last night you were unhinged. You were like some desperate, howling timberwolf. You frightened me...“ Her her voice quavered and she looked at him nervously. The smile he had faded and he went forward, an apology on his lips until Chrysalis put her hoof up, commanding him to stay where he was. That nervous appearance melted away as the corners of her lips tilted up, bringing her mouth into a smile. “...Do it again.“ “As you wish, Cara Mia.“ Izzy bowed extravagantly and received a quiet snort from Chrysalis. He took flight, his whitish wings with their green fringes humming as they lifted him from the ground. Chrysalis' own wing twitched slightly as she watched the bare form of her lover float closer to her. She drank in his features and allowed him to close the gap as they joined lips again. She felt the same intoxicating cocktail of lust, attraction and love fill her as he held her head with his hand. She almost lamented when he broke away from her, but her own need to breath and the look on his face silenced her mind's protest. "What’s the matter? You look a little pale.." she said, her hoof cupping his cheek. Izzy breathed hard, a mix of fear and trepidation in each breath drawn and released. Sweat had begun to collect at his brow and he held her other hoof to his heart. She could feel his heart beat quickly, thrumming like a stampede of younglings heading for the nursing pools. For as long as she could recall during his stay, she had never seen him like this and it concerned her greatly. "What is causing this?" "I am unsure," he replied. "It felt as though a great darkness was making it's way to this land, infecting it with fear, hatred and sorrow. It seeks only destruction and something is trying to free it." "Izzy, perhaps you were just imagining this," she lied, masking her own concern. She had begun to feel the emotions boiling in the air, fouling it with their stench, turning her stomach with their presence. She placed her forehead to his own, taking care with her jagged horn, and allowed a small trickle of calm emotion to flow into him. He sighed in relief and gingerly tapped her nose. She kissed his forehead before her body took it's place in her bed. "Come back to bed, we have much to do tomorrow. I need my consort to be rested if the kingdom is to grow." "Of course, my queen," he replied, falling next to her. He took her in his arms and she snuggled in close to him. Minutes passed by and he listened as sleep took Chrysalis slowly, His own racing mind kept him awake, making him stare out the open window and at the full moon in the sky. A weak smile formed on his face and he closed his eyes. "I hope you two are safe," he whispered to the glowing orb. "We have much to catch up on since we last saw each other all those years ago; so many tales to share with one another, just like we used to. Equestria has changed so much since I was last here and I bet you have as well." He looked at his back as his wings furled up so that he wouldn’t crush them as he slept. “Then again, I could say the same for myself.” ***** "What the hell is he talking about?" Coppa shouted as he shoved an imp away. His axe swung out and the flat of the weapon smashed the demon into the ground, shattering every bone to dust. "What's a 'pureblood'?" "How should we know?" Rainbow Dash retorted as she rammed into another monster. The fat creature with a dog's head barked out in surprise, its wings snapping out in an attempt to gain air as it fell to the ground. The effort came too late and it smacked into the stones below in a messy heap. It twitched slightly before Sam planted his sword into it. "Focus on what's in front of you. There will be time for questions and answers afterwards," he pulled the katana out with his unharmed left arm and turned to Coppa. "Figure out how to get Moe back on his feet. I don't care what it takes. Hit him, yell at him, do whatever, but we need his bow before we can help Dante out." "Got it," Coppa shouted before Sam caught the glint of a blade in the corner of his eye. Sam flipped backwards and saw Shishiro's glare as he landed on his feet. His irritation was evident and Sam had enough confidence that even with his weaker hand, he could still overcome his opponent. The boy was telegraphing almost every attack he made, making the same mistakes over and over again. "This has been drawn out too long, Shishiro," he muttered as he loosened his grip on his weapon. "It is still far too early for you to even imagine defeating me, and I won't hesitate to finish you off either. You threatened Fluttershy and me and for that, I will show you no mercy." He hesitated slightly, glancing back at the yellow pegasus as she tended to Moe. A renewed sense of drive pushed him on, but upon looking at the kind hearted mare he had shared many precious moments with, he decided to try something else. "But this does not have to end in bloodshed. Is your desire for vengeance really worth devoting everything to? Do you think your loved ones would want this? To see their blood lose himself to such a rabid emotion?" Shishiro all but laughed at his attempt to defuse the situation. "You might have a few skills with the sword, Sam, but you lack in persuasion. My family is practically dead; there isn't anyone to judge me now. So I'd suggest you prepare yourself before I end you and your little horse!” Sam sighed in exasperation and levelled his sword. "Then you leave me no choice." His body vanished, kicking up dirt and dust. His friends watched as the blue of his body passed Shishiro and halted just behind him, his eyes hardened and his face frighteningly lacking in emotion. "I'll be the one to finish this war before it begins." Shock and awe controlled Shishiro's face as he watched a torrent of blood spray out from the cut across his chest. He dropped to a knee as he shouted in pain. Every head turned and the fighting ceased as the saw him clutch his chest and writhe violently. Twice he attempted to stand up, only to fall down as the pain proved too much. Despite that, he still managed to use what little strength he had to grab his weapon and use it to keep himself up. His face contorted with fear as Sam stood in front of him with his sword in hand, eyes cold and blood dripping from the tip of the blade and his own fingertips. Sam regarded him coldly, his mind and body ready for what he was to do next. For a moment he caught Fluttershy, and the other ponies who weren't busy defending themselves watching him. He hesitated as each of their faces were filled with the same expression of fright as his arm reared back to deliver the final strike. Their faces, mixed with the budding realization of what he had done and what he was going to do, filled him with shame. At the same time, his old way of thinking willed him to continue on, to kill and be done with the wounded threat in front of him. It made sense to him and it would put an end to things before they caused any more damage. That train of thought was quashed by the same feeling he had when he first attempted to reason with Shishiro. Perhaps it was time to show mercy and kindness rather than simply swinging his weapon. That momentary lapse in resolve was all that was needed for a black tendril to strike out at Sam and another to wrap around Shishiro. “This is far from over,” Shishiro growled as Sam dodged the first tendril. It then pulled him away and placed him just behind Dagon, leaving Sam alone in the middle of the courtyard. Without anyway to get at Shishiro, Sam resigned himself from the battle and ran back towards the group surrounding Moe. Despite his wound being located on the nerve damaged arm, he still hissed in pain as it began to throb and burn. It seemed his racially heightened adrenaline could only dull the severity of the wound for so long. He only hoped that the others would be able to snap Moe out of his daze soon. ***** Coppa had taken Sam’s advice literally and was doing everything short of murdering the almost vegetative Moe. When that didn't work, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie did their best to try and coax him out of it. Their efforts fell flat and Moe remained unresponsive to any outside influence. "For god's sakes, Moe, get yourself together!" Coppa yelled and resumed shaking him. "I know Mileena put you through hell, I get it. That doesn't mean you can just curl up and wait for her to screw you again. Now just get up and help us out." "I can't, go against her wishes... mistress will punish her property if it misbehaves..." Moe muttered pitifully. "I don't want to be punished. I don't want her to hurt me or play with my mind again." "This is getting nowhere," Coppa groaned and rubbed his nose. He glanced around, trying to find anything to use on Moe. He spotted Applejack who motioned for him to take the guard position where he had been. Coppa nodded back and picked up his axe before he stood on guard ahead of them. "He won't respond to anything," Fluttershy murmured in concern. "I've never seen anything like this at all. Scrapes and cuts are things I can help with, but I'm not sure what to do." Her eyes began well up with tears until Pinkie Pie rushed over and hugged her. "It's okay, Fluttershy," she said while stroking the pegasus' mane. "It's not your fault. You did everything you could so far, and that's super enough. " Applejack’s own hoof patted Fluttershy reassuringly. "Ah think Moe’s hurt more in the head. Whatever that girl did in the past is what caused this. Ah’m thinkin seeing her again only made it worse. It’s gonna take somethin’ else to jolt him back ta fightin’ shape. Ah think Ah can do that, but one of ya needs ta grab his bow." "Okie dokie lokie," Pinkie said before zipping off. Applejack ignored the clamour of the fight as she grabbed and dragged Moe to a nearby wall by his shirt. "Moe, yer gonna listin ta me, consarnit: we need you right now. Ah know that you have a history with Mileena girl, but you need to get those thoughts out of yer head. Without you, there's ain't much chance for us to get out of this alive," Applejack said forcefully as she pressed Moe against the wall. "I know that you're scared for some reason or another, heck, I am too, but standing by is just giving yerself to her. Yer only gonna find yourself back in the position you were trying to escape." "What's the point..." Moe stated. "I was sucked into another world and she still found me. I can't escape her and there's no way I can fight back." Moe's shaking hands were almost vibrating as he hyperventilated. “Even if I fight now and we get away, she’ll just keep coming after me and I’ll always know that she’s just a step behind. Why delay the inevitable?” “What about Rares? Are ya are just going to give up on her and us when yer needed? “What…” “Look at her," she said. Moe looked behind the farm pony to see Rarity still giving her all against Mileena. She was rapidly pressing Mileena back, but the rocks she was using as her weapons were slowly breaking apart, piece by piece. He hadn't seen her fighting at first, but he saw Applejack's point. "She's putting her life on the line for ya, Moe. Rarity cares enough for you that she's defendib' ya so that you ain’t gonna have ta run again. But she can't do it by herself. She needs you just like you need her. Without yer help, she can’t win." "S-she's fighting her... for me..." Applejack nodded and felt something brush against his hand. Pinkie Pie stood at his side, Moe's bow in her mouth. She dropped it into his hand and he gave it to Moe. "Ya know what you gotta do. Don’t waste any time." "I know," he replied as he took an arrow out of his quiver and drew it back. "I just hope I don't regret this afterwards. I really don't want to go back to living like a slave." Whether Applejack replied or not, Moe couldn't say. There was simply too much noise for him to concentrate, so he had shut it all out. After that, he felt the increase in his other senses while time slowed to a snails pace. His vision sharpened and he saw Rarity's rocks crumble to dust after a savage hit from the back end of Mileena's weapon. His sense of taste caught the salty flavour of sweat in the air. He could even feel the individual lengths of the fibres that made up his bowstring as he drew them and let them loose in a fluid motion. Then he smelt an iron like scent as the arrow punctured through Mileena's shoulder. "No going back now..." he whispered to himself as he shakily pulled another arrow out and aimed it at Mileena. "Then again, a little revenge does feel rather nice." ***** If there was such a word to describe the sheer volume that Mileena's cry reached, it was probably ear shattering. Dante kept his relief in check at the reappearance of Moe. It was too early to grow confident while he remained trapped. That didn't mean he couldn't use the reversal in his favor. "It looks like your allies are being pushed back, Dagon," he said as Mileena ripped the arrow out of her shoulder. Dark red flowed from the wound as she tossed it aside and to the ground. A deep, animalistic snarl told them that the shock of Moe’s attack, and the fact that Moe had been the one to attack her, had driven Mileena into a frenzy. He heard Dagon sigh and he caught a black tendril snake out and wrap around Mileena’s midsection. She struggled, kicking and screaming as he pulled her back violently. “They still have their uses for now,” he replied as the tendrils around his two followers emitted a faint aura and the two fell into a comatose like state. When the two were complacent, the same effect took hold in the shadowy limb binding him. "Now to deal with your power," Dagon said, turning back to Dante. The strange sensation proved effective and he felt its effects. His muscles slackened, the energy and strength ebbing away and leaving his limbs limp. His eyelids grew heavy, slowly attempting to close regardless of his struggling. He was falling deeper into Dagon's clutches, like a fly caught in a trap, and Dagon would have what he wanted. I can't let him... he thought and redoubled his efforts. There was a momentary lapse in the magic, and Dante readied himself as he subtly pushed against it with his own magic. The struggle was only momentary and Dante made every effort not to be conspicuous as he worked against it. It was like unravelling a piece of cloth, picking it apart thread by thread. It wasn’t a complex process as many would have believed, but it was difficult not to simply alert Dagon as he did it. Slowly, the effect of the spell lessened until Dante had full control again. He charged his own spell, one that he had promised not to use ever again, and the only one that would would work well without the help of his staff. A strange tingle encompassed his hand as he regretfully turned his emotions. Rage, hatred, guilt, despair, betrayal, and every dark thought and emotion he could draw upon swirled in his head. His eyes darkened, the whites turning black while his irises went from their bright red to a sullen crimson. When he no longer had any feeling in his hand, he released his hold on the magic. A purple blast rent the tendrils apart, turning each piece to dust as they hit the ground. A dark, violet aura surrounded Dante's hand, growing around his arm as a luminescent symbol comprised of strange symbols and letters and long lines ending in tapered points. It reached from the palm of his hand, stretching the length of his arm where it ended abruptly. "Well that was new," Coppa said as Dante landed and skidded to a stop. He clenched his fist, feebly attempting to hide the glowing magic circle on his palm. He caught the others staring at the glowing image before it finally faded and disappeared from his skin. Out of each of them, only Twilight was the one he noticed with an expression of fear rather than that of awe. It was almost as if she understood the same implications of this particular spell as he did. While Dagon appeared stunned by the display, his eager smile returned shortly after. "So even though you refuse to accept the power, you still draw on your pure blooded abilities. That's rather hypocritical of you, Dante," he said as the tendrils reformed and slithered on the ground around him. “This power does have a mind of its own, my boy. You can’t keep it cooped up inside your body or you’ll simply make it restless.” His grin then grew into a malicious smile as he crossed his arms. “Why else do you think it escaped and made you destroy St. Mara?” Seeing the shock ripple throughout the group and Dante’s anger, he continued on. “A town of nearly six thousand, reduced to nothing but rubble and ash; lives extinguished like candlelights; a great disturbance in the flow of the world where those thousands of voices cried out in terror and were silenced in droves.” He shrugged and pushed away one of the tendrils as it hovered next to his face. “But that is not surprising for a pureblood. After all, there were tales of them decimating armies twice that size in only a heartbeat, a town and some students are nothing compared to-” A black beam shot out from Dante’s hand, startling both Dagon and causing the tendrils to screech. His friends backed away and Twilight watched with concern as the blackness that coloured his eyes slowly grew, threatening to consume his blood red irises. Liquid black beaded at the corners of his eyes, a mockery of tears as he held his hand towards Dagon. “Shut up,” he growled as another black lance of magic shot out. It passed by Dagon, a hairs breadth from the side of his head, and punched a hole the size of a manticore through the house behind him. Rarity gasped, Fluttershy let out a mewl of fear, and the rest stood in shock at the destructive display. "I have no idea what a 'pureblood' is or why you think this is a gift. This power is nothing but a curse that I'll break eventually. But I'd rather be the one to contain it than let you wield it." "You mean you really have no idea?" Dagon questioned with amusement. "I would have thought you would have some knowledge of our race's history or why others despise us. Now I see that you are simply uneducated in the true miracle you represent. It seems I shall have to enlighten you then." The tendrils surrounding him fanned out and collected around the limp forms of Shishiro and Mileena. They appeared to inspect the two before they stabbed into their respective wounds. The two of them both opened their mouths in silent screams, but neither moved an inch. Slowly their wounds closed and Dagon let out a small sigh. "I learned of these beings while searching ancient ruins near one of the Great Lakes, uncovering old scrolls and accounts," he began. "The purebloods were the first generation of our kind, bred from a union of pure demons and humans to fight against the hordes of the underworld and the old gods. They were unmatched in magical ability and able to utilize the demonic influence that coursed in their blackened veins. They made gains where others couldn't, and it is because of them that the world is no longer a place ruled by the underworld, but a balanced area between them." "So why am I so special?" Dante snapped. "What makes me different than any other 'purebloods' out there?" "You're unique because the pureblood legacy was thought to be gone. Their lineage was either destroyed or was diluted as more unions were made between their ranks. The human blood clouded each successive generation, robbing them of their powers. Eventually, their descendants became what we are now: mere shadows compared to our predecessors." Dagon raised his hand, commanding the black limbs to raise Mileena and Shishiro to their feet with their wounds fully healed. "Now comes the time to take that power and elevate myself to their level." "We're outmatched here, Dante. The odds in this fight are not in our favor anymore," Sam said, placing a hand on Dante's shoulder. He flinched as Dante glared at him with his strange eyes. They softened slightly and he nodded. They both turned to run and just before Dante could even step forward, a large glyph appeared beneath the two of them. "Run if you must, you won't get far," Dagon said as he snapped his finger. "It is time for your judgement." Dante's eyes shot open and his mouth formed a silent 'no' just as he felt a indescribably painful burning sensation begin in his chest, bringing him to his knees. Then a scream of immense and extraordinary pain ripped from his throat as every nerve in his body was set alight. ***** Dante's cries of pain were almost too much to bear for Twilight. He dropped to his knees, hands covering his eyes, as his breathing turned into gasps. She heard Coppa and Moe clamouring as they turned back and ran to Dante. Confusion was all over their faces as they tried to reach him, only to be pushed back by a wall of light. "What's happening?" Coppa shouted. He glared at Dagon and hefted his axe as if he were going to throw it. "What did you do to him?" "Don't act cute," Dagon said mockingly. "I can't very well take the rest of his power without first rousing it." "Coppa, Moe, Sam! You need to get out of there," Twilight shouted, turning all heads to her and her approach. "You can't do anything right now, we need to leave before he loses control!" "Like hell we will!" Coppa yelled, raising his axe high above his head and bringing it down on the glyph. The blade of the axe struck the light wall and a peculiar grinding sound came from the weapon as sparks jumped into the air. The grind was then replaced by the sound of metal snapping as the blade of Coppa's axe broke. Coppa jumped back, avoiding the metal shards that buried themselves into the ground, and inspected the remains of the first blade of his double headed axe. "Well I'm out of ideas." He cursed as he flipped the weapon around, bringing the other blade around. "What do we do?" "I don't know," Sam said. "But we can't just run off without him." "D-do w-w-what she s-says. L-leave me," Dante gasped, hands falling from his face. Twilight's ears caught the sounds of surprise from the others at the now pure black that his eyes had become. There was still a red glow coming from within the sockets, but the trails of liquid black coming from his eyes diminished the luminescent light. The strange markings had returned, staining his skin with a permanent red tattoo. "Run away as far as you caannn... I c-can't hold him back... He'll kill you all." His gasps of terror and pain returned, forcing him to the ground. Two mounds of skin pushed upwards like moles digging their way up through the topsoil. When the mounds ruptured, spraying gore and bringing forth an inhuman scream from Dante, two large wings made entirely of bone with small scraps of flesh and sinew hanging between them flared out. His final cry of pain slowly turned to insane laughter as his voice changed pitch. No, Twilight screamed in her head. Dark arcs of lightning rained down from the sky, matching the colour of the wisps of violet flames and magic swirling around Dante. The same magical circles that were on his hands appeared on the ground, overlapping and spreading farther than the glyph that contained him. The Guide's words echoed in her head, pounding throughout her mind like a hammer on a nail. No this can’t be happening… “And the final tether has snapped, he has truly awakened,” Dagon said eagerly. “In only a few moments I will be more powerful than ever.” "What is this?" Sam demanded. “What have you done to him?” “Nothing he hasn’t already experienced before. The spell restricts his magic, hinders its flow, and severely incapacitates anything remotely demonic.” Dagon laughed. “I am merely bringing his true self out. Now he is free to rain down catastrophe like a god. I’ll kill him before things get too out of hand. Reckless, yes, but it’s the only way I can wear out a pureblood.” “That won’t work…” Twilight disheartened statement cut Dagon off. She watched as the possessed Dante floated above the ground, held up by some mystical means. The glyph beneath him flickered, like a candle reaching its end, before it began to crack and split. Twilight backed away, her horn ignited as she tried to pull the others away from it. “He’s too powerful! We need to run.” “Fools…” The glyph, and its invisible barrier that surrounded Dante, burst apart as he sent out a shockwave of dark energy, sending the pieces outwards to fade into nothingness. He stood tall as Dagon was cowed slightly. His shirt was in tatters, revealing the tattoo consisting of swirling chains and cruel looking hooks centred around his heart. An arrogant smirk that exuded confidence and disdain for anything else. "You really thought that such a sad excuse for a seal would hold me?" he mocked with tone that sounded raspy and hard in the ears. For Twilight, his voice was simply wrong. The tone, the pitch, everything felt wrong and unnatural about it. It sent shivers along her spine as he spoke. It grated in her head, worming its way through her ears. "Your spell might as well have been a conjuror's prop. Your are such a sad little worm." Dagon appeared slightly unnerved, but still kept up his confident smile. "Of course it will. Why else would I take such pains to master this power of yours and summon up this force to contain you." The tendrils around all straightened out, pointing at Dante like deadly spears. Some of the surviving imps ignited their own spells and the two burly demons that had stood on guard levelled their weapons. "All I have to do is kill you now before your full power awakens." The attack was simultaneous. Tendrils, spells, and blades all struck Dante at the same time. They tore at him, rending his flesh and filling him full of holes. Spaces opened up in his chest and limbs, sending gore everywhere. The sheer brutality of the attack was horrific and both Rarity and Fluttershy fainted at the sight of it. Eventually the attack ceased, leaving the battered and motionless remains on the street. Twilight saw Dagon grin and gesture to the two hulking figures to bring Dante's body to him. As they bent to pick him up, a roaring laughter echoed from somewhere unseen. "As I said," the disembodied laughing voice continued, "even if I am still far from ready to remain in control of this body right now, it will still take much more than what you posses to even remotely permanently damage this physical form." A horrifying squelching noise came from where Dante was, and all saw the two giant demons back away with holes in their chests, and stumps where their necks had once been. The two disintegrated and the remaining dust surrounded Dante's body as it he rose up, still filled with holes that exposed the mangled flesh within. "I applaud your tenacity though, and even find it slightly impressive that you managed to control that tiny sliver of my power you managed to take." Despite missing part of his head, the thing controlling Dante managed to come up with a unnerving grin. "But that is all it is. Alongside these laughable inbreds you call demons, you have nothing but a mere sliver of my power; not even a full hundredth of what Belial, the last of Acharon's line, is capable of." For the first time, Dagon's face drained of all blood. His once confident face dissolved as he backed away. . "A-Acharon? That can't be... That line started and ended with the black king. He had no heirs, no others carried his blood. There is no way you can be part of that lineage." "That is where you are wrong, foolish mortal. Allow me to show you the evidence that proves otherwise," the being that had identified itself as Belial replied, snapping his fingers. A number of groans came from the corpses of the imps and the two larger demons. They began to rise, one by one, taking formation behind him, their features and eyes devoid of any sign of life. "As with my predecessor, both the living and the dead submit to my will." Another snap of his fingers brought a number of lights from within the Everfree. They landed within the area taking the form of human and ponies covered in ancient looking armour. "Even the ghosts of the long forgotten know my power and beckon my call. I control their very souls! Now, I ask you..." He pointed to Dagon and there was a large crackle as energy danced around him. "Do you still doubt my claim?" Dagon never replied, instead began drawing the tendrils to himself. At first Twilight thought he was going to fight, but he simply wrapped them around his unconscious followers. He used them to control Mileena as though she were a puppet and the tendrils were the strings. A portal opened, flashing brightly as it hovered in the air. Dagon threw his two underlings and forced any imp that was close enough into the portal. When he had managed that, he went for the opening just as Belial raised a glowing hand. "Your impertinence is rather offending, and I would personally see to your culling. However, I have a role for you to play, one important for what is to come." A small projectile launched from his hand and buried itself in Dagon's back. The force of it pushed him forward through the portal, causing it to close as well as cutting off Dagon's surprised shout. When the portal faded, Belial turned himself around and looked towards the sky. "Now into the next act as our audience arrives." Twilight followed his gaze, only to gasp at the sight. Hundreds upon hundreds of Royal Pegasus Guards flapped their wings, flying straight towards them. Each of them was dressed in the golden armour of their position and held their spears at the ready. There was even a division of the Night Guard, dressed in the purple and blue armour and bearing Luna’s crest. At the forefront were the royal sisters, dressed in elaborate armour of shining plate and etched with swirling patterns. On Celestia’s head was a simple circlet of gold in contrast to the open faced helmet that adorned Luna. Neither Celestia or Luna had a weapon, but the sheer presence of them was both breathtaking and intimidating as they landed, kicking up dust and and rocks. Coppa even gave a surprised whistle at the sight. "Quite the show of military power for a land that preaches unity and tolerance," Belial said as he raised an arm. There was a shrill noise before Dante's staff appeared in his hand and his sword in the other. A robe of vibrant Tyrian purple with a rich red inlay materialized around him, covering the markings on his body. It flowed down to his feet and he adjusted the cuff of one sleeve before facing off with the Princesses. "But your effort is unneeded. I have already repelled the threat with the forces I could find. Perhaps you or your sister recognize them. They recognize you." If Celestia was affected by the remark, she did not show it. Instead, it was Luna who lost her composure as some of the ghostly apparitions unfurled their banners to reveal tattered Equestrian flags. "You vile knave! Thou dare desecrate the souls of the dead and spout such accusations against we royal sisters!" She stamped her hoof upon the ground, summoning lightning and ushering her guards to level their weapons at him. "Release thy hold upon them, unweave thy spells, and surrender thyself to our custody!" “You are not exactly in a position to be asking such things, Princess of the night," Belial replied, vanishing in a puff of smoke before reappearing in front of Luna, grabbing her by the back of the head. "I could kill you in mere moments, even as I am right now. I could make your heart stop, or crush it entirely with only a thought." He snapped his fingers and a human spirit stepped forward. It reformed into a new figure, one dressed in a chest plate with decorative abdominals, an armoured skirt and a pair of greaves. His stony face was framed by his hair that fell neatly into place as he removed his helmet. To Twilight's surprise, she heard Celestia hold her breath while a strained 'no' came from Luna. "I know of every desire and fear you have, and how to use them against you." "Stop tormenting my sister. Release these spirits and let them rest," Celestia said, stepping up to Belial. Her normally calm and motherly attitude was instead replaced by a stern and commanding presence. "We are grateful that you chose to repel those who threatened our subjects. However, we still require you to submit yourself to our custody. As terrible as it sounds, I do not trust you. But even so, I do not wish for it to come to blows. If you do not, then you leave us with little choice but to consider you a threat to our subjects.” "My my, you've followed his example to the letter if these spirits' memories are to be believed," Belial said. He waved his magic encased hand through the air, causing the spirits to return to the Everfree and the reanimated corpses to fall to the ground. He stepped forward and placed a hand to his chest. The other summoned Twilight's bag from beside her and he levitated it upside down. A skull encased by a rusted helmet dropped from the bag, clattering as it bounced before settling on the ground. "Very well then," he replied, dropping the staff and holding his arms out in front of him. "I submit myself to your custody. I have no intention of resisting, nor do I feel the need to cause any destruction to your kingdom or its subjects. You may take me back to your palace where I shall await your inquiries and offer my intentions with bated breath." "I am glad you see reason," Celestia replied, fanning her wings out. “This land is not one where conflict is a regular occurrence. Compromise is a much better solution in my view. I would never command my little ponies into a situation in which their lives would be threatened. Nor would I ever wish to cause any reckless damage to the lands we call home by any means. That is not who I am, and you have my thanks for choosing a peaceful alternative." "You are welcome. However, do not count yourself so lucky yet, Princess," Belial chided as manacles were clasped around his wrists. He glanced back at the Twilight and her battered friends looked at the skull with shock and disbelief. "Your long held secret is uncovered. Now there must be answers for your past sins. Let us hope you possess the strength to tell them the whole truth rather than blinding their eyes." "This was your plan then? To force my hoof and reveal my secrets? You’ve gone through much trouble for so little." "Far from it," Belial replied, a solitary black tear dripping from his chin and splattering on the ground. "Ask your most faithful student. She knows that this cycle has only just begun."