//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: The Stranger // by Kaptein //------------------------------// Celestia paced outside the prison block’s entrance. The Paragon Guard were still present and on full alert. Princess Luna stared at the burly guards uneasily. She had only become aware of their presence many months after her return, unnerved that their sole existence was created because of her initial transformation into Nightmare Moon over a thousand years ago. “I believe it to be a trap, sister,” Luna said. She wore her full battle armament - interlocking plates that was very reminiscent of her warlike days before Nightmare Moon. “Why else would he march directly into Canterlot?” Celestia stopped her pacing, turning to her sister. “I understand your concern, Luna, but I assure you I am well protected.” The Princess of the Night simply shook her head, letting out a worried sigh. “His magic is unnatural - he calls upon the elements yet he lacks a horn to summon magic with. I do not trust this situation in the slightest.” A large unicorn stallion, outfitted in heavy armour exited the main prison block, saluting to the Princesses. “We’ve fully secured and locked-down the prisoner’s cell. It is thaumaturgically sealed and the prisoner is fully secured.” “Thank you, Swift Bulwark,” Celestia said, moving into the prison block. A part of her was nervous, not knowing what to expect - but centuries of experience allowed her to show none of this. This...stranger had caused a lot of damage to her little ponies - but she knew better than to feel anger or resentment. Two Paragon Guards led her towards one of the deepest cells inside the castle’s prison block. The entire section was always empty - it was simply a relic from older, darker times. Luna followed Celestia in. The tan earth-pony was waiting in a large cell. An impassive look was on his face. Large, thick chains were locked around his legs and to his neck, anchoring him to the walls. Arcane runes actively glowed on the walls of his cell, fuelled by the Paragon Mage-Casters outside. “Good afternoon, Princess,” the pony greeted. “I apologise for the damage I caused earlier. I assure you, I inflicted nothing permanent and it is good to see that your Royal Guard are as alert as they are.” Princess Celestia’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. Luna had drawn herself to her full height, acting as imposing and dangerous as possible. “My guards tell me you refuse to tell them your name,” Celestia said. “You wouldn’t have found any records of it anywhere,” the stallion said. “Are you implying that you are a non-citizen?” “I’m implying that legally, I do not exist.” There was a hint of irritation on his voice. Luna snorted impatiently, glowering at him. “Do not take that tone with your Princess, whelp!” Celestia extended a wing and touched her sister along her withers. “Calm down, Luna. I’m sure there’s a reason for all of this.” She turned to the stallion. “Might I have your name?” He heaved an irritated sigh, rolling his eyes. “Adrias Kalte,” he said, sounding irritated at the mere mention of it. “Hmm - it’s not often I hear a pony with a name like that,” Celestia said. “Ancient Eastern Griffonic.” “It’s a griffon name, yes. But my choice in names is not why I’m here.” He leaned forward as far as the thick chains allowed, affixing a gaze at Celestia. It was only then that the alicorn truly noticed his eyes, ice-blue in appearance but hiding so much more. “Three floors up, fifteen feet to the right there is a visitor. He or she radiates a strange energy that you cannot identify although I suspect you can only identify it as an ‘odd feeling’” Luna took a step towards him, eyes narrowing threateningly. “What do you know of her?” Adrias turned, eyebrows raised. “Oh, it’s a she? I know enough about what she is that she needs to be locked up with your most powerful warding spells.” Celestia shook her head. “No, I will not do that to our guest - especially when such fears are unfounded.” Adrias grunted angrily, kicking his hoof on the ground lightly. “I figured as much…” he sighed. “How about I explain to you how I can use magic? Even without a horn?” Celestia withheld her response for a while. There was clearly more to this pony, but there was something about his eyes that set off a warning deep at the back of her mind. Once upon a time, an old friend had eyes like that. Old...tired. Waiting to die. “How old are you, Adrias?” Celestia asked slowly. There was a shift in his stance, the frustrated look on his face fading rapidly. “This body is, by my estimates, no older than twenty years.” “That is a very clever way to dodge the actual meaning to my question,” Celestia said. “But you, your soul. How old are you exactly?” Adrias closed his eyes, a sad smile touching his lips. He tilted his head upwards, apparently in thought. “Old enough.” A hint of annoyance flared up inside of Celestia, but she knew better than to pry into something that had was apparently personal and private. “You said you were going to explain your magic?” The sadness disappeared rapidly from his face, but it lingered still in his eyes, old memories resurfacing. “Everything I’m about to say will sound ridiculous. But at this stage, it is the only truth that makes sense." He took a deep breath, pausing for a few moments, before letting it out. “I am from a different world,” he continued. Celestia raised an eyebrow, while Luna held a stoic expression. “From a different dimension and timeline completely unrelated to this one. How I got here, I don’t know. I died in my previous life and awoke again in this body four years ago, before Nightmare Moon’s return. I wasn’t always a pony but something very alien to this world. Don’t ask me what it was because whatever conversion process is involved it has muddled my memories of what I used to be.” He paused for a bit, tilting his head thoughtfully as he gazed absently past the Royal Sisters. Luna began to walk around the prison cell, carefully observing the stallion. “There’s much more that you’re not telling us.” “I’m not a pony, not by any normal definition. Tell me, are you familiar with ‘demons’ and ‘devils’?” There was a slight shimmering as a protective shield was thrown around Celestia and Luna by the Paragon. Celestia tensed for a moment, eyes narrowing. The term ‘demon’ was often thrown around by the ignorant and the scared. “Demons are beings of chaos and evil, often their purpose is to cause destruction and suffering,” Celestia replied in a measured tone. “Devils are higher-class beings, still evil and still dedicated to the suffering of others - but their evil is more directed than that of a demon.” Adrias gave a flat smile. “Good, it makes the next part easier. You see, in my previous life, I was what was called a ‘Devil-Child’.” “The child of a devil?” Luna said indignantly. “That hardly makes sense - devils are not born and there has never been a ‘child’. They are created in the deepest fires of Tartarus.” “And you are correct, Princess Luna.” He wave a hoof dismissively at her, or at least as much as the thick chains allowed. “Devils dislike the fires and suffering around them. They seek an escape at all times.” A twisted smile crept over his face, a dark ember burning behind his eyes. The tired look was gone now, replaced by a vile malice. “The mortal world is so tender and fresh, virginial in its uncorrupted state. Young souls teeming with ideas and hope all ripe to be cut and crushed down so mercilessly.” Luna stiffened. “You speak with experience.” The dark ember fluttered out, the old and tired look returning to his eyes. “I speak with the experience of a thousands souls haunting my dreams every night.” Celestia let out a soft gasp as she noticed her breath misting up in front of her. “A Devil-Child is a mortal soul imbued with the powers and essence of devils and demons. We are an anchor point for them to enter. A engine of chaos and destruction with the sole purpose of giving into the evil whispers that sing us to sleep every night.” Ice was forming in the chamber. Luna already had a spell charging at her horn. “How are you…? All magic has been cut off from you!” Adrias let out a dark chuckle. “This ‘magic’ -," he spat the word as if it left a vile taste on his tongue, " - is a taint running deeply through my soul. An Ice-Demon once sought to shackle me to his will and desires.” The ice melted rapidly, before reforming into a single statue of a pony in front of Adrias. Its features were completely flawless, each groove and detail beautiful far beyond what a normal pony could ever carve by hoof or even with magic. “I have made his will mine now, and his desires no longer influence me.” The Paragon Guard flooded the chamber. Celestia glanced at them and shook her head. “At ease. He is not a direct threat.” “Your Highness, you must be evacuated at once. The shield spells -,” one of the burly unicorns began but was cut off. “Would not have helped regardless,” she finished his sentence. “If he wished to dispose of me, he could have done so easily by now.” The guards shifted uneasily, but did not remove their dagger-like glare at Adrias. He tilted his head up, offering a pleasant smile. Luna spoke firmly, her stance not relaxing. “Are you implying that our guest is a ‘Devil-Child’ as you call it?” The stallion shook his head. “No, I’m saying that she’s a demon. A creature of darkness.” The two princesses shared an uneasy look. Celestia knew there was something odd about Devoted but a demon? She was well-mannered and calm, but most of all Celestia could find no malicious intent in the horned-mare. A realisation slammed into her. Adrias had no obvious malicious intent, but that didn’t change the fact that he was dangerous. Much like Devoted Shield was. “Finally seeing my point, Princess?” Celestia didn’t say anything for a long while. Leaving her sister to stew in her own thoughts, Luna took a step towards Adrias. “How do you recognise her, then? For what she is?” “I recognise the energies running through her soul, however what I’m most curious is how she arrived.” The stallion shivered for a moment, closing his eyes and he shook his head. “All I know is it was a violent arrival. Not...not unlike my own.” He shivered again. “I was in the Crystal Empire at the time and even there I felt the surge.” “What are you suggesting we do, Adrias?” Celestia said. At least she knew a lot more about the situation than she did earlier that day, but there were still far too many unanswered questions. “I want to see her. I need to confirm with my own eyes why she’s here.” Celestia shot a look at Luna, who wore an uneasy look on her face. The solar princess nodded before turning back to Adrias. “We can arrange that.”