That night, when all was quiet, I was changed again.
This time, I became tall and powerful, looking as though I could beat both Celestia and Luna at any test of might.
Knives came, and a large broken knife cut into my head and fused with my skull.
It was at least a foot or two long.
My wings were formed next, these ones with several attachments to my sides, the feather being knives again, shaped to slice through the air and any unfortunate enough to get in their way. My wingspan was at least three times my height.
Funnily enough, armor came made from more silverware.
“You are really trying to get me sick of these, aren’t you?”
“No, I am merely taking advantage of the simplistic obsession you have to enable you more power.”
“How so?”
“Your proximity to these objects will comfort you and put you in ‘the zone’ and therefore enhance your capabilities.”
“Clever.”
As the armor fused to me, a mirror appeared.
The sight I saw was a marvel.
I towered over my old size, at over two or so times that height.
My armor was a comforting silver/gold/ivory/bronze coloration, and where my cutiemark would be it showed an exact multicolored replica. It covered almost my whole body, leaving only the wings and horn unexposed. My eyes could barely be seen.
“Are you ready to begin?”
“As per usual, Nightshade.”
She brought the corpses, and I worked them carefully to make the perfect Shells. She then used her Philosopher’s Stone to bring them to life and bind them to our will.
I asked her if she could bring me back with it, and she said that drains the Stone.
This next part is a little disturbing, as it goes over the act of making the Shell.
Therefore I wrote a little song I sang while working, to keep my mind on it.
Thread by thread, stitching it together
The Demon’s shells, cutting out a pattern snip by snip
Making sure the flesh folds nicely
It's the perfect feel and so fresh
Always got to keep in mind my pacing
Making sure the bone is correctly facing
I'm stitching all the shells
Corpse by corpse, fussing on the details.
New neckline. Don't you know a stitch in time saves nine?
Make her something perfect to ‘inspire’
Even though she hates formal attire
Got to mind those intimate details,
Even though she's more concerned with ‘sales’
It's the Demon’s new shells
Shell making is easy
For this one something pink
This one something breezy
Blend color and form, do you think it looks cheesy?
“No, not really.”
Something brash, perhaps quite fetching
Hook and eye, couldn't you just simply DIE
Making sure it fits forelock and crest
Don't forget the magic in the flesh
Even though it rides high on the flank
The zombie won't look like a tank
I'm stitching Demon’s shells
Piece by piece, snip by snip
Croup, dock, haunch, shoulders, hip
Thread by thread, primmed and pressed
Yard by yard, never stress
And that's the art of the flesh
Stitch by stitch, stitching it together
Deadline looms, don't you know the master is always right
Even if my skin choice was perfect
Gotta get them all done by tonight
Master, the color is too obtrusive
Wait until you see it in the light
I'm sewing them together
Hour by hour, one more change
I'm sewing them together, take great pains
Luna, you're putting me in a bind
Master, what is on your mind
Oh hell, there's simply not much time
Don't forget, zombie’s skin must shine
Shell making is easy
Every spirit's call
Brings a whole new revision
Have to pick up the pace, still hold to my vision
All we ever want is indecision
All we really like is what we know
Gotta balance power with adherence
Making sure we make a good appearance
Even if you simply have to fudge it
Make sure that it stays within our budget
Got to overcome intimidation
Remember it's all in the presentation
Piece by piece, snip by snip
Croup, dock, haunch, shoulders, hip
Bolt by bolt, primmed and pressed
Yard by yard, always stressed
And that's the art of the flesh