-Enemies-
Three months later the wolf had decided to move back to Ponyville with Fluttershy, so he could talk to somepony. Luna had explained to the element bearers what was up with the wolf and Twilight had prepared a spell in case the wolf decided to release this Duncan. The wolf had settled into his new life as a scout and protector of Ponyville. Most of his time was spent sleeping, or at night he would watch over the edge everfree forest.
Little had happened since he had met the ponies. Many of the towns folk still treated him with mild suspicion, though they never acted on it. The wolf generally spent his days at the cottage thought when he went to town he always went with Fluttershy probably part of why he hadn’t been harassed.
This night though Luna and Twilight had come to visit him, while he was on patrol in the forest. They spoke with him about a variety of things that had happened, and showed him some artifacts Luna had uncovered from the pre-Discord days. The wolf knew they were trying to be more friendly with him, as neither had been able to talk with him due to their royal duties.
"And that's when Applejack stood before everypony and told them the truth of Flim and Flam's elixir," Twilight said finishing her story about one of the bearers.
"It is a good thing Applejack found her honesty despite knowing how it would disappoint other ponies," Luna said as they walked. The wolf was about to agree when he caught a whiff of something in the air.
"What's wrong Demon?" Twilight asked as he started to growl at the forest. The wolf remembered the smell of the creature that had hurt him and caused him to seek help from the ponies. The wolf began to worry as he began to smell a pack of these creatures, they had managed to surround the three of them.
"Twilight Sparkle I believe there is something dangerous in these woods," Luna remarked as she began to see the outlines of creatures forming. The wolf saw one of the creatures in full form as it was stalking closer.
The creature stood 9 feet tall, and was covered in razor sharp spines everywhere. The creature's head had a long snout with forward facing eyes denoting a predator. It's eyes consisted of six orbs, three on either side of the face, all pitch black. From it's boney scalp grew a set of twisted horns meant for gouging prey. It stood on it's hind legs with feet that ended in massive claws, much like it's forearms both sets of limbs were marked with bone plates with spikes on them. The last part the wolf saw was long tail with a spiked club on the end, it looked to be a balance support and a weapon to strike anything the snuck up on it.
"What are those," Twilight asked seeing them at last.
"I don't know," Luna answered, "we should leave."
Twilight started flying as Luna lifted the wolf on her back. The creatures sprang into action, but missed the alicorns by a few inches. They flew to Fluttershy's house which was closest and asked for admittance.
"Please come in," Fluttershy said opening the door, "please be quiet though everyone is asleep."
"Thanks Fluttershy," Twilight said, as wolf started whining at the yellow pegasus.
"Shuush, Demon softer and slower," Fluttershy said trying to calm the wolf. The wolf took a breath and whined and woofed slower and quieter.
"Oh dear are you sure?" Fluttershy asked as Luna and Twilight looked at each other, "Demon says that Duncan is demanding the speech spell. It seems Duncan knows what the creatures that attacked you are, you were attacked?"
"Yes by creatures we've never seen before," Twilight confirmed, "can you tell us how Duncan knows them?"
Wolf whined at Fluttershy, "He said they're from a world Duncan had visited, oh dear."
"What is it young Fluttershy?" Luna asked as the yellow pony turned pale.
"He says they're a race that nests and devours w..whole w..worlds," Fluttershy stammered.
"How bad are they, can we stop them?" Luna asked and the wolf whined his reply.
"Oh dear, he says the only way to stop them is to exterminate them," Fluttershy was on the verge of fainting from translating this bad news. "he... he says unless the alicorns know annihilation magic that can... that can kill all of them then we don't stand a chance."
"You're sure Demon, Duncan's not lying?" Twilight asked, the wolf barked.
"He says he remembers Duncan's last fight with the creatures... I'm sorry I can't continue this is too horrible," Fluttery said and ran to go cry.
"I'm gonna go comfort her," Twilight said.
"I will see if we can get into Demon's dreams," Luna said nodding, as wolf closed his eyes. It took him a few minutes but he fell asleep with the help of Duncan, and met Luna in his dream at the silver house. However tonight Duncan waited outside the door.
"I wish not to make demands but if Equestria is to survive then I need that speech spell," Duncan said ignoring the normal pleasantries.
"Why do these creatures have you in such a panic?" Luna asked, "what makes you want to kill them?"
"You want to know?" Duncan asked fury starting to show on his face, "Remember how I said I traveled across multiple worlds?"
"I remember," Luna stated.
"Well let me show you a memory of the last world I had a family on," Duncan said his eyes burning with fury. The scene shifted in a whirl of colors and they stood on the sky over a city. Luna noted the oddity of this world, as grass was blue, water was orange, and clouds were all pink. In the city was more like Duncan two leggers called Humans.
"I had come to this world called Fiaht about 200 years before I ended up in Equestria," Duncan started. The scene shifted to show Duncan and three other humans a female as tall as him, then two males half as tall. Luna realized this was the family Duncan had mentioned.
"We lived peacefully, I had an expanded knowledge of herbal medicines, and was good with computers. I had married my wife Tsunami and had two sons, Nuada and Lugh." the scene shifted again, they were out on a picnic it seemed.
"My wife knew of my immortality, through my sons did not. Then they came," Duncan's face showed untold amounts of fury and pain, Luna began to regret asking.
The newest scene showed fire and chaos all around. Luna saw the same creatures that had attacked them in the woods, slaughtering everything they came across. The monsters gorged themselves on the humans, while others ran survivors down. "Don't think we gave up without a fight," Duncan remarked as what looked like soldiers attacked the creatures with ranged weapons that sounded like thunder, and tore chunks from the monster's flesh. But Luna could see they were out numbered, the soldiers went down as their weapons stopped firing and the creatures surrounded them.
Luna was feeling sick, in all of Equestrian history she knew of nothing that could come close to the violence she saw here. The scene swirled again, Duncan was in front of his home throwing spells and using one of the thunder weapons to stop the advance of the creatures. "In desperation I began using the magics I had hidden from the people of that world," Duncan explained, "I was doing everything I could to protect my family, my wife and children were using the guns of the fallen soldiers to help, but they ran out of ammo quickly. I used all the spells I could draining myself to the brink of death, and then..."
Luna watched as Duncan's wife came running out of the house taking claw meant for the exhausted Duncan. In a rage Duncan threw a massive anialation spell taking out over 50 monsters in one shot. The scene went dark.
"I should have died," Duncan said as an image of Duncan's past self formed, and a black robed figure with a large scythe floated into view.
"Death had another plan for me though," Duncan said as the scene rotated and revealed a skeleton face. "Death told me my time had not come yet," Duncan said, "that my job in the worlds was yet to come."
The scene left, and they stood in the dream city by Duncan's house, "I found myself on another world. I never found out what happened to my children. I could only assume they had perished while I was saved."
Duncan looked at Luna his fury replaced with sadness, "I found out threw research in the multiverse library what those monsters where. They are called the Mortis Letum, for the bring fear and death with them. Creatures without origin that devour worlds appearing seemingly without reason"
Luna couldn't move or say anything, in all of the recorded history of Equestria, Luna had known nothing like the darkness that Duncan had shown her.
"Luna, please grant Duncan speech," the wolf said rubbing her leg.
Luna looked at the wolf confused, "You're sure."
"If this is the only way to save everyone, then I don't mind. Besides it's not a full death, I'll live on as a part of Duncan," the wolf said.
"Okay, good bye Demon," Luna said and shifted away. Luna found Twilight Sparkle looking at her concerned as she brought herself out of the dream.
"Princess are you okay?" Twilight asked.
"I will be eventually," Luna responded trying to shake the sadness from her mind, "How is Fluttershy?"
"She's fallen asleep, I don't understand what upset her so," Twilight remarked.
"Let us hope nopony ever has to know," Luna said looking at the wolf who was stirring, "now then for the safety of Equestria I need you to grant Demon speech and restore Duncan's presence."
"Princess?" Twilight asked confused, "what about Demon?"
The wolf looked at Twilight. "Demon has agreed to this," Luna said a tears forming in her eyes.
"Okay, bye Demon," Twilight's horn glowed as the wolf smiled in his fashion. A beam of power shot the wolf. The wolf glowed purple from Twilight's Magic for a moment before they heard a rusty, "Restoration." A dark red flame flowed out from Duncan's covered left eye, pushing back the purple magic. The red flame enveloped the wolf body and levitated as an orb into the air. It hovered two feet up for twelve seconds before coming back down for a gentle rest on the ground. The fire drew back into the eye and revealed the restored Duncan.
Duncan looked the same as he had previously, still a black wolf with red hair. However a cape now rested across his back, black with an intricate red symbol down the full back. The cape rested to the side slightly revealing a red flame with a spiral on his hindquarters.
"Hello?" Duncan said roughly practicing his long out of use voice, and new vocal cords.
"Hello," Twilight responded, "Duncan?"
"Yes I am Duncan," he replied, "hum strange I was supposed to return to my human form. There must be a law in this world preventing me. Now then thank you both for restoring me and watching over this body."
"No problem," Twilight responded, "what are you going to do now?"
"I need to ask Princess Luna and Princess Celestia for some help then I will eradicate the Mortis Letum," Duncan stated.
"What?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"It is for the best Twilight Sparkle, please keep this between us for now," Luna said, "Come Duncan we will go to Celestia now."
"But Princess eradication?" Twilight asked confused that the Lunar Alicorn who had been so gentle lately would agree to something so horrible.
"Twilight, if you wish to know why come with us to see Celestia, as a princess it is your right, however I would rather you forget this whole event," Luna explained.
"I'm coming with you then," Twilight stated, "I need to understand what's going on."
"Then let's go," Duncan said, impatient, "each minute we dally is a chance for them to destroy something."
They road Luna's chariot to the castle, Duncan rode as far forward as he could, not afraid of the height. Duncan was muttering to himself most of the way, trying to get use to his voice and body again.
As they arrived Celestia came out to meet them, "Welcome back sister, and Demon, and what brings my most faithful student to Canterlot this late?"
"Sister we need to speak in private," Luna said, "there is a danger in the forest that warrants serious care."
"But of course," Celestia said seeing grim looks on Luna and the wolf. They walked in silence thru the castle, heading to Celestia's chambers. Once in her chambers Celesta dismissed her guards, and Twilight put up an anti-eavesdropping spell. Duncan introduced himself to Celestia and explained the rough problem. Celestia asked to be shown what Luna had scene.
"I would like to see as well Princess," Twilight stated.
"Twilight please wait until I see, some things are better off being unknown, especially where other worlds are concerned" Celestia explained nodding to Duncan. A black sphere enveloped Celestia and Duncan, a few seconds later the sphere faded and Celestia was paler than a white alicorn should be.
"Princess?" Twilight asked seeing that expression for the third time in that night.
"Twilight you know I trust you and believe in you, however this is something that should never have come to Equestria," Celestia said, "In truth this makes, the changelings, Discord, and King Sombra look like simple schoolyard bullies. I will not stop you from seeing it, however, I advise against it."
"Well if you say so Princess I won't pursue it," Twilight said looking away, scared that something scared her mentor.
"Okay now then I personally can't condone your choice of action Duncan, nor can I permit them as a Ruler of Equestria. Our rules are set, no killing ever, banishment and sealing is permitted, but never killing," Celestia explained, "I can not break this law even for such a situation, or a precedence will be set and I can not permit that."
"I understand your position," Duncan agreed nodding, "in that case permit me to offer an alternative. I will open a portal to another world, if your soldiers can coral them thru that portal, I will ensure they stay there."
"I must ask what world you will take them to?" Celestia asked, "in good conscious I can't send them to their death."
"I have a world bookmarked that is rather hostile, I admit that their survival will be limited, however it is no different than the predator ranks in the Everfree forest, they will have a chance to survive but they will be kept in check by stronger predators," Duncan explained.
"I suppose that can be acceptable," Celestia agreed, "I will contact Shining Armor to gather the guards and form a group for you. Twilight Sparkle I request you gather the others and help Duncan."
"Yes Princess," Twilight said. The two were each led to rooms for the night, after a letter was sent to Spike letting him know that Twilight would return in the morning. Duncan began preparing his dimensional gate spell, writing a list of what was needed, and drawing out the magical sigils he would need on planks of wood. Twilight borrowed a book from the library to read before she fell asleep, looking into dimensional magic specifically.
The next morning Twilight caught the train back to ponyville while Duncan worked with the Princesses and Guard to gather the needed supplies and organize small patrols to watch the edge of the forest, making sure none of the monsters escaped. Establishing a criss crossing patrol around the forest, they arranged to have camps established for relay and rest point. At midday Shining Armor arrived with a large group of crystal ponies, saying more were on the way.
Twilight met Duncan and Shining Armor at the train station at mid afternoon, after the pegasi guards had arrived and started the patrol of the forest.
"Brother how are you, how's Cadence?" Twilight asked bouncing up to meet them.
"I'm doing good Twilly, Cadence is a little under the weather but otherwise is doing well," Shining Armor said as they walked, "Have you briefed the others?"
"I told them about the plan everyone is eager to help," Twilight said indicating how the town had arranged into groups to help the guards patrol.
"What about the other element bearers?" Shining asked.
"Everyone is ready to help, they'll meet up with us at the edge of the forest," Twilight explained.
"Okay now then, start rounding them to the castle of the two sisters, I will use the ancient power there to help stabilize the portal," Duncan said moving forward, "remember don't fight them, and they move in packs so keep all eyes open."
The guards moved at Duncan's order, and spread out into the forest. Unicorns would work together to pick up the creatures, while earth ponies would act as vanguards defending the unicorns. Pegasi were patrolling threw the air to watch for missed creatures. Duncan and the bearers moved to the castle with Shining Armor and a few guards watching over them.
At the castle Duncan set about using the entryway to build his portal. Sigils were affixed to stones, and seals drawn on the ground. As the first group came threw the clearing edge with creatures held aloft, Duncan sat down his tools.
"Okay girls to sustain this long enough please channel some power into this crystal," Duncan said placing a ruby stone into the center of the arch. Duncan spoke words of great power the air pressure from the gathering energy tossing hair about. Between the arch a black vortex formed, slowly growing, taking that as a signal Twilight and the bearers channeled power in a rainbow beam threw the crystal. The portal opened to full size and Shining Armor ordered the unicorns to begin throwing the creatures thru the portal.
Duncan stood focusing on the portal his hidden eye glowing in a red fire. Twilight and the others were channeling as much as they could thru the crystal. Group after group came thru with the monsters, throwing them thru the portal. During this a few reports came thru to Shining Armor who had affixed a barrier over the forest just to be safe. A hand full of guards had been caught of guard and wounded, nothing serious but enough to remove them from the front lines. After two hours a pegasus came down and informed them the last group was five minutes out, and at this time no other Mortis Letium had been sighted.
Duncan stayed on edge while the girls relaxed slightly, the task would be done soon and Equestria saved once more. Only Duncan noticed the monster sneaking up on Shining Armor who stood off to the side from the main action. "Shining Armor look out!"
Almost too late Shining Armor saw the threat and dodged, taking a serious cut to his side. Blood oozed from the wound as the monster prepared a second strike. Duncan grabbed the beast by it's tail, with his mouth and yanked it towards the portal. The creature seeing what was happening grabbed Duncan.
In a few moments several things happened. The last Unicorn group came thru, with the last of the creatures getting tossed into the portal. Duncan wrestled with the creature that had wounded Shining Armor into the portal going with it. Twilight broke her spell to check her brother not seeing Duncan go thru the portal. Without power, the portal collapsed on itself in a loud thundering crack.
"We've got to get you to Zecura," Twilight said remembering the poison Fluttershy had mentioned when Duncan was first found as Demon.
"Is that the last of them?" Shining Armor asked a guard.
"No more are being reported, we'll continue our vigilance for the next few days," the pegasus said hovering.
"Okay, lets go," Shining Armor said leaning on a guard.
"Guys where's Duncan?" Fluttershy asked. Everyone started looking around for the wolf. A guard came forth, "I think I saw him fall thru the portal with the creature that had harmed the Captain."