//------------------------------//
// Warm Logic 
// Story: Demons Are Forever 
// by Metool Bard 
//------------------------------//

	Although Fleur managed to recover from White Lie's attack, its bold declaration left her in a state of shock.  Her eyes were glued to the scarred changeling as her mouth move mechanically, trying to form words that would not come out.  White Lie chortled.

"I can see from your stupefied expressions that you still haven't figured out what's really going on here," it said. "Well, the fact of the matter is that I've been watching you since you first entered the mountains.  Prince Vassago of the Ars Goetia had actually predicted your arrival using his gift of prophecy, and I've been lying in wait ever since."

"So that's why you had one of those changelings turn into the bugbear," Lyra growled.

"Exactly correct," said White Lie with a bow. "Psychological warfare is a changeling's forte, after all."

"Wait, this still doesn't make any sense," said Bon-Bon, shaking her head. "Your letter said that you still thought of ponies as friends.  You said you didn't blame us for what happened."

"And I still don't.  Technically," said White Lie, menace seeping into its voice. "But the fact remains that your culture is diseased.  You ponies love to preach about love and tolerance and friendship, but when it comes to other species, those same rules don't quite apply, do they?  You're afraid of these creatures who are so different from you, and that fear breeds stereotypes, which in turn breeds prejudice and bigotry.  Now, I'm not singling you ponies out for being species-ist; the Ars Goetia clearly specify that this is a problem with all cultures.  However, your blatant hypocrisy cannot be ignored.  And that is what the Ars Goetia will purge!"

It fired another magic blast.  This time, Fleur blocked it with a barrier spell.

"White Lie, please.  There's no call for this," she said. "We don't want to fight you."

"Oh, I'm not saying you have to fight me.  I'm a reasonable fellow, despite my grievances," said White Lie, advancing towards Fleur. "However, you do have to die, Fleur de Lis.  And if that's a problem with the rest of you, you're all free to join her."

Fleur bit her lip and hung her head. "White Lie, I-I'm sorry.  I didn't know—"

"Oh, you're sorry, are you?" White Lie spat.  Its voice was slick with venom as it paced back and forth. "That's always been a fascinating phrase, you know.  'I'm sorry.'  It's like a magic spell.  You just say it and poof!  All is right in the world!  The bad stuff you did?  Erased from history with the utterance of this one phrase.  It's amazing, really.  You know what else it is?  A load of tripe!"

It fired a sustained beam at Fleur's barrier.  As Fleur struggled against it, she saw several hairline fractures cloud her view.

"The real world doesn't work like that, Fleur de Lis!" White Lie bellowed, pouring more energy into its spell. "You can't just say 'sorry' and wish everything away!  Especially since nothing would change even if I forgave you!  You'd still be the narrow-minded whore you always were!  As such, I will grant you no quarter!  I don't want your apology!  I want your head on a pike!"

With that last exclamation, White Lie's spell shattered Fleur's barrier and sent her flying against the wall.  The other ponies quickly rushed to her aid.

"Do you honestly think this senseless brutality is going to solve anything?!" Bon-Bon barked, shooting White Lie a glare.

"On its own, no.  This offers little more than catharsis for me personally," said White Lie plainly. "But after discussing things with Snatcher and the Ars Goetia, I've found that in order for society to change, examples must be made of those who are on the wrong side of history."

Fleur slowly pulled herself up as Moondancer treated her wounds. "Y-you don't understand, White Lie.  I-I admit it.  I was wrong about you the entire time.  I treated you unfairly because of my past experiences with your kind.  I am genuinely ashamed of my— mmph!"

In a flash, White Lie flew at Fleur and punched her across the jaw just as she got to her feet.  She skidded across the floor, blood trickling from her mouth.

"I already told you.  I will not be moved by your pleas for mercy," said White Lie coldly. "And by the way, why are you suddenly so eager to accept my words?  Why do you trust me now?  I'm a changeling, and according to you, lying is all changelings are good for!"

Minuette sighed. "White Lie, you can't believe what the Ars Goetia have been telling you.  They're controlling you like a puppet, just like Snatcher.  Don't you see that?"

White Lie snickered. "You know what, Dr. Colgate?  I thought that myself at first.  But unlike Queen Chrysalis, the Ars Goetia don't treat us like mindless drones.  We serve them because they are correct, and we came to that conclusion by opening ourselves to their arguments and making our own judgements.  The fact is that they are the only ones who make sense.  They aren't mad and oppressive like the hive, and they certainly aren't hypocrites like you ponies."

It flew over to Fleur and pinned her to the ground just as she was about to get up.  Bon-Bon charged in to help, but White Lie shoved her away with its magic.  As Lyra rushed to Bon-Bon's side, White Lie began wailing on Fleur mercilessly.

"All I wanted was to be accepted for who I was!" White Lie shouted. "I wanted to show the world that changelings could live with ponies without conquering them!  But all you did was distrust me!  I had to hide my identity behind a series of masks, just so I wouldn't end up scaring you spineless cowards!  And then you fell right into Nihilmodo's trap and turned on me, even though we were supposed to be friends!  I was nothing but a criminal in your eyes!  A monster!  A beast just biding its time and ready to pounce!  Princess Celestia convinced me that one day, ponies would grow to accept me and want to be my friend!  Well guess what?!  That day never came!"

Moondancer gasped as White Lie's words sparked something in her brain.  She pressed her glasses right against her face, causing them to shine as her horn pulsed with magic.  Minuette turned and raised an eyebrow.

"Um, Moondancer?  You okay?" she asked.

"Th-this is uncanny," Moondancer mumbled, scrunching her eyes shut. "We're so different, yet this feels so, familiar.  I-it's like watching myself making those tragic mistakes all over again, even though I know it's not the same thing.  Still, I-I can't, no, I won't sit idly by and let this happen.  This has gone on long enough!"

Before anypony could react, Moondancer fired a spell at White Lie, knocking it off of Fleur.  White Lie snarled and tried to pick itself up, only for Moondancer to teleport herself right in front of it and block its path.

"Perhaps you're right, White Lie," she said, adjusting her glasses. "Maybe there's nothing Lady de Lis can do to make up for how she hurt you.  Nevertheless, you shouldn't let her mistakes prevent you from being friends with other ponies."

White Lie groaned and cast its gaze upward. "Oh here we go.  You ponies sure do love your preaching, don't you?  I don't even know who you are.  Why should I listen to anything you say?"

Moondancer breathed a deep sigh. "Because honestly, I know how you feel."

White Lie let out a bemused chuckle. "You, know how I feel?  Need I reiterate the fact that we're complete strangers?  You can't possibly make this claim."

"I'll admit, our circumstances are not one and the same.  Comparing them as if they were would be folly," Moondancer stated. "But, they are similar."

White Lie scoffed. "Alright, pony.  I'll bite.  What makes us so similar?"

Moondancer took a deep breath before saying her piece. "I always had trouble making friends growing up.  I preferred reading books to playing games, and I wasn't sure if others would like me.  But then, I met a pony who felt the same way I did.  Her name was Twilight Sparkle.  We bonded over our shared love of literature, and I felt more confident in myself.  That in turn helped me make more friends, although I always felt they couldn't compare to Twilight."

Tears began to mar her vision as she continued. "Then one day, I decided it was time to put myself out there.  I threw a big party and invited all of my friends.  But, Twilight didn't show up.  The one pony I wanted to commemorate this special day, and she wasn't there.  She even left town without saying goodbye.  That hurt me on a level that nothing else ever did, and so I shut down emotionally and gave up on friendship altogether."

White Lie snorted and got to its feet. "I've been waiting several moons for my justice against Fleur de Lis's bigotry, pony.  Get to the point before I end your life."

"She was just about to, dock-hole.  So open up your ears and listen," Lyra snapped. "Go ahead, Moondancer."

"Th-thank you, Lyra," said Moondancer, clearing her throat. "Anyway, just recently, Twilight came back into my life seeking forgiveness.  Initially, I reacted the same way you did.  I refused to hear her out because I thought her intentions weren't genuine.  I felt that her entire mission to apologize was a waste of time for the both of us.  However, that was not the case.  She really did feel remorseful for hurting me.  She didn't want me to go through life being miserable and alone.  And in the end, I forgave her and accepted friendship into my life once more."

She then looked White Lie right in the eye. "So please.  Do not make my mistake.  Don't shun all of ponykind just because one pony hurt you."

There was a long pause as White Lie mulled things over.  It massaged the bridge of its nose with its hoof and shook its head.

"Th-this can't be right," it muttered. "H-how is this possible?  What you said, makes sense.  But, it shouldn't.  It goes against everything the Ars Goetia told me."

"Well, that just shows how much they know, doesn't it?"

White Lie perked up as Fleur slowly got to her feet.  Her once beautiful face was now covered in bruises, including a black eye.  She took a moment to wipe away the blood oozing from her nose and mouth before staggering over.

"White Lie, you have every right to hate me," she said somberly. "What I did to you was completely unacceptable.  You were trying to become my friend, and I simply refused to accept the fact that a friendly changeling could exist.  I was close-minded and prejudiced, and that led to the HUB's downfall."  She then turned away. "I deserve every ounce of your scorn.  I will concede that much.  However, I am but one pony out of many.  To judge all of ponykind based on my actions is just like me judging all changelings based on the actions of Queen Chrysalis and Nihilmodo.  If you carry out this vendetta, you'll be no better than I was."

White Lie knitted its brow and bit its lip. "I'll be damned.  Th-that made sense, too.  B-but I shouldn't question the Ars Goetia.  Th-that would be closed-minded."

"I'm beginning to wonder who the real hypocrites are," said Moondancer, adjusting her glasses. "You're basically saying that the Ars Goetia are the only ones allowed to be right about anything.  That right there sounds rather closed-minded, don't you agree?"

"Y-yes.  Yes it does," said White Lie. "But, it shouldn't.  Should it?  I mean, the Ars Goetia have a great wealth of knowledge, but do they really know everything?  I don't think anyone can make that claim.  And if they don't know everything, that means they're not infallible like Snatcher led me to believe.  H-hang on, I need to figure this out."

It began pacing all around the room and muttering to itself.  Minuette trotted over to Moondancer and smiled.

"Wow.  That was, impressive," she said. "See, I knew your skills would come in handy."

Moondancer blushed and twiddled her hooves. "Y-you give me too much credit, Minuette.  I-it was just basic logic."

"Yes, but you used your past experiences and the lessons you learned to help White Lie come to its senses," said Minuette. "I can still remember a time when you outright refused to talk so candidly about your own problems.  And considering White Lie is someone you never even met before, wow.  That really took some guts."

"I-I didn't even realize it," said Moondancer. "Or at least, I felt it was irrelevant.  All I knew was that White Lie was making the same mistakes that led to so much pain in my life, and I just wanted it to stop."

Minuette chuckled and patted Moondancer on the back. "Well regardless, I'm still proud of you, Moondancer."

"Lady de Lis?"

All eyes shifted over to White Lie.  The only exception was Fleur, who didn't even bother to turn around.

"What is it?" Fleur inquired.

"There's something that you ponies do that I've never seen a changeling do," said White Lie. "It's something I've admired quite a bit, actually.  And due to the fact that the Ars Goetia managed to coax me into joining their side, I had forgotten how important this was."

Fleur turned her head and gave White Lie a curious look. "What's that, then?"

White Lie smiled. "They forgive each other."

It then walked over to a shelf and took out one of the books.  When it opened it up, it was revealed to be hollowed out, and it contained a box of chocolate within its pages.  White Lie took the box and offered it to Fleur.  Fleur sniffled and shook her head.

"There's no need for that, White Lie.  You're not the one seeking forgiveness," she said. "Honestly, I'm not sure how I can even begin to atone for what I've done."

"Well, how about this?  Will you accept my friendship?" White Lie asked, opening the box.

Fleur smiled and took a chocolate with her magic. "Yes.  Yes I do, White Lie.  I need to get past these preconceptions of mine, and I could really use your help in doing so."

"That right there is a good first step to atonement, Lady de Lis," said White Lie with a bow. "And once we retrieve the Lesser Key and get back to Canterlot, I'd be more than happy to help you."

A few tears rolled down Fleur's cheeks as she ate the chocolate. "Th-thank you, White Lie."

"Don't thank me, Lady de Lis," said White Lie. "I think most of the credit goes to Miss, Moondancer, was it?"

"Um, yes.  My name is Moondancer," said Moondancer, hastily adjusting her glasses.

White Lie turned and bowed. "If it weren't for you, I would've forgotten my virtues in favor of the bleak reality the Ars Goetia presented to me.  They may be right about many things, and the world isn't perfect.  But you helped me realize that their solutions are far from ideal."

"I'll have you know that King Amdusias takes great offense to that, White Lie."

A sinister rasp echoed from above.  All eyes turned to see Snatcher on the balcony, the Lesser Key held by its magic and several changeling soldiers crowding around.  The doors on either side of the room burst open, revealing more changelings.  Snatcher flew down and landed before the ponies.

"I must say, I'm quite disappointed in you," Snatcher scolded. "Justice was well within your reach, and you just let it fly away.  Nihilmodo was right about one thing.  You will always be weak, White Lie."

"I wouldn't classify White Lie lashing out against Lady de Lis as 'justice,'" Moondancer stated flatly. "Its actions felt more like a desire for revenge than anything else."

"Silence!  You know not what you speak!" Snatcher boomed, causing Moondancer to flinch and nearly drop her glasses.  It then suddenly softened its tone. "O-oh.  My apologies, President Häagenti.  I didn't know you saw such potential in this, educated young mare here.  No, I agree, Knight Furcas.  She may indeed be a threat.  Mmm, yes.  I remember White Lie mentioning that.  Thank you for reminding me, Duke/Count Murmur."

"Well, this guy's about as nutty as a fruitcake, amiright?" Lyra whispered to Bon-Bon.  She then made a circular motion around her ear with her hoof while chirping "Cuckoo~!  Cuckoo~!"

"Not the time, Lyra," Bon-Bon growled through gritted teeth.

"I saw that," said Snatcher, glaring at Lyra.

Lyra squeaked and hid behind Bon-Bon, who let out an exasperated sigh.  Snatcher simply gave Lyra an "I'm watching you" gesture before clearing its throat.

"Now then, I must consult with my council to figure out how to deal with you lot," it said. "Perhaps a change of scenery will help."

"Um, if I may say so, archdrone," said one of the changeling soldiers. "It's so nice and warm in here.  Do we really have a reason to lead these prisoners somewhere else?"

Snatcher knitted its brow. "Hmm.  Line does raise a good point.  Gentlemen, let's put it to a vote.  All in favor of remaining here, say aye."

"Aye!" came a chorus of changelings.

Snatcher narrowed its eyes and snorted. "I was not speaking to you lot," it snarled. "Sorry, gentlemen.  Let's try that again.  All in favor of remaining here, say aye."

There was silence.

"All opposed?"

Once again, not a sound was heard.

"Motion blocked.  The nays have it," said Snatcher with a shrug. "Soldiers, lead our prisoners outside.  I will join you momentarily once the council has reached a decision.  And keep your counter spells ready in case those unicorns or the traitor get any bright ideas."

The soldiers grumbled and muttered as they marched the ponies up the stairs.  Moondancer gave Minuette a confused look.

"I thought you said White Lie would be alone," she whispered.

Minuette sighed. "I said there was a high chance that it would be alone.  That's not the same thing."

"But, doesn't your spell predict the future?"

"Not at all," said Minuette, shaking her head. "I can only make educated guesses about the future based on a sample size of several probable outcomes that I can see through the time stream.  But there's a tricky thing about probability, and it's the reason why I don't rely on that spell to guide me through life."

"Oh?  What might that be?"

Minuette sighed again and shrugged her shoulders. "Sometimes, the underdog wins."