Being a human once was nice, I had good friends and a good life, then the Apocalypse happened and we all died. Now I'm a Demon, a pathetic Demon to be honest, I've been living in Hell for a hundred years, but now I'm out, and I'm not going back.
I had a good life. I was lazy, didn't really do much with my life, but I had a good group of friends and family that loved me. Then came the Apocalypse and everyone died. I was made into a Demon as punishment for my sins, but instead of becoming powerful I was weak, I had to steal and manipulate just to survive.
I died a hundred years ago and I'm still the bottom rung in Hell. I'm just scraping by, not living. And before I was summoned by a mortal I planned to escape Hell myself. Now I'm free I have no interest in going back. Even if it means that other Demons will start seeping into the mortal world I'm staying. After all, now I'm free I can start summoning my old friends.
Protecting this new world so I can live out of hell with my old buddies? Sure, I can do that, might even be fun, especially if I get to kill the Demons that made the past hundred years absolute hell for me.
I yawned and stretched as I woke up from my spot on the cliff. I scratched a mark on the wall with a claw. I looked at the thousands of marks that took up the entire nearby wall. I sighed and pressed a pale hand against the wall. “Happy hundredth anniversary in Hell.” I muttered, brushing some dirt off my body.
As a Demon my body was more or less the opposite of what it was like as a human. Where I was once slightly fat I was scrawny, my stomach area in particular sucking into my body and you could clearly see each of my ribs. Then came the more extreme additions and changes, based on who I was in life. There were several jewels sunk into my skull, a ruby by my mouth, a sapphire just above my right eye and a topaz in my chin. My right arm, from the shoulder to the joint of the elbow, was covered in gold, the flesh around it burned and red, my hands had small circles of silver over the knuckles, with my claws made out of some kind of platinum. My eyes were thankfully normal, minus the glowing golden colour they had become. Yet despite all that my face was undeniably handsome, I had never really cared for my looks, I had been average looking enough, but I guess that was all part of the irony that was thrown at me, it had been the last time I sassed a Demon Lord.
I stood and stretched my legs, the ragged, holey pants would have fell off my thin frame if not for some rope I had stolen from some Lust Demons and used as a belt, I tried really hard not to think of what the stains on it were. My legs and feet were human enough, if not exactly sightly, made of the same leather like skin as the rest of my body.
I sighed and looked around Hell, there was no fire, no ice, just a long, dry cave filled with Demons hoarding precious jewels and gold, roaring in rage, fucking in the middle of public or just eating as many rocks as they could. I was sick of it. I had been stuck in the same damn cave for the past hundred years since I died, never able to find the end of the cave, yet always seeing some illusionary light at the horizon.
It said a lot that even after a hundred years I was only just getting used to my body. I flexed my claws before groaning, “Fuck this.” I jumped off the cliff and fell for several seconds before landing on a Gluttony Demon’s large belly and springing off him. He let out a snort and muttered something before rolling over and falling back to sleep.
I scooped up a rock and made my way through the crowd of Demons. I spotted a Sloth Demon with a basket full of meat and grinned. I threw the rock at his side as I passed him. As he slowly looked towards the rock I rushed in and stole two large chunks of uncooked meat. By the time he realised, I was lost to the crowd laughing at him. I snuck off to an unoccupied corner of the cave and tore into the bloody chunks. After a hundred years I loved the taste of the uncooked meat, even if it was once human or some other sapient creature. Maybe I’d lost touch with my humanity at some point, but in Hell it was eat or be eaten if you got too weak, both metaphorically and literally.
As I finished my first lot of meat I heard heavy footsteps approaching. I looked up and saw a short, obese, purple blob with feet approaching, it’s head just barely visible beneath all that blubber. I grabbed my remaining meat and clutched it protectively, “Back off, tubbo, I see you rolling over here, don’t make me start hating!”
He grumbled under his breath. “You have been requested.”
I blinked. Ah, shit, who’d I piss off this time? “Yeah, yeah, by who?”
He wheezed there for a few seconds before giving me vicious grin, “Lord Malice.”
I gulped, of course it was the guy in charge of being summoned and torture. “Right. Lead the way.”
As he led me through the streets I had plenty of time to think. The only time I'd stolen from Malice I managed to frame someone else for it and got a month’s worth of meat from it, but I was in no hurry to steal from him again.
The Demon Lords were a group of the strongest Demons in Hell, in charge of the most important things, there was even a rumour that they hid a way to some deeper layer of Hell. Just a stupid rumour I'm sure, if it was true it would have been found by now. Anyway, the Demon Lords were the ones in charge of Hell, the ones who decided who was punished and who did what on a daily basis, the only thing they couldn't control was who was summoned by a mortal. Actually, come to think of it, Lord Malice was in charge of summoning, but I doubt I've been summoned, if I haven't left Hell in a hundred years I doubt I'll manage it by being summoned now, my best bet was working on my escape plan. I'd managed to avoid the Lords attention in all my time in Hell, my conversion to a Demon not counting.
Any questions I asked were answered only by the fat, lard bucket’s heavy breathing. So I began sassing him. Seemed like a smart idea at the time. When he started rolling after me, making me sprint towards Lord Malice’s mansion? Yeah, not so much. But I did manage to snag the ruby on the rope he had around his neck. What? He attacked me, that makes it mine by the laws of ‘Go fuck yourself.’
When he finally stopped chasing me I looked over the fancy mansion with envy, I wish I had a house. “Must be nice to sleep on a bed.” I muttered bitterly.
“Shut up and go in.” The fat blob growled before waddling away.
I shrugged and pocketed the ruby before knocking on the fancy double doors. As they slowly opened I shifted from foot to foot. When I saw who it was opening the doors I put on a happy facade. “Wraith!” I called cheerfully whilst simultaneously looking for an escape. “How long’s it been? Five years?”
“Ten.” He rumbled, his large, muscular body slowly raising and falling as he breathed, fire visible through the numerous cracks across his body.
I twitched nervously as his bone like scales seemed to sharpen towards me “Ten years? Wow! Well, hope to see you again soon, I’m sure you’re busy, hate to keep you, bye!”
He watched me intently, even his two dead heads at the side of his neck, both lit up by unholy light coming from the eyes and mouth, seemed to stare at me, the scars across his remaining face really not helping. “Runt.” I gulped, it was always a bad sign when he called me that. “I am to be your escort to see the Lord.” He slammed his trident onto the ground. “I shall not tolerate any distractions!” His lizard like tail swished dangerously.
“R...right. Understood.” I said as he started leading me through the building. I knew he’d like nothing more than to remove my head right there and crush my soul to stop me from ever coming back. The only thing that kept me alive was the fact I knew his True Name.
Now True Names are a tricky subject, they aren’t the name you’re born with and are a culmination of your entire being, you need to know a Demon’s true name to summon them, well, to be honest you really only needed the first syllable of their True Name and the rest just had to be close enough to sound like their given name. Yet we couldn’t even give other Demons our True Names, as Demons aren’t really the most trustworthy of beings, go figure. Those with the knowhow can use them to bind creatures to themselves, usually mages and wizards, witches and sorcerers with Demons, to do their bidding. Though with Demons the binding erodes extremely fast when binded to a mortal, they usually only last a decade or two at most. Hey, for a Demon that is fast. Anyway, when a Demon comes across a mortal’s True Name the result tends to be...apocalyptic. Let’s just say the reason my world ended was because of some idiot, but even as low rung as I was even I had a chance to show him my displeasure at what he’d done. But for a Demon, even a rookie Demon, to lose their True Name to another Demon was almost unheard of. If a Demon did know another Demon’s True Name they could make them their puppet at worse and a slave at best.
Now when I learned Wraith’s True Name, purely by accident, what did I do after telling him I knew? Nothing. I let him go about his life as normal. Well, I occasionally used him to get me out of a tricky situation, him being the most feared Demon in Hell and all, minus the Lords. But for the most part I just used it as a deterrent when he started getting aggressive.
Like right now. I ducked beneath a stab of his trident as I said something that pissed him off. Something about how maybe I could maybe one day become a Lord of Hell myself. “Hey! Name knowledge here!” I yelped.
He growled and lowered the trident. “One of these days I will erase you from reality.”
I chuckled, “And on that day I’ll let everyone know your Name!”
He continued to grumble under his breath as we entered a room filled to the brim with piles of gold, jewels and precious sparkly things. As I passed one of the mounds of gold I quickly snatched a gold coin up and shoving into my pocket, no one was going to miss a single coin!
Wraith’s trident suddenly appeared barely an inch from my face. “Drop it.” He growled.
“What’re you talking about?” I said with a grin, raising my hands and doing a small hop to knock the coin back onto the floor. “I’m innocent!”
He glared at me, “Touch anything else and I’ll use your spine as a back scratcher.”
“Whatever.” I scoffed.
We passed through several rooms, Wraith keeping a keen eye on me as we went, until we came across a simple wooden door. Wraith knocked on the door and waited. After a minute an old voice said, “Enter.”
Wraith pushed the door open and dragged me in. It...was a giant library. Books littered desks around the room, the walls were just giant bookshelves, it seemed...to go on forever. I couldn’t even see a bed or anything to live with just more books. “How many books are there?” I muttered, in awe of the place.
“As many as there are books in existence throughout every reality.” I jumped at the sudden voice and looked to where the voice had come from. There stood besides a desk with a book in hand was a tall skeleton dressed in a black suit with a pair of glasses somehow perched over its eyes.
“Lord Malice, the one you requested.” Wraith said, bowing deeply. I blinked for a second before realising what he’d said and following suit.
Lord Malice gave a laugh, the sort of laugh you’d hear from a kindly grandfather, “Oh, Wraith, you know that isn’t necessary.” He turned to me and smiled, it was then I noticed he had flesh and skin around his mouth and had blue eyes. “And you, young man, I don’t care much for the bowing and title, but be careful you don’t forget it the next time you encounter a Lord, some of the others would kill you for less. Now, please follow me.”
He led me further into the library, Wraith following close behind us. I wanted to ask a bunch of questions but for once I narrowed it down to just one, “Um, Mr Malice? What...exactly am I here for?”
He stopped and turned to me, “You mean no one told you?” He gave me a kind smile, “My dear boy, you’re being summoned today.”
I froze in my tracks. I was being summoned? After a hundred years? I grinned happily, “All right! Time to get out of this hellhole, pun fully intended!” I fist pumped.
Malice chuckled, “Ah, the over-excitement of youth. Yes, child, which means you can give up your silly plan to escape Hell.”
My eyes widened in fear and shock as I stared at him. “I...uh…”
He just laughed again, “Don’t worry, my boy! I planned the same when I was in your place. I almost put that plan into action as well, right before I was summoned for the first time!” His glasses glinted as he gave a devious grin, “That said...I expect to see you up here as a Lord yourself in a few hundred years!”
I smirked, “A few hundred years? Huh...You know I never put too much thought into it...mostly as I don’t know much about what you Lords do.”
“I can’t say much, but trust me. It is worth it.”
I grinned, “In that case you better make room for me! If it’s worth it I’ll be up there a lot sooner than you think!
He nodded, “Yes, it’s good to have goals.” Then, faster than I could see, he smacked his book against the top of my head. As I clutched my head and groaned in pain he continued, “But don’t get too cocky.”
I looked away and scratched my head, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. At least until I’m powerful enough to back up that confidence.”
“Indeed.” He said as we turned a corner and came to a large, glowing circle on the floor. “And here we are, I hope you have a good time wherever it is you’re going.”
“Er...how long do I have to wait?”
“Two hours. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some books to read. If you get bored feel free to read, just get in the circle when it starts glowing white.” He informed me before walking off.
As I waited around I kept glancing at Wraith, plotting. Yeah, it’s time I got the gang back. “What do you want, Runt?” Wraith eventually snapped.
“Wraith. You know the group I arrived in Hell with. You were there and you don’t forget. Find me their True Names, not the entire thing, just enough to summon them.” I said with a smirk.
“How do you expect me to find that out, exactly?”
“Well, if mortals can do it, then I have no doubt you can. And if you manage it…” I took a deep breath. “Then you can have your Name.”
He stared at me. He knew what I was offering, his True Name would be stripped from my mind. I would have no hold over him. “I...may not be able to retrieve all of their Names in time.”
I waved him off with a cocky smirk, “That’s fine. Just Promise to send them to me when you find them.” A Promise is a Demonic Oath. If we didn’t uphold it...well, we’d be torn apart at the atoms, never to return to life but always in pain.
“Very well, I Promise to return your companions Names to you, in return for you removing my True Name from your mind.” There was a small pulse of power, signaling the Promise had happened. “You Promise me now. I don’t trust you.”
“Alright. I Promise that after getting enough of my friends True Names to summon at least one of them I shall strip Wraith’s True Name from my mind.” There was another pulse of energy.
He nodded to me, “I will return.” He left the room.
I chuckled, “That was easy.” I grabbed a nearby book and started reading it. Ah, some kind of variant of Harry Potter. Cool.
I snapped the book shut and put it back in its place. That...was disturbing. There was something about reading your favourite character as a kid be eaten alive by his family and go through some variant of Hell.
I shook my head and sighed before glancing at the circle. It had lightened, but it was yet to turn white. I had heard the doors open a few moments before so someone was coming. “How much longer is this going to take?” I muttered.
“Just a few moments longer.”
I yelped as I jumped. It was Malice. I clutched at my chest, “You’re sneaky.” I muttered.
“Ah, yes, sorry about that, I tend to forget just how quiet I can be.” He smiled, “But the circle should be ready in a few minutes now.”
I sighed, “It’s fine, I’m just waiting on Wraith now.”
Malice grinned, “I heard your deal with him. Just how did you find his Name?”
I chuckled, “Uh, sorry, I Promised him I’d never tell.”
He sighed and slumped slightly, “Oh, darn, I was hoping to embarrass him later. I’ll just have to pull out the stories from when he was younger.”
“Like what?” I asked, hoping to get some dirt I could use instead of having to rely on the Name.
“Do not tell the Runt.” Wraith said as he turned the corner. He stomped up to me, smelly water dripping off him. “Here.” He thrust two pieces of paper at me. “I will send the rest when I find them.”
I grinned as I read them and made sure to memorise them. “All right!” I chuckled. “Time to uphold my end of the deal.” I focused on Wraith’s Name and made a conscious decision to forget it. I felt the Name disappear from my mind. I smiled, “I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, I’ll be off soon.”
He chuckled, “No longer shall I be your lapdog, Runt!” His laughter started getting louder.
I shrugged and pulled a long strip of paper out of my pocket and inspected the long string of words and sounds on it. As I finished reading it, the knowledge leapt from the paper and embedded itself in my mind. It had taken me a year without eating to be able to afford that, but it was worth it. I handed Wraith the paper and gave him a smug smirk, “Pleasure doing business with you.”
He froze as he saw the words on the paper. “You...you can’t…”
I mouthed his True Name and he jolted up. “Sorry, big guy, but I had to keep my deterrent. You’re the reason I haven’t been squashed into mush at this point.”
“You broke your Promise!” He roared.
“Nah, I let your Name get stripped from my mind. I never Promised to get rid of all traces of it. Now, I expect you’ll still keep your Promise?” He gritted his teeth but nodded, “Excellent! Well, I’ll see you around, Wraith!” I headed over to the summoning circle as it began to glow.
Malice burst out laughing, “You are tricky! To use Remembrance Paper to remember his Name?! Ha, ha, ha! He got you, Wraith!”
He was still laughing as a flash of light consumed me and everything went silent. When I heard whispers around me I opened my eyes and saw I was now in some sort of run down building. I started laughing as I took my first breath out of Hell in a hundred years. Ah, such fresh air!
I looked around and saw a good twenty of some sort of four legged creatures. As I looked them over I realised they were equine in nature. They were all dressed in the same brown cloak. I noticed there was one in front of me and it was lifting it’s front hooves from an intricate summoning circle. So this was the one that summoned me.
The summoner gulped and spoke up, “Demon! I have summoned you here to…” He trailed off as I stretched an arm out, feeling for a barrier or containment field. Nothing. I grinned and I took one look at the equine that had summoned me and, feeling no ritual circle to make me let him talk anymore, grabbed his face in my claws and grinned as I tore his eyeballs out and, amidst his screams, crushed his skull. As he fell to the floor a bright orb floated out of his body. I caught his soul on a claw before it could be sent to the afterlife and ate it. The rumours were true, souls were succulent.
“Oh, mighty Lord!” One of the other equines called out, bowing to me. It wasn’t long before the others were offering similar praises and bowing. Yeah...they were cultists.
I looked over the cultists bowing before me and praising me. I raised an eyebrow, “Where am I?
“The land of Equestria, oh, Demon Lord of Damnation.” One of them spoke.
Demon Lord? Heh, looks like someone fucked up somewhere, not them I’m going to tell them that. “Right. Heh, heh. Tell me,” I grabbed the nearest cultist by the throat and lifted him up into the air, “Where exactly am I?”
“T...the Castle of...the Two Sisters!” He wheezed.
I clicked my tongue and threw him across the room, the soul I had devoured began feeding me information. Equestria, magic, Alicorns, Celestia and Luna, Elements of Harmony and the people of this world. I now knew about them all. I gave a confident smirk, “Well, what is it you would dare risk summoning such a great Demon for?”
“We wish to kill the Elements of Harmony.” One of the ponies in a different coloured robe stood. “Without them to poison the media, the truth may be revealed! The truth that Celestia is a true tyrant that kills all who oppose her!”
Ha! What a delusional nutcase! But...perhaps I may use this to my advantage. “Summon another of my kind.”
He blinked, “What?”
“I have decided to bring in my fellows to assist in this job, or are you questioning me?!” I gave him a vicious grin, showing off my sharpened teeth.
“No, my lord!” He whimpered, “I am but a servant to you, my Lord and master!”
I smirked, “Call me Greed.” I shall bare my sin as a name in this land for all to see. “Now get to work, I want back what is mine.”
I had a smug smirk as I watched over the cultists working on creating another summoning circle from my spot slumped lazily on the old castle’s shattered, remaining, throne, I’d thrown the bright throne at one of the cultists who questioned me. Then I ate her soul.
I waited patiently. For, you know, about ten minutes. “How much longer is this going to take?!” I yelled.
“My Lord, please calm down.” The leader of the cultists, Open Speech, begged.
I raised an eyebrow, “Eh? Why? I’m tired of waiting already!”
He gulped, “Uh...m-my Lord, perhaps it would go faster if...you assisted us?”
I leveled an even glare at him, “Fuck off, I don’t do grunt work, that’s what you mortals are for.”
He backed off, “Oh, uh, of course, Lord Greed!”
“Good. Now get back to work! I want some summoning done here!” I started laughing. These idiots don’t even realise that they’re not working for some Lord! In hindsight that’s made them extremely lucky. If they did summon a Lord or even some other Demon then this world would already be on its way to an apocalypse. I’m doing them all a favour!
With a groan I stood up and made my way out of the room, “Yo, I’m off for a walk, check on you freaks later.” I travelled down the halls, my hands stuck in my pockets. So this was a castle, eh? Bit of a fixer upper, huh? But I can kind of see it working. I stroked my chin and nodded, “Yeah! Fix up the walls, get some tasteful paintings, maybe a few stained glass windows, a few banners and definitely some stripper poles and it’ll look great!” I laughed to myself, “Yeah! This I can do! Once I summon my buddies I’ll get to work on it!”
I continued exploring the place, but eventually went back to the throne room, I kicked the doors open dramatically, “BOOM! Greed’s back, baby!” The cultists blinked at me before getting back to work. Feh, they don’t know class when they see it!
Open Speech approached, his cloak billowing slightly. Hmm...maybe I should get a coat? Maybe a robe? I do like billowing clothes. “My Lord. We are ready to begin the summonings. The summoners are ready for the names of the Demons.”
Huh, alright. I headed on over to the first summoner and whispered the name of my best friend into his ear. Of course, if he wasn’t killed immediately I’d have to do tear out his brain myself. I stood back and watched with anticipation. This was it! I was finally going to see them again! I was going to have back what was rightfully mine!
The circle light up a deep red and began sparking with blue lightning as the light grew more intense. The light in the room seemed to be getting sucked into the circle and the room began shaking. There were cries and panicked yells from the cultists as Open Speech tried to keep them calm, and throughout it all I was grinning and laughing maniacally. All of a sudden there was silence and everything returned to normal. All was fine, and there, stood at the center of the circle, was a Demon.
Scarlet skin covered a short, yet curvy body with wide hips and large breasts which a long, spaded tail curled around, whilst a pair of flaming wings jutted out of her back, she had a short, tight, black tank top on, showing off her body’s toned muscles, she wore a pair of short shorts. She let out a seductive moan as she rolled her neck and the horns jutting straight up from her head gently scraped the walls, long, wavy red locks waved and the several piercings in her eyebrows and ears jingled softly. She opened her red eyes, her cat like pupils focusing on the mortal in front of her.
“Well, well.” She purred. “What have we…” She noticed me and turned her cute little nose up at me. “Who the fuck are you?” She sighed, “Let me guess, you had this fleshbag summon me, huh?”
I clutched my chest, “Ah, ma petite chérie, have you already forgotten my handsome face?”
She spat on the floor between us, “Fuck off. Why the fuck would you waste my time, you fucking cock sucking, shit licking, dog fucking, knob polishing, cum eating, piece of shit, fucking waste of my fucking time, TWAT!” She roared.
I smirked, “You haven’t changed, have you, Lenora?”
She jumped, “How the fuck?!”
“Don’t you remember me? Your good pal?” I strode towards her with a grin plastered across my face, “I more expected you to be a Wrath, but I guess you did like sex a bit too much, huh?” I leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “You don’t remember your old friend, Jack?” I took a few steps back and watched for a reaction.
She was silent for a few seconds before she started laughing, “You bastard, I thought you’d been erased! Should have known you’d survive!”
I grinned, “Great, you do remember me! But first thing’s first.” I nodded towards the summoner, he was panting and sweating. I guess it took something out of mortals to summon. Huh, the more you know. “He knows your Name.”
Her eyes hardened and without a thought she shot towards him and grabbed his face in her hand. His eyes widened for a second before he started screaming. I laughed as he began writhing. His face started to turn to ash and he held a hoof out towards the other cultists for help as the rest of his face was slowly followed. After a few seconds Lenora let go of him and he crashed to the ground and disintegrated into dust. As his soul emerged Lenora grabbed it and swallowed it in a way that I know made a few dicks twitch.
I clapped happily, “Nice, nice! Very nice!” I walked up to her and slapped her on the back. “Good work! Now, let’s discuss your name here.”
She frowned, “What are you talking about?”
I smirked, “I...am Greed. What shall your name be?”
She grinned, “So that’s what your sin was! I’m always forgetting that one. Well, if you’re Greed...then call me Lust.”
I pulled her into a hug, definitely enjoying the feeling of her breasts against me, “Now, we summon Logan.”
“Logan. Yeah, one guess what his sin is.” The newly named Lust smirked.
“Yo!” I yelled, “Summon the next one!” I went over and whispered Logan’s Name into the summoner’s ear before hopping back and standing next to Lust.
The lightshow started up again and the room started shaking worse than before. And like before as the mortals were panicking I was laughing, I was getting back my friends, one at a time! Nothing in Heaven or Hell could stop me!
When the light died down a large fat, slob of a creature was stood in the center of the circle, it’s obese mass almost touching the summoner. It’s head was perched atop its mass, reptilian scales covered the body of the Demon and slime and drool constantly dripped from its large, fang filled mouth, its entirely black eyes were roaming the room, its ears were pointed and sunk partially into its skull, and it had several short, stubby horns all across it’s hairless head. It stood at around ten foot tall and it’s stomach had three smaller, but still large enough to fit an adult human into, mouths on it. The Demon’s claws were short, stubby things, used more for grabbing things than attacking. He wore just a simple loincloth.
“Logan, how are you?” I smiled.
The large blob of a Demon turned its head towards us before grabbing his summoner and shoving it into the mouth on his face. As he munched down he grabbed two more of my pawns and used the mouths on his stomach to start devouring them. “Hun...gry…” He rumbled, blood and bits of the body and organs sliding down his body into the other, waiting, mouths.
I chuckled, “Logan, buddy...What’d I tell you about eating and talking, huh? How are you going to get a girl this way?”
“I know, friend…” He muttered, his voice deep. “But I can’t…” He trailed off and his eyes widened. “Is that you?” He whispered.
I threw out my arms, “I know I’m different, but it’s still me, old buddy! You’re still chowing down and I’m still planning my plots!”
“It is you.” His mouths all started grinning, “Heh...You kept your promise. You found us.”
I shrugged, “Not all of us yet. There’s still Gwen out there somewhere.”
“M...my Lord?” Open Speech piped up.
I cocked my head back towards him, “What is it?!”
“I...was just wondering if your...companions are going to kill my fellows everytime they appear?”
I scoffed, “What of it? You expected to summon Demons with no cost?”
He grumbled to himself, “Maybe...at least use the followers with...less money? It’s not like we actually own this place. If we get caught we’ll have to run.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Then buy the place.” I turned back to Logan, “Call me Greed, buddy.” I jerked a thumb at Lenora, “And you remember Lust, right?”
“Lust?” He blinked before nodding, “Yeah, I get it. Then I’m Gluttony, right? I’m fine with that.”
“It isn’t that simple!” Speech yelled. “Stop playing with your lessers and focus on me!”
I grabbed him by the throat, “Don’t you talk about them like that! Or I’ll repurpose your spine as a toothpick!” I slammed him against the wall, “Or do you still think you’re in charge of this little operation you have?!”
“I’m sorry, Lord Greed!” He whimpered.
I let him drop, “Now what is it you keep going on about? You have enough money, right? Or are you poor as shit?”
“No, many of our members are well off, it’s just...we’re sort of noticeable and I doubt we’ll be able to buy a property. It takes a blood contract to identify our real names and it’d be suspicious if any of us suddenly bought a property out of the blue with money we didn’t have previously.”
I sighed, “Alright, fair enough.”
“I could go.” Lust said.
I raised an eyebrow, “Lust...you’re kind of obviously not mortal.”
She rolled her eyes and swayed over to me, I grinned as I took a nice look at her cleavage. Then she flipped me onto the floor, “Stop thinking about my tits,” She grabbed my dick, “Or you’ll be losing this.”
My eyes widened, “Okay, okay! Fuck! I take one look…”
She laughed and let me go, “That was fun, remember the time I did that to Gluttony’s bully?”
I gave a giggle, it was another good memory. “Yeah, good times.”
She helped me up and grinned, “I’m a Lust Demon. I can take the form of that most pleasing to the one I plan on fucking.”
I slapped my head, “Right, ugh, how’d I forget that?”
“Hey, don’t worry, we all fuck up from time to time, right?” She walked over to a cultist and locked eyes with him.
After a few seconds she transformed into a small, young filly. She blinked before giving the stallion an even glare, “You people make me sick.”
He stammered some excuse before Gluttony grabbed him. “Does he have a lot of money?” He asked.
“Uh...no.” Open Speech said dumbly.
“Okay.” Gluttony then ate the sick fuck.
Lust sighed, “Well, I can work on this.” She began shifting her body and changed to an adult pegasus mare with a reddish black coat with a voluptuous but slender build, red eyes, a long wavy black mane and a cutie mark of a red stylized dragon circling and eating it’s own tail and a triangular mark inside the circle, an Ouroboros.
Lust nodded, looking proud of herself, “There we go.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Really? Are you really doing this?”
She coughed, “Er...no idea what you’re talking about!”
I laughed, “Sure, whatever you say!” It was stupid, she was using a ponified version of an anime character, but it was a reminder of better times and I needed all of those I could get. “Can’t believe you still actually remember that show.”
“Excuse me, Lust, if you could follow me?” Speech left the room and Lust soon followed.
I turned to Gluttony, “So, what’s been happening to you for the past hundred years, pal?”
He smiled warmly before gently sitting down, “Meditating a lot. It helps keep the hunger at bay.”
I blinked, “No shit? That stuff works?”
“Yeah, Mr Malice helped a lot.”
“Wait, Mr Malice? You mean Lord Malice?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged, “I guess, he didn’t like me calling him that though. He found me meditating one day after some new Demon stole a bunch of meat from him. He helped me focus my mind and invited me over for some tea. We ended up talking about things, he was really bored. He reminds me of my grandad. Anyway, he ended up inviting me back and I ended up having tea and reading with him every two weeks.”
I burst out laughing, “Fucking hell, Gluttony! That meat thief? That was a guy I set up! I was behind it and got a month’s food out of it!”
“Huh, small world.” His tone was even, but his eyes twinkled with mischief.
“Hey, boys!” I turned to the door and saw Lust sticking her head through, “Greed I need you a second.”
I walked over to her, “What’s up?”
She held up an empty vial, “The contract for property is signed in blood. It’s a magical bond, as long as you live you’ll own it.”
“Right.” I dragged a claw across the palm of my hand and waited as the blood dripped into the vial.
“Also, what’s with the whole ‘Lord’ business?” She asked.
I chuckled and whispered to her, “They screwed up the first summoning. They think they summoned a Lord of Hell, but they just got me. I’m not telling them, are you?”
She laughed, “Fuck no! Right.” She put a cork on the vial. “That should do.”
I walked back to Gluttony, “See you.” I waved lazily, not looking her way.
“Alright, fellas, I’m off! Don’t know how long I’m going to be, be good!” She laughed as she headed off.
I smiled, “Looks like it’s just me and you, Gluttony.”
“That’s fine.” He mumbled.
“Uh, excuse me, Lord Greed?” I sighed and turned to Speech.
“What do you want now?!” I snapped.
“What...exactly do you want us to do now?” He asked, bowing his head again.
I grinned, “I have the perfect job for you bozos! Get to cleaning up this castle! Move rubble, start dusting just start cleaning the place!”
“What?” Speech seemed shocked.
“Hey, this place is a mess! Besides, how exactly do you expect Gluttony to leave the room?” I pointed at the small doorway. “Because he ain’t fitting through there.”
“Uh...right, my Lord.” He nodded and scampered off, the rest of the cultists following.
“So, Gluttony.” I turned and faltered. He was meditating. I sighed and made my way to my throne. Time to catch on some sleep.
I awoke to someone stroking my hair. I cracked an eye open and noticed it was one of the female cultists. I watched her for a few minutes before speaking up, “What are you doing?”
She yelped and fell to the floor, “I-I-I’m sorry, my Lord! I...I was just curious what your mane felt like!”
I sighed, “It’s called hair, now get up, you’re embarrassing yourself.”
As she stood up her hood fell down and I noticed her mane was done in double pigtails. Huh, she couldn’t have been older than seventeen. Wasn't that the age I was when I died. No wait, I was in my early twenties. I think. What was a kid doing here? I shook my head and brushed my hair back as it got in my eyes again. I eyed the kid’s hair and got an idea. “Hey, kiddo. You got any hair ties?”
Her eyes met mine, “Yes, Lord Greed.” She carefully passed me a black hair tie. Nice, it should blend it with my hair.
I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I shook my head, the hair stayed in place, “Yeah, nice!” I could feel my hair ended just under my shoulders, this was great! “Thanks, kid!” I leapt over her before jumping again and landing on the top of Gluttony’s head.
“Hm?” He rumbled. “Greed?”
“Yo, big guy, let’s spar!” I grinned.
He went silent. I was about to try and convince him when I felt him move. I jumped just in time to avoid a grab. “Sure thing!” He grinned cockily. “It's been a while since I've had a good fight!”
“Hey!” I laughed, cartwheeling away from him, “You're fast!”
“You’re damn right I am! I'm not your average Gluttony Demon, that's for damn sure!” He cleared the space between us in seconds, something an athlete would have trouble doing, and swung his arm at me.
I jumped over his attack and delivered several punches to his stomach to no effect. “Yeah, I'm actually kind of worried here!” I slid around to his back and brought a foot down on the back of his knee.
He just laughed, “You'll have to try harder than that!” He spun around and kicked at me.
I jumped onto his leg before leaping onto his head and started punching him in the top of his skull. “You're pretty tough! Remember back when we were in school?” I leapt over his fist. “You were such a weakling! I had to help you with everything!” I jumped off his head and delivered a series of swipes with my claws to his stomach.
He grabbed me and threw me against the wall, “I'm not the same person I was back then!” He charged me and I was able to duck just in time to avoid his punch. “I'm not that weak, little boy anymore!”
As rubble and debris rained down on me I grabbed a decent sized rock and threw it at his head. “Yeah, no kidding!” I grinned and bounded away from him. “You're strong now! Not to mention fast!”
“All thanks to my meditation and Mr Malice! He's learned from warrior monks and he passed those teachings onto me!” He rushed over to me and slammed his arms into the floor as I bounced away.
“Ha! You always did have the devil’s luck!” I laughed as I leapt back over to him and brought the back of my foot to his head before clawing at his legs
“But you never needed luck, did you?” He grinned, kicking me away. As I landed I used the momentum to push myself back to my feet and casually flicked my ponytail, “Always had some plan brewing, somebody to exploit! I loved it! I wished I could be more like you!”
“Why be like me? You've got your own style now and everything!” I laughed.
As I faced him down I saw him scrape his foot against the floor. Was he going to charge me? No way I was missing out on the opportunity for a clash! I'd only heard rumours of Demons successfully clashing in a charge, I wanted my name added added to that list!
We charged each other and were about to attack when the floor exploded in a fiery blaze. “WILL YOU IDIOTS KNOCK IT OFF?!” Lust roared, kicking us both in the head, she was back in her normal form so the kicks had some weight behind them
I fell to the ground and gave a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of my head, “Er, sorry, Lust, didn't see you there, been back long?”
“Sorry, Lust.” Gluttony rumbled, “You have a good week?”
“Week? What're you talking about?” I asked.
He nodded, “Yeah, you were asleep for a week.” Well...shit. I must have been more tired than I thought. Lust then kicked us both across the head again. “Hey, what was that for?!” I yelled.
“You destroyed the room!” She yelled. I looked around the floor had a giant crater in it, one of the walls was now missing and dust and rubble was all over the place.
“Oops.” I tried to laugh it off only to get kicked under the chin. I rubbed my chin, “Fucking hell, woman! Calm your tits for once, yeah?! It's not like we went and did this on purpose! We were just sparing! Besides, we can get Gluttony out of this room now.”
“Fine, whatever.” She shrugged. She shoved a piece of paper into my hands. “Congratulations, Greed, you're now the owner of the Castle of the Two Sisters, place was cheap enough after a thousand years of abandonment.” I looked around my throne room. Huh, where'd the kid go? Ah well, I'll find her later.
“Alright! Now we can get shit started!” I laughed.
Lust pulled up another piece of paper, “How about we talk about this?”
I snatched it up. It was a wanted poster for Open Speech. It was the reward that caught my eyes, “Fifty thousand bits?!” I grinned. “But...like they'll give the cash to some Demons.” I waved off any ideas.
Gluttony snatched the poster out of my hands and inspected it. “Hey, guys.” He grinned deviously. “You know this says dead or alive, right? Well, how about we offer to find the rest of the cultists? That way...we get to stay. Especially if we spin some story about being outcasts of Hell because we like to protect people.”
I grinned, “Sounds like a plan! I told you that you had your own style, Gluttony! Good plan!”
“What happened in here?” I turned and saw Speech step into the room.
The journey up to Canterlot was...boring to say the least. Gluttony was in some sort of meditative trance and Lust just flew next to us and wasn’t talking to me, I guess she was still pissed at us for trashing the throne room. Once we made it to the city the fun started, screaming masses, Royal Guards cowering before us, and Gluttony stealing somebody’s lunch. Man, such a panic over three people walking through the city. I mean, it’s not like we were doing anything, I guess the throne strapped the Gluttony’s back was scaring people, that or the fact I was riding on his shoulder.
The ponies were just running around everywhere, huh, maybe they’ve encountered Demons before? Ah well, we were here now, nothing we could do about it. The ponies jumped out of windows, threw each other aside and knocked over stalls as they ran from us. As the wind blew I snagged a black fedora as it almost flew over my head from a stall.
“So what’s the plan when we get into the castle?” Lust finally asked.
“Hey, so you are talking to me!” I chuckled.
“I might as well, this stupid stunt is either going to get us returned to Hell or leave us with a ton of explaining to do.” She sighed, “Look, I don’t like it when you do something stupid. That’s why I was pissed off at you. Just...tell me you have a plan.”
I grinned as Gluttony breached the castle, not that there were any gates or anything, “Sure do. I need to talk to Celestia alone. If Princess Luna’s there you have to get her away or calm her down if she tries to do something rash. Gluttony,” I smacked the side of his head gently, “Time to get your head in the game, big guy. I need you by my side, you’re my muscle for this, if things go tits up I need you to cover me and give us a chance to escape.”
He nodded, “Got it.”
“And what about you? You’re just going to hope that Celestia cuts a deal? We’re Demons, it’s not going to be that easy.” Lust said, making a good point.
“We’ll offer our services or something. You could feel it back in the castle, couldn’t you? The tainted mark on this world? You know what that means, these peaceful ponies won’t be able to defend against them.”
Lust gave a low laugh, “Did you plan that? Is that why you summoned us in this world?”
I shook my head, “Wish I could say that’s true, but honestly this was the first time I’ve been summoned, I just seized the opportunity I saw. But with the mark I can push us into a place where we’re needed.”
She shook her head, “Always plotting, aren’t you?”
I smirked, “What can I say? I’ve always been greedy for success.”
“Ha! That’s true!” She grinned.
“Here we go, guys!” Gluttony yelled as he pushed open the doors and entered the castle, knocking out some stones as he forced his way in.
I laughed nervously as I barely clung to his arm, “Fucking hell, Gluttony, some warning’d be nice next time!”
“Sorry, thought you were ready.” He rumbled, throwing his arms up in front of his face as the guards finally got their shit together and started shooting energy blasts at us.
Lust landed on Gluttony’s other arm and took cover, “It’s getting a bit too hot to fly.”
“I thought you liked fire.” I snarked.
“Well, seeing as we need these idiots alive I can’t really do anything, can I?” She spat.
“Right. Hey, Gluttony!” I grinned evilly at the crowd of guards blocking us, “Gotta go fast.”
He blinked before giving a booming laugh, “GANGWAY!” He roared, suddenly picking up way too much speed and knocking the guards aside with ease and smashing through the wall.
“SLOW THE FUCK DOWN!” Lust screamed.
We almost immediately returned to a reasonable pace. “Better?” Gluttony asked, mockingly.
“Don’t you fucking sass me, fatso!” Lust took to the air and summoned a ball of fire, “I will burn your loincloth off!”
He just smirked, “Go ahead, I prefer to go au naturel.” As Lust gagged he came to a stop in front of a pair of large double doors. “We’re here.”
“You sure, buddy?” I asked.
He sniffed the air, “Oh, yeah. The Alicorns are in there. They smell of power.”
I grinned, “You know the drill.”
Lust blinked, “What are you planning?” I kept quiet. “Greed?!”
Gluttony kicked open the doors and I surfed down his arm and flipped into the throne room, “BOOM, baby!” I yelled, throwing my hat aside. I sauntered up to the throne, jumping over the guards and grinning at the princesses sitting in their thrones, looking pissed off, “Well, well! Looks like we finally got here, guys! Man, you would not believe the traffic coming here!”
I heard Lust snap her fingers and I felt intense fires rage behind me, “Alright, I could kill you in a snap of my fingers, you idiots get that?!” She yelled, “So back off! You weak mortals can’t stop us anyway! So just stand aside!”
“As Lust said, boys!” I shouted, “Move on by!”
As the flames died down Celestia spoke up, “Guards, stand aside.”
There was a silence for several seconds before I heard them move and Gluttony stepped up next to me as Lust kept an eye from the sky. I laughed, “Nicely done, Princess! You kept the body count at a big, fat zero! Though there might be a few injured idiots around the castle. Gluttony, the gift for the princesses!”
“Got it.” He rumbled as he pulled out a decapitated head and threw it my way. I tossed it at Luna before pulling a piece of flesh from my pocket and tossing it at Celestia.
“You murdering MONSTER!” Luna roared, raising from her seat.
“Ah, ah!” I waved a finger. “A monster, me? For doing what? Collecting a bounty?” I fished Open Speech’s wanted poster out of my pocket and tossing it at her. “As you can see. Dead or alive. I just chose the easy option.”
As Luna growled under her breath Celestia leant over, “Calm, sister.” She turned to me, “You are correct, this is Open Speech. Where was he hiding?”
I gave a carefree shrug, “Eh, the old castle in the Everfree. What’s it to you? Place needs a dust.”
“That is our castle!” Luna snarled. “You will never return there!”
I smirked, “Not anymore! The Castle of the Two Sisters belongs to me! Actually, let’s rename it to the Castle of Sin! Much catchier!”
“And you plan to intimidate us?!” She spat. “You? A scrawny thing and a fat beast?!”
I patted Gluttony’s arm to calm him down. She was being a disrespectful little brat. “Ah, no, I’m not the fighter here. That’d be her.” I jerked a thumb at Lust who grinned widely, rubbing her fingers together.
“Begone, foul hellspawn!” A voice called out before a pony dropped from the ceiling. The white, unicorn stallion was brandishing a sword with several runes carved into it. The thing actually gave me chills as it glowed with a soft light. “I will not allow you to bring damnation upon this world, monster!” He called out, “I, Blueblood the fifty second, will destroy you!” He suddenly charged me.
I barely raised my claws in time to block the sword, “Shit.” I muttered, my claws starting to feel like they were burning, “That thing’s a Holy sword, ain’t it?”
“Indeed!” He grinned, “It was forged eons ago to strike down hellspawn such as yourself!”
“Back up, Gluttony!” I laughed. “Alright, kid, let’s rumble!” I hopped back and brought my foot up into his chin. As he staggered back he swung the sword and nearly caught me across the chest.
“Ha! It will take more than that! I come from a long line of Hunters! Destined to fight back you dark creatures!” He boasted.
“Meh, sounds like a generic fantasy plot to me.” I mocked. I quickly charged him, then jumped back as he swung his sword, then I surged forwards and punched him across the horn. Whatever spell he was using failed and the sword tumbled to the ground. “Checkmate, bitch.” I smirked.
He then punched me in the face. I stared at the little shit. “Gluttony?” I said. “Eat him.”
The little shit then squealed as Gluttony grabbed him. “YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HIM!” Luna boomed, spreading her wings and shooting towards us.
As she was about to reach us Lust’s tail wrapped around her and yanked her up into the air and she punched Luna in the face before unwinding her tail and headbutting Luna. Luna responded by letting loose a bright flash of light. As Lust clutched her eyes Luna blasted her with magic and dove towards her. Lust gave a sudden grin and grabbed Luna’s head and smashed her into a wall before backing off. As Luna recovered they both gave out war cries and collided with each other, shooting across the room in a flurry of feathers, fur and fire.
As Luna and Lust tumbled through a window in a ball of punches and blasts I just stared. “Well...that just happened.” I turned back to Celestia and caught a hoof to the face. “DAMN IT! WILL YOU PEOPLE STOP DOING THAT?!” I roared. “It’s not helping!”
Celestia smirked, “No, but it made me feel better.”
I raised a finger and opened my mouth to say something before pausing. Hadn’t I done the same in both life and in Hell? “Eh, fair point.” I shrugged before smirking, “Just don’t try it again or I’ll use your spine as a toothpick for Gluttony.” She never changed her expression. “Huh, that usually evokes some response. Ah well, let’s get this over with, shall we?”
“You expect to overpower me?” She said, her eyes narrowing.
I shrugged, “I could try that, but that’s not usually our style.” I fixed a stare at Gluttony to make sure he didn’t actually eat the little shit, that'd make us look bad. “But no. We came here to offer some...assistance.”
“I don’t trust demons.”
I held my hand up to my mouth, incredibly offended, “Madam, I am ashamed of you! How dare you insult me! I am no demon! We are Demons. Not those mindless, half-formed things.”
“Look, we could banter back and forth all day.” Gluttony spoke up. “But at the end of it you need us.”
“And how do you figure that?” Celestia asked. I could see her holding back her anger, so maybe I could cut her some slack.
He dropped...hell’s his name again? The little shit, “After summoning the three of us in the same place this world now has a tainted mark. A mark that others in Hell can sense.”
I picked up, “Exactly! And they’ll be coming. Only a group at a time, but they’ll still be too strong for you to deal with. That’s a fact.” I smirked deviously, “But we know their weak points, we know how they fight. We can beat them. Give us a home and we’ll defend it with our lives.” So long as we never have to go back to Hell I don’t really care about any of that, but if it keeps us here I’ll protect the mortals. "Look, all we want is a place to call home, and in return you get three protectors, it’s a win-win situation! Look past the prejustice you have and listen to what we’re saying! We can protect this world, please.” I looked her in the eyes, “Just give us a chance.” I rubbed my arm, my confidence falling away, “We don’t want to go back to Hell. It took us a hundred years to get just the three of us together again. You ponies find friendship important, right? Well, if you send us back to Hell who knows how long it’ll be before we find each other again? Just...just give us a chance. Please.”
She was silent for several minutes. “You understand that this isn’t an easy decision. You’re monsters, by every account.”
“What are monsters, but the fear of our innermost selves revealed to the world?” Gluttony said. “And when you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back at you.” He looked at Celestia, “We are all monsters, whether it is obvious, on the outside, or hidden away inside your mind. We are all monsters, to judge one of us means you judge us all. But that also means that if one of us can be redeemed, then we all share that potential.”
Celestia sighed, “Damn you. Fine. I never expected you to be so smart.” I...didn’t get it. I never was good at figuring out metaphors and such, maybe I’ll ask him later. “We accept your help.”
I smiled, “That’s good.” My smile turned into a smirk, “Now how about we figure out what payment will be like? Actually, I’ll leave that up to you, Gluttony! I don’t really trust myself with that.”
“Who are you?” Celestia asked. “This one is Gluttony, that one fighting Luna is Lust...What about you? What is your sin?”
I paused for a second before giving her a wide, cocky grin and pointing at her, “The name’s Greed! My friends? They belong to me! Don’t you ever try to take them away! I’ll cling to them till the end of time itself! That’s my sin! I wear it proudly as my name! Don’t forget that!”
She raised an eyebrow, “You like a dramatic flair, don’t you?”
I opened my mouth to respond when something suddenly...felt off. There was a foul scent in the air. “Greed.” Gluttony said, sniffing. “Something’s wrong.”
“Yeah, I feel it.” I scanned the room. “Any idea what it is?”
He looked over at me, “It smells like Hell.”
I realised what that meant, “Ah, shit.” I turned to Celestia, “Princess, get your guards and that annoying little shit and back up!”
“What are you talking about?” She asked as her guards began moving towards her.
A large red crack appeared in the air, just leaking with Hell energy. “Yep.” I groaned, “We’ve got a Demon coming.” She immediately snatched up that little shit and his sword and rushed back to her throne. Was that place more easily defendable or something?
The crack flashed and began twitching around when an arm shot out and began clawing around. It grabbed the edge of the crack and started pulling itself out. Soon enough a standard Greed Demon popped out, a starving looking, male human with no discernible sexual characteristics completely covered in gold and its eyes were jewels. Was that what was eventually going to happen to me?
It looked around and began laughing madly, “This world will be mine!” It hissed. “All the gold, all the gems, all the silks, the wines, everything! They’re mine!”
“Hey, fucker!” I yelled, catching its attention right as I delivered a flying kick to its jaw. “Go back to Hell!” As he crashed into the wall I held up a hand to stop Gluttony. “Hold it. I want this. I need to know if I'm better than these mass produced Demons!” But if things got tough I was going to let Gluttony charge him.
“Idiot!” The Greed Demon spat, “You can't beat me! You're a new Demon! I have six hundred years experience!”
“Whoop de doo. Well, fucking, done for you, do you want a gold star, my special, little retard?” I mocked.
“Going to kill you!” He spat, rushing towards me, swiping at me with his claws.
As I dodged each swipe I smirked, “Man, is this the best you got? You're so slow! My grandmother can move faster-” I was cut off by a kick to the face, sending me tumbling towards Gluttony.
I pushed myself off the floor and wiped my mouth. There was blood on my hand. My blood started pumping faster and I could feel my heart racing, “Big mistake, you old fart!” I cried, running towards him and jumping over a punch and kneeing him in the face. As I landed behind him I followed it up with a kick to the back of his knee and a punch to his kidneys.
He spun around and tried to bite me but I just leapt into the air and landed on his head, I jumped again, pushing him to the ground. “You're weak!” He snarled, scrambling to his feet and trying to claw at me again. “I'm not going to lose to a weakling like you!”
“Maybe,” I shrugged, jumping away from him, “But at least my mind is still my own! You're just a slave to your sins, right?! No free will of your own! You just do as your sin commands with no thoughts of your own!” I clenched my fists, “That just pisses me off!” I roared, jumping above him and kicking him in the face.
As I was about to jump away he caught my arm, “Got you! Make your skin my coat!” He hissed.
“Gluttony! I shouted and there was a sudden ripping noise and the pressure on my arm was gone. I looked down and saw his arm was on the ground.
“NO!” The one armed Demon screeched, “My arm! Mine!”
I rolled my eyes before grabbing his head and snapping his neck. “Shut the hell up, will you?”
His body slowly faded away into ash and a black soul with gold streaks in it emerged. That was a Greed Demon’s soul, huh? Interesting. His soul screamed at me, “YOU CAN’T DO THIS! YOU’RE JUST A WEAK NEWBIE! YOU CHEATED! CHEATED!” Like real fights had rules, fucking idiot. His soul would soon cross back over to Hell and he’d be reborn in a few decades.
I sneered as a thought crossed my mind, “You know...I wonder how Demon souls taste?”
He froze, “...You...you can’t…” I held him up and opened my mouth wide. “NO! YOU CAN’T DO THIS! IT ISN’T RIGHT! YOU CAN’T EAT A DEMON’S SOUL!” I swallowed his soul and felt the power running through my body.
“No, then what’d I just do?!” I laughed. My right arm tingled and I glanced over at it. I blinked. Some of the redness around the gold had faded. Just...what the hell did that do?
“Greed. Did you kill that...thing?” Celestia asked. But eating another Demon’s soul...
“Yeah, he’s dead.” I shouted back as a blue line suddenly appeared in front of me. Ah shit, another one?!
“Oh, boy.” Gluttony muttered. “I don’t care what you say, I’m helping this time. You don’t have enough power behind your attacks to fight another Demon.” Yeah, I knew that, it was why I prefered to steal and run. I just...didn’t realised I was that weak. I didn’t even make him bleed. But...I feel stronger now. Not massively, but there was definitely a little boost. Could it be that...maybe...?
The blue line opened up into a portal and after a moment someone stepped through. I blinked before lowering my fists, “Lord Malice?”
Malice smiled at me, “Ah, my boy! You've taken the name Greed, haven't you?” How did he…? He gave a laugh, “Sonny, you don't become a Lord of Hell without learning a few tricks!”
“Mr Malice? How did you get here? You didn't tear apart reality like that other guy.” Gluttony asked.
“Ah, Gluttony, my friend!” Malice flashed a kind grin, “I'm glad you're doing well. And as for how I'm here...Let's just say that being a Lord gives you special privileges.” His smile faded and turned back to me with a serious expression, “But Greed...it seems you're figuring it all out about us Lords, hm?”
I nodded, “I think...you've eaten the souls of a lot of other Demons, haven't you?”
“That’s right. That’s how us Lords of Hell gained our power.”
“That’s...intense.” I said carefully.
“I know.” His smile turned vicious as he said something that shook me to the core and ignited the flames in my heart, “Now, how’d you like to become a Lord of Hell?”
“Sure as hell I am!” I paused, “But...did that mean you started out looking like a standard Demon?”
An eyebrow raised, “My, my, you are smart. Perhaps you should use that mind in battle.” What's that mean? Okay, yes, it was stupid of me to fight a Demon stronger than me, but still. “But you're right.”
“That's quite enough of that.” Celestia said as she approached us, surrounded by her guards. “Perhaps you'd like to explain who you are and what exactly is going on here.”
Malice gave her a genuine smile, “Malice, one of the Lords of Hell. Pleasure to meet you...Princess Celestia, correct?”
She blinked, perhaps shocked with how polite and grandfatherly he was. “I...It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Lord Malice. That is what Greed called you, correct?”
He pulled a face, “Please, just Malice is preferable, I was never one for titles even in life.”
She smiled, “Then I insist you do the same for me.”
“Sorry to interrupt, Mr Malice,” Gluttony said, “But Lust is still fighting Princess Luna.”
“Ah, of course! My apologies, Gluttony, I got caught up in my introductions!” He turned to Celestia, “Excuse me for a moment.” And in the blink of an eye he vanished.
Celestia stumbled in shock, “That, that wasn't a teleport! How did he move that fast?!”
I gave a small chuckle, “Hey, it ain't a cakewalk to become a Lord, and once you're up there there's no shortage of idiots who want to claim your title as their own, so Lords need to come up with some gimmick or special power to survive, his seems to be speed.” I frowned, “I used to think it just came with being a Lord, but now…” I trailed off.
“Now you think it's because of all the Demon souls they've consumed.” Gluttony finished my thought.
I nodded, “Exactly. You know, it gets me kind of excited! What ability will I gain if I continue to eat their souls? Will I end up looking completely different from how I look now? All those sort of questions are getting me real worked up!”
“Just a moment. Gluttony, how did you know that Luna and your friend were still fighting?” Celestia asked.
He brought a meaty finger up and tapped his nose, “A gift from this form, I have a real good sense of smell. I used to think I could only use it to smell food, but I've learned I can smell other things. I can still smell the burned ozone from the magic blasts and the burned ground as well as the scent of fresh blood hitting the ground.” I...didn't know his nose was that powerful, I couldn't even hear them, so how far could he smell? “Oh, I think they've stopped.”
“I bet you five chunks of meat that Lust busted up her eye in some way.” I grinned, looking to make some quick food.
“Not even a question. That's the first thing she goes for.” Gluttony waved me off.
I sighed, “Fine, same bet but change it to Luna being more beat up?”
“Are you two really betting on my sister being hurt?!” Celestia yelled. Huh, no more mask to wear, eh? I guess we're annoying her.
“I don't bet anymore, I lost too much food that way.” Gluttony said firmly. He then smirked, “But if we're not betting food…?”
“Forget it.” I scoffed, “I ain't letting you get my shinies.”
Before he could try and persuade me the room’s doors opened and Malice strolled in, holding both Lust and Luna in one hand each.
They were both a mess. Lust had burns and cuts all along her body, her shirt was practically torn to pieces, only just concealing her breasts, blood ran down her arms, she had a large bruise on her cheek, her legs had deep gashes in them and one looked burned black, one of her horns was snapped halfway down and part of her tail was missing.
Luna, on the other hand, definitely looked worse off, her right eye was swollen shut, all across her body her fur was singed, her snout was clearly broken, her mane was practically all gone, with only an inch of hair left, she was missing several teeth, she had deep scratches along her face and down her sides, blood ran down her body, legs and face, her regalia was shattered and a piece of her broken crown was stabbed into her side, her legs were cut up and one of her hind legs were broken and her wings were snapped and hanging limp.
“Sister!” Celestia cried, running over, ignoring her guards, and taking Luna into her magical grip. “Luna, are you okay?!”
When Luna didn't answer, being unconscious does that to you, Malice spoke up, “She'll be fine. Get the crown out of her side and it'll all heal up.” He said before walking over to us and gently placing Lust on the floor.
“Oh, shit.” I muttered, “A mortal did that?”
“I told you.” Gluttony whispered, “They reek of power. Even if they are mortal those two are stupidly strong.”
“Don't underestimate mortals.” Malice said sternly, “Even those that don't have that level of power. You're both too young to remember, but several hundred years ago a lone human fought his way into Hell. He slaughtered us, killing the Lords of the time and making it all the way to the King of Evil.” I blinked, the fuck was the King of Evil? “He killed him and diced his soul into dust, he's the reason we don't have a King of Hell. And after he was done he carved his way out. He was mortal and all he had was his skill with a sword and a basic grasp of magic. That is why we don't underestimate mortals.”
Okay, after that I'm not underestimating a mortal again. For about a week. You know, it'll probably take a mortal kicking my arse for the message to fully sink in, but I was definitely being more cautious from now on. “Right, but what now? How exactly do I become a Lord?”
Malice just smirked, “You just keep that deal with this world and you’ll find your own way there in time.”
I laughed, “In other words I just have to keep eating the souls of Demons? I’m fine with that.” I looked over to Gluttony, “Are you willing to be my weapon in this, buddy?”
He smirked, “A nice reversal of roles, huh? Yeah, I’m willing, ready and able.”
“I’m...in too.” Lust coughed as she struggled to sit up.
“Lust!” I cried, rushing over and helping her. “Don’t push yourself! Just rest. You gave Luna a hell of a beating, so relax.”
Lust coughed, “I'm not built to be a fighter, but I gave as good as I got. Bitch had it coming.” She pushed herself up, resting against Glutton, “I ain't afraid of the pain, it just reminds me I'm still alive and can still fight.”
“Don't talk crap!” I snapped.
“What?”
“Not built to be a fighter? Like hell that’s true! You've always been a fighter through and through! What, because you're a Lust Demon you think that means you're not a fighter?! Stop talking crap!” I scowled at her, “Where the hell’s the girl that responded to being threatened with a knife by knocking the idiot’s teeth out?!”
She just stared for a few seconds being closing her eyes and sighing, “You’re a real idiot, you know that?” When her eyes opened they were full of that fire she always had as a human. “But you're right.” She pounded a fist into her palm, “Let's move the fuck forwards and kick some arse!” She locked eyes with Malice, “If he can become a Lord like that, then we can too, right?”
He nodded, “Indeed.”
She grinned, “Then we’ll be right there by your side, Greed! There’s no way in hell I’m going to let you become a Lord without me!”
Gluttony spoke up, “If you two are going to become Lords then there’s no way I’m getting left in the dirt!”
“Alright! We’ll become Lords then! It’s a deal!” I grinned. “We’ll stand by each other until Armageddon and beyond!”
There was a silence as the three of us grinned and gripped each other’s arms. After a few seconds there was clapping. I turned and saw Malice grinning at us, “Excellent! Such teamwork will help you reach that lofty goal. I’m rooting for you three!”
“Why did you come here, Malice?” Celestia questioned. “To cheer these three on? Why else?”
Malice smirked, “Perceptive, aren’t you?” His face grew serious, “Don’t push it. As a Demon Lord it’s my duty to slaughter any that show me disrespect.” He gave a kind laugh, “I can keep the eyes of the other Lords off this world and make all the breaches to your location, Greed.” His eyes glinted as he turned to Celestia, “For a price.”
Celestia glared at him, “Like what? Souls of the innocent?! A hundred virgin mares?! A newborn child?!” She spat.
“Someone’s being a total bitch!” Lust jeered loudly.
Celestia scowled at her, “You viciously attacked my sister!”
“Like I give a fuck!” Lust laughed.
“Nothing so dramatic, I assure you.” Malice smoothly cut in. “I simply want access to all the books and scrolls in this world.”
I frowned, “I thought you already had every book from every reality in your library?”
Malice gave a sheepish grin, “I may have...exaggerated there. My library contains the combined knowledge of every world and realm that has died or fallen to Hell, but this world,” His eyes lit up, “It’s all new! New knowledge, new books, new stories, new experiments! Can you imagine the possibilities?!”
I raised an eyebrow, “Something tells me I’m not the only greedy one here.”
“You caught that, did you?” He cleared his throat, “Do we have a deal, Celestia?”
She looked tense, “I cannot promise anything of the other nations, but...you may peruse the Royal Library as you wish.”
I chuckled as she tried to manipulate Malice’s words into something that was better for her. “Oh, you have a pair of brass balls there!” I laughed, knowing that everything was about to go tits up for her.
Malice’s friendly gaze turned ice cold, “I said all books and scrolls. Not a single library. All of them. Every book, every diary, every private note, everything. I will deal with the other countries myself.” I felt myself shudder from his tone, there was the voice of the torturer that had Demons fleeing whole worlds in terror. “Or maybe I should start making the Demons appear in hospitals, schools and orphanages. Is that what you want, Celestia?”
She must have realised that he wasn’t bluffing, because she lowered her head into a bow, “Please. Don’t. You can read anything you wish! Just don’t…” I could hear the panic in her voice.
Malice’s gaze warmed and he gave a warm smile, “That’s fine, child. Just don’t toy with me. Now raise your head and shake my hand, you are a leader, don’t let fear rule you.”
Celestia raised her head and hesitantly took hold of his hand. “I’m sorry.” She whispered.
“I know.” Malice said as they shook. “Which makes this so hard on me.” A blue glow suddenly appeared on Celestia’s hoof, just above where Malice was holding, and she started screaming in agony. “But you disrespected me. You tried to worm your way out of our deal, I can’t allow you to try that again.”
The guards rushed forwards before Gluttony grabbed them all up. By the time Malice let Celestia go there was a Demonic symbol burned into her flesh. The symbol of a Demonic Oath. As soon as he let go Celestia collapsed to the floor and curled up into a ball, sobbing and whimpering. “That mark makes our deal the same as a Demonic Oath, if you try to change the deal or stop me from what we agreed on, directly or indirectly, you will be torn apart at the atomic level, yet will be in constant agony for the rest of eternity.” He sighed before gently taking her hoof and resting his hand on the burn, “Let me help with the pain, child.” His hand glowed blue for a few seconds and Celestia’s whimpers faded away.
After a minute or so she got to her hooves and tried not to look at Malice, shaking slightly when she did, yet he just stood next to her. I sighed, Malice didn’t understand mortals, did he? “Malice? You don’t understand mortal emotions very well, do you?”
He turned to me with a surprised look, “How did you know?”
“Just...move away from the pretty, pony princess. She’s too scared of you to function right now.” Having a Demonic symbol burned into your flesh had to mess you up no matter how strong you are.
“Ah, right you are.” He joined Lust and began treating her most severe wounds. “Perhaps I may reconnect with my mortality during my stay here.”
“Stay?!” Celestia squeaked.
“Yes, I like the air in this world, besides it’d be nice to get out of that pit.” He sighed contentedly. “I suppose I’ll have to pop back to Hell every so often, but for the most part I’ll be here.”
I looked over to Gluttony. “Uh, Gluttony? You can, uh, drop the guards now.”
“Huh? Oh.” He muttered, unceremoniously dropping the guards into a pile on the floor.”
“I need you to comfort Celestia. You know, like you used to.” We needed her with her head on straight.
He raised an eyebrow, “You mean like back in school? That I can do.” He headed over to Celestia and dropped to his knees next to her and began to whisper comfortingly into her ear whilst rubbing her back.
“Having him play counselor?” Malice asked.
I smirked, “He’s stupidly good at it. Why not exploit that?”
“Just setting up some possible payouts. You never know when some friendly contacts will come in use.”
He chuckled, “You’re smarter than you let on.”
“Nah, I’m not smart, I’m just good at planning.” I shrugged.
“And that doesn’t take smarts?” He raised an...eyebrow bone at me.
“Maybe, maybe not.” I looked over to Gluttony. He had already calmed Celestia down considerably. She wasn’t completely calm, but I could try and use that to my advantage. “Gluttony! That’s enough now.”
He looked up at me before glancing back at Celestia before shrugging, “Your call, Greed.” He lumbered his way over to my side.
I gave him a friendly smile before heading over to Celestia with a smirk, “Better now?”
She frowned at my tone but nodded nonetheless, “Yes, your...friend, is skilled in what he does.”
I shrugged, “Yeah, sure. Look, in addition to our services I want to deal with the rest of the cult in any way I see fit. I mean, you don’t want to change the deal, right? I’ve heard that changing the symbol hurts even worse than getting it.”
Her eyes widened in fear, “No!” She squealed. “I...I mean, no. Fine, you may deal with the cultists as you see fit. I give you my word.”
I smiled tightly, “That’s real nice and all, giving me your word. Like your word can’t be taken back when you feel like it.” I scowled and snarled at her, “I want it in writing! I thought you’d learned your lesson in trying to screw over Demons!”
She shot back, “I didn’t…!”
“Greed. Enough.” Gluttony rumbled, “She was being honest. Things are different here. Her word means something.”
I blinked, “Oh. Sorry, Princess. Culture difference, you understand, right?” I took her silent nodding as a confirmation. “But I still want it in writing, that way we can bypass changing the mark on your leg. Who knows, with more commands the mark might spread further.”
Two minutes later I had a Royal Decree saying I could do what I wanted to the cultists Open Speech belonged to. “Is that all, Greed?” Celestia grumbled.
“Yeah, like I said, Gluttony will work out our pay with you. In the meantime we need some housing.”
“I’m sure with the bounty you can deal with that yourself.” She said icily. Wow, she got pissy all of a sudden. Then again her sister is unconscious, we pretty much destroyed who knows how many walls on the way here, her citizens are panicking and she must be in a ton of pain. I’ll let her off this time.
“Yeah, whatever. If we're going to be living in this world it's going to be near my castle.”
“That castle belongs to me and my sister, not you!” Celestia growled.
I wagged my finger at her, “Ah, ah, ah!” I fished a copy of the deed out of my pocket. “‘Legal ownership of The Castle Of The Two Sisters hereby belongs to Greed’.” I grinned, “Signed by a blood contract. Maybe you shouldn’t have let the deed sit around in a town hall on sale.”
Having nothing to say she just scowled at me while Gluttony calmed her down. This time I let him do his job properly and within ten minutes she was completely calm.
“You good?” Gluttony asked.
She nodded, “Thank you.”
“No problem. Greed isn’t so bad. He’s just good at using people to get what he wants.”
I gave a mock bow, “So very true, my large friend!” I laughed.
“So you’re just greedy for things, right? You can’t stop yourself? You just need more money?” She asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“We wear our sins proudly as our names!” I roared. “But we refuse to be controlled by them! I plot and plan and scheme because I can’t let fate decide our destiny when it has a chance of going wrong!”
“Greed, I...I didn’t know you felt so strongly about this.”
“The only things we can completely control are ourselves! We’ve seen death, despair, genocide and brutality! But we refuse to give in! We’ve seen both sinners and saints killed indiscriminately!” I glared at Celestia, “That’s why I constantly plot! Why I won’t let things play out naturally! I won’t lose them again! I won’t let them die again, if that means I have to battle the entire force of Hell then I’ll do just that! Don’t underestimate my feelings to them, I’m Greed! I’ll protect what’s mine with my life!” I closed my eyes and sighed, “We all have wants and desires, I don’t fear my own greed.” I opened my eyes and gave her a stern look, “Are you going to fear yours?”
There was a stunned silence for several seconds before Malice started slowly clapping, “Well said, Greed, well said!”
“Thank you.” I bowed. Then I noticed the Holy sword by my feet. “Huh. Someone should move this thing.”
“What is that?” Malice asked walking to my side. “Ah, a Holy sword. Not many of these about this place, are there?”
“You could say that again.”
“Let’s get rid of it. Greed, pass me the sword, use a cloth or something to touch it with. If it touched any part of you, you’ll be instantly disintegrated. It’s not a pleasant experience, trust me.”
I blinked, “But...I blocked the sword with my claws before.” Was I going to die? “It felt my claws were being burned while I touched it, but...I’m fine.”
His eyes widened, “What?! Quick! Show me your hands! I showed him the palms of my hands. His eyes widened as he tapped his glasses several times. “Incredible! I wonder…?” He stared at my chest. Then he started laughing. While he was busy Gluttony ripped up the red rug in front of the throne and passed it to me and I wrapped up the sword.
“Er, Malice?” I said slowly.
He grinned at me, “It’s fine, my child. I was just...surprised. I’ll have to do some research for conclusive results, but I believe...yes! You can wield Holy weapons! Not properly for they’ll burn you after a few minutes of exposure, but perhaps…”
“Perhaps?” I prompted after a few seconds.
“Celestia, I’m changing our deal!” Malice shot out excitedly.
Celestia’s shot wide open with fear as she grabbed her burn. I groaned, “Maybe some reassurance would be good here, Malice.”
“Hm?” He finally noticed Celestia at the edge of a panic attack. “Oh, no need to worry, the symbol on your leg can be changed by the Demon that created it with no pain to the mortal it is inflicted on.” It sounded like he had just read that out of a book. “I simply wish for that Holy sword. I believe it may be of use to your protection in the right hands.”
“What?!” She stared at me, “But...But you said that…”
I gave a shit eating grin, “Oops, did I happen to lie again? Oh, well, my bad!” I laughed.
“You worthless…” She seethed with anger.
“Watch it, Princess! Don’t insult your only defense!” I grinned.
Malice clapped his hands together, “Very well done, Greed! A fine bit of manipulation! Now, shall we move on?”
Celestia grimaced, “Fine.”
Malice placed his hand over the burn and it began to glow blue. “In return for the Holy sword and the Promise that I can read any book in this world that I want, I shall Promise to do my best to keep the other Lords of Hell blind to this world.” He lowered his head, “I'm afraid I can do nothing to the lower Demons, they'll smell this world and be drawn to it like sewer rats to a rotting corpse. Not pet rats, though, they're just cute.” He removed his hands and nodded. So Malice likes rats? Duly noted.
“Are we done? I have to get news out to the public about you.” Celestia sighed.
Malice picked up the sword by the cloth, “For now, yes. I will be back soon, Greed. Until then, do as you will, Demons will be drawn to your location from now on.” With that he opened another blue portal to Hell and stepped through.
Lust, Gluttony and I exchanged looks. “What now?” Lust asked.
I grinned, “Now? We head back to the castle and get ready for the real fun to begin!”
I lounged around in my throne in my castle as the rest of the cultists cleaned up. “Man, this is so boring!” I complained.
Gluttony looked up from where he was laying, “Don’t go looking for excitement when it may destroy the peace you enjoy.”
“Yeah, learn to love the quiet.” Lust said from her spot draped across the top of my throne.
I raised an eyebrow, “I’m sorry, who was it who I caught molesting one of our cultists?”
Gluttony burst out laughing, “You didn’t?!”
“Shut up! I was curious! It’s not my fault they have nice arses!” She pouted, “Besides, it’s not like he was complaining!”
I grinned, “Did you also fondle his-“
Her tail wrapped around my throat, “Finish that sentence and I’ll snap your neck!”
I laughed, “I’ll take that as a yes!”
She let go of my neck and dropped down into my lap. “Whatever, you guys never judged me, you’re not going to start now.”
I gave a shrug, “What’s the point in it? We’re Demons, let’s do as we please and fulfil our every desire! If you want to sex up the cultists then you’re free to do so!” I tried not to squirm too much beneath her for...obvious reasons.
She smirked, “What’s the matter with you? Trying not to get hard over me?” My silence was her answer. She laughed, “You are! Jeez, how long has it been since you last got some pussy?”
I grumbled, “A hundred years.”
She blinked, “Are you saying I was your last fuck? Please tell me you’re not carrying a torch for me.”
I snorted, “Fuck no! Like I told you back when we were humans, we can fuck but we’re just staying friends.” I gave a mischievous smirk, “Although I think Gluttony could do with some loving.”
“I’m good. I got enough from the Lust Demons in Hell thanks.” He grumbled from the floor.
I burst out laughing, “How’d you managed that? Those frigid bitches never appreciated my advances!” And stole my meat whenever I had some. I want to summon them just so I can slaughter them now.
“Mr Malice always gave me a ton of meat after my visits. They just wanted the meat.” He smirked, “Although, after a while they also wanted my meat.”
I winced, “That’s not a mental image I wanted.”
“Whatever!” Lust cried out, flying into the air. “Let’s go do something! We’ve been stuck in this castle for a week! Let’s go into the town!” She smirked, “Let’s get you laid!”
I sighed, “Alright, let’s go. Not like any Demons are coming to us anyway.” As I stood a thought occurred to me. Where was that teenage filly I saw that one time? “Yo!” I called out, getting the cultists attention, “There any teenager fillies here?”
“Y-yes, Lord Greed, just one.” One of the cultists stammered. I couldn’t be bothered to learn their names.
I waited. “Well? Go get her!”
As he scarpered off Lust raised an eyebrow. “What are you up to?”
I smirked, “Just being impulsive, you know me.”
“I know you rarely do things without a reason.” She countered.
I laughed, “I was just thinking that if Celestia hasn’t spread the word about us yet then it’d be nice to have a body between us and an angry crowd.” I smirked, “And if they do know about us then what better first appearance than walking a teenager out of a dangerous forest and into the town?”
“Ha!” Lust chuckled, “I knew you were planning something! You always have some plan, don’t you?”
I shrugged, “It’s in my nature.”
After a few minutes the same teenage filly that had been stroking my hair entered the room, her brown robe covering all but her head. “You wished to see me, Lord Greed?”
“Yo! You want to get out of this dump?!” I grinned. “Come to the town with us! Dump the robe though, they’re not in fashion right now.”
Lust sighed, “Look, kiddo, come with us if you don’t care about danger and want excitement in your life, if you’re too sensible and boring to come with us then just stay here.”
“Don’t worry about getting hurt,” Gluttony spoke up, “He may talk a big game, but he won’t let his allies get hurt. Too badly.”
I winced, “Ah, come on, Gluttony, not in front of the minions!” I hopped out of the throne and walked past the filly. “Make your choice now, kid.”
As I left the room I heard hooves running up behind me. “Okay, I’m going with you!” She cried.
I spun around and walked backwards as Gluttony and Lust caught up, “‘Course you are!” I grinned, “What’s your name anyway?”
She hesitated, “My...my Name?”
My eyes lit up, “So you actually know the difference! But nah, I just want to know what people call you.”
“It’s Belladonna Rancour.”
“There we go, Bella!” I smiled at her brightly. “What’re you doing here anyway? This ain’t a place for kids.”
“Open Speech was my father.”
That was like a kick to the teeth. “Oooh...I, uh…”
She grinned, “Thank you for killing the bastard.”
Oh, she has issues! “Well...he was a threat to the reason we were brought here.”
She laughed, “Funny. I know you’re not a Demon Lord.”
I blinked, “What makes you say that?”
She grinned, “I was the one who screwed up dear, old dad’s first circle!”
I smirked, “Well, aren’t you a little bugger? You’re different then when you were messing with my hair.”
“Now the miserable cesspool is dead I can be myself!” She laughed.
“I like her!” Lust laughed as she swooped above us.
“You like her because she has a mouth or because she screwed up the prick’s plan?” I asked.
She smirked, “Yes.”
I laughed, “Fuck you! Not this shit again!” I glanced over at Bella, “And like I said, lose the robe.”
With a sigh she ditched the robe. While I’d noticed her grey eyes and black mane before I hadn’t noticed her dark purple coat and her cutie mark of a skull above a rudimentary summoning circle. “What?” She asked when she caught me looking.
“When you said you ruined the first summoning...you taught them how to use Names, didn’t you?”
She nodded, “Yeah, when the old man searched for a Demon Lord I just threw together some sounds and hoped it did something to get him to lose interest. Then you turned up. I don’t even know how. I tested the sounds and they didn’t do anything. That idiot must have screwed up.”
I shrugged, “Whatever. Onwards loyal friends, plus follower, to Ponyville, to the future!” I cried in an excessively dramatic tone.
“You done being silly?” Lust asked.
“I’m bored! Let me have this.”
She didn’t let me have it. In fact some threw insults at me all the way to the town, but not without me throwing back some equally hurtful insults myself. As we saw the first ponies and their jaws gaped at the sight of us I shouted at Lust, “Why don’t you go find a cock to munch on, you slutty bitch!”
“I’d ask you but you couldn’t satisfy a gnat with that pathetic thing!” She spat at me.
“Boy, you two really hate each other.” Bella muttered.
“Nah, they’re good buds, they just enjoy insulting each other.” Gluttony explained. He smirked, “And touching each other up.”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” We yelled at him.
“Nah.” He shouted over to a pair of ponies, “Hey! Has Celestia dropped the news of us three Demons are here to defend you guys?!” They blankly nodded. “Thanks.”
“Ah, whatever!” Lust laughed. “I’ll see you guys later! I’ve got an itch that I need help scratching and I feel like adding a pinch of sin to this place!” She gave a lazy wave as she wandered off, “Come on, Ponyville! Bring on the men!”
Not two minutes after she went off I heard a bunch of mares joining her in a song about carnal desire and enjoying the company of men. I expected an orgy in the streets in the next hour or two. I chuckled and shook my head, “I hope she never changes.”
“Is that likely?” Bella asked.
I paused, thinking it over. “...Nah. She enjoyed cock when she was alive, she enjoys it now.”
“Yet she'll always choose her friends over a cock.” Gluttony said with a nod. “Well...I’m going to go wander, I’ll see you around, Greed.” He paused. “Try to stay out of trouble?”
I snorted, “Come on, Gluttony! You know trouble always finds me!”
He shook his head, “Just promise me that something turns up that’s too much for you then you’ll run.”
“That I can do!” I looked between Gluttony and Bella. “Hey, take the kid with you! I want to explore alone for now.”
“Hey! I’m not just dead weight!” She snapped.
I smirked, “No shit. But I don’t trust you yet, girly, so Gluttony’s going to watch you for now.”
“Don’t worry.” Gluttony said quietly, “He’s just doing this because I’m a good judge of character. He used to do this in life whenever he wanted to trust someone.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Are you going to explain all my motives to people?”
“If it avoids a fight or argument? Yes.”
I laughed, “Fair enough! See you two around.” I walked off towards the centre of town.
Every so often I passed a pony that gasped at the sight of me. Honestly I expected that sort of reaction, I’d be concerned if they just welcomed us with open arms. But this was it! We were free of Hell! My plan worked! We were protecting this world, meaning we’re important to these ponies, and we are never going back!
I tilted my head back and let loose a loud, victorious laugh. Everything was going my way! Now all I had to do was cement our presence in this world so that even if this Demonic invasion was to end we could stay.
“So you’re one of those Demons, huh?” Someone interrupted my laughter.
I looked and found a white unicorn with a blue mane and wearing purple glasses. “Hm? Yes, that’s right. I am Greed, and you are?” It was in my best interests to make connections here.
She smirked, “The name’s Vinyl Scratch! Top DJ in Ponyville!”
I chuckled, “Quaint.”
“Vinyl!” A gray mare hissed from her spot hiding behind a bush. “Get away, quick!”
She grinned, “What are you doing down there, Octy?”
I cackled, “She’s afraid I’m going to kill you.” Did this mare not care I was a Demon or something?
“Ah, she worries too much! Life’s too short to worry about that crap! And if you do try and hurt me then I’ll mess you up!” She laughed.
I grinned at her, “Oh, you I like!”
Her grin turned slightly predatory, “Oh? Then how about we go fool around?” She slowly rubbed her side against me.
“I, huh, ah, what?!” I stammered. I was not expecting that! Where did that even come from?!
She burst out laughing, “Your face! Ha! Relax, I’m just kidding!”
I blinked before letting out a soft chuckle, “Nice. You’re fun, we’ll have to…” I trailed off as the beginning of a portal to Hell appeared. “Great. We’ll have to meet up later. Business calls.”
She raised an eyebrow, “Sure, see you around, Demon.”
“It’s Greed!” I called out as she left with her scared friend. I shook my head and get to work. “Ladies and gentlemen! Your attention please!” I shouted. “You are about the witness the first Demon to invade this town! Back away from the area and let the professional, me, send it back to Hell!” I grinned, “This should be fun.”
As the portal snapped open I get excited. “Okay, I can take them!” I said confidently.
A Wrath Demon stepped through.
“Oh, shit, I’m fucked.” I whispered, terrified of my oncoming fate. A Wrath Demon once went on a rampage in Hell in the early days of my being a Demon. It killed two hundred other Demons of all kinds before Lord Nexis brought it down with a single sweep of her axe. Wrath Demons are scary, but Lord Nexis is absolutely terrifying.
It was about a foot or two taller than me, masculine, absolutely rippling with muscles under his red, burned skin with rusty meat hooks sunk deep into his back and neck, wearing only some kind of Roman warrior skirt with long lengths of chains attached to it. It what got to me the most was the head. A flaming goat skull filled with fangs with glowing yellow eyes and large ram horns curling backwards over his head. You try staring at those eyes as your skull gets crushed, and see if you don’t become terrified of Wrath Demons.
The Wrath Demon let out a roar and glared right at me. “YOU! I’LL KILL YOU THEN EVERYTHING ELSE! DIE!”
I let loose a yelp and ran away as the Wrath charged after me. I could not outrun a Wrath Demon! My best hope was to outmanoeuvre him. I noticed a building coming up. The mortal soul I’d consumed fed me memories of it being a bakery. Supercube Corner. This was not the time for the soul to feed me information! I risked a look back and instantly regretted it. The Wrath was right on top of me. Fuck it! At times like this you need to do something stupid!
“Look out!” I yelled before I dived through the bakery’s window. As I landed next to a pony I quickly snatch the pie out of his magical grip. He began to complain but as the Wrath Demon smashed through the wall he just shrieked and ran off.
“KILL YOU!” The Demon bellowed.
“Ha, good luck, goat boy!” I snarked before I could stop myself. As he gave a roar I threw the pie into his face before escaping to the kitchen. Looking around I ripped open the oven and grabbed several hot treats and threw them at the Wrath as he tore through the wall. As he wiped the hot food out of his eyes I grabbed a knife block and started hurling the knives at him. He quickly ripped them out of his chest and grabbed me by the throat choking me as he lifted me up in one arm.
“ANY LAST WORDS, WORM?!” Fearing I was going to die I did what any possible lunatic would do.
“Harder...daddy!” I choked out.
“THE FUCK?!” He recoiled before throwing me through the wall. I rolled across the ground and came to a stop, looking up at the sky.
“Ow.” I winced. I got to my feet and stared at the ponies looking at me. “What are you idiots doing?!” I yelled. Looking back I saw the Wrath charge through the rest of the wall. “SCATTER!”
As they ran I didn’t get more than five feet before I was grabbed by the back of the head before being slammed face first into the ground with enough force to break my nose along with some other bones in my face and I felt two of my facial gems crack. By the time I could see straight I was in the air soaring above several house. I let out a scream as I fell towards the ground. Landing on my back I had the air knocked out of my lungs and tried to crawl to the Town Hall that was nearby, just passed the pony statue fountain. That was when I was picked up by my leg and went smashing through the fountain and by the time I landed I was closer to the edge of town by a small stone building, the local blacksmith’s if the soul memory was correct, and I was bleeding all over.
By the time I stood up I found myself in the Wrath Demon’s grasp again. “The throwing me is getting old, you cuntwaffle!” I spat. He just roared at me before throwing me through the stone wall and as I landed I used the momentum to spring myself back up. I quickly looked around before locking eyes with the pony blacksmith. “Hi, I need a sword or everyone in this town is going to die a painful death.”
He blinked before handing me a sword he was finishing up with, the blade still glowing red. With a shrug I slashed at the Demon’s chest, blood spurted out before the wound cauterised. I jumped onto his arm as he tried to swing at me before jumping onto his back, using the meat hooks to hold onto, and plunged my sword into his back over and over again before he threw me off.
“Come on, goat face!” I yelled, jumping as he charged me. As I passed over him he tripped and fell towards the forge. Sensing an opportunity I leapt through the air and landed on his head, shoving it down into the hot coals. He roared in pain and threw me off his back, making me drop my sword, and quickly grabbed me by the throat again, coals tumbling out of his eye sockets.
As he roared at me a war hammer slammed into his face and exploded into fragments, sending the Wrath staggering backwards, releasing his hold on my neck and grabbing his eyes. I blinked and looked over to the blacksmith who was throwing away the war hammer shaft and looking satisfied. “Get this idiot out of my forge.” He said, sending me a smirk. “Before I have to waste any more exploding hammers on him.”
I grinned, “We’ll be talking later.” I grabbed my sword and slashed the Wrath across the chest as I escaped. “Come on, ugly! You’re just a pathetic waste of flesh!”
I made it out of the blacksmith’s and halfway towards the middle of the town before he managed to grab my left arm. Then he started laughing as his mouth opened wider. Oh, right. Wrath’s like to eat their opponents heads. ...Shit!
I looked between my arm, his wide open mouth ready to chomp down on my skull and the sword in my hand. There was no hesitation. I put all the strength I could into the swing of the sword. Then, as my arm was severed I quickly scarpered, blood pouring from my elbow stump, before he realised I was gone.
As I ran I made my way towards a big tree when I saw Gluttony. Finally some help! “Gluttony!” I shouted, rushing over to him
“Greed? What’s…” Gluttony took one look me, his eyes trailing down to look at my stump, blood splattered all down my side, and I could see the rage in his eyes explode. He glared at the Wrath Demon as it burst through a nearby house’s wall wall. Why was the Wrath even in there? Maybe he just likes bursting through walls? “You hurt my friend. My best friend.” He said quietly.
“MOVE OR DIE, FATTY!” The Wrath roared. Oh, great. I’m his main target. Fun.
“You hurt him.” Gluttony’s face was calm and relaxed, yet his eyes burned with fury. I’d never seen him like this before. “For that I’m going to have to kill you and take your soul, I hope you suffer.”
I hardly had time to comprehend what he’d just said before he flipped through the air and delivered a kick to the back of the Wrath’s head. I blinked. Gluttony Demons can’t jump! They’re not supposed to be able leave the ground! And was that martial arts?! Where the actual fuck did Gluttony learn that?! He most certainly did not know that when he was human!
Gluttony then deliver a flurry of open palm strikes to the Wrath’s ribs resulting in them snapping loudly. As the Demon let out a pained roar Gluttony just delivered another open palm strike to his jaw, shattering it and leaving it only hanging on by a single joint. The Demon swung its fists wildly. Gluttony darted under the arms and flipped him onto his back and held onto one arm while he pressed his foot against the Demon’s throat.
“I could kill you now, but I’m not going to.” He said coldly as he simultaneously Pressed his foot deeper into the Wrath’s neck whilst pulled his arm, making the Demon press ever deeper into his foot. “No. You hurt Greed. You have to suffer for that.” With that he released the Wrath and delivered a brutal kick to its head, fracturing one of its horns.
With that the Wrath let out a roar and charged him. Gluttony just jumped and delivered a spinning kick to his face. As the Wrath crashed to the ground Gluttony just waited for him to get up. Then Gluttony threw a punch. As the Wrath caught Gluttony’s arm an inch away from his face Gluttony just used his free arm and snapped the bone in the Wrath’s arm in a quick movement. Then he changed his hand posture and continued the punch. The result was several of the Wrath’s teeth flying out and his head slamming into a wall and blood pouring out of his mouth.
Was that a fucking one inch punch?!
Gluttony then dropped into the splits and smashed the Wrath’s knee with an open palm, snapping the kneecap around. From there it was obvious Gluttony was stronger than the Wrath in every way. Yet he just broke more bones, brutalising the Demon worse and worse. It was...amazing. It then I realised that he was no longer the fat kid I used to look out for and protect. I should have known before but...I just didn’t want to fully accept things had changed.
I watched as Gluttony broke yet another spot in the Wrath’s arm. Heh. I was proud of him. “Gluttony. That’s enough. Kill him already.”
He sighed, “You’re right. It’s gone too far already.” With that he punched through the Wrath’s chest. When his arm emerges he was pulling out a spine. Fucking hell! With a roar he snapped the spine and shoved the end back into the Wrath’s skull.
As the soul appeared, a black and corrupt red looking thing, the Wrath’s body disintegrated and Gluttony quickly popped the soul into his mouth. As he swallowed the soul his eyes glowed a bright purple for a second before fading leaving...absolutely no change whatsoever. Weird.
I was silent for a few seconds. “So when’d you learn that stuff?”
“Right.” He chuckled, “Remember how I said Mr Malice passed on his teachings of warrior monks?”
“Yeah?”
“Well...he also pulled a few strings and got an actual warrior monk from Heaven to come and teach me.”
I blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Yeah. Apparently I already had the makings of a good monk.
“Oh, shit. So he was like, what? An angel?” I asked. I’d never heard of a Demon knowing Heavenly folk.
“Nah. Just a Holy guy.”
“So...when we were sparring…”
“Yeah, I was holding back. I don’t enjoy cutting loose like that. I...don’t like the power.”
“Huh. Actually that makes sense from what you were like as a human.”
“Greed...are you going to be okay?”
“What, the arm? It’ll grow back in a while, I’ve learned to do enough things one handed to get by.”
He patted my head, “Regardless, don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
I looked up at him and smiled, “Thanks, buddy. I mean it. Thank you.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Well. Let’s go find the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. It should be a real riot!”
“You are a genuine badass!” I laughed, clapping Gluttony on the back.
He shrugged, “Not really.”
I scoffed, “Buddy, take some pride in yourself for once!”
“I’m more worried about you.”
I followed his eyes to my stump. “What? This thing?” I flicked it, sending black blood all over the ground, “I’m fine. Anyway, you know where any of those Elements are? And where’s Bella? I thought she was with you?”
He nodded towards the tree, “Both in there. I was just waiting out here, watching the birds.”
In where? I turned to look at the tree and stopped dead. “You’re fucking with me, right?” I stared at the...the literal treehouse. Door, windows, a fucking balcony... “There’s no way one of the Elements lives in a tree.”
“She’s a complete nerd.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Nerd or geek?”
“Nerd. Completely obsessed with books and learning.” Gluttony smirked. “Remind you of anyone?”
I snorted, “You know I only read books to make plans!” I headed to the door, “Come on. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
I kicked open the door, yelling, “BOOM, baby!” As I struck a pose.
“Hey! Don’t kick open my door!” A purple unicorn yelled before her jaw dropped as she got a good look at me.
I frowned, “Really? Nothing?” I sighed, “My talent is wasted on you people.”
“I’m not going to fit.” Gluttony said from outside.
I turned around and frowned, he was right. “Damn. Well, I won’t be long. Just hang tight, buddy.” He nodded and sat down.
“Wait! You’re Greed, right?” Purple asked.
I grinned and got up close to her face, “Indeed I am, want an autograph?”
“What?” She staggered backwards, “No! You’re the one who manipulated the princess!”
I raised an eyebrow, “They put that in the paper?” The pony soul then fed me information on her, she was Twilight Sparkle, Element of...Magic. She and Celestia were pen pals. “Never mind. I’m going to have to go through this soul at some point.”
“What?” She asked blankly before shaking her head, “Never mind! What do you want?” She asked hostilely.
“Not much, just thought I’d meet the Elements I’m protecting.” I admitted.
“Well, you can leave now.” She huffed.
“What’s up with you? You act like I insulted your mother.”
“What’s up with me?! What’s wrong with you?! You manipulated Princess Celestia for your own gain!” She spat.
I waited for her to continue. “Wait, is that it? You’re mad I exploited her?” I rolled my eyes, “Can you believe how naive she is, Gluttony?”
He sighed, “Please don’t mind him, he only does what he does so-“
“Ah, ah, ah!” I interrupted, “You’re not spoiling it this time.”
“...We can stay together.” Gluttony finished.
I turned to him, “Really? I can’t let them think I’m just doing this out of the evil of my cold, black heart just once?”
He shrugged, “It’ll be a good idea to be on the Elements good side.”
“So you’re just doing this to stay together?” Twilight asked softly. “That’s actually kind of SWEET CELESTIA! YOUR ARM!”
I blinked. “What? Oh, this! Funny story!” I laughed, “A Wrath Demon appeared in town and beat the shit out of me! I had to cut off my arm to avoid getting my head eaten.” I grinned, “Then Gluttony beat the shit out of him!”
She just kept staring at my stump, not laughing. She finally snapped out of whatever was up with her and rushed over to me. “We have to get you to the hospital!”
I waved her off, inadvertently flicking some of my blood in her face, “I’ll be fine. Us Demons lose limbs all the time, it’s a glorious pastime for us.” I lost all trace of humour, “After all what else are we supposed to eat when our meat keeps getting stolen?”
Her eyes widened, “You...had to eat parts of yourself?” She whispered.
I waved it off, “Eh, I only had to do it a couple hundred times or so, but that doesn’t matter!”
“Well...if you’re sure.” She said hesitantly.
“Sure I’m sure!” I looked around, “You have any law books here? I need to study up.”
“Wait, you’re actually interested in learning?!” She asked excitedly.
“Of course I am!” I gave a sly grin, “How else will I know what laws to exploit to benefit myself?”
“That’s not what laws are for!” She snapped, glaring at me.
I scoffed, “Shows what you know, you poor, naive, fool.”
“What?! You can’t-“
I cut her off with a sharp laugh, “Bored now! I’ll get to those books later, pumpkin.”
“Don’t call me that!” She snapped.
“Sure thing, pumpkin.” A thought occurred to me. “I thought Bella was in here?”
She blinked, “Bella? No! Don’t try and change the subject! Wait...Do you mean Belladonna?”
“Yeah, where is the kiddo? She didn’t do a runner, did she?” I raised an eyebrow, “Or is she in the erotica section?”
Twilight blushed, “No! No! I...I don’t even have a...I mean what would I even do with erotica?! I don’t read it!” She shot out, panicking.
I grinned, “Uh huh.”
“It...it’s true! I don’t!” She protested.
“No, no. I totally believe you.” I said sarcastically.
“I mean it!” She growled. She shook her head, “No. Belladonna is in my bed.”
I opened my mouth, showing off my fangs, and pressed my claws into her throat, threatening to cut into her easily as the sharp point of bone from my other arm was right above her eye. “And just what is a teenager doing in your bed?” I hissed darkly into her ear, as my tongue extended and spread it across her cheek and wrapped it around the base of her throat.
“No!” She squeaked, “Not...I didn’t…! She just fell asleep reading! I just put her in bed! I swear!”
“Really?” I snarled, completely intelligible as my tongue slipped through a gap in my teeth, tightening my tongue, slowly cutting off her oxygen.
She didn’t dare nod with the shard of bone getting closer and closer to her eye and my claws digging deeper, drawing a few drops of blood. “I…” She choked, “I swear...I...I didn’t…I wouldn’t...”
I stared at her a few seconds longer before releasing myself from her and stepping back. “No troubles then!” I laughed as my tongue returned to my mouth, “You just make sure to send her back to us before we leave the town!” I grinned, patting her on the head.
“I...I…” She whimpered.
I sniffed. Something stunk of piss. I looked down. Oh, she’d pissed herself at some point. “Take a shower, you stink of piss, pumpkin. You wouldn’t take advantage of Bella now, would you?” I gave her a grin and she shivered, “Whatever, your innocence is kind of adorable. We’re off, got lots to see.”
“And plenty of time to get you drowning in pussy.” Gluttony added as I left the library.
I laughed, “Really? You’re in on this too?”
He laughed, “You need to relax more. Besides, you’ve been way too tense lately.”
“There’s a reason for that!”
“Yeah, yeah. Besides, when girls see that tongue they’ll go crazy for you.”
“Fuck you!” I snorted.
“I ain’t into that, man.” He chuckled.
“Fuck off!” I laughed. “Now, where did Lust get to?”