"You know, demons were at one time angels. That's how they started out, guardians of a holy power. Have you ever thought of it that way?"

The stallion doesn't answer me, he simply growls out angered moans before collapsing back on the floor in a gory, bloodstained heap. I frown as he crawls weakly over to me, a silver dagger in his hoof and murder in his eyes.

"There was a time, long ago, when we were the protectors. Demons lived among paradise and served a good cause. Then one day, because of the pride of one being, our entire race would forever live in infamy. Doomed to be viewed as monsters." The words have a weight to them; they drag my spirits down into the pit of my stomach. "It's unfair when you think about it. I was born a creature that was cursed to be shunned and hated by everyone, all because of a fight that ended eons before I was even born. I did nothing to deserve that curse, it was simply my birthright."

I look up from the windowsill, staring off into the vast void of the Manehatten night sky. "I've always had lingering fantasy, to try and recapture that glory. Ascend back into that sacred realm, see for myself exactly what my kind gave up. Redeem just a small part of us."

The enraged snarling grows rampant. "You are far beyond redemption, monster!"

I turn back to stallion. He's standing up, though barely. His whole body trembles in effort, and clutching the knife makes him struggle for balance. The look in his eye drives me further into depression. "Maybe from paradise, yes, but how about from you? Can't you find it in you to have a little sympathy for me?"

"I find it difficult to sympathize with murderers!" He lunges at me, and I simply move to the side. He lodges his blade into the splintered wooden wall, roaring in agony as it connects.

My eyes shift to a more vexed, defensive state of mind. "Yes, I'm a murderer. I'm a murderer of rapists, kidnappers, child molesters, and, of course, other murderers. Isn't that what demons are supposed to do? Punish the wicked for the sins they commit?"

The stallion's only response is to rip the dagger out of the windowsill and to limp back towards me. I release and anguished sigh. "If it makes it any easier, I sympathize with you, in a way. I know how bad my race can get at times, I've seen the way they rape, torture, and kill however they please. Some of them are no better than animals. You're just doing your job getting rid of them, and for the most part I'd say that's a noble goal, but just because I'm one of them doesn't mean I'm loyal to them you know. I've never—"

"Don't try to make yourself look innocent!" The stallion has an insane crack in his voice. "Don't you dare! You're whole kind was made to lie, your whole kind was made to deceive, your whole kind has no other purpose than to feed off of the pain and misery of others! Any kind of sympathy from you is nothing more than bullshit, meant to use my own emotions for your own twisted desires; but I know better! I know better."

I close my eyes to shut out the painful look. "Sir, are sure you want to do this? I mean look at yourself. Your chances would be slim in perfect health, but now you're just signing a death warrant with a bloody knife."

He cackles, almost hysterically. "I will gladly greet death, if it means I send one more of your kind back to hell where they belong!"

He roars with fury and swings the knife down again. I grab it in mid swing, stopping the point inches away from my head. "Funny. If I were you, I'd be more scared about going there myself."

With one twist of my hoof I break his arm, forcing the dagger out of his grip, then with another I rip the arm off entirely. The stallion screams and blood splatters everywhere, painting the drab apartment into a gory work of art. I hold the severed arm in my hoof for a moment, eyeing the dripping blood with an increasing appetite. I take a guilty lick, before turning my focus to the demon-hunter writhing on the floor. He clutches the stump of his hoof in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding. I move to stand over him, and he turns his head, shooting pure hatred through tear stained eyes.

"Truthfully, I do sympathize with you," I state, pushing a hoof into his chest. "I hate killing ponies who don't deserve it, but you didn't give me that many options. I almost feel bad doing this."

He spits in my face. "Fuck you!"

I look at him a moment, wiping the bloody saliva out of my eye. "Then again, maybe I shouldn't."

I put my hoof on his face and start pressing down. Muffled screams fill the room, until finally his head pops like a grape.

"Sweetie Belle?" My head jolts upon coming back to reality. "Sweetie are you alright? You've been starin' off into space fer' ten minutes now."

Beads of sweat drip down my forehead. I inhale three strong breaths before I turn to Apple Bloom. "I'm... I'm fine. It's just that demon-hunters, or even the subject of demon-hunting, makes me a little edgy. I-I don't really know how I'm going to handle my sister going out to fight like this."

"Could you two keep it down? I'm trying to listen to this." Scootaloo whispers harshly. She turns back to the outer library window and puts her ear to the glass. Inside, six mares and one baby dragon rant on about plans and strategies. Hearing the conversation may be difficult for my friends, but it would need to be happening thirty feet underground inside a concrete bunker for me to have difficulty. With a little concentration I can make out each word as if they were being said right next to me.

"So, does that mean Princess Luna will be running things now?" Rarity asks.

"For the time being, yes, until Celestia is able to recover."

"But what about raising the sun?" Pinkie asks.

"Celestia took up both stations during her sister's banishment, I'm sure Luna can handle both as well." Twilight inhales a deep sigh. "What I'm more concerned of is this monster that attacked her. It just charged straight into Canterlot, killed over thirty guards, and wounded Celestia. It might have even killed her if me, Luna, and Cadence hadn’t been there."

"So it's strong, and very dangerous," says Applejack. "Do we know anything else about it? Where it went, what it's going to do?"

Twilight shakes her head. "I asked Luna and a few other officials, but it sounds like Celestia was the only one who knew anything about it, or at least that's what we think. She seemed to recognize it when it stormed the throne room."

"But she's out of it right now," Spike states. "And it sounds like no one else in Equestria has even heard of this type of thing before. Seriously, the closest thing that even comes to it is a dragon, but that... thing doesn’t sound like any dragon."

There's slight movements I can pick up with demonic perception that tell me someone is nervous. Small hoof steps, swaying tail, and slight facial cringes that would fly right past the untrained eye; all of which Twilight is making right now. I get the sense that she knows more than she's telling, but I'll need to catch her in an outright lie to be sure.

"Do we even know how to stop this thing?" Applejack asks.

"Well, we do have these babies right here." Rainbow knocks on the glass case displaying the Elements of Harmony. "All we got to do is track down that monster and blast him to next century."

"That would be good, if we even knew where it was, or how to find it," Rarity states bluntly.

Twilight's eyes shift suspiciously between her friends. She gulps down air, then says in a nervous tone, "There is one option we might have, to find the monster. It's just we'd have to work with some... less than reputable ponies."

She looks at the floor, to avoid their gaze

"What kind of less than reputable ponies?" Pinkie asks with rapid speech. "Discord? Chrysalis? Benny, that one really scary looking stallion who orders a bran muffin every day at Sugar Cube Corner and never says hello despite all the ultra funny jokes I tell him?"

I can tell Twilight's brain needs a second to process that one. "No, nothing like that. You see, there's this organization, that was founded by Princess Luna many centuries ago."

My eyes sink into the back of my skull at that description. Oh Celestia no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, please no.

"Her idea was to bring together the best fighters and soldiers in Equestria, and train them even further to handle special targets."

This can't be real, I'm dreaming, or imagining things, or suffering under some really fucked up kind of drug trip. Fate can't be this cruel, it just can't be.

"They've always been known for being brutal, almost bloodthirsty in a fight, and very rarely spare their enemies."

Oh mighty Lord Satan, I know I've never been that loyal of a servant, but I promise to sacrifice six new born lambs in your name if you just use your power and make Twilight say anything, and I mean anything, other than—

"And their called The Order of the Alicorn."

"Mother fu—" I slap a hoof to my mouth before I can scream. I turn from the window and bow my head in the grass, chanting the word 'fuck' like a personal mantra.

"Sweetie, what's going on?"

I look back at Apple Bloom, an insane smile on my lips and slight twitch in my eye. "Oh nothing! Nothing other than the fact that I just heard my sister might be teaming up with the largest and most dangerous group of demon-hunters in existence. Other than that, everything's hunky-fucking-dory."

I have an urge to cry right now.

"Demon-hunters? Whoa, that sounds friggin’ awesome!" It takes Scootaloo less than a second to realizes what she just said. "Uh, I what I mean is... uh, that hunting bad demons, sounds cool. Eh-heh-heh, cause if there's any chance these guys might come after you, then.. well, that would obviously be bad, and I don't have anything against you or any other demons in general, it's just—"

"Scootaloo."

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"Okay."

Apple Bloom wipes the scowl off her face and then turns back to me. "It's going to be fine, Sweetie Belle. They want that monster not you, and besides, didn't you tell us that you've dealt with demon-hunters before?"

"Yeah, but not The Alicorn Order. They're the most powerful hunter clan in the world. If you've got those guys on your trail, there's not a place in Equestria you can hide from them. They'll find you, catch you, torture you, and kill you, end of story." I burry my face in the ground. "And now it sounds like my sister is going to work with them, as if I didn't have enough to worry about."

"Well, it's not really official if they're going to work with them," Scootaloo states, now peeking through the window again. "It sounds like Twilight is the only one who's open to the idea."

"What! Let me see."

I rush to the window and peek over the edge. Sure enough, all the mares are arguing over their newly named partners.

"Call it whatever you want Twilight, to me it sounds like we're teaming up with a bunch of killers," Applejack states.

The princess's expression remains rigid and uncomfortable. "Keep in mind I don't know that much about these ponies myself. I only know what Princess Luna told me."

"And she told you that these are soldiers they send out specifically to kill ponies?" Spike points out.

She doesn't answer that question, only glares at him a second before changing subject. "Look, I know none of you like the idea of working with a group like this, and honestly, neither do I. But Princess Luna insisted that we get their aid. She refused to let us go anywhere near this mission without it. Besides, if what she told me is true, then this group may know more about this monster than anypony else in Equestria."

So she's telling them about the order, but not the fact that they're demon-hunters? That means either she or Princess Luna is lying. I can hear my teeth grinding; it’s really aggravating to be supremely pissed off and not even know who you’re pissed off at.

"I don't see the point though," Rainbow Dash says. "We've taken on all sorts of bad guys by ourselves and we never needed any murder organization to help us. Heck, we faced down an entire army of changelings once, and we barely broke a sweat."

"Uh, weren't you all captured after that?" Spike states.

"Well, yeah, but—"

“And wasn’t it Cadance and Shining Armor who—”

“Okay, okay! I get it. The point is, we’ve beaten the crap out of some crazy-strong bad guys before. We don’t need these spy ponies or whatever.”

"Yeah, and besides there's no baddie in Equestria we can't take down by shooting rainbows at it!" Pinkie Pie proceeds to imitate the sound of the Elements going off. The whole room is one awkward stare.

"Um, yeah. Still, I think Pinkie does have a point there, Twi," Applejack states. "As long as we've got the Elements of Harmony with us I don't see why we need the help."

Twilight's releases an anguished sigh. I scoff at her; you were the one who decided not to tell them about demons, Princess Sparkle-Butt.

She looks down at the floor, and mutters. "It can kill pretty fast."

Confusion spreads to everypony. "Wha-what's that Sugar-cube?"

"It doesn't even hesitate, that monster." Twilight walks slowly around the room, avoiding eye contact with her friends. "When it first entered the throne room, seven guards were on it in an instant, and it... killed every last one of them. Nothing could protect them! Their armor was useless. Spears bounced off its skin, and magick... the thing was immune to magick. It ripped half of them to shreds and devoured all the rest."

The room is taken by unsettling silence. Her words are so grim and bleak it's like she's reading a suicide note. Applejack and Rainbow look a little disturbed, Spike and Pinkie turn pale faced, and Fluttershy is visibly trembling, seeking Rarity for comfort. Even my friends seem to have been affected, both shivering next to me in fear.

Rainbow Dash shakes her head as if to get rid unwanted thoughts. "Twilight, you already told us this thing is dangerous, but so was everything we faced before. Why are you so—”

"Because it nearly killed Celestia!" she blurts. Tears well up in her eyes, and she backs up against the wall. It seems the pressure has finally caught up with her.

"She's in a coma right now girls! She can't move, can't even speak! The doctors aren't sure if she'll ever wake up, but they said she's lucky to even be alive as she is. We almost lost Celestia today... I almost lost Celestia. That... that monster nearly took her from me, and now..." Her voice quivers, her body trembles. She falls down on her haunches and slumps in despair. "And now I'm scared to death that it might take one of you."

I've never heard a room that silent before. Twilight's friends stare at her in pure shock, some with fear.

"Gosh, didn't realize you had all that going through your head," Applejack says. She walks up to Twilight and lays a gentle hoof on her shoulder. "Look, I understand why you're scared Twilight. I think we're all a little on edge knowing that Princess Celestia isn't here. But yah said it yourself earlier, we need to deal with this without her."

Twilight wipes the tears from her eyes. "I know, and that's why I think we should work with this group. Princess Celestia is the most powerful pony in Equestria, and even she looked scared when that thing entered the throne room. If we're going to go after a creature like that, then we should take all the help we can get. I don't want to take any chances on this one, girls."

The unsure look is passed around the room, from one pony to another. Rainbow Dash lands next to Twilight. "Are you sure these ponies can be trusted?"

"Celestia and Luna had a hoof in founding their order. I doubt they'd give so much power and authority to a group they thought would abuse it."

Rainbow spends another moment in contemplative silence, then flashes a confident smirk. "Well, if you and the Princesses trust these guys, then I guess I can, too."

"Same here," Rarity chimes in. "Besides, if they're as bad as you say then someone will have to come along to keep those ruffians in line."

"And you think they'll listen to you?" Applejack chides.

"Style and grace have more bite then you'd think, darling."

Ain't that the fucking truth.

Fluttershy comes skulking up to the group, casting a timid glance at Twilight. "Um... I'll try to be trusting, too... as much as I can, at least."

She doesn't sound too enthusiastic, and I'm not surprised. Fluttershy hanging out with demon hunters? I have to muffle a laugh.

"This sounds like it's going to be big! Like our biggest adventure yet!" Pinkie blurts, jumping about like she's got pogo-sticks for legs.

"So I'm guessing that means you're in, too?"

Pinkie comes to a dead halt in mid-air. "Are you kidding?" She sticks a landing, and then puts her arms around her friends. "Of course I'm in! No amount of killer meanies in the world is going to keep from helping my friends."

Pinkie proceeds to pull them in for a group hug, earning a round of giggles from the other mares. Only one pony is missing from the group, who now has the eyes of everyone on her. Applejack stand looking at them for a short second, before rolling her eyes with a smile.

"Oh, what the hay, you know I'm in, too."

They all cheer and complete their circle of friends. Scootaloo groans at the display. Apple Bloom makes an affectionate coo, and I share the sentiment... at least, until I remember that they just decided to work with a group of ponies who would love nothing more than to rip my soul out and send it screaming to the pits of Hell.

The six mares break from their hug. The Princess is smiling now, though her eyes are still damp.

"Thank you girls. I'll feel a lot safer knowing we're going in prepared."

There's a knock on the door, and a voice shouts out, "Princess Twilight, Lucius will be arriving shortly with your carriages."

"Thank you Captain, we're coming out now," Twilight states. She nods to them before moving to the door.

That's my signal to go. "Girls come on, I want to talk to them before they leave."

We agree with a quick nod and then rush to the front of the library. Several guards wait outside for the Princess, but for the most part ignore us as we gallop to the front door. I come to a sliding halt out front, just as they exit the building. Twilight has a slight surprise upon seeing me. "Oh, hello, Sweetie Belle."

"Where's Rarity?"

"Right here." My sister skirts around the Princess and greets me with a smile. "Sorry if I seemed in a rush earlier dear, important national business and all. Now, was there something you wanted to discus?"

Where to even fucking begin. I've been thinking about this conversation since she told me she was leaving, and I'm still not sure what to say. She's about to go off and fight the most evil creatures to ever walk the face of Equestria. There's so much help I could give her, so much information she could use, things that could potentially save her life. But giving it to her would mean giving away my secret, and after hearing that conversation... The Order of the fucking Alicorn, Satan damn it all to fucking Hell! No, I can't risk anything getting back to them. Demon hunters I can deal with, but I'm not about to bring down the wrath of Celestia on my head.

"Sweetie, is everything alright?" my sister asks, after a long period of silence.

I look up at her, my breath heavy, my eyes quivering with fear.

"Sweetie—"

I hug her. It's the only thing I can do in the situation. Her body stiffens in surprise, but quickly eases when I look up at her with sad eyes. "Please be careful out there."

She stares down at me, then gives me a smile and wraps her hoof around my back. "There's no reason to worry, Sweetie Belle. We'll be fine out there. This whole dreadful business will be over before you know it. I'll be back soon, and we might even be able to work on your Nightmare Night costume."

As if that were all I was worried about. "Just please, Rarity, something really scares me about this monster. I don't want anything bad to happen to you out there."

Her lighthearted expression dies, and grim realization follows. She opens her mouth, shuts it, then repeats the action again, but she's never able to formulate a response.

"Don't ya' worry none about yer sister, Sugar Cube." Applejack comes along side her with a smirk. "She's a lot tougher than she looks, underneath that prissy skin of hers."

"I know that," Rainbow Dash adds. "And besides, we'll be right there with her the whole time. No way some dumb monster is gonna get her while we're around."

"You're gonna be careful out there yourselves, right?" Apple Bloom asks, looking up at her big sister.

Applejack smiles down at her. "Course' I will, somepony needs to be here when ya' get yer' cutie marks."

Apple Bloom outmatches her sister's grin by a landslide. "And I'll be sure to work twice as hard to get it! Better yet, three times as hard!" She jumps up and down in excitement. Applejack rolls her eyes, and brings her down for a hug.

"Alright squirt, remember, just because I'm gone, doesn't mean you get go hog wild crazy." Rainbow Dash states, inspecting her hooves as she speaks. "Keep in mind I won't be here to bail you out if you get into to much trouble, so try to tone it down a bit."

"Me? Cause trouble?" Scootaloo chides. "You're the one going after a big ugly monster out in goddesses no where. How much trouble do you intend to cause?"

Rainbow chuckles devilishly. "Only as much as I need to squirt... and maybe a little more for the hell of it."

Scootaloo bellows laughter. I smile at the scene, and notice Rarity is also smiling. She looks at me with sincere eyes, and whispers. "I will come back, Sweetie Belle, I promise you."

Is it considered lying when you have no idea what you say is true? Fuck it, I know death well enough to realize how fast life can end. When someone this close to you goes off to risk her life, you don't worry about losing all the time you have ahead with her, you soak in all the time you still have left. I hug her again, and she holds me close. My eyes burn with moisture, that I rub out before it can run down my face.

"Now then, while I'm away make sure you behave yourself, and wash up each day. Remember to keep the boutique sign on closed until I get back. Try to go to bed on time, and always make sure—"

Leave it to Rarity to ruin a moment. She rattles on about the chores, and the duties, and the responsibilities she always expects of me when I'm left on my own. Which is weird, actually, because I swear I remember her saying—

"Of course, I'll also have a part-time sitter to look after you as well."

Damnit!

"Which reminds me, Applejack." The orange mare in question turns to us from her sibling. "You said that Granny Smith would be able to watch over the girls, didn't you?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I don't remember saying anything like that," she answers with annoyance. "In all honesty, this trip couldn't a' come at worse time. Harvest is in full swing at the farm, and now Big Mac' and Granny will have to carry the whole thing without me. I was just tellin' Applebloom here to help out wherever she can."

Rarity releases a pained groan, before turning to another friend. "Pinkie? Do you know anyone who'll be able to watch the girls while we're gone?"

"Nope!" she declares without losing her cheery demeanor. "Sorry Rarity, but all the ponies in town are busy getting ready for the party in two weeks."

"Party?"

"The Nightmare Night Festival, duh!" She grins widely. "Last year's festival was so awesome, I don't know how they could even begin to top it! I just really, really, really, hope that Princess Luna joins the party again. No way the place well be the same without her."

Doubtful, considering she's now running the nation.

"Well, this is just not good then!" Rarity moaned. "We're supposed to leave in the next few minutes. Where will I ever find a sitter now?!"

I have a very pleasant grin on my face. "I guess you'll have no choice but just leave us completely on our own, and finally trust us with—"

"Wait, Spike!"

God. Fucking. Damnit.

Almost on cue, the baby dragon appears out of nowhere. "You called my name, Rarity?"

"Indeed I did, you were already going to stay behind to watch our pets like last time, weren't you?"

I muffle a laugh, and earn a glare from Spike. "Yes, I am. Was there something else you needed to say about Opal? Anything that you need done while you're gone?"

The way he bows to her reminds me of an orderly knight, paying respect to his queen. I sometimes wonder if it just runs in the family for mares to use stallions as their personal play toys. Not to be hypocritical or anything. At least Rarity isn’t planning on fucking the life out of him and devouring his flesh.

"I'm glad you asked," my sister continues. "I need a babysitter for Sweetie Belle and her friends while we're away, so would you be a dear and watch them as well while we're gone?"

His beaming face deflates at the request. "Um... I'm not... so... sure, Rarity. I mean watching pets is one thing, but I'm not so good with children."

My eyes fly open in surprise. Well, what do you know? Spike actually does have the ability to say no to my sister.

"Oh, but we won't be gone for long, and besides, you don't need to do everything for them, just make sure they stay out of trouble until we get back."

I can almost see the cringe he fights back at that statement. "Well... I don't know..."

"Please, Spikey Wikey?" She bats her eyelashes, and leans her face in so close to him I'd swear she's trying to bribe him with a kiss.

"Well, um..." Spike's face is tinted red, and he has trouble meeting her eye-to-eye. He chances another peek at her face, and is lost in the stare of a siren. "I guess I can keep an eye on them if you want."

"Oh, thank you Spikey, you have no idea how much of a life-saver you're being right now!" She plants a kiss on his cheek, and just like that he melts in her hooves. I wonder if seduction skills run in the family, too?

My musings are cut short when several shadows zoom over my head. I look up and find three golden chariots descending from the clouds. I note with some confusion that they're being pulled by Luna's night guards, yet the moon princess is nowhere in site. In fact, the only passenger in all the chariots is a tall white earth pony with a bald head, and a cutie mark of an olive branch crossing a sword. He's wearing clothes, so he's clearly a Canterlot pony, and the over confident grin and snooty eyes only confirms that suspicion. He lands just in front of the library, and greets Twilight with a bow.

"Your majesty, we are ready for you. I hope you are prepared."

"We are. Ready girls?" Her six friends reply with confident nods. "Then we're off."

They board the carriages, upon which the Canterlot Pony nods to the guards around Twilight's home. They salute their Princess before marching off to some other station. My sister and her friends begin to wave goodbye, causing guilt to tower up in my chest every second I don't do something. I reach down and feel the small trinket I took from home earlier: a silver owl necklace with large sapphire eyes, and wings that cloak the whole front half of its body. I squeeze the necklace tight in my hoof. Don't be stupid, Sweetie Belle, just don't. It's too risky to give this too her, and it probably wouldn't be much help anyway.

I fight the temptation for a seeming eternity, forcing my legs to remain rooted to the ground. The carriages begin to pull, and as they lift off the ground so do my hooves.

Fuck it, I can't let her go empty handed.

I chase after her with urgent energy. They rise higher into the sky, growing farther and farther out of reach.

"Rarity!" I scream out. I get her attention, and don't let it go to waste. "Catch!"

I chuck the necklace with a small boost of demonic strength. It still falls short of the carriage, but that doesn't stop Rarity from catching it with her magick. The trinket floats up to the ascending carriage and into my sister's pearly white hoof.

"Sweetie, what is this?" she calls back.

"It's a good luck charm that Mom gave me! I want you to have it now!"

My increased perception allows me to make out a faint smile on Rarity's face. "Thank you, Sweetie Belle. I'll keep it close!"

She waves at me one final time, as she disappears into the skyline. No matter how much I try to fight it, I have this feeling like I just let her ride off to the gallows. She seemed somewhat aware of the danger, but anyone can know a battlefield is dangerous; the perspective tends to change when you're actually there. I slump my head until my horn taps the ground. I should've said something, even just a hint or a suggestion would've been good, anything would've been better than letting her go off completely unprepared. Then again, maybe I shouldn't worry too much. She will have the experts to consult, I'm sure they have plenty of information at... The Order of the Alicorn. Cocksuckers.

"Alright girls, I might not know too much about babysitting, but I intend to make Rarity happy," Spike states in the most authoritative tone his baby dragon voice will allow. "I'll be keeping a close eye on all three of you. Don't try to slip anything by me or cause trouble, because I will catch you. I'll be looking both ways at all times so don't even think you can—"

"Spike!" I look at him dead in the eye, pouring so much energy into my hypnosis abilities I'm risking turning him into a mindless zombie. "Why don't you go inside, and watch the pets for a little while."

Thankfully, the effect is less like an undead corpse, and more like a child severely scorned by their mother. He backs away slowly from my fierce gaze, before sprinting into the library in terror.

The anger sticks on my face for sometime, even when my friend's stare at me with unsure looks, it still refuses to leave.

Scootaloo clears her throat. "Sweetie Belle, as much as I admire those awesome powers of yours, don't you think that was a little... harsh?"

I don't feel like I can answer that question without yelling, so I turn from them and start up the road out of Ponyville. My friends verbally question where I'm going, but eventually fall in behind me after several unanswered inquiries. I sprint across the bridge that leads out of town and run the rugged dirt road through a shrouded wood. I don't really have any particular place in mind to run for, just that I need to get away from the eyes of others. Luckily, I hit a perfect spot for just such an occasion: the Ponyville cemetery.

I trod through rows of tombstones, feeling as though my head were about to burst open. I spy a large statue of Celestia in the center of the place, wings outstretched and a smile on her face. The sun shines down upon her, as though to make her appear the most pure and beautiful image in all of Ponyville. Fuck that statue!

I grit my teeth and glare murder at the stone image. My mouth opens, I roar out in anger, and charge forward to pummel the statue. I smash its legs causing it to topple over and break in half on the ground, and then I proceed to unleash all my remaining anger on its face, watching the smiling lips disappear into dust underneath my hooves.

"Whoa, whoa, Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo has to pull me away from the desecrated statue. "Calm down, everything's going to be fine."

"No, everything is not going to be fine! In fact, I don't know if this could be worse!" I stumble back, still pissed and unable to fully vent the emotion. "Order of the mother fucking Alicorn! I should've known they'd be involved with this! Why wouldn't they be?! They were already involved in every, single, mother, fucking catastrophe before this point, why not now!"

I'm having trouble standing up I'm trembling so much. My bloodshot eyes have a pulse, and I can't hear anything other than my own heavy breathing. I almost jerk when Applebloom lays a hoof on me.

"Okay, Sweetie Belle, yer' scared, we know and we understand, but you can't go off punchin' statues in the face like this. Somepony is gonna notice."

I realize that she does have a point. Chances are ponies aren't going to like seeing a statue of their recently wounded Princess desecrated like this. "Sorry. I usually can't stand demon-hunters in general, but The Alicorn Order is in a league of its own."

"Yeah, I think we got that impression." Scootaloo rubs a part of the broken statue, only to snap part of its horn off. "Why exactly are you so scared of them again?"

"I told you, they're the largest and most powerful demon-hunter clan in Equestria, most likely the whole world. It's run by by Princess Celestia, or at least it was until Luna came back. More to the point, our sisters just signed up to work alongside the most dangerous and ruthless team of killers ever put together in recorded history. Expert assassins, skilled trackers, and a wealth of knowledge on demonic activity and behavior, all for the sole purpose of hunting down and killing demons."

"So, I'm guessin' that if these ponies find you it'll be bad news, right?" Applebloom asks.

"In the sense that waking up a sleeping Hydra might mean you're in a bit of trouble, yes."

"Well, I guess it's good that they're just after that demon that attacked Canterlot. It sounds like if ya' just stay quiet enough, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Yeah, except..." I stutter a moment, wondering how the hell I can explain this to them. "Let me ask you something girls, why would a demon want to kill Celestia?"

Their expressions tell a story, and it goes, 'fuck if I know'. "Beats me, why does you... uh, why do demons do anything like that? I thought they were just against goodness in general?"

"It may have been like that a long time ago, back when they had an enemy they hated enough to kill themselves over, but things are little different now. Most of the demons you see in Equestria are of lower ranks in Tartarus; grunts who can only cause all the trouble their power will allow. Sure they can do a few random murders and other crimes they can get away with, but assassinating a Princess is a little beyond them. Meanwhile, most of the demons that actually have that kind of power spend their time in Hell, either taking their frustrations out on the lost souls trapped down there or brooding about a fight they lost millennia ago. I don't even think they care about what happens up here anymore."

They drink in the information with no shortage of surprise. I guess hearing that all evil legends you were told wanted to feast on your bones actually no longer give a fuck about what you do sorta has that effect. Applebloom clears her throat. "That's interestin' and all, but what's it got to do with the Order finding you?"

"Think about it a moment. For the longest time all those powerful legendary demons just stayed down their, minding their business and ignoring everything that goes on up here. Then all of a sudden, this massive beast of a demon more powerful than anything I've ever seen before or ever heard of for that matter, shoots across the sky like nobody’s business, and tries to kill the most powerful pony in Equestria." My head turns all directions. "It makes no sense. Why would a demon that powerful just suddenly come flying out of nowhere and attack like that? And then there was that Spirit that possessed Fluttershy earlier. That was first demon I've seen in Ponyville the entire time I've been here, other than our failed Princess killer, of course."

"Okay, so a few demons have popped up, and they did what most demons do, which is raise hell wherever they go," Scootaloo states. "What are you getting at?"

"I'm saying that I think these two events are related." I look them straight in the eye, hoping I can glare understanding into them. "Don't you see? This is the first time in who knows how long that a demon of that power has set foot in Equestria, and what's its first course of action? Attempt to assassinate Princess Celestia. I don't think that was a single event, I think that was a declaration of war, and that Spirit demon we encountered was only the first foot soldier."

Realization dawns in their eyes, and is quickly followed by the horror of the situation. Scootaloo face is visibly losing color. "So you're saying there could be a whole army of demons invading Equestria?"

"Maybe," I state cautiously. "I know something big is happening, I just don't know how big. It's clearly large enough to get demons coming through a small town like Ponyville, and the more activity we have here, the more of a chance that we might get the Order's attention."

"Which means more of a chance they'll find you," Scootaloo finishes. "So then what do we do? If there is an army out there, how would we even know about it, or fight it for that matter?"

I scratch my chin and think for a moment. "Well, the demon that attacked Canterlot was one of the most powerful demons I've ever seen. Something of that caliber would probably be well known in Tartarus, so if I could just find out who he is, then we might know more about what we're dealing with."

"And yer' sure we're dealing with somethin' serious?" Applebloom asks. "Don't get me wrong, I know yer' the expert and all, but don't ya' think that jumping from one little possession to full fledged invasion is a little much?"

"The timing was too perfect. I might be less suspicious if this had happened on any normal day, but Princess Celestia was almost assassinated by a demon earlier. I don't think it's a coincidence Fluttershy was possessed today, and I don't intend to..." I look over shoulder at the rows of gravestones, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. "Girls, do you hear something?"

They listen attentively for a few seconds, but eventually shoot me strange looks after a moment of silence. "What exactly do ya' think you hear?"

"Shhh! Listen." The cemetery may be peaceful to them, but I know I hear something. It's faint, very far off probably, but the noise is unmistakable. It sounds like a voice, I think sounds urgent, like whoever it is is in trouble, almost like—

"Graaaahhh!"

Screaming, so much screaming! It fills the graveyard like some hideous choir, singing death and pain in our ears. If my friends didn't hear it before they definitely hear it now. I flatten my ears against my head and shout to be heard over the horrid opera of cries. "Where's it coming from?!"

"I don't know, just get it to shut up!" Scootaloo shrieks, folding her ears down against her skull.

"Sweetie Belle!" Applebloom points a hoof to one of the graves, where the dirt in front of it moves like squirming insects. We watch transfixed as the earth becomes more and more loose, until finally it bursts apart, and a disfigured hoof juts out of the ground.

Scootaloo's pupils shrink into the back of her skull. "Zombie!"

She and Applebloom rush behind me for use as an Equine shield. I stare unblinking at the creature in front of me. It's a gruesome sight to behold, with cracked grey flesh peeling off its bones and a putrid smell of decay swarming around it. Its eyes are white, but I notice that there are tears streaking down them. The creature opens its mouth and continues to scream: it's the most awful sound a pony's voice is capable of making, like he's being mauled by a hungry bear.

It scrambles to pull itself from the dirt, and runs towards us upon freedom. I'm ready to cave in its skull, only for the creature to turn from us, and run screaming at the top of its lungs into the forest. We watch it go for a moment, and before any of us can question what the fuck we just saw, another ugly bastard pops out of the dirt. Then another, and another, until the whole graveyard is full of screaming zombie ponies who flail themselves about in any direction that isn't here. It's anarchy, and even I'm having trouble finding something to make of it.

"Sweetie, what the sam hay is going on?" Applebloom shouts.

"I don't—"

My voice is drowned out by a monstrous roar. Something low pitched and ravenous that no natural creature could've produced. For a moment there is silence, I never knew silence could be so satisfying. Then all hell breaks loose. Something rushes out of the forest at speeds even I have trouble following. It tackles one of the undead ponies to the ground and traps it underneath its large heavy paw.

My heart skips a few beats upon seeing it. It's a wolf, but nothing like what lives in Everfree. This thing is at least twice as big as any timber wolf, and it has four blood red eyes, arranged in a block pattern. Its fur is gnarled and black, with a ghostly essence rising off of it. It stares hungrily down at its squirming prey, with disgusting black drool running down its jaws.

The zombie pony has a look as though it just lost all the remaining sanity it had. "No! Please don't, No!"

Flames suddenly sprout up from ground, forming a neat circle around the victim.

"No! Oh God please, I can't go back, I can't!" Tears stream down his eyes, and he sobs between shouts for mercy. "Please, anything but this please!"

The wolf opens its jaws wide—

"Nooooooooo!"

—then snaps them shut on the pony's neck. Evil red lights flashes from the ground underneath. Screams of agony emanate from within that make my very soul convulse in terror. The pony lets out one more pleading cry before the wolf drags him through the hellish portal, and vanishes forever.

Me and my friends stand like frozen statues, the ability to move has been ripped out of us by the sheer horror of what we just saw. All around us more undead ponies scream and continue to crawl out of the ground, but it's not until we hear more of those blood chilling roars that we're snapped from our trance. Dozens more wolves come charging out the forest at demonic speeds, and all look at the recently resurrected ponies with starving eyes.

"S-S-Sweetie Belle, what are those things?" Apple Bloom's voice is frail, as if she's on the edge of insanity.

I'm having trouble maintaining my own mind as well, and I speak more to tell myself this is true more anything. "Hellhounds, those are fucking hellhounds!"

Author's Notes:

Hallelujah! It's up.

Sorry for the wait on this one people, this took me awhile, do in no small part to me having rewritten this chapter about three times before I was finally satisfied with it. But, enough bitching I'm just glad it's up.

In other news, keep an eye out for that sister story I mentioned in the last chapter. That'll be coming out pretty soon.

Hope you enjoyed reading :)