I could see the sun setting through the windows, highlighting the beautiful décor, and my bronze shackles. 'I'll just rip 'em off later.'

After walking along the royal corridors, smiling at the scared guards, I was beginning to wonder about my actual ponified form. 'Do I retain my plate like structure? Do I have any new features? Do I still have my old abilities? Any new ones?' I really wanted a mirror. Partly for the reflective purposes but I wanted to show Celestia a little trick demons are capable of. Oh this is going be fun. My cheeks pulled as I grinned, petrifying the poor maid I was looking at.

Celestia caught a glimpse of this, and It drew a curious look.

"I worry about the size of that grin, and those fangs, please enlighten me so I don't get the wrong idea." she added still having a worrying aura about her. I could understand. A strange looking MALE demon just smirked at a French maid.

"Fear not, I am just wondering about my abilities in my old form and if I still retain them. To be specific one and no it is not possession before you ask." I reassured her. Funny thing about possessions, it can only be done if you are the same height or lower. Otherwise, think about this; what happens when you fill a balloon up with too much air? It is a similar story, except with more messy red stuff.

"There is one I want to show you, you might find it amusing. I only require a mirror. A large one would allow me to fully demonstrate it." I beseeched. She still looked me like I was hiding something, technically I was but it was a nice surprise. I sighed "You can bring your guards if you a feeling insecure around me princess. I just want to make you smile before I leave. We did get off to a... interesting start."

She looked up to the ceiling. Not to inspect it but to ponder if I was attempting to pull a fast one on her. She came to a decision.

"Very well, you can show me this trick before we leave. There is a grand one next to the chariot bay, you can use it to show me this ability of yours. Be warned however my guards will be standing by." she smirked. " Try not to hurt them this time."

Wait she just agreed to a demon's trick. Does she trust me already? Well that was easier than expected. I definitely will not, nay cannot, let her down now.' "No harm shall come to pass princess, it should be fun, I am happy to share it to others." My grin grew larger and larger.
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We stepped into a chamber, on the far side a large ornate arch leading to a platform. To the right I could see guards staring intently. A few had hidden wounds, I could smell the blood leaking under bandages, beneath the armour. 'Enhanced sense of smell, check. Then I gazed upon a large mirror to the left. It expanded to about half the chamber. I quickened my pace in order to get ahead of the divine one so I could finally see what I looked like. I slid and turned to face myself head on.

There stood something both black and orange. It had more defined spikes than my previous form. The armoured pony in front of me had four normal fury hooves, slightly boring, but as you travelled up there were a lot of clues I was not a normal pony. The body still held its plate like structure, the underside however appeared more skeletal, encasing a vibrant orange flame. I poked around the stomach and found it had formed a warm gel like substance. The shoulders were a surprise, It was like I had armoured pouldrens on. Whether or not that was to replace stallion muscle I could not tell, but I knew for a fact that stallions don't have spikes tipping them. I had a tail. Black and lizard like. My head had features I definitely knew I should not have. I had normal colt facial features, but that was all black and had armour slightly framing it. It was like I had a permanent helmet with 2 horns leaning forwards.

I've never had horns before, I immediately smoothed them over with my hooves. Apart from the normal orange veins appearing between the cracks of familiar armour, I was a completely unrecognisable being. I was slightly larger than these guards, but preventing a crisis in the mortal realm had taught me size is not everything. Especially when I stood victorious over something 3 times my size.

"Yes you are quite an interesting sight but, something tells me you were not in this form on your world. What do you normally look like my little pony?" she asked retaining her curious tone.

I winced 'My...little...pony?...eurgh!' I caught glimpse of me wincing. Apparently I don't have eye lids. I just snuff one of the flames out in my eyes to close it, and it relights when I open it.

"Normally I am Bipedal, ten foot tall, same armoured skin and You can see my orange blood." she cringed at the last word but looked at the mirror trying to imagine the beast. "I have claws, my face is wider and longer in a vertical sense. It's almost spherical, with buzz saw spikes flowing down from the centre down to the back of my neck. My mouth reached around ear to ear."

"...Uhuh...." She paused. "Did you still have fangs?"

"Yes, but I also had molars for plant life, similar story here apparently." I opened my mouth, out came a fiery glow and I shifted my forked tongue to the side. "Yepsh, theresh plantsh poresssecing tdheef here." I flicked the molars with my hot tongue.

"Oh yeah my trick" I blinked. Smiling, I activated phase one. "Stand there please." I said pointing towards the centre. I still remained on the on the side by the entrance to the chamber. She trotted over and took seat, looked back and smiled with an arched eyebrow.

"Ok princess now tell me. On a scale of 1-10 how handsome am I?" phase one completed with my chin pointing towards her slightly. The guards gasped of course.

She chuckled. "Are you trying to convince me to fall for you Magma vein? It is a poor attempt, but not the worst I've heard these past centuries."

"I just need a confidence boost. What do you think my attractive friend?" I peered past her slightly, taking notice in what nobody else did at something near the exit arch.

"Well, you’re different from..." she was interrupted by a prod.

"I believe he was talking to me, your majesty." She looked around for a pony only to find nothing. Not even an object that could of poked her. She turned to her guards to see them gaping at the mirror, between something and my reflection. Or the lack of would be correct to say.

Works every single time

She felt another weight but this one stayed on one her sides. she quickly glanced to her side. Nothing, and yet she still felt its presence.

"I for one think you’re the sexiest beast alive." She immediately looked forward and saw my reflection resting a hoof on her side. "Hello. My, your coat is a lovely alabaster colour." spoke the misplaced reflection as he walked away to the far side. There sat me, Celestia and me.

"Nice trick. How did you do that without activating your magic?" she asked smiling, the guards left there post to investigate the image.

"Whoa, I'm not used to being suddenly popular." he spoke causing two guards to stop whilst the rest carried on.

He decided to remove the helmet of one guards and throw it towards the exit. To the guard it just hopped off and landed by the arch. He saw no magical aura, so he just poked it a couple of times. Not scientifically of course; more in a sense like you would kick a tire to check the whole car out, before buying it.

Choosing now to prove the lack of magic I answered with "I have never possessed magic ma'am. I only have the given ability of my species. This is basic and universal to all demons, not like the ones given to me for my species." she looked at me with interest.

"Never? If you have no magic then how do you manipulate such imagery?" she asked walking closer to me.

"Ahem I can answer that." The reflection trotted over clumsily " This is gonna be weird for a while." he said to himself. "You see I am not a reflection, I can manipulate that side of the mirror, as you felt." he said pointing to her side. " I'm more than a reflection, think of me as a captured memory. All glass can do this but I can’t see your world clearly through a window. That is why a mirror works best, I can see more clearly due to the amount of light being reflected."

She pondered about this for a moment. "So the dark would completely blind you?"

"As much as it would to anyone in the dark. I would fumble about of course when I went astray from my natural position." he then pointed to me. He returned to the guards, saw one mare amongst the others and stuck his hoof against the mirror. It wobbled and made a *clunk* noise as his black hoof rested on the glass.

"And who might you be? I hope Mr Smiley over there did not hurt you my dear. I am M.V.R and who are you my delightful equine?" he said with a slight smile on his face, careful to hide his dagger like teeth.

"N-N-Night shield? Pleased to meet you? What does M.V.R stand for?" it was like she could only speak in questions, as if she didn't believe her on statements. She shook his hoof through the glass, taking note of the force wrapping round her hoof. It was both eerily warm and friendly at the same time.

"Magma vein's reflection." And with that he kissed her hoof and returned to his rightful place. She blushed then regained her military composure, as he guards glared at her.

Celestia again chuckled "He seems very polite, thank you for that demonstration it was quite entertaining." M.V.R winked at me.

"Well he is based upon me, he can't do more than what I can possibly do, or would do." I answered with pride beaming from my face, literally. I seemed to change from orange to yellow.Do my emotions affect my glow? This is going to fun I thought in a flat tone.

"Ah it appears our ride awaits us, as does Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony. Come along Magma Vein, the day is nearly done." With that we rode off in a golden chariot pulled by two pegasi. I'm glad they were too official to look back. Nervous fliers never seemed to cope well, so I can't imagine what would happen to nervous pilots. Well I could, but it would be better if I didn't. As the sun set a thought popped into my burning skull.

'should I show her what I can do with my shadow?

Nah!

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After an hour of the basic questions anybody would ask an alien; who are you, what are your people like, what of these humans, what of you friends… etc, etc ; we wound up at extremely high altitudes. I believe we were no less than about half an hour away from...'Ponyville.' One of the laziest names for a town ever created. We were at high altitude and, although I was technically part fire, it was absolutely, bloody, FUCKING…

"Cold" I spoke as my plates shivered a bit.

Although it was nice to see her smile, it was starting to get on my nerves. "The being of fire is cold? The pony who bested my guards is feeling slightly chilly? Poor thing." She pouted in an unprincess like fashion.

"This is for th-th-the hot tub isn't it?" I stuttered. I was not going to freeze to death. The fire did warm me but I react the same way humans do. I. Do. NOT. Like the cold.

"Why would you ever think of such a thing?" She faked being offended but I could smell the joy oozing from her.

I turned and smiled at her. "G-G-Got to adm-mit princess, well done, I would of d-done something similar. Perhaps just chuck water and have it over and done w-with next time." I was impressed at how she got her own back, truly but she crossed a line so I would have to get her back. Later, as in perhaps a month or so.

She recognised admiration when she heard it. She beamed like a proud statue. "So you've told me about humans, their biology and their cultures, but you talk as if you were once one of them. What happened to change you into the demon you were back in your Tartarus?"

She looked at me as if I had suffered, I did not. The process is painless and instantaneous; what you become is not up to you, what happens after is. There is no pain, except if you wander off, dazed and confused and crash into a lot of misplaced spears. Not that that is my memory of course.

"We call it hell back home ma'am. Anyway I was told that I had sacrificed myself to s-s-save others in a battle. I found myself in a place called Limbo, It is kind of s-s-sorting place where they way up your human essence. You remember that part right?" I checked to make sure she was following me. she nodded, though I could tell I had raised more questions.

"So if you have a pure type on energy; does not have to be completely pure but a good heart none the less, then you go to paradise. If you have a d-d-dark heart then you go to hell. Now here is where it all gets tricky. Morals are neither black nor white and are completely subjective, therefore some mistakes a human has made are overlooked, however there are certain crit-criteria which cannot be ignored. Or forgiven"

She focused her attention solely on me. "What sort of criteria?" she asked not knowing if she wanted to know.

"There are s-s-sev-seven." I stood up and flared fire through my crevices, I was tired of the stuttering. " Seven deadly sins, but also there are two others. Perhaps we can talk about them later. However, paradise has its own rules too. I broke one of the rules of paradise which would have considered me a place in hell, as a prisoner for all eternity. Had my intentions not been pure and for the safety of others, I probably would have stayed in limbo forever or worse. You don't feel happiness but it is peaceful. There is no pain there."

"What were you and what rule did you break?" she asked with a hint of fear in her eye.

"I am told I was a solider, a warrior to fight for the weak against the strong. The humans we had been fighting were intending on exterminating all other types of humans because they thought they were superior. I noticed human soldiers are different to pony soldiers. For one reason and one reason alone. In my world if a monarch is threatened in the slightest, the person responsible is put to death. Your guards did not bear arms. This leads me to my point. I killed a lot of those evil people."

That fear she had in her eye was balanced with understanding. "Diarch actually, perhaps you should meet my sister. So why were you not punished?"

"I did not fight for money, for the thrill or to see blood on my hands. No, I would not do that in my demon form so I could not imagine doing that back then. I fought and killed to end the evil heading towards our land, I fought to liberate the land they occupied. I did not live to see it end. It seems that a weapon, no bigger than an apple, was used to kill multiple numbers of us. It did not, apparently some idiot thought it would be wise to put his body on it to save his friends," I turned to face her with a ghost of smile, “Can you guess who?" I asked chuckling at the last part.

"You sacrificed yourself to save others? Why do you laugh at such a heroic feat?" she asked frowning at my sense of humour.

"I just find it funny that I did such a thing, you never know unless it happens. It was both silly and heroic. I saved my team, no question. I am sure I would be proud if I could remember the event, but I was foolish to simply not throw it away, perhaps I had no time who knows. So that is why I am what I am today. My essence weighed in the grey area between pure and evil so I was offered a choice. Work my way to paradise or work in hell to protect humans from demons."

"I see." she said peering down. A little village was starting to form in the darkened horizon. "You performed an evil deed in which its consequence was for the greater good. I now know you are no monster and are a friendly being Magma vein."

I had the feeling that she had once taken someone's life away, although here it would probably be that she banished them out of the kingdom. I doubt these ponies, given their herbivore nature, would kill another.

"One last question.” She said as she gave me a once over with that single eye.

I too was looking over the sides at the forests, the clouds and then the lights of the village became distinguishable. "Fire away." I said flaring my eyes at the princess. I think it was because I was smiling as well that she chuckled at the poor pun.

"You talk as if you do not recall you past life. Why is that?"

"Simple. They remove memories to ensure there will be no emotional harm. It may seem unethical but it for the safety of the new demon. I was handed a brief summary of my life. My highs, my lows, my wife ,my children ,my old friends, my purest moments to the darkest evils. All summed up in 3 pages. I had no reaction to them, I laughed when my darkest moment was drinking someone else's beer without permission and not apologising, leading to a pub fight. My memory is not gone. I can recall things I came in contact with such as the technology, the art and the drama pieces we talked about."

I sighed. "Even chocolate. I cannot recall what was going on when I came in contact. It is sort of like a picture book. I have no emotional bond to my own human image. I do miss the taste of chocolate though."

She smiled reassuringly " I can tell you retain your memory, you spoke fondly of the friends you had made. Oh and don't worry." That smile became the dark smirk to warn me of things to come. "I am sure if you tell somepony about the lack of chocolate you've had they will be more than happy to help." she blinked and paused for a moment.

"How long has it been since you last had chocolate? A single day or more?"

"Thirty years. It tends to melt in hell, with it being in the centre of the planet and all." I began to hear what sounded like suppressed laughter.

"Hehehe..." Celestia began to cover her mouth with her hooves, I gave her a suspicious look. The bloody hell is going to happen to me?

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Slowly descending into the outskirts of town I saw 6 different coloured ponies staring up at us. A bouncing pink earth pony, an orange earth pony keeping a hat on her head, a small yellow pegasus hiding under her pink mane, another one with a rainbow mane but a cyan coat, a white coated unicorn with a well-crafted swirling purple mane, and finally a lavender unicorn dashing to meet us. Demonic sight, check. I'll have to check if I still have any of my powers. Perhaps I should check my strength, or rapid dash. Armour lock might come in handy, as would soul stare. That would probably be in case I need to search memories.

Wait...Crap! she'll freak out. Do something you twat!

"Ahem. Celestia can you perhaps make my introduction for me, as suave as I am, I doubt my charm can help me here." I suggested.

" Certainly Magma vein." she chirped. Leaving the carriage to address the purple pony. It was about seven minutes before she had returned, in which time I was practising for tonight's main event. Sleeping. I had just got comfy ,hidden by the back of the chariot, when I had heard a soft voice squeak.

"I hope he is ok, poor dear must be so scared."

Another more energetic voice said "I'm sure after a party we will all be super dooper best friends. I mean a party solves everything. He'll be fine in no time!"

"Well if he is as Princess Celestia described him in being, I'm sure he is a perfect gentle colt. A stallion from a distant land, how exotic!" spoke a dreamy voice.

Damn right, but I'm sure I am not your type my lady.

"I am unsure as to why she would keep Apple jack and Rainbow dash behind. It is probably so they don't rush of and do something to hurt the poor guy." Added another voice.

"My dear it is more than likely it would be the other way around. However I would never strike a female, truly uncalled for and unforgivable outside of military combat. A lady should be treated as an equal and no less." It would be best to get my voice out of hiding, before my body.

"Ah hello? where are you? You can come out of hiding, the Princess says we are to trust you ." The added voice said. "I am Twilight Sparkle, student of princess Celestia and these are my friends, Rarity..."

"Charmed, my dear I would love to see what you look like." she said raising her voice a little to get my attention.

"...Fluttershy..."

"Oh...um...hello. Are you shy too? I would like to... see you too...If that... is um...ok with...." She gradually slowed to a quiet 'eep'

"And Finally Pinkie Pie."

"Hey, do you like parties? I am going to give you a surprise party! Oh no I ruined it, oh wait, no I didn't! I can still give you one and still surprise you. I can do it Tuesday, oh wait no I can’t, you know now. I know, I'll ask you something else. Do you like cake? Do you like games? Do you like chocolate? Do you like cake, games and chocolate?"

I have met demons with more than one mouth that probably could not speak as much, or as fast, in one breath.

"Why yes he does my dear, In fact I was hoping you could help our new friend out with that part. " Spoke a familiar voice. Celestia had returned to the chariot with two more pairs of hooves. "Why don't you reveal yourself, I think you have hidden for long enough."

"Maybe it is for the best ma'am, I don't quite know what effect I will have on these mares. Can't you find me a cave somewhere, and leave me be." I said with a bit of fear. They seemed nice, I never liked scaring little girls.

"Now, y'all have no need to act like this. We're not gonna act like a bunch of fillies. The princess reassured me and Rainbow dash here, personally, that y'all be a fine pony. We won't hurt ya." Shouted a southern accent.

"HAHAHAHAHA...." I burst out from inside the chariot. They think they can hurt me? Ok show time.

"So sorry about that. Now I heard the lovely names, could you please match them up once more." I smiled a grin with my fangs showing. Not to scare them but that last comment split my sides; literally, my plates parted.

"The hay is that thing?" Rainbow dash decided to ask. They looked at me with shock, the princess smiled, this was to be expected. They all saw me as the humans did; a big scary, intimidating, black and orange mesh of fear and fire. The yellow pegasus fainted.

The cowpony wailed "That thing look like a scare pony set ah'ligh'!" The rest, stared in awe. The white one with the lovely mane broke the silence. I mean it went from zero decibels of noise to a nuclear explosion.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAGH. WHAT A VILE CREATURE! GET IT AWAY! GET IT AWAY! I'M TOO PRETTY TO DIE!" she shrieked hiding behind the princess.

Needless to say I was slightly agitated.

"Listen here marshmallow! let's not resort to petty name calling, I thought you were a Lady after all! What happened to 'we're not going to act like fillies'?" I was slightly agitated, looking directly at the cowpony. "I just want to go home. Now I get bombarded by guards; arrested for accidently trespassing, I fell out of the sky for goodness sake. Got promised a friendly welcome and I am immediately shunned for my appearance."

Deeply exhaling an angered breath, I let the fire cool down that was flickering out of my mouth as I spoke. "I am not a monster, I do not want to harm anyb-pony; I thought that the princess would clear that up." I glared up to her. "I guess I was wrong to trust you. I will find a lovely cave and find a way home myself, or at least until you decide to help me, Princess. Good night ladies." I turned and heard a small, caring voice.

"Do-don’t go, please I am so sorry." I believe the yellow pegasus said that.

I turned back to see all the mares avoiding contact, pleading forgiveness. The pink one had her mane deflated and was starting to tear up. They all were. Before they could speak I had to end this suffering. "I am sorry I should not have ever spoken like that. It was totally uncool of me to lose my cool like that. I hope you can forgive me but since..." I looked at Celestia. "Splash down, I have been treated with prejudice and suspicion. This is kind of a reflex.” I rubbed the back of my head, spotting the odd flicker of purple in flames. The colour dissipated as quickly as it came, returning me to my default orange glow. “I am truly sorry."

The mares looked at each other then back at Celestia, who too had a mask of shame on. Pinkie pie walked forward to my plated body. I had my haunches rooted to the dirt ground. I admit this was a low for me. I had not felt singled out since I joined the guards back in Hell.

She stepped closer and closer until I could see her hooves bellow in my gaze. Two poles of pink against a tanned worn path. What happened next I still don't understand.

She hugged me.

She buried her head into my skeletal chest and wrapped her hooves around my thick neck. "We’re sorry. Your no big meanie." she nuzzled at my neck and giggled. "You’re a big, warm, friendly pony." I guess my body heat was higher than most. The warm gel like stomach served as a resting point for another pony, and another and another. Never has a demon acquired so many hugs, if any, from mortals. She smelled just like cotton candy, but her spirit smelled like something more. It had this feeling that could only be described as...laughter and joy.

I started to smile and then finally caved and had to hug back when the timid one looked up to me with teary teal eyes. Fuck. With those eyes who needs possession? That's supernatural by anyone’s standards. Eventually we parted and we began to reintroduce ourselves. Princess Celestia simply stood there smiling before returning to her carriage.

"I shall return in one week to check on our guest, then I shall remove those shackles around your hooves. Oh and Twilight, inform him about the Elements of Harmony. Goodbye my little ponies, and Good bye Magma vein." With that we all bowed. The girls each spent about ten minutes apologising. Before long I was about to enter the village when we realised we had a minor problem.

"Not to sound rude but I have a slight problem. I do not have a place to sleep. I had hoped that the princess would set me up with place to rest temporarily, but I do not know where I shall sleep tonight." The village was empty as the moon reached its apex.

The girls were more than happy to assist, after first introductions going down the drain. I settled on going to Twilights home, I said my goodbyes, and Apple jack offered me a job at some place called sweet apple acres. I was offered a lot of cupcakes. I hope they have chocolates. Finally after thirty years. Perhaps I could tell her, I thought, glancing over towards Pinkie. After eyeing her up and down I thought Best leave it till later. Rarity wanted to offer me something to 'Focus my main features into an attractive form, so I seem lest hostile from a distance.'

Might drop by out of curiosity to see what she felt she could do to help me.
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So me and Twilight walked towards a huge tree. We were a peculiar sight if anypony saw us. A freakish jack-a-lantern and a purple pony.if the boss could see me now I mused. Twilight is very inquisitive, when she is not scared for her life. I could tell she was warming up to me. She asked almost identical questions to what Celestia had asked me. Almost. When we walked into the Library my nose was already bewildered by ancient texts, a pine scent and the presence of innocence. A child was here.

"By the way you should know we have another room mate, his name is spike. He's like a little brother to me, he might be...put off at first but he'll come round to a friendly pony like you. He is staying over at Rarity's boutique to help with some work Sweetie Belle has."

I arched an eyebrow.

She blinked "Oh. Sweetie Bell is Rarity's sister."

I chuckled "Ah young love, too feel cupid's curse once more, would bring me such joy." I spoke in a theatrical voice.

I think she dismissed asking who Cupid was when she sighed. "Too bad it's the wrong sister." she grumbled.

She saw me catch on to this and started panicking about not telling anyone. She kept glancing around as if she expected a head to pop up out of nowhere. I reassured her that my lips were sealed. She stopped sweating and smiled sheepishly.

Now she changed subject as she dropped a question from no-where and levitated a quilt over to a bench.

"So you guard the gates of Tartarus back in your world. Did you know we have a guardian too? His name is Cerberus. Did you know he is actually friendly?"

I froze. The glow in my chest went to a shade of blue and dimmed. I hope I'm wrong "He is a three headed dog isn't he. I also take it nobody knows where he comes from."

She looked back confused. "Erm, yes did you know him? Was he an old friend of yours?" I take it because of me demonic stature she assumed we came from the same location.

"I knew his brother, he was a loyal friend. Him and I stopped many from escaping, for a while." I dropped my head. She trotted along happily.

"Oh, I did not know he had a brother. You looked after him, what was his name?" she stopped fluffing a pillow and looked right at me. She saw the blue hue, the sad look and even the lowered head; she never saw the tear that evaporated.

"Oh I'm sorry do you miss him?"

"More than you could possibly imagine. His name was Cerberus too. I'd prefer it if we left it that way tonight."

She understood. I am glad she did not press on. I was expecting her to chain my shackles to something by a royal decree and yet she left me alone to my slumber. My turn to ask questions.

"Miss sparkle, you are just going to leave me here? Alone?" I asked curiously.

She blinked. Then Twilight cocked her head. "Why are you scared of the dark or something?" she joked, at least I thought she was.

I chuckled a bit. "Are you not concerned about leaving an omnivore from a different species, in chains, merely a floor below alone?"

She had a sudden revelation. "Oh. I don't think the princess would let her favourite student be eaten now, would she?" She blinked. "Would she?" This time she asked me. I realised I had made a mistake and had to rectify the best way I knew how.

"Don't worry my pretty, purple pony. I wouldn't eat a pony. Especial an intelligent, lovely one such as yourself. I'm sure I'd rob a stallion of his happily ever after." As if on cue she blushed and rubbed one hoof in front of the other.

"Oh... I am not seeing somepony at the moment, too many things to study." She chuckled, still wearing crimson under her coat.

"Well I best leave you to get rested so you can study some more. Goodnight Miss sparkle." I lay the blanket on the floor. I then proceeded to rest with my hooves tucked underneath me. I lay there on the blanket. I made myself smaller so all the plates slotted together like a puzzle. Only the light of my open eye flames shone from me.

"You’re not sleeping on the bench?" she asked curious about my sleeping arrangement. "I could-"

"No need my dear. It is hard to sleep as a bipedal with these plates at night. It seemed even harder as a quadruped. Besides, this is similar to how I normally sleep. See how the plates fit together neatly. I am comfortable like this, anywhere I rest."

"Is it normal for all demons?" She asked looking at my calm satanic body. No twitch of discomfort, no jabbing of any limb or hints of orange. I must appear to be almost completely smooth.

"Only those with this advanced growth of armour, but typically no"

"I see" Bringing her hoof to her chin, I could assume she was trying to picture others like me, without this much natural armour.

"Oh and Miss Sparkle. Thank you for everything you have done for me tonight. It may not seem like much, but when you fight nightmares for a living a little kindness goes a long way."

"Oh no problem, I kind of owe you an apology." she said lowering her head.

"If you are still trying to gain my forgiveness It is a futile effort."

She looked at me slightly worried.

"I forgave you when you started talking to me." I smiled "Not a lot of mortals would converse with demons unless they wanted something. I can see you have no such intentions inside of you. Thank you. Now go." I arched an eye brow. "Don't you want to interview me in the morning? I'll need my beauty sleep then."

She giggled "Please call me Twilight. Goodnight Magma vein."

"As you wish, sweet dreams, Miss Twilight." I replied closing my eye flames. She let out a sigh followed by a chuckle, before I began to drift off into a peaceful slumber.

She's cute. a voice snorted.

Don't even go there, M.V.R.

Well she does have a horn; we always did see something in that.

Not interested unless she becomes a demon...or at least a bipedal. Then I was out like a snuffed candle.