It was snowing slightly in the morning. Everyone was waking up: the ponies and the succubus stretched their limbs and prepared to continue their journey. The packed their things, getting ready to go. Their destination was still far from them, and they were determined to reach it.

Andromalius watched as everyone gathered their belongings and prepared to depart the icy cave that was their shelter for the night.

Now, a new presence was among them, unbeknownst to anyone but the hell stallion. It was a barely noticeable black smoke following the group. Only Andromalius could see it because he knew what he was looking for.

"Inanna, my father joined us." he thought bluntly, delivering the news to his telepathic companion.

"Oh!" the succubus blinked in surprise. "I guess it is good. I mean, I don't even know him enough to say anything, so... Yeah. But I'm glad your family reunites, Andro." she smiled at him.

"Good morning, lady." Lucifer's soft and deep voice appeared inside the demons' heads. "I am now free to accompany you two in your journey. It's been a long time since I was here last."

"Um, nice to meet you, I guess..." Inanna awkwardly replied. "Uh, but why can't I see you?" she looked around.

"I don't want to startle any of your friends, and I am working on my more or less pony-like appearance." Lucifer replied. "Also, some things from my previous, monstrous appearance might show up. I try to make it a minimum." he explained. "I doubt a tall as mountain, ten-headed seven-horned dragon-like beast would look fine among your group, now would it?" he made a small laugh. "I might as well stay in my current form."

A few hours later.

It was midday: the sun was shining bright, doing nothing to warm the lands it shone upon. The group was trotting steadily. The snow beneath them was hard enough to let them move faster than they normally did.

The mountains that they saw on the horizon grew closer and closer by each hour. And still, they were far away. Journey on wings would've taken less but, unfortunately, not everyone in the group had them.

Ponies felt that it became warmer than before. Unbeknownst to them, Lucifer warmed the air, making the journey much more comfortable for everyone. He was glad he could help his son achieve his goal.

"Son, those ponies, are they your friends?" he asked Andromalius.

"I don't think so." the hell stallion shook his head. "We are more acquaintances than anything else."

"Friendship is important. Did you make any friends here?"

"...No, I didn't." Andromalius replied. "I have no time. Besides, who'd befriend me? I can feel that these ponies are still afraid of me, even if only a little. They were sent with me by Celestia. And... is there any reason for us to become friends? Soon, I'll be the Lord. Ponies and I... we don't share anything in common to become friends. We are merely working together."

"Why do you think you have nothing in common? You don't know them well enough to say that." Lucifer argued. "They'll warm up to you if you stop being so cold to them.

"I understand that you don't see them as someone you'd like to spend time with. But son, I didn't want such a life for you. I wanted you to be able to choose. And now, when you are pulled by your new responsibility, you feel it is truly yours. You forget what I was trying to teach you. Don't be someone you are expected to be. Be yourself.

"I know have a task to complete, but does it stop you from having nice things once in a while? Friends can support you in your time of need or just provide you company. Even Celestia and Luna, busiest ponies in Equestria, have friends. A few of them, yes, but still friends. They don't lock themselves up with responsibilities. They know they need company. But you try to deny it, you try to deny something that is natural.

"You will burn out if you continue doing what you do. The tension building inside you will lead to disaster one day. You need to take at least a week of rest."

"Once this is over, father." Andromalius sighed. "Once I complete this, I will have some rest. Right now, in the middle of the frozen desert, is not the best time."

"On this, I agree with you." Lucifer replied. "But always remember that work isn't the only thing in the world."

***

Evening.

Everyone was settling down in a small cave. It was on top of a rocky hill that is now buried deep in the snow. After Andromalius melted some ice and snow inside the little cave, it was ready for the night.

"Andro, I think I am ready to present myself." Lucifer spoke inside his son's head.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely. One of them, the purple one, can already sense something, and it makes her nervous." the devil replied. "Besides, I sense tension in your group. You haven't told them the truth, have you not?"

"It wasn't me who wanted them to follow me." Andromalius shook his head slightly. "Also, I don't know how they'll react to this. They might freak out... I guess I should do this, and if any of them wants to return home, I'll send them back."

"Listen, everyone." Andromalius spoke up. Everyone excluding Inanna turned to him. The succubus was observing from the corner of the cave. "I.. I have something to tell you. We are not just searching for an artifact. In fact, the reason is much more complicated."

Everypony listened to him closely.

"First of all, forgive me for being dishonest with you." he spoke, pressing his hoof against his chest. "I think I just didn't want to trust you. I am still unsure about this... So, if after anything I say you'll decide that you should leave, go for it. If you decide to stay, then stay. I am not going to push anyone, no.

"So..." he scratched the back of his neck. "There is a lost piece of history. Five thousand years ago another country exited, one even further than the Frozen North. While hate reigned between the pony tribes, that country flourished with peace and love, much like Equestria today. All kinds of people moved there: ponies of all tribes, minotaurs, griffons... All of them united under one flag and spread peace. And they called themselves the Demon Alliance.

"While the word 'demon' is thought of as one depicting bad people, it is actually derived from a word that means 'people' as in whole. I believe that later that word was twisted into something absolutely evil.

"So, others considered the demons traitors to their own kind. Those people who thought so were too hateful to accept friendship and love. They valued pureness of blood over anything else, even their friends and family."

Unbeknownst to anyone but Andromalius, Inanna helped him remember what she's told him, adding some facts along the way.

"The most magically-powerful of all, the unicorn tribe created an artifact they called 'Sphere of Purity'. It was a powerful artifact, one that was supposed to 'cleanse' those who have taken another way, to bring them back.

"Once activated, the Sphere wrecked destruction upon the demons, driving them into darkness. Only a few remained, drastically changed by the power of the artifact. And then, they were gone. Records erased, survivors hunted down and killed..." his voice grew sorrowful. While he wasn't there to witness it, he had the heart to understand that what was done was no better than any genocide.

"And now... Now I am on a quest to bring that country back. To make word 'demon' good again, and to build a better word that will have no place for hatred. That is why I need another artifact — it will open the gates that hold demons prisoners. I want them to see the light again after so many years. I want them to be able to see nature for what it is, to meet people, build friendships and love...

"Surely, my look is not something widely accepted as 'good', but on the inside I know that I am not what I am seen as. I do want to spread love and friendship... however stupid or utopistic it sounds to many people. I want to make worlds better. Yes, not only this world. Other worlds, too.

"There are many worlds out there. I was born here, grew up in the other one, and now I am back here again. And I know that now I have power to change things for the better. I have the chance to change the universe. And I'm not going to waste it."

He finished his speech. He closed his eyes, exhaled. A few moments later, he opened them. Before him, ponies stood, looking at him.

"Wow, a big guy with lots of feelings." Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Y'know, I was wrong about you. You said right about demons n' stuff. Ya know, I can really see what you're saying, and that's awesome! I dunno why you hid it, though. Now, I like you more, you big stallion!" she made a small laugh. "Come on, girls, show him some appreciation!"

Suddenly, everyone jumped at him, and soon he was under a big pile that hugged him. He laughed, feeling tears in his eyes.

"What did I tell you? Friendship is good." Lucifer chimed in.

"Yeah, pardner, ye'r something." Applejack said to him. "Ah mean, I don't like yer dishonesty one bit, but at least ya did things right, even if't took ya time."

"Thanks... Maybe that's what I've been missing?" Andromalius wiped a tear off his face. "Maybe that's why Celestia sent you with me. To help me learn how to trust people. I'm still sorry for keeping you in the dark. You were and still are helping me, and I wasn't trusting you."

"That's a noble cause you have, Andromalius." Rarity said. "Why, I'm surprised you kept this hidden so long from us. We can understand you, no matter how you look like."

"Rarity's right." Fluttershy chimed in. "Um, I think there's a lot more kindness in you that I expected." she giggled, blushing.

"This dramatic reveal was fun!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Y'know, you must have a party once this is over! Oh, I can get so many ponies for you to get to know! Or them to get to know you! Ponies really need to make more fun stuff with demons! Well, there once was some kind of demon-pony in my dreams. Y'know, cloven hooves, leathery tail, strange horn, fangs, that stuff. He was searching for something... I don't remember, but I hosted him a party! And I found out he was really nice and fun and kind and stuff, and now I hang out with him every night!"

"Glad to hear that even now ponies can make friendships with demons without actually meeting them." Andromalius replied with a smile. "Even if I don't know you much, Pinkie Pie, you sure seem like someone to be able to cheer up a grump king!" he laughed. "And, speaking of kings..." he stood up, and ponies followed "There is someone who encouraged me to share my feelings and thoughts, to trust you. He is my father."

A black mist appeared behind the hell stallion. With a flash of reddish-white, an alicorn stallion roughly Andromalius' size appeared.

"Good evening, everyone." Lucifer spoke.

A moment of silence ensued. Everypony eyed him. He had horn that was white at the base but changed to red at the point. It was shaped like Andromalius', but situated on the forehead, not at the bridge of the muzzle. Lucifer's fur was white as snow unlike his son's charcoal black. His raven-like wings were mostly white but faded from the base to the tips into black. His eyes were dark-green. His mane was rather short but slicked back like his human hair. A pair of fangs peeked out of his mouth. His fetlocks were fading to dark-gray at the bottom. He also had a long leathery tail covered in white fur. Overall, he looked much less of a demon than his son, and yet intimidating and at the same time soft.

"Wait a second..." the devil summoned a mirror and looked at himself. "Gah! I thought I'd look better."

"You look better than me, father." Andromalius rolled his eyes. "Trade me your look if you don't like it."

"Nah, I'm fine with it." Lucifer shook his head, and then turned to the ponies. "So.. I am Lucifer, Andro's father. Nice to meet you."

"You look less a demon than your son." Twilight noticed.

"Well, I had time to work on my appearance." Lucifer replied. "Besides, the genes... Anyway, everything is a bit complicated in our bloodline. At least now I look younger." he looked at his flank. His cutie mark was a mix between a red pentagram and black inverted cross. "What a nice mark I have! Certainly didn't have it planned. At least it looks good."

"Truth be told, you look quite dashing, mister Lucifer." Rarity said with a pinkish tint on her cheeks.

"Thank you, truly!" Lucifer bowed, making the blue-maned unicorn giggle. "But please, don't call me 'mister', I am old as it is." he laughed.

"Well, after this day, I bet everyone is tired. I sure am." Lucifer yawned, changing the subject. "This transformation has taken it's toll on me. So, I guess we should have some rest. Tomorrow will be a new, greater day!"

"Didn't know you have such an optimistic father, Andro." Inanna chuckled.

"Neither did I." the hell stallion replied with a shrug. "I guess I'll get to know him better now."

Author's Notes:

Satan: that is how you draw your first alicorn OC. You give him demon stuff on his flank, crooked red horn, fangs, unusual tail, fades on the wings. Not to mention you make him as big as Celestia, even better if he's able to look down on her. Edgy. And that is something rather close to my first alicorn OC that, thankfully, didn't see the light. Let's just say I was stupid. Very stupid.

So, gentlemen, you surely didn't expect Satan to be a nice, caring, and fun guy. Well, time to know Our Lord better. Not to mention that he is indeed a good guy. Just look at this:

So, hail Satan, and a have a lovely day! I really should've done this chapter by Friday 13th.