Arax leaned against the wall of Serenade’s bedroom as the mare paced back and forth explaining the specifics of her plan to the changeling she called her second-in-command. He watched as her golden wavy mane bounced about as she walked, clearly very anxious. If he didn’t know what a horrible monster she was, one might even say she was beautiful, granted less so considering she never gave a genuine smile. A girl was always prettier with a smile in his mind, he could remember Starlight’s smile, vibrant, loving, warm, all the things that one wanted when they would see a girl smile.

Quickly he emptied such thoughts from his head; he didn’t want to associate Starlight with Serenade in the slightest. Starlight was wonderful, amazing, and great; Serenade was wicked, horrible, and cruel. So many times he considered asking how she became so twisted, but ultimately he always talked himself out of it every time the thought popped into his head. It was best to not get to know the beast any further, for that was likely what would turn one into the same monster that she was. He may have made a deal with the devil, but that didn’t mean he had to get to know the devil; what he already knew was more than sufficient.

Serenade glanced over at him with her one uncovered eye and blinked. “Are you listening, Arax? I don’t like repeating myself.”

Arax nodded coyly. “I’m listening. Keep going.”

Nodding back, Serenade stopped pacing and sat down in the middle of the room. She raised her hoof to her mouth as she spoke, processing her thoughts.

“A Hell portal isn’t exactly an easy feat… I may have framed it a bit more simplistic to the rest of the group when I told them about it…” Serenade explained.

Arax raised a brow. “So what? You’re strong enough to open one, aren’t you?”

Serenade scoffed at the thought. “Of course I am! It’s just that the process isn’t exactly instantaneous, and it will take me a little bit of time and effort. Like I said before, I’ll have to sacrifice a large amount of my power to do so… Maybe about eighty percent or so…”

“I don’t follow, why is it so difficult?” Arax asked.

Biting her lip for a moment, Serenade mulled over how to explain it to him. After a small bit of thought, she glanced over at him and kept a serious face about herself.

“The process requires me to establish a link with hell itself, and to do so, there will no doubt be a trial waiting for me. It’s not going to be as simple as just walking into hell and popping a portal open, I’ll have to prove myself worthy…” Serenade said quietly.

Arax rolled his eyes. “So what? You were once in line to become the demon lord, how difficult could it be for you?”

Serenade nodded; this much was true, but still, it had been some time since she had been able to train or practice her abilities, and thus she was a tad rusty. There was no telling what kind of demons walked in hell now. Ideally, she would wait until she was more recharged before she took on such a challenge, but she didn’t have that luxury.

Looking down at her right hoof, she felt more confident in her abilities. Arax was right, at one point she was the most feared demon of all, and while many had grown less terrified of her since she had been imprisoned. She would have to make them all remember, remember the fear that the name Serenade Dazzle would put into their hearts, remember how she shook the world to its very core when she conquered Equestria.

“I suppose you’re right, but the process will take a little bit of time. The flow of time between our world and the underworld is different, so what may only be a few days there will be weeks here. You all will need to lay low, use the time to practice your abilities, and prepare for our arrival in the human world…” Serenade explained.

Arax adjusted his eyepatch and nodded in agreement. “I’ll find some new recruits while you’re gone. When the portal is open, I’ll come to you first, then we’ll stager the others in.”

“Excellent idea. I knew I kept you around for a reason…” Serenade grinned deviously.

Arax ignored her comment and instead decided to change the subject. “You know that once we go through, we might be stuck there for a while. I mean even if humans don’t have magic, there’s a chance that demons could exist in their world too… In fact, I’m almost certain they would. We’re taking a huge risk on a place we know very little about…”

“Big rewards only come to those who are not afraid to take big risks, but if you’re good at what you do…” She sashayed toward Arax and ran a hoof along his jawline. “There are no risks…”

Arax scoffed and looked away in annoyance. “I would have thought that scar on your chest would remind you that everything carries risk.”

Serenade’s mood instantly changed. She reached forward and gripped a tendril around Arax’s neck. She didn’t squeeze but just held him threateningly with a vicious scowl upon her face. It wasn’t like him to say such insubordinate things.

“What did you just say?” She hissed as the tendril gently caressed the changeling’s cheek.

Arax reached forward and tapped the scar on her chest. Serenade looked down at it, and for a brief second, she was reminded of the moment where she acquired it. When the Siren’s Bane pierced her, she could recall the pain she felt, the shame and humiliation she had endured losing to Glitch. To add insult to injury, her body could not heal a wound from the bladed spear, so she would have to carry the scar forever; a permanent reminder of her failure.

Glitch had ruined her beauty, and she hated them for it, but she more so hated Arax at that moment for reminding her of it.

“This scar should remind you that even a calculated risk can have dire consequences. Don’t get overconfident, or you might meet a fate far worse than that scar…” Arax explained.

The tendril around his neck slithered down his form as it kept him in its grasp while Serenade narrowed her gaze at him. “You’re very strangely vocal about your dissenting opinions now, aren’t you? What happened to you? When did you become so insubordinate?”

“I just gave up my eye to you, and our lives are intertwined. You die, I die, so I think it would only be practical if I remind you not to let your hubris get the better of you. That is how Glitch defeated you before after all…” Arax explained.

Quickly, Serenade mentally commanded the tendril to come to a sharp point and aim itself directly at Arax’s other eye as she threatened him. “You’d dare say such things about me? You must have a death wish… While you are a favored servant, you’re still just a servant. Don’t forget your place, bug.”

“Then kill me if you don’t want to hear it; regardless though, you need to hear it. Glitch manipulated your anger and rage many times, you thought yourself invincible, and thus they were able to bring you down. You didn’t even consider the Siren’s bane’s existence, or that they could get their hooves on it. From here on you’ll be going into blind territory, and a single mistake could be fatal… You’d better be more cautious than you’ve been in the past…” Arax replied, unfazed by her racist remark toward his species.

Cooling her anger, Serenade removed the tendril from around Arax and it retracted back into her body. She nodded and sat down trying to regain her composure. “You’re right… As much as I hate to admit it… You’re right… Glitch… No… Sunset Shimmer may be a mortal, but she’s clearly a resourceful one and full of surprises…”

“No doubt she has more waiting for you if you should attack her in the human world too…” Arax nodded.

Serenade bit her lip in annoyance. It wasn’t in her nature to take the advice of others, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted to avoid the shame of losing to Sunset a second time. There was a distinct possibility that Sunset had been training for the possibility that Serenade would come to her world, or at the very least other foes rising to face her. Attacking her right out of the gate would be suicide, even with her subordinates’ help.

She couldn’t risk a frontal assault, not until she was certain she could take the woman. She needed to be calculative and form a strategy.

“When we arrive, we will scope out the situation. Take our time, plan our attack… As much as I’d love to just go and rip that girl’s throat out and drink her blood, I can’t afford to make another mistake…” Serenade growled.

“Then you’ve learned something from your defeat then…” Arax said.

She glanced over at him with confusion. Was his angle really just to protect his own life? Arax was always difficult to read for her, his emotions seemed so contained. While she hated how “cool” he always came off, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t envious of how level-headed he could remain in virtually any and all situations. Arax was a paragon of patience, and Serenade was not.

Despite the annoying side to him, Serenade felt a sense of accomplishment in recruiting him, he really did prove his worth regularly. While she would question his loyalty from time to time, he always seemed to rise to whatever test she threw at him. Arax was a creature of results, more so than other subordinates that she had acquired over the years.

“The reaper won’t find me that easily, Arax,” Serenade nearly whispered.

“Death chooses who goes, Serenade. Don’t forget that many immortals have had their bodies left cold; in death’s eyes, we are all just as appetizing…” Arax warned.

“You’re unusually grim these days…” Serenade rolled her eyes.

“It’s not as though I have many reasons to be upbeat or cheery, do I?” Arax raised a brow.

He had a point.

Serenade trotted over to a nearby window and stared out it. Everything she had done to gain control of Equestria, and it just slipped through her hooves as if she had done nothing at all. She sat as overlord, all feared her, and she was on the verge of wiping out all mortals, yet now she was resorting to scheming and thinking of ways to sneak around her enemies to get the drop on them. It was far from the way of the warrior that she was taught. A warrior faces their challengers directly and shows no fear, after all.

“I had so much… I nearly had it all… Now I’m back to square one…” Serenade spoke quietly.

Arax said nothing. He sat quietly as she thought out loud.

“I’ll come back eight times stronger though. This time I’ll kill Sunset Shimmer, I’ll kill her first then I’ll kill everyone she loves, all of her friends, then I’ll come back here to Equestria and I’ll finish off Twilight Sparkle and her friends… I want to savor each of their deaths… I want to lick the blood from their wounds while they beg me for their lives… I want to feel their fear… I want to bask in their pathetic begging for mercy…” Serenade rambled.

Arax sighed. “Why not just focus on the practicality of the plan? If you get lost in a quest of vengeance, you’ll only end up wasting all of our time.”

“You mortals just don’t understand… vengeance is all that some of us have to live for… In this rotten world, there is nothing else…” Serenade spoke.

“I don’t think I’ll ever understand you…” Arax shook his head.

Serenade looked over her shoulder back at him. “It’s only when you see how fucked up the world really is, that you begin to understand what to do about it. Ponies think they can keep the world in check by spreading their pathetic love and happiness… They’re living a lie though, the world is a cruel and bitter place; masking that only sets you up to be disappointed… I’ll show them that.”

“I suppose you’re right, but that is where mortals have a huge advantage over you…” Arax stated.

Serenade grew a genuinely puzzled look upon her face. The changeling was speaking nonsense.

“What would that be?”

“They get to die; because death is a certain part of their existence, they can ignore how cruel the world is. Those who know their suffering is only temporary find it easier to make do with the situation they find themselves in… Those who know their suffering is forever will always find themselves consumed by it… In death, all suffering ends.” Arax smirked.

“When I destroy all the mortals, the world will finally be rid of all cruelty that they cause…” Serenade reminded.

“Are you so certain that mortals have a monopoly on creating bitterness, evil, and cruelness for the world?” Arax asked.

She didn’t understand his question, and she certainly didn’t have an answer, but it stuck with the siren.

Serenade had bided her time and focused her power so she would be prepared for her journey through the demonic plains. After weeks of regaining her lost strength, she had finally felt ready to make the journey.

Arax sat on the other side of her makeshift bedroom (which she naturally didn’t need for sleeping) waiting to witness a display of ability the likes of which he had never seen before. A portal to hell itself was not something that many would see in their entire lifetime; though he wouldn’t consider himself privileged for bearing witness to one.

Serenade closed her eyes and focused. She began to channel every ounce of demonic energy in her body to the center of herself. To produce something so hellish, the energy had to come directly from one’s black heart, the very core of a pure demon. Hell would not open for just anyone, it would only reveal itself to those who were powerful enough and devoted to the demonic ways.

Taking a deep breath, Serenade began to channel the power inside of her, she could feel herself gain control of it, she could feel it eager to bend to her will. Her will commanded it to begin opening a hell portal, a gateway to her final destination.

The energy inside of her obeyed her wishes, and the room around her and her changeling subordinate began to crackle with energy. Black jolts of energy sparked all around them, and Serenade’s body slowly lifted off the ground as a black swirl of ethereal energy began to form in front of her. From her chest, black energy began to pour into the cloud forming in front of her. The mare’s hair began to move as though she were floating in the water, and her body appeared weightless.

All of the hatred and anger she had stored over the last few centuries began to come to the front of her mind, creating more demonic energy and fueling the opening of the portal before her. She could feel it begin to take form, she was nearing its completion as Arax watched with intrigue in his eye.

After enough energy had been funneled into it, Serenade could see the cloud of black smoke begin to take more of a physical form and within eight more seconds, a crack in reality itself broke open. It bore fire around its edges, and black smoke emanated from it as Serenade’s body gently came down to the ground.

Arax stepped closer to get a better look. “So this is a hell gate then?”

Serenade nodded before looking back at him. “Arax, do not allow any in this room until you have crossed over. I expect you to watch over the portal from this side until I have completed my trials. If the portal is tampered with or closed by one of Twilight’s knights, there will be no way for me to send for any of you, making another one on the human side will be next to impossible…”

Arax nodded. “I shall guard it with my life.”

“Good, once it is ready to be used on your end, it should remain open for around eight weeks. That gives you time to bring the others through after you have come to fetch me…” Serenade explained.

“Sounds good.” Arax nodded again.

Serenade nodded back before looking back at the portal she had just crafted. She stood silently for a moment before Arax broke the silence between the two.

“We have only just gotten back together and yet we’re already separating again, ironic isn’t it?” Arax asked.

“Don’t get sentimental on me.” Serenade shook her head before stepping toward the portal before her.

She could feel the hellish energy coming out of it, just begging to escape and cover the world in fire. The siren came closer as if drawn to it, then without another word, she jumped through the portal.

Since Serenade concentrated her energy on creating a portal that could take her through hell to the human world, the sensation of going through the portal felt completely different than the previous times she had gone to the underworld. Her body felt like it was twisting and cracking as she moved between the two realms. She could feel herself changing, and could almost sense some kind of growing pains.

Before she made it to the other side, she felt the fires of hell, she could sense the burning sensation before she had even set foot on the unholy ground there.

Once she had successfully made it to the other side, she stood up and looked around. Hell hadn’t changed a bit, magma flowed around her, the ground made of black obsidian, and above her was the endless black sky, the only illumination was the fires and lava around her.

It took a few seconds for her to notice she felt like she was seeing this place from a much higher height than she should have. Looking down, she noticed her entire body had changed completely. Gone were her four hooves, and instead she stood bipedal. Her front hooves had been replaced with what she assumed to be claws. Five digits on both sides. She opened and closed her fingers curiously.

Oddly, her entire body appeared to be covered in some kind of red obsidian armor. She couldn’t see herself underneath in the slightest and saw no way to remove it. She surmised it must have been a part of the trials that awaited her.

The siren took her two hands and ran them across her own body to get a better idea of her new form. It was slender, but with effeminate curves, breasts covered by obsidian armor now rested on her upper chest, and she could feel more digits on her feet underneath her armored boots.

Looking at her armored right hand, she noted that the armored glove brought her fingers to sharp points, and the tips had been adorned with black talons, a suitable weapon if she could learn how to master it.

The girl took a few awkward steps forward and spent a few moments practicing walking on two legs. The heels on her boots eventually forced her to walk with somewhat of a seductive sashay, but after a little time, she had grown used to this new style of movement.

What the hell happened to my body? Serenade thought to herself. The last time she had been to the underworld, she didn’t need to adjust to a new body, so why was this time different?

Her hands came to her face to feel a spiny helmet was covering it, her eyes able to see through a translucent visor.

Serenade took a few more steps forward before a black mist formed around her, swirling like a snake before taking form in front of her. A dragon that had one of his eyes stitched shut appeared before her. She raised a brow in confusion at the strange creature. He was dark green in color, and his spines looked a bit on the rough side, likely due to combat. He crossed his arms as he looked Serenade up and down.

“Take a picture, it lasts longer…” Serenade replied.

He spoke to her in a deep and raspy voice. “So, you are Serenade Dazzle, hard to believe such a powerful demon was right under my nose for all those years… Had I known what you were back then, I’d have enlisted your assistance.”

Serenade crossed her arms in annoyance and glanced away. “As if I’d ever help you… Who are you and what do you want?”

The dragon laughed and nodded approvingly. “Straight to the point, I was told that about you…”

“Told by who? Who is talking about me?” Serenade asked.

“There isn’t a demon in the underworld that doesn’t know your name, Serenade Dazzle. At one point, you could have sat on the throne of Hell and reigned as the demon lord…” He rambled.

Serenade rolled her eyes from behind her helmet. “What’s the story on my body, since you seem to know so much…”

“Well, you’ve come to open a hell portal, and thus you are to be put on trial to determine if Hell will bend to your will; as such, your body has taken the form of the world you are traveling to,” he explained.

“I suppose that makes some sense, or at least as much sense as anything would around here… You still haven’t answered who you are though…” Serenade crossed her arms.

The dragon floated before her, his legs not properly forming as he took on an almost ghostly form. He grinned as he lifted a claw. “In life, I was Sven of Dragon Scar…”

Serenade raised a brow at the mention of his name. “I remember you… You were once the overlord of Dragon Scar, weren’t you? I didn’t know that you died…”

He nodded with a scowl growing on his face. “Indeed. I was bested by Princess Twilight Sparkle and her entourage. Now I’m nothing more than a demon husk, not strong enough to take full form, but not weak enough to be an empty shell…”

“Tragic, but I don’t really care…” Serenade shrugged.

He cleared his throat as he changed the subject. “Regardless, I’m here to help you on your journey through hell.”

Serenade was skeptical. “And why would you do that? What do you gain from helping me?”

“Always suspicious, I see… I was beaten by Twilight Sparkle and thus in death, I have a long loathing of Equestria and its pony kind. I know that you seek to destroy the world she rules over. By helping you, I might have my revenge on that cursed princess…” Sven explained.

“I suppose revenge is always a good enough reason… Alright, you can help, but you better not slow me down…” Serenade pointed her finger threateningly.

“I will aid you from the shadows, together, we shall bring death to that wretched Twilight Sparkle, and her entire kingdom…” Sven grinned, his fangs showing. One of them broken in half, Serenade surmised it must have happened from his encounter with the Equestrian princess.

“Then let’s get moving…” Serenade gestured.

After about eight steps though, she felt a powerful pain in her temples. She groaned in agony before clutching her skull. A loud ringing sound went through her ears until she closed her eyes and all went silent.

Trapped like some kind of caged dog, Serenade sat stewing in her hatred. Her hatred for Twilight Sparkle, her hatred for mortals, but most importantly her hatred for that Glitch. He had bested her and as a result, she was placed in this prison. She had completely lost track of time, but she knew she had been locked away for at least a week.

She couldn’t understand how he had done it. How Glitch had acquired such a weapon that could give pause to her powers and prevent her from fully healing from the wounds it caused. She had believed the Siren’s Bane to only be a myth, so how did he get his hooves on it?

The door at the top of the stairwell made a creaking noise that caught Serenade’s attention. She glanced up with her good eye and waited to see who approached.

From the stairs, hoof steps could be heard slowly but surely descending down the stairs until a set of yellow hooves could be seen. The hooves were attached to a gorgeous-looking mare with long green mane, a few dreadlocks weaved into it, and her ears were adorned with many earrings. Serenade blinked, unsure of what to make of this creature until she approached and she could sense something different about her.

It was a feeling she was all too familiar with, but it took her a second to realize why. “You’re a siren?” Serenade asked.

The mare nodded and stood directly in front of the cage that kept Serenade. She looked the beaten mare up and down in silence.

“Who are you?” Serenade growled.

“Mine own nameth is Kiz.” The mare spoke as she gestured to herself with her hoof.

“Wait… I’ve heard of you… You’re one of the oldest sirens alive… I thought you were just a legend…” Serenade squinted.

“Mine own legacy may has't been exagg'rated, but I assureth thee, I existeth, issue.” Kiz nodded.

“I don’t understand what’s going on…” Serenade stepped closer to the bars.

“T’was I whos't lend'd the sacred blade to Glitch. The same blade yond wast thy undoing, doth thou comprehend?” Kiz tilted her head slightly.

Her voice was soft and elegant, but it still made Serenade’s blood boil something fierce.

“You did what!? We’re the same race! We’re supposed to be allies! How could you betray your own kind in favor of these mortals? Have you forgotten everything they’ve done to us? What we all had to do just to survive!?” Serenade hissed and stomped her hoof in fury.

Kiz shook her head. “Thee and I art nothing alike, lost issue. I partake not in thy quest of fury and vengeance. Whilst I didst giveth the partisan to Glitch, t’was thee who is't responsible for thy owneth undoing.”

“Sirens have suffered for millennia at the hooves of mortals and you would dare assist them? You would give them the tool to slay sirens? Why? One as old as you surely has seen what they’ve done to our kind even worse than myself…” Serenade questioned angrily as she gripped the bars of her cage.

Kiz stepped forward and reached through the bars and placed a hoof upon the mare. The barrier that kept Serenade in would allow those outside to pass through, fortunately. She caressed the broken mare’s cheek and smiled affectionately.

“Shouldst our kind becometh the monsters they envisioned us as, mayhaps we deserve to cease existence. I has't seen many things in mine own timeth and I has't hath reached one conclusion…” Kiz spoke softly and continued to pet Serenade’s cheek. “If it be true we can not findeth a way to existeth together, we shall all m'rely destroyeth each other…”

Serenade blinked in confusion. “You’d rather we be on the side that gets wiped out? You’d rather give in to the mortals? Where is your pride as a siren?”

Kiz sighed as she retracted her hoof. “Issue, thee has't longeth since given up on being a siren. All thou art now is a demon, thy hatred hast consum'd thee, blind'd thee and 'twill eventually beest the endeth of thee. Thy hatred hast hath left thee in wanteth, and yond wanteth shalt never beest satisfied, thee shall hungerr for the rest of thy days…”

With a smile still upon her face, Kiz stepped back away from the cage. "Farewell, Serenade of the demonkind. May the path thee has't chosen endeth soon, so yond thee needeth not suffer for much longeth'r. A siren thou art nay longeth'r, but thee has't mine own sympathy, issue…”

Serenade’s eyes widened at her statement. She grabbed the bars of her cage and rattled them with fury. “How dare you!? You dare say I am not a siren!? I’m more a siren than you! Your old age clearly has clouded your judgment!”

Kiz shook her head. “I wisheth yond were the case, issue…”

As Kiz began to retreat back up the stairs, Serenade banged on the bars as she screamed up to the other siren. “YOU THINK YOU’RE BETTER THAN ME!? I’LL SHOW YOU! I’LL KILL EVERY ONE OF THESE MORTALS! I’LL REPLACE THIS WORLD WITH ONE OF MY OWN WHERE SYMPATHIZERS LIKE YOU WILL BURN WITH THE REST OF THE MORTAL FILTH!”

Kiz didn’t turn around, she continued up the stairs until Serenade heard the door close behind her.

“YOU HEAR ME!? I’LL SHOW YOU! I’LL SHOW ALL OF YOU! YOU’RE NOT BETTER THAN ME KIZ! YOU’RE NOTHING! YOU HEAR ME!? NOTHING!” Serenade screamed.

Once it was clear that Kiz could no longer hear her, the Siren screamed in defiance. “FUCK YOU! FUCK ALL OF YOU! I AM SERENADE FUCKING DAZZLE, QUEEN BITCH OF THE WORLD! YOU’LL ALL SEE! BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU’LL ALL BE KISSING MY FEET ONCE MORE! I’LL KILL YOU GLITCH! I’LL SLIT YOUR THROAT AND DANCE IN YOUR BLOOD!”

She began to hit the walls with her hooves over and over until they were beaten and bloody. She slunk down to the floor after and panted. She had never felt as much hatred as she did at that moment before. She hated everything, everyone, and she had no outlet to release her hatred.

“All of you will die… I promise that… I’ll kill every single mortal…” Serenade spoke quietly to herself.

Once the pain had subsided, Serenade was able to get herself back up onto two feet. She felt disoriented, but she had regained some of her composure. Why did she just relive that memory of Kiz? What had caused it.

“What the hell was that…?” Serenade asked.

Sven’s voice came from her shadow behind her. “This place will test not just your body and your will, but your mind as well. It will make you remember your most hateful moments, as a demon lord should be able to harness their anger appropriately. Hatred and anger are the sources of a demon’s power after all.”

Serenade looked down at her hand and thought of Kiz’s face once more. She clenched her hand in aggravation. She would prove herself, she would show that smug bitch that she was more than just a demon and that she was more of a siren than any who ever lived.

“My whole life, mortals have tried to make me ashamed of what I am, but I have stood in hateful defiance this entire time, and nothing this place will throw at me will make me hate myself. I’m proud of what I am, and I will crush all who try to convince me otherwise…” Serenade spoke.

“Excellent resolve, we should press onward though. Keep that fire in you ignited…” Sven replied.

“Consider it done…” Serenade nodded.

“Then onward we go, your first destination should be just up ahead,” Sven said.

Nodding again, Serenade came to a proper stand and continued down the path carved of obsidian. A narrow walkway eventually opened up into a large circular arena surrounded by spiky outcroppings protruding out of magma that surrounded them. She approached carefully and examined a large obsidian tablet in the center of the circle. The text upon it changed to her spoken tongue the moment she touched it.

One who wishes to become the demon lord…

To prove your ascent to the throne, you must craft a scepter worthy of a ruler. A weapon of true might. Your test of strength and will begins here.

Defeat the foe before you, take what you need to forge your weapon.

Serenade removed her hand from the tablet and considered what it was saying, but she wouldn’t have time to process it any further. A loud rumbling noise shook the ground under her causing her to glance in the direction of its origin. From the lava outside the ring, a claw popped out and gripped a nearby stalactite. Another followed it, and both then pulled a large body out of the lava.

The creature stood a considerable eight feet tall and had a gaping maw that could probably swallow a whole being in a single bite, lined with serrated teeth. It stood on two feet, and upon its back were at least a dozen arms, each with sharp claws at the end of them. They lacked symmetry and gave an off-putting aura about them as they moved unnaturally. Serenade surmised they were some kind of defense mechanism.

It’s bright glowing green eyes looked down at the petite woman and it opened its mouth and screeched, saliva and mucus flinging from its mouth as it did.

Serenade wiped a strand of mucus off of her shoulder and stood ready to fight. “So, I just have to rip you apart then?”

It responded with another ear-shattering screech.

Lifting its mighty foot, it stomped onto the ground and shook the entire platform the two stood upon. Crouching down low, Serenade maintained her balance as she assessed the situation. “I see, got a bit of a temper, do you?”

The creature took another step forward and swiped at her with one of its front claws. Its long arm gave it an incredible reach, well over eight feet. Its front arms were longer than its entire body it seemed.

Serenade managed to step backward in time to avoid the hit, but couldn’t see an opportunity to attack just yet. With a reach that far and arms on its back, it meant it was protected from all sides.

For now, all she could do was buy time until she could fully assess how she would attack. It swiped again, and this time Serenade ducked to avoid it. She swiped with her own claw but found the tough leathery skin of the creature prevented her from even scratching one of its front claws. “Damn it…” She cursed.

When it came down again, this time with both claws, Serenade rolled forward and sliced up at its gut, but was met with the same defense. Even its stomach was tough and armored, impossible to cut through even if she hacked at it.

Soon, the creature would notice what she was doing and tried to grab at her, but she rolled out of the way once more and put some distance between herself and her opponent. So far, the battle was not going in her favor, she needed some way to turn the tides.

“Hey Sven, any bright ideas?” Serenade asked.

From the shadows, Sven appeared next to her as he looked the beast up and down. “Ah yes, a Horth demon. I heard stories that the arms on its back are to protect its weak point.”

“That’s fantastic, but how can I attack that weak point if it's protected?” Serenade question.

Sven looked down at her with a puzzled look. “What do you mean? Rip off the arms.”

Serenade blinked and then look back at the demon. The arms on its back were significantly shorter than the ones on its front, and definitely scrawnier, but it would be quite a challenge to be able to rip even a single one off while the others were around it.

When it continued to make its way over to her, she prepared to dodge another attack. Sure enough, it swung again and then descended its giant jaw to try and bite her. Serenade was far too quick for it though and moved out of the way of its jaw.

At that moment, she noticed how slow it moved. Even the arms on its back which appeared faster than the rest of it were relatively slow. She had a chance of ripping the arms off one by one if she could move quickly enough to dodge its attacks. Its incredible size meant it took a lot for the creature just to move. That was her opportunity, she could outmaneuver it and bring it down that way.

Getting down low, she waited patiently to lure it into another attack. She would have to be quick, but once it missed her, she could spring into action.

Once again, the monster swung at her, and at that second, she sprinted past its large front claw and jumped past its back. On her way, she grabbed one of the claws from its side and then with her right hand, swiped at its stem, slicing it clean off.

When she landed from her leap, the arm she had severed was still moving. She tossed it aside and turned to face the beast again. She would need several more clean attacks just like that one if she wished to bring the beast to its doom, but she was confident she could pull it off now that she had a strategy for victory.

Standing with her claws at the ready, Serenade challenged the monster. “Vile beast, don’t you know who I am? I am Serenade Dazzle, and I will soon be the demon lord. Bow down before your queen…”

The beast merely hissed at her, slinging trails of its saliva in her direction. Serenade wiped a strand off of her shoulder and shook her head. “You’re really fucking disgusting, you know that?”

Without warning, it brought down one of its front claws at her, and Serenade quickly lifted her hands into the air to block it with her own claws. Once sliced at it, she repelled the attack and jumped slashing it in the face. As expected, it did nothing but annoy the mighty beast as it tried to snap its jaw at her. With another leap, she was able to get onto its head and grip at another one of the claws on its back.

The claw wriggled and struggled in her grasp, but with a clean slice, she severed it and tossed it aside. While the creature growled in agony, she gripped another one and jumped off of the creature’s back, tearing it off with the force of gravity alone. A part of her was somewhat enjoying this battle, her skills were rarely tested.

With the claw still in her hand, she presented it to the monster and taunted it. “Missing something? You’re lucky I don’t rip your balls off.”

Not taking the taunting lightly, the creature snapped its jaw at her. Serenade rolled out of the way just in time and ran around its side. Jumping, she grabbed another claw and sliced it off.

The monster pivoted around and swiped at her, but she was able to jump backward in time to avoid it. Throwing the claw aside, Serenade continued taunting it. “Running out of claws there, ugly. How should I tear you apart? Slowly, or should I reach into your skull and rip your brains out?”

As expected, it only hissed in response.

Serenade leaped out of the way from another attack and landed atop of its head, grabbing two claws from its back as she jumped down, tearing them off. With the momentum she had built up, she quickly ran around the creature and scaled its back again with haste, and started hacking off the remaining claws until there wasn’t a single one left. With its incredibly large front claws unable to bend in a manner to reach its back, it struggled to try and throw her off.

With its claws out of commission, it could only resolve to violently shake its entire body to try and throw the woman off of it, but Serenade sunk her claw into its back and made her way to the nape of its neck.

A smirk appeared on her face from under her mask and she raised her right claw into the air. “Oh, this is going to sting a little…” She spoke.

Quickly, she pierced its back with her other claw as the creature screamed in pain. She dug deeper and deeper through its flesh until she pushed the second claw through as well. With both dug deeply into its skin, black pus oozed out of the newly created holes in its body, but Serenade kept digging until she could feel a solid.

The beast hissed and moaned, moving violently to try and desperately throw Serenade off, but it was no use. The girl was now gripping its very spine in her hands and began to tug.

It growled and hissed but Serenade tugged harder and harder until the bone began to protrude from the hole she had created. With a little more force it tore right out causing the beast to fall to the ground, dead and beaten. Looking at the spine in her hand, it was considerably long, perhaps a good eight feet, but a trophy worthy of a champion.

Given its size and sturdiness, she figured it would make for a fine weapon part, so she conjured up a spell and stored it in a closed space to access it later. It was a little trick she had learned eons ago for storing things and recalling them at a later time.

She hopped off of the body of the beast and Sven appeared before her once again. “Incredible, you felled the beast without so much as a scratch…”

Serenade shooed him with her hand. “You haven’t seen anything yet…”

“Twilight Sparkle will surely fall with a being as mighty as you after her…” Sven nodded.

“Let’s focus on the current task… Revenge can always come later, I have all the time in the world after all, and its best savored slowly…” Serenade explained.

“Lead on then, O’ demon lord…” Sven bowed before vanishing from sight once again.

A young pink dragon no older than eight years old swung her steel katana a few times but struggled to swing the full-sized blade that toppled over her. She tripped and fell into the red sand of Dragon Scar, as another larger dark grey dragon looked down at her and shook his head in disappointment.

“You need to keep the sword upright, if you can’t hold it in two claws, how do you ever expect to hold it with one?” He raised a brow.

The youngling picked herself up off of the ground and lifted the sword once more as she frowned. “It’s really heavy…” She stated.

“By your age, I was able to hold that thing with one claw… Regardless, we have to press onward with your training today…” He sighed.

Nodding, the young dragon sheathed the large katana on her back and looked up to her elder brother with eager eyes. “I’m ready, brother. What would you ask of me?”

Putting his own sword away, he gestured with his head for her to follow. Nodding excitedly, she did so. As she followed, he began to lecture her. “Cinder, you must be ready to pass any and all tests before you because if anything should happen to me, you will carry on our parents' legacy and the will of our clan…”

Cinder blinked and looked up at her older brother, Ash. “Brother, why are you talking like that? Nothing could ever take you down, you’re the mightiest warrior of all, you’re the blade of the clan, the strongest warrior in Dragon Scar…”

He tapped the back of her head as he scolded her. “Too much pride can cause one to become overconfident and thus you could meet your demise. I may be a mighty warrior, but I temper my attitude toward it. One day you could surpass me, sister. You would do wise to not get overconfident…”

Blinking, Cinder tilted her head in disbelief. “Me? I could never beat you, brother…”

“We shall see… Regardless, we are going to partake in your first kill… Up until now, you have been trained in combat, but you have yet to experience a kill…” He said.

Cinder was in awe. “What am I hunting down, brother? I will do whatever it takes!”

Ash looked down at his enthusiastic sister with a squared eye. She was always so oddly optimistic for a dragon and definitely stood out from others of her kind. Within the clan, she was often scolded for her strangely peppy attitude, but it never seemed to bother her. She was a thinker, but she still held their values to her heart. While she lacked discipline, she was still dedicated.

He tapped her head disapprovingly once more. “Focus, Cinder. You are to take down a manticore entirely on your own. You will get no assistance from me.”

She nodded triumphantly and puffed out her chest. “Okay, where do I begin?”

“You tell me.” He smirked.

Realizing he was implying she was also in charge of finding the manticore, she nodded and placed a claw upon her chin as she thought it over. “Well… Manticores in Dragon Scar are rare, but they usually are found near a watering hole… So we should go toward the nearest watering hole if we want to find one…”

“Lead on then, hunter…” Ash gestured for her to take them to their kill.

Cinder considered it for a moment and then realized she knew where the nearest watering hole was. There was a dried-up forest not too far from their location, and a manticore was most likely to head that way. Cinder waved with her left claw and Ash followed quietly as he observed his younger sister.

The two navigated the desolate landscape for some time before approaching the watering hole. Cinder crouched down as did her brother while they waited silently at the watering hole for a manticore to appear. A good eight minutes of silence must have passed before Cinder could see a creature leaving the nearby dried-out wooded area. With a long stinger for a tail, she confirmed the beast was that which she sought.

The young dragon pointed with excitement as she nearly whispered. “There’s one, brother!”

“Why not celebrate after you’ve taken it down…” Ash criticized.

A frown came to her face as she nodded. “Right, sorry…”

“A warrior should not be so easily distracted, Cinder. You must temper your emotion, focus yourself on the kill. I’ve been telling you this for years…” Ash reminded.

“Yes… Of course…” Cinder nodded sadly.

His sister was not like other dragons, she was too much of a free thinker, and her emotions would often get in the way of her abilities. While she was very capable as a warrior, she couldn’t seem to contain her feelings. Ash feared it would lead her down a path of weakness. A warrior who felt too much bliss or sorrow could be easily exploited. He needed to harder her, though he wasn’t sure how. Ash loathed the fact that their father babied the dragon, and he believed it had led to her softness.

Cinder stayed down low and quietly crawled around the rock they hid behind. She kept quiet as the beast drank from the water. Carefully with each step, she reached behind herself to grab her blade. Slowly, she unsheathed the sword in both claws while she approached.

Standing upright, she readied herself to strike. With a swing, she only managed to graze the beast’s leg. Instantly reacting, it turned around with a mighty roar and swiped at her with its front claw. Cinder hopped backward, but with the weight of her sword, she toppled over and landed on her rear.

Ash sighed as he watched. “You struck too soon, you didn’t ready your strike.” He called from up on the rock where they originally saw the beast.

Nodding, Cinder brought herself to a stand and heaved her heavy sword upright. When the manticore swung its tail at her, she jumped and slashed the tip off of its tail, rendering it useless. Without the tip of its tail, it posed significantly less of a threat.

Naturally, it didn’t respond well to having its stinger severed and it hissed and roared in anger and pain. Cinder remembered what her brother had taught her and took the proper stances with her sword raised in both claws, anticipating another attempt at an attack.

When it swung at her, she quickly slashed upward, slicing a few of its toes on its front claw clean off. The sharpness of her blade was unrivaled and could sever even the toughest of bone with a single slice. It responded by going down at her with its jaw open, and that was its most critical mistake.

Cinder swung again, slicing its mouth open on one side. It fell down gripping its hanging jaw as it bled. Shuffling to try and get away from the dragon as she stood in front of it.

With her sword raised, she stood there, frozen.

“What are you waiting for? Finish it, Cinder!” Ash called out.

Cinder looked into the creature's eyes as it was suffering. She lowered her sword and frowned. “I… I can’t…”

Ash shook his head as he hopped down from the rock. He approached with an annoyed expression on his face as he scolded her.

“What are you doing? A warrior must feel no sympathy for his enemy!” Ash reminded.

“I know but…” Cinder continued to stare at the creature in front of her.

Ash gripped her arm and turned her to face him. “You question our ways yet again?”

“Maybe our ways don’t have to be so-“ Cinder was off as he slapped her across the face.

“Don’t speak such heresy. We have carried our traditions down for generations. We are the last of our clan, our parents, and us, that is all that remains. You would dare question our legacy? You are supposed to carry on our ways!” Ash yelled.

Cinder sighed and decided it was best not to argue with him. She closed her mouth and nodded. “I’m sorry, brother…”

“Your softness could lead to great mistakes, and your inability to accept our ways could lead to far worse… I’ve tried to make you understand, but you continue not to listen…” He scolded.

Cinder bit her lip, wanting to speak up, but she quickly realized it would be a waste of time. Ash had made up his mind about how he stood in regards to their family values, and he wasn’t going to budge in the slightest. He was a firm believer in their ways and was unwavering. Anything Cinder said would be met with deaf ears.

Facing the manticore, Cinder closed her eyes and lifted her blade once more. Without thinking, she swung the blade downward and cut the beast’s skull in half with her impressive blade. It ceased moving and struggling as Cinder lowered her powerful sword with sadness upon her face.

Ash nodded as he placed a claw on the young dragon’s shoulder. “You have learned an important lesson today, Cinder… A warrior always fells its foe. You can not hesitate for even a moment, of your opponent will make quick work of you.”

“Is it really like that though…?” Cinder questioned.

He growled and slapped her upside the head once again. “Don’t question it, Cinder. You need to start following what I say without commentary…”

Cinder looked up at her brother with serious eyes. “Our ways lead to the extinction of our clan to where we’re the last ones left. Maybe it’s time to adapt our ways…”

Ash gripped Cinder’s arm tightly and yanked it to get her to listen to him. “Bite your tongue… We are the last of our kind, we must preserve what we have or it will be lost forever. You’re too much of a blind visionary, you’d do well to abandon your fantasies and focus solely on reality…”

Cinder said nothing. She knew her brother was wrong, but she also knew he wouldn’t listen, at least not at that moment. She would have to show him the error of his ways with time.

Eclipse swung the sword he levitated with his magic at a dummy that had been set up for training before leaping backward when the dummy swung a long stick intended to imitate a counter-attack. He met the attack by blocking with his sword and quickly switched to the second target lined up for him.

With little to no effort, he defeated all eight dummies set up for him to practice on before lowering his sword and sheathing it on his back. The young stallion now approaching adulthood looked up at his teacher with curious eyes to hear her evaluation.

Cinder stood with crossed arms as she had watched him in silence, and when he finished, she nodded in approval. “You’ve improved so much in such a short time.”

Eclipse bowed his head in respect. “Thank you, sensei. I owe my skill to you…”

She shook her head. “A teacher merely instructs, the one who draws the sword is the one who hones their own abilities. Talent is acquired through perseverance, and dedication to one’s self.”

“Always humble.” Eclipse smiled.

She chuckled and ruffled his mane before she heard her name get called. “Ms. Razorclaw?”

Turning she could see the familiar face of Starlight Glimmer. She had become the well-respected assistant of Princess Twilight, and was just as studious as she was. She was donning a pair of round glasses, which Cinder surmised had come from her job. She spent so much time reading paperwork and tomes for Twilight that her vision became impaired without the aid of glasses. Cinder wondered what it must have been like when the two first started working together.

Cinder looked at Eclipse and gestured him away. “Take five.”

Nodding, Eclipse wandered off and sat himself on a nearby log. Taking a whetstone from his bag nested nearby, he began to hone his blade carefully in silence.

Reaching a claw out to Starlight, Cinder shook her hoof. “Starlight… I keep telling you that you can call me Cinder.”

Adjusting her large glasses, Starlight smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, it’s a force of habit. Professionalism and whatnot.”

“You needn’t be married to the job, Starlight.” Cinder grinned.

Starlight was always surprised by how much wisdom Cinder had. She seemed to be the kind of creature who always had her head well adjusted. No matter the task, she found a way to accomplish it without panic. Starlight envied her lack of anxiety.

“Well, given my romantic history, perhaps the job is better to be married to…” Starlight laughed.

“Fair enough…” Cinder looked over at Eclipse. That statement reminded her of him just a little bit.

Starlight turned to see what she was looking at, and when she caught sight of him, she recognized him. She had seen him briefly working for Twilight’s rebellion against Serenade.

“Is that…?” Starlight asked.

Cinder nodded. “Yeah.”

“He’s all grown up now. He was so young when he aided the resistance…” Starlight commented.

Cinder nodded again. “He’s come a long way, he’s my student now.”

“Is he any good?” Starlight raised a brow.

“He is excellent, but I can sense he buries his pain with the dedication to the sword. He lost his parents to Serenade, and apparently so much more… When we met he said he had nothing to live for but revenge, and I think he still feels that way… He’s looking for a reason to keep going, but…” Cinder paused.

Starlight leaned in with interest. “But what?”

“I fear he’s on a path to destroy himself. He fights with no fear, complete abandon… Death is not a fear… But a goal for him…” Cinder spoke.

“And you’re trying to steer him off of that path?” Starlight asked.

“I don’t know if I can…” Cinder frowned.

“He has to find his reason on his own then…” Starlight said.

Cinder nodded as she turned to face Starlight. “You’re absolutely right… Now, what was it you wanted to talk about?”

Hey, it's been months. I'm sorry! Life has been crazy, but we are back, and getting ready to finish this story. Flashbacks also are 100% over after Part II ends. Part III is all forward.