FILLER. Jus t a quick let thing I wrote for the upcoming cross over and I want to let ya'll know Asta still has his own demons to watch out for.

Asta and his Squad all landed back behind the walls of the Free Town’s barrier. He got down off of Ymir’s back and helped Fluttershy down right away. She immediately embraced him as did every one of his friends.

“Stupid,” Fluttershy whimpered. “You promised you wouldn’t do anything stupid?”

“Sorry Shy but I couldn’t let all of the Shadowbolts just lose to the bastards,” Asta said with and air of sincerity. “I couldn’t let that happen. If I can do something to protect those in my charge then I’ll take on armies to keep them alive, especially those I love,” He said rubbing her head while tears welled up in her eyes. “Some things can’t be helped but be stupid Shy, especially choices the out way the greater loss.”

“Stupid,” Fluttershy repeated as she buried her face into his chest. “But good-hearted.”

Asta looked to the others, especially the late arrivals. Thankful as he was he still stumped as to how they’d got there and arrive just in the nick of time to save his sorry ass from not going not biting the bullet.

“So, when did you three get here? How did you get here? And most importantly of all, how the fuck did you guys get so good with those Grimoires?’ Asta said, cocking his head to the sky.

“First of all language darling,” Rarity crossed her arms. “Secondly, it was Princess Luna that teleported us all hereafter Twilight teleported all over Ponyville to get Rainbow and myself. Pinkie was already at the library by the time she pulled us all there.”

“I was there because my Pinkie sense was going off like crazy, didn’t realize things were this bad or I would’ve brought the Party Howitzer,” The bubble gum mare waved her arms. “It was when we saw Princess Luna the Twilight explained that you really needed help with facing that bunch of meanies.”

“Yeah man,” Rainbow took over. “Spike gave us a quick rundown of what’s been happening since you guys left,” Rainbow shot over and pulled Asta into a hug. “Proud of what you’ve done dude but you don’t need to take on the whole world. Thanks for saving Shy to. Really wasn’t expecting Spike to look like a total badass either.”

“Hey,” Spike shot at Rainbow Dash.

“Anyway, as to how we got so good with our Grimoires,” Rainbow held her book up. “We decided to practice since we can’t let our captain show us up/ “Asta was about to ask how she knew but Rainbow continued on. “Rarity told us your plan and gave us the robes.”

“Coo-” Asta started to say but grabbed his chest and hit his knees as he felt a sharp burning pain. “Grrahh! It hurts.” He said as he winced.

“Asta?!” Shy said as she knelt down to help her boyfriend.

“What’s happening to him?” Luna asked as she and Celestia joined the group.

“I don’t know?” Fluttershy responded.

“It looks as if it’s affecting Ymir as well,” Celestia pointed out as everyone looked to see the dragoness laying on the ground holding her chest in a similar manner to Asta as she grimaced from the shooting pain on her chest.

“I’m guessing this has to do with their bond,” Twilight said out of worry.

“Asta what’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked as she knelt down next to down Asta. She placed a hand on his shoulder. She then noticed there was blood on the ground just beneath him. “He needs to be held again. I was in a rush before and must not have healed all of his wounds.”

“Let’s flip him on to back,” Applejack voiced.

“Carefully dears, we don’t want to aggravate his wounds any further,” Rarity said as the more athletic of the girls proceeded to turn Asta on to his back. Everyone stood there in shock as most of the blood was in the center of his chest but there were no visible entry points that would cause a wound.

“Ah, guys?” Rainbow Dash was the first to speak up with a confused look. “I know I may not be a doctor but this wound doesn’t look like it was made by some sort of weapon.”

“I believe your correct Rainbow Dash, it must have been some form of magic,” Twilight suggested. “What do you suspect Princesses?”

“I think we can agree on that for the time being Twilight but our first and foremost goal is stopping whatever is causing him this pain and the wound?” Celestia looked at her student. “Let’s start by getting to the wound so Fluttershy can heal him. Let’s get his shirt off so we can see what’s going on.”

“Scissors,” Pinkie said as he pulled a pair of the said objects from her hair.

“Let me do it Pinkie, we need someone with a steady hand dear,” Rarity said taking the scissors from the party planner and proceeded to cut Asta's shirt down the middle. She was appalled she had to destroy her own work but even more worried about her friend’s well being.”Oh dear-” was all that she could say as she laid eyes on Asta’s chest.

Spike had been trying to comfort Ymir while this was going on and had managed to get her onto her side and had been watching the other from a little ways away. Ymir groaned in pain and Spike turned back to her.

“I know Ymir but the others are doing what they can,” Spike placed a hand on his fellow dragon. His eyes got wide as he looked where she’d been holding her chest. “That’s not supposed to be there. And if this is on you then that means,” His head turned to the mane group.

There in the center of Asta ‘s chest and Ymir’s was a huge dark crimson five leafed clover. It was in the dead center of their chests right above where their hearts would be. (If you’d like a better glimpse of it looks like check out the cover art.)

“Fluttershy, has this ever happened?” Celestia asked as her gaze never broke from the clover. “Why does he have the clover tattooed on his chest?”

“It’s not a tattoo at all,” Fluttershy explained while she activated her healing vines spell. “He’s never had that until now.”

“I can assure you that she is telling the truth,” Rarity backed her friend’s story. “I know cause I had him remove his clothes when I had to take his measurements. There was never any sign of that clover on him until now.”

“This isn’t working,” Fluttershy said crying over Asta. The more mana she poured into her spell the more the clover on Asta simply devoured it.

“Could this be the result of the Demon's influence on his body?” Celestia said aloud as she placed a hand on Asta’s chest.

Suddenly chains made of red light shot forth from Asta’s arm and wrapped around his body.”RAAAAA!” Asta cried out in pain as the chains coiled around his body

“What type of magic is this?” Luna looked on as she and her sister jumped back grabbing the Element bearers as they did. “It’s so powerful.”

“Let me go, I have to help him,” Fluttershy cried out.

“You must stay back Fluttershy,” Celestia looked on. “Those chains are made of a magic beyond anyone here. They were put in place by someone far more powerful than either myself or my sister.”

“What’s happening?” Twilight asked.

“I’m guessing those chains are some form of seal that was meant to activate if Asta power took a turn in the wrong direction,” Luna glared at the bound mage.”Asta is normally very open, happy, and encouraging. He doesn’t let anything get him down or he turns bad situations on their heads. My guess is that the negativity of the last few days has taken its toll in feeding Sombra and his demon’s influence over his mind, thus his darker outlook.”

“But who placed that seal on him,” Celestia wondered.

“Only one person could’ve done it,” Spike said as he ran next to his mother. “There was only one person Asta has ever come across that was stronger than him.”

“Who?” Twilight asked with a furrowed brow.

“His older brother,” Spike explained. “Even in the earlier stages of my training when I met him back in the Crystal Empire and I could tell he wasn’t to be missed with. This must be one of the seals he placed on Asta to help maintain his control over Sombra.”

Then a black shadow of the evil King started to show in Asta’s shadow as green eyes with purple wisps coming from the side Showed itself.

“Finally I can take the fool's body and powers for my own,” the evil spirit said as shadow tendrils rose. “I hate to say it but without that demon’s influence I wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

“Sombra don’t you dare touch my Asta,” Fluttershy yelled at the shadow king.

“Sorry pegasus but Asta is no longer here, only me,” He said as he stood Asta on his feet preparing to take his body. “Even this seal won’t st-” the chains immediately shot around the evil spirit. “What no!”

“I won’t let you have my body,” Asta snarled as he grabbed a hold of the chains and pulled them from his body and in doing so pulled Sombra’s spirit from his shadow. “Celesta, lUAN and Twilight, when I say too hit me with your strongest light spells.” His grimoire floated up next to him. “Then, Shy, you get to me and heal me with the most powerful spells in your Grimoire.”

“Bastard,I won’t go back,” Sombra raged and thrashed as he tried to free himself from the red chains. “Your drake will be my new body,” he roared as he went for Spike.

“NO YOU DON’T,” Asta said through his teeth as he ignored his pain and pulled Sombra back. His grimoire opened up and flipped to an empty page, “Blast him and me now!” Asta demanded and the trio of magicians complied.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--” Sombra belted as the light spells flood the are sirring Asta skin in the process. The red chains wrapped around the Grimoire and then fade as a new entry was add to Asta’s Grimoire.

“That was a thing,” Asta huffed with a smirk as he fell backwards in pain. “Ow!” he said flatly as Fluttershy rushed to his side.

“Gaea magic: Mother’s Grace,” Fluttershy said without hesitation as a bright warm light filled the whole area with plants and life energy.

Asta looked down at his chest to see that the clover was still there, “Guess this is a thing now too,” he chuckled weakly. “I need a nap.”

“I’d say you’ve earned it,” Fluttershy smiled softly as Asta smiled back at her.

Soon the man was back on his feet. “I’m going to bed and if you need something it can wait till morning, no disrespect,” Asta said as he looked around. “You okay ya flying lizard.”

Ymir merely hissed at her partner and Asta laughed while Fluttershy reminded her not to use that language. One the couple reached their tent Asta collapsed on the bed while Fluttershy cuddled up next to him. It wasn’t long before she passed out herself. The couple happily slept in each other's arms throughout the night until Celestia’s sun rose the next morning. Fluttershy was the first to stir and slightly sat up and looked at the still snoring man next to her.

The shy mare giggled and kissed his cheek, “You just enjoy your sleep, you’ve more than earned it,” she said as a strand of hair fell across her face. She softly got to her feet and swiftly changed her clothes before heading out. “Good morning girls, Ymir. Oh and you to Nero.”

Meanwhile, in the tent, a voice could be heard by the still sleeping mage “I summon the Anti-magic knight,”

“Eh,” Asta said as he slightly woke up for a moment. “Sure Shy, go ahead I’ll be there in a sec…,” he said as a Void Portal opened up under him.