The blizzard howled around the fur-swathed figure as it stood before the broken stump of a tower that was almost lost in the flying snow, despite being barely two yards away. Trudging through the drifts, the figure slowly crossed the ruin, occasionally stumbling on buried bits of ancient masonry, to crouch beside a staircase that curved up the remnants of the wall. Carefully running its fingers over the stonework, the figure smiled in its hood and an ancient glyph hidden under one of the stairs, worn away to almost nothing, glowed purple for a moment, as a muffled “thump” sounded from the snow-covered floor.

When nothing further happened, the figure stood up, throwing back its hood and revealing a black-coated, red-maned, unicorn stallion, to frown at the floor and wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, he threw up his hands in exasperation, “To Tartarus with this!” his horn glowed purple as a blast of arcane fire instantly reduced the heaped snow to steam. A moment later, one of the stone slabs making up the floor dropped down and moved to the side to reveal another staircase. With a satisfied smirk, he pulled a glowstone lantern out of his pack and started down, ‘Heh, let Daring Do and Ahuizotl squabble with each other and wander about in far-off jungles and desert, there are plenty of ancient artifacts to be found out here in Equestria’s half-forgotten borderlands if you’re willing to look, and aren’t particularly fussy about how you get your information. Especially in these northern marches, what with the remnants of the lost Crystal Empire and the near-mythical Normane clans to plunder.’

Three steps down the stairway, he stopped and slapped his forehead in disgust, “Idiot,” the stallion muttered as he dug an oddly cut gem out of his coat and held it to his right eye, immediately, a stair three steps down began to glow to his vision. Backing up a few steps, ‘Better safe than sorry,’ the unicorn telekinetically pressed on the stair, triggering the beartrap concealed beneath it. After smashing the trap with his telekinesis, he continued on, stopping to deal with two other traps (a pair of spikes designed to impale the victim’s legs, and another pair of spikes angled to run the victim through the chest) as he descended deeper into the earth, ‘These traps are mechanical! How in Tartarus are they still working?’ he wondered as a door, flanked by a pair of everburning torches, finally came into view. “It’s about time,” the unicorn grumbled to himself, “Whoa there, Donut, old colt, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Fiery Glass was paranoid enough to trap the stairs to his own hidden study, let’s give this another look, just to be sure.” As he had suspected, a cautious examination through his enchanted gem revealed a tracery of magic overlaying the door.

Donut continued to scrutinize the spell-trap, slowly picking out its design, before nodding to himself, “You were an archmagi in your day, Glass, but that was fifteen hundred years ago, and for all their power, which is impressive by the way, your wards are no match for modern Abjuration theory.” His aura flared as the unicorn carefully dismantled the wards bound into the door, and then the magic wrapped around the handle to open the door while Donut cautiously remained at a distance. When nothing happened, he stepped up to the doorway and raised the gem to his eye again as he looked around the study, “Hmm … additional wards on that amulet and that tome over there, but nothing else …,” the stallion smirked as he looked at the shelves laden with ancient books and magical talismans, ‘Magical lore and theory that hasn’t been seen in over a thousand years, secrets that have been banned since Discord fell.’ “And it’s all mine.”

A fire crackled in the hearth of Donut’s own basement study as he looked over his new acquisitions. Smuggling everything from Fiery Glass’s tower back to Canterlot had been slow, tedious work, but well worth the effort now that the old warlock’s research was where it belonged, in his hands. Pride of place went to an amulet, the Jewel of Hekate, and a heavy tome, Quod Tantum Regno.

The Quod Tantum Regno contained all of Fiery Glass’s research into demonology and necromancy, including information on several demons Donut had never even heard of (Dretches? Hezrou? Whatever they were, they could be summoned in groups, the potential was simply wondrous), as well as the natures of Tartarus and the Elemental Planes, and even several summoning rituals, along with some entertainingly implausible theories about alternate realities (A world where everypony was a counterpart to this reality, but they were all small quadrupeds? Starswirl the Bearded created a magic mirror that was a portal to other Realms? Preposterous.). The book was a blessing for any aspiring warlock, or it would be if Fiery hadn’t written half of it in Old Unicornian, forcing Donut to constantly stop and translate the old stallion’s scribbles.

As for the Jewel … that was a bit of a mystery. None of the unicorn’s research had turned up any mention of it, or of a “Hekate”, and the old warlock’s writings made no mention of where or when he had acquired the amulet, but they did explain its purpose; the Jewel greatly enhanced the strength of summoning and binding magics upon demons, elementals and the spirits of the dead, which made it the perfect complement to Quod Tantum Regno.

Now, after months of study, he was ready to start on his path to wealth (well, even more wealth) and, more importantly, power, the power he had always deserved. After all, was he not descended from the royal house of long gone Unicornia? Was he not destined, by birth and ability, to rule over the herds around him? And the next step to attaining that power was to summon and bind a demon to carry out his bidding. He’d even selected his new servant from among the demons listed in Quod Tantum, although the information provided therein was disappointingly sparse; while the demon was not listed as a “Lord” or other Tartarean nobility, and Fiery hadn’t seen fit to include the demon’s type, a title, any notable powers, or even an illustration, the creature was powerful enough to require a blood sacrifice to call, and the old warlock had specifically included a warning to not attempt the summoning without the Jewel of Hekate, which hinted tantalizingly at the demon’s might. The book did, however, include the demon’s True Name (although it looked like somepony had tried, and failed, to burn that particular piece of information off of the page), which meant he had a formidable, but not “top rank”, demon that would be bound to obey his every command once summoned. As for the blood sacrifice … despite the Princesses’ efforts even Canterlot, the capital of the Empire, still had slums, and there were still desperate or homeless ponies whose disappearance would attract little attention.

Candles flickered in the grim stone chamber as Donut stood outside the warding circle he had painstakingly etched onto the floor, one bloodstained hand clutching the Quod Tantum, as he raised the other and began chanting, “Arruya Silussadaughavas, across the dark gulfs betwixt the realms, hear my call and obey! The door is open, the gates unbarred. I Summon Thee! As my will compels thee, the blood of the innocent binds thee to this world, Arruya, thee must do my bidding until thy art released! I Summon Thee, Arruya Silussadaughavas, I Summon Thee, I Summon Thee!”

The candles flared in a sudden, inexplicable wind, and their flames bent toward the circle as an oval of utter darkness materialized within the now glowing wards, then the very air seemed to twist, there was a faint “clang”, as if a distant iron gate had slammed open, and a figure was standing in the middle of the summoning circle.

It was bipedal, if not truly equine, and the warlock could tell that she was definitely female, despite the armor she was wearing, but she would never pass for a pony, what skin he could see was furless and ashen gray, her pointed ears were far to short for a pony’s, barely extending past her black mane, her scarred face was practically flat, with only a small bump of a nose, while her eyes glowed an eerie green, eyes that narrowed for a moment as they fell upon the body of the vagrant foal that lay chained to the gore-splattered sacrificial altar.

‘Just what exactly have I summoned?’ Donut wondered as he looked over his new servant; the heavy sword and armor, ‘Is that … dragonhide?’ clearly implied a war demon of some kind, but the exotic allure of the demoness’ muzzleless face and her very intriguing figure evoked another, far more lascivious, type of demon entirely.

“Vhat in Abyss are you?”

The unicorn glared at the presumptuous demoness in dumbfounded affront for a moment, “I am your Master, Donut Steel,” he finally snapped.

“Your name is Do not steal? Really?”

“Donut Steel!”

“That’s vhat I said!”

“Enough of your impertinence!” Donut bellowed, clasping the Jewel of Hekate in his free hand, “I am your Master, Arruya Silussadaughavas, and you will show me the respect I am due!” he smirked as the demoness flinched at the sound of her Name, “That’s better, now, kneel,” the warlock’s leer widened as she dropped to her knees with a fang-baring snarl, “Good, now that we’ve dispelled any doubts about who is in charge … hmm … yes. The original copy of the Discordian Scrolls is supposed to be stored in the restricted section of the Palace library, fetching them for me should be an adequate test of your abilities.”

Donut frowned as the demoness simply continued to kneel in the warding circle, “Well? What are you waiting for?”

“Vait, you really expect me to teleport from a location I don’t know to place I only just heard about?” she quirked an eyebrow disdainfully, “I don’t know about how Teleport vorks for you, but it doesn’t vork like that for me. Of course,” she added as the stallion’s face darkened in anger, “You could give me directions, or a map, and I could just valk there, vith few lower tier spells to keep anyone from noticing me, and then I vill be able to Teleport back to you.”

“Using a Background Pony charm to mask yourself among the ignorant herds, eh?” Donut mused as he stroked his chin, “If simply teleporting yourself to the archives is beyond your abilities, I guess your suggestion has some merit. Wait here,” the unicorn went next door to his study and quickly drew up a map from his manor to the Palace, a second to the Restricted Archives, and, as an afterthought, a map showing the way from the Summoning Chamber to his front door, ‘I don’t want that demon wandering about my estate unsupervised, after all, the servants would be sure to talk if they caught sight of it,’ he thought as he headed back, “Get up,” he grumbled at the still kneeling demon, “Here, these maps will get you to the Restricted Archives, do not deviate from them more than necessary, and try not to draw any attention to yourself.”

“And how am I to recognize these ‘Discordian Scrolls’ once I am inside?”

“They’re scrolls!” Donut snapped in frustration, “Graying parchment, blue-black ink, bound with a purple ribbon marked with an orange, eight-pointed star! By Grogar, do I have to explain everything to you?!”

The demoness was unmoved by her summoner’s outburst, “If I could merely snap my fingers and have vhatever I desired, regardless of how little information I might have, then I vould be a god not a demon,” she pointed out.

Turning away with a “harrumph”, the stallion waved an irritated hand over at the pitiful corpse on the stone slab, “And dispose of that while you’re at it!”

Time for some unabashed shilling; this story was inspired, and influenced, by HunDun, the tales of Apple Scratch, and the Winningverse Freeport and Midnight Sparkle stories, and I encourage everyone to give them a look.

:How did he know your Name, ‘Caller?:

:I don’t know, Kragor, vhen I sacrificed my Name, it vas supposed to be erased, Nine Hells, I barely remember it!: HellCaller responded to the telepathic query of the sentient sword at her side as she walked through the city streets, masked by an Invisibility spell, a dead child cradled in her arms.

:That book your “master” vas clutching might have something to do vith how he knew your Name, ve should make sure to “relieve” him of it before ve return home,: Kragor suggested, :Second question, vhat are you going to do about kid?:

:I don’t know,: ‘Caller admitted, :I haven’t seen any temples or guardhouses yet, and I’m not going to just leave her in some alley for rats.:

:Vhy not?: the sword asked bluntly, :It’s not like you owe her anything. You don’t even know vhat race she is.:

The demoness could only sigh, while Zau Kragor had been sentient for centuries, and was soul-bound to her as closely as a witch and her familiar, she was still a sword, and her understanding could be … rather limited, :This child vas killed because of me, Kragor, that makes her my responsibility.:

:Ah, this is about obligation, I understand now.:

Casually hopping up onto a low wall to get away from the press of the crowds, ‘Caller looked around, ‘Okay, so ve have horse-people vith horns, unicorns maybe? Horse-people vith vings, pegasi I guess? And just “normal” horse-people, most of them in colors that vould put a gnome’s hair to shame. City is bright, beautiful, and built on side of mountain, although my charge’s poor condition indicates that there is a slum either in city or reasonably nearby. No sign of temples, or a city vall for that matter, and only vay that palace up there can still be standing is through spending ridiculous amounts of magic,’ the demoness shook her head in exasperation at such wasteful vanity, ‘Yes, it is very pretty, but by Orcus’ fat, pimply ass, vho chooses a fancy palace over having a curtain vall to protect their city?’

Despite her annoyance at the city’s ruler’s priorities, a thin smile curled ‘Caller’s lips as she finally spotted a pair of armored, uniformed, horse-people walking together, ‘A guard patrol, finally!’

:Are you going to follow them back to guardhouse?:

:Ve don’t have time,: ‘Caller replied, :And ve could lose them in crowd,: moving quickly, she laid the child’s body atop some crates and then cast Ventriloquism, “Hey, over here!” the two guards turned at her call, but approached slowly, looking about for whoever had hailed them, ‘Not just rushing in blindly, good,’ the demoness noted, ‘They’ve had some training, at least.’ “This vay, hurry!” once the guards were close, ‘Caller lifted her hand, breaking the Invisibility covering the small corpse, before she slipped away, leaving the now very agitated guards behind.

:So, how did you get away vith it, anyway?:

‘Caller raised an eyebrow at her sword’s odd question, :How did I get away vith vhat?: she asked as she quietly slipped through the Palace’s halls.

:You lied to your “master” about not being able to just Teleport into this library,: Kragor pointed out, :You’re bound by a summoning, you shouldn’t be able to lie to him!:

:I didn’t lie,: the demoness corrected, :I just didn’t offer additional information and let him draw his own conclusions. It’s not my fault if Do not steal doesn’t know about Greater Teleport’s capabilities or realize that it and Teleport are separate spells,: the soulblade gave a chiming mental laugh as HellCaller smirked.

Turning a corner, she spotted what the map claimed was her destination, ‘Ah, here ve are. Now to deal vith them,’ she thought, glancing at the pair of guards flanking the door, “Mass Hold Person.” Walking forward, she laid a gentle hand on each paralyzed guard’s muzzle, “Deep Slumber,” before turning her attention to the door, “Arcane Sight,” ‘Caller frowned as she examined the portal, ‘For a “restricted archive” these vards are awfully veak,’ a simple Knock spell was all it required for her to bypass the locks and protective enchantments.

“Hmm, maybe I vas telling bastard complete truth after all.”

“Vhy?” Kragor’s metallic voice was muffled slightly by the protective charms placed in the archive’s walls, “Vhat do you see?”

“There are abjuration glyphs inscribed into valls,” the demoness explained, “Let’s see … runes are odd … Identify … ah, there ve are … oh, vell that is disappointing.”

“Some clarification for those of us vho aren’t archmagi?”

“Sorry,” ‘Caller apologized, “These horse-people have entire archive under a permanent Dimensional Lock effect, vhich vould be impressive, if it vasn’t so veak. Vards vill stop Dimension Door, Teleport, Shadow Valk, and other, lesser teleportation spells, but higher-power spells, Planeshift, Greater Teleport and Gate, vill punch right through.”

“Maybe that is vhy horn-boy did not realize that you vere playing semantic games? Maybe they don’t know greater extradimensional travel spells here?”

“It’s possible, I suppose. Something to look into, anyway, if ve vind up stuck here for a vhile, vell, let’s get to vork. Locate Object.”

It didn’t take long for ‘Caller to find the scrolls she wanted (after all, how many would have a purple ribbon with an orange symbol on it?), which proved fortunate as a commotion erupted outside the archive. She plucked the scrolls off the shelf just as a purple unicorn-woman burst through the doors, her horn wrapped in a magenta aura, “Stop!”

“Sorry, I can’t stop and play right now,” the demoness replied cheerfully, “Maybe later? Greater Teleport.”

“I’ve got you your scrolls,” ‘Caller announced as she strode into Donut’s study and tossed the documents on his desk.

“Ghah! Be careful with those!” the stallion glared at the demoness as he quickly snatched up the ancient rolls of parchment, “Were there any problems?”

She shrugged, “Someone saw me leaving vith scrolls.”

Donut frowned at his tartarean servant, “Describe this pony.”

“Female horse-person, (vhat is your race called anyway?), she had a horn like yours, purple coat, indigo hair vith a pink stripe, oh and she had some glyph or heraldry on her outfit.”

“This glyph was it a large, pinkish, six-pointed star surrounded by five small stars?” when ‘Caller nodded, Donut began to swear, “Grogar bucking Faust! Now Celestia’s pet will start poking around!”

“So, she is going to be a problem then?”

“Twilight Sparkle and her friends are Heroes of the Realm,” the stallion growled, “I need to think about this … go back to the Summoning Chamber and wait until I need you.”

The next three days were something of a vacation for HellCaller; Mage’s Magnificent Mansion kept her comfortably housed and feed, while she placed an Alarm on the chamber door, so Donut wouldn’t catch her unawares. She’d even managed to pick up a little information through Scrying; she was in the city of Canterlot, capital of Equestria, and the locals were called … ponies. Kragor couldn’t stop laughing for almost thirty minutes when they learned that tidbit, while ‘Caller had decided that, given their ridiculous names and coloration, these “ponies” must be feykin, like the gnomes and elves back home. She had also observed several unicorns using magic, but never once had they made a gesture or spoken an incantation, their horns just glowed, and then the spell happened, a conundrum that frustrated the demoness to no end.

Early the next morning, Donut finally returned, “Arruya! Attend me! I have devised the perfect plan for dealing with Sparkle and her friends!” he rubbed his hand together happily, “You, my demon, shall journey to Ponyville and capture Fluttershy, the weakest and most timid of the Bearers, and teleport her back here. With one of their members gone, the Elements of Harmony will not work, and with you teleporting, Sparkle and the others will have not the slightest idea where to look for her. Between the Scrolls and the Quod Tantum,” the stallion caressed the tome hanging from his belt, “I already have a number of rituals to choose from that Fluttershy would make an ideal sacrifice for.”

“And how am I to get to this Ponyville?”

“Some demons are said to be able to change their appearance … to look like normal ponies … can you do this?”

‘Caller nodded, “It’s not a common thing for me, but I can manage it if I must.”

“Excellent,” the unicorn smiled, “Then I shall simply provide you with maps and a train ticket to reach Fluttershy’s home. Once no pony is around you can grab her.”

“This Fluttershy, vhat can you tell me about her?”

Donut chuckled, “I thought you might ask me that, here this magazine has a picture of her … Fluttershy is known as the most beautiful, and least powerful, of the Bearers of Harmony, Princess Celestia’s personal little band of problem solvers. While she can speak with, and according to some reports control, animals, she is also the most fearful and least combative of the six mares, although there have been some rather farfetched stories of her staring down dragons and other such foolishness. Although …,” he stroked his chin in thought, “She did befriend Discord, so I guess there might be something to those rumors ….”

“Hmm … she sounds rather like a beast master style druid,” ‘Caller commented as she leafed through the magazine, “Vhile not very powerful on their own, their bonded animals can be quite dangerous. And vho is Discord?”

“The Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony, you will know him if you see him, trust me, and if you do see him, stay away! I will get the maps and train ticket while you do whatever preparations you need,” the unicorn declared, “And remember speak to no pony about your true nature or purpose in Ponyville!”

“Fine, fine,” the demoness grumbled, “I just have one more question … vhat in Nine Hells is a train?”

The trip to Ponyville had been uneventful, well, except for the pink earth pony mare who had reacted with rather pronounced surprise when she spotted ‘Caller walking through the town and then run off without a word, ‘I vonder vhat her problem vas, anyway?’ the demoness pondered as she stood before quite possibly the most stereotypical druid home she had ever seen, a living tree that had been turned into a house, surrounded by hutches and coops.

The demoness’ knock was soon answered by a yellow pegasus with a pink mane, “H-hello? Can I help you?”

“Vhy yes, yes you can, Fluttershy, Mass Charm Monster,” ‘Caller smiled as the mare’s expression went from confused to welcoming, “Vhy don’t ve go inside for a nice chat?”

“How are you?” asked Fluttershy as she settled on her couch “Would you like some tea? Oh, I’m dreadfully sorry, I don’t think I caught your name Miss ….”

“I’m HellCaller,” the demoness replied absently as she looked around, “You have a very nice cottage here, Fluttershy.”

“Thank you,” the pegasus smiled shyly at the praise, “HellCaller is an odd name for a pony, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Yes, it is,” ‘Caller agreed as she sat next to Fluttershy and took the mare’s hands in her own, “I suppose it’s more of a title than a name. Now, I hate to disturb your day, Fluttershy, dear, but it is extremely important that you come vith me to Canterlot.”

“Oh, but I’m supposed to meet Rarity at the spa this afternoon.”

“I’m sorry, but this is vitally important, animals need you, Fluttershy, I could leave your friend a note explaining everything, if that vould make you feel better?”

The pegasus nodded, “Yes, please, I wouldn’t want to make my friends worry,” she got up to fetch parchment and ink, “Are you sure we can’t go and talk to Rarity first? I’m certain she and my other friends would be willing to help animals in need.”

“There isn’t enough time, I’m afraid,” ‘Caller sighed regretfully, “But I promise that I’ll explain it all to them in my note.”

Once she had finished her letter, the demoness placed it on the table, along with a few other pages, and plopped a statuette of a rabbit on it to hold everything in place, “Continual Flame,” ‘Caller nodded at the glowing figurine, “There, that should ensure your friends vill find note. Now then, are you ready to go, Fluttershy?”

“Yes, I think so, am I going to need anything, should I get my first aid kit?”

“No, dear, all ve need is your expertise on animals,” encouraged by her new friend’s reassuring smile and the knowledge that animals needed her help, Fluttershy took the hand the demoness held out to her, “Greater Teleport.”

Twilight Sparkle, and her number one assistant Spike the Dragon, were just sitting down for a nice bit of lunch when the door to Golden Oak Library slammed open, “Twilight!” cried Rarity as she rushed in, “Somepony’s foalnapped Fluttershy!”

“What?!” the purple unicorn paled as she read the note her friend shoved into her hands, “Spike! Go get Pinkie Pie! Rarity, go and grab Rainbow! I’ll run to the farm and fetch AJ.”

“A’right, what’s all tha ruckus about? Twi’ only said somethin’ had happened ta Fluttershy?”

Rarity threw her hands up in despair (even in the most serious of moments, the fashionista’s instinct for drama remained strong) “Our dear, gentle friend has been abducted by vile ruffians!”

The academic nodded to her shocked friends, “It’s true, I have their note right here.”

“To Rarity, Twilight Sparkle and Company.

I have taken your friend, Fluttershy, captive at the command of one Count Donut Steel of Canterlot, who believes that this will cripple your ability to interfere with his future plans.

While she is in good health at the time I write this, I cannot say how long she will remain so, as Donut has expressed an intent to use her as a blood sacrifice for a summoning ritual, and I do not know when he plans to perform said rite.

Included with this letter, you will find three maps, one shows the route between Donut Steel’s estate and the Canterlot train station, the second the route between the estate and Canterlot Palace, while the third shows the route from the estate’s front door to Donut’s concealed summoning chamber. I believe Fluttershy will be kept either within or close by that chamber until Donut is ready for his ceremony.

Donut says that you six are ‘Heroes of the Realm’, if that is true, then this warning and these maps are all that you will need to rescue Fluttershy from his designs.

HellCaller”

“Yeah, like this doesn’t just scream ‘trap’,” Rainbow growled, “And what kind of a name is ‘HellCaller’, anyway?”

“Well of course it’s a trap, Dashie,” Pinkie replied cheerfully, even if her hair and ears were lying flat, “But this mystery pony is trying to make it a trap for that meanie-pants Donut, even if snatching Fluttershy wasn’t a very nice thing to do.”

Twilight rubbed her chin in thought for a moment, “Either way, Fluttershy is missing, and this is currently our only lead,” she declared, “Fillies, go and get your equipment, we’ll catch the afternoon train to Canterlot.”

The five mares (and one dragon) soon regrouped at the train station, where their armor and weapons drew worried looks from the other ponies waiting on the platform, “Uh, Twi’, sugarcube, are ya sure Spike ought ta be goin' with us?” Applejack asked in concern as she looked at the little drake standing resolutely beside the academic.

Twilight sighed, “He refuses to stay in Ponyville where it’s safe.”

“You bet I refuse!” asserted Spike adamantly, “Fluttershy is my friend too! And what if you need to send another message to the Princesses or something?” the mares could only look at each other and shrug in reluctant agreement.

Rarity put a hand on the drake’s shoulder, “Alright Spikey-wikey, you can come with us, but you stay behind us and out of any fights, do you understand? You know Fluttershy would be just horrified if you got hurt trying to rescue her,” the fashionista gave Spike’s shoulder a comforting squeeze when he finally gave a grudging nod.

A detachment of eight Solar Guards and a Canterlot magistrate, who introduced himself as Forthright Verdict, met the group at the Canterlot platform and accompanied them to the Steel Estate, where a butler eventually answered their extended knocking, “What is …,” whatever sharp comment the mare had been about to make quickly died when she saw the band of armored ponies waiting impatiently on the porch, “Yes, can I help you?”

Forthright stepped forward, “A number of very serious charges have been made against Count Steel, and these ponies are here as representatives of the Crowns to search this estate and take the Count into custody while the veracity of the charges is investigated.”

“Very well, come in,” the butler escorted the group into the foyer, except for the four guards who remained outside to watch the building, “And what are the particulars of these allegations, so that I may inform his Lordship and his barrister?”

Forthright pulled a scroll from a case on his belt and began to read, “Count Donut Steel stands accused of the following crimes: assault, foalnapping, illegal imprisonment, intent to commit murder, intent to use a sentient being for a ritual sacrifice, intent to summon a demon (or demons), and treason against Equestria.”

The butler blanched at the charges and quickly disappeared deeper into the estate to find her employer, while Rainbow tossed her friends a smirk, “Five bits says this ‘Count’ Donut tries to run for it.”

“That is why the Guard has ponies stationed outside,” the magistrate observed, “Though it is more common for nobles to bluster and threaten, and then leave everything to their barristers to sort out.”

Several minutes later, the butler returned, alone, “His Lordship is outraged at these spurious accusations, but will relinquish himself into your custody, under protest of course, but first he asks for a few minutes to gather his things.”

Forthright started to reply, but a chorus of thin, wailing howls interrupted him as a pack of eight squat, blubbery beings surged out of the hall, drool dripping from their fanged mouths and clawed hands outstretched. Spike grabbed the startled butler and dragged her back as the guardsponies surged forward to meet the attackers, “Go find Steel!” the sergeant yelled at the five mares as her sword bit into one of the abominations, its rubbery hide blunting the blow.

“Spike! Stay with the guards!” Twilight ordered as she and her friends charged into the estate, Applejack using her heavy maul to clear one of the horrors from their path by the simple expedient of smashing it aside to sprawl on the floor, where one of the guards immediately fell upon the prone monstrosity, his blade hacking and stabbing.

‘Caller leaned idly against the wall, indifferent to the reproachful stare Fluttershy had fixed upon her from the pegasus’ position chained atop the sacrificial slab, “Oh, come on,” the demoness finally grumbled, “Yes, accommodations are lousy, but if your friends really are ‘Heroes of Realm’ that Donut thinks they are, you’ll be out of here and back home in a few days, tops.”

The gag in her mouth reduced Fluttershy’s reply to a barely audible series of “meeps”.

“Vhat can I say, I’m not a nice person, and it’s not like I vanted to go after you,” ‘Caller added, waving a hand at herself, “Bound demon here, I can twist or subvert my ‘masters’ orders, but I do have to follow them in end.”

The mare meeped some more.

“Yeah, okay, if asshole I’m bound to takes it into his pointy little head to have his ritual early I’ll have to think of something,” the demoness admitted, pulling away from the wall to frown down at Fluttershy, “He already murdered a child to compel me to his vill, but I vill not let him profit from this anymore than I absolutely have to.”

“Meep.”

“You’re velcome.”

The odd conversation was interrupted by Donut bursting through the door and rushing for the warding circle, where he quickly chanted a few words while holding the Jewel aloft. As soon as the brief incantation ended, the sigils flared, and a vile reek filled the room, as a trio of massive, bipedal toads appeared within the circle, their taloned hands nearly scraping the floor as they towered over everyone else in the chamber. “Guard this room!” the stallion ordered his demonic servants as he backed up to the far wall, “Those Grogar damned Bearers of Harmony are here! They figured out I took Fluttershy somehow! Don’t let them near me!”

“Try and stay out of our way, half-breed,” one of the toad-demons sneered at ‘Caller in the Abyssal tongue as it shuffled across the room.

‘Hezrou,’ the demoness rolled her eyes as she drew her sword and moved to join the others, ‘Lazy as day is long, and at least as arrogant.’

A few moments later, but long enough for the three demons to begin shifting restlessly, the door exploded open and five mares poured through.

Applejack waited with forced patience as Rarity checked the door for traps or wards, when the white unicorn finally indicated the door was safe, she kicked it open and dove through to confront a quartet of demons, three massive, toad-like ones and a smaller, more pony-looking female, while behind them Fluttershy lay bound to a stone slab, and a stallion that the farmer would bet a barrel of cider was Donut Steel stood near the back wall, shouting orders. A cloud of cloying, greasy, unspeakably cold darkness enveloped the mares as soon as they entered the chamber, while multicolored bolts of ricocheting energy leaped randomly between the five ponies.

The farmer gritted her teeth against the pain and forced her way forward, her maul beginning to glow as she breathed a quick prayer to the Princesses, only to be intercepted by the demoness, a heavy, black-bladed bastard sword gripped in her hands, “Back ta tha darkness with ya!” Applejack growled as she swung, her heavy hammer bursting into white flames as it neared the demon.

The armored demoness merely grinned brashly at Applejack as she deflected the farmer’s blow, and then flames exploded around the farmpony and her friends as the demon spoke, “Garmth di Ixen.”

Blinking the spots from her dazzled eyes, the blonde mare was heartened to see that her friends had joined the fray; Rainbow’s paired blades whirled around her as she engaged one of the toad-demons, and Pinkie cartwheeled around another, her rapier in one hand and a rubber chicken in the other, while Rarity waited with studied poise before the last demon, her own rapier ready to lash out in precise, viper-swift strikes, and Twilight stood behind her more martially capable friends, hurling bolts of magic at Donut, who hastily raised a mystical shield to fend off the librarian’s assault.

While the stallion was quick to go on the offensive, Twilight countered ever spell he threw, from blasts of dark magic, to sheets of flame, to shadowy, grasping tendrils. Likewise, Rainbow made quick work of her opponent, and then moved to help her friends – Pinkie’s adversary actually looked grateful to be outnumbered, if only for the distraction from the baker’s constant chatter.

As this was going on, Applejack and the demoness had continued exchanging blows, along with the occasional burst of fire or ice, always punctuated by the demoness with a few words in what sounded a lot like dragonish to the farmpony, leaving both badly battered; Applejack had cuts on her arms and legs, and a long gash, luckily not deep, along her side, while the demoness’s armor was cracked and scorched by the earth pony’s hammering blows and seeped blood.

As the last of the toad-demons fell, only to shimmer and fade away as its body hit the floor, and Twilight shattered the warlock’s shield with an arcane bolt, the demoness stepped back from the farmer, “Dos di Ixen,” she snarled, conjuring a wall of fire that separated the five ponies from the rest of the room.

“Surrender, Donut Steel!” Twilight called above the crackling flames, “You have nowhere to go, and resisting will just make the court’s judgement harsher!”

“Surrender?” the stallion sneered, “To a pack of Princess-adulating peasants and an aggrandized civil servant? To Tartarus with you, the courts and your precious alicorns! Arruya!” Donut snapped, turning to his remaining demon, “I command you to end this idiotic fracas! I don’t care how!”

Applejack saw the demoness’s eyes glow brighter for a moment as a faint smile curled her lips, and then she spun around and unleashed a blast of roiling green and purple arcane energy that ripped across the room, shattering and melting the very stones, to smash into Donut Steel while leaving Fluttershy untouched. Following after the wave of magic, the demoness reached the stallion’s shattered body in a single bound and plunged her sword into his heart as runes flared upon the blade and a metallic sounding cackle echoed through the chamber.

As the wall of fire vanished, the five mares rushed over to cluster eagerly around Fluttershy, the demon momentarily forgotten, as Rarity made quick work of the pegasus’ manacles.

A sudden curse, and the sound of metal skittering across stone, drew the ponies’ attention away from their reunion and back to the demoness as she glared at the necklace on the floor and cradled her hand as if it had been burned, “Fine!” she spat, glaring at the amulet, “Keep thrice-damned thing! But this is going vith me!” she added, ripping a heavy book from the dead warlock’s belt.

The farmpony and weatherpony surged forward, their weapons at the ready, only to stop in surprise as Fluttershy quickly pushed past them to face the glowering demon, “Thank you for stopping Donut, even though I wish you hadn’t killed him, HellCaller, and thank you for restraining yourself against my friends.”

“Wait, you’re HellCaller?” asked Twilight.

“Yes,” the demoness replied absently as she gazed at Fluttershy in confusion, “You must still be suffering from Charm I cast on you, even though spell should have broken vhen Donut had me chain you up.”

The pink-maned mare shook her head, “No, you were kind to me even when you didn’t need to be, and you held back against me friends, even when Donut ordered you to protect him, because you knew it was wrong. You’re a good pony,” she stated firmly.

“Didn’t ve already have this discussion?” ‘Caller asked archly, before she flashed the pegasus a small frown, “I guess you ponies are really veak against enchantments, not to worry, it vill fade quickly enough once I am gone.”

“I don’t think she’s under a spell, ‘Caller,” the ponies looked around in alarm as the odd, chiming, voice of a young mare came out of nowhere, “I think she really means it.”

“She’s trying to be honest friends vith demon that kidnapped her?” ‘Caller laughed, “That’d just be silly, Kragor,” glancing back at the mares, now gathered protectively around Fluttershy, the demoness continued, “Well, I guess I shall see you again, or, more likely, never again. Togofor Ossalur.”

And the demon was gone.

‘Caller hissed slightly as she poked at a bruised rib, ‘Damn paladins and their holy veapons, even best armor can’t keep out divine fire,’ she grumbled to herself, “Now, vhere did ve end up?” she added aloud, looking at the rolling plains that stretched out before her, ending in distant blue hills.

“‘Caller? You might vant to turn around.”

The demoness frowned at her sword’s hesitant tone, “Vhat is it, Kragor?” she asked as she turned, to see a lone mountain rising in the distance with a city climbing its flanks, and a very conspicuous palace perched precariously above, “Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me!”

Upon reaching the Palace, the six Bearers of Harmony, having treated their injuries, along with Spike and Forthright Verdict were quickly ushered into the Throne Room where Princess Celestia awaited them, the squad of guardsponies having remained behind to secure Donut Steel’s estate and servants. Twilight threw herself forward to embrace her mentor as she rose from her bow, while Spike and the other mares quickly crowded around their divine sovereign, leaving a flummoxed Forthright to slowly follow behind. “I’m grateful that you are all well,” Celestia said as she reached out to gently grasp Fluttershy’s shoulder, “I’ve sent a servant to summon Luna, she’ll be here shortly.”

“I am already here, Sister,” the lunar diarch said as she entered the room, “And most thankful that none of you hath suffered great injury,” she added warmly, before her lips turned in a small frown, “However, I do not see the accused, has he already been detained in the dungeons?”

“I’m afraid Count Steel was slain while resisting arrest, Princess,” the magistrate explained, “Although I am not currently aware of the details of his demise.”

“I see,” Celestia sighed, “That is … unfortunate.”

Luna sniffed at her sister’s comment, “I fail to see how. Even if brought to trial, Donut Steel’s many offenses already merited a sentence of execution.”

“I always hold out the hope for redemption, Luna, as you well know,” the solar alicorn replied, “But I think that is a discussion for another time. Now, my little ponies, tell us what happened.”

The group quickly related their tales to the Princesses, albeit with frequent interruptions and side commentary:

“Spike!” an aghast Twilight scolded her assistant, “You promised you’d stay out of any fighting!”

“I know,” the drake admitted guiltily, before drawing himself up to meet the librarian’s eye, “But those demon-things were trying to get at the servants and Mister Verdict, what was I supposed to do? Besides,” he added, scuffing his foot against the floor, “All I really did was keep them back with my fire until the guards could deal with them.”

“Ah understand, sugarcube, Ah do,” Applejack said as she ruffled Spikes frill and Fluttershy wrapped the now blushing drake in a hug, “Yer brave an’ smart an’ ya want ta help ponies, but yer still jus’ a youngin’, an’ we worry about ya, is all.”

“Donut murdered a foal?!” Rarity demanded, bring a hand to her mouth, “I think I might be sick ….”

“That’s what HellCaller told me,” Fluttershy confirmed, “She seemed rather … peeved … about it,” the gentle-natured pegasus added, blushing at her own strong language.

“So, you are saying Count Steel was killed by his own demon?” Forthright asked skeptically, “The demon Miss Fluttershy claims he had bound with a blood sacrifice?”

“Considering his ill-advised final command, I find it most credible,” Luna replied, “Demons do not generally enjoy being called to our Realm and enslaved to the will of another, so I suspect that this HellCaller had been scheming to turn on Count Steel from the moment she was summoned, and any of the cannier demons would quickly seize upon such a poorly worded order to betray their erstwhile masters,” the Princess of the Moon chuckled darkly, “I find it most fitting that Donut Steel’s demise was at the hands of the very demon he bound to assist him with his foul deeds.”

“Fluttershy thinks that HellCaller was deliberately limiting herself during the fight,” Twilight added, “And considering the apparent strength of whatever spell it was that she used on the Count, I’m inclined to agree with her. Perhaps HellCaller was hoping to provoke him into making such a mistake for her to exploit?”

“It wasn’t jus’ tha magic that she was holdin’ back on,” Applejack said as she rubbed at her bandaged side, “Ah didn’t see it at tha time, but thinkin’ back, Ah’m pretty sure that she wasn’t goin’ at me all out, neither.”

“It still wasn’t very nice of her to assume Fluttershy’s attempt to be friends was because she was under a spell,” Pinkie grumbled, “And I’m going to tell her that when I see her again.”

Rainbow blinked at her hyper friend, “Why would we see her again? Wait, is your Pinkie Sense telling you stuff again?”

“Noperoonie, that’s just how our lives seem to go.”

The other five mares exchanged rueful looks, “She ain’t wrong,” Applejack admitted with a shrug.

“So … yeah, Count Steel was killed by his own demon, who … sort of apologized to Fluttershy for foalnapping her before we arrived, and then left peacefully once Steel was defeated,” Twilight chewed on her lip for a moment, “And that’s pretty much everything. Oh, and we recovered the Discordian Scrolls from Steel’s study,” she added, holding out the documents to the Princesses.

“You forgot about this, egghead,” Rainbow chided the academic as she held up a rune-inscribed amulet, “That HellCaller filly dropped this like it’d bit her, but she did take a book off Donut’s belt when she left.”

Celestia took the offered amulet from the pegasus as she passed the Scrolls to Luna, “Well I’ll be … the Jewel of Hekate, this disappeared over a millennium ago.”

Rarity leaned forward for a better look at the talisman, “What is it, Princess?”

“A most ancient and puzzling magic, gracious Rarity,” Luna responded, “None seem to know of its origins, but the Jewel’s ability to enhance the conjuring and compelling of beings from other Realms was often used to cause strife and turmoil.”

“The Scrolls will be returned to the Restricted Archives, and the Jewel transferred to the Sanctuary Vaults,” the solar diarch declared, “Although, it seems we need to update the wards,” she added under her breath, “And while I’m sure that Magistrate Verdict has a few more questions for you, you all should go home soon and get some rest. You’ve had a trying day, after all.”

“Vhat in Nine Hells is going on here?!” ‘Caller snarled as yet another Planeshift spell only moved her a few hundred miles instead of returning her back to her home reality.

“Maybe there is something vrong vith connection between this plane and Astral?” Kragor suggested, “Maybe that is vhy natives haven’t developed greater teleportation spells?”

“Their Summoning seem to vork just fine,” the demoness grumbled in disagreement, “Fine, time to stop pussyfooting around and pull out big invocations! Gate,” a circular window, five feet in diameter, appeared as soon as the incantation was finished, floating in the air and showing a well-appointed bedroom, “Ha! Take that, pony vorld! Come on, Kragor, let’s go home.”

But as ‘Caller stepped into the portal, she rebounded as if she had walked into a stone wall, “Are you shitting me?!” she yelled in frustration, pounding her fist on the invisible barrier that kept her in this world, “And vhat are you laughing at?” the demoness snapped at her chortling sword.

“Sorry, ‘Caller,” Kragor managed to get out between snickers, “But vatching you lose it like this is hilarious! Aw, don’t be like that, I bet Fluttershy vould let us stay vith her vhile you’re figuring out vhat’s vrong vith magic.”

“Fluttershy? Vhat does she have to do vith …,” the demoness trailed off as she finally noticed that Ponyville was sitting behind her, “Of course,” she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, before turning and striding into the shadowed forest rising nearby, “And you really think all her friends, including a paladin, vould be just fine vith having a half-demon hanging around?”

“You could at least give it a chance,” the soulblade pouted, “Fluttershy’s soul probably tastes all varm and cuddly … she vouldn’t turn us away.”

‘Caller cocked an eyebrow at her sword, “I don’t think most people vould understand that you mean that as a compliment,” she observed, still headed resolutely into the trees.

A few days later saw HellCaller comfortably ensconced in a mountainside cave; once again, Mage’s Magnificent Mansion saw to her comforts, while an Alarm spell on the cave mouth provided forewarning against any intruders (the smell of dragon that lingered in the cavern would keep most wild animals away), and the few healing potions she carried had served to ease the worst of her injuries and accelerated the recovery of the rest (although she would have a few new scars), while she spent her time studying the tome she had taken from Donut Steel.

“You vere right, Kragor,” she commended her bonded blade, “Donut got my Name from this book, it managed to resist ritual somehow … although I’ll be buggered if I can figure out how, or vhy my Name is in it in first place!”

The sword giggled, “Like you ever needed excuse for a bit of buggery.”

“Brat,” ‘Caller replied pleasantly, “Vell, this should be easy enough to fix. Erase,” she smiled contentedly as the words to her Name evaporated from the page as she ran her finger along it. After a moment, the demoness shrugged and deleted the rest of the entry as well, leaving only a blank area in the book where the information on her had once been.

“Oh, damn it to Heaven!”

The demoness’ profound profanity roused Kragor from her nap, “Vhat is it, ‘Caller, vhat’s vrong?” the soulblade asked groggily.

“I found out vhy ve can’t leave this thrice-damned Realm,” ‘Caller snarled, “Here, listen to this, ‘as my vill compels thee, blood of innocent binds thee to this vorld, thee must do my bidding until thy art released’.”

“Vell that’s annoying,” the sword grumbled, “And how do these pony-people have such strong binding magic vhen they seem to know so little about dimensional travel? Still, ve just need to grab Donut’s body and bring him back as a ghoul or something and then … oh, oh gods, I’m so sorry, ‘Caller, I didn’t mean to –”

“Shh,” the demoness gently hushed her distraught soulblade, stoking its hilt, “It’s fine, Kragor, you did nothing vrong.”

“But ve’re trapped here because of me!” the sword moaned, “Ve can’t go home because I ate Donut’s soul!”

“It’s not your fault,” ‘Caller declared firmly as she gathered her sheathed blade into her arms, “I drove you into that pointy-headed bastard’s heart, you just did vhat you’re supposed to do. If anyone fucked up, it vas me, understand?” ‘All this time together, and Kragor can still be so oddly innocent,’ the demoness mused as she continued to comfort the soulblade, ‘Even I still occasionally forget that there is more to her than just gleeful bloodlust ….’

I know that I’m playing fast-and-loose with how life stealing, create undead and the afterlife works in Pathfinder here, and I can only ask for my readers’ understanding and tolerance.

Princess Luna smiled to herself as she floated through the dreamscape, this was one of her favorite parts of her duties, observing her little ponies’ often whimsical imaginings and helping them deal with their nightmares and fears. Those nights when she found no night hags, ghouls, or other monsters attempting to prey on her subjects’ minds or bodies were especially cherished, and this was looking to be one of them.

As she passed through Ponyville, a new dream bubble in the Everfree caught her attention. Drawing closer, the lunar alicorn’s curiosity sharpened to concern as she saw that the bubble’s skin, which represented a dreamer’s sense of self and was their first line of defense against maras and other dream realm predators, was almost nonexistent.

Sliding through the inexplicably fragile barrier, Luna entered a broad mountain valley, the far ends shrouded in mists from which the sounds of a pitched battle poured, while a red-stained moon hung low overhead. Sitting on a rock was a young earth pony mare that looked to be made from black metal, glowing white runes manifesting and disappearing across her body at random, who was staring pensively down at the rabbit cradled in her hands.

“Hello, pony-lady,” the mare greeted the alicorn, not bothering to look up, “Do you know vhat’s vrong vith my bunny?”

‘That may hath been the fastest anypony, even a lucid dreamer, hath ever noticed my presence,’ Luna mused as she walked over to examine the rabbit in question, “I see nothing wrong with thine rabbit, mine little pony.”

“Pony?” the mare blinked at her, before running a hand over her muzzle and ears, “Oh, yeah, I guess I did pattern my form after you ponies … are you sure there’s nothing vrong vith my bunny? I’m still getting used to dreaming, and something about him doesn’t seem right ... maybe he isn’t fluffy enough?”

“He is most fluffy,” the Princess of the Moon assured the strange mare, ‘Patterning her form after ponies? Getting used to dreaming? Just what sort of being hath I discovered here?’ “Might I know thine name, young one?”

“Nope,” the mare replied cheerfully as she stroked the rabbit, “Names have Power, but you can call me Kragor.”

“And thou may call me Luna … thou hath never dreamed before, young Kragor?”

“Nuh uh, I’ve vatched some of my sister’s dreams, but I never had any of my own before ve came here.”

“Thou … watch thine sister’s dreams?”

“Oh yeah, I use our telepathic link to share her sensorium all time,” Kragor replied, before her muzzle fell in a thoughtful frown, “Maybe that’s vhy bunny doesn’t feel right, I’ve never experienced one directly before ….”

“But the battle out there does feel right to thee?” Luna asked, waving a hand at the distant mists.

“Hmm? Oh, battle,” the mare responded distractedly, “I’ve got plenty of experience vith battles and vars and vhatnot, it’s vhat I vas made for after all,” Kragor gave a slight twitch and glanced upward, “Oh, ‘Caller is vaking up, I guess it’s time for me to go … it vas nice to meet you Luna!”

HellCaller peered through the dense vegetation, a crude wooden spear in her hand, as she checked her surroundings for danger. While manticores, chimeras, hydras and the strange wolf-like plant-constructs that haunted the forest were no threat to the demoness, she had no desire to try herself against the titanic bears made of stars she had seen unless forced to, and she and the local dragon had quickly come to the unspoken agreement to give each other their space -- while 'Caller was quite certain that she could take the dragon, she saw no need to press a profitless and unnecessary fight. Besides, the resulting battle would almost certainly draw attention, which was something to be avoided for now.

As for the forest’s natives, the resident deer-folk had learned to avoid her, except for the occasional insult shouted from the foliage, after a few attacks on the “abomination” had gone horribly, lethally, wrong for them. The other local, a zebra-woman of all things, had seemingly contented herself with quietly observing ‘Caller from the shadows as she went about the woods.

The leaves rustled, and ‘Caller’s lips curled in a fanged grin as a small forest pig wandered into view, it’s snout buried in the detritus that covered the forest floor. While Mage’s Magnificent Mansion provided ample food, the demoness preferred to have an emergency supply on hand (and for snacking while she was out), and smoked and dried pork would do quite well. Lurking in the gloom, ‘Caller waited patiently for the swine to turn its side to her, and then hurled her spear with all her unnatural might, driving the fire hardened projectile through the pig’s lungs and heart, dropping the animal where it stood.

:I still don’t understand vhy you’re vasting your time vith that pointed stick,: Kragor grumbled as the demoness strode up to recover her weapon and heft the dead pig over her shoulder.

:Swords are excellent veapons of var, and you are extraordinary sword, my Sister, but trying to chase down a pig vhile vaving you about vould be a horrible vay to hunt, and it vould look completely silly, as vell, besides meat doesn’t taste as good if I just kill animal vith magic.:

:Hmmph,: the soulblade snorted, mollified, :Too bad ve don’t have salt, pepper and mustard, like Linzi used to use on her jerky.:

‘Caller nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she recalled their long-ago companion and her culinary skills, then stiffed as a “ping” sounded within her mind, “It seems ve have a visitor.”

Trixie glared down at Ponyville from the cave’s mouth for a moment, before retreating inside to where her bedroll and backpack lay, “Trixie is not obsessed,” she assured herself as she began to root around in her pack for her campfire bead, “Trixie is just scouting out Twilight Sparkle’s abilities before Trixie makes her triumphant return to Ponyville, and then on to the grand stage of life!” she flung her arms wide as she posed dramatically.

“Really? Is that vhy you’re squatting in my cave?” asked an amused voice.

Spinning around, the unicorn faced the figure standing in the cave mouth, her eyes widening as she took in the mare’s near-pony form, scaled armor, the bloody spear in her hand and the heavy sword at her side, and the fanged grin she was currently showing, “W-what,” Trixie stuttered, before drawing herself up, “Trixie was unaware that this cavern had been claimed, and Trixie apologizes for any trespass,” she said formally, hoping to mollify whatever the creature was.

The strange mare cocked her head to the side, as if listening to something, before shrugging, “I suppose you can stay, as long as you don’t make a nuisance of yourself,” and with that, less than enthusiastic, sanction, she walked past the nervous unicorn to simply disappear as she passed through a shimmer in the air, leaving the dumbfounded illusionist alone in the cave.

The azure unicorn glanced up from her fire as the air shimmered again, and the other mare returned from … wherever she had been. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she spoke up, “The Great and Powerful Trixie would like to know who she is sharing this cave with … please.”

“‘Great and Powerful’?” the mare smirked while a metallic voice laughed from somewhere, “Is that how you normally address a demon?”

Trixie didn’t even bat an eye at this revelation, “Trixie has already surmised what you are, but that still leaves the question of what Trixie should call the … two of you.”

“She’s a clever one, isn’t she?” observed the metallic voice.

“Observant, at least,” the mare conceded, as she crouched down across the fire, “Very vell, Trixie, vas it? You may call me HellCaller, and this,” she stroked her sword’s hilt, “Is Kragor.”

“Hi!”

“You … have a sentient sword?” the unicorn asked.

HellCaller nodded, “Yes.”

“You have a … sentient sword?”

“… Yes?”

“You have a sentient sword?!” Trixie shrieked.

“Damnit, voman,” grumbled Kragor, “That hurt, and I don’t even have actual ears!”

“Vhat’s big deal?” HellCaller demanded, as she rubbed at her own ear, “I know that sentient veapons aren’t exactly common, but come on.”

“‘Aren’t exactly common’? ‘Aren’t exactly common’?!” the unicorn shook her head as she tried to rein-in her excitement, “In this Realm, thinking, speaking artifacts are unheard of! Not even the Alicorn Amulet, the Bag of Tirek or Sampo’s Spear have a mind of their own! Your sword violates every law of crafting, enchantment and artifice that Trixie knows!”

“And you know a lot of these laws, do you?”

“Trixie may not have gone to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, but Trixie was properly trained,” she retorted, “And Trixie knows that many magical researchers (maybe even that insufferable, adorable, Twilight Sparkle) would give their right arms to study Kragor.”

:’Caller, I have an idea, vhy don’t you offer to take Trixie on as apprentice? She’ll learn more magic, and ve can learn about this Realm, since you’re still afraid to just go down and visit Fluttershy.:

:I don’t even know if ponies can learn my style of magic, but it’s not a bad way to while away some time,: ‘Caller nodded, :And I’m not afraid to see Fluttershy!: she added sharply, before turning her attention back to the unicorn with a smile, “So, Trixie, let’s talk ….”

Once again, as she had several times over the last month, Luna slipped into the anomalous dream bubble in the Everfree; this time the alicorn stepped into a grand feasting hall, bedecked with tapestries and mounted weapons, and lit by a plethora of candles and flickering torches, two great fireplaces provided warmth while cheerful musical tinkled through the air. Kragor sat on the high table, the bodies of a pair of night hags laying on the stones before her, as she idly swung her legs, badly whistling along with the music.

“Young Kragor! Are thou well? Hath thou been injured?”

“Oh, hi, Luna!” the mare replied cheerfully, “Look, I got my bunny right!” she added excitedly, as she held out her hands and a small rabbit appeared inside them.

“That is wonderful, young Kragor, but what happened? Why are there two dead night hags in thine dreamscape?!”

“Oh them?” Kragor shrugged dismissively, “They came in a little vhile ago, like you do, but they vere being very rude, talking about me like I vas a piece of plunder to be divided rather than talking to me, so I told them to leave. They got all indignant and attacked me, so I ate their souls,” the mare smiled happily at Luna, apparently missing, or ignoring, the alicorn’s horrified expression, “I didn’t even know I could still eat souls in my dreams, von’t ‘Caller be surprised vhen I tell her!” she giggled, hugging her rabbit.

“Do thou … often eat souls?”

“Vell, not anymore,” Kragor replied, “My sister and I have been sort of retired for last few decades. It’s vas starting to get a bit boring, frankly, but I did eat this horribly obnoxious unicorn guy vith a funny name,” she grimaced, “His soul tasted like moldy socks and hubris.”

“Would that hath been Count Donut Steel?” Luna inquired as she sat down next to the mare.

“Yeah …,” Kragor sighed, “Vait, how do you know about Do Not Steal?”

“Count Steel’s actions and fate are known to many ponies,” the alicorn replied evasively, “The common belief was that the demon HellCaller returned to her native Realm when Steel’s death freed her from bondage ... yet here thou are ….”

Kragor’s ears fell flat, “Ve can’t go home because I fucked up! Steel’s ritual bound us to this Realm until he released us, but because I ate his soul there’s no vay for my sister to be freed!” she suddenly burst into tears, “‘Caller insists it vasn’t my fault, but she’s trapped here all because of me!”

The Princess of the Moon blinked, and then wrapped her arms around the weeping mare, murmuring comforting words.

Trixie stumbled to the table, her mane a horrifying mess and her eyes still fogged with sleep, and accepted a cup from one of the ghostly servitors, “Thank you,” she mumbled distractedly, ‘An entire mansion, magically created and stocked, and separated from the rest of the Realm … and Trixie is living in it! Alongside a demon and a sentient artifact!’ she sipped her tea, ‘Now, if they only knew what hot coco was ….’

“Hi Trixie!” Kragor’s greeting interrupted the unicorn’s early morning musings, as ‘Caller joined her at the table, “Hey, could you answer a question for me?”

The illusionist took another sip, “What is it, Kragor?”

“Vhat do you know about a pony named Luna? She’s a dark blue unicorn-lady vith vings, and she talks to me in my dreams. Hey! Don’t spit your tea at me!”

Cadance looked up from the wedding catalogs spread out before her with a smile as Luna joined her and Celestia for breakfast, “Good morning, Auntie Luna,” she chirped, “And how was your night?”

“It was … enlightening,” Luna answered as she poured herself a glass of juice, “And do thine nuptial preparations proceed apace?”

“Actually … I was thinking of asking if Twilight’s Ponyville friends would be willing to help.”

“Well, that will certainly cause some distress among all the wedding planners who have been deluging the Palace with offers,” Celestia observed with a chuckle as she poured syrup over her pancakes, “What brought this on?”

“Well, Shiny is already planning on asking Twiley to be his best mare, and I thought it would be a good way to get to know her new friends,” the Princess of Love sighed, “I know it wasn’t the time, but I still wished I had managed to see Twiley and the others last month when they came up for that horrible business with Donut Steel.”

Celestia, having noticed her sister’s guilty ear twitch, lowered her tea, “What is it Luna? Have you found additional information regarding Count Steel’s case?”

“Ah, yes … well … it seems that the demon Donut Steel summoned, HellCaller, did not return to her native Realm when he was slain as we had presumed ….”

Cadance’s fork clattered to the table, “What?! There’s an unbound demon freely roaming Equestria?!”

“They aren’t ‘roaming Equestria’, darling Cadance, they are just sitting in the Everfree Forest while they resolve what to do with themselves.”

Celestia raised her hand, forestalling the youngest alicorn’s reply, “‘They’, Luna? And how do you know all of this, anyway?”

Luna blushed and looked away as she stirred her scrambled eggs, “I hath been talking with her sister in her dreams ….”

The solar alicorn frowned at her for a moment, before sighing, “Everything you see and learn in our little ponies’ dreams, you hold in confidence, but you break that trust now … do you believe them to be such a danger, then?”

“I fear they hath the potential to be such, yes.”

“And who are ‘they’?” Cadance pressed her aunt, “The official reports only listed the one demon, who is this ‘sister’ you’ve found?”

The Princess of the Moon furrowed her muzzle in thought as she slowly replied, “In truth … I deem they are not so much sisters, despite Kragor’s words … but more that I hath been speaking with HellCaller’s familiar … or even a symbiotic weapon of sorts.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow, while her niece burst into laughter, “A symbiotic weapon, Auntie? Really? I think you’ve been reading too many of Spike’s old comic books.”

“Comic books are most excellent amusement,” Luna retorted, “And what else truly matches young Kragor’s description of her existence? She has no senses of her own, but uses a telepathic bond to borrow her sister’s, she claims she was, literally, made for war, and she can consume souls, both in the real world and in the dreamscape.”

At the last revelation, Cadance went pale as the laughter died on her lips, “A soul-eater?!”

The Princess of the Sun laid a comforting hand on her niece’s shoulder, “It would seem your concerns are well founded, then, Lulu. But, tell me, do you know why they have remained in Equis?”

Luna nodded, “They do not appear to be plotting anything,” she quickly assured her fellow alicorns, “But it seems that the ritual Donut Steel used required him to directly release the summoned demons from their bondage, and when Kragor devoured his soul, she inadvertently trapped the two of them here. She was most distraught when she confided this to me,” the lunar alicorn added, meeting her sister’s and niece’s gaze, “And she felt great grief and guilt over ‘failing’ her sister in such a way.”

“You’re leading somewhere with this, Auntie Luna,” the pink alicorn observed, “Otherwise you would have just informed the Magus Corps and the Night Guard on where to find them.”

“I hath had a thought,” admitted Luna, “It is dangerous, and many would say ‘twas lunacy, but it worked with Discord and … mineself ….”

“You want to ask Twilight and the other Bearers of Harmony to try and befriend this HellCaller and her sister,” Celestia remarked calmly, even as Cadance wrinkled her muzzle, her ears falling flat with worry, “I agree, Lulu, that at the very least, it is worth the attempt.”

The Magus Corps is the creation of Chengar Qordath. If you would like to know more, I suggest checking out his Freeport and Lunar Rebellion stories.

“Morning, Applejack!”

The farmpony looked up from brushing down her riding lizard, “Morn’, Pinkie Pie, what brings ya by so earlier?” she asked, her hands continuing with their work, bringing a soft purr as the lizard, Peachblossom, stretched under her ministrations.

“Welll, the Cakes wanted some extra apples because we have an order for an applecake today, and it’s Tuesday, so Derpy will be by looking for apple muffins, and Mr. Cake found a recipe for apple cookies that he wants to try out, oh and my Pinkie Sense says that we’re going to see somepony that we haven’t seen for a while, so I wanted to get everything done early, so here I am hoping that I could get some more apples, even though your stand isn’t open yet,” Pinkie final paused for breath and reached over to rub Peachblossom’s nose, “P-p-please?”

“What was that last part, again, Pinkie?”

“P-p-please?”

“Tha part before that,” Applejack sighed, “About what yer Pinkie Sense was tellin’ ya.”

“That we’re going to see somepony that we haven’t seen for a while?”

“Huh, Ah wonder who it’ll be. Jus’ let me wash my hands, an’ Ah’ll get ya those apples.”

“Twilight! The Princesses sent you a letter.”

“Thanks, Spike,” the unicorn smiled down at her assistant as she took the rolled scroll from his claws, “Let’s see ….”

Heading into the kitchen, Spike hummed to himself as he washed the breakfast dishes, before strolling back out to the library main room, where he noticed Twilight was slumped in a chair, staring down at the letter, her muzzle twisted in a mixture of horror and resignation, spiced with a touch of curiosity and, although she would later deny it, just a hint of eagerness.

“Twilight? Twilight!”

“She’s doing it to us again, Spike,” the unicorn moaned, “It’s Discord all over again.”

“What?” the little drake took the librarian’s hand in his claws, “What do you mean, ‘it’s Discord all over again’?”

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight waved the scroll, “She says that the demon who foalnapped Fluttershy is still around, and she wants us to try and make friends with her!” the unicorn gave a small laugh, “Well, I guess we’re the ones with experience, after all.”

“You could always refuse,” Spike suggested.

“No … no, I’m okay now,” she reached up to ruffle the drake’s frill, “I just needed to get that out of my system. And the Princess is right, Fluttershy did manage to make Discord into a … better … pony, and both she and Applejack believed that HellCaller was not working for Count Steel willingly and was holding back against us during the fight. No,” the unicorn stood up, “Celestia would never ask this of us unless she believed we could handle it,” Twilight’s determination faltered for a moment, “Somehow ….”

“Ha! I said we’d see HellCaller again and I’d get to call her a rudeie-patotie for dismissing Fluttershy’s friendship like that, and now we are!” Pinkie crowed as she dropped into a chair. The six mares were gathered in the library, Spike having been gently, but firmly, ushered out to “enjoy his unexpected day off” in the hopes it would keep him out of trouble.

“So, she has been lurking so close to Ponyville all of this time?” Rarity asked as she sipped her tea, “Even with her hiding in the Everfree, I’m rather surprised that no pony has noticed her before this, she does stand out, after all.”

“That’s why I plan on going to see Zecora first,” Twilight replied, “If anypony in the Everfree would notice the presence of a demon – and be willing to talk to us – it’s her.”

“The deer can be a bit … difficult at times,” Fluttershy admitted with a small sigh, “Oh, but I do hope they and HellCaller haven’t been fighting.”

“Wait, so the Princess wants us to hunt down a demon, who foalnapped Fluttershy and just, what, make nice?” Rainbow demanded, stomping her hoof in annoyance, “Not kick her plot back to Tartarus? Not even demand a feathering apology? Really?”

“Yes, Rainbow,” the librarian said firmly, “No attacking her, except in self-defense, no demands, nothing like that. HellCaller was compelled by Donut Steel’s summoning ritual, so blaming her wouldn’t be right. And since she’s trapped here, making friends with HellCaller and teaching her about Equestrian society and how to live in it is really for everypony’s benefit.”

Rarity glanced up with a small frown, “Wait, she can’t leave? How do we know this, darling?”

“Oh, um, well, Luna has been talking with HellCaller’s familiar in her dreams.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, “Her what now?”

“Her magical assistant pony,” Pinkie explained.

“Oh, the other voice from when you all rescued me from Count Steel,” Fluttershy remarked, “I did wonder who that was ….”

“And, apparently, this familiar is also some kind of artifact weapon,” Twilight added, “Which means establishing peaceful relations with HellCaller is even more important.”

Pinkie leaned over to Applejack, “An artifact is a magical thingamajig,” she said helpfully, provoking an eyeroll from the farmer

“Fine, fine,” grumbled Rainbow, “If we’re going to do this, then let’s get on with it.”

As the six ponies were heading out of town, they spotted a familiar, cloaked figure approaching from the Everfree, “Hi, Zecora!” Twilight waved to the mare, “Isn’t this convenient, we were just on our way to see you.”

“Yes, it is convenient,” Pinkie observed, as she pulled a glowstone rod out from … somewhere … and held it up to undelight her face (despite it being daytime), “Maybe … too convenient!”

The zebra merely gave the baker an indulgent smile, before turning her attention to the rest of the little group, “While I am quite happy to see you all this fine day, what was sending you out my way?”

“We’ve been asked by the Princesses to talk with a demoness living in the Everfree and to try and keep her from becoming a danger to anypony,” the academic explained, “You … wouldn’t happen to know where we can find her, would you, Zecora?”

The shamaness nodded, “I believe I know of the one who you seek, she and her guests are staying in the great cave on Mount Everfree as we speak.”

“Guests?” Rarity’s ears perked, “So she’s already interacting with other ponies? Well, I dare say that promises to make things much easier for everypony.”

Zecora raised a cautioning hand, “Be mindful when you draw near,” she warned, “While she mostly keeps to herself, the demoness can be rather casually violent, I fear. Also, I can impart that one of her guests has enough ego to fill a cart, while the other’s often ferocious choice does not match her young and cheerful voice.”

“Thank ya for yer advice,” Applejack said, “Oh, an’ Big Mac is workin’ tha stall today, if’n ya got a hankerin’ for some apples,” she added, grinning cheekily at the suddenly blushing shamaness.

“Do you really think you should be teasing Zecora like that, Applejack?” Twilight asked as they made their way up the mountainside, “Some ponies might not think it’s nice.”

“Aw shucks, Twi’, Ah’m jus’ funnin’ with her,” the farmpony defended herself, “Apples tease each other all tha time, an’ Zecora is going ta be an Apple as soon as she an’ Big Mac stop tiphoofin’ around each other, jus’ ya mark my words. Everything goin’ a’right back there, sugarcube?” she added, turning to look back at where Fluttershy brought up the rear of the group.

“Oh, yes,” the yellow pegasus responded, “It’s much less scary when there isn’t a dragon shaking the mountain.”

“Hsst,” Rarity brought a finger to her lips as she shushed her friends, “We’re almost to the cave, so perhaps a bit of stealth might be in order.”

“Umm,” Fluttershy raised her hand, “Creeping up on somepony’s home seems kind of rude, doesn’t it?”

“I think Flutters is right,” Pinkie added, “How are we going to make friends with HellCaller if we start out being all sneakyish?” she pointed out, while Applejack reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Rarity, Twilight and Rainbow glanced at each other, before agreeing, grudgingly on Rainbows part, to try it their friends’ way. As they approached, they could hear voices from within the cavern.

“Again,” said a mare with a heavy accent.

“Bluthel di Civip. You know, Trixie can already create bolts of frost and wave around Trixie’s dagger, without using pseudo-dragonish ‘magic words’, thank you.”

The six ponies paused in surprise, “What’s Trixie doing here?” Fluttershy whispered.

“Yes, but you are a neophyte at combining your spellwork vith martial ability,” the other mare replied, “Still, you are not hopeless vith veaponry, and you have potential to be acceptable Magus, even if you vill likely never vield a heavy blade.”

“Truly, Trixie is humbled by the boundless encouragement and support you constantly show Trixie.”

“Excellent sarcasm,” applause echoed from within the cave, “But currently ve are vorking on your spell combat training, not your vitty banter.”

“Well, I think we found which of HellCaller’s guests is the one with the ego,” Rarity sniffed, drawing irritated nods from Rainbow and Applejack.

“Wait, Trixie is training to be a magus,” Twilight’s muzzle furrowed in confusion, “She doesn’t seem like the type to join the Corps.”

“Well, why don’t we go ask her?” Pinkie suggested, walking up to the cave mouth before any of her friends could stop her and pounding on the cliffside, “Hello? Trixie? Ms. HellCaller? Other pony whose name I didn’t get? Can we come in? I baked you a cake!” she added, pulling said confection out of her pack and holding it up.

A startled cry responded to the party pony’s question, before the accented voice eventually replied, “Very vell, you may come in … and bring cake.”

Entering the cave, the six ponies found HellCaller calmly seated on a stone next to a merrily blazing campfire bead, while Trixie stood behind her, trying to glower at Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack while not meeting Twilight’s eyes, “Hello again, Fluttershy, and velcome to my … lair.”

The pegasus shyly waved, while her friends looked around the cavern, with both Rarity and Rainbow clearly disappointed at how empty it was; despite the cave’s great size (it had been a dragon’s abode, however temporarily), the only signs of occupation were the campfire bead, a crude training dummy in one corner, and an equally makeshift meat-smoking rack off in a nook, smoke stains highlighting the cracks in the wall used for ventilation.

“It’s … very … nice,” the fashionista said with a slightly strained smile.

“It suffices to keep rain off,” the demoness shrugged, “So vhy are ‘Heroes of Realm’ on my doorstep?”

Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but Pinkie – who had been looking for a sufficiently flat rock to put the cake on – spoke up first, “Oh, well since you’re going to be here a while, what with not being able to leave and all, we thought it would be neighborly to welcome you to Ponyville,” the baker said blithely, before glaring at HellCaller, “And I also wanted to say it wasn’t very nice the way you scorned Fluttershy like that back in Steel’s mansion, she was just offering you her friendship, for the divines’ sake,” she scolded, “There was no reason for you to be a nasty-pants meanie about it!”

The demoness’ armor creaked as she shifted on her rock, a seemingly casual movement that Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack all uneasily noticed made her sword easier to draw, and made the three mares wonder for a moment if leaving their own panoply and weapons back in Ponyville as a “show of good faith” had really been wise as HellCaller spoke, “And vhy vould you think I cannot leave?” she asked quietly, her eyes glowing brighter in the dim cave.

“Was that a secret?” Pinkie asked awkwardly, her ears dropping.

“It wasn’t the best way to bring it up, no,” Twilight admonished the party pony, “Princess Luna informed us of the basics of your … situation when she and Princess Celestia told us you were in the Everfree and suggested that you could use some friends.”

“Luna’s a Princess?!” the metallic voice of a young mare shrieked, “Vhy didn’t you mention this vhen I asked you about her?” the sourceless voice demanded of Trixie.

“If Princess Luna wished you to know who she was, she would have told you,” the illusionist replied, “Since she did not, it is not the Faithful and Dutiful Trixie’s place to reveal Trixie’s Diarch’s secrets.”

HellCaller glared down at the sword on her belt, “Yes, ve vill need to discuss sharing our secrets vith strangers, as vell,” turning back to the six mares, she continued, “So, vho exactly is this Princess Luna?”

“Luna is the Princess of the Moon,” Twilight explained, giving Pinkie a small “thank you” as the baker handed her a slice of cake, and adamantly not thinking about how the pink earth pony had fit the plates and cutlery inside her tiny pack alongside the cake, “She and her elder sister, Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, are the ruling diarchs of the Equestrian Empire.”

The demoness raised an eyebrow in confusion, “Vait, so are they Princesses or are they Imperial Diarchs?”

“Both,” the librarian replied, “As the goddesses of the Sun and the Moon under Faust, the Queen of the Heavens, they’re known as ‘Princesses’ as a religious title, and Celestia and Luna prefer to be called that,” Twilight wiped some frosting from her lips, “They feel that having everypony refer to them as ‘Imperial Diarchs’ distances them too much from other ponies.”

As the demon mulled this bit of information over, absently eating some of the cake Pinkie had handed her, Rarity spoke up, “Actually, I believe some proper introductions might be in order, don’t you?”

“Trixie agrees,” the showmare replied as she stepped forward, “Bearers of Harmony, allow Trixie to introduce HellCaller of Kapul-uzg, Trixie’s teacher, who is very grumpy in the morning and Trixie thinks might be a bit too quick to resort to violence, and her soulblade, Kragor,” she leaned towards Twilight, “An actual living, thinking, artifact!” she squealed, before turning back to her mentor and waving at the other ponies, “HellCaller, Kragor, these are the ‘Bearers of Harmony’, representatives of some of the most powerful magic in all Equis, and the Princesses’ most obvious method of dealing with problems. First off is Rarity; a particularly vain mare, with pretentions of aristocracy, and a well-known gossip and drama queen, she is also the Element of Generosity, a talented fashion designer and seamstress, and she actually tries to live up to her ‘proper lady’ airs. Next, we have Applejack; something of a walking stereotype for farmponies, she is proud, crude, has a knee-jerk distrust of anything ‘fancy’ or ‘newfangled’ and is more stubborn than a herd of mules. The Element of Honesty is also dependable, supportive, and quite willing to work herself into exhaustion to help others. And then there is Rainbow Dash, the self-proclaimed ‘fastest flyer in Equestria’, a lazy, arrogant, impulsive, braggart and showoff, the Element of Loyalty is extremely dedicated to others, can even be altruistic, and might be as fast as she thinks she is.”

“Now, over here,” Trixie continued, ignoring the annoyed glares of the first three mares, “We have Pinkamena Pie, generally known as Pinkie, the Element of Laughter is unceasingly cheerful, devoted to bringing joy to others, optimistic to an almost pathological degree, and is one of the kindest ponies you will ever met, she is also scatterbrained, and obsessed with being the center of attention,” turning to point at Fluttershy the illusionist somehow missed that everyone in the cave (excepting Kragor) had raised an eyebrow at her last statement, “And then we have Fluttershy, a former fashion model, possibly the kindest pony you will ever met, willing to give everypony the benefit of the doubt, the Element of Kindness is also well-known as a coward and … well … a doormat. And finally, we have Twilight Sparkle, the most powerful unicorn of her generation, one of the most intelligent ponies in Equestria, always willing to try the diplomatic option first, the personal student of Princess Celestia herself, and a natural leader, the Element of Magic can also be an insufferable genius, neurotic, and her social skills need work. Oh, and she is an absolutely terrible dancer.”

“Yeah?” Rainbow grumbled, “Well you’re just a bigmouth who’s sore that we kicked your plot the last time we saw you!”

“You did not kick Trixie’s plot!” the showmare snapped, “Twilight Sparkle bested the Great and Powerful Trixie with her superior magical knowledge and ability!” her hand shot out to point at the confused librarian.

“Still, you could have phrased things a little nicer,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Trixie calls them as Trixie sees them.”

‘Caller put down her empty plate and gave the assembled ponies what would have been a pleasant smile, if not for how it emphasized her fangs, “Now that Trixie has handled introductions, vhy don’t you tell us vhy you’re really here?”

Twilight blinked as her ears fell, “What?”

“It vas a very nice cake, but Heroes of Realm, including a bloody paladin, being sent by their God-Princesses to ‘make friends’ vith a demon? Pull other one, it has bells on it.”

Pinkie tilted her head in confusion, “But you’re not wearing any bells, silly.”

Trixie sighed, “Did Trixie mention that Trixie’s teacher is also a cynic who has treated Trixie’s tales of Equestria with undisguised skepticism?”

“Vell, come on now, Trixie,” Kragor piped-up, “Blasting folks vith a ‘Magic Friendship Rainbow’ and making them ‘better’ is just silly, besides, it’s couldn’t be nearly as much fun as chopping off limbs and caving in chests, searing flesh vith fire or shattering bones vith lightning.”

“And Kragor is quite bloodthirsty,” the illusionist added, apologetically, “Trixie also forgot to mention that.”

“Really, dear,” Rarity admonished the soulblade, her muzzle wrinkling at the sword's cheerful brutality, “You could at least try to act a little more dignified.”

“Dignified? Miss Rarity, I’m a sword. Most people that I meet are reeking of blood and shit, and either screaming, begging, or praying to their gods before I take them. Vhat in Abyss vould I know about ‘dignified’?”

“Be that as it may,” said Twilight, with a slight shudder, “I understand that you have doubts, but we really do want to be friends. Please, just consider it?”

“I think you should listen to them, ‘Caller,” Kragor advised, surprising the ponyvillians with the unexpected support, “Fluttershy vould never lie to us, and Trixie trusts Twilight completely. Besides, Luna sent them, and she’s a nice pony-lady!”

HellCaller still looked unconvinced, so the academic decided to try a different tact, “Maybe, you could come by the library tomorrow afternoon, and we could talk? Show you our good intentions? Oh, and Trixie, I have your hat and cape back at the library, as well.”

The showmare blinked and started to blush, “You kept Trixie’s cape and hat?”

“Of course I held on to them when you left them behind, I spent weeks trying to find you after you ran off into the Everfree!” Twilight glared at the illusionist, “Do you have any idea how reckless that was? How dangerous? How many nightmares you gave me?!”

“Y-you went looking for Trixie? You were worried about Trixie?” the azure unicorn was now blushing so badly that Discord (or possibly Pinkie Pie) could have cooked an egg on her forehead, before she took a deep breathe and visibly pulled herself together “Y-yes, well the Great and Powerful Trixie is most grateful for your efforts and c-concern and would be delighted to reclaim Trixie’s effects tomorrow at your residence,” this time everyone, except Kragor and an oblivious Twilight, gave Trixie a knowing or amused look (‘Caller was outright smirking at her red-faced student), which the showmare somehow still managed to completely miss.

“Vell, Trixie still has a great deal of training to do,” ‘Caller said, standing up and stacking Pinkie’s plates, “She may visit town tomorrow, if she vishes, and I … vill think about it.”

Recognizing the dismissal, the six mares gathered up the party supplies and headed for the cave mouth, as they left, Rainbow paused to ask, “Hey, Trixie, we meant to ask, what made you decide to try and join the Corps?”

“Join the Corps? Ah, the Great and Powerful Trixie understands,” the illusionist nodded, “It turns out that a ‘Magus’ is just a type of specially trained war wizard in HellCaller’s home Realm, Trixie was confused at first as well.”

"Huh," the pegasus grunted, "Well, good luck with that, I guess."

Trixie gnawed her lip nervously as she approached Ponyville, the site of her greatest failure as a performer since her early years in Neigh Orleans (her greatest failure in general was probably that attempt at rock farming in Rockville). Desperate for a distraction, she turned to the demoness walking beside her, “So … Trixie was wondering why you still look like a demon?”

“I have my reasons,” HellCaller replied, “I mislike hiding vhat I am for one, and for another, unlike my kin, I cannot simply change my apparent race on a vhim, and those particular spells don’t come easily to me,” she opened her mouth to continue, but a glance at the unicorn gaping at her changed her train of thought, “Vhat is it this time, Trixie?”

“You can change your race? You can change your cutie mark?”

“I don’t have a cutie mark,” the demoness pointed out dryly, “But yes, I can change my shape, even turn into another species, as long as I have right spells,” she raised an eyebrow, “Let me guess, you ponies don’t have such spells, either.”

The showmare shook her head, “We have illusions to change a pony’s voice, coat and mane, and even to encourage others to not look too closely at our cutie marks, but to actually be another race, to be a griffin or a zebra …,” she turned big, pleading eyes on her mentor, “Will you teach Trixie these magics? Please?”

‘Caller merely chuckled, “Pulling on heart strings doesn’t vork on demons, and it only rarely vorks on hobgoblins … and, besides, magi do not have access to those spells.”

“But you do have those spells!” protested Trixie.

“And I am not just a magus, but you cannot simply learn to be a sorcerer, either you are born vith ability or you aren’t.”

The illusionist walked along in a pout for a few minutes, before looking up, “Trixie still has a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Trixie would like to know, what is a ‘hobgoblin’, anyway?”

“I am,” ‘Caller replied, “Or a half-breed, on my father’s side, anyway. More precisely, hobgoblins are one of three subtypes of goblinoid races, I haven’t found an equivalent among people of your Realm, but then I haven’t really bothered looking either. Short version; hobgoblins are disciplined, organized, cooperative, industrious, and expansionistic. Ve’re also unapologetically ruthless, authoritarian, militaristic, and favor pragmatism and rule of vorthy far more than ‘fairness’ or coddling veak,” she offered the unicorn a fang filled smirk, “Ve’re definitely not vhat most races call ‘nice people’.”

“Do you think they’ll show?”

“But of course, darling,” Rarity reassured the nervously pacing unicorn, “Well, Trixie will, anyway, HellCaller, is … rather more debatable, I fear.”

“She did seem a bit … indifferent to the idea,” Twilight sighed, “Wait, why are you sure that Trixie will come, even if HellCall doesn’t?”

“Well duh, of course Trixie will come,” Pinkie assured the librarian, “She likes you, silly!”

“Oh good,” Twilight replied, “I rather like Trixie too, I hope we can put the past unpleasantness behind us and be friends.”

The baker facepalmed, “No, she like likes you.”

“Why are you saying it like that?” the purple unicorn asked with a confused frown, “Is this like how a double negative is a positive, or something?”

Rarity put her hand on Pinkie’s shoulder and gently shook her head, “Perhaps this is a conversation for another time, darling?” she murmured, drawing a reluctant nod from the earth pony, as the tinkling of the bell over the library door announced Applejack’s, Rainbow Dash’s and Fluttershy’s arrival.

“Howdy, sugarcubes,” Applejack hailed the other mares, “Any sign of our … guests … yet?”

“AJ!” chided Twilight, “That’s not the right attitude for making friends with Trixie and HellCaller!”

“Ah know, Ah know,” the farmer sighed, “It’s jus’, after all tha trouble Trixie caused, an’ HellCaller being a demon what foalnapped Fluttershy an’ even her own student thinkin’ she’s too violent, Ah’m havin’ a hard time lettin’ it all go.”

“I understand, darling, truly, I do,” Rarity assured the earth pony, “But do remember, for all her belligerent ways, HellCaller did not want to foalnap dear Fluttershy, or to fight us for that matter. And while Trixie was obnoxiously smug, and she did go out of her way to humiliate us instead of actually trying to match our challenges, she was not responsible for the Ursa, and she did try to stop its rampage, and, when all was said and done, she lost far more than anypony else in Ponyville. So, please try and let bygones be bygones.”

Rainbow glanced out the window, “Speaking of Grogar, here they come.”

Joining the weatherpony at the window, Twilight quickly spotted the duo, the cyan glow from the demon’s eyes making her easy to spot in the gloom of the heavy cloud cover, ‘Didn’t HellCaller have green eyes?’ the librarian wondered, before shrugging it aside and opening the door, “Good afternoon! Come in, come in,” she welcomed the pair, eagerly ushering them inside, “Thank you for accepting our offer.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie had already said that Trixie would grace you with Trixie’s presence,” the showmare replied as she took a seat, “Although, Trixie admits to some surprise that Trixie’s mentor agreed to come.”

“Kragor prevailed upon me to hear you out,” the demoness shrugged, "And this is definitely one of more ... unique ... libraries that I've ever seen."

“Well, we appreciate you giving us a chance,” Twilight assured her as she fetched a carefully mended, and rather flamboyant, hat and cape from inside her desk and presented them to Trixie.

The illusionist squealed happily as she clutched the garments to her chest, before remembering that she was not alone, “Ah, yes, Trixie thanks you for returning Trixie’s vestments to Trixie,” she said grandly, as she quickly donned the returned clothing and pulled her hat down to try and hide the blush coloring her cheeks.

“So, tell us a little about yourself, HellCaller,” Rarity requested, shooting a small smile at Trixie as she drew everypony’s attention away from the embarrassed mare, “What did you do before you chose Trixie as your student?”

“Let’s see … I served in Legions for a long time, did some vandering and short-hire merc vork for a vhile, vas treasurer for UnChosen Ones, came back to Kapul-uzg to fight in civil var, got stuck in a government position, eventually resigned, took over tower of a mad vizard, retired, started to go stir-crazy from boredom, and then I got summoned here.”

“Who were the UnChosen Ones, and why did they need a treasurer?” Pinkie asked around a handful of popcorn.

“UnChosen Ones vere an adventuring party Kragor and I helped found. Once others learned that I had experience vith logistics and supply, they vere very eager to drop all bookkeeping on me,” HellCaller snorted.

“Why would you call yourselves the ‘UnChosen Ones’?” Fluttershy wondered, “Wouldn’t you want to have something more … impressive sounding? Or inspirational? If you don’t mind me asking ….”

“Linzi insisted that ve needed a name for group,” the demoness explained, “Some bard thing, I guess.”

“I vanted to call us ‘Death and Taxes’,” the soulblade added, “But Linzi thought it vas too depressing.”

“Heh, she did insist that ve need something less ill-omened,” HellCaller admitted with a wry chuckle, “Anyway, Phvan pointed out that ve veren’t exactly ‘the chosen ones’ or anything, a few drinks and one tavern brawl later and ve had our name.”

“Sounds like ya’ve had a real busy life,” Applejack observed, “Truth ta tell, Ah’m a mite surprised that ya was so involved in the affairs of regular ponies.”

“I may have been born touched by powers of Abyss, but I was born into Imperium,” the demoness explained, “And vhile ve may revere our ancestors and their accomplishments, Imperium puts a high value on advancing through your own efforts.”

“Now, I have a question,” HellCaller paused to grin at her student, “I want to know all details of Trixie’s last visit to Ponyville and this confrontation between her and Twilight.”

“You see,” Trixie said as the pair walked away from the library, “No traps, no deceptions, and you kept those detection spells up for nothing. While Trixie has no particular love for most of the Bearers, you can trust them.”

“Trust must be earned, my apprentice,” HellCaller chided the unicorn, “Trusting too quickly or too easily has been death of many.”

“But you trust Trixie,” the illusionist protested, “Surely you can extend your trust to them as well.”

“Ah, but do I trust you? Or have you merely not triggered any of my precautions yet?” the demoness’ lips curled in an unpleasant grin, “Enough of this for now, go, enjoy your time in town, get vhat you need from merchants, valk off some of that lust you’re reeking of, just be back before rain starts,” she unbuckled the sheathe from her belt and held her sword out to the showmare, “Here, take Kragor vith you, so she doesn’t keep pestering me.”

“Don’t let ‘Caller get to you,” the soulblade reassured Trixie as the unicorn glared after her teacher, “She really does think you’d make a good magus, this is just her fucking vith you, keeping you on your toes.”

“Trixie thinks that Trixie’s teacher could find a better method of testing Trixie’s attentiveness,” the mare sniffed, “And Trixie does not ‘reek’ of lust, no matter what misconceptions HellCaller may have!”

“Well, actually, you do,” Kragor disagreed cheerfully, “‘Caller’s mother is a succubus, so she can smell lust on you. So, vhich one is it? Farmgirl? Oh, oh, librarian? No, vait, is it Fluttershy?”

Trixie buried her face in her hands and made a sound that was half groan and half whimper as the soulblade blithely chattered away.

“Pardon me, Miss,” the earth pony stallion in a brown suit, bowtie and fez apologized as he brushed past Trixie, “Dreadful hurry, love the hat!”

“Vho vas that?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie has no idea … why do you ask?”

“There’s something familiar about him,” Kragor replied, “Almost like I’ve tasted him before ….”

The illusionist shrugged, turning her attention back to the array of blank scrolls and books displayed in the window of Sofas and Quills. ‘Perhaps the town of Ponyville has forgiven Trixie?’ she mused hopefully, for while there had been a number of sharp looks and some muttering as she went about the town, no pony had been openly hostile to the showmare.

“Hey, look! Its Trixie!” the excited cry brought the unicorn spinning around to see a small herd of foals descending upon her while shouting questions:

“Are you putting on another show?”

“Where have you been?”

“Are you going to pick a fight with my sister again?”

“Why do you have a sword? Are you a swashbuckling heroine now?”

Trixie swirled her cape around herself, ‘Trixie must always look good for Trixie’s public,’ as she answered the foals’ queries; “The Great and Powerful Trixie has been traveling throughout Equestria, and while Trixie is not currently performing, that may change if Trixie can get permission from Trixie’s new teacher. Trixie has no intention of picking a fight with anypony, and the sword belongs to Trixie’s mentor, who is training Trixie to be a swashbuckling heroine, of sorts.”

“If its your teacher’s sword, why are you carrying it?” asked a small, pale violet, unicorn filly, her muzzle wrinkled in confusion.

“Trixie is carrying the sword, because she wanted to see the town.”

“Huh?” blinked an orangish pegasus filly with unusually small wings, “So you wanted to see the town? Or are you trying to claim that the sword did?”

“Both,” the illusionist reached out to ruffle the pegasus’ cerise mane, causing the filly to embarrassedly swat at her hand, “Say hello, Kragor.”

The gathered foals exchanged bewildered looks, only to stare in shock as the sword piped up, “Greetings pony-people!”

“You have a talking sword!” the foals shouted excitedly.

“Yes, yes,” the soulblade grumbled, “You pony-people always find that so surprising. Now, know that I am Great and Powerful Kragor, Black Fang, I know much and tell some!”

“Oh yeah?” challenged a white earth pony colt with a Trottingham accent and a brown patch around his eye, “If you’re so smart, tell us how many angels can sit on the head of a pin?”

“Simplicity itself! First, measure head of pin, then measure angels’ asses (this should be done twice, both to ensure accuracy and because I have heard that many angels have quite nice asses), finally, divide B into A vith simple arithmetic.”

“Kragor!” Trixie protested, even as the gathered foals burst into giggles at the blade’s language.

“Tell us how to get rich!” dared a pale grey pegasus colt.

“Even simpler! Find someone vho is already rich, kill them and take their stuff, then you find someone else vho is rich, kill them and take their stuff! Then find ---”

“That is enough, Kragor!” commanded a scandalized illusionist, “These are foals!” she added in a half-whisper.

“Really? … Are you sure?”

“Of course we’re foals,” a greyish-white unicorn filly declared, “Can’t you see us?”

“Vell of course I can’t see you,” Kragor retorted, “I don’t have any eyes!”

“But ya’re talkin’ ta us jus’ fine without a mouth,” pointed out a yellowish earth pony filly with a great pink bow in her mane.

“I … I don’t have a response for that,” the soulblade admitted.

“Foals!” a familiar, posh-accented voice called out, “It will be raining soon, so let’s let Trixie get on with her business, shall we? I’m sure she will be delighted to talk with you later.”

“Ahh,” the foals groaned as Applejack and Rarity approached from the direction of the library, “Can’t we ask Kragor just one more question?” begged the beribboned filly.

“Well, Ah suppose it would be a’right,” Applejack drawled, apparently missing Trixie’s frantic attempts at a “subtle” headshake.

The colts and fillies put their heads together as they argued what to ask, before the pegasus filly finally stepped forward, “So, umh … do you have any advice for us? Anything you think we ought to know?"

“Hmm …," Kragor mused for a moment, "Never run from anything immortal, it attracts their attention.”

“Levnim Kaegro,” a beam of golden light shot from Trixie’s outstretched hand to splash against the training dummy, while the mare gave a slight grunt as the rapier in her other hand lanced forward to gouge another notch in the wood.

Across the cave, HellCaller didn’t even look up from where she was prepping some meat for smoking, “Again.”

Light blasted and wood chips flew.

“Again.”

“Can Trixie at least use another spell?” the unicorn groaned, “The Studious and Obedient Trixie has been doing these exercises for weeks and she could probably cast this invocation in her sleep now.”

“That is point, my Apprentice,” the demoness replied, finally bothering to look at the showmare, “Disrupt Undead is a very veak spell, but it is also only completely reliable spell against undead that a magus has, and once you are properly trained, you vill be able to cast it unlimited number of times in a day. It also doesn’t damage training dummy, so ve von’t have to replace it as often,” ‘Caller smirked at her student, “Besides, I thought you said positive energy bolt vas ‘pretty’.”

The illusionist sighed and turned back to her exercises, while the demoness continued with her own tasks, until, a few hours later, ‘Caller began to collect her tools, “Go in and vash up,” she told a sweating Trixie, “Ve’ll continue your studies tonight, for now ve’ll head into town. I’m sure you’ll find something to do, and I need to arrange for some armor for your training, anyway,” the demon grinned as the unicorn gave a theatrical shudder.

Trixie gave a relieved groan as she flexed her shoulders, getting measured, and a basic fitting, for a boiled leather cuirass, vambraces and greaves took more time and effort than she had thought, ‘Trixie is surprised that Ponyville even has a leatherworker who does armor,’ the illusionist mused, as she popped her spine, “Now, what should Trixie do?” her mentor had given the unicorn the rest of the afternoon off, but she didn’t really know what do with it, “Maybe … Trixie could go to the library? Only to find a book, of course.”

Heading towards Golden Oak, the showmare was nearly trampled when a herd of foals, freshly released from school, came swarming out of an alley, “Hey, look! Its Trixie!”

“Are you doing shows yet, Miss Trixie?”

“Trixie is sorry …,” the mare replied, blinking at the sense of deja vu, before the disappointment on the foals’ faces struck a chord inside of her, ‘Trixie has no supplies or equipment … but Trixie started her career with nothing more than her talent and drive!’ “Yes, yes Trixie will put on a show! Trixie will be at the park gazebo in fifteen minutes, and Trixie expects to see you all there!”

A sudden explosion of smoke heralded Trixie’s appearance in the gazebo and return to the stage; what followed was over an hour of sleight of hand, minor illusions, and misdirection. The showmare even spontaneously adapted some of the minor invocations she had learned from HellCaller to entertainment purposes by chilling her audience’s drinks and exposing some of the spectators to the warm, tingling, feeling Disrupt Undead caused a living subject. And she managed to do it without once mocking any of her audience or issuing a challenge to anypony, despite some urges to return to her old, antagonistic, style.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie thanks you all,” the illusionist bowed extravagantly as the foals, and several adults who had wandered in, clapped wildly, “Trixie will have new shows as her training permits, tell your friends!” and, with that, the performer disappeared in another cloud of smoke.

Trixie leaned back gratefully into the armchair, hiding a grimace as her sore muscles twinged – she was a showmare, something of an academic, and well accustomed to life on the road, but now she was training to also be a magical warrior, and that instruction put new and painful demands on her body.

The physical exertion, and its attendant aches, aside, Trixie was more engaged than she had been in years; she had put on a successful performance, and she was learning a whole new form of magic, one completely unknown not just in Equestria, but in the whole of Equis, and her teacher had decided that the illusionist's training was progressing well enough to earn the mare a small reward; one evening of questions, truthfully answered, as long as her mentor believed that Trixie could handle those answers.

Said mentor was currently sitting across from the unicorn, her spell-wrought blade casually slung over her chair’s back, “So, vhat shall ve discuss, my student?” the demon asked, flashing her apprentice a fanged grin, “History? Politics? Tactics? Tales from my Realm you might turn into part of your show?”

“Trixie will take you up on the last one later, but for now, Trixie wishes to ask you about Names.”

“That … can be a dangerous question, Apprentice,” ‘Caller replied softly.

“Trixie is not so foolish as to ask after her teacher’s Name,” the unicorn sniffed, “But the Magus Corps must already deal with demons and the fae, and Trixie suspects she will need to be able to as well, and Names are an integral part of it.”

The demoness nodded her head, “Very vell, overview of Names it shall be, then. First thing you should know are that there are Names and then there are names, and then there are names, and no, I am not just talking in circles,” ‘Caller smirked at Trixie before continuing, “For fae, as vell as greater beings from infernal, celestial, and elemental planes, vhat I know as ‘Outsiders’, a Name is not just a designation, it is a reflection, expression, of entity’s nature, in some ways it helps define that entity’s nature. Knowing fae or outsider’s Name can give you power over it, vith right spells and enough strength of vill, you can use a Name to harm, hinder, bind, aid, or even kill, if you’re powerful enough. That is vhy fae and outsiders guard their Names so jealously, and more powerful among them are usually referred to by titles,” the demon took a draught from her mug before continuing, “Any summoner or diabolist vorth his salt knows a list of Names, and is always, always, looking to learn more, but, using Names is a dangerous business, invoking a Name too often or too casually vill rouse the ire of one Named, and none can hold a grudge like immortal.”

“Next there are names, the commonplace names people use without a though every day.”

Trixie frowned in confusion, ‘What do normal pony names have to do with the fae and demons?’

“For most folk it doesn’t matter to much,” ‘Caller went on, not noticing the unicorn's puzzlement, “But for anyone vho needs to deal vith Named it is vital to know that if one of Named knows your full, true, name, then they can use it to affect you just as invoking their Name can be used against them. And it’s not just Named you must be aware of,” she added, “Any caster can use knowledge of someone’s true name to strength rituals and curses, just like a lock of hair or bit of blood, so keep your true name a closely guarded secret, my Apprentice, and only give it to those you trust absolutely.”

“Finally, you have use-names and pseudonyms, like Deadhand, Mender, Limper, FarTraveller, Bride, or maybe something with a bit more style, like HellCaller,” the demon preened slightly as Kragor laughed, “For most part, such names provided excellent protection against anyone trying to use your name against you.”

“The Astute and Observant Trixie suspects that there is a ‘but’ coming.”

‘Caller nodded, “Longer a use-name is carried, and more renown or infamy that gets attached to it, more … let’s call it ‘veight’ … that name has in veave of Creation, after enough time, maybe being passed from person to person, and enough notable actions, a use-name becomes so representative of its bearer that it can serve as a second true name for rituals and other magic.”

The illusionist frowned, “You are several centuries old, does that mean that you are still Named, even though you go by a use-name?”

“In normal course of things, yes, it vould,” the demoness agreed, “But there are ancient rituals that can server a person’s connection to their name, sacrificing their name, or Name, for greater arcane power, those rites also prevent your new use-name from gaining enough ‘veight’ for it to replace vhat you forfeited.”

“The why does not every pony use these rituals?” Trixie inquired, “It sounds like it would offer much to anypony with magical talents.”

“It does, but there are drawbacks; most religions consider sacrificing your name to be some sort of sin, a rejection of your parents, ancestors and gods, so rituals are often treated as ‘black magic’. Then, there is fact that forfeiting your name makes it anathema to you, anyone vho knows it gains power over you, as much or ever more than power granted by knowing Name of a fae or an outsider. Finally, rituals are extremely difficult to perform and almost nothing is recorded about them, so each caster must re-discover rites themselves, and doing them even slightly vrong is quite fatal,” HellCaller got up, stretched, and went to refill her mug, “I think that is enough on that for tonight,” she said, turning back to face the showmare, “You have your studies, and another show to prepare for, I’d vager, so I vill let you get back to them," seeing the unicorn's pout, she wagged her finger at the mare, "I promised you overview, and that is vhat you got. Think about vhat you have learned and come up vith more questions."

"Fine," the illusionist sighed, "But Trixie expects to hear stories from your Realm next time!"

"I'll try to remember some of better ones," 'Caller promised, chuckling.

HellCaller bolted upright in bed, her face twisted in a snarl, only to relax as the lingering traces of magic faded.

:‘Caller?: the demoness’ soulblade murmured, her telepathic voice still muzzy with sleep, :Vhat is it?:

:Someone just attempted to summon a greater demon,: ‘Caller’s replied, jolting Kragor fully awake, :Spell vasn’t directed at any particular demon, so it tried to snag us.:

:A ritual strong enough for you to feel, even if you veren’t compelled to answer, is more than enough to call most balors or pit fiends,: the sword mused, :If the summoner vasn’t seeking a specific demon, than vhatever responded may vell be more than they are prepared to control.:

:Even if ritual vas strong enough, ve are already bound,: the demon’s lip curled at the irony, :Thanks to Do Not Steal’s accursed ritual, I doubt ve can ever be forced to answer a summon again,: rising from her bed, ‘Caller headed for her closet and began to dress, her sleep was already ruined, “Vhoever they are, I got a glimpse of them, and they are here, in this Realm.”

“You don’t think that they might have another grimoire … do you, ‘Caller?”

“I’m not villing to take that chance,” the demoness retorted, scooping up her sword as she headed for her scrying chamber.

Luna shook her head in amusement as she left the dream bubble, ‘For one with such a well-developed ego to hath nightmares over romantic anxiety of all things,’ she thought, ‘Mayhaps I should encourage darling Cadance to start spreading her efforts beyond Canterlot … an advice for the lovelorn column in one of the newspapers, perchance?’ looking around, the lunar alicorn strolled over to another, nearby, dream bubble, ‘I wonder what young Kragor is dreaming of tonight,’ but before entering the dream, the Princess of the Moon stopped as a thought occurred to her, ‘I hath never seen HellCaller’s dreams … does she wrap herself in wards such that I cannot perceive her imaginings? Or is her mind so different that I do not recognize her dreamscape when I see it?’ shrugging the notion away for another time, Luna entered the dream.

A forest glade spread about the alicorn, the surrounding trees pack so tightly that they formed an impassible wall, while a thick layer of grass and moss covered the ground, near the center of the glade, a quartet of skeletons played instruments, while Kragor and several, very fluffy, rabbits danced to the macabre musicians’ music.

“Hey, Luna!” the young mare waved, “Come and dance vith us!”

With a smile and a small shrug, the Princess joined the festivities.

Hours later, but in truth only a few minutes thanks to dream manipulation, Luna led Kragor away from the still frolicking rabbits to a pair of seats, “Thou seem to be enjoying thyself most enthusiastically, young Kragor,” the alicorn observed, “Is there a particular reason for thy merriment?”

“I’m just trying to get in as much dreaming as I can before ve go hunting tomorrow,” replied the mare, “My sister doesn’t usually sleep much vhen she’s got bit between her teeth, and ‘Caller vants this summoner dealt vith.”

“Summoner?” the Princess’ ears perked up, “What summoner might this be and why are thou seeking them out?”

“Ve don’t know just vho she is, exactly, but vhomever she is, she did a demon summoning strong enough that ‘Caller felt it.”

“While I can appreciate HellCaller’s and thine desire to confront this warlock, dealing with such ponies is the duty of the Night Guard and Magus Corps, not private individuals acting without Royal approval,” Luna objected with a frown, “It would be better for all if thy sister would work with the Magus Corps on this.”

“Yeah, you can try telling ‘Caller that,” Kragor snorted, “Vhatever this summoner-pony is up too, her ritual vas strong enough to call a demon lordling or attract the attention of vorse.”

“Do thou even know where to begin thy search?” sighed the alicorn.

“Uh-huh,” the soulblade nodded, idly scratching the ears of one of the rabbits, “‘Caller got a look at summoner-pony vhen she tried to call us, and ‘Caller has been busy Scrying on her to get enough information to find her.”

“Where is she, then?”

“Near some place called Vhinnybridge … Luna? Luna, vhat’s vrong?”

“There have been several disappearances from the village of Whinnybridge, a Magus was dispatched to help with the investigation,” the Princess of Night said grimly, “How long ago was this summoning attempted?”

“Just this morning past.”

“Then it is possible that the missing ponies may yet live,” Luna said, with a sharp nod, “The Magus will still be on the road, I will contact them and tell them to make all haste.”

“I’ll vake up ‘Caller,” Kragor replied, her own face showing a combination of bleak resolve and unholy eagerness that had the alicorn’s ears folded back in alarm, “Ve’ll be at Summoner-pony vithin hour.”

“The Princesses, Zanobia and all the other divines take it,” Trixie groaned in annoyance, first her teacher spent most of the day closeted away in her chambers, now she was up in the middle of the night, disturbing the showmare’s sleep just when it had gone from nightmares to an exceptionally pleasant little fantasy about Twilight Sparkle. Rising from her bed with a huff, the illusionist threw on her nightgown and stomped out to confront her tartarean Master, “The Weary and Fatigued Trixie is trying to sleep!”

“Voops! Sorry, Trixie,” Kragor apologized, “Ve’ll be out of here in a minute and you can get back to bed.”

The unicorn narrowed sleep-fuzzed eyes, “You’re up to something,” she accused, “Give Trixie a few minutes to dress and she will be ready to accompany you.”

‘Caller made a short, chopping, gesture, “No.”

“But Trixie is your apprentice,” Trixie protested, “Where you go, Trixie goes!”

“You are not ready for this,” stated the demoness, “You vould be no more than sword fodder if one ve seek is as strong as I believe, and sword fodder only vorks in numbers,” seeing the showmare’s pout, ‘Caller’s voice softened ever so slightly, “Train and study, my Apprentice, your time vill come, likely sooner than you vish.”

The demon clapped her hands together, “Now, it is time for us to be off. Jennuilt Zhin.”

“Ow,” ‘Caller rubbed her forehead and shifted her limbs to try and ease the pain of displacement, “Someone in this fool Realm has figured out Forbiddance or a proper Dimensional Lock,” she grumbled. Looking around, the demoness spied the tumbled wreckage of a recently razed village nearby, the occasional flame gleaming in the night among the ruins, “And I suspect that is Vhinnybridge.”

“Ve should tell Luna and girls.” Kragor suggested.

The demon nodded, “Agreed, but first thing’s first. Discern Location.”

When the ritual was finished, ‘Caller began a second for her Sending to Twilight:

“Relay this information to your Princesses immediately.

Whinnybridge in ruins, no survivors currently evident.

Summoner is underground, two miles East-northeast of Whinnybridge.

Proceeding on foot.”

The prints of several great, clawed, feet and accompanying drag marks led the demoness from the devastated village deep into a nearby forest and finally to an overgrown and, seemingly, long abandoned cemetery. The trail continued deeper into the boneyard, until finally ending at the suspiciously sturdy doors of a massive mausoleum. With a few words, ‘Caller cast Arcane Sight and leaned forward to examine the portal.

“Vell?”

“No spelltraps,” the demoness informed her soulblade, “Just Alarm spell and some symbol inscribed vith Arcane Mark.”

“Really?” Kragor asked curiously, “Vhat does it look like?”

“A ram’s head surrounded by a ring of fire,” ‘Caller replied absently, “It looks like Dimensional Lock doesn’t extend beyond doors, but vith that Alarm there is no vay to surprise vhatever is inside.”

“Pity,” the sword sighed, before giving a dark chuckle, “But like Linzi always said, ‘If you can’t be subtle ….’”

“… ‘Then be memorable’,” the demon finished, with a grin of her own. Standing back up, ‘Caller drew her blade and pointed at the great doors, “Disintegrate.” There was an odd “ping” sound, like metal cooling too fast, and the center of the doors simply disappeared in a puff of dust, leaving the outer leaves hanging from their hinges.

Striding forward, the demoness entered a great hall, easily forty feet long, littered with rubble and the ravaged corpses of dozens of ponies, while a wide stairway descending into the earth at the far end. A host of withered, bestial ponies, including a number of fang-mouthed foals, looked up from where they had been feeding on the dead, while a quartet of fiendish-looking ponies, with coal-black scaled skins and horned skulls for heads, turned to glare at the intruder. Near the back wall, a massive reptilian biped, nearly twice the size of an ogre, reared up on a pair of cloven hooves and pointed a clawed finger at ‘Caller, “Destroy the interloper!” it roared in horribly accented Abyssal.

“Must be some of local demon breeds,” the demoness guessed as the throng surged forward, “Vell, let’s clear out rabble, shall ve? Horrid Vilting,” as the incantation rang out, the ghoulish ponies collapsed into small clouds of dust, while the five demons all recoiled in pain as their flesh withered and cracked. With a throaty laugh, ‘Caller sprinted to the nearest of the skull-faced demons and lashed out with her sword, the eldritch blade tearing through the startled fiend’s scaly hide, two more blows pitched her opponent to the floor, smoke and ichor leaking from its wounds as the demon dissolved into a noxious mist.

The equestrian demons seemed taken aback at the speed of ‘Caller’s assault, but quickly rallied; the three skull-headed demons enshrouded the demoness in a heavy haze of freezing, sickening, darkness, while the giant demon spoke a word of terrible, blasphemous power, but, to their dismay, the demoness simple stood through their assault, one eyebrow raised, as Kragor’s giggles echoed through the vault, “Unholy Blight and Blasphemy are very effective spells against mortals,” ‘Caller observed in Abyssal, “But they have no effect on other demons, I fear,” she favored the demons with a cold smile, “Chains of Fire.”

A whirling bolt of flames streaked from ‘Caller’s hand to slam into the giant demon, before splashing out to strike the other three in turn. As the trio of smaller demons collapsed, the giant shimmered and teleported to the far side of the chamber, as the entire crypt filled with flames. The gigantic fiend began to grin, only for ‘Caller to burst out of the inferno, runes glowing along Kragor’s length, and send his head tumbling from his shoulders in a single swipe.

Slapping out embers and the occasional flame, the demoness walked over to the stairwell, happily breathing in the smell of brimstone and burned meat that filled the chamber, as she looked over the doors blocking the stairs twenty feet below, :Huh, interior doors are almost identical to ones outside,: she relayed to her soulblade, :No spells on these, however, and symbol is openly etched into doors.:

Carefully descending the steps, ‘Caller could barely make out voices, rendered unintelligible by distance and the thickness of the doors, while a gentle touch indicated that the doors were unsealed. Taking a firmer grip on her sword’s hilt, the demoness kicked the doors open and strode inside.

The chamber was much like the mausoleum above, albeit more than twice as long, with another stairwell at the opposite end, and strewn with scattered rubble. Five cages holding terrified ponies lined the walls, while a pair of ponies in ritual robes chanted at a glowing ritual circle engraved onto the floor, finally, a half-dozen ghoulish ponies, more heavily built than the earlier ones, and a pair of decayed pony-angels hissed at the intruders. As the undead swarmed towards ‘Caller, a ghostly tentacle emerged from the glowing glyph and latched onto one of the prisoners, sending him into convulsions.

“More riffraff,” the demoness sneered, “Horrid Vilting,” ‘Caller raised an eyebrow when, although visibly injured by the invocation, the cultists and their undead minions remained standing, “So, you’re tougher than I thought,” the demon admitted, her blade lashing out to sever a ghoul’s reaching arm, “That just means that this vill be more fun!”

The maimed ghoul quickly fell to ‘Caller’s hacking blows, its spraying blood searing whatever flesh it touched, only to be replaced as the pony writhing in the spectral tentacle’s grip transformed into another ghoul and fell upon a fellow prisoner.

With an annoyed snarl, the demoness rushed across the chamber, undead claws ripping at her armor. Two blows of her soulblade sheered through the cheap iron of the lock, allowing ‘Caller to reach in and yank the startled ghoul out of the cage as the ethereal tendril lashed out to grab another pony as she flung the ghoul aside.

With a swipe of Kragor, the demoness unleashed a churning wave of green and purple arcane energy that tore across the room, shearing through the ritual circle and tearing through the two cultists, leaving one laying broken upon the smashed and semi-molten stones, while the caged prisoners were left untouched, the otherworldly tentacle having vanished when the glyph was disrupted.

“You cannot prevent the Demon Ram’s return, Faustian!” the remaining cultist shrilled, her horn glowing fuchsia as she threw a bolt of energy at ‘Caller, “The sacrifices will continue!”

Twisting aside from the spell, 'Caller closed on the ranting cultist, her soulblade pounding through a hastily conjured shield, leaving the unicorn clutching a handful of her own entrails as she slumped to the ground, as the demoness flung a fireball at the oncoming undead.

The already injured ghouls went up in flames, but the freshly turned ghoul and the rotted angels pressed forward; claws tearing, fangs gnashing, and whenever one of the angels managed to draw blood, the wound instantly mortified.

“Chains of Fire,” once again the flames roared out, consuming the ghoul, who’s caustic, spurting blood charred more of ‘Caller’s skin, while a few sword strokes sufficed to deal with the corrupted angels as the burned.

Turning away from the bodies littering the floor, the demoness quickly scraped away the necrotic flesh from her wounds and bound them up, only to pause on her way to the stairs as Kragor spoke up, “Vhat about ponies?”

Glancing back at the caged prisoners, the demon shrugged, “Vhat about them?”

“'Caller!” the spellblade groaned, “Vhat vould Fluttershy and girls vant us to do? Vhat vould Linzi vant us to do?”

“Fine!” ‘Caller snapped, petulantly stomping over to the cages, she quickly hacked away the locks, before point her sword up the stairs, “Vay out is clear, for now,” the demoness said, “I think your Princess has people on their vay to Vhinnybridge, so you can vait for them there.”

As the ponies hurried away as best they could, half-carrying their injured, ‘Caller turned back to the stairwell down, “Happy?” she grumbled.

“Yes,” Kragor chirped, “So, vhat does next door look like?”

“It has same symbol on it, only this time it glows, and doors have glyphs of varding on them.”

“Sounds like it might be main chamber,” the soulblade suggested.

“Could be,” the demoness agreed, “Vhich means they’ll have been alerted by that Alarm, seeing as both of these halls vere oblivious.”

Kragor hummed to herself, “Disintegrate doors again, maybe?”

“Sounds good,” ‘Caller shrugged, pointing at the ensorcelled doors, “Disintegrate,” the demoness’ eyes darted about as she took in the revealed vault; as long as the previous chamber, if not so wide, four battered doors revealed the presence of side crypts, while a small cluster of rickety bookshelves filled one corner. A robed pegasus mare, partially healed burns visible on her muzzle, stood near the center of the hall, flanked by two more of the corrupted angels, while the mausoleum’s final occupant lounged upon a crude throne of rubble – a balor lordling, if ‘Caller did not miss her guess.

Clad in nothing more than a loincloth and a heavy belt from which hung a flaming whip and a sword, the demon would stand twice ‘Caller’s height if erect, great, draconic, wings twitched idly, as flames raced over his scaled hide. A horned, equine, skull turned to regard the demoness with blazing eyes, “So this is our intruder … have you come to offer yourself to great Chethas the Depraved, little half-breed morsel? My new priestess could use some help satisfying my urges,” he added, waving at the mare, who shuddered.

‘Caller rolled her eyes at the demon’s offer, she had been propositioned by more powerful, and more appealing, entities many a time, and, frankly, her full-demon sisters’ blandishments had been far more enticing anyway, and for that matter, just how did a skull manage to leer? “I gather you are one vho put up Dimensional Lock?”

“Oh, that? A simple precaution, nothing more, although it seems that such abjurations are beyond the understanding of these ponies,” Chethas waved the matter aside, “Now, Dominate Monster, strip off that armor, morsel, and present yourself before your Master, I want a better look at my new toy.”

Strutting forward with an eager, even sultry, grin, the demoness began to fumble with the catches of her armor, only to stop and smirk up at the balor, “Horrid Vilting,” as the spell washed over the chamber, ‘Caller lunged forward, caving in the head of one of the corrupted angels, while a second strike crunched into the armor the pegasus wore beneath her robes, staggering the mare. “Cold Ice Strike,” she incanted, unleashing a shredding blast of jagged ice shards that knocked the cultist sprawling and slammed into the balor, ripping his flesh as he rose from his throne.

Stepping forward, his great whip lashing in one fist, Chethas glared down at the brazen demoness who dared to defy him, “Implosion.”

‘Caller staggered, coughing blood, as the curse’s destructive resonance struck her, but she kept her feet, “Polar Ray,” she countered, a blue-white beam lancing from her hand to strike Chethas full in the chest, quickly encasing the demon in a layer of ice, “Cold Ice Strike,” a second spell blasted the remaining undead angel, throwing it to the ground in a broken heap even as its claws tore at her.

The demoness took a deep breath, only to snap her head up at the shrill scream of breaking ice as the balor forced his way out of his glacial tomb, his whip lashing out to coil around ‘Caller and yank her into the demon’s fiery embrace, “Impudent bitch!” Chethas snarled, his sword smashing down to snap one of ‘Caller’s arms, even as her armor kept the blow from biting deep.

‘Caller didn’t deign to reply to the demon’s words, instead hurling another wave of pure eldritch energy that blasted the balor back through the shattered remnants of his throne. Spitting blood to the side, the demoness fixed Chethas with a glare as he rose back to his feet and spoke a single word of power, “Die.”

At ‘Caller’s utterance, Chethas the Depraved, aspiring Abyssal Lord, died … and his body immediately exploded in a blast of unholy fire.

Rising to her feet from where she had been thrown, ‘Caller winched as the burns that now covered half of her face, along with a host of other injuries, screamed at her, “At least that is done vith,” she groaned, her nose wrinkling at the acrid smell of burnt hair.

A trace of movement in the corner of her eye brought the demoness twisting around, as the cultist rose to her feet with a shout, “Sawakhaetshii Grogar!” a flood of confusing images and emotions assaulted ‘Callers mind, dazing the demoness as the psychic assault caused fresh blood to drip from her nose and ears. Drawing a leaf-bladed, enruned, short sword from beneath her robes, the mare rushed forward, driving her weapon through the armpit of the stunned demon’s armor, and deep into her lungs, “Feed great Grogar with your death, demon!” the pegasus spat, twisting her sword and bringing forth a great gout of blood.

The cultist turned away, but was stopped by a hand gripping her shoulder, “It takes a bit more than that to kill me,” ‘Caller gurgled through the blood pouring from her mouth, “Maximized Vampiric Touch,” the demoness gave a happy sigh as her wounds closed and broken bones snapped back into place, before gazing at the mare who hung limply in her grasp, glazed eyes staring blankly, “I believe you mentioned feeding someone?” ‘Caller asked, her sword stabbing down, runes blazing, as Kragor devoured another soul.

While Chethas’ death throes had destroyed the bookshelves and their contents, (‘Caller could just imagine Twilight’s grieving over the lost tomes) a search of the side chambers turned up a diary and a grimoire, along with camping supplies, several minor magical items, what turned out to be a Bag of Holding, and a large stash of healing potions and unguents, which the demoness dug into eagerly. Adding in what she plundered from the fallen cultists, and ‘Caller felt that she had acquired a nice, not great, but nice, little payday for her efforts.

“Ve should probably make an account to somebody,” Kragor sighed, “I hate dealing vith paper-pushers and making reports that no one vill likely ever read,” she grumbled.

“Oh, you poor baby,” ‘Caller mocked her sister, “Stuck listening to reports and testimonies, vhat horror, I had to vrite accursed things, and read them too! Come on, troops Luna vas sending vill hopefully reach Vhinnybridge soon, ve can make our reports to them.”

The Sun was just beginning to rise as Princess Luna and her escort stepped out of the shadows in the ruins of what had once been a prosperous hamlet. Spotting the cluster of refugees being tended by the soldiers that had accompanied the Magus she had sent earlier, the alicorn directed her attendants, and the medicines and supplies they were carrying, to work.

After receiving a full report from the Magus, Breezy Lake, the Princess of the Night turned her attention to one final individual, an armored figure, perched lazily on the stump of a ruined wall as she read, and rather conspicuously avoided by the other ponies. “Hello, Luna!” chirped a metallic voice as the alicorn approached, “It’s nice to see you in vaking vorld instead of my dreams!”

“Hello, young Kragor,” Luna replied warmly, as she eyed the soulblade’s elder sister, ‘Much as I had imagined her from the reports … but why does half of her head look freshly shaved? Is it some fashion thing? Maybe darling Cadance or gracious Rarity would know ….’ “And greetings to thou, as well, HellCaller,” the alicorn smiled at the demon.

“Nice …,” the demoness drawled as she openly ogled the Princess, “At least my little sister has good taste in vho she shares our secrets vith.”

Luna bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement of both the implied rebuke and the, admittedly crude, compliment, “The situation was … most unusual,” the alicorn acknowledged, “And I truly hope we may leave the regretful matter in the past. Now, if thou would tell me what hast transpired here?”

Rising from her seat with a nod, ‘Caller clasped her hands behind her back and began her report.

“Vhen ve got back to town, you’re folk vere pretty freaked out by us, so that magus of yours, Lake I think it vas, asked us to vait off to side until you got here,” the demoness cocked her head slightly, “So … vho vere those cultists, anyway?”

“Devotees of Grogar the Corruptor,” Luna replied with distaste, “Every time we think we have stamped out his foul sect, another cult will pop up.”

“This might be of use to you, then,” ‘Caller suggested, offering the book she had been reading, “It vas diary of head cultist, some pegasus named Crimson Delight.”

“Mine gratitude. Do thou know anything of the demon who usurped the cult?”

“He vas Chethas Depraved, a minor demon lordling from back in my Realm, somehow Crimson's summons drew him here. Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t bind vhat she called up.”

“‘Caller, give them other stuff,” Kragor urged with a weary sigh, "You know ve don't really need most of it, anyway," the grumbling demoness dug into her new bag and reluctantly handed over all the coinage and camping supplies, most of the minor magical items, and a fair portion of the remaining healing potions.

“Thou hath mine gratitude, again,” said the alicorn, waving some of her guards over to take the provisions and other materials and oversee their distribution among the ponies of Whinnybridge, “These poor ponies will hath an easier time rebuilding thanks to thy generosity.” When the demon made no move to leave, but simply stood watching her, the Princess of the Night cocked an ear at HellCaller, “Was there something else that thou wished to discuss, or,” ‘What is that phrase darling Cadance uses?’ “Are thou merely enjoying the view?”

“Mostly enjoying view,” the demoness replied cheerfully, “But I vas curious vhy you used Shadow Valk to get here instead of just teleporting.”

“Long range teleportation is most risky without a Gatehouse to serve as a beacon and secure arrival point,” Luna explained, “While a much rarer spell, and lacking Teleportation’s instantaneous movement, Shadow Walk is the sounder choice,” the mare frowned, “Unfortunately, most of the few ponies who do know Shadow Walk are usually warlocks or necromancers, which hast given the incantation an undeservedly wicked reputation.”

“Huh,” ‘Caller grunted, “Vell, vhile I vould love to spend day flirting vith you, your Highness, I should get back and deal vith vhatever mischief my Apprentice has gotten herself in to. Jennuilt Zhin.”

Here’s a bit of adventure to spice up all the slice-of-life chapters.

Also, the concept of teleportation "gatehouses" was originated by Estee in their Triptych Continuum stories. If your interested in MLP stories where Reality Ensues, than I heartily suggest giving them a look.

Twilight sat at her desk, a breeze coming through the open window, as she scratched down another half-formed idea, a scroll bearing the royal seal open beside her, ‘Celestia wants my suggestions for artifact security!’ she squealed to herself, ‘Admittedly, I’m not fully convinced that the Sanctuary Vaults actually need their safeguards refurbished,’ the librarian added, ‘Well, HellCaller did gain access to the Restricted Archives rather easily, but she is a powerful demon after all … just the kind of pony we don’t want getting into the Vaults ….’ “Oh dear.”

“Why the long muzzle, Twi-Twi?” Pinkie Pie asked, her sudden appearance producing a startled “Meep!” from the unicorn as she almost fell out of her chair.

“Oh, hi, Pinkie,” Twilight replied after a deep, calming breath, “I was just working on something for Princess Celestia.”

“Oh, oh, what is it?” the party pony asked eagerly, “New recipes for cakes? Pies? Fudge? Fudge pies?”

“No, nothing like that,” said the scholar, ‘Although fudge pie does sound rather good.’ “The Princess was just interested in ideas for keeping dark artifacts out of the wrong hands.”

“Has she considered putting up a ‘Do Not Touch’ sign? No? Well phooey,” Pinkie tugged at her ear in thought, “Maybe we should get the fillies together for ideas?”

The unicorn smiled at her friend, “You mean a brainstorming session? That’s a great idea Pinkie!”

“Really? I’d think having a storm in your brain would make it harder to have ideas, but if you say so.”

The next day, the Bearers of Harmony (plus a surprised Trixie) gathered in Carousel Boutique to share ideas, and indulge in a little gossip, over tea, “It’s so nice to have a quiet little get together, don’t you think, darlings?” the fashionista said as she sipped her tea.

“Trixie would like to thank you for inviting Trixie to your gathering.”

“Oh pish-posh, darling,” Rarity replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, “Such gatherings are an excellent way for everypony to move past former unpleasantness. Besides,” she added with a slightly predatory smirk, “I suspect you will soon be a regular member of our little group, a, dare I say, most dear friend, indeed.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful!” Twilight agreed enthusiastically, as the furiously blushing showmare stared into her tea.

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll all become real chums and then everything will be rainbows and butterflies,” Rainbow Dash snarked as she wolfed down a handful of the tiny sandwiches Rarity had provided, “Now, who has an absolutely awesome idea for how to guard these artifact things?”

“I don’t suppose just dropping them into a volcano would be okay with everypony?” Fluttershy asked, hopefully.

“I’m afraid not,” the librarian replied, “The Magus Order has destroyed what they can, but some artifacts are just too powerful, or unstable, and throwing such relics into a volcano could quite possibly cause an eruption, and wouldn’t guarantee the artifact’s destruction, either.”

“Pity,” sighed the fashionista, “Well my first thought was to go with something simple and straightforward; as everypony’s magical aura is unique, why not use that for the ‘key’ and make it so that only two of the Princess, working together, can open the Vaults?”

“Hmm, not bad,” Twilight commended her friend, scratching notes onto the scroll she’d brought.

“I know!” Pinkie grinned excitedly, her muzzle smeared with clotted cream and jam, “Every morning, just as Celestia is raising the sun, the Vaults could teleport to a new location! And it could be completely random where they go, too! No pony can break into a place they can’t even find!”

“Yeah, but tha Maguses won’t be able ta find tha Vaults ta put any new artifacts inside, neither,” Applejack gently reminded the baker.

The pink earth pony’s ear fell slightly, “Oh, yeah.”

“Perhaps we could move the Vaults to another Realm?” mused the academic, “It would foil any purely physical attempt to access their contents, and any would-be thieves would have to know which Realm the Vaults were in to even start.”

Rarity raised an elegantly styled eyebrow at her friend, “But what about the inhabitants of whatever Realm you chose to put the Vaults in, darling?”

“Yes, any natives might be a problem,” Twilight conceded, “But they are doing some amazing work on extra-dimensional spaces, maybe the Vaults could be put in their own, self-contained, demiplane?”

Fluttershy diffidently raised her hand, “Well … it occurred to me … that as long as we asked nicely and didn’t do it very often, Discord could probably turn any of those horrible artifacts into carrots, or, or butterflies.”

“I’m not sure how comfortable I am with relying on Discord, of all ponies,” the dressmaker demurred, “Not that you haven’t done wonders with him,” she hastily assured her timid friend, “But he is, well, Discord.”

“Still something to be considered,” the purple unicorn declared, making yet another note.

“Aw, come on, fillies, the best way to seal something up is put it in a hidden dungeon,” Rainbow declared, “And then put in a whole bunch of traps and guards and puzzle-locks to deal with anypony who does find it.”

Twilight frowned uncertainly, “But that never works in the Daring Do books,” she pointed out, “I mean, sure it keeps whatever relic the book is about safe for a while, frequently for several centuries, but Daring always finds out about it and always gets the relic in the end.”

The weatherpony shrugged, “So, Celestia just needs to have Daring test the dungeon first, is all,” Rainbow grinned, “The Princesses could even sell tickets!”

“Which would give away where the Vaults are and what sorts of defenses they have,” Trixie pointed out.

“Oh, yeah, I guess it would,” the athlete admitted sheepishly.

“Well, what about takin’ all tha artifacts an’ jus’ dumpin’ ‘em in tha middle of tha ocean?” Applejack suggested, “That way they’re all out of everypony’s mane an’ no pony can get at ‘em.”

“But what about the seaponies?” protested Fluttershy, “A poor, unsuspecting seapony might find an artifact, and then horrible things would happen.”

“There would also be the risk of artifacts being found by kraken or other monsters,” Twilight added, “I’m afraid that plan has the same problem as putting the Vaults in another Realm.”

The showmare tapped her chin in thought, “The Great and Powerful Trixie’s stagecraft relies heavily on distraction and deception,” she observed, “Maybe something similar would work here? Provide would-be thieves and warlocks with an obvious, heavily-defended Vault to focus on, while the actual Vaults are hidden away somewhere else?”

Two hours later, while the seven mares had discussed many things, they were not noticeably closer to finding a solution to the puzzle Celestia had set them, “We should be doing better than this!” Trixie grumbled, feeling a bit waterlogged from all the tea, “You are the Bearers of Harmony, and Trixie is The Great and Powerful Trixie! Surely there must be more we can devise!”

Rarity patted the showmare’s shoulder, “While we have done our part for Princesses and Country, and mostly likely will again, we are not jailers or vault designers or bank robbers, and I fear we simply don’t have the experience and knowledge that Princess Celestia’s request truly requires.”

Pinkie glanced up with a grin, “We don’t have the experience yet, but didn’t ‘Caller say she spent years as an adventurer?”

“Hey, yeah,” Applejack agreed, “She must have seen all sorts of tombs an’ vaults an’ suchlike.”

“Alright, then,” Twilight declared, “We’ll ask HellCaller to join us tomorrow and share with us the fruits of her knowledge.”

“Why wait ‘till tomorrow?” the baker asked, “There goes HellCaller right now,” she added, pointing out the window.

Opening the window, the mares quickly called over the demoness and explained their predicament, “So do you have any suggestion?” the librarian asked.

HellCaller idly leaned against the windowsill as she considered the ponies’ request, “If destruction of artifacts is really not an option, I’d put it into a heavy chest and then fill chest vith molten lead. Once lead hardens, cover outsides of chest vith another layer of lead, this should block all detection magic and any emanations from artifact. After that find some public vorks project, grain storage, a dam, or a fortress, something that no one vill be in a hurry to tear down, and bury chest in foundation,” she offered, ignoring the disappointed looks from the mares at her prosaic suggestion.

“Actually, there might be a vay to destroy all these artifacts,” Kragor suggested, “But it vouldn’t be easy.”

The demoness glanced down at her sword in confusion, “Vhat are you … oh, that vay,” turning back to the ponies she continued, “Pay her no mind, those stories are apocryphal, and vere ancient vhen my mother vas born. Honestly, I have no idea vhere Linzi ever heard them in first place.”

“Stories?” Pinkie asked eagerly, “Tell! Tell!”

“Linzi told it better,” the soulblade apologized, “But I can try … Plane of Concordant Opposition is vhere all Outer Planes meet. Six hundred and sixty-six layers of Abyss touches Seven Heavens, eternal inferno of Elemental Fire intersects vith endless vaves of Elemental Vater, and unending potential of Positive Material mixes vith entropy of Negative Material. Here, according to ancient rumors vhispered between beings older than entire vorlds, in very heart of Concordant Opposition is a great, eternal, maelstrom, a vortex not of vater, but of reality itself. Same primordial legends claim that anything, or anyone, throw into Maelstrom is not merely destroyed, oh, no, such unfortunates vill be unmade! Erased from all Realms as if they had never been!”

“Eh, I’ve heard better,” the party pony shrugged.

Fluttershy gave a small shudder, “But it’s only a story … right?”

“So far as I know,” ‘Caller assured the timid pegasus, “But I’m not volunteering to go and look!” she added.

HellCaller continued her, rather aimless, stroll through the town, while she had been invited to join the seven mares, and the thought of teasing her apprentice over her crush was tempting, the demoness had declined. Now, as ponies bustled past with the occasional nod or greeting, a small smile curled the corner of her mouth as she relaxed slightly. Although ‘Caller was never actually alone, two centuries in the legions, and a dozen years with the UnChosen, had left the demon accustomed to having people around.

Looking about, she let out a small snort, ‘Does no one believe in fortcraft in this land?’ she grumbled to herself, tossing a glare at Ponyville’s exposed edges, ‘Sure it vouldn’t stop pegasi, but a defensive vall vould still keep ground-based bandits at bay, as vell as just general beasts and other dangers.’

Turning away from her contemplation of the ponies’ poor civil defense planning, the demoness decided to give the new magic shop operating out of a tent on the edge of town a look, her apprentice had spoken well of it, and the mere idea of a gnoll (or a diamond dog in the local parlance) wizard was curious enough to be worth a little investigation.

As she headed back through the streets, 'Caller was stopped by a sudden flash of light as a bizarre being appeared before her; while composed of parts from over a half-dozen different creatures, its general appearance was that of a serpentine dragon, “Well, now,” it purred in a cultured, masculine, voice, “Just the person I was looking for!”

“You vould be Discord, I presume,” the demoness replied.

“Oh, so my reputation has preceded me?” Discord placed a paw over his chest, “I’m touched.”

'Caller favored him with a thin smile, “No, I vas merely told I vould know you if I saw you.”

“And know you have seen me,” the draconequus preened for a moment, “And I have seen the one who foalnapped Fluttershy, haven’t I, daughter of Silussa?” he added, his voice turning dark.

‘How does he know my Name?!’ the demon’s eyes narrowed and flared brighter as her hand slipped towards her sword hilt.

“I know many things, my dear girl,” Discord said, answering her unspoken question, “I am not bound to just this one set of realities, although I admit I am rather fond of it,” the draconequus glanced at ‘Caller, “Oh, do relax! Fluttershy has already vouched for you, that’s why we’re having this little chat. I understand that Flutteshy lives an adventurous life, sometimes, and you were acting under compulsion when you turned her over to Steel, but I want us to have a clear understanding for the future; no one hurts Fluttershy and gets away with it. It might take me awhile to hear of events, but once I do, I can find anyone, anywhere.”

“Well, enough of that!” Discord declared, clapping his claws together eagerly, “Now that we’re all on the same page, I look forward to seeing what your presence does to Equestria, and what the influence of the ponies does to you. Oh, and you really should drop by Fluttershy’s for tea sometime!” he added, before disappearing in another flash.

:Did a chaos god just threaten us, and then invite us to tea with Fluttershy?: Kragor asked in confusion.

:Yes, yes he did,: HellCaller frowned at the air for a moment, before resolutely heading in search of the nearest tavern, “I need a drink.”

Try singing the chapter title to the tune of What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor ....

Twilight Sparkle loved her study; wall-to-wall bookcases filled with tomes and keepsakes, a massive desk to conduct her research on, a fireplace for cold winter nights, and even a pair of almost sinfully comfy chairs perfect for indulging in a little pleasure reading or chatting with her friends.

Currently, Twilight was using her study to play host to a demon as the unicorn picked her brains over the differences between their native Realms. For his part, Spike had chosen to stay downstairs and watch the library, with said demon’s soulblade along for company.

‘I suppose Spike’s just a bit too young to fully appreciate how momentous this information could be,’ the academic mused as she jotted a note on her scroll, “Your theories of Planar Cosmology are going to set the academic world on its ear,” she happily informed her guest, “I don’t know that anypony has seriously considered the existence of other, effectively self-contained, mortal Realms before, never mind the possible existence of multiple demonic and heavenly planes.”

HellCaller raised an eyebrow, “Vhere did you think demons came from?”

“Well, from Tartarus, of course, or the Elsewhere,” Twilight replied, “The people of your Realm must have done simply staggering amounts of planar travel to have discovered all of this.”

“Eh, not really,” the demoness demurred, “I think it’s more vhat few planar explorers there are go out of their vay to spread vord around, kind of an obsession vith academic recognition? Add in reports from every oracle or ‘chosen one’ or vhatever that has ever been summoned before one of gods, and that’s probably vhere most of it came from.”

The librarian’s ears shot up, “Your divines don’t actually dwell on your Realm? How can that even work? How do they perform their duties?”

“They just do, I guess,” ‘Caller shrugged, “You’d have to ask one of them for details. Vait, are you saying that your gods are here, on mortal Realm, at all times?”

“Well, yes, of course they are.”

“I honestly half thought vhole ‘Princess of Sun and Moon’ thing vas metaphorical, even after meeting Luna,” the demon admitted, leaning forward in her chair, “Explain, please.”

Twilight smiled widely, while learning was as much her passion as fashion was Rarity’s, helping others learn was a close second, “Well, the divines are … a diverse group, really, ranging from embodiments of concepts, such as love or knowledge, to avatars of natural phenomena, like storms or the night, to cultural or racial archetypes, although many of the divines have multiple, or even overlapping, areas of interest, like all of the Princesses are exemplars of both ponykind itself and equine beauty, for example, but Celestia is also the divine of the Sun, diplomacy and rulership, and a patron divine of teachers and bakers.”

“Things are much same in my Realm,” nodded ‘Caller, "But vhat are other Princesses' dominions?"

"Well, Luna is the divine of the Moon, arts, dreams, and scientific discovery, as well as the Protector of Ponykind, while Cadance, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, is the divine of romance, love, fertility and compassion, and a divine protector of foals," the librarian explained, “Now, despite their variety, all divines share some traits in common; agelessness, and tremendous physical and magical might, especially when dealing with something that involves their area of divine interest. They are also physical beings, who must sleep, breathe, and eat, although I know from firsthand experience that Princess Celestia can go for weeks without rest. The divines can even be injured or affected by mortal magics if confronted by a sufficiently skilled pony. Actually, according to some salacious, and highly suspect, stories, they can even have foals, although such tales are contradictory on whether the resulting foals are also divines or not,” seeing the demoness’ lecherous grin, Twilight quickly added, “I’ve never confirmed the truth of such rumors with any of the Princesses … I’ve never really felt comfortable asking them about it.”

“Anyway,” the unicorn said, eager to move the discussion on to less awkward matters, “Due to this physicality, divines have been imprisoned, banished, or even killed, although I understand that the last is exceedingly rare. They are also not omniscient, and, despite their vast knowledge and experience, the divines can be tricked, or simply just not know something.”

“So far this is much like vhat I already know, except for your gods subjecting themselves to needless risks by remaining on mortal Realm,” the demon observed.

“Perhaps our divines are simply more closely connected to the Realm than your gods are?” Twilight suggested, “Now that we have gone over the basics, it’s time to address the three great exceptions to the rules.”

“Well of course, there’s exception,” grumbled ‘Caller, “Damn gods always have to find a vay to one-up each other.”

“First, there is Faust, the Queen of the Heavens,” the academic said, ignoring her guest’s acerbic remark, “Creator of the World and Bringer of Harmony, then we have Grogar, the Corrupter, Faust’s eternal enemy and the Father of Horrors. Merely a myth to most ponies, these two divines both existed beyond reality as we understand it and only assumed a physical form when they wished to interact with the mortal Realm. They could also alter the Realm as they wished with but a thought, and what few tales I’ve found referring to Faust seem to imply that she spent most of her time trying to keep Grogar contained. Finally, there’s Discord, the Spirit of Chaos.”

“Ve’ve met,” the demon said, “A creature ruled by vhim and impulse, but lacking intentional malevolence of my demonic kindred and vith more self-control then few slaadi and proteans I’ve encountered. He also takes teatime very seriously,” she added.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Slaadi? Proteans?”

“Native outsiders of Limbo, plane of pure Chaos,” ‘Caller explained, “A talk for another time, I think, you vere telling me about Discord?”

The librarian pouted at having tidbits of knowledge dangled in front of her and not being able to purse them but complied with the demoness’ request, “Don’t take Discord lightly,” she warned, “He is vastly better now, but he used to be known as the ‘Mad God’ for a reason, and since he can warp reality as the fancy takes him, he’s on the same general power level as Faust and Grogar. He does have a permanent physical form, unlike them, however, and no pony really seems to know where he came from; Faust and Grogar are generally believed to have existed in the Elsewhere before Faust created the Realm and it’s associated planes, but Discord could have come from outside this reality for all we known about his origins … not even Celestia and Luna know for certain, and he just smirks if anypony asks him about it.”

Twilight’s eyes narrowed slightly when the demon gave a derisive snort, “You don’t have any reverence for the divines, do you?”

“Caution, yes,” ‘Caller replied, “A few of gods are even vorthy of respect, but reverence? Never. Look, vhat supposedly separates gods from rest of us? Other than sheer brute power, of course,” she began to tick off on her fingers, “Creating new life and granting spells to those vho vorship them. That’s it. Everything else people claim for gods I can do, from raising dead to controlling veather to changing other people’s shapes to smiting unbelievers … and I’m really good at smiting. Even granting spells and creating life bit can be done by any of planar lords, and vhile they might enjoy being vorshipped, they sure don’t need it vay gods seem to. And if only difference between us is power and a few abilities, vhy should I vorship them?”

"You can raise the dead?!" the unicorn exclaimed, "Only Grogar and Faust have ever meddled in a pony's death, not even Discord is willing to interfere with that," Twilight took a deep breath and shook her head as she focused on the conversation at hand, “Anyway, back to what we were discussing, unlike your gods, our divines don’t demand worship in general. The Princesses usually seem embarrassed by it more than anything else, actually, but the High Astral Temple and the other churches do a lot of good for ponies, so the Princesses let them be.”

“Interesting ... but I fear it’s time for me to be getting back," the demoness said, glancing at the clock on the mantle, "Trixie’s training von’t just take care of itself, and longer I leave Kragor vith Spike greater chance they’ll talk themselves into going off on some harebrained adventure,” ‘Caller and Twilight shared the amused, long-suffering, grin known by most elder siblings, “Thank you for chat, ve’ll have to talk again.”

"I look forward to it," the librarian replied eagerly, before her smile took on a nervous cast, "... Kragor and Spike wouldn't really go off on their own, would they?"

The demon stroked her chin, "They have been rather quiet ...."

Exchanging worried looks, the pair rushed for the stairway.

<Knock Knock>

‘Caller started, eyes wide with surprise, before hurrying to the invisible, magical portal that connected the mini-reality she lived in to Equestria, and that someone was somehow knocking on.

Opening the portal, the she found herself facing … Derpy Hooves, the mailmare, “Hi! I have a letter for a ‘Ms. HellCaller’, if you would just sign right here ….”

“How in Nine Hells did you do that?” demanded ‘Caller.

“Do what?”

“Knock on portal!”

“Well, how else am I supposed to deliver your mail?” the pegasus replied in confusion, “Speaking of which, you might want to consider getting a postal box in Ponyville, like Miss Trixie did.”

“So, you knocked on a portal that has no physical existence, so you could deliver mail?!”

“Well, yes, as the Postal Service motto says; ‘Neither snow nor rain nor Chaos itself shall stay these messengers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Do not ask us about tar pits, black dogs with flaming eyebrows or big green things with teeth.’ Actually,” Derpy leaned forward confidentially, “Delivering to Discord is much worse, sometimes it takes months, while other times we get back before we’ve even left, and it gives the accounting department fits. Anyway, here’s your mail, have a nice day!”

Staring after the cheerfully whistling mailmare, the demoness finally closed the portal and turned her attention to the letter in her hands, only to be interrupted by her apprentice wandering in, “What’s that?”

“Someone sent me a letter,” ‘Caller replied.

Trixie (the Great and Powerful) frowned, “How did it get delivered? We’re in a pocket dimension.”

“Mailmare, Derpy, she … knocked.”

“Derpy knocked … on a dimensional rift … how does that even work?”

‘Caller could only shake her head, “I don’t have foggiest idea.”

The unicorn started to say something, stopped, started again, and then gave up with a shrug, “So, what is the letter about?”

The demoness started reading, “Vho in Abyss is ‘Captain Shining Armor’ and vhy am I being invited to their vedding vith Princess Cadenza?!”

“Oh, this is going to be absolutely fabulous, darlings!” Rarity declared as she took a seat in the train carriage, “We’re helping Princess Cadenza prepare her wedding!” she squealed, “I could just faint!”

“Please don’t,” Twilight said, earning her a brief glare from the fashionista, “And she prefers to be called ‘Cadance’,” dropping into her own seat, Spike scrambling up beside her, the unicorn glanced worriedly at her friends, “Are you fillies sure you want to do this? Preparing a Royal Wedding is a lot of work.”

“Won’t be no problem, Twi’,” Applejack drawled, “A lot of tha work is already bein’ done anyway, an’ Ah’m sure tha Princesses will have ponies ta help us out with tha rest if’n we need it,” she assured the academic, as the other mares nodded their agreement.

As the ponies settled into their carriage, the door opened to admit HellCaller, Kragor at her side, dressed in normal clothes for once instead of her armor (much to the fashionista’s relief).

“Hello!” Twilight joined her friends in greeting the demoness, “Are you going to Canterlot too?”

“Yes, I’ve been invited to a royal vedding, for some reason ….”

“Oh?” Pinkie bounced in her seat, “You’re going to the Princess’ and Shining’s wedding? That’s great! We’re helping set it up!”

“What is Trixie going to do while you’re gone?” Spike asked, “Aren’t you training her?”

“Eh, she could use some leave anyway,” ‘Caller shrugged, “I think she said something about putting on another show vhile I vas gone?”

“Oh, that’s nice of her,” Fluttershy murmured, “The foals really enjoyed her last magic show.”

Rarity pulled out a copy of the Foal Free Press as the group relaxed, “What is it, darling?” the unicorn asked, noticing the demoness’ bemused headshake.

“Your ‘newspaper’,” ‘Caller explained, gesturing at the periodical, “In my Realm, only a vealthy town can afford to have even one printing press and books are a valuable resource, yet Ponyville’s ‘small town’ library has as many volumes as a city archive might, you have a printing press just for your children’s school and you run off a few hundred issue a veek vith expectation that they vill just be thrown away. I know you value knowledge and lore, at times obsessively so,” she added, smirking at Twilight, “But sometimes I think you don’t realize just how vell off you have it.”

HellCaller soon changed topics, regaling the ponies with the tale of a strange hermit who told long, dreary stories and kept showing up, regardless of how far ‘Caller and her fellows had traveled, or how they had previously escaped his presence, only to resume his narrative at exactly where it had been left off, “If he vasn’t some kind of deity, I’ll eat Applejack’s hat,” the demoness declared.

“Hey, ya leave ma hat out of this!”

Twilight found herself listening to her friends chatter with only a half ear, distracted as she reflected on ‘Caller’s earlier words; the academic had grown up surrounded by books, she had never really even considered a world without ready access to knowledge and literature … she found the entire concept rather depressing.

“Sure is a big place ya got here, Twi’.”

“I might have gotten lost my first few times in the Palace,” the unicorn admitted with a small laugh. Upon their arrival, one of the Palace's many servants had appeared to take HellCaller off to her rooms, while Twilight and Spike had taken it upon themselves to escort their friends, “Now here are the kitchens,” said the academic, waving at the bustling chaos within, “You’ll want to introduce yourself to Chef Ram Sea, Applejack,” she added, indicating the stallion, “But I should warn you, he has a sharp tongue and a short temper. Anyway,” Twilight continued, “The kitchens are a good place to meet ponies, you can run into almost anypony dropping by to grab a snack, even the Princesses.”

“Did somepony ask for a Princess?”

The little group turned to find a smiling pink alicorn had snuck up on them, “Cadance!” Twilight squealed happily, as she and the Princess of Love began to chant and dance, much to the amusement of the watching ponies.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake … clap your hands and do a little shake!”

“It’s good to see you, ladybug,” Cadance said, wrapping the younger mare in a hug, “And to finally meet your new friends, as well!” she added, turning her smile upon the other ponies.

Once the introductions had been made, Twilight turned back to her old foalsitter, “So, what brings you to the kitchens?”

“Oh, I just need a little pick-me-up after dealing with the wedding preparations all day.”

“That is a desire with which I can fully sympathize,” the group turned to find that Princess Luna had appeared behind them.

“Damn, are all of the alicorns so sneaky?” Dash muttered.

“Maybe they’re all ninja-princesses?” Pinkie whispered back.

Cadance raised an eyebrow at her fellow Princess, “I thought you had almost finished the negotiations with Hollowfaust, Auntie?”

“I hath,” Luna sighed, “Now all that remains is finding an emissary and staff willing to live under the necromancers’ dominion. Nay, that matter is almost settled, wearing as it was, still, I look forward to this evening’s celebration most eagerly,” she added with a smile.

The fashionista’s ears immediately pricked up, “Celebration?”

“There is a fete this evening as a celebration of mine and Shining’s wedding,” the young alicorn explained, “We’d both love it if you would all attend.”

The mares’ ears all folded back, and Spike clapped his claws over his own ears with a grimace, as Rarity’s happy squeal tried to shatter the windows.

“Now, aren’t you all grateful that I insisted that you all pack your gala dresses?” the fashionista asked her friends, a smug little smile curling her lips, as they waited for their turn for the herald to proclaim them to the gathered ponies.

“Ah have ta admit, yer instincts were right on tha bits this time, Rares,” Applejack admitted, “Ah would have felt tha right fool turnin’ up ta this in jus’ ma work clothes.”

“I don’t remember it being this fancy back during the Gala, though,” murmured Fluttershy.

Twilight nodded, still slightly miffed that Spike had somehow managed to get inside without having to deal with formal introductions, “As big an event as the Grand Galloping Gala is, this gathering is essentially part of Shining and Cadance’s official wedding services, even if the actually ceremony won’t be until this weekend,” she explained, “Apparently, you just can’t have a small, quiet, Royal Wedding, no matter how much Shiny and Cadey would have preferred it,” the academic sighed, “Oh, we’re next!”

“Presenting, the Bearers of Harmony!” the master of ceremonies announced loudly, causing Fluttershy to flinch back with a small squeak, “Her Ladyship, the Baroness Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic, beloved sister to Captain Shining Armor and Her Majesty Princess Cadenza and personal student of Her Majesty Princess Celestia! The Lady Applejack, Bearer of Honesty! The Lady Fluttershy, Bearer of Kindness! The Lady Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter! The Lady Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty! And the Lady Rarity, Bearer of Generosity!”

Rarity was in her element as she mingled with the various notables, although she made a point of keeping an eye on her friends – while Spike and Twilight had been raised among the Canterlot elite and could probably hold their own, especially as they were happily chatting away with the Princesses and their family, the others might find themselves out of their depths surrounded by the nobility and various movers-and-shakers … well, except for Applejack. The unicorn’s lip quirked, ‘Tutored by, indeed family to, the Oranges, probably the preeminent family of Manehatten, and she never lets on that she’s anything more than a simple country flower,’ she mused in fond exasperation, ‘For the Bearer of Honesty, our AJ can be rather sneaky at times.’

A passing page drew her eye back to the master of ceremonies, who was still announcing a last few dignitaries, ‘A last minute guest, perhaps?’ she wondered as the stallion read the note the young colt had given him, before turning back to the room to make the next introduction: “Presenting, her Imperial Majesty, HellCaller, Empress of Kapul-uzg!”

Striding into the hall, the demoness stopped mid-step, her head snapping down as she glared at the soulblade on her belt, “Vhat?” the sword replied defensively, her voice ringing loudly in the momentary silence, “Vhere ve keeping that a secret?”

‘Caller took a sip from her wine and idly wondered how she had gotten involved in debating morality with some pony aristocratic by the name of Stone Lake, ‘By Seven Heavens do ponies have some silly names,’ she thought, before turning her attention back to the stallion who was currently expounding to her on the value of mercy and repentance, “There are some – many, actually – crimes that cannot be forgiven,” the demoness observed.

“What is more important, that mundane laws are followed or that a soul is rescued from darkness?” countered the unicorn, “Forgiveness of the repentant should always take precedence over any mere punishment.”

“And vhat good is repentance?” ‘Caller responded, “Does repentance return stolen goods? Does it heal maimed limbs? Rebuild burned homes and businesses? Raise dead?”

“Neither does punishing those who could still be redeemed,” the stallion replied, “Forgiveness offers peace and healing to both parties.”

“No, punishment provides closure and retribution to vronged, and peace of knowing that the one vho injured them vill not be able to do so to any others,” the demoness’ lip curled at such willful naivety, “Nine out of any ten people claiming repentance only regret that they got caught, not vhat they did, and their only desire is to escape their deserved retribution, not to perform some, ultimately meaningless, gesture of atonement,” she fixed a glowing eye on the noble, “And vhat gives you right to be offering forgiveness on behalf of vronged, anyway?”

“There is some truth to what you say,” Stone reluctantly conceded, “Although I’m certain you exaggerate the number of ponies who offer repentance in bad faith. And even if some ponies are irredeemable and merely pretending otherwise, we must still offer compassion to the rest, while also being ready to enact swift justice on those who have no interest in redemption.”

“You’re a damned idealistic fool,” ‘Caller sighed, “And you’ll probably get a lot of other folks needlessly killed, just like other dreamers I’ve known, but at least you aren’t totally credulous.”

“And you are a bloody-minded cynic,” the stallion retorted, “You’ve lost your empathy, blinded yourself to the potential of others, and yourself, to become better ponies, and I pity you for it. Good evening, your Majesty," Lake turned away pointedly.

The gathered ponies chatted as they drank and munched on hors d’oeuvres, a small quartet playing in the background, as Cadance passed among them with the easy grace that Celestia’s tutoring had drilled into her, ‘The filly from an edge-of-nowhere fishing village becoming a proper Princess,’ she thought with a small smile, ‘Who ever would have believed it?’ Looking around, she spotted HellCaller calmly standing off to one side in parade rest, her scarlet uniform and the heavy blade at her side, as opposed to the small swords worn by Shining and other members of the Guard in attendance, as well as a few nobles, set her apart as much as her exotic, muzzleless, appearance, or the circle of empty space that surrounded her as most of the guests uneasily avoided the strange, foreign empress. ‘I can’t really blame them, even without the knowledge that she is actually a demon, HellCaller is rather intimidating. Still … Auntie Tia’s and Luna’s plan has worked before, and from Twiley’s reports it seems to be working again now.’

As the alicorn headed towards the demoness, Rarity joined her, “Come to share a few words with our tartarean guest?” Cadance asked teasingly.

“Why, yes, Princess,” the fashionista replied, “While I fully understand a mare’s right to a few secrets, our demonic friend has some questions to answer.”

“She does look a little lonely, doesn’t she? We should give her some company,” the Princess said with an impish smile, “And, please, call me Cadance.”

“Hello Rarity! Hello pink pony-lady princess!”

“Good evening, Kragor, darling,” Rarity replied, smiling down at the soulblade, “Good evening … your majesty.”

The unicorn’s pointed words only drew a fanged grin from HellCaller, “I did tell you I held a government position before I retired, I just chose not to elaborate.”

Cadance’s ear twitched, “How do you retire from being Empress?”

“After two hundred years on throne fixing that idiot, Pergor’s, mess, I just declared heir and left,” the demon shrugged, “They had a strong economy, military, and population to vork vith, and everyone knew that if they fucked it up again that I’d be back to reclaim throne, and I’d be in a very bad mood vhen I did.”

Both ponies winced, “You’d start a civil war?” the alicorn of love demanded, recently learned details about Nightmare Moon's war with Celestia filling her mind and making Cadance’s words come out harsher than she intended.

For her part, ‘Caller seemed indifferent to the princess’s tone, “I’ve already fought one civil var to save my country from incompetent and mad ruler,” she replied, “And I’ll do it again if I have to, besides, I rather hope that I’d use my Right of Challenge to deal vith matter before a full var became necessary.”

“Really, darling, you’d leave such an important thing as rulership of the nation to ‘might makes right’?” Rarity asked with genteel disgust.

“How is that any different than a civil var or conquest, other than number of people involved?” the demoness replied, “Anyway, even if Right of Challenge vas that simple, vhich it isn’t, by vay, vould it really be any vorse than determining your ruler based solely off vho had random luck to be born to right family, maybe vith a few paid-for priests to squawk about ‘divine mandate of kings’?”

“You’ve had some bad experiences with hereditary monarchies, I see,” Cadance observed with a wry grimace, “I can relate. Still, I must admit to finding some of your ways rather hard to understand, Empress HellCaller.”

“And if you vere seeing yourselves through my eyes, you’d find yourselves more than a bit funny looking, Princess,” ‘Caller retorted. The two Equestrians were honest enough with themselves to admit the demon had a point.

“Is everything ready, General?”

“Yes, my Queen, but I still have reservations ….”

“You worry too much, the lunar nag will be gone for the next few days, Cadenza is weak, the Elements of Harmony can be disabled by capturing or killing even one of the Bearers, and the Royal Guard is completely unprepared for our attack.”

“With respect, my Queen, for all her youth, Cadenza is still a divine, and there is Celestia, who is neither young nor weak, to deal with as well, and even if they are deprived of the Elements of Harmony, the Bearers are all experienced adventurers, and while we have infiltrated the staff and the Solar and Night Guards here in the Palace, and the Royal Guard throughout the rest of Canterlot, our own forces are still significantly outnumbered. And then there is this ‘Empress HellCaller’, the ruler of a nation we have never heard of, and a member of an unknown race as well, who just happens to show up now? I don’t like it.”

“Unless this ‘HellCaller’ has an army hidden in her pockets, she is nothing more than another dignitary, no different than any of the others. Now go prepare the troops, and if I hear any more of this defeatist talk, I’ll have you replaced, do I make myself clear, General Mandible?”