Chapter 11

It’s been a week since Heat Season and my falling out with Celestia and the others. Ever since that day I’ve been wondering how I’d play out the rest of my stay here in Equestria while I’m fighting the Caribou. I have absolutely no intention of apologizing what I said to her and Luna and I don’t regret it in the slightest. If anything they are the ones who owe me and the rest of the unbrainwashed stallions an apology for being hypocrites, especially during these times. During the week I had Flash do a bit of reconnaissance on the nearby cities so we could plan our next move properly. According to Flash each major city is filled with Caribou and traitor stallions, along with any poor souls who are under the influence of the Crystal Cock and the slaves who’re still being tortured. Fortunately, from what Flash has told me, there doesn’t seem to as much defense around the cities as I thought. Guess Dainn and the Sins figured they wouldn’t need it since Equestria had fallen so quickly, boy will they soon regret not taking precautions.

I slowly open my eyes and look up at the ceiling and yawn. I rub my eyes with my left hand and was about to get up when I feel something on my right. I lift my head up and look down to find Twilight in her pj’s sleeping with my wing draped over her and she’s hugging my arm while resting her head on my chest. True to Twilight’s word, she held herself up in her room during Heat Week and only came out whenever she casted the suppression spell on herself to eat. Guess she snuck in here as soon as her heat ended so she could be with me so I couldn’t really blame her, especially since she’s now my marefriend. I smiled and gently stroked her mane making her hum contently and nuzzle more into my chest as she pulled my wing closer to her. I’ve always found her to be a little more cuter than Fluttershy, while others might disagree, and having her here with me is almost too good to be true since she’s just as adorable in person. Twilight stirs from her sleep and lazily looks up at me as I continue to smile down at her.

“Well good morning, beautiful,” I said to her.

Twilight’s eyes widen a she blushes deeply and buries her face in my chest and pulls my wing over her more to cover her.

“G-Good morning…” I hear her say through my chest.

“Oh come now,” I said using my left hand to cup her cheek and make her look at me, “you don’t need to feel embarrassed for waking up next to me or me calling you beautiful because you are. Besides the Heat is over and that means you’re feeling better now, right?” I asks.

“Yes, I’m feeling much better thank you,” she said while leaning up to kiss my cheek, “and thank you for calling me beautiful, no pony has ever complimented me like that.”

I lean my head forward and kiss her on her lips catching her off guard. She gasps a bit but sighs into my kiss and brings her arms up to wrap them around my neck as I wrap mine around her lower back. She brings her head up and looks down at me with eyes filled with affection and I smile more warmly at her as I stroke her mane again making her hum again.

“I really like it when you stroke my mane,” she said as she nuzzles into my neck.

“You know if you want, now that the Heat is over, you’re more than welcome to share my bed,” I offer.

“Are you sure?” Twilight asks while gripping some feathers on my wing, “I was actually going to ask you if it was ok, now that we’re a couple and all.”

“I want to be able to have you by my side as much as possible, Twilight,” I said as I looked down to meet her eyes with mine, “if you’re ever by me I’ll make sure you will stay safe because you’re very precious to me. I swear upon my title as the Devil’s Hand I won’t let anything happen to you because I love you and I always will.”

Twilight tears up and kisses again as she moves her body in top of mine and hugs me close. I hug her back and unfurl my wings from under my back and wrap them over Twilight.

“I love you to, Lock,” Twilight said as breaks away and looks down at me with a loving smile, “when your strong wings are wrapped around me I feel so safe and protected. I know you will bring peace to this world and I’ll be right by your side when you seize the victory we have all dreamed about.”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

“Excuse me Lock?” I hear Flash say from behind the door.

“Ahem, yes Flash?” I call out a little annoyed our moment was interrupted.

“I just got back from another reconnaissance so whenever you’re ready to hear it I’ll be in the map room with the others,” Flash said.

“Ok, I’ll see you there…wait, others?” I ask tilting my head along with Twilight.

“Oh yeah, Princess Twilight has some guests for her and they insisted they wait in the map room. I tried to tell them to wait but they said they won’t take no for an answer since they wish to know their friend was alright,” Flash explained.

Twilight’s eyes widen and jumps off of me and grabs her clothes and runs into the bathroom to change. Meanwhile I just groan in annoyance because I already know which group of ponies are here despite my outburst back in Canterlot. How they managed to make it here without being caught by the Caribou? Well that’s what I’d like to fucking know…

“Tell them I’ll be with them shortly, and make sure they don’t go snooping around the castle for us until we’re ready,” I sighed as I got up and stretched my limbs and wings.

“Sure ok, also do you know where Princess Twilight is? I knocked on her door but she seems to be out,” Flash asks.

“She’ll join us in a moment Flash, just go do I as,” I said as I cracked my neck.

“Got it,” he said as he left.

“Oy vey, what the fuck could they be here for?” I grumble as I wait for Twilight.

Soon after Twilight and I took our turns in the bathroom we headed out and are now walking through the hallways towards the map room. Twilight couldn’t help but be a bit nervous or excited that her friends had come to see her but I had an annoyed look plastered on my face and Twilight noticed making her worried.

“Lock, why do you look like that? Are you worried about me meeting my friends?” She asks.

“I’m not worried Twi, I’m a little annoyed,” I bluntly admitted.

“Annoyed? Why?” Twilight wonders.

“You saw how I acted last week in front of your friends and the Princesses, right? By now I imagine they think I’m a monster since they saw a glimpse of my darker side and I can already tell what’ll happen if the second they even feel me walking up to the doors,” I sighed.

“Lock, you shouldn’t be so quick to judge,” Twilight said, “even I thought what you did and said was a bit scary but you only reacted that way out of anger.”

“Still doesn’t excuse the fact that I pinned one of the Princesses of Equestria to the ground,” I said.

Twilight walks in front of me and stops my pace. She then looks up at me as I stare down at her and we stare at each other for a while. Out of nowhere she raises her hand and flicks my nose making me wince a bit.

“Ok, ow? Mind telling me what that was for?” I ask while rubbing my nose.

“Because you need to learn to stop making excuses,” Twilight lectures, “what’s done is done and though your actions were extreme, your words were true. Before I left to come after you I even said my own words against my friends that were similar to yours, how we never considered how the stallions felt, how you felt, being chased around just to satisfy ourselves. Now that the horseshoe is on the other hoof, given the circumstances, you’ve opened my eyes to wanting to create a better Equestria than before the Fall. They are all still my friends and we’ve supported each other throughout almost everything we’ve been through. You also need to have a little more faith in my friends because none of them are ones to hold grudges forever.”

“Heh, well look at you, acting like a proper princess,” I teases patting her head making her blush.

“Lock, I’m serious! I-”

I cut her off as I pull her into a hug and I stroke her mane. She sighs and hugs me back as looks up to me as I smile down at her.

“Alright, if you’re so sure that they won’t cause trouble for me and you, I’ll give them a second chance. But they have to mind themselves from now on otherwise there won’t be a third,” I said

“That’s all I ask of you, Lock,” Twilight said with a warm smile of her own, “thank you.”

“You think they’d still support you when you tell them you’re now dating The Devil’s Hand?” I tease.

“As Rarity once told me, love comes in all shapes and sizes. If they can’t see what I see in you then I’ll just have to show them myself,” Twilight said before giving me a light kiss.

I chuckle and we continue our walk to the map room and arrive at the set of double doors. I glance at Twilight and she gives me a reassuring nod and I push open the doors for the both of us. Before any of us could speak, a pink blur speeds in out of nowhere and tackles Twilight to the ground.

“TWILIGHT! YAY, YOU’RE OK!”

I look down and see my marefriend on the ground being hugged to death by a familiar pink party mare. Twilight uses her magic to teleport out of Pinkie’s grip and appear behind me while trying to catch her breath.

“Guh…it’s…it’s good to…see you too…Pinkie Pie,” Twilight said between breaths.

I hear a collection of gasps and turn around to see the rest of the Mane Six stare at me with either fear or caution. I simply cross my arms and smirk at the lot of them and tilt my head at them.

“Sup,” I said.

“What the hay are YOU doing here?!” Rainbow Dash demands.

“Living here, what’s it look like?” I said.

“Living here?! Oh Tartarus no, you’re getting out of here and you’re gonna stay out!” She states as she flies over to me attempting to push me out. I simply stand my ground as Rainbow tries to push me backwards but my body doesn’t budge. She then tries to take one of my arms and pull me but again I don’t move. Her final attempt was to try to kick the back of my legs so she could make me buckle over but she only ended up hurting her own legs as she rolls on he ground gripping her legs in pain.

“You done?” I ask looking over my shoulder.

I then feel something wrap around me and tighten around my arms and turn my head to see Applejack had lassoed me with a rope she had with her and she was giving me the stink eye.

“That’s quite enough from you, partner,” Applejack said.

“Did you just lasso, me?” I said arching a brow, “That’s cute.”

I briefly activated my flames and the rope burnt away into ash as Applejack stared at me a bit surprised.

“What? You forget I can control fire?” I asked.

Applejack shakes her head and huffs over to me as I deactivate my flames but Twilight steps in front of her with her arms raised.

“Twilight please move aside so Ah can teach this varmint not to mess with mah friends. Especially after what he did last week,” Applejack said as she gave me an even bigger stink eye.

“No Applejack, I won’t let you hurt him,” Twilight said.

“Why the hay not?” Applejack asks, “Y’all saw what he did to the Princess and look what he did ta Rainbow.”

“If you did see what happened last week then you would know Celestia was the one who attacked Lock and provoked him. He was only acting out of self defense and you know it. Plus Rainbow did that to herself for trying to forcefully move Lock,” Twilight defends.

“Sugar cube, you’re mah friend and all, but Ah’m gonna have to ask ya to move aside,” Applejack said.

“I won’t,” Twilight said keeping her ground.

“Please move, Twi,” Applejack said advancing towards us.

“I said I won’t, Applejack!” Twilight shouts.

“Well why the hay not?!” Applejack shouts.

“It’s because she loves him.”

All parties, myself included, turn to the source of the voice and see the other door open. From the door Cadence walks in holding Flurrry Heart who was looking around the room curiously. She calmly walks over to us as the rest of the mares were all in a shocked state at what had just been said. “Erm, excuse me Cadence, but what was that you just said?” Rarity asks.

“It, um, it sounded like you said…” Fluttershy whispers while hiding behind her throne. “Twilight loves him, I did indeed say this,” Cadence said.

“Y’all said…she loves him?” Applejack dumbly asks. They all turn to Twilight and then to me and back to Twilight as they gasp again.

“Guess the cat’s out of the bag, huh Twi?” I tease. Twilight gulps and moves to my side and takes a deep breath before hugging my arm.

“It’s true everypony, I’ve fallen in love with Dimitri Lockdrom and he’s my coltfriend now,” Twilight announces. For a moment it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop until a collection of squeals fill the room and Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and even Fluttershy all run up to us with bright smiles.

“Oh my stars, darling, is it true? You have found your true love?” Rarity asks happily.

“YAY, TWILIGHT HAS A COLTFRIEND!” Pinkie cries.

“I’m so happy for you Twilight,” Fluttershy said.

“Wait, you’re all not mad I’m with Lock? After what happened last week?” Twilight wonders. They all relax from their excitement and glance at me with sorrowful expressions.

“Well it was quite the shock, as it were, with what happened in the throne room and all but what Lock had told us was the ugly truth,” Rarity said, “we allowed ourselves to become so engrossed with our Heat we do not take into any consideration how the stallions feel. As a lady, I feel ashamed I let my Heat get the better of me all this time…” she sighs guiltily.

“I always wanna make ponies smile, but I guess not everypony smiles during the Heat,” Pinkie said with a sheepish smile.

“I, um, never try to go out during the Heat anyway, even if it’s a little uncomfortable…” Fluttershy whispers.

“And if somepony like you could fall for somepony like Lock then who are we to judge?” Rarity said. “Though his methods last week were ahem brutish, his words still rang true especially during these times. Besides, he still seems like a proper gentlestallion under all those flames and brooding nature.”

“Yeah! Locky was just a little mad but now he’s happy since he’s with Twilight,” Pinkie chirps.

“I thought he was really scary before,” Fluttershy admits. “But then I realized he was just upset with how we were all treating him which made me a little sad.”

“Well I’m glad to know at least some ponies realize their faults,” I said with a curt nod and smile.

“I agree, Lock,” Cadence said as she walks towards me, “when I heard you had left the castle, I thought you had left to liberate more of Equestria. But when I had heard what happened and how Twilight left I knew she’d come after you because I could tell she had started to develop feelings for you. So I followed her here and I heard everything you said to each other when she confessed.”

“You heard all that?” I asked and she nods in response.

“I’m sure Shinning would have been proud of Twilight to have found a noble soul like yours to be with. When I heard what you said about how we mares never considered how the stallions felt during the Heat it made me sad how right you were. We may not be able to control our cycles enough to show restraint but that’s no excuse to not consider the others feelings,” Cadence explained.

“And Celestia and Luna,” I wonder, “they still pissed at me?”

“My Aunts are indeed still a little displeased you would say such things like compare our Heat to what the Caribou have done but I reassured them you did not say it out of spite. You were letting your emotions run rampant and lashed out, correct?” Cadence asks.

“Well I won’t lie, Princess Cadenza, but I’d have to say yes and no to that question,” I said.

“Yes and no?” She repeats.

“Yes I meant it but no not entirely. I’ve seen, as you have, first hand what these Caribou are doing and when I saw what the mares were trying to do it just reminded me of what I saw out there. You need to realize that just because you’re safe behind my barrier you can’t continue to do as you please, which includes the dumb thing the mares do which is literally hunt down males,” I bluntly tell her. “One day, when the war is won and everything is back to normal, you must work with Celesta and Luna to try to get a better handle on how to properly control the Heat so that no one suffers. I’m sure there will be some disagreements on both sides but that sounds like just politics but it must be done so something like this,” I said gesturing to all of the Fall, “doesn’t happen again. Let’s just say I’m gonna be around for a good long while and that means you gotta think of a method for the better of both your kingdoms.” Cadence smiles and nods in agreement.

“Never more well spoken before, Lock,” Cadence said, “I’m glad Twilight found a proper stallion who knows what’s right and wrong.”

“I try,” I shrug a Twilight hugs my arm and smiles proudly at me. “And what of you two?” I ask Applejack and Rainbow Dash, “you still wanna beat me up after all that’s been said and done?” Rainbow Dash stands up and brushes herself off while frowning and looking away from me while occasionally glancing. She sighs and rubs the back of her head and looks up at me.

“Look, I guess I can get a bit carried away whenever the Heat starts and I should at least try not be more considerate,” she said crossing her arms. “I guess you had a point that we need better self control.”

“As much as Ah don’t wanna admit it, Ah gotta agree as well. Tha Heat ain’t fun and never was but that don’t mean we can’t be civil about it,” Applejack sighs.

“So you all apologize for what happened?” I ask.

“We’re all sorry we chased you,” they all said.

“You should also apologize to Flash since he’s the only the other stallion in the room,” I said gesturing to Flash who was standing by the doorway.

“We’re sorry to you to Flash,” they all said again.

“Uh, no…no, um, no problem,” he said a bit nervously.

“Good, then so long as you all learned your lesson, then I forgive you,” I said walking towards the map.

“Just like that, you’re forgiving us?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Yep, but I still don’t really trust you,” I said as I leaned over the table.

“But Ah thought you said you forgave us?” Applejack said.

“Forgiving someone and trusting someone are two different things, I forgive you all for acknowledging the fact that the Heat season is wrong but I don’t trust you two because you both attacked me as soon as I walked in the door,” I said glancing over my shoulder.

“Aw come on,” Rainbow Dash complained, “we didn’t mean it. We were just trying to protect Twilight.”

“While your intentions were just, your actions said otherwise. You want to earn my trust again? Then you simply have to earn it,” I said.

“How do we do that?” Applejack asks.

“That’s for you to find out,” I said when a thought crossed my mind. “By the way, how did you all get here in the first place? The train is unavailable and I doubt you all just walked here without risking getting captured.”

“Oh that was actually me,” Cadence said. “I used a mass teleportation spell to send us all here. It wasn’t easy but we all wanted to see how Twilight was doing.”

“Um, Princess Cadence?” Flash said as he nervously walks over to Cadence. “I’m terribly sorry I left your side and came here, if you wish to strip me of my title as your personal gaurd then I won’t blame you,” Flash said with an apologetic bow.

“It’s ok, Flash, you were just following Lock’s orders so you have nothing to apologize for. I’m just glad you’re safe and sound,” Cadence said with a smile.

“Thank you, your majesty,” Flash said.

“Well, now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, it’s time we finally make our move against the Caribou,” I said earning everyone’s attention. They all take seat in their thrones and Flash pulls up a chair for Cadence and stands by her as I stand by Twilight’s throne.

“Now then,” I begin, “Flash has been doing recon for me on the major cities of Equestria. Cloudsdale, Appleloosa, Manehattan, these are some of the many examples of the main targets for Flash and I, along with any neighboring small towns. From what Flash has told me, my actions on Canterlot and Ponyville have only been mere whispers which means that my existence in this world is only but a rumor but I intend to make myself, along with my apprentice Flash, known to all the Caribou and traitor stallions. My plan is this, start with the neighboring towns of each major city in Equestia then take on the city itself by clearing out any Caribou and traitor stallions. As for those who are brainwashed we will subdue them and render them unconscious,” I explain.

“Why render them unconscious?” Cadence asks, “We once tried to undue the magic binding ourselves but it’s as if they’re plagued with the darkest magic I’ve ever felt. Not even the four of us combined were able to counter such magic.”

“I may have a way to personally undue it thanks to my power, but as to why you weren’t able to undue it is because it’s not really magic at all. It’s a curse,” I said making some of the mares gasp.

“A curse?” Twilight repeats, “What do you mean?” Flash looks at me with a worried expression since he already knows so I sigh as I look around the room.

“What I have to say might be a little unsettling but I know the source of Dainn’s victory over his take over of this planet,” I said earning more gasps.

“You do?” Twilight asks fearfully.

“Yes, my boss Lucifer told me. They’re demons who’re actually from my world and used to run amok amongst humans from my worlds history, they’re called the Seven Deadly Sins,” I said making them all shiver in fear, even Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

“S-Seven Deadly S-Sins…?” Fluttershy whispers already scared out of her mind.

“Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Wrath, Greed, and Sloth. These are the Seven Sins of my world of man who are responsible for many different kinds of conflict and dark influences of my world. Lucifer told me that Dainn somehow was in contact with them and he used some dark ritual to summon them in this world to help easily take over Eques and it’s Kingdoms. Now, with his possessed Caribou Overlords, the Sins have taken control of each kingdom and are just as vile as they were in my world. In fact, one of the Sins responsible for taking control of Equestria is residing in the Crystal Empire as its Overlord,” I explain.

“Which Overlord is it?” Cadence asks while trying to console Flurry Heart who was on the verge of crying.

“I interrogated the Caribou who was in charge of Ponyville and he said the name was Overlord Lust,” I said.

“Lust? As in desire Lust?” Rarity asks.

“Lust, desire, pleasure, call it whatever you want the name speaks for itself. As for Lust he’s the one who’s supposed to be in charge of Equestria. The other Sins are spread throughout the Griffin, Dragon, Minotaur, Yak, and even the Changeling kingdoms.”

“Changelings? You mean Chrysalis was also targeted?” Twilight asks.

“Yup, Dainn spared no expense making sure he had control over all of Eques. I wouldn’t be surprised if he managed to be so well connected he’d seek out any hidden kingdoms,” I vaguely guess as I think about the Hippogriffs even though they don’t know about them yet.

“Even Chrysalis…” Cadence said in disbelief. “Those Sins are truly frightening.”

“But they’re not unstoppable which is why I’m here,” I said. “It’ll be a slow process at first but once we fight our way through Equestria and break the curse on the controlled stallions, we’ll have grown our own rebellion strong enough to push the Caribou back. But for now we just need to take things one step at a time, which brings us to the first part of the plan: taking back Cloudsdale.”

“You’re going after Cloudsdale first?” Rainbow Dash asked with hope in her voice.

“First thing we gotta do is take away their eyes in the sky. Flash has reported they turned the entire city into a flying fortress where they transport slaves and other supplies all around Equestria. It’s also where they dock their flying ships so if we take all of that away they’ll be forced to stick to moving around on land for a while. Once we’ve gained control of any other cities and cloud towns in the sky we’ll bring them all back here for safe keeping,” I said.

“Wait you’re gonna try to bring Cloudsdale, and other cloud towns, all the way here?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“That’s the plan,” I said, “among other things. Anyway once we have control of Cloudsdale we’ll move on to the next cities and towns on the ground. We’ll keep working our way through Equestria, taking back little by little until we make our final assault against the Crystal Empire.”

“We’re also gonna take back the Crystal Empire?” Flash asks.

“I realize there are many options other than the empire but if we manage to somehow fix the Crystal Heart and expel the dark magic it’s cursed with then the brainwashing will be broken and there will be riots all around the world. It’ll also make our job a little more easier once we’ll hopefully be able to make more allies who will fight along with us once they’re free from the Caribou control,” I said.

“Lock, I’ve been meaning to ask, when you say you mean to clear out the Caribou and traitor stallions, do you mean all the traitor stallions?” Twilight asks.

“If you’re asking if I’m gonna kill them along with the Caribou then the answer is yes, they’re all gonna die by mine or Flash’s hand,” I stated clearly making her gulp.

“B-but, um, what if they come back to our side?” Fluttershy hesitantly asks.

“Afraid I still can’t let it slide, they made their choice and they didn’t even need the Crystal Cock to make their decision. I’m willing to bet that they wanted some excuse to rise up against the Princesses but didn’t have the strength to do it. The Caribou were their only excuse and now they’re running around doing whatever they want to whoever they want. Any stallion who’s brainwashed had a choice, turn their backs like the others or stay loyal to the crown and thankfully they chose the latter. There are many crimes that happen in war, I should know because I’ve fought in a couple, but betrayal is an unforgivable crime. Even in the history of my world betrayal was something punishable by death and besides, I already swore to myself I’d take the lives of those who’d dare go against their own. Those traitorous bastards are no exception regardless if they wish to reconsider who they’re loyal to,” I said.

I fell Twilight place a hand on my shoulder and I turn around to see her giving me a sad smile. “As much as I wish there was another way, Lock is right,” she said earning looks of shock from the others. “If those stallions wish to treat us like slaves and betray the crown then that’s their decision and they’ll pay for it with their lives. We finally have a chance to take back our home and we can’t risk it by attempting to reform every traitor we come across. Lock and Flash will be on the front lines and we will be here to support them whenever we can so we won’t have to watch what they do in pony,” Twilight said try to reassure everyone. As they all glanced at each other they soon realized she was right and all nodded in agreement as to what needed to be done.

“So now that we’re all content on what’s to be done, it’s time we begin our attack,” I said I turned around to leave with Flash. Twilight gives me a kiss on the cheek for luck and I smile as I exit the room and castle. Both Flash and I take to the skies and I activate my flames leaving a trail of cinders and smoke behind me.

Lust, you’re time is limited and you shall soon bathe in my flames as you beg for death. You will rue the day you decided to slink your way here along with the others in this world and taint it with your dark whispers, I think.

Author's Notes:

The first Sin, Lust. Next chapter, the battle for Equestria officially commences.

~WurkyWilk has left the building…