Chapter 5

All the ponies in Canterlot seemed to have gathered in the throne room and each one was wearing black attire. The Princesses and Elements were in the front of the throne room and I was just off to the side leaning on a pillar with my arms crossed and a solemn expression. It’s been two weeks since I arrived in this world and one week since, Shining Armor passed away…

I’ve seen my share of people crying but the amount of tears shed from his family was almost as painful to watch as witnessing Shining taking his last breath after hearing his daughter speak her first word before he passed. Twilight and her parents must have spent almost every day crying since I could see their eyes were red and puffy, despite Rarity helping them, as best she could, look presentable for the funeral. But the one pony who seemed to take it the worst was Cadence.

I glanced over to the thrones to where the Princesses were standing. Celestia was still giving her eulogy in honor of Shining after the others spoke their words of praise about him, but Cadence was silent the whole time. For the entire funeral she kept staring at the open casket Shining was laying in, as if she was expecting him to magically wake up or she believed this was all a nightmare and she’d wake up in her husband’s arms.

Shining was dressed in his formal knight captain attire that was decorated with medals of honor and valor. The casket he was in was porcelain white with gold handles and he had is hands crossed over his torso. His eyes were still closed but he surprisingly still had a bit of his smile as he passed. He looked like he was having a pleasant dream, and he didn’t want anyone to wake him up.

As Celestia was about to finish her eulogy, I stood myself up from leaning on the pillar and was about to leave to clear my head. I felt a tug on my jacket and turned around to see Twilight. I was a bit put off since I believed she and the others were still afraid of me. Ever since I came to Canterlot, Celestia had given me one of the guest rooms to stay in. I told her it wasn’t necessary but she insisted since Shining didn’t let me be turned away back in the medical wing. She even went as far as to remove my shackles since she now believed I wouldn’t hurt her or anyone else, not after the conversation I had with Shining.

Even though I was thankful for her trusting me, I couldn’t really say the same about the others. For the past week, every time I even looked at someone they always turn away like I was still a scary stranger. Guess word of my brutality against the last stockade got around because I can’t go anywhere around the damn castle without feeling a pair or two of eyes from the guards constantly cautiously watching every move I make. I didn’t really care though, if they don’t trust me yet then that’s their decision.

Anyway, I turned around to face Twilight and I noticed the others were coming up behind her. They had a mix of expressions such as sadness, wariness, and of course fear but still kept by Twilight’s side. Not wanting to be rude, since this was still Shining’s memorial service, I sighed and bowed my head slightly to the Princess of Friendship.

“You have my sincerest condolences for your loss, Princess Twilight. Your brother was a great stallion and you should be forever proud for all he’s done,” I said in a respectful tone.

“Oh…thank you,” she said sadly, “you can just call me Twilight if you want. I’m still not exactly used to being called a Princess yet, despite my new appearance,” she said while gesturing to her wings and body. I glanced up and noticed her body was a bit more well developed than the others. Along with her wings that were bigger than the other pegasus wings and looked like they were a little smaller than Cadences’.

“Very well, Twilight,” I said while lifting my head, “the rest of you also have my condolences since Shining was a dear friend to the rest of you,” I said while looking at the other Elements. All of their expressions seems to soften at my kind words and they all smile sadly and nod.

“Um, Mr. Lockdrom, was it?” Twilight nervously asks.

“If you would allow me to just address you by your name, then it’s only fair you call me something less formal as well,” I said with a small chuckle. “So please, call me Lock,” I said while extending my hand for a handshake.

Twilight was a bit hesitant at first but could immediately tell I meant no harm. She slowly took my hand into hers and I gently shook it and she smiled more. After releasing her hand, she looked up at me with a bit of a serious expression.

“Um, Lock, I was wondering if maybe you could say a few words for Shining?” She asks. I raised my eyebrows at her sudden request.

“You want me to say something?” I repeat, “I’m…not sure,”

“Please, only a few words is all. I’m sure Shining would greatly appreciate it,” she said with pleading eyes.

Those eyes are gonna be troublesome in the near future, I can already tell, I think.

I glanced over to where the other Princesses were standing and I see Celestia and Luna looking over to me as if they were also expecting me to come and say something.

“Very well,” I sigh, “I suppose I can say a few words.” Twilight smiles and she and her friends lead me towards the podium where Celestia was standing.

Are you sure you have time for this? We still have a mission you know, I hear Lucifer in my head.

Boss, please shut up, I tell him.

I hear him “hmph” as I feel his presence leave my mind and I walk over to the podium behind the open casket. As I walk over, I see the rest of the ponies gathered in the room look at me with the same expressions I’ve been seeing for the past week. Again it didn’t bother me and I just ignored them as I continued towards the podium.

“And now,” Celestia said, “I would like to allow this individual to say a few more final words in honor of Sir Shining Armor. Please welcome Mr. Dimitri Lockdrom, my personal guest,” she introduces.

Personal guest? That’s a bit much, I think.

I nod at Celestia as she steps back next to Luna and I step up in front of the podium. They’re all staring at me waiting for me to say something so I clear my throat. But just as I was about to speak I look down at Shining and see he’s still got that peaceful expression on his face. I frown and sigh since I doubt anything I say would do any good to lighten the mood.

“Back in my world, I too was a soldier like Sir Shining Armor,” I said earning everyone’s attention, “my comrades and I would always have each other’s backs even if the world around us was nothing but conflict. We fought to protect our home from the enemy and trained ourselves for the betterment of others. There were times in our lives of battle when we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive and the enemy would end us without a second thought,” I said. I looked back at Shining and smiled.

“But Shining reminds me of an old friend, a comrade in arms I used to know during my days as a soldier,” I said. “As soldiers of war, our lives were discipline, duty, battle, and death. Life during those times of conflict and war was grim, and we greeted it grimly. But my friend was unlike the rest of us, his name was Joshua and he wore a smile even in the worst of times. He was…happy,” I said sadly as my scars started to throb.

“Joshua inspired us to hope, that though we were soldiers of war…yet there was still humanity in us, goodness,” I said as a tear escaped my eye. “When the day came for him to lay down his life in battle, his sacrifice saved countless others and turned the tide in our favor. My fellow soldiers and I personally carried him to his home and we made sure he was buried with all the honors and praise he deserved for all he had done for us and his country. His memory was a comfort in dark times…” I said. All the ponies in the room were to shocked or too in awe of my story to say anything. I smiled and took a breath to compose myself so I could finish my thoughts.

“Shining Armor gave his life to protect this city and those he loved because it was not only his duty, but his right. He was a dear friend to most, a loving father and husband, but he was probably one of the most honorable stallions I’ll have ever met, even if our interaction was brief. So do not feel sad that he is gone, be proud and happy that he was alive and continued to protect you all to the end. Like my friend Joshua, let his memory be a ray of light in these dark times,” I said as I look down at Shining one last time.

“Rest well, Sir Shining Armor, your actions shall inspire many to rise above just as you had,” I said. And with that, I stepped down the podium and back towards the pillar I was leaning on. A few more ponies stepped up and said their own words of praise and condolences for Shining, even Flash Sentry said a few words. He talked about how he was inspired by Shining to become a guard and how he worked as hard as he could to become a personal guard to Cadence. Shining Armor even mentored him personally and he promised to continue protecting Cadence and Flurry Heart in his stead.

Celestia steps forward with Luna and they both use their magic to lift the curtain off a window mural on the wall. It was a mural of Shining and he was on the bottom with his arms held out and his eyes were closed and he had a stoic expression. Above his head was a halo and in the middle of the mural was Canterlot and it was surrounded by Shining’s shield while there were black silhouettes of Caribou trying to break it but to no avail.

What surprised me about this mural was in the top right corner in the darkened sky. To most it just looked like a shooting star, but I could tell it was me flying towards the city covered in my flames. Why Celestia included me in the mural, I can only guess she did it as a gesture of thanks for helping Shining keep the city safe. All the ponies bowed their heads in a moment of silence and I took this opportunity to make my exit.

I walked out to the courtyard and looked to the dark starry sky. Not even a week when I first got here and someone as important as Shining Armor dies. It’s all because of the fucking Caribou and their sick and twisted way of life. I look down at my hand and flames start to appear on my palm. I focus on my fingers and thumb and concentrate. Slowly my fingers and thumb morph into razor sharp blades that reflect the light from my flames. I open and close my bladed hand and listen to the edges rub against each other. I look back up to the sky with my anger now at its max and prepare my flames on my hands and feet.

“So,” Lucifer said, “What are you going to do now?” he asks.

“To split some heads…” I said in a blood hungry growl.

I ignite my flames and shoot to the air and fly towards Ponyville. If the Caribou haven’t heard of me yet by now , I’ll make sure they’ll never forget my name…

I touchdown on the outskirts of Ponyville on a small hill overlooking the town and gaze upon the state of the once peaceful and happy town, but my anger only rises even more at its current state. Caribou were walking around fully clothed while most of them had mares on leashes and they were on all fours and treated like mere objects.

On one side of the town I saw what looked like an auction stage and there was a Caribou selling one mare after another to the highest bidder for their own sick pleasure. On another side were cages with mares inside and just nothing but Caribou literally raping them out in the open like it was a normal thing to do. I can only guess what other kind of atrocities are happening within the buildings, personally I don’t want to know.

I cancel my flames and put my hood on and crept down the hill. I hid behind the nearest building and peeked around the corner. As soon as I did I saw a Caribou literally dragging a unicorn mare by her mane towards my position so he could have his way with her by himself. Luckily he didn’t turn the corner and forced the mare to put her hands on the wall as he undid his trousers. Not wanting to let this continue, I rounded the corner and sneaked behind the Caribou. I tapped his shoulder halting himself from undoing his zipper and turns around.

“Hey buddy, wait until I’m done with this bitch. You can have her all you want until I-“

I cut him off by thrusting my razor hand through his heart and I skewer it through the other side of his body. He slowly looks down and sees my arm through his chest and looks back up at me and I lift him up and toss him aside and he dies.

I use my flames to evaporate the blood off my arm and crush the heart under my shoe and spit on his corpse. I hear whimpering and turn around and see the mare on the ground hugging her knees as she’s starring at me with absolute fear and horror. I sigh and step towards her and kneel down making her flinch and press against the wall trying to get away. I get a proper look at her and again she looks familiar, when it hits me.

“Lyra? Lyra Heartstrings?” I ask. She stops trembling a bit and looks at me in shock.

“H-How do y-you know m-my name?” She asks shakily.

“I just know these kind of things,” I said dodging the question, “right now I’m getting you and the other females out of here,” I said while reaching over and snapping off her collar.

“Y-You are?” She asks while rubbing her neck.

“Yes, but I should warn you it’s going to get very messy here. You need to find a way to hide,” I tell her. Lyra seems to sense I won’t hurt her and relaxes a bit more but she then becomes sad.

“How exactly can I hide, my horn’s been cut off and I can’t do magic…” she says gesturing to her stump. I growl silently at the sight and try to think of a way to help her.

Boss, I think.

“Present,” he said appearing next to me.

I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while, but is there any possible way to help any of the unicorns who’ve lost their horns? I ask.

“Hmm, well it’s not exactly ethical, but you could use your flames,” he suggests.

My flames? How would they help? I ask.

“You should know by now they aren’t just regular flames. They’re literally the Flames of Hell, more specifically my Flames of Hell. I choose how they work wether I want them to be used to burn all in its wake or they could used for a more practical like healing. Take this mares stump as an example, simply place your inflamed finger on her horn and watch the magic happen,” he instructs.

I shrug and reach for her stump with my finger that has a small flame on the tip. Lyra flinches and I stop and I smile under my hood.

“It’s ok, I’m going to heal you. It’s going to sting a bit but it’s necessary,” I said. Lyra is hesitant at first but nods slightly and I reach for her stump. I lightly tap her stump and the small flame on my finger is left behind. The flame spreads around her stump and she winces at the hot feeling.

All of a sudden, the stump starts to grow within the flame and the horn regains it’s lost form as the flame disappears almost immediately after it’s done growing. Lyra looks up at her newly grown horn and attempts to use her magic, to which her horn glows like normal and she tears up with happiness. Before I could say anything Lyra lunges at me and hugs me tightly while silently whimpering.

“Thank you, thank you so much…I thought there weren’t any nice males left,” she cries in my chest.

I couldn’t help but blush a bit since all she was basically stark nude and her breasts were pressing against me. I gently push her away and cough while gesturing to her naked form and she eeps and covers herself. I sigh and stand up and turn around towards the rest of town.

“Wait!” She calls out making me turn to her, “What exactly are you gonna do? There’s a whole town full of those guys,” she tells me.

“Don’t worry,” I said while engulfing my body in flames and turning my hands into blades again, “I’m gonna free this town so no matter what you hear, don’t leave this spot. If anything I suggest you seriously go hide somewhere and don’t come out until I’m done,” I tell her in a different voice. She nods slowly and runs off to hide somewhere and I turn around in my inflamed form and walk out in the open.

I pull out my ear buds and scroll through my phone as my flames grow more intense and I leave scorched footprints in my wake. I’m now standing in the middle of the road and I see Caribou walking around not noticing me yet. I begin my slow walk towards the town and soon Caribou notice me and go a bit wide eyed. One of them walks up to me and I glance up to him.

“Dude, are you alright? You’re on fi-gak!”

I swipe my hand across his neck and a large gash appears and blood spurts from his wound as he collapses to his knees choking on his blood. The other Caribou and traitor males are now in an uproar and brandish their weapons and charge at me. I smile darkly and continue my slow walk and hit play on my phone.

“Let the hunt begin…”

Two Caribou run at me and attempt to swing at me with their swords but I raise both my arms while morphing them into blades and their swords clash with my arms. In their confused fazes I push their swords out of their grips and slice them both I half as I walk past them.

More Caribou traitor males charge at me and I hack and slash though each one, while also making sure I hit any brainwashed males in their heads with my elbow or I headbutt them knocking them out. I cut some down the middle in front of me and their blood drenches me only to evaporate instantly from my flames. I even punch my bladed hands through some of their chests and grab their hearts and crush them making them vomit blood and die with their eyes rolled in the back of their heads. Some Caribou try to attack me from both sides but I extend my arms and small half circle blades appear along my arms and start spinning like a saw blade.

“SPIRAL HOLLOW!”

I twist my body around and my blades cut each attacking male into literal ribbons and their blood and guts shower the ground as their bloody remains fall. I stop spinning and the blades retract and I continue my pace as bloody chunks of Caribou and traitor males litter the ground behind me.

A large group of Caribou and traitor males try to outnumber me but I resume my calm and slow pace and cross my arms and lower my body a bit. I take a deep breath as they get closer and plant my foot on the ground and lunge towards them.

“DEMON SLASH!”

I pass through them all with a strong lunge and swipe both my arms out wide. A few seconds later, each and every Caribou and traitor male has blood erupting from vital areas on their bodies as they one by one fall to the ground dead. I stand up straight and resume my calm pace.

“What the buck is this freak?!” I hear a Caribou shout.

“Who the buck cares?! Somepony kill him already!” I hear a traitor stallion scream.

As the song paused for a moment, I finally stop my pace and I’m now surrounded by pretty much the rest of the town. I look around me and again try to sense any brainwashed stallions or mares around me so I know they’re out of range. Thankfully, like last time, most of the brainwashed males had gathered the females to a safe location. Sick fucks probably wanted to hide away their “merchandise”. I relax my stance and lower my body as the Caribou inch closer to me with their weapons in hand.

“You slaughtered a lot of our brothers, you sick bastard!”

“Yeah, you’re suppose to be on our side like the fellow male you are!”

“Me…sick?” I said as my flames grow. “Me…one of YOU?! I shout. I glare at the Caribou around me as my legs start to morph into large blades.

“You all turned this place into a cesspool of filth and misery. You treat females as if they’re mere objects which makes me sick to my fucking stomach. I made a vow when I arrived in this world and I aim to keep it.” I said as my legs finished morphing.

I lower my body more and my flames cover my bladed legs and the Caribou and traitor males start to get fearful as I place a hand on the ground.

“I VOWED I WOULD DESTROY AND SLAUGHTER ALL THE CARIBOU OF THIS WORLD! THAT INCLUDES ANY FOOLISH TRAITOR MALES WHO BETRAYED THEIR OWN KIND AND DISGRACE HONORABLE STALLIONS LIKE SHINING ARMOR!”

“YOU WILL ALL NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE ALIVE!!!”

As the ending chorus of the song begins, I spin by body upwards and around creating a vortex of fire. The vortex grows higher and higher as I spin faster and faster and my blades create flame covered sonic slices. Once I’m spinning as fast as I can the vortex looks like a never ending tornado of flames and blades.

“GREAT HELLFIRE WHIRLWIND!!!”

The vortex of flames and blades goes flying from my position and starts eviscerating all in its path like a raging tornado of death and destruction. I slow my spinning and spin flip up on my feet as I watch my attack cut and burn all in its path as the Caribou and traitor males make a pathetic excuse to try and get away.

“IT’S NOT STOPPING!!!”

“IT’S A WHIRLWIND OF RAZOR-SHARP DEATH AND FLAMES!!!”

“HOW LONG WILL IT KEEP CHASING US?!?”

“To the ends of Hell!” I call out as they all continue to scream.

As the song reaches its end, I wave both my arms and the tornado lifts into the air and blows Away all the clouds surrounding the town and even further on so I can clearly see the night sky. I exhale deeply as I gaze upon the destruction I had just caused. Many buildings were reduced to rubble and there’s blood, charred guts, severed limbs and heads, and half bodies far as I could see around me. It looks like I obliterated over a quarter of Ponyville and there were no signs of life whatsoever. The only life I could sense was coming from the middle of town so I walked over to where it was coming from.

I eventually made it to the center of town and I see the Town Hall still in tact and I sense life coming from inside. I make my way up to the door and kick it down causing it to go flying. Brainwashed stallions come charging around me from all directions but I grab one of their legs and swing him around knocking my attackers to the ground. As they were all about to recover, I quickly jumped to each of them on the ground and punched and kicked each of them in the head knocking them out.

I stood up and looked around the room and saw bounded, shackled, and leashed mares starring at me in horror.

“Excuse me, but-“

I didn’t even get a chance to finish my sentence since they all collectively passed out together. I sighed and rolled my eyes since this was the second time this happened. I heard something up the stairs and made my way upwards and stop in front of the main office door. I reach for the doorknob and turn it slightly and swing open the door knocking whoever was on the other side on the ground. A Caribou wearing formal attire was clutching his muzzle and groaning when he saw me he goes wide eyed and grabs his sword he dropped and points it at me with his hand shaking.

“S-S-Stay back, monter!” He cries.

I growl and stomp on his knee crushing it and he screams as he drops his sword. I raise my bladed hand and prepare to impale his brain through his head.

“Dimitri wait…”

I pause my actions and glance to my left where Lucifer was standing.

“Knock him out,” he tells me. I raise my eyebrows in confusion but he just stares at me expecting me to comply.

“Do it,” he orders. I sigh and close my hand and punch the Caribou hard in the temple knocking him out instantly.

“There better be a damn good reason why you messed up my kill count, Boss,” I said.

“Don’t you worry about your blood spillings, Dimitri, there’s plenty more enemies to slay so sparing one won’t make any distance,” He said.

“So why ask me to knock him out?” I ask.

“As you can tell, this Caribou was in charge around here and he may also have information that could be useful to us,” he said.

“What do you mean? What could he tell us?” I ask. Lucifer looks out the window and he oddly looks worried about something which is a bit unlike him.

“You remember when I said I sensed a familiar power outside of Canterlot?” he asks. I nod and he sighs and turns back to me.

“Well I can sense that power here as well and as much I wish it were, it’s not a coincidence. This Caribou might have the answers I seek so I can confirm my suspicions,” he said.

“What exactly kind of power are you sensing?” I ask.

“Allow me to put this as delicately as possible. I just hope I am wrong about what I’m sensing, for not only your sake, but for even my own sake as well…” he warns.

“That’s putting it delicately?” I deadpan.

“You asked,” he retorts.

“Fine…” I grumble, “so what do we do with him?”

“Take him back with you to the castle. We’ll question him there,” Lucifer said. I nod and grab the Caribou and sling him over my shoulder. I make my way down the stairs and outside and gaze upon the destruction and blood and gore.

“Wish I could at least clean up the blood and guts,” I sigh.

“Just set them on fire and the flames will burn them away,” Lucifer answers.

I glance at Lucifer and he nods so I oblige by walking to the edge of the blood and snap my fingers. A spark falls to the ground and fire burns on the blood and spreads all around. The fire burns away all the blood and reduces the bodies, severed limbs, and guts to dust. Ten minutes of cleaning later, all that was left was the brainwashed stallions still on the ground unconscious and the buildings reduced to ruble because of my attack.

I nod satisfied and get an idea how to handle the brainwashed stallions. I make my way over to where I first arrived and turn the corner.

“Lyra, Lyra you near?” I call out.

A few minutes later, Lyra comes walking out wearing a T-shirt and pants she must’ve grabbed from one of the still intact buildings. She walks up to me and her body is trembling as she looks at me with a very fearful expression.

“Wh-What the buck was that?!” She shrieks. “What was that tornado I saw?! I heard a lot of screaming and loud noises, what did you do?!” Why do you have one of the Caribou with you?!” She questions.

“Calm down Lyra,” I said making her go silent, “I can’t go into detail what I did because you’ll most likely throw up and not look at me the same way as you are now. As for this Caribou, I’m bringing him with me to question him about something. Before I leave though, I need your help with something.”

“What is it…?” She asks hesitantly.

“I need you to look after the other mares who are unconscious in the Town Hall and lock up all the brainwashed stallions,” I tell her.

“Lock then up? What good will that do? We’re just mares, we can’t do much against them,” she sighs sadly.

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Lyra. If you lock them up and keep the keys with you at all times you’ll be fine. You also won’t have to worry about staying here by yourself because I’m gonna be heading back to Canterlot and I’ll tell the Princesses that Ponyville is safe and has been taken back from the Caribou. They’ll send a transport to get you and the others to the city,”

“Canterlot is still safe?” She asks hopefully.

I sigh sadly but smile and nod, “Yes, but at great cost…” I answer. She frowns and tilts her head in confusion but I shake my head.

“It doesn’t matter, just do as I ask and you’ll be taken to safety as soon as possible,” I said.

Lyra nods and walks past me to begin doing what I requested of her. I sigh and walk back up the hill I first touch-downed on and turn around to see the state of Ponyville. Honestly, it probably could’ve been worse than I thought but there were still a lot of damage left over.

“I look forward to witnessing you spread death and destruction, my faithful Hand,” Lucifer said.

“Yeah, yeah, just set up the barrier already,” I groan as I kneel down and place my hand on the ground. Lucifer uses his power and imprint my handprint on the ground and the same tribal markings spread around the town and the invisible barrier raises up.

Satisfied knowing Ponyville will now be safe, I turn around a focus on a different power to to fly with since I can’t fly with my flames due to my new “passenger”. I focus on my back and and think of new appendages to appear. Almost immediately, a pair of large crimson red feathered wings sprout from by back and I give them a few test flaps.

“I’m surprised you made them feathered and not webbed,” Lucifer said while examining my new wings.

“Just because I’m the Devil’s Hand, doesn’t mean I gotta look entirely the part,” I said.

He shrugs and fades from view and I flap my wings and take to the skies. As I fly back to Canterlot, I’m thinking about what I had done tonight. All those lives I took and have taken since I got here. Part of me said I did it in Shining’s name but I start to wonder if he would agree with the level of brutality I inflicted on them.

I shake my head of these doubts and convince myself that I’m already in this for keeps so I might as well see it through the end. For the rest of the flight I think about what has Lucifer so paranoid and what kind of enemy I might face. All I can hope is it’s nothing that even I can’t handle, since I’m still kinda getting used to my powers.

Author's Notes:

Oof, THIS WAS YET ANOTHER EPIC CHAPTER! Took some doing but I managed to do it! Also to those of you who are reading my other story, I ask that you be a little more patient since it’s my 25th chapter and I want it to be a very special chapter. But in the mean time, I’ll keep working on this story as well! Hope you all enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…