Chapter 8

I wake up with a slight throb in my head which means I’ve got a bit of a hangover from last nights drinking and conversation with Lucifer. I start to recall everything he told me about the Sins and how they’re spread throughout the planet wreaking havoc on all the other kingdoms and one of them is basically right next door housing in the Crystal Empire. I sigh and lift myself up from my bed and stretch my limbs and wings getting a few pops here and there. After stepping into the bathroom and doing my morning rituals I put my clothes and jacket on and step out of my room. I’m met with a couple guards standing outside and they both look at me nervously but I ignore them and walk down the hall.

“As your were, gentlemen,” I said as I walked away.

As I was walking through the hallway I noticed the staff and other guards had a sort of different vibe whenever they were in my presence. Although they were still a little nervous of me they seemed to be a little more welcoming towards me which was a bit unexpected given my appearance and everything they no doubt heard I did.

“It seems they have been told by the Princesses about your endeavors and how you are not a threat to them,” Lucifer said as he appears next to me.

Either that or they’re just acting friendly towards me because they’re still probably scared of me, which is understandable, I shrug in my head.

“You seem to be, beating yourself up more than you think you deserve, Dimitri. Remember what I told you when I brought you here, you must become a necessary evil in order to fight against the true evil,” Lucifer said.

That may be but sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it, I think as I rub my shoulder.

“Something wrong with your shoulder?” Lucifer asks noticing my slight discomfort.

Just a little stiff is all, haven’t exactly stretched properly whenever I went on a killing spree, I think. I just need somewhere to shake the rust off.

With that in mind I walk over to a maid who was dusting a few vases and she notices me and stops dusting.

“Um, can I help you sir?” The maid asks.

“Yes ma’am, I was wondering if there was anywhere around here I could stretch my legs and wings?” I ask in a polite tone.

“Do you mean somewhere to exercise? I believe the barracks has an outdoor training area. It’s down the hall and you make a couple right turns and it’s straight ahead ” the maid directs me.

“Thank you,” I said with a curt nod but I recognize the maid and I smile as I walk away, “and keep up the good work, Feather Duster.”

I left Feather Duster a little shocked at how I knew her name and walked towards the barracks. After finding my way to the barracks, I saw many soldiers practicing their own techniques such as sword skills, archery, magic conjuring, and other forms of practice which reminded me of by days during boot camp. My gaze then leads me to the center of the open training area and saw a shrine of some sort. It was a mannequin with Shinning Armor’s armor and his sword and shield leaning against it. Around the mannequin we’re flowers and some photos of Shinning with other soldiers all smiling with him, there was even a photo of Shinning and Flash which made me smile. I walked over to the shrine and saw in the center of the shrine was a photo of Shinning in his armor with his helmet in one hand and he was saluting in another which meant this was a portrait of him.

“It’s a shame isn’t it?”

I look over my shoulder and see a pegasus mare with yellow fur and a fiery mane and tail wearing a blue jumpsuit and lighting detailed trim and I immediately recognized her as Spitfire herself.

“I didn’t really know him personally but from what Rainbow Dash told me he was a great stallion and an honorable soldier,” Spitfire sighs.

“He was, he was taken too soon for this world if you ask me,” I said.

“It’s Mr. Dimitri Lockdrom right?” Spitfire asks

“Yep and you’re Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts,” I said as I turn back to Shinnings shrine.

“So the rumor was true,” Spitfire said.

“What rumor?” I ask.

“Ponies have said you seem to know all about us and everything in this world, does this mean you knew about the Caribou as well?” Spitfire wonders.

“No, the Caribou are something even I didn’t know about. As for how I know about everyone and everything, it’s my business how I do,” I said.

“Alright I can respect you wanting to keep your business to yourself, you did save Canterlot and liberate Ponyville after all,” Spitfire said dismissively.

“Thanks, anywhere I can change into work out clothes?” I ask.

“Stallions quarters, just through those doors. You’ll find the proper clothes there,” Spitfire said as she walked away.

I look to where she pointed and see some stallion soldiers entering and exiting the doors in question. I walk over to the doors and walk inside and see rows of lockers and some stallions here and there. In the corner of the locker room, I see a pile of clean tank tops and shorts so I grabbed a pair of each and chose a random empty locker. I start to change out of my normal clothes and place them in the locker when I feel eyes on me again. I glance over my shoulder and see some stallions stare at me in either awe or fear of my brands. One of them walks up to me and I again recognize him as Soarin.

“Woah dude, those are some cool cutie marks you’ve got,” Soarin said.

“Hate to disappoint you, Soarin, but these aren’t cutie marks,” I said as I put on my shorts.

“How do you know my name?” Soarin asks in shock.

Is everyone gonna ask me that? Maybe it’s best I actually allow them to introduce themselves, I groan in my head.

“It’s one of the many things I know about this world,” I said as I put on my tank top.

“Oh ok, so if these aren’t cutie marks, what are they?” Soarin asks. I turn to look at him and I cross my arms putting my brands on display.

“They’re brands,” I said bluntly.

“Brands? As in like the kind that’s…burned on your skin?” Soarin asks as he starts to go pale.

“That’s right, they’re what signify my title,” I said as I walked passed him.

“What’s your title?” He calls out.

“Just something I prefer to call a dark protector,” I answer vaguely.

“I see…so uh, what’s your name?” Soarin asks.

“Dimitri Lockdrom but you’re welcome to call me Lock if you want,” I said as I exit the locker room.

I walk back out in the open area and begin to stretch my arms, legs, and wings. Since I have wings now, I suppose I can try to do some workout routines to make them stronger and I can learn to fight with them. With everything nice and stretched out, I pull out my phone and ear buds and scroll through my playlist for some workout music. Once I find the right set of songs I put in my ear buds, hit play on my phone, and begin my workout.

I fall forward to the ground and catch myself with my hands and start doing rapid fire push-ups. After about 50 push-ups done I flip on my back and start doing another 50 sit ups. I repeat the process a few times and I stand up and walk over to a pull-up bar and begin doing about 20 pull-ups. Now that my upper body feels nice and warmed up I unfurl my wings and grab the bar with each wing and cross my arms as I begin to do pull-ups again with my wings. I started slow at first so I could get used to the feeling of exercising with them but I quickly got the hang of it and did 20 more pull-ups with my wings. I drop to the floor and squat down and place my hands on the ground and do a handstand and begin lowering and lifting myself doing a few sets of standing push-ups.

After that I plant my feet back on the ground and walk over to a weight rack and pick up two 40 pound weights and was about to begin my curls but I got an idea. I used my wings to pick up two 25 pound weights with my feathers and tested to see if they would keep holding on to them which they did. Satisfied, I began doing 5 sets of 20 curls with both my arms and wings. With each curl, my biceps bulged and I could feel the same satisfying burn in the muscles in my wings as I continued to lift. After my sets of arm and wing curls I placed the weights back on the rack and walked over to a bar bell station.

I placed two 25 pound weights on each side and stepped under the bar so it rested on my shoulders. I breathed in and lifted the bar off the rack and stepped back and began to do five sets of 10 squats. My legs also flex with each lift while I keep my back straight and my legs balanced so I don’t make a mistake and drop it on my head. I then finish my squats and place the bar back on the rack and repeat the same process of exercises for 4 more rounds.

After I finish my rounds I walk to another area where the pegasi were exercising their wing strength. They seem to be flying in mid air in their own lanes around a small track as they tried to pull a large weighted cart while strapped in a harness around their shoulders and wastes. I spot an open harness and walked over and strapped myself in. A pony guard offered to weigh my cart and I nodded as he began to put weights in the cart.

“Tell me when to stop weighing it,” he said.

I just stand there as he continues to add more weight and he starts to get a little nervous. He was about to stop but I glanced to him indicating I wanted more he continues. Once the cart is carrying as much as it could carry, I look over at the scale and see it’s about 500 pounds.

“Uh, are you sure you want it this heavy?” The stallion asks. I just nod and he backs away.

At this point almost every pony in the training area are watching me as I give my wings a few test flaps. I lean down in a running position and spread my wings out wide and raise them up. I wait for the song to drop the bass and I close my eyes and my wings start to shiver with anticipation as they’re ready to show off their power. As soon as the bass drops I flap my wings as hard I could and shoot into the air until I stop because of the harness but I keep flapping my wings. The weight of the cart starts to show since I haven’t moved from my position in the air but I still continue to flap my wings.

Come on, Lock, I think, pull this stupid cart. Show them what it means to be strong so they can strive to have the strength to keep fighting.

I grunt as I put more force in my flaps and I feel the cart start to jolt a little meaning I was making progress. The brands on my arms start to glow white as I feel my wings start to strain from the weight of the cart but I do not falter.

“Come on, come on, Come On, COME ON, COME ON! COME ON!!!” I shout.

With a few flaps of all the power I could muster, a powerful gale kicks up behind me as I finally begin to pull the cart. Inch by inch, I pull all 500 pounds of this cart with me all around the track without ever losing momentum in my wings. As the final song of the playlist begins to end, I make it to the home stretch of the track and keep pulling the cart. I’m breathing very heavily and sweat is pouring from my body and the brands on my arms are still glowing white. Right when I pass the finish line on the track I drop to the ground on both my feet with a lout thud. My wings were still spread out wide as vapors seep from them and my body as I stand up straight. I look at both my wings and reach up to feel them and they’re both steaming hot from the intense workout I put them through. I slowly furl and unfurl them to stretch them out so I don’t get any cramps and I unhook myself from the harness and the song ends.

“That knocked some of my rust off…,” I said to myself.

Everyone in the training area were speechless at what they just witnessed. The strange human warrior with large crimson red wings just showed off the power of arguably the strongest wing strength anyone had ever seen. The stallions watched Lock walk back to the stallions quarters in awe and admiration that he was able to pull off something such as pulling 500 pounds all around the track by himself. Even before he strapped himself in the harness of the cart pulling, they had witnessed his many workout routines as he exercised and lifted weights, even with his wings. What seemed to inspire them even more is how he was able to just walk off with no strain on his body and he was simply out of breath. This spectacle seemed to ignite a fire in them as they continued their own workout routines but with more effort.

Meanwhile the mares in the open barracks had a different view on Lock. While it may be true that they were very impressed how strong he is due to what they had witnessed, they were all mostly just gawking at all the muscles bulging from his arms and legs. They especially enjoyed the spectacle of the power of his wings and how he was able to pull such a heavy weighted cart on his own. Some of the pegasi mares starred at Lock’s wings as they both steamed in the cool air of the outdoor training area and shuddered each time he furled and unfurled his wings as he walked away. It was safe to say that Lock caused every mare in the area to become in a very aroused state, even though Lock didn’t intend to.

Spitfire and her fellow Wonderbolt Fleetfoot were arguably the most turned on with Lock’s display of power and wing strength. As they watched Lock ether the stallions quarters to shower, Spitfire and Fleetfoot looked at each other with seductive knowing smiles.

“You know something, Fleets, I’ve seen my share of strong flyers before the Fall but that guy doesn’t even compare,” Spitfire said.

“I hear ya, Spits, his wings just…so big and strong. I can only imagine what he’s packing under those shorts of his,” Fleetfoot said while licking her lips.

“You know, I’ve heard Lockdrom is gonna help free Equestria from the Caribou all by himself and he hasn’t asked for anything in return,” Spitfire said.

“Really?” Fleetfoot said.

“Yup, it’d be a shame if nopony did anything for the poor guy while he’s busy fighting wouldn’t you say?” Spitfire asks.

“Oh I totally agree with you in that, Spits, only question is what could we do for him?” Fleetfoot wonders.

“I think I have an idea, you wanna join me on this plan?” Spitfire offers.

“What did you have in mind?” Fleetfoot asks.

As the two stunt flying mares got to planning how they would surprise Lock, the rest of the mares pretended to continue exercising when they were actually fantasizing about Lock and his large wings. Meanwhile Lock was just showering in the stallions quarters, oblivious to the can of worms he had opened for himself.

After a hot shower and dressing back into my normal clothes, I left the training area so I could explore the rest of the castle. It was exactly the same as it was in the show and I smiled a little thinking I was basically living every bronies dream, apart from the fact that this world is in the shitter at the moment. As I was exploring the castle a thought occurred to me, I’ve met pretty much almost all the main characters but there was someone missing from the group. I look out the window I was passing by and see the garden and it had many statues and hedge trimmings here and there. As I starred at the garden, I figure out who was missing from this crisis.

“Discord…” I said aloud.

I immediately start heading over to the throne room so I could ask Celestia and the others what happened to him since he hasn’t shown himself once since I arrived which was strange, even for The Lord of Chaos himself. As I make my way to the throne room, I start to think about what could possibly have happened to him. With someone as powerful as Discord I would like to imagine, even for the Sins, he’d never allow Equestria to Fall. Personally, Discord turned out to be one of my favorite characters after Fluttershy reformed him. I start to worry about what happened to him and hope wherever he is, he’s alright.

“Lock! Hey wait Lock!”

I look over my shoulder and see Flash run up to me but I turn around and keep my pace.

“This isn’t a very good time, Flash, I have something important to discuss with the Princesses,” I said.

“But I also have something important to talk to you about!” Flash said as he caught up to me.

“Can it wait?” I ask

“No Lock, I…I’d like you to train me,” Flash said.

I stop in my tracks and turn around to look at Flash. He’s a bit out of breath and is starring into my eyes with conviction and determination.

“You want me to what?” I ask.

“Train me,” Flash repeats, “I saw how you pulled that cart all by yourself and you managed to walk off without a strain or anything. Not to mention I heard about what you did for Ponyville, I knew you were powerful but I didn’t think you’d be this strong,” he said.

“Thanks for the words of praise but I don’t see how this has anything to do with me training you,” I said as I crossed my arms.

“Actually it has everything to do with it, because I want to be able to fight the Caribou just as you do,” Flash said.

My eyes widen at his declaration and I look around to see if there was any guards or maids around. Thankfully there wasn’t but that didn’t stop me from giving Flash a serious expression.

“Follow me,” I said as I change my destination to my guest room.

Flash follows me and we make to my guest room door and the guards from before were still there. One of them was a unicorn guard which was perfect if he knew the spell I had in mind for him to cast.

“Excuse me,” I said gaining his attention, “do you perhaps know a silencing spell that would cancel any noise from within my room?” I ask.

“You want me to cast a noise canceling spell on your room? How come?” The guard asks.

“I have something very important to discuss with Lieutenant Flash Sentry and I wish this conversation to be as private as possible,” I said. The guard looks at Flash for confirmation and Flash nods.

“Very well, I’ll cast it now,” he said and his horn glows as he casts the spell.

Satisfied, I lead Flash in my room and close the door and knock on it testing the spell to see if they hear me. There was no response so the spell was effective. I turn around grab two chairs from the side of the room and place them in front of each other facing each other.

“Please sit,” I said and Flash sits on the chair and I sit on the other.

“Flash, why do you really want me to train you?” I ask. Flash sighs and looks away with a sad expression and closes his eyes.

“Princess Cadence told me I’m being promoted to Captain…” Flash said solemnly.

“You’re being promoted? Congrats, you should be proud of yourself,” I said with a smile.

“But I was thinking of turning down the offer,” Flash said as he looks back to me and I lose my smile.

“Why would you not want to be Captain? Wasn’t it one of your goals to succeed Shinning Armor?” I question.

“Yes, but I didn’t want to succeed him this way. Before the Fall, Shinning Armor was my mentor during my days as a recruit back in the Crystal Empire. It was actually Shinning himself who urged me to sign up and he trained me all the way to the rank I have now, even Princess Cadence recognized my skill and loyalty which is why she made me one of her personal guards. When the Caribou invaded, I followed Shinning’s orders to the letter and helped evacuate some of the crystal ponies and his wife and daughter. He once told me I was well on my way to succeed him and I told him I’d honor his rank as Captain and earn it by putting in my best effort whenever I could,” Flash explains.

“Have you?” I ask.

“Of course, but now that Shining is…gone, I feel like I didn’t do enough to earn enough to honor his memory,” Flash sighed.

“And you wanting to be trained by me?” I ask.

“Can I be honest with you?” He asked and I nod, “I want to be strong like Shinning was when it comes to leading others and I want to be strong like you when I fight against the Caribou. Ponies don’t take me seriously as they did with Shinning and if I accept this promotion they would probably think I’m dishonoring his memory because I’m not strong enough,” Flash said.

“You shouldn’t care what others say about you, Flash. If you believe you’re ready, if even Princess Cadenza believes you’re ready, then you more than deserve his rank as Captain. If anything I believe you’re also ready to accept the role of Captain,” I tell Flash.

“Thank you, it means a lot hearing that from you,” Flash said, “but my request for you to train me still stands.”

“Dimitri,” Lucifer said as he appears beside me, “I believe you should accept his request.”

You too, boss? No offense to Flash but I don’t think he could handle any training I’d give him, I think.

“What if he had the necessary potential?” Lucifer asks.

Potential? What are you…no, No, NO WAY! I AM NOT PUTTING HIM THROUGH THAT, LUCIFER! I REFUSE! I shout at him in my head.

“You may refuse, but what would he have to say about it?” Lucifer asks calmly.

“Is everything ok, Lock? You look a little agitated,” Flash said.

I was about to say something but I remind myself that he can’t see Lucifer. What Lucifer suggested was completely out of line and too crazy for words. But on the other hand if Flash is as determined as he said he is, I would hate to disappoint him and leave him thinking he doesn’t deserve something he obviously does.

“Flash,” I said with no emotion, “do you know what exactly you’re asking of me when you say you want me to train you?” I ask.

“Won’t you just reach me new fighting techniques and help me become a stronger flyer like you?” Flash asks.

“It’s not that simple Flash,” I sigh, “you know of my title as The Devil’s Hand, right?” I ask and Flash nods nervously. “My boss, The Devil himself, bestowed these powers to me so I could fight the Caribou and save Equestria. It’s because of these powers of mine I’m able to do the things I do.”

“But it’s thanks to these powers you can win any battle you fight, right?” Flash said.

“Again, it’s not that simple. Recently, my boss and I discovered something about Dainn and his followers that I was going to discuss with the Princesses, along with something else of equal importance. The point is what I discovered is something that is quite unsettling, even for me. You’ve also only seen a mere glimpse of what I can do the night I came to Canterlot when I drove back the stockade. In Ponyville, it’s not an exaggeration when I say I slaughtered every last Caribou and traitor male in Ponyville with my power. After I was done I even went as far as to burn away their remains so that Ponyville wouldn’t be stained with their foul blood,” I explain.

“Wh-Why are you telling me all this?” Flash asks me.

“You want me to train you? Well this is what I train for, Flash, I train to kill. So my question to you is,” I said as I lean forward to look deeper into his eyes, “are you willing to train to kill?” I ask.

Flash’s eyes widen and he starts to tremble in fear. Although his body showed signs of fear, the determination in his eyes was still there, if only slightly. Flash opens his mouth trying to say something but no words come out but he still stares at my eyes.

“Are you afraid, Flash?” I ask. He says nothing as I lean back up.

“You know, it’s ok to be afraid,” I tell him.

“It…is?” Flash asks hesitantly.

“Of course, in fact, do you want to know a secret?” I said earning a nod, “I too am afraid.”

“How can you be afraid after all you can do?” Flash wonders.

“On the battlefield, though I don’t show it on the outside, I’m always afraid for my life. I don’t know wether a sword will pierce my heart, an arrow will go through my head, or something would destroy my body leaving nothing but a pile of ash. Even before I came to this world, during my days as a soldier, I was always scared out of my mind that a stray bullet or a random explosion would end my life. But it is as I said, Flash, it’s alright to be afraid because one of my oldest friends used to tell me something that helped me keep fighting even if the odds were against me,” I said.

“What was it?” Flash asks,

“Admitting you’re afraid is the bravest thing you can do,” I said, “so I ask again, are you afraid Flash?”

Flash looks away for a moment stunned at my words and tried to process what he’s been told. I would like to imagine even Shinning Armor was afraid when fighting for those he loved. Joshua’s words have stuck by me for as long as I can remember and I was proud to pass them on to someone like Flash.

“Yes…”

“Pardon?” I said. Flash looks up at me with a large fire of determination in his eyes.

“Yes, I am afraid. I’m afraid of dying or crossing a line that most others won’t but that won’t stop me from doing what I must to help save Equestria. If that means I have to take lives, then sign me up,” Flash proclaims.

“Well there you have it, Dimitri. Young Flash has made his decision so I believe it’s time to respond to his conviction in kind,” Lucifer said as he holds out his hand. In it, was a familiar looking fruit but it was shaped like an apple instead of a strawberry, demonic tribal markings all around it and a disfigured stem and leaves on top and all.

I hope you know what you’re making me do, I think as I hold out my hand.

“I am not making you do anything, it is his decision and his decision alone,” Lucifer said as he hands me the fruit.

Will he be the same as me? I ask.

“No, unlike you, he shall only have a single ability. You and he shall soon find out what it is as soon as he consumes it,” Lucifer explains.

As the fruit touches my hand, it becomes inflamed for a moment and the flames snuff out almost immediately. Flash seemed to notice the fruit and looks at it curiously.

“What’s this weird apple? Where did it come from?” Flash asks.

“This, Flash, is your contract,” I said.

“Contract?” Flash repeats.

“It was the same for me when Lucifer, the Devil, my boss, gave me a fruit of my own. With this, you will gain an ability similar to one of mine but you should know the price for gaining such a power. You’ll be forever damning your soul to Hell if and when you die,” I explain.

“R-Really?” Flash said nervously.

“I’m told it isn’t as bad as it sounds, since I’m the Devil’s Hand I will be welcomed to Hell with praise and honors when I one day arrive in Hell. If you choose to eat this, I will be able to train you properly which means you will officially become my apprentice. I will teach you how to use your ability and you will also receive the same treatment in Hell as me. But you should keep in mind that it’s still Hell, even after Lucifer assured me what I would expect I’m still skeptical about it all,” I explain.

“I-I see,” Flash said, “but I’ll have a power like yours?” Flash asks.

“Yes but as I said, your soul is the price,” I said as I hold the devil fruit to him. Flash hesitantly takes the fruit and stares at the it as the he glances up at me and the fruit.

“For Shinning,” he said and starts eating the fruit as quick as he could. Very soon the fruit was gone from sight and Flash tenses up expecting something to happen but nothing does.

“Is…that it?” Flash asks.

“It should be…oh shit! I forgot to mention that when you eat the fruit you’ll also-“

“GUH!” Grunts Flash as he clutches he’s chest and he buckles over.

“-receive the same brands as I do by having them burned on your arms…” I said as Flash starts to scream.

“AAAAAAHHHHHH, IT HURTS!!!” Flash screams as I watch the same brands on my arms burn onto his arms, “IT HURTS SO BUCKING MUCH!!! MAKE IT STOP, LOCK! MAKE IT STOP!!!” Flash cries as the brands continue to burn their way up along his arms.

“Bare with it a little while longer, Flash, you’re almost there!” I call out trying to ease him through it.

The brands were about to end their burns and Flash was still screaming bloody murder. My attention is brought to his wings that seem to grow a bit in size. What were once wings that were about 4 and a half feet in length soon grew to 5 and a half feet. His body also begins to change and it looks like he grew a few inches even though he was on the floor and still in pain. Eventually the brands finish burning into his arms and Flash passes out from exhaustion. I sigh and pick the young pegasus soldier up and lay him on my bed.

“He’s gonna have a serious hangover when he wakes up,” I said as I gaze at the brands that mirror mine along his arms.

“True, but now you no longer have to fight this war by yourself since he will be there fighting along side you,” Lucifer said.

I sigh and sit on the sofa chair in the corner of the room and wait patiently for Flash to wake up. What Lucifer said was true, now that Flash is Devil Fruit user like me he’ll be able to fight along side me against the Caribou, maybe even against the Sins. For now I just sit on the chair and wait for my new apprentice to wake so his training can begin.

Author's Notes:

So, Flash Sentry has chosen the same fate as Lock. The only question now is what kind of ability will he gain once he wakes? Care to take a guess? What kind of ability do you all think Flash will have? Find out in the next chapter and thank you for your patience!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…