Eric walked back to Cantorlot castle with Aloe in tow. Inside, Eric was approached by several guards.

Eric put the mare in the arms of a pegasus guard. “Take her to the Medical Wing.”

Without another thought, Eric immediately went to look for Rarity and Twilight. After a small search, he managed to find Rarity with Pinkie Pie in the dining hall.

“Rarity,” Eric called, gaining the unicorns attention.

“Eric, were you able to find Lotus?” Rarity asked.

“I did,” Eric said, grabbing the mare’s wrist and pulling her from her table. “But you need to come with me. We need to find Twilight.”

Without warning Eric pulled Rarity into his shadow and began searching the castle. Meanwhile Pinkie darted her head left and right. Whistling innocently, her fingers grazed the edge of Rarity’s plate. Sliding the plate closer to herself, Pinkie began helping herself to Rarity’s food.

It didn’t take long to find the user of the Flower-Flower Fruit. Eric and Rarity walked out of the shadows of the library and found Twilight moving from book to book using both her magic and her Devil Fruit.

“Always the bookworm,” Eric mused, catching Twilight's attention.

“I spoke to the guards about the ponynappings,” Twilight said, not pulling away from her books. “I’ve been researching the islands to try and find a connection.”

“Well, pull yourself away from the books. I have a plan to get the spa pony’s sister back.” Eric said.

Twilight paused, before giving him her full attention.

“I need an illusion spell to be put on both myself and Rarity.”

“Me?” Rarity asked.

“Where the spa pony is, I’m going to need some eye candy” Eric said. “And you…” he motioned to Rarity's newly acquired body. “...Fit that role perfectly.”

“Excuse me?!” Rarity shouted, indignant.

“If you want to rescue the spa pony, then I need you to accompany me,” Eric growled impatiently.

“Where are you going?” Twilight asked.

“Lotus Blossom is at the black market,” Eric answered. “Unfortunately, the people here know who I am. The same goes for The Element of Generosity. That’s why we need a illusion spell.”

Twilight grimaced. "I'm familiar with illusion spells," she admitted. "But they don't ever last long. You'd have maybe an hour at most."

Humming in thought, Eric turned his gaze to his ring. “What about enchanting an object?”

“It’s possible. However the object must be close to the user,” Twilight explained. “Like a sword, or a dagger, or even..."

"Jewelry?" Rarity asked. "Like a Fire Ruby necklace?"

“Or a ring that never leaves my finger” Eric offered, lifting his hand.

“Yes! Those will work perfectly,” Twilight said.

Nodding, Rarity left to retrieve her necklace.

“Any preference?” Twilight asked as Eric reluctantly removed his wedding band.

“Pony, preferably, and good looking,” Eric said.

Twilight raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Because of the side-effect of Rarity’s Devil Fruit, I’ll need to look either on par or better looking than her,” Eric explained. “Because let’s face it, in the world of the noble, if you don’t look as beautiful as yourself you wouldn’t give them the time of day”

“Vain... but understandable,” Twilight admitted, placing the enchantment on the ring. “Okay. Just put the ring on and the illusion will activate.”

Eric placed the ring back on his finger and felt a wave of magic pulse through him. Twilight used her magic to conjure a mirror showing Eric how he now looked.

He had the shape and build of a unicorn soldier. His fur was a pale grey, his eyes were a dull green with a small brown tone. The Shadow Man’s hair was short yellow and gelled back, his tail was also yellow and stopped at his knees, unfortunately his clothes remained the same. Rarity soon walked in with jewelry in hand only to stop when she looked at Eric with a blush on her face, her mouth slightly ajar.

“You’re going to start catching flies if you don’t close your mouth,” Eric said.

Rarity snapped out of her trance. “Right. Sorry Eric, it’s just...” Rarity handed the Fire Ruby to Twilight. “... Seeing you as a pony is... strange.”

“Is that a Insult or a compliment?” Eric asked.

“Neither Eric,” Twilight replied as she finished enchanting the jewelry. “Now since you don’t wear this Twenty-four/Seven like Eric.” Twilight explained as she helped Rarity put it on. “The enchantment won’t be as strong as Eric’s but you should be fine as long as nopony touches it.”

“Understood” Rarity said, as her fur changed from white to lightish red.

Her eyes became a dark purple color. She stayed a unicorn but her horn was tipped white. A side effect of the enchantment which left part of her horn the same color as her original fur color, Rarity’s hair and tail also changed from purple and swirled to rose red and straight.

“Ech..." Rarity moaned in disgust. "This hair color clashes with my fur."

“Look, do what you want with how you look, but you need to look like a spoiled, snobby, privileged noble before midnight,” Eric said over looking at his clothes as well. “Now I need to find myself a suit.”

“You don’t have one?” Rarity asked.

“The last suit I wore was on my wedding day and that was over 1,000 years ago” Eric said, soon motioning to his body. “And I was a little shorter and had less muscles back then.”

“Then let me make you one,” Rarity insisted with a smile as she removed the necklace, returning to her former form. “I am the best seamstress on this island, after all.”

“Can you make it before midnight?” Eric asked with a raised eyebrow.

“My dear Shadow Man,” Rarity said with a coy grin. “I can have yours finished in under two hours.”

Midnight was drawing close as Eric and Rarity walked out of the castle in their disguises. Eric wore a black suit and tie with a grey waistcoat, and a red silk shirt.

Eric smirked at his choice of attire. Rarity, however, wasn't as happy.

“Why did you choose this gaudy dress?” Rarity asked looking over her dress.

“I apologize, but the sluttier the better,” Eric replied, walking to the bar Dusk owned. “If it makes you feel better, after we save Lotus you may use me as your fashion mannequin.”

Rarity says nothing as the two of them walk into the bar in their spellbound disguises.

“Dusk,” Eric shouted as he walked up to the counter. “We’re here!”

Dusk walked from the back of the shop, dressed in an elegant 3 piece suit, silver scrollwork inlays across the lapels, a silver monocle perched on his left eye.

"Good choice my friend," he praised. "And you don't look half bad either. Now are you ready or would either of you like some liquid courage before we delve into a pit of devils?"

“No thank you darling” Rarity said with a slight shudder. “Liquor leaves a foul aftertaste.”

“I’ll take a shot of Applejack Daniels,” Eric said as the Infobroker made his drink, picking up the glass, Eric finished it instantly before setting the shot glass upside down on the table. “Rule# 32 Rarity,” Eric said with a grin. “You’ve got to enjoy the little things.”

Before Rarity could comment Dusk reached under the counter and pulled out two masks, one black masquerade mask and a half gold one. "Everyone uses aliases in the market and most hide their faces in some way. Think of it as added insurance."

“The more insurance the better,” Eric said putting on the black mask while Rarity followed after.

“Don’t suppose you have something that matches my dress?” Rarity said leaning forward slightly giving Dusk a full view of her cleavage, this in turn causes blood to drip from his nose. He quickly grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the blood before going back to the counter.

"Unfortunately I only have a black or a gold half mask here. Would one of those work for you?"

Before Rarity could speak Eric chimed in. “Take the gold. Gold does go with red a lot better than black.”

“How do you know that?” Rarity asked

“Because I had a wife who was good at that sort of thing,” Eric said, almost glaring at the disguised unicorn

"One more thing," Dusk added. "Before we head out stick to your aliases when we get there, get used to speaking like you have your head wedged 3 feet up your ass, and call me Silver Tongue while we are there."

“I’d suggest calling yourself Lady Love,” Eric said to Rarity. “While I’ll go by…” Eric thought for a moment before finding a name. “...Elton, Elton John”

Dusk chuckled a little before he opens the door "Unusual, but hey, it works."

“It was the name of a former master of mine,” Eric said.

It wasn’t a complete lie; he did play music for someone named Reginald Dwight. He was one of the nicest nobles Eric had ever served, even taught him a few songs himself.

"Hey as long as you play the part right I have no problem with what you call yourself." Dusk said, placing a silver mask covering the right half of his face

“Trust me, I’ve been around my fair share of greedy corrupt nobles," Eric said. "I know how to play the part.” To emphasize his point, he let his aura changed around him. The Shadow Man went from having the aura of a seasoned warrior to one who would rather call a servant than clip their own fingers. “Now let’s hurry this up, we haven’t got all night... Silver”

Dusk gives the first genuine laugh since they met. "My friend I already want to punch you. Good job"

Eric gave a mocking laugh. “As if my guards would let a commoner like you anywhere near me!”

Rarity just scoffed, already in full snob mode as she looked at Dusk in disgust. “Let get on with this you little toad”

Dusk's smile drops for a fraction of a second before he mutters to himself "Let's hope you can keep to the part when you see what happens to the ones I sell…"

Dusk led the pair down a series of alleyways before stopping at a deadend, reaching forward Dusk pushed in a series of bricks causing the wall to open up revealing a set of stairs leading down.

“Inside now,” Dusk said as Eric and Rarity descended the stairs, meanwhile Dusk was looking over his shoulder making sure he wasn’t followed.

Finding the coast clear he tapped one of the bricks which caused the entrance to seal itself, quickly descending the stairs he moved in front of the two.

“I must say this is far more advanced than the one I destroyed in the Empire,” Eric said slightly impressed

"There is a reason why it's gotten as big as it has," Dusk replied. "Funding from major noble houses and the layers of protection means they can splurge on such toys."

“Nobility at its worst,” Eric muttered under his breath, but kept his posture and his aura the same.

Eventually Dusk and the other make it to the door. Dusk gave a series of knocks. A slit in the door opened up, and a pair of eyes peered through.

“How thick is the Guillotine?” a creature growled.

“Thick enough to sever the greedy kings head," Dusk replied without hesitation.

The door opened, revealing thousands upon thousands of shops, stalls, and tents. Conversations, bets, and items both rare and illegal were being sold and traded with one or another

“Welcome to the Black Market you two,” Dusk said as the bouncer clamps a bracer on both Eric and Rarity causing them to feel weak.

“What are these?” Eric asked, knowing full well what they were.

“They are a material called Sea Stone,” Dusk answered. “They prevent Fruit users from using their abilities”

Dusk walked past them before stopping at the door, turning to them Dusk offered a smile as he pointed in a direction to their right.

“What you two newbies want is in the Sex District,” Dusk said pointing towards an area lit up with colors of pink, purple, and red. “Just follow the colors and you can’t miss it. There are tons of items there for... relieving one’s stress.”

The bouncer began to close the door. Immediately Dusk shouted to the pair. “Oh and don’t let your lady breath in the pink aroma vapor!” And with that the Bouncer shut and locked the door.

Dusk walked back into his bar only to stop when he saw a figure with orange hair sitting at the counter. Multiple black piercings adorned his face, with three in his nose, six earrings, a longer ring going through his other ear and two pointed piercings coming from his bottom lip. He wore a black headband with a metal plaque with a line going through four thicker lines. His coat was black with red clouds, and he wore black pants with what looked like white socks and open toe sandals which showed his red nails. However his eyes were the most odd, they were purple with multiple black circles around his pupil.

“Can I... help you?” Dusk asked

"Indeed you can," The Orange Haired Man spoke with a voice that sent shivers down Dusk's spine. The Orange Haired Man glanced lazily at Dusk. "Tell me about a certain someone."

“May I ask who?” Dusk asked, still cautious. “And it will cost…”

However Dusk was interrupted when strings pinned Dusk against the wall, Dusk glanced around and saw an Orange Haired young man. He had strings around his fingers, the Orange Haired Man walked close to Dusk. "I believe your life costs more than gold, is it not? Tell me everything about Eric Von Shadow or I'll have Walter peel your dick like a banana." The Orange Haired Man said in a calm rage.

“It’ll take at least three days to gather Everything” Dusk said in slight fear as the figure began to leave. “Not to be rude, but may ask who wishes to know about the Reaper of the Crystal Empire?”

“I'm the thing that foals fear, I am the thing that warriors feel in battle. I… Am Pain.” He replied, before leaving the bar along with his companion.

The Golden Fool Arc Ch. 2

if you want your Oc in this fanfic just put this in the comments or message me
Name:
Race:
Description:
Devil Fruit:(optional)
Backstory:(Their backstory will determine whether or not if I can use them)

Don't forget to leave a comment below
Also the next chapter will enter in to more graphic description

Next Time