Ash Williams was not happy. As a matter of fact, he was absolutely livid. Over the course of the next couple of months, Ash had tried to escape from the mental hospital. Each and every time, he was met with failure and an excessive amount of beating from the guards. To make matters worse, the case Mrs. Whistles was building was not doing any better than he was.

Ash sat against the couch, waiting for his time to kick in. Instead, however, the Guard called out to him.

“Williams!” The guard opened the door revealing a woman with purple hair streaked with violet. “Your Sister is here.”

“Sister?” Ash muttered before laying his eyes on Twilight. “Ah.” He nodded, before slumping back. “Six months, and I’m still here. Mrs. Whistles is doing great on my appeal case.”

Before Twilight could enter, the guard took the book she was holding. “Sorry, lady, but this book stays.”

“It’s nothing more than my college algebra textbook,” Twilight said, taking the book back and flipping the pages, showing nothing inside. “The worst this’ll do is put my brother to sleep.”

The guard nodded and let her into the room; the purple-haired woman sat on the couch next to Ash.

“Hey Ashley,” Twilight greeted with a smile. “Doing okay.”

“Well enough,” Ash admitted, before quirking an eyebrow. “Sister?”

“Sunset’s idea,” Twilight replied with a roll of her eyes as she reached into her pocket. “She managed to make this for me.” She pulled out an Id card.

“Twilight Sparkle Williams?” Ash read.

“Again. Sunset’s idea,” Twilight admitted with a slight blush. “Anyway, I figured out a way to get you out of here.”

Ash laughed. “Oh, really. Cuz I’ve tried every escape plan from every movie I’ve seen,” Ash jutted a thumb at the guard outside. “Apparently, these fuckers have foreseen a Shawshank escape.”

“But they won’t be expecting this,” Twilight said, showing the book to Ash.

Ash gave her a skeptical stare. “You’re going to get me out with an algebra textbook?”

“Use those eyes of yours,” Twilight replied. “Peer through the illusion.”

Understanding, Ash narrowed his eyes as they turned into Sharingans; his eyes widened as he saw the Necronomicon under the Illusion spell.

“You cannot be serious!” Ash barely avoided shouting, so as not to alert the guard.

“I’ve managed to find a page that lets me summon a demon,” Twilight said with slight pride. “I’ve also found a way to keep it sealed within an arcane spell circle.”

“Twilight!” Ash grabbed the book. “You know what happened the last time you read from this thing. I’m begging you, don’t!”

“Ashley, we’ve been gone from Equestria for six months!” Twilight insisted, pulling the book back towards her. “We need to get back, and I refuse to leave without you!”

Before Ash could utter a word, the guard came back and called out. “Alright, Lady, times up.”

“Twilight, please,” Ash begged, desperation leaking into his voice. “Just wait a little bit longer.”

But all the princess offered was an apologetic look. Then the guard closed the door, separating them.

“Great,” Ash groaned as he ran his hand through his hair. “Now I need to save Two worlds.”

Unknown to Ashley Jacob Williams, Twilight listened to her bodyguard's plea.

For a full week, she researched, investigated and scrounged for any other solution. But nothing else came up. The book was her only option.

In that time, she also tried to help out their friends. After the Apple Family farmhouse wreck, the Apple family went to stay with their Aunt and Uncle Orange. After helping them get settled in, Twilight and Sunset found temporary residence with Pinkie Pie. Much to the princess’s ire, the party pony insisted that she hold a sleepover to cheer her up, just like the time they had to face the Sirens.

Once everyone had gone to bed, Twilight snuck out and made her way down to Pinkie’s party basement. A place that Twilight still found odd, regardless of whether it was in either world, but it allowed Twilight to find a space in the middle of the room where she could summon and contain the demon.

“Okay,” Twilight said to herself, opening the Necronomicon. “So, the book says that the circle needs to be drawn with salt…” Twilight looked around the room and saw many blank jars and bottles. But none of them were labeled. Twilight pondered over a jar that could’ve easily been sugar just as much as it could’ve been salt. “How does Pinkie find anything that isn’t labeled?”

“I just grab what feels right,” A pink hand passed Twilight’s head and grabbed a jar off the shelf.

Twilight nearly jumped out of her skin when she turned around and fumbled over the Book of the Dead. “Pinkie!? What are you doing here?”

In response, Pinkie lifted her right arm showing a pink watch that was flashing red. “I was alerted that someone entered my Party Room.” The pink-haired girl pressed a button on her watch, quenching the red light.

“Um… you didn’t….”

“I did,” Pinkie said with a wide grin. “So, what kind of circle were you going to draw?”

Twilight just stared at the party planner with pure confusion. “You… want to help me?”

“At the chance to meet somebody new? Absolutely!” Pinkie gleamed as she handed the jar to Twilight.

Now more than ever, Twilight found that Pinkie Pie was easily the most bizarre of all her friends. “T-Thanks, Pinkie”

Twilight opened the jar and began pouring the salt to form a circle; the princess glanced to the now opened book and back to the circle. The Princess started to add more detailed runes and marks within the circle; once the circle was complete, Twilight stood back and admired her accuracy.

“OOO!” Pinkie awed. “So, what now?”

“Candles placed on each of the star points,” Twilight instructed. She barely got time to look up from the book before Pinkie had set seven lit candles exactly where Twilight had specified. The party planner bounced on her heels eagerly.

“What’s next?” Pinkie said with an ever-growing smile

“Well… we read from the Book,” Twilight said, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.

‘Calm down. We have the barrier. No matter what, this demon can't hurt us.’

“illud non moritur quod polleat usque morari” Twilight chanted as a powerful gust of wind blew through the basement, tossing many of Pinkie’s files all over the room. “temporibus miris, Mors, potes ipsa mori.”

At the same time, a chilling wind blew into Pinkie’s room, causing the rest of the Humane Six to wake up.

“Woah,” Applejack mumbled. “Does anyone else feel like death warmed over them,” Applejack said to the others.

“You’re not the only one, AJ,” Rainbow said, already shivering.

“Um… girls?” Fluttershy whispered. “Where’s Twilight and Pinkie?”

Another gust of wind blew past them and cracked Pinkie’s window. The lights flickered on and off as the walls oozed green slime! No. Wait? That’s another show!

A chill ran down Applejack’s spine as she heard chanting from somewhere in the house.

“We need ta find Twilight and Pinkie,” Applejack said, jumping to her feet. She rushed out of the room as the sound of chanting increased.

“Izg voco lat un threm tok ob threm slaiug; ghashkrum izub bugd; Pharynx,"

The chanting grew louder as the group found Pinkie’s party basement glowing with a dark and sinister light.

Twilight’s friends descended the stair and were met with a glowing circle in front of the chanting Twilight.

Anger welled inside Applejack as she saw Twilight reading from the book that wrecked her home and killed her grandmother. Applejack stomped over with an intent to stop whatever the princess was doing.

However, Pinkie stepped in front, blocking the farm girl in her tracks.

“AJ, wait!” Pinkie pleaded.

But Applejack shoved her aside. “What in God’s name are ya doing, Twi?!” Applejack shouted, grabbing Twilight by her shirt. “I lost my Granny and my home because of those demons, and you want to summon another?”

Twilight said nothing to Applejack; all she did was finish her incantation. “ghashkrum izub bugd; Pharynx!”

The Candles erupted in massive pillars of dark red flames, smoke filled the inside of the circle as a series of blood-red eyes opened.

“W̙̥h̼̜͎̰͐â͉̙̇̏t̲ ͚̒̍ͬf͚͕̳͊ͅo̺̝̬͖ͥͭ̃o̘̺ͯ̅ͧl͗ͩ ̬d̗̹̹̤ͨ̒̿̚a̬̟̰̰ͨ̚r̦̘͑̋̾ͯe̙̩̭s̘̭͐ͅ ͙̞̎ͦ̆̒s̪̗̙͓ͧ̿̒u͓̅ͪ̓m̰͖̫̌̓ͭ̎m͎̺̰̖oͥͫ́̓ṇ̻́̈̑ͤ ̲͈̳̼t̪̃̒h̊e̟̰͙͆̎̀ ͕̈lï̞̲̞ͪk̐ͭe̬̜͑s̗̺̠̺̐̈͛̄ ̞͈̎o̝̺̣͚ͫͬ̓̂f͎̂ͪͤͅ ͪ̊m̤̊̋̏͊e͈̝̥͒ͅ ̂t̖͕̱̰͊ͪo̪ ͚̘̥͙ͫt̗̓h̰̦̀̄ͭͣis̓ ̖̟m̎o͐ͯr̳̹̞̼ͤ̅̍̅t̤̩̖͈a̫͕ͤl̝ ̄ͤp͔͗̇ḽ̞̟͚̽͒a̲̎ͪ̌͐n̻͐̎̿̚e?” a dark and insidious voice called out from the smoke.

Fear gripped everyone – save Pinkie and Twilight - as the smoke dissipated, revealing a demon that towered over everyone in the room. The demon stood on a pair of canine-like legs as a pair of boney arms protruded from its arched back. Nine scorpion tails jutted from its backside, each dripping venom. Chains adored its body, and it glared at the human with six angry eyes. His eyes narrowed as the demon smiled, revealing rows of sharp teeth. From his mouth came a freakishly long tongue which slithered towards the girls.

“W͉͔h̘o̱̲̓ͦͤ̓ ̺̭̯͍̊D͙̥͋ͪa͉r͎̠͙̹ͬ́̽ḛ̽sͬ̍ ͙͔̩͉̎̍S̩̱̩͐u̗m̖̘̣̔̂̉ͮm̥͇ōn̻̙̊̓̍͌ ͔͆ͨͨͨP̗̖̏ͯh̗̗͚͈a̦̓ͅr̹͚ͩͬtṇ͆x͌̽,͓̠͔͑̇̈́̊ ̞ͩ̈́̈́t̫̻͎ͯ͑ͅh̫̓ê͙͍̾̽̑ ͖̲̯̉̃C͎͖̺ͪͭ̄a̻̻̩͌ͩ͂̃t̳a̎̂c̠̔ͫ̿̚ĺͦ͗ͮy̒͒ṡ͛̐̉m͖ͨ̅́̔i̙̬̺ͮͮ̎c̩̹ ̲̟͕ͤͯ̊̉D̠͉̮̐ém͉̖͖̐o̻̭̖̣̊n̙̣̭͕ ̱͈̆̑̃o̗̙̯̠f̝ͦ̚ ̬̪̫͋Ḋ͈̉͋e͊̊̿̔ș̳͂̑ͯͤͅö̺̠̱ͯ́ͩl͉̿͋ͦa͇̰͑t̬ͣị͓̱͛ͤö̩̞̗ͮ̀͐n͇͓̬̄?” the demon grinned as he stepped to the edge of the barrier.

The girls backed away in growing fear of the demon. Twilight, however, walked up to him.

The demon’s smile faded at her lack of fear. His eyes widened when she spoke.

“I summoned you, Pharynx!” Twilight declared.

“Y̼̱ͪo͕̩͔͎ŭ̦̙̀ͅ.̹̯̤.̞̫͋.̘d̤̏oͧn̠'̝ṭ̥̹̲.͔.̬͕ͨ̐̄.” the demon stammered in disbelief. “D͔͉o̼n̪̲̭̺͒ͪ'̟̒͒̽ͤͅṱ̬́ͅ ̹̱̗̰ͮ͌̇ÿ̤̬̑͆ȯͯ͌͐u͑̄ ͉̉̓́f̥̊e͚͆͒ͧa̫̭̲̲̽̐r̜̹̳̣ ̻̞m̱̼̖ͣ̔̓ͅe͍̭̙̼͌͂͐?”

Twilight glared the demon down. “No.”

The demon matched Twilight’s glare… before blowing a raspberry. “Ŵ̃ĥ̝̫́â͋t͗̅'s̔̂ ̙̳t͕̯h̼̦e̘̟ ͖̥̓ͦf͑̐ṷ͉̓̊nͣ ͙̯̓́i̮n ̘us͍ͬi͈̰̒n̒̾g̾̓ ̝̍t̹̲̒̓h͉̾̍i̘̭s̄̊ ͙̱f̊̚o͉r̞͈͛̎m ̤w̃h́e̞̘͊nͩ ͙it͖ͤͫ ̤̞͆̎d̏o͉ͩes̳n̖͓'͍ͥ̾t̩̐ ̯̍s̱ca͉͛̒rͫ̾e͙̱ͨ ͙͂ͨa͎ͯ͆n̅ỳoͥn͆e̞̦?” Pharynx sighed in frustration as the smoke returned, covering him almost like a wardrobe.

When the smoke dissipated, Pharynx now stood as a more humanoid figure; he still towered over everyone, but he still resembled a human. With obvious differences: his skin was a midnight black similar to his previous form. A long-jagged horn jutting from his forehead, and a glowing gem hung from his left ear. The chains that had once covered his body were replaced with a pair of dress pants and a white long-sleeved shirt. Pharynx opened his eyes, showing black sclera with pure red pupils. His sharp teeth remained, as he proved with a smile.

“W̘ͨ̀e̦͈̥̗͛ͬͯ̒l̫̠l̞̰̔͆ ͨ͋ẗ͎̜͙͈́̐̋h͈̯̼͍ͯ͊́e͉̅n̈̓ͭ̓,” Pharynx said, clearing his throat. “A̞͇͈͊l̮̖̻̒̈l͈͋ͨ̍o͎̫ͨ̌̆̄w͇̭̬̓̐ ͚̍̍m̾ė̯͖̮ͫͩ ̓t͎̞̳ͮo͖̔̽ͪ ̭̝͖i͈n̖̯̽͂t̥͕̝̹ͩ̏r͇͗o͓ͯͯ͒d͓̲̝̏̐ͩ̋u̩̦c͙̠̣̓̚eͥ̚ ̠̙̱̥ͪ̍̈́ͭm͕̄͆ͦy͆s̻̏̑̋ͅe̪̹̜͋ḻ̹̥̱ͫ͊̊̊f̳̱̒̓ ̟̺̪̿͌ͯ̈́m͍̰͆ͬͅo͐́ͪ̚r̄̉̃e̻ͦ͑͆ ̗ͫͣͣͅf͚̱̼̎ͣ̀o̫̱͑r̤̰ͪṁ͕͓̳ͥ̈ͅḁ͈͋l͖̞̰̗ͣl̝̥̋ͥ̌ỷ͓̪̝͉.” He placed his right hand over the left side of his chest and lightly bowed. “Ị̉͆ͅ ̼a̙̭m̯̠̌ ͕͓̓́D̠e̋̓m͈͉o̰̺nͥ ̭̼K̞i̭͑n͇͉g͂ͮͅ ͤͦP̬̊̌ḣ͇ͫã̘̿r͚̞ͩ͌y̰̘͗̈́ṉͮx,̻͂ ͓̓̂T̝̠ͤh̠͇e͓͇ ͛ͬD̅e̱m͕̺ͤo̰͔͌n ̦̅of̞̳͂ ͓̲C̟͑a͇̺ͮt͙a̼̮ͭ̊c̦̝͋l̦y̥̻ͯs̞̳̀mͣi̩̗̔͊c͔͑͌ ̥͔̈D͖̫es͇ͣͨͅl̼̦ö͇͖aṭͭi̜o̦n.”

“D-Demon King?” Fluttershy stammered out in fear.

“W̘ͅe͇l̈́̍ḻ̦̎̾,͇ ͈̖̂òṋ̪ͯl̂ý̥ ̫̜u͐̆n̝ͩ̏t͐ilͦͅ ̼͚̾̽m̪̞͋ͫy̭̰ͤ̚ ͎b̘͚r̖̐ͬo̭t̮ͦhe͂ͩr̹̎ͫ ̗̔r͙̮͑e̤͌̓ͅțu̱̎r̠̟̒n̄s͔,” Pharynx said, rolling his eyes before returning his gaze to Twilight. “No̘͗̒w̼̉.̮͖͐ͧͪ.͊͆̔.͈̝̗̋̆̓Wh̖̳̀̇̉ͅâ͙̭͆̚t͉͍ ̙͔͕̒do̝̿ͨeṣ̭̠̄ͫ ̜͍ͯ͌̚t̓ͤ̎h͊e̻͇͐̍̃ͅ Ǐ̫̊̓m̰̫̠͆m͎̻̔or͔͇ͮ͊ͅt͔̠͙ͮ̑͋ă̟̋̃l̲̤͌̓ w̹an͙͊̓͂t̲̱̫ ̘̻̱f̦̯̉r̺͍o̓͗̓m͕̤̙ͤ ̭̹͛me̟̎ ̱͕̦̉̃â̫͛ṉ͍̩̐́͒d̩̾ ͚̠ͪmy͉̥͖ͨ̋͌ ̪͚̬ͭͪk̔i͕̠̜͒ͪn̪ͨ̿?”

Twilight was taken aback by this. “How do you…?”

“K̏͋n͔̠̙ͦ͛o̯w̟̦̖̎̂̿ ̝͛̉y̮o̤̠̮u̗̜̾̇'̦̉̈ͥr̮ͨe̟̱̲͋̂ͬ ̻̺̤̓Î̌̊m͎̭͙̚m̜̻̺̌o̘̹̹r̥t͉ḁ̺̅l̫͍̅͐̆?” Pharynx asked with a grin. “Y̖̻͌ͯ͌o̓̄u̺̲̓̑ͅr͕͙͓̃ a̤̙̱̐u̫r̙̯̼ͦa.”

“Aura?”

“Y̗͎͎̆e̘̙s̭̞̠̔ͧͤ.̭̺̠͋͋ ̣̱́F̦͒ŕ͕͍͛ͨo̮͂͛m͕̲̘̒ ̿̒t̏̎h̞e̖͓ ͕̞̃ͧ̄e͇ͤ̅͑y̹͉ͫͥͬe̜̺̎̎̇s̮͎ͭͬ ͓͇͎ͫ̍ö́ͧ̾f͖̣̍ͫ ͋̋ͅâ͚͙̖̏̃ ͕͊d͔͎̂̾e̺͉͉͛͊ḿ͇̿on,̼͙̅́̏ ͈̜y̜̻̋ͤô͇̦u ̟͇ͬh̙̳̙ͪa̙͉ͧͮvͧ̅e ̗͓ͥ̐͑a͚̐ t͒̎̆rẽ̙̥ͤ̄m̙̹̭͂͌̌é̜̻̹n̿̓dő̯̝ͧǔ̹s̬̯͖̽l͈̭͎y̖ ͉̹p͚̣̬o͕̾̊w̘̞͖ͯ̋ê̐ͨr͈̯f̞̊͆ͬu̲ͬl͉ͅ ͓͉̤a̖̗ͣ̿ͯȕ͖̊r͎̟̃ͪ̾a̦͈̼” Pharynx licked his lips. “A̔ṇ̐̋ ̆̚Aͣ͌û͉̭̔r̲̠ͣ͆a͍̻ͣͬ ̤̫̅ͧt̻̼̀hͯ̇å͍̾t̯ͭ ̣ͅc̘̙̀ͬa̗ͧ̋n̒ o̩n͉͙ͩl̗ͨy ̯b̟̊͋e̮lo͕̱͐n̹̩͒̍g͖ ̣̽t̾̇o ̹̫͂ͪȃ̲̻ͨn i̯m̋̆m̟ő́ȓ͉͇t̰a̐l̮͊.” The Demon smiled wistfully. “T͕h̟ͦẽ̙̬̇ ̩͊ͨl̉̅a̼̰s͚̞ẗ̹́ͥ ̝ͪ̿Iͫ̑m͑̉mo̺͙ͫ̊rt̘͆̒a̟ͩl͓̞ ̟͍ͮÏͣ ̝͔eͮͬͅn͈c̪̟̽̍ȍ̒u͙̓ͭn̒t̥͍e̔ͣr͚eͩ̄d̪͓ͬ͒ w̰̺ͫa̤ͨsͦ̈́ ͆a̯̜ ͍ḡ̳̬ͯoat̟̱͌̚ m̱ͩa͋n͔͂̍ ͇̣ͭ̊f̠̈́ř̺ǒ̑m̳ͤ ̦̓͒a͉ͧ ̯͈laͥ́n̫̥dͧ̒ ̭̬c̭̖̎ͭa̜ͩͪl̯̞ͫl͈̓̈ḙ̒d̃ ̘̈́ͨÈ͈͙́qͪ̿ṵ̱̎ͩe̝ͩ̎str̝̲ͨ͆ĭa͙.” He rubbed his chin. “I̟͈f̭̽ͮ ̞͓I͉̲͂ͯ'̦̃m̠͚͋ ̋ñot̽ ̹m̍ị͊s̺̲t̘ạ̄͂k̠͇e͈nͬ,̩͔̊ ͥ̉h̩͑i̤͇s ̬͓̋͋n͎͍ͪa̫ͧm̩͐e̊͂ ̀w̠̮̽aͯ̿s̖̠ ̤͇Gr̘͋ȍ̯g̋a̬̟r.”

“Is this guy really a demon?” Rainbow questioned.

“R̘̩͍̔̓é̙͍̞̈́ă̦̗̘͓ͤͪ̅l̜̹̣ ͉̬̲̔a̫̼̩s͎̣͌ ͕͇t̹h̟̿̅̀ͭẹ͉̝̗ͬ̍̓y͔͇̲͑ͭ͑ c͙ͪo͍̟̰m͕͚͕̘̅e͚ͧ̇,͎͚̟͓ͮ̅ ͐ͨ͗l̚iͣt̝̗̤̞̋̓́̑t̙͙̅̌̌l̪̞͎̓e̯̞͇͍ͦ̓ ̝̈g̞̗̘̻̓ir̬̹̯ͦlͬ,” the demon’s voice echoed in Rainbow’s mind, causing her to gasp and swat at her head.

“I’d like to make a deal with you, Pharynx,” Twilight said, pulling the demon’s attention away from the others.

“Ḁ̽h̐̀̾̚,” Pharynx grinned and clapped his hands. “S͛̆̂o̥͕͂̋ ̱̰̹t́h͇̤͈̒̎a͎̫ͨ̚t̗͔̋̎'̽͐s̻͗̾̽͂ ̈́̀̽̃ŵ̭̤͂ͧͩh̜͊ÿͬ̒ͫ ͕͔̣͓ȳ̹̮͇͑o̜͋ͫ̆̄ǘ̼͓͈̫̓̚ ͇̳͔͍͐͋sͩ̇ͥ̊u͍̩͔mm̩ͪ̍ͩͤoͣ̃̉ͩn̝͆ͪĕ̙̳͈d̠̹̯̟͋ ͇͈̼ͣ͋̐m̫̲͍͑ḙ̮̌̓ͅ?” He got down to meet the princess’s height. “S̮̀ͅo ͉̅th̬ͧͥe̱͉ͦ̐n̄̈́,̒̔ L͖̗̍ͭi͛tt̪̋l̫̋̚e͉ ͇I̬m͖̝ͤͨȯr̟̬ta̝͖͒l̞̅̋,͖̼ ̱̑w͙͊ha̻̍t͔̰ ̥ͨ̎de͋a̻̺ͤͭl̺ ͙̗ͦ͋ḓ͎ͭo̟ ͓̹͑̀y͐o̞̥ͦu̮̩ͭ ͇̗w̚a͉͇̚n͉͔t̟ͯ ̯t̟̤̂o̰͗̑ mͯake̻͐̃?”

“There is a man locked in a mental hospital,” Twilight explained to the demon. “Jacob Ashley Williams. I want him out.”

“S͖̦͐̐i̭͚ͪ͆m͉̻̐p̎l̙͍͚̋͗̇ě̲͓̩ ̄ͭe̫̓͗ͬnͤͥͫǒ̦̫͎̓ǔ̞̠̌g̻̹̾ḫ̪,” Pharynx said, standing up. “I̦ ̮̥ċ͆́a̱ͫ̀nͩ̇ ̗̩̈͑j̹͎̮̽ͩ̉u͔͒ͨ̃s̜͓̻̔̅t̄ ͚͛̑̾s̜̈́̔e̘̻n̪̭̺͒d̩͙͙ ̮͊ͫa͉̺͉̐ͨ ͔͎̗f̯̲ͣ̈͑ͅe̎̚w̾ͬ̂ ͖͖̱̓l̟̞̰ͧ̋̇e͐ͩs̗̹s̬̹̝̾ͭe̙ͫ͊r̗ ͈ͮd̖̤͎͊̽ĕ͇m̦̞̼͌͂o̼͇̪ͩ̽̀ṇ̰͙s̺̟ ̣̔t͖̭ͯoͨ̋͆ ̪͊̈́̔tè͚͉̔ͪa͚̩͕ͤ̇r̘̃̿ ̣͕̓ͅt̞̝ḫ͕̲e̳ͫ̆ ̇̍pͬ͐l̜ͭ̐̈́a͉͐̈́c͍͌e̲̻ ̠̺̓͌ͥdͭͤo̳ͤͦwn̩͙͋ͮ.”

“No!” Twilight barked, matching his glare. “Ashley is to leave that place with no harm to him or anyone around him.”

“S̥̳̏͆o͇̲.̖̐ͮ.̩ͅ.̤̤̿̌ ̥͋̚Y͍o̎u̒̇ ͧ̿w̅a͗n͋̚ẗ̮͔ ̇hí̳̹̈m̑̆ ô̠u̺̭̿tͦ̋,̍̇ ͍̆̚ǎ̠ͦn͈̑d̼ͨ ̗y͊̚o͍̣̾u ̲̋ẃͤa̤̾̇ṇ͈̿t̏̾ ̥͆h̠͋̎ỉ͕̲̐m̰͔̎̋ ͙ͪá̪nd̑͛ ̼ͯͅan̙̋̄y͓̗ͯͮo̳̲̓͗ne̩ ̘͊gu͖ar̽ͅd̖͌í̼n̻͚̂͊g̳͎ͩ̽ ̝͖ͣͦh͓̾i͐̆mͪͅ ̞̤̃͂uͣn̤̘͆h͍͉a͑͆r͕̐me̲dͯ?” Pharynx gave the princess a vile grin. “T̓̿ȟa̼̬̓͆t̖͔ͥ'̱̍s͖̣̅͑ ̩̂̆q͎̪̽u̠ì͉̋t̹̲e̻̦ ̯̖̈̉ạ̏̂ ̩̮̄̑fe̓w̠ ̣ͫṯh̟̓͒iͥ̊n͚̭g̏s̋ ̗y͕͎̿ǒ̔uͩ ̼ͯ͐w̦̟a̓n̠t,̦̂̽ ̱a̖̱̐̒ń͉̠ḋ͑ ̆å͌s͎̆ͯ ͂ͪy͇̍o̱̻͆ͪuͅ ̫ͣk̤̿ͣnͥͭo̤̩̔w̺ͧ̇, ̖͓̈́͌n̹̟ͦͤo̥͔̓ͤth̫̱i͉͆̄n̦̹̑̌g̭͛ ͖̒í̞ͅsͬ ̖̳ͧͮf̟̑r͉e͈͈͒ͩe̳͙ i͍͙ͪn ̅̃tͤ̐hͦ̒i͈̯͑sͅ ̺o̼r̓͑ ̙̙a͉n͉̹̄ͣy͋ ̩ẉ̂̎or̮͑ḷ͑d̯̹.”

“Whatever you want, you ain’t gettin’ it!” Applejack snapped.

“B̹͔̞̼͒̄̍̍e ̎ͭ͌s̩͚̑ͫ̓̚ḭ̼̤̓ḷ͙̗̙͗̃̊ͣe͇̻͈ͧ̋̎n͔̭͒t͚̋͛̑;͖̠̓ ̯̫m̯͓͕͋o̩̩̳ͮȑ̻̄t̝̮̝ͥ́̉ͅǎ̆l̗͙̃ͮ͛͊,” Pharynx said, his fierce gaze causing Applejack to tense up.

“I will handle this, Applejack,” Twilight said, only sparing her friend a brief glare before returning her fierce gaze to the demon. “What do you want, Pharynx?”

“Twilight, dear!” Rarity protested. “You can’t seriously trust this demon.”

“Y̯̯ȏ͋u̹͗̈́ȑ̩̼ ̺m͙̰o̿r͕̲t͂ͦa͍̗ͤľ̼ ͧf͗ͣr̪i̯en̈͒dͣͦ ̍̆is͇͑̏ ̾cͬȏ̝r̹̂ͦr͎̋e͕̺̓̏c͖̞̉̋ẗ̝̗́̐,” Pharynx mused. “T̓̉h̟̻̄en̜͚ͤ̊ ̮̅̋a͈ͦgảͫin, ͮyo̠̣u̞̞̓ͭ ͥ̿m̝̦ũͥś̝̼̑t͑̐ ̞͍͒ͫcͬ̊a̱ͤ̒r̞̟̉e f̋́o͍r̆̏ ͗̂t̼͉̎h̰ͦiͯͥs̳͒ ̳́‘̍A͉s̖̟̓h͊l̂ͬe̟̮y̝̤’͔͗̔ ͖̊q̙u͙̟i̘̭̒t̘͍͌ͯe̳̲ ̲͉ͦa͎̠ ̥͕̽l͔o̗̮t̗͛ i͎̠f͙̆ ̅̋y͓̣̆̾o͙̟͆ü̻̆’̺̉̃rẻ̲̻̍ ̺̼a̖̝ͥs͉̜k͎̹ͪ̏iͯn̠̦ͩg m͐̐e̻̘͋ ̦͋wh̳̄a͈̭͂t̀̏ ̳͌ͪİ͚ ̟̩w͕̱a̩n̹͌̈t̻.” Pharynx grinned as he crossed his arms. “Fo͔͆r̅ͦ ̳a̋ľ̜̤͛l͙̾ ͕͚́͂y̻̪͌̇ou̪̲ ̏ͫk̥ͧ̆ǹ͋o̱ͮͨw̩̤ͫͫ,̋̉ I̦̜͛̃ ̻̋c̏ͯo͍͎ͬ͌ùl͛d ̈̓w̦̭̽ͪå̲n̤̖ͤ͊ț͓̃̓ ̦̪yo͒u͔͒ ̮̗á̼̜s̯ͩ ̪̐̑a̭̲̾́ ͓̖͗br̞̘id̲͛ë́.”

Twilight didn’t let any emotions show. The stoic front only seemed to amuse Pharynx further, as he lowered himself to look at her with a smug smile.

“T̰͖h̆̚e̦̞͂n̝̑̽,͔ͦ͂ ͉͒̾ț̭e̗̗l͇ḻ͑ͩ ̫m̯e̳ͮ,͔̬̿ͥ ͬ̂m̥ẙ ̱͖l̮̺͒i̪͉t̊t̟̤l̲͖ͪ͗e͇̩ͯͯ ͔̭̇Ìͫm͇͖̋m͚̮or̤t͍̒̄a̤̐l, ̭̍ho̫̱w̱͌ ͕̪͛ͤm̦̼̓uc̀͑ĥ̜̳ ̼ͮd̰̱o̼e̺͂ͯś̝ͥ ̫t͍̰͒ͪh̘ͥͩis̓ ͑̐m͕o͔ͥ͐r̳ͭͭẗ̻a͖͕l̏ ͚m͎̞ẽả͈̈n̳̖͒ ͓͇t̝͓͐̓ȏ̦͉ͥ ̝̘̾ͨy̪̎͒oͨű̘͚̅?”

“For Ashley,” Twilight said, placing a hand over her heart. “I’d give up my life to ensure he’s safe.”

Pharynx chuckled. He rose back up, his chuckle rising as well into a full-blown laugh. The others tensed and shivered at his ominous amusement.

“I̥ͭ ͥlͤḭ͕̽k̮̜e̪̪ ͕̝y̼͎ͦo͊̚u̪̩, ̆L͍͕it̼̃͗t̟l̬̫̆ẻ̘ ͓̻͑I̲̰m̠m̂̎oͯr͕̠̎ṯ͖̽ͥa̮l!” the demon declared through his laughter.

Twilight merely jutted her chin as the demon collected himself.

“A͖ͩͣl͖̲r͔i̿̏g͙ͫh͓̺ͫtͯ,” Pharynx said once he had calmed down. “Le͙ͫt̐’s̝ s͇eͤt̻̄tle t̮h̜is ̋in̲̔ ̼rě̙v̜̾e͕rs̮ͬe;ͫ ̩̃i̦n̪ͮ ĕ͓x̖͆cͅh̙͆aͦn̉g̰e f͂o̳r̙ ̙͌y͔ou̖r͊ ̳lͤi͕ͦt̻t̾le͉̋ ͔b͍ö̦y t͋oͬy͖ le͕àv̠̾ing̅ ̈́w̞̎ith ̰lͭitt͙͒lͭe tͦǒ ͇ͪno̳ ͛h̫̍a̜r͇̆m̚,̝ͫ ͉I̞ ̄w͍͊ant̲ ̾y͈ͣȏ͔u̙ ͣto ͕̌b̤r͓e͇a͕̎ǩ̘ ͆t̋hǐs͕͒ ̯͊cịͣrĉlͮeͅ ̯͌a̟ͨnd͒ l̺e̯ͪt͙ͩ ̝m̳̑ė̺ ̣̐o̲u͔t̞.”

“What!?” Applejack shouted, pulling Twilight back. “Twilight, no! Think of the last demons we met! Ya can’t!”

Before Twilight could say a word, the barrier around the demon broke, and all eyes turned to Pinkie, who stood in front of the demon with a bright smile and her hand outstretched.

“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie,” Pinkie beamed before being tackled by Fluttershy.

“What have you done?!” Fluttershy squeaked out.

However, Pharynx didn’t attack. Instead, he looked around. His nose scrunched up, before he covered it with a hand. “Ȉ̐t̚ ͭ̎s̫̓t̪̽ͯin̖͎k̩͓̉̉s̬͇͊ ̭i͚n̝̰ ͫ̅h̼͚̾̆e̲ͭr͈̹ͩ̉eͫ.”

“Hey!” Pinkie protested, knocking Fluttershy off her. “I’ll have you know that my party room is always clean and smells like cupcakes and candy!”

“Pinkie, Sh!” Fluttershy begged, trying to pull her away from the demon.

“N͐̓o̳t̲͙̑ͦ ͍̪ṱ̰h͉ͦ̚e̹͍ ̽ṟ̚o͙̳͆͆ōͣm̜,” Pharynx said, looking at Twilight’s book. “Y̮͚͐͆o͍ͫu̞r̘̲ ͔͙ͤͩw̥̱oͭ̐r͈̟̂l̅d̥͋ ̣͐̈́i̤̗̓s̬̞̃͆ ͔̿̿fī͖l͎l̳̂̈́e͑̉dͯ ̦̩ͭͥwͯi͙th͉̃ ̝͋ͨͅe͍ͩv̜i͌ḻ!” He snatched the book up.

“No, wait!” Twilight called out.

But the Demon was already reading.

“K̫ã͇͉n͑̅d͔á͉̣͌ ̂H̘̮a̫z̫ͦỏ̘͊n̦ͅ S̳̑e͕ͩc̹̚t̫o̮͑r̀ͯiṅ̦ͩo̭͊ ̤̥͊̑B͇̽̌aͧn̈g͂e̻m̻̒ͯ ̊̒Hͣå̲͛n͆g̅ͥẽ͓m̭̬͗̓ ̺̜W̥ͮͤa̫̯̋̔n̞͐ͨg̭ͪ,” Pharynx chanted as a small portal opened next to him.

Applejack gasped as she saw thousands and thousands of green, spiritual orbs enter the portal. Once the demonic spirits disappeared with the portal, the Demon inhaled deeply through his nostrils.

“Ṃục̭͔ͪḫ ͕͙ͦ͆be̻̅t̞̹̊t̮̊̿è̞ͪr̮̪,” Pharynx closed the book and handed it back to Twilight. He then fixed Applejack with an irritated glare. “A̟ṋ̽ͬd̾ I͓̮ͪ̏’mͪ ̤ȃ ͫde͈͆̉m̯o̝n͆ͦ ̇oͯͨf ͇Ca͇t̞̬͂̀acͅl͙y̅̏s͚̮mi͖̣c̤ ͣ̚f̣͚ucḵ̱ͤ̆iͅn̉ͤg ̘̣ͩ͛D̳̎͐ẹsͣͬo͍͆̚l̪ͮͤa͌̀t̰̭̉i͉̰oͭ̚n̩.̠͓ ̙͉̔͋Iͧf̬ ̭̒͋I̹̪ ̆w̤̎̉ä́͆n̹ͮ̊t͆͐e̠͊d͕̱ͧͦ ̺̹̓ͪt͕̲ͦ̉o̝ ̤̜͒̒cö̬̹͂n͔̦qu͊͑e̠͉r̮̜̈ ͔̣̑̊th͉̮i͎͉s̘ͣ ̘̮w͕͌o̘̿̒r̋l͓̥d̘͖,̯͆ ̹̫͒͊I̝ ̽ͦw͙ͦo̝̥u̐̔l̿̄dͦͭn̺̼ͩ’͇̌t̖̺ ̣u̼͂̚sê͑ ͗so͍̓m̥̹̔̾e͉̝ ̖̘s̝ͩ̽tuͧpi͉̤͌̇d͓͔ͤ ̗b͑̊oỏk̦̲ͣͣ.” Pharynx turned his irritated gaze to the Princess. “Â͗ ͓͔͂b̙oo̮̒́k͗ ̏t͖̞͌h͎̑̿aͩ̾t ̰ͥ̑dͨ̅ö̔es̱ no̰̤ͤ̈t͉ ̫͇b̻e͇̘lo̙̣n̊͌ͅg ĭ̹n̞̩ͭͭ ẗh̎̅i̾ś̼͇ ̥͇͒ŵ͊o͈ͥͤṟ̀̐lͫd̞͚̄, ̳̓Iͥ̿ ͆m͓ͬi̅g͐ḫͧ̆ṫ ͦa̘d͔͇̿̅d͙͂.”

“I know,” Twilight shrank back as she gripped the Necronomicon. “Now, what will it take to get Ashley out of that hospital.”

“Th̗ͭa̤t̻ͫͯ ̭̄p̻ͯ̆ri̹ͨͅc͖̼ẹ̞̆̆ ͈͇w͙̅ͪḯ̞̯̇l̑͂lͩ ͍ḇ̩̽è͈̠͒ ͪͤq̪ui͐ͦt͔ͤ̋e ͔̒̀s̬̿ͫi̬͈m̹̙p̱̉l̖̤͋̋e̼̼͑͆,” Pharynx settled in the closest chair. “I̭ ̯w͙̮ͩaͪn̪̞ͦ̃t̩͙ ͎̥ͯyͤo̯ũṟ̻̐ ͉͓ͤi̝͓m͈ͯm̻ͪͪọ̚r͆̚t̟̫̑a̜ͅl̓ ̞͚s̳o̗̹uͯ͑l.”

Not a sound came from anyone in the room. The weight of the demon's words caused everyone to remain frozen in utter shock.

“My…Soul?” Twilight squeaked out. “Wouldn't that… kill me?”

“K̼ͯï̳̦l̬̅̊ͅl ̼y͗̈́õͫuͮͬ?” Pharynx scoffed. “Ȍ̱h̺̎,̖̠ ̅n̖̫̄ͯő̥͈ͫ. ̠̯T̞͍u̩̓̒rń͕̏ y̹̆o̞u͚͋ ̀ͦi̠ñͅtͥo̲ ̭a̬͙̿̋n̟̫ ̙̈́ͭE͌ͧm̦̖p͈ͭ̇t͒y̅ͩ ̠̘sͤh̼e̓͌lͯlͧ?̯̠ͬ O̝̪̒ͧh̳̋ͅ A̓ͦb̆͊s̎ol̗̦uͣt̉el̞͇ͦy̿͐.”

“That’s still killing her!” Rainbow asked, pulling her friend away from the demon.

“I̜f͕̖ ̞̿̐s̝̿͂h̳ͬͨe̱ͮ ͧwe̱̟̊r͕̼ẽ̜ͅ ͈̯ͮ̍ḁ̭̈̊ ͌P̭̤ͯů͍̱ͯṙ͉ͩe͖̾̈b̲͍͑̓o͇ͪr̜̓ͮṅ̺,͖̭ͤ ̍m̮̓a̜͐ͅy̘ͬͨb̲̀ͯe̓̿.”

Twilight tilted her head in confusion. “A… what?”

“T̮h͉̊e̺re̝ ̮̪͛ͯa̟̐r̻ͮëͭ o̿n̚ly͓͌͂ ťw̠o͔͇̾̃ ͚ͧ͊t̙y̒p̼e̤ͨ̄s̮̓ ͈ͩo͍f̼̣̍ ̜ͅḯ̤ͅm̤̍̚m̖̈́o̘͂̍r͙̓ta̱͚ͭl͇ͮ͌ͅs͖ͅ,” Pharynx explained as he got up from his chair. “Pͅu̘r͍ͣeb͙or̫̃n̞ imm͖o̗r̚tal̙s͌ li̬kͅe̩ ̍m̳̄y̳̎s̯̋êl͗ḟ,̽ ̪wh͑o̮ ͬare̮ bͪoͥrn ͕i̔m͖m͈or̻ͧt̜a͔ͩl͆sͭ…̲” The Demon walked up to the princess and pointed at her. “A̜̓ndͤ ̃th̖e̺͐n̗̋ ͔̿t̲h͂ḙ̔r͌e̒ ͍ͤȁ̬r̖ͨe ͬD̦̂e̼m̑ͅi-̎I̺ͭm͇mo͚r͂t̎aľs.̉ ̠͊Tḥeͮy ͗s̈top̈ a̘g̟̓in̲͂g ̄tͩḧ̘e ͣm̹͑om̥͐e͗n̥ť t̤̃h̤e͇y ̋a̙r͎̃ḙ͋ tu̩r̫̐ne̥d Imm̗or̼͛tal̯ͯ.” the demon leaned closer towards the princess, his sharp teeth showing in his smile. “An̝̅d̝̀ ̯̋Dë́m̳i͖̅-̝I̚m̖ͭm̦o͈r͈t͈a͖l̐s ̘ͦh̅a̓v͇ẹ̐ ̎t̙woͪ ̐s̓oͤùl̯s͓͐,̮̾ o͇n̒è ̺moͫr̂tͫal an̐d̋ ̙o͓̅ne ͭi͌m̱mo̮̊r̼̐tͨa̘l̖̽.”

Twilight pondered it. “So… if I gave you my immortal soul… I’d still have my mortal soul.”

Pharynx then grinned. “̘̰̣͐͑̈́Dͤö̖́ ̻̤̯w̾ͧe̥̣̺ ̂ͅs̥t͎̓i̘̘ḻl͍̳̲ͣ̏ ̱́́̉h͇a̩̦v̿̔͊e̼ ͤa̲̤͔̅ͫ̃ ̭ͩd̞̥̥̆ͣe̹̦̲̐̃̔a͒͂l͗̂̾?”

Fluttershy hesitantly stepped forward. “And… if she gives you her immortal soul… w-what will you do with it?”

“E͚a͍ͭt̞̮͕͊͌ i̻̦̎ͬ̅t͔͍͑. ͪJ̃ủs̝̏ͬ̚t͇̬̩ͫ ͖̭͓l͈i͈͋k͚̪̾ͮͮe̩̰ ͐̏h̤o̖ͣ̂w̮̥̯ ̲͂͐ͯI͓ ̉ā̞tͯ̅̽e̙ ̖̔̏t͙̱̟̑͊̽h͓̜̙͒̓̈́ě̙͓͖ ̝͉̠ͥ̒͛ṡ̟͊ͩo̪̥̐͋ŭ͓l̳̠ͥ͆ͫ ̩̣̱ͨő͚̋ͯḟ̦͕ ̮th̬̗ê͙̺͖ͤͣ ̬̱̫̏ḯm̝mͥo̙͕ṛ̗̞̋̎́t̳̼aͤĺ̥̤͇ ͉̈́G̙͊r̦̱o͓̺̊g̼̫a͈̟ͩ̽͐r͗.” Pharynx closed his eyes as he relived the memory. “A͕h̦ͯ, ̦̆t͗he̩̾ ̠́f̦́l̲͂ǎvͫor̺ w̠̆a̔s̾ ̠e̐x̟q͈ui̝s͎͑iteͬ.́ ̗Iͥ’̣̌d͎ ͓̓lͬove̬̍ ̿t̳o̔ ex̭̉p̯e͈̍r̙ͮịenc̎e ͅt͙ĥạt ͑t̹a̯s̝tͅe͕ͮ aͥg͍ại͖ͪn.”

Twilight took in a deep breath, before walking past her friends. “As long as you keep up your end, then we have a deal,” the immortal princess held her hand up to the smiling demon.

Pharynx grinned widely as he took the princess’s hand. “B̉y ͕â͎cco̓r̻dͦa̫͋ǹcͯͅe ͕̾w̱͋i̗̍t̆ḥ ͤẗ͍hͭeͬ ̰̔An̥ͫci͑ẽ͙nͦt͕ ͤLͮȧ̗ws̏ ͎t͉h̯aͨtͮ ̫g̦̓o̪̒v͍eͦr̖n ̗̚t͌h͋ë͓ ̼̄u͇̎ṋ̚i̚v̀e̘ͫȑ̺s̺e̍, ͪẗ̼́h̠ẻ͕ ͔D̖ͤea̟̚l̰ ̹isͫ ̦S̿e͋aͩlͭed͔.”

A bright glow blinded the inhabitants of Pinkie’s party room. When the light faded, everyone froze at the sight of Twilight’s body on the ground. Pharynx stood above the princess with a golden soul that showed Twilight’s true alicorn form; the Demon began to drool as he marveled at the soul.

“Š̞͖ͨͅo͉ ̦̃pͤͫͤu̖r͕ͦ̓̚e͍͚…̯͙̇” he whispered. “Y̮ͤ͌̓oͩͨ͐u’̎̂ͤv̤̩̭̍e̻ ̼̥ͨn͖̻̳͗̒e͊v̘̼̖ͬ̉̏e̮͖ͤ͛ͮr̥̲̱ͩ̓ ̗͙̏̊ͭc̞ͯ̃om͎̺̱̓m̊ĩ̪t͎͐͗̍t̬̮̜e̯̮d̮̺̎ ̖̱a͍̫ ͔̓ͩ͊ŝͣ̇ī̭̱̘n̬g͖̃l͎̑̎e̳ͣ ̌͑s͕̜̣ͩi͇͙͗̿ͅn̜̟͗̔̎ ̮ͦ̓ͅi̤̫͌̒͋n̒̒͊ ̭͍y͚ͅo̘ù͕̱ͫ͋r ̯̬̗́l̠͓̈̈́ͫḯ̦ͮ̆f̤e̻̩ͫͮ͑” the Demon smelled the aroma the soul gave off. “Ȃ͛n̝͑d̳̍ ̦̿ͬt͖̑́h̺͍̓e͓ͅ ̉s͂ce͉͍n̺̍tͭ ̹͂o͉̭̒ͥf̈́͗ ̜ͥ̈́Ḛ̦̂v̠̼̉i̫̿l̄ ̻̰m̝̞a̫̼͌k͇͎̽́e͉̋͗s̀ ͍̰ͮ͌m̘ͯe̥̰̊̀ ̘̤̑ͩw̮ͯͅaͯṋ͋t ͨt̔͐hisͧ ̬͙s͎͔̐͋oͥu͚l̹̖̒̓ ̮ëv̜ͪ̓e̺͒n̬͚̽ͯ ̪̣m͙̺ͮ̓oͥ͆r̮͋ẹ͔.”

Pharynx’s breathing got heavier as his drool grew. Then, to everyone’s horror, the demon devoured the soul with no mercy nor remorse. Once finished, the Demon let out a satisfied sigh.

“T͔̲͚ḧ̬́ͅe͈̱̓͋ ̺̫̬fͭl̦͙̎̇a̅v̦̒̐oͫ͑ͯr̪…͖” Pharynx shuddered in pure ecstasy. “S̳̜͆̚o͚̗̅̊̌,̙͎̹̓͛̇ ͭ̃ͪg̯͖̘͂r̓̎å͚͌n̓̇d̜̜,̠͖̬͆ͫ ̹̟̩ͬs͚ͤ͌̂o͓͎͚ͭ̏ ̝ͬͮ̿w̱͉̥ͧ̉ȯ̥̲͈n̏ͪd͒͒ĕṝ̃f̩ͬ̀̀ul!̗̪ ̜͔̑O̪ͧ͊f̰͖ͦ̏ͅ ̺m̦͎ͬ͐͆y̦ ͈̮s̠̫̓t̼͎̎͊ā̔̚r̍s̞͍̙͑̋,͖͚͇ͣ̏͂ ̞̲̯̾͌i̩t͕̣̓’͔́s̫ ̲̮ͬ͐̋bḛͥ̂ẽ̪͎̤̓n̞̻̽́̒ ̠͍̳ͫs̭͎̱̈́̉o̜̦̊̚ ̥̻l͒̓̆o͕͇ͥng̣͍͈ ͯ͐š͊͂i͆n͓̩̺̽̑̊cͦe ̖̇I̬̜̞ͨ̅͐’͊̄v͚̩͉͐eͫ ̺̜̫̍̅f̫͐e̞̐̾́a̹ͥs̲ͦṱ̩ͣ̓̀ě̀ͦd͉ͯ̆ ̗͚̎̇ͅo̞̪ǹ̲̙ šu͓̠ͥͥ̚c̊h̹͈̠̃͊ͪ ̠̰̰̒̐́a̬̗̯ͤ̒ ̹͉͇d̤͛e͎̲l͕̲̪͗ḭͬ̋͊c͕̺à̭̹̹ͨc̩ͨͯ̋y!” the demon laughed in glee. “M̙̰͔̎a͍k̙es̓ͦ ͙ͤ̃͋m̳ͬ̉e̼̍ͣ ̤͓fͯ̏e̠̐̆ͅé̼͗͊l̗ ̹ͬ̈l̦ͅi̅k̼̞̻ȇͥ ̖̅̈a ͇͎͓̿new̪̹̼ḅ̈̏͐o̩̹r̲ň̲͕ ̩̭͙D́̈e̯̒ͅmo̩̘̬ͯn̺͔̣ ̜̂̑͛A̦g̘̖͒̃͗ả͛iͣn̬!”

“And…” Twilight struggled to get to her feet. “You’ll keep your end of the deal?”

Pharynx grinned down at her… and bowed.

“M̥ͅy͈͉̠ͣ̾ ̗͐͐̉w̜͕o̾̒ͪr͖d̻͍̱̃͗ ̖b̠̬i̦̖̼n̪͇ͤ̇́d̹ͥs͇̞̫ ̻͇̂ͬm͆ͧè̹.” Pharynx said, before grimacing in what appeared to be concern. He looked to the others. “Y͈ou ͈s͗h̍o̲̍ụl̃d ̈tak̹e̦ ͆h́e̠̋r̗ t̰̓õ ̯ͣb̞e̥d͓̏;̫̔ los͍̔i̯̽n͖g ̖o͕̓n͌e'ͅs͚̈ ͙soú͉l̦ͩ ̀i͖s̳ ͗vͪe̙ry̭̌ ̺ḓra̮ͫi̮n͕ͬi̖n̞͒g.”

Rainbow nodded, walking up and helping support the princess to her feet. “C’mon, Twi,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Resͩtͥ,̀ ̤͗l̈́iͪtͧt̬͗leͭ ̰m͔o̹rͬt̯̋ḁl̪š. ͧT͂om͕͐ō̭r̹rͫo͑w ̑w̙e̼ ̚r͙escu̱ͥe ̋ýō̘u͕͋r̝ͧ ̳̄fr͐i̇end͙.”

Pharynx watched the humans leave one by one before he laid his eyes on the pink-haired female; the last to leave. The demon narrowed his eyes before unsheathing his talons. Pharynx rushed the woman with the intent to kill.

The world around the two turned grey as time stood still. “You’re no fun, Pharynx,” Pinkie complained, turning in the frozen world to face him.

Pharynx stopped when he saw the female's eyes were red and black. “Yͅo͙u ͔wͧe̞re̔ ̼ͯa͙ ͦdḙ̏m̲o̓ͅn̳ͣ all͇ alon̠ͧg̞ͫ?”

“’She’ wasn’t.” A pink spirit left Pinkie’s body, causing her to turn grey and freeze with the rest of the world.

A red-skinned demon stood before Pharynx; unlike the Current Demon King, this one had a pair of wings on its back. Adorning the demon’s body was a three-piece black and red pinstripe suit, a pair of black pants, and black dress shoes. The Demon had cherry red hair; clipped to his ears were earrings that looked like mini party poppers.

“A̤ͫs̏̉m͓̫̿̃ỏ̦̺dͮe̪̣͗̆̇u̠͍̽̄̚ṣ̓,” Pharynx grumbled with ire in his voice. “W̠̗ͪ̍ͅh̻a̮͖͐͋tͭ ͇̂ͩâ̏r̬e͖͚̽ ̲̘̽̍̅y̥̫ͣͤͬo̦̪͖uͥͬͧ ͉̫͇̾͗d̮̙͂̿̂o̞͕̒i̳̣̋nͦg̈́̊ ̹̮ͬ̋ͪh̬̐̉e̘ͧr̙̱̊̚e̞͖̊ͬ?”

“What else does a Demon of Mischief do in the mortal realm?” Asmodeus asked. “I’m causing playful mischief.” the demon then let out a cough as he turned back to Pinkie. “I made a deal with this woman, and to ensure she keeps her word, I’m inhabiting her body.”

“Y̭̠̏o͈ủ’̄́v̜̙͋e͖̲ ͩ͗n̩̲ĕ̎v̑ẹͩr͖ͅ ̼̟be̬ͩ̅e͆n̯̊͆ ̞̤i͖̲ͦͩṉ̣̍t͉͖ͣͤe̯͋r̗ͪ̈ĕ̄s͉̄ṫ̇ĕ̑d̗͎̎ ̻͉ͨ͆ȉ̟͛n̟͋̾ ͨd͕̣ͧ̈́ẽa̳͖l͙̳̋̏sͧ ̱̙i͙n̠̒ͦ ̟tͫ̓h̖͛̐e͈͚͛ pa̜͓̎͂s̳̣ͤ̃ẗ̖̮.” Pharynx commented with a raised eyebrow. He crossed over to Pinkie and touched the top of her head. “W̻h͇a̲̲̽ͭtͧ̐ ̽͛m̲͌̚a͙͐̂k͊ĕ̍s̪̻ͧ͒ ̼̎t̲̊h͔̩̄i̔s̼̥ mͥ̿o̳ͦͅr̦ͮt̠a̰͆l ̯̏̒só̖ ͫsp̼ͧe̼ĉ̪̠ͥiͨaͯ͗l͇?”

Asmodeus pondered the question, brushing his chin with his finger. “I guess… I simply took pity on her”

“P͕̥͈̣ͧi̲̜͉̩̓̌̎t́̃̍ͩ̈́̇y̯̦̱̗̝̿̿̐̅ͅ?”

“She’s a brave soul,” Asmodeus grinned as he fixed the messed-up hair on Pinkie’s head. “She would take anything, either good or bad, and just flash that charming smile of hers.”

“W̭͓̪̍h̬͎̫̠̓̇͊a͖̅͛t͕̱̱̫ͮͧ̀̽ ̹̘dő̖͕̞ͦ ̼͕͐ͧỹ͖̣̜̆ͨͣo̤͖̲ͦu̥̙̭̇̓̅ ͚̮̰͓̂ͭ̊̈m̮͚̭͓̓e͓̞̙͈ͭa͆ṇ̳̹͈̍ͫͭ̚?”

“In order to explain that, I’d need to explain how she came to call upon me,” Asmodeus said with a warm smile. He sat back and began to retell the tale:

“Pinkamena Diane Pie: Age 7. The second oldest daughter of a family that found and sold rare and priceless gemstones and minerals. Despite finding no joy in her family's career, she always smiled. Even when things were terrible for her, Pinkamena had a different way of looking at the world, earning the ire of school bullies. Every day she was tormented and teased for her individuality. But no matter what they did to her, she never lost that smile.

One day the bullies were getting bored of seeing her constant smile. So, when school let out, they started to bully her sister, Marble. This infuriated the little girl to no end. In response, the little mortal shoved one of her bullies. Her older sister's instincts kicked in as she shouted for Marble to run and find Maud. With her sister gone, Pinkie pushed the other two to the ground before running in the opposite direction.

She ran as far as her little body could carry her. However, the boys eventually caught up with her in front of Canterlot High. Two of them grabbed hold as the third started to punch her in the stomach. The boy grinned as he reared his fist; unfortunately, a grey hand wrapped around his wrist.

“Get your hands off my sister,” growled Pinkamena’s sister - Maudileena(Maud) Daisy Pie.

Fear gripped the boys as they saw the scowl on the older woman’s face; without hesitation, the bully's friends abandoned him. Both fled by throwing Pinkamena to the ground; Pinkie fell backward before tripping on the curb. The child stumbled onto the road and right in the path of an oncoming car; Pinkamena didn’t even have time to register what happened when she soared through the air. Her sister immediately rushed to Pinkamena’s side, miraculously, the small child was alive, but she was fading fast.

Her sister called nine eleven, and during that time, she weakly asked her for help. When her weak pleas fell on deaf ears, she begged her precious God to save her. But by the time she was loaded into the ambulance, she was moments away from dying. Then, I heard her pleas, begging anyone who could listen to her.

“Pl..please…anyone…..I….I…Don’t..Want..To..Die…” Pinkamena begged as her heart stopped

Time around the world came to a stop, and Pinkamena couldn’t help but blink and look around the best she could.

“Begging like that could lead to getting help from unsavory characters,” I said, stepping in the child's line of sight.

“Please…Help…”

“Yes, yes, I know,” I said before flashing a smile. “However, you don’t seem exciting enough to make a deal with,” I grinned before sitting next to Maud. “If I’m making a deal, then the person must dazzle me.”

“I… Don’t…”

“Want to die, yes, so you’ve said,” I waved her off. “But as I said, I don’t make deals with the common folk.” I leaned back and kicked my feet onto her gurney. “So why don’t we talk for a bit? What do you like?”

“I, uh… I…”

I frowned. “If you say you don't want to die again, I’ll leave.”

That got a reaction. What little life was left in her sparked, like fireworks. “I like parties!” she got out.

“Parties, huh?” I thought with amusement. “I suppose that’ll work.”

“I make the best parties!” she insisted, her voice weak, but fueled by desperation. “My parties dazzle and razzle. They glitz and glam! I can show you!” She coughed, her second wind fading fast. “Please… let me show you…!”

I rose to my feet and leaned forward to look the child in the eye. “What will you give me to save your life? To show me these… razzling dazzling parties?”

“Anything.”

This surprised me, to say the least. Nobody has ever offered anything to a demon before.

“That’s not very bright, you know,” I told the child. “I could easily ask for your soul and turn you into an empty shell. Do you still want to proceed?

Pinkamena weakly nodded her head. “I do.”

I hummed, scratching at the back of my head. “You’re a peculiar one, to say the least,” I admitted, pondering her offer. “Okay, so in exchange for giving you a second chance at life, you must give me your ‘Everything.’”

The price confused Pinkamena. “My... Everything?”

“Your Everything,” I smiled at the child. “Your heart, your mind, and your body. Everything about you will belong to me,” I lifted a hand. “But don’t worry, I won’t take away your free will. As long as you willingly obey my every command.” I grinned as I sat down. “If I tell you to change jobs, you change. If I tell you to murder, you slaughter. And If I tell you to kill yourself, then you kill yourself.”

She swallowed.

“But most importantly, if I tell you to change friends, you drop the old friends like hot plates.”

My smile faded as tears formed in her eyes.

“I don’t… have any friends,” Pinkamena admitted with tears forming in her eyes.

I grimaced, before grinning again. “Let’s change that,” I offered, giving her a warmer smile. “My name is Asmodeus; Demon of Mischief and Trickery.” I offered my hand to the mortal. “Would you care to be friends, little miss?”

She weakly lifted her arm, her smile coming back. “I’m Pinkamena Diane Pie… and I would love to be friends.”

“Pinkamena Diane Pie? Hmm… well, I’ll call you Pinkie Pie.” He took the mortal’s hand. Her fingers wrapped around mine. “By accordance with the Ancient Laws that govern the universe, the Deal is Sealed.”

I turned into a pure spirit and entered her body. “Oh… I forgot to mention that if you ever tell another mortal about me and what I did for you, the deal is off. Okay?”

As life returned to her, Pinkie’s smile brightened. “Okey Dokey Loki.”

“And we’ve been bound since,” Asmodeus finished with a smile.

“S͖̱ͯͨo͐,͕͓̇ ̻̺̀y̙̰̆oͣͧu͔ ͚̭mo͍ͬ͑l͕͒d̹̩ͦe̖̗̿ͯd̯̜ ̙ͫḧ̺́̏e͑rͮ̓ ̼iñ̳t̮̜̚ö̦̫́ ͇͙ͯt̬̳̄͗h̪ͭe̝̦ ̝̜̉͑p̰͎e͚̗̽r͓̪̊fec̤̫ṯ ̅v͗eͭsͫ͗s̩̦ėl͋̈́ of͓ ̒M͖ĭ̟͓ͩs͂cͭ̆hî̼̤ef̻̰ͤ̊?” Pharynx asked.

“At first,” Asmodeus said calmly. “But now I just want her to be happy with her friends.”

Pharynx got a mischievous look. “As̯ͪmo̖d̞̒ê͓͕̆u̞̮̿̽s̙…͗ ̘Dŏ̱̙̈́ ͙̈́y̙o̟ͤ̋ủͩ p̊e͈̿r͋h̬̾a͈̽͊p͓͒s ͅh̫͐̉a̤r̼̯̈́͊b͉͐o̜̮ŕ f̞̙ͣ̎é̓èli̮͎̽ͨn̻g͕ ͇ͤt̬͍ͨ͌o̘w̗̽a͉ͩ͗r̻ds ̪t̪͊̐h͙ͅi̼ͥ̄š͑ ̺͐m͛̑o̐r̰̩͑t̿ͩḁͪͬl̩̯ͬͫ?”

“Hmm…” Asmodeus thought for a moment. “Well, I only made a deal with her so I wouldn’t need to return to the Demon realm. But now I can’t help but look at that beautiful smile of hers” Asmodeus paused for a second, before humming in intrigue. “Indeed, I suppose I do harbor feelings for her. I believe the mortals call this ‘love.’”

Pharynx laughed. “Y̫̗͋̾oͅu͍̒’r̥̯͂̿e͚͂ ǎ̤ ̮̃f̫̺o͕̥ͫͮol̰̍,” Pharynx dismissed as he walked past the demon. “Y͎̦̽̚o͋ȕ̞’̙͒̃d̞̗ ̳͂ͩb̘̪e ̜̾͛f͖o͙͇ͬr̞͉c̭̫̈́e̓́d̽ ̳ͩt͉̖ͯͯo̬͓̿͑ ̘̠͆̋w̎̂aͨͯt͈̬́c̈h̤̔ ͔̅ͫhͤͅe͔r̦̿͋ ͔̓g͎̏r̹̝͊ọ̦͊̏w̳ ̖̌͗o͉ͅl̺̑ḏ͍̈ ǎ̘ṅ̥͉dͯ̇ ͉̼̃ͤd̊͒iͮͬe ̋͌i̠̍ͮn̦̹͋ ͉͛ͨy͕̌o̯u̫̐͗r̎̾ ̙̉a͚̐̔ṙͬḿͩs͐.”

“Maybe, but I’m okay with that,” Asmodeus replied with a smile. “She’s made a deal with a demon, so she’ll end up in the same place as me.” the Demon turned into a spirit orb and slowly returned to Pinkie’s body. “Then the both of us can cause untold mischief until the end of days.”

Pharynx still rolled his eyes. “F̬͐̉ͭo̅͊o̤͙ͨͮl͕̬̼̖̫̀…̖͓͖” he muttered as the time began to flow normally again.

Here it is people. the 21st chapter of My Name is Ash. Okay so I've already started on the next chapter but I'm going to put it on the back burner so I can try to work on Kung-Fu Equestria 3

Please like and leave a comment down below and tell me what you think of this chapter. I enjoy all forms of feedback