Over the next couple of months, things were going relatively quiet in Kalfu’s life. The most excitement he ever got was a few customers here and there spending time with his three eager students or some one-on-one time with Scootaloo. It seemed that the more time they spent with one another, the closer and closer their bond grew. At this point, Kalfu was starting to consider her as if she were his flesh and blood.

Today was no different for him. He woke up and did his usual morning routine before making his way out and about towards town. And just on schedule, Scootaloo comes zooming up next to him on her scooter with a big smile on her face, happy to see her favorite person in the whole world. Even more so than Rainbow Dash at this point which was saying something. As they moved along the road, Kalfu just listened and smiled at Scootaloo as she went on about her day and her recent adventures with her friends. All too happy to just be there for the little filly.

Out of all things in his life, he never thought that he would form such a bond. Even the idea of him having his own child never crossed his mind. But here he was, spending time with a filly who he’d drop anything for if she needed him. Life sure does take unexpected turns indeed. Not that he was complaining. “Oh, I forgot to tell you! The girls and I have been invited to be the flower fillies at a big royal wedding that is coming up soon! Apparently, the royal guard captain and some princess are getting married in a couple of days. Twilight and her friends have all been invited as well.”.

Kalfu nodded as he continued to listen before responding “A wedding you say? Always a fine thing to celebrate. Perhaps I will pop by just to see you in action, if anything.” he said as he gently ruffled her mane. She looked up at him with one eye open with a smile when he did that. She loved it when he would pet her like that. And apparently, he gave the best hugs in the world according to her.

As they continued to talk and make their way along, Kalfu couldn't help but feel like he had eyes on him from quite a distance away. He stops mid-float before swiftly whirling around as he spots a bit of movement from behind one of the large trees on the side of the road before it disappears entirely behind it. Scootaloo brought her scooter to a halt before turning to see what Kalfu was looking at “Kal…everything alright?” she asked with a hint of concern in her voice.

Internally, Kalfu was at a loss for what he was seeing, in his eyes, he saw a very, very large soul aura radiating from behind the tree. It was unsettling with just how much power was coming from the thing. It was shining like a white giant from space. “Hey, Scoots. Go ahead and meet up with the others for the lesson. I will catch up with you all when I check this out.” he said as he offered her a reassuring smile, making it seem like everything was okay on the outside. “Review pages two-hundred twenty-five through two-hundred twenty-nine until I get there, okay?”.

Scootalo could feel that something was bothering Kalfu despite his smile. She has gotten quite good at reading him with how much personal time they have been spending together. And the little filly worried for him when he got like this. But in experience, she knew not to question him when he got like this “O-Okay…don’t take too long, you hear?” she said as she ran up to his side, hugging him tightly before riding off in the other direction.

Kalfu waited till Scootaloo was out of sight and out of range before turning to face the tree, that large soul still radiating heavily behind it before he began to speak “You know, you should learn how to suppress your soul’s output. With eyes like mine, you won’t have a snowball’s chance in hell to hide from someone like me.”. No response, no movement. But the souls were still very much behind the tree and hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Kalfu and whoever was behind the tree stood in place for what felt like an eternity before Kalfu finally started to charge forward, the dirt kicking up behind him as he suddenly phased through the tree and made contact with whoever it was hiding behind it, disengaging his soul vision so he could see who it was as he pushes them into a dark portal he had opened up behind them, the figure letting out a surprised yelp as they both disappear into the shadowy doorway.

As they tumble and grapple in the dimly lit void, Kalfu closes the portal behind him before pushing off the figure and snapping his fingers as green chains appear from the darkness and wrap around the figure’s wrists and ankles before holding them up in an ‘X’ bind. The figure shakes their head to bring themselves out of the sudden daze before they start to struggle and writhe in their new binds” W-What the?! Why can’t I break from these?!” she cried out as she struggled more.

Kalfu reached his hand forward before removing the hood from the mare’s head long and lush auburn hair fell from it and a pair of deep but piercing purple eyes gazed upon him with shock and a bit of anger as well. “Well, I could tell you why you can’t use your power here. But that wouldn’t be very smart of me now would it, madam?” he responded as he started to circle her. It was clear he knew who this stranger was, especially after seeing the power she radiated.

“So, here you are at last. Mother Mare herself, Faust.” he said as he now floated in front of her with his behind his back “The goddess of this world, this universe. One who doesn’t care for the souls of her subjects it would seem.” he stated as a matter of factly. His words only made her struggle more against her bindings before she finally up and let herself hang there in defeat.

Kalfu leaned down slightly before bringing a hand to rest under her chin before lifting her head to meet his gaze “You know, it's rather rude to just eavesdrop on people..er..ponies. You may be the goddess, but respect your creation’s privacy.”. Faust looked Kalfu up and down before she spoke once more “Can you at least tell me where you have brought me..?” she asked as she realized she was at his mercy in this place, as she could exert even a single ounce of eh power here it seemed.

“You are in a little place I like to call Limbo. It is a place between paradise and damnation for souls who are still able to better themselves. It a plain of existence of my own making, hence why you are powerless here.” he said before he snapped his fingers again and released her from her bindings. The goddess now floating about in the air. While she could move her limbs now, she couldn’t exactly move in any direction.

“So then. I am to assume you have been watching me for quite a while now. Your presence in the mortal realm is quite easy to pick up. But, you made the mistake of getting too close and your soul lit you up like a beacon. Let me guess..” he said as he drifted away from her before turning back around to face her “..you think I shouldn’t be in your world? That I am here to derail your plans for your creations.”.

Faust was silent for a moment before responding to him after a bit of thought to his words “I wouldn’t say that you don’t belong here. I have no issues with you living in my universe. Besides, with you being a fellow entity of godhood, it's not like I could just remove you by normal means. But I do have an issue with what you are spreading throughout the land. This…’ voodoo’ magic that you are teaching my creations. It is throwing the balance of magic out of stability. Those who weren’t meant to use magic now have access to the kind that you use. And that could spell trouble…”.

Kalfu sighed in slight irritation before placing a hand on his forehead, shaking his head slightly “You are just like the mainstream from my world. You assume that voodoo is strictly a form of dark magic that is full of nothing but evil and malice. Voodoo is a practiced faith that deals with both light and dark, just as all things do. It's the ones that decide to practice it and how they do so that is the issue. So, I am going to tell you this right now. Do not say that the faith is the problem. You know it's not.”.

She lifted a finger and opened her mouth to protest, but right away she lowered her hand back down. He was right. With the copy of his book that she acquired for herself when he sent them out that night, she did remember that the teachings within the tome were very gray. “Besides…these beings need something to believe in. While it is not required, the option is there. You may be this universe’s creator, but you are very uninvolved in it. Even God in my world impacts his creations’ lives from time to time.” he explained as he then lifted his book from his hip and held it up “I was sent here for a reason. And I intend to fulfill that role.”.

Faust continued to stare at him for a moment longer before speaking again “I will let you continue what you are doing for now. But, if you become too powerful, I will have no choice but to confront you about it. This is my universe. These are MY children. The only reason I haven’t decided to try to remove you from my world is because it seems you have quite a few ponies here who really, really care for you. I’d hate to see that little filly cry because of you.”.

Kalfu’s eyes turned that dark shade of purple as he slowly turned his head towards her. He knew exactly who she was talking about, and he wasn’t going to have any of it “The moment you even consider using any of my loved ones..ESPECIALLY her to try and hurt me, you can bet I will throw my neutrality out the window for them without hesitation. You see, I’d rather be loved than feared, Faust. But the moment you take that away from me..well…Y̶o̷u̷ ̵k̵n̸o̵w̷ ̷w̸h̵a̵t̷ ̸I̶ ̷a̵m̵ ̴g̸e̶t̶t̶i̴n̴g̸ ̸a̷t̶,̶ ̶y̶e̶s̴?̸” he asked as his voice became distorted and sinister, as he placed his cane under her chin.

“Now, nod if you understand.” he simply said. Faust gulped heavily before nodding, multiple times, sweat dripping down her face before he pulled away from her. “Lovely,Madam,” he said before his eyes changed back to their normal green. “Oh..and one more thing, Madam Faust. As you can well imagine, I have access to take souls at my leisure. However, It is rather uncouth of me to just pluck them from their hosts without forming some sort of deal with them for it. So..that also means your soul is not off limits..should I be so inclined.” he stated as he looked over his shoulder at her with the biggest toothy grin he could muster.

The thing is, he was absolutely bluffing…for the moment anyway. But she seemed to have fallen for it nonetheless. As she nodded again before Kalfu snapped his fingers, the void of Limbo fading around them and ending up back where they were beforehand “Good girl. Now if you will excuse me, the sweetest little girl and her friends are waiting for me to continue their lessons in voodoo. You take care now.” he said as he tipped his top hat to Faust before floating away while humming to himself.

As Kalfu faded out of view, Faust dropped to her knees while clutching her upper left arm as her heart nearly beat out of her chest in fear. It was clear that this new entity in her world held all the cards at the moment. But she was going to continue watching him closely but this time, at a much further distance “I am going to have to be very, very careful around him…” she said in a shaking tone of voice “While I have read his tome from cover to cover, his magic and abilities are still a mystery to me. And the fact he could take me somewhere were I am perfectly powerless..I don’t like it…” she said as she shuddered again.

Soon enough, Kalfu met up with his young students who ran up to him and greeted him fondly with a group hug. Kalfu smiled at his pupils before they sat down at their usual stone table in the park before beginning their lessons once more. The day went on and on until sunset was upon them. Kalfu saw his students off and made sure that Scootaloo got home safely himself before making his way back home.

Little did Kalfu know, that his neutrality was going to be tested here in a few days at the royal wedding that Scootaloo had told him about. As a familiar nemesis will be the one behind it all. Will he step in and take care of it himself? Or will he sit back and let the beings of this world handle their issues? So long as those who he cares for are safe, he won’t intervene.

He chooses to guide, not command. That is the role of The Voodoo King.

I figured I'd go ahead and throw in Faust's appearance at this time.

May the darkness grant you peace.