The bustling sound of the capital of Canterlot echoed around Kalfu as he strolled along the city sidewalks with his cane in hand, He tapped the sidewalk with it now and then as he hummed to himself while not really having a particular destination in mind. It was one day away from the royal wedding. And while everyone was up at the castle getting things ready, Kalfu was down in the city enjoying himself. The last time he was here, he was only here on business. So now was a good time to take in the sights.

One thing he noticed as he walked along was the condition of many souls that brushed past him. Some were whole, pristine, and beautiful while others were tattered and worn, missing bits and pieces. To make it more ironic, the ones with the worn souls were more happy and well-off-looking ponies while the more whole ones were average everyday working ponies. This didn’t really surprise him, however. The rich and wealthy hardly ever have a clean soul to their name. But, there are those few exceptions who work hard enough to earn their legitimate wealth properly.

It wasn’t until he had to do a double take on a few of the souls in the crowd that he noticed his mark branded upon their auras, the circle with the ‘x’ crossed over it firmly stuck to their souls proudly bore for him to see. The thing was, he didn’t remember making any deals with so many ponies, as he always remembers the faces of those he makes a deal with. Could they be followers who have given themselves wholly to the voodoo faith? It seemed like the only logical explanation after all.

As he inspected them further, he noticed small pieces of jewel with his mark adorned on their bodies as well. From pendants to rings, even having the mark carved into their palms it looked like. The question is. How did they associate his mark with the faith when he left out the mark from his book completely? Perhaps it came to them in a vision or dream once they began the faith. One thing was sure, he was rather curious now. Even more so when he saw a group of his supposed followers converging into a group further down the street and turning into an alleyway.

He rubs his chin in thought before tailing the group who stealthily make their way further down into the alley before they descend into stairs that lead down below ground level until they come up to a rather large and well-decorated door. It was black with a large pony skull that had green eyes glowing within its sockets. The leader of the group lifts his fist to knock on the door three times quickly before two slow knocks. The skull’s eyes come to life even brighter than before as the leader holds up his right hand and the mark glows brightly “What is the resting place that will reunite us with our ancestors?” asked the door in a sharp whisper “Below the water, we shall sleep.” said the pony in turn.

With a low ethereal growl, the door unlocks and then opens up slowly, the ponies pouring in soon after before the door closes behind the last one, sealing it up once more until the next person who could open it approaches. Kalfu wondered exactly what went on in that place and how it looked. His curiosity couldn’t be held off for more than five minutes as he found himself now standing at the door peering at the skull that seemed to be staring back at him.

However, no words were exchanged, the door simply opened for him as it did before for the others without him having to answer the question. Could it be that the soul possessing the dor that he saw within the skull knew who he was from the start? “Welcome, Voodoo King, you humble us with your presence.” said the skull with a sharp whisper, though it was said in his mind rather than aloud. It looks like whoever’s soul was in there understood discretion. He slowly makes his way into the doorway, the large door closing and sealing as before.

As he made his way inside, he walked down another flight of stairs that led into a spiral. He made a pony skull appear in his hand before placing it over his face as a mask just as he got to the final step which led into a rather large open chamber that had a large bar in the middle of it stocked with beverages of all kinds, tables, and couches littered the room with a green torch and candle light filling the room. All with chill jazz music playing from a band on stage.

As he continued to walk around the room, he noticed other entryways that led to other rooms. One room for prayer and worship, the other for sales in trinkets and charms and various other things. And one for more..lewd proceedings. This was a voodoo faith after all. As he made his way towards the bar, he noticed many eyes falling upon him as he got closer and closer to the middle of the room. He takes a seat at the bar before tapping the bartop with his knuckles.

Soon enough, a rather beautiful mare dressed in a black bartending dress approaches Kalfu, her dress squeezing her breasts to the point that her cleavage is very eye-catching. It wasn’t until she came into the light that Kalfu noticed that dark brown fur and dirty blonde mane and tail. It had to be her..his very first follower. Once he locked eyes with her, he knew it was her, those beautiful ice blue eyes that he had stared into that one night that seemed so empty and defeated now seemed so full of life and purpose. And best of all, she was smiling a genuine smile.

“You..” Kalfu said as the mare now stood in front of him. “Hello there sir, what can I-..” she stopped dead in her sentence before dropping the glass she had picked up beforehand and placing her hands over her chest, her breathing quickening as she realized just who she was about to pour a drink for “M-My Lord…!” she whispered as the broken glass caught the attention of the other patrons and the staff members. “My fault entirely, everyone! I think I might have startled her a bit with my mask. No worries here!” he said as he held a hand in the air before turning his head to face her once more, placing a finger up to his lips while shushing her gently and placing a comforting hand atop her marked one “Eeeeeassyyyy, my dear. I don’t need them to know who I am. Not right now anyway.” he said as he gently squeezed her hand “You look wonderful, by the way…” he said as he reached up and lovingly caressed one of her cheeks, the bar mare leaning into the affectionate touch as she grabs at his hand fondly.

“I never thought I’d get to see you again before you..well, you know…” she said as she was on the verge of crying happy tears “Thank you so much for what you did..the others and I. We formed this little place to commemorate your deed. It wasn’t until a couple of months ago that we discovered your writings in a book that seemed to have come out of the sky. I knew right away that these were your teachings. So we have opened up this place for followers like myself to come and learn.” she said before leaning down and picking up the broken glass with a towel and tossing it in the trash behind the bar.

“I am pleased to see that you are looking much happier than last I saw you. You have filled out nicely and are even easier on the eyes than before…your soul is far more whole and beautiful than it was as well. I am proud of you for making it like you have. Especially with what you went through. You will definitely have a spot in paradise when it is your time, sweetheart.” he said as he reassured her.

The conversation went on for a while longer as she poured him a drink. The young mare caught him up on her life and how it had been going up to this point. The things he told her like she had been earning plenty of money, had her own home, and was even seeing someone special made the man’s heart fill with warmth. She was lying about her best life and he was proud of her for it. After all the small talk was out of the way, he popped the question that had been on his mind ever since he walked in “So, are there any other places like this out in the world at the moment? Or is this the only branch?”.

She shook her head softly before answering while pouring him another drink “Oh no. We have branches in and out of Equestria. It seems that your teachings have brought more than just ponies together. It has brought all manner of creatures together. We are all one unified group under the wise teachings of..well..you, my Lord.” she said as she opened up her arm to her side for emphasis.

Kalfu rubbed his chin in thought at this news. Just in two short months, the voodoo faith has already had its own small step in the world. He could only imagine what it would be like within a few years or so. A very exciting prospect to be sure. “This is quite exciting news indeed. I had never thought it would have spread so quickly like this. I even noticed that all those bear my mark now too. It looks like they had it carved into their flesh. Was this self-inflicted?” he asked in curiosity. While voodoo was a religion of blood sacrifice from time to time depending on what was being performed, self-mutilation certainly wasn’t encouraged.

She shook her head with a soft smile “Oh no, from what I have learned from those that now follow your will, the marks appeared after they either had a dream or a vision after reading your tome. According to what they said, they were given a choice, live out their lives as they have always done freely, or become part of the faith and be promised a better life with no strings attached. From what I have learned, these very same ponies used to be down on their luck and had horrible lives like myself. But look at them now…” she said as she gazed out upon the floor of the establishment. Like-minded individuals come together to eat, drink, exchange ideas, and just enjoy each other’s company while they have a place to come and worship in their new faith.

“..because of you, my lord. We have become happy and found where we belong,” she said as she stared at him with great adoration. Kalfu chuckled lowly and shook his head “It's a damn voodoo church. Never in a million years would I have ever heard of such a thing in this world. I guess I can live with that. So long as this doesn’t become a cult, I can get behind this gathering and fellowship. By the way…who’s soul do you have guarding the door out there? They are the one who let me in before without a single password request.” he asked as he remembered to inquire about it.

The mare shrugged her shoulders a bit as she responded “We weren’t sure, my Lord. We were brought here by the visions as one group. This door and the skull that seemed to be possessed by the soul you speak of was already here. We had to set up everything you see here for ourselves, but the interior itself…it was odd. It was already created.” she said as she scratched the back of her head, still wondering how it was so.

She was about to speak again when a rather large and burly-looking stallion came up next to her, placing a hand upon her shoulder and leaning in to plant a loving kiss upon her lips “I have returned, my beauty…” he said in a rather heavy Haitian accent. Kalfu looked up to see the dark-furred stallion who had a rather long and well-dreaded mane and tail What really caught his attention were the eyes, a bright fiery orange and yellow mixture that were as intense as the sun itself.

“Aaah, my love!” she said as she wrapped her arms around the hunk of a stallion. This must be the special pony that she had told him about. “You have returned to us at the right time! You will never guess who I am talking to!” she said excitedly as she pulled at his arm to bring him closer to Kalfu. “Ebondusk, this is the one who helped set us free all those months ago. He is..you know..” she said trying to be as discreet as she possibly could, hoping her lover would understand what was going on.

The stallion blinked a few times as he took in the words coming from her. It wasn’t until he realized what she meant that the stallion nearly broke down in tears of joy before running around the bar and grabbing Kalfu into a man hug “Oooh, by the Voodoo King! I finally get to meet you , my brother!” he said in joy as he squeezed Kalfu as hard as he could while he grabbed his free hand and shook it firmly. Kalfu nearly loses every breath in his lungs from the squeeze. It wasn't until the stallion finally dropped him he took in a breath and rubbed at his chest.

The stallion took Kalfu’s hand into both of his as he continued to smile warmly at him “Thank you..thank you so so much for what you did for us back then. It is because of you that we were able to be free of that monster and his family finally. We have been able to live our lives as normal ponies again. And you have my sincere gratitude for making sure that my fiance was kept safe through the whole ordeal as well…” the stallion said as he gazed at Kalfu with happy tears welling up in his eyes.

Kalfu was a bit taken aback by the stallion’s praise and thanks. He shook his head with a chuckle before responding “It's not like I did it out of the kindness of my heart, you know. You know full well her soul belongs to me and where it is going to go when she leaves the mortal realm. It was merely a business transaction, my friend.”. The stallion nodded in leaned in with a whisper “I know that, my Lord. I know exactly who you are because she has told me everything about you. But not everyone here knows who the Voodoo King actually is or what he looks like. I am simply playing along, is all.”.

Kalfu nodded in response with a smile and placed a hand on his shoulder “Then you do not need to worry then, my friend. You will be going where she is going after all. Judging by your soul’s condition, you have been living right. And you will take your place with her in paradise. You two continue as you are.”.

With that, the three of them continued to talk the whole afternoon away with drinks and snacks. Kalfu certainly enjoyed himself as he shared such merriment with those of similar mindset and r. It remembered him of those weekends he had back in his world wherein he’d go and hang out at the local rural bar with fellow swamp and backwood folks with good music, good food, and plenty of good drinks. If there were truly similar places like this around the world, he couldn’t wait to visit them all.

Man, I am on a roll with posting these past couple days o3o

May the darkness grant you peace.