Kalfu stood on the balcony of the room that he and Scootaloo were sharing for the duration of the stay. While Dash didn’t really approve of the idea, she also trusted Kalfu as he had taken great care of the filly as if he were her own father. Plus, the tomboy was absolutely in love with the idea of spending as much time as she could with him. He looked out onto the castle grounds as he watched the guards below pass by now and then. Funny enough, that very same courtyard where he strung out those two corrupted nobles were staring right back at him, making his lips curl into a smile as he remembered all the children he had avenged that night.

As he stood there, Scootaloo came out and stood next to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning against him as she nuzzled his side “Thanks for coming with us. I am glad you were able to make it.” she said as she stared out at the night sky with him. He reached up and ran his fingers through her mane affectionately as he enjoyed her company. Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day for all. Though for Kalfu, it was all going to start a few hours from now.

It was around midnight when Kalfu’s eyes shot open. He had fallen asleep with Scootaloo using him as a body pillow which was one of the most adorable things he had ever seen in his life. He smiled at her before carefully replacing himself with a larger pillow that he had his head upon beforehand and quietly slipped out of the bed before pulling the blanket over her and quietly slipping out of the room and into the corridors of the castle. He wasn't really heading anywhere in particular, just exploring. Every guard he came across, he would just go invisible or phase through walls to get elsewhere.

However, it seems that he wasn’t the only one snooping around this evening. As he walked about, he came across the princess who everyone seemed to be fussing over for this wedding. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Another ruler of Equestria it seemed. Kalfu stopped in his tracks when he made eye contact with her, the slender yet well-filled-out alicorn mare looking at him with wide eyes for a moment before offering a ruse smile to him “G-Good evening to you!!” she stammered out as she seemed to be in a rather nervous way right about now.

Kalfu blinked a few times before nodding his head to her in greeting as he knew right away something was off. Her soul was an absolute dead giveaway and its condition was familiar and undeniable…but he wasn’t about to interfere with whatever her plans were. It wasn’t his place to do so. “Pre-wedding jitters, huh?” Kalfu asked as he offered a smile in return. Thinking that she had him fooled, Cadence nodded as her nervousness subsided now “Indeed, it is such a big life-changing decision. Giving yourself to the one you love forever and ever.”.

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity before Kalfu shrugged his shoulders and resumed walking past her,his eyes continuing to bore deep into her soul which made her spine shudder. As if he was telling her that he knew who she really was behind that mask. “Well, I certainly hope that nothing goes wrong on your big day, Madam Cadenza. I am sure that you have worked so hard to make it all a reality. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds…” he said as he flashed her a toothy grin before rounding the corner and continuing on his way to wherever.

And finally, the day was upon the city of Canterlot. Kalfu stood in the back of the chapel where the ceremony was to be taking place as he watched and waited to see just exactly how this was all going to go down. His eyes shifted towards the groom who was already up at the alter and waiting for his blushing bride to be. Kalfu could easily sense that his soul was under some kind of strain or hold of an outside force which Kalfu knew exactly what and who it was.

It wasn’t until the doors opened up as Scootaloo and her friends pranced down the isle in their wonderful dresses as they threw flower petals down the isle as the ‘princess’ walked behind them with the most snobbish and smug look on her face before she caught Kalfu just in the corner of her eye, almost making her lose her composure as she then focuses on her task at hand. She was almost there…almost ready to exact her plan…

”Oh now look at her, as pretty as an easter lily…” Kalfu thought to himself as he kept his eye on Scootaloo down the aisle. Who knows, maybe one day he will be walking her down the aisle to give away to some stallion if their bond continues to deepen as it has for the last couple of months. For some reason, that thought made him a little jealous. The fact of giving away his daughter to someone else made his blood boil a bit…even though she biologically wasn’t his daughter.

As the events continued to unfold, it got to the point where a duel between the fake princess and Celestia took place after she had revealed herself to be the queen of the changelings who Kalfu knew she was already. With all the changelings buzzing around in the chapel and scaring the citizens, he just stood there looking completely unbothered until three of them started to approach his three students. It was at this point he could no longer sit idly by as he watched Twilight and her friends run out the doors.

As the changelings menacingly inch closer to the fillies, Kalfu slowly rises from the ground in front of his students who let out a cry of relief as they hide behind their mentor, grabbing at his coat for comfort as he then gives the three changelings a hard thwack across their face with the blunt end of his cane, and that was made of diamond. “No. No. No.” he said as he struck each one of them before twirling his cane about afterward. “Kal!” his students cried out in joy as they hugged onto him even more.

Kalfu looked back towards the three fillies before looking down at the three changelings who now had broken jaws “You three need to get to safety. I am going to send you somewhere that these things will not be able to reach you. It will be a little dark and scary. But nothing is going to hurt you there, I promise. If you need a little bit of light, remember one of the most basic spells from the first section of the book. Got it? I will bring you back once all this is over. Will you three be brave for me…?” he asked as he looked back at them with concern.

Even with the warning, they were hesitant. But, they knew that they needed to listen to him to keep them safe so he didn’t have to worry about any more of the changelings trying to grab them and do God knows what to them. He’d never forgive himself if they were hurt while he could be around to do something about it. They nodded as they said “Okay!” in unison, ready to go where Kalfu was sending them. With a few words, they fall into a deep sleep as the floor opens up below them and carefully pulls them in until they disappear.

Now that those three were safe, Kalfu made his way forward, shoving changelings out of his way with ease as he started to slow clap with his cane resting in the crook of one of his arms as he approached Chrysalis, a mocking smile on his face all the while. “Bravo, bravo! YOu have successfully overthrown ONE of the rulers of Equestria. Don’t you know there are more than just Celestia, Madam?”

The queen’s attention turned to Kalfu who looked at him with smug triumph “Don’t you think it's a little too late to come in as the hero? My children are swarming this kingdom as we speak and I am even more powerful than Celestia herself. So what if I don’t have her sister right now? She will be found in time. And those six ponies who think they can stop me? Well, let's just say that they will be returning here rather soon. But not with help!” she said as she ordered several of her changelings to restrain Kalfu.

Of course, that was a mistake on her part. This was his chance to try out a new move he had been working on. And it was a proper time to do it after all, he had to defend himself. Kalfu curls his knuckles while keeping an open palm before slamming it directly into the chests of the changelings who were closing in on him. As they fall back to the ground, their souls fly from their bodies and hover above them. Kalfu chuckled lightly as he waved to the now floating changeling who were freaking out as they looked at their own bodies below them.

“They won’t be returning to their bodies until I say so now. I call that little number the ‘Soul Punch’.” he said as he made his way closer to Chrysalis. Once in front of her, she steps back a bit, a slight twinge of fear forming in her eyes. Kalfu blinked a few times before chuckling at her” Oh. You think I am going to do something about all this? Oooh nooo, my dear! I am simply here to watch how this all plays out!” he said as he walked away from her while gazing up at the now encased Celestia who was just now coming to after her defeat.

“You see, I owe this kingdom absolutely nothing. I am simply here because I chose to live within the Everfree Forest. I am but a humble voodoo man. Someone like me chooses not to get involved with these petty political power struggles and world conquering nonsense. I am simply here to do one thing and one thing alone. Though, if I reveal what that goal is…let’s just say that quite a few ponies in here are going to want to step up and show off what they have learned as well.”.

Chrysalis looked at him in confusion at the last part of his statement as he walked away from her. However, the term ‘voodoo’ did seem to strike a chord with many, many of the ponies in the room as they turned their focus to Kalfu. Suddenly, the ones who were marked on their palms lifted their hands into the air as the mark itself started to glow green on every one of them. Kalfu smiled warmly at his followers before opening his arms up to his sides “This is YOUR kingdom. Will you defend it to the end? Or not? Use what the Voodoo King’s wisdom has granted you. And it will serve you well!” he said as he then looked back at Chrysalis who was still super confused from his words.

All was quiet for a few minutes before the ponies in question started to murmur to themselves as they pulled out what looked to be voodoo trinkets and charms of their own making. Soon enough, skeletal arms rise out of the ground and wrap around the changelings before they start to pull them down to the ground and tear at their exoskeletons and eventually get to the flesh underneath, the sharp bony fingers gouging out the eyes and pulling them apart.

It seems that some of the citizens of this city choose to fight for what they believe in after all, despite the look of horror and disgust on the faces of the other citizens, the princesses, and everyone else in the room. Kalfu turned to Chrysalis with a shrug and a smile on his face “Seems that they chose to defend what is theirs. Not that I blame them.” he said as he made his way over to one of the windows and noticed that the same thing happening inside the chapel was happening out there as well “Ah, seems I have more followers in this city than I thought before…” he said as he looked back to the crowd inside.

Chrysalis didn’t know what to do at this point. She watched as her children were being overrun by not only regular citizens, but the guards were starting to get the upper hand as well. Even though the changelings eventually captured Twilight and her friends and brought them back, they were soon dealt with in the very same way. At this point, Kalfu removed his hat and took a deep bow in front of Chrysalis before placing his hat atop his head once more before disappearing into the ground as he let the ponies deal with the invasion at hand. He wasn’t needed here. However, his identity as the Voodoo King was now known to many ponies. And it would soon spread of who their god is now. It was bound to happen eventually after all.

“This isn’t the end of it, Kalfu! I promise you that! You will pay for shedding the blood of my children!” she screamed as she watched him vanish into darkness. The thing is though, he didn't even lift a finger to help. He simply gave the ponies of Canterlot a guiding nudge is all. Just as intended. Once he reappears back in his home, he reopens the dark portal that he had sent his students into and gently places their still-slumbering bodies on the couch. With a snap of his fingers, they awaken from their deep slumber before looking around while rubbing their eyes.

“Welcome back, girls. Things should be wrapping up here soon over at the castle. But I went ahead and brought you here. Only those with pure intentions or business reasons may come into this place. So I promise you are safe. Not that I’d let anything happen to you either way.” he said with a chuckle as he entered the kitchen, coming out a few minutes later with a plate of vanilla cake squares and three cups of ice-cold milk before settling it on the table in front of them.

“W-What about our sisters..and the others?” asked Applebloom as she took one of the cakes and her glass of milk in her hands, the other two following after. “Not to worry, you three. I have already sent them a little message telling them where you are. I told them not to rush or worry too much since you are in my care. I have a guest room that has a bed to fit all three of you comfortably if they can’t come get you tonight. It's no trouble.” he said as he sat in the large armchair across from them as he tossed a log into the ever-burning green fire that lit up the room.

It wasn't until the next day that Applejack and Rarity did come and get their sister, leaving Scootaloo and Kalfu alone now. He was getting ready to take the little pegasus home when a thought crossed his mind. He was surprised it hadn’t come even sooner. As she was getting ready to go, Kalfu approached her “I…I know you live alone and all, kiddo. But how would you like it if…well, you came to live with me? I think you’d be more safe and less lonely if you did. Three square meals a day. Some extra voodoo training>” he said as he smiled at her with that last part.

Scootaloo’s head turned at breakneck speed as her eyes got big and sparkled. “I’d..even go as far as adopting you if that is what you truly wanted. I never thought I’d ever have children in all my life. But spending these last couple of months with not only you and your friends as my students, but with you as a pony. I want to be the one to help raise and guide you to a good life. You don’t have to call me your father, that’s perfectly fine. Just-”.

Scootaloo rammed into him as hard as she could before wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face into his stomach, her hand shaking as she grabbed at his coat and tugged firmly on him as she began to sob tears of joy “D-Daddy…please be my daddy…” she whimpered as the day she had hoped for had finally come. That normally strong-willed tomboy falling apart into a sweet little girl in Kalfu’s arms as he knelt and embraced her closely. The two remained there for what felt like an eternity as Kalfu comforted the sobbing filly. It was decided then. This little girl was going to be his pride and joy from this day on. And even if it came down to it, he'd sacrifice everything for her if he had to.

Aaaand with that, it's break time for me again! Hope you all enjoy. Will write more later!

May the darkness grant you peace.