The demons Baphomeena (alias Fizzle Hooves the unicorn), Azazandra (alias Ravenmane the Earth pony), and  Lucifiona (alias Storm Watcher the pegasus) stood holding hooves in the center of an ancient ruin in the Frozen North. Long ago, it had been the site of a great tower, the home of a mage clan that had been tasked with guarding a deep secret. When the ancient ponies were beset by the Windigos, the mage clan suffered greatly, those that did not flee were frozen to death. The tower and its occupants both faded into history, leaving the secret they guarded unprotected.

On the ground, the Three Sisters had arranged candles into a triangle, each sister standing at one of the points. They began to sing in a tongue long forgotten amongst mortal ponies. It was a beautiful, sorrowful song. A lamentation for days gone past, of ancient conflict, innocence lost. Silky strands of magic began to swirl around the sisters, revealing their hosts' true forms - the shadow foals. Long ago, the sisters had been cursed by their mortal enemies, their spirits torn from their bodies and bound to the pony foals they currently possessed. Tonight they hoped to reclaim their bodies they had lost, as it had been foreseen by Baphomeena.

As they sang, arcane images began to form within their triangle. A gemstone, representing the unicorns. Storm clouds and a rainbow, representing the pegasi. Tree branches and a wildflower, representing the Earth ponies. Underneath their robes, this same symbol glowed on each of their flanks - the symbol of an ancient order, the Horsadrim, long forgotten and lost to the sands of time.

As the hour struck midnight, their song ended and the ground began to quake. They had shattered the first of the seals the Horsadrim had used to bind their demonic bodies. Baphomeena had been planning their triumphant return for thousands of years. She had manipulated countless ponies in preparation for this night, but there was still one last hurdle to bypass - their ancient foes, pegasi known as the Valkyr. Baphomeena had been preparing to deal with the Valkyr for a long time now, and she smiled at her sisters to reassure them. The Nether Crystal dangled on a chain around her neck and cast her face in an eerie glow.

Lucifiona glanced to the sky. "They are coming, sisters."

Baphomeena looked up and smirked at the four approaching streaks of light. "Go, my sisters, start on the second seal. I will deal with our... friends."

As Azazandra and Lucifiona shimmered away, Baphomeena casually brushed her mane and idly rubbed the Nether Crystal. The four lights reached the ground, and out of them manifested four pegasi with wings of light. They were the Valkyr, a group of transcendent pegasi that had been battling the demons for millennia. Their cutie marks, symbols of their aspect, were displayed proudly upon their flanks: a harp for Hope, a scale for Justice, a sword for Valor, and a scroll for Fate.

Baphomeena laughed as they approached. She leered at them and licked her lips, then slightly bowed her head to their leader, "Zephyrinia."

Zephyrinia, Valkyr of Valor, scowled at Baphomeena. Zephyrinia was clad in golden armor and her wings were a brilliant red, reminiscent of a setting sun. Her hair was a medley of red, orange, yellow, and gold, and her coat was a dark yellow. "Are you prepared to face us alone, Baphomeena? Where have your wretched sisters fled?"

"My sisters, what about yours? Where is Wisdom? It took all five of you to fight us before," Baphomeena said with a malicious laugh.

Seraphiel, Valkyr of Hope, frowned and looked up into the starry sky. She wore robes of a soft blue that matched her hair, which was a blend of blue, turquoise, teal, and violet. Her coat was sky blue and her wings were a brilliant white. "Our sister left us. Shariel is forever seeking answers to the unknowable mysteries of life and death."

Baphomeena pointed her hoof at the four pegasi. She could sense their fear, and she loved it. It was like ambrosia for her. She smiled. "You are afraid of little old me? I am but one, you are four."

Baphomeena pointed the hoof at Urdiel, Valkyr of Fate. Urdiel wore chainmail over grey robes. Her coat was black and her hair was white with streaks of grey. Her expression remained neutral as she stared back at Baphomeena, but her emotions could be seen upon her brilliant white wings, which quivered in frustration. As Baphomeena fed on the Valkyr's fear, she saw what they were truly afraid of - Urdiel's aspect of Fate had revealed that they would all perish on this night. Urdiel's Scroll of Fate foretold everything that would happen to the Valkyr, and it had said that they would all die on this night, at this place. Baphomeena could not fathom why they had come.

"I see," Baphomeena said. "Do your sisters know what is on your scroll, Urdiel? I really must ask, if you know the battle is already lost, why do you fight? Why even show up here tonight?"

Taraiel, Valkyr of Justice, stomped her hoof. Her wings, a light blue, writhed behind her, displaying her anger. Taraiel's hair was dark grey, her coat a light grey. She wore a white tabard over a suit of golden armor. "We are the light, you are darkness. It is our duty to oppose you."

Baphomeena laughed. "I can sense the fear within you, Taraiel."

Urdiel glared at Baphomeena. "We are not afraid."

Fizzle Hooves smirked. "No, you are terrified."

Zephyrinia stuck out her hoof and a brilliant spear appeared in a flash of light. "I fear nothing!"

Taraiel reached out her wing towards Zephyrinia. "Wait, sister!"

Zephyrinia paid no head and charged at Baphomeena. She flew into the sky as a ring of fire radiated from the possessed unicorn. It had been millennia since she had last fought Baphomeena, but she could sense there was something different about her attack as the fireballs passed below. It raised the hair on the back of her neck. As she flew nearer, she could see the glow of the Nether Crystal around the unicorn's neck. Baphomeena pointed her hoof at Seraphiel and a cage of bone sprung up from the ground and enveloped her. Urdiel and Taraiel turned to help their sister.

Zephyrinia stabbed at Baphomeena, who sidestepped the spear and grabbed onto the shaft. Baphomeena kicked at the Valkyr and then hit her with a ball of fire, sending her staggering back. Zephyrinia could definitely tell something was not right, she had never felt so much pain from a simple fireball. She looked at the Nether Crystal once more and Baphomeena laughed.

"Like my new jewelry?" Baphomeena asked. "I went to a lot of trouble to get it ready for you and your sisters."

Baphomeena conjured a pillar of fire under Zephyrinia and followed up with a stream of lightning, but the Valkyr took to the skies and appeared behind Baphomeena, slicing her face with her spear.

Baphomeena felt the blood running down her face and roared. Her hooves became talons and she charged at Zephyrinia, pushing the Valkyr back with a flurry of blows. Baphomeena ripped Zephyrinia's spear from her grasp and cast it aside. The Valkyr jumped back, dodging a vicious swipe at her legs. She thrust out her hoof and her spear came flying back into her grasp. She stabbed at Baphomeena, slicing into her shoulder. Black ichor oozed from the wound.

Baphomeena teleported to the other three and let loose a wave of flames which washed over them. The empowered unholy fire sent the three Valkyr to the ground in agony. Baphomeena turned back and smiled as Zephyrinia flew threw the air towards her, just as she expected. Baphomeena laughed and teleported to the side as the Valkyr attempted to run her through. She counter attacked and impaled her talons through the Valkyr's chest. She held her foe up to her face and kissed her. "Not even death can save you from me."

Baphomeena threw the wounded Valkyr to the ground and turned on the other three. Zephyrinia's glowing blood dripped from Baphomeena' talons as she motioned for them to attack her. Taraiel and Urdiel glanced at each and then charged towards Baphomeena while Seraphiel rushed to Zephyrinia's aid. The two Valkyr conjured gleaming runeblades, powerful swords enchanted with magical runewords, as they attacked.

Taraiel and Urdiel flew around Baphomeena in a vicious whirlwind, their swords lashing out at the evil entity. The black blood of Baphomeena stained the ground as they scored hit after hit. Suddenly, Baphomeena stomped, sending waves of flames in all directions. As the fire dissipated, she was gone.

Urdiel looked around nervously. "Did she flee?"

Taraiel glanced at Urdiel, then at Zephyrinia. "Doubtful, stay alert, sisters."

Shadows closed in around them and even the light from their wings seemed to dim. Shadowy figures began to charge towards the Valkyr, who formed a protective circle around the wounded Zephyrinia. A great feeling of despair spread over the Valkyr. They heard the voice of Baphomeena, "Welcome to my realm of terror."

The shadows attacked in massive swarms. The Valkyr held their ground but were quickly being overrun by the endless horde. Zephyrinia staggered to her feet, clutching her wound and using her spear for support. She looked into the shadows, trying to find Baphomeena. "Stay strong, sisters!"

They heard Baphomeena's laughter. "Your greatest fear is losing another sister."

A shadowy maw appeared and dove onto Zephyrinia, consuming her. The others stared in horror as the shadow beast disappeared into the void. Their sister's spear clattered to the ground, its light fading.

Seraphiel fell to her knees, slowly shaking her head. "No.. no..."

Urdiel sat down, dropped her sword, then ran her hoof through her mane. As the Valkyr of Fate, she had long foreseen their demise. She knew there was no point in resisting, she just gave up.

Taraiel stared at her sisters, bewildered. "What are you doing?! Rise and fight!"

A pair of shadows converged towards Taraiel. She stabbed out to the right, retracted her runeblade immediately from the creature's flesh, then brought it sweeping above her head, slashing down at the shadow to her left. A third shadow lunged from behind and knocked the Valkyr to her knees.

Baphomeena cackled with glee. The fear she felt emanating from the Valkyr was intoxicating. "It would appear your sister has... left the party, but unfortunately my minions have not grown weaker. Don't worry. You will see her soon enough."

Taraiel tried to protect her sisters, but it was a hopeless battle. The shadow creatures swarmed over the Valkyr, slashed at their bodies with chilling talons, ripped at their wings with hungering mouths. Taraiel stood her ground, each slash of her sword sent waves of light into the horde, slaying dozens at a time, but there were too many for one pony. She watched in horror as her sisters were murdered while she stood, powerless, unable to save them.

Baphomeena smiled and walked towards Taraiel. "And then there was one. Don't worry, Taraiel. You won't die just yet. I have something special in mind for you."

Terror finally overcame the last Valkyr and her sword clattered uselessly to the ground as the demon approached. The Nether Crystal's unholy light guided Baphomeena through the piles of bodies. She lifted it with her magic and moved it menacingly towards Taraiel's body. The Valkyr's flesh began to sizzle as Baphomeena pressed the unholy artifact against Taraiel. Baphomeena's eyes went wide with excitement as she stared into Taraiel's face, which began to contort with pain and fear.

Baphomeena moved closer, leaned in and nuzzled Taraiel as she pressed the Nether Crystal with more force. As the Crystal penetrated Taraiel, Baphomeena smiled in contentment. She whispered in the Valkyr's ear, "I've been waiting for this for so long, Taraiel. I think it will be justice for what you orchestrated against my sisters and I. You have no idea how much this pleases me..."

Taraiel screamed.