Chapter 2 - Deals with a Devil

The thunderous boom of the door closing settled with barely an echo.  The green aura seemed to oppress and consume the light spell emitting from Celestia's horn.  Where it had been blinding moments before, now it was meager and barely more than a bubble around her body.  The clicking of the metal on her hooves gave no echo, as if the sound was deadened.  She passed beyond the web of chains, and stood just within, bathed in the venomous green light from the floor and immersed in the hum that seemed to emanate from the barred cell.  There was a sensation within, far flung from the darkness and unnerving emptiness of before.  A feeling that crept into the mind, just outside the realm of focus.  A baseless fear dwelling outside reason.

"Well... isn't this an unexpected surprise."  The voice was calm, collected, and nothing about it in the slightest gave any indication of maliciousness.  The effect it had though was quite the opposite, a cold chill running down Celestia's spine.  The fur on her neck pricked, and she had to set her jaw just to keep from shivering.  The creature was still sprawled on the ground, it didn't even look like its mouth had moved.  Was it still asleep?  If it was, was it aware even then?  So many mysteries still, but that was not Celestia's purpose there.
    "I would speak with you.  Rouse yourself."  The creature murmured, then its eyes opened.  It did not move from its position lying face up, though its eyes shifted to the Princess.  They were a muddy brown, and very little about them seemed out of the ordinary.  That was the difficult aspect of this Sapien being.  There was nothing about this being compared to all other monstrous creatures that hinted to the cruelty it was capable of.  There was always an aspect to the eyes in all villains that revealed their nature, their ferocity.  All it seemed except for the one that laid before her.  With a single blink, Celestia missed the Sapien go from lying on its back to standing and staring at her.  She had forgotten just how swift it was, flinching just enough to cause a twitch from her eye.  She steeled herself, pressing on with the business demanding her presence.  "You were right," the Princess said in a dull tone.
"I tend to be.  Of what are we referring?"
    "Discord... he was not utterly lost.  One of the Elements of Harmony was able to reach him behind the veil of chaos and self-conceit."
"As I predicted.  Let me guess, the Element of Kindness."
    "Yes."  Celestia kept her voice level, no hint of emotion bleeding through.  She knew all too well what could happen if she wavered.
"It makes the most sense.  That element has always been resistant to corruption."
    "How did you know?"
"Logic.  Based upon knowledge of past experiences as well as the progression of current events.  I am not entirely trapped in here, you know.  Dreamers are untethered from the worldly bonds.  Your cage cannot hold all of me."
    "I have been told you sleep quite often, despite not needing it."
"Without so much as a book down in this rank cesspool, do you honestly blame me?"  The Sapien interlocked his fingers behind his head and leaned back, though his gaze never broke from Celestia's.  "I don't eat either.  It doesn't mean I am not hungry."
    "You have been offered meals."  The movement was so quick, had Celestia blinked at that moment she would have missed it.  The Sapien rushed the bars and slammed its fists against them.  There was a crackle of magical lightning as the spells warding the bars flung it back.  It cried out in pain, but quickly composed itself, staring at its sizzling hands.  With gritted teeth, it looked up at the Princess.  It was no longer entirely composed, as she could see.  Its face was calming, but there was hatred in its eyes.
"I will not eat your rabbit food!"  It snarled at her, but otherwise did nothing as it nursed its healing hands.  Within moments they were as if it had never been injured at all.
    "Then you will not eat."
"Pfeh.  Figures.  All the promises your tongue can spare, but you've never kept a single deal between us.  Not once."
    "I will not sell my soul for the gifts you peddle."
"I don't want your soul, you stupid horse.  I have no use for it.  I want a decent meal, a walk through the grass.  Though it does spite you so, the actual hope of freedom perhaps."
    "You would have slaughter for a meal.  The grass on which you walk is bloody.  The freedom you speak of is doom to any who mistakenly fall upon your path."
"Come now, Celestia.  This is no time for name calling."
    "Princess Celestia is my name, and you will refer to me as such."
"Oh, will I now?"  The creature chuckled to itself.  "What are you going to do if I don't, your Princessness?  Flog me?  Torture me?  Oh no, keep those pillows away, I can no longer handle the fluffiness!"  It's face almost morphing from the mocking sneer to a glare as it stepped forward again.  With that same evil gleam of hate in its eye, the Sapien grabbed the bars of its cage.

    The protection wards burst to life, lashing at their prisoner.  Lightning and fire surged from the bars into its arms, the flesh on its hands searing away from the destructive magic.  The entire time, it did not even flinch.  "I have been your prisoner and slave for more years than I can keep track of.  Deal after deal made, and never once have you made good on your promises.  Come on, Celestia.  Bring your righteous wrath on me.  Let's see if you can do worse than you already have."  The Princess had turned away as the Sapien continued to cling to the bars, despite the damage they were doing.  Such self-harm she wished no part of.
    "You have brought this upon yourself," she rebuked curtly.
"Oh you know that isn't true.  I mean, I didn't choose to come here.  But providence does work in wondrous ways.  So, tell me my sweet Princess... what bargain can we make today?"  Finally releasing the bars, the Sapien held up its hands to show the seared and crumbling ruin that remained.  "I am ever so excited to find out the new and intricate way you plan to utterly screw me over."  Turning its hands over, all that remained was charred sinew and bone with remnants of muscle clinging hopelessly to the ruined appendages.  All it took then was a wave of its arms and the flesh regenerated completely in mere moments.  It was showing off now, the containment spells were no longer sufficient to keep its powers locked away.
    "You were correct about Discord, he has turned from his chaotic ways."  She kept herself calm, despite the ugly feeling in her stomach from the display just shown to the Princess.
"He will betray you again, though perhaps only temporarily.  I cannot be for certain, chaos is so very difficult to predict."
    "You seemed to predict his actions fairly well on both accounts of his villainous actions.  Now you cannot be for certain?"
"It depends on what you are willing to offer.  I believe my last deal with you was for a certain remnant piece of a defeated unicorn king.  A piece I know you recovered.  I haven't seen the smallest sliver.  Before that, I was promised an actual meal, lot of good that did.  Before that, a respite from this sunless cavern.  I thought that by perhaps bartering for items instead of freedom I would be more easily appealed.  Perhaps if I make a deal now for a piece of string in return for my services, you will actually keep your word?"
    "To get your hands on such an item as that remnant is too dangerous."
"For you."
    "For Equestria."
"For you."  It settled its hands behind its head again.  "But very well.  I will make a new deal with you.  First, what is it you desire of me?"
    "Tartarus has been sundered for some time.  From what we know, the guardians have returned nearly all of the escapees.  Several have yet to return.  Some of whom have the darkest of powers, and the greatest wishes of harm to all."
"That is not something you need to be worried about for now.  At this moment, your attention would be better used focusing on your protege."
    "On Twilight?"  For the first time Celestia showed actual surprise, though she quickly composed herself.
"Oh she has proven herself readily, correct?  If your worry is on Tartarus and the beasties it held, then Twilight is your best hope.  Perhaps an acceleration of plans?  Before you deny it, don't bother.  I know how Twilight Sparkle fits into this grand scheme, and you are better off including her.  She'll make a better example than you ever did."
    "I will need more than riddles, prisoner."  She could not prevent the point of disdain from invading her tone when she spoke.  The Sapien was pushing her, just as it always did.
"Ouch, I guess a demotion from honored guest was inevitable.  Oh how I am wounded."
    "Stay your trite, and answer me."
"Fun as a wet graveyard... Very well.  If we are so adamant for the answers... the only way to survive what is coming is to put every hope in her.  She is already the Host of Elements, now she must be ascended beyond that.  A true icon of harmony, like you Princesses.  Starswirl had the right idea, and you've been planning this yourself.  Maybe not so soon, but it is a plan none the less."
    "What you suggest may very well destroy her."  With a deadened chuckle, the Sapien shook its head.  It had control of the discussion now, and its reaction made Celestia feel as if she were to be scolded.  The temptation to silence it with force was unnervingly strong.
"It better not, if any of you want to live.  The foe that is coming is not like those before.  Eternal night, eternal chaos, neither of these aimed to specifically destroy what laid before them.  This will.  It is death."
    "How can you possibly know such things?  You are entombed in the roots of a mountain and yet you have never been wrong."
"I can smell it.  I see it in dreams and I lavish in it.  I would rather see your little utopia razed to the ground... but unlike some I have a conscience.  So I offer this.  Lead Twilight through her ascension; do not leave her to flounder in her newfound abilities.  I imagine trials will find their way, Fate has its methods of testing us.  If she can handle it, she'll be the one to hold faith to."
    "And if she should not?"
"How hurtful, lacking faith in your own student.  I assure you she will.  It's her... heh... destiny."
    "Because you know of such things."  Turning away, Celestia made towards the chained web surrounding the cage.  The prisoner's voice halted her dead in her tracks.
"Was I wrong about your sister?  Was I wrong about your connection to the elements withering like a dying flower?  Was I wrong about the Crystal Empire all those years ago?  You should start trusting me some day... it might do you some good."
    "You enjoy my suffering."
"Quid pro quo.  You loved torturing me first.  All those delightful experiments when-"
    "That is enough.  I have had my fill of you."  She passed beyond the chains, stepping back into the dark of the cavern with the ominous green to her back.  She had to still her heart, she could feel dark tendrils almost reaching out to her as the creature watched her from its cage.
"Are you not forgetting something, fraulein?  I never work for free.  Every deal we make comes with a price.  One you are already deeply in debt to.  So, what is one more coin on the pile?"  The Princess halted, and after a deep breath she turned her head to stare.  "Ooh, chilling.  Tell you what, I'm going to make this one easy.  So simple, it doesn't even come with a receipt."
    "What is it?"
"A kiss.  The price of this knowledge is a kiss."  Celestia actually felt her stomach turn.  That she would deign herself to this beast in such a fashion was utterly unthinkable.  "You can leave, rant about how disgusting I am, call me a monster.  Despite all that, I am still keeping mind on your tab.  One of these days, I will collect what's owed me."
    "We shall see."
"Yes," the Sapien growled as the great door began to drift open, his voice drowned in the cacophony.  "We shall."  His eyes stayed fixed on the Princess as she moved beyond the door.  He just stared, watching it slowly drift shut.  It slammed closed, and silence enclosed the vast chamber.  Sitting in the gloom, the prisoner let out a slow sigh, then leaned back.  "Ten million bottles of beer on the wall, ten million bottles of beer.  Take one down, pass it around..."