"[SB] Conniving Cultists [Chapter 2]"
By Thy_Carpenter (https://pastebin.com/u/Thy_Carpenter)

URL: https://pastebin.com/vW71zURW
Created on: Friday 18th of March 2016 12:24:33 AM CDT
Retrieved on: Friday 30 of October 2020 12:58:15 PM UTC


CHAPTER 2: CUTTHROAT NEGOTIATIONS

>The doors open, and in come the two sisters, faces stoic.
>They return to their original positions, and Celestia speaks up with a down to business tone.
>"Although we were admittedly summoning a war demon for a contract, a succubus such as yourself will suffice. As previously mentioned before that... fiasco, our nation of Equestria is in grave danger, and as royalty we can't exactly just go out and deal with it ourselves."
"Alright, so what's the danger?"
>"The danger," Luna replies in an equally businesslike tone, "Is that deep in the heart of the Everfree Forest, some type of cult has formed. In the past, cults such as this have formed, but they have tended to disband after a short while without actually achieving much of their agenda, and effectively solved themselves."
"So why have you summoned me if they take care of themselves?"
>Celestia speaks, and you get a feeling of unease in her words, "Because this is the exception to that trend. We were negligent to take care of them, having it in good reason that they'd die off, but the cultists still prevail. Recently, townsponies have been disappearing in the night and the cult has been linked to this."
"That still doesn't answer the question, why summon a demon? Why not send an army to crush them?"
>"Because," continues Celestia, "Townsponies disappearing is the least of our concern. Lately the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, whom we would usually send to see through these rising threats, have become less and less harmonious. It's evident that the cultists are doing something to cause this. Sending an army without the elements to fight an unknown force would cause major conflict, and we are not willing to risk that. That is why we have summoned you."
>A very large scroll materializes to the side of you two and faces so that both parties can easily read it.
>"Let's begin our contract."
>Contract? What?
>"First and foremost, your primary goal will be to completely dismantle and remove all traces of the cult."
>Rhythmic scribbling is heard, and "Dismantle and remove all traces of aforementioned cult" is now on the scroll, in glowing lavender print.
>Seems to be a deal with the devil is going on, and you're the devil. Alright.
"My demands for completing the term is my personal freedom."
>More scribbling, and your demands are on the parchment in ominous glowing red.
>"Absolutely not," Luna objects, "A demon will not be allowed freedom in our kingdom."
>A swift scribble and your term has been crossed out by a deep blue line.
>"In addition to dismantling the cult, you will preserve as many of their writings as effectually possible, and said writings will be delivered to the Royal Esoteric Containment Archives."
>Luna's terms appear in midnight blue on the contract.
>Well, freedom's off the table. What the hell else could you want?
>Let's first of all make sure you can actually complete this contract, then we'll come to that.
"I demand that all resources within reason will be granted to me in order to fulfill the contract."
>Scribing is heard, and your demand is on the contract.
>The princesses look to each other and nod in agreement.
>The term goes unmolested on the contract.
>"Should the tree of harmony be compromised, you will secure it and do all in your power to keep it alive and well."
>Lavender scribbling takes place.
>Let's make this fun.
"The souls of 500 ponies of my choosing, barring you and these "element wielders", will belong to me to do with what I'd please."
>The princesses' eyes go wide and they look at each other.
>In unison they shoot back a "NO!", and your proposal is heavily marked out by a combination of lavender and midnight.
"Oh, but you're forgetting something here. You're in a bind here, your back is against the wall and right now it's sink or swim."
>They both cast glares upon you, silently weighing their options in their heads.
"Tell me, what sacrifices are you willing to make to save your land? Surely a handful of measly souls is worth trading for saving the lives of an entire kingdom."
>They're still mulling over the concept, and you're sure they would have banished you by now if it weren't for the circumstances.
>Good. You've got the bargaining power now.
"I'll tell you what, I'll sweeten the deal. I'll allow you to pick your poison. Either I am allowed the 500 souls, or I am granted total personal freedom after fulfilling your terms. Now, I'll toss in even more: if I am granted my freedom, you'll be able to check up on me whenever you'd like, and seeing as I'm a succubus and not a war demon, you won't have to worry about me causing too much trouble."
>The princesses huddle together and exchange some hushed words.
>After a moment they break their huddle and Celestia speaks, the slightest mixture of anger and forced compliance in her voice.
>"We will chose your second offer of allowing for your personal freedom, but with a stipulation added to the term. After you have fulfilled our terms, you must remain an ally of Equestria, and should the need arise, you will be summoned to serve our kingdom in times of need."
"A most agreeable term. I accept the proposed term."
>Again more scribbling, your term of 500 souls is completely removed, and the strikethrough is removed from your personal freedom term, with the updates to it added.
"I have one final term. After I am granted my personal freedom, you will assist my personal endeavors, within reason, by allocating funds and resources to me."
>"We will agree to this term," consents Luna, "And if these are all the terms to be added, we will come to a final agreement."
>Looking to the scroll, you take a look at the terms.
[Anonymous shall undertake and complete the task of effectually dismantling and and disbanding the troubling cult that resides within The Everfree Forest.]
[After completing all terms issued to them, Anonymous will be granted their personal freedom, so long as they remain as an ally to the nation of Equestria, and serve said nation in its times of need.]
[Anonymous shall, within reason, preserve as much of the aforementioned cult's writings as reasonably possible, and deliver them to the Royal Esoteric Containment Archives.]
[Resources and equipment shall, within reason, be allocated to Anonymous in order to aid their efforts in completing the terms of this contract.]
[Anonymous shall secure and protect the Tree of Harmony, preserving its health until the aforementioned cult is no longer a direct threat to it.]
[Funds and resources, within reason, will be allocated to Anonymous for the purpose of personal endeavors after they are granted their personal freedom.]
>Reading over the terms several times, you come to agree to them.
>"Very well," instructed Celestia, "in accordance with procedure, all parties involved in the contract will now sign their names with their own blood and life essence if they agree with the terms."
"I agree to these terms."
With that, you push your hoof onto an ornate nail, drawing blood.
>A signature line appears on the contract, and you smear your blood, and by extension, life essence onto the line.
>The blood begins to form words on the line, and soon enough your signature appears on the line.
>The two princesses follow suit, and soon all three of your names are on the contract.
>The scroll lightly glows, rolls itself up, and slowly fades into nothing.
>An unnatural breeze blows through the room, breaking and scattering your salt ring around the room.
>You take a few uneasy steps out of the pentagram.