Chapter Thirty: Unbreakable Bonds

~BlackRoseRaven

Sleipnir grumbled under his breath, hiding beneath a bush at the side of the main road. He hated these tactics, hated taking orders, and hated even more the fact that no matter what he did, the Knights of New Equestria seemed to prefer killing tactics over chasing their enemies off. The zebra they had rescued were even worse: they wouldn't even listen to him, and Sleipnir was starting to wish morbidly that they had left the enclave of zebra kin in the forest: sure, he felt bad for them, and had winced at the stories he had heard about what had happened to their tribe... but from how vicious and well-trained they were, he thought Luna and Scrivener had killed the clan out of more than just spite.

For now, he was here with a small team, about halfway down the dirt road running between Ponyville and Enstasis. The other four ponies wore lightweight armor, and two carried silver knives, one carried a crossbow and silver arrows, and the last was a unicorn trained in battle magic. They had all already set up a pressure trap on the road to disable the wagon once it passed over it, and Sleipnir licked his lips slowly as he glanced up at the noonday sun, muttering: "Just please, by Mimir's head... let's take this peacefully one accursed time..."

He shifted a bit, sighing a little and looking silently down at the pack hanging at his side: hidden amongst a few tools, there was a letter he wanted to send to Luna. However, both ponies and the certain forces that had sent him down from Valhalla did everything they could to interfere with his communications with Luna and Enstasis, intercepting the few letters he did manage to send off one way or the other, and simply not letting him leave Ponyville. Even Applejack, despite her promise to let Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom meet if diplomacy could be started, seemed very eager to simply not let diplomacy start... and now poor Apple Bloom was sad and miserable half the time because it seemed that in spite of everything, in spite of all he'd managed, he wasn't going to be able to help her see her lady-love after all.

It infuriated him, and he gritted his teeth as he leaned forwards a bit: by this point, normally he would have simply stormed through Ponyville, punching ponies out of the way if necessary, and gone out to the Castle come Helheim or high water... but unfortunately, it wasn't just ponies getting in his way. Odin had friends in high places, friends whom he'd left Valhalla to, and sworn to avenge Odin and defend Valhalla's honor as he was, it meant he had to take orders from those certain 'friends' no matter how badly he wanted to pummel them as well.

For one thing, they didn't want him communicating with Luna, Scrivener, or any other beings of Enstasis, despite the fact he was certain by now his family knew he was here. They said it wouldn't be tactically sound, wouldn't be right, that they were the enemy... but what did they know? Sleipnir huffed in disgust and spat to the side, grumbling: "But 'twill all be over soon. They had the power to unlock the Bifrost and send me to this world from Valhalla, but 'tis only my code of honor and promise to them that keeps me from charging out to Enstasis... and even that will fray thin soon enough at this rate. My honor cannot stand up to the tears of a little filly."

He grumbled a bit, absently patting the pack at his side as he sighed a little, adding moodily: "Not that I could not fix both if only they would leave a single servant of Luna's alive... teach them to defend themselves, and these morons turn their defenses into weapons. But what use is a sword or spear when the enemy has a bow? Oh, idiots, you'll be wishing for thine damnable shields then..."

He continued to grumble grouchily to himself for a little while... and then he quieted and looked sharply up as the world around him whispered to his instincts, dropping himself lower as the ground and closing his eyes, listening to the sounds of the earth. A single wagon... one... two... only two ponies guarding it? Oh, Mimir's head...

Sleipnir made a face of disgust and shook his head moodily. Attacking trade caravans to try and incite war as it was made him feel dirty. Attacking what could be nothing more than a few lonely ponies trying to get supplies for themselves, or even deliver a diplomatic message... he loathed the idea of it. And yet here he was, doing it because the ponies begged and pleaded for help and every time he did refuse to participate, they botched things up or ended the confrontation in a bloodbath...

"I am here to right my sister's wrongs, even though the methods by which I must do this are... unpleasant. I am sorry friends. I am sorry, sister." Sleipnir muttered, and then he sighed quietly, hearing rickety wheels approaching as the supply wagon clanked and rumbled along the road.

The sound grew, and now he could hear hooves as well... soft steps, as he leaned up to peer carefully out of his hiding place. And just as the earth had told him, there were only two ponies dressed in loose, fluttering brown cloaks, the taller one pulling the cart, the other striding easily along beside her, both walking with heads down and hoods covering their faces. They were silent as they strode onwards, likely not noticing anything was out of the ordinary even as they strode over the pressure trap...

And then the wheels of the wagon rolled onto the expertly-hidden panel, and there was a loud clank of metal, both ponies looking up in surprise before the snap of twanging wires filled the air and conical metal spikes shot up through the dust around the wheels, ripping the feeble wood apart and making the wagon shudder as it half-listed from a particularly-large piece of wheel tearing out of place.

Sleipnir sighed morosely as he climbed to his hooves, watching as the four Knights of New Equestria all leapt forwards, one of them snarling as he charged in before stabbing his knife viciously into the chest of the smaller pony, sending her collapsing in a heap as another fired a bolt into the chest of the other pony even as it yanked itself free of the harnesses around it. It staggered backwards, and then Sleipnir cursed angrily as a second silver bolt rammed home into the pony's chest, knocking it slumping back against the wagon before the giant earth pony shouted: "Cease!"

He stormed into the road as the Knights of New Equestria looked up hesitantly, the one that had leapt out skittering away from the bodies as the Pegasus with the crossbow hesitantly emerged from the edge of the forest... and then winced when Sleipnir slapped the bow out of his hooves, shouting down into his face: "Art thou mad or merely cruel? Two bolts, really? And thou, great idiot! Does thou think we really are nothing but raiders and brigands instead of-"

Then a dry chuckle rose up, cutting him off before the smaller pony easily climbed back to her hooves despite the knife sticking out of her chest, hood falling back to reveal dull-gray features and red-rimmed, glowing blue eyes, the mare grinning widely as she rasped: "Silly little toy actually hurt... blessed silver, huh?"

"Oh god it's Pinkamena!" the Knight exclaimed, as all eyes only stared in horror for a moment before the demon reached up with a grin and ripped the weapon out of her chest... and then, in a single, easy movement, stepped forwards and lashed the knife back across the face of the pony that had stabbed her, sending him falling backwards with a scream.

It startled the ponies out of horror, Sleipnir snarling as he picked up the crossbow and shoved it back into the hooves of the Pegasus, the unicorn at the other side of the wagon running forwards with her horn glowing... before the second cloaked pony stood up despite the arrows sticking out of her chest, hood falling back to reveal violet, stitched features and glowing, cold eyes as she snapped her own horn briskly upwards, and Sleipnir's eyes widened in horror as the ground beneath the unicorn Knight exploded, thorny brambles and vines lashing upwards and seizing violently around the now-screaming pony before dragging him savagely down into the earth. "That's... Luna's magic!"

Sleipnir immediately leapt backwards, slamming a rear hoof out into the narrow body of a tree behind him without looking as the other knights panicked. The demon was on top of one of them, grinning viciously and teasingly as she swayed the knife back and forth over his eyes as he could only scream and bleed from the wound on his face, and the violet mage's eye had turned to the crossbow-wielding Pegasus as she snarled, silver bolts smacking one after the other into her body as the last Knight ran to help his pinned comrade.

Just as the stitched-face mare began to raise her horn, Sleipnir hefted the small tree he had simply kicked down, half-spun, and threw it like a spear, sending the broken trunk ripping through the body of the surprised cloaked mage and knocking her flying backwards through one of the wooden arms at the front of the wagon. She crashed to the ground and skidded backwards, held in an awkward sitting position by the tree ripped halfway through her chest, her jaw slack and eyes closed... before they flickered open, and she grinned widely as the stitches over her features pulsed, Sleipnir paling instantly. "By Mimir, what creatures has Luna created?"

The other knife-wielding pony pounced towards Pinkamena's back... but the demon was fast, half-spinning and slapping the flat side of the knife across the face of the pony in midair, only leaving a small, bloody nick on his cheek and knocking him limply to the side before she began to turn back towards the pony she was straddling... and then she was knocked flat as a silver bolt smacked loudly into her skull. The two ponies scrambled hurriedly away from her as the demon lay prone for a moment, then snarled as black smoke boiled up from the wound, reaching up and ripping the bolt free from her skull as she sat up and glared at the Pegasus as her eyes turned solid blue. "I'm going to cut your wings off!"

The Pegasus winced even as he hurriedly loaded another bolt, and Sleipnir gritted his teeth as he began to charge towards the unicorn as the other two knights visibly tried to gather their courage... and then Sleipnir's eyes were drawn towards the wagon before he stared in horror as it took on a distinct, golden glow, feeling a pulse of powerful magic he recognized all too well. And a moment later, the carriage exploded in a blast of golden fire and light, sending him staggering and knocking the stunned knights nearby flying, the Pegasus gaping in shock as a massive figure strode calmly out of the smoking ruins of the shattered supply carriage.

Armored in gold and masked, with enormous white wings that flapped once before furling at her side and a mane of writhing white-and-yellow flames, Sleipnir paled in horror... and then he squeaked as the amethyst irises barely visible beneath the sockets of the faceless mask glared at him before the titanic earth pony howled: "Retreat! Retreat!"

The Pegasus reacted first, yelling as he took to the air as Pinkamena grumbled and threw the knife after him, just missing the fleeing pony. The other two knights shot down the road as well, ignored by the demon as the violet mare only grinned after them, tree still buried through her body, and Sleipnir slowly stumbled backwards as he swallowed thickly before spinning around and fleeing himself with a terrified wince on his face.

The golden-armored titan immediately gave chase, shooting after him as Sleipnir scrambled down the road, then squeaked like a scared child when he looked over his shoulder and saw her gaining rapidly on him before the enormous figure leapt forwards, propelling herself powerfully with her wings and tackling him into the dirt road, Sleipnir skidding several feet on his chest and face and pinned by the goliath as he yelped loudly. He began to try and scramble forwards, but a moment later was firmly rolled onto his back before a hoof slammed down into the road beside his head, burying into the dirt beside him and making him fall still as he grinned awkwardly up at her and said weakly: "Celestia... dear big sister, I... thou hast the same pretty eyes as I remember! And... and a horn. Yet I had heard that Scrivener took thy horn, my, what... what a strange coincidence. We... we shall have to catch up sometime but I do have those children to escort back to Ponyville..."

Celestia looked moodily down at Sleipnir through her facemask, and then she reached up and pushed this up, revealing her ivory features, and Sleipnir looked both relieved and even more terrified before she sighed a little and slowly stood up, stepping back and saying irritably: "I'm taking you as a prisoner of war, Sleipnir. We've been waiting for you for a long time at Enstasis. And I have to say, I'm rather disappointed in you."

"Oh, there thou goes, judging me as if I liked acting like some common knave!" Sleipnir retorted, and then he winced at the glare Celestia favored him with, shrinking his head back into his armor and mumbling: "Please do not set me on fire, sister. I dislike being enemies with thee. Thou always took sparring far too seriously."

Celestia only sighed and shook her head grouchily, then jerked her head at him, and Sleipnir rolled to his hooves and hesitantly stood, head still lowered. For a moment, they only studied each other... and then both ponies smiled a little before brother and sister stepped forwards and embraced fiercely, Sleipnir's expression spreading into a grin before he slapped her armored shoulders and leaned back, exclaiming: "Look at thee, though! Aye, this is the Celestia I knew and loved, beautiful and bulky, not a whining monarch on her high-above throne!"

"Please at least try and act like a prisoner until we reach Enstasis." Celestia said tiredly, but Sleipnir only gazed at her with warmth before the ivory equine sighed and turned, flicking her head to let her facemask fall back into place. "Come, I'll introduce you to the others."

"They and thee did not kill any of the ponies I was with, I see." Sleipnir said thoughtfully as they headed back towards the ambush point, the enormous earth pony's eyes locking on where the body of the mage unicorn now lay, battered and bruised and unconscious... but obviously still alive, even as the demon rudely kicked it towards the side of the road. "What a nasty creature."

"Screw you." Pinkamena retorted without looking up, looking disgusted as she reached up and rubbed at the slowly-healing, black wound in her head. "Me, if I had my way? I'd still leave you all alive, sure. But I'd have skinned you all first."

"Sleipnir, allow me to introduce Pinkamena. And this is my friend, my family, Twilight Shadow." Celestia gestured towards the purple mare who was now sitting with her cloak off, the tree removed from her body as she calmly stitched the gaping wound in her chest closed.

She looked up moodily at Sleipnir, and Sleipnir looked back for a few moments before he leaned forwards and said kindly: "I would apologize for trying to kill thee, but it seems that thou art perfectly fine."

"Yeah, there's just a hole in my body big enough for a pony to put their head through." Twilight muttered, and then she glared at Pinkamena when the demon looked at her with a wide grin. "No."

"Losers." Pinkamena muttered, and then she rubbed moodily again at the wound in her head before sniffing disdainfully as Sleipnir studied them curiously. "What the hell's so interesting?"

"Should I not be interested in such pretty mares, whether they are of evil persuasion or not?" Sleipnir replied with a wink, leaning down towards Pinkamena... and then he winced when she reached up and seized his face. For a moment, she only glared at him as he looked awkwardly back... and then she grinned widely before her teeth parted and her long tongue snaked out, leaning forwards and dragging a slow lick up the side of his muzzle and along his cheek.

She smacked her lips as she drew back, and Sleipnir cleared his throat before the demon said thoughtfully: "Not bad. Say, Celestia, how long are we going to keep your brother in the torture chambers?"

"That depends on how long thou wishes to torture me. 'Tis not my choice when I am free to leave, now is it?" Sleipnir replied easily, winking, and Pinkamena snorted laughter before she turned with a shake of her head, the male grinning cheerfully... then wincing when Celestia firmly slapped the back of her brother's head, making him sulk. "Must thou ruin all the fun of being captured by the enemy?"

"Luna and Scrivener are waiting to talk to you, Sleipnir, and then we'll send you back to Ponyville, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in a few days depending on what you tell us and what occurs after the Knights report their failed raid." Celestia said dryly, and Sleipnir grumbled a bit under his breath even as he gave a small smile, the two siblings studying one-another for a moment before older sister said softly: "I'm glad to see you."

Then she shook her head as Twilight finished stitching her wound closed with a grimace, her horn glowing and causing the string to snap and then neatly knot closed before she sighed a little as she slipped the thick black string and needle back into a pocket of her cloak as she pulled the brown material up around her body, muttering: "Well, that's about as good as I can manage for now. I'm ready to go if you are, Celestia."

"Pinkamena?" Celestia glanced towards the demon, but she only grunted and nodded before the ivory equine smiled slightly, speaking to Sleipnir even as her eyes looked calmly ahead down the road: "We'll walk in simple prisoner formation. I'll lead, Twilight and Pinkamena will escort. Please do not attempt to escape."

"Worry not, I've been waiting to be captured for a while now, sister... although I do appreciate that thou shall free me afterwards, much as at the same time... I feel regret for it that I shall have to leave." Sleipnir paused, looking down quietly as he murmured: "I made promises, sister. I have my honor to uphold."

"As I have mine. Let us go, then." Celestia said gently, striding forwards, and Sleipnir calmly fell into step behind her with a smile, Pinkamena and Twilight hurrying to either side of the male as the violet mare looked up with both confusion and interest, but kept her questions to herself for now.

Sleipnir was docile on the march to Enstasis... in fact, he seemed cheerful, smiling every so often up at the sky, here and there chatting calmly with Celestia or Pinkamena: it surprised Twilight how amiable the demon was with him at first, but it didn't take long to realize why. Sleipnir flirted, teased, and talked to her, even though they had just met, even though he knew she was a demon, as if she were any other pretty mare... and it had made Twilight soften and look at him with growing interest before the male's eyes had finally turned to her as they neared Enstasis, asking curiously: "And what of thee, Twilight? I do believe my sister spoke to me of thee when we had the joys of spending time together in Valhalla, in that pleasant space of time betwixt being enemies."

"I... well... really?" Twilight shifted a bit, and Sleipnir smiled warmly with a firm nod before the violet winged unicorn looked ahead, blushing a bit before she started to speak before even realizing it: "I... I was Celestia's apprentice years ago, and I got to know Luna after one Nightmare Night... Scrivener I had met before but... we weren't exactly friendly at first. But... I got... closer and closer to Luna over the years, and... well... here I am."

"Here thou art." Sleipnir nodded agreeably as if the story explained everything, which made Twilight blush awkwardly, and then the male laughed and nudged her playfully as he walked along, almost knocking her sprawling. "Look at thee! Sister, I have made this creature blush, that means she must be more than alive enough to indulge in delight! Tell me, is she good in bed? I can tell thou art fond of her."

"Please save questions like that for Luna." Celestia said tiredly as Twilight turned almost scarlet, and Sleipnir threw his head back and laughed again as they approached the steps of Enstasis. The stallion grinned widely as they passed through the enormous portcullis and into the courtyard... and then Celestia stepped nimbly out of the way as he heard charging hooves before the stallion grinned brightly as Luna shot towards him, leaping forwards and sweeping her up even as she tackled him onto his back.

They crashed loudly to the ground and rolled a few times, Luna looking delighted as Sleipnir laughed loudly, embracing fiercely as they clung to one another and Scrivener smiled warmly, joining the group as Luna pinned the male on his back and exclaimed: "Brother! 'Tis truly wonderful to see thee here, oh happy days, happy moment of peace before the storm! Look at thee, handsome and strong Sleipnir, my brother who walks the world again!"

"And sister, gorgeous sister... and what, what is this?" Sleipnir grinned widely from the ground, reaching a hoof up to stroke over the collar melded into her neck as he half-lidded his eyes. "Why, sister, thou naughty girl! What sick, depraved, evil, wicked things thou and Scrivener Blooms must get up to! I am shocked and appalled and order thee to let me watch!"

Luna only laughed and shook her head, gazing radiantly down at him as her dark coat almost gleamed, her eyes bright with happiness before she finally slipped off Sleipnir and pulled him firmly up to his hooves. They traded another hug... and then Scrivener wheezed as Sleipnir turned and hugged him tightly as well, reaching awkwardly up to return the embrace before the stallion drew back and grinned slightly as he drew a hoof along the white scarring around Scrivener's neck. "By Yggdrasil. Thou art both mad. I adore it. But come, come! Tell me all about thy home, show me Enstasis, I am eager to see everything and spend all the time I can with thee as a captured prisoner... perhaps I shall even be interrogated by some wicked demons later."

His eyes half-lidded as they glanced over at Pinkamena, who grinned widely in response and licked her lips slowly, and Luna snorted in amusement as she shook her head. "Thou shall never change, will thou, Sleipnir? But am I ever glad to see thee... and oh, Scarlet Sage, come and meet thy uncle!"

Immediately, Sleipnir looked up with interest, then he smiled warmly at the sight of a small filly approaching, a blushing blonde Pegasus and a burning black Phooka striding quietly behind her as the filly gazed up at him... and Sleipnir immediately leaned down, saying kindly: "So this is the daughter thou speaks so highly of, and so adorable, particularly for a Blood Seer! But thou should know I am rightly jealous of thee, Scarlet Sage, and have tried unsuccessfully to steal away thy lady-love, Apple Bloom, on more than one occasion."

Scarlet Sage looked up sharply at this, a blush filling her face as Celestia, Luna, Scrivener, and Twilight all looked up at the male with surprise... and then Sleipnir slid forwards and rested his hooves on the filly's shoulders, saying warmly: "But she is more loyal to thee than thou can imagine, and so instead, I have made them promise and swear, I made Applejack herself vow, that if I and Twilight or Celestia or some other diplomat wert to bring thee to Ponyville, thou may meet with thy ladylove, and this vow, this promise, I have sworn to fulfill by any means necessary."

Luna looked at Sleipnir with adoration, and Scrivener felt a warm smile spread over his own features: and the warmth, the honesty, the affection in Sleipnir's eyes made it clear that he wasn't lying, wasn't exaggerating even to the most distrustful pony there as Scarlet Sage gazed up at him, trembling, then leapt up and hugged his armored chest, and the male laughed as he hugged her fiercely in return, saying jovially: "Delightful child! A promise I make is a promise I keep, always!"

"Thank you..." Scarlet Sage whispered, smiling brightly, and then she blushed a bit as she slipped away after a moment, looking up at him warmly. "You're... I mean..."

"I cannot stand to see a foal suffer so, and 'tis not right that thou should be separated from thy mare. Why, Luna was never forced to separate from her mare, after all, Scrivener Blooms followed her into exile." Sleipnir said cheerfully, and Scrivy rolled his eyes as Luna laughed and nodded agreeably. "But come, come, come, so much to see! So much to discuss! Why, look at these spectacular sights, like this gorgeous mare and her Phooka admirer... never would one see that in Ponyville these days, and 'tis truly a sight for sore eyes. It reminds me, in fact, of that time..."

"Sleipnir, please restrain yourself a little. Scarlet Sage is still a filly and not all of us want to hear the kinds of things your stories always involve." Celestia said dryly, even as Luna huffed and glared pointedly at her older sister. Celestia, however, only shook her head before she added in a gentler voice: "I'll go and help Twilight with her repairs. Why don't you show Sleipnir around Enstasis, and we'll meet back in the Garden to discuss the current situation."

"Yeah, but don't forget he's a prisoner. I call dibs on him later." Pinkamena said mildly, clapping her front hooves together with a grin, and Sleipnir gave her a wink as Luna snorted in amusement. "Hey, somepony around here has to interrogate him."

"Are you really a prisoner, sir? You seem so... friendly. And if you're Luna's brother..." Fluttershy blushed a bit as the male's eyes turned to her, adding after a moment. "I'm sorry, I was rude and didn't introduce myself. My name is Fluttershy."

"And I am Sleipnir, as I am sure thou hast heard, and why yes, I am indeed the brother to Luna and Celestia, but also an enemy in these sad and lost times... although I hope that one day, again, we may all be friends and allies, once this struggle ends." Sleipnir replied gently, smiling benevolently at the Pegasus before his eyes roved fearlessly to the Phooka. They studied each other for a moment, and then Sleipnir's eyes moved back to the Pegasus and he stepped forwards, leaning down and kissing her forehead gently and making her blush. "Congratulations upon thy motherhood. May the blessings of Asgard rain down upon thee and thy foals."

"Oh... t-thank you." Fluttershy stuttered, looking up with a warm smile as the Phooka beside her bowed its head politely, and Sleipnir winked at the creature of shadow before he smiled and strode easily past towards the immense double doors at the other end of the courtyard, and Luna smiled warmly as she hurried to her brother's side, Scrivener Blooms and Scarlet Sage following.

Sleipnir was fascinated with Enstasis, delighting in the architecture, not in the slightest put off by the demons and servants, and grinning brightly when Luna grinned widely and pushed open the doors to the cushion-covered 'play room' she'd had set up specifically for this one moment. Their concubines and concubinus had all been gathered inside, demons, Greater Nightmares, Moon Blessed all looking up, and Sleipnir had wildly clapped his hooves before Luna had allowed the door to fall back closed as she'd said sweetly: "And they are mine. Not thine."

"Such cruelty! Such malice!" Sleipnir clutched at his chest, looking horrified as Scarlet Sage giggled and Scrivener snorted in amusement, and then the stallion dropped flat on his stomach as he held his front hooves up, pleading: "Just one! Just one, please please please!"

"No." Luna said smugly, and then she calmly walked overtop him, raising her head and saying cheerfully: "There are certain advantages to being evil, Sleipnir. This is one of them."

Sleipnir mumbled a bit to himself, then he slowly reached a hoof out to push one of the swinging doors ajar, licking his lips as he began to slip carefully forwards, but Luna only rolled her eyes as her horn glowed and a soft blue aura surrounded the male, dragging the earth pony backwards as she strode easily along and making him yell and flail childishly. "Oh, stop it. As if thou has ever had a problem finding suitable company for the night."

"That is not the point!" Sleipnir argued grouchily, but he had gone back to staring around with delight as they'd made their way through the castle halls until they eventually worked their way down to the Garden. Once here, Luna turned to Scarlet Sage... but instead of dismissing the filly, she hesitated and then sighed a little, trading a look with Scrivener, and then with her older brother.

Sleipnir nodded hesitantly after a moment, and Luna softened as she returned her eyes to Scarlet Sage, saying quietly: "Daughter... thou art old enough to stay with us and listen to our conversation if thou likes. But it will not be entirely pleasant, does thou understand? Yet I know... I know we cannot shield thee from everything forever, that we cannot treat thee as... a fragile foal for much longer. Thou may stay if thou likes."

"I... thank you, Mom." Scarlet murmured softly, and she hugged one of Luna's forelimbs tightly, the winged unicorn smiling faintly as Scrivener gazed softly towards the foal. "I'll stay then. I... I wanna know why all this is happening."

"Aye, 'tis a complex tale, though, and sordid too." Sleipnir said softly, and then he grumbled as he reached up and began to pull off his armor, muttering: "I do not look forwards to this chapter of our lives, though, sister."

"Nor do I. Nor do any of us." Luna said quietly, glancing over her shoulder as the door opened and Twilight and Celestia both emerged, adorned only with their collars now. Sleipnir's own eyes roved up, and then his jaw dropped at the sight of both collar and tattoo as Celestia gave him an amused look, Luna saying mildly: "Oh, that is nothing compared to the fact Celestia herself serves as First Concubine."

"Disgusting! Terrible! Horrible!" Sleipnir shouted, straightening as if outraged as he tossed the last of his armor away... and he peered at Celestia before leaning towards Scrivener and bringing a hoof up, whispering loudly behind it: "What must I do to have her sent to my bedroom tonight?"

Celestia shot him a horrible look, and Sleipnir cleared his throat violently before he hurriedly added: "To... to save thee, of course, from this... terrible predicament and... uh... brush our manes together?"

For a few moments, Celestia only looked at Sleipnir, then she sighed a little at sat down as Twilight looked towards Scarlet Sage. But she didn't question it, only smiling supportively at the filly before bringing her eyes up and asking quietly: "Sleipnir, if I'm... if it's okay for me to ask... how is Ponyville doing? How are... how are Applejack and Rainbow Dash, do you know them?"

"Very well, but I know Big Mac better." Sleipnir grinned widely with a wink, and Luna covered her mouth to suppress her giggles as Celestia only shook her head and Scrivener looked with both amusement and disbelief at the titanic stallion. "But in all seriousness I do. And in all honesty..."

He quieted a little, becoming more serious as he shook out his mane of vines grimly. "Let me say first that thy friends are fine-"

"They... they are not my friends." Twilight murmured quietly, bowing her head, and Sleipnir frowned a bit as he looked up, but then Twilight Shadow smiled faintly and reached up to silently touch the stitching across her face. "Before... even before I became a Lich, before I was tied to Luna... just my... my love for your little sister, and wanting to find a peaceful solution, Applejack ran me out of town after Celestia gave herself up. And between the mare he loves and his egghead friend, who is Rainbow going to choose? Who does Rainbow have to choose, with... so many ponies depending on him? Even Big Mac... as kind and wonderful as he is, I know his family has to come first."

"I see then, Twilight... aye, the pieces fit together in my mind now. Poor, lost creature..." Sleipnir shook his head slowly, gazing at her with sympathy. "Aye, they do not see thee as friend, I will be blunt. But that does not mean that thou cannot still be their friend. Oh yes, it hurts. Yes, 'tis difficult to offer open hoof when they blindly swing and maul. But tell me, Twilight, if thou could have them again as friends, wouldn't thou want that?"

"I..." Twilight hesitated, but when Luna smiled at her encouragingly, when Scrivener gave her a small nod and Celestia looked at her softly, and even Scarlet Sage gazed up with a trusting, compassionate smile... the purple mare closed her eyes, blushing deeply even as she whispered: "Maybe it's the old me talking but... I would. I would, Sleipnir."

"Then thou art their friend still, honored and true, and that is something to be proud of." Sleipnir smiled warmly at her, and then he nodded once before stomping a hoof gently and saying quietly: "But to answer in fuller detail... Ponyville is precariously-balanced, sitting on the edge of becoming a place as terrible as that which they wish to defend against. They have been so filled with fear by one-another, by old stories and the orders of scared barons and baronesses that they are already resorting to tactics of murder and savagery. 'Tis disgusting."

He grimaced and shook his head quickly, then continued in a moody voice: "I have struggled to tell them the truth. I have striven to make them seek a peaceful solution. But they are all so... so eager to pin these evils upon Nightmare Moon, and the loss of thee, Celestia, has panicked them grievously. But much of it, I think, is from the shocks of Ragnarok, because Equestria had been a once-peaceful country that had plunged first into war with darkness it barely believed in before the world burned."

He snorted in ironic amusement, shaking his head slowly. "'Twas like taking a noble-born foal out of a palace where he had once been given everything, and throwing him into a war-zone to fend for himself. Now, even though he was brought out of that destruction and back to the peace and quiet, he sits with his crossbow, shooting at shadows, panicking over every little sound. Aye, I would pity these Equestrians were they not so bloodthirsty."

For a few moments, Sleipnir paused and looked down ruefully, and then he gazed up and said softly: "And as I am sure thou art aware, my siblings, I am not here entirely of mine own choice. But thou killed Odin, and sacked Valhalla. In the eyes of certain parties, thou hast begun serving interests that would destroy this world, and possibly poison and corrupt other layers of reality... and so those who have taken over in Father's place have sent me here with the express orders to aid all forces that would fight against thee, in every way I can. And I have, little sister. It shames me, but I have."

Luna only gazed at him softly, even as Twilight frowned, before Scarlet Sage looked up and asked quietly: "But why are you doing this when you don't want to, Sleipnir? Mom... Mom only did what she had to do. Mom and Dad aren't the bad guys, not really..."

Sleipnir smiled warmly at this, even as his eyes gleamed with sadness. "Oh, innocent and young and sweet little filly! If only it were so simple... if only the righteous and the wicked were so clearly marked! But honor and blood and law sing in my veins for vengeance... even as my heart weeps at the same time, and my mind fogs with sweet memories when I look at my sister, blurring what I must do..."

He gazed up at her silently, then suddenly smiled wider even as Luna looked back at him with sorrow in her own eyes, starry mane swaying silently around her. "Oh sister... does thou remember our old journeys? The songs we used to sing in the bars together, while our eldest sibling hid herself away... the drunken bar-fights and teasing the prostitutes and gambling away our money... wonderful times, wonderful days!"

"Days long passed now, Sleipnir... but in a way, that I still hope to reclaim in this wild world. I do not intend to simply lounge around a lazy queen, like Celestia did..." Luna smiled slightly over at the ivory equine, who smiled back despite herself after a moment. "Nay, I plan to full-well enjoy freedom even with my rule... to ride my mighty steed across Equestria, to seek our adventure once... once I am in my rightful place."

"Those words chill me, sister." Sleipnir said quietly, even as he smiled a little, and Luna blushed a bit, bowing her head slightly before the stallion sighed a little, shaking his head slowly. "And to get to that rightful place... I must be trampled beneath thy hooves, thou understand this, yes?"

Luna only closed her eyes, and there was silence for a moment before Celestia asked softly: "And what about those who sent you down from Asgard? No soul can simply leave Paradise to return to the planet, especially not the Vale of Valhalla or its mighty castle. Not even a soul as mighty and blessed as yours, Sleipnir..."

Sleipnir only smiled wryly at this, however, winking across at Celestia as he said gently: "And thou knows well that is not information I can simply give to thee, beloved big sister. Nay, 'twill have to be forced out of me by means fair or foul... and whilst I would far prefer the fair..."

"This is not a game, Sleipnir." Celestia said quietly, but the stallion only smiled and bowed his head, and the ivory equine sighed a little even as she smiled faintly, murmuring: "Alright, I apologize. I know... that you know better than that. And that you take your code of honor seriously, so... how badly do I have to beat you in order to make you relinquish the information?"

"Oh, Celestia, I am not at all in thy league and we both know this. I'll take one aggressive step towards thee, and concubine or not, thou shall blast me into the ceiling." Sleipnir replied reasonably, and then he grinned slightly as he glanced towards Scrivener Blooms and Luna. "And while I know that my little sister is also likely-as-not my better... I fear that I must challenge her and her husband all the same. Unless, of course, Luna, thou shalt appoint a champion to fight in thy stead."

Luna smiled slightly at this, and then she looked up in surprise as Twilight rose her head and said quietly: "I'll fight him."

"Twilight Shadow, thou art brave and this is a touching gesture of loyalty, but my brother is powerful. It will be no easy battle." Luna said slowly, but Twilight only smiled a little over at her, looking almost pleading, and Luna sighed a bit before she looked moodily at Sleipnir. "Will this appease thy battle-lust, brother?"

Sleipnir looked thoughtful, then he nodded slowly as he stood up and said quietly, as he lowered his head respectfully: "Her love for thee is pure, her intentions noble. Aye, I would be honored... but know this, Twilight Shadow, I shall give no mercy and no quarter, particularly because I know that to a being of thy persuasion, death is little more than a nuisance. And I expect the same treatment. We are in the presence of the family we respect and adore, fighting for different ideals: thou must strike me until I can rise no more."

Twilight swallowed a little, nodding awkwardly as she said finally: "I've... never had such an intense... it's not a spar at all, is it? It's a duel, even though we're... like family."

"Like family? Like family?" Sleipnir said incredulously, then he strode across the field to lean down over Twilight, the purple mare grinning awkwardly before the stallion shook his head fiercely and then reached up to drag her into a hug that almost crushed her bones, making her squeak as he said firmly: "We are family, Twilight Shadow! Do not insult me before thou hast injured me, 'tis rude."

Then he let her go and firmly patted her on the shoulder as she wheezed for breath, smiling benevolently as he turned away to calmly stride through the Garden as he called easily: "This beautiful sanctuary is the perfect place for a good fight... prepare accordingly, I am ready when thou art! It has been far too long since the pleasures of Hólmgöngulög! The honor duel, the best way to settle all things, aye, is there any truer truth?"

"Yes, one: that thou art a perverted brute." Luna called mildly as she and Scrivener approached Twilight Shadow, while Celestia smiled and gently motioned to Scarlet Sage, the Pegasus and the ivory equine taking to the air to fly up to the balcony at the northern end of the Garden. Sleipnir huffed and glared over his shoulder, but then Luna looked over her own and winked at him, saying kindly: "'Tis just the way I love thee, though, so do not ever change."

Now the stallion looked pleased, nodding firmly once before he dropped low to begin to do easy pushups, stretching his body out, and Luna returned her eyes to Twilight Shadow, saying quietly to the nervous-looking mare: "Keep thy distance if possible, and rely upon spells that will use physical objects to do the damage, not merely lightning and fire. And Twilight I... I thank thee. I did not... want to fight my brother. I know thou must have sensed this and... it speaks a world that thou would risk thyself in battle for me. For... myself and Scrivener Blooms."

Scrivy smiled a little, nodding slowly as Twilight blushed... then Luna leaned forwards, trading a soft kiss for a moment with the mare. Twilight's eyes fluttered closed in pleasure, but then she automatically turned towards Scrivener, almost eager as he reached his claws up to settle on her shoulders and traded his own slow kiss with her... but as their mouths worked together, he breathed slowly into her, and Twilight smiled wider as she felt blue mist spilling gently into her body, sending tremors of pleasure-pain through her before they slowly drew apart.

Their eyes locked, and Scrivener winked, saying softly as he stroked her face gently: "Every little bit helps, right? And Twilight..." He slipped a claw down to her shoulder, locking gazes with her as he said quietly: "We're both monsters. Don't be afraid to do what you have to do. You're beautiful to us... always."

"Thank you." Twilight whispered softly, and Scrivener winked at her before he strode calmly past, his dark horn beginning to glow before he vanished in a burst of sapphire light and reappeared a moment later in the balcony above, and Luna laughed and shook her head at the rare show of the poet's magic before she traded a last firm nod with Twilight Shadow, then leapt up and propelled herself to the balcony as well, turning around to gaze eagerly down into the Garden beside the others as Scarlet Sage climbed happily up onto her father's shoulders to watch with awe.

Sleipnir was grinning widely, his eyes alight with the challenge as he slammed his hooves against the ground. "Art thou ready to begin? Excellent! Well, Twilight Shadow, good fortune favor thee! I shan't tear thy body into too many pieces, I promise!"

Twilight only smiled as she set herself, her eyes and horn glowing slightly as the stitches over her body flexed, her mind filled with anxiety and eagerness. She glanced over her shoulder for a moment, looking up at the balcony high above, eager to impress Luna, Scrivener and Celestia as they gazed down at her from above... but most of all...

Her eyes roved slowly to Luna and Scrivener, licking her lips slowly, feeling the old Twilight part of her fearful, worried, and yet wanting to please, wanting to protect her family from the pain of fighting each other, able to sympathize and yet recognize that the world Sleipnir came from, the world of honor and warriors and battle, meant there was no other choice apart from proving strength and earning respect through raw combat.

And the new Twilight was eager. The Twilight that had Luna's dark enjoyments and Scrivener's hidden desires mixed into her, the Twilight that sometimes rubbed her hooves against her stitches and thought how wonderful it was that now she could protect Luna and Scrivener forever, be there with her beloved more-than-friends for all eternity, that she would literally never be without them again... and that Twilight wanted to fight this powerful, legendary foe, and show the world that not even Luna's brother would be permitted to threaten her, or come between Twilight and her special family...

Then Twilight's eyes flashed as Sleipnir began to charge forwards before she flicked her horn upwards, and the earth in front of the stallion erupted into sharpened, deadly spikes of rock, aiming to end the battle quickly... and then she stared in shock as the earth pony only laughed and dropped low, dodging the sharp points and smashing bodily through the solid rock like it was paper, sending chunks of stone shrapnel flying in all directions as he shouted cheerfully: "Cheeky!"

He charged towards her, and Twilight winced before Sleipnir leapt forwards with a laugh, bringing a hoof back... but then the Lich leaned forwards with a snarl, horn flashing and unleashing a raw blast of force that knocked him flying backwards with a curse. It didn't harm the titan, but knocked him a good twenty feet backwards before he gracefully flipped and crashed down onto his hooves, skidding through the grasses before looking up with a grin as Twilight charged towards him, her horn beginning to glow brightly. "Oh, what's this? Yes, come on then, Twilight Shadow, show me thy mettle!"

Twilight flicked her horn upwards as it released a pulse, and Sleipnir winced as the earth around his hooves shattered, thick vines and brambles ripping up around him, but the earth pony quickly leapt backwards, then threw himself to the side and rolled easily out of the way of the lashing plants before charging swiftly forwards to close the distance towards Twilight. She was grinning, however, her horn still glowing as she flicked it firmly towards him, and the earth pony winced as a blue fireball erupted from her horn, unable to dodge with the narrow space between them.

The force of the explosion knocked Sleipnir skidding on his back through the garden and sent Twilight crashing into a wall with a wince, biting her lip to force herself not to wheeze before she fell onto her haunches, stunned. Her body was steaming lightly, a few stitches popping open as she looked up... and then stared in shock to see Sleipnir already on his hooves again, charging towards her before a hoof smashed firmly into her skull, slamming her head back into the stone wall behind her hard enough to shatter cement like glass as her eyes bulged in shock.

His hooves smashed back and forth across her face, ripping the seam of stitches open and further cracking her skull, and the purple mare snarled; what she felt wasn't comparable to the pain she had as a mortal, but at the same time it was nothing exactly pleasant, either, before her eyes bulged as Sleipnir rammed a hoof into her stomach as he leaned forwards... and then Twilight released a loud rasp as she whiplashed her head forwards, the toxic mist stored in her lungs and body rushing out into Sleipnir's face.

He yelled in surprise and pain as blue mist swirled over his features, several of the large vines making up his mane rotting and falling free as he covered his face, and Twilight leapt forwards with a snarl, bringing her hooves down on top of him and knocking him flat to the ground before she flicked her horn upwards, and the earth pony howled in pain, lifted partly into the air by the spikes of rock that ripped out of the ground beneath him before he yelled in agony as he tore himself backwards, ripping free of the dangerous spikes before they could tear all the way through him or Twilight could hit him again, the purple mare's eyes widening in surprise before Sleipnir leapt forwards and slammed a hoof through the jutting rocks and into Twilight's body.

The mare was sent hurtling backwards, crashing to the ground and rolling several times with a sick tearing sound before one of her forelegs tore free from her form, the Lich gasping as she sprawled on her stomach and stared incredulously at this. Her ribs felt crushed and broken, and blue mist leaked up from the rips in her body as she breathed hard in and out, looking across the Garden at Sleipnir as he slowly straightened and shook his face out with a grimace. They were bloody, bruised and wounded, his body had several large rips and deeper stab wounds, but he was grinning all the same as he hugged his chest, saying quietly: "Not bad, Lich. But one more good strike and I fear thou will have no choice but to surrender."

"No..." Twilight whispered, snarling as she clutched at her missing limb, her body shivering before she shoved her three hooves into the ground and straightened, her eyes blazing with unholy light as both old Twilight and new Twilight writhed in her mind, both sides of her knowing she couldn't fail Luna, that everything rode on this as she snarled in fury.

Sleipnir only grinned, however, readying himself to charge as Twilight's horn glowed, his sharp eyes watching her movements before he suddenly burst into a sprint, and the violet pony snapped her horn upwards with a desperate yell, electricity surging around her before a sizzling blue mist filled the air in a flash.

Sleipnir skidded to a halt in front of this with a wince, gritting his teeth before he leaned forwards and shouted into the cloud as it sparked and sizzled faintly: "Thou cannot hide for long, Twilight Shadow! Come out and let's finish this!"

"Fine." rasped a voice, and Sleipnir grinned slightly... then stared as the cloud burst apart and a creature more than twice his size glared down at him. Twilight's sockets were filled with baleful, unholy light as her black mane burned like fire around a horn as large and deadly as a sword, her teeth huge and sharp and uneven. The stitching that had once held her body tightly had all broken loose, leaving her purple coat in tatters and raw flesh exposed everywhere else, steam hissing up from her now-immense frame, a whip-like tail snapping behind her as wings that were no longer feathered, but leathery and black, flapped slowly at her sides.

Sleipnir looked awkwardly up at her as she slowly leaned down, and then he gritted his teeth before leaping forwards and smashing a hoof into her, knocking the now-gigantic Lich crashing backwards with a grunt of surprise before he ran forwards... but Twilight's horn gave a bright pulse before she snapped her head backwards, and Sleipnir yelled as he was caught by telekinesis and thrown past her to crash face-first into the wall, falling limply before Twilight rolled over and lunged forwards before Sleipnir could pick himself up, slamming her front hoof down into the middle of his back and pinning him.

He howled in pain, arching his back before the Lich ground savagely down, saying moodily: "Like what you see now, Sleipnir?"

"Thou looks like Celestia in the early morning." Sleipnir mumbled in response, glaring over his shoulder at her before he suddenly rolled, seizing her front hoof, and then he twisted it savagely and threw the Lich hard to the side, slamming her down to the ground before snarling as he tore backwards, and Twilight shrieked in pain as her foreleg was torn free from her body before Sleipnir leapt on top of her, pinning her back as he glared down at her with both pity and frustration. "I know not whether to admire thee or chasten thee."

Twilight grinned slightly, however, and for a moment Sleipnir looked confused... and then Twilight's horn gave a single, sharp pulse before vines and brambles tore up from the field around them, snapping around Sleipnir and the Lich and dragging him down to pin him against her body as he cursed and struggled, then stared as Twilight leaned down, bringing her jaws to his before she whispered: "Then how about you just give me a kiss instead?"

She inhaled slowly as her horn glowed, crackling with dark energy, and Sleipnir arched his back, his eyes widening with a rasp as he felt the color draining from his features, felt his energy being absorbed into the Lich's frame as he struggled uselessly against the brambles and vines tying them both down, cursing under his breath and clenching his eyes shut as he shivered and cursed: "Damnable monster, I... I shan't... damnation!"

He half-turned away... flinched at a loud snort... then a moment later slowly, hesitantly opened one eye to see Twilight looking at him moodily despite the small, hidden smile over the skull-like features of the Lich as she said gently: "I won."

"I... thou... what?" Sleipnir looked at her stupidly, but Twilight only smiled before she gritted her teeth, her horn glowing as her body sizzled with energy beneath him... and then she let out a short, weak gasp of pain as her form slowly shrank back down and compressed itself, some of the torn stitching attempting to knit back together as the vines and brambles loosened around them.

She was left, laying wheezing on her back, Sleipnir laying overtop her before Twilight smiled awkwardly up at him and kicked him gently with a rear hoof, saying finally: "Will you get off me? And please bring me the legs you punched off?"

"Must I?" Sleipnir asked wryly, and Twilight glared up at him... then winced when Luna crashed firmly into the male's side and sent him flying several feet with a yelp as he ripped through the slack brambles twined around his body, crashing and rolling before the winged unicorn growled and leapt over Twilight to ram bodily into her brother again and knock him rolling another few feet.

Twilight, meanwhile, sat slowly up before blushing as Scrivener gently grasped the back of her neck, helping her to a sitting position as he held up her thread and needle in his other claw, saying gently: "Stay still now, Twilight. I didn't expect that fight to be so vicious, though... or you to willingly pop your own restraints."

"I... I guess I gave in to passion for a few moments." Twilight said awkwardly, blushing a bit as she looked away... and then winced a little at the sight of Sleipnir covering his head with his hooves as Luna pummeled him firmly into the ground, sounding frustrated as she shouted at him. The Lich turned her eyes back to Scrivener... and then she blushed a bit, saying finally: "I didn't want to disappoint either of you. So I... I let myself go. I know, I know, it wears my body out faster, but..."

"It's alright. Sleipnir would have torn you apart otherwise." Scrivener smiled a bit as he removed broken stitches, then began to sew her torn coat shut, saying softly: "You can always be repaired, though. That's the good thing about you being... what you are. About taking after me and Luna in how when we get too excited, we... we change. We take the shape of ponies, but none of us... are really ponies anymore. These shapes are our disguises... so it's beautiful and enviable when you... take off that mask."

Twilight smiled a little up at him, blushing quietly as they studied each other for a few moments before Scrivener quietly began to sew the large slash across her features back closed. Then her eyes roved to Luna as the dark-coated winged unicorn approached with one of her severed limbs, before sighing and saying mildly: "Twilight, thy wings have fallen off."

"Oh, well... that's no big deal." Twilight said awkwardly, and then she winced a little as Luna firmly shoved the leg into place, and the severed stump glowed blue before flesh and bone mended together, her upper leg twitching a it as she gazed quietly up at Luna. "I'm sorry."

"Do not be. Thou did marvelously, considering Sleipnir's power and experience. Besides, 'tis him I am mad at." Luna glared over her shoulder at the dazed, sprawled-out pony. "His ferocity scared poor Scarlet Sage. She stayed to watch the battle, though, but it will do her well if thou reassures her a little. She is unused to seeing thee... well... being knocked to pieces."

"I will." Twilight smiled quietly as Scrivener moved on to sew along the repaired limb, before the violet mare blushed quietly as Celestia approached, then dropped her head forwards embarrassedly even as the ivory equine fitted her other lost limb back into place. "Celestia..."

But the fiery-maned winged unicorn only smiled a little, shaking her head slowly and saying softly: "I know full well what a Lich is, Twilight Shadow, and what they are capable of. Sustained through dark magic and vital force, and furthermore you are tied to Luna and Scrivener... but if anything, I can respect you for the fact you defeated Sleipnir, began to absorb his vitality... but stopped when you made it clear that you had won."

Twilight nodded awkwardly as she raised her reattached limb, then blushed deeply when Scarlet Sage hesitantly walked forwards between Scrivener and Celestia, looking up at the violet mare as she looked back down with a small, nervous smile... and then the Pegasus filly carefully reached a hoof out and touched her, asking in a worried voice: "Are... are you okay, Twilight?"

"I'm just fine, Scarlet... I'm sorry if I scared you." Twilight said quietly, and then she closed her eyes and bowed her head forwards, murmuring softly: "I think... we all have monsters inside of us that... come to the surface sometimes. In some of us, it's more literal than others."

"That wasn't why I was scared, Twilight, I was scared 'cause I was worried he was hurting you so much. I... I forgot that... you know." Scarlet blushed a bit, and then Twilight smiled a little before she glanced at Scrivener, and the male softened as he nodded and drew back after finishing a last stitch. Then Twilight leaned forwards, picking Scarlet Sage up and hugging her tightly for a moment, and Scarlet Sage closed her eyes and bowed against her in return.

A bit of Twilight's blood smeared against the filly, and for a moment, Celestia looked concerned... but when Scarlet Sage slipped back, she smiled faintly, her eyes only glowing weakly as she whispered: "Okay. I can... I can feel in your blood that you're okay."

She stopped and glanced down, then smiled a bit as she reached up and easily wiped the blood away before shaking her head with a blush, and Twilight gazed down at her with warmth before looking up as Sleipnir strode over to the group, looking moodily down at her. He began to open his mouth, then winced as Luna leaned up and hissed at him before he huffed and suddenly headbutted her, knocking her flat on her back in a stunned heap before the titanic earth pony took the moment of shocked silence after this to smile at Twilight and say kindly: "Thou did exceptionally well. I was bested, aye, I understand that I could not have escaped in time from having my soul... sucked out."

Sleipnir's mouth curled upwards in a childish smile, and Luna looked up from the ground, then snorted in amusement before she hopped to her hooves and shoved the male firmly, almost knocking him over as he winced in pain. "I would pummel thee some more but do not wish to listen to thee whine. But if thou hits me again I shall beat thee to within an inch of thy life, understood?"

"Oh fine, fine." Sleipnir huffed a bit, then he gazed down at Scarlet Sage and dropped to a kneel with a grunt, saying gently: "And I am sorry if I scared thee, filly, or if thou wert worried at all, but fear not. I would never cause harm that could not be repaired to thy family. I am Sleipnir the Mighty, after all, not thy mean and ill-tempered mother."

Luna huffed and poked at Sleipnir with her horn, making him wince as Scarlet gazed up with visible relief at the earth pony, relaxing a little more before Celestia shook her head and said kindly: "Sleipnir, come with me. We'll heal the worst of your wounds and you can tell me about who you're working for."

"Aye, but that is all. Thou shall have to beat me again or torture me if thou desires more information, I cannot simply tell thee everything no matter how much I desire to." Sleipnir replied after a moment, nodding thoughtfully once, and Luna and Scrivener both looked at him sourly as Celestia shook her head slowly. "Sisters, as it is, I twist and bend my honor for thee. I cannot... give it up entirely. I cannot betray those to whom my loyalty is sworn, not until it is proven that more than useless they are dishonorable themselves! Aye, I wish with every fiber of my being that I could... up and leave, that I could forget my past, my ties, my everything... but if I betray my honor, I give up my loyalty... then all that which I have built shall crumble."

"Always so dramatic, Sleipnir." Luna said softly, and the male gave her a flat look before she smiled a little and shook her head slowly. "But very well. Whilst thou confesses and sister heals thee, then Scrivener Blooms and myself shall go with Twilight Shadow and attend to other business."

She paused, then gazed down at her daughter, smiling softly as she reached a hoof out and brushed her mane gently back. "And thou, our beloved little filly, has a special job too... for soon, thou shall be going to Ponyville, it seems, and whom better to trust delivering a message of goodwill than our sweet, beloved child? Go find the Moon Blessed, tell them thou shall need their help designing a pretty dress to start with."

She smiled warmly, and Scarlet Sage blushed deeply as she looked adoringly up at her mother, nodding quickly even as Celestia looked apprehensive and Sleipnir frowned a bit, but when Luna looked up, both were settled by the pride, the confidence, the love in her eyes. "I have faith in Scarlet Sage... and moreover, in those who shall protect her from harm. Thou art right, Sleipnir, the foals must be cherished, not separated... what better way to ensure this than to give my daughter a reason to visit Ponyville on regular occasion?"

Scarlet beamed brightly, and Scrivener smiled as Sleipnir settled a little, but Celestia still looked worried... but for now, decided it was better to stay silent, not wanting to interrupt the happiness of the filly. Yet all the same, she felt a knot in her stomach... both because of the risk Scarlet Sage could be put in, and because of the way Scarlet Sage had just subtly been pulled deeper into her mother's dark world.