Chapter Five: A Promise Of Resurrection

~BlackRoseRaven

Luna rolled her head slowly on her shoulders, her ephemeral mane glowing as it swayed around her and making her almost-black coat glow eerily with its reflected light. It was low dusk now, and she stood in the northern fields outside Ponyville, Scrivener Blooms seated behind her in his full Tyrant Wyrm form, rumbling slowly as the two looked over the cluster of Velite skeletons in front of them.

Then Luna reached out and gently rested a hoof on top of a large, rectangular aquarium next to her, gazing down at this affectionately as she said kindly: "Discombobulation, truly thou art a grand coward. Cease thy pathetic attempts to hide, 'twould hurt me if I weren't so entertained."

An empty water bowl rattled in the aquarium before carefully lifting up, revealing a chimerical creature peering apprehensively up at her: the features were draconic, red-scaled and with a pair of mismatched horns on either side of a black Mohawk: one was white, ivory and straight, and the other was twisted like a ram's. Black scales covered his slender, long body, and his limbs were mismatched; one arm yellow and thin and ending in an eagle's talon, the other thick and covered in shaggy red fur with a gray-skinned hand. One leg was feline, and the other was that of a giraffe's, the spots on this seeming to ripple of their own accord as a thick purple kangaroo tail twisted behind him.

Two fins flexed on its back, one almost transparently-thin and ridged with a spiky frill, the other shark-like, and black eyes with white pupils looked hesitantly up at her before the Draconequus sighed a bit and carefully put the water bowl aside before he crossed his arms. He winced a bit when Luna leaned down, but now the winged unicorn only huffed a little and rattled the aquarium. "Oh, cease. Thou art in no danger and I am not going to eat thee. Even if I wanted to, Bob, I have invested too much time and effort into ensuring thou art healthy and taken care of. And furthermore, I doubt thou tastes very good."

Discombobulation looked insulted at this, touching his chest and rearing his head back, and Luna sighed and rolled her eyes, muttering: "What a conundrum thou art. I be nice to thee, thou hides beneath thy water bowl like a turtle. I threaten thee, thou goes back to acting like thy old self. Perhaps I shall just insult and mock everypony I meet from now on, mayhaps that will convince them Scrivener Blooms and I are still the same as we ever wert."

The Draconequus nodded solemnly at this, and Scrivener snorted before one of the Velites nervously stepped forwards from the group of several dozen skeletons, raising a hoof as the runes carved into the bones that made up the undead creature almost glimmered in the deepening twilight. "Uh... so... what are we supposed to do?"

"Of course, Pollen, we have not forgotten any of thee, worry not." Luna said softly, glancing up and smiling slightly as she shook her head and let her eyes rove over the Velites: the skeletons of earth ponies and Pegasi shifted awkwardly beneath her gaze, gemstones glinting here and there where they were fused into the bones of the living dead, their eyes all glowing with unnatural light and unholy fire. Yet for all their fierce appearance, they seemed nervous, anxiously milling around as the Velite Luna had referred to as Pollen stood awkwardly apart from the group. "It is time for all of thee to make a choice. We can exorcise thy bones with fire and ritual to free thy spirits as Pales... or thou can remain as thou art. Eternal and undead... although I will at least have the courtesy to place thy souls into better vessels than rune-covered Velite bones."

"Wait, what?" Pollen reared back in obvious surprise as Discombobulation frowned up from the aquarium, the Velites behind the undead mare skeleton shifting nervously, conspiratorial whispers traveling through the group. "That... that wasn't what you said before..."

"Oh, cease." Luna said grouchily, and the pack of skeletons all winced a bit as Scrivener Blooms snorted blue smog and glowered over them as well. "There is no catch: thou should be thankful I offer this bargain, if anything! Nay, listen close, and I shall spell it out... the world we enter into now will not be without its dangers, and I wish to see it protected. Yes, I shall gladly free all of thee if that is what thou desires... but if any of thee request it, to remain similar to as thou art now... able to put thyselves back together from the worst of damages, stronger than thou were as mortals. As I mentioned, though, I will remove thee from thy current... 'lodgings,' however, and put thee in better skeletons. Skeletons not laced with Veliuona's dark gifts, covered with the ugly graffiti of runes, or so old and damaged as these are."

The Velites looked apprehensively back and forth as Pollen winced a bit, then she asked lamely: "But... we don't have to do that, right?"

"No, Pollen. Thou does not have to do that." Luna said tiredly, rolling her eyes as Scrivener snorted in entertainment, and the earth pony Velite nodded vigorously and sighed in obvious relief before her eyes roved slowly up towards Scrivener Blooms, and the winged unicorn added flatly at this: "And for the twentieth time, yes, that is my husband."

"Just. Just checking." Pollen said finally, and then she sat back on her haunches and glanced over shoulder at the other Velites as Luna shook her head slowly, before the skeleton asked hesitantly: "So... should we form lines or..."

Luna opened her mouth at this... then she closed it and glanced thoughtfully to Scrivener, and the Tyrant Wyrm shrugged before leaning forwards and saying calmly, the sound of him speaking immediately drawing the attention of the anxious undead: "All those who wish to be granted life once more, stay where you are. Anypony who wants to remain like you are now, step aside."

For a few moments, there was only silence... and then finally, an earth pony Velite stepped forwards out of the group and asked apprehensively: "If... I remain like this, to protect family and friends... will I ever get to see them again?"

The winged unicorn softened at this, saying quietly: "Aye, thou shall. We shall train thee as soldiers, guardians, protectors... we shall give thee stronger frames. And this is not enslavement or imprisonment, this is the opposite. This is a noble sacrifice we ask thee to consider: giving up life for continued service as the living dead, sworn to protect the living, the sacred, thy very country. Whether we give thee bones of ivory or steel... we shall make thee strong enough to do so. But we will not lie: 'twill be hard. 'Twill be rigorous, and challenging, and thou will undoubtedly miss thy mortal life. But it is for... for the right reasons, if not good ones, that we ask this. There will be demons and dark creatures who will be assisting us, aye... but loyalty freely given is worth a thousand times more than loyalty forced upon a subject by necessity or fear."

There was silence... and finally, five Velites strode apprehensively out of the group to stand a few feet away by themselves, and Luna smiled over at them before her eyes roved towards the remaining skeletons, even as some of them looked hesitantly towards the others. "Worry not. We shall offer our gifts again in the future if thou believes thou hast made a mistake. Sacrifice sometimes does require thought and consideration beforehoof... we blame none of thee for thy fears or hesitance."

"We plan to do whatever we can to ensure that our world is protected, however." Scrivener Blooms added softly, and the Tyrant Wyrm smiled over the apprehensive-looking Velites, as Luna laughed quietly and gazed over her shoulder affectionately at her husband. "We don't plan to turn away anything that can benefit us. We're going to do anything and everything in our power to make the ponies of this world strong... to make sure that the night and darkness is even safer than the light of day."

There was a murmur through the crowd at this, and then Luna shook her head and straightened, saying clearly: "Very well. If all of thee have no more regrets, we have no more time to waste. Night descends, and I will soon have other visitors to attend to, therefore I shall not dally. If thou wish to be released from the entrapment of thine bones, then all thou must do is lay down, and relax, even as the pain begins: I swear to each and every one of thee that when the pain ends, thou shalt be free. Understood?"

There were rumbles from the group as Discombobulation nervously looked up, and then Pollen nodded slowly... and when Scrivener allowed his gaze to settle on her, for a moment he saw not a Velite, but a grass-green mare, smiling awkwardly as she murmured: "Okay. I... thank you. Thank you both."

"Thank me not yet... thou art not yet free." Luna said softly as her horn began to glow... and then she glanced up towards Scrivener, and the male smiled before she said softly: "Go ahead. Velites... ponies of Equestria... this will sting."

The skeletons tensed, dropped to sitting positions, and simply looked up as Scrivener Blooms loomed forwards before the Tyrant Wyrm took a long breath, then breathed out a cone of toxic mist over the undead group, the smaller congregation of skeletons that had chosen to remain in their undead state hurrying a few more feet away as howls of shock, surprise, and pain rose up from the larger group. The Velites shivered, grabbed at themselves, and fell forwards as the runes covering their bones sparked, dark magic warring against the destructive toxicity of the Wyrm's mist.

Luna's horn glowed as she stepped forwards calmly, channeling her magic into the sapphire fog; it began to spin slowly, becoming almost like a living serpent that twisted itself in a maelstrom through the group of skeletons as it radiated brighter and brighter light, bones charring and falling to the ground before the mist began to glow brighter with energy, Velite skeletons collapsing, dissolving into dust as fused gemstones shattered.

As the mist became a swirl of white, radiant energy, Luna finally stepped backwards with a wince, a sizzle of magical recoil twisting through her body, and the ivory smoke burst apart and faded rapidly out of existence, leaving behind only a few shards of broken bone amidst piles of ashes and dust and shattered gemstone. The remaining Velites looked horrified, but Luna only smiled calmly, glancing towards Scrivener, and the Tyrant Wyrm nodded slowly as they both looked intently towards the ravaged ruins.

At first nothing... and then a quiet hiss pervaded the air before the few remains began to slowly steam, and shapes flickered here and there amidst the curtain of translucent smoke as Luna laughed quietly, leaning forwards and saying gently: "See? I did not lie. I wish to save thee all, after all... I have no cause to lie to any of thee. 'Twould serve me no purpose, do me no good... 'twould only make it all the more difficult to achieve that which I aim for: a renewed Equestria."

Pales flickered into being here and there amidst the steam, gazing back and forth and all around themselves... and while many immediately seemed to be drawn away, others stayed, looking both perplexed and amazed. And one in particular strode slowly towards them, a translucent shape surrounded by sparkling motes... but when Scrivener looked at it, he could clearly see the image of a green, smiling, relieved-looking earth pony, and Luna laughed softly as she saw this same vision, her own gaze sharpening as the Pale nodded to her several times. "Oh cease, Pollen... thou needs not thank me. This was no selfless act, after all... 'tis part of the deal I made with all of thee, and 'tis only another attempt to make good on mistakes of the past."

She halted, glancing down for a moment, and then she looked back up and smiled wryly. "To be honest, I was not even sure 'twould work. Mixing an exorcism into the destructive breath of my husband... 'twas like mixing fire and water into the same spell without allowing them to cancel one-another out prematurely. But the results are good all the same: thy spirits are freed from the corpses. Now only cling to not-life a little longer, friend Pollen, avoid any tunnels of light or the call of any spiritual voices for now, and soon thou shalt be reborn."

Pollen laughed silently and nodded, then blushed a bit as she bowed her head deeply to the two as if in apology and not just thanks, but Scrivener Blooms and Luna only traded smiles before the Tyrant Wyrm leaned down and said quietly: "It's alright, there's no harm done. Luna and I are... different now, and we're aware that ponies may not react so flatteringly to us right away. Neither of us blame you for being a little apprehensive around us at first. But we are in control of ourselves, and our priority is to save Equestria, not bend it and enslave it."

"Yes, that can always come later." Luna winked, and Scrivener sighed, glowing eyes rolling as Pollen laughed silently. The winged unicorn smiled at this, looking at the Pale and saying softly: "I am glad thou did not take me seriously. Aye, I am no ruler, and do not long for it. Of course, I also no longer intend to moderate my desires, but I doubt being stuck in a throne, babysitting a country and its bureaucrats, will ever be one of them."

The Pale of Pollen nodded a few times, looking almost shyly from one to the other, and then she smiled at them warmly before simply flickering out of existence, and Scrivener and Luna traded a warm look between themselves. Then the winged unicorn reached a hoof up and rested it on the glass top of the aquarium, looking pointedly down into this at Discombobulation as she said mildly: "See? I am plenty kind."

The Draconequus sniffed from where he was sitting on his overturned water-bowl, raising a hand and seesawing it back and forth, and Luna rolled her eyes with a snort of entertainment before she shook the aquarium lightly, making the chimerical creature flail wildly for a moment and then topple off his seat. "Thou art impossible. Thou art almost as frustrating as Scrivener Blooms, as a matter of fact. Terrible creature."

Discombobulation huffed as he carefully climbed back to his feet, putting his hands in he center of his back and cracking it with a wince before he glared up at them and rose his eagle talon, tracing a quick message in the air in glowing neon pink, Luna cocking her head as she read: " 'I won't be stuck in here forever.' Aye, Bob, I know that thou aren't even stuck in it now. But I also know thou art terrified of being pummeled by me, as all things are."

The Draconequus rolled his eyes at this, and then he snapped his fingers and a puff of red smoke filled the air around him, barring him from view. For a moment, Tyrant Wyrm and winged unicorn stared... and then the smoke bubbled suddenly upwards and boiled through the top of the aquarium, twisting and warping before Discombobulation's upper body tore out of the top of the smoke cloud, enormous and broad and magnificent enough to make them both gape, holding his hands out to either side like claws as his eyes glowed with ivory light and thunder crackled through the skies, shouting as he loomed over the two: "Phenomenal cosmic powers!"

Then he burst apart into smog that rapidly boiled downwards, reforming into the once more-tiny Draconequus as the rest of the crimson smoke vanished, holding up his eagle claw and rubbing at his thin body as he sat with his legs primly crossed on the top edge of the aquarium, muttering: "Itty-bitty living space. Still, I've grown rather attached to it. One day I may steal away into the night, with nothing but a backpack... and inside that backpack, will be this little aquarium, my little home, and I shall carry it with me through the fires and the floods, the wages of all wars. Or at least until I finally manage to reach that place, that one place, that sacred place we all spend our lives looking for... that place where we all belong."

"If thou belongs in thy aquarium, then has thou not already found it? I think thou just wishes to wander this new world like the free spirit thou art." Luna replied with a smile, and Discombobulation snorted in entertainment before he pushed himself neatly off the aquarium and vanished in midair... only to reappear a moment later leaning against one of Scrivener Blooms' limbs between the Tyrant Wyrm and the winged unicorn, and Luna gave a grin over at the now seven-foot tall figure of the Draconequus, but her gaze was both compassionate as well as entertained. "I would be wary, creature. Thou art not fully healed quite yet... and we are about to entertain the company of creatures whom will be less-than-receptive to thy presence."

"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, fear no evil." Bob recited, covering his eyes, pony-like ears, and mouth with both hands in quick succession. And then he paused and added meditatively: "Besides, I have you two to hide behind, don't I? I don't think there's anything in the world scarier than you two, and I'm not just saying that because I've unfortunately witnessed the horrors of what goes on in that bedroom of yours."

"I cannot wait to get back to the bedroom." Luna said wryly, and Discombobulation stuck his tongue out and hugged himself, making a sound of disgust as he shuddered, but this only made Luna grin and even Scrivener Blooms smile despite himself. "Very well then. If anything does happen... simply stay close, Bob. We shall ensure nothing harms thee."

The Draconequus nodded as he awkwardly glanced over his shoulder at Scrivener as the Tyrant Wyrm smiled down at him, adding quietly: "You are part of our little misfit band, after all. I don't think even Pinkamena would want to see you dead. Suffering, in peril, dangerously-injured... but not dead."

"Truly heartwarming thoughts. It makes me feel like there's a fire inside my body." Discombobulation replied dryly, and Scrivener snorted in entertainment as Luna shook her head with a smile, and the chimerical creature crossed his arms as he added: "I don't know why it's so disturbing that you two are suddenly so much more pleasant. It reminds me of the parable of the sword of Damocles for some reason. There aren't any sharp objects floating above your heads, are there?"

"Sister was the one who always used swords, I preferred the reach and elegance of the spear, so worry not, Discombobulation." Luna replied easily, and the Draconequus rolled his eyes but looked entertained all the same before the winged unicorn smiled as the sun finally lowered itself beyond the horizon and set, true night settling in even as the moon slowly rose in the sky, guided by unknown powers as the stars began to twinkle throughout the black firmament above. "I sense them, already rushing towards us. As I thought, many of them seem eager... yes, we are in for quite a treat, I believe."

"Good. I'm eager to see our new servants." Scrivener said softly, and Luna smiled over at him indulgently as her eyes half-lidded, Discombobulation looking awkwardly over his shoulder before the Tyrant Wyrm winked down at the Draconequus. "Don't worry. We'd never enslave you, Bob. That's Twilight Sparkle's job."

"If either of us here is whipped, boy, it's you." Discombobulation drawled in return, and Scrivener opened his jaws, then huffed and glared as Luna snorted in entertainment. "You look so confused you don't know whether to scratch yer watch or wind yer ass."

"Bob, you're smaller than me right now, and I've learned I can eat anything that's smaller than me." Scrivener threatened, and the Draconequus winced a bit and quailed his head back a bit as the Tyrant Wyrm leaned down grouchily over him.

Before he could respond, however, there was a whisper of dark shadows around the trio, Discombobulation becoming serious as he glanced sharply to the side, and even the remaining Velites seemed to realize something was going on as they nervously looked back and forth. Scrivener, however, only slowly rose his head, and Luna smiled slightly, her dark cyan eyes flashing as she said quietly: "Excellent. It seems that our guests have finally arrived."

Creatures of darkness of all shape and size began to materialize around them, some seeming to form from thin air as others strode in from every direction, from shadowy Nightmares to skulking demons and shimmering spirits. Even things that not even Luna had a name for, as her eyes roved back and forth... and then her smile spread wider as she licked her lips slowly, feeling a distinct thrill through her form as she said clearly: "It is good to see how many of thee have decided to take me up upon my offer... and I assume that there are others who could not travel with as great ease who also wish to join the cause, yes?"

"What's to stop us from attacking you and destroying you? Even if you have a Ginnungagap beast and a few loyal thralls mixed into our ranks, as well as the bony dead... even if you are some mighty necromancer who stands beside some vast dracolich, you are no match for our numbers, let alone our strength." rasped one of the demons, its six heavy limbs clawing at the earth as it slunk slowly towards them. "And when we drag you down to Helheim with us, you will understand true misery as we strip every inch of your power from you..."

"I do not take threats kindly." Luna said softly, leaning towards the demon, surveying it as it snarled at her. And then her horn glowed before she snapped this briskly upwards, a blast of lightning erupting from the skies and surprising those gathered as it slammed down into the six-limbed monstrosity, the creature shrieking as it was knocked flat on its stomach and burst into blue flames, the other demons and dark entities rapidly drawing away from it as it convulsed and began to roll back and forth, trying to put itself out with howls of misery. "All of thee came here with loyalty not yet given: I shall not hesitate to answer thy hostilities with hostility of my own."

There was an uneasy whisper through the crowd before several Nightmares and other dark entities drew forwards, looking fawningly, fearfully at Luna, but she only smiled and nodded as they took up positions beside her and around her. They were more like servants than bodyguards, and the action came out of fear more than anything else... but the Velites fell into place as well, and soon after other creatures stepped forwards, forming a barrier of loyal entities of shadow around Luna and Scrivener even as the Tyrant Wyrm grinned and Discombobulation fidgeted nervously, rubbing anxiously at his own body.

"Thou can join me, or attempt to fight. I shall respond to civility with civility, and barking threats with violence's bite." Luna smiled kindly as she sat back, tossing her mane as Nightmare Moon whispered her approvals inside of her. "If any of thee wish... thou art free to leave. Otherwise, I expect all of thee to pledge thy loyalty to me. And I shall continue to... recruit... over the coming months. I wish to make it clear that now, the night is mine to rule and command... and not even Hel herself shall take it away from me."

For a few moments, the silence spiraled outwards... and then, finally, another demon slipped forwards, bowing its scaly head as the draconic entity shivered and murmured: "Then what choice do we have?"

"There is always a choice." Luna said gently, and then she smiled and she stepped forwards, striding past the Nightmares and other creatures of darkness to stand in front of this demon, meeting its red eyes fearlessly with her own glowing cyan irises, ephemeral mane swirling around her and making her all the more imposing a figure. "I must make it clear that I will abide no insurgence, no betrayal, no lies... but I will also make it clear that I shall reward the loyal, and that as part of my new dark night society, thou shalt all be given the freedom to find thine own roles. Some of thee may be servants, some soldiers, and some only citizens of the night's growing empire... I must merely ensure that none of thee decide to feast upon the daylight-loving ponies of this land."

There were rumbles as demon looked hesitantly up at Luna, then nodded slowly as it bowed low to her, closing its eyes. "You have my word of honor, that I shall serve you."

"My name is Luna, and my husband is Scrivener Blooms." Luna said kindly, and the demon looked up at her as she reached a hoof out and gently settled it on her forehead, her horn glowing faintly as she said quietly: "As the first to come before me and give me his loyalty, I shall reward thee highly, demon. Think upon what thou would like, and I shall grant thee this wish."

"Thank you for your generosity." the demon murmured with surprise, looking up at her humbly, and the other creatures whispered between themselves before the scaly beast bowed lower to her, and Luna smiled affectionately before she lowered her hoof and gazed over the other gathered forces of the night.

They came forwards, pledging loyalties and allegiances: only a few skulked away into the shadows, but they were replaced by other entities that came forth from the night. It took more than an hour, but by the end of it, a sizable force had been gathered, and Luna gazed back and forth, her eyes almost glowing as the moon cast its glorious ivory light overhead and her starry mane thrummed with energy, Scrivener Blooms now laying behind her with Discombobulation apprehensively standing on the Tyrant Wyrm's head, gazing moodily down over the group.

"Listen to me, creatures of shadow... my first task for all of thee is a very simple one, and will not require much time nor effort. Think of this as a test to prove thy loyalties." Luna announced clearly, the attention of the dark entities focusing once more in on the winged unicorn, eyes gazing at her from every direction. "I will be performing a great feat of magic alongside my husband shortly, bringing the Pales of ponies I am sure all of thee have seen back into flesh and life. I merely require thee to aid the Nibelung in ensuring that these ponies are in healthy condition when they return to life. If thou finds them in the wild, bring them into cities, etcetera. The Nibelung can tell thee more, they are used by now to dark entities."

There were rumbles throughout the gathered crowd, and murmurs of assent and understanding before a Nightmare slipped forwards, bowing its head and saying kindly: "Perhaps one of our kind should stay with you... to act as a messenger and receiver, should something go wrong."

"Nay, we are attuned to thy presences and minds, and with thy pact of loyalty I can send a message to thee if necessary." Luna replied courteously, but the message was clear: she didn't want any extra company, and the Nightmare bowed its head respectfully to her. "Disperse now, creatures, fly across Equestria, and prepare to witness the rebirth of a nation. Thou shalt be its first witnesses... thou shalt serve as its first protectors. And I promise thee, that thou shall all also taste its first glories."

The dark entities traded looks between themselves, but seemed soothed by Luna's words before they began to vanish, one after another, until none were left... and the winged unicorn smiled, beginning to turn her eyes upwards before a voice asked worriedly: "Luna, my dear, what is going on here?"

"Zecora? And here I was worried we would not see one-another." Luna turned her eyes towards the zebra with a smile as she hurriedly approached across the field, the black-striped equine looking worriedly from the winged unicorn to the Tyrant Wyrm as Scrivener rose his head with a smile. "Tell me, how art thou?"

Zecora only winced a bit as she came to a halt, however, gemstone green eyes nervous as golden rings swayed from her ears, matching the loops around her neck and bangles around one forelimb. Her mane was done up in a black-and-white checkered mohawk, and her features were attractive but held subtle, hidden depths of age and wisdom. "I think that's a question I should be asking you, among many others I can think of too. After what I just witnessed here, something... bad has happened, I fear."

"Oh, come now, thou already knew that I was making deals with demons... and 'tis not so much what thou witnessed, 'tis what thou sees now, isn't it? That I wear my darkness now upon my body, and that Scrivener Blooms has... obviously changed." Luna glanced towards the Tyrant Wyrm as Scrivener smiled awkwardly across at the zebra, Discombobulation sitting with his arms crossed on the enormous beast's head. "But surely it must be some relief to see that in spite of all this, much is the same as it ever was."

The zebra looked apprehensively at Scrivener for a few moments, and Discombobulation calmly and seriously rose a hand to her, waving with a slow, dignified twist of his wrist. "All the same I have to say, I'd hoped things hadn't turned out this way... and furthermore, if friends in town spoke true, you've said that only the ponies matter now to you? What of my people, will you put them at risk? Why not wait and finish the amplifying obelisk?"

For a few moments, Luna was silent as she met Zecora's eyes, the two looking at one another before the winged unicorn bowed her head forwards, saying quietly: "Zecora, I will try and spread the magic as far and wide as I can, but how can thou judge me for looking after my own first and foremost? Did thou not do the very same, saving thy own tribes and kin first and foremost?"

"I... I tried to save the pony folk, it's not my fault they thought it was all a bad joke!" Zecora argued after a moment, but as Luna smiled faintly, the zebra sighed and dropped her head forwards, nodding grudgingly and muttering: "But the circumstances are different now... what about your honest vow?"

Luna grimaced a bit at this, looking down moodily as she said slowly: "I promised to help if I could... I gave no guarantees. I..." Luna glanced up moodily, then she sighed a little at the imploring look Zecora gave her before the winged unicorn said finally: "What if thou brought thy clan to Equestria, or at least nearer to its borders? Would this be possible?"

"Their souls are still kept safe inside their containers, guarded by dark-spirit-form retainers... but even moving at the speed of light, we would need time to bring my kin to this site." Zecora replied hurriedly, nodding a few times, and then she bowed her head and said quietly: "Please, grant me this mercy, Luna my friend... time to ensure my tribe's time does not come to an end."

"I am eager to save the ponies of this country, Zecora. The Pales wait, and my forces are dispatched, and the Nibelung all stand at ready..." Luna looked down, then slowly glanced over her shoulder and gazed towards the mountains in the distance, and the ruins of Canterlot that were framed against the sky, a few large towers the only distinctive marker of the castle and city's position. "But it will take us perhaps two hours to reach Canterlot, and perhaps another after that to find a suitable location and prepare ourselves for the ritual. Will it be enough?"

"It should be enough time if I hurry back to my shack, and send out a message telling my clan to bring the souls back." the zebra replied gratefully, looking up with a sigh of relief... but still, a wariness was in her eyes as well, and a faint distrust echoed in her tones. "Luna of the Night, I thank you for this... but... please don't take it wrong if I still think something's amiss."

"I have to take care of my friends, my family, and my Equestria, Zecora." Luna said quietly, straightening slowly as she looked down at the zebra with a bit more coldness. "Thou knows thyself there was no guarantee the amplifiers would even work enough to broadcast the signal... especially as in the past, I and my husband were much weaker. I am granting thee my time, my patience, and now, my energy, to save thy clan, to whom I owe nothing... to do a favor for thee, as a friend, whom as I recall snuck across the Bifrost with all thy kin in tow in the form of shadows that had played games with Scrivener and I in the now-gone layer of Midgard from which we came. Perhaps I have been cold. And perhaps I am more... assertive... now, than I was before. But thou art the one judging me. I do not ask thanks, Zecora... but I do ask that thou not complains of the gifts thou art being given. Gifts can just as easily be taken away, after all."

Zecora shivered a bit, stepping backwards as she looked warily at Luna as Discombobulation fidgeted on Scrivener Blooms' head, but the Tyrant Wyrm only felt the same iciness that Luna was emanating, the eyes of the two powerful, dark creatures glaring into Zecora before the zebra bowed her head and quickly turned, leaving hurriedly. Luna snorted as she watched the female hurry on her way, then she shook her head slowly and muttered grouchily: "What gratefulness. Come, Scrivener Blooms, let us hurry on our own path ourselves."

Luna paused, then glanced towards a pair of satchel bags resting in the grasses nearby, her horn glowing before she lifted these and settled them across her own back, and Scrivener looked down at her softly before he smiled a bit as Luna next picked up Discombobulation's aquarium and gave it a light telekinetic toss up to the Draconequus. The chimerical creature winced and flailed at this, barely managing to catch it and hug it to his body impulsively as objects rattled around inside it, and Luna smiled wryly despite herself as the Ginnungagap beast muttered: "And here I thought usually people come from broken homes, they don't go to them."

"Very funny, creature." Luna grumbled as she walked through the field, and Scrivener Blooms slowly turned to follow her, the enormous Tyrant Wyrm striding slowly beside the winged unicorn as she sighed and looked meditatively towards Canterlot in the distance, murmuring: "I have made this trip more times than I can count, and yet rarely in this world, and never before in these new hooves... and most certainly never before with thee tromping beside me in thy grand new body. Tell me, Scrivener Blooms... is it not ironic that the place where so many of my discontents festered should prove the birthing grounds for our new world?"

"Think of it this way, Luna... it's only a short distance away from Ponyville. With you riding on my back... or maybe with us even flying, if you can still give me wings in my smaller form... we'll be able to get back in no time and see all our friends and family. To start... the healing process." Scrivener replied softly, and Luna smiled faintly at this before the Wyrm flapped one of his enormous, leathery wings, sending a gust over her and making her laugh even as her ephemeral locks swayed backwards and wafted gently upwards. "It's all one big adventure, really. What do you think, Bob?"

"You understand I exist for more reasons than to simply lighten the mood, yes? I'm a creature of confusion and chaos, not... oh, very well." Discombobulation muttered, as Luna glared up at him challengingly and Scrivener smiled as he tried to roll his eyes to look up at the Draconequus seated on his forehead. "In honor of the poet upon whose crown I sit, let me sing an epic ballad honoring you both."

With that, Discombobulation put the aquarium down and then sat himself on top of it, flicking his wrist, and a ukelele popped into being in a burst of colorful smoke. He caught this by the neck before it could fall, then cleared his throat as he adjusted it before strumming the strings as he sang in a reedy, surprisingly-light voice: "Adventure Time, come on, grab your friends... we're here from very... distant lands. With Scrivy the Wyrm and Luna the Valk'rie, the fun will never end... it's Adventure Time!"

Then the Draconequus nodded seriously to himself before the ukelele burst apart into smoke and he leaned back with a bit of a wheeze, rubbing at his chest slowly. "That was far more difficult than I am sure anyone will ever give me credit for, whether they understand the value of it or not."

Luna smiled warmly over her shoulder, however, and Scrivener chuckled quietly, the sound rumbling up from his chest before he murmured: "Thief or not, Discombobulation, Luna and I both appreciate it. But don't overexert yourself... you still must be sore. I can... almost feel your pain, if I concentrate. Although to me, well..."

Scrivener halted awkwardly as Luna glanced towards him softly, but Discombobulation only gave a wry smile as he patted the Wyrm's mottled scalp lightly. "Worry not, Luna. As the dung beetle says to the politician, I understand what it's like to be instinctively drawn to crap. Pain is simply another emotion; I feed off confusion and a little bit of madness, you as you are feeds off life, death, and suffering... perhaps that means together we cycle forever, as forever I'll be in pain, forever you'll be confused, and I know not which is better and which is worse and which is worth more or less at the end of the day."

"I am very confused, even now, yes." Scrivener agreed after a moment with a nod, and Luna snorted in entertainment before the glowing sapphire eyes of the Tyrant Wyrm flicked towards her with entertainment. "I don't think you're much better off, darling. I seem to be able to pick up on and feed off the pain of others but you, on the other hoof, just like to beat people."

"We are both damaged creatures, aye. But I like it this way. 'Tis nicer to be damaged together than perfect apart." Luna replied with a smile, glancing up at him affectionately, and the Tyrant Wyrm laughed quietly with a slow nod as even Discombobulation seemed to agree, rubbing thoughtfully at his chin. "I am glad we are friends, Discombobulation."

"It is strange, still, to be called 'friend;' it's not a concept we had in Ginnungagap. We were all friends there, you see, but we were all also enemies and rivals and brothers and sisters and parents and children." Discombobulation said meditatively, sitting back a bit and gesturing absently outwards with his eagle talon. "Chaos is like one big, never-ending party, after all... rowdy, pieces of paper are flying everywhere and we call them 'streamers' and 'confetti' instead of 'garbage,' everyone's eating and drinking until they vomit and yet we celebrate this instead of revile it for some strange, alien reason. And all the people who are cheering with you are just waiting for you to do something incredibly stupid so they can go and tell their friends about it to prove what an incredible party it was."

"And yet thou does not wish to return there?" Luna smiled slightly over at the chaos entity, and Discombobulation snorted and shook his head rapidly, crossing his arms and looking distinctly childish for a moment, which made the winged unicorn laugh. "'Twas only a curiosity, worry not! I wish for thee to stay here, after all... and I am sure Twilight Sparkle and all the others will be very glad to see thee as well."

"Honesty is such a strange thing. I like it, though: it's different from the way Helheim can't lie, because Helheim doesn't give it freely... and I suppose that corrupts the very notion of honesty's value, doesn't it? They are forced to tell the truth, and truth is not always honesty... while honesty, of course, is not always the truth." the Draconequus said musingly, looking down... and then he glanced up and gave a small smile, the expression lightening his strange features. "Yes. I like this. It makes absolutely no sense at all."

Luna laughed and shook her head slowly at this as they continued onwards beneath the night sky across the wide fields, gradually falling into a comfortable relative quiet. Discombobulation hummed songs and fidgeted a bit now and then on Scrivener's head as the Tyrant Wyrm strode leisurely along, Luna keeping easy pace with him through the verdant grasses as they made their way towards Canterlot: occasionally, they passed creatures of the night, but the beasts bowed their heads to them respectfully or slipped politely out of their path, and Luna smiled at the dominance she already held over this beautiful, starlit night.

Scrivener could feel her emotions, adding to the warmth in his own enormous frame: he could feel the wind against his scales, the life in the world around him and fear... the respect... of even the soil for his titanic size and strength. He tasted the air, and it energized him, tickled his senses, added to his bliss.

He felt stronger than he ever had: he could feel every fiber, every muscle, and the power of his body and being only seemed to be growing as he lazily flicked his tail, his eyes glowing as he smiled to himself: but what truly made him feel so good, so alive, was the fact that in spite of everything he still felt coherent. Lucid, happy, able to focus on the things that were important: not just his power, but Luna, and her happiness, and reviving their friends. He was able to keep in mind that they were bringing the world back not just for their own selfish reasons, but to save the lives of those innocent and lost... and then he traded entertained looks with Luna as they followed the dirt highway into the mountains, the female saying playfully: "Well, aye, Scrivy, but I do not think we are entirely noble. After all, I am having a castle of dark desires built for us. 'Tis not the usual thing the so-called 'good folk' do, is it?"

"Will our fortress be our palace of desires, or a cage for our dark pleasures though, Luna? After all, maybe that's a good thing if we restrict ourselves to only fulfilling our... especial wants in that place." Scrivener pointed out, and Luna nodded thoughtfully before the winged unicorn suddenly turned towards him and leapt into the air, flapping her wings quickly to ascend higher and then drop neatly down onto his back, the reptile snorting in entertainment as he paused to look amusedly back at her as Discombobulation cocked his own head. "You're lazy."

"Shut up, Scrivener Blooms, thou art a giant lizard. Thou can carry both myself and Bob with ease." Luna retorted, and Scrivener grumbled and rolled his eyes, facing forwards again before the winged unicorn stroked her hooves slowly against his spine, adding with a slight smile: "But worry not. I still find thee handsome, giant, intimidating monster."

"It's very unhealthy that I'm beginning to enjoy being called that." Scrivener said mildly, and Luna laughed, Discombobulation leaning down to lightly pet the mottled scales of the Tyrant Wyrm's head. "Should I pick up the pace?"

"Nay, take thy time. I would rather not have Zecora or others accuse me of treachery or not meeting my word." Luna said grumpily, shifting moodily as she shook her head slowly, and Scrivener nodded slowly as he continued along the highway, gazing ahead as the winged unicorn added softly: "Strange, to be... so surprised, so... ached and angered by this turn of events. Zecora was a friend, after all... and a strong ally. I am sure that in time, though, she will return as such. Or at least... I do hope so."

Scrivener grunted quietly in agreement as he continued to trudge onwards slowly, keeping his pace slow and comfortable. It was another full half an hour before he turned down a side road, passing by a group of Nibelung scouts that gaped at them as they passed on their way up towards Canterlot, and Luna looked oddly pleased with this as Discombobulation waved politely to the dwarves.

When they finally reached Canterlot, they found an Architect waiting calmly for them, clearly marked by his robes and cut-down tusks. He rose a hand to them from the fields, but for a moment, Luna's eyes were drawn instead to the ruins of the mighty castle: only a few tottering towers remained, held up mostly by ivy and vine and prayer, the area around the half-collapsed walls of the castle seedy and covered with weeds, jutting spires of rock, and half-hidden sinkholes.

Then the winged unicorn sighed as she hopped off Scrivener's back and slid smoothly down one of his leathery wings, the male glancing over his shoulder and smiling a bit before the winged unicorn leapt off and landed on the dusty earth as she turned her eyes towards the Nibelung, who bowed deeply to them. "It is a pleasure to meet you, fancy-corn Luna Brynhild. I am Architect Persia, and I was informed by Scholar Babylon earlier of your estimated arrival. Your timing is good: I took the liberty of marking out a safe zone where your magic can be performed."

Luna nodded slowly, then she said quietly: "I have preparations of my own to attend to, so I hope this area is a large one."

"More than large enough to accommodate both yourself and your husband." Persia glanced towards the Tyrant Wyrm, but he either felt no apprehension or refused to show it, remaining stoic and calm, and the winged unicorn smiled approvingly as Scrivener smiled despite himself, Discombobulation peering down from the poet's head curiously. "You must be eager to get started. Please follow me. The rest of the Nibelung are currently in the city zone of Canterlot, securing what they can and ensuring the rest of the area has been vacated."

Luna nodded with a grunt as the dwarf turned, leading them into the ruptured fields, and the winged unicorn followed with Scrivener carefully trailing behind, moving slowly to try and avoid any faults or jutting rocks. As they walked, the Nibelung gestured absently outwards, continuing calmly: "Our reconstruction efforts were slowed by another collapse, but we believe the ground has finally begun to stabilize. All the same, I'll say now that a large scale magical effect could trigger a shockwave and possible partial collapse. It is why we are evacuating as much of the city as possible and putting extra supports and joists in place."

"Aye, there will be a powerful recoil from this spell, that is to be expected. The ground may shake, the air may tremble, and the towers may fall..." Luna paused, glancing towards Canterlot before she said softly: "But that is alright. Before, I was hesitant to see Canterlot damaged, even if it is not a place of good memories for me. Now... it does not matter if it collapses or not. 'Tis only a landmark, and nothing more."

Persia nodded at this before he halted at the top of a ridge, pointing down towards a large, dusty plateau in front of a deep, enormous gorge. On the other side of this deep crack through the earth, the ground had ruptured and warped, but on the side they were on the plateau seemed safe and solid enough. "We used to use this area as a storage ground. It's roughly ninety feet in diameter, good soil composition, solid stone foundation. If you'll excuse me, however, I would like to return to the Nibelung camp and ensure that everyone has returned. It is good to have met you, fancy-corn."

"And I, thee." Luna replied courteously, and she and the Nibelung bowed slightly to one-another before the dwarf strode past her and headed quickly back the way he had led them, Luna gazing thoughtfully over her shoulder before her eyes roved to Scrivener Blooms as she murmured: "Strange creatures, these Architects are. Yet not all perhaps bad."

Scrivener nodded slowly in return, and then the winged unicorn smiled slightly, glancing up at him and saying softly: "Wait here, beloved, whilst I make the final preparations. We are very close now to bringing back our friends and family, we can take the time to make a few more insurances."

The Tyrant Wyrm rumbled an agreement to this, nodding slowly, and Luna smiled at him before she shrugged the satchel bags off, then flicked one open before her horn glowed, lifting out a large glass jar. It was filled with blackened ashes, and the female studied these for a few moments before murmuring: "Ashes of the ambrosia trees... I hope I have brought enough."

The lid of the jar opened and the ashes coiled outwards like a serpent as they were guided by Luna's telekinetic powers, taking on a strange sapphire glow as the cloud of cinders twisted slowly above her. She strode down the ridge towards the plateau with a soft smile with the pennon of ash forming a faintly-glowing trail that began to lay itself carefully down over the ground, sizzling quietly as it charred where it settled, new embers mixing with ancient and alien ash as they formed into strange, dark runes.

When Luna used up her first supply of ashes, Discombobulation tossed her another jar from the satchel, and the winged unicorn caught it with a warm smile over at the Draconequus as she unscrewed this with a flick of her horn and drew the ashes out of it. The jar was thrown aside as Luna continued to lay out an enormous runic circle: by the time she was done, she had used up all four jars of ash they had brought from Valhalla, but she nodded firmly, murmuring: "Excellent. And now, the cards..."

She glanced towards them as Discombobulation reached down, carefully lifting a totem-like marionette head out of the other satchel bag. He regarded this for a moment, then rose it in front of himself with a wry smile, inspecting the wooden features and the gemstone eyes, the grisly death-trap metal jaws, then quoted: "Alas poor Pinkamena, I knew her, Luna, a mare of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. She hath bore me on her back back a thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it."

"Well, worry not. Soon thy gorge shall be calmed and 'twill instead be the dead that rise up from their graves, renewed and revived to live once more." Luna said softly as she approached, and Discombobulation smiled wryly before the marionette head lifted from his hands as it glowed with a sapphire aura, clicking loudly as pieces of it whirred and turned before it popped open, revealing it to be a puzzle box... and inside, three pulsing, glowing ivory cards.

A moment later, two of these cards lifted carefully free before the puzzle box snapped shut, whirring quietly as it clicked and closed... and Luna smiled affectionately as the two cards floated over to her, eyes locking on these as they hovered in front of her eyes. Scrivener gazed down as well with a rumble, and Discombobulation crossed his arms before he sat carefully back on the grasses beneath the night sky, resting a hand on the aquarium beside him as he said kindly: "I wish you both the best of luck, and hope that fortune's madness favors you. 'Luck' is just another term for 'chaos,' after all. Just like if you're making your own luck, all you're really making is artificial order: forcing things to go your way when really they should be going in any direction at all apart from that."

"Aye, but I am a great fan of pummeling things until they do what I desire." Luna replied with a smile, and Discombobulation grunted before the winged unicorn turned her eyes to Scrivener Blooms, saying softly: "We shall combine all our might for this spell. It will likely wind us for a little while, but... I believe we can more than bare the brunt of a bit of magical recoil, can't we?"

"Yeah, Luna. I think we can, for what we're about to do." Scrivener replied softly, and then he laughed a bit as Luna suddenly leapt upwards, smoothly propelling herself higher with her wings to land on his back before she ran up the back of his neck to stand between his crown of horns, the Tyrant Wyrm rolling his eyes with entertainment. "Great. I just got the Draconequus off my head."

"Shush, Scrivy, for once I am not just lording myself over the land upon my great and gallant steed, I am preparing for what is next to come. Our powers will be better focused together like this, as I think thou knows." Luna replied softly, and Scrivener smiled a bit as he stepped into the circle before glancing down with surprise as the runes glowed beneath his claws, the winged unicorn smiling slightly as the circle slowly began to light up. "Aye. 'Tis keyed to us... 'twill enhance the effects of the spell, and it works better than I expected already. Let us no longer dally, or lose time in talk. Only do, Scrivener Blooms... and thou knows just what to do."

Scrivy nodded slowly as he strode to the center of the enormous circle and sat down, lowering his head forwards as he took a slow breath and Luna dropped her own, sitting back between his gnarled crown of horns as her own breath flowed quietly in and out. Her horn began to glow as the cards floated silently in front of them, hovering eerily backwards as a white aura began to build higher and higher around the thrumming cards.

Scrivener gritted his teeth as he felt a shock travel through his body, and red light flared up from the runic circle beneath them as Luna's mane and tail sparked and sizzled, then burst backwards, pulsing as the stars above twinkled in time with the constellations that bedazzled her ethereal mane. A hum built through the air as Luna's horn glowed brighter, crackling with electricity as arcs of energy twisted through the air around herself and the Tyrant Wyrm she rested on as she cursed in exertion and rising exhilaration.

They felt like one being, one merged entity, their hearts thudding in time in their tests as their wills and concentration and desires mixed tightly together, and in front of them, Valthrudnir's cherished cards became like twin, miniature suns, the white glow blanketing the two, making even the aura of Luna's mane seem dim as a rumble traveled through the air around them... and then Luna's eyes flashed open, glowing as white as the cards in front of her as Scrivener's own snapped wide and blazed with the same bright light, a single thought, a single wish carrying itself outwards, containing a thousand prayers and hopes and dreams inside the single sentence: Make our friends whole again.

There was a tremendous flash as a shockwave rippled through the air around the two, waves of blinding force cracking the ground around them and knocking Discombobulation rolling backwards with a curse of surprise as his aquarium was sent flying to crash loudly against the ground, thick glass cracking. In the distance, Nibelung pointed and gasped alongside other entities of shadow and darkness as visible waves of white light poured outwards from Canterlot's peaks, fading from sight after perhaps miles of travel as all those within that radius were bathed in blanketing ivory radiance. But even those who were so far away the beacon of light was merely a faint glow upon the horizon felt the wave of force that passed through Equestria only moments later: like some invisible, living stampede was charging through the space between spaces, making the air quake with its passage and jarring the bones of the living.

As the shockwave passed, Pales arched their backs, their frames becoming brighter, their forms becoming physical and glowing with supernatural luminescence before a flash of light erupted from them in a burst that blew away cold mist from their bodies and revealed the colorful, once-more real forms of ponies beneath, their eyes staring sightlessly into space, jaws often gaping foolishly for a few moments before, exhausted and shocked, they fell to the ground within moments of their sharp and sudden rebirth.

Stunned dwarves and other beings managed to shake themselves out of their stupors as the Pales began to reform into physical entities, hurrying to the fallen ponies to check on them, Nightmares and darker creatures of the night whisking around in search of life as wildlife across Equestria awoke, birds taking wing into the dead of night, animals roaring and howling and barking as if demanding answers for what was going on in the country that had once been dominated by the wilds and ponies had been thought long gone.

Canterlot rumbled as a tower collapsed, heard but not seen amidst the blinding glow that still shrouded the mountains... and finally, the light slowly began to fade as Discombobulation slowly picked himself up from where he had fallen, rubbing at his aching chest as he muttered: "Well, Luna, Scrivener Blooms, perhaps using two cards wasn't arrogance after all... three might have been too much insult for the night to bear, and the light of the blast would have chased your precious darkness away from this little layer of reality forever."

The Draconequus shook his head, then he cracked his back as he blinked owlishly a few times, gazing outwards before whistling under his breath at the sight of the plateau: across the gorge, the rocky shelf had collapsed from the force of recoil, and cracks had spread even throughout the level field, steam hissing here and there up from the broken ground amidst still-feebly-glowing, broken lines of runes.

At the center of the circle, Scrivener lay on his stomach with head resting against the cracked earth, the Tyrant Wyrm's eyes closed, his claws twitching a bit, and Luna was sprawled between the piston-like bones on his back, breathing heavily but slowly, her eyelids fluttering as her mane and tail sparked faintly, ethereal locks flickering in and out of reality as they blanketed her frame. Faint ripples of energy still traveled back and forth over their bodies, and Discombobulation shook his head slowly as he murmured quietly: "What grim potency love must hold within its bottomless depths... oh, ponies, your emotions etch so deeply into reality, you fail to understand just what kind of marks you make on everything around you, what traces you leave... how every action is distorted and impeached by them."

The Draconequus paused meditatively, then shook his head slowly before he started carefully forwards, lacing his hands together behind his back as he took graceful, easy strides over the ground, continuing moodily: "Still, this all really could have been much worse, as long as there aren't dead or half-formed ponies everywhere. I have to admit I'm impressed... fortunately, I at least never have to admit that to either Luna or Scrivener Blooms. I'm quite sure if I did I'd never hear the end of it."

"Aye, thou likely never shall." Luna's voice called tiredly from where she lay upon Scrivener Blooms, and the Draconequus flinched as he looked up in surprise and stumbled his way down the rest of the ridge into the field, glowering at the two as Scrivener chuckled tiredly against the ground. Then, slowly, the winged unicorn pushed herself up to a sitting position on her husband's back, grinning tiredly as her horn sparked faintly, and her eyes roved up to the night sky above as she whispered: "But it is done then. Up, Scrivener Blooms, our triumph is at hand, the spell... every fiber of my body knows the spell worked.

"To Ponyville, Scrivener Blooms, up off thy lazy haunches. Our friends await."