Synthesis of the Atheist

by BlackRoseRaven

First published 21st of March, 2013

Luna and Scrivener become the targets of a malicious, narcissistic psychopath. 8th story in the 99 Worlds Saga/Blooming Moon Chronicles.

Their son has grown up. Their world is intact. And in spite of old wounds that refuse to heal and new frustrations, everyone is moving forwards with life. And too late, Luna and Scrivener discover they're being watched by a so-called 'brother' who claims to need their help... and is willing to go to any lengths necessary to get it.
Takes place five years after Absolution. Eighth story in the Blooming Moon Chronicles.

Prologue: The Vast Expanse

Prologue: The Vast Expanse
~BlackRoseRaven

There are few truths in the universe that are inarguable, but one is this: our universe will not abide a void, and that empty space always has to be filled in. Even when gravity grows so fierce and great that it rips a hole in reality that threatens to consume time and space, the universe calmly fills that pit in, mending the break, restoring the wound. It does so slowly, and in its own time, and without a single care for the entire worlds it helps or hinders in the process.

Loose ends are another kind of emptiness, something that the universe won't allow to remain forever. Like frayed strings, they dangle and sway, but not forever: they always must and always will end in one of two fates. Either they will be sewn back into the great tapestry that they have come loose from, or they will be cut off and destroyed, never to be known by the other strands that they once sought to twine with.

If there are still questions, answers must either be given, or eliminated. There is no gray area, only black and white of existence or not. And there are very few things that will willingly allow themselves to simply fade out of existence, buried under the sands of time. There are very few things that will not raise their heads – however meek – and scream to be recognized, to be validated. To try and become part of the grand tapestry once more, to struggle for their rightful place in the story.

There is always another story, and there will always be another story. Even if the Void encroaches over all of existence and wipes out everything that was and everything that is, it cannot destroy everything that will be. Worlds spin out of existence today, but in their ashes and embers, new worlds will rise up, new discoveries will be had. Gods die, and new higher powers take their place. And every single person in existence is part of this cycle: whether when we die and our spirits rise to a new plane of existence, or we die and cease to exist, but our remains feed the earth and help new life take hold and flourish.

No self-proclaimed king, no matter how powerful, can stop this revival. No Fate can alter this truth. And no hero or villain can halt the cruelty in this cycle. The universe does not care for any of us, but it does not hate us, either: it only continues, dragging all of us into its eternal pull, starting new stories every time another ends.

And now the time has come for another new story to begin, because loose ends are screaming to be heard. Three great winters passed, and Ragnarok has come and gone, paving the way to the golden gates of the halls of paradise rebuilt on the other side of the looking glass. Darkness came and went, and purity was formed in the blackest of nights.

But that is the past, and now, our new story begins.

Author's Notes:

Story Theme: Blind Guardian - The Road of No Release

Stage I: Logos

Stage I: Logos
~BlackRoseRaven

The Scientific Origin, as according to the Equestrian Atheist Society

All life is based in evolution: the idea that somehow, we ponies were created by or interact with any type of divine influence is preposterous. However, stamping out this notion is next to impossible: thanks to the fact that the races of ponies have developed peculiar adaptations in order to better coexist with and dominate the world around them, including quote-unquote 'magic powers,' and due to increasing interaction with so-called 'supernatural' entities, most ponies accept the idea that we are somehow 'blessed' by the divine, or originate from some unknown deity.
This is simply not true. This is a myth perpetuated by Equestria's former ruler and the pride of ponies who do not desire to believe that we are nothing but organic animals that have evolved with better characteristics than our fellows. This is a fairy tale designed to instill a thankfulness and subservience towards unseen 'higher beings,' using religion and divinity to further the personal and moral agendas of those in power.
There is growing scientific evidence that all ponies have evolved over countless thousands of years: perhaps even longer. Ponies, and even many of those similar to our species such as deer and bison, all once shared the same ancestors. As we develop more and more ways to research both our history and our origins, we also begin to shed light on the scientific principles that exist behind our so-called 'magical abilities,' which in turn add strength to the arguments for evolution that have been made by both the Equestrian Atheist Society and other important members of the scientific community.
We are finally on the road to achieving recognition for our efforts, and helping others recognize the simple truth: we are not a 'chosen race' that came from some 'intelligent design' or a 'benevolent god.' We are not magical, or miraculous: we are the end result of a chain of coincidences and adaptive evolutions that have granted us the state of being we now exist as.
Although our efforts at finding a factual, scientific basis for existence has often been encumbered by Equestria's growing dealings with so-called supernatural entities and the knowledge of different realities claiming to be both Heaven and Hell, our research into evolutionary science has also led to a better understanding of how these 'supernatural' and 'divine' beings can be explained by rational scientific phenomenon. It is a long, hard road, but we are closer than we've ever been to proving that evolution is not just a theory. It is a fact.
There are new discoveries being found, and even entire new fields of research developing every day. Myth and the fiction of inexplicable magic are being discarded and the opium of religious thought overturned. Equestria has a long period yet before the legitimacy of our claims becomes fully recognized, but to our organization and the scientific community at large, the truth is becoming clear.
One day, science will prove that we all come from the same beginnings: that we were not created for some divine purpose, that we are not part of some great plan, or some cosmic goal. We are only animals, all part of an organic system like every other being on the face of our planet. One day, science will prove beyond any reasonable doubt that no god exists, and our only moral obligations are to ourselves and society, not to any divine being.
One day, we will all be free of the bonds that too many ponies have chosen to enslave themselves by, and the poisons that these beliefs in religious doctrine bring. When our origins are proven, these shackles will be thrown off and we will all begin to recognize our true value and potential: that we are all part of one organic machine, and through science and logical fact, we will be able to establish a society dependent only upon itself, not upon falsehoods, fairy tales, and religions beliefs that lead only to persecution and torment. One day, every pony will recognize that we all come from the same beginnings, and likewise, we all experience the same end.

A Summary Of Events

Chapter One: A Summary Of Events
~BlackRoseRaven

Today was a very important day, and Twilight Sparkle had carefully planned it out from the very beginning to the very end. And yet even knowing the kind of ponies she was trying to get to listen to her, all the same she was still surprised when she realized Luna and Scrivener had both vanished.

The mare sighed tiredly, shaking her head moodily as she strode down the hall of the beautiful little house that sat in the middle of the Everfree Forest, where she lived with her two...well... she still hadn't really decided on a word for what they were. Sometimes she thought she was just here to babysit them, as she morbidly glanced around the living room and saw... no one. Just empty bedding, Scrivener's writing desk, the many photographs on the wall and a few paintings.

The fireplace was empty, which was a bad sign: no matter what time of year it was, Luna almost always lit a fire when she was around the house. If it wasn't lit, then in all likelihood she had run off somewhere... which was great timing, really. And the fact that she hadn't seen Scrivener around made it even more likely that they were off running around the forest, making mischief.

She grumbled as she reached up to absently adjust the collar she wore around her neck: it was made of gorgeous black leather, ornamented with runes and with a clasp carefully shaped like a white lunar lily. It was half-hidden under the thick turtleneck sweater she had on, covering most of her purple-coated body, but leaving her wings free, and her cutie mark – a six-pointed, pink star surrounded by red runes – bare to the world. In her ears, a pair of onyx studs glinted: one was shaped like a crescent moon, the other like a rose blossom.

The mare brushed her black mane back, softening a bit as she looked over her shoulder and studied both her wings and her cutie mark: she remembered so clearly that day, when everything had changed... and she smiled a bit as she tapped quietly against the horn standing from her forehead, murmuring: “And I was young and naïve enough back then to think... that would be the biggest change in my life.” She paused, then sighed and grumbled, looking forwards and mumbling: “Then again, I still wonder whether or not I can actually call this my 'life' anymore...”

“Mom?” called a curious voice, and Twilight Sparkle glanced up and smiled a little as she turned around, seeing a glossy-black unicorn approaching the island that divided living room from kitchen. He had an athletic build, toned musculature flexing beneath his smooth black coat, his mane and tail both white. His eyes were a striking cyan-green, deep and clear as cloudless midnight.

As he walked around the counter, Twilight couldn't stop her eyes from roving to one of his more striking features: his wings. They were leathery and currently furled loosely against his sides, and while they were strong, she knew they also gave him an almost-constant ache. A 'gift' from Nightmare Moon, the darkness that lurked within Luna.

Twilight's eyes drew next to large, crisscrossed scars over his breast, but she hurriedly turned her eyes away, to things that called up better memories, like the cutie mark on the unicorn's flank: a constellation of nine stars that formed a flower blossom. But now he was looking at her with worry, and Twilight Sparkle smiled after a moment, shaking her head and asking: “You haven't seen your parents, Antares Mīrus, have you?”

“Well... I haven't seen Mom, but... Dad was in his office, kind of panicking. I think Scarlet Sage is trying to calm him down.” Antares shrugged after a moment, giving a lame smile, and Twilight sighed a little, rubbing slowly at her forehead with one hoof. “Well... you know how Dad is.”

“Yes. Yes I do.” Twilight murmured, and then she glanced up and smiled softly at him: Antares was the son of Luna and Scrivener, but after their ill-fated charge into what had been known as Clockwork World, Twilight Sparkle had taken on the role of looking after Antares, then only a young foal. In a way, though, she had always been like a mother to him, and he had always been her son... and she was just honored that even now, weird as it was, he still thought of her as one.

She looked towards the ceiling quietly, smiling despite herself before she asked in a soft voice: “Have I thanked you recently for bringing them back, Antares? For... saving them? And for still treating me like your mother in spite of everything?”

“You thank me every day, Mom, and... you know you don't need to. For any of that.” Antares replied softly, and then he tilted his head and asked curiously: “Do you want me to go and see if I can find Mom, while you talk to Dad? I know we have to head into Ponyville soon and all.”

“No, it's okay. I'll just go talk to Scrivener, Luna can't be too far away if he's upstairs.” Twilight replied with a smile, and Antares nodded before the violet mare added softly: “But I would really appreciate it if you could go and get ready.”

“I think Dad's already dressed at least, but uh... I don't think Mom is going to be very cooperative.” Antares said delicately, and when Twilight sighed and nodded, the stallion reached up and touched her shoulder gently. “But it's gonna be good. Dad's really excited. Well. He's terrified, but he's really excited and happy, I know he is.”

Twilight smiled after a moment, looking at Antares and nodding slowly: if anypony could guess at what other ponies were thinking or feeling, it was the unicorn. His special talent was the strange but wonderful ability to 'understand' people, after all... something that sounded a little silly until you thought about how useful being able to see inside a person could really be.

He reached up and touched her shoulder again, then strode past her and headed down the hall towards his bedroom: she couldn't help but watch him leave, thinking again of how lucky she was. It was funny... in spite of the way Antares could know precisely what to do or say to get a certain response out of a pony, or look at them and know why they did what they did or how they felt, he never seemed to recognize his own value. Or how honestly, truly proud of him Twilight was.

She shook her head and laughed a little to herself, then headed through the kitchen and towards the back door. She let herself out onto the back deck, gazing softly over the recently-varnished wood: Scrivener and Luna had spent several days only a week or so ago going over the house, making all kinds of repairs and adjustments.

Her eyes roved up to gaze fondly out through the backyard: it was fenced in all sides by tall trees, and there was a pretty little garden filled with herbs and rare plants beside a glittering pond. In front of the mirror-like surface of the water was a gnarled, warped-looking tree, luscious blue fruits hanging from its boughs: Ambrosia, the fruit of the gods.

They had everything they could ever need and more out here, and Twilight felt herself becoming content as she turned to the small staircase leading up to the second floor of the house. A strange emotion to feel with the fact that so far, only Antares was doing what she had asked and she still had to prepare everyone for their trip to Ponyville, but she could never help feeling any other way when she stopped to reflect on... how good life here was.

She opened the door at the top of the stairs and strode into the hallway beyond, smiling a little as she strode down to the ajar door leading into the office. The violet mare gently pushed the half-closed door the rest of the way open, giving a quietly-entertained look to the stallion who was seated at the desk inside. “Were you this bad before you asked Luna to marry you?”

“No, that was easy. I was laying on my face at the time, after some large, scary monsters tried to eat me and she had to come and save me.” the stallion mumbled, looking up at her awkwardly with nervous chestnut eyes, one of which was surrounded by a hoof-shaped scar. His coat was a deep charcoal, and his mane was messy and white, bangs half-covering his face as he nervously tried to adjust the rumpled suit jacket he was wearing. “This is stupid, Twilight. Can I just stay home? Luna can pretend to be me. She loves doing that. Far. Far too much to be healthy.”

Twilight only sighed softly, then she strode inside and gently brushed the large earth pony's hooves away from where he was only rumpling his clothing further. Her horn glowed, and the black suit jacket smoothed itself out before the white silk shirt beneath did the same, the latter rebuttoning itself properly before she smiled softly and reached up to gently adjust the platinum metal collar around Scrivener's neck.

It was gorgeous, fitting him perfectly and with a shaped hollow at the front; slices of onyx and pearl locked into place in this formed the image of a crescent moon. It was a symbol of his commitment... and Twilight's smile stretched wider as she adjusted this gently before finally saying gently: “It's going to be fine, Scrivener Blooms. As a matter of fact, it's going to be better than fine, okay? And I think you know that.”

“Hell no.” Scrivener rubbed at his cheek compulsively, then his hoof trailed down to the tip of another large scar: the rest of it was hidden beneath the thick collar, and it was one of quite a few distinct marks Scrivener's body had taken from years and years of adventure and battle beside Luna. The fact his coat was so dark didn't help much in keeping them hidden, either. “There's a lot that could go wrong, Twilight, I think we all know that. Furthermore, I still think this is some huge prank. I'm not entirely sure yet by who, but. It's way more likely than the alternative.”

Twilight only rolled her eyes, stepping back and letting her eyes draw down before she reached out and gently patted the cutie mark on his hip: a black rose blossom, with a raven-feather quill overtop. “Scrivy... you're going to be fine. Think of everything you've been through. Think of how happy Luna was, just when you tried to do this, much less how happy we all were when you succeeded. You can do this.”

“I don't know about that, Twilight. This is big.” Scrivener replied moodily, rubbing uneasily at his forehead before he looked up at her anxiously. “And besides. Since when does anything like this ever go well for me? Or hell, think of the whole speech I'm supposed to give. I can't give speeches. I'm no good at summaries! This... I mean-”

“Scrivy, you're just working yourself up now.” Twilight interrupted firmly, looking at him pointedly. “Look, Antares said that you were excited, and I think you are, too, beneath all the nervousness and stuff. Just try and focus on being positive for once, okay?”

Scrivener only mumbled under his breath, and Twilight sighed before she glanced up as the stallion added in a mutter: “Luna's outside, if you're looking for her. She's with Sleipnir.”

“Why is Sleipnir here, and... oh great. I better go stop them. I don't know what they're doing and I don't really want to know, but I should probably stop whatever it is.” Twilight said tiredly, and then she shook her head before hesitating, then leaning quickly in and giving him a gentle peck on the cheek, Scrivener glancing up with a small smile at this. “You're going to do fine.”

Scrivener only mumbled a little, and Twilight smiled again supportively for a moment at the earth pony before turning and striding back out into the corridor. She glanced up at the sound of hooves, and gazed warmly at the sight of Scarlet Sage, the adopted daughter of Luna and Scrivener.

She was a beautiful Pegasus mare, with a silvery coat and flowing red mane and tail that matched her crimson eyes. An elegant white dress covered her body, hiding the cutie mark of a red mirror edged in black on her hip, and she had a beautiful silver anklet around one foreleg, freshly polished and inscribed with ancient runes.

Scarlet Sage smiled at Twilight Sparkle as the violet mare remarked: “Well, I'm glad that some ponies around here are ready.”

“Come on, Twilight, you can't tell me you really expected Mom to listen to you even after all these years, right? And Dad's actually dressed.” Scarlet Sage replied with amusement, and Twilight nodded after a moment before the Pegasus said gently: “It's going to be fine.”

“I know, Scrivener's the one who needs reassurance, not me.” Twilight said awkwardly, but when Scarlet Sage only smiled, the violet mare hesitantly nodded and glanced at the open doorway, murmuring: “Okay. Okay, maybe... I'm a little nervous. This is... well...”

“It's gonna be fine, Twilight.” Scarlet Sage said softly, and then she stepped forwards and traded a tight embrace with the mare, who closed her eyes and smiled in gratitude, returning the hug just as fiercely. “I'll take care of Dad and finish getting him ready. You go see if you can catch Mom.”

“Thank you, Scarlet. I really appreciate it.” Twilight said softly as they parted, and then the violet mare turned and headed to the end of the hall, pushing the door open and wondering if she should just try and send a call out to Luna, or-

Her thoughts were interrupted as an enormous log flew through the air in front of her, sailing into the backyard and crashing loudly down into the garden like a javelin. Twilight could only stare in disbelief, her mouth working stupidly, before a second log flew through the air, this one flying past the yard completely to crash through the trees on the other side.

A moment later, there was a spray of leaves and broken branches branches as the end of the log fell back into the lawn, and Twilight mouthed wordlessly before two ponies emerged from the forest, the smaller, sapphire winged unicorn growling in frustration as the much-larger, bulky chestnut earth pony let out a triumphant laugh. “See, little sister? With one hoof tied behind my back, I am still stronger than thee!”

“Shut up, Sleipnir, 'tis not fair!” the sapphire mare complained childishly, shaking her head wildly and making her mane of starlight sizzle around her, before dark, cyan-green eyes glared up into the bright emerald of the stallion's. “Thou art... thou art enormous and... I am tired from being apart from Scrivener! 'Tis a busy day for me, that is the only reason I am holding back so much!”

The chestnut stallion only laughed again, however, shaking his own strange mane out: it was made of thick vines, and beautiful gemstones glinted from where they were trapped amidst the ivy of his mane and tail. He was enormous, and tattooed with vines that twisted around all manner of celestial symbols and along his right foreleg, even more striking than the emblem of an ash tree on his hip. “Now, come, little sister, there is no need for tears. In this challenge not even Celestia can beat me without the use of her cheating magic, after all.”

The winged unicorn only growled at him in response, however, then proudly rose her head, displaying the green collar made from woven vines show all the clearer. The vines held in place an ornate silver brooch, inside which was tightly locked a beautiful black pearl engraved with the symbol of a rose blossom. “I swear to it, Sleipnir, that I shall best thee one day! And then all shall know Luna Brynhild to be the strongest in all of Equestria!”

“'Tis nice to have dreams.” Sleipnir teased, and Luna huffed and punched him in the shoulder, making him wince and rub at this awkwardly before glancing up, then smiling brightly and waving at Twilight Sparkle. “Good morning!”

“What are you two doing?” Twilight asked in exasperation, and then she shook her head as she hurried down the steps, as Sleipnir only shrugged amiably and Luna cleared her throat awkwardly, brushing at herself a bit. “Oh... Luna, look at you!”

“Aye, thou should. I am very pretty.” Luna struck a pose and grinned, winking across at the violet mare... who only glowered in response, and Luna cleared her throat as she dropped back to her normal stance, scuffing a hoof at some dirt on her breast. “Thou art... very pretty?”

Twilight drew her eyes over the forest dust that was splattered over Luna's body, and the leaves and twigs stuck in her mane, then finally brought her gaze back to the smears of mud covering not just her hooves, but also the image of the crescent moon over the splotch of black that was her emblem. For a few moments, the violet mare stared at this, then asked slowly, despite dreading the answer: “Why is your butt covered in mud, Luna?”

“'Tis Sleipnir's fault!” Luna said immediately, and Sleipnir shook his head firmly, then winced when Luna punched him in the shoulder again, hurriedly nodding instead. “See? He tricked me into ripping up a log in the muddiest part of the Everfree Forest.”

Twilight only looked at Luna flatly, then cleared her throat and motioned to Sleipnir, and Luna lamely turned her eyes to her big brother... who was now giggling to himself as he stared, entranced, at several butterflies slowly fluttering past, before his eyes crossed when one landed on his nose and he gave a bright smile. “Sleipnir outwitted you?”

“This. Is... oh come now, my gorgeous mare! 'Twas just a silly game, and we have hours yet before we have to go to Ponyville!” Luna said finally, and then she winced when Twilight's horn glowed and a bright, blue-white aura surrounded the filthy mare.

The violet unicorn grumbled a bit as she focused her magic, the aura increasing and Luna wincing as steam began to rise up from her body. The sensation of heat and the tingle of electricity pulsed over her skin, her body flexing as Twilight muttered: “Actually, we have to leave in... less than thirty minutes now, we can't show up late for this, Luna. You're just like a foal, you know that? But at least you didn't mess up your dress...”

“I refuse to wear a dress. Make Sleipnir wear it.” Luna grumbled, and Sleipnir cocked his head curiously before the mare said mildly: “'Tis black, of course. But I think it would look very nice with thine eyes, brother, 'twould accent them splendidly. And thou can wear my earrings as well.”

“'Tis very generous of thou to offer, little sister, but I do not think thy dress will fit me. I had trouble squeezing into even Celestia's mighty armor, as thou will recall, much less her finer trappings.” Sleipnir replied cheerfully, and then he paused thoughtfully. “Which earrings?”

“The nice ones, I suppose, I do not know jewelry. Scrivener is the mare in the relationship. He is even more a mare than Twilight Sparkle, I think at times.” Luna replied pointedly, and then she winced when Twilight purposefully intensified the cleansing spell a little too much before allowing the aura to vanish from around the sapphire winged unicorn. “'Tis a compliment!”

Twilight sighed tiredly, shaking her head slowly before asking almost pleadingly: “Can we just please get ready now, Luna? And Sleipnir, what... what are you even doing here?”

“I was bored, and more importantly wanted to give my congratulations to both my little sister and my brother on this most wonderful endeavor.” Sleipnir said with a smile, gazing warmly at Twilight Sparkle. “And I hear that I should offer them to thee as well, benevolent Twilight. Apparently thou aided greatly in the composition.”

The violet mare only smiled lamely with a faint blush, and Luna huffed at her brother, glaring up at him. “Do not flirt with Twilight. She is mine. Thou hast thine own wife.”

“Aye, but my sweet phoenix dislikes when I spend too much time 'clinging' to her, as she phrases it.” Sleipnir replied easily, winking over at his younger sibling. “'Tis better for all concerned if I continue to tantalize what pretty mares may come my way. 'Twould be a crime not to share myself with the world, after all.”

“You sound almost as bad as Burning Desire.” Twilight muttered, and then she shook her head and turned her eyes to Luna, who was slowly tilting her horn towards her brother as it began to glow slightly. But before Luna could set Sleipnir on fire or something else that would undoubtedly end in her getting messy again, the violet mare quickly said: “Come on, I've already laid your things out. We need to get dressed and go.”

“Oh, very well.” Luna grumbled, the aura dying out from around her horn before she looked towards the morning sky above and sighed a little. “But know I am only consenting to this because 'tis so important to Scrivener and thou.”

Twilight nodded in relief, giving the mare an encouraging look as the sapphire winged unicorn strode past, adding moodily: “I swear, though, if Scrivener begins to whine too much again, I shall pummel him, proud as I am of him or not. He deserves this success, whether he believes it or not.”

“Yeah, he does.” Twilight agreed softly, gazing up at the second floor of the household for a moment, and then she shook her head quickly and hurried after Luna as she headed inside, Sleipnir smiling and following last a moment later like an oversized foal.

Ponyville: a beautiful small town that sat at the edge of the Everfree Forest, surrounded by rolling fields... and protected by enormous walls and guards. The Equestria they lived in, after all, was rougher than the Equestria of decades past now.

But the town was as friendly as ever, and while the walls stood protectively around the village, the gates were almost always open, and the farms and small homes that sat outside the safety of the walls enjoyed the same bounty they always had. Nature was good to them, and ponies still took care of each other here... no, all the people here, pony and otherwise, took care of and watched out for each other. That was a large part of why they lived in such safety and plenty... although it certainly helped there were ponies like Celestia, Luna, and Sleipnir watching out for them, too.

And right now, there was quite a hubbub in the little town: ponies were heading for the library and knots of not only local townsfolk, but people from as far away as the Northern Barony were here. Masked guards covered from head-to-hoof in beautiful golden plate mail patrolled calmly around the square, next to ponies wearing lighter blue armor: Yamato Elite and Starlit Knights. Usually they were on much-more important duties than this... but Equestria had enjoyed a comfortable peace for the last few years, and there wasn't much to do apart from keeping an eye on things.

The outside of the library was getting quickly busier, and people were even crowding up against the windows, trying to peer inside, while others were standing around, side-to-side with not just ponies but other races, like the Nibelung: half-wolf, half-pig dwarves, with dark fur and large tusks standing out of their muzzles, short and squat but standing on two legs and possessing dexterous hands. A common sight around Equestria... although less common were things like the demons that also calmly mingled with the crowd, making many of the out-of-towners stare, although most of the inhabitants of Ponyville were well-used to their presence by now.

Inside the library it was just as crowded: around the back wall by the open door were ponies with cameras and notepads, many of them already eagerly scribbling notes, while the next few rows of ponies were nobles, officials, other important people. And at the front, there were rows and rows of familiar faces... and the only reason Scrivener could face this audience at all was because he was able to look at all the people he'd gotten to know, all the friends he and Luna had made, and understand how fortunate he was. Even if, at the same time, he was all too aware of the faces that weren't there in the crowd, either... of everything that had been lost.

But if anything, that only made him even more determined, as he cleared his throat and looked back and forth for support. Luna smiled at him encouragingly from one side of the room, however, and Twilight nodded firmly from the other, and Scrivener nodded a bit before the earth pony in the expensive suit beside him leaned in and asked in a whisper: “You ready, champ?”

“Don't call me that. I've told you so many times not to call me that.” Scrivener muttered in reply, and then he looked down at the book that sat on the desk in front of him, touching it almost gingerly. It was a hardcover, fairly large, and the title read: 'I Am, You Are.' The best name title the author could come up with... whose name, written in tiny font near the bottom of the cover, was Scrivener Blooms.

The charcoal stallion smiled after a moment to himself, then he closed his eyes and rubbed silently over the title page before taking a slow breath and raising his head, nodding once. And with that, the speckled earth pony behind him patted the dark-coated stallion firmly on the shoulder, and Scrivener finally cleared his throat and stood up.

He looked out over the audience as it fell silent, and he breathed slowly for a moment: he thought of the readings he had used to do on a regular basis to the Royal Court, and all the speeches he had helped write, and then he laughed a little and said the first thing that came to mind: “Horses of Heaven, I'm out of practice for stuff like this.”

There were a few chuckles, and Scrivener felt himself loosening naturally up as he smiled, then said in a clear, carrying voice he hadn't used in years: “Hello, everypony, and... first off, thank you all for being here. I can't begin to express how honored I am by you all, by the interest that's been shown in this book by you and... of course, my very aggressive agent, Barry Barter.”

A few more laughs, as the earth pony behind Scrivener half-grinned, half-glared, fidgeting awkwardly and smoothing down his expensive suit as Scrivener tossed a wink over his shoulder before looking back forwards over the audience, as he felt the last of his anxiousness vanishing: now that he was here, now that he was actually doing this, he wasn't scared. He was excited... even happy, in spite of how hard it was to think of all the things he wanted to say. But when he just let himself speak, all the words seemed to come out naturally... so he concentrated on talking, not thinking, as he continued: “My first book, Rose Thorns, sold... I think it was something like forty-thousand copies in total. I Am, You Are, has already sold more than ten times that, and that's just the pre-orders. And I am so proud to be privileged enough to be here today to sign and pass out the first of the copies of this book, to my friends and family and my patrons, to everypony who helped make this a success.”

His agent cleared his throat quietly behind him, and Scrivener glanced mildly over his shoulder, letting the attention shift to the speckled earth pony and his eighty-dollar haircut again. The lanky stallion slowly tried to shrink his head into his expensive suit, but then Scrivener shook his own head and said easily: “Alright, alright. Since my good friend here is trying to remind me we're on a schedule and all, enough thank-yous for now, I'll do it at the get-together later. For now, for all the ponies who aren't quite sure what they're in for, I'm supposed to give you a summary of things.

“This book...” Scrivener halted, looked down for a moment, then he smiled faintly and he stroked the cover slowly, saying softly: “This book is personal, which makes it all the more meaningful that people are so interested in it. But I'm not kidding myself that I'm any great writer, don't worry about that. I just happen to be lucky enough – or unlucky, depending on how you look at it, I guess – to be able to give a first-hoof account of the war we had with Decretum. And again, there was all the hype and advertising, thanks to the publisher. Plus... I know some pretty important ponies.”

He smiled, looking back and forth, at Twilight Sparkle, then at Luna... and then into the audience as his eyes lingered on Celestia. She stood out: then again, she was twice the size of a normal pony, and her mane and tail were an ephemeral rainbow of colors, eternally shifting and flowing of their own accord. Her amethyst eyes met his for a moment as she smiled supportively back at him, and he gave the smallest of nods as he softened slightly: her once-eternally-present coronet and peytral plate were both missing. The only thing she wore was a pretty purple scarf, with the crest of the sun similar to her own cutie mark neatly embroidered into one loose end.

Then Scrivener Blooms drew his eyes away, letting them draw over the rest of the audience as he continued calmly: “It still... strikes me hard every time I think of this, but the story begins more than thirty years ago, when Luna and I first met... before I was lucky enough to have met any of you, apart from Celestia and Twilight Sparkle. And the story is told from my point of view, how I got this scar, and followed Luna into our self-imposed exile to protect someone very dear to us, who we know now was only manipulated...” Scrivener returned a soft gaze to Celestia for a moment, before they roved to Luna, and he smiled. “But don't think for a second the story's all about me. It's about the pony I followed. The pony who saved us all.”

Luna blushed and shifted, then Scrivener shook his head and returned his eyes to the audience, continuing: “I talk about the Velites and Veliuona, and how I came to be soulbound to Luna, and what that means.” Scrivener reached up, touching his own chest gently. “That I share one life, one soul, with my wife, and if she feels pain, I feel it; if I'm wounded, then the wound will appear on her, too. But we can also share thoughts and emotions and understand each other deeper than ever before.

“I spend the brunt of the first half of the book on the journey many of you in this room took alongside Luna and I, though... when we became Starlit Knights. When we marched to the far north to stop the evil gathering there.” Scrivener stopped, then he smiled faintly and shook his head slowly. “And how unprepared we were for what we met.

“I've done my best to detail what happened, in the most believable way possible. The Black Wolves that ravaged Equestria, and who was behind it all, Valthrudnir... like I did my best to talk about the decade Luna and I spent... helping rebuild Equestria. After the disaster.” Scrivener smiled a little. “On my publisher's advice I cut a lot of this out and wrote about it from a different angle: I focus on my life with Luna during those days a lot, and... how we managed to push through together.

“Finally, I reach the stuff that I think is what gets the most interest. Decretum, the Clockwork World that Equestria went to war with, that to this very day we're still finding remnants of here and there.” Scrivener said quietly, nodding slowly. “Even though it was a war that most affected those here in this very room... it is also a war that affects all of Equestria to this day. And until all of Decretum's machinery is shut down once and for all, I don't think it'll ever be over, but... all the same, I'm not afraid. Because all of us have one-another, and it's that unity, that friendship, that I try to focus on. How we fought horrible monsters, how we faced off against destroyers and tyrants and awful things, and yet we survived because we all pulled together. Together, we're stronger than anything... and together, we can... we can even conquer ourselves.”

Scrivener quieted, looking down at one hoof for a moment before he steeled himself and looked up, saying softly: “And the last part of the book is a sort of... a collection of short stories, many about those in this room. I think plenty of you remember that... me, knocking on your door one day to ask you all weird questions.”

There were a few laughs at this, and then Scrivener smiled a little. “And to everyone who contributed... thank you. You trusted me to write some very personal stories... you let me share your stories with the world, and... I can't thank you enough for that. And as I think I promised a few of you, just like I wrote some of your stories into this book... I've written my own, too.

“I want to think of I Am, You Are, not just as a history piece, or an autobiography, or even an account of the adventures of Luna and I, but... as a story that can help people. I know that's... that's bigheaded of me, but I think that if people read this, really read this, and listen in particular to the stories at the end and snuck in here and there to the accounts... people can learn something, about themselves and about others.” Scrivener quieted, then he nodded slowly and looked up, drawing his eyes over the crowd. “Because all of us are different... but we're all the same, too. We're like... puzzle pieces. If you can find just the right way to make things fit, you can form one great big picture. But otherwise it's just a jumble on the table.”

He fell quiet, then cleared his throat and smiled a bit, looking back and forth. “Well, I guess that's about all I have to say, and you're all here for the book anyway, right? Might as well not spoil everything that's in it. Besides, a lot of you know all this stuff, from how the Nibelung came up out of the tunnels beneath Equestria, and became our allies after we drove back the darkness enslaving them, or how many demons and Phooka and Strange Ones are now trusted friends, because we can mutually benefit each other more through peace than war, and... misunderstandings have been remedied. So... let's get these books out, yeah?”

Scrivener grinned awkwardly, and there were a few more laughs and some polite clapping and stomping of hooves, as the earth pony agent behind the stallion waved hurriedly at several assistants half-hiding in a library corridor. They immediately hurried inside, carrying enormous boxes of books that they put down beside the desk and opened, and Scrivener grimaced a bit as he sat down at the table as his agent muttered: “Nice job, champ, but come on, I thought we gave you a speech. You can't just wing it like this, you know that Underbrush won't like that.”

“Yes, yes, writing is a business, I know.” Scrivener grumbled crankily back, glowering over his shoulder. “Don't forget that I gave you half my cut, I'm allowed to ramble a little if I want to.”

The agent grumbled, and Scrivener reached out and grabbed his quill and inkwell, turning a smile outwards as Celestia approached the other side of the desk. One of the assistants hurriedly pulled a book out of the open box beside the desk and slid it in front of the charcoal stallion, but for a few moments the two ponies only studied each other before Celestia said softly: “I trust you told the truth.”

“I did, Celestia. Although what I wrote before was true, too... this wasn't your fault.” Scrivener said softly, and the mare gave him a tender look. Then Scrivener smiled, flipping the book open and scrawling a short dedication and signature over the front page, murmuring: “You're the only pony I know who gets upset over being put in a better light over a worse one.”

“Says the kettle to the pot.” Celestia replied, and the stallion couldn't hold back a wry grin, looking up at her with entertainment. “But... I have to be honest, Scrivener Blooms, it would be too easy to fall back into... the way things were before, to let things be buried again. But... I don't think I want things to be buried anymore.”

She paused, then smiled softly, looking up. “I'm... happy, these days, Scrivener. I like having a steward in place so I can spend my days either in the library, or helping train the Starlit Knights. To be honest, it's been so many years since I last worked with people... I forgot how good it feels to truly teach. To not just set examples, but to truly... work with them and beside them.”

Scrivener nodded slowly, then he closed the book and slid it across to her, and Celestia smiled slightly as her horn glowed, lifting it easily into the air as she said softly: “I'll see you tonight, brother.”

“You too... sister.” Scrivener smiled warmly up at her as Celestia turned and headed off to speak to Luna, and with just a glance towards the sapphire mare, he could feel her joy and pride and warmth, beaming radiantly at her big sister as she approached.

Scrivener fought down a blush as he turned his eyes back forwards, feeling... happy. It was impossible to describe any other way, the joy that flooded his system at the sight of Luna being so damn proud for him, so excited for this... silly thing he had written and gotten so lucky with. The stallion grinned a little as he turned his eyes back forwards, watching as a blue Pegasus with a short, messy rainbow mane and tail approached, grinning widely... before he yelped when he was body-checked out of the way by a gray-pink mare with a straight mane and tail, her eyes blue but rimmed in red, her sharp teeth displayed in a wide grin at the stunned Pegasus.

Then the mare cracked her neck before approaching the table, straightening a bit almost as if to show off the tattooing of vines over the left side of her breast, entwined around the profile of an ash tree, a much clearer marking than the black and gray balloons on her flank. She looked like an earth pony... but the glare of her eyes and her intimidating presence did little to hide the fact she was a demon, as she asked moodily: “Just sucking up all the glory, aren't you?”

“It's nice to see you too, Pinkamena.” Scrivener replied mildly, and then he flinched only slightly when the much-brighter twin sister of the demon seemed to pop out of thin air beside her, cotton candy mane and tail bouncing, a bright smile on the earth pony's features as she gazed radiantly at Scrivy. “And you too, Pinkie Pie.”

A book slid in front of him as Pinkie Pie giggled, then said warmly: “It's been so many years! I mean, more for you than for us, but... I look around, and none of us look... too old, you know? And I wonder sometimes, is that because...”

“Oh shut up, sissy, you don't have the brain capacity to think about anything except where your next sugar high is going to come from.” Pinkamena said moodily, but Pinkie Pie only smiled at her dark twin, who rolled her eyes as Scrivener signed the book. He slid it across the table to them, and Pinkamena swept it up and opened it, looking at the message he'd written inside the front cover before she grumbled and closed it, muttering: “Good enough, I guess. Come on, sissy.”

“Lemon Drop, you gotta say 'thank you.'” Pinkie Pie complained, and Pinkamena groaned and only rolled her eyes storming off with the book before the bright pink mare turned her eyes back to Scrivener, giving him a warm smile. “Well, you know she is anyway, right?”

“Of course. She and I are good friends, after all.” Scrivener replied with a smile, and Pinkie Pie nodded firmly before bouncing happily off, and the stallion shook his head before grinning as the blue Pegasus approached with a surly glower in the direction the demon had walked off in. “Hey, you should count yourself lucky.”

“Real funny, Scrivy.” the Pegasus replied mildly, his magenta eyes looking meditatively down at the charcoal stallion as his strong wings flapped once, then furled at his sides. He shifted back and forth, making his cutie mark of a cloud releasing a bolt of rainbow-colored lighting seem to ripple, before he cleared his throat and added in a quieter voice: “And uh... hey. Thanks for... you know.”

“No, Rainbow Dash. Thank you.” Scrivener said in a softer voice, smiling as he took the next book offered from the assistant, jotting a quick note and signature. Then he closed it and slid it across the desk, meeting the eyes of the Pegasus. “It meant a lot to add your story to the collection. And I think it's going to be one of the most helpful ones in the whole book.”

Rainbow only grunted, shifting lamely back and forth before he quickly picked the book up, then nodded and held up a front hoof, and Scrivener tapped his own against it. “I'll be looking forwards to tonight. Been a long time since we had a big get together.”

“Too long.” Scrivener agreed, nodding, and then he smiled when Rainbow Dash strode off and the next pony approached: a goldenrod mare with her blonde mane braided tightly back in a ponytail, a well-worn cowboy hat on her head. Her green eyes looked at him with warmth, and for a moment he studied her, how healthy and strong she looked, even her cutie mark of three red apples seeming to gleam. “You know, I'm only supposed to give away one per family, originally. Publishers were pretty cranky when I insisted on free copies for all of you.”

“Well, I can't share books with Rainbow, he wears 'em to pieces. I reckon you understand what that's like.” Applejack replied easily, and Scrivener nodded thoughtfully as he glanced towards Twilight for a moment before turning his eyes back to the earth pony mare, as she added softly: “And hey, even if Rainbow said it and I know you're gonna hear it a whole lot... thanks.”

“I've never been thanked so often for writing people's embarrassing moments down before. Especially since already half a million or something ponies are going to be getting copies of this book over the coming week.” Scrivy replied mildly, and Applejack laughed and shook her head, and he finally nodded and gave her a warm look. “Okay, okay. I... I really appreciate it, Applejack. Still, you're the ones who should get the thanks here, not me. Writing it all down... that was the easy part.”

“Don't have time for small talk.” half-muttered the literary agent behind Scrivener, and the charcoal stallion sighed tiredly and rolled his eyes before glaring over his shoulder at the expensively-dressed stallion, who winced a bit but held up a hoof. “Look, champ, it's true! We gotta get these books signed and passed out, then you gotta meet with the press, and then we gotta make nice and rub elbows with some very important ponies. Seriously, do you want to screw this up?”

“Yes.” Scrivener said blandly, and Applejack snorted in amusement before the stallion turned his eyes back to her and pushed the book he had just finished signing across the table, smiling amusedly. “Sorry, AJ. Looks like everything will have to wait until tonight. Tell Big Mac I have a copy for him, too.”

“Will do, Scrivy. See you tonight.” Applejack smiled at him kindly, turning to leave, and Scrivener shook his head before sighing loudly even as another friendly, familiar face approached when his agent tapped him firmly on the shoulder.

All the same, he played along for the most part: a few ponies he couldn't resist holding short conversations with all the same, his agent grumbling at him to hurry up, hurry up every time he did so. But once the familiar faces were gone, and Scrivener was autographing for nobles and patrons and ponies who had helped with this process but he didn't really know, he moved much faster, signing what he was asked to but sparing little extra time.

When the last pony strode away, Scrivener glanced curiously at the assistant, who dug in the box before pulling out three extra copies. The stallion smiled as he reached out to take one of these, writing a short note in it and ignoring his agent as the expensive-clothed stallion whined: “Wait, wait, you're supposed to send the extras back to the company!”

“No, I'm gonna give one to a friend and... one we can just leave here and... uh... hey, you like to read?” Scrivener glanced over at the assistant, who looked surprised but nodded hesitantly, and Scrivener reached out to grab one of the books, opening it and autographing it with his name and a short thank you before sliding it over to him. “There you go.”

His agent gave a shrill whistle of frustration through his teeth as the unicorn assistant grabbed the book with a warm smile and nod, mumbling his thanks before he turned and hurried away. Then Scrivener glanced over his shoulder at the literary agent, studying him thoughtfully for a few moments before he said mildly: “I've decided I don't want to take questions from the press.”

For a few moments, the literary agent only stared at him... and then the smaller earth pony ground his teeth together in frustration before stomping out in front of the desk, calling in a voice that was very clearly faking the cheer in it: “Okay, okay, everypony clear out now, unless you have a press pass! Scrivener Blooms is now going to be taking and answering questions, very important stuff here, people! Isn't that right, big time author?”

Scrivener yawned loudly and openly in response, making his agent glare furiously at him. But as ponies with cameras and notepads hurried up towards the front of the room, Scrivener sat up a little and looked grouchily up, smoothing out his jacket as Twilight and Luna both approached him.

The agent sighed in relief, then smiled wider when he turned his eyes back to the crowd, holding up a hoof and calling quickly, as cameras flashed and ponies leaned forwards eagerly: “Okay guys, come on, settle down! Big day today and all, and Mr. Blooms is on a tight schedule, very tight! We only have time for a few questions, so you guys better make 'em count!”

“He's abusing exclamation marks, I can hear it in his voice.” Scrivener muttered more to himself than anyone else, but Luna snickered a little all the same as she drew a bit closer, before the charcoal stallion sighed as he carefully sat up before smiling wryly over the crowd of reporters, critics, and other newsponies. More had come in from outside, and they almost filled the room... and for a moment, the charcoal stallion felt both pride and a strange nostalgia. When he'd published Rose Thorns, after all, there had been three press ponies in total... and one of those had been the son of one of the reporters, who had been about five years old and stared at him the entire time he had been interviewed.

Scrivener shook his head out a bit, opening his mouth... before glaring at his agent when the expensive-clothed pony pointed at one of the posher-looking reporters, clearly from one of the larger newspapers or national magazines. “You, sir, what's your question?”

The well-dressed reporter looked pleased, and then he rose his notepad, asking quickly: “Your book deals heavily with relationships, is that correct?”

“Yes, it does.” Scrivener sat up a bit, then he glanced softly back and forth between Luna and Twilight before turning his eyes forwards. “I deal pretty extensively with both typical romantic relationships, as well as... more atypical ones.”

“Like the one you're rumored to have yourself, which is discussed in detail in the book, isn't it?” the reporter slipped in, and Scrivener winced a bit before he shook himself out a bit, then sat up, hating the way everyone was greedily looking at him. He felt Luna's tenseness too, and Twilight was blushing a little, not so much embarrassed as uncomfortable at the attention they were getting...

But Scrivener Blooms nodded once, answering as calmly as he could despite wishing he could keep his private life private: “That's correct. I go into detail about my own relationship... my own fortune... to be involved in a polyamorous relationship with both Luna Brynhild and Twilight Sparkle, and none of us here are ashamed of that. We don't advertise it or shove it in other ponies' faces, but... we aren't ashamed of it, either. And Horses of Heaven know how proud and lucky I am.”

Scrivener looked softly over his shoulder at Twilight, who gazed down at him with warmth and joy in her eyes, blushing quietly as she reached a hoof up to touch his shoulder, and Luna grunted in agreement on Scrivener's other side, grinning widely before she added cheerfully: “Aye, 'tis a true fortune indeed. I get two gorgeous wives to do the housework for me, how many others can boast of such luck?”

Scrivener sighed and rolled his eyes as there were a few laughs from the crowd, and Scrivener's agent gave a strained grin before he said hurriedly: “It's a question discussed... in great detail in the story, definitely worth a read so uh... we shouldn't linger too much on that or we'll give away all the romance! Uh... yes, yes, you there, what do you got for us?”

“Actually, my question is for Miss Twilight Sparkle.” said the reporter, smiling politely as he reached up and brushed at his long, thin mustache, his eyes calculating as he studied the violet mare. “Let's put this rumor across Equestria to rest once and for all: is it true that you are, in reality, an... undead construct, some kind of golem created during the war with Clockwork World?”

Twilight flushed slightly, shifting a bit, and Scrivener could feel the ache that went through her as he immediately sat up and Luna's eyes narrowed. But then the violet mare grasped Scrivy's shoulder, squeezing into it silently before she looked up and said quietly: “I'm not a construct, put together by Celestia. I prefer to think of myself as a pony... even if I am something different now. I died many years ago now, during the war with Decretum, but I... was saved by a dear friend.”

The reporters were quickly writing notes, and Scrivener's agent tugged nervously at his collar before wincing over his shoulder at the look on Scrivener's face: had he been a little less concerned about his paycheck, he would have understood that the look on Luna's face was what was most worrying at the moment. “Okay now, please, let's stick to questions for the writer, and... uh... try and stick to things that might not be answered in the big ol' book, eh, guys? You, you in the back, what's on your mind? Something more to the point I hope, yeah?”

The Pegasus who was fluttering around near the back wall with his hoof raised desperately sighed in relief, and then he asked quickly, calling over the milling crowd: “Mr. Blooms, what... drove you to write this book? You're a poet first and foremost, right? So why did you choose this extensive format for-”

“Okay, come on, kid, we got limited time here.” the literary agent cut off, looking irritable, but Scrivener shook his head and struck the desk firmly, getting the attention of the other ponies.

“No, it's okay, I wanna answer this one. That's the first good question that's been asked.” Scrivener said mildly, then he smiled pleasantly at the glowers the other reporters favored him as they began to hurriedly write down likely-unpleasant notes about him.

His agent glared at him horribly, but Scrivener ignored the look as he took a moment to gather his thoughts, before looking up and saying softly: “I am a poet, first and foremost. I don't think that will ever change... but I got a lot of practice rewriting stories when I worked for Celestia in the old days, and after that, when I lived with Luna, I spent a lot of time... learning and evolving my writing style while compiling a history of their brother, Sleipnir.

“This book came about, what drove me to use this mix of autobiography and collected stories from other ponies, is the fact that I already had so many of these notes recorded in a giant sheaf of papers I came across a few years ago, while we were... moving back into our home.” Scrivener smiled over his shoulder at Luna, who gazed fondly back as the memories tickled through both their minds. “Luna and I... we were gone for almost a decade, after all. We were... lost, after-”

“Okay, okay, chief, hate to cut you off but you're gonna ruin the ending of the book.” the agent interjected, and Scrivener slowly turned a glower on the lanky earth pony, who pointedly ignored it as he looked ahead and said quickly: “Come on, we only got the time for a few more questions so... make 'em count! Yeah, you there, feather hat!”

The mare looked up with a wide smile, reaching up to adjust the ridiculous, floppy hat on her head with the tall feather standing out of it. “Why, thank you. Mr. Blooms, I'm Ersatz Major, critical analyst for Rogues And Studs, your source for the newest sensations and latest flops.”

“That's a mouthful. Also not really a question.” Scrivener remarked mildly, and Ersatz only continued to smile even as Scrivener's literary agent paled. But Scrivener kept himself smiling, even as he waited for what he was somehow sure was coming. “So what would you like to know?”

“Is it true that along with your hedonistic lifestyle, you have a history of substance abuse problems and illness?” asked Ersatz curiously, and Scrivener's agent squeaked as the charcoal stallion himself stared and reared back, caught off guard before Ersatz smiled almost kindly as she leaned forwards, but her eyes were predatory and vicious as she asked in a falsely-kind voice: “Well, you were admitted for extensive private testing at an expensive private medical clinic in Canterlot, yes? Why, I believe that Celestia, then the acting Baroness, paid for the entire process herself... and she also got you a nice position at Canterlot University, where I believe you caused quite a bit of mischief. There were allegations of drug use, weren't there? And wasn't there something about child abuse, that you were seen chasing your own son through the halls while he screamed?”

“You do a lot of homework.” Scrivener said softly, his features tense, his eyes narrowed before he slowly stood up, as Luna snarled and Twilight simply looked horrified. “And I doubt you're interested in my answers. But I guess smearing me is easier and makes for a more interesting article for your readers, right?”

Ersatz smiled calmly, remarking easily: “None of that sounds like a denial to me, Scrivener Blooms... and why, it's quite a book, I won't deny that. Fantastic, and I do mean that literally... most of it seems impossible, like the product of a very damaged, sick mind... and with your very questionable past, and your... strange present...”

Her eyes flicked slowly over Luna and Twilight, and Scrivener saw her lick her lips slightly, the earth pony restraining himself as best he could. He could feel Luna trembling, her fury, while Twilight was just trying to keep her head down, breathing hard and looking hurt. His agent was staring at him pleadingly, and Scrivener grimaced before he forced himself to look up, studying Ersatz silently.

She was a unicorn: he couldn't see her horn with her big hat, but he instinctively knew, just like he knew she was a pureblood. Her eyes were an awful shade of pale blue that almost seemed hollow, and her coat was a mossy dark green. But her hat was pink, and she had a big, ridiculous pink bow around her neck, and a matching pink bow near the end of her tail, and her cutie mark was... carefully covered by a pink skirt. Purposefully, he thought.

The two looked at each other for a few moments, and Scrivener shook his head out before he said calmly: “Your story's missing a few facts. One, I'm a drunk, not a drug addict.” Scrivener made his voice a little haughty, almost turning it into a joke, and as always it earned a few stares and stupid looks from ponies who were knocked off guard by the statement. “Two, I had health problems, yes. And you know, a crazy writer isn't anything new anyway. Three, following chasing my screaming, hallucinating son through the halls, I punched the crap out of a chimera in front of a lecture hall full of students. Now if that doesn't say I love the kid and would do anything to protect him, I don't know what does.”

“Yes, violence is a wonderful way to show affection.” Ersatz replied pleasantly, looking unfettered, and Scrivener felt the urge to leap over the desk and strangle her even as part of him felt impressed at the same time. Whatever else, he had to admit that she was good. Definitely evil, yes, but definitely not an amateur when it came to her job. “So is it true you provided sexual favors for Baroness Celestia in return for what she provided you?”

Scrivener's better judgment told him not to reply; unfortunately, his mouth was already speaking before he could stop himself, voice dripping sarcasm as he answered: “Oh yes, every single day I was in Canterlot. And I know what you're thinking, that I must have had the time of my life, but let's just say that between the riding crop and many other unspeakable things, my poor tush is never going to be the same.”

“Okay, that's enough for now, we have to move on, get going, publishers are waiting!” Scrivener's agent all-but-howled, glaring horribly over at Scrivener. The charcoal stallion, however, had his own eyes locked on Ersatz, who was looking back at him with her calm, arrogant smile before she gave him a slow wink, then turned and strutted off.

“Let us kill her, Scrivy. Let me call a demon to eat her alive.” Luna grumbled, and Scrivener was half-tempted to agree as even Twilight looked moodily after the critic. Then Scrivener sighed loudly as his agent stormed over, but Luna immediately reached out and snagged the lanky earth pony by the collar, hefting him into the air with one hoof as she asked darkly: “And did thou plan for this to happen, for us to be made a spectacle of?”

“No! No! But... but hey, all publicity... good publicity!” wheezed the agent, grinning weakly as he lost all his bravado under the furious look of the sapphire mare. Then he grunted as she dropped back to his hooves, hurriedly adjusting his collar as he stepped back and looked at the trio nervously. “Uh... we... come on, champ, you and your lucky ladies can go to dinner now... hey, have I ever said that... yeah, sure, you might not be the most normal ponies but I am so totally jealous of you, big guy? I mean, two lucky ladies, two mares, and look at me, I can't even-”

“Shut up.” Scrivener said moodily, and the literary agent closed his mouth with a wince before Scrivener sighed and dropped his head forwards, mumbling: “Fine. Fine, let's just... go get this fancy meeting underway. Twilight, you don't have to come if you don't want to. Luna, you can uh. Hide, too.”

But Luna only gave him a pointed look, and Twilight smiled supportively as she touched his shoulder gently, and the stallion nodded in thanks and relief. Then he sighed a little, hanging his head and wondering morbidly if this was all going to really be worth it.

Family Trees

Chapter Two: Family Trees
~BlackRoseRaven

Antares Mīrus gazed fondly around at his circle of friends as they sat together at a table outside of Sugar Cube Corners, the glossy-black stallion dressed in a gray suit jacket and smooth silk shirt. He had a vanilla milkshake in his hooves that he was sipping slowly at, before he sighed as the mare next to him remarked: “You're such a foal, Nova.”

“Apps, I... do I even have to reply to that?” he asked mildly, and Aphrodisia Celeste Pie only smiled in response and gave him a wink. She was gorgeous, with brilliant green eyes and a raven-black mane braided into a knot over one shoulder, her coat a light pink. The cutie mark on her flank was a spiraling green serpent... but cloven hooves and her needle-like teeth and fangs were what gave away the fact she was a demon, not an earth pony as she appeared.

And yet all the same, she was also Antares' cousin and his closest friend. She affectionately referred to him as 'big brother,' and he thought of her as 'little sister' without hesitation. Technically, she was the second-youngest here... but as a demon, she had aged twice as quickly as the rest of the ponies, becoming an adult mare physically long before they were adults themselves.

But like her father, she seemed to be perpetually stuck around the age of a foal, as she took a loud drink of her cup of chocolate milk before replying primly: “I have no idea what you're talking about, Antares. You're just jealous.”

On the demon's other side, a tiny yellow Pegasus snorted in amusement, brushing back her scruffy, streaked red-and-gold mane as her bright red eyes looked up with entertainment, an almost-invisible scar shimmering to one side of her face. “Yeah, Apple Pie, who doesn't want to be a perpetually horny drama queen with the brain of a five year old?”

“Oh, screw you, Avalon. I'm not a drama queen.” Aphrodisia huffed, poking the tiny Pegasus a few times, and Avalon shoved back at her with a grin: she was maybe half the size of the average pony at most, but anyone who underestimated Avalon Apple quickly learned to regret it. She had the strength of her mother and the speed of her father, wrapped up in one hyperactive, aggressive little body. Her cutie mark was an apple being sliced in half, and while it meant she was strong enough to endure through anything, the literal translation wasn't very far off from her special talent either: if something got in her way, her tendency was to charge straight at it and smash her way through.

“But you're all those other things?” asked another Pegasus mare wryly from across the round table, and the demon nodded rapidly. The scarlet, pretty mare sighed and shook her head with a smile despite herself, her copper-colored irises gazing softly around the table as the chestnut-and-black braids of her mane swayed around her shoulders gently. Her emblem was of a notepad and quill: she had a talent for journalism and analysis, and a keen eye for observation.

She also had a large, ugly scar on one side of her body, and Antares felt guilty every time he let his eyes linger too long on this. It had been an accident, but he was still responsible for what had happened, and he still blamed himself, even if somehow, Meadowlark never had and never did.

The Pegasus mare caught his gaze and smiled at him gently, and he smiled back after a moment before his eyes roved to the last member of their little band. She was far, far younger than them, but already looked like a full adult, and behaved better than they did... but considering the fact that Aphrodisia was trying to lick the chocolate sauce out of the bottom of her cup and Avalon was trying to shove an entire cake into her mouth, perhaps that wasn't saying much after all.

She had wings and the shape of a pony, but her body was smoky and almost ethereal, both solid and not at the same time. She was very quiet, looking back and forth over them curiously as she held her orange smoothie in her hooves, but didn't sip from it. Her mane and tail were almost like smoke, and her sea-green, glowing eyes had no iris or pupil, but all the same were gentle and warm.

“How are you doing, Tender Trust?” Antares asked curiously, and the half-Phooka, half-Pegasus looked up at him with a smile, then nodded almost embarrassedly before he asked curiously: “Are your Mom and Dad going to be at the party tonight?”

“I think so.” Her voice was soft, with a faint accent to it that made her words smooth and sibilant. “They were both very excited. Are you looking forwards to tonight?”

“Yeah, I am.” Antares replied warmly, and then he winced when Aphrodisia picked up a cupcake in front of her and tried to shove it into her cousin's face, pushing at her with a grimace. “Apps, come on, I'm trying to-”

“Shut up and eat, Nova! Mommy and I put a lot of effort into making all this food with Pinkie!” Aphrodisia replied firmly, and the glossy-black stallion flailed a bit at her before he finally managed to reach up and take the pastry away from her, giving her a flat look.

She only looked at him pointedly in return, however, and Antares rolled his eyes before he took a bite out of the cupcake, chewing slowly. Aphrodisia smiled at this, then glanced across the table, asking with interest: “Did Uncle Scrivy interview you too? Or did he just talk to your parents? He talked to me about all sorts of stuff!”

“I was too young, Aphrodisia... it was more than two whole years ago.” Tender Trust replied softly, shaking her head with a small smile. “My brothers and I aren't even four years old yet, after all.”

Aphrodisia nodded after a moment with a soft smile, and Avalon grunted before the tiny Pegasus murmured: “I gotta say, it feels weird, T. You grew up faster than even Apple Pie here did. I look at you and stuff and think... god, has it really only been four, five years since... since...”

“Since Cancer.” Antares said quietly, and Avalon winced but nodded, as Meadowlark looked up with a silent, faint smile. “Since we lost... Rustproof and Prestige. But... since my parents returned, too. And there were other good things too, yeah? Things I know I wouldn't trade for the world, even if... you know. Nothing worked out like we thought it would.”

Avalon nodded slowly, as Aphrodisia shifted a bit, and then Meadowlark cleared her throat before asking quietly: “So uh... after tonight, you were talking before that... your Mom and Dad have plans to go on a vacation?”

“Kind of.” Antares shook himself out a bit, forcing away grim thoughts: thoughts of a grinning, singing, and nearly-unstoppable destruction entity that had caused so much pain and devastation, and all the things they had lost trying to put a stop to him. “They want to go to Subterra, spend a little time there, hiding away from everyone. Dad's already been freaking out a little about all the attention he's been getting, and Barry kind of gets on his nerves.”

“His agent?” Meadowlark asked curiously, and Antares nodded a few times. “But this is all good, right? I mean... this is all a huge success, just look around.”

Meadowlark gestured over her shoulder towards the candy shop itself, and all eyes at the table glanced up for a moment at the enormous banner hung over the entrance, with the name of Scrivener's book on one side of it and release dates and nominations it had already received on the other.

Antares only shook his head after a moment of looking at this, however, grinning a bit as he returned his eyes to the table and said mildly: “That's not exactly how Dad works, Meadow. The only reason he sent this book in for publishing in the first place was because Aunt Tia, Twilight and Mom were all really pushing him to. Dad finally broke down and submitted it to a few places, and they all rejected it, but then Barry got his hooves on it, and... next thing you know...”

He absently gestured out at the street behind him, where there were more signs advertising Scrivener's book and pictures of the author himself, as excited strangers hurried through their town and groups of ponies gossiped here and there over copies of the book. “Dad doesn't do really well with a lot of attention like this. He always expects everything to work out the worst way possible.”

“That's part of why your Dad and my Mommy get along so well.” Aphrodisia said positively, and then she glanced up at the banner on the front of the store, smiling. “She was really insistent about stealing that and putting it up, you know. She's happy for him.”

“So freaking weird.” Avalon muttered, and when the demon and Antares both looked at the small Pegasus curiously, the tiny mare snorted and looked up flatly. “Hey, it is! I mean... I guess I never really got to know your Dad all that well before, Antares, but everypony in town knows your Mom, Pinkslap. Pinkamena is crazy.”

“No, she's... she's... friendly.” Aphrodisia said after a moment, and then she huffed and reached out, shoving Avalon off her chair by the forehead, but the Pegasus easily flapped her wings and caught the air before she could fall. “It's not my fault your Dad gets beaten up by Mommy all the time.”

“He does not!” Avalon argued as she buzzed upwards to head level with Aphrodisia, who only glared challengingly back. “He totally beat your Mom up that one time, why... why my Dad could even beat up your Dad if he really had to, don't think he couldn't!”

“My Daddy would turn your Dad into goo. Squishy goo. Squishy goo squished beneath his hooves.” Aphrodisia retorted imperiously, and Antares slapped his forehead with a tired sigh as Meadowlark slumped to the table and Tender Trust only watched curiously. For her, at least, this was fairly new: for the others, they had heard this argument a thousand times before. It didn't matter that they were all adults, that Avalon was twenty-two and Aphrodisia was a demon.

“Doesn't it depend on the terrain?” Tender Trust asked after a moment, and both Aphrodisia and Avalon stopped arguing to look at her as Meadow and Antares glanced up dumbly as well. The half-Phooka shifted embarrassedly at this, her wings flapping once before she continued finally: “Sleipnir is physically superior but Rainbow Dash has the advantage of flight. Superior strength would mean nothing if Rainbow Dash was able to safely stay above and attack at range, while flight would be meaningless in an enclosed area.”

Both demon and small Pegasus looked at each other dumbly, before Tender Trust added gently: “And my ohtâwîmâw is a Phooka who cannot be wounded by most physical means. Therefore I believe he would clearly hold advantage over both of your fathers.”

“Oh hell no.” Avalon said immediately, glaring at Tender Trust as Aphrodisia shook her head wildly and glowered as well. “Our Dads would totally take down your Dad! He can't even fight!”

“Of course, but he wouldn't need to. Your parents are physical warriors. The most they could hope to do would be to trap my father somewhere, but they couldn't kill him without special weapons.” Tender Trust explained gently, and both aggressive mares glared at her as the half-Phooka only gave a small smile and a shrug. “It's just the way things are.”

“You're... the way... things are.” muttered Avalon, and Antares gave her an amused look before the tiny Pegasus finally landed back on her chair, looking sourly over at Aphrodisia. “That's cheating though, isn't it?”

Aphrodisia nodded vehemently in agreement. “Yeah, like how if I were to go black smoke in a race, you'd totally lose.”

“What? Screw that, I can beat you demon tricks or not!” Avalon said sharply, and when Aphrodisia gave her an amused look, the tiny mare immediately pointed outwards, leaping into the air and saying immediately: “Let's do it right now, then! First one to the animal care center wins!”

“Okay.” Aphrodisia said brightly, and then she burst apart into dark smoke that shot high into the air, leaving Avalon gaping for a moment before she yelped and hurriedly flew after the insubstantial demon. Antares and Meadowlark only gazed after the two with amusement as Tender Trust smiled a little, reaching up to quietly brush her smoky mane out of her eyes.

Then the half-Phooka looked back and forth before quietly excusing herself and striding over the patio to let herself into the store. It left Antares and Meadowlark alone, and the two awkwardly looked at each other before the stallion sat up and rubbed awkwardly at his suit jacket. “So uh... nice... day so far, huh?”

“Yeah. Yeah.” Meadowlark murmured, and she studied him for a moment before smiling a little, asking quietly: “What do you think of Avalon's new coltfriend?”

“Does she have another one already?” Antares asked wryly, looking up mildly, and Meadowlark nodded in response, making him sigh. “Good or bad?”

“I think it'll last as long as that other guy you really hated did.” Meadowlark replied softly, and Antares grunted in response before the Pegasus glanced down, awkwardly rubbing a hoof over the tabletop. “Mir...”

“No, Meadowlark, let's... I know what you're going to ask and... I... I just...” Antares shifted uneasily, looking down for a moment, and Meadowlark nodded silently as she studied him quietly. But her eyes pleaded with him all the same, and the glossy-black stallion sighed softly as he murmured: “I just need a little more time.”

“It's been years, Antares... and... even if it's not you and me... you need to try and open up to someone, to... let yourself experience that again.” Meadowlark said quietly, and when Antares only mumbled and looked down, the Pegasus sighed softly and asked carefully: “Alright, but... what about this, then? Even if you don't want anyone in your life like that, does that mean you have to spend life... alone and miserable?”

“I'm not miserable, I'm... I'm happy. I really am.” Antares said quietly, looking up with an awkward smile as he touched his own chest. “My parents are alive, and... it's comfortable, living at home. I've been able to train hard with Mom and Aunt Tia, even if I'm not a Starlit Knight yet, like Aphrodisia or Avalon. I like doing odd jobs around Ponyville and learning all the stuff I am from Aunt Tia, too. That's a lot more important to me now than a lot of things these days.”

Meadowlark looked at him quietly, and then Antares shook his head again, lowering his head a little and saying softly: “I remember... when we were kids, the dreams we had. That I had... but I know now that's not what I'm destined for. I don't... really know what the future holds for me, Meadowlark. I don't think I even want to be a Starlit Knight anymore. And I've learned that bringing my parents back... it was a really good thing that I did, but it also didn't solve every problem in the world, and it didn't fix all my pain, either.

“I wish Allonym was here.” Antares said suddenly, and Meadowlark looked surprised, tilting her head curiously before the young stallion smiled a bit and glanced down. “I got so used to having him pop up now and then, but I haven't seen him for... for years. And inside me... something tells me...”

He quieted, and Meadowlark softened a little before shaking her head a bit, murmuring quietly: “But he always had faith in you, right? We all always have, and we all know... you can do anything you put your mind to, Antares. You're an amazing pony, with an amazing family... I'm really... I envy you a lot because of that, to be totally honest”

She laughed a little, and Antares smiled despite himself, shrugging a bit before they both fell quiet. Thankfully, Tender Trust emerged back onto the patio, walking towards them and now with a large box held easily on her back, the half-Phooka looking between the two ponies before she gave a soft smile. “I think I should head home. Will you two walk with me?”

“Of course, T.” Meadowlark said softly, sliding out of her seat, and Antares nodded and joined the two mares. Tender Trust gazed at them both affectionately, then she nodded calmly before the three started off down the street, heading towards the northern gate.

There was silence for a few moments, and then the half-Phooka looked curiously back and forth at the strangers standing and walking here and there along the road, murmuring after a moment: “It's so strange. Our tribes rarely let outsiders into our home... but ponies pass so freely from one den to another throughout your country.”

“Village. This is a village, Tender Trust, you know that.” Antares said softly, and Tender Trust only smiled at him and tilted her head towards him. “Okay, okay, I know, you're just going to say it's all the same thing.”

“It is all the same thing. You don't live with nature as we do, but at the same time, this den is very peaceable... all our people work in conjunction with one another, and you still show appreciation for our sacred earth.” Tender Trust nodded thoughtfully, then she smiled again. “But I didn't say it was bad. The Phooka carry old wounds and have long memories, that is all. Maybe we would benefit from showing... more trust in the future.”

Antares smiled a bit at this as Meadowlark gazed over at her softly, then the Pegasus said gently: “Don't take this the wrong way, T, but.. I think you're a living example of the trust that's developing between Phooka and ponies.”

But Tender Trust only gave a soft giggle at this, shaking her head and saying warmly: “No, I don't think so... that would be arrogant of me to assume. My mother and father... my okâwîmâw and my ohtâwîmâw... loved each other very much, and it was less their desire to unite our people and more the desire to unite themselves that drove them. And... my mother is special. The Phooka say that she is one of their own, only born in the body of a pony.”

Antares looked softly at Tender Trust, nodding slowly as Meadowlark nodded in agreement, saying quietly: “Yeah. Fluttershy really is special, and incredibly brave and strong. You know that Avalon has a world of respect for her.”

“Yes, and it is very good to see.” replied the half-Phooka softly, nodding thoughtfully to herself before looking up with a kind smile. “You all do, though. So do many others in this village... it helps me to understand why my mother insists living here instead of our den in the wilderness.”

“I'm certainly glad you live close by, T.” Antares said softly, and Tender Trust gave him a bright smile before the three gazed up as they approached the gate leading to the northern roads and out of Ponyville.

The gates were wide open, and Starlit Knights in their distinctive blue armor were on duty next to Nibelung soldiers wearing simple hide armor. The dwarves looked a little grumpier than usual, but Antares figured that was likely because it was so much busier than normal, and there were a few ponies lingering around and peering at them like they were interesting sideshow attractions.

Nibelung were a common enough sight around Equestria these days, and had been for years now, but apart from the distinct, upper-class of Architects, they were usually employed as laborers or wandered the wilderness as mercenaries or outlaws. Seeing them dressed up as soldiers was probably an unusual sight for many of the guests present.

Antares smiled at the guards as they walked through the gate and into the outskirts of Ponyville, the two ponies and half-Phooka looking back and forth curiously. There were wagons and carriages parked at either side of the road here and there, some of them selling wares, others trying to get attention, and a few empty tour carriages, one with a tired-looking driver slowly smoking a cigarette and the enormous pony workers that helped pull it along laying sprawled in the grasses nearby.

The glossy-black stallion had never seen it so busy, as he whistled a little under his breath, and Meadowlark shook her head slowly as she gazed back and forth, murmuring quietly: “Amazing. I mean, Ponyville gets more than its share of tourism, but... I've never seen it like this. And they all must have come to see your dad, Antares.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I wish... Dad could see this.” Antares said softly, and then he smiled and shook his head a bit, looking up at the sky and the slowly-setting sun. “But I think right now he must be at the dinner party he was supposed to go to... he really, really wasn't looking forwards to it, and neither was either of my Moms.”

“That's so funny. Either of your mothers...” Tender Trust said softly, and when Antares gave her an amused look, she blushed and shyly shifted. “I'm sorry. I don't mean it in a bad way. It's just that... while I was raised by the whole tribe, I still have only one mother and father... not like ponies are raised, in such... a lonely way, even if they have siblings. I apologize, I can't seem to phrase it right...”

“I understand, T, don't worry about it.” Antares replied softly, and Tender Trust gave a small smile before the stallion added quietly: “And yeah, I know it's a little funny. But I would never trade it for anything else, either... Twilight and Luna, my biological mother, both... taught me a world. And Twilight's always been there for me... always helped to look after me. I'm lucky.”

Meadowlark smiled softly over at him, and then all three ponies looked up as a soft voice called to them. Tender Trust immediately smiled wider, raising her head happily as they saw a soft-yellow Pegasus with a pink mane waiting for them up ahead, her sea-green eyes gazing out at them tenderly as they approached her.

She stood at the end of a path leading to a pretty little cottage, which had several smoky, ethereal Phooka sitting around it, all looking up curiously with eyes of glowing green flame. They were more indistinct than Tender Trust was, clearly pure Phooka. Antares looked over at them curiously for a moment, studying them, and he thought he could see the little differences here and there in their features and the way they held themselves that made it clear who they were.

Then he returned his eyes to the Pegasus as Tender Trust approached and bowed her head, then leaned up and traded a tight hug with the mare she shared quite a few distinct similarities with. But as mother hugged daughter, Antares couldn't help but feel his eyes draw from her cutie mark of pink butterflies to the scar along her side where she was missing a wing, and as always, he softened at this: they all knew the story, after all, that Fluttershy had thrown herself in danger, and sacrificed a wing to help save friends and family.

Mother and daughter drew apart, then spoke to each other in a strange, sibilant language for a moment before Fluttershy smiled softly and looked up at Antares and Meadowlark. “Thank you for walking my daughter home. I appreciate it... I know it can be uncomfortable with all the strangers visiting right now.”

“Yeah, I don't think it was this busy even when we held the tournament last year for the Starlit Knights fundraiser.” Antares replied, looking curiously back and forth before he asked curiously: “Where's Virtue and Temperance? Are they with Nirvana?”

“They're doing some work out at the Phooka den in the Everfree right now, yes. You know my sons, always getting in trouble.” Fluttershy smiled softly, reaching up and quietly brushing back Tender Trust's smoky mane, and the half-Phooka closed her eyes and shyly but happily lowered her head a bit. “Why, do you need help with something, Antares?”

“Nah, I was just curious if everyone's going to be at the party tonight.” Antares replied, glancing up at Fluttershy with a smile, and the Pegasus shifted before Antares urged gently: “Come on, you gotta come. You're like my aunt and... you contributed a big part to the story yourself.”

Fluttershy blushed at this, then she nodded hesitantly, glancing over her shoulder at the Phooka behind her. “Well... maybe for a little while, when I'm done teaching Obscurity and Lethe. But I've never been very good with big crowds...”

“We're all friends, Fluttershy.” Meadowlark said softly, and Fluttershy gave the younger mare a soft look before the crimson Pegasus urged gently: “Come on. I mean, if I'm going, you have to go. I'm even worse about things like this than you are.”

Fluttershy laughed quietly, then she finally nodded and smiled after a moment. Both young ponies nodded firmly, and then Fluttershy opened her mouth as if about to say something, eyes flicking to Antares. He looked at her curiously as she hesitated, but then blushed only a little as she said quietly: “I hope this isn't out of line, Antares, but... I hope you... can relax tonight yourself, Antares. You've seemed a little... intense lately, if I can say so. Maybe we should both try to relax tonight.”

Antares smiled embarrassedly at this, and then he nodded hesitantly, and Fluttershy gave him an affectionate look before she gently stroked through her daughter's mane, and Tender Trust didn't need to be told as she turned to head towards the cottage. One of the Phooka tried to reach for the box on her back as she passed, but the half-Phooka slapped him lightly with one ashen wing, making the Phooka stallion grumble and recoil.

Fluttershy sighed and shook her head, but the look in her eyes was one of warmth before she said kindly: “Excuse me, Antares, Meadowlark. I need to get back to teaching Obscurity and Lethe more of our language. But I look forwards to seeing you both tonight and... relaxing.”

“Yeah. Me too.” Antares replied softly, and as the yellow-coated Pegasus turned away, he gazed after her affectionately before glancing over at Meadowlark, and nodding slowly to her. She nodded back, hearing his silent promise, and then the two turned down the road to head back into Ponyville.

Scrivener Blooms sat at a large, private table on the second floor of Ponyville's poshest restaurant. His back was to a railing that looked out over the first floor, but that just made him feel awkward, not imperious: he couldn't help but feel like every single pony at the tables on the first floor was staring up at his back.

Luna and Twilight were on either side of him: Luna had put on a pretty pair of onyx earrings, but everypony had long given up on making her wear a dress, so instead she was wearing an only-slightly wrinkled blue jacket. Twilight, meanwhile, was wearing a long black dress and had a shawl carefully wrapped around her neck: not because she wanted to hide her collar, but to hide the telltale signs that she wasn't a living pony.

Scrivener was still in his suit, which had long gotten a little rumpled, and his agent, Barry, was sitting on Twilight's other side, heartily indulging in the free food and wine as he rambled away to the way-too-serious looking ponies on the other side of the table. The charcoal stallion had admittedly been surprised: two of these bigwigs were earth ponies, and one was a Pegasus. The last was a unicorn, but he had a chipped horn: likely nothing that would seriously interfere with his magic, but in the north, a single blemish on a unicorn's horn was considered a sign of weakness and inferiority.

The scarred stallion rubbed nervously at the hoof-shaped mark around one of his eyes in an old anxious gesture, as he picked slowly at the salad in front of him. All four of the investors, publishers... whatever they were... they were all eating those tiny, ultra-expensive, unfulfilling little meals. Scrivener, meanwhile, had stupidly attempted to order meat dumplings, earning several stares of horror.

He shifted nervously, and Luna reached out and touched his side, gazing at him reassuringly. He felt her thoughts and emotions as their eyes met, and the two smiled at each other as he calmed a little. The feeling of her heart, beating in time with his, always soothed him... looking into her eyes always warmed him. And then he closed his own when he felt Twilight touch his other side, and felt the connection he held with her as well, the three of them linked for a moment through the gentle contact they all shared.

Then Scrivener winced and glanced up as Barry's voice cut in cheerfully: “Yeah, ain't this guy a stud? I mean, he gets the ladies, his books are selling like hotcakes, and my boy Scrivy here is gearing up to be the next greatest sensation, the biggest thing since-”

“The initial run is impressive, but the true test is how well the books continue to sell once it's running on its own.” interrupted one of the earth ponies: he was darker green, almost moss-colored, with hooded, dark eyes and a short, spiky black mane. His suit was the most casual, and yet it probably still cost more bits than Scrivener and Luna had spent on upgrading and furnishing their house.

The unicorn grunted in agreement: plump, with a bright blue coat and his mane cut down to red and white streaked bristles. Scrivener thought his suit must have at least five layers to it: overcoat, dress jacket, vest, silk shirt, some kind of under-layer... “Underbrush is right. Richard Taste, what do you think? You're the critic here, not me.”

The other earth pony only shrugged: he was an autumn red, with a blonde beard and bedhead mane that had probably taken an hour to purposefully tangle up so stylishly. He had little glasses on that Scrivener could tell were as fake as his own pair at home, and the weirdest suit Scrivener had ever seen: it looked like it was patched together from a whole assortment of other incredibly-expensive pieces of cloth and clothing. Or things just taken out of the garbage, he wasn't really sure.

The awkward silence that followed with the critic's lack of response lasted almost a full minute before Barry rose his wine glass and said firmly: “My guy's a keeper, just you wait and see! Now, I believe we had a movie deal we were going to talk about?”

“Not until we see the sales and gauge interest.” Underbrush muttered, looking moodily up. “I think I speak for myself and Mr. Tops when I say that I'm not willing to risk financing what could very well be a flop. Especially considering what I'm already hearing Rogues And Studs is preparing to write about your prestigious little book.”

Scrivener smiled lamely, and the unicorn nodded vigorously in agreement. Barry chuckled nervously in response to this as Luna grumbled and Twilight shifted awkwardly, before the literary agent said hurriedly: “Now, listen... listen, guys- I mean, sirs. All of you are very important ponies, I know that, very important investors and people who are in the business of entertainment. Not the fun hobby of entertainment, the business. But... if you wanna make money, you gotta spend money, right? And furthermore, everypony knows that Ersatz Major lives to make ponies miserable.

“Now, my guy here, he is a sound investment.” Barry said firmly, hammering a hoof lightly against the table, and Scrivener had to admit... Barry could be a complete douchebag but he also certainly gave his all for his clients. Even if that was likely just because Barry wanted the biggest paycheck possible. “You guys gotta be ready to invest soon, though. It's not that I wanna rush you big boys, it's just that... it wouldn't be in my client's interest to turn down any other offers we might get, you know? And I really wanna try and give you guys the first bite of the apple here, with how good you've already been to us.”

Underbrush looked distasteful at most, while Richard – or Rich, as he preferred – shifted in his seat. Mr. Tops, meanwhile, kept tossing nervous looks at his compatriots, but the unicorn clearly was not the kind of pony who ever made decisions on his own. Lastly, the Pegasus was still ignoring almost everything, picking slowly at his meal, looking almost completely uninterested.

Scrivener's eyes lingered on him: Underbrush was a big time publisher, Rich Taste was an investor, critic and pony determined to be involved with all the newest and hottest trends, and Topsy Curvy – or Mr. Tops, and Scrivener couldn't exactly blame the unicorn for preferring that over his real name – was a very rich and likely very stupid unicorn whose sole purpose in the world seemed to be investing money into things other ponies told him to. But the last, the Pegasus, was a private distributor and bit-part-owner of Underbrush's publishing company. Someone with enough heft to sit at this table, but... not a pony who could seriously affect any of the decisions of the others.

Then he suddenly looked up in the middle of the long silence, as if he felt Scrivener's eyes on him, before asking abruptly: “Twilight Sparkle, is it true that you're a Lich?”

Luna glowered and Scrivener winced, but Twilight hesitated only a moment before nodding slowly. The Pegasus looked at her for a few long moments, then his eyes roved to Luna, and he asked in the same curious voice: “And you are Nightmare Moon, the goddess of the demons?”

“Well, I do admittedly enjoy being referred to as a goddess, but Nightmare Moon is more... a tumor.” Luna replied mildly, and when she felt something shift moodily inside her, the winged unicorn sighed and added wryly: “Although that is perhaps bitterness on mine own part speaking. Aye, she and I... we are one, in many ways.”

The Pegasus nodded even as the other investors looked at him, Underbrush frowning darkly, but the Pegasus didn't seem aware of it as his eyes settled on Scrivener, stating more than asking quietly: “And you. You're a Clockwork Pony, you wrote.”

Scrivener flinched a bit at this, but then he closed his eyes and nodded slowly, feeling a knife inside his guts as he always did when he thought about this dark truth... before frowning a little. Something else struck him as odd, as he opened his eyes and looked slowly up across at the Pegasus, who was looking at him intently, before the charcoal stallion murmured: “You read the book.”

“I did. I started it, and thought you were an awful writer. But I kept reading. And at some point I forgot that I was supposed to be critiquing the story and I just stopped thinking about mechanics and rules and everything. There were flaws everywhere, but I think you know that, don't you? You left them in there. And you wrote the story with them.” The Pegasus stopped, then looked down thoughtfully. “It was years since I read a story just to read a story. Not because of its artistic merit, or to rip it apart and tell myself all the ways I could do it better, or criticizing it the whole time. I just read it to read it. And it... wasn't bad.”

The charcoal stallion smiled despite himself, and then he nodded slowly before the Pegasus said quietly: “This book might flop. Initial sales were massive because of the advertising and the interest we... I mean, Mr. Underbrush generated, but I don't know if your message is going to get through. I don't know if everyone's going to believe how much of this is nonfiction, or be as understanding as I tried to be. People don't always respond well to messages. But... I want to know... why?”

“Because.” Scrivener replied with a shrug, and when the Pegasus looked at him sourly, the charcoal stallion said mildly: “Ask a nonspecific question, get a nonspecific answer.”

“What's a Clockwork Pony?” asked Mr. Tops in a loud whisper, and when all eyes looked at him, the unicorn cleared his throat and hurriedly adjusted his collar. “Well, you... you understand that... I am a very busy unicorn, and... I only had time for... bits and pieces, bits and pieces, but I most wholeheartedly agree with Doctrine. Bad writing, good story.”

The Pegasus sighed and reached up to rub slowly at his temples, and Underbrush narrowed his eyes across at Scrivener Blooms before glancing at Rich Taste, who shrugged awkwardly. There was silence for a few moments, and then Barry said quickly: “You just wait! With all this positive karma we got going on, my guy is gonna be bigger than big! He's the next-”

“Barry, I need to have a word with you. Perhaps you should come with us, Mr. Tops.” Underbrush said icily, and Barry slowly paled before nodding weakly, and the moss-colored earth pony stood up as Mr. Tops almost fell over in his hurry to leap to his own hooves.

The literary agent carefully slid out of his seat, watched as Underbrush and Mr. Tops turned away, and then Barry hurriedly reached out and grabbed his wine glass, guzzling the rest of it in several large swallows before dropping it on the table and hurrying after them. Scrivener only sighed and shook his head slowly as Rich Taste fidgeted a bit, then looked towards the salad bar in the distance and mumbled something before sliding quickly away from the table.

It left them alone with Doctrine, who studied them silently as Luna looked moody and Twilight tilted her head curiously. Scrivener felt awkward as he shifted a little, before glancing up when Doctrine asked quietly: “What's it like? You're all supposed to be the enemy after all... and yet what you've written...”

“Maybe it's all lies to get you to drop your guard, and really I'm here on an evil mission to destroy everything in the name of Decretum.” Scrivener said dryly, and when Doctrine only looked at him moodily, Scrivener cleared his throat and looked back and forth for support, but Luna and Twilight were both looking at him sourly now. “Am I not allowed to tell jokes anymore?”

Luna replied by bopping him firmly with her horn, and he flinched as Doctrine shook his head slowly, gazing at them almost warily. Twilight gave the two ponies a pointed look, but Luna only grumbled under her breath before the sapphire mare said flatly: “This is all nonsense, and 'tis nothing more than that. Scrivener is a good writer, he has written the truth, and if anything held back from detailing the more fantastic events that none would believe anyway. Why does thou and thy kind insist upon making the process painful instead of celebratory, jibing and insulting us while at the same time profiting off my husband's work?”

“I haven't insulted you once, Lady Luna, and I don't plan to. I'm just curious, that's all.” Doctrine replied mildly, and then the Pegasus shook his head before asking quietly: “And why is this important to all of you, anyway? Why leave yourself so vulnerable and open, why tell the world this story if you have such a low opinion of all of us?”

Luna shifted a bit at this, looking at Scrivener, but the charcoal stallion only shrugged a little. And surprisingly, it was Twilight who spoke up, looking up and across at Doctrine as she replied quietly: “Because maybe we... we just want to be part of the world we've helped protect and create but... all of us feel left outside of now. We're not trying to brag about being... monsters. We're trying to say that we're not... I'm a Lich, Luna's... Luna, and Scrivener is a... Clockwork Pony, like you said. But each and every one of us, we're... more and less than that, too. We're just... people. Just like the demons, the Nibelung, and other ponies. We're all just people.”

Doctrine lowered his head thoughtfully, and there was silence at the table until Barry returned. The literary agent rubbed convulsively at his pale features, sweaty and unkempt, and he tossed a nervous look past Twilight before he whispered: “Hey, hey, stud. I gotta talk to you about something. You know, stallion-to-stallion?”

“Then thou should be speaking to me.” Luna muttered, but Scrivener only gave her a look before the sapphire mare grunted and nodded with a sigh. Barry looked relieved as he quickly gestured for Scrivy to follow, and the charcoal stallion nodded even as Luna added: “Just be quick, Scrivener. My patience wears thin.”

“I hear you.” the charcoal stallion agreed, and he stepped carefully away from the table to follow Barry along the railing of the second floor, until they were standing on the other side of the small room in a corner near some potted plants. Scrivener looked mildly at the agent as he shifted from hoof-to-hoof, whining a little in his throat, and then the writer asked finally, in a tired voice: “What is it, Barry? Just tell me, I'm somehow sure it's more devastating to you than it is to me.”

“Underbrush is thinking about canceling the third printing run already, and cutting the second in half. He also won't approve of any 'further projects' or anything unless this one sells well after all, big guy. He seems mad as hell about something” Barry said uneasily, and Scrivener cocked his head curiously. “I don't mean just movies or stuff, I mean... he won't publish any of your other books or anything. Remember, we were talking about a second wave for Rose Thorns and all that? Well you can say goodbye to that unless two things happen: I Am, You Are makes good sales, and you, stud, you hustle your flank back into line and start behaving like a good little colt.”

“Right, that's going to happen.” Scrivener said dryly, and when Barry glared at him furiously, the stallion sighed and rubbed slowly at his face, closing his eyes. “Look, this... this whole thing has just gone out of control. A little while ago, I was just a guy who lived happily in the woods with my weird little family. Today, I'm almost a celebrity. Barry, I expected to sell a few books, make a few ponies smile, and get Luna, Twilight and Celestia all off my back about trying to get published. Not this. This is madness.”

“No, dammit, it isn't. I told you I could take this book places and I can, I'm sure I can!” Barry retorted in a frustrated voice, shaking his head and stomping his hooves almost childishly, before he half-glared, half-visibly-pleaded with his eyes. “Come on, champ! If you would just swallow your damn pride...”

“It's not pride that compels me to be a jerk, Barry.” Scrivener replied after a moment, but he shifted a little on his hooves and fell quiet, letting himself digest what Barry had said and actually stopping to think about it instead of trying to deflect it or immediately label it as unimportant.

Barry looked at him anxiously, fidgeting but not speaking, and finally the charcoal stallion looked up with a sigh and questioned: “How the hell am I supposed to make sales magically happen, Barry? Me acting like a good little colt isn't going to fix everything, and we all know that... whatever that magazine that the evil chick in the feathered hat wrote or is going to smear me. Why the hell did you invite her, anyway?”

“I didn't!” Barry shook his head violently, wincing a bit. “Rogues And Studs must have bought a press pass, or... or hell, maybe Ersatz snuck in, I dunno! But you know I got all your best interests at heart, stud, I never once thought that she was going to go all... attack mode on you.”

Scrivener grunted, then he paused before adding in an ironic voice: “And by the way. Whatever happened to 'any publicity is good publicity?'”

“Yeah, that went out the window when Underbrush said he was going to cut your percentage in half the next time I said it.” Barry mumbled, rubbing slowly at his face before he sighed tiredly and looked up moodily. “Look, big guy, I know you hate this stuff but... some good publicity could make all the difference in the world for me, for you, for head honcho Underbrush. You gotta stop thinking like a writer, 'cause you ain't a writer right now, you're a showpiece, an entertainer, an advertiser.”

The charcoal stallion glared down at Barry, but Barry only looked back before Scrivener groaned and rolled his eyes. “So what do you want me to do? Go stand in the square, smile, and wave a big sign around?”

“Well, big guy, I was thinking that you could do another book signing in Canterlot. Maybe we could get the Baroness to be present, too, huh? She's a real important figure, and I don't think she'd mind doin' you a favor, especially with all the naughty-naughty you hint at in okay shutting up.” Barry quailed under the flat glower that Scrivener focused on him, before the smaller, expensively-dressed agent nervously rose a hoof. “Canterlot? In a week or so? Big book signing, publicity stunt, yes?”

“I... my family and I wanted to go on a vacation to Subterra...” Scrivener began, and then he winced as Barry brightened.

“Then it's perfect! You get to go on vacation, with all your whole family along, and... hey, maybe we'll do some... I dunno, bring the kids day or something! But you can vacation and work all at once, it would be real great, just you wait and see.” Barry said enthusiastically, clapping his front hooves together, and Scrivener sighed and rolled his eyes before the stallion said pointedly: “You promised, stud, you just gave me your word on trying to do this thing. Do it for your kids, huh?”

“Don't drag my kids into this. I hate it when you say things like that even more than I hate it when you talk about Luna and Twilight.” Scrivener muttered, but he gave a short nod all the same, and Barry nodded violently in return, looking relieved.

“Awesome, Underbrush is gonna love this, just you watch, champ!” Barry exclaimed, stamping his hooves and grinning up at the charcoal stallion, who looked far less enthused. “And hey, hey, you got some great grown up kids and how could I not talk about your ladies, you lucky devil you? Two babes, by holy hell.”

Scrivener grumbled as he turned around, and Barry bounced after him, saying quickly: “You and me, though, we gotta prepare some answers and questions and uh... flashcards maybe, I dunno, but we're gonna have to rehearse and you're gonna have to remember your promise. No more incidents like with Ersatz, and... we'll make sure she and her flunkies don't slide their slippery way in, you got that?”

“The fact you're a failed writer yourself really shows in the way you talk, Barry. No wonder you decided on a career change, must be nice being able to feel like you're controlling the lives of actual writers while feeding off the carrion left over from their successes.” Scrivener muttered, and Barry gave a half-forced, half-surprised giggle, making the charcoal stallion sigh and shift awkwardly a little. “Okay, that was a little low. I apologize.”

“Yeah, you just concentrate on getting through the day, champ, I'm here to make sure you do. Even if you do... crush my soul...” Barry broke off into mumbling, dropping his head as he sulked his way after the stallion as they headed back to the table.

The rest of dinner was a little awkward, and Scrivener couldn't begin to express how happy he was once Underbrush excused himself, and the other important figures followed. Barry was still pouting a bit, and when Twilight Sparkle gave Scrivener a pointed look, the earth pony sighed tiredly before slumping and asking dryly: “Barry, would you like to come to the party we're having?”

Luna threw her head back and rose her hooves, glaring at the ceiling in frustration, but Barry rose his head and brightened, the speckled stallion nodding hurriedly as he said eagerly: “Yeah! Hey, yeah, stud, see, I knew we'd start liking each other eventually!”

“Eventually.” Scrivener muttered, and then he pushed himself away from the table even as Twilight smiled at him, before the charcoal stallion added grumpily: “Just be on your best behavior, okay, Barry? And remember these are all my friends, at my house. So... don't freak out too much over what you might see.”

Barry only grinned wider at this... but three hours later, the agent was half-hiding in a corner of the living room, almost hugging a glass of whiskey against his chest as he stared around the room. He felt like he was at a Nightmare Night party... except he was far too well aware all the costumes were real and no one was playing make-believe.

A unicorn stallion that looked like he was made of fire was grinning brightly, flirting with a Kelpie: a demonic mare with a greenish body and a mane and tail like seaweed, her eyes almost glowing and the teeth she kept flashing in coy smiles far too big and sharp and scary to belong to a pony. An enormous demon with huge, powerful arms, a scaly body, and ram's horns was sitting calmly beside Twilight Sparkle, a tiny little glass of water held in one immense claw as it listened closely to whatever story the violet mare was relating... not to ponies, but to Phooka and several much-more sinister looking creatures. They had almost the same smoky composition, but their eyes glowed red, and they seemed darker, more supernatural: Nightmares. And Twilight herself was no reassurance: this was the first time he had seen her without something covering her body to hide the fact that enormous trails of stitching stretched over her frame, as if she was held together by thick black string.

There were plenty of quote-unquote 'normal' ponies wandering around too, but somehow that only made it worse. Somehow, seeing ponies amidst all this madness played all kinds of weird tricks on his mind, and Barry took a trembling drink of his whiskey before he glared at Scrivener as the charcoal stallion strode into the room from the kitchen, the agent hurrying over to the writer and opening his mouth before the dull-colored mare that walked in with him asked sourly: “Isn't this the douchebag from that stupid book signing you did?”

“Oh, be nice, Pinkamena.” Scrivener replied mildly, and the gray-pink mare snorted as Barry glared at her, before Scrivener glanced towards Twilight and added, interrupting her story: “Hey, hate to cut you off, but uh. Luna wants you to go and watch her throw a tree.”

“Not again...” Twilight sighed tiredly, rolling her eyes before she gave a grudging nod. “Okay, I guess I can... watch once. Oh, before I go... Atrus, have you met Barry?”

The agent slowly paled as the immense, ram-horned demon turned his crimson eyes on the little earth pony, and Pinkamena grinned widely, asking teasingly: “Hey, what's wrong, pal? Thought you were some big-time show pony. We demons too scary for you?”

Barry only mumbled, and Twilight gave the earth pony a lame smile before Scrivener sighed tiredly, glancing over at Pinkamena and grumbling: “Excuse me. Barry, come on, let's go get you some air, I guess.”

Barry nodded lamely, turning staring eyes up at Atrus for a moment, and the charcoal stallion reached carefully out to take the agent's drink away and put it on the counter before grabbing him and pulling him past the milling guests. There were far too many people crammed into their small house and the backyard, but with a little bit of effort, Scrivener was able to make his way out of the front door with Barry in tow and into the much quieter front yard.

He sighed as he emerged with the smaller earth pony, then glanced curiously to the side before smiling softly at the sight of the couple sitting together on the front deck. Scrivener Blooms approached, glancing between gorgeous ivory unicorn and her purple-scaled dragon companion as he asked softly: “How're you two doing, Rarity, Spike?”

Both looked up at him warmly: Rarity, with her beautiful blue eyes, her features only made more attractive with age, a quiet grace and strength about her and her cutie mark of shining gemstones all but glowing; Spike, with his emerald irises, strong and tall... but not dragon-sized. He was broad-shouldered and handsome, his scales gleaming, a mohawk of fins going from forehead to the back of his neck and a tattoo of runes around one bicep that kept him from growing too large. They had given up a lot for each other, but they were happy together. And at the end of the day, that was what mattered, especially in this strange, rough world.

Spike smiled as he rose a hand and waved a little, and Rarity answered softly: “We're doing very well, actually. We just decided to... take a moment to step outside all the hubbub. It's such a beautiful night and... well, I suppose I'm starting to get old.”

“Not at all, Rarity. Mature, I think, is what you are. But not old.” Spike said gently, smiling and reaching up to squeeze her shoulder, and the wedding band around his claw glinted as Rarity smiled in return, turning towards him and making the ring around her own horn gleam quietly. “I think it's just... so much at once. It's funny... Rarity and me have gotten used to kind of a quieter life, you know?”

“Yeah, I do.” Scrivener replied with a nod, and then he paused before reaching backwards and grabbing Barry, half-yanking him forwards. “This is my agent, Barry. He's not so used to seeing the kind of people Luna and I hang out with. Barry, this is Rarity and her husband, Spike. I think you should remember them from my book.”

“Huh? Oh. Yeah.” Barry shook his head out a bit, then awkwardly stepped forwards and took Spike's claw when the dragon offered it, the earth pony giving a weak grin before he nodded at Rarity politely. Then he stepped back, shaking himself out before asking finally: “Uh... nice... nice people in there, yeah?”

“It takes a little getting used to, but they are.” Rarity said kindly, glancing up and brushing back her corkscrewed, violet mane with a warm smile, and Spike nodded in agreement as he rubbed a claw absently at the lime-green, thinner scales covering his masculine breast. “Although I remember a certain dragon here had a bit of a problem adjusting himself.”

“Hey, I wasn't scared of Twilight, I was scared for her. She's still like a big sister to me.” Spike replied easily, reaching up and squeezing his wife's shoulder lightly before he glanced over at Barry. “And she's still one of the best ponies I've ever known. Scrivener and Luna... they're both lucky ponies.”

“Yeah, we are.” Scrivener smiled after a moment, and then he shook his head before patting Barry on the shoulder, saying mildly as a faint wave of soreness ran through his body: “I feel pretty mean doing this to you two, but look after him for a little while, will you? I'm going to go try and give Twilight a hoof dealing with Sleipnir and Luna.”

“I... hey!” Barry glared up at Scrivener, but Rarity only smiled and Spike nodded with a chuckle, and the charcoal stallion gave his agent a shrug before turning and heading into the house. Then the small earth pony grumbled, slumping back against the wall in his expensive suit as he mumbled: “What did I ever do to deserve this?”

The earth pony slumped a little, then glanced up in surprise when Rarity gave a quiet laugh, saying gently: “It might not be any of my business, sir, but... if you're half the businesspony your suit tells me you are, you should be excited about this. After all, while they are a little... scary at first, some of the demons and other beings in there have some marvelous stories to tell. Try and talk to a few of them and maybe you can be the first pony to really... harness and sell that appeal.”

Barry looked with surprise over at Rarity for a few moments, studying the ivory unicorn as she continued to smile, and then he reached up and tapped a hoof thoughtfully against his own nose before Spike added: “And Scrivener really is a great guy, and he's written... well, quite a lot, actually. I'm pretty sure if you talk to him about the right things you could find something else publish-worthy. And that would help everyone, right?”

“Huh.” Barry said thoughtfully, looking down for a few moments... and then he nodded once before looking up curiously. “You know, you two ain't so bad. But I think uh... I'm just going to take a minute or two more to think. You know. Just to think. Then I'll go back in among the... the demons and the monsters and the scary things and the... soul-crushing writer.”

Spike snorted in amusement at this as Rarity gave the agent an entertained look, and Barry rubbed awkwardly at his expensive, bristly haircut, mumbling: “Seriously, if I'd had any idea things were going to be like this, I would have asked for a much bigger cut.”

But all the same, Barry looked thoughtful more than anything else now as he sat back a bit, like he was thinking more about how this could work in his favor... but at the same time, his eyes kept flicking to the unicorn and dragon sitting comfortably nearby, as he wondered curiously how the hell two perfectly-normal seeming people could be so calm about the madhouse inside. Unless maybe... just maybe... they were telling the truth about Scrivener and his friends after all.

Carcinogenesis

Chapter Three: Carcinogenesis
~BlackRoseRaven

The party was long and enjoyable: Scrivener and Luna were able to spend time with their friends and family, reconnecting with each other, discussing their plans for the future, and seeing faces they hadn't been able to spend as much time with over the last while. It was a wonderful night... but by the time the last guests were ushered out to be guided home by Nightmares and other servants of the darkness, Scrivener felt utterly exhausted, and Luna and Twilight were the same.

Antares had gone to bed upstairs at some point, and so the three were otherwise alone: Luna flung herself down on the squashed bedding in front of the fireplace, and Scrivener and Twilight both joined her after a moment. Luna immediately shoved her face into Scrivener's neck and refused to move as Twilight sprawled against Luna's back, a few of her stitches popped open... but as she rested against Luna, they slowly began to sew themselves closed, and Twilight Sparkle smiled faintly at this by now all-too-familiar feeling.

She was a Lich, a powerful undead being sustained by magic and a phylactery that contained her soul... except while she remembered her original phylactery had been a music box, it had been destroyed and she had been forced to house her essence in something else. Two somethings, as a matter of fact... Luna and Scrivener themselves now acted as her link and anchor to this world. And while the living phylactery they provided was actually far more effective a container than her old music box, it also had a few dangers: one of which was that if they so chose, they could actually control her.

But Luna and Scrivy were gentle with her, careful with her... she loved that about them, and trusted them completely in part because of that tenderness. And this close to them, she could feel their emotions, sense their thoughts, even see into their linked mind and link her own self with them... but she felt that she had to be careful. She didn't want to abuse their trust in her by staring too deeply into their minds, and she didn't want to hurt them: when they connected, after all, they felt one-another's emotions, and when they were all this tired...

Soon, though, Luna and Scrivener were asleep, and Twilight was only able to stay awake a little longer before she fell into a deep slumber as well, head resting silently against Luna's back, smiling softly as the sapphire mare's starry locks danced and stroked gently over the Lich, almost blanketing her. But while Twilight fell into a sound, comfortable sleep, Luna's dreams were dark... and Scrivener shivered once as he found himself in the grip of... something else.

He silently looked back and forth, then gritted his teeth as he reached up and touched his features not with a hoof, but a gnarled claw. His foreleg was covered in gleaming black scales, and his body had warped and distorted, becoming larger and bulkier, ebony and reptilian hide spreading over his form like stains.

His tail had become long and draconic, and a single wing flapped once as three large, conical pistons of bone sparked along one side of his upper back. He bared fangs as he looked back and forth, his features half that of a pony, and half that of a reptilian parasite known as a Tyrant Wyrm, a large horn jutting back from his head in place of an ear on this half of his face as he shouted: “Come out!”

There was silence as the world around him filled slowly in, becoming a dark forest of dead trees that stood in black, ugly mire. The ground pulsed beneath Scrivener's hooves as he dug his claws into the scaled side of his face, then he glared back and forth before his chestnut eyes looked sharply over his shoulder at the sound of approaching footsteps.

Black loafers strode calmly through the mire as a patronizing smile spread over the handsome features of the white dragon. His amber eyes were both malicious and entertained as he spread his arms mockingly, a pristine ivory suit tight against his tall frame, a crystalline bolo tie in the shape of a wolf's head neatly closing off his collar. “Now now, cheating little insect. Were you that afraid of your own nightmares without me around?”

“I know you're not real. Why the hell can't I get rid of you?” Scrivener asked sharply, rounding on the dragon as his eyes blazed with fury... but there was fear in them as well, fear that only drove his aggression higher. “You're just a figment of my imagination! We killed you, we destroyed your world, we stopped you once and for-”

The dragon simply held up a hand and clenched it shut, and Scrivener's jaws were forcefully closed as he winced in pain, as the dragon smiled coldly at him. His amber eyes glowed with cruelty and intellect and savagery all mixed together, and Scrivener couldn't stop himself from trembling. This, after all, was the worst of all his nightmares, who he felt like he could never be rid of, never free himself from; Valthrudnir, a Jötnar of immeasurable power who refused to remain quietly in his grave.

Valthrudnir shook his head slowly, then he allowed his hand to open before calmly examining the silver rings on his fingers, as Scrivener shook his head out and glared furiously as the Jötnar said derisively: “And we've been over that many times, have we not, Scrivener Blooms? Even after a minor miscalculation left me exposed enough to be... temporarily incapacitated... you never let go of me. I remained inside your mind, with all your other cherished memories and thoughts and ideas... because you need me. You need me, I think, more than I need an insignificant life form like yourself, however weakened I may appear at this point and time.”

“I don't need you. I hate you. I... I'd do anything to get rid of you.” Scrivener snarled, and Valthrudnir smiled at this, squatting down in front of the half-pony, half-wyrm so they were eye-to-eye as the giant reached a finger up to press it against Scrivener's nose.

“Exactly.” he said softly, and then he shook his head slowly and let his hand fall away, grinning coldly. “That is precisely why you need me. Because of how much you hate me... because that is precisely what makes me an easy scapegoat for all your sins. As long as I'm around, you can blame me for all your sins... but even though I am your maker-”

“You didn't make me! You didn't make me who I am, what I became!” Scrivener shouted angrily, but Valthrudnir was unperturbed even as the warped Scrivener almost shoved his face up against the dragon's. “And you are sure as hell not welcome in my mind or needed to take any blame, because goddammit, we all know that I'm the freak, I'm the monster, I'm the weak link!”

“Your whining and crying will never cease to amuse me, 'cuckoo.' That's the name you decided to call yourself, isn't it?” Valthrudnir stood again, looking down at Scrivener with both contempt and entertainment as he crossed his arms, and Scrivener glared up at the Jötnar, furious, desperate, afraid. “I will admit that it's suiting for what I had in mind... and still, to this day, I cannot help but marvel at how easily what you truly were slipped right past my nose. I should have known from the moment I saw you... but I suppose that I was too preoccupied with my victory over your pathetic world to pay much notice to the small details.”

Scrivener snarled and flexed, the bone pistons on his back sparking and pumping as he shifted back and forth, holding himself back from lunging at the Jötnar, and Valthrudnir looked down at him with a mocking smile. “Well, look at this? Are you learning your place? That even if I'm currently forced to inhabit your plebeian mind like a king who has been locked away inside a slowly-sinking enemy ship... I am the one in control, and you are the worthless slave?”

The stallion roared as he leapt forwards, his eyes flashing blue... and without a pause, Valthrudnir swept a hand down, catching him by the throat and crushing his windpipe as he hauled him into the air, holding the half-pony, half-wyrm's weakly-writhing body above his head. Scrivener gargled and gasped for breath, his eyes rolling in his head as Valthrudnir looked up at him coldly, saying softly: “Do not test my patience, pathetic little construct. I may not be able to kill you but I can easily overpower you and cause you agony until you manage to escape from your own twisted mind. Now, let us resume acting like civilized adults, shall we, and continue our conversation.”

With that, Valthrudnir flung Scrivener to the ground, knocking him bouncing over the mire on his back as he coughed and gagged. The Jötnar studied him for a few moments, then he snorted in contempt and calmly reached into the jacket of his suit, pulling loose a deck of playing cards.

He began to shuffle them slowly, every so often making them dance around his fingers or riffling the cards together as he watched Scrivener slowly recovering. And when he finally managed to push himself to hooves and claw and glare up at the Jötnar, the dragon asked almost curiously: “Explain something to me, mortal, because I still cannot grasp this hypocrisy... how can you accept that I am here, once more on the path to regaining my power, while at the same time you refuse to believe it whatsoever? As a matter of fact... I could swear that every time we meet, you almost seem excited to see me, like a pathetic little puppy whimpering for attention from the master?”

Scrivener only shook his head slowly, clenching his eyes shut before he looked up and whispered: “I don't want you here.”

“But you do.” Valthrudnir replied almost gently, and then he laughed quietly before he riffled the cards into one hand and easily fanned the deck out, looking calmly down at the cards as he continued: “Over these last few years we have... learned to put up with one another's presence... I have patiently been analyzing you during our meetings few and far between. How for weeks afterwards, out of terror of crossing paths with me, you do anything and everything to keep yourself awake. Yet more than that, there's the fact that again and again, you go over whatever I've said to you...”

“Stay... I... no, no, no... I'm not listening to you, I don't have to listen to you...” Scrivener shook his head wildly back and forth, and then he spun around, trying to run away... and when he looked up, he found Valthrudnir standing calmly in front of him only a few feet away.

Scrivener cursed and spun around again... and there was the Jötnar, looking as if nothing had happened, continuing as calmly and patronizingly as if Scrivener hadn't spoken as he flicked through the fanned-out cards. “It interests me. I contemplate often on the psychological aspects of you worthless little ponies... to be entirely honest, I strongly doubt you are all as high-functioning as you perceive yourselves to be, with how often you all act and react based upon such pathetic primal instincts instead of intelligent functions...”

Scrivener yelled furiously and tried to turn... and Valthrudnir only calmly glanced up, and a moment later the half-pony, half-wyrm was imprisoned by shackles and bars of ice that forced him back into a sitting position, the stallion cursing weakly as the Jötnar said distastefully: “Such as your insipid and pathetic attempts to run away from me. You seem to fail to recognize that we are inside your own mind, so there is no possible way you can create a physical distance between us... just as you fail to remember all the many times you have attempted to interrupt or flee in the past always result in this same outcome. You, trapped and helpless, while I find myself irritated that once more I am forced to remind you both of your inadequacy and my own superiority.”

The half-wyrm, half-pony struggled weakly for a moment, and then he cursed under his breath before forcing himself to calm down, shivering and breathing hard. The ice bit against his limbs, made his whole body ache as Valthrudnir looked down at him, then pulled a single card free and said softly: “But it serves to prove the point I just made, all the same. You are inferior, that is all there is to it... a serviceable weapon, perhaps, but that is all.”

Scrivener remained silent, biting back the urge to scream, and Valthrudnir made the cards fanned out in his hand vanish with only a flick of his wrist before spinning the single remaining card in his other hand around to show to the trapped stallion. “The Ace of Hearts. What do you think it means, Scrivener Blooms?”

“Why should I try and explain that to a monster like you?” Scrivener retorted, shifting a bit against the ice before he said coldly: “You call me primal and stupid, but... look at you. Your suit, your big vocabulary, your... everything, and all you really are is a bully, a coward, and a goddamn brute.”

Valthrudnir's eyes slowly narrowed, and then he suddenly smiled coldly, straightening as he crushed the card in his hand. He looked calmly down at his closed fist for a moment, and then he opened it, his amber eyes glowing as the card reformed... but now it was glowing white, hovering silently above his palm as he said softly: “Call me all the names you like, insolent little pest. But your kind were the ones stupid enough to use a wish formed of my own essence, to bring you, the pathetic shell I am forced for now to reside inside, back from death. To wish you back into existence as you once were... waking me up from my pleasant little nap.

“Really, I owe your son a vote of thanks. Had it not been for his selfishness in compelling all those other pathetic little ponies into putting so much power into wishing you and Brynhild back into existence, I may have remained dormant...” Valthrudnir smiled contemptibly, as Scrivener snarled and struggled against the ice again, feeling another burst of rage swell through his system. “But like calls to like, as you well know. That is why you are drawn to me, wretched little creature. Because while I am not like you... you desire very, very much to become like me. Or at least serve and recognize the purpose for which you were designed.”

“I... you... I won't give in...” Scrivener whispered, but the Jötnar only looked down at him with his awful, patronizing eyes. “You didn't break me before, you won't break me this time, either. You're just a parasite, a tumor, a... a...”

“I am Jötnar, and my powers go well beyond that of anything you can comprehend with your simple insectile brain, cheating little hack.” Valthrudnir replied, and his tone was almost pitying, making Scrivener glare in fury before the dragon leaned down and said softly: “There's a certain amount of poetic justice here, Scrivener Blooms. A certain irony that cuts both ways...”

“What are you talking about? Why won't you just leave me alone or... or fight?” Scrivener shouted, writhing against the icy prison as his half-transformed features flexed, his eyes taking on a faint, unholy blue luminescence as he felt awful, dark instincts beginning to rise up through him...

Then Valthrudnir calmly pushed a single finger against his head, and Scrivener's blood felt like it turned to ice in his veins as he gasped and all his strength was drained away, the Jötnar smiling in cold contempt. “Can you not add one plus one, insolent little beast? You were a prototype of a new method I planned to use to destroy and infect worlds, designed to carry and spread the Clay of Prometheus, what you call 'corruption...' the black, dark gunk that flows in place of your blood and gives you your strength.

“This was why I was able to live on inside your mind after you cheated and destroyed my physical body, as we have discussed. Why the Tyrant Wyrm triggered a transformation in you, and did not destroy you. Why you can utilize the Black Verses in spite of not understanding the depth of their beauty and power with your plebeian mind.” Valthrudnir continued calmly, and then he leaned slowly down until he was looming face-to-face over the half-pony, half-wyrm. “As long as you exist, pathetic little pony, then I'll continue to be right here inside you.”

Valthrudnir reached up and tapped twice on Scrivener's forehead, and the half-wyrm, half-pony shook his head weakly before the prison of ice shattered around him and sent him spilling back into the mire. Valthrudnir smiled calmly at this, straightening and putting his hands behind his back as he looked contemplatively down at Scrivener Blooms, then he said almost kindly: “I've been thinking about this for the last few years, mortal, while watching you squirm and try to understand the answers for yourself. It's been fun, but do you know why I finally decided to spell it out for you? Because of your weakness... Brynhild.”

The Jötnar turned around, looking upwards as he rose a hand and snapped his fingers, and a ripple passed through the world before stars and strange planets began to twinkle in the skies above, as Scrivener only stared weakly at the dragon's back. “You think of me as a cancer inside you... I dislike the metaphor but suppose it is fitting enough. Something growing, that could easily kill you, and you direly desire to excise. But no matter what I am... echo, memory-become-sentient, or something else entirely... you understand that I am too deeply-entrenched to be easily removed. And you will not kill yourself to kill me, no matter how suicidal and self-loathing you are, because it would hurt your precious little Valkyrie.”

“Don't talk about her!” Scrivener shouted, his eyes glowing brighter blue for a moment as he snarled, and then he grabbed at his face and clenched his eyes shut, breathing hard as he felt his instincts and the corruption both boiling inside him.

“You should be happy, little toy soldier. You should be honored to have the rightful master of this pathetic little realm of worlds created by Odin inside your mind.” Valthrudnir said distastefully, examining his claws before he glanced over his shoulder and added softly: “Not to mention that I am your creator and true master. And you will learn this and bow to me before your life is over, Scrivener Blooms.”

Scrivener looked up with a snarl, opening his mouth... but a moment later, some awful, cold force passed over him, and instead he was left paralyzed, unable to move as icy needles pricked at his nerves. Valthrudnir only surveyed him calmly for a few moments, then said softly: “We've spoken enough for now, servant... Scrivener Blooms, as you call yourself. Not the name I would have chosen for you, Replicant. Something more like... Nihete. It suits the purpose for which you were designed much better; to infiltrate and destroy.”

The half-wyrm, half-stallion tried to respond, but he could barely move against the cold pressure surrounding his body. He felt it growing worse, and his eyes clenched tightly shut in response, drawing up every last reserve of strength he had before lunging forwards, feeling himself tearing through the icy imprisonment...

And he crashed uselessly down on nothing but dark earth, looking stupidly back and forth as he realized that Valthrudnir, the forest, the alien skies above... they were all gone. Instead, he was alone in deep shadow, heart thudding in his chest, eyes looking uselessly back and forth before a voice murmured quietly: “My poor, sweet Scrivener Blooms... but wouldn't you rather know the truth than remained trapped in ignorance?'

Scrivener slowly looked up as a shape emerged in the darkness: a mighty winged unicorn, blacker than the night around them, with a mane of swirling sapphire flames. Behind her, a whiplike tail swayed back and forth with every step of her cloven hooves over the dark earth, and her eyes – so much like Luna's, but darker, more calculating, more merciless – focused on the earth pony as she approached.

But this was no pony: horns gleamed almost as brightly as the crisscrossing scars over her features, and knives and needles and torture implements were impaled all along her back, but she wore them with the pride a well-groomed mare would her jewelry. There was no pain in her gait, nothing but curiosity and terrifying dark love in her eyes.

“Nightmare Moon.” Scrivener murmured quietly, and his eyes roved to the collar of steel roses around her neck, polished bright red with blood, a black pearl like Luna's inset into the front. This terrifying creature was Luna's passion and dark strength given shape and life, emotion that lived and breathed and manipulated.

Nightmare Moon smiled at him affectionately, leaning down: even with his increased size in the warped shape he often took in his dreams and nightmares, she was still larger than him. She gently nuzzled him as he stood, and Scrivener closed his eyes before he asked softly: “Where's Luna?”

“Around. Dealing with her own insecurities, perhaps... it doesn't matter. You need to speak to me right now, not her, don't you?” Nightmare Moon smiled, and Scrivener Blooms sighed quietly as he looked down, before wincing when the entity murmured softly: “Nihete. It resonated with you.”

“I'd like Luna to be here, Nightmare Moon. I want to talk to you, too, but... I want to see Luna as well.” Scrivener said carefully, and the enormous creature looked down at him almost pleadingly before he closed his eyes and sighed tiredly, reaching up a claw and rubbing slowly at his face. “Okay, okay. If... if I let you say what you want to first, will you then go get Luna?”

“Thank you, Scrivener Blooms... and what I have to say is simple enough, in any event.” Nightmare Moon said softly, her expression affectionate as she leaned down and locked gazes with him: and for all her control, the power she exuded, the malice that emanated from her... when she looked at him, she was submissive and almost servile, as she whispered: “You are my King of the Night, beloved. You have always been who you are... all this can do is make you stronger.”

Scrivener only grimaced at this, looking away, and Nightmare Moon laughed quietly before she reached up and stroked his face gently. “You cannot run from who you are, any more than Luna could run from her past, or seal me away forever. Take pride in who you are, Scrivener Blooms.”

Then Nightmare Moon paused before stepping back and smiling softly over her shoulder as blue mist swirled through the air a few feet away, before coalescing and solidifying into the shape of Luna, who glared moodily up at the dark entity of passion before turning concerned eyes towards Scrivener Blooms. But Nightmare Moon gave a quiet laugh even as Luna strode quickly past to trade a tight embrace, murmuring: “It's funny. If I could, my darlings, I would keep you as you are now... but amplify you, perhaps, with the traits of the creatures you almost became.”

“I do not care. Shut up and begone, foul monster.” Luna growled, but Nightmare Moon smiled and looked unfettered, earning a moody glower from the winged unicorn. “Wretched creature. Thou art as much a parasite as the accursed echo that has lodged itself inside mine beloved's head!”

The entity of passion's expression darkened at this, her eyes narrowing slightly as he smile thinned slightly, before she said softly: “Be careful, Luna Brynhild. You should know better than anyone else that my patience has its limits... and between us, who the stronger is.”

Luna shifted a bit at this, but her expression was wary before Nightmare Moon suddenly smiled again, bowing her head and murmuring: “But I forget myself, and my place... as humble servant, as we agreed upon. But I am your emotions, Luna, and further excited by the pains our husband needlessly suffers... you'll have to excuse my outburst.”

“I have to do nothing. Leave us, creature.” Luna muttered, glowering at Nightmare Moon, but the black winged unicorn only turned a curious look on Scrivener Blooms, and Luna sighed tiredly as she muttered: “Aye, this is all adding into a most wonderful night. Why even pretend to serve us both, Nightmare Moon, when it is clear thy true reason to exist is simply to frustrate me so?”

“I am merely ensuring that your desire matches that of my King, sweet Luna. I would be remiss to leave just by your word when clearly I've made you feel threatened.” Nightmare Moon's voice was sweet, almost humble, and it made Luna's teeth grind together as she glared in frustration at the creature. “But I know very well that you'd put your own emotions aside for Scrivener... you aren't so selfish you'd allow yourself to be driven only by your own base and pathetic jealousies, would you?”

Luna sighed quietly, slumping a little, and Scrivener dropped his own head a bit, closing his eyes. They both knew what Nightmare Moon was referring to... the real reason behind the tension that had existed between the two halves of Luna ever since they'd returned to this world. Not that either Scrivener or Luna wanted to completely believe the story... but the evidence...

Scrivener Blooms sighed quietly, then he looked up and asked finally: “Why do you still hold that over Luna's head... how can you blame her for what happened when it wasn't even her fault? Hell, how can you... urge me to become this... this monster...” Scrivener gestured at himself silently, his warped body flexing slowly. “And yet chastise Luna for... for something that neither her nor I nor anyone else seems to even remember clearly?”

“I remember. And Antares remembers, he has only blocked it out... not that we can blame our beloved son.” Nightmare Moon smiled almost tenderly, closing her eyes. “He suffered enough in his journey for an entire lifetime, after all... but still, there is much pride for him to take in not only surviving, but triumphing against all odds. As we can take pride in the fact that when in the most dire danger of his life, he remembered his promise. He called out to us... and our roles were reversed. I think you remember this as well, sweet Luna... you just prefer to pretend that you do not.”

Luna only grunted in response, turning her gaze moodily away before Nightmare Moon laughed quietly and murmured: “But it is of no consequence, either way. Scrivener Blooms, I am sorry, I digressed from the question, but the answer is very simple. I hold Luna accountable because she holds herself accountable. It is as simple as that.”

Scrivener looked over at the sapphire mare softly, but Luna only grunted and moodily glanced up, saying distastefully: “The choice I am faced with, if... that nightmare is true, creature and to this day I am not sure whether or not I could have been so stupid as I was... is that I am to blame my son for saving us or I am to hold myself accountable for being a vicious fool.”

“You do no favors for Antares in not holding him accountable... and you are not as noble as you make yourself sound, Luna Brynhild.” Nightmare Moon chastised softly, but when both Luna and Scrivener glared at her, the dark entity smiled calmly and strode slowly backwards, retreating into the shadows even as she murmured quietly: “I have found love in my heart for the child, that is why I say we must ensure that he is held accountable for his mistakes... especially those that come from good intentions. If you truly care about him, help him face the past and atone. I know that he will help you do the same.”

Nightmare Moon's eyes and collar glimmered, her mane becoming a dim swirl of blue fire in the darkness before she vanished as her presence faded completely. Yet for a few moments Luna glared off into the darkness all the same, shifting uneasily before she sighed quietly and turned towards Scrivener, simply dropping her head against the side of his neck silently.

He closed his own eyes, then reached up and wrapped one limb around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer, and Luna cursed quietly under her breath before she murmured: “'Tis all unfair, Scrivener Blooms. The past chases us... both of us, in our own way, infected by evils that were forced upon our heads, not sins willingly chosen...”

“You're getting poetic, Luna. That's usually the first sign you're going to start getting self-pitying.” Scrivener said softly, and Luna grunted and headbutted him firmly before mumbling and burying her face tighter into the side of his neck, and the half-wyrm, half-pony smiled a little despite himself as he squeezed her closer. “Okay, fine... then how about this? Here we stand, tormented and bleeding, and writ upon our souls in tears and blood are sins all done with good intention...”

“Do not mock me, poet, or I shall smash thou.” Luna mumbled moodily, and Scrivener smiled a little again despite himself before the sapphire mare sighed quietly and glanced up, studying him silently. “Idiot beetle.”

“I know. I know. But just having you here helps a lot and...” Scrivener shifted a bit as they stepped back from one-another, the half-wyrm, half-pony looking down to study his warped claw silently. “I guess I've had a long time to get used to this. And I know what I am, what I'm supposed to be... but with you beside me, Luna, I'm not afraid of that, either. I'm just scared of... Valthrudnir.”

He looked away, and Luna nodded slowly and studied him silently before she said quietly: “We are soulmates, Scrivy. More and more, I see why every day: thou and I are different, yet the same... paralleled. But I know part of it is my fault, and yet... I now take a strange pleasure in that. I cannot help but think, after all, that had I not helped mold thou into what thou art now... thou may have indeed ended up some pathetic little pawn of Valthrudnir's I would have sadly been forced to crush before running away with Twilight Sparkle.”

Scrivener sighed a little, but he smiled a bit, and Luna smiled faintly in return before she reached up and touched his face gently. Their eyes locked, trading emotions and thoughts and images, comforting each other here in the darkness that lurked inside their own linked minds before Luna said softly: “The night and our dreams are young yet, Scrivener, and... we have overcome all obstacles in the past. We have been saved from... I know not still whether 'twas true death or awful dormancy, but our son rescued us all the same. And we have each other and always shall.”

She stopped, then shifted and added grudgingly: “And much as I loathe her, Nightmare Moon is not our enemy. She is... me, in many unfortunate senses. We must... I must not allow my bitterness to cloud our minds, that is all. Perhaps she can even assist us in dealing with that unwanted tenant in thine own head in due course...”

Scrivener shifted a bit, not wanting to think about Valthrudnir at the moment: when he did, he began to wonder how much the Jötnar spoke was true, and how much could just very well be his own wild imaginings and rampant delusions trying to further ingrain themselves into his tortured little brain. But now Luna was studying him intently, and Scrivener hurriedly shook his head before saying quietly: “Let's just try and focus on other things for now, Luna. We've... got a lot to think about, after all.”

Luna shrugged meditatively, and Scrivener gave her a flat look before the winged unicorn replied mildly: “Well, 'tis not that I disagree but... so what of it? We have survived it all, have we not? We have learned to live with all these strange truths that we have discovered... that I and Celestia are reincarnated Valkyries, that the Equestria we came from was only one of ninety nine – or perhaps more – separate worlds created by Odin, to shield the core reality which Valthrudnir seeks to destroy. And we defeated Valthrudnir, and all his machinations: we destroyed the Black Wolves that devoured our world, we helped build Looking Glass Equestria, we stopped Clockwork World and conquered Fate itself. We even returned from the darkness.”

Luna nodded firmly, closing her eyes and murmuring: “Aye, Scrivy. There is nothing we cannot do, if we put our minds to the task. Together we are not just strong, we are invincible... there is no force in the universe, inside or outside, that can conquer us. I wholeheartedly believe that... and 'tis part of why I love thee, so deeply and truly.”

“Thanks, Luna, I'm glad you love me because I make you feel all big and tough.” Scrivener said mildly, and the sapphire mare snorted in amusement, giving him a slight smile despite herself before the stallion looked down and quietly scraped at the earth with his claw. “But it does mean a lot to me that... you're still here beside me, we're still in this together despite the fact that... I am what I am. I guess it helped that... you know, we never found out until we were deep in Decretum already...”

“But I think I would have loved thee all the same... assuming I did not simply kill thou out of hoof, of course, had we known from the beginning what thou were.” Luna replied easily, and Scrivener couldn't help but give a bit of a laugh before the mare leaned forwards and said gently: “Look at thyself, Scrivy. Whiny, intolerable, frustrating as ever even now. And my other half.”

Scrivener nodded a little, and then he hesitated for a few moments before asking softly: “Should we try and pull in Twilight?”

“Thou art so ridiculously fond of her. 'Tis annoying, Scrivener, I am supposed to be the preferred wife.” Luna replied mildly, and Scrivener rolled his eyes before the sapphire mare glanced back and forth thoughtfully. “Aye, thou, I believe we should, but first we must create a better surrounding. We must be gracious hosts, must we not?”

“We must.” Scrivener replied with a slight smile, and then both he and Luna closed their eyes and bowed their head, concentrating on their surroundings, and a rumble passed through the shadowy landscape around them as the reality of their dreamscape rippled.

And when both ponies opened their eyes and traded a smile, they were standing beneath a beautiful, starry night sky, the moon casting bright, ivory light over the verdant forest they now stood in. Trees swayed around them, tapers and vines hanging around them like gorgeous decorations, and flowers and herbs tickled gently against their ankles as Luna murmured quietly: “Aye, this is better.”

They looked back and forth around the small clearing for a moment before Luna's horn glowed, and Scrivener smiled slightly as he felt her gentle mental pull. Their mixed soul meant they didn't just experience things as one, or share only thoughts and emotions... they could combine their strength and concentration together.

Scrivener closed his eyes, breathing slowly as he bowed his head forwards, and Luna mimicked him as her horn glowed brighter, before the two slowly arched their backs at the same time, mirroring one another as the mare's horn became like a burning beacon... and a moment later, there was a bright flash before Twilight Sparkle appeared, the Lich looking back and forth in surprise before the two ponies opened their eyes and smiled over at her.

She glowered at them in return, blushing faintly as her stitching pulsed along her frame: even in her own mind, Twilight had come to accept herself as what she had become, and her mental self reflected that. The violet mare looked moodily back and forth between Luna and Scrivener as they both smiled at her, and they could both easily sense her happiness and warmth beneath her visible frustration as she said flatly: “You know, you guys can't just drag me into your mind world whenever you feel like it. I thought we made a rule about that”

“Dreamworld, technically. Or mental world. Not mind world.” Scrivener remarked, and when Twilight favored him with a sour look, the half-wyrm, half-pony shrugged and smiled a little. “What can I say, Twilight? I guess nothing makes me feel better quite like having you around to poke at.”

“I bet thou wants to poke her.” Luna muttered, and then she paused before grinning slightly, half-lidding her eyes. “Actually, 'tis not a bad idea. There are few better ways to relieve stress than-”

“I hate you both.” Twilight interrupted moodily, and Luna laughed before the violet mare sighed quietly and shook her head slowly, glancing back and forth. “You know, I was having the nicest dream about the old days... you know, when everything was... peaceful, and we were all young and so carefree, compared to these days. After all... even with everything we faced back then, the troubles we endured... they were nothing compared to... to what came after.”

She glanced down at herself, then sighed a little and rubbed a hoof silently over her stitches, making a soft rasping sound as both Scrivener and Luna softened a little and studied the violet mare. But after a few moments, Twilight rose her head and gave a small smile, saying quietly: “But I don't think I'd change anything. I think... I think I like who I am, even if that scares me sometimes. Sure, it hurts sometimes, too... but... I can do a lot of good like this. And I like the thought of being with you both... forever.”

Twilight blushed a little, then she shook her head quickly before questioning in a soft voice: “Now what's up? Because now that I'm here and paying a little more attention... I can feel that something's not right. I might not have the same depth of connection as you do between each other, but I can still feel your emotions pretty clearly.”

“Thou could if thou desired to, though... I... Twilight, thou art aware... thou art an equal to us, are thou not?” Luna asked gently, and Twilight Sparkle blushed a bit and glanced away for a moment, and the starry-maned winged unicorn smiled faintly as she murmured softly: “We... Twilight, this link we made with thou... 'twas selfish of us. 'Twas our decision, and perhaps even more than it was thine own, even if it was thy very soul that was placed into our hooves.”

“I still... don't clearly remember why I made the decision, or when it happened... but Luna, I've never regretted it. If I've ever felt like... I shouldn't have done this, it's not because of you two, because I'm afraid of the power you could have over me if you wanted... it's because I feel like I've forced myself in deeper than I have the right to be.” Twilight replied quietly, but Luna only smiled faintly as Scrivener shook his own head with a soft laugh.

“Twilight, you... belong with us, like Luna says.” the stallion said after a moment, and then he glanced down at his own claw quietly, adding in a wry voice: “Although... maybe that is selfishness on my part. Wanting to think that you're... like us.”

“Freaks.” Luna supplied positively, and Scrivener and Twilight both gave her flat looks, but the sapphire mare smiled wider, shaking herself out briskly. “Oh, what of it? We are all freaks here. Monsters, ghouls, darkness incarnate, each one of us. And I enjoy this.”

The others only stared for a moment at the sapphire mare, and then Twilight rolled her eyes and shook her head before returning her gaze to Scrivener, beginning quietly as he looked back seriously and sympathetically: “I know, Scrivy, but... it's awkward. It doesn't feel like intruding, no, but it feels like... I should still wait to be invited in, or-”

“No, enough, enough of this!” Luna huffed, striding between Twilight and Scrivener and swinging her horn back and forth, and both ponies winced and staggered backwards to avoid being hit by her before the starry-maned mare declared: “We must take after my beloved big brother Sleipnir and simply throw away the bad, and celebrate what is good, that is all! Cease thy whining and thinking, both of thee, 'tis annoying. Celebrate instead that we are three together as one, and I am the luckiest mare in all the worlds.”

“Luna.” Twilight said grouchily, but when Luna turned an almost-pleading look on her, the Lich groaned and threw her head back, half-arguing: “We... we can't just dodge around this topic forever, or... avoid talking about it or-”

“I have had enough sulking, and thus will give thou my answer to thee in the best way that I can.” Luna interrupted, and Twilight glared before the winged unicorn stepped forwards and firmly kissed the Lich just as she began to open her mouth again. Twilight blinked dumbly several times, then her eyes closed as she helplessly returned the kiss before the two mares pulled apart, and Scrivener couldn't help but feel the same thrill of pleasure and mischief that ran through the smiling sapphire mare. “There. Understood?”

“No?” Twilight answered dumbly, and Luna leaned forwards and kissed her firmly a second time: when she drew back a moment later from the blushing Lich, Twilight's violet eyes flickered a little before she said lamely: “Yes.”

“Good.” Luna rose her head proudly, and Scrivener laughed and shook his own with an amused smile despite himself before the sapphire winged unicorn softened and said quietly: “Thou art with us, and we with thou, and that is that. Aye, Scrivy and I have had... unpleasant experiences, but we did not invite thee here to philosophize or relive them. We invited thee in to... relax with us, in our lucid fantasies. And thou enjoys it, does thou not?”

Twilight nodded hesitantly, then she glanced over at Scrivener, and he nodded slowly, murmuring: “Funnily enough, I think there's plenty of wisdom in Luna's childishness. Weird as that is to admit.” He glanced over at the sapphire mare with entertainment when she huffed at him. “I think the biggest advantage of... being linked like we are, after all, is this right here. Sharing and controlling these... dreams.”

“Or nightmares.” Luna said gently, glancing over at Scrivener with a slight smile, and the half-wyrm, half-pony shifted and cleared his throat as Twilight only looked at them with affection in her eyes. “Aye, I agree. Twilight agrees too.”

“I... you can't just...” Twilight started, and when Luna glowered at her, she sighed tiredly and dropped her head forwards, muttering: “Oh fine. I guess I do though, yeah... although... really, it does bear some discussion...”

“Twilight, cease being boring. Scrivener, do not even begin to speak, 'tis not what thy mouth was designed for doing. Now, both of thee, come with me. Let us indulge in harmless adventure and sport.” Luna said firmly, spinning around and striding off into the forest.

For a few moments, Twilight and Scrivener only stared after the winged unicorn... and then they traded looks, and Scrivener shrugged awkwardly before Twilight smiled a little, stepping over to him and reaching up to touch his shoulder gently as she said quietly: “For what it's worth, I don't think you're a monster.”

“And I think if anything, being... what you are... has only made you stronger and more beautiful, Twilight.” Scrivener replied softly, and the two smiled at each other... before both ponies winced when Luna shoved her head back into the clearing, glaring at them pointedly as something rumbled ominously in the distance. “But. Looks like the Mistress is calling.”

Luna huffed and nodded plaintively a few times, and Twilight shook her head as the sapphire mare once more turned around and headed off into the forest, the Lich asking moodily: “Doesn't she get enough adventure in reality?”

“Look on the bright side. These last few peaceful years, things have been quiet, so she's learning to work her steam off in harmless fantasy instead of dragging us along to pick fights with real dragons and stuff. I'd much prefer spending my nights 'adventuring' in our mixed-up dreamscape than getting beaten up in the real world because Luna can't keep her hooves to herself.” Scrivener replied reasonably, and Twilight nodded thoughtfully as the two fell into pace and headed into the forest, naturally following the path Luna had trod through the darkness. “Even if. You know. I look like this.”

But Twilight only smiled, and Scrivener smiled back despite himself, before the two nodded to each other firmly and hurried to catch up to the winged unicorn that they both admired.

When morning came, Scrivener yawned and sat up, rubbing blearily at his face before he smiled when Twilight stood up herself a moment later. She shook her head out, then gazed affectionately over at Scrivener before the two leaned over the huddled, mumbling form of Luna to trade a quick, chaste good morning kiss.

Then Luna groaned loudly and mashed her face into the futon as she managed to shove one front hoof into the air, ordering in a tired voice: “Scrivener must fetch coffee, and Twilight must cuddle me. I shall accept nothing else.”

“Yes, dearest. Of course.” Scrivener said wryly as he stood up, and then he paused and leaned down to kiss the base of Luna's horn gently, and the winged unicorn immediately fidgeted wildly as her starry mane sparked lightly, the earth pony smiling slightly as he turned away.

Twilight shook her head with amusement as Luna's eyes fluttered open to peer over her shoulder, and then the sapphire mare cleared her throat before raising a hoof and beckoning a few times to the violet pony. As Scrivener strode into the kitchen, the Lich leaned curiously down, then tilted her head so Luna could whisper something in her ear before Twilight winced suddenly backwards and exclaimed: “No! I'm not going to do that, Luna!”

“Prude.” Luna grumbled, and Twilight sighed tiredly before she laid back down beside Luna, and the sapphire mare immediately turned and buried her face against her neck, nuzzling into her and mumbling: “Scrivy would do it. He would do it without question”

“Scrivener is gross. And more afraid of you than I am.” Twilight replied mildly, and Luna shrugged as Scrivener muttered something from the kitchen. “Well, it's true, Scrivy. I'm pretty sure Luna could order you to run off a cliff and you'd do it for her.”

“Well, yes, but only because if I didn't run off the cliff she'd throw me off it herself. And somehow, as always happens when Luna throws me, I'd end up landing on my head.” Scrivener replied dryly, and Twilight smiled a little despite herself, knowing it was all too true.

A few minutes later, Scrivener returned to the den holding a tray, and Luna smiled from where she was half-curled against Twilight, glancing up as the Lich stroked a hoof tenderly through the mare's starry mane as her horn glowed and lightly pulled the tray away from the stallion. It floated through the air to land gently in front of the empty fireplace.

Luna glanced up at this, then smiled as Scrivener dropped down on her other side, the mare murmuring: “That is what is wrong, of course. Well, not just that thou took such an eternity to make coffee, but also...”

Then Luna's horn glowed, and a moment later blue flames burst to life over the faintly-charred logs in the fireplace, the mare nodding firmly as she squirmed up a bit while doing her best to keep herself tightly sandwiched between Scrivener and Twilight. “Excellent. Now everything is in much better order. I am warm, comfortable, I have my coffee, and both my mares. Even if one is stuffy and the other is... fat. Thou art the fat one, Scrivener Blooms.”

Scrivener sighed tiredly as Twilight rolled her eyes, and Luna nodded primly to herself before she picked up her coffee. As she raised it, Scrivener looked pointedly across at Twilight, and the mare looked back at him before giving the slightest of nods.

The moment Luna began to sip her coffee, both ponies leaned in on either side of the winged unicorn and licked up her horn, and Luna's eyes bulged as her starry mane fizzled and she took a deep inhale, then half-giggle, half-gurgled before sneezing loudly, spraying coffee out her nostrils. She immediately shuddered as her eyes watered, giving a long, low groan before she mumbled: “Both of thee shall be pummeled for this.”

“We love you too, Luna.” Scrivener said mildly, as Twilight covered her mouth to try and repress her giggles, and then the stallion stood up and headed for the kitchen, shaking his head and smiling amusedly as Luna dropped her head sulkily. It was times like this that reminded him how happy he was he had never really grown up... and that since he was living with Luna, he probably never would have to, either.

Reaping Our Labors

Chapter Four: Reaping Our Labors
~BlackRoseRaven

Celestia smiled as she relaxed on the front deck of her sister's home, watching with warmth in her eyes as Luna charged with a wide grin towards the young stallion standing at the ready across from her, before leaping into an almost-vicious lash of her horn as she shouted: “Force me back!”

Antares' horn met his mother's, sending up sparks of energy as the aura-shrouded natural weapons smashed back and forth against one-another's. Luna pushed aggressively forwards as her son grit his teeth and parried each and every attack, leathery wings spread slightly before they flapped hard, giving him an extra boost of momentum as he pushed back with all his might and managed to knock Luna stumbling.

Twilight watched closely, her violet eyes only the faintest bit concerned: she had come to understand why Luna pushed the people she cared about so hard, why when she sparred, she held little back. It wasn't just because she wanted to ensure they were at the top of their game... it was a sign of respect. 'Babying' her friends or family, as Luna phrased it, would be an insult to their dignity.

Maybe there were other reasons, too, though, why Twilight had come to enjoy seeing this... but the Lich shook her head quickly, pushing those thoughts away even as she silently stroked a hoof over the stitching. Then she blushed as Celestia's eyes were drawn towards the soft rasping sound, before the ivory winged unicorn gave Twilight a gentle look, asking quietly: “Is it bothering you?”

Twilight Sparkle shook her head lamely, then looked up with relief when Scrivener Blooms stepped out of the front door, carrying a pot of tea and several muffins on a tray. The stallion smiled supportively at Twilight around the handle in his jaws, then winced a bit as, on the field, Antares managed to get a bit of distance from Luna and snap his horn forwards to release a blast of light.

Luna stumbled backwards, blinded and cursing loudly, and Antares winced and stared for a moment at the curses coming from his mother's mouth before he leapt forwards with his teeth grit, bringing a hoof back. His hesitation cost him though, as Luna flicked her horn up and created a sapphire barrier between them that her son hammered uselessly into, wincing and then shoving firmly off it to throw himself a good distance away.

Then Luna shook her head out quickly and growled, blinking a few times to clear her vision before yelling in frustration: “Damned illusions and misdirection! 'Tis just like Loki, or worse, foul old Odin, the lech always did abuse such tricks!”

Antares winced again as Celestia sighed and shook her head, and then the young stallion naively dropped his guard as he said awkwardly: “Mom, sorry, I... I mean, you wanted me to-”

Luna let out a shout of triumph and snapped her horn upwards as it flashed, and Antares had only a moment to stare dumbly before vines tore out of the ground all around him, snapping around the stallion's neck, limbs and body before they all yanked taut and dragged him to the ground, legs splayed out almost comically as he yelped in pain. Scrivener rolled his eyes at this as Twilight glared at Luna and Celestia only looked meditative, Antares squirming and wincing in pain before he stared up at his mother as she strode in front of him and leaned down with a wide grin. “Well, my cherished child, know that I can misdirect and elude too.”

“You just used completely the wrong word there, Luna.” Scrivener commented as he picked up a muffin, and Luna glared at him before her horn glowed brightly, and the baked good was yanked out of his hoof, floating over to her as Scrivener gave her a sour look. “Oh, yes. You really are a mature and reasonable adult.”

“Aye, I am.” Luna agreed, then she took a large bite out of the muffin, and Antares winced as crumbs spilled down over his face, before the stallion sighed tiredly as Luna looked down at him and asked cheerfully: “And now, my son, what do we say?”

“Mom...” Antares looked up pleadingly, but when Luna only glared down at him, the leather-winged unicorn sighed tiredly and dropped his face against the ground, saying in a dour voice: “My mommy is the best fighter in the whole wide world.”

“'Twas not cute enough! I demand it be said in a cuter tone!” Luna struck a pose, grinning cheerfully as her eyes gleamed with mischievousness, and then she huffed when Scrivener and Twilight both glowered at her and Antares mumbled to himself in a disheartened voice. “What? Thou knows the rules of the spar!”

“That's funny, little sister. After all, it seems like if anyone was using Odin's old tactics here, it was you.” Celestia commented, and Luna immediately turned a sour look on her older sibling, who smiled slightly in response. “Not to mention your... lack of grace even in triumph...”

“Oh shut up, Celestia, I am extremely graceful.” Luna retorted, and then she flicked her horn firmly, and Antares wheezed in relief as the vines around him loosened and he was able to scramble up to his hooves, before smiling lamely when Luna reached up and tousled her son's mane firmly. “And whilst I perhaps crowed a little loudly over my victory, 'tis only because thou art growing formidable, Antares Mīrus! But thou must learn that even if I am thy mother everywhere else, when I am thy enemy, thou must treat me as the enemy. It does me no good to defeat thee because thou wert too afraid to fight back against thy mother.”

“Not that you clearly won't take that victory and hold it over our son's head anyway.” Scrivener said dryly, and Luna slowly turned a horrible look on the charcoal stallion, who cleared his throat and shifted a bit before quickly turning his eyes towards Celestia, asking hastily: “So uh... you're okay with the whole book signing thing, right?”

Luna muttered something under her breath about Scrivener being an idiot as Celestia smiled, nodding to the earth pony. “Of course, Scrivener Blooms. I'll be glad to attend and help with the political aspects a little.”

“I hate politics.” Scrivener muttered, and Celestia gave him a kind look as Luna munched up the rest of her muffin, then poked Antares a few times when he began to turn away, the stallion wincing a bit but then nodding as the eyes of the trio resting on the deck all gazed up and watched the two get into position again. “I still wish things were... you know. Simpler. Part of me wishes that I had never even bothered with this...”

“Scrivener, you should be proud of this. I know it's hard on you, but... that's one of the costs of being... who you are. Of earning fame.” Celestia replied gently, even as her eyes continued to calmly watch as Luna and Antares resumed sparring, their horns sparking and clashing. “Look at yourself, Scrivener Blooms. Look at everything you've accomplished in life, and think about everything you survived and what you and my little sister managed to come back from. Compare the difficulty of that to trying to make nice for an hour or so to indulge some fans and patrons, then tell me which is worse.”

“Indulging fans and patrons by far. Being sociable is far, far worse than being beaten to death.” Scrivener muttered, and Celestia sighed and shook her head slowly, smiling despite herself before she cocked her head curiously when Antares suddenly countered one of Luna's swift cuts with his own rising slash, knocking her horn upwards and sending her staggering backwards before he swung a hoof out, just managing to clip the winged unicorn's nose even as she threw herself backwards. Even by Celestia's standards, it was impressive.

“He's getting good. He's learning faster from Luna than he ever learned from me, or even you, Celestia. And I know he learned worlds from you.” Twilight Sparkle said softly as she picked up on the ivory winged unicorn's interest, and Celestia only smiled again, her eye still locked on the combat even as the Lich turned herself away with a bit of a blush to pick up her cup of tea and turn her eyes towards Scrivener. “But... Celestia has a point, you know. You really should be glad for this.”

“Every time you tell me to be happy for something, you know I'm always tempted to turn around and do something awful to you in return.” Scrivener said dryly, picking up his own cup of tea and another muffin, and Twilight sighed tiredly before the earth pony muttered: “I just... never wanted this. And okay, maybe I'm afraid because... you know, the fall from up high is so much scarier than the fall from down low, when you're already in the mud.”

Twilight shook her head slowly, then Celestia said gently, as she gestured towards the battlefield: “But isn't it worth putting faith in something, pouring your soul into something, when the results can help not only yourself... but others, as well?”

Scrivener glanced up quietly, watching silently as Antares and Luna leapt towards each other before they both swung their front hooves forwards, grappling as their eyes locked. Antares had his teeth grit, and Luna was grinning widely before she attempted to sling her son to the ground... but in a feat of incredible speed and agility, Antares instead revolved his body entirely and caught himself low on all four hooves, launching towards Luna's underbelly and making the sapphire winged unicorn hurriedly leap to the skies.

And fearlessly, Antares pursued her, launching upwards as their hooves and horns swung at one-another in fierce rhythm. Finally, both of Luna's rear hooves managed to slip just past Antares' defenses and slam into his scarred chest, knocking him from the sky with a wince to crash down on his back before he gritted his teeth, looking up as he clearly expected some vicious follow-up... but instead, Luna laughed in delight as she slowly sailed down from the skies to land beside him, smiling warmly down at her son. “Excellent! Excellent, Antares, thou art strong and brave and I am endlessly impressed by thy growing skill and tenacity... one day, my son, thou shalt truly be as strong as I am.”

She nodded firmly as Antares relaxed a little on the ground, then winced when Luna reached down and easily hauled him to his hooves. Then she stepped back, and the glossy-black unicorn smiled before they bowed to each other, then stepped forwards and carefully tapped their horns together. The short, respectful ritual ended as always by Luna grabbing her son and hugging him fiercely, and Antares laughed despite himself as he reached up and awkwardly patted Luna on the back, saying lamely: “I'm... I'm just doing my best, that's all.”

“Thy best is by far better than I ever could fairly ask of thou, so I am only glad that 'tis given willingly, my beloved colt.” the winged unicorn said softly, and when Antares looked at her awkwardly, she shook her head with a slight smile. “Alright, alright. My handsome stallion. For 'tis what thou art.”

Antares only mumbled and shifted embarrassedly, and then Luna shook her head quickly before sniffing and straightening, grinning over at Celestia. “And thou, sister! So lazy, sitting upon thy haunches, drooling over the sport of others! Thou and I should spar, or perhaps thou and Twilight Sparkle. Twilight is growing almost as lazy as Scrivener Blooms these days, after all.”

Twilight shifted embarrassedly at this, but Celestia only shook her head, saying kindly: “We all have to look our best tomorrow, sister... but I've been thinking. Antares, do you remember when you and your friends went to Subterra for training? It ended up being relaxing once... everything fell into order, didn't it?”

Antares nodded curiously, and Celestia turned her eyes back to Luna, who had her head cocked curiously. “I was thinking that we could invite our other friends and family along, too. Turn it into a comfortable getaway for everyone. I'm sure we could work something out.”

“Like a cruise without the cruise ship or the ocean.” Scrivener said wryly before he could stop himself, and when Celestia gave him an amused look, he cleared his throat and glanced awkwardly away. “Sorry, sorry. But well... I mean, it's not a bad idea, even if originally this was supposed to just be a quiet vacation...”

“Quiet vacation. Thou art boring, Scrivy! Therefore, aye, it seems that for once my big sister has an idea I can agree with and wholeheartedly support.” Luna said positively, and Scrivener rubbed slowly at his face with one hoof, but Twilight smiled softly: she could tell just from looking at the charcoal stallion that he was fond of the idea himself, whatever misgivings and pessimistic thoughts he was also having about the whole situation.

Twilight Sparkle softened as she glanced back and forth between Scrivener Blooms and Luna Brynhild: so different, yet so much the same. And she fit so well with both of them. They both made her feel... safe... and that was the most important thing in the world to her, especially these days. And Scrivener comforted her and Luna kept her on her hooves and they both made her feel attractive and strong and... and...

Twilight realized that Antares was looking at her awkwardly, and the violet mare blushed before almost dropping her mug of tea, mumbling some half-excuse, half-apology as she turned to hurry inside. Scrivener frowned a bit at this, beginning to get up, but Celestia reached out and gently caught the charcoal stallion by the shoulder.

“Go ahead.” Luna said gently to Antares, who gave a surprised look to his mother.... then he smiled faintly and nodded at her as Scrivener Blooms settled back a bit, softening and giving his own nod of silent agreement... even approval, as the glossy-black unicorn hurried across the porch and into the house.

Antares slowed in the kitchen, hesitantly peeking around the corner and into the den, where Twilight was sitting and silently drawing a hoof over the stitching covering her chest. The Lich trembled, her eyes closed, her breathing irregular before she murmured quietly: “I... I just need a minute, I'm sorry...”

“Don't be, Mom... come on, what is it? Something's been bothering you for a while now.” Antares said quietly, striding into the room and reaching up a hoof to rest it comfortingly on one of the violet mare's shoulders, and Twilight smiled faintly over her shoulder before she sighed softly and closed her eyes. She remained silent, and Antares studied her for a few moments before he pressed quietly: “Is it about... your... feelings?”

“Yeah.” Twilight said softly, looking away, and then she slowly drew her eyes back to Antares, and at the concern and tenderness and love in those dark eyes that were so like his mother's, she felt her defenses crumbling as she whispered: “It drives me crazy that they knew to send you.”

“No, Mom, they didn't send me. I came because I'm worried about you, and Mom and Dad let me because... they're scared too, but I guess they know that... they'd be hard to talk to about this. Or maybe I'm just easier, I dunno.” Antares laughed a little, looking down before he said quietly: “Mom, you're not a monster...”

Twilight Sparkle shifted silently, looking down before she closed her eyes and murmured: “I don't know anymore, Antares. For... all the time your parents were gone, I understood what I was, and it hurt and... all I was ever aware of was the way everyone looked at me so strangely, or talked behind my back... but that I was lucky, too, yeah. Because I had you, and Celestia, and all my friends, even if sometimes it felt like... I scared them, too.

“And then your parents came back, and what happened then is such a blur... I just know that I hurt Burning Desire in more ways than one, and I entrusted my soul to their living bodies. That made them stronger and me stronger and linked us together, and it helped me forget about... the bad parts of being who I am.” Twilight halted, then closed her eyes, trembling. “But now that... they are... I feel good, being who... being what I am. I take pride in it, almost, and I'm scared, because... I feel so powerful. I feel things that I've never felt before, and these stitches aren't like marks of shame but... I'm almost proud of them, I almost...”

Antares looked at the violet mare silently, and she shivered before closing her eyes and whispering: “But I'm also aware I have a lot more to lose than just your parents, Antares. I'm so scared that one day, you and Scarlet Sage aren't going to be able to look at me as a mother anymore. I'm scared of losing my friends, and it hurts to think that one day I will... and it hurts even worse with... with how happy I am that I'll never lose your parents...”

“Come on, Twilight. This isn't like you.” Antares said softly, rubbing a hoof along her back gently and looking at her softly. “You're... you told me yourself once, that no matter how old we get or how much we learn, we never really stop growing up. This is just... growth.”

Twilight looked down quietly, and Antares studied her for a few moments, gauging her, feeling his acuity kicking in before he asked gently: “It's about that old story, isn't it?”

“Because Love Conquers All. Where I first... caught a glimpse of myself as a Lich.” Twilight closed her eyes and nodded, smiling faintly and seeming unsurprised by the way Antares had managed to pull one source of her worries out of the air. “But... I was selfish, and I was vicious. And I'm scared that's who I'm going to become, Antares. Your parents... they're stronger than me. Able to handle their own powers and emotions... Luna can control Nightmare Moon, and Scrivener...” She looked down quietly. “Sometimes I think I admire him even more than Luna. He's supposed to be a monster, but he takes all that darkness and evil and corruption inside him and molds it into... into that stupid, stubborn, protective jerk he is.”

“Dad's special, yeah... but Mom, you do the same thing. You've always kept yourself under control, and been... so compassionate, even to the worst of our enemies.” Antares replied gently, gazing down at her supportively. “If anything, I think... I think the link you've made with my parents is a good thing. It goes to show how far you're willing to go for those you truly care about and... that you can handle the very best and the very worst of them both.”

Twilight glanced up at him quietly, and Antares hesitated before lowering his head, saying softly: “I... I can't keep being upset over not having Prestige, and shutting everyone out... but you can't be upset over... always having Mom and Dad, Twilight, even knowing everyone else... won't be around. We're hurting because of different reasons, but we're hurting in the same way, and neither is good. We both need to... I dunno, grow a little more.”

“We need to let go, and move forwards.” Twilight said softly, and Antares nodded a little and then closed his eyes when the Lich turned and embraced him, sliding quietly closer to her and hugging her tightly in return. “You're right, Antares. You're... you're so wise, and so strong. Young, and you still make mistakes but... you've learned so much over so few years.”

Antares only smiled faintly, and then he shook his head as he straightened a little, gazing quietly across at the Lich as he reached up to squeeze her shoulders gently. “No, I've just been... really lucky with the ponies I've had to teach me and help me grow up. The people, I should say... I learned a lot from... from a lot of really different people, after all.”

Twilight nodded a little, then she sat up and looked down at Antares quietly, hesitating before asking finally: “What do you think I should do? I'm... I'm scared that... if I fully embrace this, I'm going to become... something else.” She closed her eyes and shivered a little. “I don't want to become Twilight Shadow, Antares, no matter how tempted I am by power and... other things...”

“You're not going to become Twilight Shadow, Mom... and look at Mom and Dad. They're linked at the soul, they care about each other so much and yet... they still put others first.” Antares glanced down, murmuring quietly: “I think maybe it's hurting and confusing you so much right now simply because... you're trying so hard to keep yourself distant. You love them though, don't you? And you want to be with them, forever?”

“I am with them forever.” Twilight Sparkle said quietly, looking up at Antares, and the glossy-black unicorn smiled a little before Twilight reached up and silently touched the stallion's scarred breast. “Yet... I feel like when I allowed myself to fully... be... with them before... this happened. You stopped us somehow, but that nightmare, that... I don't know what it was, that blip in reality that we all experienced, that none of us can clearly remember more than bits and pieces of...”

Antares reached up and gently took Twilight's face between his hooves, meeting her eyes and saying softly: “Mom, that's not important. Because when I think of that... nightmare, I feel like I caused it in the first place. I feel like... we all have to pay the price for our mistakes. They... echo, through time and space...” Antares frowned a little at these words, then shook his head quickly before returning his eyes to Twilight Sparkle. “I dunno where that came from. I just mean that... we always have to pay the price for our mistakes but... that doesn't mean we can't fix things, too.”

The Lich nodded slowly, then she reached up and touched his chest gently, saying quietly: “Maybe you're right, Antares. Maybe I should just... try. Let myself... fit. But that means that you need to... try and move on too. Don't miss out on life, Antares. Prestige wouldn't want that.”

“I know. It just feels almost like betraying her to try and move on... even if I sometimes think I feel her, pushing me forwards, reminding me that... she wanted me to be happy.” Antares replied softly, bowing his head forwards and nodding slowly. There was a moment of silence between the two, and then another fierce embrace before they pulled apart, and the young stallion sighed a little as he murmured: “Let's just maybe both promise to do our best.”

Twilight nodded, and then the two pulled apart and looked at each other before she smiled a little and reached up to touch his face gently, asking softly: “Why don't you go into Ponyville, tell your friends and your sister about our idea? Avalon and Aphrodisia can both pass on the idea to their parents and see what they think.”

Antares smiled a little at this thought, then he replied: “Yeah. I'll just go and say goodbye to Mom and Dad and let them know where I'm going. I know Mom hates it when I just go running off without saying goodbye.”

The Lich smiled as Antares turned, then hesitated for a moment before he looked over his shoulder, adding quietly: “You're a great person, Twilight. Don't ever doubt that, okay? I wouldn't look up to you so much if you were anything less than... than the amazing pony you are.”

Twilight gazed at him softly as he blushed a little and turned away, hurrying out onto the back patio as he opened his mouth... then halted and stared at his parents, who were pressed forehead-to-forehead with their teeth grit, shoving firmly against each other as Celestia slowly sipped at her tea and meditatively studied the two ponies.

Antares cleared his throat awkwardly, and Luna huffed a bit, not looking up as she said moodily: “I am busy teaching thy idiot father a lesson, Antares Mīrus. 'Tis extremely important.”

“Go away, Luna.” Scrivener grumbled, continuing to staunchly shove back with his head against his wife, and then he gritted his teeth and grinned a little when he managed to shove forwards a little further and force Luna to skid back a bit against the patio, muttering: “My head is way harder than your head. You use your horn all the time. That makes you a sissy.”

“I shall pummel thee horribly, Scrivener Blooms!” Luna shouted in frustration, and then she snapped her head down to whack Scrivener firmly with her horn, making him wince and allowing her to force forwards a little against the stallion. “Yes, we shall shortly see who the real sissy is! Thou art the sissy! Sissy! I shall make it hoof party in thy face's house if thou keeps this up!”

“Are you going into Ponyville, Antares?” Celestia asked mildly, glancing past Antares' parents, and when the stallion nodded lamely, his aunt smiled. “I'm glad to hear it. Don't worry, I'll look after your parents while you're in town.”

“We do not require a babysitter.” Luna said grouchily, and then she suddenly drew her head back, and Scrivener winced and flailed a bit as he half-fell before Luna's skull smashed down into his own, knocking the charcoal stallion flat with a wheeze. The sapphire mare gave a chortling donkey-laugh as she stumbled backwards, her eyes rolling in her head once before she declared dumbly: “See? Scrivy is... the sissy!”

And then Luna keeled over and landed heavily on her side, and Celestia sighed tiredly as Antares looked lamely from one parent to the other. But after a moment, Scrivener managed to raise a hoof and mumble: “Have fun in town, son.”

“I uh. I will, Dad. I'll be home for dinner.” Antares said awkwardly, and Luna mumbled something on the ground as she flailed a hoof weakly before the young stallion turned, shaking his head a bit and wondering as he sometimes did whether or not he was actually adopted after all, considering the way his parents behaved.

Twenty minutes later, and Antares was comfortably walking through the Everfree Forest, glancing back and forth with a small smile at the trees and noting that the leaves had started to change here and there. They were moving into an early autumn, and it admittedly made Antares excited: he knew it was childish, but one of his favorite times of the year had always and would always be his birthday. Not because of the presents or anything, but because he got to spend that day with all his family and friends around.

Then the glossy-black unicorn sighed a little, thinking of the one thing he always found himself missing on that day: Prestige Luster. Racist, determined, pureblooded Prestige... a love he still ached for. He wondered if he would ever get over the pain of losing her... but she hadn't just been his first real love, he had lost her when they had been planning on sharing... so much together.

He was well aware that for a lot of reasons, things maybe wouldn't've worked out with Prestige: they had clashed sometimes, and they disagreed on a lot, but... they had always been there for each other, too. And he wished that a lot of things had been different... that he had been... more forwards with her. More honest with her. Shared more with her.

Antares sighed... then he winced as something nipped at one of his hooves, stumbling backwards before giving a short yelp and leaping into the air, flapping his leathery wings hard to hover as he stared down at the swarm of bugs he had walked right into. There were more than a dozen of the silvery insects, skittering angrily around on the path with their dangerous stingers raised. They were ugly, thin little nasties that had started appearing a few months back... and since then, their population had grown exponentially.

Antares carefully flew over the swarm, landing on the other side and glancing over his shoulder with a grimace as he flicked one of his hooves absently. There were infestations of them all throughout the Everfree Forest, and they cropped up now and then in and around Ponyville, but they were usually pretty quickly stomped out. No one really knew what they were, some rare breed of scorpion someone had let loose in town or a bug migrated up from Helheim with a demon or... who knew what.

“Silverbacks. I guess they're not hurting anyone out here, though.” Antares mumbled finally, turning and shaking his head as he continued towards town, but now he was paying much more attention to the world around him, eyes lingering back and forth apprehensively. The nasty little buggers were very aggressive, and their stingers carried a more-than-mild toxin... ponies could get quite ill if they were stung a few times by the little monsters.

The poison didn't seem to bother him too much, though, and the bugs reacted to Luna the same way Bitterweavers and a lot of other creatures in the Everfree did: they ran away as fast as possible. So he figured he'd leave them alone: if they did one good thing, after all, it was that they kept the other nasty bugs in the Everfree in check.

Antares didn't have any further encounters on his way to town, and didn't let his mind linger on bad or bitter memories, either. When he reached the fields, however, he saw something was going on a short distance away, near where the enormous, barn-shaped animal care center stood. The glossy-black unicorn felt instinctively drawn towards this, even as part of him winced when he heard a loud, distinct voice that could only belong to a certain mare engineer: if her volume didn't give it away, then the swearing certainly did.

The young stallion strode through the field, glancing absently towards the outbuildings of the veterinary facility and unsurprised to see ponies leaning out of the windows to stare at what was going on in the nearby field. Fluttershy was standing awkwardly with Nirvana and a tall white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane and friendly golden-brown eyes, the last smiling brightly as the mare who was the source of all the noise chased something through the tall grasses. His cutie mark was a puzzle piece, and he always seemed... innocent, Antares thought was the word that described Ross best.

“Hi, Antares! It's nice to see you.” greeted the stallion when the glossy-black unicorn approached, and Antares smiled and nodded as the ivory pony added kindly and perhaps a little too emphatically: “Cowlick is working really hard, she is. She's saying a lot of bad words but she's not really that mad, nope, she's just working hard.”

“That's uh... good to hear, Ross.” Antares said finally, as the mare-in-question shouted a particularly vulgar curse, then finally skidded to a halt in the tall grasses, panting roughly in and out as she leaned against a large, barrel-shaped cage of some kind. The glossy-black stallion looked awkwardly over at the chestnut mare, her dirty blonde mane hanging over her sweaty features, piercings glinting in her nose, one eyebrow, and both ears. She had a bandanna loosely tied around her head and was wearing an old denim vest: one hoof was currently wrestling at a front pocket of this, trying to yank a box of cigarettes free.

She muttered under her breath, cutie mark of interlocked gears almost gleaming thanks to the sweat running down her body. “Stupid animals... too old for this crap... who designed animals anyway, god? Nature? Both of 'em suck, animals need a... stupid off switch or remote control or... goddammit...”

“Uh... hi, Cowlick. Do you need a hoof?” Antares asked lamely, and the earth pony glanced up before shouting a vulgarity at him, making Antares wince. She finally managed to get a cigarette free from the pack lodged in her pocket, shoving it into her mouth before yanking a lighter out of another pocket in her vest as the stallion leaned past smiling Ross and asked in a mumble: “What's going on?”

Nirvana only grunted, and Fluttershy hesitated before saying carefully: “Miss Kilby Kwolek was... kind enough to offer to help me... uh... take care of some of the animals today. But I'm afraid... poor little Ulysses is a little bit mischievous, and...”

“I got him, just... just gotta... catch my breath.” Cowlick muttered, as she took a long drag on her cigarette, then exhaled a plume of smoke. Slowly, Antares began to raise a hoof, and then he winced when the mare's blue eyes glared at him. “Don't you say a damn thing.”

“Not. Not saying a damn thing.” Antares mumbled, and Cowlick grunted before the stallion couldn't help but ask: “Don't you have... some work over at the labs to do or something?”

“Oh yes, I'm sure you must be very busy, and while I really appreciate all this help, Cowlick, I'd hate to take you away from all your own work.” Fluttershy added hurriedly, giving a slightly-too-big smile, and then she glanced awkwardly over at Ross as the stallion looked thoughtful. “I'm sure there's always lots of work to be done, right? Yes?”

“Oh screw you all, I know what I'm doing.” Cowlick said waspishly, and then she grunted and shook her head, adding in a mutter: “And right now there ain't. I'm waiting for a big order to get here from Manehattan, but it's gonna take at least two weeks. Greece got sick of me muscling in on all his projects, too, so the bastard and his Architect buddies locked me out of the testing room. Well, screw him too. Just wait until he comes begging me for help. Then I'll make him sorry, just you wait and see.”

“Sorry? But if you help him, he'll be really thankful. He always is, Cowlick, yes he is.” Ross said benevolently, and Cowlick smiled a little and shook her head slowly as she puffed on her cigarette, then straightened and tapped it.

“Guess you're right, Ross. That's just me bein' silly, that's all.” Cowlick said in a softer voice, looking affectionately at the stallion: her partner and husband in her eyes, who she always stood up for and did her damnedest to take care of. Who she always praised and was firm in her belief that he might be a little silly, but he was one of the best things to ever come along in her life.

For a few moments, there was quiet, and then Antares looked up and said finally: “So uh... Dad's going to be doing a book signing in Canterlot, if you haven't heard. And Celestia suggested that we invite everyone along to spend some time in Subterra together... the Thorn Palace has more than enough space, after all.”

Cowlick snorted at this, blowing out another plume of smoke as she muttered: “Yeah, and it's also full to the brim with demons, freaks of nature, and all kinds of nasty things.” She stopped, glanced at Ross as he fidgeted and looked at her for a few moments, and then she sighed and rolled her eyes before nodding hesitantly. “Sounds kind of silly but... Ross and I will think about it, okay?”

“Great.” Antares smiled a bit, and then he glanced over at Fluttershy and Nirvana. The two traded their own look before Nirvana rumbled and shrugged, and the Pegasus gave a warm smile and then a firm nod to Antares.

The glossy-black unicorn smiled wider, and Cowlick snorted in amusement before she finally tossed her cigarette down and crushed it under a hoof, muttering: “Funny. Your dad never really seemed like the type of guy who needed his hoof held, Antares, but hey. I guess I like him well enough, and your Mom's a hoot. Now okay, I think I got this.”

Cowlick glanced back and forth, moodily pushing through the tall grasses as Fluttershy said finally: “You know, usually Ulysses listens to me... if you let me-”

“No, hell no. I got the little bastard, just you wait and see.” Cowlick grumbled, and then she pounced forwards and landed on something with a short 'ha!' “There! Got you!”

Then the mare frowned before looking down and paling, before giving a yell and flinging whatever was in her forelegs into the air. It flew high, and Antares stared stupidly upwards as an enormous green caterpillar flew through the air with a glass hookah pipe.

They both crashed down in the tall grasses beyond as Cowlick wheezed and clutched at her chest, then glared furiously as a red-scaled, dragon-like head with mismatched golden horns poked out of a taller patch of grasses nearby, asking mildly: “You never take well to the advice of others, do you? Everything's a nail, is it Miss Hammerhead?”

Cowlick retorted with a vulgarity that made Fluttershy blush a bit, but the creature only sniffed disdainfully before it stepped out of the grasses and rose to its full height. With his tall, brush-like mohawk, he was well over seven feet of mishmashed Draconequus: one leg was a giraffe's and the other some kind of big cat's, with a thick purple kangaroo tail keeping his black-scaled, serpentine body balanced. One arm was covered in red fur and had a gray skinned hand gently cradling a purring kitten, and the other wasn't even made of flesh and blood, but solid steel, held on by a large cusp fitted over his shoulder and thick support straps.

This arm was armored with thick metal plates and ended in a large, dexterous claw, but it flexed and moved like the real thing as the Draconequus regarded Cowlick thoughtfully with his reversed, white pupils and black irises. Then he smiled kindly, holding the kitten out, and Cowlick yanked the feline away and tossed it into the cage, muttering under her breath as she slammed the door of it as the kitten lay sprawled dumbly on its back. “I could've gotten it, Bob.”

“You know, animals aren't like machines, to be just thrown around willy-nilly.” Discombobulation remarked mildly, and then he looked down thoughtfully as he laced his fingers together in front of himself, asking seriously: “But of course, I've always wondered who exactly this 'Willy' was and why he was so 'nilly,' and what that even means.”

Cowlick surveyed the Draconequus moodily, and the chimerical creature awkwardly turned away after a moment, translucent frill and shark-like fin on his back both flexing once as he instead asked Antares curiously: “Am I invited to Subterra too? Or is this some silly 'ponies only' thing? Because I could most definitely be a pony if I wanted to, you know. I just don't want to.”

Antares only shook his head, however, smiling a little despite himself. “Of course, Bob. You know you're always welcome. And I know that Celestia will really appreciate it.”

“Shut up, shut up!” Discombobulation waved his hands violently, losing his usual composure for a moment before he cleared his throat when most of the ponies stared at him, and Cowlick only snorted in amusement. The Draconequus carefully straightened, brushing at himself before glowering over at Cowlick when she continued to grin widely up at him. “Oh shut up, little miss gender dysfunction. Go drink a beer and talk about football and how you'd fit in great with all the other rednecks. You can listen to country music and go stickin' and muddin'.”

“Hey, screw you. I can fit in with whoever the hell I want wherever the hell I want.” Cowlick retorted, and then she added moodily: “And at least I ain't no giant goddamn pansy. Have I ever told you how I got Ross? I just walked up to him, grabbed him, and dragged him off. Why don't you try that? A little humping might go a long way.”

Discombobulation's mouth worked slowly as he struggled for a response and Antares, Fluttershy and Nirvana all simply stared, while Ross whispered loudly: “That's not something nice to talk about, Cowlick!”

“I think it is.” Cowlick replied blandly, and then she stepped over to the Draconequus and reached up to swat him firmly on the rump, making him leap forwards and then glare down at her. “I bet she still likes you plenty, you big dumb wimp. And you, Antares, you should do the same. Not with your aunt, that's gross, I mean with Meadowlark. Or maybe Avalon. I guess even Aphrodisia's fine... cousins are okay, right? Or is that still too close?”

“Oh Horses of Heaven I'm going now.” Antares said in a strangled voice, hurriedly turning around and half-stumbling, half-running back towards the road leading to Ponyville, ignoring Cowlick's loud laughter as he managed to add a strangled, hurried goodbye over his shoulder.

He ran through the gates, getting a few curious looks from the Nibelung on duty... but since things had calmed down since the book signing a few days ago, they didn't seem in any hurry to do much more than look up to make sure the pony wasn't being chased by anything.

Antares slowed a little as his hooves carried him down the street, falling into a more natural pace as he shook his head slowly at Cowlick's advice. The engineer could be even worse than his mother sometimes – not that he'd ever dare say that to Luna, or she would likely take it as a challenge – but Antares knew that all the same, Cowlick really did... want the best for all of them, in her own weird, weird way.

He softened a little as he made his way through town, his mind drifting to the subject it always did whenever he saw Cowlick and Ross: Rustproof, their son. A brave colt that Antares had been honored to know and to have had as a friend... who in spite of being younger, only an earth pony, a gentle, quiet giant... he had been more of a hero than Antares had ever managed to be.

But he had paid the price for that, too: he had died to save them all, to stop a monster that none of them had been able to. But Rustproof had always been so damn smart... even Prestige had admired him, he thought, and she had been raised to look down on earth ponies as nothing but 'slave hoofs' in the far north. That was just leading him to going over old memories again, though...

He glanced up quietly... then stumbled to a halt in surprise at the sight of the pink unicorn in Ponyville's main square, currently busy harassing a large red stallion with an oaken yoke around his neck, his green eyes looking at her sourly from beneath his messy blonde mane. Antares couldn't help but smile and approach as the pale pink unicorn tossed her coiffed silver mane, her metallic eyes glinting and the red flaw in one of them making her gaze all the sharper, as she asked distastefully in her sharp, commandeering tones: “And I suppose you would have me believe that these apples can cure diseases, too? Ten bits for the bushel.”

“Fifteen.” replied the red earth pony gently, not swaying. He had a cutie mark of a green apple half on his flank, and a scar over one green eye that was paler than the other: a close look made it clear that it was made of glass. He fixed his calm gaze on the unicorn across from him, but she was as undeterred as he was... although where he was calm, she was bristling.

“Twelve.” she grumbled finally, and the earth pony stallion looked thoughtful before she glanced moodily to the side as Antares approached, and the unicorn smiled a little, looking at him with surprise. “Hey, what are you doing here, kid?”

“I'm talking to people about going to Subterra. It's nice to see you, Rosewood... although I hope you're not giving Big Mac any trouble.” He paused, then asked curiously: “Wait, why are you here? You live in Canterlot.”

“Political duties, had to drop off some documents for Baroness Celestia.” Rosewood muttered, shrugging a little as Big Mac began to fill a sack with apples from the stand. Then she paused and glowered over at him, adding moodily: “Watch your clumsy hooves, I don't want any of those bruised.”

“Rosewood, come on.” Antares almost pleaded, and the pink unicorn sighed tiredly and nodded moodily. Then Antares smiled a little, saying quietly: “Hey, uh... my Dad's doing a book signing in Canterlot shortly... why don't you and Scutum come? I'm pretty sure that they'd be really thrilled to see you, and... you two did contribute to the stories, after all.”

Rosewood shifted uncertainly at this, and then she sighed a little as her horn glowed, opening the saddlebag hanging at her side and pulling free a small sack of bits she tossed unceremoniously to Big Mac the moment the earth pony put the full bag of apples on the table beside the stand. “I... I'll ask Scutum about it, Antares Mīrus, but I'm not sure if I can make it... we're both very busy with work for the barony and all...”

Antares only looked pleadingly up at Rosewood, however, and the mare sighed again before dropping her head and nodding grudgingly. “Fine, I'll ask the steward for a day off.”

“Well, Celestia's going to be there too. And technically she is the Baroness still, even if she's not dealing with anything right now, and you do work as a messenger and archivist for the barony.” Antares said carefully, and Rosewood looked at him moodily, making the glossy-black unicorn shift a little and grin lamely. “Just... you know. A thought.”

“Don't patronize me, you insolent little splinter-horn.” Rosewood grumbled, and then her horn glowed and hefted the sack of apples free, tying it loosely onto the straps that held her saddlebags in place. She glanced back at it, and Antares couldn't help but look meditatively at the cutie mark of a rosebush on her flank, wondering again if it meant her talent was being as mean as possible to every pony she met. “Fine, I'll be there, kid. But in return, get your father to read one of the excerpts about my daughter, got it?”

“I'll... I'll ask him.” Antares said softly, thinking for a moment of Prestige and closing his eyes... and when he opened them, Rosewood was facing him, looking down at him softly.

The mare studied him for a few moments, and then she reached a hoof up, gently touching under his chin as she said softly: “Antares, Prestige loved you and you're like a son to me, with her gone. Both Scutum and I have told you this but... you have to move on. I'm not telling you to forget about her, or not honor her... but you'd do a better job of it by... trying to move on with your life, like Prestige would have wanted, instead of moping all the time.”

Antares opened his mouth, and Rosewood flicked the tip of his horn firmly, making him wince and shrink his head back a bit. “Shut up. Because I know what you're going to say, but you are. You get a little happy sometimes, kid, but it rarely reaches your eyes. I want to see you smiling, and I want to see you moving forwards, do you understand me? Me and Scutum are trying to, after all. And we don't even have as many friends or family as you do.”

The stallion smiled a little, then he nodded slowly before Rosewood shoved him backwards, making him wince. She sighed and rolled her head on her shoulders, then brushed past and muttered: “I better get a copy of the book, too. And tell your mother to stay away from me, she bugs me.”

“Goodbye, Rosewood. It was nice to see you too.” Antares said blandly, and then he shook his head slowly before turning his eyes to Big Mac, who was counting out the bits from the bag Rosewood had tossed him. “Where's Avalon? Harvesting?”

“Nope.” Big Mac paused, then smiled to himself before he swept the three piles of five bits back into the little bag. “Try Sugar Cube Corners.”

Antares nodded, then he hesitated before glancing up at the large red stallion, saying finally: “And... you know, Rosewood doesn't mean... well. I guess she does mean to be a little insulting at least, but she's a good pony. She's just... you know.”

“I do. I think she just likes to argue. She's never once paid less than full.” Big Mac replied, and Antares gave the earth pony a look of surprise, but the red stallion only gave a calm shrug in return.

Antares smiled despite himself after a moment, then he shook his head and headed on his way, letting his hooves guide him towards the sweet shop. He was somehow unsurprised to see that Aphrodisia and Avalon were both sitting out in front, and the two mares glanced up as the glossy-black unicorn approached, the small Pegasus glowering and Aphrodisia smiling happily. “Go away.”

The stallion only cocked his head, and Avalon grumbled before buzzing into the air, doing a short circle, and then landing moodily on the table, making several empty bowls clatter... and Antares winced as he realized what this undoubtedly meant. “Boys are stupid.”

“You could make out with me if you wanted instead.” Aphrodisia suggested, looking up with a smile, and Avalon groaned and slapped her forehead before shoving herself backwards and landing back in her chair, grumbling and crossing her forelegs as the demon huffed a bit. “Hey, screw you. We had fun that one time.”

“Okay, I was drunk, and... shut up.” Avalon muttered, and then she looked almost pleadingly over at Antares, asking finally: “Why the hell do you guys all have to be jerks? Why are you assholes? Antares, like, do all guys have to bang other mares behind their marefriend's backs?”

“To be fair, Avalon, Meadowlark warned you about fifty times the guy was a jerk.” Aphrodisia remarked, and Avalon grumbled under her breath before dropping her face in her hooves. “You know, you have a problem.”

“Yeah, I do. You're a problem.” Avalon retorted, and then she grumbled and glared at Antares when he opened his mouth. “No. Shut up. Stallions aren't good for anything but... well, no, they're not even that good at that.”

Antares slowly rubbed his face, wondering if he should just leave, and then Aphrodisia said kindly: “Avalon, you judge ponies too much based on their popularity and how cool their talents are. Your problem is that you're looking at the world from a very narrow viewpoint.”

Both ponies stared at the demon, who paused to spoon up a good amount of pudding into her jaws before slurping loudly at her own muzzle. Then she sniffed and continued: “You're not actually trying to find a romantic partner, you're treating finding a coltfriend like you would an accessory: you judge it based on how 'cool' it is, based on some very shallow and rather silly measurements. But it's not an accessory. It's a thinking, breathing person, with their own desires and urges and hidden sides. And their talent may seem incredible from a distance but it could get very tiresome after a while... like the pony itself. I mean, Avalon, me and Antares love you to bits. But that doesn't change the fact you're an arrogant jerk sometimes, too.”

“Hey!” Avalon snapped, but she still looked too stupefied by the lecture she was getting from Aphrodisia to manage much more of a response before she shook her head quickly, then asked finally: “Well... then... what the hell do you suggest? And when the hell did you become little miss relationships expert instead of little miss... dumb filly?”

“Well, you know, I'm kind of a lust demon and all.” Aphrodisia remarked, and then she smiled as she slurped at her pudding again. “But I do have a really great idea.”

Both Antares and Avalon leaned forwards, listening curiously as Aphrodisia scooped up the last of her pudding... and then she leaned back and rose her spoon with a bright smile, her eyes gleaming. “We should all get pets!”

Avalon dropped back in her chair and threw her forelegs in the air with a groan, and Antares sighed tiredly and let his head fall forwards, looking sourly across at the demon as she beamed happily at the two of them through the pudding smeared around her mouth. Then the tiny Pegasus hammered her hooves against the table with a curse of frustration, glaring at Aphrodisia and snapping: “I am having a serious crisis here!”

“Oh you are not, drama llama.” Aphrodisia retorted, and Avalon ground her teeth together as her eyes blazed with frustration, before the demon sniffed and added in an almost disdainful voice: “Look, if you need to get your rocks off, I'm always here and you could probably drag Nova into bed sometime, even if he's still a cute little virgin.”

“I'm going to leave and never, ever going to come back, I think.” Antares said sourly, beginning to turn away. Aphrodisia whined in her throat as Avalon flitted up into the air with a grumble of agreement, and the glossy-black unicorn hesitated before adding moodily: “Also, Celestia said we should all go to Subterra together or something and... yeah. So... find out if Aunt Pinkamena and Uncle Sleipnir wanna go too and... you know.”

“Mommy and Daddy will love that.” Aphrodisia said positively, bouncing to her cloven hooves, and Avalon grunted something above before the demon halted and added: “And you know, I was kind of serious about the pet thing. It's something to take care of and... learn to look after and stuff. It'd be good for us, I bet, it really would be.”

“You just want a pet and know that your Mom isn't going to let you or Sleipnir get one unless everyone else you know has one.” Antares said flatly, and the demon shrugged a bit before looking at him pointedly, and he sighed and glance up moodily at Avalon, who continued to grumble as she did lazy circles slowly through the air above his head. “Avalon and I are going to go find Meadowlark, I guess. Thanks uh... for helping.”

“Anytime.” Aphrodisia said positively, and then she turned and headed quickly inside as Antares shook his head, then strode out into the street, Avalon winging along above him slowly.

Finally, he felt the tiny Pegasus touch down on his back and curl up, and she sighed a little, mumbling: “It is important, Mir. You know that, right? I mean, come on. This sucks. I'm hot, I'm talented, I've got a lot going for me, and yet apart from you guys...”

“It's okay, Ava. Come on, cheer up, better you find out this guy was no good now than later, right?” Antares asked after a moment, hearing the need to be reassured in Avalon's voice. And then he smiled a little after a moment, adding quietly: “And you know, you are... pretty amazing and all. I think you just... come on too strong sometimes.”

“Yeah... yeah, maybe.” Avalon mumbled, and then she sighed a little, stretching out a bit before dropping her head over her forelegs. And a moment later, she was asleep; Antares couldn't help but look enviously over his shoulder at her and the way she could always simply close her eyes and shut down any time she wanted. He, on the other hoof, was plagued by insomnia most nights... and if he really had inherited his parents' vitality – which was very likely, all things concerned – then one day he'd stop needing to sleep at all... but in the meantime, his sleep schedule was suffering tremendously.

He was used to it, though, and he rarely ever felt... tired, these days. At least, not in a physical sense... it was more emotional exhaustion that was taking its toll on him. Something he was only just now starting to understand he didn't hide as well as he thought he did... and the glossy-black unicorn sighed a little as he made his way towards the library.

He shook his head hurriedly to try and force these thoughts away for now, though... and then he glanced up and watched curiously as a group of ponies in uniform ran past, and he smiled a bit. Trainees for the Starlit Knights: the instructor running behind them and shouting at them to move, move, move made that clearer than their blue outfits.

“I'd kill the dude if he yelled at me like that.” Avalon mumbled, and Antares laughed and shook his head before the tiny Pegasus grimaced and cracked her neck absently, apparently already done with her cat-nap. “It kind of sucks not having you around these days, Mir. I really like working with the Knights and all, you should give a pep talk or something. Something about achieving your dreams.”

“I dunno if I'm the right pony for that, Aviator.” Antares said softly, and Avalon grumbled a little as she often did at the nickname, but then slumped down against him, and he figured that she had gone back to sleep.

He shook his head out a little and resumed walking, but a moment later was surprised when Avalon asked in a curious voice: “So when the hell are you going to finally take Meadowlark out on a date? Even just one little teeny tiny one?”

“I don't want to talk about that.” Antares said quietly, and then he winced when Avalon shoved herself off his back and flipped herself easily over his head, hovering in front of him and glaring into his eyes as she leaned in close.

“Well, I do.” Avalon reached out and shoved a hoof against his nose, saying quietly: “Look, Antares, everypony else is being nice to you about this still, but... dammit, stallion, it's time to raise your head up and look around. Because you're still alive and I'll be damned if you aren't one of the luckiest bastards alive with everything you got goin' for you in life. So please grow a pair and talk to Meadowlark, because I really, really hate her... and it drives me insane to actually feel sorry for her because you're so intent on blaming yourself for something none of us, not one of us, could have stopped, whether we'd known or not.”

“I...” Antares' arguments fell apart at the last bit of Avalon's speech, the stallion shaking his head and stumbling out: “No, I... wait, what do you mean-”

“Come on, Antares, we almost grew up in the same goddamn cradle.” Avalon said softly, and the tiny Pegasus let herself descend and settle to the ground in front of him, looking up at him quietly. “I know you better than you think, and like I said... you guys are... pretty much my only friends. Ponies like me, sure, I get fans and admirers, but if you ever have to play on a team beside me I know you learn to hate me pretty fast, and I understand that.

“I know you. And I know you know that Prestige would have wanted you to move on. But that ain't the problem... the problem is that you might have moved past what happened with Cancer, but you still blame yourself for Prestige dying. You still think you should have... turned around, and magically caught Cancer, or somehow stopped Prestige when he took her over and made her do all those things before she... she died.” Avalon said quietly, and Antares turned his eyes away, gritting his teeth before the Pegasus shook her head slowly. “But there was no way any of us could have.”

Antares just breathed quietly in and out, and then he finally stepped quickly past the Pegasus and strode hurriedly towards the library, and Avalon sighed before taking to the air and flying quickly ahead of him to one of the windows. She peered inside, and then glanced over her shoulder as the glossy-black unicorn approached, saying in a voice she forced to be a little more positive: “Well, she's in there, Mir, and alone. Are you going to do this thing or what?”

“Why is it so important to everypony that I move on? That I...” Antares gritted his teeth, and then he shook his head and sighed when he looked up at Avalon. Even upset and mad at her as he was, he could still see into her, and all the emotions running through her and the reasons she had and how she was willing to let him be mad at her if it meant he would... just push a little... and he slumped after a moment, closing his eyes and muttering: “I hate my special talent. I can't be mad at anyone and I see stuff I'm not supposed to and... everything sucks.”

“Yeah, sometimes. But I'm not going to stop pissing you off until you ask her, mostly because this is the only thing that'll actually get you to do something and I guess it's kinda stress relieving for me.” Avalon gestured at him, and Antares mumbled and glowered moodily up at her. “What, are you scared she'll say no?”

“What? Why...” Antares looked honestly surprised at this thought, and then he glanced nervously at the door, reaching up and rubbing a hoof through his mane as he tried to comprehend this idea. “Why would she say no...”

“Dude, that's more arrogant than me.” Avalon said pointedly, and when Antares glared at her, the tiny mare couldn't help but grin as she easily sailed back and forth through the air, saying mildly: “But lots of reasons. I mean... what if she already has a coltfriend? She's not going to wait around for you forever. Or hell, maybe she's stopped thinking you're all that, Antares, you don't impress her anymore. Lots of reasons.”

Antares shook his head at this, knowing that Avalon was baiting him, and yet all the same something lurched in his stomach at the thought that Meadowlark wouldn't always be there. That maybe... oh no, no, no, this is just a trap, this is...

Yet already, the stallion was moving towards the door, shoving it open and staggering into the library before glaring over his shoulder as his horn glowed, and it slammed shut just as Avalon began to fly down, the Pegasus crashing into it with a curse before she fell to the ground. He heard her yell another vulgarity through the wood, and then the sound of her little hooves scuttling around outside before Meadowlark asked awkwardly: “Are... are you okay, Mir?”

Antares looked up lamely, then he cleared his throat and nodded a few times as he looked over at the red Pegasus. She gazed at him worriedly from her chair, but the glossy-black stallion shook his head as he strode towards her, looking at her... and feeling the words dying in his throat as he met her eyes, and she met his.

There was silence for a few moments, before Antares said in a sudden rush: “I just wanted to ask if you wanted to come to Subterra with me!”

Meadowlark blinked in surprise, then cocked her head curiously, and Antares straightened and cleared his throat awkwardly before he said lamely: “I... I mean, my whole... family is going to Subterra. Dad's book signing in Canterlot and all, so... we're going to vacation in Subterra and... I'm trying to find out if my friends all want to come with me to Subterra to be there for... Dad's book signing and just to be... there. In Subterra. With us.”

“Are you okay, Antares?” Meadowlark asked awkwardly, and the stallion nodded lamely before the Pegasus shifted a little... then winced and looked up in surprise as Avalon hammered on one of the library windows and glared pointedly in at the glossy black unicorn. “What's Avalon doing out there?”

“Nothing, she just wanted to... get... air.” Antares said quickly, stepping between the window and Meadowlark and giving a lame grin before he glared over his shoulder, his horn glowing and causing the thick curtains to draw themselves quickly over the windows.

Then he sighed and returned his eyes to Meadowlark, and the two studied each other before he opened his mouth... and Meadowlark reached a hoof up to gently press it against his lips, smiling up at him faintly and saying softly: “No.”

Antares stared down at her, the color draining from his face as he felt a weight drop in his gut, and he rose a hoof stupidly. He didn't know what to say, what to do, as his mouth worked wordlessly... and then Meadowlark silently reached up to take his front hoof in her own, bringing it to her lips and kissing it softly as she bowed her head and closed her eyes. “I'll come with you to Subterra, of course. You're my friend, Mir... you always will be. But when you want to ask me... about something else... I want you to come here and ask me because you want to, and when you're ready. Not because others are pushing you or anything like that, okay? You're my friend, and you mean the world to me, but... I want things between us to be real. Not to be...”

She quieted, then smiled faintly and shook her head, glancing up at him as Antares sat silently back, trying to swallow what felt like a lump in his throat that just wouldn't go away. He shifted uneasily, and then Meadowlark said gently: “Go think about things and... wait until you're really ready, if you... ever are, and we'll talk about it and work things out. I'll be here, Antares. I'll always be here for you, okay? As your friend.... and... I just know that... other things between us... it might take time, it might not happen. We'll just... have to see.”

Antares hesitated, then he nodded slowly and dropped his head before clearing his throat and mumbling: “Yeah, yeah, I... I understand. I... I'll... I guess I should go then.”

“Okay.” Meadowlark said softly, and the two looked at each other silently for a few moments before the stallion slumped a little as he turned around, heading quietly back to the door and pulling it open. He glanced over his shoulder at the Pegasus, but she only gave him a small smile, and all he managed in return was a little nod before he turned his gaze back forwards.

Avalon looked up at him expectantly... and Antares simply shook his head as he stepped outside. The tiny Pegasus blinked in surprise, but Antares only shook his head before she asked incredulously, taking to the air and flying beside him: “What? What happened?”

“I guess... everyone really is moving on, one way or another.” Antares replied finally, dropping his head forwards with a sigh, and then he closed his eyes and murmured: “I just wish that I could too.”

With that, he fell silent as he strode aimlessly out through the square, and Avalon sailed down beside him to touch his shoulder gently, but she didn't know anything she could say to try and comfort her poor, confused friend.

Palaver Along The Path

Chapter Five: Palaver Along The Path
~BlackRoseRaven

When Antares returned home for dinner, he was still feeling... almost shocked, and a little hurt, even though he knew that was selfish of him. His head ached and his heart felt heavy and he really wasn't in a talkative mood, excusing himself shortly after dinner to take some time to sit in his room and try to think things through.

But it was partly what he needed: it helped him understand that if he continued to... stagnate, for lack of a more appropriate word... the world was still going to go on without him. Things were going to change, and people were going to grow, and... he would miss out on all of that. He would just... sit apart, until one day, the world grew so different from what he had known that he would forever be an outsider to it, and he'd never be able to catch up.

He didn't want that. He honestly wanted to be part of the world again... for himself, as well as because Prestige would want him to, he was coming to realize. And even though part of him cried out that was only his ego talking, he wasn't entirely sure anymore. When he had been working as a leader, he had come to understand how much each and every decision he made impacted not just himself, but his team, and all the people he was responsible for: he'd forgotten that just because he wasn't a leader anymore, that didn't mean his decisions had less of an impact on those around him.

Antares thought a lot about things over the following few days, as he kept mostly to himself, and he appreciated the fact that no one pushed him too much to find out what was wrong. He needed the time to think. But when the morning they would be leaving for Subterra came, after Antares finished packing up his gear, he walked out into the living room to find his father grumbling and attempting to fit all of his and Luna's equipment into a magically-enlarged saddlebag that wasn't quite magically-enlarged enough.

The earth pony seemed unaware of his son's presence, and Antares simply studied his father for a little while before the younger stallion finally cleared his throat, and his father glanced up with surprise even as he managed to shove the packed-up blue armor down and into the bag. Then he smiled a little, tilting his head and asking softly: “What is it? You okay, kiddo?”

“Yeah, I am.” Antares smiled a little after a moment, glancing down and rubbing at the side of his face before he murmured: “Funny, you still... calling me that. I guess I like it more than I should, too... you know, feeling like... I'm just a kid, and don't have to be responsible about anything.”

“Even when you were a kid, Antares, you were sometimes more responsible than me and Luna. Well, that's not saying much, I guess... your mother is outside with Sleipnir throwing trees again right now.” Scrivener said mildly with an easy gesture of his head, and Antares shook his head with a quiet laugh before the dark charcoal, older stallion hesitated, then added softly: “Look, no matter what, too... you are still my son. You're always going to be my kid to me and I'm... always here to help you with anything and everything, okay?”

Antares nodded a little, studying his father before he asked quietly: “Dad, when... do you think we ever... really get over someone we lose?”

Scrivener hesitated for a few moments, then he shook his head as he reached down and tied the saddlebag closed. Then he straightened and looked up with a small smile, saying carefully: “I don't know if we ever do or not, to be entirely honest. But I'm not saying that's a bad thing, either, strange as that might sound to say.”

Antares only looked nonplussed at his father, and Scrivener shifted a bit before he moved the saddlebag aside and stepped forwards to sit down on the futon. Antares automatically sat as well, and Scrivener Blooms glanced towards the blue flames crackling quietly away in the fireplace before he continued softly: “I still think a lot these days about my mother. I know it's not the same at all as Prestige Luster, Antares, but... I've never forgotten that last moment I shared with her, and I... I still wish I knew more about... how she felt about me, and just... what happened.

“But at the same time I guess... I'm glad for it. If she'd never given me that single hug, I would have... continued to hate her, and continued to think that I was always... unwanted, by both my parents. I would have been a lot more scared of raising you and Scarlet as my kids, for one thing.” Scrivener glanced up and smiled a little. “But I know that even if neither of my parents... were particularly good parents... at least one of them cared about me.

“It's hard to put into words but... after a while, the pain fades away, even when the questions and other thoughts remain. I still miss her, but I don't hurt as much over it. And it's compelled me to some good writing and helped me... keep certain things in mind.” Scrivener paused, then glanced over his shoulder softly as Luna entered the room from the kitchen, gazing at him tenderly. “Like how even when certain ponies make me mad... I shouldn't stay mad at them. Not when they could end up stolen away from me before I ever get a chance to... make up what I did wrong, or even say goodbye.”

Antares nodded slowly, and he studied his father, reading his emotions... seeing how much he was amplified when Luna approached and tenderly nuzzled her husband before turning her eyes to her son with a smile. He felt their affection for him, and it warmed his heart... envious as their bond made him when he thought about... “But... what about moving on?”

“'Tis no question for Scrivener Blooms... he has never been very good at moving on. He still remembers all his past lovers by face and name and other too-well-cared-for memories.” Luna said softly, glancing over her shoulder at the large stallion, who gave her a flat look. “And he is a hopeless romantic. But know this, Antares... the greatest betrayal of Prestige Luster would come not from moving on with thy life, but in removing thyself from the world. If thou ruins thyself, my child... thou destroys what Prestige Luster cared about most in all the world.”

Antares shifted and blushed, dropping his head forwards: he'd never thought of it like that before. Slowly, he closed his eyes and nodded hesitantly, then he looked up and studied the two... and he couldn't help but smile faintly when Twilight Sparkle joined them as well, his eyes roving to the Lich as he murmured: “I'm jealous of you guys sometimes.”

Scrivener only smiled a little and shrugged a bit, and Luna grinned despite herself, saying kindly: “Fear not, my young Antares. I am sure that in the future thou shalt enjoy thine own adventures. Besides, I am not so lucky, really... I have a librarian on one hoof and a poet on the other, any pony could mistake me for having a fetish for nerdery.”

Slowly, Scrivener and Twilight both turned sour looks on Luna, but the sapphire winged unicorn only continued to look positive as Antares sighed and hung his head. All the same, he felt... better, admittedly, like things had come together a little in his mind and in his heart, and he hesitated for only a moment before glancing up and asking finally: “How do I... prove that I'm doing it for her?”

“Does she want you to do it for her, or does she want you to do it for you?” Twilight asked softly, and when Antares glanced at her with surprise and a bit of a blush, the Lich smiled a little in return, her eyes flicking towards Scrivener and Luna. “I've... had my share of experiences, Antares.”

“Oh, thou art overthinking this and making far too big a deal of it all.” Luna scoffed, and then she grinned over at Scrivener, winking at him. “Remember our first night together?”

“Yes, because it ended up with me being dragged off to be tortured for several hours afterwards, while you snored happily away.” Scrivener replied dryly, and Luna cleared her throat awkwardly and shifted lamely before the stallion turned his eyes towards his son.

But he didn't speak when Antares looked up with a small smile and a nod, looking as if an idea had come to mind before he murmured: “I think I know what to do. Mom, Twilight, Dad... thank you all for... all being so good to me and... I think I know what I gotta do once we get to Subterra.”

“Aye, right, yes. Twilight Sparkle was complaining that we were behind schedule, but look, my sweet mare. Scrivener has all our things packed, and Antares seems ready to go as well.” Luna said comfortably, gesturing from one to the other, and the violet mare gave her a dry look before the sapphire mare huffed. “And thou scared Sleipnir off so 'tis no more 'distractions,' as thou so put it.”

“He was a distraction. And I didn't scare him off, Luna. I don't think much of anything apart from Celestia can scare your big brother.” Twilight rolled her eyes, then she shook her head quickly before glancing over at Antares, asking curiously: “So are you packed?”

“Yeah, everything's all ready to go.” Antares replied with a smile, and Twilight looked thoughtfully around for a few moments before the violet mare smiled.

“Then I think we're actually going to be on time for once. Alright, let's all head into Ponyville to meet with the others.” the Lich replied, looking both surprised and pleased, and then she headed quickly past Antares towards the master bedroom, adding: “Just let me get a few of my things and we'll head into town.”

Luna mimed Twilight's talking behind her back, looking grouchy, and Antares sighed and smiled despite himself, turning to head towards his own room. He stepped inside, studying the mix of messy and neat, seeing all of his parents in the arrangement of his bedroom: his bed was tightly made, his books were in strict order on the shelves, but trinkets and odds and ends lay everywhere else.

His eyes drew slowly to the massive mural beside the bed, and he softened a little after a moment: his mother, Luna, had fixed the damages that had been done to it as best she could, but her hooves weren't as deft as the original artist, and it left visible distortions here and there. Yet all the same, it made the art more precious to him, if anything... that she had gone so far to try and fix something important to him.

The mural was of countless people: all smiling, all together, standing in an enormous group. Faces he knew, like Applejack and Rainbow Dash and his own parents, and faces he barely remembered, like falcon-headed once-god Odin... and he could see even his own self, among the many others. It had been marred by the same creature that was responsible for the deaths of Rustproof and Prestige and other friends and allies close and far... the destruction entity, Cancer.

Antares shook his head quickly, forcing away those thoughts before they could rise up too high: the last thing he wanted to think about was that grinning monster. Besides, they had stopped him... it had almost been too late, but they had still managed to put a stop to him.

The glossy black stallion picked up the saddlebag beside the bed and strapped it on, then he hesitated for only a moment as his eyes roved up to a hook on the wall. Hanging from it was a necklace, with a pendant shaped like an onyx star: a gift given to him by his father when he was just a child, that he had used to wear all the time.

But after saving his parents, Antares hadn't been wearing it as much. He wasn't sure why, as he studied it for a few moments before finally smiling a little, his horn glowing and lifting it free with telekinesis. It floated quietly down to him, and the young stallion studied it thoughtfully for a few moments before he slipped it on... and it felt as comforting as it always had, the unicorn closing his eyes and smiling a little to himself as he reached up and touched the onyx star gently.

Then he shook his head and turned, heading back out into the hallway and down to the den room... only to stare at the fact Scrivener was holding his face in his hooves and glaring horribly at Luna as she tossed all manner of objects out of the saddlebag he had just packed, humming absently and spreading all of their armor and equipment across the floor in a mess.

A few moments later, Twilight headed back into the room, and her smile froze on her face at the sight of Luna digging through the saddlebag before the sapphire mare finally straightened with her horn glowing and a bright smile on her face, yanking free a rectangular wooden box and declaring: “See? Just as I said, Scrivy, 'twas packed away already.”

And with that, Luna dropped the box back into the saddlebag before glancing back and forth around the room, and then she sniffed disdainfully with an airy gesture of one hoof. “'Tis a mess, Scrivener. I thought thou said thou had packed up everything.”

“I am going to kill you one day, Luna. I'm just going to... grab you, and throttle you to death.” Scrivener said moodily, slowly holding up his hooves, and Luna grinned and half-lidded her eyes, leaning towards him.

“Now, now, Scrivener, make no promises thou cannot keep.” Luna replied pompously, and then she paused and glanced awkwardly up at the horrendous look Twilight was giving her, clearing her throat before poking Scrivener several times as she complained: “'Tis his fault! He said that I did not pack my art supplies but I was sure that I did! Therefore I had to prove it! 'Tis all Scrivy's doing.”

Antares looked awkwardly at Twilight Sparkle, then volunteered lamely: “I'm going to go ahead into town and uh... let the others know you'll be along as soon as you can.”

Twilight grumbled, then she nodded and sighed tiredly at the pleading look Luna gave her, saying moodily: “Some of us will be, at least. Alright, Antares, that sounds like a good idea. I think Celestia is trying to organize everyone so we can all head to Subterra together, see if you can find her.”

“Alright, Mom.” Antares smiled supportively, then he turned and headed down the hall, shaking his head with a bit of a smile. It was funny, how much his parents seemed to enjoy frustrating each other no matter how much they cared for one-another, too.

When Luna, Scrivener and Twilight arrived some twenty minutes after Antares got to Ponyville, they found Celestia waiting for them on the path leading into the village. Twilight smiled embarrassedly, but the ivory winged unicorn only shook her head, saying softly: “Don't worry about it, Twilight Sparkle. I'm... very used to delays when it comes to my little sister.”

“Oh shut up, Celestia. Thou art... a butt.” Luna grumbled in response to this, and Celestia sighed and shook her head before the sapphire mare asked curiously: “And why art thou here? Should thou not be... I don't know, marshaling our friends like soldiers, doing thy... endless scheduling and... tick-tocking like the great and terrible machine thou art?”

“Actually, since Antares got here and Aphrodisia and Avalon both seemed very eager to get moving, I let them go ahead of us. I believe Sleipnir and Pinkamena went with them, too, as well as Meadowlark, of course.” Celestia replied, turning around and leading them into town, as Luna nodded thoughtfully. “Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, and your daughter will be waiting to make the journey a little later tonight... they all have some work to finish up first.”

Luna grunted at this, then she looked pointedly over at Twilight Sparkle. “Scarlet Sage gets that from thou, Twilight. Scrivener rarely gets all... neurotic as thou does.”

Twilight only looked sourly at Luna in response, and the sapphire mare quickly turned her eyes back to Celestia, asking curiously: “But all the rest will be walking with us? Are we leaving now?”

“In about ten minutes. Have a little patience, Luna.” Celestia said gently, then she turned her attention to Scrivener Blooms as the sapphire mare grumbled a little. “And you, brother. How are you feeling about things?”

“Anxious, I guess.” Scrivener admitted after a moment, looking up into the blue morning sky with an awkward smile. “Funny to be so... you know, about this whole thing, with everything that Luna and I have been through, I know, but... I am all the same. This whole idea of... being social tomorrow, and abusing my friendship with you-”

“Oh, it's no abuse, Scrivener, I'm glad to help you out and honored to stand at your side.” Celestia replied gently, and the stallion smiled after a moment as he bowed his head a little to her. “And I know it's very strange for you, but I'm sure it's all going to work out well. Just please do me a favor and try to keep your cool if Ersatz Major manages to get inside again.”

“Barry had better keep his promise about keeping her out.” Scrivener muttered, and then he sighed and dropped his head, shaking it out moodily. “And I'll try... have you seen her article in Rogues And Studs? Twilight won't let Luna or me get our hooves on a copy of the magazine.”

“I have, yes. And it wasn't the most polite article, but she was very careful... she's very good at twisting words to her advantage.” Celestia paused, then glanced meditatively over at Scrivener. “And I also don't remember ever abusing your rear. That sounds more like something my sister would do.”

“And has done!” Luna almost shouted, and when several nearby ponies stared, Scrivener dropped his head and turned almost beet red as Twilight touched his shoulder comfortingly. “Do not fear though, Celestia. Should thou ever desire to take advantage of my husband's rump I shall permit it. To a point, at least.”

“Somewhere out there, is a world where ponies love each other without driving one-another insane, and no one wants to do anything to my butt.” Scrivener mumbled, and Luna growled at him as Celestia nodded and smiled in spite of herself. Then the charcoal stallion sighed tiredly and rolled his eyes, adding dourly: “I will try and control myself, though. But hey, I guess it could be worse, if the worst thing she managed to put in there was that the Baroness molested me.”

“Actually, she made it very clear it was consensual. To be honest, I was a little surprised... she worked to paint us all in as negative a light as she could.” Celestia hesitated for a moment as Scrivener glanced up with a curious frown, and then she asked slowly: “Are you sure you didn't recognize her, or her name at all?”

Scrivener shook his head after a moment, looking down thoughtfully as he murmured: “That's weird, Celestia. Most ponies are a little protective of you-”

“No, not anymore.” Celestia shook her own head, smiling faintly... but it wasn't a sad expression, as she looked softly up towards the sky. “Now that I'm not in total power and control, now that ponies are experiencing a world... driven by itself instead of me, and history I haven't... modified or tilted in some way, shape or form... they're recognizing me more as a figure that... has its flaws. That doesn't always deserve worship... but I'm glad for it, my family. I can honestly say that even seeing them writing these... nasty things about me, it's a good step forwards in a way. I'd rather ponies didn't feel the need to write things like this at all, of course, but... I recognize this as a middle ground in a sense, a step towards being treated like anyone else.”

“Except thou art not anyone else, thou art Celestia, once the Princess of the Sun, then Queen of Equestria... now Baroness, in this new world we live in.” Luna said softly, gazing up at her with with a small smile. “Come, big sister. Thou must recognize that even now... thou art going to be treated differently because of thy status and thy privilege.”

“I know. And unless one day winged unicorns spread far and wide over the world, and my powers are forgotten about or hidden away, I'll still be treated different because of who I am, and who I've been...” Celestia hesitated, then nodded slowly. “But I don't have to be completely different. And here, in places like Ponyville, I can feel like... like any normal pony, if only for a little while.”

“It's nice.” Twilight said softly, and Celestia nodded in agreement as Luna grunted, before the sapphire mare sniffed and rose her head proudly.

“Of course it is nice. Ponyville is my little kingdom, or hast thou all forgotten this?” Luna asked imperiously, and both violet mare and ivory equine laughed despite themselves as Scrivener looked up with a mildly-amused look. “I am much better at having nice little monarchies than Celestia is. 'Tis because I do not kill everyone Celestia, that is the key.”

“I'll try and keep it in mind, little sister.” Celestia replied with a shake of her head, and then her eyes were drawn upwards as they approached a group waiting for them in the square in front of the library. “Is everyone ready?”

There were nods and positive replies from the ponies, Phooka and lone dragon all waiting for them, before Fluttershy said gently from where she was standing with Nirvana and her two sons: “Tender Trust went on ahead to catch up to her friends... I hope that's alright with you, Celestia.”

Celestia nodded with a smile, then she turned her eyes curiously to Cowlick as the engineer asked mildly: “So am I going to be able to buy smokes in Subterra, or am I going to have to make a trek up to Canterlot every day? And why the hell did you want us all to pack light instead of taking a carriage? Sleipnir could have pulled a damn wagon for us.”

The ivory equine only shook her head, however, replying kindly: “There's no point in overloading ourselves when Overseer Selene has promised to provide for us in any way we need.”

“So I can get demons to fetch me cigarettes?” Cowlick asked mildly, and then she paused and questioned curiously: “What about amphetamines? Hey, what about the really good drugs, like-”

Ross gently nudged Cowlick a few times, and the engineer sighed tiredly and nodded, reassuring grumpily: “Don't worry, don't worry, I'm not gonna go off on an acid trip or anything. Fun as that would be. Then again, I think the last time I did that was in high school and I really don't want to think too much about high school days.”

There was an awkward silence for a few moments, and then Spike shifted the backpack on his back and traded a look with Rarity, who smiled and nodded to him. “Hey, though, uh... Rarity and I were thinking that... since things have been pretty successful for her in Ponyville, we could treat everyone to dinner in Canterlot.”

“Hey, I should be the one buying dinner for everyone, Spike, it's my success and all. Apparently.” Scrivener paused meditatively, rubbing at his face absently. “You know, so long as they don't cancel everything on me. That... I guess that really kind of would suck for me.”

“Scrivener, admitting he has feelings.” Cowlick said wryly, and when the stallion looked at her sourly, she only grinned and held up her hooves. “Just surprised, that's all. Even if you know, between you and Luna, you are the girlier mare.”

Scrivener grumbled, but Rarity stepped in smoothly: “Yes, but... ever since my business really took off in town and I began distributing my clothing lines to a much-wider audience, things have been going so well for me... the very least I can do is share the wealth, especially after all the dreadful things Ersatz Major said about you and your family.”

The stallion nodded moodily, then he looked over at Twilight and said dryly: “You know, I think that whether you like it or not, I'm really going to have to see a copy of the article sooner or later. The whole 'not knowing' thing is kind of starting to drive me a little insane.”

The Lich sighed a little, and then she finally nodded hesitantly when even Celestia gave her a gentle look, muttering: “Alright. But everyone here, I want you all to be witnesses to me saying this is a bad idea.”

“What's the worst that can happen, Scrivy gets cranky or angry? Hell, I'd love to see him get mad and do something else stupid we can all laugh about later.” Cowlick said mildly, and then she sighed tiredly at the worried look Ross gave her, reaching up to stroke through his mane. “Don't worry handsome, I only mean that if it didn't make him too upset, yeah. You worry too much.”

Ross only smiled in response, and Cowlick softened before she added mildly, glancing over at Scrivener: “Besides, maybe I just want him mad so he won't be such a wet blanket. Maybe even join me and Luna in burning down a building or two.”

“You're very clearly chaotic evil.” remarked a voice, and Discombobulation calmly strolled up beside Cowlick, looking down at her thoughtfully before the chimerical creature looked up at Celestia: and as always, he didn't quite meet her eyes, and Celestia gave a subtle, awkward shift, glancing away. There was a moment of silence that seemed so loud it engulfed the entire group for a moment, and then Discombobulation cleared his throat and remarked: “We should all eat waffles. We can't be sad if we're eating waffles.”

Ponies glanced awkwardly at each other, and then Cowlick remarked: “That's true. Hey, Bob, did you tell her yet that you want to go back to banging her?”

Discombobulation's eye twitched as he slowly turned to face Cowlick, clenching his hands in front of himself as if he was wringing an invisible throat, but the engineer only looked up at him mildly before she dug at her vest and muttered: “Hey, ain't my fault I'm the only one here with a lick of common sense. Go after what you give a damn about, and don't be afraid to open your mouth and say what's on your mind. Now come on, are we going or not?”

“Cowlick, thou art being too loud and obnoxious! 'Tis my job to upset everypony into achieving their very best, not thine!” Luna complained, striding hurriedly to catch up with the engineer, and Scrivener rolled his eyes as he fell in step with Celestia as the rest of the group of ponies, dragon, and Phooka began to make their way down the road.

They were a large group, but the pace they fell into was comfortable without being slow. Cowlick walked near the lead with Ross, arguing and chatting with Luna and Spike, as Rarity followed a little back with Fluttershy, Nirvana, and the Pegasus' sons Virtue and Temperance. Scrivener and Celestia walked side-by-side, talking quietly even as the ivory mare's eyes lingered now and then on Discombobulation, who was striding near Twilight and every so often tossing a random... well, Scrivener supposed they were references, even if most of them were as confusing as ever to him and everyone else. But old habits died hard, he figured... ever since they'd first met the Draconequus, he'd talked in his own strange way, just like he'd also always referred to Luna as Scrivener and Scrivener as Luna. He'd always found that strangely reassuring somehow.

The stallion couldn't help but glance at Celestia as he remembered that she had been there for that... no, in fact, it had been her idea to see if Twilight Sparkle could contact Ginnungagap with the 'gift' Discord had hinted he'd left for her. Not that even Celestia had known what would come of it... but she had been there, all the same, since the moment Discombobulation had been born into their world. For some reason that resonated with him as he began to open his mouth, but Celestia surprised him with a question of her own before he could speak. “Not to intrude, but have you been hearing... his voice lately, Scrivener Blooms?”

The charcoal stallion looked ahead for a moment, biting his lip... and then the earth pony closed his eyes and shook his head slowly, asking after a moment: “How do you always know, Celestia?|”

“There are... certain tells.” Celestia replied gently after a moment, and then she shook her head with a small smile as Scrivener glanced up at her awkwardly. “I've been wondering for a few days now. You and Luna have been acting a bit... peculiar and loud, and usually you only get this way when Valthrudnir is involved.”

Scrivener nodded, looking nervously back and forth... but everypony was involved in their own conversations as they strode along the road towards Canterlot, and the earth pony hesitated for only a few moments before he dropped his head forwards and murmured: “I had a nightmare and... saw him, yeah. But more than that... I've been hearing his whispering on and off in my head these last few days. It scares me... it's like he's... getting stronger.”

Celestia nodded slowly, and Scrivener closed his eyes and shook his head out, muttering: “I don't even know what to do anymore, Celestia. Valthrudnir just seems to... it's like no matter what we do, no one can put a stop to him. He said that... as long as I exist, so will he. That I never really destroyed him, just... put him in a state of dormancy...”

“And the miracle flooded you with his energies and woke him up.” Celestia said softly, and Scrivener nodded a few times before the ivory equine studied him for a few moments. “Scrivener... you're not thinking that...”

“No, no. No.” Scrivener looked lamely at the ground, then he shifted a little and mumbled: “I mean... if I wasn't connected to Luna then... maybe... but as it is, no. Not unless... well... I won't even suggest that.”

Scrivener glanced up as, at the head of the group, Luna looked over her shoulder, their eyes meeting, trading emotions and thoughts, and Scrivener smiled despite himself at the mental recriminations he heard before the sapphire mare faced back ahead with a grumble. “Since any time I even think about it too much, Luna gets to pummel me.”

“And if I were just a little less patient, Scrivener Blooms, I'd be tempted to hit you myself.” Celestia said softly, and Scrivener laughed a little despite himself before the white winged unicorn looked up towards the sky. “The Jötnar... were more powerful than the gods, yes, but even Ymir couldn't piece himself back together after he was slain. Valthrudnir was destroyed in body and in spirit... as you often say yourself, his arrogance was his own undoing. The thought that if somehow, he still managed to survive, and now is trying to restore some coherent form...”

“I dunno.” Scrivener muttered, and when Celestia glanced at him curiously, the earth pony grumbled: “He doesn't seem all that interested in trying to get his body back right now, or even trying to make me do anything. He seems pretty happy with just being the douchebag sitting around in my brain, picking on me and driving me insane.”

“So you really think you're so important that the creature you've always considered your archnemesis came back from the dead just to spend his days mocking you?” Celestia asked curiously, and Scrivener glanced up in surprise... then couldn't help but laugh despite himself, shaking his head and feeling both a faint blush and a small smile, as the mare gazed down at him with her gentle amethyst eyes.

They fell quiet, listening to the murmur of soft conversation around them and the rhythm of ponies' hooves over the ground, before Scrivener said finally: “It scares me how... good you are at knowing what to do or what to say sometimes, Celestia. Especially when it comes to me.”

“Lots of practice, and a fair amount of work and effort, too... but it's always been worth it, Scrivener. You're my friend, and my brother... and I've learned that it's best to just ignore most of what you say and treat it as a joke.” Celestia gave him a quietly-entertained look. “Encouraging you not to take things seriously seems to help a lot of the time.”

“Yeah, well... that's me, I guess. Refusing to take things seriously seemed to be what kept me alive through most of my life.” Scrivener replied after a moment, and then he studied Celestia curiously, and the mare tilted her head with interest before the earth pony smiled a bit and said finally: “Funny. It seems like you're kind of catching on to that habit yourself, Celestia.”

“I like to think that I've learned a few things from you and Luna. Besides, I'm no longer in a position where I have to maintain a certain composure all the time and... having Sleipnir around helps too.” Celestia paused meditatively. “Even if he often still likes to frustrate me as much as possible these days, all the same. But... it's nice, in a strange sense I think you'll understand.”

Scrivener nodded, looking ahead as they strode down the dusty road leading onwards towards Canterlot, and the earth pony hesitated for only a moment before asking quietly: “What should I do? Do I just... try and live with this thing in my head? Part of me still hopes that it's just my imagination, but... more and more, he seems...”

Scrivener didn't need to finish, and Celestia nodded slowly before she said quietly: “I hate to do this, but I'd like to ask you to take some of your time in Subterra to submit to a few tests. I'm sure Selene will be glad to assist, and I think there are a few others that might be able to offer help, too. But we need to find out at the least whether this is just your mind playing a cruel trick on you, or... if Valthrudnir's echo has managed to begin... resonating, again.”

“And they call me a poet. You and Luna use fancier metaphors than I ever will. I just call everything a butt.” Scrivener muttered, and then he sighed a little and looked down, nodding after a moment. “Alright. Normally I'd argue and throw a tantrum or something, but when it comes to Valthrudnir... well... the usual rules go out the window. I just want to get this dealt with.”

The earth pony paused, then looked ironically up at Celestia, adding sourly: “And incredibly, I'm still more worried about the book signing tomorrow than the Jötnar in my head. There is seriously something wrong with me.”

Celestia only smiled reassuringly, and the charcoal stallion dropped his head forwards with a sigh, mumbling a little to himself. Twilight glanced up over her shoulder quietly at this, studying the stallion... and letting herself feel his emotions, like she was wading cautiously into dark waters. But she was less afraid of falling into a deep dark pit, and more afraid of startling the inhabitants of this lake, this ocean of thought and emotion... she still felt a little like she was trespassing, even if Scrivener and Luna had both told her again and again it was okay.

The Lich smiled faintly at Scrivener when he glanced up with something like surprise towards her, and then she nodded slowly to him, and he gave a small smile. She felt something... reassuring coming from him, and she closed her eyes and bowed her head to him for a moment before blushing and turning her eyes back to Fluttershy, as the Pegasus asked gently: “Do you have any plans for Subterra? I mean... I don't mean to intrude, but Burning Desire...”

Twilight shifted awkwardly, bowing her head a little before Rarity chimed in gently: “Honestly, darling... perhaps it's rude of me to say, but... you really should see him. There's something unfinished between you two, even if... you have back the ponies you love.”

“This is so weird.” Twilight mumbled, and Spike laughed as Fluttershy and Rarity both smiled. “It's... I appreciate your advice, I do, and... I mean, I really, really appreciate that no one's... freaking out anymore about my weird relationship with... you know. And I know that... I have to speak to Burning Desire sooner or later, but... it's so hard.”

She stopped, then Spike smiled a little bit, glancing over at her and saying softly: “Twilight, you always were great at looking out for people, and... helping solve problems and work things out for other ponies. But... and I mean this with all the love in the world... you've always been really, really awful when it comes to dealing with your own problems.”

Twilight looked up lamely, and Spike smiled a little more, saying quietly: “Remember when you and me had that big fight that one time? I think it was about... uh... right, yeah. You thought I had messed up the order of all the books in the library, but then it turned out it was the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Scarlet Sage, trying to do us a favor. You were so mad at me and I was pretty angry at you, and even after you found out what happened... you apologized and everything, but then you kind of... avoided me a lot.”

The Lich mumbled a little to herself, blushing but nodding, and Spike gazed ahead as he shifted his backpack a little, saying softly: “What I'm saying is that you need to... take an extra step, maybe. Go and see him, Twilight, and... you know that Scrivy and Luna will approve of you trying to fix things with him. Heck, I think over the last few years, they've talked to him more than you have.”

“I'm just scared of opening old wounds. It's... different, Spike, he loves me, and... I really do care about him. If not for Luna and Scrivener...” Twilight quieted, then she shook her head slowly, murmuring: “And maybe I am a little scared, too, of what he might say to me. Of what... might happen. I don't want to lose him as a friend, any more than I want to hurt him any more than I have. And... I'm not... I know I hurt him, but it's all...”

“Fuzzy.” Fluttershy supplied softly, and the others all nodded slowly before the Pegasus glanced curiously at Nirvana when he murmured something in his native language, and she smiled after a moment, turning her eyes back to the others. “My husband's right, though... he says that he thinks part of the reason none of us remember clearly is because... none of us want to remember clearly. After all, it all seems like it was a different world, a bad dream.”

“But I don't know if we can leave it as that or not.” Rarity murmured, and then she shook her head slowly before glancing towards Twilight Sparkle. “It was so strange... one day, we're all cheering Antares on as he leaves to find his parents, after years of training and searching... then there's that blurry darkness, and the next day, it's like Luna and Scrivener were never really gone, and Antares has those awful scars, and you're... back to normal.”

Twilight couldn't help but smile faintly at this, gazing silently over at Rarity as she felt the stitching flex over her body beneath the sweater she was wearing. The white unicorn only looked curiously back at her, and then the violet mare turned her eyes ahead and murmured: “I don't think any of you will ever understand what it means to me to... to be treated like... I'm normal.”

“Well, Twilight, you are very normal compared to the rest of us.” Discombobulation interjected mildly, reaching up and knocking twice on his metallic arm. “But being considered 'normal' in a den of freaks, well. Does that really make you normal?”

Twilight looked back over her shoulder at the Draconequus, giving him an amused look before he shrugged, then said mildly: “Misery loves company, as they say. Then again, I don't know if she really did or not... the way I hear it, she was no Wilbur, and her owner was a rather nasty woman with a fetish for bad writers. Not like Luna, though, I mean writers who were more than one-hit-wonders.”

“Thanks, Bob.” Scrivener called loudly, and Discombobulation gave a pleasant little wave over his shoulder, a few of the ponies laughing.

Then the Draconequus looked thoughtfully ahead before he laced his fingers together in front of himself, saying meditatively: “Still, though, I suppose it could be worse. They call freak shows dehumanizing, but if you're willing to walk in the spotlight and endure the catcalls of a roaring crowd for food, board, and money, then who's really being dehumanized? The so-called freaks, or the audience that turns into a screaming, laughing beast staring and drooling over that which is different? Do we ban these things out of actual concern for these people who are different, and who now, without this employ, are thrown out into the streets to rot because no one will hire the stallion with two heads because a pretty little mare makes a much nicer bank teller... or because we're ashamed of ourselves, because they're not the beasts, but we, the crowd, are the true animals, and while we think we're the superior animal because we're 'normal' and laughing at the freaks... we fail to realize that along with the food we're throwing them, we're giving away all our money for the opportunity to simply show what rude and feckless beasts we really are in our core of cores, our heart of hearts?”

Twilight only smiled, and Rarity chuckled softly as Spike said wryly: “If I could talk like you, Bob, I think I could give up being a blacksmith and instead just travel the country with Rarity, giving speeches about stuff.”

“Oh, I could never give a speech. I'd stare out at the audience, get the shivers, and then vomit all over myself. I hate crowds.” Discombobulation replied mildly, gesturing absently at himself. “Besides, what would I ever give a speech about? The benefits of prosthetic enhancements? Being raised in the wild by ponies?”

Twilight only shook her head, smiling despite herself, then her eyes roved ahead to Luna, who was talking easily with Cowlick. Ross had fallen back a little to talk on and off with Virtue and Temperance: Fluttershy's sons always seemed to enjoy talking with the unicorn for some reason, but Twilight was glad for it.

Then Luna glanced curiously over her shoulder, and Twilight gave her a small smile as she felt a connection between them for a moment as the mares traded an affectionate look. And then Cowlick checked Luna lightly, making her wince a bit as the engineer grumbled: “Pay attention, idjit.”

“Thou art an.. id-git.” Luna grumbled, and Cowlick grinned at her wryly before the sapphire mare huffed. “Oh shut up. Thy dialect is ridiculous and makes no sense to me. Thou art stupid.”

“Oh, you're one to talk, moldy-oldies.” Cowlick said flatly, and Luna gave the engineer a horrible glower before the earth pony mare rolled her unlit cigarette between her teeth, looking up thoughtfully. “So hey, once the parts get in from Manehattan, I think I'll be able to finish the first line of motorcycles, the Iron Horse models. You still want one?”

“Valkyries have always ridden into battle. While it would be far too awkward for me to saddle Scrivener and ride him into the fight, I think these Iron Horses would suffice nicely for the purpose.” Luna smiled slightly at this, and Cowlick grinned despite herself before the sapphire mare asked pointedly: “And one for Antares?”

“And one for Antares once I get more parts, yeah, yeah. Screw you, Luna, thinking I'd welch on something like that, that kid and Meadowlark mean a goddamn world to me. Hell, so do Ava and Aphrodisia... if I had the money and the parts, I'd give 'em all a bike.” Cowlick replied, and then she softened a little, gazing up and murmuring a quiet curse as she simply gazed off into the distance.

Luna softened despite herself, and then Cowlick shook her head firmly, reaching up and touching her chest quickly as she muttered: “I guess... I guess it just gets me sometimes still, you know? Rusty...” Another curse as she shook her head quickly again, then she looked up and sighed a little. “Wish I could have my own kid but... I don't think that's ever going to happen.”

“Take heart, Cowlick, thou wert a wonderful mother to him... and look, Ross is splendid with Fluttershy's sons, and thou and he both do well with the foals around town.” Luna said softly, looking at her with a slight smile. “Come now. There is still hope.”

“Don't feel like it all the time.” Cowlick grumbled, and then she shook her head quickly before looking over at Luna and asking curiously: “I've always wondered though. You and Scrivener... you two are gonna live a lot longer than us, yeah? Does that mean you can just keep popping kids out if you wanted to?”

“I am not going to 'pop a kid out' and give it to thou, Cowlick, if that is what thou art thinking.” Luna said sourly, and Cowlick grinned and laughed, making Luna smile a little as well before she shrugged and looked ahead thoughtfully. “I... do not entirely know, to be honest. I would say 'yes,' but... even though I am whole, so to speak, it still took time and effort to conceive Antares.” Luna paused and then winked over at the engineer. “Although 'twas time well spent.”

“Don't give me that look, Luna, I already had my experimental days in college.” Cowlick replied mildly, and then she sighed and glanced moodily over her shoulder at Ross, although there was a lingering smile on her face too. “And there's the one guy who probably wouldn't be thrilled by the idea of being in a threesome with two chicks. Even though... I guess that's part of his charm, too.”

Luna smiled a little as well, and then Cowlick shook her head and asked with interest: “And what about Twilight? Can she have kids?”

“Oh no, Cowlick, no, whatever makes ponies think thou art intrusive at all?” Luna asked wryly, and the engineer shrugged with a grin before Luna rolled her eyes and then glanced hesitantly over her shoulder. Twilight Sparkle glanced up in surprise, feeling the mental nudge... then blushing a little even as she shrugged lamely, and Luna nodded slowly before answering Cowlick's question in a murmur: “We do not know. And to be honest, Kilby Kwolek... much as I adore both Scrivener and my sweet mare, 'twould be... strange.”

Cowlick gave her a mild look, and Luna shook her head quickly, saying quietly: “No, no, do not misunderstand. Twilight is equal in all things. If she desired it and Scrivener agreed then... I... would not deny it. But I cannot deny my own feelings. I am selfish, Cowlick.”

She stopped, then murmured softly: “And of course, there is the other concern. Twilight is not... technically alive, and even though she is stronger now that she is anchored so firmly in myself and Scrivener... her body must still change from time-to-time. Even supposing she is functional in that regard... I do not believe a baby could be so easily transferred as her spirit is from body-to-body. And, if thou wants me to be fully honest... Scrivener is a Clockwork Pony, and he has... changed, since Antares was conceived. If he was to have another child... I do not know...”

The engineer studied Luna with interest, and then she glanced over her shoulder at Scrivener before saying softly: “You know, I still don't entirely get that. Dude looks mostly the same. I mean, I get that... he's got that dark goo flowing in his veins now instead of blood, but he's still the same obnoxious asshole he's always been.”

“He is still Scrivener, aye.” Luna smiled despite herself, and then she paused and looked back and forth. There were only fields and the occasional tree around them here, though, and otherwise it was just this group of friends and family... before the winged unicorn nodded firmly and looked over her shoulder, shouting: “Scrivener! Cowlick demands a demonstration of thy... Clockworkness!”

“Hell no!” Scrivener shouted back in a strangled voice, then he winced as Luna spun around and the whole group came to a halt, Twilight sighing tiredly and Celestia shaking her head, but looking interested despite herself. “I'm not doing it!”

“I demand thou does it!” Luna retorted loudly, and then she stormed through the group before firmly headbutting the earth pony, making him wince a bit before she murmured quietly to him: “We are in the presence of friends and family.”

“Luna...” Scrivener glanced back and forth tiredly, and then he sighed after a moment and asked desperately: “Why do I have to do this? Why can't we just... move forwards and... I dunno, wait until Subterra or someplace less... crowded?”

“No, now I really am curious. Come on, Scrivy, I wanna see whatever the hell Luna's trying to show us.” Cowlick called, and Scrivener groaned before he grumbled when Luna looked at him pleadingly, and the earth pony finally nodded grudgingly before he moodily held up a hoof and looked down at it quietly.

Unlike a normal pony's hooves, his had small, porous holes hidden on the bottom, and the stallion grimaced a little as he studied these before pushing his hooves down against the ground, muttering: “I guess I've never really showed a lot of ponies this before... but... well... I guess I can show you all, if you're interested...”

Cowlick grunted and nodded, and other eyes looked on curiously as Celestia stepped backwards and Luna nodded firmly. Twilight grumbled a bit, but Spike looked up with a slight smile, saying wryly: “Dash is gonna be pissed that he missed this.”

“Dash is always trying to get me to do something or other stupid, he can miss this.” Scrivener grumbled, and then he rolled his shoulders before planting his hooves firmly against the ground, grimacing as he felt a faint burning sensation spread through his veins, followed by a strange pulsing in his hooves as he concentrated the corruption in his bloodstream downwards.

Slowly, the ground around his hooves began to turn to black mire, Scrivener biting his tongue in concentration as Cowlick whistled loudly: after only a few moments, the earth around the earth pony had turned to dark, semisolid muck that pulsed with unnatural vitality, the earth pony straightening as he looked sourly across at Luna. “I hate putting on these private shows.”

“Oh shush, thou does not.” Luna replied dryly, and then she glanced over her shoulder at Cowlick, saying mildly: “And 'tis just one of Scrivener's traits.”

The stallion nodded, then glanced up when Celestia caught his eye before he nodded hesitantly, and the ivory mare smiled before she looked up and explained quietly for the stallion: “Over the last few years, we've... come to understand what Scrivener's purpose on our world was supposed to be. At some point, Valthrudnir was likely going to 'activate' him somehow, and bring the dormant corruption in his veins to life... similar to what happened during the war with Decretum. Then he would begin a process similar to what the Tyrant Wyrms do... spread the dark mire throughout Equestria, which empowers the Tyrant Wyrms and Valthrudnir's other creations.”

Scrivener nodded slowly, then he looked quietly down at the swampy earth before stepping carefully out of the dark patch, saying quietly: “And I can directly inject corruption into other living creatures as well. Celestia thinks there's more that I can do with it, if I try, but... I've been... avoiding trying a lot. I'm... I'm a little afraid of what will happen if I tamper too much with myself.”

The earth pony looked up awkwardly... but for some reason, he felt better getting this out to the circle of friends present, and he admittedly felt immensely comforted by the fact none of them were looking at him like he was a monster. Even though all too often, Scrivener thought that really was just what he was.

His tongue nervously licked over his teeth in his muzzle: sharp teeth, not a pony's teeth, one of the tells of what he was. He thought about what happened when he began to get angry, how the corruption would boil in his veins... creating other changes in his body he didn't like to think about. And he thought for a moment about the past as a strange thought passed through his head, wondering whether or not he was 'complete.'

Then Cowlick grunted, studying him thoughtfully. “So you're like a landscaper, huh? Or maybe I should say terraformer... I don't get why the hell you guys don't tell me these things. You know that if anyone can help you out when Big Barda there can't, it's me.”

Celestia looked dryly at Cowlick as Discombobulation tugged nervously at an invisible collar, and the engineer grunted and shrugged amiably. “Hey, what can I say? I like that nickname for you, Baroness, ever since I heard Bobby there call you that.”

“Don't call me Bobby!” Discombobulation said moodily, glaring at the mare, but she only grinned widely back at him as he covered his head with his arms and mumbled: “I think I'm just going to apparate to Subterra now, because I can't stand Muggles like you, Vasquez. Although 'Muggle' is a very appropriate metaphor for an earth pony, when you think about it.”

With that, Discombobulation vanished with a sound like the crack of a whip, and then Cowlick turned her eyes to Scrivener. But before she could speak, the stallion hurriedly shook his head, mumbling: “Let's just get moving, okay?”

“Alright.” Luna said softly, and the sapphire mare leaned in and kissed his cheek quickly, making the male smile and loosen up a little before she turned and strode back up to the head of the group. Spike fell back to chat with Scrivener as Celestia looked thoughtfully at the charcoal pony, while Ross resumed chatting with the others and Rarity asked some curious question to Twilight: but Luna's attention was focused once more on Cowlick, as the group began to walk down the dirt highway again. “Antares was... born seemingly without Scrivener's corruption, I think because he was conceived before that part of Scrivy was awakened. We do not know what we would risk... if we had another child. 'Tis just instinct that tells me there would be risk all the same.”

“Midnight Hour?” It was more a statement than a question, but Luna nodded all the same anyway, and the engineer smiled after a moment, saying quietly: “Funny, you two being all scared of that. Besides, I thought you were both all about... giving chances and not jumping to judgments.”

Luna shrugged at this, giving Cowlick a half-sour, half-amused look before she said finally: “'Tis... just hard to think about. And no matter what the story's origins, I have always taken Because Love Conquers All as a warning of what could be... and I fear that it almost came to pass anyway.”

Cowlick grunted, looking over at the sapphire mare for a moment before the engineer finally shrugged, gazing down the road and replying quietly: “Can't be afraid your whole damn life, Luna. Either you go for what you want or you settle for never getting any more than what you have... but I will say that you do have plenty already, you lucky bitch.”

“Oh Cowlick. Thy well-mannered vulgarities will never cease to amuse me.” Luna replied wryly, and the engineer shrugged with a grin before the sapphire mare looked forwards and smiled a little, gazing at the mountains in the distance that safely closed the mighty capital of Canterlot. “But aye, I am lucky. I am reminded of this every single day... so why should I fight for more? I am happy and delighted with what I have as it is.”

“Just make sure you share that wealth around, Luna.” Cowlick said mildly, and then she glanced thoughtfully over her shoulder at Scrivener. “Although I don't mean like, you know, that I want to be part of your orgies or whatever you two have.”

“Thou art just jealous that I have at my leisure a bevy of decadent delights, and thou hast but one dish to sample from the buffet.” Luna replied kindly, and Cowlick grumbled something about food poisoning before the sapphire mare snorted in amusement. “And all thou hast done is further prove my point.”

Cowlick grumbled, and then Luna smiled over her shoulder, gazing from Twilight Sparkle to Scrivener Blooms. The engineer couldn't help but look back herself, and then she sighed a little and smiled despite herself as Ross looked up at her curiously and with that innocent happiness he always had, and the rough earth pony couldn't help but shake her head and murmur finally: “Still. Sometimes one's all you need, right?”

“For a normal pony, perhaps. But I am far more than any single normal pony could handle.” Luna replied imperiously, but she was smiling softly all the same as she gazed back ahead, adding quietly: “Still, I think we understand each other all the same. My one... merely happens to be two.”

“Like I said, you're a lucky bitch.” Cowlick remarked, and Luna couldn't help but laugh and shake her head, closing her eyes and feeling a moment of warmth as they continued on the way towards Canterlot in the presence of friends, with thoughts of family new and old in mind.

The Puppetmaster's Return

Chapter Six: The Puppetmaster's Return
~BlackRoseRaven

Scrivener Blooms sat behind the little desk that had been set up in the bookshop, chewing slowly on one of his front hooves before Barry grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him firmly, whispering for the hundredth time into his ear through a strained grin: “Get your hoof out of your mouth before someone takes another damn picture!”

The charcoal stallion winced and dropped his hoof, then he looked awkwardly back and forth: there were already several copies of his book piled up on either side of the desk, and an assistant was opening another box beside him. But this wasn't the library in Ponyville: this was a massive book store in the heart of Canterlot City, with aisles upon aisles of texts and tomes, and Scrivener Blooms sitting in what was normally a 'reading area' that expensive furniture had been cleared out of to leave a big open space. A big open space crowded with aristocratic-looking ponies, reporters, other important figures... and horribly, some of his patrons.

Lights shone down mercilessly from hanging lamps above, chasing away any shadows and possible hiding places apart from under the desk. A walkway went around the top of the reading area, leading to private rooms and a second floor filled with more books: this was admittedly the kind of place Scrivener would love to wander and get lost in until he found the mythology aisle, but right now it was purgatory instead of paradise with how he was trapped here, just waiting for it to become hell when Barry signaled the start of this whole... show.

Because that's what this was, wasn't it? A show, where he was the entertainment. Right now, Celestia was mingling a little with Rosewood puttering around beside her, making the occasional note and helping keep order. But soon, all that attention would go from Celestia to him, and he had no idea what the hell he was going to do or say.

His hoof rose towards his mouth again, and Barry smacked the back of his head, Scrivener wincing before his agent said hurriedly: “Champ, get it together, stallion! Look at you, you're a stud, you're a king, you're”

“the hot new thing!” Barry tried to reassure, but Scrivener grabbed at his head as a dull throb of pain went through his skull, wincing a little. He had heard something... something like a whisper that echoed throughout his skull...

He hammered a hoof against his head lightly, and when he realized Barry was staring at him, the charcoal stallion shook his head and muttered: “It's... it's nothing. I just have a headache and... this isn't like last time. I know a bunch of my friends are here again to support me, but they won't be front and center and... there's a lot of ponies here. A lot of important ones, at that.”

“It's going to be fine, okay? You're going to do great.” Barry said empathetically, and then he patted Scrivener firmly on the shoulder before smiling and pointing outwards at Antares, who was standing with Aphrodisia and Pinkamena. “And look there, there's your support team right there.”

Scrivener looked mildly at Pinkamena, who looked back for a moment before making a particularly-rude gesture at him, and the earth pony sighed and dropped his head forwards to clunk loudly into the desk. “I'm so screwed.”

“Okay, look, just get through this and then”

“we'll be done and you can go back to your vacation. Well, you know, after you show how dedicated to the cause you are by meeting up with Underbrush.” Barry said quickly, and then he frowned a little at the fact that Scrivener had gone rigid and pale, staring blankly outwards. “Champ?”

“Oh no. No, no, no, any time but now, please, please, please not now...” Scrivener grabbed at his head, trembling as he heard Valthrudnir's mocking laughter before he caught a sharp vision of the Jötnar grinning and looking into some enormous, curious window. Then the vision was gone, and Scrivener looked back and forth before he said hurriedly to Barry: “You... you should... I mean, I think I'm getting sick, this-”

Oh come now, philistine! Are you truly so arrogant to think this... 'book signing' is something important enough I would lower myself to interrupting your worthless little 'victory?' Valthrudnir sounded almost disgusted, but there was a malicious amusement in his voice, too, that made Scrivener grind his teeth together and grab at his skull in vexation. Do not be a child, Nihete. Your stress levels simply rose sharply... and I desired to take a little look outside and see just what could be upsetting your childish mind so. And somehow I'm unsurprised to find it's nothing more serious than engaging in a session of egotistical self-indulgence, for what you think of as 'intellectual pursuits' and I, on the other hand, only see as much a victory as when primitives learned to slather muddy sticks together and form their savage little dwellings.

“Get out of my head!” Scrivener snarled, and Barry stared at him, slowly opening his mouth before the charcoal pony slammed his hooves against his own temples, cursing under his breath. “You're not real!”

Oh, as if your insectile mind could comprehend what is necessary to even imitate such a magnificence like mine. Valthrudnir retorted, and Scrivener grimaced as he heard the riffling of cards before the Jötnar said dismissively: Begone, puerile little pony. I wish to enjoy your squirming and suffering without having to put up with your wheedling and whining today. I will not interrupt your colloquial body-rubbing session, that is far too crude for my taste and intellect. Besides, I see that you do a good enough job of ruining whatever favor comes your way as it is.

“Uh... so, champ, I'm... going to ask the guys to come forwards now... just hold it together, alright?” Barry said slowly, and Scrivener winced and looked up, but too late, as the agent strode forwards around the desk and called in a cheery voice: “Okay, colts and fillies, come on, let's get this show on the road!”

What a miserable metaphor. Valthrudnir remarked, and Scrivener felt like smashing his head into the desk as he wondered miserably if he was going to have to put up with Valthrudnir editorializing this entire session. Shut up and focus, idiot equus. Or do you want to appear like a drooling, slack moron? Which admittedly would be a little more intelligent than you usually appear to be.

Scrivener fought back the urge to respond and forced a smile as Barry gestured at him, and there was polite applause from the audience: the very large audience that spanned back into the shelves, he realized, and the stallion swallowed thickly. He could only see a few people he knew here and there, and even though Celestia was standing nearby, he couldn't see Luna or Twilight Sparkle... and realized that his link with them was filled with static as well, likely a side effect of Valthrudnir's presence.

But he realized he wasn't saying anything – apt deduction, cretin! – and Scrivener reached up and hammered the side of his head once before he forced his own smile, saying finally: “Wow, there's a whole lot of you here today.”

The crowd didn't quite react the same way Ponyville had to his... particular charm, and Valthrudnir laughed loudly in his mind, making his brain twist and ache. Scrivener fought down a flush as he rubbed at the rumpled suit he was wearing, suddenly wishing he actually had tried to dress a little neater before he cleared his throat and began: “It's just... humbling to look out and see all of you here. To think that already, my book is being read, and that you've all come here today to see me. Well, I suppose the fact the Baroness is here helps, too.”

Scrivener smiled over at Celestia, who smiled back... but he saw the concern in her eyes as well. For now, though, Scrivener gave the smallest shake of his head, then turned his eyes back to the audience. He let himself fall into a short summary of I Am, You Are, every now and then looking towards his small knot of family near the front: and seeing Antares smiling, Pinkamena looking at him intently, Aphrodisia's bright, happy look... it all helped him push through.

Luna also managed to squeeze to the front of the crowd with Twilight, and he could tell that the sapphire mare was working hard not to interrupt what was going on, looking at him worriedly. But he gave her a smile, even as he finished quietly: “And well, I know I can't give away the whole story, so... that's enough for now. Now uh... we're going to take questions first, I believe, before we get on to the book signing, so... let's do that.”

What a remarkable solecism, even for a hack like you. Valthrudnir's voice mocked, and Scrivener reached up and struck himself in the temple lightly, then pretended to smooth down his mane as the Jötnar added dryly: Yes, simpleton. Keep striking yourself in the skull. Perhaps one day you'll strike yourself hard enough to dislodge my spiritual essence. I would add that you could possibly also give yourself brain damage, but it doesn't seem there's enough actual brain present for that to be worrisome.

“Stop. Talking.” Scrivener muttered though grit teeth, low enough that only Barry heard him, the agent tossing him a nervous look before the charcoal stallion cleared his throat and gestured to the murmuring crowd and one of the ponies waving for his attention. “Yes uh... you, miss, with the... the thing. The necklace.”

Valthrudnir only laughed at him again, but the young mare only gazed at him with shining eyes as she reached up and touched her golden chain. “Mr. Blooms, is... wow, is that true that you have two wives? Really? Like, really?”

“Uh. Sure.” Scrivener said finally, and the mare giggled and turned to another young mare, the two gossiping excitedly as Twilight and Luna both glared moodily through the crowd, and the stallion couldn't help but add: “Although as Luna likes to say, it's more like she's the one with two wives.”

That, at least, managed to get a few chuckles, and Scrivener smiled a bit before he gestured towards a stallion with a notepad near the front. The young Pegasus looked surprised but pleased to be chosen, asking quickly: “You go over your childhood in the north as one of the anecdotal stories at the end of the book... how did you survive? Where are your parents now?”

“I survived because... I had to. It's not something I can explain very well... I just have always felt that there has to be some balance in life, that maybe if I managed to survive a crappy childhood, I could find... a good life as an adult. I know it's a huge logical fallacy now but...” Scrivener smiled a little over at Luna. “At the same time, I don't seem to have been entirely wrong. As to my parents... they're... both dead. And neither of them had any... real family I knew about. Nor who I really want to know about, to be honest. I don't think they'd treat me any better than my father did.”

He quieted, then frowned a little at the lack of reaction from Valthrudnir. No, he could still feel the Jötnar's presence in his mind, but... it felt like he was calmly waiting for something, and it made the stallion nervous, before Barry said firmly: “Champ here is proof that anypony can be who and what they wanna be, or at least that's what I tell myself... probably 'cause I hope one day I'll manage to be as successful as he's been, that is. Now hey uh... how about-”

“How about me?” asked a pleasant voice, and Scrivener stared in shock as a unicorn near the front looked up with a derisive smile, dressed in a beautiful, flowing blue hat and matching feathered fascinator that hid her horn. But her eyes were focused and intent, and Scrivener recognized her all too well now that her hat was no longer covering her face: Ersatz Major. “Unless you're too afraid, Scrivener Blooms, of any more illicit secrets coming to light.”

“You know, no one's actually let me read the first article you did on me yet. But believe me, I really, really want to.” Scrivener said dryly, and Ersatz touched her own chest, giving him a flattered look. “So uh... what are you going to focus on for this article?”

“Oh, well, you know. Whatever comes to mind.” Ersatz said kindly, as Barry hissed loudly at one of the assistants, who hurried quickly off. Then the mare gave a smile, asking in a falsely-friendly voice: “So, before your storm troopers come to drag me off, Scrivener Blooms, do answer this: you once wrote a story where you raped your own daughter into slavery, isn't that right?”

Scrivener stared for a moment... then he shook his head slowly and asked incredulously: “Where the hell did that come from? I think your sources may have misled you a teensy-tiny bit, Ersatz, on that call. Because I'm pretty sure I'd remember writing a story like that.”

Ersatz frowned ever-so-slightly, as Valthrudnir said distastefully in his mind: I don't know what I should applaud: the fact you managed to outwit another idiot insect or all the effort you've put into deluding yourself that you think this was a cunning sidestep.

Scrivener resisted the urge to punch himself in the head again, and instead sat back before grimacing when Ersatz's eyes seemed to narrow, and she asked smoothly: “So you deny the existence of a story known as 'Because Love Conquers All?'”

The stallion hesitated, wondering at the same time how the hell Ersatz could strut in here and know... so much about him. Then he forced himself to smile, and replied calmly: “I wrote that story down, sure, but it was originally told by a good friend. And it was a dark romance, but... not quite as dark as you made it. And a little more romantic.”

Ersatz was smiling again now, though, and Scrivener direly didn't like that expression on her face before the mare glanced over her shoulder as the crowd parted for several Royal Guards and a one-eyed unicorn in a black security uniform. Then she looked back ahead, asking kindly: “One more question, before I go?”

“Go ahead.” Scrivener almost challenged, and the two locked eyes as Scrivener studied her, tried to place her, wondered why the hell she had such a clear vendetta against him.

“I was just curious about these passages about you being a Clockwork Pony... it strikes me that you must be very eager for attention. I mean, either you really have these powers, and you're desperate to be recognized as some powerful otherwordly entity, or you actually don't, and instead you're just a pathetic little stallion living in a dreamworld. Which is it?” Ersatz asked curiously.

Scrivener opened his mouth, and Celestia gave him a pointed look as Barry reached up and grabbed the stallion's shoulder with something like a whimper, and the charcoal earth pony grumbled to himself and forced himself to calm down before he replied in as calm a voice as he could: “I am what I am. I couldn't lie about it or skip over it... that would ruin the entire point of this book.”

“Quaint.” Ersatz said, and then she turned around and strode calmly away, and Scrivener wished moodily he could throw the desk at her as the guards fell in on either side of her to escort her out. All the same, she called over her shoulder: “Goodbye, Scrivener Blooms. I'll send you an advance copy of my new article.”

“Really looking forwards to it.” Scrivener snapped in return before he could stop himself, and then he sighed tiredly before turning a moody look on Barry, who quailed a little.

The crowd was murmuring to one-another, though, and the stallion forced himself to look forwards, quickly saying: “Let's... let's keep moving, shall we? Uh... does anypony else have any questions for me?”

There was a little bit of awkward shifting, and Barry tugged at the collar of his suit with a strained smile out at Underbrush, as the publisher scowled at them moodily. But then someone rose their hoof, and Barry hurriedly gestured to the bespectacled pony, who smiled and said courteously: “Scrivener Blooms, I've been discussing your story with my class at the university, and we were curious about your development as a writer... you said you have no formal training, correct?”

“None. I taught myself to read and write, pretty much... although... to be fair, I think I remember times when my mother would read to me, but...” Scrivener smiled a little after a moment. “That might be wishful thinking. I learned most of my stuff on my own, though... and no offense, I think that if you want to be a writer, it's something you have to learn by doing. You can learn all the theory you want, all the rules and everything... but even when I worked with students at the university myself, it was the misfits and the ones who didn't do as well in other subjects that often really shone in their writing.”

He hesitated, glancing at Barry, and then sighed inwardly as he added: “You know, I'm in Canterlot for a few days. I would be happy to stop in at your class, if you'd be interested.”

The professor smiled warmly behind her glasses, and in the crowd, Underbrush looked meditative as Barry half-turned away, doing a bad job of hiding his grin and hoof-pump. “That would be wonderful, Mr. Blooms! As a matter of fact, we're doing a unit on poetry in a few days... perhaps you could start us off with a reading from your book, Rose Thorns?”

“Sure.” Scrivener fought to keep the surprise out of his voice, but then he smiled and nodded, adding: “Just uh... stick around for a minute or two after I get all this out of the way, and I'm sure my agent will be happy to set everything up.”

“Thrilled, just thrilled to!” Barry added positively, straightening and nodding rapidly before he glanced back and forth, then pointed quickly to another pony, saying easily: “And you, sir, what question do you have for the author?”

The rest of the session went well, and afterwards, Scrivener settled a little as he signed books and gave smiles he only had to force a little to ponies who came up to the table. Luna and Twilight were able to join him, and he was sharply-aware of Underbrush's eyes on him, feeling himself being judged the entire time but trying to concentrate on his work.

Barry was quick to chat up the professor, too, making her laugh and smile and setting up a time as Scrivener reflected that more and more of his vacation was getting eaten away at. Yet all the same he did feel a little good... even with that sensation of Valthrudnir looking down at him with disdain and distaste from inside his own head.

It didn't take long, and Scrivener sighed in relief as ponies began to filter away... before he smiled a little and looked up as the unicorn in the black security uniform approached, nodding respectfully to Celestia before turning his single, sharp hazel eye to Scrivener Blooms. His coat was a dark chestnut, and his mane was black and cut short, like his tail: but it was his stance as much as anything else that made it clear this was a unicorn from the far north. “Scrivener Blooms. I apologize for allowing Ersatz in. It won't happen again.”

“Oh, don't apologize to the slave hoof, Scutum.” Rosewood grumbled from where she was scribbling in a notebook, and the charcoal stallion turned a sour look on the pale pink unicorn, who only glared back at him distastefully. “Don't look down on me, mudwalker.”

“So did you get divorced from your husband yet, or is the fact you're sleeping with Scutum still technically adultery?” Scrivener asked sourly, and Rosewood gave him a furious look as Celestia sighed and looked up at the ceiling tiredly.

Scutum remained as impassive as ever as Rosewood and Scrivener glowered at one-another, and then the earth pony was distracted when a throat cleared loudly, turning his eyes dumbly across the desk to see Underbrush looming towards him. “I assume you have time for a short chat.”

“Uh. Yes.” Scrivener said finally, recognizing that tone all too well: it clearly was not a question. He smiled awkwardly, then slipped away from the desk and smiled as he passed Luna, who gazed encouragingly back at him before turning and striding quickly towards Rosewood to take his place in bickering with her.

Underbrush led the charcoal pony away, Scrivener looking lamely after the much-better dressed earth pony and through an employee's only door, into an empty, cold stone corridor. Scrivener looked lamely back and forth as they stopped, and then Underbrush turned around and fixed the larger but far-more-nervous stallion with a measuring look. But the only thing Scrivener could think of was to ask lamely: “Should we... be here?”

“I own the building.” Underbrush said shortly, and Scrivener felt dumbfounded but not surprised. He reached up and rubbed awkwardly at his forehead, then realized with a small measure of relief that the presence of Valthrudnir was gone at least... before he winced when Underbrush said quietly: “I don't like you.”

Scrivener opened his mouth, and Underbrush tilted his head slightly and made a sharp clicking sound with his tongue: immediately, Scrivener fell silent, before he recoiled slightly in surprise as he recognized the gesture, his eyes widening... and Underbrush nodded slowly as he said softly: “Yes, precisely. And that's why I don't like you, slave hoof.

“You escaped the north, but what have you done with your freedom, with the possibility to advance in life?” Underbrush gestured at him contemptibly, and Scrivener leaned back a little before the moss-colored earth pony stomped his hoof angrily down, gritting his teeth. “Do you know how happy I was when my master died, and I was disbanded instead of passed on to a new owner? I was free to leave. And I left, with nothing but my rags, and I pursued the one thing the unicorns always hated to see us earth ponies touch: literature. I found a job as a fact-checker for a newspaper, worked my way up to editor, and eventually found a position with a publishing company. I made it onto the board of directors, and built an empire of gold and silver out of rags and ashes.

“And you, what have you done, slave hoof?” Underbrush looked at him darkly, then he shook his head and stomped his hoof again, dropping his head and closing his eyes as he said quietly: “I hate you. I have money, power, and I make the pathetic, slovenly proud-horns bow to me. And you? I read that story about your mother, you want to... to forgive her for what she did to you? I never knew my parents but the last thing I'd ever do is forgive them for leaving me a slave. You've wasted all your talents and life and freedom hiding away until you wrote this stupid book, and you don't even care about gaining all the things they stole before you were even born!”

Scrivener didn't know what to say, shifting and looking back and forth before Underbrush looked up and said quietly: “And that's why I hate you. If a proud-horn like the Baroness' assistant ever called me a 'slave hoof,' I would ensure she was dragged through Canterlot's muddiest roads on her face by earth pony knights. Yet you talk to her with respect. You have no wealth, no status... and you talk about yourself like you're happy with yourself, as some... half-slave soldier of your winged unicorn wife and her undead mistress.”

“You hate me... because I'm happy... and you're not?” Scrivener said incredulously, and Underbrush glared at him angrily before the charcoal stallion shook his head and said finally: “Underbrush, listen-”

Underbrush made that gesture again with his head, clicking his tongue: the same motion unicorns made to their slaves to silence them, and again, Scrivener couldn't help but shut his mouth before the moss-colored earth pony closed his eyes tightly. Then he took a slow breath and opened them, seeming to regain some of his control as he asked coldly: “Who is Ersatz Major to you?”

Scrivener shook his head, and when Underbrush glared at him, he winced back and said hurriedly: “I don't know! She... she looks like some northern unicorn, but... I've never met her before. I have no idea why the hell she seems determined to attack me and everypony I'm connected to.”

“You're going to agree to an interview with her, because she's undoubtedly going to ask.” Underbrush said moodily, and Scrivener stared in disbelief at the earth pony across from him, mouthing wordlessly before the business mogul added quietly: “And you're going to find out who she is. I want to know why she hates you, because until you do, you are a liability, and I will not have let any unicorn get any kind of advantage over me. But if you do find out, Scrivener Blooms, you'll have carte blanche. You want it published, I will publish it, whether it will sell or not.”

The earth pony mouthed stupidly again, and then Underbrush turned and strode towards the door, before the charcoal stallion finally managed: “Who is Ersatz Major to you to... to offer me that much just to find out what she wants?”

“Why don't you pick up one of her trash-talk articles and find out for yourself?” Underbrush replied over his shoulder, and then he halted at the door and added moodily: “I do have some... special experience with her, yes, but I can tell she has a special interest in destroying you. She wouldn't be so forwards otherwise... she wouldn't risk upsetting too many big names like she is right now.”

Scrivener Blooms shifted nervously at this, and then Underbrush shoved the door open and left. For a few moments, the charcoal stallion only sat in the hallway, reaching up to rub slowly at his aching head as he mumbled: “This... this is wonderful. Please. Please, let's go back to fighting monsters. Horses of Heaven, monsters were easier to deal with than this.”

The charcoal stallion slumped a little, dropping his head forwards before he finally picked himself up with a mumble, striding towards the doorway and pushing it open. He poked his head out, glancing awkwardly back and forth to make sure Underbrush or any other scary ponies weren't lingering around, and then he carefully stepped back out into the room... only to immediately find Barry in his face, his agent grinning eagerly up at him. “Well? Well? What did Underbrush have to say, champ? Good stuff I bet, right? Right?”

“He hates me.” Scrivener said absently, glancing back and forth nervously, and Barry turned dead white and stared at him with utter horror, and the charcoal stallion winced a little before continuing carefully: “But he says he'll... pretty much publish anything I want if we can find out what Ersatz wants with me. He really hates her for some reason.”

“I'll get to digging immediately!” Barry said hurriedly, some of his color returning before he turned and dashed off, and Scrivener only looked mildly after the small earth pony before his eyes were drawn to Pinkamena as the demon approached, looking moodily after the lanky male as well.

“You know, I hate it when small ponies run away from me. I get this urge to chase after them, kill them, and eat them.” she remarked conversationally, and Scrivener simply shrugged a little before the gray-pink pony studied him for a moment. “You... okay?”

Scrivener hesitated, then lowered his head a little before he smiled a bit when Aphrodisia and Antares approached. His son was looking at him uneasily as well, but Aphrodisia only smiled brightly, gazing up at him and saying warmly: “You did really good, Uncle Scrivy! And you know, Mommy and I can go kill those people who bothered you, if you wanted.”

“Scrivener can kill his own douchebags, sweetie.” Pinkamena said mildly, reaching up and ruffling her daughter's mane, and Aphrodisia giggled a little as Antares sighed and shook his head, but gave a bit of a smile all the same. “I do look forwards to the day when you finally snap though, Scrivy. It'll be great, seeing you transform into a Tyrant Wyrm or something and eat a whole bunch of stupid little ponies.”

The charcoal stallion sighed at this, then he glanced up as Luna approached, remarking: “Now, Pinkamena, do not be so optimistic. Aye, 'twould be great to see Scrivener become some terrible monster, but knowing him, he is far more likely to cry about it than wreak horrible vengeance.”

Scrivener gave a sour look to Luna, and then the sapphire mare leaned in and locked gazes with him: her closeness as well as their locked gaze helped force the static blocking their link to diminish, and the mare frowned after a moment before turning her eyes to Celestia. The ivory winged unicorn was already approaching, however, and Scrivener shifted awkwardly before smiling lamely when Luna said quietly: “I believe we should see Selene as soon as possible. It seems that stress... aggravates my husband's... condition, so to speak.”

“Are you okay, Dad?” Antares asked quietly, and Scrivener glanced over at his son before a strange memory rose to mind, and he smiled faintly in spite of himself; it was just like when he'd been a baby, looking up at his parents with those knowing eyes of his, asking in his so-serious toddler's voice: Daddy hurt? “Dad?”

“Yeah. Yeah, sorry, just... lost in memories for a moment.” Scrivener shook his head a bit, then he glanced back and forth curiously before asking: “Where's Twilight?”

Luna huffed at this, but Celestia only smiled, replying quietly: “Paying a friend a visit, I believe. I'm sure she'll join us when she can in Subterra, but... well, first, Scrivener, it seems you have some fans to attend to.”

Scrivener looked up in surprise to see there were indeed a few ponies lingering, and the charcoal stallion shifted a bit before nodding and reaching up to squeeze Luna's shoulder, reassuring her that he could handle this as he smiled lamely and stepped away from the group.

Pinkamena watched as he walked away, and then she sniffed a bit and glanced moodily at the others, saying dryly: “Better him than me. I still think he's more stupid than brave though. Isn't courageous to go walking all nice-like over to ponies when you're scared of dealing with them. It's just stupid. People suck.”

“So positive, Pinkamena.” Luna said drolly, and the demon shrugged as Aphrodisia giggled again and Antares shook his head with an amused look at his mother. “But... still. I do agree all the same. And the last thing I want to deal with is a socialist Scrivener Blooms.”

Celestia opened her mouth to correct Luna's word choice, and then she simply sighed and closed it when her younger sibling gave her a sour look, shaking her head. Then the ivory mare's eyes drew back up to the charcoal stallion, silently praising him not just for trying to be a little more social... but doing it in spite of all the other problems she knew he was dealing with right now. She just hoped that this extra stress wouldn't be what helped whatever was going on in Scrivener's mind help take further hold than it already had.

Twilight Sparkle quietly strode through the streets of Subterra, the city beneath Canterlot. It was a massive catacomb of squat structures that filled enormous, half-natural caverns and tunnels, surprisingly vast and deep, and it naturally formed what was almost a honeycomb pattern around the Thorn Palace where the Overseer kept a close eye over the city's inhabitants.

Ponies and mortals were few and far between: instead, Nightmares, demons, and other creatures of the night made this labyrinthine city their home. But their population was carefully monitored, so that the vital forces that filtered down from Canterlot above were always enough to sate the needs of the populace, and extra energy was supplied from the enormous, glowing crystals that cast an empowering light throughout the caverns.

Demons and many of the other creatures that resided here fed off emotional energy and bioenergies produced by mortals: in cities like Canterlot so much was generated by its inhabitants that demons, Nightmares, and most other creatures could comfortably live nearby and thrive off the energies produced without ever having to actively prey on the populace. The rest of their dietary needs were provided for by fish and game animals, both of which were in plenty in this wild world, where apparently ponies had died out, and the rest of the world had regressed into a land of beasts.

Twilight glanced quietly up from the cobbled streets, past the strange stone houses and towards the roof, eyes locking on a particularly-large crystal held in place by several support chains. Mortals couldn't feel it, but she could... the energy the gemstones provided nourished demons, but also created a kind of supernatural layering between Subterra and Canterlot: just the presence of a demon could influence the emotions of mortals, but this layering between the two cities helped prevent the presence of so many demons from causing any emotional outbursts in the city above.

She had helped design that with Celestia... she had helped a lot with establishing Subterra, and the city felt like home to her. When she looked around, she saw demons of every shape and size, acting just the same as mortals did above: talking and walking around, gathering food, resting and enjoying a meal or haggling for goods and services. A lot of them lived surprisingly-normal lives, and Twilight smiled faintly at this: once she had believed they were all monsters too, after all, but now...

She shook her head out a little, then glanced up as she reached the end of the street, gazing quietly at the large, red stone palace that stood here, gates thrown invitingly open at the top of a short flight of stairs. Gorgeous flora crawled over the structure, adding to the beauty, and the palace was rounded, smooth, somehow... gentle compared to the rest of the structures that filled Subterra, yet it wasn't out of place, either. It just... was.

The Lich breathed slowly, walking quietly towards the steps and putting one hoof down on the lowest stone riser, before she hesitated... and then she blushed as there was a flash of flame from beyond the gate before an enormous unicorn with a coat that shifted colors like magma strode out, his mane and tail of burning flames twisting quietly behind him as he gazed down at her with tender red eyes. His tall, orange horn was covered with spiraling black runes, and while he was a pony... he was clearly also a demon.

“Violet. You avoided me the whole time I was at the party.” he said softly, and Twilight blushed and lowered her head before he almost hesitantly stepped onto the staircase... and when Twilight only straightened and gazed up at him quietly, he smiled and took another step, his eyes locking with hers. He was tender, gentle, careful... even though there was a hint of bitterness there too. “But maybe waiting has only made seeing you now all the sweeter, so it's a good thing, isn't it?”

“Burning Desire...” Twilight blushed a bit, shifting awkwardly and looking back and forth before she closed her eyes, trying to find the words. And when she opened them, he was there in front of her, gazing at her kindly, and she gave a small smile as she looked into his eyes. “You don't have to force anything for me. I just... I wanted to... see how you were doing. And maybe try to make things between us... right.”

“Things are already right, violet.” Burning Desire said softly, and then he stepped carefully down and reached up to hug her gently, and the Lich trembled before straightening and hugging him fiercely back, feeling her emotions twist, knowing her heart would be thudding in her chest if she only still had one. “You never lied to me. And I let you go, and happily... and I still smile for you. I've never cared for anypony the way I do for you, yet... I know that I can't make you happy like they do. And I'm honestly okay with that, because... to see you smile, darling... that's all that matters in the world to me.”

He stopped, then smiled again, stepping back and sliding his hooves to her shoulders as they gazed at each other quietly. “We still have each other, anyway. I'll always be your friend, Twilight Sparkle. And if you're still hurting over... that silly bad dream we all had... then just rest assured you don't have anything to make up for there, either. Unless you really want to, of course.”

He grinned at her, and Twilight laughed and shook her head like she always did before she smiled a little, gazing up at him silently. “And there you are... still telling jokes about everything and... and Burning, I'm sorry that-”

“No, no, don't be. Don't be.” Burning Desire soothed, and then he shook his head and sighed a little, but he was still smiling faintly all the same as he murmured: “It's difficult, I won't lie. But I'd rather put up with a little pain to have the pleasure of you in my life, darling, than to not have you at all. I've learned from the mistakes of my past, and... believe me when I say, there were many.”

He halted, then let his hooves finally slide away from her shoulders as they looked at each other, the Lich blushing faintly, and the demon gazing at her with fondness. They were a strange pair, standing on the steps of the crimson palace, and Twilight closed her eyes as she murmured: “I wish things worked out better. And I hope you'll find somepony one day, Burning, who can love you more than I can.”

Burning Desire reached up and touched her face gently, replying softly: “Yet somehow I think no one will ever replace you in my heart, my sweet.”

Twilight closed her eyes, resting her face against his hoof before the demon hesitated, then asked quietly: “But you are happy with them? They treat you well, you never feel out of place, you're an equal? They take care of you?”

The violet mare laughed a little, then she nodded slowly before reaching up and touching the hoof cupping her cheek gently. “Yes, Burning, yes. They do. If anypony's ever been holding back... it was always me, to be honest. I was scared of... I don't know. Intruding on them somehow. But Scrivener and Luna have been helping me a lot with that. I feel comfortable with them, and they never hide anything from me.”

“Good. Good.” Burning Desire said softly, and he looked honestly happy for her... even if he hurt. Twilight opened her violet eyes to look at him quietly, then hesitantly opened her mouth... but the demon only shook his head firmly, answering quietly: “No, don't. I want to be here, Twilight... of course I ache, I'm a demon of longing, a Passion. But at the same time it's taught me how much to value this. That even the pain, perhaps, is a good thing.”

“I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to walk away.” Twilight said quietly, looking up into his ruby irises, and Burning Desire chuckled softly as he shook his head slowly, reaching up and taking her face in his hooves gently.

“I would blame myself. And besides, we're both near-eternal, both better than silly mortals, aren't we?” Burning Desire winked at her, and Twilight Sparkle sighed but smiled a little all the same. “Perhaps I'm a little bit of a masochist, too, though. I've always liked being around mares that can do a great deal of harm to me, one way or another. It's why I get along so well with Pinkamena and her daughter.”

Twilight sighed again, rolling her eyes before she stepped down from the stairs, and Burning Desire quickly trotted after her, the Lich looking surprised as the demon smiled at her faintly. “I want to be by your side as long as you'll allow me to, Twilight Sparkle. It's been more than four years, hasn't it? I've had those years to be jealous and bitter... by which I mean crying into my pillows... and by pillows, of course, I mean pretty mares, and their-”

The Lich reached up and covered his mouth with one hoof, looking at him sourly before she rolled her eyes and said dryly: “It's amazing how fast I can go from feeling sympathy for you to wanting to hit you. I think that must count as a special talent of yours or something.”

“Well, yes, I was always very good at getting myself beaten up.” Burning Desire agreed as her hoof dropped away from his muzzle, and then he gave her a wink even as his expression softened a little. “I want to spend time with you, Twilight Sparkle, and... I desire to try and better get to know Luna and Scrivener as well. I feel that I'll be able to better find peace with how things are if... if I'm able to see for myself the kind of ponies they are. If I see that you're in good hooves.”

Twilight nodded hesitantly... and then she glanced up in surprise, and Burning Desire cocked his head curiously before blinking when a Nightmare appeared out of thin air nearby, gazing tenderly between the two before it bowed its head politely. “I apologize for my interruption, Mistress Twilight and friend... but Overseer Selene has requested your presence, Twilight Sparkle. She wishes for you to assist in the process of inspecting the mind of our beloved King of the Night.”

“Scrivener hates it when you refer to him as that.” Twilight murmured, but the Nightmare only smiled in its sultry, soft way before the violet mare shook her head a bit, then glanced with a small smile towards Burning Desire, who frowned a little in concern. “It looks like I should probably go...”

“Wait, what's wrong with Scrivener? Neither he nor Luna seem exactly like the type to just let others wander into their minds, after all.” Burning Desire tilted his head, and Twilight blushed and only shook her own before the demon leaned away with a theatrical sigh. “Very well, don't trust me, then, violet... but just know that if you or your beloved need my help, I'll be here.”

He stopped, then smiled a little as Twilight nodded almost shyly, asking softly: “Since it appears I won't be able to spend the day with you and your family as I'd hoped... would you mind terribly asking Meadowlark and Antares to stop in at some point? I miss seeing them around and I want to find out how they're doing. Little Meadowlark... she's always been so strong, after all.”

Twilight hesitated, then glanced over at the Nightmare that was sitting patiently, the Lich saying quietly: “Go on ahead and let them know I'm coming. And let Antares know that Burning wants to see him, and Meadowlark if you can find her, too... I think she might be in the archives.”

The Nightmare nodded, then vanished from sight, and Twilight returned her eyes to Burning Desire with a small smile as he gazed at her affectionately. “I have to go but... you know, Meadowlark... actually said no to Antares when he asked her out. He did it because everyone was pushing him to, I think, and she told him that she wanted him to ask... for real. When he was ready.”

“She's a stronger pony than me.” Burning Desire said softly, and then he hesitated for a moment before stepping forwards and leaning down to kiss Twilight's forehead gently, making her smile faintly as her eyes slipped closed, before the demon reached up and touched her collar quietly, gazing down at her fondly. “I'll be waiting for you, violet. Promise me you'll remember that I'm your friend.”

“I promise. And thank you.” Twilight said softly, looking up at the fiery unicorn for a moment. And then she stepped backwards and hesitantly turned away, unable to help herself from glancing over her shoulder even as she strode quickly down the road.

Burning Desire watched her, sitting quietly and staring after her longingly until she rounded the corner, and the mare couldn't help but sigh a little and shake her head a bit. On the one hoof, she felt... lighter, better, knew that they had moved forwards one way or another. On the other, her stomach felt all bunched up in knots and she ached more than a little for him. But for a demon like Burning Desire... she knew that it would be torture for him to stay by her side like he was, but it would be even worse if she was gone. All she could do was be honest with him, and be as gentle and kind as she could. But a Passion like Burning Desire was cursed with endless longing, for the things he couldn't have... she didn't want to imagine what it must be like for him, each and every day, suffering for his sins of Lust and Greed as a mortal.

Not that it was that simple, she thought. Burning Desire smiled, and laughed, and always put up a cheery and more-than-a-little-perverted front, but she knew there was so much more to him. He was thoughtful, and kind, and considerate, he went to incredible lengths to protect those he cared about, and he seemed strangely protective of mortal ponies, even for a demon. He got edgy talking about his past; but then again, he was more than a thousand years old and from what he'd told her, he'd been cheated in a contact he'd made as a mortal by a particularly-powerful Greed demon, and killed by an ex-lover.

There was always something a little funny about the way he told the story, like it was more than that, but Twilight had never pressed the subject. She had plenty of experience with what it was like to find yourself thrust into... an uncomfortable new life, after all. And like she never pressed him for details about his transformation, he had never asked her to detail out her own changes into a Lich.

Twilight had always appreciated that... even if the memories were burned into her mind, rose to the surface of her thoughts with just the faintest touch, like a spider racing to a trembling fly caught in its devious web. And she was the fly, and the spider was named Wisdom, even though it wore her face and her body, but it was something far, far different than a pony...

She remembered it: how with a single look, Wisdom had assaulted her mind, driven her to near-insanity... and then the feeling of the Clockwork Pony's horn, piercing her chest, destroying her heart. She remembered that for a few moments, the torn-apart organ had tried to keep beating, even after Wisdom left... she remembered the despair, and the sounds of the music box. She remembered twelve long, agonizing seconds, where she whispered words she barely understood and invoked magic she didn't know she possessed...

She hadn't been strong enough to finish the ritual, but she had anchored her spirit to the music box, and she had remembered... Gymbr, the impossible creature. She remembered its touch, its voice, and how it had waited for Celestia to find Twilight's corpse, and then whispered its silky promises to her, and guided her into completing the ritual.

Twilight Sparkle still wasn't sure why Gymbr hadn't finished the ritual itself: the creature had been more than powerful enough to, whatever else the unknowable thing had been. Of course, none of them knew a lot of things about Gymbr, even now... just that he was a self-proclaimed god from a story they had all listened to, and many of them had read again at one time or another after Scrivener had transcribed it. Because Love Conquers All...

The Lich shook her head as she continued quickly on her way through Subterra, smiling as naturally at the demons and other 'monsters' that greeted her as she did to the ponies of Ponyville. But then again, she fit in here more than she did in Ponyville these days...

Thankfully, before her thoughts could darken too much, she found herself approaching the base of a massive, pyramidal structure that was embraced from behind and the sides by a second, U-shaped building, the two connected by several large bridges that stretched between them. Twilight's eyes roved back and forth as she approached the stairs of the step pyramid, studying the enormous statues of terrible angels that guarded either side of the way up, and the Lich wondered for the thousandth time just what kind of 'Heaven' Selene had visions of.

She made her way carefully to the top of the pyramid: it was wide and flat, lit by four glowing braziers and dominated by a statue of Nightmare Moon that towered over a reflecting pool. An idol of the true Nightmare Moon at that, detailed to the last torture implement trapped in her back. Twilight hated the way her eyes were drawn to it... hated the way part of her revered it, almost as much as she revered – loved, loved, I mean... – Luna...

Her eyes settled on the group of ponies already waiting for them: Celestia, Luna and Scrivener. And just past them was the Overseer Selene herself, smiling her strange, distant smile: a gorgeous winged unicorn the white of purest snow, with a mane and tail of glowing, rippling ethereality from which fell both feathers and flower petals. Her horn was a gold so bright it glowed, but none of these things compared to her eyes: there were both a dark void and a glowing wholeness, rich and velvet and galactic...

Twilight hurriedly let her gaze drop, and Selene laughed quietly before she said in her scintillating, compassionate voice: “It is nice to see you, Twilight Sparkle... and there is no need to fear. I have of course ensured that Father's mind is undamaged, but as you are part of their triad... you deserve to be present for this. To experience this, if you will lend your strength for it.”

“I still don't remember adopting you.” Scrivener muttered before he could stop himself, and then he smiled lamely when Selene looked slowly up at him, that strange smile still on her face. The charcoal stallion cleared his throat after a moment, then glanced awkwardly away as he added lamely: “Not that... I don't think you make a very nice... daughter.”

“Shut up, Scrivener.” Luna said crankily, and then she looked calmly over at Selene, meeting her eyes fearlessly as the glowing white winged unicorn – Nephilim, Twilight reminded herself as she approached, she calls herself a Nephilim... – turned her gaze towards the sapphire mare. “Now, we are all here, Selene. Will thou please explain what thou meant by thy riddlesome talk?”

“Of course, Mother.” Selene said tenderly, and Twilight couldn't help but marvel again at the effect Luna had on the Nephilim. Selene had always helped them, after all, always served them loyally, and treated them with respect... but Luna was the only pony who could match and even defeat Selene's endless gaze, just as Luna was the only pony who Selene seemed to truly respond to.

The Nephilim was an enigma: they had found her hidden deep in the earth, a creature that had apparently communed with Luna and Scrivener on some level in their dreams, but who had only awoken from her dormancy after the two had vanished into the maw of Clockwork World. She was immensely powerful, but seemed to have little recollection of her past, except that she had been abandoned by her mother when she had 'returned to Heaven.'

The form that Selene took wasn't her true shape: she only reflected those around her, to help fit in. Not even Luna could morph her form with the ease that Selene did, nor hold a body that wasn't her own indefinitely. The Nephilim was as alien as she was strong though, and she seemed only to mimic the emotions of ponies around her, like she never entirely understood them, always standing too still or staring too long with those both awful and beautiful eyes of hers... she was apart.

Except with Luna, who Selene had her head bowed to as she explained in a gentle voice: “There is a presence inside Father's mind... it shields itself from my powers, and hides in the maze of Father's thoughts and instincts. I can hear it still, laughing to itself... but I cannot find it.

“However, with the help of the Dawn Bringer...” Selene's eyes roved for a moment to Celestia, before returning to Luna. “I can bring you three together. I do not doubt this entity will attempt to block you out... but I believe with both Twilight Sparkle and Luna Brynhild putting pressure on their link with Scrivener Blooms will be enough to strain this entity's powers, and with your permission, Mother and Father, I will attempt to force entry into your linked subconscious as well. Together, we should be more than strong enough to destroy the barrier this creature defends itself with.”

Scrivener and Luna shared a hesitant look, then both glanced at Twilight as she bit her lip... before blushing quietly as she felt the tingle of their emotions. They weren't scared of her forcing the link and witnessing... that shared, mental world... they were afraid of asking her to do this for them. Never of her seeing their innermost sanctum, the very seat of their mixed souls...

“I'm ready.” Twilight Sparkle said quietly, and Selene smiled softly at this, the Nephilim nodding slowly as Scrivener and Luna both gave grateful and compassionate looks to the Lich, mirroring one another for a moment and making the violet mare laugh a bit. “It's... been a while since you two have reflected so much.”

“Well... now you reflect us too.” Scrivener said softly, and Twilight blushed but smiled in agreement, nodding herself. Then the charcoal stallion sighed a little, returning his eyes to Selene and saying hesitantly, carefully avoiding meeting her endless gaze: “It's... I don't like this entirely, but... if you think it'll force Valthrudnir out of hiding, let's do it. It's going to hurt though, isn't it?”

“I didn't mention that it would because I know you do not care.” Selene said with a strange kindness in her voice, and Scrivener slumped with a mumble as Luna glowered at the Nephilim. The alien creature only turned her eyes towards Celestia, however, tilting her head and asking curiously: “What is your concern?”

All eyes roved up to Celestia, who was frowning nervously as her eyes roved over the four, before she finally sighed quietly as she turned her gaze down to Scrivener, saying softly: “Just worries for you, brother. Especially if this is some form of Valthrudnir... even if it's only your mind playing tricks on you, a replica of Valthrudnir would still be... dangerous.”

“Say what truly bothers you, Dawn Bringer.” Selene said kindly, and Celestia grimaced a little and gave the Nephilim an almost-frustrated look, but the strange entity only smiled in response. “They are your family, and I am but a humble servant. There is no need to not speak your mind here.”

“I...” Celestia stopped, and then she shook her head slowly before sighing quietly as the ponies gazed up at her silently, and her own eyes looked between the three pairs of irises locked on her. “I wish that I could go with you.”

“Thou art here, and thou can help us... find our way in, and if necessary, bring us out of danger, Celestia. Thou already does more than enough for us, big sister. In fact, thou all too often does too much.” Luna replied quietly, and the two siblings gazed at one another before they traded a quick, fierce embrace for a moment, then pulled apart as the sapphire mare grinned a little up at Celestia. “Besides, say true: thou art just jealous thou cannot join us in the blissful nightmare inside Scrivener's mind. Sick and warped Celestia, go get thy own husband.”

Celestia only sighed and shook her head slowly, but a faint smile lingered around her features all the same before Luna turned back to Selene, becoming a little more serious as she asked quietly: “I take it thy powers will aid in guiding us? When the static blocks our link with Scrivener...”

She traded a look with Twilight, who nodded hesitantly: since she was still getting used to the whole feeling of 'connecting,' it wasn't as familiar for her... but all the same, she had still felt something was wrong when Scrivener had started acting a little strange during the book signing. A feeling like... rough wool cloth, or humming white noise, inside the wall of her skull.

Selene only smiled calmly in response, slowly turning her alien gaze to Scrivener as she half-answered softly: “I shall create a resonance, yes. It should be easy for yourself and Lady Twilight to follow, Mother.”

“Mother... 'tis so strange. The Nightmares and demons call me sister, the Nephilim calls me 'mother,' and I suppose soon enough the dragons will begin referring to me as 'cousin.'” Luna remarked dourly, rolling her eyes before moodily glancing over at Celestia. “Just so long as thou does not refer to me as 'daughter.' 'Twould be disturbing. Mostly because I do not want to grow up into thee.”

“Yes, that's what's wrong with the picture.” Scrivener mumbled as Twilight strode up beside him, and when Luna glared at the stallion, he cleared his throat and lamely looked towards Selene. “So uh... I guess we should probably get moving with this, then.”

Selene nodded in agreement before her dark eyes roved towards Celestia, even as she instructed kindly to the three linked ponies: “Sit and lower your heads. Breathe slowly, and do not resist either the Dawn Bringer's influence or my own. Scrivener Blooms, it is particularly important that you do not fight us... no matter how afraid you are, no matter what is threatened to be revealed.”

The stallion looked up nervously, not liking what that implied, before Luna said quietly: “Do not be an idiot, Scrivy. I love thee for thy... monstrousness.”

“You don't have to hide anything from us, Scrivener. We both... we both care about you. Not just in spite of your flaws but... because of them.” Twilight added softly, and the charcoal stallion smiled a little as he closed his eyes and nodded.

“Yeah, I know. But I think I know what Selene is talking about too, and... it's instinct, I guess, to try and hide what's inside your heart of hearts, in the shadows of your soul.” Scrivener murmured quietly, before he shook his head and cleared his throat, dropping down to a sitting position and closing his eyes as he nodded a little to himself, breathing slowly in and out. “But... I'm ready, if the others are. Let's get this over with.”

Twilight and Luna both sat and nodded as well, mirroring each other unconsciously, and Selene smiled again in her strange, soft way as she gazed over them all before she murmured: “Very well then. Relax... Dawn Bringer, put them to sleep, and I shall work with you as best I can. I am only half-pure, after all. Twilight Sparkle, Luna Brynhild... concentrate on Scrivener Blooms.”

Celestia only nodded uneasily, then bowed her head forwards as Luna and Twilight did as bid, and the charcoal stallion could feel the powers of both Nephilim and ivory winged unicorn behind him beginning to work against his mind. He felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart thud, and heard static fill his ears before his anxiety spiked as Valthrudnir whispered: And precisely what do you plan to achieve by this, pathetic little creature? Doesn't it strike you as fruitless to plot against me when I hear every word spoken, every thought archived? Or have I already made you this terrified and desperate?

Scrivener heard the words growing louder in his mind as he listed forwards, legs trembling beneath him as he closed his eyes tightly... and when he opened them, he was no longer on the pyramidal structure that formed the front of the Thorn Palace, but instead on black mire almost as solid and hot as asphalt, in a world where massive blades and statues of ice jutted up beside dead, bleeding trees. A world that he knew was in his head, yet felt even more real than the temple-top in Subterra had.

And standing beside a large table outfitted with a gorgeous silver chessboard, was Valthrudnir. He was idly playing with one of the knights, smiling coldly as he tilted the jade, horse shaped piece back and forth before setting it calmly down in front of the rows of pawns, saying softly: “Knight to C3. Your move, Scrivener Blooms.”

“I don't know how to play chess.” Scrivener said blandly, and then he glanced moodily down at his clawed forelimb, flexing it slowly as the Jötnar gave him a distasteful look. Somehow, though, Scrivener was far from surprised to find himself once more in his half-wyrm, half-pony shape: this form was as familiar to him in his subconscious as his real body in the physical world by now, after all. “Why don't we play checkers instead? Or I know, we can play 'get the hell out of my head.'”

“You should be honored by the fact I so much as consider lowering myself to your infantile level and am willing to play this game with you at all. It's a little more aesthetically-pleasing than most tafl games, but I would prefer something more... entertaining.” Valthrudnir reached out and rested a finger on the head of the king piece: unsurprisingly, Scrivener noted it was in the shape of a dragon.

He grimaced and shook his head slowly, then looked up in surprise as the Jötnar glanced distastefully towards the dark, swirling sky above, where shimmers of golden energy were beginning to spark through the obscuring smog. Then the earth pony cursed under his breath as a ringing began to build in his ears, grabbing at his head, and Valthrudnir muttered: “Idiot philistines. No, I am confident that your little friends-”

He was interrupted by a pulse of sound as the mire around them rippled, then turned to black glass, and Valthrudnir looked down in surprise before cracks tore through the earth in every direction. And Scrivener cursed and fell forwards, shivering as the agony in his mind grew worse, but he grinned widely at the same time, forcing his eyes to open, looking up and rasping: “I'm sorry... were you saying something?”

Valthrudnir only scowled as the golden light in the sky grew brighter and larger, driving away more of the obscuring fog as the earth quaked. Nearby, a tall blade of ice vibrated, emitting a faint ringing that grew louder and louder, making Scrivener grab at his head as he curled forwards with a moan until it finally shattered into pieces of tiny shrapnel.

And through it all, the Jötnar only looked displeased at most, before growling in disgust as the earth gave a short but firm rumble; enough to toss Scrivener to the ground and send the chessboard and pieces flying off the table, as more cracks shot through both ice and blackened trees nearby. One of the latter all-but-exploded into splinters and awful, gooey sap that was as red and thick as coagulated blood, splattering down over the glassy earth as Scrivener fought back the urge to scream when that godawful, horrible ringing began to build in his head again.

“They're only hurting you, idiot insect.” Valthrudnir said contemptibly, his amber eyes glowing with disdain: he seemed to stand alone in his own little pocket of indifference, not hearing the ringing, not shaken by the trembling earth, not caring in the slightest as Scrivener began to writhe and give short, barking cries of misery. “I understand you desire to flush me out of this fortress, fool... but did you ever stop to think about the fact my fortress is within your mind? Oh, yes, all you've given me to work with here are shoddy and next-to-worthless materials... but their crudity doesn't change the fact that in order to get to me, they are going to have to very literally go through you.”

Scrivener arched his back with a howl as the ringing intensified, his eyes snapping open and glowing sapphire for a moment as blood burst out of his maw and nostrils, and then he tumbled backwards as there was a sound like shattering glass and the darkness was blown away from the skies above.

Slowly, a single figure descended, as tranquil and patient in its graceful flight as if it were a dove settling towards a familiar roost. It landed quietly and gracefully on the shattered, blackened earth, before galactic eyes looked slowly and calmly up at Valthrudnir, and the glowing entity's wings slowly folded at its sides as it studied the Jötnar quietly.

Scrivener shivered weakly, coughing once and spitting out black blood before he cursed under his breath and slowly, carefully pushed himself to his hooves. His vision swam as he hugged his stomach with his scaled forelimb, and then he looked tiredly up as the dragon studied the Nephilim with interest in his amber eyes, murmuring thoughtfully: “An adequate energy source... Nihete's mind suffices well enough because of the Clay of Prometheus, but your power is that of the divine...”

Valthrudnir reached out towards her... and Selene only smiled calmly as white sparks flashed over the dragon's hand, making him recoil in surprise. He grasped at his hand for a moment, frowning, then looking disgusted as he glared up at Selene, who murmured softly: “Not the shell, but the soft spirit, the will and life energies of such a powerful being... but...”

There was a rumble, and a crackle of golden flame and lightning burst upwards over the Jötnar... but this time Valthrudnir didn't flinch, only continuing to look with loathing at the Nephilim as she murmured: “I cannot harm him even now. I do not believe any of us can.”

“That remains to be seen!” snapped a voice, and Scrivener smiled faintly as he slowly hauled himself back up to his hooves, as a familiar presence strode up to one side... and then a second joined him on his other, the stallion bowing his head forwards and feeling almost overwhelming gratitude for the presence of Luna Brynhild and Twilight Sparkle.

The Lich was staring with disbelief at Valthrudnir, who had turned his cold amber eyes to these newcomers, while Luna had anchored herself, snarling furiously as her mane and tail burned like blue flames, her eyes glowing with rage. Scrivener could feel the anger, the hate, and the determination pulsing off her in waves, and it excited his own emotions, made him stronger as he gritted his teeth and straightened, setting himself as Luna snapped: “Thou has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide now, cur! Wretched abomination, leave my husband and I in peace!”

“Oh, Brynhild, believe me. I would be very glad to leave if I could, but it seems that I'm trapped here for now.” Valthrudnir retorted disgustedly, shaking his hand out absently once before he glared over at the Nephilim, who was only continuing to regard him with her silent smile. “Cease staring at me, vile little harlot. If you have no further purpose here, then leave.”

“How dare thou act like this is thy home, thy fortress, thy kingdom! I care not for what thou art, Scrivener, Twilight, Selene, we destroy the monster now!” Luna roared, and Scrivener snarled before he and the sapphire mare both shot forwards. But Valthrudnir only looked at them with disgust over his shoulder, barely even reacting as Scrivener felt too late something was wrong-

Luna smashed straight into... thin air. There was nothing there, and yet she was halted like she had run headfirst into a solid steel wall, her eyes bulging in shock as Scrivener's head twisted to the side to stare in disbelief. The sapphire mare simply tumbled backwards out of the air, hitting the ground heavily with a groan of pain as Scrivener continued to stagger dumbly forwards... at least, until Valthrudnir's loafer-clad foot smashed into the half-wyrm, half-pony and knocked him flopping onto his back with a curse.

“Idiots.” Valthrudnir muttered, and then he only glanced up when Twilight shook her head quickly before snarling and snapping her horn forwards, unleashing a blast of blue flames, but the sapphire fireball seemed to strike the same invisible barrier that Luna had hit, exploding uselessly a short distance away from the Jötnar. “No, I was clearly wrong: your mental capacity clearly hasn't even developed to that stage of cognizance!”

Twilight winced, then shook her head and hurried forwards as Scrivener and Luna both picked themselves up, the stallion withdrawing slightly as the sapphire mare glared furiously at Valthrudnir, then turned her eyes to Selene when the Nephilim said quietly: “It is pointless. He cannot hurt us... but nor can we hurt him. For better or worse... he is entrenched in Father's mind.”

Luna's eyes narrowed darkly at Selene, feeling both fear and fury as she shoved herself to her hooves: the Nephilim was calmly sitting in the same place where she had been before, only looking at them with her distant, casual interest, before she remarked softly: “He is very powerful, even now. We would do well to make an ally of him, not an enemy.”

“No, Selene, I do not think you understand what you speak...” whispered another voice, and Valthrudnir looked up with a frown as the world around them darkened, the golden light above become poisoned with purples and blacks. “This interloper is not welcome here...”

Blue mist swirled through the air, then twisted and solidified into the shape of Nightmare Moon, as Scrivener winced and grabbed at his skull when it gave a pulse. He could feel a strange heaviness in his mind, and both Luna and Twilight twitched as well, even as the sapphire mare ignored her discomfort in favor of fury with a snarl. “Run away, mincing coward, or stay and die... but know that either way, thou shan't have any mercy from us!”

“I do not fear a mental construct any more than I fear the rest of you ignorant little insects.” Valthrudnir retorted coldly, crossing his arms and looking balefully across at Nightmare Moon, as the enormous, dark entity slowly approached him. “You cannot harm me... at least, not without harming your precious little slave Nihete, too.”

“His name is Scrivener Blooms, and he is King of the Night. He is my soulmate... all mine.” Nightmare Moon whispered, her eyes glowing dangerously, her voice filled with venom. And even in her rage, Luna shivered a little, and Twilight looked up uncertainly before her eyes turned worriedly to Scrivener when he grasped his skull tightly with his claw, feeling that static ache building. “First you will bleed. Then you will suffer. Then you will be broken... but I will never let you die, arrogant beast.”

Valthrudnir growled, baring his fangs, his amber eyes flashing as they locked with the intensely-glowing irises of Nightmare Moon... and then the dark equine entity's horn began to glow as her mane of blue flames wafted backwards.

The air around them began to darken as the world rumbled, and then Scrivener looked up in shock as Luna stumbled and Twilight cried out when the earth around them began to transform. Ice spread over the ground and liquid, black ooze vomited out of cracks in the land, as enormous towers and structures of frost and bone and what looked awfully like pulsing, diseased flesh began to rip up from the earth all around them.

And yet Valthrudnir looked unimpressed, even as the world rumbled, as screams sounded in the darkness, as chains and vines crawled up and pushed out of the horrific, living-nightmare structures surrounding them. He still stood in his own little pocket of being, the ground around him undisturbed, his arms still crossed even as he said disdainfully: “Circus tricks.”

Scrivener Blooms, meanwhile, had fallen over, clutching his skull and groaning in an awful mix of pain, frustration, fury and despair, his body writhing, spitting mire as Twilight leaned over him with worry. He kept twitching in agony, nausea racing through his body as the strain on his mind grew worse and worse with every passing moment, as he felt so many different urges and needs and desires racing through his body, and so few of them made any sense whatsoever as Twilight cried out above him: “Wait! It's hurting Scrivener!”

But Luna had an almost-insane, terrible look on her face, her own sharp fangs bared in a wide grin, her eyes and horn both glowing as her mane writhed and whipped around her. She looked every inch as much a monster as Nightmare Moon in that moment, as she straightened and roared in a voice that shook the world around them: “Pathetic dog, thou would mock us? Thou only invites thy own suffering faster!”

“Hurt him... hurt him... blood and...” Scrivener rasped, trembling and grasping at his features, and then he snarled and clenched his eyes shut even as his eyes pulsed with sapphire light, trying to grin even through the agony running through his body as his form rippled and flexed. “Don't... can't...”

Twilight could feel it too, and it scared her: the desire for revenge, the anger, the hatred, the sheer thrill. The power... it was almost enough to blind her own senses, except she was terrified, too. Yes, some of that came from seeing Luna and Nightmare Moon so enraged, and more from how Scrivener was writhing on the ground in agony but still somehow... grinning... but most of it was because of the way that power... that desire... that hate and pain and fear and rage... it was all infecting her mind, crawling through her thoughts, and she wanted... she wanted...

The Lich trembled, then she leaned down and embraced Scrivener fiercely, burying her face against his neck and giving a hitching sob, and the stallion's eyes flickered before he frowned slowly as he looked up. And almost hesitantly, he reached a foreleg up, wrapping it around Twilight's neck... and when the Lich gave a second weak sob, this time Luna almost stumbled in place before looking hurriedly over her shoulder towards the two.

And now she actually saw the state they were in: Twilight, scared, and worse was Scrivener, shivering in agony, a mess of emotions he couldn't control thanks to the immense mental pressure she and Nightmare Moon were creating in his mind. Enough to reshape the world around them into... into what she saw mirrored the darkest parts inside themselves, but Valthrudnir was still looking contemptible, unhindered... and her hatred of the Jötnar had blinded her. His presence had filled her with so much anger and... need to punish... and... and fear... she had forgotten everything but old and vicious instincts and almost...

Nightmare Moon was still snarling, but Luna shook her head hurriedly before saying sharply: “Cease! We are hurting only ourselves... thou art hurting only Scrivener!”

The dark entity looked up sharply at this, immediately recoiling, and the world around them rumbled ominously as her magic faded. Valthrudnir simply smiled coldly at this, bringing his hands up to slowly clap as he looked patronizingly over at Luna, and the mare had to fight not to be swallowed up in berserk rage again as he asked mockingly: “And did you figure that out all on your own, little Valkyrie, or did you have some help from the other special little infants in your class?”

“Interesting.” Selene murmured, and when Nightmare Moon turned a cold gaze to the Nephilim, the ivory creature lowered her head, saying softly: “Of course I mean no disrespect, Mother. It is only that... this creature's life force is entwined with Scrivener's. They have a symbiotic link, but this strange entity has made it... parasitic. It feeds and uses Scrivener's energy, and hides behind him even now.”

Scrivener breathed weakly in and out, trembling at these words even as the pain slowly began to fade, before he managed to whisper a near-silent 'thank you' to Twilight Sparkle. But she only clung to him, her eyes tightly closed, red-tinged tears running down her own cheeks as she kept her face buried into his neck even as the charcoal stallion shifted to sit up a little, asking quietly: “What does that mean? Does that mean...”

“It means what I said before, Nihete. We are trapped together for the moment...” Valthrudnir looked down at one hand disdainfully, studying his claws before he said softly: “But do not think that like last time I will give you the opportunity to turn my own powers against me. Besides, there is no need to try and force a metamorphosis this time... you are transforming quite well enough on your own into a monster and a battleship which I intend to use to reconstruct a suitable vessel for my spirit.”

“Like a bag of sh-” Scrivener began moodily, but the Jötnar rose a hand and clenched it into a fist, and the stallion's jaw snapped shut as he winced in pain and surprise. A moment later, the force vanished, but Scrivener was still left unsettled, rubbing slowly at his jaw as he mumbled: “Tactful as ever.”

“Yes, says the insect who continues to aggravate the superior being in residence inside his puerile mind.” Valthrudnir replied disdainfully, and then the Jötnar shook his head contemptibly before he asked coldly, as his amber eyes traveled around the group that still had him pointlessly surrounded. “So tell me, plebeians and inferior beings, are we done acting out this pathetic little ruse? Because I have several much more interesting games in mind if you insist upon playing.”

“I would be careful, entity... the hatred that both Mother and Father harbor for you is great. Great enough they are willing to put themselves in harm's way to see you hurt yourself.” Selene said softly, and the Jötnar looked moodily towards her. “We are all not so different. Let us put our provocations aside and aid each other, or at least negotiate.”

Luna growled in disgust at this, and Valthrudnir's own amber eyes narrowed as Scrivener almost retched at the thought of trying to find common ground with the Jötnar. Only Twilight looked up with something like nervous hope, before Nightmare Moon voiced the thoughts of the others in cool, cruel tones: “We would rather die before working together. And were I less generous, Selene, I would be eager to see you punished and tortured for even daring to suggest such an atrocity.”

Selene only bowed her head politely, and Valthrudnir snorted in disgust before Twilight looked up and asked almost weakly: “But then... what do we do?”

There was a surprised moment of silence as the Jötnar's attention slowly roved towards where the three ponies were standing close together, Luna still glaring, Twilight afraid – although she was no longer sure what scared her most – and Scrivener breathing hard as the pain and pressure in his mind pulsed faintly. Then the dragon simply smiled coldly and he held up a hand, saying derisively: “You mortals go back to your childish amusements, and I will be kind enough to retire into the depths of my glorious hovel in the sinking ship of worthless Nihete.”

“If I'm worthless and you depend on me to survive, that makes you less than worthless.” Scrivener muttered, and Valthrudnir's amber eyes flashed at this response, the white-scaled dragon gritting his teeth before Scrivener forced himself to look up, and asked almost pleadingly: “Why?”

There was silence, echoing through the dark world... and then Valthrudnir calmly snapped his fingers and vanished without answering, the calm island he had been standing on amidst the turbulence of the twisted world immediately dissolving in a geyser of mire. Scrivener only stared off into space before he glanced back and forth as Nightmare Moon slowly approached, but Selene was gone as well.

He cursed under his breath, and then he realized Twilight was still hugging him, turning his eyes almost embarrassedly towards her before the Lich glanced up at him. But she had no words, and neither did Luna as the sapphire mare gazed at Scrivener for a few long moments, then swallowed and looked towards Nightmare Moon.

The enormous entity of passion looked down over them slowly, her blue mane twisting uncertainly, her eyes apprehensive... and then she closed them and said finally, in a surprisingly-soft voice: “We will find the answer. There is no parasite that cannot be expunged... we... will find the answer to this menace, even if it means...”

“Valthrudnir's back.” Scrivener said finally, and then he closed his eyes and pulled Twilight closer as the Lich shivered. Luna looked at them for a moment, then hurried over and joined the embrace, and for a little while that's all they did: sit there, holding each other, trying to reassure one another that it would be okay... even if Nightmare Moon herself continued to look almost fearful as she stayed and kept silent watch over her family in this corrupted, dark world.

Author's Notes:

Chapter Theme:
Soilwork - Antidotes in Passing

Foreshadows

Chapter Seven: Foreshadows
~BlackRoseRaven

Antares Mīrus smiled nervously over at Meadowlark as they walked side-by-side through Subterra. Burning Desire had asked them to visit, and the young stallion had felt that it would be a better use of his time than sitting around, worried, at the top of the Thorn Palace. Especially since he knew this was personal for his parents and... he wanted to give them space.

He kept shooting little, nervous looks at Meadowlark: she was quiet, trying to keep her own gaze ahead, her head bowed a little. She looked both humble and determined at once, and Antares hesitated before he opened his mouth... closed it... then finally said lamely: “You look nice.”

Meadowlark gave him a softly-amused look: the only thing different than usual was the fact she was wearing a loose, almost-transparent white chemise that covered the scarred area on the side of her body. Antares lamely looked forwards again, and then Meadowlark sighed, saying finally: “Listen, if... if this is too hard, why don't we-”

“No, no. I... no.” Antares shook his head almost desperately, and then he looked back and forth quickly before his eyes widened and he suddenly bolted across the street, the crimson Pegasus staring at him blankly as he hurried towards a wooden table next to a wagon filled with crates and knickknacks and flowerpots.

The demon behind the table glanced up with surprise as Antares approached, then the serpentine creature smiled widely, straightening and rubbing its claws together eagerly. “Prince Antares Mīrus! How many I serve you?”

“Uh... uh...” Antares blushed a little, then he gestured at a large silver locket that was engraved across the top with an arch of five ornate runes, and embossed with a crest he didn't recognize: it looked like a roaring beast of some kind. “That. How much for that and... are those lunar lilies?”

“Your mother's favorite.” the demon said quickly, and Antares smiled a little as the demon reached out and touched one of the bouquets of flowers resting in a tall clay vase. “Fifty bits for the locket, but I'll give you the bouquet for free.”

“Fifty?” Antares reared back in surprise, then he grabbed at himself before realizing he had no money, and he sighed tiredly. Then he glanced apprehensively over his shoulder at Meadowlark, who was still staring at him curiously from across the road, and he bit his lip before mumbling and nodding awkwardly: “Okay. But still, fifty...”

“Oh, it's a very old relic, Antares, from Helheim itself... they say there's a cherished secret inside it, that only those with the right touch can open.” the serpentine demon replied seriously, even as Antares closed his eyes and his horn began to glow as he concentrated. But the demon seemed to recognize that Antares was listening all the same despite his attention being mostly elsewhere, as the entity wrapped its long, gangly limbs around its bare, green scaled body and continued with just the right amount of mysteriousness in his voice: “This family crest is ancient, after all... and as I'm sure you know, demons have a tendency to keep secrets. But who knows? You're the Prince of the Night, with associations from the lowest Nightmare rabble to the Mistress of the Night herself! Perhaps you can divulge its secrets.”

Antares wheezed a bit as he finally dropped his head forwards, the glow dying out from around his horn as there was a faint pulse. The demon glanced up in surprise at this, his orange eyes glimmering before he looked dumbly back down as a Nightmare appeared out of thin air, carrying a large bag of coins in its maw, and the shadowy equine flicked its head to throw this immediately into the merchant's face.

The serpentine demon yelped, grabbing wildly at the bag before the Nightmare said irritably: “We low rabble may not be as mighty as some demons, but we will always be held closer to the masters of the night than you will, Greed entity.” Then it paused, before turning a kind smile on Antares, saying gently: “It is a pleasure as always to serve you, young Prince. Do not look so worried... we are happy to help you, whether your need is great or small.”

Then the Nightmare vanished from sight, and Antares cleared his throat awkwardly as the serpentine demon mumbled to himself before opening the pouch and looking down. He jangled the coins inside it a few times, then brightened a bit, nodding hurriedly and declaring: “That's perfect! The locket's yours and help yourself to a bouquet.”

Antares smiled at this, nodding and mumbling a quick 'thanks' as his horn glowed and lifted both bouquet and silver jewelry. Then he turned and hurried back across the street, wincing and leaping high over a skeletal pony that flinched away with surprise before Antares landed safely beside Meadowlark and accidentally almost hit her with both items when he thrust them towards her with telekinesis, saying lamely: “Here!”

Meadowlark mouthed wordlessly, clearly not knowing what to do or to say as she glanced back and forth, then said finally: “Antares, I... I mean... you really didn't have to and... that's... that's a very nice thought and all, but...”

Antares' face fell a little, and the Pegasus sighed before smiling faintly after a moment at the hangdog expression on his features, shaking her head out a little before murmuring: “Well... the locket does look pretty. Okay, fine, fine. Help me put it on.”

The glossy-black unicorn brightened at this, nodding quickly before he drew the bouquet in with telekinesis, hugging it against his chest as he narrowed his eyes in concentration and his horn glowed brighter. Meadowlark smiled a little at the sight, unable to stop that old warmth from rising up in her chest despite herself.

Although the Pegasus would probably never tell him, one of the things she loved most about Antares was the fact that he had so much trouble with magic. Even his most powerful spells weren't concentrated or long range, and maintaining something as simple as a telekinetic hold over an object could be enough to strain him. But that was why it made it all the more meaningful as he carefully opened the clasp at the back of the necklace with telekinesis, then slid both ends of the chain around her neck before she closed her eyes... and smiled when she heard the click of the clasp locking into place and felt the locket drop over her breast.

Antares sat back with a wheeze of relief, and then Meadowlark reached up and brushed her mane carefully back over the chain, her eyes opening as she gazed across at him. He was just sitting there, smiling at her embarrassedly, the bouquet of white flowers in his hooves... and after a moment, Meadowlark reached out and plucked one, quietly looking down at it before smiling softly and sliding it up into her mane behind an ear. “You can give the rest to Twilight. They're her favorite, right?”

“I dunno.” Antares looked down lamely, kneading the flowers awkwardly between his hooves, then back up as he asked awkwardly: “You... you don't like it, huh?”

“No, Antares, it's a wonderful thought, I just...” Meadowlark glanced away embarrassedly, then frowned at the road, and for a moment the glossy black unicorn winced before she asked in a surprised voice: “What's that?”

Antares glanced to the side... then stared as well at the sight of two large silver insects lurking near the merchant's parked wagon. Silverbacks, like he had seen in the Everfree Forest... except he didn't think he'd ever seen the nasty little things inside Subterra before, or even around Canterlot. But when the stallion began to turn towards them, both insects scurried suddenly off, like they had sensed the glossy black unicorn had been staring.

He traded a look with Meadowlark, then finally smiled a bit and shook his head even as she looked at him apprehensively. “Just bugs, that's all.”

“I don't think they've ever been seen around here before, though...” Meadowlark said quietly, and then she hesitated before glancing apprehensively over at Antares. “It bothers me. A few years ago, there were none of these things here... now, they're all over Equestria. It just... I don't know why, but it bothers me.”

Antares opened his mouth to reassure her, to try and brush away what she was implying... and then he stopped himself as his eyes lingered on her. He thought of all the times she'd been right and he'd been wrong, even with his ability to understand things... but her intuition had always been sharper, and Meadowlark never blinded herself to the little details or the big picture like he sometimes did. His powers came with tunnel vision... Meadowlark's intuition made her see things even when she didn't want to see the connections.

He looked at her, then shook his head and said finally: “To be honest, I hope you're wrong, Meadow, because... if you're right, it could mean a lot of things I really don't want to think about right now. Not with Dad in the state he's in and... all this other stuff going on.”

He quieted, then glanced down at the flowers before lifting them with telekinesis to carry them beside him as he began down the street. Meadowlark gazed after him softly, and then the Pegasus hurried to catch up to the stallion, gazing at him for a few moments before she asked in a murmur: “So it was that bad, huh?”

“I'm worried about Dad, yeah.”Antares said softly, nodding and looking down, and then he smiled faintly as he glanced up and shook his head slowly. “It's not fair, you know? The way things pile up, I mean... and if Valthrudnir really is back... I... I don't know what I'll do. No one ever talks about him to me, really... they try really hard to avoid that particular subject.”

Meadowlark nodded slowly, but she remained silent, and Antares glanced at her and bit his lip before he continued in almost a rush: “I fought so hard to save my parents and now... what if I did this somehow? I overheard Aunt Tia talking about how it had something to do with the card I used and I... for all these years I've been thinking about that... blurry part of memory and...”

He suddenly halted, then blushed and looked down, shaking his head as he almost lost his grip on the bouquet of lunar lilies before he mumbled: “Sorry, Meadowlark. I... I can just... talk to you.”

The Pegasus smiled faintly, but before she could invite him to go on, their eyes were both drawn by a loud, cheery greeting to the front of Burning Desire's palace. The unicorn demon himself stood at the top of the stairs, grinning brightly and flanked on either side by a gorgeous mare... except their ram's horns, cloven hooves, and slitted, glowing eyes gave away the true nature of the beautiful, jewelry-adorned ponies. “Well, friends, it's wonderful to see you both! Oh, Meadow, I haven't spoken to you for months, and Antares, the last I saw you was at that little party for your father, and even then it was only briefly!”

The demon beckoned to them hurriedly, and Antares smiled lamely as both of the demonic mares immediately leaned in and studied him eagerly. They were succubi: lower-class Lust demons that thrilled in pleasures of the flesh and physical contact, but had a nasty habit of draining their victims of their vitality – sometimes in the form of spiritual energy, sometimes in the rawer form of blood – during or after intercourse.

Antares awkwardly looked at the two demon mares, and then he cleared his throat before carefully pulling the bouquet into two halves as best he could, and he offered either half to the two succubi. Both immediately giggled and took the flowers gladly, smiling at him delightedly before Burning Desire chuckled and said kindly: “There, darlings. You've gotten your look at the handsome young stallion and even a nice little gift. Now run along, girls, I'm sure I'll be calling for you later.”

“Yes, Lord Desire.” Both succubi bowed their heads to him, and then they leaned in on either side of the fiery unicorn and kissed either cheek. Burning Desire grinned pleasedly, winking at Antares as the glossy-black stallion sighed and Meadowlark rolled her own eyes, then blushed a bit when one of the succubi lingered for a moment, studying the Pegasus.

Then the demonic mare carefully pulled a lunar lily free and pushed it into her own raven-haired mane, mimicking the Pegasus before smiling and turning to hurry off with a happy look on her face. Meadowlark stared after her, and Burning Desire gave a content sigh as he looked over his shoulder, remarking: “My girls always make me think it's so much better to be beautiful and childlike than smart and ugly. Lucky for me, I'm both.”

“Ugly and childlike?” Antares asked before he could stop herself, and Burning Desire huffed but smiled all the same before the glossy-black stallion blushed a little as the demon turned around to guide them inside. “Sorry, I... uh...”

As they walked down the widening bottleneck formed by the entrance hall, Antares couldn't help but look back and forth, his eyes staring at the exceptionally-detailed statues of mares posed in all manner of provocative positions, some sultry, some alluring, some downright debased. Meadowlark sighed tiredly and pointedly kept her eyes on the stone floor as Antares swallowed and said lamely: “I forgot about your... decorations.”

“Yes, and I just commissioned a centerpiece for my garden that will be the crown jewel of the whole estate!” Burning Desire crowed, and Antares winced a little as he tried to keep his eyes forwards, before the demon's eyes glinted mischievously as he added: “And Meadowlark, darling, it's perfectly okay to look if you're curious. Why, if you're curious, I can even summon a pretty mare or two who would be oh so very glad to let you explore her every nook and cranny...”

“That's fine, thank you, Burning Desire... I think I know a mare's anatomy well enough anyway.” Meadowlark mumbled, and when both Burning Desire and Antares halted to stare at her, Meadowlark glanced up curiously, then turned scarlet as she babbled: “Not like that! I... Antares!”

“Don't look at me, it's his fault! And you said it!” Antares said hurriedly, and then he stared past Meadowlark at the posed statue behind her for a moment, before he turned and hurriedly flicked his horn out, knocking the doors at the end of the hall open so he could run to a less-awkward area.

Meadowlark followed after him quickly, and Burning Desire trotted cheerfully along last, chuckling as they entered into an open foyer and he chastised playfully: “Now come on, my little ponies, don't you want to enjoy these gorgeous works of art? Why, your mother Luna just absolutely adored them when she visited, as I recall!”

“My Mom's always been really, really weird, though.” Antares mumbled, and then he rubbed slowly at his face before sighing and asking pleadingly: “Can we just go somewhere where... I don't know, Lust demons won't throw themselves at us or we won't have to stare at... stuff like... that?”

“Oh, calm down, that's just how we Lust demons shake hooves. It means we like you. Well, usually. As long as you don't end up dying it means we like you.” Burning Desire paused thoughtfully, then looked over at Meadowlark with a wink. “Would you like to shake my hoof, Meadow...”

His eyes flicked down to the locket around her neck, and then widened slightly, and the playfulness vanished from Burning Desire's features as he straightened slowly. And both Meadowlark and Antares stared up at him with surprise before the demon began to reach hesitantly out, then visibly worked to restrain himself, pulling his hoof away as he whispered: “Where did you get that? May... may I please see it?”

“I... Antares just bought it for me...” Meadowlark said hesitantly, and Burning Desire smiled a little, but his eyes were almost pleading before the Pegasus reached up and undid the clasp as Antares frowned at the demonic unicorn. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing is... wrong, it's just been... it's...” Burning Desire shook his head slowly, then he held both hooves up, almost like a foal, as Meadowlark held the locket by the chain. And the Pegasus hesitated only a moment longer... but it was only so she could study him, looking into the demon's eyes with concern for the way all his usual playfulness had been so completely demolished.

She carefully set the locket down in his hooves, and Burning Desire clutched it tightly for a moment, breathing a little harder before he rose it in front of his face with a look like awe. He smiled after a moment, then gazed over it at Antares, asking in a rush: “Do you know what this is? Where did you buy it from?”

“Just... a Greed demon who said it was very old, from Helheim probably. He overcharged me for it and told me some story about how only the right set of hooves could open it but... I don't think me or Meadowlark even tried. It doesn't even look like it can open.” Antares said finally, glancing nervously at the locket: it did indeed seem like nothing but an oval piece of silver, after all, and the clasp looked as if it had worn away with time, but... all the same... “I bought it because those symbols, they mean...”

“Pride, Trust, Honor, Loyalty and Love.” Burning Desire finished, and Antares smiled embarrassedly as Meadowlark glanced over at him with surprise, then blushed a little herself. “But this symbol on the front of the locket... this is the symbol of Duke Magister. And I think...”

Burning Desire bit his tongue, his horn glowing faintly as he rubbed a hoof over the front of the silver pendant as it lit up with the same aura... before there was a quiet click, and the locket swung open, both Antares and Meadowlark staring with surprise. And then the glossy black unicorn looked up with something like shock at how Burning Desire looked like he was almost going to start crying, even though he was smiling as wide and openly as he had used to with Twilight Sparkle. “Yes...”

Meadowlark and Antares both stepped forwards, and Burning Desire flushed and almost hid the pendant for a moment, both ponies rearing back... before the demon closed his eyes, then smiled faintly and murmured: “No... no, it's alright, I... here, look.”

He lowered it back down, and Antares and Meadow both gazed at the portraits hidden inside the locket with surprise: one was of a demon that looked much like the profile of the crest embossed on the silver metal... but the other was a beautiful unicorn, with a vibrancy in her eyes that shone out even from the tiny, wonderfully-preserved painting.

Antares understood after only a moment: not just because of the similarities, but because of the trembles in Burning Desire's body, and the look on the demon's face. Because of his own experiences with that same longing, even if he knew that Meadowlark had gone through something similar. “That's... she's your mother, isn't she?”

“Yes. Yes, it is.” Burning Desire looked up with a smile and a blush and... what seemed almost like gratitude, as he said softly: “Her name was Illuminia... and the demon, that's her father, Duke Magister. Well... adopted father, but he was always there for her. He adored her and took care of her, to the point where they made a pact together...

“But you see, a pact is a dangerous thing. And the Duke had many enemies... enemies who were cowards, and traitors, and liars, who weren't people like us, who believe that we can shape our own destiny... they just wanted to believe that all demons were nothing but monsters anyway, like it gave us all a right to act that way.” Burning Desire's voice became bitter and sharp, the demon shaking his head fiercely... but the moment he looked back down at the pictures, he softened and murmured: “But it was my mother, you see, who taught me in the first place that demons could be good. And she never lied about that, because... the Duke was good. I strive to be like my grandfather every day... well... a little like other friends I was fortunate enough to have made in the past, too...”

He closed his eyes, then chuckled a little and murmured: “I'm sorry. I went off on a tangent... I...” He halted, then took a calming breath before saying softly: “My Mom... she died after giving birth to her fourth child, my youngest sister. She died because Duke Magister was murdered, by a devil named Cupidus. But while the Duke died quickly, my mother... died very slowly, and painfully. It.. I wasn't allowed to see her at the end, and I was still just a foal anyway and... it...”

He shivered once, then looked down silently before stroking the portrait, whispering: “I hope she's with the Duke now, or at least my father. My father was a hard stallion but it was never his fault... he was just hurt, and disillusioned, and... I never helped matters. I was such an idiot child when I was a mortal... and well, that hasn't changed much, but I don't sit and cry anymore when things go wrong. I get up, and I do something and... I... I work towards my goals every day.”

Burning Desire fell silent, then he reached up and rubbed slowly at his eyes with one hoof before closing the locket and smiling faintly as he held it back out towards Meadowlark. She looked up at him with surprise, and then the stallion said softly: “It's not mine. It's yours. I may be part Greed but that only means I understand the rules of property all the more and... besides. If I take what's not mine, violet will scold me.”

He laughed a little, and Meadowlark smiled faintly before she shook her head, glancing almost apologetically at Antares before she returned her eyes to Burning Desire and quietly pushed the hoof holding the locket back towards him. “No. It means a lot more to you than me... I mean, it's a beautiful locket but... those pictures inside...”

“Yes, I... I don't think I've even told violet all the truth about my past. More than most, but... seeing these things, that these relics of Magister's do still exist...” Burning Desire looked down at the locket, and then he closed his eyes and bowed his head forwards, his horn glowing. And a moment later, the silver jewelry vanished with a puff of flame, and Antares felt both glad and a little disheartened all at once as he gave Meadowlark a faint smile. Only I could buy a gift to try and impress the mare I like, and end up impressing a demon stallion instead.

Then Burning Desire stepped forwards and hugged them both fiercely against his body, his fiery mane wafting backwards as the two both wheezed in surprise: the demon's body was intensely hot, and more than heat, his very emotions seemed to pulse out of his body, both ponies experiencing for a moment the depth and wild array of the fiery unicorn's feelings as he whispered: “Thank you.”

“You're... you're welcome...” Antares managed, reaching up and awkwardly patting the demon on the shoulder, smiling lamely and feeling like his skin was beginning to scald just from contact with the fiery stallion's frame. “I... uh... I think you're going to set us both on fire.”

Meadowlark managed a wheeze of agreement, and Burning Desire only grinned, squeezing them firmer for a moment as he remarked cheerfully: “Now, Antares, normally I'd point out I'm very happy with mares... but if you're really interested in having me set your body aflame, I would be more than happy to oblige this one time in return for-”

Antares groaned and snapped his horn upwards, and there was a flash of white light before Burning Desire yelped and leapt backwards, bursting apart into a conflagration that quickly coalesced backwards into the form of a small red firebird. This swooped hurriedly upwards and away, landing on one of the rafters high above, and Meadowlark fell forwards with a groan as Antares shook his head out, before Burning Desire complained: “It's very rude to use an exorcism on a demon in their own home, Antares Mīrus!”

The glossy black unicorn only mumbled, unable to form too coherent a response before he leaned awkwardly over and pulled Meadowlark to her hooves, and she glanced up at him and smiled. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the heat in their bodies both rose... and then they hurriedly turned their gazes away and blushed, even as Meadow gave a minute tremble and Antares took a deep gasp of air, like he had been holding his breath this entire time.

From above, Burning Desire looked down at them thoughtfully in his firebird form, then he smiled to himself before hopping carefully along the rafter and cupping his beak with one wing, whispering loudly down to Antares: “Hey, kid. Only you can hear me right now, don't worry... if you like her so much, why don't you just kiss her?”

Antares looked up in surprise with a blush, glancing over his shoulder incredulously as Meadowlark looked moodily up at the firebird: she could definitely still hear Burning Desire. But Antares was still looking dumbly up, and the demon advised gently: “Don't be stupid, take a look at her... she doesn't want trinkets or gifts or toys, she just wants a promise that you're going to be there for her. And you need to show her that the person you're doing this for the most isn't her, it's you. Because you're just lucky enough that mare doesn't want a slave, she wants a stallion who's going to stand up beside her on his own hooves.”

Meadowlark hurriedly looked down, gazing across at Antares with the faintest blush as Antares drew his eyes away from the firebird, and for a moment, the two ponies looked at each other before Burning Desire leapt off his perch and flew quickly away, calling cheerfully: “I'll be back in a moment, you two!”

The firebird sailed away and down through an archway at the other end of the foyer, but Meadowlark and Antares only continued to look at each other, their gazes locked, almost hearing one-another's thoughts, tasting one another's emotions. Then, slowly, Antares leaned in... but instead of moving to kiss her, he quietly rose a hoof.

Meadowlark tilted her head, but rose her own, and the unicorn grasped it gently as he smiled at her faintly, saying softly: “Ever... since we were kids, I think... I've always cared about you. So much... so damn much. And I know we've had our differences and... I know a few times we almost killed each other and I... I want to apologize. Not just for how much I've hurt you, not just for how much I've screwed up, but... because... I forgot to live for a little while. And then I... I insulted you when I came here at first, asking for you to be my marefriend because that's what everyone else was telling me to do, not for the right reasons. Because I was scared I was going to miss being able to be with you, and for selfish reasons, instead of... because you're incredible, and wonderful, and beautiful.

“And I think... I think I've grown up enough now to understand what has to be done. I'm not going to make stupid promises to you, Meadowlark, and I'm... I'm never going to lie to you.” Antares looked up into her eyes quietly, nodding slowly once. “And I want this. I want us to be together. But I also want it to be... what you want.”

Meadowlark looked across at him quietly, and Antares smiled faintly at her before he said finally: “I'm... if you don't... I think I'm going to kiss you now. So... uh...”

Antares broke off, then leaned slowly forwards... before he trembled when Meadowlark reached up a hoof between them and gently stopped him, pressing against his lips. She looked into his eyes softly, and he gazed back silently before she said softly: “Wait.”

She slowly slid her hoof away from his mouth, cupping Antares' cheek as she squeezed his hoof in her own, and then she smiled faintly at him, asking quietly: “Are you honestly ready for this? Are you honestly going to be happy yourself? Do you... really... care about me?”

Antares remained silent for a moment, closing his eyes as he tried to think of all the words he wanted to say, the promises he wanted to make... but then, instead, he reached his free hoof up and slid it through Meadowlark's mane as he leaned in and kissed her slowly, saying everything he needed to without speaking a single word.

Meadowlark melted against him, the Pegasus sliding her own limb around his neck and kissing him fiercely back as she pushed forwards. And when the kiss broke, she clung to him, burying her face against his neck with a tremble as Antares embraced her against his body, their hooves still locked between them as he held her tightly and said finally: “Yes.”

The Pegasus laughed a little against him, and then she closed her eyes, smiling, feeling his heart beat as they rested together. His breathing was slow and even, but there was an almost palpable feeling of something loosening inside him, of the chains of pain and sorrow that he had been bound up with clinking and loosening...

And Antares felt it too, holding Meadowlark close as he felt the faintest touch of something along his spine, could swear he felt the feeling of lips brush his ear, the tickle of a mane as something... someone... passed close by him. He felt like he was being reassured... that it was okay, because amidst all his jumbled promises made to Meadowlark, he'd made a few to himself as well.

The two ponies held each other close, and then Antares said finally, softly: “I'm never going to forget Prestige Luster, Meadow, and maybe I shouldn't... talk about her so soon after... you know... but I want you to know I'm never going to compare you to each other. You're two different ponies, and the problem was never... never that you weren't right for me, or she was better. It was just that... the way things worked out...”

“I remember. And I think I only have myself to blame, but... I'm... I'm honestly glad you had that time with her, Antares. She... she had good effects on you, and she was a good friend.” Meadowlark quieted, and then she drew back a little, looking into his eyes and smiling faintly. “And I'm never going to ask you to forget about her. I know I can... only imagine what it must feel like, to have lost her in the first place, and now to... be living without her. But I want to think this is what she'd want for you... to move forwards. She... she always worked hard for you.”

“I know. She pushed me, motivated me, bullied me when I needed it. She kept me going.” Antares laughed a little, and then he closed his eyes as the two ponies finally parted, their hooves staying linked for a moment longer before sliding apart, and then the young stallion smiled across at her. “And I know ponies aren't just.. talking nonsense when they say stuff like that anymore. But that was really hard to believe at first and... even now, well...”

“I know. But I know you, Antares... you hurt over things, and you don't forget things very easily. But that's okay, because... it's part of who you are, and I love you for it.” Meadowlark replied quietly, and then she shook her head and added softly: “We can talk about it as much as you want, okay? I'm here for you.”

“I appreciate it, Meadow. How... how understanding you've been.” Antares stopped, then he reached up and squeezed her shoulder gently, murmuring softly as he looked into her eyes: “You're... you're better to me than I deserve.”

Meadowlark only shrugged a little, and then they both glanced up as Burning Desire strode back into the room with a warm smile on his face. Antares cocked his head curiously as the demon approached, looking at the objects floating easily beside the fiery unicorn before Burning Desire said warmly: “In the old days, when you received a gift, you always gave something in return... whether it was simply a token of gratitude or something of equal value, it didn't matter, only that you showed your appreciation this way.”

Burning Desire smiled a little as he looked back and forth between them, then he passed one of the two objects forwards to Meadowlark, and she reached up to take the heavy, leather-bound tome curiously in her front hooves as the stallion said softly: “This is for you. I know that you've been trained as a healer under that wonder-working shaman, Zecora, so you should understand many of the references to the rituals. But do be careful, sweet Meadow... this book isn't just on the culture of demons, but there are very real spells written in these pages, and even invoking a scrying ritual can invite dangerous entities in to play.”

Meadowlark gazed reverently up at Burning Desire, then she nodded slowly before the fiery unicorn smiled and turned his eyes to Antares, offering the second item to him. The glossy-black stallion cocked his head curiously as he reached up to take the offered object in his hooves, studying it with interest as Burning Desire said kindly: “This isn't much, but you're a tricky pony, Antares. But I hope this can be of some use to you.”

“Is it... what is it?” Antares asked awkwardly, as he turned the object back and forth in his hooves: he didn't quite understand what he was holding. It just seemed like a large jar of some kind, with a lid locked on tightly by several heavy clasps, and then he carefully reached up to try and pop one of these open, but Burning Desire winced and quickly caught his hoof.

“I wouldn't do that.” the demon said delicately, and then he reached down and patted the lid of the urn twice, saying kindly: “It's for magic amplification, let's put it that way. Your mother will know... well, both your mothers. Just... uh... please, don't open it.” The demon paused, then reflected: “Your mothers. I've always had this fantasy I would meet two mares who lived together serendipitously and wanted to become mothers, and begged me to play the part of helping them father foals. Not the actual fathering mind you, but the making...”

“Please don't share things like that.” Antares mumbled, and then he frowned as he shook the jar a few times, and Burning Desire winced a bit and hurriedly stepped backwards before the glossy black unicorn slowly looked up at this reaction, scowling a little. “Wait. This thing is dangerous, isn't it? What precisely am I holding here?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing hard to get, anyway...” Burning Desire said evasively, and Meadowlark frowned a little as well now, the two ponies looking across at the demonic stallion before he cleared his throat and explained slowly: “Well, it's made out of a rather special clay, inscribed with all kinds of runes, enchanted as you can clearly feel...”

Both ponies glared at him, and Burning Desire finally sighed and admitted lamely: “It may so happen to be filled with the ashes of demons and contains several rather angry lost souls, which is where it draws its energy from.”

Antares winced and almost threw the urn away, and Burning Desire yelped as he quickly caught it with telekinesis before it could hit the ground, the glossy-black unicorn asking incredulously: “And you're trying to give me a Curse Jar as a gift?”

“It's not a Curse Jar and I didn't make it! They're nasty, no longer sentient demon energies, anyway, I checked and everything!” Burning Desire argued, lifting the jar and thrusting it back towards Antares, but the glossy black stallion winced away before grumbling and finally taking it when the jar bumped firmly against his face a few times. “Look, it's very, very rare, and it should help you with your magic. You should be able to use this thing to cast portal spells, so if anything it's really a very thoughtful gift.”

Antares only mumbled under his breath, but he finally took the jar with a tired sigh, looking sourly down at it before grumbling: “This thing had better not be... you know. Evil. And I don't even know any portal spells. Time and space magic is way, way above anything I can do.”

“Well, violet or Luna can teach you over a few years, I'm sure.” Burning Desire said reasonably, and Antares hesitated before sighing and nodding grudgingly. “Just think of this as a battery that recharges itself over time, because that's really all it is. Unless you break it. Then you'll be dealing with some mindless forces of sin incarnate.”

Antares glowered up at Burning Desire, and then the demonic stallion clapped his front hooves together cheerily and asked brightly: “Now, what say we take a little walk and find some entertainment, shall we? I have just the perfect way to spend the afternoon in mind, young lovers!”

“I don't like when you say things like that.” Antares mumbled, and Meadowlark hid a smile behind a hoof as Burning Desire only grinned and then spun around, whistling cheerfully before the glossy black unicorn sighed. Then he tilted his horn, lifting both the urn and Meadowlark's book with telekinesis as the Pegasus gave him a smile, and the two fell in step behind the eccentric demon.

Late that night found the dining hall filled by ponies of every shape and size, all sitting around one enormous black table. Scrivener Blooms, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle were all smiling, although even their most distant friends could see they were worried about something... but the three were putting on a strong front, and not letting whatever concerns poisoned their minds ruin this time they had to share with friends and family.

Celestia seemed a little worried herself, but was striving to take after her family's example... and Sleipnir's endless pestering of her seemed to be helping distract her from her own thoughts. Cowlick kept jumping every time a Nightmare appeared out of thin air to refill the dishes of food on the table, while Avalon and Aphrodisia were apparently having an eating contest as Antares stared at them disbelievingly and Meadowlark only paged curiously through the book she had been given.

Near her brother, Scarlet Sage was holding the hoof of another mare seated comfortably beside her: an earth pony with a bright yellow coat and a vibrant red mane, her orange eyes happy and pleasant and a bandanna keeping her crimson locks tied back. Apple Bloom, Scarlet Sage's partner, and a pony who was like a daughter to Luna and Scrivener.

She was currently arguing with Cowlick about something, before the engineer winced when a Nightmare appeared right beside her to lean past and pick up an empty bowl, then simply vanish from sight again. And then the engineer glared when Apple Bloom laughed, saying flatly: “You shut up, or I'll demote your flank.”

“You remind me of Scoot. She'd always work so hard to never admit how scared she was of anything, and ended up just making herself even more afraid of whatever was bothering her.” Apple Bloom remarked, then she smiled amusedly and glanced over at Scarlet Sage, giving her hoof a light squeeze. “She and Sweetie wanted to know if we could get together sometime soon, by the way. I think they miss the old days.”

“That'd be fun.” Scarlet Sage smiled back, then she shook her head and glanced down the table, before frowning a little and asking Antares awkwardly: “Uh... does Avalon know what she's eating?”

“What?” Antares looked up, then winced at the fact both Avalon and Aphrodisia were now stuffing dumplings into their face, the glossy-black unicorn saying hurriedly: “Ava, wait, those aren't pastries, they're meat!”

Avalon froze with a dumpling half-raised to her mouth, at least three mostly-chewed ones stuffed into her mouth, and she slowly looked towards Antares as the stallion winced and Aphrodisia paused and swallowed her own food before saying sheepishly: “Whoops. Sorry, I forgot that normal ponies don't eat meat or anything. But it's still really good, right?”

Avalon slowly turned a multitude of sickly colors, then sprung away from the table: all she managed to do was hurry into a corner before vomiting loudly, however, and Rainbow Dash winced and hurried out of his seat as Applejack sighed and glanced awkwardly down the table. “Uh, say, Twilight, uh... do you have anything for sick ponies?”

“Selene, a pony requires medicine!” Luna called loudly as her horn glowed faintly... and a moment later, the strange, ivory Nephilim appeared out of thin air with a calm smile, gazing affectionately towards Luna even though there was a distinct surliness in the eyes of the sapphire mare. “Good. Please attend to poor Avalon and clean up the mess.”

“Yes, Mother.” Selene said softly, and Celestia sighed and looked pointedly at Luna as a few others at the table shifted in surprise: the Nephilim was the Overseer, after all, in charge of all of Subterra. But Luna only looked grouchily back at Celestia as Selene went about her business with the same calm, unchanging expression.

“We used to eat until we vomited in the old days. 'Twas fun, really.” Sleipnir remarked, and then he winced when Pinkamena punched him in the side, rubbing awkwardly at the offended area. “What? I do not do it anymore, do I?”

“Only because I think a fatass like you could devour our entire store and still be hungry afterwards.” Pinkamena muttered, and then she glanced down the table and added mildly: “And hey, kiddo, take it easy there. You don't want to be too much like your Daddy, do you?”

Aphrodisia only smiled brightly in return, and conversation went back to normal as Rainbow Dash glanced at Applejack, who nodded and quickly excused herself as the blue stallion hefted his ill-looking daughter onto his back. Selene lingered for only long enough to dissolve the large puddle of puke in the corner with a flick of her horn before she followed after them.

Big Mac shook his head with a small smile, and beside him, a sky-blue Pegasus glanced curiously up, reaching up to run a hoof through his darker, unkempt navy mane. “Poor kid. We were supposed to go flying later with her father, too, run through a few practices.”

“I'm sure she'll be just fine in a little while.” Big Mac said with a smile, reaching up and squeezing the stallion's shoulder, and then he paused before glancing curiously over at Cowlick when she snorted in amusement.

“Pretty sure she ate enough meat to kill ten ponies, but I'm also pretty sure Avalon there ain't gonna lay around and cry about it too long. Don't worry, flyboy, you'll get your flight time with Dash's daughter. Although I think it's really Dash you're all googly-eyes over.” Cowlick remarked, and then she paused and glanced mildly over at Big Mac. “Then again, pretty sure if I got my nasty little hooves on a stud like Mac, I'd drag him off to the bedroom and wouldn't ever let him leave.”

Big Mac slowly picked up his cup of water and sipped from it awkwardly, and then Cowlick rubbed at her face and looked down the table towards Spike and Rarity, adding meditatively: “Wonder what it must be like with a dragon, though. Then again, maybe I should ask Luna or Celestia if I really want to know the whole story.”

“What's what like, Cowlick?” Ross asked curiously, and the engineer mare smiled amusedly over at him before reaching up and stroking his mane back tenderly.

“Oh, you know. Dirty stuff that don't interest you none. But don't worry, you're my favorite, handsome. You're the pony for me. I just like to dream.” Cowlick looked meditatively around the table, rubbing a hoof absently down her own breast. “Although some days I feel like slipping a little something in your coffee.”

“I don't drink coffee, though. Not usually at least, nope.” Ross replied curiously, and Cowlick smiled as she gave him an amused look, warmth in her eyes.

“Metaphor, handsome. You remember that, right?” She gazed at him gently, then paused before turning a glare towards another pony seated at the table, snapping: “Stop your damn staring at me or I'll throttle you with that fancy tie of yours.”

Barry hurriedly cleared his throat and dropped his head, wincing and staring down at his soup before shivering and pushing the stew away. He hesitated, then awkwardly glanced over towards Scrivener, and the charcoal stallion sighed tiredly as he said moodily: “This is your own fault for showing up here.”

“I... I was just trying to let you know the score, champ! And besides, I mean... okay, yes, okay, it's very nice to be here and all and your friends are wonderful ponies, wonderful...” He halted, looking lamely back and forth down the table, eyes dancing nervously over Nirvana, Spike, the three young half-Phooka, and the Nightmares that were appearing more frequently now as more ponies excused themselves. “Uh... people. You can't blame me for being a little weirded out though. I mean, I'm sitting beside a former Wonderbolt, which is cool as hell, but that demon also tried to eat me.”

Sleipnir, on the other side of the table, automatically looked at Pinkamena, and his wife grumbled and punched him in the foreleg, saying sourly: “It wasn't me, asshole. Besides, look at him, he's all wrapper and no filling.”

Barry looked ridiculously hurt by this comment, and Scrivener slapped his forehead with a hoof before Luna interjected kindly: “Well, Barry, if it is of any consequence Hevatica has very discerning tastes. I am sure she merely mistook thou for a tasty treat, with all the... tawdry bundling thou art done up in, 'tis all.”

“Tawdry... hey! This suit cost me a fortune!” Barry grabbed at his clothing in vexation, blushing slightly as Twilight Sparkle sighed quietly and Celestia gave Luna a pleading look. “You know what? I've been trying to hold back from this, champ, because... because we laugh and have fun a lot, but... you and your friends, you and... her and... you... you're really not... nice.”

Barry stumbled to a halt, and the miniscule amount of courage he had managed to summon up vanished when Scrivener simply looked at him blankly, the smaller, lanky earth pony half-hiding and squeaking: “Don't fire me or feed me to demons!”

“'Tis cute, does thy pet do other tricks as well?” Sleipnir looked up curiously at Scrivener, and the charcoal stallion only sighed tiredly as he looked moodily at Barry.

“I've tried teaching him how to shut up, but that doesn't exactly seem to be going very well.” Scrivener remarked dryly, and then he grumbled a little and shook his head, adding finally: “Barry, look. We're mean, because... we're... mean.”

Luna and Twilight both looked flatly at Scrivener, and the dark-coated stallion shrugged and looked lamely around the table before Pinkamena rolled her eyes and spoke up suddenly: “Look, douchebag, you're in our house now, and our rules are simple. You be yourself and say what the hell you want. Sure, we're not walking around, sharing our feelings with each other and being all nice. But we're honest, and we take care of each other, and we don't mince our words. Just because I tell Scrivener here he's a jackass doesn't mean I like him any less. He is a jackass.”

“I am a jackass.” Scrivener agreed, and then he smiled over at the demon, but she only growled in response to him before the stallion looked at Barry as he glanced up meekly. “What Pinkamena's saying is trust in our actions, not our words. Look, once Luna and I have had our coffee after our meal and everything, I'll walk you out of Subterra. That way you can avoid upsetting any other demons. Some of the entrances from Canterlot might be public now, but that doesn't mean the demons like ponies wandering down into their city all that much.”

“God you're weird. Talking about it like it's the ponies' fault above and... no, no, forget I said anything.” Barry hid behind the table again when Pinkamena glared at him, even as Sleipnir reached up and put a soothing hoof on her shoulder. Then the agent winced as he looked back and forth, adding lamely: “And hey, Soarin' here might be a demon in the air but... he's not really... a demon, right?”

“No, but... you know. They didn't trust me at first but... I spent plenty of time here working on and off with Starlit Knights and hanging around and... they get used to you.” Soarin' said lamely, rubbing the back of his head and giving a small smile. Then he cleared his throat a bit, glancing over at Big Mac. “Just took patience, right? Although I was pretty freaked out myself at first, wasn't I?”

Big Mac only smiled and nodded in return, and Barry mumbled a little before he shrank down a bit in his seat. Gradually, everyone else left, until Barry was sitting with Celestia, Luna, Scrivener and Twilight Sparkle.

The agent had calmed down a little, although he was now nervously playing with a meat dumpling and tossing anxious looks at the Nightmares and other demons cleaning up the table. Scrivener was doing his best to ignore his agent, however, as he and Twilight argued over some old language theory and Luna sat back, looking almost... content, in spite of everything. Celestia had a cup of tea, sipping at it and listening with interest to the conversation before she glanced upwards with surprise at the figure that sauntered calmly in through the archway.

Scrivener and Twilight fell silent as well as Luna looked up with a slight grin, her eyes gleaming with interest... but also faint apprehension, as she asked mildly: “And what brings thou, of all the miserable creatures in this universe, to my pleasant little abode?”

“Just because in your mind all of Subterra belongs to you, Brynhild, that doesn't make it true.” retorted the unicorn that entered the room... or at least, Barry thought it was a unicorn, until his mind processed the fact that the beetroot-colored stallion was striding calmly along on his rear legs, and his upper limbs ended in not hooves, but black, smooth hands. The unicorn-like creature had a wavy golden mane and matching tail, and his eyes were ivory, as was the horn standing up from his skull: and the only thing that Barry could honestly relate to in terms of this creature was the fact that it was wearing a very nice, green-colored dress suit and perfectly-knotted tie.

“Kvasir, do not be an idiot. Anything that I desire to be mine becomes mine instantly, there is no greater truth than this.” Luna replied pompously, sniffing loudly as she sat back in her seat, then she sighed and glowered over at Barry, who was mouthing wordlessly as Kvasir approached them moodily. “You, idiot. If there is one creature thou does not need fear it is this one. Oh, aye, he may be Valhalla's new master, but god or not 'tis still nothing more threatening than a homunculus.”

“Yes, Brynhild, oh please, by all means tell every little mortal exactly who and what I am.” Kvasir said distastefully, stopping on the other side of the table and giving a moody look towards Barry, who shrank a bit and offered an awkward grin before the beetroot unicorn muttered: “I suppose it doesn't matter anyway. What precisely are you, mortal?”

“Barry, Barry Barter, at your service, sir, pleasure to meet you, I'm the literary agent for the champ, Scrivener Blooms!” Barry seemed to fall back on some kind of autopilot, giving a grin and rambling away as he stretched a hoof across the table, and Kvasir leaned back slightly and held a hand up in front of himself in what was almost a defensive gesture.

There was an awkward silence, and then Barry slumped a bit back into his seat before Celestia said gently: “It's important for a leader to always go an extra step for his people, Kvasir... to be willing to meet even the lowest and meanest of his subjects as an equal, to demonstrate his dedication to treating all with equality... even when they don't deserve it.”

“Your lesson for today has been noted, Valkyrie Freya.” Kvasir said dourly, and Barry looked dumbly back and forth before muttering and crossing his forelegs, slumping back in his seat. “But these mortals are not my subjects. I am only an administrator of Valhalla, nothing more... and besides, if I didn't care, I wouldn't be here right now. We have an... abnormality.”

Luna straightened a little at this, automatically looking down the table... but of course, Antares was long gone. She hoped that he was off with Meadowlark, celebrating the start of their courtship... even if he hadn't mentioned it yet, Luna had seen the way the two were closer, could tell that there was something blossoming between them... that the Pegasus had helped her son find closure, and move on. And right now, it was better that he remained distracted with good things, as she asked quietly: “Thou has a job for myself and my husband?”

“They are not your soldiers, Kvasir.” Celestia said quietly, but there was a strange edge to her voice as she put down her teacup, her amethyst eyes almost glowing as they locked on Kvasir's strange ivory irises when they slid towards her. “If something was wrong in this world, I would have already known about it. You can't expect them to go off into another plane again, to fix some other world's problems.”

“Celestia...” Luna's tone was soft, but almost chastising as she turned her eyes towards her sibling, who gave the faintest blush as she dropped her gaze away from Kvasir. For a moment, there was only silence, and then Luna simply reached over and squeezed her sister's shoulder before turning her eyes back to Kvasir.

He studied them calmly, then he shook his head and said softly: “Valhalla is strong, but I have no one I trust or respect as much I have come to trust and respect yourself and Brynhild and her... family.” His eyes flicked from Scrivener to Twilight, and then he shook his head, continuing quietly: “And you would be just as angry, Freya, if I went to Sleipnir instead. Besides, hear me out first. As I said, there is an abnormality, but I did not say a 'danger,' per se.”

Celestia nodded hesitantly, and the others looked up as Barry looked on nervously but curiously: for now, however, Kvasir treated the mortal as if he didn't exist, as the homunculus god explained calmly: “As you recall, nine anchors were laid in nine different layers of reality, to protect the core world. After your... misadventure while laying the first anchor, Odin saw fit to have each anchor modified slightly, so that it would send up a signal if it was tampered with.”

“Oh, aye, I remember. I remember that well.” Luna said with relish, looking up and grinning slightly as she rubbed thoughtfully at the underside of her jaw. “Corvette, was that not the name of the mercenary who tampered with us, Scrivener Blooms?”

“Bounty hunter, you mean. Well. Slave trader. Actually, let's just refer to him as a douchebag and call it a day.” Scrivener said mildly, and Luna nodded thoughtfully a few times in agreement before the stallion turned his eyes to Kvasir, asking curiously: “Was it one of the anchors we laid, or one of the other four?”

“I have an idea, ponies. Why don't you let me talk, and maybe then you'll learn what's going on?” Kvasir asked crankily, and Luna huffed and grumbled and Scrivener sat back with a grunt. Twilight only smiled lamely when the beetroot unicorn looked back and forth, then rolled his eyes and shook his head slowly. “I don't know why Odin had to design his creatures to be so... so meddlesome.”

“Thou art meddlesome.” Luna grumbled, and then she fidgeted before finally quieting when Twilight Sparkle reached out and gently touched her shoulder, the sapphire mare grumbling to herself and motioning for Kvasir to go ahead with one hoof.

The homunculus looked at them grouchily, then he leaned forwards over the table, resting his black hands against the wooden surface and saying moodily: “Since you were so interested... it is not a layer of reality that you have visited before, no. I believe Sleipnir placed the anchor in this one. I believe it is an inner layer... not prime, though.”

Luna smiled wryly, looking up at the beetroot unicorn and remarking mildly: “Thou knows that... 'tis a dangerous game thou art playing, labeling and sorting out all the layers that Odin created. They were never meant to be so organized and labeled, after all... merely ninety-nine different realities, to vex any interloper and intruder seeking to reach the center layer.”

“Yes, but this is important.” Kvasir replied quietly, shaking his head and hesitating before continuing slowly: “As you know, Brynhild, the core reality is shielded by the nine anchors, hidden across nine different planes of reality. These layers vary from prime, the closest to the core reality, to omega, the furthest and most different... and often the most hostile. But every layer is molded from the same base.”

Luna looked impatient at the history lesson, before frowning when Kvasir said quietly: “But the surge we detected in Valhalla from the anchor prompted me to take a look at this inner layer, to see what could have caused it... and there is something... unnatural in the desert. Something that is blocking any effort to see inside it... all it appears to be is a blot of darkness. But it reeks of...”

Slowly, Kvasir looked over at Scrivener Blooms, and the charcoal stallion shivered a bit, shaking his head slowly and grasping at his skull as he felt something shift strangely inside him. And then he looked up, forcing himself to ask: “Valthrudnir?”

He almost whispered the word, as if afraid speaking his name would wake up the Jötnar hiding inside his mind, and Kvasir hesitated before nodding slowly and murmuring: “I expect that Decretum may be involved somehow, but... I don't know how. Clockwork World itself is quarantined, after all, and Freya has been generous enough to inform me of any and all movements of Clockwork Ponies left on this world...”

“And there's been little activity over these last few years. The Strange Ones are holding three in imprisonment, and there's another locked in the dungeons of Canterlot... but I almost feel pity for them. It feels like they're simply waiting to die.” Celestia said quietly, shaking her head slowly. “The last event we had regarding any of Decretum's forces was a skirmish with several Dullahan the Royal Guard flushed out of hiding.”

Kvasir nodded, grimacing a little. “And if anything, that only has me more concerned about this situation. If these toys of Valthrudnir showed some signs of sentience, of fight, then I'd at least have an idea of what we were dealing with... but instead, with how they seem to be shutting down, but something sinister that all the same reeks of his enterprises stretching its influence out over another layer, perhaps purposefully beginning to tamper with the anchor laid there...”

“Then we have no choice but to go.” Luna said firmly, looking up... and then she hesitated before smiling slightly and looking over her shoulder, asking as Celestia began to open her mouth: “And what about thou, big sister? Will thou come to aid myself, Scrivy, Twilight... and perhaps Antares?”

Celestia looked surprised at this... but then, slowly, she closed her mouth, and a strange frown crested her face before she lowered her head slightly. She breathed slowly in and out as Kvasir turned a contemplative look to the Valkyrie... and then Celestia smiled slowly, looking up and saying softly: “Well, little sister, when you put it like that... suddenly I feel much less concerned, and almost... excited.”

Scrivener smiled despite himself as Luna grinned widely, her eyes gleaming: and even though she felt worried and anxious, she also felt that same eagerness, and in a strange way, almost glad. Glad to be back where she felt she belonged, glad to be given a chance to chase down whatever remnants of Valthrudnir's machinations remained... glad she was here to be able to do so. And glad that she would have her family beside her, supporting her, as a faint hope whispered up through her soul, too: that maybe if they plunged headlong once more into fighting whatever forces of darkness had risen up again, they might stumble on a way to destroy the Jötnar lurking in Scrivener's mind as well.

Twilight Sparkle smiled faintly as she looked up, feeling excitement emanating from Luna and Celestia, and in a quieter way, from Scrivener Blooms as well. Except she understood it now, more than she wanted to... and while she rationalized it as a gladness she could protect her friends and family, told herself again and again that violence was only a method of last resort, something else inside her was whispering... making her feel...

A hoof reached up, rubbing silently over the front of her sweater and the stitching beneath this, and Scrivener looked over at her with surprise... but before he could speak, Barry once more reminded the room that he existed by asking hopefully: “So can we get a book deal out of this, champ?”

Kvasir turned a moody look on Barry, and the literary agent shrank hurriedly behind the table as Luna snorted laughter and Scrivener sighed, rubbing slowly at his forehead as he wondered morbidly what was worse: the thought of once more crossing layers and fighting monsters, or Barry and Ersatz and all the fun of being 'successful.'

Little Follies

Chapter Eight: Little Follies
~BlackRoseRaven

Scrivener Blooms walked out of Canterlot University with a sour look on his face, Barry on one side and Luna on the other. The literary agent was grinning despite a clear effort not to, and Luna had her own bright and cheerful expression on, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh come now, Scrivy, 'twas an honest answer to the question!”

“Luna, the kid asked: 'what's it like with two mares?' He did not ask, I repeat, he did not ask: 'What's it like in bed with two mares.'” Scrivener said crankily as he halted, and Luna laughed before leaning in and dropping her head against him, and Scrivener mumbled as he reached up to yank his tie loose from around his neck and open one of the top buttons of the silk shirt beneath his rumpled suit jacket. “Let's please just walk back to Subterra, okay?”

“Hey, pal, come on! That was a magnificent sale in there!” Barry extolled, bouncing on his hooves and grinning widely. “And I gotta say, I just gotta say, lady, you really, really know how to rile a crowd up when you want to. But did those kids ever just eat it up!”

“Well, Barry, I like to think that I am very charismatic.” Luna said positively, straightening and grinning as she posed for a moment with a wink. “Besides, mares can be just as awful as stallions, one must need merely know what strings to play. And I do so adore playing mares like strings.”

She licked her lips slowly, and Barry stared at her for a few moments, mouthing wordlessly before Scrivener sighed and rolled his eyes, striding quickly onwards and muttering: “I don't like other ponies. I don't like Literature classes. They're perverted. Everything gets turned into a metaphor for vaginas, you write a poem about a flower blooming and no, it can't be because you happened to be sitting in the garden one day and the Royal Court was rushing you for a poem so you wrote a poem about one of the flowers. The poem's clearly really about a vagina. A big, blossoming vagina.”

Barry only stared at Scrivener as Luna giggled childishly, following along beside him before she cleared her throat several times when he glared over his shoulder at her, the three heading towards a path leading through a field before the mare asked seriously: “And what of the penises, Scrivener Blooms?”

“Standing lonely and desolate, jutting from the virgin soil, smelling of the sea that coats their prodigious girth.” Scrivener intoned ironically, and when Luna began to giggle madly again and Barry stared at him, the charcoal stallion looked moodily over his shoulder at the lanky earth pony and said dryly: “That's from a poem about those scary totems out facing towards the eastern sea. Writers are perverts.”

“Thou generalizes too much, Scrivener Blooms! And thou curses others too often for thy own sins.” Luna scolded, then she paused before grinning at him, licking her lips slowly. “Now tell me more of these mighty goliath pillars.”

“I hate you.” Scrivener muttered, and Luna laughed as Barry shook his head, but smiled all the same. Then the charcoal stallion sighed before he asked finally: “So now that I've been a good little colt and actually went and did that reading and question session for the university... does that mean we're done now?”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down champ.” Barry said pointedly, and he shifted awkwardly before saying delicately: “I know that you have a lot on your plate right now, sport, but- dammit, oh hell!”

Barry yelped and staggered backwards, and Scrivener and Luna both halted and turned towards him with surprise as the lanky earth pony rose a front hoof, then cursed and leapt backwards before stumbling to the side, looking fearfully down at several Silverbacks. The nasty little insects were standing tense, their poisonous stingers raised, and Scrivener grimaced a bit before Barry yelled in a strangled voice: “One of them bit me! One of the nasty little bastards bit me!”

“Did it bite you or did it sting you?” Scrivener asked quickly, making a face as he looked up at the pale, almost-hyperventilating literary agent, and Barry whined through his teeth before holding his hoof out, showing off an ugly bruise and a nasty little cut on his ankle that was actually bleeding. And the charcoal stallion blinked in surprise at this before Luna stepped around him and growled down at the insects... but then frowned when they trembled, but didn't flee as they often did when Luna approached. “Someone must have riled these guys up, they're-”

He didn't get a chance to finish, as the Silverbacks skittered around and two of them threw themselves at Luna's face. The sapphire mare cursed as she leapt backwards in shock, managing to swat one backwards, but the nasty little bugs immediately turned their attention towards Scrivener Blooms, and the charcoal stallion stomped at them and staggered backwards with a wince.

Then he yelled in surprise and disgust as one of the Silverbacks managed to leap up and snag into his body, its sharp little claws tearing against his skin as it skittered eagerly over him. Scrivener panicked a little as he grabbed at himself wildly, and Barry hurried forwards, meaning to be helpful... but then only screamed girlishly when a Silverback managed to leap up on him as well, the lanky earth pony dancing around in a circle before squealing when it suddenly bit deep into his side and stabbed its stinger fiercely down into him.

Barry flopped over, rolling back and forth with a howl of pain as he tried to dislodge it, and Luna cursed as she simply flicked her horn with a growl of frustration and incinerated the bug still doggedly charging at her in a blast of blue flames. She hurried towards Barry as Scrivener continued to panic... but when she felt a bolt of pain twist through her body, she immediately abandoned the agent for Scrivener Blooms, despite the fact Barry was howling like he was being murdered and Scrivener had barely let out a hiss when the Silverback clamped onto his shoulder.

Its jaws were buried through his flesh and its stringer had plunged deep, and Luna winced as she inspected the little silver insect quickly. It was clinging like a tick, body pulsing slowly as it tried to drink Scrivener's blood, while likely injecting its own toxin into the earth pony at the same time. She shifted back and forth on her hooves as she cursed, wondering what to do as Scrivener shivered at the surprising amount of pain pulsing through his body from the nasty little thing on his shoulder.

But a moment later, the Silverback suddenly convulsed, and its gleaming body seemed to lose some of its color as it shriveled up and toppled free, landing with a splatter on its back. And only a moment later, Barry's squealing died down to whimpers as the Silverback preying on him tore itself free from his body with a small burst of blood, before the fattened insect rushed off into the bushes on the side of the path they had been following.

Scrivener breathed quietly in and out, his eyes closed and head bowed, and Luna studied him silently before her eyes roved to the wound visible through his torn suit: a wound that was dripping not red blood, but black liquid corruption. And Scrivener's eyes slowly opened before he glanced towards this, and then sighed softly as poisonous blackness bubbled up through the wound... and before their very eyes, hardened into flesh.

Scrivener reached up and touched this spot absently: it felt a little sensitive, but even that was already fading quickly. And he guessed one of the other perks of having this dark stuff in his bloodstream was that it apparently was more than enough to keep him safe from these little monsters... before he looked up moodily as Barry asked in a whisper: “What... what the hell is...”

“Do you think I just made up all that stuff in the books, Barry?” Scrivener asked dryly, then he sighed a little and poked at his suit, mumbling: “I actually liked this jacket, too. I guess I'll have to see if Rarity can patch it for me.”

“Yes...” Luna murmured, her eyes staring for a few moments at Scrivener's shoulder, and the stallion blushed a little as he glanced up at her awkwardly before the sapphire mare flushed and shook her head hurriedly, clearing her throat and quickly turning her eyes to Barry. “Thou art an idiot. Come, get up, get up, cease thy whining and whimpering!”

“It really hurts! And... and it took me by surprise.” Barry complained, even as he carefully sat up... then groaned and shook his head out, looking back at his side and shivering at the sight of his discolored coat and the deep, ugly wound. “Oh, oh hell, champ, I... I think I gotta see a doctor...”

Luna only grunted, then looked apprehensively at Scrivener, but the stallion only shook his head before moodily kicking the corpse of the Silverback towards the bushes. “You better heal Barry or at least numb the wound, we might as well have someone in Subterra look at him. I've never seen these things so aggressive before, though...”

Luna nodded hesitantly, and Barry paled at this, looking up and rasping: “Wait, treatment in Subterra? Are you out of your mind? Those demons might eat me!”

“I shall mince thee up into tiny pieces and gobble thee down if thou does not shut up.” Luna snapped, and Barry quailed back before the sapphire mare blushed a little and glanced embarrassedly over her shoulder when Scrivener gave her a pointed look. “Oh... fine. Perhaps I am... short-tempered now, 'tis because of.. of the shock, that is all.”

She shook her head quickly, then reached down and hauled Barry to his hooves... before yelling loudly and leaping backwards with a curse of disgust when Barry's head wrenched forwards and he vomited loudly and painfully. He began to topple forwards as his eyes rolled up in his head, but Luna sighed and reached out to catch him by the face with one hoof and shoved him firmly to the side. He still fell heavily, coughing weakly, but at least didn't end up falling in his own bile as she mumbled: “Wondrous. Just absolutely wondrous.”

Luna's horn glowed as she moodily looked down at Barry, before the discolored wound visible through his ripped clothes burned with the same light, and then Barry yelped and spasmed, eyes snapping open as he was painfully returned to consciousness before Luna muttered: “Hold thyself still, little loudspeaker, or the pain will be much the worse... I can cleanse thy body of impurities but such things are not done without a little bit of cost.”

Barry gritted his teeth and whimpered loudly through them, and Scrivener winced a bit, trying to send soothing thoughts to Luna as he strode up behind her. He rose a hoof, then hesitated before finally stroking through her mane, and Luna shivered as she closed her eyes, bowing her head forwards... and even as her horn continued to glow and she concentrated her magic, for a moment, it was like they were the only two ponies for miles around, as they traded apologies and recriminations in silence.

Then Luna and Scrivener both glanced up in surprise as there was a third presence... and Luna smiled embarrassedly after a moment before she glanced at Scrivener, and he nodded as he closed his eyes and took a slow breath, focusing and sending out a soothing thought in return to Twilight Sparkle's worried mental question: We're okay. We just had... a little run in with some angry bugs, that's all.

There was silence for a moment, and then Twilight's voice said quietly in his mind: I... I can feel your emotions, and Luna's too. I can... almost see what happened, even...

Scrivener smiled a bit, then closed his eyes and concentrated on the recent memories, making them brighter in his mind, and he felt Twilight's presence caress over his thoughts before it withdrew quickly. There was a sense of embarrassment, of fear that she had reached in too far, and yet also a hunger for more and... something else.

The stallion shifted a bit: he couldn't make it out, and Twilight's presence had faded. Her link with them was a little different than his with Luna's, after all: he and Luna shared one mixed soul, while together, his and Luna's physical bodies acted as the containers for Twilight's spiritual essence. Living phylacteries, in other words... if they were hurt, Twilight felt their pain like it was her own. If they sent out a thought to her, she could hear them clearly. And if they ordered her to do something...

But neither of them would ever do that. And both of them always left their minds unguarded to Twilight Sparkle, had sworn to her they would never keep any thought, any emotion from her, even when they wanted to. They cherished the link with her, and adored her, even if they were both scared of... what Twilight might think of them at times.

It was stupid: Scrivener, Luna and Twilight had been... together... for something like twenty-seven, twenty-eight years, and that was when they didn't include the near-decade they had been gone for. She had known them inside and out long before she was a Lich, and long before her original phylactery had been destroyed and essence transferred to them. But... all the same, Scrivener and Luna feared it, because they were both well-aware that... they weren't the greatest candidates out there for either relationship or 'good pony' material.

Luna glanced towards Scrivener with a faint smile as the glow finally died out from around her horn, and Barry gasped weakly on the ground, his eyes closed, his body shivering. Scrivener gazed back at Luna for a few moments, trading emotions and thoughts with her silently: hopes, fears, dreams, whispers... and then finally, the stallion turned his eyes to Barry and asked quietly: “Can you stand? Or do you need a hoof?”

“The polite thing to do would be to offer me one anyway.” Barry mumbled, and when Scrivener sighed tiredly, the agent winced before he carefully wriggled his hooves beneath him, then rasped and forced himself slowly, tediously up to his hooves with a groan of pain. “Nope, nope, I... I got it...”

“Good. If you can stand on your own then it means the poison didn't paralyze your organs or muscles.” Scrivener remarked mildly, and Barry stared as his limbs trembled a little beneath him, his mouth working for a moment before the stallion gestured absently with his head towards the sapphire mare as she grinned a little. “Luna's magic can purify your bloodstream, but it can't do anything about the damages the poison causes on the way. But it looks like we healed you before it could really work in too deep.”

“Oh. Oh good.” Barry said weakly, and then he hesitated before looking lamely at Scrivener and saying finally: “So you... you're... you're really not... you're really a Clockwork Pony, aren't you?”

Luna looked almost pleadingly over at Scrivener, and the earth pony looked at her sourly in response, saying dryly: “I'm not doing it. But... I am, yes. I'm glad you noticed that.” The charcoal stallion reached up and touched his shoulder absently, then shook his head quickly as he muttered: “Anyway, Barry, you can... go home or... come with us to Subterra if you really want to, I guess, we can get someone to give you something to help with your whole... not... goodness.”

Scrivener halted lamely, but Barry nodded awkwardly and reached up to nervously touch his side, wincing a bit before he said awkwardly: “Thank you, though, champ and uh... dame. Lady. Babe. Girl-champ?”

“Girl-champ.” Luna looked thoughtful for a few moments, then simply shrugged agreeably, and Scrivener sighed tiredly before she turned. “Well, I have been called worse. Come, though, both of thee. Let us make for Subterra, and perhaps Barry shall prove less annoying on the way. Although if thou must applaud me, in the future refer to me as 'Valkyrie.'”

“You got it, Valk.” Barry said positively, and Luna rolled her eyes but smiled slightly as Scrivener Blooms shook his head with amusement, the earth pony agent lagging a little behind them but thankfully not complaining too much.

As they were heading down the streets of Canterlot, however, while Luna and Scrivener were silently discussing what had happened mostly in thoughts and images traded between them, Barry suddenly unknowingly interrupted their mental conversation with the same question both soulbound ponies were asking each other: “So what the hell happened back there?” A pause, and then he asked almost hopefully: “Was that like. An adventure?”

“If that was an adventure, then I am loathe to think of what must seem 'boring' to thou, Barry.” Luna said wryly, looking meditatively over her shoulder at the lanky stallion. “No, that was merely a misstep in the course of a normal day. A good day, even: why, earlier Scrivener Blooms was speaking about genitals, was he not? That is always the mark of a good day.”

Scrivener sighed after a moment, rolling his eyes as Barry laughed a little despite himself, before the stallion added in a mutter: “I guess Luna's right, much as I hate to say those words. And to be entirely honest I'd much rather almost-die over deal with people.”

Barry glanced up at this, and then he straightened and added awkwardly: “Then uh, champ, not to ruin your mood, but... did I tell you about your interview or not before we got attacked by those nasty little bugs?”

Scrivener looked slowly over his shoulder, and Barry gave him a lame grin as the trio of ponies came to a halt on the sidewalk, ignoring the other ponies walking past and tossing them curious looks before Barry said finally: “Yeah, uh. Remember, you said yourself – and I stress this, that you asked me to set this up for you – that you wanted this interview with Ersatz Major and... I got it. It's gonna be in a few days.”

“Oh. Oh, just peachy.” Scrivener said flatly, then he groaned and dropped his head forwards, muttering under his breath: “Just wonderful, really. Luna, this is no longer a good day, and... why the hell do I have to do this now? We. We possibly have a world to save, I call shenanigans, let's go save a world from evil, stupid book interviews with stupid critics can stupid... wait.”

“Cease being a wimp, Scrivener Blooms. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity to smite the vile creature.” Luna grumbled, and Scrivener mumbled a little in agreement as Barry winced a bit. “Thou should just pummel her. I do not think anypony would complain. She is but a scavenger, a vulture of the good of others.”

The charcoal stallion almost felt like considering Luna's advice before Barry cut in hurriedly: “Now wait, wait, champ and Valk, this lady is a hotshot in a lot of social circles and we gotta concentrate on our objective here, right? We don't wanna piss off anyone, do we now? You wanna get published, ain't that right, we agreed to work together?”

Scrivener Blooms mumbled a little, shifting a bit as Luna sighed and turned down a side alley, and Scrivener let himself fall back a bit as they headed towards where it dead-ended at a brick wall. “Barry, look. There's... there's a lot on my plate now. I have this... small mental issue... and now there's something bad happening in another layer of reality, and Luna and I are trying to get everyone organized so we can go and find out what's going on. The timing is really bad, is what I'm saying.”

“Hey, champ, you're the one who wrote that you gotta deal with the cards as they're played, right?” Barry said pointedly, and Scrivener grumbled under his breath at this metaphor before he finally nodded grouchily to himself. “Exactly! So come on, pal, you know you gotta do this, and... well, think of the weight that'll be lifted off your shoulders once you go in there and get a few answers! But uh... well, since we're on the subject, the only thing is that Ersatz Major was very firm about one condition of her interview, and it's that she wants to deal with you alone. Neither of your uh... wives... can be present.”

Scrivener grunted as Luna halted at the dead end, and then her horn glowed as she snorted in amusement and glanced dryly over her shoulder, saying sourly: “Wives. Well, I suppose we have been called worse, although... I don't know, Scrivy, I think after all my time with thou I have come to dislike the term. Idiot poet.”

The charcoal stallion smiled despite himself as Barry looked awkwardly at Scrivener, but the larger earth pony only shook his head as Luna flicked her horn. A rumble emanated from the wall at the end of the alley before the bricks that made it up rapidly began to draw themselves apart, shifting and clicking themselves into new positions until they formed a large archway leading to a wide, twisting staircase, a bit of dust spilling down from between the bricks.

Luna strode forwards after smiling over her shoulder, Scrivener following as Barry toddled along after them, and there was silence for a few moments before the agent finally asked dubiously: “So then, okay, like... what are you three, in that case?”

“We just are.” Scrivener said after a moment, shrugging a bit before he shook his head and said softly: “Yeah, I mean... I guess when you stop and think about it-”

“Then Scrivener Blooms and Twilight Sparkle are most certainly my wives, as I am clearly the husband in the relationship.” Luna interrupted as they headed down the dimly-lit stairs, and Scrivener grumbled as Barry grinned a little despite himself. “But 'tis just not terms we use. It does not feel like enough to describe the bond between us.

“But I do not know if I can be apart from Scrivener for this.” Luna said simply, and Barry groaned, then opened his mouth... before frowning slowly as he looked awkwardly up and realized the ponies weren't joking around, they were serious.

There was silence until they reached the bottom of the staircase, heading through an open gate and into a long tunnel lit by blue torches, leading into the streets of Subterra beyond. Luna and Scrivener took a pause here, trading a look... and with it, thoughts, emotions, memories and hesitations. But neither knew what to say, or what to do, and both were aware of Barry standing and staring at them questioningly, so finally Luna mentally nudged Scrivener and the stallion sighed tiredly, before the sapphire mare said pointedly: “'Tis thy friend, not mine. Or at least thy... I do not know. I am tempted to say 'servant.'”

Scrivener grumbled a little under his breath, and then he shook his head as Barry looked up lamely before Scrivener said finally: “Look. I never really talked about some of the negative repercussions of the soul link but... with everything that's happened to me and Luna, and all the years we've spent like this, we've... tightened, so to speak. It's hard to put into words, but it's like... a spring, I guess. At first it can pull back and forth with ease, but... now, it's gotten brittle with all the use and it can't stretch as far.

“Luna and I can't be apart anymore for more than an hour at most, before we both start to weaken. Nor can we go to great distances anymore without each other... it hurts us. It's like all our energy begins bleeding through our bodies, trying to get back together.” Scrivener traded a look with Luna, who smiled faintly as Barry looked at the two with surprise. “Either Luna's going to have to come to the interview with me or you're going to have to help us sneak her inside.”

“What?” Barry winced at this, looking startled before the agent shook his head fiercely. “Oh no no no! Champ, you're a stud, but I don't want to risk my entire career over this! Look, Ersatz Major is a nasty critic, but Rogues And Studs is a very important hot or not magazine, and I really don't want an article done on me thank you very much. Not unless it's saying 'Barry Barter is the greatest agent ever.'”

“You're a lame agent. You're the lamest agent ever if you don't do this for me. Do you want me to die and your paycheck to go out the window?” Scrivener asked dryly, and Barry looked dumbly across at him before Scrivener added sourly: “And after Ersatz is done molesting my corpse she'll probably sell pieces of me to the highest bidder or have me stuffed and mounted as a trophy. A trophy that will be a testament to your failure to protect your client.”

“Why are you such an asshole?” Barry almost moaned, and Scrivener shrugged as he and Luna turned, striding down the tunnel side-by-side. For a few moments, the literary agent only stood and watched them, then he finally threw his head back with a silent yell of frustration before doggedly hurrying after the two. “Okay, okay! You win, I'll find a way to help you sneak the lady-champ in.”

Luna grunted and nodded approvingly as Scrivener glanced over his shoulder, and then finally gave his own small nod of agreement, asking after a moment: “Then when's the interview, and where?”

“At the Rogues And Studs building itself, two days' time.” Barry replied with a quick nod, and then he hesitated and said carefully: “And maybe we should get you... prepared. You know, get you ready for the questions that are undoubtedly going to be asked and uh... less... angry.”

“I'm not angry. I'm rarely angry. I'm bitter and sarcastic and cynical and believe the world is out to get me.” Scrivener muttered, and then he traded a moody look with Luna. “Sorry, us. The worst part is that it's not paranoia because godawful stuff keeps happening to me. I mean us, yes, us.”

Barry opened his mouth to reply, then simply closed it when he looked lamely back and forth at the demons, the Nightmares, the other creatures of darkness all around him. Luna looked over her shoulder curiously, and then Barry sighed tiredly and mumbled: “I don't even know anymore. All I know, stud, is that for all your complaining you seem to be popular enough with the ladies and get to stay in a haunted house kinda palace, except all the ghosts and demons and crazy stuff normal ponies are scared of are your friends.”

Scrivener smiled a little despite himself as Luna shook her head, but the look she gave Barry was almost gentle even as a teasing expression played over her face. “And what, Barry, art thou jealous? 'Tis not so hard to befriend the darkness, I shall have thee know. It only requires... a little understanding, and a little courage.”

Barry winced a little at this, looking lamely up before Luna nodded and gazed ahead with a wider smile, saying easily: “I do not know why, but it warms my heart to see thee a little envious. I think perhaps because one can only envy what one desires... and if ponies have started to want friendship from my servants of the night, then I can only be glad for it. Perhaps it means that everything I still find myself desiring, of an Equestria where darkness protects the light... 'tis not entirely in vain.”

Scrivener nodded thoughtfully, and Barry shrugged lamely behind the sapphire mare before she traded a look with the charcoal stallion striding beside her, trading a smile and a few strange, blossoming hopes for the future.

Antares Mīrus strode through the halls of the Thorn Palace, hooves clicking quietly against the tiles as he smiled a little to himself. Meadowlark was off at the Royal Library to work with Celestia and Twilight Sparkle on digging up all the archived information about Clockwork World they could. He had volunteered to help as well, but Celestia had told him to relax, so... here he was, trying to relax. Besides, they were probably doing better without him: he and Meadowlark would likely distract each other and he'd always been awful when it came to researching things anyway.

He thought about going to look for his parents: it was moving on to late afternoon now, after all, and they were probably back from the engagement they'd had at Canterlot University. He always enjoyed spending time with them... even though Avalon sometimes made fun of him for it, and he knew he probably seemed a little... clingy. But it was still such a relief to think that... after everything he'd been through, his parents were back.

Antares smiled a little and shook his head, eyes lingering over a painting on the wall that seemed to move before he continued around a corner, just letting himself wander for now. He knew he had a lot to learn from his parents still, and a lot to inherit and live up to somehow. Luna and Scrivener were still his heroes, still the ponies he idolized and strove to be more like, and he still didn't feel entirely... grown up yet, whether or not he was twenty three years old.

He paused for a moment in the middle of the long, marble-tiled hall, hesitantly reaching up and touching his scarred chest as something whispered through his mind for a moment. Then he shook his head hurriedly out before clearing his throat and continuing onwards, murmuring: “Besides, I... I am moving forwards with life now at least, right? Meadow and I are getting used to each other and... it's not like I'm sitting back, letting them take responsibility for everything. I'm just working hard to be... a good son. And to learn everything they have to teach.”

He nodded to himself, then glanced curiously at an ajar door as he heard a familiar voice behind it before approaching and carefully pushing it open, revealing a spacious den beyond. The walls were lined with shelves filled with all assortment of trinkets and knickknacks, and there was a cheery fire burning in a fireplace in front of several plush furnishings and a large table.

Aphrodisia was sitting on one of the green, soft couches, gazing intently at something Antares couldn't see. He smiled a little, then knocked once on the door before striding inside, and the demon glanced over her shoulder with a bit of a blush but a happy smile all the same, turning her eyes quickly back down and saying quietly: “My big brother's here so I'm gonna go, okay? Thanks for helping me.”

There was a soft sound in response as Antares approached and leaned over the back of the couch, looking down with interest at the glassy-black orb Aphrodisia was holding between her hooves. A swirling mist whispered through it, and Antares smiled after a moment before he asked curiously: “Demon stuff?”

“Demon stuff.” Aphrodisia agreed, and then she carefully put the orb into a silver, bowl-shaped holder on the table in front of her before her bright green eyes turned to Antares, and she gave an almost shy smile. “It's... you know. About my... stuff.”

“It's so funny to see you get all... cute.” Antares said after a moment, and Aphrodisia huffed a bit and shoved at him gently, the stallion smiling before he jackknifed the couch and landed beside her, and then laughed when she dropped against him and rested her head on his shoulder with a warm look. “You know, only a few years ago you were all excited about all this demon stuff...”

“And I still am, it's just... it's just that I'm growing up emotionally as much as physically. I know I still act really silly sometimes but... I feel like... I'm processing stuff a lot more.” Aphrodisia said quietly, looking off towards the crackling fireplace before she closed her eyes, snuggling herself shamelessly a little closer against him. “And I... I guess after the accidents I've had now and then, I know... I need to learn to control myself more. Mommy and Burning Desire have been working really hard to help me with that.”

Antares nodded slowly, looking at his cousin softly and taking one of her hooves to squeeze it reassuringly. Aphrodisia was a young but powerful demon, a mix of desire and fury known as a Dominia: but all too often, youth and strength didn't mix in the best of ways, and it had led to the demon having a few unfortunate outbursts over the years with her inability to rein in both her powers and her emotions.

These last few years had been particularly difficult for her: since she had aged twice as fast as a normal pony, by the age of nine she'd already become an adult mare physically despite being six years younger than Antares. And once she'd reached physical maturity, then her demonic heritage had truly begun to set in as her mind and emotions struggled at the same time to catch up to her body.

She no longer aged physically, but that didn't mean she wasn't still growing and changing, in ways that were perhaps much more important than her outer appearance. And even though she still acted like the same old childish Apps with her friends, her personality with strangers could vary wildly, depending on her mood. She could become sultry and coy, sharp and dominating, or feign teasing innocence. It all depended on her mood and what she wanted from the pony in question.

She shifted a bit against him, then snuggled a little closer, and Antares gazed at her softly. He didn't want to imagine how hard it was for her at times, to always feel the compulsions she did, to need to master her particular hungers. She was a mix of Lust and Wrath, to use the terms demons tended to describe themselves as. Not because it was true, that all demons were simply sin incarnate, but because they were easy labels, and demons tended to enjoy playing to certain roles, keeping their true faces hidden from all but those they trusted in private.

Aphrodisia's eyes flicked up to his, and Antares met her gaze before she sighed a little, stroking a hoof over his chest as she murmured: “I think Mommy's going to send me to live with Burning Desire soon, Antares. I'm pretty good about keeping my temper these days, after all, but... I mean, I almost started flirting with Daddy the other day. That other side of me... I can't get it under control. And Mommy can't help me as much with it because she's Wrath and Gluttony.”

Antares nodded slowly, smiling a little at her. “Yeah, but... you do really, really well, Apps. I mean, you can already do a lot of stuff demons who grow up in Helheim take decades to learn, and it's been... it's been a long time since anything really bad happened. And you're still the same silly little sister to me that you've always been.”

The demon smiled warmly at this, then she snuggled a little closer to him before her expression toned down a little, glancing down as she added quietly: “Yeah, but... I get scared of disappointing Mommy and Daddy. And I don't want to hurt you or my other friends, either. I don't really want to hurt anyone, I think... even if... sometimes part of me kind of does.”

She fell quiet, then blushed a bit and glanced up and nodded a little. “But I know I'm lucky, too. Mommy and Daddy understand me, and Uncle Scrivy understands me, and so does Aunt Brynhild. Sometimes I can even talk to Aunt Tia about things and... I was really, really surprised about how much she... she understands too. I think our whole family must really be demons or something.”

Antares rolled his eyes at this, but he was smiling all the same as he sat back quietly, and the two simply rested together for a little while before the mare finally asked softly: “So you and Meadowlark are finally seeing each other, huh?”

“Yeah.” Antares said softly, looking into the fire as he hesitated, then shook his head a little. “It feels... it almost feels like a dream right now still, though. I mean, I always kind of had that crush on her, and I know that... I have to move forwards with life and... I dunno.”

“Don't try and explain it, dummy, just... you know. Be happy for once.” Aphrodisia said mildly, sitting up a little so she could knock on his skull with a cloven hoof, and Antares huffed at her before the demon mare smiled. “I'm glad, though. You two better sleep together quick.”

“Yeah, Apps, that's really at the top of my to-do list.” Antares said dryly, and then he shook his head and added finally: “I just want to take things slow and-”

“You never really learn, do you?” Aphrodisia interrupted mildly, and the young stallion gave her a grumpy look before she poked him a few times. “You need to take what you can get while it's there. You kept her waiting for years, Nova, I think if you take things any slower you'll become... I dunno. A dinosaur.”

“What?” Antares only looked at her blankly for a moment, and the demon nodded rapidly before the glossy-black unicorn sighed and rolled his eyes. Then they fell quiet again, and he hesitated for a moment as they both looked off into the flames burning in the fireplace before he asked: “Do you... do you want me to ask Mom if you can come with us when we go and check on what's happening in that other layer?”

Aphrodisia was quiet for a moment, then she looked up and asked curiously: “Did you ask Meadowlark, Nova?”

The stallion looked at her dumbly, and then he shrugged and said finally: “Well... no, not yet or anything, but I mean, you're the demon and my cousin and-”

“And I'm not your marefriend, kinky as that would be.” Aphrodisia said almost crossly, and Antares blushed a bit and leaned back as she pushed a hoof under his chin and met his eyes with her own both amused and exasperated look. “Nova, come on. If you want anypony to go with you it should be her right now, right?”

Antares looked lamely at the demon, then he nodded a little and rubbed at his head, before Aphrodisia glanced away and added: “And I don't think I should, anyway... at least, not this time. I have some demon stuff to take care of and all and... I think I'm a little mad at you.”

The stallion tilted his head, and his cousin turned herself around before curling up and settling with her back against him comfortably, reaching back and forcibly pulling his foreleg around her. He squeezed her a little closer, and she nodded thoughtfully as she continued: “Yeah, yes, I am mad at you, Antares Mīrus. 'Cause we're best friends but we haven't been spending lots of time together lately, and I'm really happy about you and Meadowlark but actually kind of upset about it too.”

The stallion laughed a little, squeezing her gently before he nodded and gazed into the fire, saying softly: “I'm sorry, Apps. Tell you what, then... let's take some time tomorrow or something and... we can walk around Subterra, or just hang out together. Does that sound good?”

“Yeah.” Aphrodisia smiled, then she looked over her shoulder at him, opening her mouth... but a moment later her eyes flicked curiously over the back of the couch, and she brightened a bit, raising her free hoof as the glossy-black unicorn turned with a curious look. “Hey, T!”

“I hope I'm not interrupting. But I was a little lonely, and heard your voices...” Tender Trust said softly as she approached around the couch, gazing at them with her gentle, green-light eyes. “It's nice to see you both.”

“It's good to see you too.” Antares smiled after a moment, blushing a little as he tried to shift away from his cousin, but she growled and immediately hugged his limb, pushing herself back against his body insistently and making him sigh. Tender Trust only looked at them with a smile, however, and the stallion settled a little after a moment with a grumble, saying finally: “Sorry. Apps is in one of her moods.”

Aphrodisia blew a loud raspberry at this, but Tender Trust only nodded calmly as the half-Phooka glanced curiously towards the fireplace and smiled. “That's okay. This is the perfect place to be ourselves, after all... oka likes it here. She says she was afraid at first, but now... she's found great comfort here. And the spirits of this place always treat her with much affection.”

Antares nodded, smiling a bit: Fluttershy really was treated kindly here, and with much respect. The Phooka that lived in Subterra were almost as fond of her as the Phooka that lived around Ponyville. Then he tilted his head curiously as Tender Trust hesitated, before asking curiously: “If it is not too much to ask, Antares... do you think you could find the time to exercise with me a little? And your help would be appreciated as well, Aphrodisia. I would ask Avalon, but I have no idea where she is...”

“She'll be jealous.” Antares smiled wider, nodding firmly as he glanced at Aphrodisia, and the demon shrugged amiably. “Sure, I guess we can do that. Do you wanna go now, T?”

“I don't mind waiting. Take your time, I don't want to interrupt anything.” Tender Trust replied softly, and Antares smiled over at her before the half-Phooka continued softly: “I am very honored and gladdened, though, my friends. It means a lot to me that you'll help me with this.”

The stallion only smiled and shrugged in response, replying quietly: “No, Tender Trust, believe me. It's all my pleasure, and the honor's mine... I mean, Avalon is always bragging about how strong a competitor you are already. And I know that Fluttershy is very proud of you, too.”

“Oka is a wonderful teacher.” Tender Trust replied softly, and Antares nodded with a quiet laugh: even though he'd never been instructed himself by Fluttershy, he knew it had to be true: after all, she had been the one to teach Avalon not just about combat, but about discipline and mastering her temper. And for Avalon to have actually learned something instead of insistently doing her own thing, it really showed the capabilities that the shy Pegasus had for teaching.

They sat in quiet for a few moments, until Aphrodisia finally grunted and nodded several times, glancing up with a smile, and she let Antares' foreleg go so he could slip away and climb to his hooves. Then Tender Trust gazed up as the young stallion asked curiously: “Do you want to go out to the top of the pyramid, or somewhere more private?”

“I would prefer to use one of the training rooms, if you don't mind.” Tender Trust said softly, and Antares nodded after a moment as Aphrodisia bounced a bit on her hooves, smiling brightly. “Oka always says that humility is one of the most important parts of respect and honor, after all. And that more important than physical strength and victory, is to always maintain one's honor. She says she learned this all the more from your parents, Antares.”

The stallion gazed warmly across at the half-Phooka at this, nodding once before Tender Trust turned, and the demon and leather-winged unicorn followed her out into the halls of the Thorn Palace before Aphrodisia remarked happily: “We're a funny bunch of misfits, aren't we?”

Antares laughed despite himself, and then Tender Trust gave a soft smile as she nodded slowly and murmured: “Yes. I suppose we are, but that is good, is it not? Oka and otha both believe that it is by finding the similarities in our differences that we are best able to create unity.”

The young stallion nodded thoughtfully at this, looking agreeably over at Tender Trust even as Aphrodisia commented: “That's a silly kind of way of looking at things. But I grew up with a whole lot of silly ponies and no pony ever seems happier than Auntie Pinkie or Daddy. So silly must be good, I think, yep.”

Antares chuckled a bit at this, thinking of how true it was as they headed down the corridor, letting Tender Trust lead the way. She was young and hadn't been here as often as he was, but all the same the half-Phooka had a near-photographic memory and probably knew the layout of the palace almost as well as the young stallion.

She led them to the far western wing of the palace, pushing open an old oaken door and entering into a training room filled with exercise equipment. Tender Trust smiled as they entered, looking back and forth past the weights and training devices as she murmured: “Good. No one is here.”

The half-Phooka moved towards the corner of the room with a smile, where several mats were formed an area for wrestling and sparring. She paused outside of the twenty foot wide square, looking back and forth before bowing her head and gently touching the edge of the soft blue mats with one hoof, her glowing eyes closing as she bowed her head forwards and murmured: “Meyinan, muskawisewin mena ayinesewin.”

Then the half-Phooka rose her head and gave a soft smile, glancing over her shoulder as she stepped onto the mats. “Who would like to begin, my friends?”

“Rock paper scissors?” asked Aphrodisia curiously, and Antares gave her a dry look as he held up a hoof pointedly. “Oh come on, I play it all the time with demons and Spike and Daddy! You just gotta be careful how you hold your hoof.”

“Why don't you just go and take first swing, Pinkslap?” Antares asked mildly, and Aphrodisia brightened and nodded quickly a few times, gazing at him affectionately. The stallion smiled despite himself in response, shaking his head slowly as the demon pranced into the ring as Tender Trust strode slowly around in a circle, looking across at the demon with a soft smile.

Then Aphrodisia suddenly cleared her throat and straightened, bowing her head respectfully and saying firmly: “Honor to us both.”

“Kiteyihtâkwan.” Tender Trust agreed kindly, and both mares looked at each other for a few moments before the demon suddenly threw her head back and howled gleefully like a wolf, then charged straight at the half-Phooka with a wide grin.

Tender Trust only smiled calmly, her green eyes focusing in on Aphrodisia before she nimbly leapt backwards, landing with her rear hooves at the very edge of the ring and avoiding a wild headbutt from the demon before she reached both front hooves up and firmly grasped the back of Aphrodisia's skull, slamming her face-first down into the training mat and making her squeak.

Antares did his best to repress a snicker before Aphrodisia suddenly leapt upwards, seizing Tender Trust around the upper body as she flew into the air before half-spinning and slinging the half-Phooka viciously face-first into the training mat. Antares winced a bit at the impact and the way Tender Trust bounced, but in mid-flop the half-Phooka suddenly recovered, landing gracefully on her hooves before her wings spread and she flung herself through the air, moving as effortlessly through the air as a feather on the breeze.

She smiled as she dropped to the ring in a ready position facing Aphrodisia, unharmed despite the fact the show of strength would have probably killed a normal pony. But with her Phooka heritage, physical blows were meaningless to Tender Trust: only magic and a few rare poisons and metals could hurt her. And while most Phooka were in turn too ethereal to do any real physical damage to others themselves, Tender Trust had the same physical consistency and strength as any pony thanks to her mother being a Pegasus.

Aphrodisia began to charge, and Tender Trust's eyes flashed as she put the other talent of the Phooka to use: hypnosis and mental illusions. The demon winced and staggered stupidly as she was caught off-guard, shaking her head briskly, and Tender Trust immediately shot forwards and landed a short series of blows into the face of the demon mare, knocking her backwards with a curse. The demon gritted her teeth as she staggered, then stepped forwards and swung a hoof out in an overpowered punch with a roar.

Tender Trust took the full brunt of the blow to the face, flying backwards and rolling violently several times towards the wall... and Antares stared in envy at the way the half-Phooka suddenly flung herself backwards and upwards, all four hooves kicking outwards as her wings spread wide and she landed on the wall. She breathed slowly and regularly, her head lowered and her green eyes glowing, standing in complete defiance of gravity for a moment as her smoky mane wafted slowly around her features before she gently pushed herself off the surface and neatly somersaulted, landing back on the ground with a smile.

“Showoff.” Aphrodisia grumbled, but then she shook herself out before leaning forwards and complaining: “And I'm not using any of my demon powers, you shouldn't cheat and use your Phooka powers either!”

Tender Trust only smiled and shrugged slowly, and Aphrodisia gave her a sour look before she added sourly: “You know, I can actually hurt you and stuff, T. Don't forget that I'm half-Wrath, I could beat you up real good.”

Tender Trust only continued to smile, and Aphrodisia huffed, looking ruffled by the lack of reaction before both mares set themselves, and Antares sat back, gazing fondly across at Aphrodisia. He knew she was speaking the truth, after all... but that she would never actually try to hurt Tender Trust, or any of her other friends either. And he knew that as it was, she was taking it easy on the half-Phooka: even if Tender Trust had been trained since birth by her mother, who was passing down to her daughter modified teachings she had learned from her own mother, Sol Seraph, she was still only a little less than four years old, and most of what she had learned so far were acrobatics and defensive techniques.

Not to say that Tender Trust was to be underestimated: again, the fact she couldn't be physically injured was an enormous boon, and she had also taken on her mother's natural grace and agility, as she had just demonstrated. She was fast, and she was stronger than your average pony, and could perform acrobatics on the same level as Antares, and was quickly learning how to perform all manner of aerial maneuvers as well.

Aphrodisia rushed forwards again, and Antares watched as once more, Tender Trust tried the same quick counter: but this time, instead of letting her head be grabbed, the demon flung herself backwards with a grin and landed on her back, kicking both rear hooves hard into the half-Phooka's stomach and knocking her flying through the air again to smack loudly into the wall. She fell forwards, looking stunned, but Aphrodisia only rolled backwards to her hooves, bouncing back and forth and growling playfully. “Come on, come on, come on!”

“One more try.” Tender Trust agreed, as she shook herself out and straightened, stepping back onto the training mats and smiling embarrassedly: another of her vulnerabilities was the fact she was so light, heavier attacks tended to send her flying into the air unless she anchored herself.

The two mares looked at one another for a few moments, Tender Trust calm and Apps grinning, and then the demon barked a few times like a dog before charging gleefully forwards. Once more, Tender Trust began to reach up in the counter position she had been trained into, and Aphrodisia sidestepped and instead threw a fast, hooking punch.

But Tender Trust was ready, swinging a hoof down and catching Aphrodisia's front limb in her own before twisting hard, and the demon yelped as she was slung down onto her side. She hurriedly rolled onto her stomach, dodging a stomp before a second firm punch slammed up under her chin as she began to haul herself to her hooves, and the demon stumbled backwards with a wince, hurrying out of range.

Aphrodisia glared in frustration at the half-Phooka, then leapt forwards with a roar, and Tender Trust gave a squeak as she was picked up by the shoulders before the demon flung the half-Phooka down into the ground, then pounced on top of her and pinned her. And while she couldn't be harmed by physical blows, she was still solid enough that she could be held easily in place as the demon sat on her with a huff and mischief in her eyes, sniffing and raising her head proudly. “I win.”

“Yes, I suppose.” Tender Trust said from the ground, a bit of exasperation seeping into the half-Phooka's normally-ever-gentle voice, and Antares laughed and shook his head before the demon finally stepped off the smoky mare, then reached down and hauled her to her hooves with a smile.

Tender Trust smiled back after a moment, blushing a little before she bowed her head and said quietly: “Miigwetch. I appreciate you treating me so well, Aphrodisia.”

The demon only shrugged, then looked over at Antares and winked at him, saying easily: “Get in there and hit a girl, Nova. Make sure you hit her hard, too, you wouldn't want to lose after I won, right big brother?”

The stallion only sighed and shook his head at this, but as the demon sauntered off the mat, Antares strode forwards into the ring and bowed his head politely to Tender Trust, saying kindly: “I won't use magic or horn foiling, okay?”

“Then I shall refrain from hypnosis and illusions.” Tender Trust bowed her head politely in return, and the two straightened before trading smiles, and then Antares took a quick breath before running sharply forwards.

He leapt upwards, flapping his leather wings hard to keep himself in the air as he swung both rear hooves out in a vicious kick, but Tender Trust moved like liquid, shooting up over the arc of the blow and slamming one of her front hooves out in a firm strike into Antares' breast, making him wince and knocking him backwards. His kick turned into a flail for balance, and several more hard blows slammed in a short tattoo against his breast before Tender Trust shot upwards and swung both rear legs up to try and lock them around her neck.

But Antares managed to swing both his own front legs up, catching her legs before they could scissor closed around his neck before he seized her waist and half-spun with a grunt, whirling Tender Trust through the air to fling her straight down to the ground. She smashed face-first into the soft mat, bouncing once before landing on her back outside the ring, and Antares winced a little as he dropped down to land on his hooves, saying awkwardly: “Uh... sorry. I keep forgetting how light you are.”

“Don't worry, Antares, I barely feel it.” Tender Trust picked herself up with a smile, gazing across at him softly as her wings flapped once before furling at her sides, and she calmly stepped back inside the ring before pouncing forwards.

Antares caught her in mid-leap and half-spun, throwing her over his head, but Tender Trust only flapped her wings firmly and gracefully flipped herself around in midair, landing on her hooves and skidding around in a circle to leap immediately at his back.

Antares kicked both rear legs quickly outwards, catching the half-Phooka around the throat before he twisted firmly and landed on his side, pinning her easily in the leglock as she grasped and wriggled uselessly. He was careful not to apply too much pressure in spite of the fact she couldn't be hurt, but it was enough to keep her from prying herself free before she reached out a hoof and patted the mat three times, and Antares released his grip on her, the two climbing to their hooves with shared smiles.

“You're getting faster. A little quicker and I wouldn't've been able to stop you.” Antares said almost admiringly, gazing at the half-Phooka warmly. “You really do learn faster than anyone I've ever met, with both mind and body.”

Tender Trust only laughed quietly and shrugged, replying softly: “Yes, Antares, but do not forget the lifestyle of my tribe... you grow up and grow strong quickly, or you risk not growing at all.” She paused, then added gently: “One more round?”

“Of course.” Antares nodded to her with a smile, and Tender Trust nodded back, the two setting themselves before the half-Phooka lunged towards him. He readied himself, then swung a hoof sharply outwards, and the blow hammered directly into the half-Phooka's features and knocked her stumbling backwards before he leapt forwards and swung a punishing smash down into her skull, fighting his natural instinct to pull the punch.

She was knocked flat by the blow, but her wings quickly spread and flapped with enough force to push her up and off the mat, before her front hooves seized into his shoulders and both her rear hooves kicked upwards in a powerful arc, smashing into Antares' breast and knocking him crashing onto his own back, shocked and rattled from the blow. A moment later, and the mare tackled him, the stallion skidding backwards as she leaned forwards to pin him, and only practice and instinct saved him as he grabbed her and threw himself backwards and used her momentum to send them both into a half-roll.

They landed with him barely managing to force his way to the top position, pinning her firmly down into the ground as Tender Trust grunted quietly, and then looked up at him with surprise. Antares looked back down with a wheeze of relief, and then the half-Phooka slid a hoof to his scarred chest, saying softly: “You truly never fail to impress, Antares Mīrus.”

“That's the first time a mare's ever said that to him.” Aphrodisia chimed in, and Antares groaned and glared at her as Tender Trust gave a slight smile beneath him, before the demon added informatively: “It really looks like you're about to cheat on Meadowlark right now, by the way. Which is gross because she's three years old. Come over here and cheat on Meadowlark with me instead, Antares, that'd be much better.”

“Except for the fact you call me big brother.” Antares said dryly, and Aphrodisia shrugged and smiled brightly before the unicorn rolled his eyes and stepped off Tender Trust, then reached down and gently pulled her to her hooves. “You're learning fast, T, but you gotta remember, don't charge straight at your enemy. For you it's less because you might get hurt, and more because you're so lightweight that every time you get hit, it knocks you staggering. Still, you did really good.”

“Miigwetch, Mir. I really appreciate it.” Tender Trust said softly, nodding slowly before she smiled and glanced past them, then bowed her head silently.

Antares cocked his head curiously at this, then he turned around before jumping slightly and staring at the sight of Fluttershy, who was smiling softly, her sons Virtue and Temperance on either side of her and looking almost jealously at their sister. Aphrodisia frowned curiously at the look on Antares' face before she looked behind her... and then the demon squeaked and leapt backwards, whining: “Fluttershy!”

“Oh, I'm sorry, Aphrodisia, I didn't mean to startle you. Virtue just said Tender Trust was looking to train with somepony, and I thought I'd come and find my daughter, but... I see that you and your cousin have already been helping her out.” Fluttershy said softly, and then she smiled a little, glancing back and forth at the larger, bulkier but wingless half-Phooka stallions to either side of her. “My colts want to learn, too, but for now they're being tutored by their father and the tribe in the traditions of the Phooka, and we think it's best not to overload them.”

Fluttershy looked forwards, and Tender Trust smiled before Temperance stuck his tongue out at her childishly, but the winged half-Phooka didn't react to her brother's baiting, instead saying softly: “I'm only glad to learn, oka. And to have such good friends to help me.”

“Yes. They are.” Fluttershy said softly, and Virtue gave Tender Trust a grumpy look before both half-Phooka stallions winced when the mare added without looking at either of them: “Now, boys, there's no need to be jealous. One day I'll teach you too... now that I know that even the awful things my mother taught me can be used for good... as long as we remember what, Tender Trust?”

“Honor, love, kindness, and that we do not use these skills to hurt other ponies, not even when they hurt us. We use these skills to defend and protect ourselves and others from monsters... and we never, ever kill.” Tender Trust replied softly but quickly, smiling at her mother affectionately, and Fluttershy nodded with a warm look.

“That's right. And that's why this can be okay. Why this can be good.” Fluttershy closed her eyes, then shook her head before looking up and smiling warmer. “Antares, Aphrodisia, would you both like to stay and help my daughter and I a little with a few exercises? Virtue and Temperance, I'd appreciate your help, too, if you two promise not to make too much mischief.”

The two nodded and rumbled agreements in the sibilant tongue of the Phooka, as Antares traded a look with Aphrodisia before the stallion smiled to the one-winged Pegasus. “Of course. I'll be really glad to. I'm... I'm really glad that even with my parents back, I still have so many people to turn to and work with. I know that... even if I'm supposed to be an adult now, I still got a lot of learning to do.”

Fluttershy only smiled softly in return at this, closing her eyes and bowing her head for a moment, and the young stallion blushed a little as he saw how much it meant to her as well, to be able to teach him like this. Then she looked up and smiled, and Antares nodded firmly as Aphrodisia grinned at her cousin and the half-Phooka triplets looked reverently towards their mother, all different peoples, but all people all the same.

A Temporary Loss Of Self

Chapter Nine: A Temporary Loss Of Self
~BlackRoseRaven

Scrivener Blooms sighed a little as he sat awkwardly in the cramped waiting room of Rogues And Studs, twiddling his front hooves nervously as he rested back in one of the tiny little chairs. He was somehow certain this was some kind of torture tactic, as he glanced lamely up at the desk, where a receptionist was working away with all the emotion of a machine, answering calls, jotting down memos, and occasionally giving a rude comment to anyone who approached the counter.

Barry kept shifting back and forth in the chair beside him, cursing every so often, and the larger charcoal stallion looked at him dryly for a few moments before he said finally: “Will you please stop fidgeting? You're making my nerves worse.”

Some other pony across the room looked up with a grumble from his newspaper, but Scrivener only ignored him before he leaned to the side moodily. What really bothered him was that this waiting room was all tiny and scrunched in a corner, but there was a big opening leading out into a giant, spacious foyer, with artistically-placed potted plants and a little enclosed garden in some giant brick planter-box monstrosity. Ponies out there were wandering around, looking at the expensive art on the walls and busily being self-important as they strutted around in front of the enormous glass-walled front of the building like they were expensive show animals proud to be on display.

Scrivener moodily smoothed out his white suit jacket: it didn't go so hot with the blue dress shirt he was wearing, and worse, it reminded him of Valthrudnir, but it had been the only dress jacket he'd been able to get on short notice that would fit him. Then he winced as something scratched against him, and he mumbled under his breath: “This was your idea, not mine.”

A bulge in his breast pocket shifted, and a moment later, a tiny Luna peered her head slowly up and out of the fabric. Barry winced a bit at how much the mare's sapphire body and glowing mane stood out against the whiteness of the suit jacket, even with how tiny she'd made herself, and Scrivener winced and hurriedly shoved her head down, making her squawk in indignation even as she shouted in a squeaky little voice: “Damnation, Scrivener Blooms, I shall pummel thou!”

The receptionist looked up sharply, and Scrivener faked a cough before making a high-pitched noise in his throat, pretending to clear it. He received a scowl before the receptionist returned to her work, and Barry grinned weakly before whispering in a strained voice through his painfully-clenched teeth: “This isn't going to work.”

“It'll work fine.” Scrivener muttered, although he didn't really believe that himself, but he figured that someone had to say it. He felt Luna squirming around in his breast pocket again, and then he asked mentally: And how long can you hold this again?

'Tis not... the most difficult polymorph I have ever done, and with us physically close I can draw upon thine own energies as well with ease. Luna answered after a moment, yet all the same Scrivener felt like there was a 'but' coming from her tone, and he wasn't surprised when a moment later she added grudgingly: The difficulty shall be when thou confronts the foul dragon in her den. Our emotions may cause me to lose concentration, which would prove... troublesome.

“Troublesome.” Scrivener echoed, and then he sighed tiredly and slumped back a bit in his seat, looking wryly up towards the ceiling and he absently rubbed at his breast pocket, and Luna shifted inside this, curling herself up with a mumble as she relaxed against the gently-massaging hoof. “Yeah. I'm somehow sure that's the perfect way to describe things.”

Barry looked nervously over at Scrivener, and the charcoal stallion shook his head and reached up to absently tap his own temple, saying dryly: “Sorry. Having a conversation with... the better part of me, so to speak.”

Cute. Luna intoned ironically in his mind, and then he heard her voice as clearly as if she were right next to his ear and normal sized, as she shifted in his breast pocket and mumbled: “'Tis stuffy in here, Scrivy. Stuffy and morose. Like thou art. I feel as if I am inside thou.” A pause, and Scrivener slowly looked down at his breast pocket. “In a bad way.”

“Do I even want to know what she's saying to make you look like that?” Barry asked moodily, and Scrivener shook his head and slapped at his pocket a few times, Luna squawking and then growling and huffing, shifting herself moodily around inside his jacket again and kicking uselessly at his chest. “And are you sure this is entirely necessary?”

“How long have we been here as it is?” Scrivener asked mildly, and Barry made a face and nodded: it had to have been at least thirty minutes, before the charcoal stallion added: “And this whole first floor is pretty much taken up by that giant open lobby out front. The offices must be above somewhere, where I'm sure I'll be doing who knows how much more waiting... Luna and I need to be... to be close.”

Barry looked apprehensively at Scrivener Blooms, and the earth pony glanced away, not wanting to talk any further about precisely how close he and Luna had to stay now before he cleared his throat and asked quickly: “So are you feeling... okay?”

The literary agent jumped a bit at this question, then he shifted a little and smiling a little too widely over at Scrivener, patting his own chest and saying finally: “Hey, champ, don't you worry at all about me. I'm perfectly fine... really, I mean, I was perfectly fine the moment the Baroness Celestia was kind enough to heal me but... now I'm really perfectly fine and dandy. I'm great!”

Scrivener looked for a few moments at the lamely-grinning lanky stallion, then he asked mildly: “Do I really still make you that nervous after all this time?”

“Yes.” Barry mumbled and slumped a bit, blushing slightly as he shrank his head back into his collar, and Scrivener only nodded agreeably as he looked forwards thoughtfully, before the literary agent blurted: “Well can you blame me? Every other day I open my mouth and it's 'Barry shut up or I'll fire you,' 'Barry, don't make me hurt you,' 'Barry, don't make me cut your head off and shove it down your throat.'”

“I don't think I ever said the last. I mean, it sounds like something I might say if you really pissed me off, but I mean I don't think I ever said that to you, anyway.” Scrivener said absently after a moment, leaning back and forth and grimacing as he shifted a bit, and Luna mumbled inside his pocket, drawing his attention for a moment as he reached up to absently rub at the visible bulge in his suit jacket again despite his best efforts not to.

Luna again grumbled, but almost pushed herself against his hoof, welcoming the contact even through the soft fabric, before she scowled as she heard the pony sitting across the room say flatly: “Can you two please just shut up? Some of us are here on like, very important business.”

“Referring to yourself in third person is bad enough. Referring to yourself in third person plural is much worse.” Scrivener replied before he could stop himself, and the strangely-dressed pony huffed, scowling out over his newspaper. His suit looked like it was stitched together – and badly – from several different sets of clothing, and his tie was knotted about halfway down, and Scrivener couldn't help but ask: “Punk rocker?”

The pony huffed and snapped his newspaper back up, as Barry looked morbidly over at Scrivener and asked finally: “You're getting this all out now, so that when you deal with Ersatz, you're gonna be on your best behavior, right? Right?”

Scrivener shrugged moodily as Luna grumbled inside his pocket, then crawled quickly upwards as she shook her head fiercely, her mane sparking once before it gradually became translucent instead of glowing. She peeked her head of Scrivener's breast pocket, glaring back and forth as Scrivener awkwardly leaned forwards and tented his front hooves in front of himself so she was hidden from view but could still peer around a little, before the two soulbound ponies and Barry looked up as the secretary said irritably: “Scrivener Blooms, Miss Ersatz is waiting for you in her office on the fifth floor. Please escort yourself there immediately. Mister Barry Barter, it's time for you to leave now.”

“I'll uh. Wait over at that place that serves the ten dollar coffees.” Barry said lamely, and then he grinned weakly as he punched Scrivener's shoulder lightly as the stallion got up, the movement making Luna wince and skid back down into his pocket. “Go get 'er, champ! We're countin' on you to... to look great and change her mind and uh... do... good!”

“Wow, and here I thought big and ugly was the stupid one. But I suppose you can forgive me for assuming.” the stallion at the other end of the waiting room said nastily, and Scrivener gave him a moody look as Luna poked her head angrily out of the breast pocket again, her horn sizzling before she sent a jolt of electricity chaining over into the stallion's face as Scrivener passed.

The stallion jumped with a yelp, the secretary frowning at Scrivener's back as the stallion gaped at the sight of the tiny winged unicorn glaring furiously out of the suit jacket of the unicorn, and Scrivener hurriedly reached up and pushed Luna back inside the breast pocket, saying awkwardly: “Sorry, I have uh... angry pocket syndrome. Still breaking this new jacket in and all. Excuse me.”

Scrivener strode quickly out of the waiting room, looking back and forth before turning down a narrow hall and towards a door labeled 'STAIRS,' as Luna grinned triumphantly despite being awkwardly curled on her back inside his breast pocket as she asked loudly: “Angry pocket syndrome, Scrivy?”

“Yes, angry pocket syndrome. And if you keep it up I'll make it... squished... pocket syndrome, too.” Scrivener mumbled to himself as he strode through the doorway and then grimaced as he looked moodily up the spiraling flights of stairs, saying moodily: “Why do I have the feeling this all seems way too easy so far?”

Luna only grumbled a little inside her hiding place, and Scrivener sighed tiredly as he began to trudge up the stairs, feeling nervously like he was entering the lair of some kind of pony-eating monster. But then he shook his head quickly and cursed himself under his breath, mumbling mentally: Come on, chin up Scrivener. You've fought far worse things than a bitchy critic. Why the hell are you letting her get in your head so much?

The stallion knew the answer, though, at least partly: it was because this was a different sort of battleground than what he'd grown used to, and because after all the years of keeping his writing safely between himself and a few others, it had become... a kind of vulnerable point for him, so to speak. And as he'd learn, physical pain passed quickly, but the pain caused by the right words, no matter often Scrivener reminded himself that words only had the power you gave them, well...

It wasn't even that Scrivener thought of himself as some great writer, or even entirely deserving of the fame and honor he had been given; it was that Ersatz was so damn good at her job, which was apparently right now just making him as miserable as possible.

Luna shifted in his pocket, then clambered her way back up to poke her head out, saying soothingly: “Come now, Scrivy, thou art... art being an idiot again. What thou art fearing is only thunder, not lightning. Thou can put up with this nasty creature long enough to push through this so-called 'interview,' then be done with her forever.”

Scrivener grunted moodily, not knowing if he wanted to agree or argue before he finally sighed and nodded hesitantly, as he continued to climb the curving, almost painfully-bright stairs. “Yeah. I know you're right, Luna, I just... I hate stuff like this. Anyway, you better hide and keep yourself calm. If you explode out of my pocket or something we can't really pretend that... you know. You came out of my chest or something like that.”

“Like a maiden springing forth from her god?” Luna asked ironically, and the charcoal stallion only snorted in amusement at this thought before the sapphire mare sighed and slid back down into his breast pocket, mumbling: “Fear not, Scrivener Blooms, I shall be a good little filly who is neither meant to be seen nor heard.”

Scrivener only smiled a little, sending soothing thoughts to the mare, and she grumbled quietly as she closed her eyes and shifted a bit with a mumble. But soon enough, she was settled inside his pocket, and Scrivener continued his trek upwards as the minds of both ponies rolled silently together, reflecting on how much things had changed... and how after so many years of almost only benefit, now they were beginning to face the dangers and consequences that came with linking their souls together.

Scrivy had dodged around the subject with Barry, not wanting him to know that he and Luna had to be within roughly fifty feet of each other at almost all times: even if he said they could spend an hour apart, that had been a generous estimate, and it fluctuated at times based on their emotions. Worse, when their time was up and their mixed soul began to cry out for the presence of its other half, mind and body both revolted and they were given the choice of either finding each other quickly or risking a slow, agonizing descent into pain-filled insanity and death.

Celestia and Twilight Sparkle both knew about their vulnerability, and had researched into it a little, but it didn't seem like there was anything they could do... apart from cutting their soul link. But that was likely no longer an option: they had intertwined so much with one another that it would probably kill them both, and that was if they were lucky. And it wasn't like either Luna or Scrivener were willing to sacrifice their link, anyway: it wasn't just love or selfishness anymore, either, it was the fact that they had simply... grown too used to what they had between them.

It was worrisome, sure, and for a slew of reasons: their link could continue to tighten and shorten the distance and time they could be apart further, and it was even possible that one day they would go to sleep, and the next they would wake up not just together, but together, merged into some unknowable entity like Gymbr had been. And there were other worries... yet for now, both ponies were trying to concentrate only on what was here, and remember the fact that weren't yet so bonded they had become one in the same... besides, it's not like me or Luna even want to be the same. We're... we have a lot of similarities, but we have our differences, too. And it's our rough edges that make us work more than it is the stuff that's the same between us.

Scrivener smiled a little to himself at this thought as Luna glanced up from inside his pocket, then shifted a bit and rested her head against the stallion's chest, closing her eyes. She could hear his heartbeat through the thin walls of fabric between them, and it made her smile a little, although there was a faint... sense of what was almost shame, too, as she fidgeted a bit and thought of the dark blood that was being pumped through Scrivener's veins. Liquid corruption, the stuff that powered nightmares... and Luna shivered a little as Scrivener halted on the fourth floor landing to glance down for a moment quietly.

But then she shifted and sent him a silent message, and he nodded after a moment: more to himself than to her as he continued to move upwards, trying not to peek too much at Luna's musings even as he naturally felt them whispering through his mind as well. That was another downside of the soul link: they could almost never just think something and keep it to themselves.

The stallion reached the fifth floor a few minutes later, then strode forwards and rested a hoof against the door before he halted as he felt Luna's thoughts, heard the undercurrent in them, and he lowered his head before saying quietly: “Luna... I... I don't mind being a Clockwork Pony or a monster, as long as I have you to... keep me in line, and help keep an eye on me. You're the reason I'm alive and you're the reason I stay alive and... I just want you to know that I love you. And I don't blame you for anything at all.”

“Shut up, Scrivy.” Luna murmured softly, but she smiled a little all the same, the faintest blush tingeing her cheeks before she added quietly: “But aye, fear not. I shall always ensure that I keep thee on a proper leash, beetle.”

Scrivener smiled after a moment despite himself, nodding a little before he pushed through the doorway and into the hallway. He immediately winced a bit at the hideous yellow walls and purple rugs underhoof, before staring upwards as he realized the ceiling was incandescent orange, and he squinted a little almost as if trying to stare at the sun as he mumbled: “I think I'm getting color sickness.”

Luna only covered her face with her hooves to try and block out the mental images of the narrow hall she was seeing through Scrivener's eyes, groaning as the stallion started forwards before he winced as he realized there were connecting corridors... everywhere. It was a maze of hallways, and designed so that they were all mostly hidden until you were right on top of them. Worse, the noise he could hear everywhere wasn't actually helping matters: sounds of conversation, typewriters clicking, and other business going on echoed up and down the corridor, distracting him all the further.

Scrivener looked blankly back and forth as he stumbled through corridors, wincing at the doors he passed as he noted each was colored differently: the only thing the same between them was the colors were always offensively-neon. They at least had nameplates, though, and Scrivener grimaced as he made his way through the labyrinth of halls, cursing every now and then when he rounded a corner and realized he'd gone in a circle.

After almost fifteen minutes, he finally arrived at a bright pink door with an enormous gold nameplate on it, reading: 'Ersatz Major, Critical Analysis.' For a moment, Scrivener moodily surveyed this door, and then he finally sighed before reaching up a hoof and knocking twice.

“You're late, Scrivener Blooms.” Ersatz's voice almost sang from behind the door, and Scrivener mumbled to himself before he headbutted the door, and there was a quiet laugh from inside. “Now darling, that's not how you open a door. But I suppose with your breeding you don't know better. Try the handle, dear.”

Scrivener glowered moodily, thinking about kicking the door down just to show his 'breeding' as Luna rumbled grumpily in his pocket, and then he sighed and instead grumpily forced himself to use the doorhandle, shoving it open and striding inside before letting the heavy door swing closed behind him.

He glanced absently over his shoulder at it... and stared as he realized the section he had slammed his head into was see-through. It was tinged pink, but he could see straight down the hall from here, and the stallion winced a little in surprise before Ersatz said pleasantly from behind her expensive, modernist desk: “That one-way distortion is a very useful tool for gauging whoever's come calling, Scrivener Blooms. You, for example, don't seem to be in the most pleasant mood.”

“I never am.” Scrivener replied dryly, turning around and grimacing a little: this office was... hollow. Smaller than he'd expected it to be, with no real personal trappings; just a few expensive-looking pieces of furniture and framed covers of Rogues And Studs that had been blown up to poster size, hanging on the walls unevenly, like they had been thrown up without a care.

Ersatz's desk was spotless, except for a notebook, a file folder, and a tape recorder that Scrivener realized a little too late was already going. She gestured almost kindly to a metallic-looking green chair in front of the desk, and the earth pony realized moodily that it was far too small for him: it looked like something made for a colt, while Ersatz lounged comfortably back in a large, cushioned blue throne of a chair. “Please, sit.”

Scrivener did so reluctantly, squishing himself into the little seat as Luna fidgeted in his pocket, and the earth pony carefully smoothed out his white suit jacket as Ersatz looked at him intently. She was wearing bright red clothing today, with matching ruby bangles jangling quietly over her forelimbs and a ribbon around her neck that reminded Scrivener of something a spoiled fat cat would wear, complete with a little bell. And again, her head was covered by a thick green wreath, adorned with beautiful red flowers.

The stallion honestly didn't know what the hell to think of her. All he could do was study her, and she looked back at him with the same intentness in her eyes before her calm smile spread wider over her features, and she asked in a soft voice: “Do you like the building?”

“I think it's atrocious.” Scrivener said blandly, and Ersatz smiled as she gave a nod of agreement, surprising him. But then the charcoal stallion glanced back and forth, at how... empty this office was, and he realized he shouldn't be so surprised after all. “So I guess this job... you don't do it because you like it.”

“Oh, I like what it gets me of course, Scrivener Blooms. And I particularly enjoy some of my interviews...” Ersatz knocked a hoof against her desk, gazing at him with a strange look in her eye. It was like a fondness that a predator would have for its favorite prey. “But no, I must admit I'm not entirely fond of my workplace, or the kinds of things I have to do and the people I have to put up with. But let's not waste time talking about me, Scrivener Blooms. I'm not important. You are.”

“Why?” Scrivener asked quietly, and Ersatz studied him as the charcoal stallion looked at her. He frowned after a moment as he met her pale blue eyes, then slowly roved down along her dark green coat. An earthy color, in spite of the fact that everything about her screamed 'pureblood,' from the way she treated him to the shape of her body. But he also hadn't failed to notice that she always hid her horn from view... and usually, that was the kind of thing unicorns always put out on display, unless...

Ersatz Major gave a quiet laugh, and then she shook her head slowly as she murmured: “You don't remember me, do you? But I can't blame you, Scrivener Blooms... I was even younger than you when we first met, and I was told not to associate myself with you, and to not mention you in the presence of my uncle.”

Scrivener frowned at this, and then he felt his mouth go dry, speaking wordlessly for a moment as a faint memory of the past he'd tried to leave behind came to mind. He couldn't speak, but Ersatz only smiled at him... and in his mind, he saw a young, curious unicorn filly leaning out from behind an enormous stallion, staring at him as he scrubbed the floor of his father's store with a wet rag, careful to keep his eyes from ever rising to meet even this other child's.

And then he was back in reality, as Ersatz said softly: “Do you remember me now, cousin? We only caught glimpses of each other, but I remember you. I never, ever forget you. And no, no, I see it in your eyes already, but don't assume it's because you're a shame on the family name... I've never, ever called you a 'slave hoof' and I don't plan to start now, either.”

The stallion only stared at her, trying to make sense of things as Luna looked upwards in disbelief inside Scrivener's pocket. And Ersatz smiled almost sympathetically over at Scrivener Blooms before she closed her eyes, saying quietly: “I know unicorns can be cruel, sweetie. I always heard ponies talking badly about my father... Aunt Belle's older brother. Just because he had such a dark coat, like an earth pony... and of course the purebloods gave me their own share of spite for the same. And to think, I lived in Snow Saddle, which was so... mild, compared to where you did...

“I pity you for what you went through, cousin. I honestly do. But you did something awful, too...” Ersatz continued quietly, her pale eyes locking on Scrivener's own. “You ran away. Without a word to your mother, one day you left on a delivery to a unicorn noble's house... and then you never went back home. You ended up in Trotronto, isn't that right? Where you had a book or two published, and spent your time getting drunk and wasting your life and stolen freedom.”

“What was I supposed to do, Ersatz? Stay in that hellhole, spend my life as a slave hoof, submitted to Bramblethorn and my mother like a good little colt?” Scrivener asked sharply, still feeling... almost numb with what he had discovered.

Ersatz shook her head firmly, however, frowning... but she seemed more disappointed than angry, as she replied quietly: “No. You should have told Tia Belle. Your mother loved you, Scrivener Blooms. But you never talked to her, did you? You never-”

“Ersatz, I... I do want to believe that Tia Belle gave a damn about me, but... don't talk like you know what my life was like!” Scrivener snapped, feeling... strangely hurt, breathing a little hard and letting his emotions get the better of himself as he sat up a little, continuing harshly: “Every day, working in the shop, only to always be followed up by Bramblethorn telling me what a failure and how worthless I was, and if he didn't feel like smacking me around or dragging me home so he could continue to order me around, then getting locked in that goddamn kennel in the back alley! And Tia Belle sat by for all of it, and went along with everything he ordered and... and... and Horses of Heaven know that she never acted like she gave a crowbait's flank until it was too late!”

He breathed hard in and out, trembling, tears starting to form in his eyes before Ersatz said softly: “Tell yourself that if you want, Scrivener Blooms, but I don't think you'd be so upset if you didn't understand on some level, you feel guilty. You know you did wrong. You know that you're responsible for what happened to her.”

Scrivener forced himself to get back under control, swallowing thickly and biting his lower lip with a muffled curse before he looked slowly up at her, and there was silence for a few long moments before he finally said quietly: “You don't know what it was like. You can't.”

“I have some idea, Scrivener Blooms. And I know that we owe it to our parents to give them second chances... because when we fail to, and we lose them because of our action or inaction... it hurts.” Ersatz smiled at him, and Scrivener shivered at the pain that lit up her hollow eyes before she reached up and calmly removed the wreath around her head.

The stallion reared back slightly in shock, his eyes widening as he mouthed wordlessly at her, and in his pocket Luna couldn't resist shuddering as what Scrivener saw seared its image in her own mind. Ersatz's horn was only a jagged, melted stump, with several hideous cracks through its body and the material turned all variety of rotten, ugly colors. Scrivener shook his head slowly, leaning back a bit, feeling almost sick to his stomach at the sight, and the way some kind of faint, poisonous light still tried to shimmer weakly out of the shattered spire...

“As I'm sure you know, Scrivener Blooms, our horns are made of alicorn... a near-indestructible material.” Ersatz said conversationally, her smile still on her face, but her eyes burning into him, making sure he was listening to her story. “But it can still be destroyed, oh yes. An buildup of intense magical energy, for example, can create so much pressure inside the horn structure it shatters... certain acids make alicorn brittle or soft... and there's a rare metal called gianttooth that can be made so sharp and tempered so solid it can tear through our horns. I'm sure you know all about that, though, Scrivener Blooms... how many foals' fables feature awful ogres that use graters of gianttooth to grind up the horns of misbehaving little unicorn colts and fillies?”

“Many.” Scrivener murmured quietly, looking at her horn again and wincing a little despite himself, before he asked finally: “What happened?”

“An accident.” Ersatz closed her eyes, then she reached up gently touched the side of her horn, saying softly: “I was trying to train to get into the magic academy in Canterlot... I wanted to make my father proud. There... there was only my father growing up, Scrivener Blooms, my mother was not... involved in any aspect of my life. But that's okay. My father was a wonderful stallion. A wonderful stallion who knew what my ambition was, and who used all his extra money to buy me an amplification ring. I needed every edge I could get, because I was all too quickly growing up, and soon, I would be too old to apply.

“And I was very, very foolish and impatient.” Ersatz smiled as she looked down and murmured: “It was only a simple spell to change the colors of an object. A party trick, really. But I was attempting to cast it on a large scale, to turn the whole exterior of the house we lived in bright pink. I thought it would make Daddy laugh...

“So, of course, I thought that I needed more power, not just more practice. And I had mastered a very simple amplification charm I used sometimes, in case I didn't have my ring...” Ersatz closed her eyes. “But I decided to focus all the power I could into this charm... and cast it on the ring already around my horn. I had been told to never amplify an amplifier, but... I was a silly filly.”

She gazed up at him, smiling once more, and Scrivener swallowed as Luna shivered and then forcibly repressed as much emotion as she could, keeping herself tiny and under control as Ersatz said softly: “The ring began to feel strange. I didn't understand that I had done worse than just amplify the amplifier... I had cast the amplification charm with the ring already amplifying it as well. And even though I was tired, I thought... I would try one last time to turn the house pink, with my amplifier's help.”

Ersatz Major touched her horn again silently, then said softly: “I don't need to detail what happened. Only that the simple, silly color spell backfired rather spectacularly. My ring shattered the moment I tried to draw energy out of it, and all that force was shoved into my horn at once. It... hurt, Scrivener Blooms, I cannot describe how much it hurt, and yet at the same time, it was like I wasn't even there, even as my horn... I wouldn't say so much exploded as melted away.”

She quieted, then murmured: “It also killed my father. No, not literally, of course, darling... but he blamed himself for what happened. He had bought me the ring, after all. And even though we were in Snow Saddle, well... the unicorns did not have sympathy for my plight, they only laughed at me, mocked me, looked at me with disgust. Poor father... he lost his temper on one of the poor foolish foals that was making fun of me and hurt the colt... very badly. He lost his job because of that, and it was my fault again... and then we received a letter, not from Bramblethorn but from the city of North Neigh, informing us that Tia Belle had died of unknown illness, and we had to come and pick up the body.”

She stopped, then her distant, hollow eyes looked at Scrivener as she gave that plastic smile once more, saying quietly: “I don't believe Daddy even saw Bramblethorn when he went to pick up the body and a few important possessions. I don't believe Bramblethorn even cared. He certainly didn't attend the funeral we held for her in Snow Saddle... I wonder sometimes how she even got to the hospital, how they even found her. I have this... terrible vision of her dying, and Bramblethorn simply shoving her out on the street...”

“That sounds like my dad.” Scrivener whispered, looking down for a few moments as he trembled, confused and hurt and... and scared. “You... your father gave her a funeral?”

“That's what big brothers do for their little sisters, as far as I know.” Ersatz replied softly, and then she looked away and added quietly: “Besides, it was his funeral too, you see. The next day, my father bought me a teddy bear and promised me that everything was going to be okay, as he sent me off to the private school he had used almost every last bit to get me into. Except for the bits he used for the poison, you see, that he took his own life with the next day.”

Scrivener turned his eyes down silently, staring at the tabletop as Ersatz reached out and quietly stroked the wreath of red roses beside her, smiling faintly. “All because of your selfishness, Scrivener Blooms. All because you ran away, like a coward.”

“How can you blame that all on me...” Scrivener asked weakly, looking up even as his heart thudded in his chest and he felt horribly, godawfully, unfairly like this somehow was his fault, with the way that Ersatz kept looking at him, kept speaking to him...

“Because it's true. Scrivener... no matter how Tia Belle acted, look at who she lived with. Bramblethorn was nothing but an awful beast. My father hated him, and I suspect your mother hated him too, but was trapped with him.” Ersatz murmured, stroking slowly over the wreath. “I would not be surprised if he turned all his bullying and anger on her after you left, Scrivener. I would not be surprised if he treated her just as roughly as he treated you, whether you recognized it or not... because she did love you. She was trying to protect you...”

The charcoal stallion looked up, and he didn't have to ask his question for her to answer, Ersatz saying softly: “I know, Scrivener Blooms, because Daddy told me that Aunt Belle was going to be bringing her son to stay with us for a while in Snow Saddle. I think she had plans to leave that monster, Bramblethorn... and if not, she at least had plans to bring you to a safe place. I was so excited, that for months I looked forwards to having a playmate in the household... and so young that when it didn't happen, I was crushed. And I can imagine if I was that badly hurt by not getting to know a total stranger to me... your mother must have been devastated by you vanishing. And it was only a few months later that she died, and even as a filly part of me understood that when Daddy said 'I'm sorry, your new friend can't come after all,' it had something to do with when he next told me 'Daddy needs you to sit down so he can tell you something sad.'”

Scrivener stared at her, and Ersatz looked back at him with her plastic smile before she closed her eyes and said gently: “And look at this... it seems that you interviewed me, Scrivener Blooms, not the other way around. I didn't expect to talk so much but I feel... I feel like I have this great weight off my chest, and I hope you understand now... why I want to hurt you. Why I have to punish you. Why I want to take this success you've enjoyed and turn it all into the failure and pain and suffering you deserve, because you don't deserve the life you've lived, and I don't deserve the life I was left with. Without a friend in the world, without my father or any other family, and all of it comes back... to you. Just because your life was a nightmare, Scrivener Blooms, that didn't give you the right to run away, and leave your mother to suffer.”

“Dominoes.” Scrivener laughed faintly, looking away before he closed his eyes and trembled, but he didn't know what to say. How to argue. He knew, he knew that what she was saying didn't make sense, it was all straw ponies and fallacies, and yet all the same... why the hell did her words almost make sense? Why the hell couldn't he just say none of it was his fault, because... it isn't!

He sat silently, and Ersatz looked across at him before she asked gently: “Would you like to leave, or shall we move on with the interview now that the pleasantries are out of the way, Scrivener Blooms? And, oh, just so you know... I can sense that your wife is nearby, although I'm not sure where, and I must admit I'm very impressed she managed to sneak in. You may have noticed that the ponies who work here are unpleasant and all.”

Scrivener looked up, not knowing what to say, and Ersatz smiled at him kindly, reaching up and tapping her horn silently. “I can't do any kind of magic anymore, Scrivener... but my horn tends to... buzz, when there's other unicorns around. It's hard to describe... a side effect, I think, of the amplification ring exploding.”

Scrivener nodded slowly, then he hesitated for only a moment before reaching up and quietly holding a hoof in front of himself, and Ersatz Major watched with interest as Scrivener's breast pocket shifted, and then the winged unicorn carefully crawled her way up and out of his pocket, the tiny mare hopping onto his hoof and looking across at Ersatz with... an awful ache in her eyes, as she simply stood there, looking up at her, hating the sympathy and the pity and the.. the same shame and guilt that Scrivener did, in spite of everything that cried out it wasn't the stallion's fault.

“That's wonderful.” Ersatz said softly, and the faint smile that spread over her face was a real one, leaning down a bit before Luna sighed and hopped off Scrivener's hoof to land on Ersatz's desk: at this size, it was like a flat-topped mountain to her. The unicorn marveled over the sight with longing and the faintest hint of bitterness, murmuring: “Such powerful magic...”

“'Tis only a polymorph.” Luna said quietly, and when Ersatz frowned and leaned down, the winged unicorn cleared her throat and shook her head quickly, then turned around and leapt off the desk as her body glowed: and a moment later, a fully-sized Luna was quietly turning back around to face Ersatz, as she said softly: “I apologize. I said, 'tis only a simple polymorph. It is one of the fields of magic in which I specialize.”

Ersatz Major smiled, and Luna hesitated for a moment before she said suddenly: “'Tis not Scrivener's fault, Ersatz, thou... thou must recognize this! I... I am sorry for what thou has experienced in life, and... I would even thank thee, or at least wish to honor thy father for his generosity in what he offered to Scrivy... I... I do not doubt thy words are true, thy voice and eyes make it clear that thou art not speaking any lies. But thou cannot blame and hate Scrivener for what happened.”

“I have to blame someone, and I can see that even Scrivener blames himself... but Luna... I don't hate him. I don't hate any of you.” Ersatz shook her head slowly, looking down as she reached out and opened the file folder beside her, slowly stroking a hoof over the picture on the front... and Scrivener stared in surprise as he saw it was a glossy black and white... no, not just that, it was one of the stupid promotional pictures Barry had made him sign a hundred or so copies of even though he was ninety-nine percent sure no one wanted a framed picture of him on their wall.

Ersatz was quiet, looking at this for a few long moments before she moved it aside, studying the file beneath it even as she continued quietly: “You talk about honor in your book, Scrivener. This is... similar to that, I think. You hurt me, and hurt my family, and are responsible for... my life being the way it is now. Dominoes, like you said... your actions create a chain of consequences, and it doesn't matter whether or not you understood what the ultimate end would inevitably be, how it would lead to... all this. All that matters is that you started it... and so, it has to end with you, too. Somehow, I have to shift all this awful karma back to you, Scrivener Blooms.”

Scrivener laughed weakly, shaking his head slowly as he said finally: “Did you really read my book or not? Because... I kind of have more than my share of bad karma, Ersatz.”

“Now, Scrivener Blooms, you say yourself that it was these bad experiences that have helped form you, and give more meaning to the good.” Ersatz replied gently, and then she looked up at him and met his eyes. “My goal isn't to make your life worse, Scrivener Blooms. It's only to take away... the rewards that you attained unfairly.”

“Then thou will have to take me away as well, won't thou?” Luna said sharply, straightening and glaring across at Ersatz, who looked up silently at the winged unicorn. “Enough, I shan't sit here and let thou speak anymore! Oh, aye, maybe thou has some... some distant, grabbing cause to hold Scrivy accountable for whatever pains thou felt as some poor filly, hoping for a brand new friend, but nothing else! And if thou does wish to stretch so blindly anyway, then forget not the sword cuts both ways: if thou had thy happy little playmate Scrivener Blooms, and he had lived in Snow Saddle, then never would I have met him, and from the very start Valthrudnir's machinations would have ended not in defeat but success. I would have been bested by a poisoned Celestia, or perhaps survived only to fall victim to Ignominious, or worst of all, struck down by the Jötnar himself... and whether thou knows or not what I speak of, only know that for want of a brother the entire world would have burned, and now, filly, who is the selfish beast here?”

Ersatz looked calmly up at Luna even as Scrivener looked silently away, still wracked with guilt he knew he shouldn't feel but... all the same was, like he'd lost control over his own emotions. Luna, however, was breathing hard, snarling as she stood in her husband's defense, leaning over the desk before Ersatz said quietly: “You're blinded by love.”

“And thou art blinded by the love and idolization of a dead parent.” Luna retorted unflinchingly, and Ersatz's features froze as she looked up, Scrivener clenching his eyes shut and grabbing at his head as the emotional pain worsened; he felt Luna's anger and his own pleas to stop, but the sapphire was bristling with fury.

Then Ersatz Major slowly took a breath, lowering her head and saying quietly: “If Scrivener wants to defend himself, he can defend himself, Miss Luna. No matter how much you want your husband to be perfect, though, he is not. At least he seems to understand he's at fault.”

The sapphire mare snorted at this, retorting: “Scrivener finds blame in himself for everything that goes wrong, even though 'tis rarely his fault whatsoever. And thou struck a needle into the eye of the cyclops, wretched creature.”

Ersatz only shook her head, replying softly: “And his sensitivity to the subject, the guilt I see in his eyes when I talk about it, only shows that he knows he did something wrong. I'm holding him accountable, Luna, because no one else will. I'm holding him accountable because every other pony seems to want to reward him for living a life based around running around and acting like a parasite.”

“Do not call him that, ever!” Luna shouted angrily, and Scrivener clenched his eyes shut, feeling his mind bubbling, his vision swimming as his link with Luna filled with static, and he heard them arguing and saw his mother and there was darkness, oh the darkness, it was all around him and burning in his veins and he could feel himself losing himself as stress made him vulnerable and blind and he was being crushed...

Luna halted in mid-argument with Ersatz when she felt the snap, her eyes turning sharply to Scrivener, staring at him as the charcoal stallion went limp for a moment... and then Scrivener looked slowly, calmly up, and the slightest of smiles spread over his features as he looked back and forth. And it chilled Luna's blood as she stared at him, before the charcoal stallion said pleasantly: “Excuse me.”

With that, Scrivener shoved himself out of the little seat and spun around, striding easily towards the door and letting himself out, and Ersatz Major sighed quietly and shook her head slowly. “I'm disappointed. For a moment, I almost thought...”

“Shut up, wench, thou hast no idea what thou speaks of yet again.” Luna spat, and then she turned around, then ground her teeth together loudly before adding in a frustrated voice: “I... I shall write thee a letter and we will meet again and settle this issue!”

“I would appreciate that, Luna. And until proven otherwise, I'll continue on my mission of getting justice by the means I must.” Ersatz said softly, and Luna blew a loud raspberry at the unicorn, but didn't have the time to manage any other kind of response as she hurriedly turned and ran into the hallway. Her link with Scrivener was still filled with static, but she could sense him clearly, the stallion leaving a trail that was almost visible to her eyes as she hurried after him and cursed under her breath... but felt like something was horribly, awfully wrong.

The stallion was moving with purpose, and Luna didn't catch up with him until she was in the stairwell and running down the steps, shouting in a frustrated voice: “Scrivener Blooms, stop!”

The charcoal stallion halted as Luna huffed and stepped onto the fourth floor landing, opening her mouth... and then simply staring in horrified silence as a pair of callous amber eyes looked over Scrivener's shoulder, a mocking smile on his lips as Valthrudnir's voice said pleasantly: “My apologies, Brynhild, but it seems Nihete is a little busy at this moment. Perhaps you can be of service to me, though, Valkyrie, since your kind is meant to serve higher-functioning beings in any event. Prove of use to me and I won't damage your precious husband's body too much while he attempts to decipher the way out of the half-collapsed labyrinth of his own drooling-idiot mind.”

Luna's mouth worked slowly, breathing hard, feeling fear wringing her insides as she shook her head weakly, shrinking back as she stared into Valthrudnir's eyes... and then her eye twitched as fear was replaced by tremendous rage that this monster would dare to try and steal her husband's body right in front of her eyes... and on top of that, he dared to order her to help him? “Thou hurt my husband? I shall show thee pain, carrion-eating corpsemonger!”

The sapphire mare leapt forwards as her wings flapped hard, swinging both rear hooves up to kick the charcoal stallion as hard as she possibly could in the ass, and Valthrudnir let out a yell of shock and pain as he was launched through the air to smack loudly into one of the curving walls above the stairs before howling as he fell, bouncing and rolling down the entire flight of steps. Luna winced, feeling every pulse of pain in Scrivener's possessed body, but if anything it only exacerbated her fury and frustration as she charged after the Jötnar-possessed pony.

Scrivener's body hit the third floor landing and rolled a few times, Valthrudnir's amber eyes still staring stupidly out of his sockets before Luna rammed headfirst into his stomach and launched him flying with a savage twist of her horn, sending him bouncing down the next flight of steps with a miserable yell and a flurry of loud curses. In Scrivener's possessed body, Valthrudnir was unable to do a thing to catch himself, only flailing all four of the pony's limbs wildly until he landed on his face on the second floor landing with a grunt and skidded forwards, then rolled over and scrambled to his hooves before staring over his shoulder in terror when Luna came shooting down the stairs with a furious roar.

The amber light blinked out of Scrivener's eyes in a moment, and the stallion didn't even have enough time to process what was happening before Luna's hoof slugged into his face, knocking him flying backwards to roll over the edge of the landing and onto the next flight of stairs, shouting profanities as he bounced the whole way down the stairs until he crashed into a heap on the first floor, laying in a sprawl with one of his legs pawing weakly at the air and staring dazedly off at the wall.

Luna strode moodily down the steps, breathing hard, a few bruises forming over her own features and a bit of blood leaking from one nostril, and she glared furiously down at Scrivener Blooms before leaning down and poking him firmly several times with her horn, muttering: “Wretched idiot. Wretched stupid idiot. Wretched stupid idiot beetle.”

Scrivener only sighed tiredly, his entire body aching and his mind swimming before he shook his head slowly, then trembled a little as he slowly rolled onto his stomach and managed to get his legs under him. But all the same, he only laid there for a moment longer, breathing slowly before mumbling: “So do you feel better now, Luna?”

“Only a little, Scrivener Blooms.” Luna answered grumpily, and then she shook her head slowly before hesitating and reaching a hoof down to rest on his back, asking quietly: “Wert thou aware of what was happening? That thou had been... damnation, Scrivener!”

Luna rose her hoof and slammed it down on his back, and the charcoal stallion yelped and then groaned, slumping on the ground as the sapphire mare looked down at him with a bit of a blush. But then Scrivener only grumbled and shook his head slowly before he sighed quietly and closed his eyes, murmuring: “I think... I think it was the stress. Every time I get too stressed or upset about something... that's when I hear Valthrudnir's voice, and I think that must be what lets him... dig into my mind. When I'm vulnerable because I'm...”

He quieted, then shivered and shook his head, slowly beginning to push himself to his hooves, and Luna looked at him worriedly with the way his body trembled. But Scrivener only smiled faintly, shaking his head and murmuring: “No, I'm... I'm surprisingly okay. I just feel... drained, I guess. Like all the life and emotion got sucked out of me... then again, maybe it's just because you bounced me down... five flights of stairs...”

He grunted and cracked his back with a wince as he spoke, then shook his head out as Luna smiled a little, saying quietly: “Nay, 'twas only four, Scrivy, fear not. Five would have been far too cruel to do to thee... besides, it... drove the Jötnar off.”

“That's kind of a relief. You just have to hit me really hard and I'll come back.” Scrivener smiled a little over at Luna, blinking slowly, feeling... exhausted. Their link was still sizzling with static, but he could feel that starting to restore little by little, and he couldn't sense Valthrudnir's presence at all... it was like the Jötnar had retreated completely into whatever tumor he was hiding in inside his mind.

The stallion shivered a bit, looking down and thinking back, and Luna pressed hesitantly: “Scrivy, art... art thou sure thou has... no recollection whatsoever of what happened? None? Does thou know... what...”

Scrivener shook his head slowly, then he finally replied, glancing over at her as the sapphire mare strode up beside him to look into his eyes: “No. I... I just saw darkness. Awful, choking darkness, all around me. I felt like I was tangled up in... I dunno. Something awful.” He halted, then bit his lip and looked down. “I knew... Valthrudnir had something to do with it, though. But I was stuck... and it felt so... so empty, wherever he put me. Like all the stress had become heavy rope, tying me down, crushing all the hope out of me...”

“Scrivener...” Luna studied him silently, but Scrivener only smiled faintly, keeping their eyes locked as he felt their link restoring. But when they were close, when they looked into one-another's eyes... it always came back quicker.

And after a moment, Luna finally sighed and dropped her head, murmuring: “Well, we should go, Scrivener. Get out of this den of inequity and... figure out what to do from here. At least thou can tell Underbrush why the foul creature hates thou so much-”

“Luna...” Scrivener said quietly, and Luna looked up in surprise, then blushed slightly and nodded with a grumble, looking down before Scrivener closed his eyes. “I'm not... entirely agreeing with her. But... I... I don't know. What she said, the way she said it, it... it... it hurt me. It hurt me in a way I think I'd only hurt if...”

“Scrivy, this... I cannot pretend to understand what thou went through, and what it must be like for thou with who Tia Belle was and what happened, but... this is... not thy fault. Come, thou art just being an idiot because of all the madness of recent and... we have much more to attend to. There are important things afoot, are there not?” Luna chided, and Scrivener hesitated before nodding a few times, smiling faintly after a moment. “Good. Come, Scrivener, there is much to be done.”

“Yeah, you're right.” Scrivener said softly, bowing his head forwards and nodding a little, and Luna gazed at him fondly before the stallion shook his head a little. “I'm sorry I get hooked up on the little things. And that apparently... even if Ersatz is... well... who she is, apparently stress alone is dangerous to me, now.”

“Valthrudnir, daring to possess thee in front of mine eyes, then speaking to me as if I would simply shrink and kowtow to his orders instead of doing something about it...” Luna spat to the side, then winced a bit when Scrivener reached up and gently brushed a bit of dried blood away from her nostril before she huffed. “Cease that, beetle. This is all thy fault.”

Scrivener smiled despite himself, then he shook his head slowly before the sapphire mare huffed and strode past him. Yet all the same, he could almost hear the worries in her mind even with their link still muted by static, adding to his own unease: did this mean Valthrudnir was growing stronger, or had the Jötnar simply found some new method by which to torture him after digging around for so long inside the stallion's mind? And was it only stress that would allow the Jötnar to take control or exert his influence, or would Scrivener one day be walking along only to suddenly find himself locked away in some unknowable place, while Valthrudnir did... Horses of Heaven knew what Valthrudnir would do with control of his body.

This time, he shivered for a reason other than the aches in his body, as Luna led him through the foyer and out the main doors. The guards looked stupefied to see the winged unicorn leave, but Luna barely seemed to acknowledge this... and considering the fact that normally she would be cheerfully crowing and mocking them, Scrivener saw it as a worrisome sign.

He hurried up beside her and nudged her gently, and she grumbled and nudged him back, the two ponies pushing at each other for a few moments before settling a little as they headed across the busy street. Neither of them cared about the looks they got, that Luna was faintly bruised or Scrivener looked bludgeoned and his clothes were all mangled: if anything it seemed to improve the sapphire mare's mood as she glanced around at the reactions while absently bodychecking Scrivener.

The stallion winced a bit, then glowered over at her as they approached a large coffee shop situated on the corner of the block, as stylish and expensive as everything else in this part of town was. Luna flicked her horn to knock the front doors swinging open, then strode proudly inside even as ponies stared, the mare looking back and forth absently before smiling as her eyes settled on where Barry was sitting alone at a side table, several empty coffee cups sitting over the polished surface in front of him as he leaned back in the cushioned booth and stared at the two. “Oh look, Scrivy! Thy pet at the very least has mastered sit and stay!”

“Luna, be nice.” Scrivener said dryly, and Luna huffed at him before glaring pointedly, and Scrivener rolled his eyes before reaching up and patting his suit jacket absently. “Alright. It feels like I still have some money so I'll go get you a coffee. Play nice.”

Scrivener turned to head to the counter as Luna strolled over to the table Barry was sitting at, ignoring the way ponies all around the coffee shop were looking at her before her horn glowed and yanked the half-full coffee in front of Barry across the table, the sapphire mare leaning forwards to sniff at this a few times before clicking her tongue thoughtfully. “'Tis very frilly smelling. I do not like frilly coffee.”

“Hey, it's just a cappuccino, it's not like... a deluxe strawberry smoothie or something.” Barry replied defensively, and Luna sniffed loudly before sipping loudly at the drink, then she smacked her lips thoughtfully as the literary agent slumped and mumbled: “God this is not worth it. I've spent like forty bits here in coffee, can... can we get out of here? Maybe to a hospital or something, because champ looks like he went ten rounds with Ersatz and she turned out to have a hell of a right hook.”

“No, that was I. I threw him down the stairs.” Luna replied informatively, and Barry stared at her, his mouth working a few times before the sapphire mare hesitated, glancing over at Scrivener before returning her eyes to Barry and adding softly: “But the subject of Ersatz is... a soft one for now. I... would ask thee politely not to mention her to my husband. And let him tell Underbrush in his own time.”

For a few moments Barry stared, and then he leaned back awkwardly and said finally: “I didn't know you could actually be... nice, girl-champ.”

Luna groaned at this, rolling her eyes before she glared at him, and Barry squeaked and winced, hurriedly shrinking behind the table. The winged unicorn snorted at this, then turned her glare throughout the rest of the restaurant, and for now tried to forget everything Ersatz Major had said in favor of enjoying the terror she struck in every other pony... even as worries nibbled at her mind, and the thought of what Valthrudnir might have up his sleeve for the future tickled a fearful claw slowly down her own spine.

Cutting Both Ways

Chapter Ten: Cutting Both Ways
~BlackRoseRaven

Luna shifted uneasily back and forth as Celestia and Twilight Sparkle both sat on either side of Scrivener Blooms, studying him intently as their horns glowed. The stallion was trembling faintly, his eyes closed as he sat on a cold metal grate in the middle of this large, empty stone room in the deep sub-levels of the Thorn Palace. It was stone and cold and moss grew in large tracts along the slimy walls, torches burning with sapphire flames mounted on rusting sconces in the walls.

High above, water dripped down on occasion from the thick, solid grating that served as the roof, which rattled every so often as demons strode over it. This ceiling was maybe thirty feet above their heads at the top of the cylindrical room, and did not at all help Luna in feeling like they were anywhere but a deep, dark abyss of a well.

Scrivener cursed under his breath, arching his back slightly as Celestia's horn glowed a bit more intensely, and then she glanced quickly over at Twilight Sparkle, who halted in her own examination of the stallion's form, sitting back and frowning anxiously as the ivory mare stepped closer and reached up to rest a hoof on Scrivener's shoulder, slowly drawing her gaze down along his back.

“Here. This is strange.” Celestia said quietly, and Scrivener groaned as part of his back glowed: the spell pricked through his flesh like needles, made his nerves fizzle and the corruption in his veins boil as the ivory mare murmured: “I can't tell how old this is, but there's definitely something here...”

“Please kill me.” Scrivener wheezed, and Twilight sighed and glared at him as Luna grumbled and shifted awkwardly: the pain wasn't so bad that she was feeling it as well, but with how sore Scrivener was after being thrown down four flights of stairs, she couldn't completely blame him for complaining. “I... is this why...”

“All I know, Scrivener, is that whenever Valthrudnir is involved, we have to look at every possible option, no matter how unlikely.” Celestia soothed gently, and Scrivener closed his eyes even as he cursed quietly under his breath again as he felt something... shift faintly inside himself, and then Luna groaned as well as Scrivener's eyes bulged and watered when it felt like Celestia gripped and moved something in his back with telekinesis. “But these...”

Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat hurriedly, and Celestia glanced up before blushing slightly and letting the glow die out from around her horn when she saw the pain the two were in. The violet mare relaxed after a moment herself, shifting a little: it had hurt enough that she had felt the tingle of discomfort through her link with them too.

Luna mumbled and shifted, and Scrivener twitched a few times, shaking his head out before he rolled his shoulder and winced, teeth grit. Celestia studied him, the way he was moving, before she reached up and touched his back as she asked quietly: “What's wrong?”

“Feels like something is... out of place in there, I guess, I... it doesn't hurt but it doesn't feel... right, you know?” Scrivener muttered, and Celestia nodded slowly as the stallion shifted back and forth, then shook his head and mumbled as he finally forced himself to settle: “Well, hopefully it'll just... go away. What were you saying though? I... is it... do you think...”

“No, I don't think Valthrudnir has anything to do with these formations. They look older, actually.” Celestia gently pushed along Scrivener's back, studying his reaction, and when Scrivener tensed up with a faint wince as she pressed near his shoulderblade, she asked quietly: “There?”

Scrivener nodded, and Celestia looked at him thoughtfully before questioning: “Will you please move your leg around a little? Stretch out and around in a circle if you can, Scrivener Blooms, I'd appreciate it.”

The stallion looked over his shoulder at her, nonplussed, and then he finally shrugged and moved as she'd instructed him, as Luna grumbled and then said flatly: “If thou desired to play Stallion Says... or more likely, 'I-Am-Queen-Celestia-All-Must-Do-As-I-Decree...' thou should just go ahead and ask us to indulge thy sick fantasies.”

Celestia ignored her younger sibling as she felt the tender point on Scrivener's back, her head bowed forwards and eyes closed as she frowned a little to herself. Twilight looked on worriedly as Scrivener continued to move his front leg in slow, wide circles, asking apprehensively: “Do I... I mean...”

“Yes, that's good for now, Scrivener, thank you. Now if you don't mind, your other foreleg.” Celestia moved her hoof to Scrivener's other side, and the stallion looked over his shoulder at her worriedly, but the ivory mare gave a faint smile, saying quietly: “I don't think... it's anything bad. Just something that's likely gone unnoticed because we never had reason to check for it. Please, Scrivener.”

The stallion sighed after a moment, then he nodded gloomily and began to repeat the process of making slow circles with his other front limb, as Twilight asked apprehensively: “What is it, Celestia? And are you sure Valthrudnir doesn't have anything to do with this?”

“I can't say anything for sure yet, Twilight. Don't worry, I'm not going to keep any secrets, especially not when it's Scrivener's own body we're working with. I think this is from when... Scrivener became a Clockwork Pony.” Celestia's voice dropped almost imperceptibly in volume, and the stallion closed his eyes as Luna looked up sharply and Twilight's frown deepened.

Then the ivory mare shook her head before stepping back, saying quietly: “Thank you, Scrivener, that's enough. Now, I'm going to cast a translucency spell on your back. I know it's... unpleasant to feel, but this is important.”

The stallion nodded hesitantly, and then he lowered his head forwards and gritted his teeth as Luna grimaced in distaste and then strode towards them, muttering: “Wonderful. Stuck in the bottom of a filthy well while my older sister tortures my husband, who was earlier possessed and emotionally mauled by a vicious bit-”

Scrivener glanced up sourly, and Luna cut her own words off with a grumble, nodding after a moment before she turned towards Twilight and buried her face firmly into the Lich's neck, making the violet mare smile faintly despite herself before she held out a hoof, offering it to Scrivener. The stallion smiled after a moment, taking this with a quiet sigh as he nodded a little... and then he gritted his teeth with a curse, a shiver rolling through his body as he felt the nerves all along his upper back lighting up with pain.

Luna grimaced herself, her wings fluttering uncomfortably as she buried her face deeper against Twilight, and the Lich breathed a bit harder and looked worriedly over Scrivener's shoulder at Celestia, squeezing Scrivener's hoof firmly. Spells like this were normally used only on inorganic objects because they forcibly thinned and modified the molecular structure of what was enchanted so light could pass through, essentially making the object transparent.

In other words, what Scrivener Blooms felt right now was very much akin to having layers of skin, flesh, and everything else Celestia had to go compressed and stripped away, even if they were still physically 'there.'

Then Celestia nodded sharply, murmuring: “There, I found it...” A pause, and then said licked her lips nervously before saying quietly: “I'm sorry about the pain, by the way.”

“Well it's nothing worse than-” And then Celestia flicked her horn sharply as she yanked on whatever she had found with telekinesis, and Scrivener arched his back with a loud howl of pain as black mire burst in all directions from Scrivener's back, and Luna let out her own yelp as she tumbled against Twilight and clutched tightly into the Lich, before turning a furious glare on her older sibling.

Twilight flinched violently as well as she clutched into Scrivener's hoof, gasping as she felt a brush of pain along either side of her spine, and at the same time several stitches popped loose over her body from the strain of whatever had just happened. Then she turned her own look on Celestia, but her eyes were more surprised than frustrated, even as Luna sat up and shouted: “And what in Helheim's name did thou just do?”

“I don't know if I accept your apology, Celestia. That pain was a little more intense than expected.” Scrivener wheezed as the enormous blast of pain quickly thinned down to a faint, pointed throbbing. He glanced back at her, but the ivory mare was only looking at him silently before the stallion frowned and let go of Twilight so he could turn slowly around, asking nervously as he felt more than a flutter of concern run through his chest: “What? What is it?”

But now he could sense Luna and Twilight staring as well, and Scrivener shivered a bit as he caught flickers of the image from the sapphire mare before he slowly craned his head around as much as possible, staring in disbelief at his back... and the bony pistons that jutted out along either side of his spine, slowly dripping the black corruption that ran through Scrivener's body and served as his blood.

He mouthed wordlessly at the sight of this, then shook his head weakly before turning his eyes to Celestia again, and the ivory mare shook her head before clearing her throat and saying finally: “I... I think they must have grown in during your... your transformation, before you went to Decretum. But the fact they never... surfaced... that's good.”

“Then what in Helheim's name possessed thou to think it a good idea to forcibly yank them out of mine husband's back?” Luna shouted, staring incredulously at Celestia as Scrivener slowly opened his mouth... then figured moodily that no, he was going to let Luna speak her piece on this one after all. “For the love of all that is holy and most of that which is not, does thou think this is like... like a hat? Bones are not hats, Celestia! When one pierces bones through flesh, thou cannot say, 'oh I do not feel like having this bone sticking up from my curvy backside today, I shall remove it and place it upon the bone rack,' bones do not work this way!”

Twilight slowly turned to stare at Luna as the sapphire mare breathed hard in and out, and Celestia slowly closed her eyes before shaking herself briskly, as if to try and clear her mind as she said slowly and carefully: “I know, sister. But... after what happened to Scrivener today, we need to... to take a full account of his body and form. Valthrudnir must have had an objective with whatever he was doing... we know that he always has some purpose, some motive, to what he does.”

“And ripping my husband's... spiny-thingies through his back is going to uncover that evil objective? We already know Scrivy is a... a Clockwork Pony!” Luna stumbled a little, her lower jaw trembling a bit before she gritted her teeth and dropped her head forwards, mane sparking violently as it swirled and sizzled around her. Twilight reached up and touched her shoulder as Celestia glanced away, looking almost ashamed, and as Scrivener looked at his soulmate softly, Luna muttered: “Pity me not. 'Tis just... frustration. I am frustrated, and it has been a long day, and I wish to curl up and cry and eat many baked treats with jam and drink coffee. Not... mope at the bottom of the well with... my big, bossy sister being... bossy. And stuffy. Thou art bossy and stuffy and fat, Celestia.”

“I know, Luna. I know.” Celestia sighed softly, smiling faintly before she leaned carefully forwards, and Scrivener glanced awkwardly up at her before the ivory mare nodded slowly: “It looks as if the... the pistons, are already receding into your back, though, Scrivener Blooms. Do you feel it?”

Scrivener hesitated, then shifted awkwardly, and he winced a bit as he felt the bony spikes move... no, Celestia was right. They were bone pistons, strange protuberances he wished direly looked more alien to him... except he had seen bones like those before, in his nightmares and in reality. They were the same bone structures as Tyrant Wyrms had. “And I was supposed to become one of those...”

He didn't realize he'd spoken out loud until he saw Celestia's sympathetic look, and the stallion hurriedly shook his head, clearing his throat and looking up as he said finally: “No. No, it's okay, I... I do feel it, yeah. Like they're sliding back into place wherever they were... hidden.” He closed his eyes, grimacing a little as he muttered: “Just wonderful. Well, I'm already a monster, so I guess it shouldn't be anything... bothersome.”

He shifted lamely, then Celestia said quietly: “You're not a monster, Scrivener... in fact, none of you are.” She drew her eyes slowly up, past the stallion and over Twilight Sparkle, then Luna as the sapphire mare smiled faintly. “I don't believe any of you are going to become monsters, either. As you all taught me... we decide who we become.”

She stopped, then shook her head slowly, her amethyst eyes sliding back to meet Scrivener's chestnut irises. “We need to monitor you, and to test you further. When we did it before, we were only interested in exterior changes... now I want to do much more than that. It will be uncomfortable, but I believe it's necessary, and we should make sure we do it as soon as possible, before we leave on our mission for Kvasir.”

“Why?” Scrivener couldn't stop from asking, and when Celestia gave him a mild look, he shook his head awkwardly, rephrasing after a moment: “No I mean... I know why, I mean, why is it so important we get it done so quickly? You don't think...”

“I don't know what to think, Scrivener.” Celestia replied quietly, and the stallion sighed a little and lowered his head, making a bit of a face before the ivory mare added after a moment: “Try and... think of it as humoring me, that's all. But we can stop for now, if you want... I know little sister doesn't like it down here.”

Luna grumbled moodily, glowering as she said sourly: “Oh, aye, talk as if 'tis all my fault, Celestia, really. I simply do not understand why we had to hold this palaver here, in these empty cells. They speak more of imprisonment than healing.”

“I know, little sister, but... it's because of the draw you and Scrivener have over many of the residents of Subterra... these walls are all shielded with iron, meaning demons can't pass through as they please.” Celestia said gently, and Luna grumbled a little under her breath before the ivory mare added softly: “And you wouldn't want demons hurrying around us, trying to help or watch or perhaps... touch Scrivener's blood, right?”

“I'd like some of Scrivy's blood.” called a voice loudly, and Scrivener sighed tiredly as he looked mildly towards the heavy, plated door, a familiar pair of burning blue eyes looking moodily into the cell through the small window slot. “Hey, let me in. The tumor wants to know what the hell's going on with you guys.”

Scrivener rolled his eyes and Luna huffed a bit, saying dryly: “I would like to take this opportunity to point out, Pinkamena, that if any of us have some semblance to a tumor 'tis thou. Thou came out of Pinkie Pie's brain, foul demon.”

The door rattled violently as Pinkamena kicked it hard before she responded grumpily: “Hey, screw you, Nightmare Moon. We've been over this, anyway, I was the one here first and Pinkie Pie is the goddamn tumor.”

Celestia only shook her head, then flicked her horn absently, and the iron door clanked loudly before swinging open. Pinkamena grunted as she strode in through this, kicking it closed behind her before her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Scrivener, and the still-visible spikes jutting from his back. She approached almost eagerly, and the stallion winced a bit as the gray-pink mare reached quickly up to rub a hoof along the stallion's back and around the bone spikes, muttering: “Well, look at what we have here... Scrivy, you wonderful bastard, you didn't tell me you were trying to go full out monster now. Doesn't surprise me that Princess Sunshine's helping you out, though.”

Scrivener only sighed tiredly, and Twilight shook her head, saying softly: “No, we... we weren't doing anything like that, Pinkamena. These were already here...”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Pinkamena said dismissively, then she glanced down at her hoof, seeing the fresh, dark blood over it before leaning down and licking it slowly, smacking her lips and grinning slightly. “This tastes pretty recent to me, though. And deny it all you want, but don't think we don't all see it. Scrivener already makes a great monster, after all... and there's no shame in finding a little excitement and happiness in that. We're all freaks here.”

Twilight only shifted uncomfortably as Celestia looked silently at Pinkamena, but the demon only shook her head before standing side-by-side with Scrivener, grinning over at him as he looked at her moodily, their eyes locking. “Take it from somepony who knows. It's hardest halfway... either be or don't be, stop your goddamn fence-sitting. You understand that, don't you?”

Scrivener nodded after a moment, and Pinkamena licked her lips slowly before leaning in and biting into the side of his neck. Scrivener winced, and Luna stiffened, glaring and shifting a bit... but it was clearly something more than just the pain she was causing that was riling up her emotions, even as teeth marks formed on the side of her own neck.

Dark blood dripped into Pinkamena's jaws, the demon drinking this back like fine wine before she drew away and licked her lips slowly, a few black streams rolling down her chin as she shivered once. Her breathing quickened, and her skin seemed to ripple as her hooves ground lightly against the stony floor, before she murmured: “Delicious as always, Scrivy. That nightmare fuel you got running through your veins... hey, I know, Princess Sunshine. If you really want to understand, why don't you take a little taste of Scrivy, too? He likes it, don't you?”

“Go away, demon.” Luna growled, and Pinkamena glowered over at the sapphire mare before Luna shook her head and snapped: “We are not like thou! This is no time for thy games and riddles, Scrivy is... is...”

“Scrivy needs help, and that's what I want to do. Help him.” Pinkamena cut her off quietly, and the demon lost her grin for a moment, a strange softness showing through her features as her eyes turned to Scrivener, before she quickly grinned again, hiding her emotions under her shark-like poker face as she murmured: “It ain't my fault that the bastard needs a rough shove or two.”

Scrivener only smiled faintly across at Pinkamena, and the demon looked silently back at her best friend for a few moments before shaking her head and muttering: “Look, I don't care either way, I'm just saying you guys are all trying too goddamn hard. And I guess I'm pissed off that in a few days you're planning to go off and save some world or something without me.”

“Maybe we'll get lucky, and they'll just want to destroy part of the world this time. Or be in the middle of building their death ray, I dunno.” Scrivener said blandly, and Pinkamena gave him a mild look as Luna sighed in exasperation. “Hey, I can be hopeful. And Celestia, I... we can do this now if you want to. I'm already achy as hell, might as well go all-in.”

Celestia nodded slowly as Luna sighed and dropped her head, Twilight reaching up to squeeze her shoulder soothingly as the sapphire mare mumbled: “Wonderful. Thou art an idiot, Scrivener Blooms. And thou art... I do not know, Pinkamena. Thou art... mean.”

“I feel kind of sorry for you if that's the best you can manage right now, Nightmare Moon.” Pinkamena dropped herself down on her haunches beside Scrivener, then she looked mildly at Celestia when the ivory winged unicorn cleared her throat pointedly. “Hey, I ain't moving. I might as well watch, my little girl's got the tumor entertained upstairs. Besides, I don't mind a little blood splattering on me now and then. Not when it's as rich as Scrivy's here.”

The charcoal stallion sighed and hung his head as Celestia shook her own slowly, but then she simply turned her attention to Scrivener Blooms as she began calmly: “I'm going to start with a basic physical exam again, and then I want to scan you from head-to-hooves, and perhaps take a few blood samples... Twilight, maybe you could go tell Antares what's going on, it's going to take a while. I also need you to get me a specimen sample kit, but take your time. I want to be very thorough.”

Scrivener slumped further as Twilight hesitantly nodded, then gave a supportive smile to Luna before the Lich slipped away. Pinkamena licked her lips greedily, looking at Scrivener like he was a delicious morsel to be gobbled down, and Celestia smiled supportively even as her little sister glared up at her. “Don't worry. It'll be over quickly. But we have to know.”

The testing process took about four hours in total, and they found very little of interest apart from the bone pistons. Still, Scrivener supposed Celestia was right when she noted that they still found some things over the course of a thorough exam they hadn't otherwise, and they had sent his blood away for further testing and analysis as well, even though by all standards Scrivener's blood was abnormal in every way to begin with.

Pinkamena 'helped' at one point during this process by biting him again, and then she remarked after Luna had pried her off that she thought Scrivener's corruption had gotten more potent. Or tastier, as she phrased it. Either way, it had struck Celestia's interest: Pinkamena was a lot of things, after all, but that included a very keen observer of small details... and if anyone could tell that Scrivener's corruption had become more intense, it was probably her, considering how often she tried to bite him and the time the two spent together.

When the testing was finally over and done with, Scrivener and Luna headed up to bed. And while at first the darkness was dreamless and empty, soon Luna found herself striding curiously through a world of shadows, looking back and forth with a frown. She didn't feel lost despite the fact that all around her, she could only see darkly-tinted mist and black earth... she felt like something was drawing her onwards.

But she couldn't precisely feel Scrivener's presence, and when she called out to him, he didn't respond. That was what made her nervous, even if at the same time, physically, she knew he was there: it was more like Scrivener's mental presence was temporarily gone, and that worried her because of what they had already experienced today.

Still, there was that beacon, calling to her in the shadows, and as she continued to follow it, the mare realized the world around her was filling in, becoming detailed and in a strange, twisted way, alive; dark mire pulsed beneath her hooves, and trees that looked burnt and dead but bled red sap swayed of their own accord here and there.

There were streaks of frost too, and humped up pieces of ice that were steaming white, frozen mist into the air. The flow of strange smoke thinned and thickened as it wafted upwards from the patches of ice, making it seem almost like these stains of frozen earth were... breathing.

Luna shivered a little, then shook her head slowly before she turned her eyes to the side... and twitched in surprise when she saw Valthrudnir standing only a few feet away, the Jötnar looking down at her with disgust and contempt. Immediately the sapphire mare let out a snarl, flicking her horn sharply to send a blast of blue fire at the dragon, but the explosion of sapphire flames didn't even make Valthrudnir twitch or so much as ruffle his suit.

Luna snapped her horn downwards, cursing, and a blast of lightning shot down from the skies, but this arced itself violently around the dragon and tore a crater in the earth instead of hitting him, the Jötnar looking displeased as a bit of mud was kicked up from the force of the thunderbolt over his pristine dress pants. He snapped his fingers, and the muck vanished before his amber eyes locked with Luna's, asking distastefully: “Are you done, incompetent little girl? Or would you like to continue this meaningless and unprovoked assault?”

“Shut up!” Luna shouted, charging furiously at him... and ramming once more headfirst into whatever invisible barrier protected the creature, head twisting to the side and feeling like she had just rudely shoved her face up against a thick glass window. Valthrudnir only rolled his eyes and half-rose his arms, and Luna slowly peeled herself off the barrier before she narrowed her eyes up at him.

He glared back down at her, and Luna leaned forwards, growling: “Hide all thou likes, craven coward, but know that no matter what, I shall find a way to destroy thee, and root thee out of my husband's mind like the belly-crawling parasite thou art! Thou art no dragon, thou art nothing but... but... but a newt! Thou art a stupid newt!”

Valthrudnir clenched his hands into fists and ground his teeth together slowly, and then he straightened and spread his hands out, closing his eyes and taking a slow breath as he said moodily: “No. You are nothing but a worthless, brainless former whore in the body of an ugly little pack animal. Unsophisticated words spoken by cultureless filth will hot be permitted to have any affect on me.”

Luna shouted at him furiously, leaping forwards... and smacking face-first again into the invisible barrier. This time she scrabbled at it madly with her front hooves, trying to smash her way through as she snarled angrily up at him, but Valthrudnir only put on a mocking smile, leaning down as he put his hands behind his back and asked calmly: “Oh, what's wrong, Brynhild? Did your insectile little brain already forget all about the barrier between us? Why don't you just sit and stay like a good little bitch-dog and-”

Luna reared back, making a horrible retching sound before she leaned forwards and spat the largest ball of phlegmy saliva she could hock up square into Valthrudnir's face, letting out a shout of triumph when it passed the barrier and splattered loudly over his scales. The Jötnar's eyes widened in horror as he froze up completely, and Luna grinned at him, supporting herself against the barrier as she asked nastily: “And would thou like seconds, wretched ugly stupid newt?”

Valthrudnir's features contorted with fury and hatred, the Jötnar straightening with an ugly snarl as he snapped an arm outwards, and Luna's eyes widened in horror as spikes of ice and stone erupted from the ground all around her and vents ripped open in the earth, vomiting fire and smoke into the sky. She cried out in shock, clenching her eyes shut and bringing her forelegs back as she flinched away, feeling the world around her shaking tremendously as death closed in on all sides...

But nothing happened. There was no feeling of being pierced, or having her skin scalded off, or being swallowed up beneath the ground. No ice or fire consumed her, and slowly, Luna opened her eyes and looked dumbly back and forth as she realized that she was sitting in a perfect little circle of untouched sanctuary amidst a hell of spikes and ice and serpentine flames that twisted and curled through the air of their own accord.

Then Valthrudnir cursed under his breath, and Luna eyes snapped towards him before she flicked her horn sharply, sending out a blast of force that obliterated the ice and stone between the two so she could see him clearly. He was unharmed as well, but looked... humiliated. Hateful and furious, yes, but there was a faint flush in his cheeks as he wiped her spittle away from his face and said coldly: “You're lucky I need to keep you alive, and have more self control than you animal little mortals do.”

“No... no, that is not it at all. Do not take me for an idiot, Valthrudnir. It seems that I cannot hurt thou... but thou cannot do harm to me, either.” Luna said thoughtfully, frowning and stepping towards the Jötnar, and the dragon looked at her with sour distaste, which made the mare grin wider. “Well, what an unhappy circumstance for us both... and yet all the same I find myself taking sick delight in it. Now just why is it that thou and I can do no harm to one another?”

Valthrudnir only snorted in contempt, moodily smoothing out his already-flawless dress jacket before the ivory dragon replied distastefully: “As if I have the time or the patience to explain the laws of the universe to you in terms your simplistic mind could comprehend. Now for once in your life, Brynhild, shut your ever-speaking mouth and listen to me, because I have a proposal for-”

“Oh, I am so sorry, Valthrudnir, I am already married.” Luna interrupted boldly, and when the Jötnar's eye twitched, she grinned widely, leaning forwards and adding in a falsely-kind voice: “And whilst thou art oh such a cute little dragon and cuts such a mighty figure, I fear that in many ways I cannot help but find thee... small. And pedantic. And... and I hope thou can understand my little silly words, but I also find thee... foalish.”

“Foalish.” Valthrudnir gritted his teeth, clenching his hands slowly into fists as his body flexed, his amber eyes glowing with hatred.

“Yes. Foalish. Oh, are thou confused? You see, foals are what we ponies refer to our children as. Thou knows what a child is, I am sure. A toddler. A baby. Or am I speaking too stupidly for thee?” Luna asked empathetically, her voice dripping with patronization, her eyes challenging the Jötnar with every fiber of her being.

Valthrudnir shivered in rage, breathing harder, his amber eyes locked on the sapphire mare as he gritted his teeth before suddenly straightening, his eyes cold as he pointed at her and promised quietly: “When I finally escape this hellish torment where I am forced to leech off an inferior being like a common parasite, I am going to destroy you. No, no, I will not kill you, Brynhild. I'll just hurt you. I do recognize your value, after all... and as much as you bark like a mad dog now, I know you'll fall into place the moment I have Nihete fully under control. You need him, after all. And you crave him. And like any addict, you would turn on even your precious little boy for just a lick of your precious husband, wouldn't you?”

Luna snarled at this, and now Valthrudnir smiled icily, his amber eyes flashing before he held up a hand, and there was a crackle of energy before a flow of black sand twisted up from the earth, rapidly forming into a large, flat black rectangle before electricity sparked suddenly over it, and it became smooth black glass. The Jötnar kept his amber gaze on Luna as images formed over this like a screen, of Scrivener tilting his head back and Luna leaning forwards, her teeth piercing his dark, rubbery skin, her features faintly flushed as the black blood of her husband bubbled slowly upwards, almost as if it was eager to succor her thirst, to give her the taste she so desired, to spill down her jaws; bitter but delicious, warm and making her teeth tingle, and oh, oh, oh, the pleasure it brought because it was filled with strength and vitality and Scrivener and-

“Stop it!” Luna ripped her gaze away, clenching her eyes shut before she spat to the side, shivering once and touching herself, calming herself quickly before she looked coldly up, regaining her composure and forcing herself to ignore the images on the black screen as she met Valthrudnir's eyes. “We are not as weak as thou seems to think we are, monster. 'Twas... 'twas only a temporary temptation that we have long weaned ourselves of.”

Valthrudnir only smiled thinly at this, and then he flicked his wrist, and the screen dissolved back into sand that blew away through the windless air before he made a half-mocking bow towards her, saying in a more pleasant voice: “Perhaps we've gotten off on the wrong foot. Let's try again, Brynhild. We may be enemies, but in these circumstances we can be civilized... and even nations at war can form a temporary truce when necessary, is this not true?”

Luna rumbled, but forced herself not to speak before she asked finally: “Where is Scrivener Blooms? I do not desire to speak to thou without him here.”

Valthrudnir only snorted in derision at this, saying contemptibly: “As if I should be in charge of keeping Nihete on a leash. He's a big boy, Brynhild, and I thought you were a mighty Valkyrie?”

“So thou does not know either... good. I do not like when Scrivener and I are disconnected but I would much rather have him out of thy sight than under thy claws.” Luna muttered, and she shifted for a moment, wondering if she should call for Scrivener, or even Twilight... and then she slowly drew her eyes up as another idea struck, and strangely, resonated with her as a better idea. “Then I shall invite other counsel to join us, Valthrudnir. Simply to ensure thou does not attempt to play nasty tricks on my oh-so-feeble mind, as I am just a poor little insect.”

“Fine, do whatever you must.” Valthrudnir said dismissively, waving a hand irritably. Luna glowered, then hesitated for only a moment before tilting her head to the side... and a moment later, as if excited to have been called, there was a burst of blue fire before Nightmare Moon appeared in all her glory, striding calmly out of the sapphire flames to stand beside Luna.

Valthrudnir reared back slightly, looking more unsettled by this before he snorted in disgust and muttered: “A whore of Odin calls a mutation of passion to assist her in discerning the wisest course of action. How ludicrous.”

“Not as ludicrous as you thinking you can escape being mutilated and torn apart for the way you have made us suffer. That we will not take pleasure in stealing your strength, and then giving you a true understanding of what torment is.” Nightmare Moon replied pleasantly, and the Jötnar frowned before Nightmare Moon bowed her horned head towards the dragon with a calm smile on her scarred features. “But let us enact this play of civility, as you so insist upon.”

Valthrudnir snorted in distaste, and then he simply made a calm raising gesture with one hand, and the world around them rumbled: jutting spikes of earth and stone vanished, and the mire smoothed quickly out before a stone table pushed slowly up out of the earth between the Jötnar and the equines. Dark murk dripped and lurched off this, leaving the tabletop sparkling clean.

Three seats appeared: two shaped for the ponies to sit comfortably, and an enormous silver throne that Valthrudnir leaned one arm on the high back of, gesturing with his other hand. “Sit.”

Luna spat to the side, but when Nightmare Moon smiled at her encouragingly, she grumbled and nodded, the two striding forwards to sit in their respective seats. Valthrudnir nodded to them, remaining standing as he looked coldly between the two before dropping his hand to rest on the table, saying distastefully: “We have been placed in a difficult situation, and I am not stupid enough to think I can simply hide peacefully away in Nihete's mind-”

“Please refer to the King of the Night as Scrivener Blooms, or his respected title. Do not call him Nihete, for that is not his name, and he is not your creation.” Nightmare Moon said gently, and Valthrudnir looked at her icily as the dark entity only smiled calmly back, continuing in a reasonable voice for all the terror of her appearance and the malice of her presence: “We are here to negotiate, are we not? I think both myself and Luna would find ourselves much more willing to believe your intentions are not to deceive us, that you are honest in wanting to find some... common ground, if you would comply with this small gesture.”

Valthrudnir gave a long, almost-groaning sigh, and then he reached up and rubbed slowly at his face before saying icily: “Very well. After Brynhild's little display of force when I attempted to temporarily borrow physical control of Scrivener Blooms, and considering the suffering you yourself were willing to put him through, demon, simply to attempt to do harm to me... I understand that with your aggressive animal instincts and barbarian physical methods for dealing with even the most complex of issues-”

“Please do not insult us, Valthrudnir. We must speak as equals at this table, without hatred blinding us.” Nightmare Moon said kindly, and Luna couldn't help but snort in amusement, turning her eyes away even as Nightmare Moon's gaze roved to her with a smile. “There will be time later to continue our battle. I have become curious in what the Jötnar has to offer, Luna... he may be an enemy, but do not forget that sometimes one's greatest enemy is also the greatest source of one's strength.”

Luna looked uneasily towards Nightmare Moon at this, up into eyes that were cunning and ruthless... and she shivered a little as she looked towards Valthrudnir and realized how similar the look in both creatures' eyes were, as the dragon leaned back and looked with renewed interest and appraisal over the dark entity. “What a surprise, a concept that I can actually agree with, and from a creature I had thought was only animal instinct given form and life.”

“Maybe we can surprise each other.” Nightmare Moon said kindly, her eyes roving up to meet Valthrudnir's before she said softly: “And I understand well, what it feels like to be trapped... in an unwilling host. Our longing may be different, Valthrudnir, but perhaps because we reflect different extremes... we share all the more similarities because of it.”

Valthrudnir smiled thinly, not seeming to like the fact that Nightmare Moon clearly held herself as equal to him, but at the same time interested in her interest. There was silence as Luna shifted again, regretting her decision before the dark creature asked cordially: “I suppose that you desire some form of sanctuary? But tell me, why would we agree to any kind of armistice between ourselves when you have continued to act with hostility, and promise in the future to continue to try and destroy us?”

“Words merely spoken in anger... no matter how superior a being I am, creature, I too have my own emotions that... are at this moment in time, under considerable duress.” Valthrudnir replied eloquently, and then he slipped down into his silver throne, sitting back and resting his elbows on the table as he gestured towards her. “And I'm sure you understand. You've made your own threats and promises against me... but I recognize that I have exacerbated these reactions.”

Luna looked disbelievingly at Nightmare Moon as the dark entity smiled and nodded, leaning back towards Valthrudnir as she replied softly: “Then disregarding the past... what would you offer us in return for our promise of sanctuary? And moreover... what of the future?”

“Allow me to have peace now, and in the future can perhaps hold glory for us both, creature.” Valthrudnir said softly, and then he smiled slyly, his amber eyes glowing as he waved a hand over the table, and an enormous diagram appeared, of countless planets, with the center clearly labeled and defined. “I am not blind to your desires. As I am trapped in N... Scrivener's mind, I have little to do apart from think, and review both my own memories as well as those experiences I am able to access from his mind. And many of these are mixed with your dreams and memories, both of you.

“I am not a simple destroyer. I have a vision in mind for the future... a glorious universe, where everything works in perfect order, instead of in the chaos and madness and false 'freedom' that enslaves the minds of so many of your kind.” Valthrudnir smiled after a moment, meeting Nightmare Moon's eyes, seeming to recognize she would respond better as he said softly: “But perhaps I can augment my grand and as-of-yet-incomplete design with pieces from this world... and as a reward for assisting me, would it not be fair to leave these under your watch? Worlds to rule, and do whatever you please... a place of controlled chaos to help give my designs balance and fortitude.”

Nightmare Moon smiled slowly, but Luna shook her head in disbelief, then spat: “Become servants to thee? Enslave the very people we have fought so hard to protect? No! Never, thou art nothing but a monster and nothing can come of this debate except rage and fury!”

“Calm down, Luna. Remember that the Jötnar is of a different culture, and different clime. And it took us many years to learn empathy too, did it not?” Nightmare Moon smiled kindly, reaching a hoof up to squeeze the mare's shoulder tenderly. “In time, all things can change, and if we are to ensure all are treated equally, then we must show compassion and give even our worst of enemies second chances. Especially when they offer such reward in return...

“But Valthrudnir, Scrivener Blooms may not accept such a proposal. Do not think we are ungrateful, but please bear in mind our concept of honor... and that we cannot simply allow you to leave and resume destroying all creation.” Nightmare Moon smiled again, but her eyes were fascinated and perhaps even pleased as she looked across at the ivory dragon. “Still, you offer a future where we would not be enemies, and it is a start. In time, I am sure we will come to better understand and appreciate one-another's viewpoints.”

Valthrudnir smiled back, although the expression didn't reach his eyes, which were studying Nightmare Moon as he said courteously: “Then let me instead say what I can offer in the present: a greater knowledge of this entire universe than any of you could comprehend, including information about my own projects... the Clay of Prometheus, the Replicants, Decretum and my Tyrant Wyrms. Do not forget that I even created Kvasir. And as you should know, Valkyrie, the most important part of any war is gaining knowledge and information. I can provide this in near-infinite supply, if you are willing to leave me alone and treat me with respect.”

“And... what? What will thou even do, if left alone? Somehow I have my doubts that thou simply plans to sit quietly in Scrivener's mind.” Luna replied irritably, narrowing her eyes at him. “Especially after the little stunt thou performed in possessing my husband.”

“Yes, well. I seem to recall that my sole crime was trying to enjoy a moment of freedom, while you were the one who proceeded to throw your oh-so-beloved husband down the stairs.” Valthrudnir replied shortly, and Luna only huffed and glared at him before the Jötnar slowly shook his head, saying distastefully: “My strength recovers further every day. Eventually I will be able to shift into a more-appropriate vessel, and from there, regain my former strength.”

Luna shivered at this thought, then she shook her head slowly before murmuring: “I do not know if I can stomach the idea of letting a... creature... such as thyself simply walk away after all thou hast done. I... I require time to think on this before I make any decision regarding thee. There is much to think of...”

“We must do what is in our best interests sometimes, Luna... not in the interests of others.” Nightmare Moon said quietly, and Luna looked up sharply and uncomfortably, before the dark entity smiled calmly. “It is the truth, Luna. That is all. Besides, if you had to choose what to save, what would you save... Scrivener or the world? It is not even a question that needs answering... without Scrivener, we die. There is no sin in self-preservation, and it is no crime to admit you love and cherish your soulmate more than a stranger.”

Luna shivered, then suddenly shoved herself away from the table, glaring over her shoulder. “Well, then, Nightmare Moon, perhaps thou and Valthrudnir can enjoy a little discussion on the subject, if thou art so inclined to wax philosophical about how right it is to kill a thousand to save one. Thou and the Jötnar deserve each other.”

“Goodbye, Brynhild. I will be oh-so-eagerly awaiting your expected response.” Valthrudnir said dismissively, and Luna snarled to herself more than anything else as she stormed away, fighting to repress her trembles as she felt Nightmare Moon smiling at her back.

It was strange: she felt... betrayed, by both herself as well as the entity of darkness. And more than that, she felt scared of what she might have just done: introduced the parasite inside Scrivener to the selfish darkness inside herself. They really were a match made in Helheim... and Luna closed her eyes as she simply kept herself walking away, feeling that... that awful presence behind her fading out of existence, and trying to force her mind to focus on something else.

But it scared her, to think that these two lurking things might still be holding strange conversation... and she felt filthy for agreeing to talk to Valthrudnir at all. But she was terrified for Scrivener, there was no use denying that... just like it was useless to think that she wouldn't do absolutely anything for him, just to see him happy... much less save his life, and that was what hung in the balance now.

“Stupid Scrivener Blooms... always... getting into such idiotic trouble.” Luna whispered to herself, closing her eyes tightly. When she next opened them, she found herself striding not along mire and mud, but smooth black stone, inside a dark city that vaguely resembled Subterra with its gothic architecture and citizenry of supernatural creatures and night-kissed ponies... except the moon shone high above in the beautiful black sky, making it clear this city wasn't hidden away beneath the earth.

She sighed softly as she looked back and forth: this dark, nameless city was a common mental checkpoint for herself and Scrivener Blooms. The two ponies had many such visualizations, as a matter of fact... they were their sanctuaries, places that had been engraved so deeply into their mind they had become almost real things, and they were places themed to specific wants and desires and dreams. Places that naturally reverberated with the things kept safely closeted away in their subconscious...

Then Luna glanced up curiously as a figure strode out of an archway ahead and smiled at her, and Luna studied Twilight Sparkle for a moment before the Lich glanced over her shoulder and called: “Scrivy, she's here!”

“Oh, good, thou art actually here, in the dark ether with us. 'Tis so awkward when I think I am speaking to a real thee only for it to turn out to be a most delicious dream.” Luna said with relief, and Twilight gave her a small smile as Luna approached before hesitating, studying her silently before murmuring quietly: “I... am glad thou art here. Trusting in us... and trusting in thyself enough to... be with us.”

Twilight only shifted with another awkward smile, before she and Luna both glanced to the side as Scrivener strode out of the building with a relieved sigh, in the half-wyrm, half-pony shape he usually ended up being in during their mixed dreams. Luna was surprised when the stallion grabbed her in a tight hug, though, the mare blinking before she smiled faintly and hugged him tightly back, murmuring: “What, idiot poet? Did thou miss me that much?”

“I... yeah. I did. I was worried, I guess.” Scrivener said finally, sliding away from her and gazing at her curiously as Luna cocked her head and Twilight frowned a little as well. “Didn't you hear us both calling for you? We were looking all over the place and... well... I mean...”

He halted, then shook his head out slowly as Luna frowned deeper, then concentrated... but Scrivener didn't react to her mental nudge, as the stallion instead continued in an apprehensive voice: “I mean, it doesn't feel like there's anything wrong with our mental link, no static, or anything... and we're all here, too, right? Seeing each other, interacting with each other, and-”

“Scrivy, shush for a moment.” Luna said gently, and Scrivener smiled lamely as he looked towards her before he gave her a more-concerned look as she focused on him, then grimaced in distaste. “Can thou not hear my mental signal?”

“I... what? Wait, how could we still... interact with each other but be unable to call out to each other? I mean... technically this is all happening in our minds, and I... I'm... confused.” Scrivener said finally, looking over at Twilight with dumb surprise, and the mare looked worriedly between them both before she bit her lip, making the stallion wince a bit. “That look usually means you figured something complicated out and it's bad.”

“Aye, Twilight, tell us. Although I feel as if... I have some idea as well.” Luna gritted her teeth, glaring over her shoulder before she shook herself out, muttering: “Damnation, and here I thought 'twas just because of my awkward little playdate with our new closest friend...”

Scrivener looked sharply at Luna, and Twilight turned her own worried eyes to the mare before the sapphire winged unicorn shook her head quickly. “Afterward, we can discuss it at any junction, but at this moment in time this issue of... silence between us is more important. Twilight?”

“I... yeah, okay.” She shook her head quickly, and then the Lich reached up and rubbed compulsively at the stitching over her chest as she murmured: “Just focusing on the link between you and Scrivy for now... it functions on several different levels, especially while we're in a dream state like this. Think of it like this: there's the physical level, where we're all clearly separate, then the 'conscious' level, where we're all linked. That includes these lucid dreams we all share and everything, and when we're awake, being able to send thoughts to each other. But there's also a second level of consciousness... we'll call it... uh...”

“Level two.” Scrivener said mildly, and Twilight gave him a flat look before the half-pony, half-wyrm shrugged. “Just trying to move things along, that's all.”

“Level two.” Twilight echoed grumpily, and then she sighed and nodded, continuing after a moment: “On... level two, there's your thoughts and emotions. I mean, you two feel each other's emotions, and can hear each other's thoughts, but only when you tap into one-another or it's especially loud or... uncontrolled. Then it filters down into... we might as well call it level one. And when we're in a lucid dream state like this, we're in level one completely, but all our thinking, everything we feel, that's on level two.”

Scrivener and Luna traded apprehensive looks: it was confusing, but they both could get the gist of it before the stallion said finally: “So basically... something is interfering with our ability to bring level two stuff down to level one, is what you're saying?”

“Precisely!” Twilight nodded firmly, looking between them and then biting her lower lip again as she shivered once. “But that kind of interference... it would have to come from something that's tapped into your soul link... and the only purpose it could possibly serve is to make sure we can't link our minds together while subconscious.”

Luna grimaced at this thought, thinking of Nightmare Moon, and then of Valthrudnir... and she shook her head slowly as Scrivener glanced quietly over at her. Twilight licked her lips hesitantly, then the Lich finally murmured: “And there's... only one monster that benefits from us being able to coordinate ourselves in a dream world like this.”

“Valthrudnir.” Scrivener gritted his teeth, shaking his head slowly before he looked over at Luna as the sapphire mare darkened and scraped a hoof against the black street. “And you said... you met up with him? So he did something to make sure we wouldn't run into each other before he could... how can he even communicate with you without me present?”

“The soul link.” Twilight Sparkle answered quietly, and Scrivener looked up sharply... then he paled a little, staring back and forth between the two ponies before Lich closed her eyes, saying nervously: “If he's inside you and able to tap into that, Scrivener... he can probably stretch into Luna's mind and maybe... even into mine, because you both serve as...”

“Oh no. No, no, no...” Scrivener whispered, and then he gritted his teeth, beginning to open his mouth, but Luna and Twilight both reached up and shoved a hoof against his lips.

“No. We'll figure this out... and it's not your fault, and we're not going to lose... what's between us.” Twilight said firmly, and then the Lich shivered once before looking over at Luna as she let her hoof fall away, and Scrivener smiled lamely, lowering his head and feeling a strange mix of emotions run through his body, hating and loving how even without the link... Twilight and Luna had both clearly known what he'd been about to suggest. “Maybe you can tell us... what happened?”

Luna only looked for a moment longer at Scrivener Blooms... and then she sighed softly and nodded slowly, hoping silently that maybe together they could figure out some way around whatever malicious scheme the Jötnar already seemed to be putting into play.

New Worlds, New Adventures

Chapter Eleven: New Worlds, New Adventures
~BlackRoseRaven

Celestia was very concerned about the fact that Valthrudnir had apparently learned to begin toying with the mental link between Scrivener, Luna, and Twilight, but Antares was much more worried about the effects that this mental warfare was having on his parents. While they were conscious, at least, all three could trade thoughts and emotions easily: and now that the Lich was getting more practiced with it, it was becoming more natural for her to speak in thought or send mental images to the two ponies she was tied to.

But their link was still firmly there, and functioning fine. And Valthrudnir had receded to wherever he hid away, while Nightmare Moon was lurking through Luna's mind, whispering about the promises that had been made and that the Jötnar would be a powerful, disposable ally they could easily use to their advantage. Something else that made Luna frustrated and stressed and left her a little crankier than normal, and Antares couldn't help but notice it, too.

Not that anyone really told him much about what was going on: he understood his parents were trying to protect him, and they respected him enough to have invited him along on the mission they were currently in the last stages of preparing for. As a matter of fact, Celestia and Selene were currently setting up a powerful portal ring out on top of the Thorn Palace's pyramid, to help them reach the layer where the disturbance had been detected.

All the same, Antares sighed a little as he finished strapping his equipment on, and Meadowlark smiled despite herself from where she was sitting on the bed, saying softly: “Mir, that's about the tenth grumble I've heard from you in the last five minutes. What's wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Antares shook his head a bit as he reached up and absently checked over the simple black breastplate he was wearing, the lightweight metal polished and fitting his body like a glove. Enlarged silver cusps locked over both his shoulders, and thick dragon-scale leather fitted tightly over his forelimbs, snugly held in place by the bracers that were engraved with beautiful images of roses over the black metal.

His wings flapped once, ensuring that they were properly free through the holes in the back of the armor, and then he smiled to himself as they furled at his sides before looking lamely over at Meadowlark when she simply continued to look at him pointedly. Then she shook her head a little and picked up the coronet that looked almost as if it had been made from dragon horns that were twisted and fused together, holding this out to him.

He took it in his own front hooves, smiling at her as he slipped it carefully on, fitting his horn through the hollow cradle in the front as he said finally: “Okay, okay. It's just that... well... Mom and Dad are still kind of working hard to not tell me... anything, you know? I mean, I'm really glad that I'm getting to go on this mission, and you're coming with me, but... I'm worried they're going to babysit me the entire time I'm there, too, you know? That we're going to be... just kind of in the background a lot, with Twilight or Aunt Tia looking after us while Mom and Dad do all the work.”

Meadowlark only shrugged a little, reaching up to run a hoof carefully along her own armor: a thick cured hide vest, treated with several varnishes that had made it surprisingly-solid. It was tough enough to resist tearing even when shot by one of Cowlick's guns, although Meadowlark still clearly felt the impact. “Have you tried talking to them about it?”

Antares looked lamely at Meadowlark, and the Pegasus smiled a little, gesturing mildly at him with one hoof. “See? Look. Your parents are good ponies. Really good ponies, as a matter of fact. But you act a lot like a little kid around them sometimes, Mir, and I think... I think that makes it hard for them to recognize you as an adult. I know Celestia does, and I know Twilight does, but they saw you fighting Cancer, and were there to watch you... grow up.”

“I don't know if I have grown up. I think I almost did, and then... I just ended up being a kid again.” Antares mumbled, rubbing at his face before he looked awkwardly at Meadowlark as she slipped off his bed, smiling at him. “Listen, are... are you sure you're okay to come with me? You can back out if you want still, I won't hold it against you. I don't wanna pressure you.”

“I'm fine, Mir. Besides, Zecora says it's important for me to do things like this, put what I learn to use and expand my horizons.” Meadowlark smiled a little, then she turned and reached down a heavy satchel made of thick cloth, strapping it carefully onto her side beneath one wing as potions jangled quietly inside, and Antares smiled after a moment.

Meadowlark was no warrior, and her vulnerable side meant she likely never would be, either: that didn't mean she had no place on the field, though. Under Zecora's tutelage, she had studied how to brew potions and elixirs of every purpose and effect, and she had also picked up other important skills from the wise shaman: how to harvest ingredients from almost any terrain, how to treat wounds, and how to interpret other languages and cultures even when you didn't entirely understand them.

Antares nodded hesitantly, then he looked around the little room he was staying in before turning and picking up his own satchel: most of what he was bringing with him were odds and ends, since his parents would be packing up the larger pieces of gear they were bringing with them, like the tent. He began to strap this on, then smiled a little when Meadow leaned in and kissed his cheek gently, before she said softly: “Look, it's going to be okay, okay? Talk to your Mom and Dad... all you really need is a chance to show them what you can do, and I know they'll give it to you. And they're going to see what a strong stallion you are, and they're going to be proud of you. I know that... I already am, Antares.”

“You don't count, you're my marefriend. And... you've always been... way, way too nice to me.” Antares laughed despite himself, gazing at her gratefully, and Meadowlark shrugged before the stallion glanced down and asked curiously: “Do you have your... bracer thingy?”

“Hornet Needle. And yes, it's in my potions kit.” Meadowlark gestured at this with her head, giving a smile before she leaned over and nudged him quietly. “Come on, let's get going, okay? We can see if Celestia needs any help with the portal ring, and maybe talk to the others if they're there. I know that Avalon was pretty jealous, after all.”

Antares nodded a little, but when Meadow began to turn away, he reached up and caught her by the shoulder, turning her gently back towards him so he could lean down and kiss her softly. She returned the affection slowly and tenderly, and then their mouths parted and the Pegasus smiled warmly as Antares murmured: “I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. I promise.”

“I know. But I don't need you to promise that, Antares... I can take care of myself too.” Meadowlark said gently, reaching up and stroking under his muzzle. “So don't go throwing yourself in the way too many times. I'm not... the little filly I used to be.”

“I know that.” Antares smiled and nodded slowly, then they traded another short kiss before parting, and then the stallion headed to the door and pulled it open with one last glance around the room. “Let's go then... and I didn't forget anything, right? It just feels... light.”

“Well, your parents are getting everything together. I think you have everything.” Meadowlark replied, and Antares nodded and shifted a little before the Pegasus smiled despite herself as she remarked: “You know, if you want to stay behind, I'm sure your Mom and Dad will understand...”

“What? What? No, no, no. No.” Antares huffed, blushing slightly, and then he grumbled as Meadowlark strode past him before he hurried forwards, falling into pace with her as he said awkwardly: “Look, it's just that... this... this is the first time I'm actually going to be fighting beside them. Probably. I don't know, remember when that marsh drake attacked the animal care center?”

Meadowlark couldn't help but laugh a bit, and Antares glowered at her as he said flatly: “It wasn't funny. It wasn't funny at all.”

“It was a little funny, Antares. You were so serious, you got me and Avalon and Aphrodisia and we were all ready to go and fight it off, but just as we get out to the care center, your Mom shoots over our heads and... well. Beat up the giant lizard.” Meadowlark reminisced, and Antares grumbled a little, earning a tender smile from the Pegasus. “You're cute when you sulk.”

Antares groaned a little, but then he sighed and dropped his head forwards, becoming a little quieter, and the Pegasus softened as well as he said finally: “But see, that's what I mean. I know I couldn't take down something like that on my own. Mom... beat the crap out of it with one hoof tied behind her back. I mean, she beat it up so badly Fluttershy scolded her afterwards and had to admit the drake to the care center to recuperate.”

Meadowlark smiled a little, looking over at Antares softly and saying softly: “But Mir, your Mom is... well, special. And so's your Dad, and they've had so many more years of experience with this. One day, you'll be that strong too.”

“I don't even care about being strong or not, I just... I want to be useful to them, you know?” Antares said after a moment, looking down and nodding slowly, and Meadowlark gave him a compassionate look before the stallion mumbled: “And it's going to be really embarrassing if a dragon attacks us or something and Mom just beats it up.”

The Pegasus only shook her head and gazed at him with entertainment, and the two continued quietly on their way until they reached the top of the pyramid. Aphrodisia and Avalon were indeed both present, along with Tender Trust and her two brothers. They were all watching as Selene calmly levitated large pieces of shaped metal into place, which Celestia then used her own magic to fuse into the mostly-complete frame of the round portal.

Avalon glanced to the side as the two approached, then she glowered at Antares, saying flatly: “I hate you, you know that? Why the hell didn't you ask me to come too? Dude, if it's because Meadowlark's your marefriend, dump her right now and make out with me and I'll be your marefriend just so I can go on an adventure into another world. That would be cool.”

“And you already got to do that once before, remember? We all did, with Clockwork World.” Antares' tone grew quieter as he spoke, and Avalon winced a bit and Aphrodisia shifted uneasily for a moment, as blurry memories sifted through the minds of the ponies and demon. Only the half-Phooka triplets were unaffected, all looking curiously out at the others.

“Screw that. That doesn't count, it was... a nightmare.” Avalon said finally, and the others nodded before the Pegasus added grudgingly: “But I guess... you two do deserve it, anyway. You kind of suck Meadowlark, but you know. You try really hard and you are sleeping with Mir. And they are your parents, Antares.”

“We're not... I... shut up.” Antares said finally, and Meadowlark only shook her head with a wry smile as Avalon snorted in amusement, rolling her eyes and looking back towards the two industriously-working winged unicorns... or rather, winged unicorn and Nephilim.

“So like, what are they doing, anyway? Celestia said it's a portal, but I thought that... rainbow bridge thing was the portal between worlds.” the tiny Pegasus questioned after another moment, studying the portal with interest.

Antares nodded, taking a moment to remember what Twilight had told him as he answered: “Yeah. But the Bifrost also takes at least a week to regenerate after it's used, remember? So Celestia decided that... just in case we run into something really bad, or something happens, we're going to use a one-way portal instead. It's going to take a lot of power, but as you've probably noticed... Selene can provide a lot of power, and she can draw on energy from all of Subterra. This way, we can open the Bifrost any time we're ready to come home.”

Avalon nodded and looked thoughtfully out at the portal ring, whistling a little before Aphrodisia said abruptly and happily: “Daddy and Mommy are both really mad at your Daddy and Mommy, but more like silly mad than mad mad.”

The glossy-black unicorn snorted in amusement at this, smiling despite himself as he glanced amusedly at the two and responded: “Believe me, I know. I thought Pinkamena was going to kill me when I saw her a few hours ago, maybe skin me and wear me like a suit so she could go in my place.”

“That's a fun idea. I might try that some time kid, thanks.” Pinkamena's voice said mildly, and Antares winced and slowly looked over his shoulder to see the demon standing behind him, her moody eyes boring into him. He cleared his throat and slowly began to step away, and then winced when she punched him lightly in the flank. “Hey. Take care of yourself on the other side.”

Antares blushed a bit, but nodded quickly before the demon glanced moodily at Meadowlark, then shrugged after a moment. “You, I don't care about so much, but you seem smarter than Antares so if he dies, I'm going to blame you.”

“I... what?” Meadowlark winced a little, and Aphrodisia giggled behind a hoof as Avalon snorted in amusement, before the crimson Pegasus blushed and shook her head, but found herself unable to form a response before Pinkamena shoved past the two ponies in front of her and strode towards the portal ring.

Without looking up, Celestia said clearly to the demon behind her, while her horn continued to glow gold as energy sparked and flared along the metal ring she was in the process of finishing: “Please don't bully them, Pinkamena, I'm sure they're stressed enough as it is.”

“Shut up, Princess Sunshine. Anyway, only reason I'm here is to let you know that Scarlet Sage is pissed as hell at her Mommy. I made Sleipnir stay downstairs and watch the show that's going on because they sent me up here to tell you that Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom are going too.” The demon paused reflectively, chewing on her lip as Celestia winced a little. “Say, why is it when I get pissed off at people no one listens to me? Sure, I can't make ponies' heads explode but I can rip them off easier than either of the lesbians could.”

Celestia looked surprised at this, but she kept her eyes forwards and her attention focused on the task at hand, and seemed relieved when it was Antares who stepped forwards and asked quickly: “Wait, what do you mean, my sister is coming too? Scarlet... I mean, well... she pretty much never...”

Pinkamena shrugged, glancing over her shoulder and saying mildly: “I meant what I just said, tumor. And hey, the vampire might be shy but she's got a nasty streak. Don't think none of us ever see that, or the way she runs around after Mommy and Daddy almost as much as you do, kid.”

Antares sighed tiredly at this as Avalon giggled a few times between her hooves and the half-Phooka brothers traded amused looks, even as Tender Trust shook her own head slowly. Aphrodisia, meanwhile, simply had her head cocked as if she was listening to something before the young demon suddenly flailed her front hooves at the air, calling loudly: “Daddy's getting beaten up, Mommy!”

“Good. He likes that.” Pinkamena said dryly, and Aphrodisia nodded seriously before the older demon turned her moody eyes back towards Celestia and the portal. “Guess that means the others are on the way. Look, if that kid got to force her way onto this nice little field trip, why the hell can't I go?”

“Because we'd all really miss you if you left, since you're so nice and all.” said a wry voice, and Pinkamena looked up sourly as Rainbow Dash approached across the northern bridge with a grin, Applejack and Soarin' striding on either side of the tall stallion, and Rarity, Spike, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie all following behind. “And I guess we need someone who can actually keep Slippers in line, too.”

“Shut the hell up, Dash, that's my nickname for him. Find your own.” Pinkamena said rudely, and then she rolled her eyes with a sigh when the Pegasus approached and held up a hoof, grumbling before she reached up her own and tapped it against his. “Just so determined to screw up every little bit of my life that you can, aren't you?”

“Oh relax, we all know you're nice by now.” Rainbow Dash scoffed... then yelped and staggered backwards when Pinkamena slung a hook into his face, his eyes watering from the force of impact as his eyes rolled in his head a bit, and Applejack only dropped her face in a hoof as Pinkie Pie glared at her sister. “Or. Not that nice.”

Pinkamena grunted, the demon drawing her eyes moodily over Rainbow Dash, then she sighed and turned around. Pinkie Pie immediately bounced over to sit beside her twin with a wide smile, but the demon only glared at her, muttering: “Really brightens my day to get left behind and then be left babysitting all you kiddies. And you know what sucks the most? None of you are going to die for another fifty or so years unless we get wrapped up in some new war.”

“Don't worry, big twin sister, I'm never gonna leave you. Even when I'm dead I'm gonna make sure I'm still around somehow.” Pinkie Pie said kindly, wrapping a foreleg around her and smiling warmly, and Pinkamena looked less-than-enthused with this. “Besides, all of us are friends forever, right? No matter what happens, we'll always be there for each other!”

“Right.” Rarity smiled, and Applejack nodded firmly as Rainbow Dash grunted. Soarin' chuckled a little at the sight of the others, then shook his head before turning and striding towards the cluster of younger ponies.

He began to open his mouth as Antares looked up at him, and then Avalon said cheerfully: “Hi, gay uncle Soarin'. You're pretty gay.”

Soarin' moodily looked at her as Aphrodisia giggled loudly, and then he asked dryly: “Are we going to go through this every time we run into each other now?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Don't worry, I still like you. You're just gay.” Avalon replied in a kind voice, and then she paused before sitting up and shaking herself out, asking curiously: “Hey, where's Big Mac? Why isn't he here to see them off too?”

“He's on duty with the Knights, helping look upstairs in Canterlot. I was supposed to be too, actually, but there's a heavy storm moving in outside of Subterra, and the aerial patrols were canceled. Don't wanna risk any more Pegasi getting hurt.” Soarin' replied with a shrug and a smile. “I'm certainly not going to complain, though.”

“That's because you're lazy.” Avalon remarked, and Soarin' simply nodded in response with another smile before Avalon hesitated, then asked quietly: “Hey, so uh... you wanna visit Spitfire later? And we three can like, well... even if we can't fly outside, we can still go over theory and do some basic exercises, right?”

“Yeah, Ava, that sounds like a great idea. She really likes you, you know... thinks you would have easily made it to becoming a team captain in the Wonderbolts if you ever joined up.” Soarin' replied warmly, nodding firmly. Avalon grinned and preened, but she was blushing a little too, and her feigned arrogance didn't completely hide how delighted the compliment made her.

Antares smiled a little, and then he glanced up as Celestia sighed in relief and finished assembling the portal ring with a flare of golden magic, the ivory mare shaking her head quickly out before Selene said softly: “You should go and get ready, Dawn Bringer. Mother and Father will be arriving shortly, and they'll want to leave quickly. I can feel the anxiety building in the air.”

“Yes, of course. You can begin calibrating the portal when you're ready, Selene, I trust that you don't need my assistance for preparation.” Celestia replied calmly, and Selene bowed her head politely before the Baroness turned her eyes over her shoulder, adding to Antares: “If your parents arrive before I get back, please try and keep my little sister distracted. She tends to get... excitable before a mission.”

Antares winced a bit at this, but then nodded hesitantly, and Celestia smiled before she strode quickly towards the northern bridge, sharing quick greetings with the ponies she passed. Antares fidgeted a little as he looked towards the enormous, multi-layered ring of metal that had been assembled, and he watched as plates of metal revolved slowly as Selene's horn glowed and the endless gaze of the Nephilim focused on the strange construct.

Then Meadowlark nudged him gently, and the Pegasus said softly: “Hey, Mir, it's gonna be okay. Don't look so panicked.”

“I just... you know. I'm still a little worried and stuff. I wanna make sure I do a good job and don't let down my parents. They're... tough ponies.” Antares said finally, and Soarin' glanced up with a small smile at this.

“Kid, I don't think you have to worry about that too much. I mean, look at me.” Soarin' laughed a little as he gestured at himself with an amused look at Antares. “Big time show-flier or not, when I first got involved in things I was just stunned by... everything I saw. I still am, and by the stuff even you kids do. But if I can stick around and even be accepted around here, I'm pretty sure you're gonna fit in just fine on this mission-thingy.”

“Great pep talk, Soarin'. No wonder Spitfire was always the one who did all the work.” Avalon said mildly, and Soarin' gave her a dry look as Aphrodisia giggled again. “Still, though, he's right, Mir. Stop being a douchebag.”

Antares sighed tiredly, but before he could respond, he felt his eyes drawn over his shoulder and up towards two ponies who were moodily approaching, and Antares' eyes widened slightly before he whistled slowly. “Oh wow.”

It wasn't the fact that Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom were both dressed in their gear that impressed him: Scarlet's armor was beautiful, lightweight silver scale mail, with thin chain mesh protecting her limbs and a small, bladed bracelet around one wrist, but it was the thunderous look beneath the silver helm she was wearing that really drew his attention. Normally his big sister had a serious but kind disposition, was usually patient and protective... but when she got mad, well...

Scarlet Sage glared at Antares, who quailed and fell back on his haunches as the Pegasus approached and loomed over him, and Apple Bloom sighed a little, hurrying up to her partner's side and gently touching her shoulder. Apple Bloom's own gear was a little heavier: a golden breastplate, and system of interlocking plates protected her limbs, giving her more solid protection. She was only wearing a bandanna tied around her head to keep her mane out of her eyes, but also had a backpack filled with equipment on and the butt of a rifle jutted rested in a holster beside this. “Hon...”

“I'm not going to kill him.” Scarlet muttered, and then she huffed a little and asked waspishly: “But why didn't you or Mom or Dad ask me if I wanted to come too? Because I do. I'm not letting you all just... run off and leave me sitting here on my flank again with Red. We're good, strong, capable ponies, and we're coming with you.”

“I... okay.” Antares said lamely, looking cowed and not really knowing how to respond as Avalon giggled madly and Soarin' awkwardly took a few steps away. Then Apple Bloom cleared her throat and carefully slipped away to head over to Rainbow Dash and Applejack, clearly deciding it was better to just let Scarlet vent.

Antares looked almost desperately back and forth, and then he winced when Scarlet Sage huffed at him and continued grumpily: “I mean, what is it? Mom trained me almost as much as she trained you, Sleipnir spent years working with Apple Bloom and still spars with her on occasion, we all work together as a good team... so why is it no one ever thinks to just ask, 'hey, Scar, you wanna come with us?' Is that really so hard? Do I really seem like that much of a girl?”

Antares slowly shrank his head back into his armor as Meadowlark reached up and gently but silently patted the unicorn's shoulder, before Tender Trust asked curiously: “But are you not a girl? I do not understand.”

“It's a metaphor. A lousy sexist one but I guess I get that from Mom.” Scarlet Sage muttered, and then she sighed tiredly and shook her head grumpily, mumbling: “Even if I always do end up getting treated like the girl in my relationship, too.”

“Oh god.” Antares dropped his head in his front hooves, his ability to understand things kicking in at the worst possible time as he covered his eyes and scrubbed at them wildly to try and get the image that came to mind out of his brain. “Can you just kill me or something? Please? Or save this up for Mom? She deserves this, not me.”

“I already yelled at Mom.” Scarlet Sage said crankily, and then she grumbled again before shaking her head quickly and sighing, softening a little and rubbing slowly at her face with one hoof. “Alright, alright, I guess... I'm just upset. Honestly, it's like no one tells me anything, though, Antares. And I know I seem busy with my own life, but... my life includes all you guys too. My family is my life. I love you all and want to be there with you, and I don't want to just... sit back anymore, and let things move around me, just acting like support.”

“Support is important, though... without support, the mightiest tree of the forest will topple at only the gentlest touch of the wind.” Tender Trust said gently, and then she smiled over at her brothers. “The way of the Phooka is to be one with the clan and nature, serving and living where we are needed most and interact best. Sometimes the best action is to take no action at all; sometimes the best way we may serve others is to wait with patience for their return.”

“Except Mom and Dad constantly get beaten up, and if I'm not there, I can't heal them.” Scarlet Sage remarked, and then she sighed a little and shook her head before turning her eyes to Meadowlark, asking in a quieter voice: “Are you only carrying potions with you, or do you have some powders and raw herbs, too?”

“I have a few spare ingredients.” Meadowlark confirmed, smiling awkwardly and nodding, and Scarlet Sage smiled back after a moment.

“Okay, good. I... I really hope this trip goes smoothly, and maybe we can spend some time together, teaching each other a few things. I'm sure I can learn a lot about healing from you.” Scarlet Sage said softly, and Meadowlark blushed and shifted, gazing gratefully up at the Pegasus before the silver mare turned a sour look back on Antares. “And you. You're as bad as Mom and Dad.”

“What did I... oh, fine.” Antares grumbled and crossed his forelegs, then he looked moodily over at Apple Bloom, adding dryly: “I'm going to hang out with your wife this whole trip and not you.”

“Well I'm going to hang out with Meadow this whole trip and not you.” Scarlet Sage retorted, before both siblings winced when Aphrodisia poked her head in and grinned brightly between them.

“You two should swap wives since you like each other's mares so much.” she commented, and behind her, Avalon cackled as Soarin' cleared his throat and turned quickly around, running over to join Apple Bloom with the others.

Scarlet Sage and Antares both slowly turned a glare on the demon, but before either pony could speak, the doors across the bridge banged open and a trio of ponies strode out. Antares looked up in relief, but Scarlet Sage only looked grumpily over her shoulder as Luna, Scrivener and Twilight approached.

The sapphire mare winced a bit at this, then offered a lame smile: she was dressed in a beautiful, black alloy breastplate inscribed with images of roses and vines, while solid, dark blue dragon-scale leather protected her limbs and locked securely into lightweight bracers around her lower limbs. A blue casque covered her head, hiding her mane from view and with a cradle that gave extra support to her horn. Her wings fluttered awkwardly at the glare she was getting from Scarlet Sage, comfortably fit through shaped holes in her tightly-secured, body-fitting armor.

Twilight Sparkle didn't have any excessive gear herself: only a simple vest layered with gemstones and painted over with a silver-gray composite that strengthened the material, and a long, hooded black cloak that she could conceal herself beneath. Saddlebags hung on either side of her body, but they were only lightly packed: as usual, Scrivener Blooms was the one carrying the heavier satchels for them: less out of chivalry and more to let Luna and Twilight continue to move freely.

The stallion was dressed in obsidian plate mail, with modular plates on his back that could be locked in different positions, and an underlayer of silver chainmail was visible here and there through the joints in the stallion's armor. The silver pauldrons over his shoulders and dark plate over his breast were all engraved with symbols of the crescent moon, and the plate was designed so his platinum collar fit snugly against the top of the plate. Lastly, his head was protected by an onyx helm with a set of black steel dragon's horns: it had been a gift from Pinkamena and Sleipnir, and made all the more thoughtful from the fact it had been designed to add a world of hurt to whatever Scrivener rammed into with his head. Which was often the best purpose his head had, whether inside or outside of combat.

He cleared his throat when he caught Scarlet Sage's nasty look, then gestured pointedly at Luna a few times with his head, but the sapphire mare quickly threw a back hoof into Scrivener with a huff and muttered: “Traitorous cur. And... Scarlet Sage, really, 'twas just an... an oversight! An assumption and... well, thou wert nowhere to be found!”

“I was not. We've been having dinner together every day and you know where I'm staying, where I've been helping out and... ugh.” the silver Pegasus rolled her eyes with a grumble, looking sour before she continued in a grouchy voice: “Look, let's just... do this together, okay? I can help. And I'm going to help, whether you like it or not.”

“I do like it! I like it very much!” Luna paused, then giggled a little before awkwardly clearing her throat when Scarlet Sage only looked at her sourly. “It... it sounded. Humorsome.”

The silver Pegasus shook her head slowly, grumbling a little under her breath before giving one last grouchy look at Antares, who shrank back again. Then Scarlet Sage turned and strode towards the portal ring, turning her eyes to it as Luna mumbled: “I fear that my daughter inherited my temperament somehow, and yet also absorbed Celestia's ability to strike terror into the very hearts and souls of ponies. 'Tis not even the fact she is a Blood Seer that scares me. Her glare settles on me and I feel as if I am under the heinous gaze of a Gorgon.”

Scrivener grunted, and there was a moment of silence before the sapphire mare began to look back and forth, then frowned. “And where is my big sister, on that evil subject? Do not tell me she plans to keep us waiting, I desire to get underway as quickly as possible to hopefully shake off the fearsome loathing of mine daughter.”

Antares winced, opening his mouth... but thankfully, a moment later Celestia's voice called out calmly: “I'm right here, little sister. My apologies, I took a moment to polish Tyrfing as well.”

Luna smiled as Celestia approached, all ponies turning their eyes towards her, and as always Scrivener couldn't help but marvel at the sight of her. Her armor was by far the heaviest gear he had ever seen any pony wear: massive, solid and layered golden full plate mail, with thick mesh layering beneath it. She looked titanic, and yet approached with only the softest of steps, smiling beneath the coronet resting around her skull.

On her back was a gleaming, immense sword: all along the white, saw-toothed six foot long blade were etched images of the Nine Worlds in burning crimson. It was a magnificent and terrifying weapon, a weapon both cursed and blessed and wielded by Celestia with fantastic skill.

The mare strode slowly forwards, her amethyst eyes warm as Luna grinned slightly, looking almost enviously over the mare before Celestia said gently, as she picked up on this: “Don't worry, little sister. One day, we'll find your own weapon again.”

“Aye, 'tis terribly unfair that thou has monstrous Tyrfing, and my own poor spear, Andlitstingar, lays somewhere in the darkness of Clockwork World!” Luna complained, and then she shook her head and looked thoughtfully at Scrivener. “At least I still have the poet I can fling into the faces of my enemies. And 'tis sometimes more effective, too.”

Scrivener gave her a flat look, then he returned his gaze to Celestia and asked finally: “So how are you feeling about things, Celestia? I mean... you look...”

“Excited? I am.” Celestia smiled after a moment, bowing her head forwards and closing her eyes as she said softly: “I'm looking forwards to this experience. No matter what we meet on the other side, after all, we're going to meet it as one, together. And I don't believe anything can stop us when we work together.”

Scrivener smiled at this thought, and Luna grunted and nodded firmly as Antares rose his own head with a smile. Then Aphrodisia waved a hoof, complaining: “Hey, I'm family too, and so's Mommy and Daddy! Why don't we get to come?”

“Because somepony has to stay behind and keep an eye on the world here, and we're entrusting that to you.” Celestia replied gently, and Aphrodisia smiled warmly and nodded, blushing slightly before Celestia paused, then added dryly: “And Sleipnir already told me about the impression he left on the ponies of the other layer while setting the anchor. I somehow doubt he'd receive the warmest of welcomes.”

“That's Slippers.” Pinkamena grumbled from the group of ponies that were waiting to see them off, and then the demon sighed and added loudly: “If you guys screw up, I'm not coming to save your asses, got it?”

“Of course you won't.” Scrivener smiled despite himself, then only snorted in amusement when Pinkamena gave him a rude gesture. “Hey, if Barry comes by, tell him I'll be back in a week or so. If he starts whining just let him know that after I get back, I should be ready to finally talk to Underbrush, that'll shut him up.”

“I'll just rip his tongue out. That's the easier way.” Pinkamena muttered, as Celestia and Luna strode over towards Selene. Then the demon grimaced over her shoulder, but ponies were all starting to say their goodbyes and wish luck to their own friends, and finally she sighed, she and Scrivener striding towards each other before trading a short, quick hug, and she muttered almost embarrassedly: “Look, asshole. Watch yourself.”

Pinkie Pie beamed at them brightly, hopping up to her sister's side, but Pinkamena only reached out and shoved a hoof against her twin's face with a tired sigh. “Shut up, sissy. And get lost, Scrivener, no one likes you.”

“Yeah, I know.” Scrivener glanced towards the portal ring... then laughed when Aphrodisia almost tackled him, hugging him fiercely as well before he smiled and returned the embrace. “You make sure your mom doesn't kill too many ponies, huh?”

“Yes, Uncle Scrivy.” Aphrodisia chirped, and then she bounced over to hug Luna and Twilight as well, the stallion reflecting for a moment on how lucky he was before Pinkamena slapped him out of his reverie, quite literally.

He winced and rubbed at his cheek, giving her a flat look before she grunted and jerked her head at the portal. Selene was already starting to power it, and the stallion nodded, turning to stride quickly towards it and hearing Celestia instructing; “-careful. Scarlet Sage, Apple Bloom, you're both welcome to join us, but remember that we don't know what we're getting into. Until we do, Scarlet Sage, please be especially careful.”

The Pegasus nodded with a small smile, and then Selene rose her head, the Nephilim saying quietly as her horn glowed brightly, and the portal ring whirred and reverberated with the same white light: “I am ready to open it at any time. I can only hold it for thirty seconds... you will have to cross quickly together.”

“Then it seems, friends, this is goodbye for now... but we shall return, fear not, and we shall try to bring thee all back a memento as well as stories of our victory!” Luna called with a grin, as the group of armored ponies naturally assembled behind her and Celestia. Scrivener smiled, looking over his shoulder as well at friends old and new as they waved and wished them well; at two generations, the growing-older ponies like himself, and their younger, hopeful sons and daughters who would one day take up everything they had built and continue to watch over Equestria.

“Open the portal!” Luna dropped to a ready position with a wide grin, and Selene smiled calmly as her galactic eyes locked on the sapphire mare for a moment, nodding slowly before the aura around her horn intensified. Electricity crackled violently around the portal ring, and light began to pulse slowly as metal spun and a hum built gradually through the air, the entire world beginning to reverberate with the energy being gathered.

Inside the rings, white energy spread gradually inwards like liquid, rippling and humming as electricity sparked back and forth. And then the energy began to ripple as it filled the portal ring completely before there was a crackle, and the white energy suddenly became a window that stared into another world; a gorgeous, verdant world...

“Go!” Luna charged forwards, and Celestia lunged up beside her, the two mares leading the way as Scrivener and Twilight followed. Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom were only inches behind, and Antares and Meadowlark brought up the rear, both young ponies almost overwhelmed with awe and amazement and excitement.

The portal rippled as ponies passed through it: Antares couldn't help but gasp at the shock of icy cold he felt as he ran through himself, his eyes bulging before he stumbled out into the world beyond, staggering to a halt as his entire body shivered and energy faintly sparked over his horn. His mother was still laughing, even though Scrivener and Twilight were both wheezing, and Celestia had a wide, warm smile on her face as she looked slowly out into the distance.

The young stallion couldn't help but glance over his shoulder, and he stared at the portal behind him: a rip in the fabric of reality itself, the edges steaming faintly before it suddenly sparked, and a moment later vanished in a burst of force that made him stagger and almost knocked Meadowlark sprawling. He reached out and caught her before she could, and she smiled faintly up at him before slowly looking up... and her breath caught in her throat as she whispered: “Wait...”

Antares looked curiously down the road... and he blinked in surprise before his mouth worked a few times, and he asked stupidly: “Is that... is that Ponyville?”

“Aye!” Luna grinned widely, her eyes glowing with mischief as she said delightedly: “Oh, this is the very best part... well, nay, 'tis the second best part, to be honest. But 'tis very good, very good indeed all the same!”

She laughed, then shook her head before bouncing excitedly on her hooves as Celestia favored her with an amused look. “Come, come, come! We must go there, we must go immediately!”

Antares slowly looked around, trying to get a sense of his surroundings... and to his amazement, despite being in what he knew was an alternate layer of reality and an alien world, he could. They were sitting on a road leading towards the village in the distance, which was clearly Ponyville. The biggest difference he could see so far was that there were no enormous walls to protect from attack or incursion... but the atmosphere around them was so warm and peaceful that he doubted they needed to fear the same things ponies did in his world.

Scrivener and Twilight looked at Luna, then over at Celestia... before both ponies stared at her disbelievingly, unconsciously mimicking each other when the ivory equine said thoughtfully: “We do need to locate precisely where this disturbance is... Sleipnir mentioned to me he buried the anchor in the far north, but that doesn't necessarily mean the anchor was reacting to something in the vicinity.”

“Wait, wait, no. You can't be serious.” Scarlet Sage said after a moment, looking up in shock as Apple Bloom stared as well: a moment later, the befuddled Antares felt his talent for understanding things kicking in, and he gaped at Celestia as he realized she was actually encouraging Luna's idea.

Luna, meanwhile, looked all the more gleeful at this, her eyes glittering before she shook herself quickly and then looked over her shoulder, calling delightedly: “Up, up, up on thy hooves! Come, let us march boldly right into Ponyville and see how they react, thou cannot argue with me when even Celestia agrees with my idea. Oh, 'tis delightful, 'tis truly delightful...”

Luna laughed again, looking up towards the blue, brilliant sky overhead, and then she turned her eyes back over her shoulder and gestured impatiently when the other ponies only sat and stared at her. “Come now, thou shall all feel better once moving. The first time passing though a portal is always a shock, it takes the body time to get used to it.”

Celestia nodded ,then she glanced over her own shoulder and shrugged a bit as Twilight tried to splutter out a question. “To be honest, I do have a few... concerns... about what may happen, but this is the best course of action. They have already seen Sleipnir, after all, and whether they believed him or not when he told them who he was, it should give them a little more understanding of who we are. And if we can't find out where this source of trouble is from Ponyville, then we'll still be able to contact Canterlot from there and speak to our counterparts in this world to get a much-needed lay of the land.”

“Oh, shut up with all thy wordiness Celestia, and just admit thou wants to have a little fun. Is that really so hard for thou to say? Art thou allergic to the word 'fun?'” Luna asked dryly, and when Celestia gave her a flat look, Luna huffed before turning around and bulling into Scrivener Blooms, the earth pony staggering backwards to his hooves before Luna ran around him and began to hurriedly push him forwards, shouting: “Well Scrivy and I are going to have fun whether all thou art coming or not, and that is that!”

Twilight groaned, and then the Lich quickly picked herself up and hurried after them as Celestia smiled and shook her head, following at a slower pace. Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom traded dumb looks, and then Antares sighed tiredly and gave a helpless look to Meadowlark before the stallion followed in the wake of his family, asking Scarlet moodily as he passed: “Happy that you came with us now?”

Scarlet Sage only mumbled in response, and she and Apple Bloom fell in pace with her younger brother and Meadowlark. And while at first the group was spaced widely out, by the time they reached Ponyville, the eight equines were all moving in a fairly close, loose formation, Luna at the forefront with Scrivener and Twilight on either side of her, and Celestia interestedly looking around as ponies of this world stopped in the street to stare and gape at them, making it fairly clear that whatever versions of them might exist in this layer were most likely a little quieter and more reserved.

Twilight embarrassedly pulled her hood up with a flick of her horn, and Luna gave her a huff as they made their way slowly towards town square. Antares was gazing back and forth with rapt awe, and Meadowlark simply looked amazed as she murmured: “I don't even know what to think. I mean... look at them. Some of these ponies I even recognize, but they look... younger and others... I just... this is incredible. This is beyond incredible.”

Antares nodded slowly in agreement, and then he looked up as Luna said warmly over her shoulder: “And the feeling never gets old, my friends. Every time I have been in another layer... the fascination, how... how breathtaking it always is! 'Tis indescribable, absolutely indescribable.” Luna laughed and shook her head, eyes warm before a bright grin spread slowly over her face. “And here, here we have the best reward!”

All eyes looked forwards as they strode into the square, Twilight giving a soft sound of awe as she looked up over the enormous tree that housed the library. And as they approached, the door opened and a violet unicorn ran out, with wide, innocent purple eyes, staring at them with awe as she asked in disbelief: “P-Princess Luna? Princess Celestia? Who... w-what's going on?”

Scrivener smiled faintly, then couldn't help but laugh a little when a small purple dragon stuck his head around the corner: he looked childlike and young, his features only just starting to mature as he looked at them with incredulity. And then Luna grinned, opened her mouth... and huffed when Celestia reached up and touched her shoulder, looking at her pointedly.

“Oh, fine, ruin all my fun.” Luna grumbled irritably, and then she turned her eyes to the Twilight Sparkle of this world, bowing her head politely and saying kindly: “It is a pleasure to make thy acquaintance, and thou shall be relieved to know I am not Princess Luna. My name is Brynhild, and my sister is not Celestia but Freya.” Celestia looked surprised at this... but then smiled warmly. “We are... visiting on business from another layer of reality, following the trail of something wicked. Do not fear, Twilight Sparkle, we mean no harm.”

The unicorn stared at them with disbelief, looking back and forth before she gave a faint laugh, whispering: “No... no, that's impossible, and... this is just some big prank, right?”

But Luna Brynhild only smiled slightly, then reached out and nudged the cloaked pony beside her, who sighed quietly... then blushed as she reached up and pulled her hood back. The Twilight Sparkle native to this layer stared in shock and awe at the Twilight Sparkle of their world, who blushed faintly before murmuring: “It's no joke, Twilight.”

Twilight stared... and then several ponies emerged from the crowd: a white unicorn with a violet mane, a bright pink, gaping earth pony, and a blue Pegasus mare who called with dumb surprise to the purple unicorn: “Uh... Twilight? Do you wanna tell us what's going on? Maybe explain why there's two of you and the Princesses are in armor and have a bunch of scary ponies with them?”

The Twilight Sparkle outside the library was only spluttering and staring, and Luna looked up with a pleased grin... before it faltered when the violet unicorn simply keeled stupidly over, and she huffed a little before glowering over at the Lich, who was staring dumbly at what was essentially herself. “It appears thy counterpart has a rather weak constitution.”

After Twilight Sparkle, unicorn, was helped back to her hooves – and more importantly, she'd stopped mumbling to herself about how this was impossible after being promised answers – the ponies all clustered into the comfortable interior of the library. Letters had been sent off while Luna had nosed around and Celestia had handled initial introductions and explanations, and Twilight Sparkle, Lich, had quietly sat in the background and tried to avoid too much contact with anyone.

Now it was evening, and the library was playing host to more than just eight ponies from another world and Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Princesses Luna and Celestia were both present with a white unicorn wearing stylized violet armor, his blue eyes studying them nervously from beneath his rugged navy mane. Shining Armor, big brother best friend forever to the Twilight Sparkle of this layer.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were still studying their counterparts intently, even though Celestia – or Freya, rather, as they were calling her for now – had explained the situation calmly and courteously, and in great detail. Then, finally, Celestia sighed quietly, meeting Freya's eyes as she said softly: “I don't entirely know what to think. And while I appreciate the fact you're here to help... we can handle our own problems within our nation, too.”

“We don't mean any disrespect.” Freya replied gently, and she reached a hoof up without looking to cover Brynhild's mouth with the sapphire mare began to turn, making her grumble as the armored ivory equine continued rationally: “This kind of problem, while within your world, is something that would threaten all layers of reality. And it's something that we've been made responsible for by... by an old, dear friend who is no longer with us.”

She quieted, thinking for a moment of Odin as Luna Brynhild softened, and then Celestia Freya shook her head quickly before continuing finally: “We're only here to lend assistance and fix this particular problem, not to interfere with the lives of your people or the running of your nation.”

“Well, a little.” Brynhild said positively, and all eyes glared at her as the Lich Twilight Sparkle sighed tiredly. “Oh shut up... uh... Scrivener, damnation, we require a name for Twilight. 'Tis too confusing otherwise. And she does not have a Valkyrie name as I and big sister do, so... all of thee, assist me in thinking up a name for Twilight.”

“We could call her Morgan. Twilight Morgan Sparkle, it even fits with her name. Kind of.” Scrivener said mildly, glancing up, and Luna looked thoughtful as the violet winged unicorn glared at the charcoal stallion, but he only shrugged and smiled slightly over at her. “Hey, that's Luna's... I mean, Brynhild's name in the old legends of Titan, Morgan and Sol. You should be honored.”

“Aye, aye, she should be! Morgan it is!” Luna Brynhild declared, and then she winced when both Celestias gave her the same dry look. “By Helheim, Scrivener Blooms! This is not Nice Celestia at all!”

Princess Celestia only sighed tiredly, and then Princess Luna asked after a moment: “Brynhild... why do you speak like that? Surely you must have mastered the way ponies speak in the present day and age and abandoned old, silly dialects?”

“Silly? Bah! 'Tis better to be silly than it is stuffy, and I see that thou art clearly of the latter sort.” Luna said huffily, and then she grumbled as Princess Luna looked shocked before the armored sapphire mare asked loudly: “Is she not stuffy, Morgan?”

Newly-renamed Morgan only mumbled to herself, before saying finally: “Look, we're... all getting off-topic here... from what it sounds like, no one here has even been aware of any major disturbances, and I'm sure that if monsters from a place like Clockwork World were present, there'd all kinds of disturbances and reports coming in...”

“Well...” began a hesitant voice, and all eyes turned with interest to Applejack: the orange-hued mare cleared her throat a few times, and it was hard to blame her for being a little nervous. Even Rainbow Dash currently seemed cowed by the story that Freya had told and the fact they were sitting in a room with two Princesses and two ponies who looked and sounded exactly like aforementioned royals. “Uh... well... I got a letter, actually...”

She stopped, then shook herself hurriedly out before continuing in a firmer voice, as her eyes flicked towards Celestia. “Actually, Princess, I was going to come and talk to you about it, or get Twilight here to send on the letter to you. My cousin, Braeburn... he was supposed to come up to Ponyville a few days ago by train, but he sent us a letter saying that he has to stay in Appleloosa. He says both buffalo and ponies out there have gone missing recently, and there's been all these weird storms, way up in the mountains. And anypony that's gone to try and find out what's wrong, well... they ain't never come back.”

Princess Celestia looked surprised at this, frowning deeply as she traded a look with her younger sister before gazing down at Shining Armor. “Have you heard anything about this?”

“Not a word, Princess, but... there aren't a lot of cities or ponies out in the Appaloosa area. I don't think there's even much in the way of a guard post for miles around...” Shining Armor replied quickly, and Celestia nodded slowly as Freya frowned a little. The white stallion clearly fidgeted a bit when he realized the golden-armored mare was looking at him, looking like he was fighting down every instinct to say something to the pony who resembled the Princess of the Sun so clearly.

Luna Brynhild grunted at this, rubbing thoughtfully at the underside of her chin. “I have never been to this Appleloosa. But we have experience with deserts, do we not, Scrivener Blooms?”

“And forests, and winter, and... Hell. Literally Hell, I mean, we've literally been to Hell.” Scrivener said dryly, looking up from an index book for the library he had found and was paging curiously through. “I've never been there either, though...”

Apple Bloom smiled a bit, saying finally: “I've been there a few times. If things are as similar out there as they are 'round here in Ponyville, I can probably help guide you around the town, at least... and Braeburn's always been a generous cousin. Just please don't spook him too much, Luna, if he's anything like the Braeburn back home he'll probably be a little... excitable.”

“Wait, cousin?” Applejack looked blankly for a moment at Apple Bloom, then frowned and leaned forwards, studying her intently as Apple Bloom smiled embarrassedly, automatically reaching up to take Scarlet Sage's hoof. Then Applejack's jaw dropped, raising her hoof and spluttering stupidly for a few moments. “Wait, I... Apple Bloom? Apple Bloom, are you... Apple Bloom?”

“Oh wow!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, and it was the first real outburst the pink pony had given: for almost this whole time, she had been just staring at them, as if trying to decide who and what they were. But now she bounced forwards, staring raptly over them and gazing back and forth with awe, and Scrivener winced as Meadowlark and Antares traded dumb looks. “I didn't even know what was going on at first, I mean... I thought I was dreaming, like, crazy dreams that felt really real but weren't but... wow, this is real, isn't it? You're really real!”

“I reckon.” Apple Bloom said finally, and then she blushed a bit as Luna Brynhild snorted in amusement, while the Princesses only looked nonplussed for a moment.

The Lich Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but let her eyes draw outwards, studying her friends silently... and Spike, of course, little, loyal Spike, who was half-hiding behind the empty tray in his claws. Fluttershy was half-curled away, and Rainbow Dash was visibly fighting back all the questions she had, and Rarity was still staring over them with something like awe, her eyes returning again and again to the regal figure Celestia Freya cut in her massive, almost-glowing aureate plate. And of course, this world's Twilight just kept staring at her, taking in her every detail, and she could feel Shining Armor's on her every now and then, just like both Princesses did...

She felt Princess Celestia's eyes turn towards her again, and the Lich shifted a bit, feeling herself being studied before the ivory unicorn finally asked slowly: “I can't help but notice there are... differences. Brynhild, Freya... your differences are more subtle, but the Twilight Sparkle of your world-”

“Morgan.” Luna Brynhild interrupted cheerfully, and the Princess of the Sun favored her with a slight frown. Not just at the fact that this strange pony had interrupted her, there was something of distrust in that look, too... something protective, and worried, and perhaps a little scared.

“Morgan...” Princess Celestia paused, then asked finally: “You clearly are Twilight Sparkle, but you're much larger... and you seem... different. I feel a very powerful magic emanating from you, and something that... that tickles my senses. That makes me feel...”

She hesitated for a few long moments, and Twilight glanced awkwardly away before Celestia Freya looked out the window and said softly: “It looks like evening is coming on quickly.”

“So it is. Sister, shall we take a recess to attend to our duties?” Princess Luna asked as Princess Celestia frowned nervously... but then slowly nodded, even as her amethyst eyes lingered on her twinned counterpart.

“Of course. We should only be a few minutes, and then we'll return. We just need to find a quiet place to lower the sun and raise the moon.” Celestia said slowly, and the others nodded before the two royal sisters stood, bowing their heads politely. Ponies around the room returned the gesture, and then they left... even as Princess Celestia tossed another unnerved look over her shoulder as she did so.

There was silence for a few moments, the only sound Scrivener quietly turning the pages of the book before Shining Armor climbed to his hooves and muttered something to his sister. Twilight Sparkle nodded quickly and stood, then called awkwardly: “Uh... Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, would you come with me to the kitchen? To... to help prepare dinner.”

The ponies did so, and the little dragon stared for a moment longer before blushing when Twilight called his name again loudly, and he tossed a lame wave at the ponies of the other layer before spinning around and running off. That left Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack with the group, and Luna Brynhild and Celestia Freya traded mild looks: to them, it was clear what was going on.

Pinkie Pie bounced happily over to Antares and Meadowlark, smiling brightly to them as she leaned down and asked quickly: “So who are you guys? My name is Pinkie Pie!”

“So uh... you like you've grown up... big and strong.” Applejack said hesitantly as he approached Apple Bloom, gazing at her with fascination... maybe even envy, as her eyes slid to the locked hooves of the mare partners. “And... not to... y'know, not to stick my nose in where it don't belong or nothin', you two...”

“You're big.” Rainbow Dash said mildly, and Scrivener Blooms slowly looked over the top of the index book he was reading before the mare grinned at him, tossing her rainbow mane with a wink. “But you know what? I bet I could still beat you in any contest under the sun. Just like I bet that Twilight is still an egghead and... well, your princesses are a lot scarier than our princesses.”

“Do not call me a princess!” Luna Brynhild said in a surly voice, and Rainbow Dash snorted in amusement before returning her eyes to Scrivener, looking at him with interest. Luna huffed, then she grumbled a little before glancing sourly over at Celestia, who looked meditative: “So does thou think this was orchestrated, or...”

“I think...” Celestia glanced towards Twilight, who flushed and looked down embarrassedly. “I think we should have thought twice before entering the village in full raiment. And I think more than scaring them, the Celestia of this layer sensed...”

“Yeah.” Twilight said softly, reaching up to touch her own chest silently... and then she glanced up in surprise as she felt a hoof on her shoulder, looking up to see Applejack standing beside her. Younger than she was in their layer, but the same kindness in her eyes, shining with compassion.

“Hey, you okay there, Twilight? I mean... I know you ain't... our Twilight, but you still seem like Twilight to me.” Applejack gave a small smile to her, and it did a world for the Lich, who smiled faintly in return. “There you go. But what's wrong? Y'all can't be shy now with just us three here.”

Scrivener only grunted, closing the book and putting it aside as he stood up and glanced towards one of the windows, noting the sun was still in the sky. Luna grimaced at this small detail, which likely confirmed their suspicions, as the stallion said mildly: “Well, you know. We're about to be ambushed, that's all.”

Applejack frowned in confusion as Rainbow looked up curiously, and Pinkie Pie asked with interest: “Like... a surprise party? Oh my gosh, is that what Twilight and them are doing, they're making a surprise party?” She bounced on her hooves, lighting up with excitement before her eyes widened in shock. “But wait, then why aren't I there too? Twilight! Twilight, hey, let me help with the surprise party!”

The pink earth pony shot through the archway that led to the kitchen, and Antares quickly turned disbelieving eyes to his father before he winced, shaking his head and saying hurriedly: “Wait, I... why would they do that? And we can't... we can't fight them if they are, I mean... I know there's eight of us, but I don't know if I can hit a pony that looks like Mom or Aunt Tia...”

Meadowlark looked up worriedly as well as Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage both winced, but before anyone could say anything, Rainbow Dash said incredulously: “Wait, Aunt Tia? You mean... Celestia? And... and by 'Mom,' you can't mean...”

“Look at me, look at Scrivener, and then look at Antares, and hope that the gears in thy mind do not strip with all their clanking.” Luna said crossly, and Rainbow Dash glared at her, then huffed and opened her mouth as her eyes slid to Antares... before she stopped, mouth falling open as her magenta gaze moved to Scrivener, and she put it all together in her mind.

Applejack only rolled her eyes with a sigh as Rainbow began to mouth wordlessly, the earth pony saying with a frown: “Now wait just a minute, everypony. You make it sound like our Princesses are about to attack you or something, and that's just ridiculous. From what I see, you ponies are... well... y'ain't like a lot of ponies around these parts but... Twilight is Twilight and your story sounds pretty solid to me, and I reckon if you were here to cause trouble...”

“It's okay, Applejack. It's my fault.” Twilight said softly, and the violet winged unicorn smiled faintly as she stood up and shook her head slowly when the goldenrod mare frowned at her. “It's not because of what they saw or heard, or... not just that. It's because of what they must have felt from me, and I can't blame Princess Celestia for being scared... she has to protect her country.”

“She is stupid. And stuffy.” Luna grumbled, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack both gasped and stared at her with shock, which just made Luna groan. “Well, she is! Just like my big sister can be stupid and stuffy and bullheaded and-”

“Thank you, Luna.” Celestia Freya said tiredly, and then she shook her head slowly before grimacing a bit as instead of darkening, the day seemed to brighten a little, the light shimmering through the windows enough to catch the attention of even the two ponies native to this layer. “Luna, I know what you're going to suggest, but let's avoid fighting for now. We need to maintain peace, not start a war.”

“Oh come now, it worked perfectly well with Little Luna and Nice Celestia when they attempted to take Scrivener and I into custody.” Luna Brynhild argued, and then she grumbled when Celestia looked at her pointedly. “Oh fine. But I make no promises. If they raise horn or hoof against me I shall pummel them all. And so will Scrivener. And thou too, Twilight, I order thou to.”

Twilight only sighed tiredly, before Rainbow Dash remarked dryly: “I have no idea what you're talking about, but I have to say that it sounds like you guys think you can just walk in and beat us all up if you so please, and I take offense at that. We're as tough as you, we just don't have the shiny equipment, that's all.”

“Dash, please don't pick a fight with the ponies in battle gear.” Applejack said tiredly, and Rainbow Dash grumbled under her breath but nodded before the goldenrod earth pony added reasonably: “And look, no matter what-”

She was interrupted by Shining Armor striding into the room with Twilight Sparkle nervously standing a little behind him, the unicorn stallion looking back and forth before he asked courteously: “Excuse me, but will you all please step outside? Except for Rainbow Dash and Applejack. But there's something you... otherworld ponies should be introduced to.”

“Looking Glass World, actually, is what we call it.” Luna Brynhild remarked, and then she sighed tiredly before grumbling and jerking her head at Scrivener and Twilight. “Both of thou, up front with me. Antares, Meadowlark, please follow next. Then Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom, and Celestia shall bring up the rear.”

Celestia nodded calmly without complaint, letting Luna take the lead, and the sapphire mare visibly appreciated it, smiling faintly and becoming a little more serious as Shining Armor winced, seeming to recognize that their ruse had been seen through. Then Applejack frowned, saying worriedly: “Shining Armor... what's going on here?”

But the unicorn didn't respond as Luna flicked her horn to open the door, then strode through, with Scrivener and Twilight following... and none of the eight ponies that made up the group were surprised to find not just Princess Celestia and Princess Luna waiting for them, but almost a full brigade of Royal Guard waiting for them.

The eight strode out into the square, and Antares admittedly felt a tingle of fear as he looked slowly back and forth. As he had been taught, numbers almost always won over strength, when pitted against each other in straight combat.

“I would like to know your true intentions for being here.” Princess Celestia said softly, and then she closed her eyes and bowed her head forwards, giving a single shiver as Princess Luna looked up at her silently. “And I want to know what you did to the Twilight Sparkle of your world.”

Twilight began to open her mouth, but then Celestia Freya reached up a hoof, touching her shoulder silently before she raised her head and replied clearly to the Princess standing on the other side of the square, with a wall of soldiers between her and them. “The enemies we seek... we think they come from a world called Decretum. A world that attacked ours before it was stopped, whose forces took many lives... including that of Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia Freya fell silent, looking towards the violet mare, who gazed silently back, their eyes locked before the golden-armored equine looked slowly up. She could feel all the eyes of the ponies around the square on her... the eyes of soldiers, and civilians who were staring fearfully out from behind the rows of Royal Guard, and the eyes of the Twilight Sparkle of this layer and her friends and brother. “But before she died, she tied her essence to a music box... and I had... I did the only thing I could do. I resurrected her as a Lich.”

Princess Luna covered her mouth with a hoof as Princess Celestia's eyes hardened, baring her teeth as she leaned forwards and snapped: “Why should I believe that ponies who come to a peaceful village in full armor and carrying weapons want peace? Why should I believe that ponies who use dark, forbidden magic, who look like evil mirror images of ourselves want to put a halt to some unknown, alien force of darkness I've never heard so much as a rumor about? What are you really? Changelings? Demons? Shadow-puppets of Sombra? Even worse abominations of darkness?”

“Well, aye, we are dark, Princess Celestia, but we are not the monsters thou thinks we are.” Luna said sourly, her eyes narrowed before she cracked her neck as she stepped forwards, glaring challengingly back and forth. “Now, I have no desire to hurt anypony. Pummeling is much better saved for the enemy, not for those whom we would rather have as allies. But I must warn thee, Princess Sunshine, as my dear friend Pinkamena does so love to call thee: signal an attack upon us... nay, so much as speak ill of my beloved family again, and I shall mangle every soldier thou sends at us and then properly bitch-slap thee into the ground. Just because we are here to help does not mean we shan't rise to the challenges thou dares throw at us.”

Antares gaped at his mother as Celestia Freya sighed quietly, but her amethyst eyes held some glimmer of approval all the same as Princess Celestia glared angrily at them, her rainbow mane twisting before she straightened. And even as her younger sibling reached worriedly up to grasp her shoulder, the Princess of the Sun ordered sharply: “Arrest them, so we can bring them to Canterlot for questioning. Brynhild, Freya, do not resist, or we will take extreme measures! I will not allow you to threaten myself or Equestria!”

But Luna Brynhild only grinned widely, stepping forwards and dropping to a ready position before Celestia Freya sighed and shook her head slowly, then called clearly as Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage stepped into defensive positions near Meadowlark and Antares: “Disable if necessary, but do not kill or maim!”

“No, maiming is fine!” Luna Brynhild corrected calmly, and then she cracked her neck loudly before her cyan eyes flashed, baring her teeth in a wide grin as the Royal Guard of Equestria began to surge in from all sides.

Lanchester's Loophole

Chapter Twelve: Lanchester's Loophole
~BlackRoseRaven

Princess Celestia was only interested in protecting Equestria, in keeping her country safe. She had fostered peace with other nations, gave second chances to everypony – whether they deserved it or not – and fostered unity and equality between unicorns, Pegasi, and earth ponies. There was only one thing she would not accept: forbidden, black magic that tampered with the laws of life and death, that was meant only for evil ends. She would not allow darkness to waltz into her country under the guise of a pony who said she only wanted to help, when she all-too-well understood its true nature.

These ponies told an interesting story, but none of it had been confirmed. All the same, she had sent scouts to Appleloosa, while calling the unit of Royal Guard into Ponyville she'd had waiting nearby just in case. Because Twilight Sparkle had been very clear from her letter these ponies didn't just look like them... they had been dressed like warriors.

And she hadn't missed any of the small details: the one who looked like Luna had sharp teeth and fangs and reeked of dark magic. Not just night magic, but a darkness that burned out of her so powerfully Princess Celestia had barely been able to hide her shivers. And the big stallion had his own carnivorous jaw and... something about him was strange. He emitted... a terrible sensation.

The one who looked like her had a sword on her back that looked like it could fell a hydra with a single slice. And there was a Pegasus there, with red eyes and a red mane and... who gave her spine a tingle, like there was something wrong with her. And how could she miss the fact that the younger stallion had those leather wings? Wings like the Night Pegasi, except his clearly weren't natural from the horn on his head...

But worst of all was the one who looked like Twilight Sparkle. Who was not Twilight Sparkle but a filthy, unhallowed, sin-filled Lich. She knew what they were: unicorns gone so mad with power they used their own magic to keep themselves alive forever with the cruelest of necromancy. Who took to preying and experimenting on the living, who were fueled by lust for power and greed and all the things Celestia hated and wanted purged from her country.

She didn't want to imagine the Equestria these monsters must have come from. She figured it must be an evil place, full of such darkness, and such hatred, if these reflections lived and ruled there. And she was scared of what their true purpose might be... why they must have come to her Equestria.

The Royal Guard was fighting them... but it was a desperate and losing battle, and Celestia knew she had to do something. But the Elements of Harmony were back in Canterlot, and... she thought some of Twilight's friends actually sympathized with these creatures...

And then Princess Celestia winced and ducked as a unicorn was slung at her, the armored stallion howling as he flew just over her head and Luna Brynhild shouted furiously: “Get in here and fight, wretched coward, before I lose my temper!”

Then Luna's eyes flicked to the side as a Pegasus Guard shot towards her, and she half-spun to kick both rear hooves out and smash them into the stallion's chest, knocking him flying through the air on a wide arc. Beaten and bludgeoned bodies lay on the ground all around the square, as Luna Brynhild and her family continued to fight savagely against the swarming soldiers.

Several ran towards Celestia Freya, but the golden-armored mare only glanced towards the group as her horn glowed before she flicked it firmly, and there was a bright flash of intense light before the leading guards were frozen in position with shocked looks on their faces, bodies left completely immobilized. Then she grimaced as a missile of magical energy hit her in the side and ricocheted off her armor, slowly turning a moody look on the now-gaping unicorn soldier that had gotten in the lucky blow before she snapped her horn upwards, and the soldier was launched into the air with a howl as the ground beneath him exploded, chunks of rock and earth flying in all directions with enough force to knock other golden-armored troops sprawling.

Twilight Sparkle winced as a Pegasus lunged at her before she snapped her horn forwards, blasting it backwards with a simple force spell. It launched it with enough power to send it smashing into several other armored soldiers, however, knocking them spilling like dominoes before she staggered with a wince when several unicorns pelted her with blasts of magic, her cloak bursting into flames before she hurriedly snapped her horn to tear it free as her wings spread automatically.

The ponies around her were were shocked at the sight of the broad, raven-edged wings, and from near the library, the Twilight Sparkle of this world gaped in amazement... before the Lich dropped her head forwards and stomped both front hooves back to the earth, and all around her, thick vines exploded upwards out of the ground, seizing and snaring around golden-armored troops and binding them in place or yanking them viciously down into the earth, sending a wave of panic through the crowd as the Lich shouted: “Just stop! We're not your enemy!”

Scrivener Blooms was fighting near Luna, and he winced as a vine tore past him to seize into a unicorn and yank him face-first into the ground. It was welcome, though, as the charcoal stallion quickly turned to face another soldier running at him. Scrivy leapt forwards and easily dodged a swipe from the pony before he swung a foreleg up, catching the soldier around the throat and lifting him into the air in with the clothesline before slamming him straight down onto his back, knocking all the fight of the trooper as he shouted: “Luna, they just keep coming!”

“There can't be many left!” Scarlet Sage called from where she and Apple Bloom were fighting beside Meadowlark: they were working hard to keep the young Pegasus safe, Apple Bloom's hooves striking like lightning and with surprising strength against any soldier that dared to approach her, while the silver mare was moving with more finesse, using her bladed bracer to leave painful defensive wounds over the faces of the ponies that tried to attack her, concentrating on stunning them and driving them off more than knocking them out.

Antares looked up quickly, gazing back and forth before he did a sudden smooth, acrobatic jump into the air, wings flapping powerfully once to launch himself in a short revolution over a stunned Royal Guard that tackled only the ground instead of the stallion before he squeaked when Antares landed firmly on his back. “There's only eleven left!”

“Twelve!” shouted an angry voice, and Antares looked up in surprise to see Shining Armor charging straight towards him, the unicorn's horn glowing before he tilted it forwards and sent a blast of light shooting at the glossy-black stallion's face.

Antares reacted on instinct, lashing his own horn down and deflecting the laser of light, and Shining Armor stared in surprise before Antares ran quickly forwards. The two unicorns leapt at one another, and Antares cursed as he took a solid punch to the face, knocked down on his side before quickly drawing his head away when Shining attempted to smash in his skull with a hoof.

Antares slashed his horn outwards, and Shining Armor cursed in pain and leapt backwards with a wince as a thin rip was torn through his foreleg. He stumbled once, then started to look up... and was knocked senseless when Antares' hoof smashed up under his jawline with shocking force, sending the unicorn sprawling on his back before the glossy-black stallion leapt backwards and snapped his horn down, the last of the fight knocked from the Captain of the Guard when a blast of pure force hammered into his stomach with enough strength to knock him skidding several feet through the dirt. “Eleven!”

Luna Brynhild grinned widely at this, eyes glowing with approval, a stunned Pegasus held up by the shoulders in her hooves... and then she glared back ahead as another guard began to run towards her, and she hefted the already-senseless guard in her front hooves high above her head before slamming him straight down into the soldier that tried to stop his charge too late, knocking them both flat. Then she looked sharply to the side as she saw the chance she'd been waiting for: Princess Celestia was unguarded, with only Princess Luna staring and gaping beside her furious-looking sibling. “And now for that bitch-slap!”

The sapphire mare shot towards her, and Celestia's eyes widened in shock before she flicked her horn upwards, creating a golden shield of light. Luna Brynhild was undeterred, however, smashing into this with her shoulder before she snarled and began to hammer viciously away at it with her hooves, cracks beginning to spread through the glowing barrier as Princess Celestia winced in surprise.

Then the Princess of the Sun gritted her teeth before suddenly snapping her horn upwards, back arching as her eyes blazed, and the golden barrier exploded in a blast of light and sound and force, knocking Luna flying backwards with a curse of surprise. Her body reacted on its own in midair, flipping smoothly before she landed on her hooves and skidded backwards, then her eyes widened as Princess Celestia leaned forwards and unleashed a concentrated beam of radiant energy.

Luna stepped forwards and slashed her horn into this beam, snarling and wincing at the blinding light shining out of it, her body flexing as Scrivener Blooms winced... then gritted his teeth, flexing and closing his eyes as in a moment, Twilight Sparkle was beside him, standing at the ready and giving him the time he needed to concentrate. He poured his strength and energy into Luna through their link, even as he felt something inside him stirring... but even if it was Valthrudnir, it only watched with acute interest, not interfering, perhaps even... taking pleasure in what was happening.

Luna Brynhild snarled as the remaining soldiers withdrew from the battle to watch as their Princess poured all her energy and strength into attacking the armored mare... and then Celestia's eyes widened in horror as the sapphire, armored winged unicorn took a slow step forwards, her horn glowing and cutting into the beam of energy. Motes and energy sparked around Luna's features as her expression twisted into a grin, feeling Scrivener giving her even more strength as she growled: “'Tis a fun game, Princess Celestia... but playtime is over!”

Her horn slashed forwards, releasing a concentrated blade of sapphire energy at the same time that tore straight through the center of Celestia's attack, tearing the beam of light into two halves before it struck squarely into the Princess of the Sun's horn and exploded. She cried out in agony as her magic was interrupted and she was knocked rearing back, lightning and blue flames searing her features as Luna Brynhild leapt into the air and snapped: “'Tis now time for hoof party in thy face's house!”

Princess Celestia had enough time to gape before Luna Brynhild shot down from the skies and smashed a vicious punch straight into her cheek, knocking her bouncing painfully backwards before she finally crashed down on her side, gasping for breath and her eyes staring blankly outwards in horror. Her tiara hit the ground behind her a moment later, clinking as it rolled over the stones as she lay helpless and defeated, the imprint of Luna's front hoof mashed clearly into her features.

Luna Brynhild strode slowly forwards as Princess Luna hurried to her big sister's side, then stared up in fear at this darker, far-stronger version of herself. But the armored sapphire mare had eyes only for Princess Celestia at the moment, who slowly, weakly forced herself to stare up at her conqueror, trembling weakly, not wanting to imagine what was going to happen now... to her beautiful Equestria, to peace and harmony, to everything she had tried to protect... much less what this monster was going to do to her.

Then Luna Brynhild slowly leaned down, baring her fangs in a wide grin before she said haughtily: “Consider thyself bitch-slapped. Now, as victor, I demand a cake. And prostitutes. And possibly sexual favors from thee, depending upon how pleasant the prostitutes are. But I fear that if thou art as lousy in bed as thou art at the art of combat, I will be much better off with just the prostitutes, even if they are ugly and short.”

“I thought you liked short.” Scrivener remarked mildly as he approached, and Luna Brynhild shrugged amiably before she turned away to smile at him, then prance happily over towards Celestia Freya, who looked torn between disapproval, exasperation, and pleasure at their triumph... and more so, achieving this without having to leave any severe injuries.

“Well, aye, I do sometimes. But it depends on the type of shortness, Scrivener Blooms. I do not like squat and I do not like stumpy.” Luna Brynhild replied seriously, and then she sighed tiredly at the look that her big sister gave her, as the other ponies of their group approached with their own looks of relief and even pride. “Oh, uh... Angry Celestia, aye, I think I shall call thou that. Angry, Bitch-Slapped Celestia, my big sister desires to take our leave as soon as possible for Appleloosa.”

“I... what?” the Princess of the Sun slowly forced herself up, shaking her head out and then wincing a bit as she reached up to touch her bruised features: but in spite of the pain throbbing through her head, it was her ego that had taken the worst of the damage. And Princess Luna was only staring, clearly not knowing what to make of things herself even as the Twilight of this layer hurried across the square with her friends in tow, tossing a terrified look at the ponies of the other world.

But Luna Brynhild was smiling again, looking... relaxed. Happy, even, like they had just played some game she had won instead of been involved in a violent, bloody battle. “I... I don't understand...”

“We mean you no harm.” Freya took up, and she sighed and took a moment to shush Brynhild when the mare opened her mouth, making her glower and grumble. “Princess Celestia... we aren't whatever you think we are. We are here to help... to try and put a stop to whatever evil was detected here, and hopefully before it can mature into a threat, if it hasn't already. I understand that... my little sister likes to defend herself very... vigorously... but don't forget that you threatened and attacked us.”

“I...” Princess Celestia shook her head out slowly, then looked silently up, seeing Twilight Sparkle in front of her... her best, most trusted, most loved student. And with her, all her friends... all of them looking at her, and even though in Twilight's eyes she saw adoration, respect, compassion, and only concern for her... in some of the eyes of these ponies, the Elements of Harmony, she saw anxiety, and maybe even...

The Princess of the Sun shook her head slowly, then looked at her little sister. Princess Luna was breathing unevenly, looking uneasily at the eight pony strangers... but was that shame, too? And the ivory mare closed her eyes as she reached up and touched the hoof-mark on her face, then sighed quietly and slowly stood up.

“I... I understand your point.” Princess Celestia said softly, and she bowed her head as she murmured: “I apologize. I am sure... we can help you find appropriate lodgings in Ponyville for the night, and I'll ensure that tomorrow you're able to board the train to Appleloosa. If the scouts I have sent to the town find out anything, I will... I will share that information with you as well.”

She stopped, then looked up as Luna Brynhild nodded firmly, and bit her lip before her eyes roved silently to the Lich. And this Twilight Sparkle from the other layer refused to meet her eyes, only turning her head away, and Princess Celestia's heart clenched as she wondered silently what it would be like if her own Twilight one day did that. One day refused to even look at her. “Twilight Sparkle... I apologize for...”

“It's alright.” the Lich said softly, shaking her head once before she reached up and silently touched her breast. “I just want you to believe that... we're not monsters, and we're not here to start a war. We really want to help. I... want to help.”

There was silence, and then Princess Celestia looked quietly, almost embarrassedly down at Twilight Sparkle in front of her, saying finally: “Please. Help our... our new friends find a place to stay. And Shining Armor... where is Shining Armor?”

“Here... ma'am...” wheezed the white unicorn, stumbling forwards before he came to a halt and shook his head out, rubbing slowly at his chest and tossing a glower towards Antares. “How can I be of service?”

“Please attend to the injured and get everyone on the march back to Canterlot, or at least those who can make the journey.” Celestia said quietly, and then she glanced down as her little sister nudged her gently, looking at her curiously.

Princess Luna shifted, then leaned up and murmured something, and Luna Brynhild couldn't help but cock her head with interest: this Luna was so different from her, and from the Lunas they had encountered in other layers. She was quiet, almost meek, reserved... hadn't shown much of a temper, and hadn't done anything but stare the whole time they had fought. But Luna Brynhild couldn't decide if it was because of cowardice and being too scared to react, or if it was because of wisdom and knowing it had been a quarrel between Luna Brynhild and Princess Celestia, not a war between good and evil?

Whatever her request was, Princess Celestia looked surprised by it, and then she nodded slowly and looked towards Twilight Sparkle, who was staring up at her worriedly. “My little sister will be staying here for the night, to help keep an eye on things. Will you be okay with her staying with you in the library?”

“I... yes, I suppose...” Twilight said nervously, the purple unicorn shifting back and forth on her hooves as she tossed worried little looks over her shoulder at the group of eight strange, warrior ponies. “I... are you sure about this, Princess Celestia? I mean, you look... I... they...”

“Think of this as part of your studies on the magic of friendship, Twilight Sparkle. Treat it as... an assignment.” Princess Celestia said after a moment, giving a small smile... and she did her best to ignore the way that Luna Brynhild giggled to herself. What helped a surprising amount was looking up to see the other Twilight Sparkle was smiling faintly, as if in nostalgia... and Princess Celestia turned her eyes slowly back down to her student, saying softly: “This is important.”

“Alright, of course, Princess.” Twilight Sparkle nodded firmly, taking a few calming breaths, and then Princess Celestia looked up and gave a small smile before she closed her eyes and turned away, silently striding off down the street... and Freya's eyes followed her counterpart's journey with a faint smile, remembering all the times she had felt like that... alone.

Shining Armor grimaced a little, and then he sighed quietly and gave his sister a worried look, but before he could even say anything, Rainbow Dash was beside Twilight, throwing a foreleg around her shoulders and giving a grin as she said firmly: “Don't you worry, we'll hang with Twilight and help her out, keep an eye on things.”

“And so shall I.” Princess Luna added, smiling courteously to Shining Armor before she bowed her head. “Excuse me. I wish to speak to our... friends. Twilight Sparkle, do you mind if I bring them into the library?”

“No, no, go ahead. I need to... figure things out, anyway.” the violet mare mumbled, rubbing nervously at her forehead before she asked in a quieter, hurried voice: “Are... are you sure you want to go talk to them alone, Princess? Or at all? I mean... I understand this must be very important but-”

“I'll go with her, Twilight, don't you worry none, okay? I'm sure it was all just a misunderstanding.” Applejack said reassuringly, smiling, and Twilight nodded hesitantly before the Princess and the earth pony turned away, striding quickly towards the group. And almost the moment they reached grinning, cheerful-looking Luna Brynhild, Applejack's face fell as she asked almost pleadingly: “So that was just a misunderstanding, right? Right?”

Luna Brynhild shrugged, looked thoughtful, then said positively: “Nay, I very much meant to bitch-slap Celestia. 'Twas delightful. And I would do it again. That was not a misunderstanding.”

“She means before that, dearest.” Scrivener Blooms said dryly, and he smiled awkwardly as he turned his eyes back to the two ponies of this layer. “Yes, it was. None of us want to hurt anyone.”

“That is a foul lie. There are many, many ponies I want to hurt. Thy agent, Barry, for one. And Sleipnir, I love my big brother but I must always hurt him at some point during the day or 'tis like... 'tis like a night without the stars, it just does not bode well with me.” Luna interjected, and then she looked moodily over her shoulder at Celestia. “I want to hurt thou sometimes, Freya. Thou art fat. And stuffy. And a fun-killer. Thou kills fun. Thou kills it with thy stuffy fat buttocks by sitting upon it. Stuffy fat fun-killing Celestia Freya.”

Ponies were only staring at Luna as Scrivener slowly dropped his face in one hoof, and Celestia closed her eyes with a long, exasperated sigh. Then, to the surprise of all present, Princess Luna gave a small, quiet giggle... and slowly, it began to grow in volume as Luna Brynhild grinned like a foal that had just been brought to the candy store for the first time, her eyes gleaming before she joined in as Princess outright laughed.

Scrivener and Twilight were both staring in something like horror, while Scarlet Sage closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples as Antares said sourly: “Still happy you came?”

“What is wrong with our family?” Scarlet Sage asked almost pleadingly, and then she paused before looking at Antares as he shrugged. “Then again, I'm the adopted one. You're the one who's going to be like... that... one day.”

Antares winced and stared at his mother as both Lunas continued to laugh, and then he shook his head wildly before saying hurriedly: “No way, I might end up like Dad!”

Apple Bloom only snorted in amusement at this thought as Meadowlark said gently: “Antares, I hate to tell you this, but... you already kind of act like your Mom as it is. It's okay, though, it really is. She's a great pony to be around. She's just a little... funny.”

The young stallion slumped a bit, then looked up as both Lunas slowly got themselves under control before the Princess smiled almost admiringly, hesitating before blushing slightly as she murmured: “I have to admit... I wish that I had the courage to speak to my big sister the way you speak to yours. But it always seems that when I don't agree with her, she just... continues to push her ideas anyway, and eventually I have no choice but to submit.”

“Then that is a great difference between us. For never will I submit to my Celestia... but do not think, either, that I do not love and adore her, perhaps as much as thou clearly must thine own.” Luna Brynhild said softly, smiling up at her sibling, and the ivory mare gazed back down at her softly. “I suppose... 'tis simply in my nature to push things. It has always been. I am a troublemaker.”

“She's a rebel.” whispered a voice loudly, and when all eyes turned to Scrivener, he stared blankly back before slowly looking over at one of his satchels, which rustled awkwardly before there was a curse... and then a loud sneeze.

Luna Brynhild's eyes narrowed dangerously at the satchel bag before she poked at it a few times with her horn, and a throat cleared itself from inside the bag before a voice announced loudly: “Pay no attention to the Draconequus behind the curtain. Or. Within the saddlebag, as so he may be in this instance. Nothing to see here, move along, move along.”

There was awkward silence, and then Luna flicked the saddlebag's top up, revealing a tiny Discombobulation sitting calmly on the top of their packed equipment. He stayed almost perfectly still, slowly turning his eyes to peer towards the stunned Princess Luna and Applejack before he whispered loudly: “She can't see us if we don't move.”

Brynhild glowered at this, then stepped forwards and bopped the Draconequus quickly with her horn, making him yelp before she flicked the spire firmly to the side to launch the chimerical creature out of the bag. He flew out, then neatly rolled in midair before puffing up to normal size, landing on his mismatched feet and calmly pirouetting in a circle, saying dryly: “Just because I like ballet doesn't mean I'm a poof, you know.”

“Thou banged Celestia, that means thou art a poof.” Luna Brynhild retorted, and Discombobulation turned beet red and grabbed at his face in vexation, as Celestia cleared her throat pointedly and glared down at her little sister, who only huffed in response. “Well, 'tis true! Look at thou! Thou art built like a stallion!”

“So how long have you been hiding in there?” Scrivener asked mildly, but Discombobulation was still glaring daggers at the Luna of this layer, so the charcoal stallion only sighed before turning his eyes towards the ponies of this world... then wincing a little when he saw Twilight and her friends were gaping, too, although at least Shining Armor was too busy tending to his soldiers to see the Draconequus. “Uh... this is Discombobulation, he's a friend. Bob, maybe you want to hide again.”

At this, the Draconequus nodded seriously, straightening and crossing his arms. “Yes, Luna, that's some very good advice. Advice that I should probably take.” He paused for a moment, then suddenly threw his head back and his arms towards the sky, screaming as loudly as he could and drawing the word out as long as possible: “Khan!”

All eyes immediately turned to stare at the Draconequus as he breathed hard in and out, looking up into the sky for a few moments as Scrivener gaped, Twilight closed her eyes, and Luna grinned despite herself. Then, slowly, the Draconequus lowered his arms and said calmly: “And how we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn't you say?”

“Oh, you're going to die, alright. But you're going to get pummeled first.” Scrivener said dryly, and then he looked awkwardly at Princess Luna, who was nervously drawing her eyes over the Draconequus, her gaze lingering on his prosthetic, metallic limb.

Discombobulation looked at her moodily, reaching up to absently touch his metallic arm before he said dryly: “Please stop staring at me like that. I'm not Will Smith and this is not an adaptation of a book about androids that may have dreams of electric sheep.”

Princess Luna looked dumbfounded, and then Luna Brynhild punched Discombobulation firmly in the giraffe leg, making him whine and rub at this slowly as she explained in a dour voice: “The creature speaks in things stolen from other worlds, do not mind anything he says. He enjoys the confusion of others. And simply being a buttocks.”

The Princess of the Night nodded apprehensively, and then Discombobulation looked up meditatively as Shining Armor strode quickly towards them, his eyes narrowed at the Draconequus. But just as he began to open his mouth, Discombobulation hurriedly threw his arms up and declared: “I'm warning you, I am a lethal killing machine. It was a secret government experiment. They did stuff to me. Spooky stuff. Anal stuff. It turned me into a dangerous telekinetic. As the ancient Tibetan philosophy states: 'don't start none, won't be none!'”

Shining Armor only stared, and then Discombobulation slowly rose his thumbs and pointed both index fingers, lowering his limbs until he was miming aiming guns with both hands at Shining Armor. For a moment, the Captain of the Guard stared, and then he shook his head and scoffed, staring forwards: “Oh this is absolutely ridiculous, and I have h-”

There was a tremendous bang, and Shining Armor was launched backwards with a yelp into the soldiers behind him, knocking them sprawling as Discombobulation flicked his hands out, then posed for a moment before vanishing. Luna Brynhild laughed again, and Celestia sighed and shook her head... but she had the smallest of smiles on her face all the same as she turned towards Shining Armor, the white unicorn looking more stunned than hurt as she offered: “Would you like me to heal you? Or perhaps I can at least help you with your soldiers.”

Shining Armor blinked a few times, and then he hurriedly sat up and shook himself out, glaring back and forth before slumping and giving a tired sigh. He muttered to himself for a moment, then glanced up at Celestia, looking nervously at her before Princess Luna caught his eye and gave him a pointed look... and a moment later, the ivory stallion nodded, dropping his head and clearing his throat as he said finally: “It would... be appreciated, Celestia Freya. And I... on behalf of the Royal Guard and Equestria I... want to apologize.”

“No, don't. You were only doing your job, and the Princesses have been more than accommodating now that we've sorted things out. It's to be applauded that you and your soldiers continued to fight us in spite of the situation.” Celestia replied kindly, and Luna Brynhild grunted and tilted her head back and forth. Then the ivory mare smiled over her shoulder, suggesting: “Meadowlark, Scarlet Sage, perhaps you could assist, too, and I'm sure Princess Luna has plans for the rest of you.”

There were a few hesitant nods, and Princess Luna smiled a little before looking over her shoulder at Twilight Sparkle... but the violet mare was still rambling away with her friends and clearly trying to make sense of the whole situation. “I agree, this sounds very good, Freya. You... remind me very much of my sister, I hope you don't mind me saying.”

“Not at all.” the golden-armored, enormous mare said softly, and then she smiled again before glancing over at Shining Armor, gesturing towards him kindly as Meadowlark and Scarlet Sage stepped out of the group. “Please. Lead the way.”

The Captain of the Guard nodded, seeming a little more trusting now, and as he led the three away, Princess Luna gestured to the other ponies and headed towards the library door. Applejack automatically fell in step with them as well, striding beside Apple Bloom and studying her almost nervously, until the orange-eyed earth pony smiled over at her. “It's strange, huh?”

“Yeah. I mean, my little sister Apple Bloom... she ain't no filly anymore, but she's not quite as big as you, either.” Applejack said finally, smiling awkwardly in return before she shook her head and added: “I don't mean to keep staring. It just feels kinda like looking at the future, although I don't think she's uh...” She stopped, coughed, then asked quickly: “So is that a real rifle on your back?”

“Yeah, it is. I call her Chimera, 'cause she can use atypical calibers I make myself with her adjustable mag.” Apple Bloom said with a smile, and when Applejack only looked at her blankly, the engineer pony blushed and cleared her throat. “Sorry. I'm so used to Cowlick being the only one who asks about my guns that I forget to talk about 'em normal-like. And she always gets pissed off at me whether I use technical terms or not.”

“Who?” Applejack asked curiously, before she shook her head and asked a second, more-incredulous question: “Wait, you're saying you built that thing yourself?”

“Yup.” Apple Bloom smiled as she let the mare who looked exactly like a younger version of her big sister stride into the library first, and then the red-maned earth pony grinned a little at the look on the farmpony's feature. “Hey, believe me. I'm the most normal one here apart from Meadowlark out there, even if I am some lesbian engineer who can make her own guns and ammo.”

“And there's nothin' wrong with that.” Applejack said hurriedly and awkwardly, and then she smiled lamely when Apple Bloom laughed and shook her head, giving her an amused look. “I... sorry. It's just... I don't mean no offense or nothing, but it's just a little strange.”

“What, they don't have lesbians here?” Apple Bloom asked mildly, and this earned a loud giggle from Luna Brynhild as Applejack blushed awkwardly. “Well, that's what it sounds like. But don't you worry none, I don't plan on gaying the whole place up.”

“Thou should though, thou should because 'tis boring otherwise. If there are no pretty mares to make out with, then just what has life come to?” Luna complained, and Scrivener Blooms sighed tiredly as Twilight looked almost pleadingly at the sapphire mare, as the Princess of the Night gave another amused smile before blushing slightly when Brynhild turned a grin on her. “Would thou like to kiss me? 'Tis not often thou art given the chance to taste thyself. Unless thou art very good at-”

Scrivener reached up and flicked the armored sapphire mare's horn firmly, and Luna winced and shrank her head back as Princess Luna stared and blushed deeper. Then Applejack cleared her throat awkwardly before Apple Bloom smiled over at her, adding: “Besides, being a filly-fooler ain't nothing compared to those three over there.”

The charcoal stallion gave her a flat look, but the engineer mare only winked at him as Applejack looked up awkwardly, then hurriedly shook her head out before saying lamely: “Maybe we should just focus on the task at hoof. So are y'all serious about... going out west? Seeing what's happening out there?”

“Yes, I would like to know more about what this 'dark force' you spoke of might be, as well.” Princess Luna added after a moment, glancing up and nodding slowly. “From what you have demonstrated, you are more than capable warriors... so it makes me all the more worried from what you've hinted about... what did you call it?”

“Clockwork World, or Decretum. It's... it's a dark, evil place we should all do our best to avoid.” Scrivener said softly after a moment, looking down and reaching up to rub at his forehead. Whatever had risen up for a moment inside him was gone... but what worried him was that he didn't think it had been Valthrudnir. He thought now that it might have just been... some locked-away, dark part of himself. “I... well...”

He stopped, looking back and forth at Twilight and Luna Brynhild, and when they both nodded slowly, Scrivener closed his eyes and bowed his head forwards, clearing his throat. When he opened them, he saw Princess Luna looking at him intently, and Applejack was frowning in concern; Apple Bloom, beside her, was only smiling faintly, however, and Antares was gazing at his father with a softness in his eyes, a compassion that helped Scrivener to look up and say quietly: “I'm a Clockwork Pony myself, to tell the truth. But I'm different than the others, and I don't mean just because... I'm fighting for my Equestria, Looking Glass World. That was where I grew up – well, sort of – and where I found... all the reasons I have to live and fight.”

He smiled a little as he glanced towards Antares again, then returned his eyes to the Princess of the Night, continuing quietly: “Clockwork Ponies are mechanical, designed for... specific purposes but almost all of them that we've seen seem like they can be adapted for warfare. I'm more of a... a cuckoo, a... Replicant. I'm telling you this because I want to show you something and I don't want you to freak out too much, but I think it'll help get across why we're here. Why we're so eager to... stop Clockwork World, and what they're capable of.”

Scrivener glanced towards Twilight and Luna Brynhild, and the Lich smiled faintly as she glanced over at the sapphire mare, saying quietly: “I'll do it. I know you must still be tired from fighting Celestia.”

“Nay, she was not nearly as wicked as our world's Celestia.” Luna said pompously, but she smiled all the same as Princess Luna sighed, but looked almost admiring for a moment as Applejack just looked at the sapphire mare awkwardly.

But then all eyes were drawn to Twilight Sparkle as she calmly rose her head, her eyes closed as she took a slow breath and her horn glowed. Bright motes of the same aura began to float away from the spire, sinking down through the air to begin coalescing into a shape as Princess Luna's eyes widened, watching as the shape took form and the light began to solidify until there was a strange, tiny little sprite that was vaguely pony-shaped sitting on the earth, looking back and forth curiously.

“Old magic. Powerful magic.” Princess Luna whispered, and Twilight Sparkle smiled tiredly, stepping backwards and shaking her head out as the glow died out from around her horn. “You... created life...”

Twilight only shrugged a bit, the Lich breathing slowly and too exhausted to explain right now what she had done. She half-closed her eyes as Luna Brynhild rubbed a hoof over her back soothingly, relaxing but keeping a sharp eye on the sprite as Scrivener stepped forwards, then reached down and pressed his hoof against it.

He took a slow breath, then winced a bit as he concentrated, feeling vessels opening up, feeling heat and pain before the sprite squealed as Applejack and Princess Luna both watched with shock, then Scrivener quickly stepped back as the tiny creature fell to the ground and began to writhe uncontrollably. Part of the bright purple little beast had now turned black, and its eyes rolled madly in its head before Princess Luna automatically began to step forwards, but her counterpart reached a hoof up and said sharply: “Thou does not want to do that.”

Princess Luna began to open her mouth... then stared in horror as the sprite howled, its jaws stretching wide as poisonous, thorny vines ripped out of its flesh, twisting back and forth through the air. Flesh and muscle humped up, became thicker as the form of the creature enlarged, claws becoming gnarled hooks, eyes turning dead black as the sprite slowly stood up, then looked back and forth, drooling hungrily. Slowly, the now-monster's eyes turned to Applejack, who staggered backwards in horror... but before it could do anything else, Twilight sharply flicked her horn, and the sprite collapsed in a splatter of black ooze as the life force that made up the rest of the creature evaporated out of its warped body.

“What... what happened... that... I do not understand...” Princess Luna looked up with horror, and Scrivener smiled faintly as he glanced down, studying the dark corruption still dripping slowly around his hoof.

“And the worst part is probably that I'm not even the worst of what Clockwork World has to offer.” Scrivener murmured, and then he looked awkwardly across at Luna Brynhild when she gazed at him softly. “I mean... we just want you to understand that these things... they're... dangerous.”

“Can all Clockwork Ponies do that?” Princess Luna whispered, and when Scrivener shook his head slowly, she took a slow breath and composed herself, even as Applejack continued to stare with horror at the puddle of black ooze on the floor. “Then... tell me more about these... abominations. Not that... not that I think...”

“I am an abomination.” Scrivener said quietly before he could stop himself, and then he blushed a bit when Antares looked at him silently, almost pleadingly, and Luna Brynhild turned a sharp glare on him. “I mean... sorry. Just... showing what I am makes me...”

“I think I can understand, to... some degree.” Princess Luna said after a moment, then she looked down at her own hoof for a moment before clearing her throat, drawing her eyes back upwards and adding quietly: “I do not wish to press either of you, but... I will have to learn as much as you can teach me about these forces you seem convinced are here, in my sister's Equestria.”

“'My sister's Equestria.' I would never call it that.” Brynhild paused reflectively. “Well, I suppose 'tis not her Equestria any longer either in any event, no matter how many ponies still worship her. But that is only a technicality.”

Princess Luna only smiled faintly, but then Applejack looked up worriedly, saying anxiously: “Wait, Scrivener, what you did to that thing... are... are you implyin' that those ponies that've gone missing out west, they might... those Clockwork things might...”

Scrivener didn't know what to say, only glancing awkwardly away, and then Apple Bloom reached up and squeezed her not-sister's shoulder slowly, saying soothingly: “Look, these ponies you see here? They're more than a little scary, but they're the best damn ponies you can hope to have on your side, too. We're gonna stop whatever's going on out in Appleloosa.”

Applejack nodded hesitantly, looking uneasily at Apple Bloom for a moment before she bit her lip... then suddenly looked ahead, exclaiming: “Princess, we can't let these ponies go out there alone, without giving them... some kind of help! We may not be much, but this is our Equestria and... and even if they want to do this alone, they shouldn't have to and we should be there with 'em, because that's my family out there, and your ponies!”

The Princess of the Night shifted uneasily, but was spared needing to respond for a moment as a sudden darkness filled the room, as the sun lowered itself beyond the horizon. It left them in near-total blackness, the only light coming from the glowing manes of the two different Lunas before the Princess murmured: “Excuse me. I need to raise the moon.”

“Just please do ensure that when thou returns inside, it is not with another ambush. Or at least bring dragons this time, dragons would be nice.” Luna Brynhild called loudly as the Princess left, and then she smiled slightly as she looked back and forth through the darkness. “Well, 'tis true. Not... nice in the sense of niceness, clearly, but they are nice to pummel. Large, arrogant targets who are not as tough as they imagine themselves to be.”

“That doesn't sound like anyone we know.” Scrivener muttered as he turned away with Twilight Sparkle, and Luna huffed at him. But an almost-uncomfortable quiet fell as the stallion and the Lich strode around the library, turning on lamps and filling the building with light.

When they returned to the unconscious circle the group of ponies had formed, Applejack was looking quietly at Luna Brynhild, who was studying her almost intently in return. And then, finally, the goldenrod mare murmured: “Princess...”

“I am not any 'princess.'” Luna said firmly, stomping a hoof, and Applejack winced a bit before the sapphire mare sighed a little, shaking her head and continuing quietly: “And while I respect and applaud thy courage, fair Applejack... I must warn thee against wanting to follow us as well. If this is truly Clockwork World at work in the west, then thou and thy friends... there is precious little thou and thine could do to help.”

“I don't... I mean...” Applejack looked back and forth almost desperately, and then she met Luna's eyes, saying quietly: “It's my family. I gotta go, and help out if I can. Even if I can't help, I can still be there to support you and them. I can still do... I dunno, something. I gotta do something.”

Scrivener Blooms and Twilight Sparkle both looked over at Luna Brynhild, who hesitated for a few long moments before finally nodding slowly and grumbling, but she was smiling a little all the same as she looked across at Applejack. “Oh, very well. But thou must promise to listen to me, Applejack. And I do not know what aid thou shalt be able to offer, and Horses of Heaven know that I shan't be bringing thee and thy friends traipsing into the enemy base. But perhaps thee and thine can at least help to keep watch on the town and assist with other endeavors.”

Applejack smiled at this, nodding firmly as she visibly brightened, and then Luna Brynhild glanced up and smiled as well when Princess Luna returned; with her came the other ponies who had still been outside, both of their own world and not, including Shining Armor. But the white unicorn stayed for only a moment, trading a quick hug with his little sister before sharply saluting Celestia Freya, who bowed her head respectfully before the Captain of the Guard let himself back out.

“Why does thou get all the respect? 'Twas I who kicked the ass of the Celestia of this world!” the armored Luna complained loudly, and Rainbow Dash coughed violently as she covered her mouth as Twilight Sparkle of this layer twitched violently and visibly fought not to glare at Brynhild. “Scrivy, 'tis not fair!”

“Nothing in life is dearest. Nothing in life is.” Scrivener said wryly, and then he looked back and forth through the crowded library, at so many familiar faces... and yet half the ponies here were strangers all the same, and it was an almost surreal feeling.

Then the unicorn Twilight looked up and cleared her throat awkwardly, saying finally: “My friends and I uh... well. Some of you can stay here for the night, and... well. None of us really have any room anywhere else.”

“Oh heck, Twilight, don't you worry about that. Uh... Apple Bloom, Scarlet Sage, I can put you two up in the guest room and uh... I got room for at least two more.” Applejack said with a smile, and Twilight Sparkle looked surprised at this as the goldenrod earth pony turned her eyes curiously towards Antares and Meadowlark. “How about it?”

“I'd... really appreciate that, Applejack, thank you.” Antares said with a smile, glancing quickly at his parents for confirmation, but Luna only smiled back as Scrivener shrugged and gave his son an amused look at his almost-childishness.

Applejack only nodded, and then she hesitated for a only a moment before glancing to the side, adding in a quieter voice: “And just so we get this out in the open now... when these ponies leave for Appleloosa, I'm gonna go with 'em. I'm gonna talk it over with Big Mac and Granny Smith tonight.”

“You can't go alone!” Twilight said with surprise, and Princess Luna only looked thoughtfully at Applejack. Celestia, meanwhile, turned her eyes with interest to her own little sister, who gave the slightest of nods to the enormous ivory mare. “Now, let's talk about this rationally-”

“Ain't time for being rational, Twilight, my family might be in danger, and even if they ain't, Appleloosa is... you didn't see it but...” Applejack shook her head and shivered, looking at the smears of corruption still visible on the floor, and Twilight frowned a little as her eyes were drawn towards this. “Look, I gotta do this. I gotta.”

“Well Twilight's right, you're not going alone.” Rainbow Dash said mildly, the blue Pegasus crossing her forelimbs as she hovered in the air. “Like hell I'm gonna miss out on an adventure like this, especially if there's ponies in danger.”

“Then I'm gonna go too!” Pinkie Pie said firmly, bouncing once on her hooves and looking up with a warm smile. “Friends gotta stick together, no matter how old or new, right?”

Rainbow Dash smiled warmly, and the unicorn Twilight Sparkle spluttered in disbelief while the Lich Twilight only gazed affectionately out at these versions of her own friends who were so much alike the ponies she had by her own side. And then she glanced up in surprise as this layer's Twilight Sparkle said pleadingly: “You can't, this... I know you all want to help, but... maybe we should stay out of this, and... if the Princess wanted us to go, she would have told us!”

“I think I'm going to go as well.” Princess Luna said quietly, and all possible arguments and conversation were cut off as all eyes turned towards the Princess of the Night, who nodded slowly and then smiled after a moment. “Yes. As you said, Applejack, they are my ponies. My sister and I are supposed to rule equally, and as I am beginning to see... perhaps the long night can offer the same protection that the bright day does.”

Luna Brynhild grunted and nodded firmly in approval, then she grinned slowly as her eyes locked on Princess Luna. “Then I shall do what I can to prepare thee for what lies ahead. And Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack... thy aid is most appreciated.”

“I... I just...” The Twilight of this layer looked back and forth in disbelief, then over her shoulder at Rarity and Fluttershy. But both ponies remained silent, blushing and turning their eyes away, trying to hide from the conversation before the purple unicorn looked up almost desperately... and then flinched when the larger Lich Twilight touched her shoulder gently.

She stared up at her, trembling, then she shook her head suddenly and shoved herself violently away from the Looking Glass version of herself, the violet winged unicorn wincing as the unicorn shot towards the back stairs and sprinted up to her room. A door slammed, and then there was silence for a few moments before Spike awkwardly suggested from where he had been almost forgotten, hidden behind Princess Luna: “I... uh... she's just stressed. She doesn't do well with stress.”

“I never did when I was young, either.” Twilight Sparkle murmured softly, and then she smiled faintly and glanced towards Scrivener Blooms. “Someone here used to take advantage of that. And helped me through it.”

Scrivener only shrugged a bit, smiling back at her, and there was only silence for a few moments before Rarity said awkwardly: “Please... excuse myself and Fluttershy, would you? We... we both have... early mornings.”

“Flutters...” Rainbow Dash said softly, but the golden Pegasus only hid behind her mane and tried to shrink herself down as the ivory unicorn jumped to her hooves and quickly strode towards the door. Fluttershy hurried along behind her, and Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie all watched the two leave in silence, before the blue Pegasus sighed and muttered as the door slammed: “Great show, guys.”

“It's alright. I know... this can't be the easiest thing in the world.” Twilight said softly, and then she shook her head slowly before glancing up and adding quietly: “I think I speak for everyone when I say... we all... really appreciate this.”

“So are you guys ever going to take off your armor?” Rainbow Dash asked after a moment, and then she added awkwardly: “And listen, I really am sorry I can't... you know, offer you a better place to stay, but I live in a cloud house and somehow don't think uh... the big guy there would be able to get up inside...”

“And I live with the Cakes. They're really nice ponies and all, but they have twin foals, too, and I don't think they'd want uh... giant, armored, sword-wielding ponies around, even if they're really nice giant, armored, sword-wielding ponies.” Pinkie added, nodding a few times seriously.

“No, no, we definitely have enough room in the library, uh... I know, I'll go get some of the stuff out of storage, help you guys get comfortable.” Spike said hurriedly, and then he turned to run off, and Scrivener couldn't help but smile over his shoulder: the little dragon was probably a little scared of them, but he wasn't being awkward because of that. He thought it was because Spike seemed to desperately want to make a good impression on them.

There was quiet, and the Celestia finally shook her head before smiling a little, glancing over the ponies of this layer and saying softly: “We all... truly appreciate your help and generosity. You don't have to stay any longer if you don't want to, though: if we're all going to be taking the train tomorrow, we'll have plenty of time to talk on the way.”

“If you don't mind, I'd like to talk a little now... and I reckon I kind of want to get a bit more used to all you, too.” Applejack replied softly, and Luna Brynhild smiled and nodded.

“And I don't need to return to Canterlot quite yet... for now, this is a better use of my time.” Princess Luna added, then she said softly: “I am sure that my big sister will be... more trusting if I am able to return and tell her more about you all, as well.”

Luna Brynhild grunted, then she glanced down at herself before saying mildly: “Very well. But I suppose Rainbow Dash is right, too. Let us toss off our gear for now, and rest in greater comfort. All of us... tomorrow, we can all meet here before heading for the train station, or wherever it is we shall have to go. This library makes a natural enough point of preparation, in any event.”

Apple Bloom nodded with a grunt, and the ponies took their equipment off with varying degrees of speed and ease, as the three ponies of this layer watched with something like fascination. Scrivener also dug the bedrolls out of the pack, and smiled when Spike returned with an inflatable mattress and some blankets and pillows: they had more than enough to be as comfortable as possible for the night.

Twilight was the only one who didn't remove her armor, only tugging a little at her vest before Princess Luna asked gently: “Is something wrong, Twilight Sparkle?”

“I... no.” Twilight said finally, and then she sighed a little, glancing away embarrassedly as Scrivener looked over at her softly and Luna Brynhild reached up to rub a hoof soothingly over her back. There was silence for a few moments, as Celestia carefully put the last of her own armor aside and gazed tenderly over at the Lich, before she murmured: “Okay.”

The violet mare slowly removed her vest, and the ponies of this layer all stared in shock at the stitching that covered her body and looked as if it was holding her together. Some of the stitches had torn and were hanging loose, while others were slowly writhing of their own, like they were alive... and the Lich carefully kept her gaze away from the other ponies as she asked quietly: “Do you know where my kit is, Scrivy?”

“Yeah, I'll get it for you, Twilight, and help patch you up.” Scrivener said softly, and then he turned towards the equipment bag as Luna Brynhild leaned in and kissed the Lich's cheek gently, making her smile a little before the sapphire mare turned a pointed glare over the ponies of this realm.

Most of them quickly turned their eyes away, but Rainbow Dash couldn't stop herself from asking uneasily: “What... what happened to you, Twilight? You look... are you okay?”

“I... I'm fine, thank you. I don't... precisely feel it.” Twilight said softly, and then she winced a bit when Luna Brynhild demonstrated by leaning down and stabbing her horn into the Lich's side, making the four ponies of this layer flinch backwards and stare in shock, but Twilight only sighed tiredly and gave the smallest of smiles. “Thank you for demonstrating, Luna.”

“Brynhild, whilst we are in this layer at least. But aye, 'tis my pleasure.” Luna Brynhild withdrew her horn, and then it glowed for a moment, the dark blood over it turning to steam as the hole in Twilight's side dribbled a little bit of the dark ichors, then began to seal closed, as the sapphire mare rubbed absently at her ivy collar and turned her eyes to the still-staring ponies. “My beloved mare does not suffer from the physical as others do, but... that does not mean she does not hurt. So I would ask thee to treat her gently, for she... deserves better than she often gets.”

Twilight blushed and shifted, looking away... and seeing Spike staring up at her with disbelief, and something like horror. It made the Lich wince and turn away, closing her eyes... but a moment later, a small claw touched her foreleg gingerly, and she returned her eyes towards the dragon with surprise as he looked up at her and whispered: “Twilight... what... what happened to you?”

“Many things. Too many things...” Twilight Sparkle said quietly, and then she smiled faintly as Scrivener returned with a small black box. He set this down, then opened it and picked up a needle, carefully beginning to string it as the Lich said awkwardly: “I can do it...”

“Yeah, but you're always messy when you do it yourself. Besides, Luna always calls me the wife and all.” Scrivener replied softly, and then he gave a pointed look over at the other ponies before turning his eyes back to Twilight, as he began to carefully stitch a fresh tear that had opened on Twilight's side closed.

Pinkie Pie looked a little ill at this sight, almost fainting as she quickly looked away, but Rainbow Dash only continued to stare as Applejack awkwardly dropped her eyes. Princess Luna watched the process for a moment, then shook her head slowly and closed her eyes, murmuring: “Perhaps it is meaningless, but... I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle. All the sorrier now, I do not believe that if... my sister understood how you suffer... she would have ever attacked your friends and family.”

“I'm okay. I really am. I'm lucky, even, and I mean that.” Twilight laughed a little, looking down with a blush before her eyes slid to Scrivener, lingering over him as she murmured: “Besides. We're all a little strange, where I come from.”

“Yeah.” Scarlet Sage glanced up with a small smile from where she was comfortably resting beside Apple Bloom, her head dropped on her partner's shoulder. Applejack glanced at them awkwardly again, but she gave a small smile at the sight before Scarlet Sage's eyes turned to Princess Luna, adding softly: “I think sometimes... it's because we're all... a little strange, that's the only reason we've survived with what we fight. And Mom and Dad and... my little brother there all seem to believe firmly that the whole reason we exist is to make sure that good, normal ponies get to live good normal lives, while we get to deal with all the garbage in the universe.”

Antares laughed at this as Luna huffed and Scrivener smiled a little despite himself, and Princess Luna shook her head with a small smile of her own. “You know, I'm not sure if that's generous or selfish.”

“It's a little bit of both.” Celestia said softly, and she smiled as she glanced towards a satchel, her horn glowing and lifting a rag-wrapped object free. It floated over to land in front of her, and the ivory mare calmly unwrapped the little box of polish even as her horn continued to glow, and this time lifted Tyrfing from where she had placed it aside, the enormous weapon floating in front of her.

As she began to polish the weapon, Rainbow Dash whistled a little, and then she said finally: “So the place where you guys come from... is it... scary?”

“A little.” Scrivener glanced up as he finished stitching the wound on Twilight's side shut, putting the needle aside to pick up a set of scissors from the box. He clipped off the knotted string, then began to snip other torn and frayed strings free so he could redo the stitching where it had ripped, as he explained without looking up: “Our... our first home was attacked and destroyed, by the... the monster behind Clockwork World. His name was Valthrudnir, and he was always... ten steps ahead. We stopped him... we... yeah, we stopped him.”

He shivered, not wanting to explain past that, and thankfully, Celestia glanced up and took up the story, drawing attention to her as she began quietly: “Our original world was destroyed, but the efforts of my sister and brother helped create a new home for us... but this world had been without ponies for many, many years. It had grown wild, and free, and is filled with things that I have never seen before, because they had been allowed to grow in both daylight and darkness without any interference from ponies or any other sentient race...

“It didn't help, of course, that we ponies... had no idea what was going on when we first arrived... but I should start a little before this, and tell you a little about our first home.” Celestia smiled after a moment, then she closed her eyes even as she continued to slowly, easily polish her sword, beginning softly: “It was an Equestria... I think at first must have been very much like your own home, but that all changed when the darkness began to rise... when demons and old enemies started to rise up out of the tunnels beneath our country...”

The Train To Appleloosa

Chapter Thirteen: The Train To Appleloosa
~BlackRoseRaven

Luna Brynhild whistled a little as she regarded the passenger train waiting for them at the station, standing on the platform in her full, freshly-polished armor before she glanced curiously at the pony beside her, a familiar white stallion dressed in violet armor. “And 'twill take us to Appleloosa?”

Shining Armor nodded politely, but he looked at her with clear respect, even if he still also likely had a few misgivings about them. “Yes, ma'am. It's a long trip, but we won't be stopping for more than to refuel, and to meet up with the advance scouts and get a lay of the land. But Princess Celestia... has been informed of... disturbances.”

“Do not refer to me as ma'am, old hags are ma'ams. Thou shall refer to me by name, and if thou cannot bring thyself to do that, then I am a sir. For I am a sir indeed.” Luna replied pompously, and Shining Armor only stared at her as Scrivener dropped his face in a hoof with a tired sigh. “Shut up, Scrivy. Thou art not a sir. Thou art a butt.”

Twilight Sparkle sighed quietly, striding up on Shining Armor's other side... and as always, Shining Armor became awkward and suddenly quiet when he looked at the Lich. She did her best to ignore the visible change, as she asked: “Can you be more specific about these disturbances, Captain Armor? I understand that you still consider us strangers, but... it's important we know what we're getting into. And I figure since you're coming with us...”

Shining Armor looked at her for a few moments, then he turned his eyes downwards and cleared his throat, mumbling something. Twilight frowned curiously, but then the Captain looked up and quickly brushed away whatever had been bothering him, saying in a more professional voice: “Of course, but I would prefer to save discussing it in detail until everypony is present. For now, let me just say that it's been confirmed there have been disappearances, and there's reports of strange storm sightings in the desert.”

Twilight nodded as Luna grunted, trading a look with Scrivener before the sapphire mare said finally: “Very well. Then there is no reason to dally. Twilight Sparkle, go and fetch the others. 'Tis time to load up and be on our way.”

“I'll go get Princess Luna and inform the conductor we're ready to leave.” Shining Armor bowed his head politely and Brynhild grunted in agreement as the Lich smiled as well, the two turning away and heading down the platform. Luna watched them go, studying the curious pair they made before she shook her head and strode towards the open door in the side of the passenger car.

Scrivener Blooms followed her inside, and the stallion looked back and forth at the plush cabin with a slight smile. The seats were arranged in groups of four, with small, fold-out tables mounted on each wall... and the stallion was somehow unsurprised when they came across Discombobulation already sitting in a back corner, an unlit cigar jutting out of his muzzle as he shuffled a deck of cards meditatively, then slipped the top five cards off the top and fanned them out in one hand.

He studied this thoughtfully, then made the cards dance through his fingers, turning them around to show them off to the ponies as he remarked: “I'm not sure what four nines does, but the ace, I think, is pretty high.”

“Can you not use card metaphors around me?” Scrivener asked grumpily, and when Discombobulation gave him a mild look, the charcoal stallion sighed, then slipped moodily into the bench seat across from the chaos entity as Luna grinned a little despite her best efforts not to. “This is a lot like getting used to being around drinking people again.”

“Except you can't get drunk off card games. Here, let's try something a little different.” Discombobulation slipped the cards back on top of the pile, rolling his cigar between his teeth before he covered the deck with his gray-skinned hand. Then, when he moved it away, he revealed that the cards had changed completely, sliding this new set of cards across to Scrivener Blooms with one finger.

The stallion picked up the cards and began to rifle through the deck curiously, and he made a face as he realized they were some kind of playing cards as Discombobulation remarked: “I'm sure the unwelcome tenant in your head feels the same way about children's card games as all the bright young anime people with the funny hair do. Although this isn't a reference to that, and I'm sure you all know what I mean precisely by that, of course.”

Discombobulation looked pointedly upwards, then waved a little before he returned his eyes back to the ponies sitting across from him. “The important thing, of course, is building a deck that suits your play style and personality. And getting just the right amount involved... you don't want to be so out of the game that you stop caring about your next draw, but at the same time you want to remember it's just a game, and losing it isn't the end of the world.”

“Is this some complex metaphor for how I should start living my life?” Scrivener asked dryly, and then he glared at Luna when her horn glowed and yanked a bunch of cards away from him, sending others spilling in all directions as Discombobulation grabbed at his horns in vexation. “Hey!”

“I like these!” Luna declared, peering back and forth as they floated around her. “I do not care about all these... funny words and silly numbers, but look at how pretty the art is, and... why, Scrivener Blooms! This one is all sparkly! And how magnificent, 'tis clearly magical, for when I tilt it back and forth it shines differently!”

“That's called a foil card and it is not magical and I swear that if you rip it I'll... I'll cry like a little girl.” Discombobulation threatened lamely, and Luna gave him an amused look as the cards fanned out to either side of her face, the Draconequus huffing in response. “No, it doesn't matter in the slightest that they're not really even real. Perhaps I stole them from the neurotic. Or perhaps I'm really a Planeswalker, and you haven't seen me around lately because I've been so busy battling the hordes of Phyrexia and prancing through... uh... you know, that place with all the forests, and the trees, and the cat-people.”

“I would not like cat people very much, I think. Cats are unpleasant little beasts.” Luna said mildly, and when Scrivener gave her a mild look, she huffed at him. “Oh shush, 'tis true. They vomit and pee on everything and ignore thee constantly unless they desire food or attention.”

“That doesn't sound like anyone I know.” Scrivener muttered, and then he winced when Luna bopped him firmly with her horn. “Okay, okay. And anyway, Bob, we know where you've been. Anywhere and everywhere that Celestia isn't.”

The Draconequus grumbled and crossed his arms, sulkily leaning back in his bench seat, and Luna softened after a moment. But before she could open her mouth, the chimerical creature shook his head violently, saying grumpily: “I'm not a fan of soap operas, thank you very much. Nor am I much one for intellectual drama or telenovella. Besides, if I keep running away from Tia we can't talk about things and I don't have to feel like... a deflated balloon.”

“That is one of the saddest metaphors I've ever heard. Literally and figuratively.” Scrivener said after a moment, and Discombobulation grumbled before the stallion said finally: “I don't understand anything about anything on these cards.”

“I like the art!” Luna proclaimed again, and the stallion gave her a flat look before she tossed the cards in her telekinetic grip down on the table, then snatched up another bunch of them. “And they are for... playing some kind of game?”

Discombobulation paused meditatively, then he said after a moment: “If I give you a bunch more and teach you how to play with each other, will you leave me alone about Celestia? It'll at least give you ponies something to do, since this is the main express, all steam and whistles headin' west. Pickin' up my pain, from door-to-door, riding on the storyline, furnace burnin' overtime... but this train don't stop, this train don't stop... this train don't stop there, anymore.”

Scrivener and Luna both stared, and the chaos entity cleared his throat and rubbed at his neck awkwardly, saying after a moment: “My apologies. That was a very bad segue.”

The two only continued to look at him for a moment, and then Luna finally looked at the cards thoughtfully before saying meditatively: “Well, originally my plan was mostly to just to entertain myself with Twilight Sparkle and Scrivy, but that would be rather rude to do in front of my children, and I suppose even if there are cabins or somesuch, then 'twould still end up being rather impolite and loud. Besides, I like silly games, and I do so enjoy this pleasant artwork. Very well, Bob, let us learn this game so I shall have something to do, and shall not be forced to resort too often to groping and grabbing my mares.”

Scrivener dropped his head flat to the table with a thunk as Discombobulation stared at the sapphire mare, then he reached up and touched his own chest, saying sourly: “I think I need a moment first to get over just what a beautiful romantic you are, Scrivener Blooms.”

“Shut up, foul creature. Go get thine own gropes and grabs from Celestia.” Luna retorted, and Discombobulation glared at her and made a zipping motion several times over his mouth, and the mare grumbled but nodded. “Oh, very well. And where is everypony? Why are they taking so damnably long to get in the train?”

“Because you're smelly and they're all hiding from how much you smell.” Bob said seriously, and the mare gave him an ill look before Discombobulation snapped his fingers, and two large, rectangular boxes fell out of thin air to land with loud thuds on the table, making it rattle. “Booster boxes. You can thank me later. There should be instructions in there somewhere.”

Luna glared at him, and Bob opened his mouth... then looked awkwardly up as Celestia strode calmly into the train. He leaned carefully out of the bench seat to look at her as she gazed back, giving a small smile... and then she dropped her head and sighed when the Draconequus staggered out of his seat and spun around, ramming face-first into the sliding door leading to the next car before he stumbled backwards, shoved it open, and ran quickly through, snapping his fingers wildly to make the door slide shut behind him.

The ivory mare strode down the aisle, her eyes lingering on the door before Luna looked up and asked quietly: “Art thou alright, big sister? And... thou knows that he still cares for thee...”

“And I for him.” Celestia was quiet for a moment, and then she smiled a little, glancing at Scrivener and Luna as she added softly: “While I was helping put the equipment into the luggage car, I found that someone had hidden a present for me amongst everything else.”

“Oh? Chocolates? Flowers, perhaps?” Luna asked wryly, and Celestia only smiled slightly before she clicked her tongue, and something wiggled on the other side Celestia's flowing mane. “What, did he get thee a cute little-”

A large, red squirrel scurried its way up onto the mare's shoulder, and Luna's eyes slowly went wide as the crimson-furred rodent sat complacently beside her, wearing a cute little bow around its neck with a tiny name tag hanging from it. Scrivener stared stupidly as Luna's mouth worked disbelievingly, as Celestia informed: “It's apparently named Ratatoskr. He likes to whisper in my ear.”

“The squirrel. Whispers. In thy ear.” Luna said slowly and disbelievingly, and Celestia smiled before the tiny rodent chittered, then suddenly scurried up and leaned towards the ivory mare's ear, half-covering its mouth in a strangely-intelligent gesture. Both Luna and Scrivener stared blankly, and then Celestia chuckled as the squirrel leaned away, even as she gave it a gently-chastising look.

“It's just... a silly thing, Luna. He's a gossip, but a little nicer than the creature he's been named for... he amuses me.” Celestia smiled a little, glancing over at the red squirrel before she said softly: “It's funny. Do you remember...”

Luna paused, frowned... then suddenly laughed and nodded firmly, smiling warmly up at Celestia as she slapped a hoof against the table. “That is why 'tis so familiar! Aye, one day whilst thou were marshaling us, that insufferable giant squirrel came bounding along through the trees, apparently vexed off Yggdrasil by one of the harts or other inhabitants who had heard too much of his cheek! And so, whilst we Valkyries are training below and he thinks himself safe up in the rafters, he starts calling his slurs and insults to us, and then thou picked up an entire bench and flung it into the wretch's face! And as if that was not enough, ever-compassionate Freya, thou boots the oversized rodent in the ass, sending it over the wall and into the moat with a most magnificent splash!”

“Yes. I had a bit of a temper. I suppose I still do at times.” Celestia said softly, smiling over at Ratatoskr. “I wonder sometimes how much Discombobulation must really know. Someday I'll have to sit down with him and ask him and... talk things through. If I can ever get him to stay in the same room with me for more than a few seconds.”

Luna only nodded thoughtfully, and when Celestia's eyes roved to the illustrated boxes on the table, the sapphire mare shrugged. “More funny gifts of funny cards from our funny friend. The pictures are very marvelous, they show all manner of strange monster and artifact. Would thou like to sit and study them with us? And where precisely is everypony else?”

“Princess Luna and Shining Armor are giving the Royal Guard a few last minute orders... apparently Princess Celestia agreed to allowing her little sister to come with us, only on the condition that she allow a platoon of elite soldiers to be sent along in our wake. They'll arrive a day after we reach Appleloosa.” Celestia replied calmly, and Luna blew a raspberry at this. “I think that Twilight is keeping an eye on things.”

Luna nodded, then glanced up as the ivory mare looked towards the doorway and smiled. “But it looks like we're just about ready.”

The mare leaned around the edge of the bench and smiled at the sight of Antares and Meadowlark, who were followed inside by Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage. They looked around the spacious cabin with smiles before the young stallion headed for their table, while the newly-arrived mares headed to another set of seats. “Hey, Aunt Tia, Mom. Twilight wanted me to let you know it's going to be about five minutes.”

Luna grunted, and Celestia nodded as she slipped into the bench seat as Scrivener looked up, asking after a moment: “Are you nervous?”

“Not at all, Dad. Excited now, to be honest.” Antares replied with a smile, and the charcoal stallion nodded to his son, before the glossy-black unicorn hesitated, then cleared his throat and added awkwardly: “Can I... can I talk to you three about something?”

The older ponies looked up curiously, and Antares blushed deeply before tossing a nervous look down the corridor, but Meadowlark nodded at him encouragingly and Scarlet Sage leaned around her own bench seat to smile warmly. It helped convince the unicorn to do this, as he took a slow breath before looking awkwardly back at the three ponies sitting at the table: his parents, and his aunt, and three ponies he looked up to as heroes. “I... uh... I mean, well...”

He bit his tongue nervously, and Celestia softened a little as Scrivener and Luna only continued to look quizzical. But the ivory winged unicorn didn't say anything, and Antares half-appreciated it, half-hated it, as he shifted awkwardly before he finally said dumbly: “I... want to talk to you about... some stuff.”

“Yes... and we are listening.” Luna said slowly, frowning a little up at her son. “Are thou sure thou art alright? Thou seems a little... funny, Antares. And I do not mean funny, as in joking, but as in a little... off.”

Antares smiled lamely, then he shifted on his hooves again, feeling time spilling through his hooves even as the silence spiraled out. He looked quickly down the car again, and Meadowlark gestured at him almost violently, making him wince a little before he cleared his throat several times and said lamely: “I want to do stuff.”

Luna blinked at this, then she looked flatly at her son, gesturing grumpily at the door. “Well, thou does not have to tell me, child, go and find a private room and take Meadowlark with thee. If not to do 'stuff' with thee, then at least thou can pass the time entertaining her.”

“No!” Antares almost squawked, turning bright red, and then he groaned and staggered hurriedly away as Celestia glared at Luna, who only looked stupidly back and forth. Scrivener looked dumb as well, torn between confusion over Antares and exasperation with Luna.

Antares hurried back to the table and flopped into the bench beside Meadowlark, beet-red, and he dropped his face in his forelegs with another groan. For a few moments, there was only silence as Meadowlark gazed with both sympathy and tiredness at the unicorn, and then Scarlet Sage finally said: “If you don't say anything, Antares, I'm going to. And I'm gonna make sure you're humiliated, too.”

“I already am humiliated.” Antares looked up lamely, then he gestured awkwardly at Scarlet Sage, asking almost desperately: “How do you do it? How do you talk to Mom and Dad? I mean... no, I'm fine with talking to them about almost anything, but... how do I tell them I want to be treated like... I just...”

He grabbed at his features with frustration, but any further conversation was halted when Twilight Sparkle entered the train car, followed by Princess Luna and Shining Armor. A moment later, four more ponies strode into the train as well: Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Big Mac.

The last in line was as large as he was in their world, but younger, and seemed a little more expressive. The four ponies of this layer were talking excitedly between themselves, while Twilight Sparkle had joined Luna Brynhild, Scrivener and Celestia at their table, and the Princess of the Night and Captain of the Guard stood at the end of the aisle, explaining something that Antares couldn't overhear with all the noise that had suddenly filled the car.

Then a pony wearing a blue uniform quickly stuck his head into the car before nodding to himself once, and he ducked back out before the door closed with a loud slam. The sudden noise silenced most of the conversation, and Princess Luna glanced up before taking advantage of this as she cleared her throat, then announced: “Friends, this is the beginning of our journey to Appleloosa. I want to thank the brave ponies of this world for standing with me, and I want to thank the ponies of Looking Glass World for simply... being here. I-”

“No speeches!” Luna Brynhild shouted, and her voice was much louder than the Princess of the Night's, making her wince and quail before the armored sapphire mare stood and looked back and forth imperiously. She then glared at Princess Luna and Shining Armor until they both quickly hurried to an empty set of seats on the other side of the car, and she nodded firmly once before looking out over the group, declaring: “We shall go. We shall find. We shall conquer. 'Tis that simple. Now, all who are interested, I believe Shining Armor has-”

And then the train rumbled loudly before lurching forwards, and Luna Brynhild winced as she was knocked off balance, staggering back and forth before yelping and falling flat on her face, and Scrivener couldn't help but trade a grin with Twilight as several ponies laughed in spite of their best efforts not to, and the armored mare huffed moodily as her ephemeral locks sparked and swayed around her, muttering as she felt the train beginning to rumble forwards: “Wonderful. What a wonderful start to a wonderful journey.”

While the start was a little rocky, soon enough Luna was pacified when she opened the box Discombobulation had left them, and found many packets inside, each filled with cards. She took great pleasure in ripping these foil packages apart while Shining Armor explained in detail what they had found out was happening in the Appleloosa area.

Specifically, most of the weather disturbances seemed to be coming from a cluster of mountains maybe a day's march from Appleloosa. Lightning storms and bizarre lightshows were regularly being witnessed by the citizenry during both night and day, with these mountains at the epicenter of the strange events. The missing locals were also ponies who lived at the edge of town or frequented the areas that faced towards these mountains... as well as any and all ponies who had gone to investigate the mysterious disturbances.

Apparently ponies had several sent letters to Canterlot, requesting assistance, but many of these had been filed away as only being nuisance reports: after all, 'ponies being abducted' and 'strange lights in the sky' didn't sound all that believable when you put them together in one sentence. That, and there were many other problems for Canterlot to attend to than some desert expansion that seemed to be doing fine on its own otherwise.

There was only one other report from Appleloosa that had given any leads whatosever to what could be responsible for this, but Shining Armor didn't know how much credit to give it. It had described a pony, apparently raving, simply vanishing into thin air. Shining Armor had no idea what to make of it, but the letter had described the pony as 'very large, with shiny patches.' And that thought gave Scrivener Blooms chills and made Luna go silent and serious, and Shining Armor had been so disturbed by the change in their demeanor he had stopped trying to dismiss it as unimportant.

They couldn't rule out that a Clockwork Pony had been sighted, and it made a lot of worries feel that much more real to Luna and Scrivener. And while they were both in good form... perhaps even better than they had ever been... none of them could forget about what the other Clockwork Ponies had been capable of. They hadn't defeated the Hexad, the Elite of Decretum, without cost, after all: those six Clockwork Ponies had maimed and killed allies, friends and family. Like Twilight Sparkle... like Odin.

They had let Celestia do most of the talking and explaining, while Luna had distracted herself by poking through the cards Discombobulation had left them and Scrivener frowned horribly as he tried to understand the convoluted page of rules he had dug out of one of the boxes. None of the ponies of this layer liked the thought of what they were up against, and Scrivener couldn't really blame them: he didn't like the thought of what they would be dealing with either.

But shortly after Luna discovered there was a dining car filled with all kinds of food, beverages, and other things, and after Scrivener had gotten her coffee and made her a sandwich, the armored sapphire mare had suddenly huffed, looked up from the cards she had gone back to examining, and declared: “No more of this! Cast off, foul depression, and begone! Instead, as Sleipnir always did, I shall be happy... and to start, I believe thou needs a nickname, Princess Luna.”

Princess Luna looked up blankly from the book she had been reading in her seat by herself across the aisle. Scrivener Blooms and Celestia, meanwhile, pointedly ignored both Lunas as they sorted through the countless cards that the boxes had been filled with. “Brynhild, I... don't believe that is necessary.”

“Well, I do not care. I do.” Luna Brynhild retorted staunchly, then she frowned even deeper, the Princess of the Night wincing at the thunderous look. “And by Valhalla above, how can thou be me? Reading peacefully after a pleasant discussion, I have not heard thee raise thy voice once... what is it thou art reading, anyway?”

The armored mare's horn glowed and yanked the book away from Princess Luna's hooves, and the mare grabbed at it wildly as it was jerked through the air, saying quickly: “Brynhild, please be gentle!”

“And where is the fun in that? Besides, I have always been rough and never gotten complaints.” the warrior mare replied roguishly, grinning widely before her eyes turned to the cover, and then she scowled at it before ordering: “Scrivener, read!”

Scrivener glanced towards her, and the book rammed into his face, the stallion only twitching slightly from impact. He waited patiently for a moment as Luna ground the book into his features with telekinesis, and then it floated backwards enough for him to at least see the title, and he said dryly: “It says 'The Gracious Clown.' It sounds and looks artsy. I don't like it.”

“I have found that it's a very wonderfully funny story.” Princess Luna said a bit stiffly, standing up as Scrivener took the book in his hooves and turned it around to read the back, while Luna Brynhild looked with something like disappointment at her counterpart. “What? What is so wrong?”

“'The dowager's life is not a good one; for while in the title is 'do wages,' we are never paid due wages. Instead, we find we must 'do wager' ourselves upon every chance we get for better alms.'” Scrivener read, and then he bit his tongue and visibly gave a little shudder as he lowered the book. “Literary puns. Horses of Heaven. Literary puns.”

“It is very good writing!” Princess Luna argued, huffing at this, and Scrivener opened his mouth... then winced when Celestia gave him a pointed look, and he instead sighed tiredly and slumped a bit, grumbling and holding the book out.

Princess Luna took it with a flick of her horn, the book glowing and floating quickly back to drop in her seat as she looked relieved, before she smiled and added: “I have always been fond of such prose, ever since I was first able to read. As a matter of fact, I have been writing often lately... I suppose you could call me a 'poet lunate.'”

The Princess smiled at her own bad joke, and Luna Brynhild stared at her as Celestia looked pleadingly at Scrivener Blooms, who was twitching in his seat and had a forced smile on his face. And down the car, Twilight Sparkle winced before looking across at Shining Armor, who she had been talking quite happily with, and whispered urgently: “Go get Princess Luna away from Scrivener!”

“What? Why?” Shining Armor looked confused, glancing over his shoulder with a smile. “Actually, she seems rather... happy. If I can share a secret with you, Twili, she's awful at writing, but she loves to talk about it.”

“No, no, you don't... wait... did you just call me Twili?” The Lich looked dumbfounded for a moment, and Shining Armor blushed a little, making the violet mare smile for a moment... and then shake her head hurriedly, saying quickly: “Look, Scrivener was the Court Poet of Canterlot. I think he was one of the youngest ever appointed, if not the youngest. And he's always been sarcastic, but the only time he ever turns into a really massive jerk is when-”

“I really like the imagery that the metaphysical allusions invoke.” Princess Luna said positively, and Twilight winced as Scarlet Sage looked up from around the table across from them with horror.

Scrivener dropped his face in his hooves, wheezing loudly, and then Luna Brynhild looked up with a wide grin and sparkling eyes even as Celestia looked at her pleadingly. Princess Luna was distracted by Scrivener for a moment, but then she smiled widely when Luna Brynhild said brightly: “What a funny coincidence! For Scrivener Blooms is a writer! He just published a book recently, as a matter of fact. 'Twas very successful.”

Princess Luna's eyes widened, and then Scrivener stared in horror as Luna Brynhild happily bounced out of her seat and hurriedly ushered the Princess to sit in her place, before the armored mare turned and strode cheerfully down the corridor to where Twilight was staring at her with disbelief. The Lich opened her mouth, but the warrior mare only sniffed loudly, declaring: “I am doing everypony a favor, that is all. Scrivener shall learn patience and we shall see the mettle Princess Luna is made of.”

“Scrivener is going to kill you, you understand that, right? I mean, really, he is.” Twilight said finally, and Luna only shrugged amiably before shoving Shining Armor over and sitting down beside the stallion, leaning on the table and grinning over at him widely as he stared at her.

“Well, if I am to die soon, will thou grant me a dying wish, Shining Armor?” she asked kindly, and the ivory stallion swallowed thickly as he leaned away from her.

While he tried to babble out a response, Scrivener Blooms was staring blankly at Princess Luna as she happily rambled: “-and of course the dysfunction prevalent in the supposition that it must be a feminine weakness is inherently flawed, but I still enjoy the paradoxes presented in the gender arguments by Chancy, it's just that it's hard for me to wrap my mind around how such a nice stallion could write such presupposing and degrading characterizations...”

I'm in my happy place. I'm in my happy place. Scrivener mumbled mentally, reaching up and rubbing slowly at his temple as he looked over at Celestia, who was looking at him with sympathy as her little red squirrel chittered quietly on her shoulder. And what bothered him most of all was that he could tell, really, really tell, that she was trying to impress him and get on his good side, but she sounded so... so...

“And what do you think of gender studies in literature?” Princess Luna asked curiously, and Scrivener slowly turned his head to look at her creakily. “I'm sure you must have some very interesting interpretations. Who do you model your female characters off of? And what about your male characters, do you use familial figures?”

Scrivener laughed shortly at this, then opened his mouth... and hurriedly covered it before he could speak. Then he felt a tickle run through his mind, as Princess Luna stared at him before asking slowly: “Are you alright, Scrivener Blooms? I don't mean to take over the conversation, of course, it's just that... I never get to talk about these things with my big sister. She has no interest in... allusive metaphor and purposeful discrepancy and the role of the mare as a tragicomic heroine.”

Oh just make her shut up! howled a voice in Scrivener's head, and the stallion twitched violently before he caught a vision of Valthrudnir standing with his hands grasping the sides of his head, a snarl distorting the dragon's face. This insufferable, endlessly-prattling amateur is a worse hack than you, Nihete! All she's doing is ramming words of no meaning together into painful, incoherent exclamations of bile that have nothing to do with anything!

“Since when do you care about literature...” Scrivener muttered, glancing up, and when Princess Luna frowned at him and looked a little unnerved, he cleared his throat and tapped on his temple, looking back at her and saying lamely: “Sorry, uh... was... thinking about the past. I... I think you're... trying. Really. Hard.”

Luna smiled at him, and Scrivener winced as he rubbed at his forehead slowly before the mare began quickly: “Well, if you're a published author, you must be well-worth some esteem, to say the-”

“No, uh, no. That's... that's a logical fallacy.” Scrivener said delicately, and then he halted before asking impulsively: “Why don't you recite one of your poems for me? I'm sure you must have at least one committed to memory, or have something with you.”

Princess Luna brightened... and Valthrudnir gave such a scream of indignant frustration that even Luna Brynhild twitched and looked up sharply, Twilight frowning in surprise at the reaction of the mare before she muttered: “Excuse me.”

She almost threw herself out of her seat, hurrying down the corridor and then glaring past Princess Luna at Scrivener Blooms, saying sharply: “Scrivy, I require thee for a moment. Thou too, Celestia, please, just for a moment. I am sure Princess Luna needs a moment to remember her poem, in any event.”

“Is something wrong?” Luna asked uneasily, even as she carefully slipped out of her seat to let Scrivener stand up with a surprised look, but the armored sapphire mare only gave a small, but reassuring smile to her counterpart.

“Nay, 'tis nothing that thou has to concern thyself with. 'Tis just... something strange.” Luna said finally, nodding after a moment. Meanwhile, Celestia had already opened the door to the next compartment, and Scrivener followed the ivory mare through as Luna gave another small smile. “Fear not, Luna... Poetess. Nay, that is not a good enough name for thee, I shall think harder upon it.”

The Princess of the Night smiled awkwardly, and the warrior mare nodded firmly before striding through the open door and into the next car, flicking her horn to shut the door behind them. Celestia and Scrivener were already standing at the other end of the narrow corridor, and Luna looked meditatively back and forth at the doors on either side that likely led into private compartments before her eyes flicked up and she almost-shouted: “And what in Helheim's name happened?”

Both the ivory mare and the charcoal stallion winced, and then Scrivener shook his head quickly and said finally: “I don't know. I was feeling... like murdering you and insanely frustrated and trying to bite back my responses, and suddenly Valthrudnir is there in my head, apparently just as pissed off as me, if not more so. Like he's...”

Scrivener broke off, but Celestia picked up on what the earth pony had been about to say with ease, saying softly: “Like he was feeling the same emotions as you were, correct?”

The stallion nodded hesitantly as Luna shivered a little at this thought, feeling... disturbed, was a word that came to mind, but it didn't fully cover the depth and array of emotion that came with the idea that Valthrudnir and Scrivener were sharing the same feelings somehow. Worse yet, it brought many more questions to mind... and among them the fear that if Valthrudnir was becoming more like Scrivener... did that mean Scrivener was going to start becoming more like Valthrudnir?

Luna shivered a little at this thought, and Scrivener looked across at her silently before Celestia said slowly: “You mentioned before... Luna, Valthrudnir couldn't harm you, and no one could harm him. You also mentioned that your higher level of mental thought and telepathy had been blocked while in your dreams, although more recently-”

“When we sleep, our communication has been as normal, aye, now what is it that thou has in mind, Celestia?” Luna asked quietly, looking over at the ivory winged unicorn with a frown. But when Celestia only smiled faintly, the dark-blue mare blushed and lowered her head a little, mumbling: “My apologies. 'Tis just... emotions. I am emotional. I am passionate. I am excessively frustrated and worried and anxious and wish to pummel the entire world until it all makes sense and the path becomes easy, not harsh and unrelenting.”

“I know, little sister. I know.” Celestia said soothingly, and Luna grumbled under her breath before the ivory mare lowered her head in thought. “I think... and I only think, Luna, nothing is certain... I may know how Valthrudnir is exerting such power, and possibly what's also serving as his source of energy. He must have tapped into your linked souls somehow... absorbing the energy that flows between you and shielding himself with it.”

Luna growled at this, baring her teeth, but Celestia continued quietly: “It's a disturbing thought, for many reasons. But believe it or not, this may also be a good sign. It can help us isolate what he's doing and how he's doing it, and we may be able to use it against him. If he's rooted in so deeply that strong emotions and reactions from Scrivener might effect him...”

“Yeah, but... I take it there's a lot of downsides, too. And worse, the possibility that maybe he was just having a temper-tantrum or something after all.” Scrivener grimaced a little, looking up nervously at Celestia, and the ivory mare smiled a little and nodded slowly.

“You've always been good at picking the dark cloud out of any silver lining, brother.” Celestia said softly, and Scrivener laughed despite himself, shrugging a little as Luna sighed but gave the smallest of smiles. “If he's using the soul link somehow, he's definitely rooted in your side of it, and more than likely he doesn't care how badly you get injured for him to continue to survive. He must be little more than an echo, and he clearly can't exert any influence right now apart from what he can do to you, Scrivener Blooms... but he can likely hurt you. We know that he's capable of taking over your mind and body. And as was demonstrated before... he'll use you as a shield if others attempt to attack him. Even if we find a way to uproot him... he may be so deeply entrenched that if we did tear him out, it would doubtlessly injure you badly. It might even... do worse.”

She quieted, and Scrivener nodded slowly, looking down and closing his eyes before he grimaced and muttered: “And you know that even if it... did... worse... I'd still want you to. I'd want to take that risk.”

“Scrivener, thou art again making it very tempting for me to hit thee.” Luna grumbled, and then she hesitated before asking finally: “Celestia, does... does thou think that this may mean as Scrivener may feel Valthrudnir's emotions... he may react to the Jötnar in the same way? I am afraid that...”

She looked silently at him, and Scrivener was surprised that Luna had actually voiced the question... almost as surprised as Celestia, who reared back slightly before she smiled faintly. But the moment Luna saw this expression on Celestia's face, she huffed grouchily and snapped: “Oh do not coddle me, big sister! Nor thou, Scrivy, I am... damn thee both, I am permitted to be concerned! I am no monster, thou art both the foul monsters!”

The charcoal stallion rolled his eyes at this, sighing tiredly as Luna pawed angrily at the floor before Celestia said reassuringly: “Even if Valthrudnir could try and inhibit or affect Scrivener's emotions, I don't believe that Scrivener would change. He's far too stubborn, cynical and paranoid to allow anyone to tamper with his emotions.”

“Oh. Oh, thank you, Celestia, wow, you really brightened my day.” Scrivener said dryly, but he couldn't help smiling... and somehow, her words really had reassured him. For a few moments, he only looked up at her, thanking her silently, but the ivory winged unicorn only gave him a tender look in return, not needing to speak to let him know she was only glad to help.

There was silence for a few moments, and then Luna finally grunted and nodded approvingly, looking back and forth between them as she said kindly: “While I am very delighted to see that thou art both getting along so well, any passionate relations will have to wait until later. But fear not, Celestia, if thou desires to share delight with my husband, thou need only have to ask... and beg just a little. Do it with those sultry eyes I remember Freya oft gave her admirers.”

“Now, Luna, please. We have to get back to the others for now.” Celestia replied easily, and then she smiled slightly over at Scrivener, adding softly: “And besides. I wouldn't want you to get too jealous now, little sister.”

“Jealous? Jealous! Thou should be the jealous one, he is all mine, not thine!” Luna shouted, as Celestia strode calmly past, and then the sapphire mare stormed after her, snapping as they strode back into the open passenger car: “Or art thou questioning my skill in bed, saying thou would please him the better? Damnation, Celestia, I shall have thou know if the desire so took me I could make thee scream my name to the heavens high above so loudly, that all of Asgard would ring with thy cries! I could make thy screams raise the dead, and not just in the literal sense!”

“You always were good at raising the dead, Luna.” Celestia said mildly, and Twilight turned beet-red as Luna's jaw dropped, and then the ivory mare glanced awkwardly over at the Lich. “I mean... well, I didn't mean to direct that at you, Twilight.”

Scrivener strode in behind them, paused when he realized all eyes were staring at them, and then he cleared his throat awkwardly before asking Princess Luna, who was gaping herself at the two winged unicorns: “Hey, uh... Princess Luna. Why don't you come over here and recite your poem in private, instead of. In front of an audience.”

“Oh, I'd... I'd like that, thank you for the consideration.” Princess Luna said awkwardly, and then she blushed a little as she looked for a few long moments at Brynhild, then smiled a bit before hurrying past her and into the next car over.

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were both giggling madly behind their hooves, and Applejack and Big Mac were both staring at Luna, who glowered over at them crossly before she snapped: “What?”

Big Mac hurriedly looked away, and Applejack blushed, holding up her hooves and saying awkwardly: “N-Nothing, nothing, nothing at all. Nothing. Just uh... I mean... I thought you were uh... well, with Scrivener.”

“Oh, Scrivener is more of a mare than Twilight some days, I swear. All primping and fussing and... cleaning the house and cooking the meals. Twilight can do none of those things. Or at least, I have never see her do any of those things.” Luna looked thoughtfully over at the Lich, who glared at her before covering her face and flushing again as the sapphire mare continued: “And she kisses like a stallion, too. She is very controlling, particularly with her tongue. Why, I-”

“Alright, Brynhild, that's enough sharing, I think.” Celestia said quickly, glancing dryly over at her little sister, who huffed a bit. Applejack was staring, while sitting at another table, Apple Bloom was grinning widely behind a hoof as Scarlet Sage and Antares both looked with abject horror at their mother, and Meadowlark was calmly, carefully keeping her eyes on the book about zebra culture in front of her.

For a few moments, Luna Brynhild grumbled, and then she walked over to Applejack and narrowed her eyes at her, leaning in close. Applejack stared back, then she began to open her mouth, and Luna Brynhild leaned forwards and kissed her firmly for a moment, making the goldenrod mare's eyes bulge in shock as she almost toppled backwards, the other ponies at the table staring before Luna drew quickly back.

Applejack sat, looking stunned as her mouth worked stupidly for a moment, and Celestia simply sighed and shook her head as she turned and strode away to a quieter table. Twilight, meanwhile, was glowering, and Shining Armor had his jaw dropped almost to the floor, as Luna smacked her lips a few times, then said kindly: “Now we have not been struck by lightning and thou hast not exploded. See? 'Tis perfectly fun to kiss pretty mares.”

Luna smiled, then strode over towards Twilight, but first paused by Shining Armor, reaching up and gently pushing his jaw closed as she remarked kindly: “'Tis not polite to stare. But 'tis flattering.”

“No, I wasn't, I mean, I just... you... I mean...” Shining Armor rambled, and Luna only grinned as she winked at him before nudging Twilight lightly, and when the Lich scowled at her and didn't move, Luna Brynhild instead poked at her with her horn until the violet mare finally grumbled and scooted over to let Luna slip into the seat beside her.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, were both now leaning over the back of their seat, wide grins on their faces, and Apple Bloom was laughing loudly as Applejack rubbed slowly at her lips, then shared a dumb look with her big brother. Luna looked back and forth, then she said positively: “Every pony should kiss a pretty mare every day, and preferably a different one than the last. It helps greatly with one's mood.”

“I'm never kissing you again.” Twilight muttered, and then she groaned when Brynhild winked and dropped against her, the Lich sighing and rolling her eyes as Shining Armor stared at them and Rainbow Dash leaned in as her eyes widened, while Pinkie Pie only giggled. “I think Scrivener and I are going to lock you out of the room tonight. You can sleep in the hall. On the floor.”

“Wait. Wait, wait, wait you mean... you have that giant stallion and her in like...” Rainbow Dash started, staring at Luna with disbelief.

“You really are... Scrivener actually has both of you in... he's...” Shining Armor rambled before he could stop himself, and then the unicorn stallion and the Pegasus shared a look as Luna leaned back and grinned, preening slightly as she wrapped a foreleg around Twilight, who grumbled but didn't shrug it off.

“That's not fair!” Both Shining and Rainbow blurted, and then they traded another quick look and deep blush before glaring forwards at Luna again, who shrugged peaceably.

“I mean... I'm... very happy with Cadence, don't get me wrong, but... Twili, why are you with him and Brynhild?” Shining Armor asked finally, looking at her almost desperately, and the Lich blushed a bit... not so much at the question, but at how there was almost... brotherly concern in his eyes, even though his actual sister was back in Ponyville.

“Scrivener can't be that good in bed.” Rainbow Dash said finally, and Pinkie Pie immediately giggled wildly again before the Pegasus yelped and glared over her shoulder at Applejack. “You tell me one other reason he'd have both of them interested in him. Twilight ain't bad-looking and Luna's pretty hot and all, after all. Not that... I think about mares like that or anything, she's just uh... pretty.”

“Very pretty. I am very pretty.” Luna said positively, smiling up at Rainbow Dash in agreement. Then she half-lidded her eyes, adding comfortably: “And well, the only way is to find out for thyself, Rainbow Dash. Thou art... appreciable, enough, I suppose. Although perhaps not as delightful as the version of thyself in my own layer, who happens to be a handsome stallion.”

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth, paused, frowned, then instead dropped her head across her forelegs and looked dreamily down at Shining Armor, who slowly stared back up at her as she said wryly: “Imagine all the fun things we could do together if I was a guy.”

“I... would rather not.” Shining Armor said moodily, wincing away a little as Twilight sighed tiredly. Luna Brynhild, meanwhile, laughed and shook her head before the Captain of the Guard sighed and dropped his face in his front hooves. “Can't we just focus on the task at hoof?”

The sapphire mare only grinned wryly, saying pointedly: “And do we not have at least a day of travel yet? Nay, of course not! The only task at hoof to be focused upon is awkward talk that will make everypony else but me uncomfortable. And apparently Rainbow Dash. Not that thy reaction was not most delightful, 'tis only that I usually get something more... explosive.”

But Rainbow only smiled amusedly, looking up and shrugging as she and Pinkie Pie traded another look. “Hey, what can I say? I guess I'm coming to understand pretty much anything is possible in your world... it just... didn't surprise me to hear, from some reason. Didn't surprise me at all.”

The Pegasus glanced down thoughtfully, then she shrugged a bit and slipped back into her seat as Pinkie Pie smiled over at her, then returned a warm look to Luna, asking curiously: “So am I a colt too? Or, ooh, ooh, am I maybe a dragon or something? I always wanted to know what it was like to be a dragon!”

“No, but thou has an evil twin who is a demon.” Luna remarked, and Pinkie's eyes slowly widened. “Her name is Pinkamena. She is married to my brother, and they have the most splendid daughter, Aphrodisia.”

“Wow.” Pinkie said warmly, her eyes glittering as she leaned slowly forwards over the seat. “But so demons are good and evil twins aren't bad?”

Luna snorted laughter at this, and Twilight sighed and looked with mild entertainment at the sapphire mare beside her before gazing up at Pinkie Pie, answering: “We all can be who we want to be, Pinkie Pie. That's one of the most important lessons I've learned in my world. Pinkamena is... a little scary, but she's Scrivener's best friend. And she's one of my best friends, too. She might be... mean and loud and rude, but in a heartbeat she'd do anything for one of her friends, and she's always protected... well, the you back home.”

Pinkie Pie gazed warmly at Twilight, then she nodded firmly and smiled as she spun around to begin speaking hurriedly to her friends, while Shining Armor looked strangely across at the Lich. Twilight looked awkwardly back, rubbing at her collar slowly as Luna rested her head on the violet mare's shoulder comfortably, and then the white stallion said finally: “Every time I think I manage to pin something about you or your world down... I end up hearing about some other thing that makes me wonder how much you're saying is true and how much is just... screwing with us. But I don't get the feeling you're screwing with us all the same, even if you're...”

He looked at Twilight for a moment, then he finally asked, unable to help himself: “Twili... I... in your world, what am I like?”

“I don't have a brother back home.” Twilight said softly, and Shining Armor looked startled as the Lich smiled a little, shaking her head. “I was an only child. My parents doted on me because of it, but I spent almost all my time alone. I was always alone... I know you've mentioned a mare named Cadence, but in our layer, Luna and Celestia... I mean, Brynhild and Freya... are the only winged unicorns. Or were, at least, until...”

She glanced down at herself, touching her own chest before smiling a little, glancing up again. “When I was accepted to the magic academy, I moved into the dormitories, too. To be entirely honest, I spent a lot of my younger years cut off from the world... apart from the librarians and teachers and Spike, the only person I ended up talking to was... Scrivener Blooms.”

“Oh, aye, and they most certainly did not get along in the old days. But then again, my own start with Scrivy was a tad rough as well.” Luna smiled despite herself, sitting up and nodding as she gazed quietly down the corridor. “'Tis funny, Shining Armor, but Scrivener does not seem to exist in any other layer... I feel less that this makes him unique, though, and more that he seems... cast out.”

Twilight only sighed, shaking her head and nudging the sapphire mare lightly... but Luna Brynhild was still looking down the aisle, smiling softly, her eyes a little distant as she stretched out and stroked through Scrivener's mind gently. And in the other car, the stallion smiled and closed his eyes for a moment, before looking dumbly up when Princess Luna cleared her throat politely and asked hesitantly: “So was it okay?”

“I uh...” Scrivener looked at her blankly, and then he shook his head hurriedly before biting his cheek nervously and saying finally: “It was... it was a start, Princess Luna. But uh... are you... do you... really think modeling it off this style of... prose... is a good idea?”

“I am very fond of it!” Princess Luna said defensively, and then she asked curiously: “Why? What kind of prose work do you prefer? Perhaps Flourish, do you have Quill Flourish in your world?'

“That bastard's famous here too?” Scrivener blurted before he could stop himself, and Princess Luna stared at him in shock before Scrivener quickly cleared his throat, shaking himself out and then looking lamely across at Princess Luna as he said awkwardly: “By... bastard I mean... literally. He was a bastard foal.”

“Oh.” Princess Luna looked at Scrivener Blooms with just as much awkwardness, the two looking at each other for a few moments before the sapphire mare asked slowly: “So you have Flourish in your world as well?”

“Ren period poet, yes.” Scrivener said dryly, and then he quickly moved on, saying carefully: “Look, Princess Luna. To be honest, you're going a little heavy on the technical aspects. You're trying to show off how much you know about literary art instead of just writing, and while it's nice sometimes to be able to prove to other ponies that you actually do know what you're talking about, uh... sometimes just saying 'it was loud' is more appropriate than 'the cacophonous din assaulted me mercilessly with the voice of a screaming kestrel.'”

Princess Luna studied him for a moment, and then she slumped, and Scrivener winced as the sapphire mare mumbled: “I am a horrible poet.”

“No, no, no... no... well, okay, a little.” Scrivener smiled lamely, reaching up and patting her shoulder gently. “Look, if Brynhild can make friends instead of starting a small war, I can teach you a little bit about poetry and writing. I might not be the world's greatest writer or anything but I've been told many times that my writing upsets people. That's gotta mean something.”

“Isn't that a bad thing?” Princess Luna asked moodily, then she grimaced as she looked up grouchily. “I believe that my writing has upset ponies. I believe that's why they will no longer hold discussion with me and Celestia encourages me to write quietly for myself, not read proudly to others.”

“Now come on, you start sulking and it makes it even harder for me to tell you and Brynhild apart.” Scrivener said mildly, and then he added: “I believe that writing is supposed to evoke emotion, good and bad. I believe that sometimes you have to give a little pain to get the most good in return.”

“You are a strange, dark pony, from a strange, dark layer, though.” Princess Luna complained, then she shifted before adding grumpily: “And Preech would have us believe that the goal of any writer should be to bring happiness to the audience, not to upset or deride.”

Scrivener rubbed slowly at his forehead with a hoof, and then he said finally: “Okay, stop relying on other writers. No matter how famous, important, well-loved or greatly-hated a writer is, that doesn't automatically make them better or worse than you. What you need to do is find your own style, and what suits you best. Not what other people say is great or cool. Come on, you're the Princess of the Night and like. A thousand years old.”

Princess Luna glowered at him, then she grumbled under her breath, and Scrivener was greatly reminded of his own Luna before he smiled and gestured to her, turning to head back to the passenger car. “Come with me.”

She looked confused, but nodded after a moment, and the stallion opened the door before stepping through with her and smiling as he gestured a hoof outwards, and said simply: “Writing imitates life. Life isn't solid and happy, or a constant flow of action, or nothing but pain and suffering. Life is dynamic, and sometimes boring, and a paradox, and makes sense sometimes but a lot of the time doesn't. This is life. Look at this, and write a poem about it, and let's see what you do.”

Princess Luna frowned at him, opening her mouth before she looked out... and saw the four ponies of their world talking eagerly, as Applejack kept rubbing at her lips and smiling in a strange, funny way. She saw Brynhild, resting with her head on Twilight's shoulder, who was talking to Shining Armor, mostly-hidden from her sight by the chairs. She saw the younger members from the Looking Glass World all engaged in some debate, Antares Mīrus looking horrified and embarrassed as he gestured violently at the mare across from him; his sister, she remembered, who was glaring at him and gesturing violently back even as her partner Apple Bloom grinned.

Celestia was sitting alone, reading to herself as a red squirrel contently lay on the table beside her book, nibbling now and then on some lettuce. And Luna thought she saw the head of a Draconequus half-hidden through the window, staring in at the ivory mare... whose slight smile perhaps revealed that she knew all too well she was being watched.

Princess Luna looked slowly over at Scrivener Blooms, and then she smiled after a moment as he nodded encouragingly. Maybe she had an idea what to try and write about after all.

Desert Ghosts

Chapter Fourteen: Desert Ghosts
~BlackRoseRaven

The train slowly rumbled to a halt at the terminus just outside Appleloosa with a hiss of steam and several loud clanks as the machinery finished running down. There were no ponies to greet it on the ghostly platform, though: only sand, and a bit of litter that rolled slowly around the ground as a bitter wind hissed quietly past.

The structure was only half-complete, like they had begun building a full station, but the construction had been shut down, or perhaps simply abandoned. It added to how phantasmal the atmosphere was, as the door of the passenger car finally opened and Luna Brynhild hopped down to the platform with a grimace, glancing down at the sand that had blown in through the incomplete walls and the ajar doors.

She looked back and forth slowly as Scrivener Blooms and Twilight Sparkle followed her down, and then Applejack: the earth pony shivered as she looked back and forth despite how warm it was here in the desert morning, the goldenrod mare murmuring: “This ain't right at all... Braeburn ain't never missed being here when the train rolls in.”

Luna grunted, then glanced over at Twilight Sparkle, who was frowning nervously back and forth. “Thou feels it too, does thou not?”

“Yeah, I do, Luna. I don't like it.” Twilight shivered a bit: there was a... it was hard to describe. There was a sensation in the air of something tainted and unnatural, a feeling like static electricity as she murmured: “We should hurry into town, find out if this feeling is still present there.”

Applejack looked at them uncertainly, biting her lip, and when Luna glanced at her curiously as the others climbed out of the train, she said finally: “I wanna go to my cousin's ranch. Braeburn... I'm worried about him.”

Luna hesitated, then she looked over her shoulder as Celestia stepped down out of the train. The ivory mare looked back at her, seeing her question in her eyes, and then the white winged unicorn looked back and forth before giving the slightest of nods back to Luna Brynhild, who smiled faintly.

She strode quickly forwards, then turned around, looking out over the group: they all looked nervous but ready, and the sapphire mare studied each and every pony here, thinking of everything they had to get done before she turned her eyes to Princess Luna, asking calmly: “Will thou defer to me, if I am to give orders?”

“Of course.” Princess Luna bowed her head politely, looking respectfully across at Luna Brynhild. “I am not a warrior. But please do not forget that I am here to help, however I can.”

“And thou can.” Luna Brynhild nodded firmly. “Take Freya into town with thyself, Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. My big sister can attend to the logistics and scan the town for any signs of danger. Antares, my son, thou art in charge of offloading the train with Meadowlark, Scarlet Sage, and Apple Bloom. Unload all the necessary supplies, then wait here for word of where to carry the supplies. Discombobulation, I am sure, is lingering around here as well, have him wait here with thee when he shows his face.

“The rest of us shall head to the Apple ranch, and see what awaits us there.” Luna Brynhild finished, and she smiled when Celestia nodded in quiet approval as Antares saluted awkwardly, even as he looked a little disappointed. But for now, Luna Brynhild turned her attention to Applejack, as Big Mac stepped calmly up beside her. “Lead us onward.”

Applejack nodded with a relieved smile, then took the lead with her big brother: the three groups parted ways quickly, two groups walking in opposite directions towards different exits as Antares sat back with a sigh, lowering his head and muttering: “Great. I feel like a rear-echelon mother-bucker.”

“Hey, watch your mouth, kid.” Apple Bloom said irritably, as Scarlet Sage sighed a little, but gave a small smile as she turned away with Meadowlark. Antares looked up embarrassedly, and Apple Bloom hesitated before she sighed, stepping towards Antares and looking down at him softly. “Look, I know you're anxious to prove yourself. I always was, too. But this is a job somepony has to do, and while I wish I was going out there to meet Braeburn and be investigating stuff, the little stuff has to be done too. And it ain't no reflection on your abilities, I think you know that. Your mom's just trying to keep everypony she can safe and in the best possible place for now.”

“I... I know, I'm sorry, it just kind of slipped out, I guess. I'm just still... embarrassed from what happened on the train, and still feel like... a kid, I guess.” Antares shook his head slowly, then he offered a small smile. “I'm sure my chance'll come.”

“That's better. Let's go.” Apple Bloom smiled and nodded, reaching up to slap him on the shoulder, and then she turned and gestured at him easily. “Besides, I'd rather be doing this than trying to make nice with the locals. Carrying boxes is easier than playing politics.”

Antares grunted in agreement at this, but even as he followed Apple Bloom towards the storage car, he couldn't help but still feel a little bitter... and beneath that, a lingering nervousness that only made him more edgy, feeling like they were already being watched by malicious eyes.

Applejack led them to a large, ranch-style house outside of Appleloosa: it sat near a shallow gorge fenced in and shielded by jutting stones, with a long, beaten path that wound back and forth through a verdant field of apple trees. Luna had taken a moment to peer curiously into this gorge with interest, noting that there were a few workers here and there... and more than ponies, enormous buffalo were also present, although they looked at the outsiders with as much distrust as the few ponies they had passed so far did.

The ranch house itself had been fortified, although badly: shutters had been boarded closed over windows, and there was a half-mangled attempt to fence in the porch. Applejack and Big Mac traded uneasy looks at this, hurrying up the dusty path towards the one story ranch before a voice snapped angrily at them before they could reach the stairs: “Hey, what do you think you're doing here?”

The two earth ponies both halted and turned with surprise to see a grizzled old Pegasus glaring at them, his mane short and a rough, uneven beard squaring his features. He had a rifle on his back and a thick vest protecting his body... but one of his wings was clearly broken, and he looked old that Luna was surprised he was standing at all. Especially since even from here she could smell the reek of whiskey wafting off him.

“What, what is it?” called a worried voice, and a lanky earth pony staggered hurriedly around the corner of the house, his bright green eyes looking fearfully up... then blinking in surprise before his jaw dropped in shock. The yellow stallion had a rough orange mane and tail, and was dressed in a badly-weathered cowboy hat and dust-speckled rawhide vest... and after a moment, he gave a laugh before running forwards: “Applejack, Big Mac, what are you doing here?”

“Braeburn!” Applejack smiled in warm relief, leaping forwards and trading a fierce hug with her cousin, and then Big Mac did the same as the mare grinned widely and jerked her head towards Luna, Scrivener and Twilight. “We're here to help, that's what. Didn't you get my letter back?”

“What, what do you...” Braeburn glanced towards the trio of other ponies, and then he did a double-take, mouthing wordlessly for a few moments as Luna Brynhild grinned widely and posed, raising her head proudly. “P-P-Princess Luna? And... that there can't be Twilight Sparkle, she's... she's a... oh hell, look at 'em, Tex!”

“Don't care.” the old Pegasus said in a surly voice, and then he spat to the side and turned around, striding back around the corner of the house, and Braeburn only rolled his eyes before turning a warm look back to his cousins.

“Oh, don't mind him none, he's been helping out lots. None of the townsfolk like him all that much, but he's always done a great job at keeping watch over the fields out here.” Braeburn stepped backwards, and then he looked with awe towards Luna again, bowing awkwardly several times as she approached with Scrivener and Twilight on either side. “And we've been havin' trouble, lots of trouble, but never did I think that... well, you now, you would come yourself, Princess, I, I... heck, I don't even know what to say!”

“Now hold on, Braeburn, that ain't who you think it is, for one thing. We got a long story to tell you, but I think you better tell your side of things first.” Applejack interrupted, and she glanced with a grimace at the ranch house, adding in a quieter voice: “Hurts to see this place like this.”

“I... yeah, let's head inside, and I'll tell you everything. In the last few days, things have been getting worse. Ponies are scared.” Braeburn said after a moment, losing a little of his bounce as he smiled faintly and looked nervously over at Luna, Scrivener and Twilight again. Then he shook his head quickly and gestured hurriedly at the door. “Well, go on in, I'm gonna go and see if Tex wants to sit in too, maybe see if Little Strongheart is around. The buffalo have been having a lot of trouble too, after all. We gotta stick together through this.”

Applejack nodded as Big Mac strode up onto the badly-fortified deck. Then he frowned a little, pausing with his hoof on the handle as he asked awkwardly: “You do this yourself?”

“Yeah, you know, to help keep safe. But I'll get to all that with everything else. Excuse me for just a minute.” Braeburn smiled and turned around, hurrying off and calling loudly for the Pegasus that had left.

Big Mac, meanwhile, turned an almost-pained look back towards a 'fortified' window, where several nails were sticking out at odd angles and the boards were clearly loose. Then he sighed tiredly, opening the door and letting himself inside as Applejack followed, saying soothingly: “It's okay, big brother. We'll... we'll make sure we get everything fixed up.”

Luna, Scrivener and Twilight followed into the ranch house: it seemed fairly spacious and sprawling, but the inside wasn't much neater: sawdust littered the floor, and furnishings had been piled in rough barricades in front of the windows in the rooms they passed through on the way to the kitchen. Lanterns were everywhere, and Luna noted at least three barrels of oil in the den room... and that on many of the shelves, books and trinkets had been shoved aside or knocked out of place so that boxes of ammunition could be stored there instead.

The kitchen was dirty and crowded, but they managed to squeeze in around the wide round table all the same, Applejack only looking more worried now as Big Mac grimaced and walked over to the counter, inspecting boxes of rations and apples that had been piled up: enough food for weeks. It looked like Braeburn had been stockpiling. The crimson stallion sighed after a moment, then cleared some junk off the stove before he began to dig around for a kettle, as Luna asked mildly: “So I take it this is not the usual state of home?”

“Not at all, no. Now I'm starting to get real worried.” Applejack said softly, shaking her head slowly. “Braeburn's always taken good care of this place. Kinda has to, since the whole Apple Family pitched in to build it for him, since he ain't the best stallion with tools.”

“No, I never would have guessed.” Luna said dryly, glancing towards a window with a large nail sticking through the broken glass, as the shutters rattled weakly in a faint breeze. “Does he live here alone?”

“Well, he has the hired help around, of course, and I know he's got friends who visit and help out. But Braeburn wants to be a pioneer, so... here he is.” Applejack smiled wryly, shaking her head a little. “I don't know how it is in your Equestria... but the Apple Clan here lives all over the country, there's some of us in almost every big place 'round Equestria. And we're always there for each other, but... that don't change the fact we're pretty far spread out.”

Luna nodded slowly, and Twilight rubbed slowly at her gemstone vest before she looked curiously over at the sapphire mare, who glanced up curiously at the gentle nudge she felt to her mind. Then she hesitated before finally nodding, and as Applejack frowned at her, Luna said quietly: “The sensation in the air. 'Tis... still strong here. It is not a good sign.”

Applejack grimaced a little, and then she glanced over her shoulder at a loud thumping, followed by a muted curse. A moment later, Braeburn stepped into the kitchen through the archway, grinning lamely as he looked back and forth and said awkwardly: “Sorry 'bout that. Tex ain't too interested in meeting strangers right now, but he promised to pass on word to everyone 'round these parts, but... oh heck, where're my manners? I'm Braeburn, and it's well... I wish I could say it was a pleasure to welcome y'all to Appleloosa, but... as you can see, things are a little tense right now.”

“My name is Luna Brynhild, and this is my husband, Scrivener Blooms, and our friend and partner Twilight Sparkle.” Luna replied, and Braeburn nodded before he winced over at the sight of Big Mac preparing tea. He hurried towards the crimson stallion, but without much of a glance in his direction, the large earth pony gently pushed his cousin away and continued unhurriedly about his work. “What has been happening here? What is this evil I feel in the air?”

“I... well... y'know Big Mac, you don't have to do everything.” Braeburn said crankily, and when the large red stallion slowly turned his eyes on his cousin, Braeburn cleared his throat and strode over to the table, slumping down at it with a grumble as Applejack smiled despite herself. “Sorry. I don't... I feel like I ain't got... any of my own life in control...

“It all started several months back... we didn't think it was anything big at first.” Braeburn sighed a little, looking up and shaking his head slowly. “Everypony thought it was just some funny storm off in the distance. But the storm just kept coming back, and getting worse. And then the buffalo told us that some of their tribe had gone missing...”

He stopped, then shook his head slowly, tracing a hoof over the table and murmuring: “Of course... you know, we acted all concerned but we didn't really think to... do much about it. A few ponies decided they'd help the buffalo look for their friends, though, and they decided to check the mountains first, where that strange storm kept showing up... and none of 'em ever came back.

“Then... then the sounds started. The knocking on the walls at night, and the sound like... like little claws crawling all over the place.” Braeburn shivered, hugging himself as he leaned back in his chair and gazed back and forth at them. “And... and there's the... no, no, you ain't gonna believe me...”

He shrank a little, turning his eyes away, and Luna frowned as Applejack reached up a hoof, touching his shoulder and saying quietly: “Braeburn, you're family... I came out here to help you, and to be honest, in the last few days I've seen things... well, believe me. Between us, I think you're the one who's gonna think I'm telling tall tales.”

Braeburn smiled faintly at this, then he bit his lip before looking up and saying finally: “I've seen... I've seen this... thing. I don't think it's a pony... it's too big, and it... it just vanishes. And it screams, but it sounds like it's... like it's trying to sing, almost, I don't know how to describe it. But it makes your blood freeze in your veins. I know other ponies in town have seen it too, but no one wants to admit it. But everyone's heard it... some of 'em say it's a hound from Hell, others say it's someone from town, come back to haunt us until we avenge his death. I... I don't know, though. And... and the dead don't... I mean...”

Twilight only smiled faintly at this as Luna grimaced and looked over at Scrivener, who looked back uneasily. For a few moments, there was silence between them as they studied each other, and each other's memories: Scrivener saw into Luna's experiences, and Luna paged through Scrivener's vast knowledge of mythology and the supernatural, both real and false.

There were a few possibilities that fit the description Braeburn gave, but they both decided to defer judgment for now. It sounded like there was definitely something haunting and hunting ponies, though, and Luna grimaced before she muttered: “We will set up patrols and warding runes, around this ranch and in town. Hopefully we will get a good look at this beast to better know what we are up against.”

Twilight nodded quickly as Braeburn looked up, his eyes going wide with surprise as he asked in a dumbfounded voice: “So you... you believe me? You really believe me?”

“'Tis far from the most unbelievable thing I have heard or encountered.” Luna remarked, and Braeburn began to smile... then yelped and flinched when the kettle suddenly began to whistle, and the sapphire mare couldn't help but smile wryly, remarking dryly: “Thou seems just a tad bit... anxious, I believe is the word. And what is with the state of this building?”

“Oh, I... I had to do something to make sure that it was safe here, you know? For me and the ponies who stay with me.” Braeburn smiled lamely, settling slowly as Big Mac calmly took the kettle off the burner. “It... I mean, Tex seems fine, but his little shack is locked down pretty tight, and he won't accept a lick of help anyway. I know it's a little rough-”

“'Tis more than a little rough, 'tis rather... well, I do not have the word for it. Perhaps the poet does.” Luna glanced mildly over at Scrivener, who only shrugged awkwardly before she huffed grumpily. “Idiot.”

She bopped him with her horn, and Braeburn smiled awkwardly, hesitating a moment before he asked finally: “So... you say you aren't Princess Luna, and... I reckon I ain't ever seen the Princess in armor or nothing, but you sure do look a lot like her. And it's been a year or so since I last saw Twilight Sparkle, but I don't remember... well...”

“Oh very well. We shall explain our story, then. And afterwards, we shall neaten up the defenses of this little household and then head into town to check on my sister, Freya.” Luna nodded firmly, then smiled as Big Mac began to slide mugs of tea over the table to each of the ponies, Braeburn looking up both gratefully and lamely at the crimson stallion. “Excellent. But to begin...”

Appleloosa was suspicious and scared, and the atmosphere was only adding to the feeling of lingering malignancy in the air as Celestia looked slowly back and forth. As they walked down the wide dirt road towards the sheriff's office, the ivory mare could see ponies stepping out of buildings to stare at her with hope and amazement, likely thinking she was their princess... and it hurt Celestia's heart. So many of them looked so awed... but it only made the fact so many of them looked pale, exhausted, hurt in the soul stand out all the more, like how sometimes a light in the shadows could only strengthen the darkness everywhere around it.

At her side, Princess Luna looked worriedly back and forth, whispering: “Freya, this... this sensation, I have never felt anything like it before. What do I sense?”

“It's more familiar to me, but I can't place it myself.” Celestia replied quietly, shaking her head slowly and closing her eyes for a moment. “It's like something I've felt before, but... made more suffocating, more engulfing.”

She stopped, then looked up as the sheriff looked up from where he was sitting on a chair in front of his home, a rifle falling out his lap as the mustached pony leapt up to his hooves before hurrying forwards, stumbling over his fallen weapon. “Princess Luna! Oh, I don't think I've ever been so happy to see anypony in my whole life! And... and is that... is that you, Princess Celestia?”

The ivory mare only smiled faintly as the sheriff gaped up at the armored pony, her rainbow mane twisting slowly backwards as Ratatoskr peered down from her shoulder. “No, my name is Freya. But I am here to help, if I can. We have others here as well, all strong allies...” She paused, looking towards Princess Luna, but when the sapphire mare bowed her head in deference, Celestia continued calmly: “I need to know what's going on in town, including who is missing and if possible, when they vanished. And a platoon of Royal Guard will be arriving tomorrow as well, they will need a place to stay.”

She stopped, and as the sheriff only continued to stare up at her with amazement, she prompted gently: “Perhaps you could take me to where the last disappearance occurred? And while on the way, tell me about the strange phenomenon that's been happening in the mountain?”

“I... I... of course! Of course, yes, of course, right away!” the sheriff said hurriedly, nodding rapidly before he pointed down the road with a hoof, and Celestia calmly turned to follow with Princess Luna watching intently, Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie all striding along behind the winged unicorns. The pink earth pony seemed distracted by the town around them, looking uneasily at the ponies, the barricades that had been built here and there, the simple lack of joy... while Shining Armor, meanwhile, was looking at Celestia with newfound respect, as the sheriff rambled: “I'm... I'm glad to have help, believe me there, and I'm happy to help... however I can help! But... we've been up and down, and... well...”

“Take a moment to gather your thoughts, it's alright.” Celestia said gently, and then she paused before glancing towards Ratatoskr, asking the squirrel in a quieter voice: “I know you understand me on some level, so please take a look around and come back to me if you find anything.”

The red squirrel nodded a few times, then leapt quickly off Celestia and shot off down the street: only Princess Luna seemed to notice its departure, however, as the sheriff breathed slowly and looked ahead before he said finally, quietly: “This... ma'am, I don't know who you are, but Princess Luna, Miss... Freya... this isn't my fault. We've done everything in our power... I've done everything in my power to keep these ponies safe, and to help the buffalo out as I can. But no matter what we do... fences, traps, making the whole town jam into the tavern and any other community buildings where they can spend the night, however uncomfortable it is... it don't work.”

“How many have gone missing?” Celestia asked quietly, and the sheriff looked down silently in shame. Princess Luna softened, but Celestia only said softly: “I need to know.”

“Twenty-seven ponies. A big chunk of a little town... and a whole bunch of buffalo, too.” the sheriff said quietly, and then he sighed and turned down a side street, motioning ahead with his head, and Celestia looked up, eyes immediately locking on a spot marked with a single, bright-red post that had been hammered into the dirt ground in front of a business. “We... we've been asking for help for a month now, but...”

“None of your letters were received by myself or Princess Celestia. We only recently became aware of the problem.” Princess Luna said softly, shivering in surprise. “Twenty-seven ponies... why hasn't anyone tried to contact any nearby settlements, or attempt to come to Canterlot themselves?”

“What nearby settlements? Appleloosa is a frontier town still.” The sheriff laughed dryly as they approached the marked spot, then he sighed and looked miserably up at the general store sitting on the corner, the red pole standing out starkly against the background of the building's faded green paint. “The owner was... finishing up for the night, had a few of his employees helping him lock up. That, and no pony really wants to walk these streets alone anymore. It wasn't even that late, but... the moment the sun sets, you won't see a soul on these streets, unless they're in a big group.”

“Well... apparently there was... a... a commotion outside. Some... some kind of noise.” The sheriff shuddered, eyes flicking to the side, and both winged unicorns recognized clearly he was trying to hide something from them, but for now neither commented. “Anyway, Starch, the owner, he... he kind of snapped. He grabbed a rifle and ran outside, saying he was gonna put a stop to this, and the stockboys said they heard a shot, and then it all went quiet. One of 'em went to the door, looked out, saw Starch standing right there, rifle in his hooves, just staring down the street... and then he was gone. Just vanished.”

Celestia frowned at this, then she looked back and forth slowly before glancing at Princess Luna, saying quietly: “I'm going to take a look around.”

“Of course. Sheriff, do you mind telling me a bit more about what's been happening here?” Princess Luna took over, and Celestia smiled a little despite herself: for all her differences, this Luna was still almost as sharp in a few ways as her little sister Brynhild.

The ivory mare stood for a moment by the red post, mulling over the sheriff's words as she looked back and forth: in one direction, the dirt street became what was little more than a series of dusty paths winding around tenant buildings, while in the other direction, the street was open, and there were several lamps that would have helped light up the road...

She faced in this direction, then looked back and forth before she noticed an irregularity, only a short distance away. The mare quickly strode towards this, then leaned down before she shivered as she reached a hoof slowly forwards, touching the splotch of blackness.

“Corruption.” she whispered, and she understood that malevolence now, why it felt familiar. It was the same dark mire that ran through Scrivener's veins, except as she studied it, she understood clearly that this was even more concentrated, and somehow... different from Scrivener's. And as her eyes roved upwards, she noted that it had splattered over the street lamp as well, and even if she was generous in her estimation and thought the splatter had arced high and whatever had likely taken a bullet had been hit high up... she would guess that whatever had been hit had to at least be as large as she was. Maybe even larger.

As she leaned forwards, she noticed something strange as well: the corruption had bonded to the metal, seemed to be... pulsing, and alive. The ivory mare shivered a little at the sight of this, and then she concentrated, her horn glowing bright gold.

The same aura spread over the corruption on the pole, and it visibly boiled, making Celestia stumble backwards in surprise as the slime actually tried to fight off her magic before the mare concentrated harder, pouring more energy into the spell. And finally, grayness spread through the slime before it petrified completely.

“Impossible. It's alive... not sentient, but still... alive.” Celestia whispered to herself, studying it silently, and then she glanced down as she felt something scrabble at her leg, her eyes widening... and then she sighed in relief, smiling faintly at the sight of Ratatoskr, the squirrel chittering at her before it leapt up and scrambled up to her shoulder. “Oh. I'm sorry, I thought...”

The squirrel only chittered, then leaned carefully up as Celestia tilted her head, feeling it putting its mouth to her ear before the rodent whispered quietly: “This is a bad place. There's poison everywhere.”

“Take a message to Discombobulation, I know you'll be able to find him. Tell him about what I've found, and that we're going to need...” She was cut off as there was a rumble in the distance, and behind her the sheriff cursed weakly as Princess Luna and the other ponies all looked up in surprise.

Near the horizon, the sky had begun to turned a bruised black and purple, swirling, ill clouds spreading slowly outwards as flashes of poisonous light rumbled through them. Celestia grimaced at this sight, stepping slowly out onto the road so she could get a better view straight down the street and out of the small settlement, as Shining Armor slowly strode up beside her and whispered: “What in the name of Tartarus...”

But Celestia didn't know: all she could do was look out at the storm, studying it silently before she felt a hand gently settle on her shoulder, and she looked up somehow without surprise to see Discombobulation was now standing beside her, his metal fingers gripping tightly into her armored shoulder. She looked up at him, and he looked back at her before nodding silently once, and then the Draconequus vanished from the spot.

A moment later, Discombobulation reappeared near Luna Brynhild, who was standing outside among the other gathered ponies. Braeburn almost screamed at the sight of the Draconequus as Applejack and Big Mac both jumped, but Luna only looked up at him with a grimace, asking sharply: “What is it?”

“Celestia's scared, but as good at giving orders as ever, just like Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. Of course, she didn't get a chance to finish her orders to me before I ran off, but I know what she wants me to say to you, anyway.” Discombobulation paused, then mimicked Celestia's voice as he said calmly: “The town needs to be placed on full watch immediately. We also need to establish a base of operations. And I have found traces of concentrated corruption, which points to-”

“Tyrant Wyrms.” Scrivener shivered, then gritted his teeth, looking out at the storm as he muttered: “That... that feels like Clockwork World to me. All I can think of is the machinery we saw, and how much of it seemed... alive...”

Luna nodded slowly as Twilight Sparkle shivered a bit, gazing over at them and asking worriedly: “But... Tyrant Wyrms... I mean, they can't be controlled, can they? They're parasites but they don't...”

“It's okay. It will be okay, Twilight, do not fear, whatever is going on we will figure it out.” Luna Brynhild soothed quietly, and then she glanced at Discombobulation, instructing: “Go to Antares, and tell him to start bringing the supplies here. Braeburn has offered us his home to use as a base of operations and I am inclined to agree. We can make additional camp in the apple meadows as well.”

The Draconequus nodded, then politely bowed before vanishing again: this time, he stumbled a little when he reappeared beside the parked train, grabbing at his chest and wheezing as he mumbled: “It's always so much more tiring when you have somewhere to be instead of nowhere to go...”

He shook himself out, then looked back and forth before groaning as he spotted the offloaded supplies, but no ponies nearby. The Draconequus strode moodily over to one of the crates and kicked it grumpily, then walked quickly past as he felt another pulse of unnatural, evil energies ripple through the air around him.

Whatever was in the distance, it scared him. It felt... wrong, and diseased, and worst of all, dead. It was the kind of place that normally he would scurry away from until he could no longer feel its presence, but where he was and what he was doing was far outside the norm anyway, so he guessed that for once he was going to have to be a big boy and try to pretend to be tough. And he definitely wasn't here just because he wanted to impress Tia, of course, and even less because he was worried about her walking into this whole den of snakes and saws and pointy bad things.

Discombobulation strode quickly to one of the holes in the half-complete wall, sticking his head out and feeling a little more relief than he wanted to admit at the sight of the four ponies staring off into the distance at the bruised sky and the flashes of unnatural light.

He looked at them for a moment, then called loudly: “This isn't platform nine and three-quarters, and I would much prefer if none of you put on your robes or wizard hats. But you can say 'arr' like a pirate if you want.”

Antares looked over his shoulder uneasily, visibly shaken by the energy distortions, but Scarlet Sage only smiled faintly as she asked quietly: “What did Celestia have to say?”

“I... I did not go and see her.” Discombobulation lied huffily, looking awkwardly back and forth before adding quickly: “I saw Scrivener Blooms, though, who is rather serious and upset. I do not entirely blame her, since... all of these current events are proving to be a little serious and upsetting. She says you're all supposed to come to where she is, and to bring the stuff with you. Remember, the yellow dot on your minimap indicates where you're supposed to go. The other icons indicate side-quests, which you really don't have time for right now.”

“I know where the ranch is, if it's anywhere near what it's like in our world, I'll be able to find it.” Apple Bloom said, and Antares nodded nervously, looking out at the sky again for a few moments.

Discombobulation grumbled a bit, then he shifted back and forth before muttering: “Oh fine. Come along, little ponies. This is only because I have nothing better to do, of course, but I'll take you there myself. Maybe I'll even carry something. Maybe not, though.”

“Don't worry, Bob, we wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. I got it.” Apple Bloom said easily, and Discombobulation gave her a sour look as the earth pony winked over at the Draconequus, and Scarlet Sage smiled despite herself as she followed her partner back into the train terminal.

“I hope you make a wrong left at Albuquerque like all the other sexually-dysfunctional rabbits, and end up being hunted by a fat man with an inability to pronounce words correctly and a double-barrel shotgun.” Discombobulation mimed holding up a weapon and glaring down the sights, and then he paused and added dryly, glancing at Apple Bloom as she strode past: “I really don't like how many of my metaphors I owe you understanding to the psychotic Vasquez.”

“Cowlick doesn't make guns anymore, though. Well. Correction, she doesn't make guns that kill on purpose anymore.” Apple Bloom replied, shrugging a bit as she strode towards their offloaded supplies: crates that had been passed on to them from a guard post they had docked at, a few satchels that no one had bothered to take with them, some other odds and ends. “This'll need two trips. I don't understand why they decided to move the terminal away from the town, either... I saw there's still a set of tracks that must lead down to the platform actually in Appleloosa.”

“Maybe they expected to expand more, Red, and it didn't work out.” Scarlet Sage shrugged a bit, then smiled despite herself as Apple Bloom looked thoughtfully at the crate in front of her. “No. Don't do it.”

“Don't do what?” Apple Bloom asked innocently, but she was grinning a little in spite of her best efforts to hide it before she stepped up beside the large wooden box and grasped it firmly, then grunted and quickly shifted, half-rolling it up onto her back and shaking her head out briskly. “Got it!”

“Dammit, Red.” Scarlet Sage laughed and shook her head all the same as Meadowlark and Antares came in from outside, and both stared as Apple Bloom grinned over her shoulder at the other ponies, while Discombobulation simply huffed. “Okay, okay. Everypony, grab what you can before Apple Bloom kills herself.”

“Oh hell, I'm fine. Sleipnir always made me carry more weight than this while training.” Apple Bloom argued, and then she shifted a bit and added: “Just make sure you let me know if it looks like it's slipping. Think I got it balanced but it ain't like I can see or anything.”

The others nodded, and between themselves, the three other ponies gathered up most of the satchels and equipment bags, while Discombobulation created a large strap on another crate and hauled it up over his metallic shoulder, looking haughtily down at Apple Bloom. The earth pony only huffed at him, though, then remarked mildly: “I helped out putting that arm of yours together with Cowlick, you know, so I get fifty percent of the credit for you being able to do that.”

“You're just jealous that I'm Jax. Well. Half-Jax.” Discombobulation paused meditatively. “I wonder if that's racist or not. But I'm saying it as a good thing. Unless that makes me the token black character who gets killed off at the start of every horror movie.”

Antares looked up dumbly at this, the glossy-black unicorn blinking, and Discombobulation cleared his throat awkwardly and waved his free hand. “Just forget I said anything.”

The stallion sighed tiredly as Meadowlark nudged him gently, and Apple Bloom shook her head as she carefully began to walk forwards. But once she was sure the large crate was fairly firmly balanced, she picked up speed a bit and then frowned a little as she stepped around a half-finished wall, adding thoughtfully: “You know, now that I'm up here... I think I see why this platform is here. Yeah, yeah, see those marks there? They were going to pave a road here... I think this was supposed to be a shipping terminal, not a passenger platform.”

“Fascinating.” Discombobulation said dryly, and when the engineer glared at him, he cleared his throat loudly and said awkwardly: “I apologize. I blame that ugly storm on the horizon, and the reek of malice in the air. It all lends to making me... well, I could really use a coffee is what I'm getting at, and I don't even like coffee all that much.”

Apple Bloom grunted, then she and the Draconequus fell in step with each other, leading the group together as Scarlet Sage smiled and followed behind the two, while last came Meadowlark and Antares. The young couple were staying close, and Antares kept shooting nervous looks towards the storm at the horizon, even as Meadowlark said quietly: “Mir, it's gonna be okay.”

“I just...” Antares didn't know how to put it into words: how strong that unnatural feeling had become with the storm on the horizon, or the way... he couldn't focus, how his mind was aching. It was like the energy in the air was amplifying his stress and frustration, and he shook his head hurriedly as he looked ahead silently, then smiled faintly when Meadowlark stepped close and stretched out a wing, half-wrapping it around him as she kissed his cheek quietly.

It reassured him, and he felt like even if he hadn't said anything, she all the same understood him. And as they strode quietly in the wake of the other ponies, he began to talk even before he realized what he was saying, explaining: “It's hurting me. It's getting in my head, because that energy feels... familiar, but warped. It feels like my Mom and Dad, but... wrong, and nasty, it's all the things I grew up with protecting me turned evil. Darkness... but not darkness like I grew up surrounded by.”

“More than that, you sense something... more than that, don't you?” Meadowlark asked quietly, and Antares smiled faintly even as he nodded slowly, closing his eyes. “Look, we're going to deal with it... whatever it is out there. And we're going to do it together. I'm going to stay with you the whole time, by your side.”

“I appreciate it, Meadowlark. More than I can say.” Antares said softly, and then he shook his head and looked down with a quiet laugh, closing his eyes. “I've got this awful feeling about things, though... a feeling I just can't shake. Like something bad is going to happen.”

“I hate it when you say that, because it usually ends up being true, Antares.” Scarlet Sage murmured, looking uneasily over her shoulder, and Antares smiled wryly as he looked up at her before she sighed and tossed her own nervous glance in the direction of the storm. “Let's just... keep moving forwards for now. There's not a lot else we can really do, right?”

“Right.” Antares said after a moment, and then he hesitated before looking up and asking quietly: “Scar... do you think Dad's going to be okay?”

“Yeah, I do.” Scarlet said softly without hesitation, and then she smiled over her shoulder at Antares. “He's got Mom, and Twilight, and me and you, right? Not to mention all his other friends and family and... he's tough. You know Dad's tough.”

Antares Mīrus nodded in agreement, then he glanced down hesitantly before Discombobulation said dryly from the front of the group: “Luna really has no purpose in life except to make as many people around him as miserable as possible. But because of that, he'll never be without a purpose in life. And if you have purpose, you can survive. He's going to be fine, and you're gonna go far, kid.”

“Allonym said that last line to me once before.” Antares said thoughtfully, and Discombobulation made a loud retching sound, making the stallion smile despite himself as Scarlet Sage rolled her eyes in amusement. “You can't still not like him.”

“He'd want me to hate him. Whether he's dead or not.” Discombobulation argued, looking moodily ahead. “Just being dead doesn't make you any less of a dick then you were in life. It just makes you dead. And by the way, that is my original quote, all my own thoughts, not taken from anywhere.”

“So your original thoughts sound like Dad when he's in a bad mood?” Scarlet Sage asked mildly, and Discombobulation slowly turned a sour look on her, but she only shrugged innocently. “Hey, just saying.”

The Draconequus grumbled a little, then he said sourly: “At least I don't require power tools to get off, little miss plug-in. Oh, wait, wait, I can do better than that.” Discombobulation paused as Scarlet Sage looked sour and Apple Bloom glared at him, then he suddenly posed with one hand in the air, declaring in a chipper voice: “Strap on! Apply directly to the-”

“I'll apply my hoof up your ass if you don't stop.” Apple Bloom interrupted grouchily, glaring over at him, and the Draconequus grumbled, the two glowering at each other as Scarlet Sage sighed and Antares tried desperately to think of something other than... oh god oh god oh god. “Anyway, I'll have you know that-”

“Look, there's the ranch up ahead, I'm going on ahead!” Antares shouted almost desperately, and then he shot off like a rocket, almost knocking both Apple Bloom and Discombobulation over as he charged through the desert and straight towards the ranch house, bags filled with equipment rattling loudly against his body.

To his surprise, although the ranch house was visible, it took him much longer to reach it than he'd expected: almost ten minutes, and most of that had been spent running. He wheezed as he reached the main yard, beginning to approach... and then he heard the distinct sound of a rifle cocking, looking slowly up to see both a grizzled Pegasus and the bore of a gun glaring at him.

Antares slowly swallowed, then he offered a weak grin, asking lamely: “You uh... you're not Braeburn by any chance, are you?” When his only response was the Pegasus narrowing his eyes, Antares cleared his throat. “Uh. Sorry, then, I'll... I'll just uh...”

“What are... idiot, that is my son!” Luna's voice shouted angrily, and Antares wheezed in relief as he looked up to see his mother approaching. The Pegasus grumbled moodily as he lowered his weapon, and the mare glared down at him, even as the ancient pony didn't so much as flinch. “And what manner of idiocy art thou practicing, in any event, pointing such ugly weaponry at any stranger who steps upon land that is not even thine own!”

“Oh, get out of my face, hag!” the old Pegasus snapped, glaring up at her, and Luna gaped down at the grizzled stallion as he huffed, sending rancid, whiskey-reeking breath washing out over her features. “This ain't a place for little girls playing dressup to-”

Luna growled, reaching out and ripping the rifle out of the Pegasus' hooves, almost knocking the old stallion over. He yelled and grabbed at it, both of them ignoring the other ponies that hurried over, but Luna held it childishly above her head, where the Pegasus couldn't reach with his wing broken. “How dare thee! Why, if thou weren't such a doddering, ancient wretch, I would bring mountains of pain tumbling down upon thy old, ugly head, great drunken coot!”

“Hey, hey, whoa, calm down now!” Braeburn managed to squeeze himself between the two ponies, and then he grinned lamely, looking back and forth as Antares watched lamely from the sidelines. “Look uh... okay, Tex, thank you for all the help but you can go on home for now, we got things here handled, right? And Miss Brynhild, it'd be mighty nice of you to just... pass that rifle back over.”

“Very well.” Luna said moodily, in a tone that Antares recognized meant trouble... and then Braeburn gaped as Luna gritted her teeth and slowly bent the rifle almost in half, the wooden stock splintering and the barrel warping before she grumpily held it down to Braeburn.

He took it with a look of disbelief, and the grizzled Pegasus leaned grouchily past the earth pony, then stared at the broken weapon before he let out a yell of frustration and spun around, spitting curses the whole time as he stomped away. And then Braeburn slowly turned the gun back and forth in his hooves and whimpered: “My rifle.”

Luna's grin turned to puzzlement, and then she asked slowly: “Wait... thy rifle?”

“Yeah, it isn't Tex's... he's just been borrowing it, like how he lives in what was the old storage shed and well...” Braeburn stumbled to a halt, then looked awkwardly up at Luna, and Luna looked lamely back at the stallion.

Then Scrivener awkwardly strode up beside the two, saying carefully: “Don't worry, Braeburn, we'll uh... we'll get it fixed, okay? You just uh... don't worry about it or anything, really, we have a friend who is great with this kind of thing. Luna, let's go show Antares where he can store the things.”

“Yes, yes. Uh. Come along, Antares. Where are the others, though?” Luna asked quickly, as Braeburn only continued to sit lamely in front of the house, as Applejack shook her head slowly and Big Mac walked over to pat his cousin gently on the back.

Antares smiled awkwardly, mumbling about how he'd hurried ahead; when the others arrived some fifteen minutes later, Discombobulation and Apple Bloom still arguing, it made it a little clearer why the stallion had done so. Luna, however, quickly stopped them from fighting by remarking that Twilight Sparkle had gone to fetch Celestia some time ago, meaning she would be arriving shortly, and the chimerical creature had hurriedly dropped his crate and volunteered to go and get the rest of the things from the train station.

Celestia arrived only a few minutes after Discombobulation left: Princess Luna was with her, but Twilight Sparkle had agreed to stay in town to begin setting up wards with Shining Armor's assistance. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were also eager to help, and were rounding up every capable pony they could find in town to assist defending Appleloosa.

Celestia already had a plan: something that surprised the ponies of this layer, but didn't Luna Brynhild or any of the others who knew all too well how sharp the mind of the ivory mare was. More than a plan, though, Luna Brynhild could feel that the Valkyrie fury had been awoken in her big sister's blood, and called for justice and revenge for these innocent ponies that had been preyed on by vicious, cowardly enemies. After all, she could feel that call herself... and she was all too eager to sate that hunger, and with luck, save the ponies of this layer from suffering any more than they already had.