//------------------------------//
// Reckless Abandonment 
// Story: Hecate's Orphanage 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Thirty Four: Reckless Abandonment
~BlackRoseRaven

The port town was not exceptionally happy to see them return, but they thankfully didn't react with violence this time. There were, however, a few rogue pirates at the tavern where Freya had gotten their rooms last time, who seemed to recognize Aster: apparently they hadn't heard that their fortress had been breached and Salazar had been killed, since they all immediately crowed about the bounty on her head and leapt forward to try and take her hostage.
Aster probably could have fought off three half-drunk pirates on her own: but since Freya was there, she didn't even get a chance to begin charging a spell before Freya punched one of the pirates across the room, then caught the other two in headlocks. One she flung up over her shoulder like a sack of grain, while the other she easily smashed face-first through a chair. 
Ignoring the pirate trapped like a helpless baby over her shoulder, hammering harmlessly at her back as he squealed for freedom, Freya advised them all to rest up for a few hours, find a meal, and then they would set out to find the destruction entity before the afternoon was over. Cadence didn't have much of a chance to argue either way as Freya turned and carried the pirate off to do... well, the mare didn't want to think about what Freya was going to do with him.
Either way, he probably wasn't going to enjoy it.
Cadence was glad for the chance to relax, though: she took off her armor, gathered up her remaining weapons, and went to work polishing it all on the porch of the tavern, while the rest of her team wandered off. Eventually, her father joined her out on the deck, offering her a sandwich and a bit of ale, both of which she took gratefully: it had been far too long since the last meal she'd had. 
Sombra sat close by, reading from a book he'd found while his purifier hummed softly on his back, and Cadence smiled a little, looking up every now and then. Sure, ponies were looking at them warily as they passed, but that was to be expected, considering the fact she was cleaning weaponry and they were strange warrior ponies who clearly weren't from around here.
Eventually, Freya joined them, the Valkyrie looking pleased with herself as Cadence looked up at her almost uncomfortably, but Sombra only continued to diligently read, and since Freya wasn't saying anything, the mare decided she wouldn't ask: even the Swan thought that was probably best. The Queen of the Valkyries sat herself down nearby, but surprisingly, didn't interrupt either of them.
Sombra finished his book, and he passed it to Freya when she held a hoof out, the Valkyrie flicking this open and flipping absently through the pages, reading a little bit here and there. Sombra only sat, head lowered, eyes closed as if he was peacefully napping, until the Valkyrie remarked: “This is probably all lies and nonsense, you know.”
“There are pieces of truth here and there, though. That's all that matters.” Sombra replied, and Freya shrugged before she tossed the book onto the table. “Either way, the local history is colorful and interesting. This world is developing very differently from the world I knew.”
“The sea has always been important. But this is a wild world, aye... not as wild as you would think, though. She may not wear the crown, but there is still a Celestia out there somewhere, raising and lowering the sun as is her duty.” Freya replied with a shrug, looking thoughtfully out into the dusty street, before she smiled in amusement as she caught the eye of a passing foal, who was staring at them with awe. “Do you need something, lad?”
The foal shook his head wildly, and then he looked almost nervously back and forth before he walked forwards and asked in an overloud whisper: “Are you pirates?”
Freya laughed at this, and then she replied easily: “Far from it! We are no outlaws, hiding behind cannons and brine, but strong warriors fueled by blood and thunder, not ale! Although I never say no to a decent drink, boy. Here, fetch me a tankard and I'll tell you a story.”
Freya produced several coins from seemingly nowhere, and the colt's eyes lit up as she tossed them down to him. He scrabbled them hurriedly up from the dirt, then shifted uneasily, Freya smiling slightly as he looked up at her with wide eyes. “You can run away with them if you want. I won't chase you. But even if your belly is rumbling now, you'll regret not hearing this story, colt. It will be better than a few apples.” 
The colt shifted uncertainly, and then he plodded up the steps and headed past the to the door as Sombra looked at the Valkyrie curiously, and Cadence remarked: “I don't know if that's very kind of you, or very mean of you.” 
“I can be both. Good boy, though. I expected him to run.” Freya said mildly, looking thoughtfully towards the door to the tavern before she shrugged a bit as she rested back in her chair. She glanced over at Cadence, who was still calmly cleaning her gear, and then the Valkyrie added: “I hope you're almost done. We're going to be leaving soon.”
“Just let me know when you're ready.” Cadence replied politely, refusing to be distracted from her relaxation, and Freya rolled her eye in amusement before she reached out and shoved some of Cadence's armor off the table, making the smaller mare wince.
There was no clunk of it hitting the ground, however, and a moment later the gear gently levitated back up to the tabletop, setting itself neatly back down as Freya scowled at Sombra, who only smiled politely.  
“You're no fun.” Freya grumbled, and then she glanced back towards the door with a smile when it opened, and the colt came out, carrying a large jug of ale on a tray. The Valkyrie scooped this up in one hoof, then used telekinesis to scoop up the colt, sitting him firmly in her lap as he squeaked. She winked down at cheerfully as she tilted her jug back, taking a few deep drinks of the ale, before she remarked easily: “Good work, boy. Now, for that story...”
Freya looked thoughtful for a few moments, and then she nodded once before saying softly: “Once, a long time ago, my brother and I were tending the forests in Vanaheim, which was my home and the home of all those who came before us...”
Freya told a long, wonderful story, Cadence looking up with a slight smile and listening with the same interest the Swan felt inside her. She was loud and cheerful and expressive, gesturing widely now and then, spilling ale here and there between deep guzzles at the jug, acting almost like a completely different person, Cadence thought. She kept the ponies and colt well-entertained with her story, and it ended all too soon, the colt smiling up at her in fascination as he asked: “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Freya affirmed, putting the empty jug down before she said kindly: “Remember what I've told you now, boy. Do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot be, be it your parents, your friends, your enemies, or your pushy twin sister. Remember that standing strong and firm does not mean to make an obnoxious idiot of yourself, any more than it means to be forceful or crude. Remember what honor is, and that what looks like it may be a thousand miles away is not impossible to reach, should you just put one foot – or hoof, rather – in front of the other.”
The colt nodded, and then Freya gently shifted him out of her lap and set him down, saying in a softer voice: “Now, you and I will make a promise to each other, boy. In a decade, I will come back here, to see you. I want to see a strong young stallion when I come back. I want to see the same kind of stallion who will not run away with my gold for a quick meal, but can be trusted to do as he's told. Who is good, and has not forgotten that we only fail when we allow ourselves to.”
The colt nodded again firmly, looking up at her with warm eyes, before he blushed a bit as he touched his stomach, saying awkwardly: “I'm still really hungry, though.”
“What's stopping you from eating, colt?” Freya asked, smiling slightly, and the colt blushed deeper as he lowered his head.
“I... I don't have any money...”
“So get money, then. You can earn your keep, boy, I'm sure.” Freya replied with a shrug, and then she shifted out of her seat and started for the doors, saying easily: “Come, you're good enough at serving drinks. Let's have a word with the tavern keeper, shall we?”
The colt followed after the Valkyrie awkwardly, and Cadence sighed as she shook her head slowly, before Sombra said softly: “She's a better mare than she likes to let on, I think. Very hard. Very demanding. But she seems to be trying very hard to... amend her ways, in a sense. And that must be very difficult for her.”
“But nothing is impossible, right?” Cadence smiled a bit as she put down her last knife: she'd had more than enough time to finish cleaning everything, thanks to Freya's story.
Sombra nodded with a chuckle, sitting up before he glanced towards the doors thoughtfully, then he shook his head and murmured: “I think she means well, mi amore, even for you. But she is certainly.... fond of testing us.”
Cadence grunted in agreement at this, shaking her own head briefly as she began to strap her armor back on, replying: “Well, we're almost done here, anyway, so we just have to get through a little more. And besides, she seems to be in a good mood now. Even if I know that's probably meaningless... between her and Brynhild, I wonder if all the Valkyries were this temperamental and moody.”
“They're similar, but... they have a different sort of moodiness between them, I think.” Sombra said thoughtfully, and Cadence looked at her father curiously. “Brynhild was always exaggerated, intense. But Freya is wild, ever-changing. I think Freya's passion is more... real, in a sense, than Brynhild's.”
“Well, my sister has always been a trickster.” Freya cut in as she strode back out the doors, smiling slightly over at Sombra, who bowed his head politely to her. “You know, it's rude to gossip behind someone's back. I'd much rather you both talked about me in front of my face.”
Cadence smiled wryly despite herself at this, unable to stop herself from asking: “And if we say something you don't like?”
“I'm reasonable, Danzsöngr. Maybe a bit forward, maybe a bit rude, maybe a bit of a bitch, as you ponies put it so eloquently. But I'm reasonable.” Freya leaned forward with a smile, and then her three swords glowed brightly before yanking themselves free and encircling Cadence's neck, making the mare wince and stiffen as the Valkyrie added gently: “I'll only cut your head off if you say something particularly stupid, like that I've devoted myself to battle because I'm no good in bed. I am very good in bed, Danzsöngr.” 
Cadence scowled horribly up at the mare even as she did her best not to twitch against the blades, and Freya grinned wryly before she drew back with a slight smile, shaking her head as her swords quickly withdrew and sheathed themselves back at her sides. “Now that we have that taken care of, and it seems you're ready to go, we should get your friends together and make our way into the forest. The trees tell me the creature is back and wandering...”
She frowned after a moment, looking down and murmuring: “I never considered what would bring such a strange entity to this world, though, and more importantly, this specific part of the world. Nature tells me that the creature is here for a reason... that the reason is very close. We should look for the destruction entity, but we should also look for the reason it's here.”
“With all due respect, Freya, you did just kind of sidetrack us to fight... pirates, I guess. I don't even know for sure anymore what we did there.” Cadence said honestly, shaking her head briefly. “It doesn't feel like we... really finished very much of anything.” 
“We finished the fight. It just wasn't a very satisfying ending.” Freya paused meditatively, then rose her head and continued: “But that's why we're going to finish this up now, and finish it the right way. Haste makes waste, Danzsöngr.”
“That really doesn't sound like you.” Cadence said before she could stop herself, and Freya gave her a dry look, the smaller mare clearing her throat and looking away before she nodded once. “Alright. I'll send up a flare and get everyone together.”
“Well, then we might as well do that from the edge of town. We've given these people enough to worry about.” the mare said mildly, and Cadence looked at her with surprise before the Valkyrie shrugged. “I can be kind, Danzsöngr. Well... perhaps that's going too far, but I can be less than cruel. And I really don't have the time or patience for any further nonsense today.”
Cadence only nodded, then she glanced over at her father as Sombra said gently: “If you would like, I can find Moonflower and Aster. I don't think they've gone very far. And La Croix has a habit of showing up when we need him to.”
“Very well, then. Danzsöngr, with me. I want to show you something, anyway.” Freya invited, and Cadence gave an awkward nod, tossing an almost-nervous look at her father, but he gestured politely at her, so after a moment she shrugged and turned to quickly follow after the Valkyrie, trusting in her father's instincts more than herself or Freya.
They walked in silence through the town, Freya smiling as she looked back and forth, seeming to enjoy the chatter and the looks they got, of awe, wonder, even fear. Cadence noted that Freya certainly loved to throw her weight around, not that that was any surprise to her, of course. But she also noted that while Freya was clearly very proud of herself, she had a strange sort of propriety even in the way she strutted through the town: she didn't hesitate to all-but-trample anyone stupid enough to get in her way or who tried to stand up to her, but she left the meek, the frightened, the ponies who humbled themselves in her presence alone.
Cadence walked beside the Valkyrie, and there was a strange sense of nostalgia as this mother goddess cut through the streets with her, loyal bodyguard, at her side. Cadence blinked after a moment at this thought, and then she smiled briefly to herself, shaking her head slowly before she blushed a bit when Freya cocked her head towards her with an inquisitive smile of her own. “Nothing, nothing... just... did the Swan ever...”
“Accompany me?” Freya asked, then she chuckled before turning her eyes forward, replying easily: “I'm certain that she did. I was an old goddess, after all, even if I may not look it...”
She looked pointedly at Cadence, and the mare sighed inwardly before she said finally: “Yes. You look very young.”
“You have to learn to appeal to my vanity better than that. Flattery is sometimes the only thing that will keep you alive.” Freya remarked, and Cadence only looked at the Valkyrie until Freya continued: “But yes. I had joined the halls while the Swans were still in service, before the Valkyries were crafted. Originally, I trained some of the Swans... but my training never stuck with most of you, because you were all so...”
“We were tools. Toys. We didn't have life, or even sentience, really...” Cadence murmured, and Freya chuckled quietly at this and shook her head slowly.
“Now, I wouldn't be that hard on yourself, Danzsöngr. Hating yourself is pointless. That's something else I've learned, because...” Freya smiled a little, looking ahead before she said softly: “When Frey was alive, I had someone to balance me. He was always there. Putting up with my kicks and punches and curses, but always leading me back on the right path. He knew what to do with me, how to treat me... and when he was killed, when he died... I lost half of me. I lost the smart half of me. I lost the half of me that had a conscience, and a heart.” 
Cadence shifted a little, not knowing what to say, and Freya looked forward even as she asked softly: “Why are people so nervous talking about the dead? They don't want to be forgotten. They want to be remembered. Cherished. Loved. Laughed with. Even laughed at; my brother had a great humility, and a wonderful sense of humor. He was... everything I am not, Danzsöngr. And I love him, and I miss him, so much.”
She quieted, then shook her head slowly and murmured: “And now I search for a way to bring back the only other person who has ever been able to quell that raging storm inside me. The lock for my key.”
She smiled faintly, closing her eye for a moment before she nodded once and looked straight ahead as they approached the gates of the city. The armored guards at the gates both nervously hurried out of their way, and Freya grunted before she leaned over and said mildly: “You should be praising us, not running away from us, you know. The pirates shouldn't be much of a threat to you and yours any longer, considering the thrashing we gave them.”
The guards looked uncomfortably at her, neither daring to speak, and Freya snorted in amusement before she turned and added leisurely: “Well, don't close the gates yet, we have friends coming to join us. But we'll be out of your pretty hair for now, don't worry. Don't let the town go to pot without me, though.”
Cadence looked mildly at Freya as they strode through the gates and started down the dusty highway beyond that ran along the edge of the forest. Freya only kept her gaze forward, humming to herself for a few minutes before she looked up and asked suddenly: “What's your goal in life, Danzsöngr? Where are you headed, where is all this taking you?”
Cadence blinked in surprise, and then she shrugged lamely before saying awkwardly: “I guess... I'm just taking it day-by-day, that's all. I mean, I'm... really happy, weird as that is to say, with the way my life is going right now-”
“This is you 'really happy?' Then I hate to think of what you'd be like if you were having a bad day.” Freya said mildly, and Cadence sighed a little before the Valkyrie gestured with her head off the path, and Cadence didn't bother to argue as they both turned to head up the grassy knoll towards the forest along a natural path, or maybe just a grassy road that the forest carved for them, considering the way that nature seemed to simply open a way for Freya. “Aye, it's well and good that you enjoy life as it is, Danzsöngr, but... you recognize there's much more to life than just this, don't you? And you can't run away from the fact that some day in the future, you're going to have to deal with your... duality.”
“The Swan...” Cadence looked down for a moment, and then she sighed softly and shook her head, mumbling: “Not if I just avoid dying.”
“None of us can avoid dying. That's a harsh lesson we were all already taught.” Freya said almost disapprovingly, before she paused in a small meadow, looking up towards the sky and saying mildly: “Here. This is a good enough place to rest. Now, for what I wanted to show you...”
Cadence looked uneasily at Freya as the Valkyrie turned towards her, the mare studying her intently for a few moments before she reached up and calmly pulled her eyepatch back. And Cadence's eye widened in shock at the sight of the glass orb in the scarred socket: it wasn't the sight of the false eye that disturbed her, or the eerie light it seemed to glow with from within, but the fact that engraved on it... “Hel's mark!”
“Celestia, my own... reflection, traded her eye away while she was in control of her body. Hel made a sly trade, and gave her this dangerous bauble in return... a crystalline eye through which I can see many things. While Hel herself took my eye, and...” Freya smiled slightly. “But perhaps this isn't the time for such a story. The point is not how it happened, or what it did, but that all Celestia ever treated me, her passion, her rage, her battlefury, her lust... like I was to be sealed away, an evil that she was willing to sacrifice an eye for, to her greatest enemy. She gave Hel great power over her, all to try and seal me away.
“But all the same, here I am. Celestia and I drove each other mad, you see, because we refused to cooperate. I am stupid passion, the ferocity of nature and the worst parts of her. Celestia had a powerful heart... but she locked all of herself away beneath cold planning and heartless logic and ruthless knowledge. You can't put a cork back in a bottle of good wine once it's been opened, and expect it to never sour.”
Cadence shifted a little, and then Freya said softly: “Danzsöngr, I know this is a conversation you've undoubtedly had many times before. But I also know that it's a conversation Celestia and I had many a time, with ourselves and others, and it never quite sank in all the same.”
“I'm... I am trying.” Cadence said finally, looking awkwardly up at Freya before she shook her head quickly and mumbled: “And the Swan and I do get along sometimes. She just... I just feel like it's going to end up being one of us or the other, at the end of the day. That maybe, when Cadence finally dies...”
She looked away, and Freya chuckled softly before she closed her natural eye, the glass orb glowing faintly as she seemed to study Cadence under its eerie glow. The mare shifted, grimacing a bit as she fidgeted nervously back and forth, before Freya asked softly: “But if you could give away the Swan and everything she had brought you, would you?”
Cadence lowered her head at this, thinking silently about the pains the Swan had given her, about what it was like to never be able to know whether she was thinking her own thoughts or things influenced by the hard, cold mind of the Swan, about the way her body was steadily becoming more and more different, how she was losing bits and pieces of herself with every passing day, about the fact that the Swan wanted to just be a tool, a killer, and it seemed to find some weird happiness, some uncomfortable serenity, in the thought that it was nothing but an object...
But the Swan was what had kept her alive, after all the times she had died. The Swan was what gave her the strength and skill to fight the way she did. The Swan, for all her myriad issues, her need and desire to be nothing more than a tool, a weapon of war, was also fearless, ruthless, and indomitable. The Swan had taught her strength, and like it or not, the Swan had some mutant form of honor in its unfathomable loyalty to the Mothers and Fathers that had created it.
Cadence shifted a little, and then she mumbled as she looked away: “The Swan has her uses, which I guess to her is the nicest thing I could say about her. I just... I don't know if she thinks I'm useful or not, either.”
Freya chuckled softly, then she shook her head slowly before she calmly slipped her eyepatch back on, as she replied gently: “Well, believe it or not, Danzsöngr, I think she respects you. Maybe not in the way most people would understand, but... aye, she respects you all the same.”
Cadence wasn't exactly sure about that, but she wasn't much in a position to argue, either, the mare giving a brief smile before she nodded a little and mumbled: “Thanks. I... well-”
“You don't need to say anything. And you especially don't need to lie, either.” Freya said mildly, and Cadence blushed a bit before Freya rose her eye and said quietly: “Not even I can force you and the Swan to simply, magically get along. But perhaps that should be the best sign of all, now shouldn't it? You're very different, aye, but you're both very stubborn about not just what you want, but who you are. You consider yourselves to be loyal and elite, and neither of you wants to bow her head to the other. Which is foolish, really, since a two headed hydra should be more dangerous than one yet to grow its first sibling.”
The smaller mare shifted a little at this, biting her lip for a moment before she shook her head and said finally: “I can't really argue with you there or anything, but... I think that honestly just makes it worse, in some ways. We're both... stubborn, and... kind of awful people. Two awful people in one body  doesn't seem to work very well.”
“Aye, that is true. But neither of you needs to be awful to the other. And as Celestia and I were always forced to recognize, destruction of our body would mean the death of us both.” Freya quieted, then she shook her head and said softly: “Even now, you know, Celestia is inside me. Her roots are deep, and her connection to this body is greater than mine. I'm not much of a four-legs, after all.”
Cadence only smiled awkwardly, and there was silence for a few moments before Freya suddenly looked up and added easily: “And look, you cheeky bastard, you might as well show yourself, because I can sense you there. I don't like it when others try and spy on my private conversations, you know, and you've done it more than once now.”
Cadence almost felt La Croix's wince before the Loa appeared in reality, clearing his throat and saying embarassedly: “Uh, pardonnez-moi, madames. I swear I wasn't spying, though, I was uh... just checkin' to see if y'all needed a little more privacy or not, I didn't want to interrupt or nothin'.”
Freya looked at La Croix for a few moments as Cadence sighed tiredly, but she figured the zebra was telling the truth, and after a moment of making the Loa sweat, Freya seemed to decide the same, nodding once before she said easily: “We girls have had our talk, so no harm done. Next time, though, try to keep your approach a little quieter. I could hear you coming through the trees from a mile away, shaman. And here I thought your kind was supposed to know the land.”
“I used to, but... I s'pose I've forgotten just 'bout everything I ever once knew.” La Croix said sheepishly, giving a lame grin as he rubbed the back of his head. “Besides, no offense and all, but... you ponies ain't usually so good when it comes to seein' what ain't right in front of your eyes.”
“I suppose the fact I only have the one eye to keep open gives me a different perspective on things.” Freya replied easily, winking over at the zebra before she became more serious as she turned her gaze back towards Cadence. “We don't want to scare the creature off, so I'll need you to keep a tight rein over your team. No running ahead, no shows of magic, especially no killing. Do you understand, Swan?”
Cadence shifted a little as she felt the Swan stirring inside of her before it settled, a mix of moody and almost insulted, Cadence thought, which was probably the closest the Swan could feel to being hurt or upset about something. “I'll keep everyone in check. We know how to negotiate and deal with things peacefully.” 
“I hope so, because I'm not very good at it myself.” Freya remarked, before her eyes flicked towards the edge of the clearing, the mare smiling slightly as Sombra, Moonflower, and Aster joined them. “But at least we have one many here who seems experienced in using his silver tongue to get what he wants... I just wish he'd put it to better use.”
Sombra only smiled and bowed his head politely, even as Moonflower made a childish face at Freya. Aster seemed a little distracted, not that Cadence could exactly blame her. But the mare still straightened when Freya cleared her throat, before the Valkyrie surprisingly turned towards Cadence and said calmly: “You can lead the way, Danzsöngr. Well, the forest will open a path, and you just have to follow it. But I think it's best that you speak to the creature first, and make sure it knows we don't mean it any harm.”
Cadence looked uncomfortably at the Valkyrie for a moment, but then she took a breath and nodded after a moment. Freya usually had her reasons, even if that was something that Cadence was still trying to wrap her mind around, admittedly. “Alright, then... I'll take point, and Daddy... I mean, Sombra, follow behind me, Aster after you. La Croix, stay at the back with Moonflower, and Freya-”
“I'll stay on your other side in case you need the help, yes, of course.” the Valkyrie answered with a slight smile, shaking her head before she remarked: “Although you know, it wouldn't hurt you to at least pretend to have a little more confidence.” 
Cadence looked moodily for a moment at Freya, then she turned and said clearly: “Fall in, and keep each other covered. I want a bit of space between our teams, but keep in visual contact at all times. Let's move out.”
Freya only smiled in amusement, but she fell into position as easily and naturally as the others as Cadence began to stride in the only direction that seemed feasible at the moment. But as she walked, she felt the forest shifting around her with a benevolent curiosity, as with every step the path through the trees before them seemed to extend deeper.
The road didn't always open up directly ahead of Cadence: the path took them on twists and turns, and yet she couldn't help but notice that even the boulders seemed to shift out of the way for them, or how slopes that looked treacherous and rocky at a distance had grown staircases of roots or a ramp of verdant soil by the time they reached it. 
There were birds singing in the trees, and animals moved through the forest around them, every now and then something peeking curiously out of the foliage at the passing ponies. Cadence figured that was probably due to Freya's influence as well: Moonflower was wheezing along in his armor, and Freya was certainly not very quiet herself, humming whenever she wasn't shouting, shouting whenever she wasn't humming.
It was relaxing, all the same: a lot of Freya's shouting wasn't at her, after all, so that made it a little easier to take the boisterous, forceful mare and her 'emphatic' way of speaking. The fact it was so calm, in spite of the sounds of nature, the constant noise, their fair pace through the woods, helped a lot too. It put Cadence in a rare good mood, in spite of the fact they had yet to finish the mission they had been sent here to accomplish.
It was almost an hour of walking before Freya suddenly became more serious, the mare grasping Cadence by the shoulder to halt her before she gestured ahead and said softly: “Aye, here we are. I want you to call out to him before you approach, Danzsöngr. Speak to him. Don't make him too scared now.”
Cadence grimaced a bit at this, but then she nodded and cleared her throat before she stepped forward and said gently: “Excuse me, uh...” She wracked her brain for the creature's name, but couldn't remember it. “Uh... sir? My name is-”
“Are you trying to greet our friend, or are you just trying to whisper to the willows? Because there are no willows here, and nor are they so fond of whispering, anyway.” Freya said clearly, and Cadence gave the Valkyrie a sour look before she winced when the Valkyrie leaned forwards and said brazenly: “Atavus, I can smell you past the trees! Come out of where you're hiding, or I'll have the forest drag you out!”
Cadence looked moodily at Freya, and Freya looked blandly back before the smaller mare said in a low voice: “I thought you were trying not to scare him off?”
“Oh, you just don't know how to talk to men. It's little wonder you spend your nights so unsatisfied.” Freya said mildly, and Cadence resisted the urge to hit the mare before Freya turned her eyes back forward and shouted: “You know there's no running! Whether here or there, I'll track you down, and it would be better for us to have our chat now than later, my friend?”
There was silence for a few moments, and then a voice asked meekly: “How... how do you know my name?”
The Valkyrie looked pointedly at Cadence, who mentally sighed before she leaned forward and said calmly: “I heard you say it to that mage before, remember?”
“I... remember you killed him.” came the creature's voice uneasily, and Cadence winced a bit at this before it asked fearfully: “Are... are you going to hurt me?”
“Now, stop that. If I wanted to hurt you I would have done it already.” Freya said almost crossly, and Cadence stared at the Valkyrie before Freya said firmly, as if scolding a child: “Come out here, right this moment, and look me in the eye. Don't make me come in there and drag you out or you'll regret it for the rest of your life, boy.”
There was a whimpering for a moment, but to Cadence's amazement, the creature emerged from hiding after a few seconds, nervously twiddling his fingers as he looked uncomfortably at Freya. He looked a little worse for wear, like he had gotten into a tussle or two since they had last seen him, and Cadence noted that while the chain around his arm was gone, his suit there had been badly burnt, and he was favoring it slightly. “I... I'm here, Miss...”
“Freya. No titles now, those are nothing but shields of false respect.” Freya said firmly, and then she shook her head before continuing in a gentler voice: “Now, look at you. You aren't from around here, are you? Why have you run all this way, Atavus?”
The creature shifted nervously back and forth, studying the ponies with more nervousness than they studied it: the draconic beast was supposed to be a destruction entity, and yet it seemed both frightened and harmless, biting its lip before it explained anxiously: “I... I just came out here to get away from the others. There were... there was a nice pony who put the armband on me and said it would protect me but it didn't. It hurt me. I fought its call but it really hurt me, but I knew it was better than going to the bad place. All the others were talking about the bad place. But some of them think it's good! And some of them, even worse, whisper about the worse place, almost like they want to go back!”
Cadence frowned in confusion, but Freya only chuckled quietly before she said gently: “I need you to explain a little better than that, my friend. Let's start at the beginning. Who were you with before? Where do you come from?”
Atavus shifted nervously, tapping his fingers together as he looked at Freya... childishly, Cadence thought. There was something almost naive, and gullible about the creature, even if he was supposed to be a being of chaos and destruction. “Well, uh... I was born in Ginnungagap, I guess that's where it started, but when reality tore, I got out of there quick as I could be! There was no one nice in Ginnungagap, you see, except maybe the Mad Hatter...”
“Theophilius Carter has always been very kind.” Freya said gently, and Atavus brightened at this, raising his head almost in excitement.
“You know the Mad Hatter?” he asked with what almost sounded like awe, and then he smiled brightly as he balled his hands up into fists and mashed them up under his jaw, his eyes almost sparkling. “Yeah, he was always really nice! A lot of us tried to follow him when he left, but we got scattered because... well, chaos portals are chaos, after all! And when you're absolutely sure of something with chaos-”
“It means something else entirely is going to happen.” Freya finished, and Atavus nodded quickly as he stepped forward, then hesitated and looked nervously at Cadence. But Freya only laughed, saying easily: “Now, don't you worry about her. She's no mauler. She's just very overprotective and a little quick to act.”
Cadence forced herself to smile awkwardly, and then she said gently: “I'm not going to hurt you, okay? I promise I won't.”
Atavus looked uncertain as his hands slowly opened, and then he nodded hesitantly before Freya asked curiously: “Did you mention your brethren being on this world before, though?”
“Oh, well, sort of.” Atavus smiled, brightening a little as he looked towards the Valkyrie. “We tend to gravitate towards each other, you know. We can't help it: chaos draws chaos. The problem is that...” Atavus shifted uncertainly, then he looked back and forth before he leaned forward and covered his mouth with both hands, whispering loudly in a voice they could still all clearly hear: “The problem is that the Bad People are coming out of the Bad Place.”
“Are you talking about the Void?” asked Freya quietly, and Atavus whimpered a bit as he hugged himself, looking fearfully back and forth. “Now, stay calm, my friend. These Voidborn are not like those that must not be named. We can speak of them, and they won't be drawn to us. And even if they are, we can protect you, my friend. That's why we're here. To protect you.”
Cadence blinked in surprise, looking over at Freya, who was so earnest, so honest, smiling so openly as if she believed it herself, but Cadence supposed that all the best lies had some basis in truth. Atavus looked at Freya trustingly, biting at his ragged claws before he asked meekly: “Really?”
“Really.” Freya said gently, and then she asked: “Do you know what summons the Voidborn? Do you know about Thokk?”
Atavus shook his head quickly, and then he looked back and forth before saying apprehensively: “But... but some of my brothers and sisters and cousins and kin... they've been talking about... the Prime returning.”
“Who, or what, is the Prime?” Freya asked, and Atavus shifted nervously before the Valkyrie reassured softly: “Now, don't panic, my friend. We can take care of you. We're here to protect you, and bring you to a safe place.”
The creature nodded nervously, then it took another step towards them before saying uneasily: “The Prime is the origin of us all. They say he, she, and it created each and every one of us. The Prime is the primeval, the beginning, the darkness before erebus, the light before sunrise. The Prime is the infinite space above, the Prime is the cosmos, the Prime is... the Prime is everything! And the Prime is nothing. And they say that all this... jostling with reality, it's going to let the Prime back in, so  he can reshape the universe as he pleases.”
“The gods created the worlds, particularly this one. Odin was the All Father, but he was no Prime.” Freya said almost disapprovingly, and Cadence didn't like the way the Swan shifted almost uncertainly inside of her. “Has the Prime been summoned? Or has it awakened in the Void with the disturbance?”
“I don't know. I just know that the others were saying they had to start... paving the path for the Prime.” replied Atavus, as he looked nervously off to the side. “I just know that everyone got... really mean, all of a sudden. It's not like when the Mad Hatter appeared, oh no. When he escaped Ginnungagap, it was sunshine and sparkles and how the Draconequus danced; but when the Prime started to rise up out of Ginungagap with his same humble beginnings, it was fire and storms and the not-Draconequus woke up...”
“The Hatter has been gone for some time now... maybe he'll know more.” Freya murmured, looking down with a slight frown before she shook her head and said quietly: “Alright. I need you to come with me, Atavus.”
“Signora Freya... perhaps you should tell Atavus about your plans.” Sombra said gently, and Freya gave the stallion a sour look, but the black unicorn only smiled at her kindly before he turned his eyes to Atavus, adding softly: “Hello, Atavus. My name is Sombra. My daughter is named Cadence, and these ponies here are Moonflower, Aster, and La Croix. We are here to help, that is true, and we did come to find you-”
“And that's what's important to know.” Freya said firmly, glowering at Sombra before she turned her eyes back up to Atavus, smiling at him soothingly when he looked at them uncertainly. “You won't mind doing a little job or two for me, will you?”
“That's... what the scary unicorn said, too...” Atavus said nervously, rubbing slowly at his burnt arm as he shifted a little backwards, and Freya grimaced a bit before the creature asked suddenly, as if the question had only just occurred to him: “Wait, what... what do you want me to do?”
For a few moments, Freya was silent, her eye shifting away, her stance becoming uncomfortable, almost anxious, and then she slowly closed her eye, muttering: “And this is why I need the rest of you ponies here, as much as I hate to say it. So I do not lie, so I do not cheat, so I do not simply... knock this idiot out and drag him home with me by his legs.”
Atavus whimpered a little at this, but then Freya looked up silently, and she seemed vulnerable for the first time since Cadence had met her, as she said quietly: “I need your help, creature... to save the life of a Draconequus, whom I love very much. Do you know what love is?”
The entity shifted uneasily as Cadence frowned in surprise over at the Valkyrie, and Freya sighed a little before she looked up and approached Atavus, even as he shied backwards towards the trees. “Love is a blinding fire. Love is strong, but has a thousand little holes and cracks from which it bleeds. Love endures, and love survives, and love hurts. Love is the greatest experience I have ever had. Love is also, by far, the most painful one I have ever endured.”
Freya quieted, looking away for a moment as she halted in front of the creature, and then the Valkyrie looked up into the entity's eyes, saying: “My love is the only thing that has ever humbled me, creature, and that makes me humble myself here, before you. I am goddess. I am Valkyrie. And for fool love, I will bow my head even to you, because I need the help that only you can give.”
Freya closed her eyes and lowered her head silently, and Atavus slowly relaxed, looking silently down at the Valkyrie as he let his arms fall loose to the side. Then he bit his lip before his eyes looked away, whispering: “I... I don't know. I always wanted to help. I want to be fun. I want to have fun. I want to go on adventures like all the other Draconequus and oh, if I could, I would help you, but... I'm not like the Draconequus. When I try and create, I destroy. They make balloons and confetti. I make booms and cracks. They dance and sing and laugh. I darken and smoke out and limit.”
“Come with me, and try. That's all I ask.” Freya looked up, adding calmly: “And I can protect you. I can bring you to a place where there are many more like you, as a matter of fact, where you won't have to worry about...”
The Valkyrie frowned, then asked: “Did you really leave because the Draconequus were becoming excited? They don't usually have such a propensity for causing pain and suffering.”
Atavus shook his head at this, saying quickly: “No, no! I didn't leave because of Draconequus, but because... well, there are... nastier nasties.” he said with sudden nervousness, tapping his fingers together uneasily. “See, I found a nice, comfortable home in this world, where I could practice all my magic away from everyone else. But like calls to like, and... some other people like me showed up. They caused a lot of damage, though... I didn't... like what they were doing. They were talking about practicing for when the Prime arrived, because the Prime would return everything to chaos.”
Atavus halted, and then he silently looked down at his hands before he asked quietly: “What am I, Freya? You seem to know a lot of things, so... what am I?”
Freya looked up at the creature for a few moments, and then she smiled at him before saying gently: “You are you, Atavus. And you are going to help me bring back the love of my life, and from there, we'll figure out everything else. Life is lived one moment at a time, don't ever forget that.
“Now. We should be going.” Freya said, suddenly brisk as she turned around and looked at Cadence calmly. “Ready your portal or whatever you must do. I'm eager to see this mission through to completion.”
Atavus smiled a little, rubbing his hands together nervously as he asked: “Are you sure this is okay? I don't know if I should just leave everyone behind. I don't know if... I don't quite know much of anything, really, but it feels like there's a lot more 'I don't knows' than usual!”
Freya chuckled quietly at this, and then she replied easily: “Well, there's nothing to worry about, is there? We'll get you out of here in one piece, and leave your 'friends' to their meanderings. If they cause any trouble, well, we'll be back to this world shortly anyway. But you'll be safe, and with a new friend, at that.”
Atavus smiled brightly at this, and Freya smiled back before she almost glared at Cadence, who winced a little as she turned towards Moonflower, gesturing at him quickly. The stallion shifted uneasily, but then he nodded, opening his equipment satchel to begin setting up the portable portal. Cadence let the others deal with it as she lingered near Freya, who was complimenting Atavus, keeping him happy, making him smile and loosen up...
It was all happening very fast, wasn't it? And there were so many new worries suddenly on their plate: was Thokk's tampering with the Void calling up something even worse? Cadence certainly wouldn't be surprised. Were Draconequus and other incarnations being affected by the weakening of reality? Why and how was reality weakening, and where?
Moonflower and Sombra set up the portal in only a few minutes, while La Croix scouted the area to make sure there was nothing around that could cause any interference. Freya ignored them while they went through the preparations, but she seemed eager to go all the same, twitchy, not her usual self, working far too hard to keep Atavus entertained and happy, so Cadence only shrugged when she picked up the cylindrical portal flare before she shrugged and bent the portal flare until she heard a loud crack.
She threw it into the air, and above their heads, the flare exploded in a thrum of light and sound, an arc of energy streaking into the air that quickly became intangible, then vanished from sight. But Atavus was looking up with delight, clapping his hands wildly as he said excitedly: “That's amazing! Wow, I felt that in my bones!”
Freya smiled, before she looked towards the portal with relief as it lit up. Cadence frowned a little at this, but the Valkyrie turned, saying easily: “Nice to see that Hecate is still as punctual as ever. She always did-”
The portal ring thrummed violently, the disposable metal rods shaking as the light turned an ill, crackling green, and Freya's eye widened before she set herself with a curse, Cadence leaping to the ready as the rest of her team quickly did the same. Aster stumbled backwards, her eyes widening, as Atavus whimpered loudly, shaking his head in denial.
And as shapes began to form in the ill light, Freya swore under her breath before she muttered: “Careless. This is all my fault. I was careless.”
Cadence only set herself as the Swan twisted inside of her, watching as the portal's sickening green light began to ripple as forms started to emerge from it. The Swan gritted her teeth as the giggling monsters emerged, her horn glowing, her team falling in around her as Freya's swords slashed up to ready positions.
She knew it had ended up being far too easy. And nothing in life, Cadence had learned, was ever simple.