//------------------------------//
// It Started With A Song 
// Story: Hecate's Orphanage 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter One Hundred And One: It Started With A Song
~BlackRoseRaven

The enemy forces had been neutralized, their wounded had been taken care of, and Freya was now ready to begin the ritual. Thorn thought it was all a little too easy: he felt particularly apprehensive about the fact that he had detected Aetherhaunts, and yet they hadn't fought a single one. He could explain away plenty of other things, but the fact that such dangerous enemies had been present and yet they hadn't shown up...
It was possible that Loki hadn't recognized that as the Aetherhaunts were drawn to presences of energy, they could have easily gotten lost in a place like the Everfree Forest, which was full of life and strange magic. Still, the thought that there would be more appealing targets than them was ridiculous, not to mention the fact that it was highly-unlikely Loki wasn't controlling the dangerous creatures to a point to ensure they didn't harass his own forces.
There was no telling what had happened to Sleipnir or Fluttershy, but since the others didn't seem too worried, Thorn tried not to be overly concerned. He thought that perhaps Freya was being a little too eager... but my mission is to support and provide security, not advise. And I'm sure Hecate is well-aware of Freya's behaviors by now.
Thorn gave a slight smile to himself at this, before he glanced moodily over at Antares when the  stallion said cheerfully: “I totally agree. It's like a wedding! Or a funeral, you know, if we screw up. Both are parties, though. So that's cool.”
The sapphire stallion looked dryly at Antares, who grinned widely as he waggled his eyebrows, before he winced when Scarlet Sage smacked the back of his head and said flatly: “Don't be a jerk. This is important. And you know that Freya-”
“For once, I don't think she actually has any kind of crazy secret objective. I think she really just wants her Bob back.” Antares said with a brief smile, and Thorn cocked an eyebrow as Scarlet Sage frowned slightly, but Antares only grinned wryly. “Hey, not everyone is like you two. You know. Horrible. Schemers, both of you. Well, Thorn obviously is, he's like the bad guy from bad guy world. Scar, you're more... 'I want my way or I'll blow your head up.'”
“I did that like once!” Scarlet said in an exasperated voice, before she glowered at the stallion and added grumpily: “And you weren't even alive back then.”
“Yeah, well, it's a great story.” Antares defended, before he pointedly shouldered Innocence a few times, who looked up with a huff from glowering at Thorn. “Anyway, she is all about passion, and-”
“And she can hear you all gossiping about her like children, and she wants to get this under way before that cocoon breaks open!” Freya snapped with a sharp gesture of her head towards the cube of corruption where Cancer was helplessly suspended.
Thorn calmly shifted into position as his siblings spread slightly out, and around the field, other ponies moved into place: only a few had retreated to the sidelines due to their wounds, and even they still looked ready to help if it was possible at all: Thorn was admittedly impressed by the dedication and valor of these ponies. They reminded him of the Orphans, and all the things that made him proud to be part of Decretum.
Freya grumbled under her breath as she looked back and forth, eyeing the state the field was in: some of the protective wards had been disrupted and destroyed, and the Husks had polluted the area with Void energy from their presence alone. Atavus was shifting nervously back and forth, his eyes darting to and fro like he expected something to leap out and attack them, although to his credit, he had remained fairly calm while they had been stuck inside the barrier.
The inner circle around Discombobulation hadn't been heavily disturbed, which was a small blessing. And while the statue itself had shifted subtly, she thought that was more a trick of chaos than anything else.
Freya paused, then she smiled slightly as she glanced over at Atavus, reassuring gently: “Don't worry. I'm not entirely sure this will work. In fact, I'm almost sure it won't.”
“A small relief, to be sure!” Atavus said worriedly, nervously twining his hands together. “But you're not entirely not sure, are you?”
“None of that, Atavus. We aren't going to cheat this.” Freya said firmly, and the Primordial lowered his head with an awkward smile before the mare turned her eyes back towards the statue, studying it for a moment before she nodded once as she heard the silent whisper of readiness from the Draconequus. “Alright.” 
Freya straightened and squared her shoulders, taking a calming breath before she rose her head and shouted: “Alright! All of you, listen up! Focus your energies towards me, lend me your magic and your strength! And all of you who remember Discombobulation, keep him firmly in your minds, focus on your very best memories of him!”
“My best or my favorite? Because those are two very different things.” Antares said pointedly, and there were a few laughs at this as Freya gave a wry smile.
“Your strongest.” she amended after a moment, nodding once before she chuckled quietly, then turned her eyes back to the statue with a grin. “You're lucky Discombobulation was always fond of a laugh or two, Antares. Otherwise I'd have to spank you for not focusing, boy. But we have a job to do, and we can all laugh happily ever after once we're done, hear?”
Antares nodded firmly, and when he became serious, Thorn noted that the rest of the group followed suit: not just his siblings, but every other pony and being here. The sapphire stallion also noted that even if Antares pretended not to notice, he all the same spoke loudly enough so the entire field could hear as he said: “Alright Sin, stop lazing. Let's focus here.”
“You're lazy!” Innocence snapped, and then she grumbled before she shook herself quickly and rose her head proudly, adding: “And I can focus more magic than anyone present all by myself!”
“At the moment, you seem to be channeling roughly one hundred and twenty thousand bæns, which is exceptional but still much lower than the mutual capabilities of all present. Furthermore, you're wasting almost ten thousand bæns of energy, greatly reducing the effectiveness of your magic and inhibiting your abilities.”
Innocence scowled horribly at Thorn, before Freya said irritably: “That's enough of all that, children. We have more important things to focus on, do we not?”
Thorn bowed his head politely in apology, and Freya turned her eye back to the statue as her horn lit up, saying calmly: “Atavus. I need you to act as the lens. Place your hands upon my friend's shoulders, listen to his words, and you'll be just fine.”
Atavus shifted uncomfortably, and then he bit his lip before he nodded as he nervously made his way forward, reaching hesitantly out to grasp into the statue's shoulders before his eyes widened in surprise as he whispered: “It's warm. He's warm!” 
“Yes, he always was. A gentle soul, a good soul, to even me out.” Freya said, allowing her mouth to quirk in a brief smile before she took a slow breath as the glow around her horn intensified, a bubble of magic slowly beginning to gather, formed from the fused wishes, warmth, and energy of all present. 
She breathed slowly, handling her magic with gentility and care, letting her features soften, her heart fill with memories and love. She let it fill every fiber of her being, pushing down her brutal instincts as she smiled and closed her eyes, her back arching slightly, almost feeling his touch, tasting his breath, remembering, remembering, and looking forward to...
Yes, she remembered, and she hoped; she saw in memory, and she believed in the future. She had faith, but never surety, because if you were ever completely sure of anything with chaos...
But oh, she would never be sure of anything with him, and that was the wonder of it: would they wake up beside each other, or even in the same room they had gone to sleep in? Would he make her laugh or smile or angry, angry in that way where she was never really mad? Would she kiss him or grasp him or push him or hold him down; would he blush or fumble or struggle...
Would he still love her? 
She didn't know, but she had hope.
Atavus shifted nervously backward, biting his lip as he squeezed into the stone shoulders of the Draconequus, staring in awe at the bubble of... of trust, of hope, of friendship and love that floated above Freya's horn. It rippled and thrummed, pulsating with all the colors of the rainbow, filled with a magic that awed the Primordial.
Freya grinned, her crystalline eye glowing beneath her eyepatch as she did everything she could to shape and control the immense flow of magic. “Unity, harmony... whatever you call it, it always reminds me why Odin saw such potential in you little horses! Alright, Atavus, hold very still, or else this stuff of grace might snuff out your chaos, and that is the last thing we want!”
Atavus squawked at this, clutching into the statue with a wince as he pushed himself awkwardly closer to the petrified Draconequus, and Freya snorted in entertainment as she reassured gently: “Just a little bit longer. One great push...”
Freya leaned forward, using Atavus like a lens, the bubbling sphere of energy suddenly condensing before it slammed into his back and made the Primordial go rigid, squeaking as he clutched tighter into the statue in front of him as power surged across and through his body.
He spasmed, but he was unable to let go of the statue and unable to pull out of the way, gasping breaths in and out as that single moment seemed to last forever, his body feeling simultaneously like it was full of fire and trapped in ice. And then, as suddenly as it had all begun, it was over, and the Primordial collapsed forward in a smoking, smoldering heap as the statue crumbled away to dust beneath him.
He lay in the ashes and the cement dust, blinking weakly a few times, body smoking faintly before he rolled slowly over and stared up at Freya. His head rang with a thousand emotions and his whole body shook with pain and he was barely able to see, giving a creaky smile up at the Valkyrie before he asked in a rasp: “Can we do it again?”
Freya looked down at the dusty, ash-speckled creature for a few moments in silence as shocked whispers and gasps filled the air around her, and then she pursed her lips for a moment before she said softly: “That's in very poor taste, you know.”
“I have to taste poor. I hate to think of how quickly you might gobble me up if I tasted good, after all.” came a soft voice from right behind her, and Freya smiled as more gasps filled the air. But she didn't look back, oh no: not yet, not yet, as she instead gently pressed her back against the Draconequus behind her, feeling the ridges of his black-scaled back, feeling that shark-like fin and thin membrane of the other frill on his opposite shoulderblade.
He pressed back against her, long, crimson tail sliding sinuously with hers, giraffe-leg hoof settling against the ground as the other strong claw squeezed lightly against the earth. She could feel as he moved his long, red-furred arm, the flex of his dexterous, dark-skinned fingers, as he murmured: “Well. Too bad I'm still a little shorthanded. But you know, I've heard Ash is back in style.”
“Well, you know I've always liked the hard wood.” Freya answered glibly, before she tilted her head back and asked softly: “So, the bedroom now or later? But then again, we are all animals, and animals have never been shy about sating their urges in public.”
“This animal is.” Discombobulation said dryly, and Freya smiled wider before the Draconequus tilted his head back, his mismatched horns gently pushing against the back of her head: smooth ram's horn, pointed dragon's horn lightly pushing into the back of her mane.
They sat together like that, for the longest time, in peace and harmony as the crowd gazed at them, before Antares suddenly shouted: “Now kiss!”
“That boy ain't right.” Discombobulation said dryly, but Freya only smiled as she turned calmly around, gazing at the stiff black mohawk of the dragon-headed Draconequus before she finally reached up and gently grasped his shoulder, pulling him slowly around in a circle to finally, once more, look upon the face of the male she loved.
She gazed up at his handsome features, into those wonderful, emotional eyes: black and soulful, with sharp white pupils that gazed right into her soul. She slid her hooves up to gently squeeze either side of his face, studying him silently and intently before she smiled when he reached his hand up to gently grasped the key hanging from her ear, asking quietly: “Does it still work?”
“That's more of a question for you than for me.” replied the mare calmly, before she chuckled quietly when he released the key to gently slide a finger along her throat, then lightly tilt her head upward.
They looked into one-another's eyes, leaning closer, before their lips finally met and they kissed: chaste, then passionate, then drawing back slightly to be gentle again. And finally, they parted, as Freya smiled softly and Discombobulation chuckled quietly, murmuring: “I felt you were sure for a moment. You know that you should never be too sure of anything when it comes to chaos, don't you?”
Freya only smiled in amusement, however, shrugging easily before she answered softly: “With you, I never seem to have to worry as much about anything. I can be sure of things, because I know I'll never be disappointed.”
Discombobulation smiled wryly at this, before he paused, then slowly leaned to the side, peering at Atavus, who stared back at him from the ground before he blurted: “Hi!” 
“Hello.” Discombobulation paused, then he leaned back and added, as he looked awkwardly around the field at all the familiar faces: “And hello to all of you, too. I didn't mean to ignore you all, of course. Well. Most of you. Some of you I'm sure I could do without. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“That's pretty lame, even for you.” Antares said cheerfully, before Thorn winced as the stallion grabbed him and almost shoved him forward, asking: “Do you know about this guy, right here?”
“Yes, I know all about him. My metaphors might be a little rusty because my twitter wasn't updating while the rest of me was frozen, but I do know roughly everything that was going on. Dear Freya has kept me quite informed of what's been happening in the world, too. And that certainly helped, too. Although I suspect not everything she told me was completely true.”
Freya smiled in amusement despite herself, smacking the Draconequus' shoulder gently before she rested her head against him, murmuring: “It was all true enough, I'll have you know. Or at least true enough to me.”
Discombobulation nodded thoughtfully at this, before he turned his eyes curiously towards Thorn as the stallion approached, bowing his head politely. “Discombobulation, my name is Thorn Blackfeather, and I am-”
“Far too serious, boy. You can sit back and wait your turn. Everyone else, let's head back to Ponyville, I heard that the silly twins have prepared a welcome-home party for us.” Freya interrupted, glaring pointedly at Thorn before she winked over at Discombobulation. “Perhaps we'll even attend once I'm done properly welcoming you home.”
Discombobulation gave an awkward laugh at this, leaning away as he cleared his throat loudly, and Freya smiled, because in spite of everything that was wrong with the universe, everything around her was right.

Discombobulation absently flexed his new prosthetic arm: it was smaller than his old one, and didn't fit quite as perfectly, because he was a little different; just a little. But the characters always looked a little different in the sequels anyway, so he understood that: everyone wanted to leave their own mark on the world.
His eyes roved slowly around the strange structure he had been brought to after the festivities, the gifts, the get-together he already cared to forget about. It was hard to feel you deserved a 'welcome back' party when you'd never really gone anywhere, after all. And he had a lot to think about. In spite of his dapper personality and roguish charm, he wasn't at all very sure of half the things he said or did: he just happened to be very good at pretending he was, and he'd learned by now just how far in life that could take you. And in death, too, he supposed, since he'd been here but not really alive, although... well, yes, perhaps dead was being a little attention-seeking.
He watched Thorn Blackfeather intently as the stallion approached him, and then he smiled as he put his hands out, a pack of cards in one hand and a box of chips in the other, as he asked curiously: “Do you play?”
“No.” Thorn said, completely unsurprising him as he sat down at the table. He set down a clipboard and jotted a few things on it, before he said quietly: “You came here of your own volition. I don't feel that the base Decretum had established in Ponyville in place of the defunct 'Clockworks' labs was much of a matter of conversation, however.”
“You would be surprised what people talk about. Not literally, of course, perhaps not even figuratively. But they talk about it very loudly and clearly all the same. I suppose you know all about that, though, the whole talking-without-talking, schemes-within-schemes. You are from Outer Heaven, after all.” Discombobulation replied politely, and Thorn gave a wry smile.
“The Clockwork Empire is an organization that specializes in providing military services and protection for those who cannot handle themselves. Ultimately we are nonprofit: we always take payment, but we provide even for those who are unable to render adequate compensation. Our ultimate goal is the protection of all worlds in this universe.” Thorn said politely, and Discombobulation chuckled at this before he put the cards and chips aside, then laced his fingers together as a pair of handcuffs appeared on his wrists, looking innocently up at Thorn.
“And I suppose you think I'm one of those dangers? Or worse, am I supposed to be the bait, just like poor Jim Gordon?” Discombobulation paused, then he clicked his tongue and grumbled: “Nothing's coming out quite right quite yet. It's very annoying. I need to find my rhythm, my groove again.”
Thorn was silent as he made notes on the clipboard in front of him, before he didn't so much as twitch when the doors behind Discombobulation were thrown up and Freya came storming in with Antares and Innocence behind her, the Valkyrie shouting: “And who gave you permission to steal my trophy from my bed?”
“Most people wouldn't like being referred to as a... okay, I am shutting up now.” Discombobulation said awkwardly, giving a lame smile as he carefully shrank down, before he winced when Freya slammed a hoof down on the chain between his handcuffs, making him stare as she leaned over him pointedly.
“It's a sweet thought, but we'll have the time for games later.” she said almost kindly, and Discombobulation gave an awkward little laugh before the Valkyrie returned her glare to Thorn, mood whirling back to fury in an instant. “And don't think I didn't notice that you slipped away from the festivities yourself, boy. To work, it seems like.”
“I needed to file a report and run a scan on the local area. I'm still detecting Aetherhaunts. The machinery here allows me to perform more accurate and complex scans, as well.” Thorn explained, and  Freya only grunted at him noncommittally as she stroked slowly along Discombobulation's prosthetic limb, looming both protectively and possessively over him.
Freya began to open her mouth, but thankfully she was cut off by Antares asking, with a surprising and welcome level of professionalism: “Did you find out anything about the Aetherhaunts? Why would they be here?”
“There are several possibilities, none of which are very welcome, especially considering that I have also discovered a disturbing degree of thinness to reality in the area around Ponyville.” Thorn said bluntly, and Antares scowled at this as Innocence tilted her head uneasily.
“Well, I mean... yeah. With all the weird stuff that's happened here, I guess it's no surprise that reality is 'thin' around Ponyville...” Innocence said slowly, as Freya leaned moodily back and Antares lowered his head in thought. “Plus all these Void disturbances... I can't imagine that's exactly been very good for... you know, all of reality.”
“It hasn't.” Thorn said, before he abruptly changed the topic, asking: “What do you plan to do with Atavus? As a Primordial, he may attract Loki or his own kind.”
“We'll deal with that when and if it comes to that. Otherwise, I will honor my promise. I am many things, Thorn, but oathbreaker is not one of them. Not usually, at least.” Freya said mildly, and Thorn nodded after a moment as he made a fee notes on his clipboard. “And I suppose you want to take the destruction entity, don't you?”
“Yes. We have the facilities to contain him safely. You don't.” Thorn answered logically, and Freya gave him a dry look as Antares shrugged amiably and Innocence glowered.
Discombobulation shivered a little, raising his handcuffed hands and waving them hurriedly, muttering: “Yes, let's all sit around arguing about who gets to keep the garbage. It's like all of you have forgotten that nasty creature is biological waste, not cookies and cream. I'd forgotten how weird you all are while I was dead. I'd like to go back to being dead now, please, and pleasantly unaware of everything but sweet nothings.”
Freya rolled her eyes and smacked the back of the the Draconequus' head, making him wince, before she finally sighed and nodded, grumbling: “Aye. He's right enough. Take the trash, Thorn Blackfeather. You can leave now, boy, you're not wanted here anymore.”
“I still have several tasks to complete yet.” Thorn answered politely, and Freya grumbled before the sapphire stallion returned his eyes to Discombobulation, asking: “What do you remember? It seems like you were aware of many of the events that occurred while you were in stasis.” 
Discombobulation shrugged, then he chewed thoughtfully at his lip as he simply pulled the handcuffs apart like they were made of cloth, rolling the remnants together into a ball that he idly began to play with between his hands. “It's hard to say. My kind have always been very attuned to the universes here and there and everywhere, but I was more than petrified: I was neutralized. Baby was put in a corner.”
The Draconequus paused, then he said meditatively: “And you know, being chaos and all, I have to sort the real from the not real. It's almost as bad as being a writer! When you live and breathe and dream of lies, all the truths of the world become oh so hard to comprehend...”
Discombobulation paused and clicked his tongue, then he sat back as he held up the ball in one hand: what had once been a set of handcuffs was now a silver skull, except when he offered it to Thorn, the sapphire stallion's optic sensor immediately identified the major chemical composition as C12H22O11. 
He took it, then calmly bit into it as Antares and Innocence both stared, and Discombobulation gave a slight smile as he said wryly: “You know, that's art you're eating.”
“Impressive. This is real, almost manna.” Thorn said meditatively as he tilted the half-eaten sugar skull back and forth. 
Discombobulation only produced a fan and hid behind it with a childish giggle, before he replied in an awful falsetto: “Oh my stars, it's nothing really! Chaos magic is just much easier to manipulate than your big, strong pony magic!”
“True. Chaos energies allow for much easier interaction with physical effects. Conversely, that's why Draconequus and other chaos entities are often fragile: their bodies tend to amplify kinetic excitement.” Thorn said, and Discombobulation slowly narrowed his eyes as he peered suspiciously over the fan. “Conversely, an object created by chaos carries a residual chaos energy within it, and thus is more susceptible to polymorphic affect.”
Thorn's horn pulsed, and the half-eaten sugar skull transformed in his grip into a half-eaten apple, the others staring at this before Thorn easily tossed it to Discombobulation, who scowled as he flicked the fan closed in one hand and caught the apple in the other. He sniffed it distrustfully, then carefully nibbled at it before muttering: “I'm not that eager to go back to my glass coffin, Maleficent.”
“I was only able to change it slightly. It's still mainly sugar.” Thorn admitted, and Discombobulation looked a little more relieved before he winced when Innocence snatched it away with a grumble, scowling as she began to wildly squeeze all over the half-eaten apple with her claws.
Thorn ignored her as Freya rolled her eye, then she asked impatiently: “When do you plan to leave, boy? I imagine you can't be away from your Mother-Mistress for very long.”
“I have many obligations to attend to in Endworld, yes. But for now, my duties here are more important, and I plan to see them fully through. I don't want to leave until I've determined what the Aetherhaunt activity is. I was originally slated for only a 48-hour period, but I am sure Empress Hecate will be willing to extend my-”
“Thorn, listen to me.” Freya said, suddenly gentle, and Thorn blinked before the Valkyrie smiled as she leaned forwards over Discombobulation, half-embracing him as she murmured: “I am very grateful to you for what you have done for me, but I will be less pleased with both you and myself if you ruin yourself on my account. You hide it well, boy, but you're still a boy: as much experience as you might have dealing with pain... I see you're still very clearly suffering.”
Thorn smiled briefly, silently reaching up to touch his prosthetic eye for a moment before he said softly: “I will suffer more if I leave a job unfinished.”
“Men.” Freya sighed and rolled her eye, but then she nodded grudgingly, muttering: “But there are worser qualities, I suppose. My brother is back, too, if you want to speak to him. Perhaps he can help you find what you are looking for. His senses are simpler and yet better than mine, some days.”
“Most days.” Antares corrected, before he squawked when Freya elbowed him, staggering and pinwheeling his forelegs before he huffed and rubbed awkwardly at his shoulder. But after a moment, he became more serious, asking quietly: “Do you want me to go take a look outside? Still light enough out that, you know, I wouldn't even need an adult to hold my hoof.”
He gave a big smile, his big, stupid smile, and for a few moments Thorn only gazed silently at Antares before he said abruptly: “I'm glad you're my brother.”
Innocence and Antares both stared – gaped, perhaps, was a better word for it, Thorn reflected – before the sapphire stallion glanced down at the clipboard in front of him and answered: “No. First I want the machinery to finish the area scans and analysis. Muse, Necrophage, and Silver are all resting, and we've earned a victory today. It should be spent celebrating.”
“I'm very happy to not celebrate, you know. This is good. This is fine.” Discombobulation said awkwardly, before he winced when Freya grinned and dragged him backwards, knocking the chair over as she easily forced him up to his feet, before he squawked when he was tossed over her back.
“Well then, Brynhild-son, before you change your mind I'll be off with my conquest. I'm sure you can manage fine on your own for a night.” Freya said comfortably as she strode towards the exit, and Thorn only smiled wryly as he watched her leave, before he shook his head and glanced mildly towards Antares and Innocence.
Antares rolled his eyes, then he said dryly: “Five bits says Freya will be back here in a few hours. Mares! So moody. No wonder you're gay.”
“I believe in the Hedon philosophy of sexual orientation, in that it doesn't truly exist in evolved creatures: rather, prejudice and pleasure do. There is no 'hetero-' or 'homo-' attraction, but instead only partners who are attractive for either the advancement of the species or desired as objects of physical pleasure.” Thorn answered, and Antares stared as Innocence slowly looked up at him.
“You're weird.” Antares finally said, before he scowled and asked: “What the hell does that make your coltfriend, then?”
“I care about Moonflower very deeply. A lack of desire to give myself an empty label does not translate to a lack of care or affection for whomever I choose as my partner.” Thorn answered with the faintest hint of distaste; just enough for Antares to see that he'd tweaked a nerve, and he immediately smiled reassuringly as he quickly covered Innocence's mouth.
“Hey, kid, no worries. No one's accusing you of anything.” he said soothingly, before he asked: “So how can we help?”
Thorn looked at the two of them for a moment, and Antares grinned before he yelped when Innocence firmly bit him, then shouted the moment Antares took his hoof away: “And if you say we can't help then I'll blow up your entire lab, Mr. Robot!”
Thorn looked for a moment at Innocence, and Innocence glared back at him before she glanced up as a tired voice grumbled: “The pigs are quiet, at least. You vermin are annoying.”
“Hi, Mombot!” Antares said loudly, and Silver rolled her eyes as she strode into the meeting room, looking disdainfully – but curiously, Thorn thought, she always seemed almost painfully curious – at the two, before she turned her eyes towards Thorn.
“The sow wishes to speak to you. I believe the newt tattled on you. I'm sure you know he's been checking up on you constantly.” Silver said moodily, and Thorn gave a brief smile: he was indeed aware that Seneschal had been archiving data.
“Thank you, Silver. In that case, please go with Antares and Innocence to find Sleipnir and inform him I would like to speak to him. I also-”
“I am not your messenger girl.” Silver said pettishly, but when Thorn only looked at her mildly, she relented with a grumble and a roll of her eyes, muttering: “Yes, yes, yes. Only because I promised dear fat sow that I would at least try to get along with you.”
“Hey.” Antares said gently, and when Silver turned her moody glare on him, she met her eyes through the lenses of her mask and reassured quietly: “It's safe.”
Silver huffed at him, but she shifted in embarrassment as she grumbled something under her breath before she finally gestured at the two and growled: “Come on. Let's go find the big idiot and get you children back home, safe and sound.”
“'Kay.” Antares said cheerfully, and Innocence grumbled before she simply tossed the half-eaten apple away, sticking her tongue childishly out at Thorn as they walked away.
They exited the facility together, and Silver looked moodily back and forth before she asked: “Where is the best place to find Sleipnir?”
“Well, he'll either be at the party, or back at Sugar Cube Corners. Let's try there first. The bakery, not the party.” Antares said, and when Silver only looked at him, the stallion awkwardly cleared his throat and took the lead, saying delicately: “I guess Ponyville wasn't around in your time, huh?”
“Not much was around in 'my time.'” Silver grumbled, before she scowled when Innocence bumped into her, firmly bodychecking the mare to the side and making her squawk. “Watch your step, half-rat.”
“Half-rat! What... what the hell is a half-rat? You're a half-rat!” Innocence snapped back, and Silver only glowered in response before Antares politely cleared his throat, earning glares from both odd, hostile ponies.
“I know this is basically just the way you two make friends and all, but uh... maybe you could tone it down just a notch or two, huh?” Antares said pointedly, leaning towards them, and both Silver and Innocence grumbled before the stallion asked in a more-serious voice: “How are you both feeling about Thorn? I know you must have been trying to get a read on him, Sin. And whether you care about him or not, Silver, I know that you... well...”
Silver rolled her eyes beneath her mask, but then she said grudgingly: “I am very well aware that he must be in... 'operative status,' as the pigs all put it. He is strong, he is in control, and yes, Antares, he is still himself. The poison hasn't taken him over.”
Innocence grunted, but then she shifted ever so slightly, and Antares narrowed his eyes slightly at her. Innocence tried to avoid his gaze, but after a few moments, she finally admitted: “His energy's a little off, yeah. He wasted some and the apple wasn't polymorphed properly. I think... he's tired. But you know he'd never admit it.”
Antares smiled wryly, and somehow he wasn't surprised when Silver said before he could: “It is a trait that runs in the family.”
Innocence snorted in amusement at this, earning a look from the ever-hostile Silver, but Antares only said wryly: “Just my thoughts exactly. I can just imagine what it must be like for Thorn. Stubborn as Dad, willful as Mutt, smart as Mom and mean as Hecate.”
“He is not quite as mean as Celestia. But close.” Silver admitted grumpily, before she sighed and added moodily, as she tapped a hoof quickly against her mask: “This hurts even after... I know not how many years. I can imagine that his eye must feel the same.”
“Crazy bastard.” Antares murmured, before he smiled a bit and flexed his crystalline wings, saying quietly: “I remember when I lost my first set of wings. Chopped off. Clean and neat, really. Took me a long time to adjust. Hell, I never really did, I think... I mean, look at me, I was lucky enough to get this awesome new set.”
He flexed his wings again with a grin, and Innocence snorted as she added grumpily: “And a monster in your head to go along with it.”
“Yeah, but you took care of that one. That one.” Antares replied seriously, staring at Innocence, before he winced when she zapped him with a bolt of magic. “Hey!”
Innocence childishly stuck her tongue out at him, and Antares huffed back at her before he glanced up as Silver asked distastefully: “Do you two always have to act like such idiots? And I take it that is the candy shoppe up ahead?”
“Yeah, but it's a lot more than just a candy store, you know. It's like... a bakery. And stuff.” Antares said lamely, as he gestured at the distinct shape of Sugar Cube Corners before his ears swiveled forward as he heard a distinct crash. “Oh, sounds like Sleipnir's home.”
“Uncle Sleipnir is my favorite uncle.” Innocence said informatively, and Antares huffed loudly.
“What, you're not even going to give Uncle Thesis a chance?” he asked, and Innocence snorted in response before she held up a claw, which glowed for a moment before a heavy gauntlet appeared over it.
“Uncle Thesis can be my favorite uncle after he gives me a tank or something.” Innocence paused, then asked curiously: “Do you think he could really give me a tank? Or my own personal Mombot? Not that I don't like you, Mombot.”
Silver completely ignored them as she headed for the bakery, and Innocence and Antares followed after a moment, the mare making her gauntlet vanish with a flick of her wrist. Without a pause, Silver shoved her way through the entrance, then scowled and ducked out of the way of a donut as a voice roared: “We're closed!”
Silver snorted as Pinkamena glared at her challengingly, before the demon squawked when she was easily hefted up over the shoulder of Sleipnir, the bruised stallion smiling brightly beneath his bandages as he declared: “Well, 'tis always a pleasure to see thee, Luna! Hast thou come for treats? I bet thou hast the same tastes as mine sister!” Sleipnir paused, then waggled his eyebrows. “The very same tastes indeed!”
“Goddammit, Slap, that's sick.” Pinkamena grumbled, then she slammed a knee into his breast, making him oof before she slung herself off his shoulder, and then caught his head and slammed him face-first into the ground with enough force to shake the whole store, Antares and Innocence wincing behind Silver, but the mechanical mare only rolling her eyes.
Pinkamena spun towards her with a challenging glare, but Silver was undaunted, saying shortly: “Thorn Blackfeather requires your husband.”
“I bet he does. That's still incest, though.” Pinkamena retorted rudely. “But if the kid wants him so bad he can come and get him himself. Understood?”
“I do not take orders from you.” Silver stated icily, and the two glared at each other before the mechanical mare said shortly: “He comes with me.”
“Listen, you might be the shiny tin princess of all the rustbuckets where you come from, but-”
“Okay, okay, whoa whoa whoa, time out.” Antares said pointedly, striding quickly between the two, before he winced and ducked back when Pinkamena swung at him irritably. “Hey. I said time out, you can't try and hit me in a time out.”
Pinkamena only scowled horribly, and Antares smiled slightly as he held up a foreleg, correcting: “Okay, you can, but you shouldn't.”
“Aye, he is right, Phoenix. Thou should not. Besides, 'tis not as if Luna is doing anything wrong, she is merely trying to do her duty, as we all are.” Sleipnir chided gently as he rose his head, rubbing absently at his bruised and bandaged face before he popped up to his hooves with a smile.
Pinkamena grumbled under her breath, and Sleipnir reached up and gently stroked through her mane, saying softly: “Now, now, all is well. But we cannot lash out because we are sad and angry and worried. 'Tis hard, but thou knows what is right.”
Pinkamena gritted her teeth, drawing her hoof back, but then she dropped her head as she only gently shoved it against Sleipnir's shoulder, grinding it slowly against him before she sighed and mumbled: “I wish you wouldn't embarrass me, you stupid asshole.”
“If we are done, I would like to leave with the giant slave hoof now.” Silver said sourly, and Pinkamena glared at her furiously as Sleipnir only smiled amiably. “No, demon. He didn't ask for you.”
“Well too goddamn bad, because now I'm coming anyway.” she growled, then she looked back over her shoulder at the bright-pink mare peering awkwardly over the counter. “Sissy! Close up shop, we probably won't be back tonight, and then get your ass off to bed and be safe. Do you hear me? No screwing around tonight.”
“Oh, you worry too much! I'll be fine, I promise.” Pinkie said brightly as she popped up a bit, before she winked and added: “And hey! We still have to throw together a super-duper welcome party for-”
“That is enough. I have had enough nonsense for now.” grumbled Silver with a roll of her eyes, before she turned and ordered: “Come with me.” 
Sleipnir smiled amiably as Pinkamena grumbled and rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she pawed a hoof grouchily at the ground. “You're really pressing your luck, tinpot.”
Silver only snorted, and Antares winced and tried to step forward, but then squeaked when he was shoved out of the way by Pinkamena as she muttered: “And so are you, dumbass. Stop trying to get between the adults, kid.”
“Yeah. You're all super adults.” Antares grumbled as Sleipnir passed him by with a smile and an easy shrug, and then the stallion followed last out the door, giving a wave over his shoulder at Pinkie Pie, who he knew even without needing to look back was likely waving madly at them, and wishing them well, in her evergiving way.
They made their way back through town without much trouble: Innocence provided a bit of a buffer between Pinkamena and Silver, and Antares lingered behind, studying the group curiously. He noted that Sleipnir was carrying a heavy hammer now: it was just strapped across his back like the most natural thing in the world, even though it looked like such a sturdy piece of work that even Sleipnir wouldn't want to just lug it around... except he is.
As they approached the Clockworks – Antares refused to think of it any other way – the stallion finally asked his uncle: “What the hell is with the skull-crusher?”
“'Tis not just for breaking skulls, Antares, although 'tis true that was what it was most oft used for in the times long since passed.” Sleipnir answered with a smile over his shoulder, although Antares was surprised when he noted the stallion seemed a little... not himself. Not unhappy. But something's... off. “But 'tis good to have it back, Mjolnir, mine hammer. I know first and foremost I always speak of the shield, but... I will admit, my hammer... 'twas always my first love. 'Tis why I do so well with hooves!”
“Shut up, Slap. No one wants to hear about how much you like to shove things up your butt.” Pinkamena grumbled, but Sleipnir only smiled at her, although not in his usual way, Pinkamena softening maybe the slightest bit as she added in a lower voice: “Look, it's not that no one cares. It's just that... we all have lives we left behind.”
“We do. We do, Phoenix, we do, and I have, I have... but... that makes it no less difficult when the past comes back to haunt us.” Sleipnir said gently, before he shook his head and murmured: “Let us hope this ends quickly. For all our sakes. 'Tis not fair to any of us, what has happened... especially not to my brother.”
“Your 'brother' is the root of all this.” Silver said contemptibly, as she halted in front of the door to the Clockworks. She glared at the door, shaking her head slowly as she growled: “Making him out to be some victim when he's the cause of all the pain and suffering is abhorrent even for a pig like yourself, who sees no harm and wrong in anything that anyone does.”
Pinkamena growled, but Sleipnir only smiled and shrugged, asking quietly: “Does thou think I am not aware of this? But all the same, he is a victim. Thou may not want to believe it: thou may even rally against it. But he is a victim, for 'twas not his machinations that began this chain of events and 'twill not be what ends them, either. Or does thou wish to blame him even for the actions of mine own Father, and darker still, Valthrudnir?
“I think we are all victims. Of ourselves, if nothing else. 'Tis hard to stomach, aye, I know. 'Tis so much more comforting when one can simply lay blame and think nothing of the rest.” Sleipnir answered with a faint smile, and Silver twitched slightly before he shrugged and murmured: “Or perhaps in truth I am simply afraid of the fact that we are all merely evils to be destroyed in the eyes of another, and I desperately do not desire to concede to that truth.”
Silver snorted, and Sleipnir smiled and shrugged before Pinkamena muttered: “Moron. You and all your stupid feelings. That's what you get when you wear your heart on your sleeve.”
“Perhaps. But I would not have it any other way.” Sleipnir said softly, and then he glanced up with a smile as the door opened, greeting: “Thorn Blackfeather, I heard thou wert calling for me.”
“I was interested in debriefing you, yes.” Thorn drew his eyes over the stallion for a moment, and then he stated more than asked: “You were in contact with Loki, and he gave you something.”
“In a manner of speaking. He returned to me a gift he had made for me long ago.” Sleipnir answered with a chuckle and nod, before he almost reverently reached up and carefully removed the hammer from his back, holding it out with a smile towards Thorn. “It completes me in a way I had not imagined.”
Pinkamena grumbled under her breath as Thorn reached out and took the heavy hammer in his metal hoof, tilting it back and forth before he murmured: “Interesting. I've never seen this material before, but the composition seems very similar to gianttooth. It looks and feels like simple stone, but I imagine it's almost indestructible... and the wrap around the handle is imbued with incredible magic.”
Sleipnir nodded with a proud smile, studying Thorn intently before he declared: “Thou hast a fine eye, and great potential! Thou should join me at the forge, 'twould be an honor to have a student again.”
“Hey, kid's got a big enough ego already.” Antares said grumpily, and Innocence grunted in agreement, but Sleipnir only looked back at the two of them with amusement.
Before he could speak, however, Thorn held the hammer back to Sleipnir, who took it and cocked his head as the sapphire stallion answered politely: “I appreciate the offer, but my duties in Decretum take precedence. Please, come inside so I can-”
Pinkamena suddenly jackknifed Sleipnir and attempted to slam both hind hooves into Thorn's face, but the stallion only twisted slightly to the side, the demonic mare shooting past to land on all four hooves and skid to a halt with a growl of frustration, before she winced when Thorn's ring gleamed as he said quietly: “I would like to keep this meeting brief and professional. If you have grievances to air, I wish to do it in a calm and courteous fashion, as I am running short on time.”
“'Tis a sad thing to hear, but of course I understand. Phoenix and I shall do our best to behave then, shan't we?” Sleipnir said with a gentle but pointed look at the mare, and Pinkamena grumbled under her breath, but then gave a short nod as she looked almost uncomfortably at her husband.
Thorn only nodded, however, turning to lead them inside as Silver asked moodily: “Has the sow decided we are too weak to deal with a few ghasts on our own?”
“They are not 'ghasts.' They are Aetherhaunts, and Hecate recognizes that we are equipped to deal with them.” Thorn answered as he led the way through the Clockworks, Antares looking curiously back and forth as he noted that Worker Drones had emerged from wherever they usually hid, moving silently along on whatever unknown tasks they had.
“Hey, um. What are the robots doing?” Innocence asked loudly, pretending to be oblivious to how rude that question probably was. Antares gave a chastising huff, but then he couldn't help but turn his own curious eyes to Thorn as the sapphire stallion sighed.
“Recalibrations. If we modify the sensitivity of the machinery, we should be able to detect frequencies we couldn't before. It might let us track what the Aetherhaunts are doing.” answered the stallion. “This base is operational, but only essential facilities are working. The Drones have to manually reconfigure everything until we have time to set up the nonessential systems.”
“Huh. Neat.” Antares said after a moment, glancing at a Worker Drone who was manually modifying a set of wires, asking curiously: “So just what all did Hecate have planned for this place, anyway? I mean, it just seems like there was a lot more planned than you guys ever said.”
“As the situation evolves, so must we. That is all.” Thorn answered, before he added: “When I leave, new equipment will be brought here. A team of Dogmatists will set up the Orbiter for you, and the facility will monitor it. We will brief your scientists and engineers on how to monitor and operate the device in event of emergencies.”
“Orbiter. Why does that sound scary?” asked Antares mildly, and Thorn shrugged before he finally led them into an empty workshop, the sapphire stallion approaching a terminal beside a metal workbench.
“Sleipnir, please put your hammer on the table. I'd like to run a scan on it for residual Void traces.” Thorn instructed, and Sleipnir nodded and did as asked as the others watched, Antares absently wandering off to the side to idly play with some of the tools hanging in a rack nearby and Innocence childishly dropping on her rump next to the table, staring at the hammer as hidden machinery came to life inside the workbench. “Innocence, please step back. You're interfering with the scan.”
Innocence huffed, then scooched away from the table on her butt, scowling grumpily at Thorn. The stallion ignored her as the tabletop glowed, instead watching as reading spilled out over the screen of the console before he murmured: “Interesting. Just as I thought.”
He looked up at Sleipnir, who smiled faintly back at him, and he seemed to know the answer even before Thorn stated: “This hammer has been treated with etherdust. It's undetectable by normal means in the physical plane, but it 'shines' in the astral and ethereal planes.”
“It is a lure. I know. I dearly did not wish to accept it, but of course I am not foolish enough to think that my brother was merely giving me a gift... he is too cunning for that.” Sleipnir murmured, lowering his head before he sighed a little and said quietly: “The Aetherhaunts will be drawn to it. Perhaps they already move to us now, perhaps... that was his plan all along, was it? That I would bring the lure here, and then, in the darkness, when we were at rest, the Aetherhaunts...”
Antares grimaced as Innocence looked nervously around, and Pinkamena narrowed her eyes, asking coldly: “So do I have to go put everyone on alert now? Or are we just going to go meet these assholes ourselves?”
Thorn frowned, but then Antares suddenly rose his head, saying quickly: “Give me the hammer. Sin and I can take it outside of the village, wait for the Aetherhaunts to show up, then dispose of them. Should be nice and easy if we know they're coming, right?”
Thorn hesitated, but Innocence simply leapt forwards and snatched the hammer up off the table: or she tried to, rather, as she managed to drag it backwards with a screech of stone on metal before she squawked and fell over, and Thorn sighed tiredly as he rolled his eyes, ignoring the warning beeps of the sensors.
He reached up and turned the console's scanner off, then said dryly: “Fine. But remember, you cannot make contact with the Aetherhaunts themselves: destroy the orbs that anchor them to this plane with long range weapons or physical-affect magic, such as stone or ice. We have a small armory here, I'll authorize you for-”
“We got it.” Pinkamena said sourly, then she snorted before she stepped past Innocence and reached out to grab the hammer, before blinking in surprise as she lifted it with ease. She held it above her head, then frowned over at Sleipnir, but he only smiled at her, and the demon snorted before she turned away, muttering: “Let's just get this over with. Then when I get back here, kid, we're going to talk about smashing Loki. Understood?”
Thorn remained silent, watching as Pinkamena stormed out with Antares and Innocence hurrying after her. Then he tilted his head in surprise as Silver followed after a moment, saying distastefully: “Don't bother. I know what to do. Protect the stupid cattle because they are too stupid to protect themselves.”
“She has a good heart.” Sleipnir said after Silver left, before he turned with a smile towards Thorn, adding softly: “So does thy matriarch, Hecate. But she, like my brother, has many schemes and plans, and I must wonder, Thorn... what about thee? What schemes, plans, thoughts all dance through thy mind?”
Thorn only gave a brief smile, and then he asked bluntly: “Are you prepared to fight Loki, or, like Freya, have you chosen to stay out of the battle?”
“There is nothing wrong with what Freya has chosen, Thorn. If anything, it makes me respect her more: 'tis not as if the decision to stay from the fight would have come easily and naturally to her, after all.” Sleipnir said reasonably, before he shook his head and continued in a softer voice: “But my answer is... more complex, aye: for the very same reasons as Freya chooses not to make war, I know that I must fight. But I will not destroy my brother, my own blood, Thorn: for family, 'tis the most important thing. Thou understands this, does thou not, and what it means?”
“I do. But Loki must be stopped, by whatever means necessary. Whether it is through diplomacy or destruction, he must be stopped.” Thorn said quietly, and Sleipnir smiled faintly. “Family is the most important thing. But there are countless families out there, counting on us to stop the menace he poses.”
“He is no menace! He... he is not a menace. He is confused, and I shan't deny he can be dangerous, but... he is no menace.” Sleipnir said sharply, although his voice softened after a moment, and then he lowered his head and murmured: “I cannot see him as anything but my brother. That is no sin, is it? And I do not believe my brother, that dearest Loki, would ever put the worlds at risk as he has. It must be the work of the Prime alone, it must be the Prime that has... driven him so, or perhaps somehow, in some way... he must...”
Thorn was silent, and then he sighed before he shook his head briefly once, saying quietly: “I need to know every detail of what happened, and I need to know your memories of Loki. We need to get ahead of him, and the only way to do that is by knowing what these prophecies he's trying to fulfill are, and by understanding... him. You are the best chance for that.”
Sleipnir smiled a little, and then he nodded firmly once before he straightened and declared: “Then draw close, nephew, and I shall tell thee all I can remember of my life and my brother until thou grows sick with it! And I shall start at the very end, with my battle with the Iron Giant he sent against me, so thou may know how in spite of all that has happened, he has never changed.”
The younger stallion simply shrugged as he sat back, focusing his gaze on Sleipnir, and the earth pony smiled warmly at his audience of one before he began: “This, of course, was not the first time mine brother and I had quarreled so...”