//------------------------------//
// Good News, Bad Karma 
// Story: Decretum 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Fifty One: Good News, Bad Karma
~BlackRoseRaven

Despite the worries in the air, the questions, the concerns, and everything else, time rolled onwards the same as it always had. Days became weeks, weeks became months, autumn became winter, during which the cottage's upstairs rooms were finally completely furnished and finished off, including a guest room, Twilight's room, and an office where Scrivener migrated his piles and piles of notebooks and papers into. Both Luna and Twilight would often wander up to the last to sort through the charcoal pony's oddly-organized shelves and read the occasional poem or prose piece, much to Scrivener's exasperation.
Winter was mostly a time of settling down: Celestia spent much of it at Canterlot, helping prepare it for the Royal Council to move in now that the city and castle had both finally been completely assessed and declared safe by Illyria and several pony architects whom the dwarf looked disdainfully down on. The Temple of the Sun wasn't going to be abandoned, but Canterlot was the place that symbolized Equestria's dedication to harmony and equality, and therefore it was only fitting that it would once more become the capital and the ruling seat. The Temple, meanwhile, would be converted into serving as a 'historical landmark,' which Luna and Celestia both knew was code for it either being sold to some tycoon or converted into some kind of religious or political institution.
More importantly for Luna and Scrivener and friends, and much more close to home, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had finally had Avalon checked over by a pediatrician. He had examined her up and down, then simply shrugged and gone over their results, not seeming fazed in the slightest as Avalon flew in tight, violent circles along the ceiling of his little office.
She was around half the size she should be for a foal her age, but she was obviously healthy and a good weight for her size. Her bones were strong, her eyes were sharp as hawk's, and she had fast reflexes, and her wings had developed extremely fast even if she clearly hadn't entirely learned how to stop yet.
As the doctor had been reading, Avalon had suddenly dropped out of midair and crashed into his desk, knocking papers and objects flying, but the unicorn had barely looked up, only checking to ensure she was okay before he went back to flipping through his report and Avalon had promptly curled up and gone to sleep. He used this small interruption to step into the next topic, saying he didn't think she was narcoleptic: she just became intensely hyperactive, quickly used up all her energy, and then flopped down when she wanted to sleep and went to sleep. He remarked that it was actually a very impressive quality: he knew plenty of adults who couldn't will themselves to sleep like this foal could.
Her aggressiveness likely stemmed from her hyperactivity: he didn't think she meant to act out, but she got so worked up that it just happened. He thought she would grow out of it and didn't want to prescribe medication to such a young and tiny Pegasus foal, so he suggested coaching, a few help books and techniques they could look into, and giving her a drink of black coffee or something else caffeinated if she started to get really hyper. She would likely grow out of it or learn to control it in time herself, but these things would all help, too.
Rainbow Dash had stared at the last, and then asked incredulously: “You... want us to give her coffee? Dude, this is her on a good day!”
“Who has the medical cutie mark here?” The doctor looked pointedly over his papers, then he shrugged and looked back down at the reports, continuing: “Caffeine has proven to be effective in helping treat certain hyperactive disorders. I recommended black coffee because you want to avoid canceling out the caffeine's effects with sugar, which many colas are loaded with. But I suppose a sugarless brand of cola may work as well, if that's preferable.”
Rainbow had huffed and grumbled as Applejack had looked thoughtful, rubbing meditatively at the underside of her jaw as she asked finally: “Like whiskey on the gums?”
“Legally I can't recommend that for teething.” the doctor replied awkwardly, looking pointedly over his papers at her.
“What? Oh no, Rainbow here would have put me through a wall. Or tried to, anyway.” Applejack grinned a bit over at her husband, who looked distinctly cranky. “Guess we always wanted to... be gentle with her, too, 'cause she's so small. We just used frozen fruit or something, I thought it was silly but it seemed to work right fine. And... about her size...”
“She might have a growth spurt, or she might just stay small, it's hard to say. But even though she is very little, she's very healthy and very strong for her age.” The doctor smiled and nodded to them. “First time parents, right? Well, you're doing a great job. She's very healthy, and even if she likes to yell and fuss, I think she's plenty happy, too.”
Rainbow and Applejack had been reassured by this: they had only asked a few more questions before leaving for home with still-snoozing Avalon. Rainbow Dash flat-out refused to give her coffee, pointing out that anything Luna drank could not be good for a child, but they had tried giving her sugarless cola, and both of them had noticed a significant improvement in her mood as well as her settling down after a few days of trying this out, no longer zooming around violently, but buzzing happily around and being much more responsive to her surroundings.
Avalon still had hyperactive fits and still worked herself up, but she was much easier to deal with over the course of the day, once she'd had her cola and the caffeine wended its way into her system. And of course both parents were more glad than they could say that there was nothing wrong with her, despite the fact she was still tiny.
As winter drew onwards, Cowlick experimented further with technology, sometimes getting Twilight and others to work with her, having Scrivener test her gear, or working with Nibelung to both enchant objects and put together complex mechanics. She also had Rarity and Spike helping her put together new, upgraded lightweight armor, reminding them all of the days of the Starlit Knights.
Fluttershy had the animal care center up and running, and she spent a lot of her time there, working with all sorts of creatures that ranged from domesticated, cute little puppies to enormous, feral marsh drakes. Nirvana was almost always beside her... and she had reached out to other Phooka as well, getting the animalistic creatures to help with work around the building, whether it was patrolling, calming animals or even helping with cleaning and other duties... things that helped prove that however bestial they seemed, there was still something to them that was plenty... if not civilized, then pony-like, for lack of a better term.
Fluttershy had also gifted a pet to Sleipnir and Pinkamena... a gift that Sleipnir bragged constantly about to Luna to make her fume, as a matter of fact, as he showed off his Hellhound puppy. An insane and yet perfect gift for the equally-insane couple, that currently looked more like a little black dog with a bare skull: as it grew up, the rubbery, black skin would separate to reveal more of its bones, and it would take on a more demonic appearance, but for now Kǫttr had to grow up into his demonic heritage.
Since Hellhounds were trained by demons as guards and hunters, and Pinkamena was a demon while Sleipnir was... Sleipnir... the Pegasus had been willing to take a risk and attempt to start training the puppy. She had hurriedly taught it not to bite or breathe on things, and it had responded well to her training: only time would tell as it grew older, but Sleipnir had fallen in love with it the moment he'd seen it and Pinkamena had grudgingly accepted it into their family. They had to be careful not to excite the Hellhound too much, since it had a tendency to start breathing blue, freezing fog over everything, but Fluttershy helped regularly with training it and socialized it with both ponies and other animals. With her talents and Sleipnir and Pinkie Pie both constantly nurturing the puppy, it was quickly turning from a demonic hunting hound to a playful, happy, silly housepet. A housepet that Pinkamena had direly wished she'd named herself: Sleipnir had already had the tags made and a cute, red-ribbon collar fitted on the Hellhound by the time Luna told her that the name he'd chosen meant 'cat.'
Over winter, Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage's relationship matured: as the young mares themselves grew older, they found themselves growing closer in the months that passed, learning more about one-another, sharing more and more as well. Sometimes, their families would even get together: Avalon – particularly a calmed-down Avalon – was fond of Antares, and Antares adored the Pegasus foal as well.
Once, Rainbow Dash had even commented cheerfully, while watching the kids playing in the snowy orchard with Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage: “Funny, you know?  Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage seem pretty damn tight... and I look at Avalon and Antares...”
“Oh, don't even start.” Scrivener snorted and nudged the Pegasus as he laughed and grinned widely. “They're way, way too young for that.”
“Yeah, well, we'll see.” Rainbow winked at him, raising his bottle of beer, and then he paused and glanced thoughtfully out the window. “I wonder if our kids will take after us. You know. Marrying ponies who like to hit them and boss them around.”
“Horses of Heaven I hope not.” Scrivener said mildly, and then Luna had thrown a mug at him and hit him in the back of the skull, sending his forehead cracking into the window and almost knocking him out. This resulted in Luna staggering stupidly on the spot even as she'd given a donkey laugh in victory as Applejack had glowered at her and Rainbow laughed.
Celestia had invited Luna and family for Hearth's Warming Eve at Canterlot, but Luna had pointedly refused, and then instead invited Celestia to attend Hearth's Warming Eve in Ponyville. The play would be much smaller and held in a gathering hall that would likely be packed with cranky parents, but Celestia had gladly accepted all the same and, the night before Hearth's Warming Eve, snuck out of Canterlot to head to Ponyville.
It was a pointed little bit of mischief that delighted Luna more than she could say, and even Celestia seemed pleased with herself. All the same, she had covered her actions up by asking questions about Gymbr... but the doll had once more gone dormant, just a child's toy that Antares dragged around incessantly with him everywhere they went.
The play had been horrible, and Luna had loved every moment of it. Half foals and half overzealous adults, it had been a mess from the start, but Luna had watched with shining eyes all the same, and Celestia had seemed to adore herself how hard everypony had been trying. That, and she was able to just sit and be part of the crowd here, instead of sitting in the cramped balcony seats reserved for nobles, looking down from above at ponies who always tried too hard to impress her and often ended up ignoring the audience.
Celestia had been forced to head back to Canterlot afterwards, knowing that by now there were likely all kinds of people looking for her. But she had promised to visit soon as she'd traded hugs with Luna and her family outside the gathering hall, then headed quickly back to Canterlot; a place that wasn't her home, but only where she was stuck for now, and Luna smiled at this thought.
Winter Wrap Up, another old Equestrian tradition they had kept on – although it mostly amounted to a lot of shoveling snow and a day off, and little else with how wild the nature of this world was – came and went, during which Luna cheerfully tried to help clean up and had only made things messier. Scrivener was only glad they hadn't been thrown out of Ponyville, but at the same time was well aware the only reason that hadn't happened was because of Luna's proven tendency to throw around fire and lightning and her hooves.
Winter vanished, and spring blossomed: warmth and affection was in he air, as growing-up ponies fell in and out of love and lust. And then exciting news came, as Spitfire and Soarin' of the Wonderbolts had come knocking on Rainbow Dash's door with an offer that he couldn't turn down.
Rainbow was happy with his family, much as he loved flying and remembered with fond nostalgia the days he'd spent with the Wonderbolts. But going on tour with them would be too hard with a family... and moreover, he wasn't about to abandon Ponyville or his friends with the threat of Clockwork World looming over them.
But Spitfire had a special request for him, and it came from Celestia herself: she wanted him to perform with the Wonderbolts at Canterlot's Grand Restoration Celebration, which was being held to honor its completion and reinstatement as the capitol of Equestria in two weeks' time. It was short notice, but Celestia had asked for it herself, as Spitfire eagerly repeated... and before Rainbow could even turn around, Applejack had hugged him from behind, them smiled over his shoulder, saying softly: “Go for it, Dashie.”
So Rainbow had left immediately... and unsurprisingly, tickets had been sent to Ponyville to all of Rainbow Dash's friends and family for the gala and the airshow. Rarity gleefully went about figuring out what outfits to put together for everyone, although some – such as Luna – only groaned and refused to wear anything fancy. “'Tis a silly... dance and show, 'tis not... bah! If anyone dares complain that I am not all gaudily dressed I shall simply set the punch bowl aflame again.”
“I still don't know how you managed to do that.” Scrivener said mildly, and Luna huffed at him grumpily before the earth pony reminisced: “I miss those days sometimes. When the hardest thing I had to do was babysit you around Canterlot and pretend I was teaching you how to talk... and I used to think that you were badly-behaved back then.”
“Aye, I know. Thou wert an idiot. As a matter of fact, thou still art an idiot.” Luna agreed cheerfully, and Scrivener glowered at her before she flopped onto her back as Antares giggled from across the room, watching his parents adoringly as he looked up from the book Twilight was going over with him. “But I love thee, my idiot, so do not change. Beetle.”
The time to the Restoration Celebration passed quickly, and all too soon Luna found herself striding cheerfully into town wearing her armor, Scrivener feeling awkward but wearing his own gear as well, and with his platinum collar gleaming around his neck. The invitation had said specifically formal attire was to be worn, and Luna was prepared to argue to Helheim and back that her armor counted as 'formal,' and was determined to drag Scrivener along with her. Antares, at least, seemed to already be enjoying himself: the foal was riding on his father's back, giggling quietly in a cute, simple little suit that Rarity had put together for him. Originally, Scrivener and Luna had just been going to dress him in the tuxedo he had worn to the wedding... but then they had shortly realized that Antares had grown quite a bit since then when they hadn't been able to even squeeze him into the suit jacket.
Scrivener was also wearing a pack filled with their 'necessities:' Gymbr, a camera, a blank notebook and some pencils and quills, and a few cans of cola. Luna had argued that since Avalon was already drinking cola, they could give it freely to Antares, as well, ignoring Scrivener when he pointed out Avalon wasn't 'freely given' cola, but given measured doses to stop her from going hyperactive and ballistic.
Twilight was walking with them, wearing a simple black dress ornamented with stars, accenting her collar and her black rose and crescent moon earrings of onyx. Scrivener couldn't help but sneak another glance at her as they headed through the gates of the village and towards town square, and Twilight smiled at him when she caught this before the charcoal earth pony said finally: “What? I'm just amazed that you... you know... clean up nice, as they say.”
“Oh, shut up, Scrivy.” Twilight laughed and shook her head, then she smiled as she drew her eyes over his armored body, adding with amusement: “But you know, you look much less like a mare wearing that all that gear. Then again, so does Luna.”
“Yeah, but Luna doesn't have very far to go.” Scrivener said before he could stop himself, and then he winced when Luna bopped him firmly with her horn, making him huff and shake his head quickly as he grumbled: “I'm suddenly regretting not wearing my helm.”
“I am not. Helms are stuffy. Thou art stuffy. Everything is stuffy.”  Luna grumbled, and then she looked ahead as they strode into the square in front of the library, adding curiously: “Scrivener Blooms, do mine eyes deceive me, or do we have a guest ahead I most certainly did not expect?”
Scrivener glanced up curiously... and then he nodded after a moment, saying in a surprised voice: “What the hell is he doing here?”
Up ahead, Sleipnir – dressed in his own heavy breastplate, although Pinkamena had apparently decided to forgo any attempt whatsoever to even pretend she cared about the formal clothing rule and just had a black bow tie at the side of her neck – was talking animatedly to Kvasir. A few other ponies standing around were looking at him curiously: from the fact he was wearing an ugly green suit it was fairly obvious he intended to come with them to the gala. The polymorphed unicorn looked grouchy as he sat back on his haunches, but like he was grudgingly attempting to listen to Sleipnir.
Then the vine-maned earth pony looked up before brightening further at the sight of Luna approaching sitting back and waving a hoof as he called cheerily: “Family, there thou art, the sun is nearly set and I was beginning to wonder where thou all were! And see, my sweet phoenix, look there! Just as I said, armor is considered formal wear!”
“No it ain't, Nightmare Moon just doesn't give a crowbait's flank about Princess Sunshine's rules.” Pinkamena retorted, and then she reached up and grumpily pushed at her bow-tie. “Stupid ponies and all their stupid social rules. Social lies is more like it. No wonder sissy loves parties so much, she always did love to make-believe with all her imaginary friends.”
“Did she and Applejack go on ahead already?” Twilight asked curiously, as she looked back and forth over the crowd: Rarity and Spike waved to her with smiles, and Fluttershy was standing with Nirvana, who looked very grumpy in the simple clothing he was wearing, and Cowlick was fussing over Ross as he sat with a happy smile... and of course, grumpy, moody-looking Kvasir. “And where's Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage?”
Pinkamena's response was to blow a raspberry at her, and then Fluttershy turned towards them, answering gently: “Applejack left earlier with Avalon, so they could speak to Rainbow before the show. Big Mac went with them, too... and Scarlet Sage wanted me to let you know, Luna, that she and Apple Bloom were going to fly over, and I think they already left, too. If I may say so, your daughter is really very strong... it's such a long distance, but she can carry Apple Bloom with ease through the air.”
“See, Scrivy? 'Tis cute, not horrible!” Luna said positively, grinning over at the earth pony as Fluttershy only tilted her head curiously, and then the sapphire mare huffed and flailed a hoof a bit. “Oh, worry not. For some odd reason Scrivener simply takes issue with when I demand to go for a flight and he rides upon my back.”
“I bet he rides upon thee often, little sister. Very often indeed.” Sleipnir said seriously, and then he paused before giggling behind a hoof as Pinkamena sighed, and then the vine-maned stallion quipped: “Although I certainly do not blame him if he says he's afraid of riding thee!”
The demon looked up at her husband as Luna glared at him, and then both Sleipnir and Pinkamena burst into laughter, falling against each other as Luna groaned and threw her head back. “Oh, this is just what I need! A pair of meddlesome idiots instead of just one!”
After a few more minutes, during which Meadowlark and her parents showed up – Engelhart glaring at Luna the whole time, but Meadowlark prancing cheerfully over to chat with Antares when the unicorn foal leapt down from his father's back – the group of ponies assembled itself and headed to the train station to catch a special express straight to Canterlot. Antares stared out the window in awe the entire time as they rolled along the tracks, and Scrivener and Luna sat back as the winged unicorn rested her head on his shoulder, Twilight gazing at them softly from across the table, one of her hooves out... and when Scrivener and Luna slid their hooves forwards to gently grasp hers, she didn't pull away despite the fact it was a public car, and there were more than just friends around.
When they rolled into the station, they were greeted by Royal Guards in dress uniform, welcoming ponies cordially and motioning them on their way. When Luna and Scrivener stepped out in their armor with Sleipnir, however, the guards had saluted sharply and snapped to attention, and Luna had slowly made a moue of distaste before Sleipnir exclaimed in horror: “Damnation, Luna! Celestia has obviously expected this from us, and laid traps to ambush us... but nay, I shan't let her undo my fun! Pinkamena, with me! She shan't take us alive!”
And with that, Sleipnir had turned and bolted straight into a line of guards to send them scattering like bowling pins in front of an 'Employees Only' door before ramming through this, and Pinkamena had shrugged before following after her husband with a grin. Scrivener and Luna had both awkwardly stared after the vine-maned stallion as most of the ponies had simply stood dumbly on the platform, and then the charcoal earth pony had finally commented wryly: “I don't like that your brother makes my relationship with you feel normal, Luna. Boring, even.”
They had made their way into Canterlot, where ponies were already milling through the halls, marveling over the restored castle, chatting with each other, and following clearly-marked tour routes. Celestia herself was nowhere to be seen, but Luna was quick to scout out an open ballroom with a fully-stocked buffet and dining tables set up around the area.
Luna helped herself to a few treats, but before she could eat too much, a messenger arrived, bearing a message from Celestia. It said to meet her at the rear of the castle as soon as possible; so, after Luna ate a few more pastries, they had gone, if only because Luna was curious as to what Celestia they would be seeing tonight: Politician Celestia or Valkyrie Celestia. And admittedly, Luna was curious why all the guards kept saluting her and were letting her brazenly strut around, doing anything she wanted, as Antares stared with awe around the castle.
When they found Celestia, she was wearing only her engraved peytral plate and her golden coronet, sitting in the empty rear hall at the back of the castle in front of the open doors leading down into the enormous city. She studied them as they walked towards her, Twilight casting an awkward look at the two armored ponies she was with as Scrivener cleared his throat lamely. Luna was only grinning, however, and Celestia looked at her meditatively for a few moments before she said finally: “Somehow I knew you'd wear your armor, if only to irritate me. The funny thing is, Luna, it irritates me for a completely different reason than you might think. I wish that I could wear my armor, too.”
“Well, then go put it on!” Luna encouraged, nodding rapidly and smiling up at her older sibling, cyan eyes bright and cheerful. “Let them see thee, Celestia, let them see thee and embrace thee for who thou truly art!”
“Luna, it's not that simple. I wish it was, but...” Celestia gave a flat look at Luna's pointed glare, and then the ivory winged unicorn asked mildly: “If I show up to a joyous celebration in full armor with Tyrfing on my back, and then give my planned speech about how I hope to bring joy and prosperity back to Equestria, what do you think is going to happen?”
“Oh, that could be taken badly, yes. But I do like the whole 'armor and sword on your back' part.” Scrivener said helpfully, and Celestia gave him an amused look as Luna grinned over at him and Twilight smiled in spite of her best efforts not to, Antares giggling quietly beside her. “Honestly, though, Celestia, I... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree with Luna for once. Do what makes you comfortable. None of us here want to see you getting so caught up with trying to serve your people that... you lose who you are. Because that won't help anyone... these ponies look up to you because of who you are at heart, not just because... well...”
“Because of my talent for politics?” Celestia smiled slightly, and Scrivener nodded awkwardly as Luna nodded much faster. “Sometimes I do wonder, though... after all, how many ponies have actually seen... who I am, at heart? Not many.”
“They haven't seen it, Celestia, but... they know all the same.” Twilight said quietly, looking up with a small smile, and Celestia tilted her head curiously at this before the violet mare glanced down, blushing a little. “They know... and I know... and... believe in you, that in your heart, you would always do anything it took to protect Equestria.”
“Almost anything.” Celestia smiled a little after a moment, nodding and gazing softly over the ponies in front of her: Twilight Sparkle, Luna, Scrivener Blooms, and Antares. “I don't believe that... I could ever do anything that would harm any of you. Even if it meant putting my country at risk... and that, admittedly, is also why...”
Celestia quieted, then shook her head and instead smiled down at Antares, asking quietly: “What do you think, nephew? What do you think I should do?”
“I think you should be yourself, Aunt Tia. That's what everypony is always telling me to do, after all... that's what Mom and Dad always do.” Antares answered without hesitation, gazing up at the ivory winged unicorn warmly. “Maybe it's silly, but... I don't think I ever really understood why adults tell foals to behave one way and then act another themselves.”
The Baroness nodded at this, gazing softly down at the colt before she replied gently: “Because sometimes we adults forget to listen to our own advice, and that we're responsible for our own actions. Sometimes ponies forget that... that we have to supervise ourselves before we supervise others.”
Antares nodded a few times, looking up at Celestia before Luna said softly, glancing over at her son with a quiet smile: “And that, Antares, is why I entrust so few to teach thee... for there are precious true from whom thou can learn the most important lesson of all, and that is honor in all things. But we are fortunate...” Luna gazed up at Celestia warmly, meeting her sister's eyes quietly. “For there is such a concentration of honor in Ponyville and in our own home that it shames even Valhalla. Is that not right, big sister?”
Celestia only smiled faintly, closing her eyes and bowing her head forwards, looking truly touched before Luna sniffed disdainfully and leaned past Celestia to peer out at the dusky evening sky. “But I am growing bored. When is this mighty airshow, Celestia? Where is it taking place, 'tis night now, thou cannot have an airshow at night!”
“I like how you think that's going to be a problem, Luna.” Celestia replied with an amused look, and then she turned with a smile, glancing thoughtfully up at the sky. “But I think we can head out to the field now. The airshow will start soon.”
“Excellent. Come along then, family.” Luna nodded firmly, then she followed Celestia curiously as the ivory winged unicorn strode out through the open rear doors, pausing before she asked curiously: “Celestia, I have a question: why are all thy pretty, frilled-up guards being so kind to us? I fully expected to be in a brawl by now and 'tis most disappointing.”
“Apart from the fact they all know you're my sister, Luna, and that in and of itself is more than enough to make them hesitant to raise a hoof against you, whatever you might do...” Celestia paused, then she smiled over her shoulder as she turned down a cobbled side path leading away from the road, adding easily: “I may have also taken the liberty of telling them you were my chosen Champion, as well.”
Luna snorted in amusement at this, blushing a bit as Celestia led them along the walls of the castle, the sapphire mare saying hurriedly as Twilight, Scrivener and Antares traded warm looks: “Bah, Celestia... thou... 'twas in the past, and 'tis... 'tis insulting that thou thinks I need... I mean, that thou would give me a title merely so I could pass by thy guards...”
“Maybe I didn't do it for you, then, but rather, I did it for them.” Celestia gazed ahead, looking both entertained and a little playful as she continued calmly: “After all, Luna, as you're always making so clear... you've very glad to 'pummel' anything that gets in your way. I just needed to make sure that the soldiers didn't give you a reason to take your frustrations out on them.”
Luna snorted in amusement at this, and then she shook her head and looked meditatively at Celestia's back, saying finally: “I do not know if I like thee more or less this way. Thou art a frustrating creature, Celestia. Choose one personality and stick with it, or I shall pummel thee horribly.”
The ivory mare laughed at this, shaking her head slowly and replying kindly: “We've been over this, Luna. I'm still in the process of... adjusting, learning who I am. I spent-”
“Oh not this again. Shut up, Celestia, go get thy sword. I like it when thou has thy sword. 'Tis like thy security blanket or some-such, thou art always far more pleasant when thou has a weapon of some kind on thee.” Luna looked with amusement over at her older sibling, shaking her head with a slight smile. “Thou art like Antares if my son had hidden anger issues.”
Antares giggled at this comparison, and Celestia gazed warmly over her shoulder, replying softly:” No. I think that Antares is growing up already to be far, far better than me, Luna.”
Luna gave her big sister a look that was somehow both exasperated and joyous at the same time, as they continued in quiet down the cobbled path. Scrivener gazed back and forth as they walked, over the ivy-covered trellises that rested alongside the tall stone walls of the castle, and at the blossoming trees that speckled the gentle slope along the other side of the path. And as they strode onwards, Scrivener couldn't help but look up as he realized the sky here seemed... bright, the night sky like a solid black ceiling countless feet above. Scrivener and Luna both smiled up at this as they strode through an archway flanked by guards standing at sharp attention, heading onto a fenced-in, wide grassy plateau. Bleachers had been erected throughout the field and small platforms had been built here and there, upon which rested immense spotlights.
Twilight gazed with fascination through the area, then up at the sky above, saying softly: “The stars seem... brighter somehow, and... are those clouds glowing?”
Luna snorted in amusement as her eyes found where Twilight was looking: here and there, marking the edges of the performance area in the sky above, there were strange, spherical-shaped cloud masses pulsing with soft light. Together, they created a gentle glow, like morning sunlight, enough to help light up the sky without being blinding or distracting. “Kirin lanterns?”
“Magic that I learned a long time ago, from the cloud cities I visited before I met Sleipnir.” Celestia smiled over her shoulder to Luna, then she gestured quietly to them. “Come. Our seats are at the front.”
The ponies followed gladly, Antares gazing around with fascination at the sky, the spotlights, the fancily-dressed ponies, as they walked down the aisle between the seats. “So what's gonna happen? What's an airshow like? Do we have to do anything?”
“All you gotta do is watch, sugarcube.” called a familiar voice, and the ponies smiled as they rounded to the front of the bleachers, and they found Applejack relaxing back with a grin, Big Mac beside her with Avalon in his lap. Her dress was a little rumpled, and Scrivener smiled amusedly as he realized the tuxedo Big Mac was wearing was the same one he'd worn for Nightmare Night.
Avalon was bouncing a little, a straw in her mouth and a sippy cup clutched tight between her little hooves, but she looked peaceable as Antares scrambled over to wiggle up between AJ and her brother. Big Mac smiled and scooted over, gently sitting Avalon beside Antares, and the Pegasus foal smiled at him before she spat out the straw and offered it to Antares: the colt giggled at this, but leaned forwards and happily took a sip of the cola himself, as Avalon said cheerfully: “Daddy show!”
“Yeah, it's gonna be great, your Dad's an amazing flier!” Antares agreed enthusiastically, and the foals smiled at one-another as the adults sat down along the front of the bleachers, talking as animatedly as their children with the growing excitement in the air.
Soon, the rest of the bleacher section was filled up, and Luna gazed warmly over his shoulder: confused-looking Nirvana who all the same was staying loyally by Fluttershy's side, Rarity and Spike with Sweetie Belle and hyperventilating, overexcited Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage, Pinkie Pie, Pinkamena and Sleipnir up near the back and top, the vine-maned stallion with an enormous cone of cotton candy in either hoof and looking delighted as he shouted cheerfully down the bleachers: “Celestia! 'Tis amazing!”
Cowlick and Ross were over at one of the spotlights, the engineer looking relieved to get to play with something mechanical despite the dress she was wearing and kept stumbling over, and other ponies were scattered throughout the crowd. They recognized a few faces here and there: quasi-celebrities like Vinyl Scratch, members of the Royal Court, and a few lucky, normal ponies who had been fortunate enough to get their hooves on tickets one way or the other. It was quite a gathering... and then Luna frowned thoughtfully before she looked at Celestia and asked curiously: “Where is Kvasir? The odd... whatever-he-is arrived with us upon the train.”
“Odin informed me that he would be attending, yes... but in all likelihood, he went to the royal library.” Celestia replied, then she smiled a bit and glanced over her shoulder towards the castle, not far in the distance. “I think he's trying hard, Luna, to be more like us. It's not entirely his fault that he is... the way he is.”
“Aye, I understand, worry not.” Luna grumbled a little, and then she shook her head and added meditatively: “I suppose the fact alone that he is here is impressive enough, but the silly fool should be out here, not... hiding away inside the castle.”
Celestia opened her mouth to respond, but she was cut off as trumpets blared from the front of the field, attracting the attention of all present as a unicorn in a suit stepped forwards with a wide grin, shouting cheerfully: “Are you all ready for the greatest show in Equestria? Tonight, and tonight only, we present... the Wonderbolts!”
The unicorn flicked his horn upwards, and fireworks erupted into the air behind him, bursting upwards in a wild explosion of neon colors before five figures tore across the sky in smooth V-formation, as spotlights snapped into life around the field and further lit up the night sky. They left streaks of smoke and lightning behind them as they flew, before twisting and flying neatly upwards as a sixth figure shot into the sky, a blazing trail of rainbow light in his wake.
Avalon began to yell and cheer immediately, and the rest of the crowd was soon cheering as well as Rainbow Dash shot into place beneath the five figures, grinning brightly, dressed in the same blue and yellow uniform and thick goggles as the others were. With the lights shining up and around them, they were easy to see amidst the black ceiling of the starry sky, and ponies cheered and shouted before the six shot suddenly upwards in an arrowhead formation.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, even as they broke off one-by-one to twist through the air, performing sharp stunts and acrobatics as ponies cheered and clapped for them. The show was spectacular, the energy in the air building as they moved with precision and dedication to their work, and Applejack and Avalon were both yelling and cheering for Rainbow with all their hearts.
And then, as  the five Wonderbolts went into a synchronized, upwards spiral and Rainbow shot between the circle of ponies, getting into the ready position to perform a sonic rainboom, there was a rumble through the air... and then something moving terribly fast ripped through one of the cloud lanterns above before veering sharply and smashing into a second glowing cloud. Rainbow froze, staring at this, even as the Wonderbolts continued to move upwards for a moment... but then the Pegasi halted in midair with yells of surprise as the glowing clouds both erupted in massive explosions of lightning and terrible, poisonous purple-black smoke, the crowd below gasping as Celestia leapt off her bench seat and Luna's eyes widened in horror.
That rapid-moving shape tore through another cloud lantern, and it erupted a moment later as the Wonderbolts tried to organize themselves and Rainbow shot forwards. A pair of Pegasus Guard took to the air as the crowd yelled and rambled, staring up disbelievingly... and then the dark, fast-moving shape shot down, and a moment later, both Pegasus Guard were knocked from the skies in a thunderous boom, crumpling to the ground.
That sent the crowd into full panic, and Celestia snarled as the bleachers hurriedly began to empty. Soldiers began to run forwards as Rainbow Dash shot down, looking back and forth for the unknown assailant before he gritted his teeth and turned as he spotted something... only for his eyes to widen in horror, pointing and shouting: “Spitfire, watch out!”
Spitfire turned almost too late, and then her eyes widened before she ducked as a metallic, enormous bird tore by, its talons just missing her head. The Wonderbolts shot hurriedly down as Rainbow looked back and forth with horror... and then he glanced up in shock as a cruel, sharp female voice shouted mockingly from above: “What's wrong? You shorn-wing sissies not used to sharing the sky with real fliers?”
Rainbow looked sharply up, snarling as his eyes locked on a Pegasus high above, before the color drained from his face as the figure dropped lower with a cruel, wide grin. The interloper's wingspan was enormous, much larger than a normal Pegasus', and she was wearing horrific-looking black armor that covered her from hooves to neck: the thick, gleaming metal armor was covered in pockmarks and scars... and much worse, sharp fringes, almost every plate seeming to curl upwards like jagged puzzle pieces with barbed and blade-like edges. As if that wasn't enough, thick thorns and spikes jutted here and there from the armor, at first in what looked like no possible discernible pattern... but when the Pegasus mare did a showy little spin, it became all too clear: the cutting spikes were arranged in spiraling lines across her full plate mail.
Her hair was cut messy and short, dark and drab: purples, blacks, sick colors, diseased colors, just like her coat was a terribly-pale blue, run through with black, pulsing veins. But her eyes had a terrible, glowing-red vitality to them... and Rainbow's mouth went dry as he whispered: “Oh god... you're...”
“I am Courage, Opener of Paths!” The Clockwork Pony grinned viciously, revealing teeth that had been replaced by jagged metal as it posed sharply... and on either side of it, immense Thunderbirds flew in and hovered ominously, the massive metal birds sparking and glaring as Rainbow Dash snarled and set himself, before he looked down sharply as he heard a terrible, awful wailing rising up. “Don't worry, though, Rainbow Dash. I brought enough toys for everyone to play and have some fun.”
Below, the attention of the Royal Guards had been diverted from above to the field by Clockwork Monsters tearing through the fencing around the field, pushing towards the castle. Celestia was already on her hooves, staring in horror as wailing Hobby Horses, shapeshifting drones, and other terrible monstrosities pushed forwards, and Luna snarled as she and Scrivener leapt to their hooves.
Then Celestia shook her head, looking over her shoulder at the panicking crowd running for the castle doors, and she turned her eyes forwards, shouting to the guards: “Retreat to Canterlot! Get the civilians inside!” She paused, then looked sharply at Luna, saying curtly: “I trust in you to cut off the serpent's head. Twilight, I need your help here, to protect the foals and the civilians!”
“Go Twilight, protect my son!” Luna shouted over her shoulder as she ran into the field, Scrivener following quickly behind her. Twilight stared after them, but Luna turned her eyes ahead, even as she added firmly: “I trust in thou.”
Twilight nodded after a moment when Celestia gave her a half-imploring, half-ordering look, and she turned to quickly pick up Antares, the foal looking purely horrified... before her eyes widened when Applejack snarled at the sky and snapped: “Look! The coward's running!”
Courage was laughing as she flew backwards, forelegs spread as she mocked Rainbow Dash: “Come and get me, if you really think you're the best flier in Equestria... prove it, Rainbow Dash! I know all about you though... look at you, disgusting freak, nothing but a comedy act and a coward who would do anything to run away from her problems...”
Courage grinned wider as Rainbow snarled at this, eyes blazing before the Clockwork Pegasus corkscrewed upwards, then dropped backwards in a controlled fall, wings flapping once to angle herself to shoot past the plateau, past the fields, and into the gorge beyond. “I bet you don't have the balls to find out what real freedom, real adventure is!”
“Shut up and get back here!” Rainbow Dash shouted, shooting forwards and past the Thunderbirds: immediately, Spitfire tried to fly after him, but the Thunderbirds clawed at her and lunged into her way, one of them giving a predator's shriek before they dove viciously towards Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts.
Luna snarled up at this sight as she dropped back to the ground to follow after Rainbow Dash and , then she turned her eyes ahead as a Hobby Horse stepped into her path, screaming, and the winged unicorn staggered as her vision was obscured by a flurry of red and black.
Then Scrivener lunged past her, snarling and ramming into the Hobby Horse, knocking it clanking backwards and silencing it before he seized the enormous gear that acted like a wheel in place of its front legs and roared as he hefted upwards, flipping the creature onto its back. Its rear legs spasmed, and Luna ran hurriedly past before Scrivener followed, trampling over the metallic monstrosity as the ponies pushed through the surging throng... and to their surprise, were joined a moment later by Applejack and Big Mac, as the goldenrod mare shouted: “That's my husband! I ain't letting him fight that thing alone!”
Celestia, meanwhile, had already sent Sleipnir and Pinkamena into the castle to secure it, and Twilight to gather up the civilians and bring them all into one of the central ballrooms: the surviving Guard were taking up defensive positions at the now-barred doors. They would hold back the invasion as long as they could, as Celestia gritted her teeth: she had already sent out the order to lock down Canterlot and to secure and protect the civilians before all else.
Celestia hurried to her quarters, slamming through the double doors and flicking her horn as she entered her bedroom; in a golden swirl of light, her armor was torn from where it was kept on a heavy rack, the ivory mare rearing back as it locked quickly over her body. Belts tightened, clasps locked, and plates snapped into place before she flicked her horn a second time, Tyrfing lifting free from where it rested in a rack above her bed before slamming into place across her back, lightning sizzling as it was locked into place by magic.
She turned quickly, striding back out into the hall, her mind already processing what was going on. This was completely different from the other Clockwork attacks they had suffered so far, in every possible way: in fact, it seemed almost like...
A massive explosion rocked the castle, interrupting her thoughts, and Celestia looked up sharply before screams echoed down the corridor. She charged forwards as she snarled, skidding around a corner before her eyes widened at the sight of a Royal Guard collapsing in his death throes, a sword buried through his chest.
The sword tore back, surrounded by a ghostly aura: the same as the blue aura that surrounded a massive kite shield, floating in front of a pony. Or at least, she thought it was a pony: its body was layered in thick, silver plate mail that glimmered with the same aura, with a large, thick collar filled only with blackness: the pony, like its almost-identical compatriots behind it, had no head.
Yet all the same it turned towards her, the empty darkness inside its collar seeming to stare as the kite shield rose in front of it, marked with the black profile of a dragon's head. Celestia narrowed her eyes coldly as she stepped forwards, shouting coldly to the headless aggressors: “Surrender or die!”
One of the headless ponies chuckled quietly in response to this before a ghostly voice whispered in reply: “We're already dead, battle-maiden. Let us offer you the same out of pity: surrender and give up Kvasir, or perish yourself.”
“Kvasir?” Celestia frowned darkly, and then she shook her head before flicking her horn, and three bursts of golden flame rippled through the air in front of her before transforming into raised, readied swords, the ivory winged unicorn responding coldly: “I would rather die.”
“You heard her, colts. Let's grant her wish.” one of the headless ponies said calmly, and then the three headless, armored undead lunged forwards with sudden, spooky speed, one of them lashing his shield forwards with a snarl in a short bash aimed at her breast.
Celestia lashed out with two of her swords, gritting her teeth as she leaned forwards and barred the attack, but immediately the headless knight leaned forwards with a hiss, slamming his shoulder into the back of his kite shield and shoving out with whatever grisly supernatural power it possessed as well, turning the bash into a shield-pin. Celestia gritted her teeth, feeling impressed despite herself at the tactic as she was forced to bring her third sword up to block a swing aimed at her side.
The other knights were hurrying to flank her, and Celestia smiled slightly before the glow around her horn increased... and before the headless knight in front of her could react, Tyrfing tore off her back and swung savagely downwards over her shoulder, tearing halfway through the raised kite shield and halfway through the headless knight hiding behind it. The undead staggered backwards with a rasp of shock as his shield and sword both began to fall limply, and as the other knights lunged at her side, Celestia drew Tyrfing back as her three swords spun around her in a short, defensive circle, knocking her assailants back before Tyrfing swung out and smashed across the knight in front of her, shattering his shield like glass and crunching in his body like a can.
She carried the wide swing around in a sharp cut that sliced one of the headless knights almost in half, spinning gracefully at the same time before flicking her sword downwards and smashing the last headless knight flat with a single slash of the heavy, enormous weapon. Then she leapt quickly backwards, her eyes flicking back and forth before they narrowed as the first headless knight she had destroyed seemed to chuckle quietly.
A moment later, the bloodless wound in its armored body sealed closed, and its broken limbs snapped back together as it climbed slowly to its hooves, arching its body as it swept up its fallen sword with telekinesis. The other knights pieced themselves back together as well, and Celestia grimaced as she stepped slowly backwards even as they pushed forwards, Tyrfing raised high and her three swords at ready positions at her sides and front, as one of the knights said softly: “You can't kill us. We're already dead.”
Celestia's only response was to flick her horn firmly upwards, and there was a rushing sound before a blast of water issued through the air in a short cyclone around her, soaking the headless knights and knocking them staggering. Otherwise, it didn't seem to harm them, and one of the knights chuckled before rasping: “You didn't think that would work, did you?”
“No, I just don't have time to play games.” Celestia replied calmly, and then she flicked her horn again, and a blast of cold tore through the air, swirling around the knights and turning water into ice that spread rapidly over and through their armored bodies.
Celestia stepped forwards and swung her head around, and her smaller swords dropped low as Tyrfing spun around in a vicious, overpowered full swing that smashed through the frozen, headless knights with enough force to reduce them to nothing but shattered ice and metallic debris. Then the sword smashed into the wall and ripped deep through the stone before Celestia tore it free with a flick of her head, grimacing as she spun around and hurried down the corridor, weapons raised around her as she headed quickly towards the library, knowing she had to find Kvasir.
She encountered another group of Clockwork monsters that had somehow torn their way into Canterlot: Drones and a Hobby Horse. Without stopping, she had simply flung Tyrfing forwards, sending it ripping through the Hobby Horse, and the blast of anti-magic it had unleashed on its explosive demise had vaporized the rest of the monsters. Tyrfing had been flung backwards by the blast, but Celestia caught it easily with telekinesis as she charged onwards, murmuring apologies to the corpses of soldiers she passed before she skidded around a corner and found herself finally at the library doors.
She smashed them open with a short telekinetic blast, revealing a room that was in shambles: slain Guards were sprawled over the floor and broken tables, blood had blasted shelves and books, and papers and debris was strewn throughout the area. One of the windows had been shattered, and Kvasir had been backed into a corner, covering his ears as his skin rippled strangely, his howling barely audible over the screams of the Hobby Horses looming over him.
Two headless knights were standing a few feet away and seemed to be watching, accompanied by a bevy of Drones. Celestia snarled at this, and knowing no better option, she apologized silently to Kvasir before flicking her horn and sending one of her smaller golden swords shooting across the room to pierce through the back of a Hobby Horse's neck.
Its screams cut off to a gurgle before it exploded, and the other Hobby Horses went up with powerful bangs and blasts of anti-magic as well, waves of force ripping through the air and disintegrating the Drones. The headless knights lasted a moment longer, weapons and shields falling first as electricity zapped wildly over their armor, and then they simply fell to pieces, whatever had been beneath their heavy equipment exploding into nothing but smoke and ash.
Celestia hurried across the room, fanning away the smoke as she looked down at Kvasir... and then her eyes widened as she staggered backwards, staring as the god groaned in agony. She looked at him with disbelief, trying to mouth some apology... but then Kvasir moodily rose a hand, murmuring moodily: “I'm fine.”
The anti-magic had knocked him back into his actual body: a wild amalgamation of body parts that looked almost as if they had been sewn together, scars crisscrossing his form. A single horn jutted from one side of a faintly-bovine head, and rough, large claws scraped against the ground before he hauled himself up to his feet: the only thing that was the same between his wild, mishmashed form was the fact that it all looked like raw flesh, spiderwebs of veins pulsing here and there over him as he stood unevenly on cloven hooves, then shook his head out: he was only a little taller than Celestia in his true shape, as he rubbed slowly at his white eyes and grumbled: “Let's get out of here.”
“You are a homunculus.” Celestia murmured quietly, and Kvasir looked at her grumpily before he nodded and turned, his gait evening out as a long, whip-like tail snapped back and forth behind him, and the ivory equine grimaced as she hurried forwards to pace beside him. “Stay close to me. We'll make our way to the safe room downstairs.”
Kvasir nodded as they exited through the side door, heading into the hall... and then he winced and staggered backwards at the sight of a headless knight striding towards them, followed by a horde of clicking drones, as it whispered: “There you are. The Clockwork King needs your blood.”
Celestia gritted her teeth, and then she flicked her horn: cracks ripped through the ceiling above before the ivory equine swung her horn down, sending a golden fireball up to hammer into this and explode in a tremendous blast of light and sound. Chunks of heavy stone hailed down as the headless knight staggered backwards and ducked behind its shield, even as the Drones surged around it... but several of these were crushed as the ceiling caved in and blocked the hall, Celestia shouting to Kvasir: “Other way!”
The god nodded and turned, hurrying quickly down the corridor as Celestia followed: they were unfortunate enough to run into another group of Drones, however, and Celestia grimaced even as she snapped her horn and created a wall of not flame, but water, the bubbling, wet barrier thinly blockading the corridor. All the same, the Drones began to try and push through this, their bodies melting away to nothing but the liquid metal beginning to poison and cloud the barrier, Celestia cursing as she dragged Kvasir backwards before kicking open a door leading into a stairwell. “This way!”
They hurried down the stairs to the first floor, pushing towards the center of Canterlot: again, they were almost cut off by a horde of Drones led by several headless knights, but Celestia turned and gritted her teeth with a flick of her horn, blowing out the picture windows on the wall and half-shoving Kvasir through them and into a beautiful open garden. As they hurried through, the horde poured out after them, scurrying, transforming Drones rapidly closing the distance as the headless knights calmly paced along, intent and unstoppable in their lack of hurry.
Celestia began to concentrate as they passed a pond, but Kvasir snorted and shook his head, saying sharply: “Save your strength!”
With that, he spun around in a circle, then swept both clawed hands upwards, and the pond rumbled before the water coalesced into a sphere and rose in a rumbling swirl from the ground. Then Kvasir leaned forwards with a grunt, shoving both hands outwards, and the sphere of water exploded into a typhoon that ripped across the garden, washing away Drones and knocking the headless knights stumbling before Kvasir glanced towards a nearby, old oak tree, and the god suddenly turned towards Celestia and swung his arm out, slicing himself open on the raised blade of Tyrfing before half-spinning and flicking his limb firmly, sending a splatter of his blood over the tree before he pointed and ordered, white eyes glowing: “Stop them!”
The tree rumbled as the blood was absorbed into it, then the branches sudden bent and warped, the trunk of the tree twisting back and forth before it ripped itself up from the ground, faces pushing out along the bark as the branches became like clubbed limbs. It stormed forwards just as one of the headless knights shoved through a bush, and then was slapped through the air like it was nothing more than a toy as Kvaisr spun around and hurried onwards, Celestia staring in amazement for a moment even as the god shouted: “That won't last very long!”
They ran through an open set of double doors into an empty ballroom, and Celestia sighed in relief: they were close now. They hurried into the corridor beyond, and Celestia charged straight at a trio of shapeshifting Drones without stopping, Tyrfing gleaming before the sword tore downwards and lashed back and forth, ripping through the shapeshifting creatures like butter as her smaller blades swung back and forth defensively, blocking scything swings and rending claws with ease.
The way was cleared in moments, and Kvasir stumbled after her before he gritted his uneven teeth and rolled his head on his shoulders, staggering before suddenly diving as his body rippled, transforming in a blur back into unicorn form to run on four hooves beside her. Celestia couldn't help but give a short, grim smile as they hurried onwards, and then finally ran through a broken archway to enter into a wide hall in front of the doors leading into the ballroom where survivors and civilians had been gathered.
Sleipnir and Pinkamena, accompanied by Royal Guard, were viciously fighting against headless knights and drones. Twilight Sparkle was breathing hard, splattered with liquid metal and her own blood as she flung spells towards Hobby Horses and blasted shapeshifting monsters with waves of force, before she looked up in relief as Celestia shouted sharply: “Withdraw! I'll put up a barrier!”
“In a moment!” Sleipnir shouted back, and then he ducked under a swing from a sword before stepping forwards with a roar and slamming a hoof as hard as he could into the headless knight in front of him, knocking it flying backwards to smash into an already-damaged pillar. The base of the stone column shattered loudly with the impact, and a moment later, the support rumbled before toppling slowly sideways, the ceiling high above sagging visibly as the column crushed countless drones below.
With a snarl, Pinkamena lunged into the crowd, smashing her way past Drones even as they grabbed and ripped at her before she slid past a Hobby Horse and slammed both rear hooves into it, knocking it skidding violently forwards before Sleipnir grinned and seized this by its front gear-wheel, spinning rapidly and throwing the monstrosity hard. It shot through the air with a wail, then crashed into the weakened roof and exploded.
A horrible rumble tore through the ceiling, cracks spreading along the roof as Pinkamena leapt up and kicked off a drone to send herself sailing back towards Sleipnir, and the stallion stepped forwards to almost daintily-sweep her out of the air before the two turned and bolted. Royal Guards were staring in shock before the ceiling began to collapse, and Celestia winced before shouting: “Hurry, hurry! Inside!”
Then she flicked her horn, sending a fireball into another cracked pillar and blowing it apart, Sleipnir laughing and encouraging her even as she immediately regretted the action as the ceiling started to crumble in earnest. Celestia backed slowly up, watching as the troops fled past, making sure everypony got inside even as the surging hordes pushed forwards before she flicked her horn, a brilliant golden wall slicing into reality across the hall. Then she spun and turned, running into the ballroom herself as two Pegasus Guard hurriedly shoved the doors shut, and other soldiers ran forwards to seal the doors. The magic barrier outside wouldn't last long, but it would stall the monsters long enough that...
There was a terrible crack, and then a massive, rumbling crash as the doors were pummeled inwards by some powerful force, dust bursting through them as the whole room rumbled... and then Sleipnir wheezed in relief, grinning brightly over at Celestia as he said cheerfully: “Well, sister, I must say! If I ever doubted that thou wert still strong, I have surely now been proven wrong! Thou art sharp and dangerous as ever!”
“Are all the ways in and out secured?” Celestia asked calmly, and Sleipnir nodded as Celestia looked over the ballroom, at the clustered civilians and ponies, before Twilight approached her... and Celestia frowned at the pale, terrified look on Twilight's face. “What is it?”
“Avalon is gone!” Twilight trembled, a tear spilling down her cheek. “Avalon is gone and... and I don't know how or when or where... I left her with Antares when I ran out to help, but he says she was there, and then she was just... gone...”
“I... oh no.” Celestia grimaced, looking quickly around the room before she cursed under her breath as her eyes locked on a high window at the back of the room that was hanging open. She looked at this for a few long moments, then turned her eyes to the only way in and out: a door leading to a kitchen area to bring food in and out. “Sleipnir, Pinkamena. Ten minutes to recover and regroup. Twilight, I need you to stay here: if something goes wrong, if the monsters push in, there has to be someone here to stop them. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes, and I... I won't fail this time!” Twilight looked up, nodding hurriedly as Celestia nodded calmly back, before Twilight whispered: “But... but what are you going to do?”
“We're going to stop these monsters.” Celestia replied calmly, and Sleipnir grinned as he stomped a hoof firmly, rolling his head on his shoulders and shaking off the blood as Pinkamena licked her sharpened teeth. “Get yourselves ready. We have a long battle ahead of us.”
“The best kind. You know what? You ain't so bad, Princess Sunshine. I think I'm going to go grab me something to play with.” Pinkamena winked up at her, then she turned and strode over towards a band of wounded Royal Guards.
Twilight only looked worriedly up at Celestia, but Celestia gave her an almost-gentle smile in return as Tyrfing settled on her back and her golden swords vanished from the air. But her eyes said everything that needed to be said; they were filled with Valkyrie determination, and Valkyrie spirit... and promised that this attack would not go unpunished.