Synthesis of the Atheist

by BlackRoseRaven

The Birth Of Innocence

Chapter Fifty Six: The Birth Of Innocence
~BlackRoseRaven

The months passed, and gradually, Luna, Scrivener and Twilight relaxed little-by-little when there was no further contact from Thesis. Not even Celestia was entirely sure why he was offering them this grace period – unless he really was trying to again prove he wasn't the monster he had already clearly made himself out to be – but none of them were going to take it for granted, either, and they used it to focus on personal projects as well as take care of Twilight Sparkle.

Antares spent most of his nights over at Meadowlark's little apartment, but he had already promised that once the baby was born, he was going to stay at home and help out as much as he could. During the day right now, he was also working more often at the smithy, taking on more complicated projects and learning much more from Sleipnir during short breaks: both forging techniques, as well as a little more about shield fighting.

The glossy-black unicorn had also been assigned to helping out Shiny: every now and then the Clockwork Pony required some additional repairs due to natural wear and tear on his body from the work he helped Cowlick and Ponyville out with, and Cowlick and Sleipnir both trusted Antares enough to handle applying most fixes to Shiny's mechanical body. More than that, though, Cowlick wanted Shiny and Antares to be friends, since the two had started to form a rapport.

Aphrodisia was still in Subterra, but visiting every few weeks: she had finally forgiven Antares, after one last spectacular punch to his face. Burning Desire was working with her, helping her deal with the Lust side of her personality, while Morning Glory had agreed to stay and work with the Wrath side of the demon: part of why the Destroyer took an interest was admittedly because of the scythe Aphrodisia had inadvertently claimed from the reaper, and was now learning to use in conjunction with her demonic powers.

Ersatz often liked to watch Burning Desire's work with Aphrodisia: he was so gentle, so good with her. Sure, they still both put on a bit of a show now and then, but when he began honestly trying to teach, Apps always listened intently, and Burning became serious but soft-spoken. She liked him. She liked him a lot, and Burning Desire found that Ersatz... made him forget sometimes that he was a demon of longing at all.

Twilight Sparkle was happier than she could begin to explain to see it: Burning deserved someone wonderful in his life, someone who could give him what she couldn't. They were still good friends, though... the very best, and he had helped her a lot with dealing with how her emotions sometimes got a little out of control these days.

She visited him whenever she was in Subterra, which was fairly often these days: she had to go for regular checkups with Selene, disconcerting as the Nephilim could be at these times. She would often tell strange stories of what she remembered about her own mother... many of these implying that she had been some kind of divine being, while her father had some kind of demon. But what always disturbed Twilight most was the way the Nephilim implied that her parent's coupling hadn't exactly been consensual... but sometimes it was her father who forced himself on her mother, and at other times her mother had lured and preyed on her father. Either way, though, the story did always have the same ending: her mother had hurled her father back down into Hell, and left Selene... alone.

Twilight was sometimes afraid of Selene, but at the same time, trusted that the strange entity wouldn't do anything to ever harm her, if only because of the unhealthy obsession the Nephilim had with Luna. She thought that part of it was her maternal instincts, though... especially after, during one visit when she was seven months pregnant, Selene had pressed her face against her stomach and stayed that way with a strangely-pleased smile on her face until Twilight had asked her to get off.

Celestia had been in attendance at every visit after that. But Twilight didn't think there were many visits left, and Selene had actually been coming to see her instead of the Lich going to Subterra, which made it a little more comfortable. She was in her late eighth month, though, and both Luna and Scrivener were frantic about taking care of her, though, which made her smile in spite of how annoying it could be to be so restricted at times.

But on days like today, she felt good, as she sighed and relaxed back against the enormous, funny-shaped body pillow Rarity had bought for her. She closed her eyes, patting her hooves absently against her stomach, and smiling as she felt something inside her shift. It was a big, healthy baby. It was going to be a gorgeous baby girl, she knew... she looked forwards to meeting her for the first time, and Luna and Scrivener had promised to ride through the entire process with her, and they had already helped her choose the name she planned to give her daughter.

Twilight laughed quietly, hugging herself before she turned her head to gaze towards the baby's room, feeling a roll of warmth and happiness run through her body. They had painted it a pretty, soft blue, and Luna had been happy to draw the old runic alphabet in a wide circle around the ceiling. Twilight loved it: the ABC's might have looked a little silly on the roof of a room, but the old runes were pretty to look at more than they were learning material, and for some reason gave the place a sense of... safety.

They had gotten some of the old baby furniture that Antares had once used out of storage, including the gorgeous hoof-carved crib he had stayed in while a baby, which they could wheel freely around the house as an added bonus. There were pretty pictures on the walls of Luna, Scrivener, Twilight, Antares and Scarlet, so her baby would know her family was around, and they had a good mix of both learning materials as well as baby toys that were simply... nice. And there were already a few stuffed animals in the crib, although Luna had carefully poked her way through these several times already out of paranoia.

Twilight was happy. This wasn't precisely like anything she'd ever imagined happening to her growing up, and even for years afterwards, she had kind of quietly-accepted the fact that she would probably never have a foal of her own... but Scarlet Sage and Antares were her children, and they had made her happy. But now, here she was... having a baby with the ponies she loved.

Then she winced a bit as she felt a faint tingle run through her body, before the front door was thrown open and Scrivener staggered inside, grumbling: “-like an idiot. Luna, you can't do things like that, seriously.”

“Oh shut up, he had it coming and should count himself fortunate I did not smite him the worser, as thou damn well knows I could have!” Luna retorted, and Twilight looked amusedly up at the two ponies as they strode into the den. Scrivener was carrying two large satchels filled with groceries and some last-minute baby things, while Luna had a satchel hanging off her side that a large pony doll's head was sticking out of. “Twilight, Scrivy is being mean!”

“Luna beat up someone again.” Scrivener said mildly, and Luna glared at him as the stallion strode into the kitchen, and added: “It's time for your dose, by the way.”

“Damnation.” Luna muttered moodily, and then she nodded once before grumbling and striding over to Twilight Sparkle, flopping down and burying her face against the rotund, pregnant belly of the mare, Twilight laughing and reaching down to gently stroke through Luna's starry locks as they fizzled lightly. “Protect me, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight only smiled softly down at the sapphire mare, then she hesitated before asking curiously: “Did you stop in and see Scarlet Sage?”

“Aye, we did.” Luna glanced up and smiled at this, nodding once before she added mildly: “She and Apple Bloom may have finally found a proper donor, and thou shan't believe who it is.”

“Soarin', they're thinking.” Scrivener called from the kitchen, and Luna shouted a flurry of vulgarities at him as Twilight looked up with interest. “Well, that's what happens when you ruin my day, Luna, I have to go and ruin yours. We're in everything together, right?”

Luna glared at him, and then her horn glowed brightly before Scrivener winced as his blood boiled in his veins. He staggered forwards and whacked face-first into the refrigerator before flopping back on his rear... and landing right on one of the emptied satchels he had tossed down, which promptly skidded out from beneath him and sent him tumbling, the back of his head whacking painfully off the cupboards behind him.

Luna gave a dumb laugh as Twilight winced at the pain that sparked through her head, reaching up to rub slowly at this as the sapphire mare swayed a little: that and her donkey-laugh were always a sure sign that Scrivener had just been nearly knocked unconscious by something. The violet mare sighed tiredly, shaking her head slowly before she nudged Luna gently and asked mildly: “Can you not kill Scrivy before the baby is born?”

“Oh, thou thinks I ruin everything.” Luna huffed and lightly patted Twilight's stomach, and Twilight rolled her eyes before a cramp seized her, frowning as the sapphire mare turned away, continuing absently: “Anyway, Scrivy is far from dead. I shall keep him alive for one reason only, and that is diaper duty. 'Tis disgusting.”

Twilight opened her mouth, then grabbed at her stomach and winced as another cramp tore through her body, choking on a gasp as Luna continued to peer towards the counter as she continued: “Now, Scrivy, whilst thou art in thy proper position on thy back in the kitchen, I shall continue the story. Scarlet Sage, I think, will be mother to the foal. I do not know if my daughter has ever laid with a stallion before and she became rather embarrassed when I asked if she and Soarin' were going to... well, make babies to make this baby...”

“L-Luna...” Twilight wheezed out, wincing as she felt her stomach go rigid, and something shift inside of her as another painful cramp ripped through her. It was early... it was almost too early, wasn't it? B-But they said it was healthy... but... no, oh no, stupid, stupid, stupid, why would the baby develop normally if I'm a Lich...

“Oh, come now, Twilight Sparkle, thou knows I mean no offense! Well, after I teased them that the poor child was going to be scarred for life, shared between two siblings. Also, I did not desire to show my ignorance on the subject, so what does the term 'pansexual' mean? Scrivener told me that it does not, in fact, mean a pony who has sex with kitchenware, but I did entirely grip his full explanation in spite of our soul link. Mostly because Scrivener took great offense at when I asked if this meant my birthday gift this year could be Big Macintosh. I swear, Twilight Sparkle, thy pregnancy is riling me up more than a dragoness in heat and only farm silos to console her-”

“Luna!” Twilight shouted, and Luna winced as Scrivener stuck his head dumbly up over the counter, and then both ponies paled and stared as the Lich yelled one more word in a strangled voice: “Baby!”

“Baby!” Luna and Scrivener both shouted, wincing back before they bolted to their hooves, and they almost plowed into each other before Scrivener managed to leap past to sprint for the laundry room, and Luna shot into the backdoor face-first, then staggered backwards with barely a wince before she yanked it open and charged outside.

Five minutes later, Luna was back from sending a letter to Celestia, and Scrivener was hurriedly slipping clean sheets over the mattress, as Twilight stood on wobbly hooves, groaning as cramps rollicked through her body. Abaddon was merely sitting on the counter, watching curiously before he squawked in outrage when Luna almost knocked him over as she quickly began to pin up several sheets as curtains, muttering: “Oh damnation, oh damnation, oh... Scrivener Blooms, this is all thy fault!”

“At least it's summer... I... is it too early? It's not too early, is it? The baby, it's going to be... sorry, sorry.” Scrivener winced at the look Twilight gave him, as the stallion finished setting down the sterile sheets and pillows, before he ran around the bedding and carefully guided Twilight down, murmuring: “Okay, lay back, and just... try to relax while Luna and I are... here... we'll be here to help you, we just need to finish setting up, okay?”

“It's... not the pain... it just... the way it feels...” Twilight gasped quietly, and then she nodded and looked up, reaching up to touch Scrivener's cheek. “I... I think the baby's okay, it's just... j-just because...”

“Okay. Okay, don't you worry about that right now, Celestia will get here fast, she'll come running, you know that.” Scrivener reassured, and Twilight managed a faint smile before she nodded once, and Scrivener leaned down and kissed the violet mare's forehead before he quickly turned to hurry away... then winced and staggered, but managed to regain his hooves even as his body sizzled with electricity: a little rougher than an actual cleansing spell, but since Luna couldn't cast that kind of magic anymore, it was the best they could do for now.

“Thy baby will be strong. Strong.” Luna reassured as she hurried to the violet mare's side, smiling down at her, and she took one of the Lich's front hooves between her own when it was offered, squeezing tightly. “Thou just concentrate. Ride it out, Twilight Sparkle... remember, we can still cut thee open if thou likes.”

Twilight laughed despite herself, smiling faintly through eyes that were filling with tears: not of pain, but of joy, as she whispered: “O-Only you and Scrivener would think a joke like that is funny... at a time like this... oh, Luna, I... your needle...”

“Oh damnation, it.. that is not... fine, Scrivy will bring it.” Luna sighed tiredly, but she was smiling faintly as she squeezed the Lich's hoof slowly between her own, murmuring: “How dare thou care so deeply for me, look out for me like thou does, when thou art in the throes of birth-giving? Damn thee, Twilight Sparkle.”

The Lich only smiled again, trembling and gasping softly as her stomach gave another flex, and then she closed her eyes tightly and whispered: “I love you both. And this is... this is going to be... good. I know it, I know she's going to be strong...”

“She is.” Luna encouraged, and then she looked up as Scrivener returned with several large packs over his back and a small satchel in his mouth. This last he tossed to Luna as he shrugged the packs off: these were full of various supplies they might need while and after Twilight gave birth, depending on what happened to the Lich, and to ensure the best health of her baby.

The small satchel, meanwhile, Luna caught with telekinesis and studied moodily. She sighed after a moment, then opened it and extracted the device inside and one of the narrow glass tubes filled with black liquid, letting the satchel drop to the ground as she muttered: “I despise this.”

Scrivener smiled faintly, then he strode around the bed when Twilight nodded once, and the stallion gently took the device from her telekinetic grip: it had a large, hoof-fitting handle, so he didn't even need to use a claw to grasp it. He slid the tube of corruption into a hollow in the grip, and then flicked a small switch near the top, and a needle sprung out of the cylinder at the top of the handle, a single drip of black liquid spilling out of it.

The stallion gently touched Luna's foreleg before he looked down, but she only muttered: “Just get it done with, Scrivy. No need to pretend thou art some expert healer.”

Scrivener rolled his eyes at this, then he nodded and grimaced a bit before sticking the needle into her limb, and Luna winced, then cursed quietly as he pulled the trigger, the mare's horn and mane both glowing brightly as the corruption flooded through her system. There was only a faint hint of pleasure now, which was covered up by a burning sensation as the concentrated substance worked its way into her veins, shivers spilling through her body... but a faint longing she had grown so used to feeling at all times now was quenched for a few moments.

Then Scrivener slowly drew the needle back, and a single spot of blood rolled out of the thin wound. The stallion smiled faintly as he put the device aside, and Luna closed her eyes as she squeezed Twilight's hoof slowly, murmuring: “Well, at least that is three more weeks before I must take another shot. I... Scrivy, will thou please... remove that?”

Scrivener nodded, putting the device back in the satchel and picking this up to head towards the kitchen and clean it: if he didn't do it right away, the black liquid sometimes became black sludge, which was hell to work out of the needle. Luna, meanwhile, watched him go, before she smiled a little down at the violet mare as she shivered and her stomach gave another cramp. “I am sorry.”

“Don't be. It's not your fault.” Twilight gave a small smile back, then she closed her eyes and murmured: “Besides, look at us. You're surviving, fighting forwards. And me, I'm... I'm going to have our baby.”

“Thou art... we are, yes, I am just being... stupid and selfish.” Luna smiled more after a moment, squeezing the mare's hoof slowly before she nodded once, forcing herself to shake off the shame and the lingering... disappointment... that always came after using the needle. “Look at thee, beautiful Twilight Sparkle... thou art truly the source of all that is good. And thy baby is to be born in the summer! What better time to come to our world, than when the glory of nature is in full might, and she may better appreciate the beauty that will come in the autumn! Aye, it represents thee well, Twilight Sparkle... a vivacious time of wonderful life.”

Twilight blushed deeply, but she smiled radiantly up at Luna before the sapphire mare leaned down impulsively, kissing the mare slowly, and Twilight returned it warmly, shivering once even as another cramp rocked her body. She could feel Luna's mood improving, and it helped her feel better about everything that was going on, more optimistic that... everything was going to be just fine.

Less than twenty minutes later, the front door opened and Celestia strode quickly in, breathing a little hard as she pushed through the curtain and asked quickly: “How is she? Twilight, is your body holding together?”

Luna only smiled radiantly in response, Scrivener on the Lich's other side, and Twilight trembled as she whispered in reply, safe between her two lovers: “Happy.”

Celestia relaxed a little immediately, smiling warmly in return before she nodded once and then glanced at the equipment Scrivener had already readied: a set of stirrups, clean sheets, sterile towels and some other odds and ends. Some looked new, some looked like they had been around since Luna's pregnancy, but Celestia thought everything was in better order than she had hoped for, as she nodded once before taking smoothly over.

Luna and Scrivener listened to her every instruction to the letter: they were both a little anxious, but since they had been through the process once before – and more importantly, Celestia was able to confirm that the baby did, in fact, seem to be okay, and this wasn't a miscarriage or anything – they worked efficiently, and even Luna didn't give any of her usual witty rejoinders or one-liners. She laughed now and then though, and that helped wash away some of the admittedly-keen jealousy Celestia was feeling.

Scarlet Sage and Antares both joined them... well, Scarlet Sage came inside. Antares caught one look of Twilight's legs being up in stirrups, and he turned hurriedly around and almost tore down the curtain in his hurry to escape. Shortly after that, though, Sleipnir and Pinkamena showed up, and Scrivener and Luna had only stared when the demon commented: “You guys are gonna have to do something about the waiting room.”

The Apple Family, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Spike, Fluttershy and her family were all clustered on the deck and crammed through the hallway, and Luna and Scrivener stared past the drawn-back curtain at them, before Rainbow Dash grinned lamely and asked: “So uh. Is the baby really on the way?”

“Guys. Get. Get out of the hallway. How the hell did you all even fit through the door?” Scrivener stared incredulously over the ponies crammed inside, before Aphrodisia happily leapt on top of several ponies at the back, Soarin' yelping and a frustrated shout coming from who could only be Cowlick. “Okay, everyone, wait outside, Luna and I will... figure something out.”

Twilight was still in the beginning stages of giving birth, but Celestia said she was doing well. So while Luna stayed by Twilight's side, Scrivener Blooms went out and got Rainbow Dash and Pinkamena to help him drag some tables out of the little storage building at the side of the house, and set them up around the front yard. It was a clear, warm, and beautiful summer's day, so it would be more than comfortable enough for them to wait out here if they wanted... and Scrivener wasn't surprised that they did, even though it seemed like half of Ponyville was here.

But Twilight Sparkle was special: she was a wonderful pony with something about her that just naturally made ponies want to be beside her, and trust her... and unlike so many ponies who had all that charm, she never abused it. She seemed surprised, even, that there were so many ponies waiting outside for her... that there were so many ponies looking forwards to being there, to get to see her daughter when she was born.

They let ponies visit her, a few at a time, a sheet covering her lower body as she blushed but smiled gratefully at every pony who came in to see her. Rainbow, Applejack, and Avalon congratulated her warmly, Luna had to tackle Sleipnir to stop him from picking up the Lich in a hug, and Pinkie and Pinkamena both offered their congratulations, almost mirroring each other for a moment for all their differences before Pinkamena dragged her bouncy, delighted sibling off. Rarity barely had the words to speak, and Spike all-but-cried as he shared a firm embrace with the mare who had all-but-raised him, was like a big sister to him. And Fluttershy had told her she already knew she was going to show the world again what a wonderful mother she was, while her Phooka family murmured their blessings for Lich and her child.

Cowlick confessed she was jealous with a gentle squeeze of Twilight's shoulder, and Ross just smiled in that heartwarming way of his. Shiny looked at her awkwardly for the longest time, but he'd wanted to be here... and finally, the Clockwork Pony murmured: “I hope you don't mind if I pretend she's my niece now and then.”

“Not as long as you pretend I'm your sister, too.” Twilight replied with a faint smile, and the two looked at each other before sharing a tight, firm embrace after a moment, and Luna and Scrivener had both gazed with pride and wonder at this beautiful mare they were blessed to have in their lives.

Others still came: Ersatz and Burning, to offer honest congratulations; Morning Glory, who showed an unexpected moment of softness as she kissed Twilight's forehead, and promised to protect her child with her life; Discombobulation and Discord, who did a funny little dance for her and made her laugh until Luna chased the two Draconequus out.

It was several hours, but much shorter than the process was for Luna. But by the end of it, Twilight's body had clearly used up much of its energy, and the Lich was quiet and very tired. Dark patches were spreading through her form, and her stitching across her body had torn: she wasn't rotting as much as her physical body was simply... falling apart.

But she clung to existence for the moment, even though she could barely move, and tears rolled down Luna's cheeks and the sapphire mare gazed down at the foal in her limbs. She didn't know what to think. It was too hard to think, as the little baby moved her limbs quietly... and then a tiny claw gently gripped into Luna's starry locks, and she decided it didn't matter. That it shouldn't matter, to her, or Scrivener, or Twilight, even if she was afraid of what the Lich was going to think.

“My baby... is she...” Twilight whispered, but she could barely raise her head, barely see. Luna looked over at Scrivener in the silence that filled the room, and the stallion smiled faintly before he nodded, striding over to Twilight's side and slipping quietly up beside her, not caring about the stink, the sweat, the mess. Only caring he was there, with her, as Luna carefully strode forwards and slipped the foal into Twilight's limbs.

She looked down at the filly. She only had a little fluff around her head and tail right now, and... tiny claws. Twilight tilted her head at this, before she realized there were scales over her body, too... and her features, they didn't look like a pony at all.

Twilight swallowed after a moment, as she realized what she'd given birth to, as the filly in her forelegs shifted and then turned its Wyrm-like features up... but then its eyes opened. And they were sparkling amethyst, and looked up at her with trust, and curiosity, and... a baby's natural love. The eyes swallowed her up, as Twilight trembled, bloody tears spilling down her cheeks before her mouth slowly spread into a smile.

It didn't matter what the baby looked like. In those beautiful, innocent eyes, she only saw her daughter. Her gorgeous, wonderful daughter, as she whispered: “Innocence. Her name is Innocence.”

“Innocence.” Scrivener said softly, and then he smiled faintly before leaning in and kissing Twilight's cheek, as Luna slipped in close and wrapped a foreleg around Twilight's shoulder, the three gazing down at the baby with warmth and love as the tension in the room vanished. The violet mare took strength from them, and it helped her see all the clearer, feel stronger and better and happier than she had ever felt in her life as she cradled the babe up against her body.

Innocence, their child. Twilight looked back and forth at Luna and Scrivener, and she knew that even as strange as the path they had walked together was, and as treacherous and dangerous as things sometimes got, she wouldn't change any of it for the world. She wouldn't give up this single moment, with her daughter Innocence, for a thousand normal lives and a thousand 'normal' children. All that mattered was that they were together... and from the moment their eyes had met, Twilight knew that this was her daughter, and she would do anything to protect her.

Twilight Sparkle lasted long enough for the ponies to come and visit her, and see her daughter. Then, only half an hour after everyone had left, Scrivener and Luna had gently taken Innocence, and Twilight Sparkle had let out a soft sigh before closing her eyes, smiling, and simply letting her spirit lift free of its earthly remains.

Her body dissolved almost completely within moments, leaving only a few stains and pieces of torn black string behind, and Celestia had dealt with cleaning things up with Luna, while Scrivener marveled over Innocence. The tiny foal was some mix of Tyrant Wyrm and pony, and Scrivener felt... he didn't know. To them, she was beautiful, and she was just a baby, doing little more than sleeping and quietly grasping things on instinct with her little claws. But when she grew up...

“Oh, shut up and do not think of that.” Luna said crossly, and Scrivener smiled lamely over at the sapphire mare as they both leaned over the black cradle, gazing down at the baby snuggled safe and warm inside while Celestia changed the bedding. Then Luna paused and glanced over her shoulder, searching back and forth before she finally caught sight of the mostly-invisible Pale of Twilight Sparkle lingering silently near Celestia, and Luna called gently: “Twilight, come now, 'twill be time to thank Celestia later. Come and gaze upon thy beautiful baby.”

The Pale, the spirit, flickered a bit more solidly into being, smiling after a moment before it nodded and made its way silently towards them, as Celestia gave a soft glance over her shoulder at the three as she finished bundling up bloody sheets and used towels and other things. Then she turned her attention back to the task at hoof to gather up the less-soiled remnants, and toss a quick cleansing spell over the mattress itself to try and work out every last trace of the process she could. She knew that tonight, Luna and Scrivener would want to spend the night out here with the baby.

When she returned from the laundry room with new sheets, Twilight was gone, and Luna and Scrivener had their eyes locked, almost perfectly still. A clear tell they weren't just speaking with each other, but with Twilight Sparkle as well, who had retreated inside her living phylacteries. Celestia smiled a bit, feeling amused by the moment of jealousy she had: it was funny. Once Twilight Sparkle had looked up to her as the shining idol of all Equestria, and now... she was the one so awed by Twilight's dedication, and strength, and her fortune.

Celestia turned to fix the bedding, but halfway through, she was halted as Luna and Scrivener both hugged her from behind, the ivory mare's eyes widening slightly before she softened as her little sister murmured: “Thou hast my thanks for being here and attending to us again so loyally, my sister. Without thee... I do not know what we would do. All I know that we would be far lesser than we are now without thy constant aid and guidance.”

“If we can ever repay you, don't hesitate to ask. Anything, Celestia... we're here for you, remember that.” Scrivener added, and then he smiled a little as he sat back, gazing up at her with a quiet laugh. “And you really don't have to fix this up. Luna and I can handle things from here, and Twilight will probably be back on her hooves sooner rather than later. But we're gonna try and make her rest for a week, at least.”

“That would be good. She's gone through a lot...” Celestia hesitated, then smiled after a moment. “And being here is a pleasure for me. It's an honor, in fact. I'm happier to help than I can begin to describe. I want the very best for you all, even if... my own emotions sometimes get a little foggy on this subject.”

“Foggy, bah, that is not the right word. And thou damn well should be jealous, Celestia.” Luna grinned widely up at her sibling, winking at her as Celestia looked down with mild amusement. “Look at me! I have another foal without needing to suffer through childbirth! And better yet, well. Perhaps one day my daughter shall grow into something large and mighty that I may ride around upon.”

Scrivener reached up and slapped the back of Luna's horn, and she flinched as the stallion said dryly: “That's not just from me, that's from Twilight. And you deserved it, so don't even start.”

Luna huffed loudly at the stallion, and Celestia laughed before shaking her head. Then she softened a little, looking towards the windows. “I know that... this must be scary. I was scared at first, when the baby was born... I don't want to admit what thoughts my mind immediately turned to, but you know the way that I've... always had a habit of thinking.” Celestia lowered her head a little. “But after watching Twilight with her... I saw that no matter what, it's only just a little baby right now. A newborn, who deserves a chance at life, and I think... she's going to be just fine.”

“Aye. I agree.” Luna said softly, looking up with a warm smile, and Celestia tilted her head before the mare said mildly: “Whilst I may not have... thy 'sunny' optimism... I do believe that the foal will be strong. Nay, not just... in the physical sense. I mean that Innocence has her mother's eyes, and I believe she will have her mother's personality as well... especially as she is clearly cursed with her father's features.”

“Yes, this is all my fault, I know. Next time I'll let you make Twilight pregnant with your battering ram.” Scrivener said dryly, and Celestia laughed, then quickly cleared her throat and covered her mouth to hide her smile, as Luna and Scrivener both looked up in surprise.

There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Celestia finally said: “I... think that.. it's just the stress of everything that's happened recently, and the relief that Twilight and her baby made it through the pregnancy that has me... a little sillier than usual. Don't worry, Luna, I'm sure I'll be as exasperated as ever with your and Sleipnir's idea of humor by tomorrow.”

“Then I shall take pleasure in trying to make thee laugh today by speaking more of my penis.” Luna said seriously, looking up into Celestia's eyes with an almost solemn expression, and Celestia looked back for a moment before the ivory mare couldn't help but drop her head forwards and laugh.

Scrivener and Luna joined in after a moment, and it was like with their laughter, all the pent-up stress faded out of their bodies. It helped them all realize that even with as strange as things had turned out, everything was okay: Thesis had kept his promise, there was nothing wrong with Innocence, Twilight's body had lasted more than long enough for her to even be able to thank and speak to her friends a little before she needed to rest and recuperate. Everything was okay, and everything was going to be okay... at least for a little while.

Antares and Scarlet Sage had walked their friends and family back into town: when they returned, both had brought marefriend and wife, respectively, neither of whom had been able to get out of work. A few curious Nightmares followed them as well, and Luna decided to let a few of these look at the baby: if Celestia could trust them enough to let them form her personal bodyguards, then Luna would trust the conniving creatures to look at – and not touch – the little newborn.

Apple Bloom and Meadowlark both marveled over the baby, and the Nightmares murmured between themselves before one of the shadowy equines smiled and said softly: “Truly you share a special bond with Lady Twilight, Mistress Luna. My sisters and I can only bow our heads humbly to you, and admit that... we would not be able to be so generous.”

“Thou would not suffer the poor babe to live?” asked Luna moodily, but the Nightmares only laughed quietly between themselves before the one that had spoken smiled and shook its head.

“We would want the babe all for ourselves. Sharing is not a talent common among our kind, and love is not to be trusted. But we see that... wondrous things can result from it. The babe has great potential... she will work wonders.” the Nightmare murmured, then bowed politely. “We promise to you, Mistress Luna... we shall serve the Princess of the Night as readily as we serve you.”

Luna couldn't help but smile at this despite herself: that had once been her title, a long time ago. After a moment, she nodded to the creature, turning her eyes towards the Nightmares and saying quietly: “Very well then... I shall trust in thee. And I feel that I may speak for Twilight Sparkle when I say... thou hast thanks from all of us, for thy kindness. This child is destined for greatness... but not great evil, and I hope that perhaps, like Antares, she can be born into the darkness, but find her way towards the light.”

Antares shifted a little at this, smiling lamely, and the Nightmares only bowed their heads respectfully in response before vanishing one after the other, until only one was left. This Nightmare hesitated for a moment, then leaned forwards and asked softly: “It is not my place to go against your orders... but may I hold the sweet child, Mistress Luna?”

Luna looked thoughtfully towards the Nightmare: they were usually servile and passive to the point they wouldn't so much as move without her explicit order, and the sapphire mare asked after a moment: “Does thou have a name?”

The Nightmare only bowed her head forwards, and Luna smiled after a moment: she had thought this might be one of the Nightmares that formed Celestia's Yamato, which were taught to think more for themselves and often acted like they had more free will than their brethren. All of them were given special names, to differentiate them from the normal Nightmares, and so that Celestia could call on them when in need. “Very well. I shall name thee... Scrivy, give me a name.”

“Yeah, because I'm so great at names.” Scrivener said dryly in return, and he sighed when Luna glared at him before he looked up, feeling around for a name before saying finally: “Eventide. It's a really fancy word for 'night.'”

“Eventide. Excellent. Nightmare, I confer unto thee the title Eventide, which thou shall respond to as if 'tis thy true name, is this understood? And I charge thee to be Innocence's protector and guardian. In return, I shall have thee fitted with the Yamato Armor, but thy duties and responsibilities will revolve around protecting Innocence and not Celestia, is this understood?” Luna said calmly, and the Nightmare bowed deeply to her, a soft smile over its features.

Then it slipped forwards, and Luna sighed inwardly even as she offered her front hoof, with the Nightmare took in both of hers and kissed gently in a sign of fealty. “As you command, Mistress Luna, eldest sister of the night. I shall live to serve under the name of Eventide.”

“Good. Now thou may hold our baby.” Luna said softly, turning towards the cradle and gazing down into it, and then she smiled a little before gently removing the foal. And all eyes watched as she turned and gently held this out to the Nightmare, who seemed almost surprised at the end of the bargain being honored before the smoky equine bowed its head humbly.

Eventide quietly took Innocence into its limbs, and it looked down and seemed to frown after a moment as its red eyes glimmered faintly, murmuring: “I remember... something strange, and old, from long ago. Many years ago...”

Luna only smiled faintly, and there were a long few moments of silence before the Nightmare nodded once with a strange, smoky blush, and it held the child back out towards Luna. The sapphire mare took Innocence, cradling her automatically up in her forelimbs as Eventide bowed her head in gratitude before the Nightmare simply vanished, and Apple Bloom looked curiously over at the mare. “I thought they weren't bound to you anymore.”

At this, the sapphire mare smiled slightly, her eyes flicking towards Apple Bloom as she replied quietly: “Most of them are not, Apple Bloom. But they still look to me as leader and as their... well, thou heard. 'Tis nice to be considered the 'big sister' by some entities at least, even if Celestia has gone and stolen many of my charges for her own nefarious ends.”

“The Yamato actually protect Canterlot these days instead of myself, Luna, and even you know that's a better purpose for these creatures than stealing candy from foals for you.” Celestia replied with a smile, and then her eyes lingered downwards, and Luna studied her sister instead of replying, before the sapphire mare shook her head and laughed quietly.

“Celestia, thou great fool. If thou desires to hold the baby, then simply ask.” Luna smiled and gazed down at Innocence, before looking up at her older sibling as Celestia gave the faintest blush and nodded a little after a moment. “Oh, what? What is that? I cannot hear thee, Celestia, does thou desire to hold my baby?”

“Luna.” Celestia said flatly, and Luna laughed before she leaned down and kissed the baby's forehead... then blinked in surprise and reared back slightly, studying the foal curiously. Celestia frowned slightly at this, and after a moment Scrivener looked up in surprise as well, blinking across at Luna as he felt the shift of Twilight's spirit inside them.

There was silence for a moment, and then Luna reached up and carefully touched along the newborn's forehead. Those beautiful, big amethyst eyes opened, looking up quietly as Luna began to draw her hoof away, as family crowded in around the babe... and then Luna smiled faintly as one of the little baby's claws reached up and grasped her hoof, the mare closing her eyes for a moment before she said softly: “There is the tip of a horn there.”

Celestia tilted her head in surprise, and then Luna gently, carefully passed the young foal to her sibling, who cradled Innocence easily in one limb before touching gently along the baby's forehead with her other hoof, as Innocence blinked her large, pretty eyes slowly, then closed them and curled up a little with an almost-silent burble as Celestia murmured: “Mimir's head, there is. She's a unicorn.”

“Oh hell. I am a unicorn.” Scrivener said stupidly, and for a moment, both Scarlet Sage and Antares looked at their father incredulously, and he looked lamely back. “Okay, shut up. I... it's been stressful lately, I'm allowed to have forgotten a few things. And no one else realized she was a unicorn until Luna pointed it out anyway!”

“Oh yes. 'Tis rare I get to feel the joy of being acknowledged as the smartest in the room.” Luna said with relish, and then she glared at Scrivener when he began to open his mouth, and instead the stallion cleared his throat before slowly closing it and wincing away from her. “Aye. That is precisely what I thought.”

Celestia only sighed quietly, and then she shook her head before smiling a little over at Scrivener Blooms. “I had... almost forgotten myself, brother, to be honest. I'm so used to thinking of you as either an earth pony, or...” She halted for a moment, glancing down at Innocence and murmuring: “A Clockwork Pony. So I didn't even think that it was strange Innocence was born without a horn on her head.”

She stopped, then rocked the babe quietly in her forelimbs, continuing softly: “Part of me says that we should test the newborn's blood, just to see-”

“I will take her back from thee if thou says anything like that again.” Luna threatened, and Celestia smiled despite herself, giving a short nod after a moment before the sapphire mare sighed and shook her head with a wry look. “Aye, I do understand thy point, Celestia, but... the poor newborn has just come into our world. Let us try to at least give her the night before we begin to stick and stab her with needles, shall we?”

“Of course. I can understand that.” Celestia said softly, and then she smiled a little more before quietly turning towards Scarlet Sage and passing the child to her, and the Pegasus blushed even as she took the newborn into her forelimbs, Apple Bloom throwing a foreleg around her partner and smiling widely down at the beautiful little baby.

The earth pony mare hesitated for a moment, then she laughed a little as she dropped her head against Scarlet Sage's, murmuring: “God, I can't believe I'm getting all these feelings over this little kid, but... she sure is cute. My... sister-in-law, ain't she?”

“Yeah, but here I was half-expecting you to call her your niece for some reason. Probably 'cause of the way you refer to Dash as Uncle still.” Scarlet murmured, as she leaned down and nuzzled the newborn gently, and Luna and Scrivener both smiled warmly, almost glowing with pride they felt reflected tenfold by Twilight inside them. Apple Bloom only chuckled at this, though, squeezing her partner firmly around the shoulders.

“Well, that's 'cause Dash is kind of like a funny uncle. The weird kind, not the bad kind.” Apple Bloom remarked, and then she gazed back down at the newborn, shaking her head a little and murmuring: “Horses of Heaven. She's so pretty. How's she so pretty when she looks like Abaddon?”

Luna huffed at this as Scrivener glanced awkwardly down at his pseudodragon, which chirped quietly up at him before hopping up and clinging to his face, the stallion sighing tiredly at this bad habit that he hadn't quite been able to train Abaddon out of. Mostly, he'd learned, because Abaddon was probably just as smart as Sammy had been, and thus intelligent enough to know what he could get away with and what he couldn't, as Luna and the other ponies laughed.

After a few moments, Abaddon happily scrambled up onto Scrivener's head and turned around, sitting proudly atop the stallion's skull and preening a little as he clung into his mane. Scrivener rolled his eyes, but then watched with a soft smile as Scarlet Sage gently passed Innocence to Antares, who had been a little quiet this whole time... not that anyone could blame him.

He looked down at his baby sister with a dumbfounded expression on his muzzle, studying her silently as she slept peacefully, and after a moment Antares bit his lip before looking awkwardly up and finally asking disbelievingly: “This is... this is my little sister? I mean... her... this is... Twilight's baby... my... my sister?”

“Oh Antares. Again I see in thee the wondrous resemblance to thy father. Thou both have the same way with words.” Luna said mildly after a moment, but even Scrivener smiled as Antares blushed and looked dumbly down at the baby again, even as Meadowlark leaned in and gazed warmly over the newborn, reaching up and touching one of her little claws gingerly. “Aye, that is thy baby sister. And 'tis strange, I know, but fear not. 'Tis not completely uncommon to have such a difference of years... Apple Bloom, thou can vouch for that, canst thou not?”

“Hey, Big Mac ain't that much older than I am.” Apple Bloom said mildly, glancing up with an amused look. “He's still damn strong, too. Scarlet and I thought about askin' him to donate to her, as a matter of fact but... we figured that'd be a little bit creepy, me bein' married to her and all and him bein' my brother. That, or we'd probably have to explain every family reunion Scar ain't cheated on me. Least, not that I know of.”

“And you never will, Red.” Scarlet replied mischievously, and Apple Bloom laughed and squeezed her firmly against her with a wide grin, the two mares gazing into one-another's eyes as they pressed nose-to-nose for a moment.

Antares, meanwhile, had only returned to staring down at the child with something like disbelief in his eyes, but then Meadowlark looked up with a warm smile, murmuring: “She really is beautiful. Twilight... no, all of you must be so proud. So happy.”

“We are.” Luna agreed softly, nodding once before she gazed over at Scrivener, and then stallion wrapped a foreleg around her, pulling her close as the sapphire mare gazed lovingly at the sight of her son, holding her daughter. Her daughter, as much as it was Scrivener and Twilight's... she honestly hadn't expected maternal instinct to take over like this as it had, to be so truly proud and happy... but she was. She really, really was, and all jealousy had been wiped away – at least for now – by a need to love and cherish and protect this new little girl born into her life.

Eventually, Meadowlark gently took Innocence from Antares, and passed her back to Luna, who cradled the babe for a little while before placing her back comfortably in her crib. The rest of the night was spent sharing conversation between family, until Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage headed upstairs, Antares and Meadowlark to the stallion's room, and Celestia smiled and nodded to the offer from Luna that she go ahead and take their room.

Celestia lingered for a moment, though, studying Luna and Scrivener before the ivory mare asked finally: “About your condition...”

“I've taken my damned needle, do not fear.” Luna huffed a bit, and Celestia seemed more than a little relieved by this reaction, smiling a bit across at her sibling. “'Tis... damn. At first 'twas... 'twas a rush, I will admit that. Now it just aches. And aye, sometimes I long for more, but... at least I can find my pleasure in other ways.”

She turned her meditative eyes on Scrivener, who winced a bit as Abaddon almost whimpered on the stallion's head. “You remember how after you were pregnant, we went weeks without sex? Well right now, I miss those weeks. I was kind of hoping that now that Twilight gave birth and all, uh. We could have a few weeks like that again.”

“Oh thou great coward.” Luna huffed at him, and Scrivener only looked at her lamely as Celestia gave her sister an entertained look. “No stallion ever complained that my sister was too rough or hard upon them. Of course, that was often because they were dead. So. Thou should count thyself lucky, great and insolent whelp!”

Scrivener sighed and dropped his head forwards, mumbling moodily as Celestia only shook her head with entertainment, and then the sapphire mare softened as she turned her eyes towards the crib, asking: “And Celestia, about feeding the babe...”

“You should do it as soon as you can, Luna. Go and take that potion Zecora gave you.” Celestia said gently, and Luna grumbled but then nodded a little, heading towards the kitchen. Scrivener smiled a little as he glanced after the mare, and then his eyes returned to Celestia as she added: “Tomorrow I'll send word to Subterra to prepare a new body for Twilight Sparkle, so she can be up on her hooves and resume bonding with her baby. But as it is, I think that she already loves her daughter, doesn't she?”

“We all do.” Scrivener said softly, glancing towards the crib before he hesitated, then turned his eyes to Celestia. “Thank you for... everything, lately, Celestia. You've been helping us out a lot and I don't think any of us have really stopped to properly tell you how much it means to us that we always have you to depend on. I know you're dealing with a lot right now, after all...”

Celestia only shook her head, smiling a little. “A misbehaving steward and the barony's problems are only a minor inconvenience, Scrivener Blooms. Most of what I do is equivalent to sitting around and keeping an eye on spoiled foals who are prone to acting out, that's all.”

Scrivener laughed quietly at this, shaking his head before he murmured: “Well, it still means a lot that you've been helping us out with... all our stupidity, as well as all these important things. That you've been keeping an eye on me and Luna too, because... we are prone to weakness. And that you figured out a way to regulate the dosages, too.”

“Aye, grouchy as I am about that.” Luna muttered as she returned from the kitchen, drinking down a thick, milky substance from a jar that was floating in front of her. “But I suppose 'tis better than chasing the eagles, as we used to say in the old days. And of course I am fond of my magic.”

Scrivener smiled a little at this, and Celestia nodded as she looked softly over at the mare, and there was silence for a few moments before Luna guzzled down the rest of the tonic, then huffed and looked moodily at it. “This had best work, Celestia. And I will have to drink this potion... once a week? By all the Aesir, I am turning into a pharmaceutical.”

Neither stallion nor older sibling bothered to correct her, both only looking at her mildly before Luna grumbled and rubbed absently at herself. “I suppose 'tis fine, though. 'Tis for a good cause. I just dislike feeling swollen.”

“Think of it as getting more time to bond with the baby. And you know it makes Twilight Sparkle jealous that she won't be able to feed the babe herself.” Celestia said softly, and Luna grunted and nodded a little after a moment. Then the rainbow-maned winged unicorn instructed gently: “Now remember. Feed her every three or so hours, Luna, to get her used to it. Then we'll work on settling into a more regular schedule from there.”

“Aye, I remember this well enough from Antares.” Luna said grumpily, and then she looked towards Innocence before smiling a bit. “'Twas exhausting. But in a good way. I do not know how else to describe it. And damn Twilight Sparkle, even with her body completely gone, she shall still be up and on her hooves again before I was giving birth to Antares. But... but she always has been and always shall be the strongest of us, is she not?”

“She is.” Celestia agreed softly, nodding with a soft smile before bowing her head politely to the two ponies. “But I think I'm going to give you some privacy now with your child. You both look like you could use a little rest too, and so could I, to be honest. It never fails to amaze me how draining this entire process can be.”

Luna smiled a little, then said softly: “Then thanks to thee, Celestia, for... everything. Thou art more valuable than the entire country to me. I love thee, big sister.”

“I love you too, Luna, and you as well brother. Both of you get some rest now.” Celestia said softly, and the ponies both smiled and nodded as the ivory mare turned away and strode towards the bedroom, both watching her leave with softness in their eyes.

For Celestia, the night was a peaceful one: she rested back in her sister's bed, gazing up at the symbols all over the roof and smiling at what she saw hidden in the pattern of painted constellations. She felt their presence all around her, and it was comforting... almost as comforting as when a surprise visitor sat calmly down beside her and gently stroked his hand through her mane, and Celestia turned her eyes to the Draconequus with a soft smile as she shifted enough to let her head rest in his lap, and he half-cradled her like that, the whole night through.

Antares and Meadowlark curled up tightly in his bed, their heads resting together, cradling the mare up against his chest as he breathed slowly in and out. Meadowlark clutched tight up against him, a soft smile on her face even in her sleep and her expression... content. He could feel how happy she was, the warmth radiating through her body. He could feel all the quiet urges beneath her skin, the wants and desires that tickled through the Pegasus' heart and mind.

And he wondered what he wanted: he was happy with Meadowlark, happier than he'd been in a long time. Seeing his new little sister had been a shock, though: the enormity of it was really just now getting through to him, that there was a new member to the family. He had a new baby sister. There was a new baby in Ponyville... and what about me? Will Meadowlark and I ever...

Above, Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom were half-awake after making love, gazing softly at each other before the Pegasus nuzzled slowly into her earth pony mate, burying her face against the side of her neck as Apple Bloom held her close and rubbed slowly along her back. Innocence was beautiful, and both mares felt a little jealous... although in a way, that only magnified their happiness for Twilight Sparkle all the further.

Sure, Scarlet's parents were weird. But Scarlet knew they were going to take wonderful care of the foal together... and like it or not, Ponyville was full of weird couples. Hell, this very house was full of weird couples, Scarlet thought, as she smiled and closed her eyes and Apple Bloom hugged her wife close, murmuring: “Don't you worry none, Scarlet. I think you're gonna make a great mother one day too... you're already the best mare I ever could have asked for.”

In the den room, Scrivener Blooms and Luna smiled softly, curled with Innocence safe between their bodies, the babe smiling and content and sleepy as those big, beautiful eyes of hers closed. And Twilight Sparkle's presence flitted through their minds, gazing down at her daughter with love and adoration, her spirit drawing on energy from both her partners even as Luna laughed quietly and murmured: “Twilight, thy daughter is fine. Go back, rest... we shall join thee in the slumber. And when we awaken, the babe will still be here, and we will take care of her until thou art able to come and be with her thyself. And then we shall take care of thee both.”

They felt Twilight's smile, and her presence lingered only for a little longer before a whisper passed through their minds, and both Luna and Scrivener closed their eyes and bowed their heads forwards with the same warm expression of gratitude on their features.

And that was how Innocence was born into the world, a content, happy, blessed little filly in spite of her strange appearance. Born of a Lich and a Clockwork Pony, blessed by night, and with features of a world-destroying beast... but the beautiful, warm eyes of her mother, that promised that no matter what she was, it wouldn't change the fact that she was the one who would choose who she became.

Comments

[BlackRoseRaven]

2439898

With luck it won't disappoint, then. And there'll be a bit of talk on just that subject, too, as they try and figure out how to best work around what Thesis is trying to do.
And well, Luna and Scrivener have that bad habit of getting themselves beaten up, and unlike Antares, Protelea wasn't giving any major openings or underestimating them. But Luna actually won't be really using her spear for a little while yet: it's kind of a process of wading into getting used to the new big weapon for her.
The stuff with the corruption will be a pretty heavy theme, though: and White Matter, well. We're going to see the effects of White Matter soon, and uh. Well, you'll see.
As to Bob's arm, uh. That will be answered in a few more chapters. To avoid saying too much of anything.

[Black TearsWolf]

I wanna see Antares fight Cheshire..

[BlackRoseRaven]

2442872

You know... a while back, I was considering doing a bunch of completely nonrelated action/fight sequences. You know, just taking two characters and having them go at each other, maybe with a handicap, maybe just... one-on-one, or teams, or whatever. Stuff like, say, Sol Seraph Vs. Valthrudnir. I never did it because I figured no one would read them and I didn't really have any time with... all these projects going on... but since I've finished up a few nonpony projects as well as the Chronicles - I hope - I could start chipping away at those if there was enough interest. I could even use other characters and submitted original characters, if I was provided enough information. And just. Write a bunch of scenes of ponies whaling on each other with some Super Smash Bros-esque plotline.

[AXl711]

A child is born and all is well. But... I can't shake the feeling that Innocence somehow fits into whatever Thesis is planning. I sincerely hope that's just paranoia talking, but I'm not so sure.

[Skydrake]

Hm, I wonder why is Twilight feeling so uneasy around Selene, to the point of reassuring herself she won't harm her due to Selene's 'obsession' with Luna? That's like saying she thinks Selene 'would' do something bad to her if not for Luna, and I don't think Selene has done much to warrant such suspicion - the opposite, if anything. Granted, she is this aloof and almost otherworldly being with an air of mystery about her, but she has been nothing but their ally, and isn't one of Twilight's characteristics her near-boundless empathy and ability to get along with others? She's even trying to play nice with Valthrundir, of all people, and strange creatures have long since ceased to bother her. Granted, Selene might be more strange (in a way) than many demons, but considering all the time she has spent with Selene in her company - she did play Twilight's nursemaid for a few weeks all but holed up with Twilight after all while Antares was forced to take over - wouldn't she have had ample opportunity to get used to the Nephilim, at least to a point where she wasn't all but afraid of her?

On another note, I must say I rather like Kismet. He's not exactly what I would expect a death entity to be, and as Luna said a while ago - it's pretty hard to dislike him, even being the forced enemy that he is. I'm looking towards where you end up taking his character - no matter how things are brought to an end with Thesis eventually, I imagine Kismet is going to play a significant role in those.
Speaking of supernatural entities though (and Luna poking through the toys), this has forced me to wonder - what has ultimately happened with Gymbr? Last we saw of him, he fell down the bridge together with the Wyrm, but I would be rather surprised if that was the end of the creature. And he would make a most welcome ally against Thesis indeed.

Speaking of Thesis, yeah, the truce does answer my question of how they are going to handle security ... but ultimately that was a short-term solution, and now that the baby is born all the same concerns remain. Especially now that they have to protect the child as well, a house in the middle of nowhere against foes that come and go as they please might be a bad idea, though I guess we will see how that works out. Speaking of traveling the distance and Celestia taking 20 minutes to get there though (I imagine by flying) - why didn't she simply teleport instead? That's something she is quite capable of after all, and the distance shouldn't be an issue either if Prestige can make it.

Now on to the big event itself ... as much as I might not want to, I must say I am rather disappointed with how things turned out with Innocence. That the baby wasn't going to be normal was all but a given - I all but expected her to have Scrivy-like claw-hooves. Affinity for the corruption was all but guaranteed as well. And considering Twilight is a Lich ... which is to say an otherwise undead body kept 'alive' through constant application of magic, I fully expected all the time spent basking in those unnatural energies to leave a mark on their own. I expected many oddities with the child, as there were many factors that could contribute to it in their own ways.

... but a Wyrm-like creature, complete with scales and all? I'm sorry, but where did, biologically or magically, that come from? Scrivy is a Clockwork Pony, emphasis on 'pony', and Twilight is one as well, sustained by unnatural energies aside. The child inheriting the oddities of its parents is natural, but I don't see a way how it could have ended up as a Wyrm. At this point it feels like you are trying a wee bit too hard to deliver something shocking and dramatic, for the sake of it being shocking and dramatic rather than something that feels like it would have been a naturally flowing outcome. What Scrivy's inner mind-self looks like, or what Luna likes to polymorph him in to aren't things that could realistically contribute to Innocence being what she is. And I can't buy that Scrivy's corruption would be a cause either, considering that's just generic material Valthrundir likes to work with, not Wyrm-o-matter.

Honestly, a wyrm-like creature with some pony features is what I would expect if Scrivy were to mate with a Tyrant Wyrm, disturbing as the thought is, not something that could come from him and Twilight, where the expected outcome would have been a pony with some Scrivy-like features; claw-hooves, corruption and all, not something that you described looking more like a pseudodragon than anything else. That just comes across as a forced attempt at squeezing in a theme that has been floating around with Scrivy (more in his mind than anywhere else) at a place where it doesn't feel like a natural fit for the purpose of shock value. Shocking plot twists aren't inherently good features after all if they don't flow well with the rest of it.

So ... yeah, the chapter certainly delivered some surprises. But not in a good way, and this is perhaps the first time since the start of Moonrise a couple of million words ago since I have felt genuinely disappointed with a chapter and the general direction this will now have to head down because of it. I'm sure it will be plenty interesting to see how Innocence handles the world around her (and vice versa), especially as she grows older, but I can imagine the way she came about in the first place remaining a pretty sore point for me until the end as a forced development.

[Lelouch Vi Britania]

you know, every time there's a feelgood chapter like this, I'm always afraid something horrible is going to happen next. Paranoia, perhaps? Or am I justified in my belief?

[BlackRoseRaven]

2444663

It's because Selene is so distant: Valthrudnir does show emotion, and has shown moments where he's... vulnerable, so to speak. There's still a connection that can be made there. Selene's emotions never feel real, and her dedication to Luna is absolute: there's a distance in the way she treats Twilight and her child, making it clear she's only doing it because it makes Luna happy. It would put anyone on edge.
And well... I understand why you might feel that way, but remember that Scrivener isn't just a Clockwork Pony. He's a Replicant, modified by corruption and repetitive contact with the Tyrant Wyrm. He sees himself as a Wyrm because he was supposed to become a Wyrm, the Wyrms and their abilities are everything he was based and designed around as a terraformer and infection-class creature. He's a prototype, but like Thesis, incomplete, with recessive and other genes that are starting to activate. Many of which have been passed down to Innocence, but fully-activated, thanks to the fact that Scrivener is on his own way to completion and all the energies that Twilight took in and the way her body works. It's like when a genetic trait skips a generation.
But I'm sorry it made such a sour note, then, although it honestly has nothing to do with shock value. Innocence just follows the same theme I've been working with the whole saga, light in the darkness, that we choose our own destiny. I hope the rest of the story proves a better read, then.

[Skydrake]

2445557

Hm, regarding Selene - indeed, it was said before that her dedication to Luna is special and beyond what she shows for the others, even Scrivy. But she has been helping them all the time regardless - even before Luna and Scrivy were returned to the world, she was working with Twilight and Celestia and bowing her head to their wishes.

Not in the same overly dedicated way that she lavishes upon Luna, she certainly seemed to consider herself just as accountable to Twilight and Celestia as any other demon during Absolution and did what she was asked even never having met Luna. It doesn't quite feel like she is only doing so only to please Luna - I mean, I'm sure she would help Celestia/Twilight/Antares/Scrivy with whatever requests they might have even if Luna wasn't around to give her immediate approval as well, like she has several times in the past, wouldn't she? Though it was the almost-fear that struck me as odd first and foremost, since I don't think Selene has given them much reason to be afraid of her, even if she is powerful.

[Narcosis]

I don't think I ever appreciated your chapter titles enough the first time
They really are some of the best ones out of any I've seen