Chapter Eighty: Such Spirits That Linger On
~BlackRoseRaven
They reached Canterlot without incident, but it was dark and dreary and miserable when they arrived, and evening was setting in. The streets were empty, save for patrols of soldiers, all of them with unicorn spotters who were scanning the vicinity with magic, and here and there they passed checkpoints that had been set up by armored wagons.
Cadence noted a few ponies in suits as well, dressed like Trixie and Starlight and often whispering into magical communicators, often mixed in with the Royal Guard but always standing aloof and apart. Sometimes they waved at or saluted Trixie and Starlight, and while Trixie was much more visibly pleased about the respect she was getting, Starlight seemed to enjoy the adulation herself like a guilty pleasure.
As they approached the castle, a foul-smelling mist began to rise around them, Shining Armor frowning and Rainbow Dash grumbling and flapping her wings hard before she frowned uneasily, saying nervously: “Hey, guys, I can't disperse this fog. That's weird...”
“Bad mojo. I feel it.” La Croix muttered, and then he swept a hoof through the fog, saying quietly as strings of mist stuck to his hoof: “This be the work of Mamere Araignée. The silk fog ain't somethin' you ponies can control.”
“It's muffling!” Moonflower blurted from the middle of the column, and Cadence frowned before Shining Armor rose his head slightly, grimacing a bit as his horn glowed weakly.
“He's right. It's hard to focus magic through the mist.” Shining muttered, shaking his head briefly. “No wonder the patrols were complaining about having trouble. We'll have to report this to Princess Celestia.”
“Do you sense anything else, La Croix? Or are you being blocked by it, too?” Cadence asked, and the Loa nodded as he moodily adjusted his top hat.
“Oui. But the one good thing is that this stuff will insulate Bondye's forces, too. I doubt it's Mfalme Kuoza: after what you did to him, I bet he ain't gonna be back anytime soon.” La Croix said wryly, before he said quietly: “No. This don't feel like a Darkwater thing. Sure, Bondye done this, but I think this be more...”
“Loki.” Cadence murmured, and then she nodded slowly before she glanced up as they approached the drawbridge leading into the gorgeous castle of Canterlot, saying quietly: “Let's just get inside for now. We can meet with the princesses and then settle on what to do from there.”
“Uh... yeah. I'm sure they're anxious by now.” Shining Armor agreed after a moment, giving a brief nod before he took the lead as they crossed the bridge, signaling for them to slow down; probably unconsciously, Cadence reflected, as she allowed the group to slow.
He was a lot like her Shining, but... not. Her Shining Armor had been more adventurous, dedicated and loyal, certainly, but... a friend to everyone, able to test and break boundaries, not always coloring inside the lines. Great officer material, who would always see his crew home at the end of the day, but not so great for commanding or high-echelon work.
This Shining was similar: he clearly enjoyed having direction and being able to fall back on his training, he was great officer material, and from the interactions she had seen he had the respect of his soldiers. But he was missing... something. He needed guidance. He was... excellent middle-management material, she thought, but not someone who you could leave in charge for a long period of time. Not like Archon had been.
Horses of Heaven, when had she gotten so mean?
Cadence smiled despite herself as they followed across the bridge, Shining saluting the soldiers on duty at the doors, who saluted back with relief before opening them for him. And to Cadence's surprise, Princess Celestia herself was already waiting for them in the entry hall, with Luna on one side and... Cadence on the other.
Cadence Danzsöngr grimaced and straightened immediately as she whistled over her shoulder, calling her unit to formation. The other ponies naturally shifted for them, letting Sombra and Moonflower join her and La Croix at the front of the group, as Shining Armor saluted before announcing to the trio of princesses: “Captain Shining Armor reporting, along with-”
“Hello, La Croix! It's nice to see you again!” Cadence interrupted cheerfully, waving at the zebra, and La Croix awkwardly smiled back as he took off his hat, kneading the brim nervously between his hooves. “Okay honey, thank you. I'm sure they can introduce themselves.”
Shining Armor looked lamely at his wife, and then he awkwardly shuffled off to the side as Princess Celestia stepped forwards and bowed. Cadence and her team bowed back before the Princess of the Sun said softly, as her eyes traced curiously over them: “Welcome to Equestria, travelers. I hear that you've already done a great service for us in thwarting an attack on Ponyville. But I suppose I shouldn't expect anything less from the zebra who saved us the last time we dealt with interlopers from another world.”
“I didn't do nothin', madame. But merci, all the same.” La Croix murmured, bowing his head politely to the mare before he smiled hesitantly, stepping forwards and saying: “The things that be comin' this time, though... they be a lot worse than a pair of demons. But don't you fret none: I ain't much myself, but mes amies here are more than strong enough to take on a cocodril and the ouaouarons he brought with him.”
“My name is Cadence Danzsöngr, and I am the Captain of this team, the Irregular Hunters. We're here on a mission from Empress Hecate of Decretum, to investigate a disturbance we detected in this world's natural order.” Cadence explained as she stepped forwards. “La Croix is part of Decretum now. These other ponies are Moonflower and Sombra. We're here to help.”
“Also, hi, sort of your boss?” Thesis said awkwardly as he shouldered his way up to the front of the group, waving a hoof back and forth. Princess Celestia raised his eyebrows slightly, and Thesis grinned as he posed before he said: “I'm awesome. That's all you need to know, really. But I'm Thesis, acting Regent of Decretum, and while Danzsöngr handles the battlefield, I'll be able to answer any questions you might have and coordinate tactics with you.”
“Then in that case I look forwards to working with you, Thesis.” Celestia said politely, before she turned her eyes thoughtfully over the others, asking after a moment: “Cadence. It might not be polite, but...”
“My name is Cadence, too. And you look... are you me?” Princess Cadence asked, and Cadence Danzsöngr smiled briefly before she glanced down at one of her hooves, flexing her strange body as her long tail swung back and forth behind her.
“Maybe once.” Cadence murmured, and then she shook her head before saying finally: “Call me Cygne. It'll... probably make it easier. And like Thesis said, I'm mainly a field operative. The command and control stuff goes to him. He'll be able to answer all of your questions a lot better.”
Celestia nodded, studying her curiously before she said softly: “You must all be tired, and as anxious as I am to speak to you further, perhaps we should have a bit of rest, first. Shining Armor, would you please escort them to the Noble Wing of the castle? I'm going to stay a moment to talk to Twilight's friends and the Special Investigators.”
“I'll come too.” Princess Cadence volunteered, before she glanced almost pleadingly over at Luna, who only shrugged amiably. “We'll come too, I mean!”
“Uh, yeah. Alright, this way, please.” Shining said after a moment, shrugging a bit, and Cygne smiled wryly as she fell in step behind them, half-ignoring the way Princess Cadence hurried up beside her to stare at her with fascination.
Luna, meanwhile, fell in step beside Sombra at the back of the line, studying him thoughtfully before she remarked casually: “You remind me of someone. I was not on very good terms with him.”
“Then I shall apologize for him and hope to start on a better footing with you.” Sombra replied, and Luna smiled in amusement at him, continuing to measure him curiously.
Cygne mostly ignored Princess Cadence as they walked through the castle: instead, she focused on taking in how similar the Canterlot of here and now was to the Canterlot that she had known. And if she remembered correctly, the Noble Wing was... “Well, this is usually reserved for visiting diplomats, but I suppose that you qualify. Uh. Not to be disrespectful or anything.”
Shining smiled lamely over his shoulder as he stopped in front of a set of double doors, saying: “It's essentially a set of small apartments with a few shared utilities. There are two bathrooms, a kitchen, a reading room, and of course separate bedrooms. I think everything should be stocked, and if not-”
“Yes okay that's great Shining go away.” Princess Cadence said, awkwardly pushing at her husband, and Shining Armor stared at her before the princess leaned in and quickly kissed him before pushing him off, the stallion dumbly stumbling around in a circle before he yelped when the mare firmly slapped his rump to send him hurrying down the hall.
Then she turned with a smile back towards Cygne, who leaned back awkwardly before the princess parallel of herself blurted: “I want to hear everything!”
“It's a long story.” Cygne said awkwardly, and then she turned and pushed through the door. Princess Cadence hurried after her, however, as La Croix rolled his eyes before he smiled wryly and tipped his hat to Princess Luna, pausing in front of the door and throwing a foreleg out to catch Moonflower so the sapphire mare could stride through first, bowing her head politely to La Croix as she passed, and Sombra followed in afterwards with a chuckle.
Moonflower huffed loudly, and La Croix glanced at him before he asked mildly: “You want to come with me and help out, or sit around and chat?”
“Sitting around and chatting sounds very nice, actually.” Moonflower said hopefully as he held up a hoof, but when La Croix gave him a flat look, the unicorn groaned and rolled his eyes, mumbling: “Since when did you become so bossy? You know, in my day, if a stripehorse ever dared to defy a unicorn-”
“That was only noble born unicorns. You was a, what, mud merchant?” La Croix asked mildly, and Moonflower huffed as he reared back, raising his head imperiously.
“I'll thank you very much, La Croix, but I was never a merchant. I was the merchant's almost-daughter.” Moonflower retorted, and La Croix sighed but smiled faintly before the unicorn asked in a suddenly quiet, serious voice: “So is it... that bad?”
“Oui.” La Croix said after a moment, before he shook his head and murmured: “Course I'd like Cygne with me, but... you'll do in a pinch. Pretty sure this place still be secure, anyway, and I'm gonna need your magic to ward this whole damn place.”
“Well, since you asked so politely.” Moonflower said wryly, before he grumpily grabbed at his armor before complaining: “Can't I at least take this off?”
“No, keep it on, you big baby.” La Croix grumbled, and Moonflower gave a long, childish sigh before he sulkily fell into step behind the Loa as he started down the hall, muttering: “Come on. Think I can retrace my steps back up to the gallery where...”
He stopped, then shook his head and mumbled: “Feel like I just make the misere wherever I go these days, mon ami. I just... I don't know.”
He lowered his head, and Moonflower smiled a little before he said quietly: “Now stop that, La Croix. Don't be so arrogant. That Bondye is nothing more than a bully and this is clearly not about you at all. It's because you're like my... my apprentice! And we all know how terrified Loki must be of me, he's just trying to hurt you to get to me. You're not really important at all.”
La Croix glanced up at the stallion, and then he snorted in amusement before he looked ahead and muttered: “Ain't right. But somehow y'always manage to cheer me up with what a con y'are.”
“No, no, you silly stripehorse, con is the bad one. I'm a pro!” Moonflower declared, and La Croix rolled his eyes.
“You somethin' alright, rein de la nuit.” La Croix grumbled, and then he gestured irritably at the stallion with one hoof. “Come on. Let's go.”
Moonflower only shrugged a bit, falling into step behind La Croix as the zebra wandered down the hall, the unicorn looking back and forth before he remarked: “You know, I spent a little bit of time in Canterlot. More, I'm sure, than your average pony. And with my expert powers of observation, I can clearly see just how similar every incarceration is!”
“Yeah, every prison o' stone looks the same where I come from too.” La Croix said ironically, and Moonflower looked dumbly at the zebra, who only rolled his eyes before he muttered: “Y'ain't half as smart as y'think y'are. Believe me, Moony, that be an important lesson to learn.”
“As a matter of fact, La Croix, I am very well aware I'm not quite as smart as everyone else thinks I am.” Moonflower retorted, before he added in a quieter voice: “And I've learned very well that I'm not as powerful or as intellectually-superior as I have thought I am in my proudest moments, La Croix. I think sometimes... all of you are far better off without me.”
La Croix blinked as he stopped and looked over his shoulder at Moonflower, but the unicorn only looked away with a small smile before he murmured: “But then I think about how without me, well... you'd all be dead, wouldn't you?”
“Real nice.” La Croix said wryly, and then he smiled a little before he added: “And hey, your boy, he seem to like you plenty too.”
“And I like him. I just... worry about whether or not that's enough.” Moonflower mumbled, shaking his head before he blurted: “I mean, Necrophage is so much nicer and better and naturally right and-”
“'Naturally right?' That the stupidest damn thing I ever heard, even from you. And I didn't think y'all could get more stupid than you been that time you bought that damn trinket from that cooyon.” La Croix grumbled, and Moonflower blushed a bit and dropped his head awkwardly as he grabbed automatically at his breastplate. “You an idjit. And y'ain't right in the head. But I don't think there be anything 'unnatural' 'bout you. Even if I don't like the way you let your yeux linger on me sometimes.”
“You wish I was letting my yolks linger on you! But of course every pony, mare or stallion, can't help but be attracted to me and my inconquerable stallion physique!” Moonflower declared, and then he smiled even as La Croix turned away with a roll of his eyes, mumbling something under his breath.
When La Croix glanced back curiously, however, Moonflower quickly cleared his throat before he asked curiously: “What did you think of the other Cadence?”
“She be pretty nice. Probably a worse judge o' character than our Cadence, seein' as I kind of owe her a favor for savin' me from Monsieur L'Armee.” La Croix said mildly, and Moonflower cocked his head curiously. “Oui. I still don't know why. I ain't questionin' it, either, though. Y'accept the gifts you get with grace. And take more if they offer it.”
“So greedy. I suppose that's the way your kind works, though.” Moonflower paused, then added wryly: “Oh, I can't even say that with a straight face-”
“Don't think any part of you be straight, Moony.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny, La Croix.” Moonflower said dryly, and then he shook his head before continuing: “No, I understand that. We were the same back home, although... we always said it in nicer ways. It is rude to turn down a gift. And, you know, being the master of all evil as I was, stealing was of course a top priority, as were taking sacrifices.”
“Can't imagine what they sacrificed to you. Rather, I don't want to. Young colts ain't my type.” La Croix said, and then he pushed a door open, leading the unicorn into a stairway as he muttered: “Think this be the right way. Hard to tell. Ain't no security anymore.”
“I am not into 'young boys.' I mean... Thorn isn't even that young. Is he?” Moonflower suddenly looked nervous, chewing apprehensively on his lip. “I always forget he's not nearly as old as I am. He's so wise and strong and smart and... wise... and he's got such a gorgeous coat, it's such a perfect, pleasing zaffre. Do you know how rare zaffre is? Even his mother is more a pthalo.”
“I think I'll just take your word on that, Moony.” La Croix remarked, before he said softly: “He still a kid. But I think he been through...”
“Too much.” Moonflower murmured as they emerged into dusty, abandoned halls, the unicorn looking back and forth before he said softly: “He'd hate this. Wandering around, lost, in dirty, unkept halls. He'd hate us for wandering and the cleaning staff for not doing their jobs and...”
He chuckled quietly, shaking his head slowly, and La Croix glanced back at him curiously. “It's funny the things you settle on, isn't it...” Moonflower halted, then he suddenly reached up and fumbled at his collar, the zebra frowning before he groaned when Moonflower managed to yank the silly stone necklace out from beneath his armor, arguing: “And Thorn likes my necklace and thinks it could be very useful! It has magic stones!”
“Th'only magic stones you'll ever get.” La Croix said dryly, and Moonflower looked dumbly at the zebra before La Croix turned and continued down the hall, looking back and forth as he grumbled: “Why this stupid castle so damn big? Don't even know if we in the right section yet...”
“Castles have to be big! They're signs of success!” Moonflower declared as he leapt forwards, before he squeaked as foreleg got stuck in his necklace and he nearly went spilling onto his face. He managed to yank it loose and stomp down, then hurriedly posed awkwardly when La Croix frowned over his shoulder at him, the unicorn adding as leisurely as he could: “But I suppose that a stripehorse like you isn't used to seeing such... grand and wondrous structures. It's not like you spent nearly as much time in Decretum as I did, after all.”
La Croix snorted at this, and then he grumbled: “Idjit. I been in Decretum since the early days. Long afore you. I was just workin' administration.”
“Really?” Moonflower cocked his head curiously, and La Croix nodded with a grunt. “Well, you know that I was locked up in the dungeons for quite a long time...”
“Oui, I was the one who had to file your damn papers. You arrived 'bout a year after me, and I was picked up by Nanny Hecate... mois, perhaps years after Cadence. Dunno, really. Hard to tell, and Cygne don't talk much 'bout it herself.”
“She does like to keep her secrets.” Moonflower admitted, shaking his head briefly before he smiled a bit. “Or perhaps I'm just too gossipy for my own good.”
La Croix smiled in amusement, then he gestured at a set of doors, saying quietly: “Here we be. Knew my hooves would lead me right. Even if I can't trust much else, I can always trust my instincts.”
Moonflower only shrugged as La Croix's eyes wandered silently upwards for a moment, studying the heavy security gate above before the zebra shook his head and led the way through the room beyond, continuing quietly: “Yeah. I remember this place...”
He silently pushed open the double doors, then stopped for a moment, surveying the immense gallery hall beyond before he gave a faint smile as his eyes roved back and forth. Maybe this was why these halls had gone unused: there were still stains and fractures here and there over the floor, and La Croix noted a faint outline that had been left by...
He closed his eyes as he trailed a hoof around the edge of this, then whispered: “Fais de beaux rêves, cher.”
The zebra stopped, then cleared his throat and straightened when Moonflower tilted his head curiously, the Loa mumbling: “Allez. This be the place, take yourself a look around and familiarize yourself. Gonna need your help to set up a fancy ward.”
Moonflower nodded lamely, then he turned and headed into the gallery, glancing back and forth: it was empty, the air feeling cold and bitter, as if it had been scarred. The unicorn frowned a bit as his eyes lingered for a moment on a strange, ring-shaped object that was covered in a tarp and left to lean against one wall, before his eyes roved to the remains of some sort of platform that had been mostly disassembled, asking: “Were you here?”
“In my last lifetime.” La Croix muttered, as he finally rejoined the stallion, absently playing with his amulet before he said finally: “I'm gonna...”
He stopped, then frowned nervously as he looked back and forth, feeling the chill in the air growing before his eyes widened as he looked over his shoulder just in time to see a black puff rise in a straight, sharp line across the doorway. “We ain't alone!”
“What? What?” Moonflower stumbled dumbly around in a circle, then he squealed in terror as he was suddenly seized and hefted into the air, flailing madly as he was carried up to the ceiling by an invisible force.
La Croix swore as he looked sharply up, seeing the spirits for a moment before something smashed across his face, knocking him staggering with a curse as Bondye's voice rumbled: “I knew you couldn't stay away, La Croix. I knew that you would work your pathetic excuse for magic here. I knew that you would not accept your fate, like a coward.”
“I ain't no coward and I ain't no connard, Bondye! You come out and face me like a... a...” La Croix didn't know how to finish that demand, and didn't have a chance to as something streaked down and smashed across his face again, knocking him staggering with a gasp before something seized him and flipped him over, then crushed him into the ground with what felt like a tree falling on his stomach.
The air wheezed out of his lungs, leaving him gasping on the ground as Bondye said contemptibly: “Pathetic. Did you really think that idiot Kuoza was what I had planned for you, La Croix? No. He was but a taste of the horrors I have to show you.”
La Croix gritted his teeth, raising his head just in time to end up seeing the spirit lunge at him. The translucent shape smashed into him, rolling with the zebra as he swore violently before he threw it off, then stared in surprise as he found himself looking not at some undead monstrosity or some tormented zebra soul, but something animal and wild that had been tamed by magic that he knew couldn't possibly be part of Bondye's repertoire. Bondye poisoned, intimidated, dominated: where was this magic coming from?
Moonflower's squealing filled his ears, and La Croix looked up too late before the unicorn came crashing down on him like a meteor, crushing him into the ground and leaving him in a groaning, twitching pile as Moonflower blinked dumbly, then flung himself up to his hooves, his horn glowing brightly as he shouted: “I don't know what's going on but I am the mighty Moonflower, the mightiest of all mages in the entire universe, and you... invisiblies don't stand a chance against me!”
La Croix winced as he caught sight of the animal spirits rushing at Moonflower's back, before the unicorn snapped his horn up: it gave a bright, powerful flash that made the spirits flinch and twist away from him as the stallion stamped back and forth, continuing to yell: “Show yourselves! Reveal your faces to me or run away and hide like the cowards you are in the face of my mighty might! Hide in my face! I mean, from my face!”
Spirits twisted around and lunged at him, but another pulse of power from Moonflower's horn drove the phantasms backwards again with squeals, as La Croix dragged himself up to his hooves before he grabbed at his cape, as the unicorn continued to threaten and ramble and exclaim uselessly: “I've fought your kind before! And if you're listening, Bundy, I have but one word for you! And that word is that I am the king of darkness!”
Moonflower halted, dropping his head dumbly forward as the glow died out around his horn, and spirits immediately converged on them from all sides before the unicorn snapped his head up, his horn giving a bright, powerful flash of magic that sent the various spirits reeling and bolting away as Moonflower shouted: “That is actually a phrase, not a word, because the word I meant to say is stupendous, in reference to how I am stupendous, or possibly disappointing, in reference to how disappointing you are, because-”
A snarl tore through the air, and the spirits all suddenly fled in terror as toxic green portals ripped open throughout reality, brack and muck pouring in through the holes in reality followed by far worse, far eerier things as Moonflower squeaked and drew back in horror.
Twisted, broken remains of zebras moaned and shivered as they slowly crawled through the spreading poison towards the two, but La Croix only smiled thinly as he finished tracing a circle of powder around them, even as Moonflower gibbered and whimpered at the sight of the Unborn. But La Croix only held up a hoof and covered the stallion's eyes, saying calmly: “Just don't look at 'em. They can't hurt us. We be safe for now, Moony.”
And it was true: when the first of the malformed, hideous things reached the edge of the circle, it turned immediately to smoke and ash upon trying to cross it. Moonflower peeked fearfully out from behind La Croix's hoof, but only for a moment before he grabbed the zebra's foreleg and yanked it over his eyes like a blindfold, trembling in terror. Not that La Croix could entirely blame him: seeing these things was hard on everyone. The sight of them, the very sense of them was often enough to drive mortals insane... “Bondye, 'lessen you yourself decide to come to the party, y'can't get me with no spirits or no bad mojo, and you know it. I be well-versed in every trick and every bit o' magic you can do. Let these poor souls go.”
Bondye snorted in contempt, asking disgustedly: “When did you become so soft, so weak? Oh, La Croix. In the past, how many souls were tarnished or burnt because you were so eager-”
“That was the past. This be the now. And if a connard like me can learn, Bondye, then why the hell can't a big, powerful dieu like you do the same?” La Croix countered as calmly as he could, watching moodily as the dark muck twisted and spilled like living poison towards them, racing past the spirits across the floorboards... but it, too, was stopped by the barrier of ashes La Croix had traced. “You comin', or what? Or you scared o' Cygne?”
Bondye growled in distaste, and then he said softly, even as the portals slowly closed and the Unborn began to dissolve along with the drying muck: “You forget yourself, La Croix. You forget that you were among the first to come crawling to my side, eager to be part of my new order. You forget that you are weak, and cowardly, when you don't have such powerful friends to hide behind. You forget that I have The Dreaded, and many far worse horrors than the Unborn...”
Bondye's voice took on cruel, almost pleased tones: La Croix could imagine the grin on the great crocodile's face as he spoke, and it made him shiver with fear at what the Orisha had to be planning. “And now I have powerful new friends who have already done great things for me. No, La Croix. Think about what you have seen here. Think about what I have shown you.”
As the last of the poison faded away, so too did Bondye's voice, even as he promised: “Your punishment is coming, La Croix. Slowly but surely, it is coming.”
Silence fell, and Moonflower apprehensively peeked out from behind La Croix's foreleg before he asked uncertainly: “Are they gone?”
“Non.” La Croix said quietly, as he frowned uncertainly at a spirit that had remained behind. A translucent lion, which silently paced around the edge of the gallery. It was gazing at him with a strange sternness, he thought, as it moved impatiently: it was the only threat that remained, however. And I ain't even sure... “Wait here, Moony. I know y'can't see it, but if I suddenly start gettin' torn up, send out a big blast of your magic light. Spirits don't like that none. Mixes up their mojo.”
“What are you doing?” hissed Moonflower, but La Croix ignored him as the Loa carefully swept aside a bit of the dust: just enough to break the ring and let him step outside it. He reapplied a bit of dust with a flick of his hoof, then turned his eyes towards the lion as it growled at him silently, while Moonflower did a fearful little dance behind the ring, blurting: “Just wait! I'm sure the others will be here soon, we can just... it's not safe!”
“Taisse toi, mon ami.” La Croix muttered as he carefully approached the spirit of the lion, holding a hoof out towards it nervously, and the lion slowly shifted towards him, taking a few long strides as its body – powerful even in only spirit form – flexed and shifted with its movements like a rippling tide. It tossed its mane once as it stopped in front of La Croix, who apprehensively stretched his hoof a little further to finally touch the spirit beast's forehead.
He looked into its eyes, and it gazed back at him calmly for a few long moments before the lion simply faded from sight, and La Croix slowly lowered his hoof as he bowed his head and whispered: “How? How could that be possible?”
“La Croix?” Moonflower asked worriedly, but the Loa remained silent for a few moments, before he grimaced and looked up as the unicorn squeaked, his horn starting to glow violently: “La Croix!”
“I be fine, you-” La Croix spun around, then squawked when Moonflower's horn flashed brightly, blinding him. He grabbed wildly at his cape to quickly hide behind it, shouting a series of colorful swears at the stallion until the glow finally faded from the unicorn's horn.
He cleared his throat awkwardly, then stepped carefully over the ring of dust and approached La Croix with a lame smile, saying finally as the Loa peered grouchily over his cape at him: “I'm... I saw something. About to attack you. Don't worry, though, La Croix, you're safe in my hooves.”
“I don't wanna be anywhere near your damn hooves, pédé.” growled La Croix, and then he sighed and rolled his eyes when Trixie and Starlight Glimmer came rushing in, skidding through the line of dust in front of the doorway and accidentally kicking up a cloud of smog that they both panicked in, shouting and uselessly attempting to blast the mist away with magic. “Hey, hey, hey! Y'idiots can't use magic to get rid o' that dust! Just stay still a minute, hear?”
Starlight Glimmer grimaced as she stepped back, but Trixie continued to shake herself vehemently before she finally grumbled and dropped her head, falling still as she mumbled: “Trixie does not like this.”
La Croix rolled his eyes as he dug in his cape, before he smiled a bit as Cadence shoved her way past both unicorn mares, asking curtly: “What happened?”
“We be fine. Just Bondye, tryin' to stir up a little trouble. He got... I don't know. I think Loki's helped him take over another Orisha's domain in Darkwater, 'cause he sent some servants after me I ain't seen since...” La Croix shifted a bit, then he shook his head and mumbled: “Well, 'sbeen a real long time, let's leave it at that.”
He glanced down, then cleared his throat as he finally pulled a bottle of liquid out of his cape, continuing: “One of 'em stayed behind, though, might be... trying to warn me or just... tryin' to encourage me. I dunno. The old Loa, they be real fou, real étrange, real primitive-like. Ain't like me. Cultured and classy and all that.”
“I think you're confusing us again, La Croix. I am the intelligent and cultured one here, not you. You're the primitive stripehorse.” Moonflower corrected as he approached, and Trixie covered her mouth with a long gasp.
“Sir, Trixie will have you know that Trixie's uncle is a zebra and she takes great offense to your statement!” Trixie declared before she snapped her head forwards with such vehemence that her sunglasses flew off her face and bounced off the stunned Moonflower's. “Trixie demands that you apologize!”
“I... I mean, no wait, Moonflower means that I, Moonflower, will do no such thing, as the mighty Moonflower does not apologize for... things that do not require apologies! In fact, the Great and Powerful-”
“Trixie is the Great and Powerful, Moonflower is the... the dumb and not... smart!” Trixie retorted imperiously, and Cadence slowly closed her eyes.
“Well, Moonflower is the Greatest and Most Powerfullest, far out of the Gratuitous and Presumptuous Trixie's league!” Moonflower snapped back, looking extremely proud of himself. “So what do you have to say to that, you... peasant!”
Trixie opened her mouth, but then she and Moonflower both blinked when they felt their heads grasped before Cadence firmly rammed their skulls together, knocking the two to the ground in a stunned heap.
There was a long, awkward silence for a moment as Cadence let out a long-suffering sigh, one hoof slowly rubbing at her forehead before she said in a low, calm voice: “La Croix, please clean them up. And if anyone says anything at all, they can join Moonflower and Trixie on the ground.”
Starlight Glimmer gave a lame smile, and La Croix gently patted Cadence on the shoulder before he strode over to the unicorn, saying wryly: “Don't you worry, mademoiselle. Cygne, she just uh... don't have a lot of patience for loudmouths.”
“Trixie is... a little loud.” Starlight Glimmer admitted, before she grimaced a bit when La Croix sprinkled her with the liquid from the bottle, scowling at him a little. “What are you doing?”
“Taisse-toi. Ain't my fault y'all dirty.” retorted La Croix, before he continued: “That ash dust ignores most magic, especially your unicorn magic. Just absorbs it and negates it. Clings and spreads even worse than soot ink, but a bit o' moonwater, and...”
Starlight flinched in surprise as the dust crawled across her body, leaving not a trace of itself behind as it mixed itself into the liquid that La Croix had splashed over her. These droplets coalesced into a heavy ball that fell to the floor with a wet plop, then slowly began to roll away, La Croix remarking as Cadence stared blankly after this: “You wanna get that, Cygne? Elsewise it'll find itself a dark little corner and turn into one of 'em Illrhapps. Just zap it, your magic be real good for that.”
Cadence grumbled as she turned and followed after the black ball, while La Croix turned his attention towards Trixie. Starlight Glimmer stared after the zebra for a moment, and then she shook herself vehemently out before blurting: “I've never seen magic on that level before! And... and I've used time travel and-”
“There ain't no such thing as real time travel. 'Sjust poppin' between the folds of reality, makin' ourselves think we be goin' backwards when really, we just be dropping off to the side.” La Croix grumbled as he poured some of the liquid over Trixie's head, making her splutter and growl, then squeak as the dust on her body began to quickly coalesce beneath her muzzle.
“I don't know about that.” Starlight Glimmer grumbled before she sighed a little and added: “Twilight thought it was real.”
“Moonflower thinks his reflection is real when he looks in the mirror sometimes.” La Croix said mildly as the large, black ball dripped off of Trixie's face, and then rolled slowly over Moonflower, who only scowled a little as he remained prone on the ground. The ball of dark ooze flung itself off the unicorn, but La Croix swept out his hat and caught it in midair, the strange thing vanishing into the endless depths beneath the brim as he turned a wry grin towards Starlight Glimmer. “And if she so powerful, the hell are you two doin' with this job?”
“We're also very powerful! Very powerful and very good friends!” Trixie declared as she leapt up to her feet, before she winced when Cadence simply exploded the ball of ooze, both the unicorn mares staring at the ivory pony as she looked up at them with a scowl. “Trixie will. Keep her voice down.”
“Good.” Cadence grumbled, and then she shook her head before she glanced over at Starlight Glimmer. “He's got a point.”
“Twilight's a princess. And ever since... everything here went wrong...” Starlight Glimmer looked slowly around the gallery, her eyes lingering on the remains of the platform. “Twilight Sparkle has been testing the limits of magic. It's why even when I fought her, she was able to dispel my magic and defeat me. Even with everything I could do, she was always... better. And she's always so distracted and so distant but she's...”
“Twilight Sparkle is not as good at magic as Trixie is, but... she is very spirited.” Trixie admitted grudgingly, before she sniffed as she pulled out a pair of sunglasses from her suit jacket and popped them onto her face, completely ignoring the old, identical set that Moonflower picked up off the ground. “Besides, this is a job for... active mares who are capable of speaking to the public and facing down great threats and evils with flair!”
Cadence only grunted in response, and Moonflower huffed even as he set the sunglasses across his own muzzle, saying grumpily: “Please, your suits don't even properly match. I mean, really, who pairs a jet gray with charcoal trousers and worst of all, those hideous taupe ties? And I mean, honestly, eburnean shirts? You can't even match your own clothes properly.”
“Our clothes were provided for us by Canterlot and do not reflect Trixie's own peerless opinions on color coordination and style, which Trixie has rigorously trained herself in to better demonstrate her superiority on stage!” Trixie shouted, rearing up with such violence that her sunglasses flew off again. This time, however, she promptly removed yet another set from inside her suit and slammed them onto her muzzle, adding grumpily: “Besides, look at you with all your... boring colors. I mean, all the foals must love you, being the color of licorice!”
“You take that back!” Moonflower shouted, lunging towards Trixie, but Trixie stomped forwards as well, almost slamming their heads together as they glared at each other.
“Make me!”
“I'll... make you!”
“Yeah, then do it! Then make me!”
“Make... me make you! Make me make you make me make you!”
“I'll-”
Cadence slowly cracked her front hooves, and both Trixie and Moonflower stared at the grim expression of the mare before they slowly backed away from each other, nervously adjusting their sunglasses before Trixie mumbled an apology and Moonflower dropped his head with a lame shrug.
Cadence looked grouchily between the two before she turned her eyes to La Croix, asking: “Do you need any help setting up the ward?”
“Just Moony will be fine.” La Croix hesitated, then he said finally: “I don't think Bondye's gonna attack again, though. The way he talked...”
He frowned and looked down, tapping a hoof slowly at the ground before he asked almost abruptly: “Is the silk fog still out there in the streets?”
“Oh, uh...” Starlight Glimmer rose her head slightly, frowning for a few moments as her horn glowed before she nodded once. “Yes, but the Royal Guards are using shortwave radios to communicate and check in now, and no one's reported anything out of the ordinary.”
“Oui. It ain't gonna go away, neither. Bondye's doin' something out there. I don't know what it is, but...” La Croix grimaced and shook his head, before he thought for a moment about the lion spirit he had seen, and the shades that had attacked him. Primal spirits... spirits of the old land... “I'll ward the castle. You got any way of checking for possession?”
Trixie and Starlight Glimmer both stared for a few moments, and Cadence shook her head before she said finally: “Daddy probably knows a spell or two that'll help. And I can teach them the basic detection spell that Hecate taught all of us.”
“Trixie knows how to...” Trixie petered out when Cadence slowly turned a sour look on her, and then she gave a lame grin before saying awkwardly: “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.” Cadence said dryly, and then she sighed and said finally: “Let's go gather the princesses up. I'm sure Luna and... the other mare are waiting for us.”
“You mean Princess C...” Starlight Glimmer caught herself as Cadence gave her a look, and instead she cleared her throat before saying diplomatically: “We can go ahead and bring everyone together. We rushed up here from a briefing with Princess Celestia to see what all the commotion is about, I'm sure she's very eager to know what happened.”
“Good. Go talk to her, then, I'll meet you down there with the other princesses. I'm sure they can show me the way.” Cadence ordered, and La Croix and Moonflower couldn't help but trade amused looks as Trixie and Starlight Glimmer both stared, then winced and saluted when Cadence glared at them. Cygne be a little rough around the edges. But she sure do get results.
As the two unicorn mares scampered off, Moonflower said carefully: “Not to question you or anything, Cadence, but... do you think perhaps it would benefit us if you were perhaps a little less... terrifying to our new allies?”
Cadence looked sourly over her shoulder at Moonflower, but then La Croix shrugged before he said pointedly: “Much as I hate to agree with the rein de la nuit, y'have been a little... on edge since we got here, Cygne.”
“I... I know. I know.” Cadence admitted, sighing and lowering her head a little before she mumbled: “It's just... hard. I'm worried about my homeworld. I hate being... I hate seeing myself. I hate seeing the princesses. I hate seeing... everyone I let down and failed by not being the person I could have been.”
She looked away, and La Croix chuckled quietly before he said softly: “How many lives and ponies have you saved by bein' you, through, Cygne? You wanna count how many people I failed by bein' the me I always thought I was meant to be for so many years instead of this new fou La Croix you ponies make me feel like? 'Cause I don't think even Papa Sérénité can count that high.”
Cadence smiled despite herself, and La Croix shrugged before he continued quietly, as he lowered his head: “And oui. I ain't saying you shouldn't be worried. Hell, I be pretty damn worried myself, and part of me hates that I was ever here in the first place. I got a lot of regrets: 'bout what I did here, 'bout not comin' to fix these problems fast enough, 'bout... a lot of things. But ain't no point worryin' or cryin' about it, Cygne. And you too tough to cry for long, anyway.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I know.” She hesitated, then turned her eyes towards Moonflower, asking: “Do you... ever worry?”
Moonflower shrugged and smiled, replying with his usual arrogant bravado: “Why should I? Sure, they might not have me back home, but Antecedes always fancied himself as the brains of all my operations anyway. I think of it as an opportunity for him to prove himself. And I'm quite certain that Neato Burrito could out-wrestle any of Loki's brutes with one hoof behind his back! They'll be fine.”
Moonflower smiled, then he laughed loudly and added as he posed: “And if not, well, I'll just have to sweep in and save the day and show them how I've truly become a master of all things great and powerful and dark and they'll all be so jealous, especially Throna!”
The stallion laughed again, and Cadence sighed and rolled her eyes as La Croix said wryly: “Yeah, see. You just gotta be more like Moony here. The first step be removin' your brain.”
That got a smile out of Cadence, even if only a small one, and she hesitated for a moment before finally saying: “If you guys need help, contact me over the Mission Drive, okay? Otherwise I'll just assume you can handle yourselves in case any more of Bondye's monsters show up.”
“Victims.” La Croix corrected before he could stop himself, and Cadence cocked her head. “They ain't monsters. Not for the most part. Mfalme Kuoza, sure, he be a real nasty cocodril. Or at least fancies himself one. But all those spirits, all those poor restless dead? Ain't their fault. They don't got no choice but to dance when we pull their strings.”
Cadence softened at this, and then she grimaced before Danzsöngr easily rose to the surface, pushing her aside to say calmly: “Then we should not cry at cutting those strings, La Croix. There is neither need nor reason to hesitate.”
“True, Dame Danzsöngr, but some of us still hesitate. I be a death spirit. Not a killin' spirit.” La Croix smiled briefly, giving a small shrug.
Danzsöngr nodded calmly, and then her eyes flicked towards Moonflower, studying him for a few moments before she said softly: “And what do you consider yourself, Moonflower? And do not speak lies to me: you are the only pony who believes them anymore, after all.”
Moonflower flinched visibly at this, shifting a bit on the spot before he dropped his head and mumbled: “I'm... well, I'm me. I'm Moonflower, and I'm a unicorn, and...”
“I am not hearing an answer to my question.” Danzsöngr pressed, before she continued almost logically: “I am Swan. I am warrior, destroyer, purifier; La Croix is Loa, messenger and harbinger of the Black Waters. Hecate is Empress. Sombra is guardian, protector, diplomat. What are you?”
Moonflower bit his lip, and Danzsöngr questioned: “Why is 'mage,' or 'warlord,' or even 'villain' no longer the first word you speak? Why do you struggle to define yourself?”
“Why do you care?” Moonflower burst out, before he flinched backwards in shock when Danzsöngr was suddenly only inches away, moving so fast she seemed to simply teleport in front of him.
They looked at each other for a few long moments, and then Moonflower said finally, as he rose his head slightly: “I'm... I'm me. That's all I know right now. I'm not Morpheus or an evil god or even much of a mage. I'm not court magician or Prince of the Night or any of the other ridiculous titles I've held over the years, but I am... Moonflower, and I am... I am a member of this team. I am an Irregular Hunter. I am-”
“You are my friend.” Danzsöngr said, and Moonflower and La Croix both looked surprised as the Swan – not Cadence, but so clearly the Swan, from the almost blunt tenderness, from the forced, mechanical, but honest way it tried so hard – smiled at them. “You are both my friends. You are important to me. I desire to see you at your best. And I will kill whatever threatens you.”
It was chilling, but coming from the Swan, it was strangely compassionate, too. And after a moment, Cadence blinked and stumbled before she grasped at her head and muttered: “What the hell was all that about?”
“I was 'bout to ask you the same question, Cygne. You okay?” La Croix asked quietly, leaning towards her, but Cadence only smiled briefly before she nodded once, then she sighed a bit as her Mission Drive beeped several times.
She grumbled and smacked at the device until a small holographic screen appeared beside her, Thesis frowning at her from the screen as he asked: “You guys okay up there? The princesses apparently want to meet up... apparently you were supposed to be on the way down.”
“Yeah. I'm coming down now. I was just taking a moment to debrief La Croix and Moonflower.” Cadence replied, although the amused look Thesis gave her told her that he didn't believe a word of what she just said. “Look, I'll be down in a second, okay?”
“Okay. I'll be waiting, Honk.” Thesis said mildly, and Cadence looked dumbly at the screen before the projection vanished.
“Real nice how sweet he is on you.” La Croix said mildly, and Cadence gave the zebra a sour look before she turned away, even as the Loa called: “We'll meet you back at the apartment after we done up here, Cygne! Don't go beatin' anyone up too bad!”
“Yes, don't... beat anyone up!” Moonflower parroted lamely, and then he huffed when La Croix grinned over his shoulder at him, before the unicorn softened as Cadence vanished through the open doorway, murmuring: “She considers us... friends.”
“Oui. I ain't... entirely surprised, I suppose. The Swan...” La Croix hesitated, then he shook his head and shrugged a bit. “Well, ain't important. Let's get our job done, Moony. Then we can go.”
Moonflower cocked his head curiously, but then he shrugged and nodded, following the zebra back across the gallery and towards the platform as La Croix smiled a little, reflecting silently that for better or worse, at least the Irregular Hunters would always have each other.