//------------------------------//
// The God King Returns 
// Story: Hecate's Orphanage 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Eighty Five: The God King Returns
~BlackRoseRaven

Moonflower looked terrified out of his mind, and Cadence couldn't help but feel that maybe the fact she had a bit more time now to prepare for her own homeworld wasn't such a bad thing after all. She was going to have to somehow explain... everything to Shining Armor, and Miss Take, and Archon, after all... because with my luck I won't be able to avoid them. And I didn't even think about Celestia and Luna and... oh Horses of Heaven. “Moonflower!”
Moonflower looked up over his shoulder, pale enough he had almost turned into a white stallion, his knees literally knocking together before he squawked when La Croix slapped the back of his head firmly, grumbling: “Stop that, rein de la nuit. Y'makin' us all nervous. Well. Most of us.”
La Croix looked almost enviously at Sombra, and Cadence couldn't help but share that feeling as she gazed at her father, who was simply reading a file projected in front of him from his Mission Drive. 
Then she turned her eyes back towards Moonflower, saying firmly: “Calm yourself down. It's going to be okay. We're all well-prepared for this.”
Moonflower nervously played with his stupid charm necklace as he shifted anxiously, making the plates of his armor rattle: Cadence wondered moodily if he had managed to loosen them with all the shaking and shivering he had been doing. “Y-Yes... yes, yes, yes, I... yes. Yes. Yes, of... yes.”
“Yes.” Cadence echoed grumpily, and Moonflower smiled at her lamely before Cadence snuck a look over her shoulder: they were all ready to move and the portal ring in front of them was charged up, ready to be activated, but Hecate and Thorn were at the back of the private portal hall, the Jötnar mare checking over the stallion's prosthetic limb for the thousandth time. Not that she could entirely blame her.
Cadence checked her own ivory armor, her wings flexing to make sure she could move them freely, making sure both her Mission Drive was tight to her body and her belts of knives were secure. Her throwing knives had all been treated with some kind of coating that would enhance any damage they did to the Voidborn, and her stupid rifle had apparently been outfitted with rounds that were designed for the same purpose.
Sombra had his usual equipment, but Cadence thought she'd seen what looked like vials of corruption when she'd checked his satchel earlier. She didn't want to bring it up, figuring it had something to do with whatever Hecate had asked him, but admittedly it made her feel... nervous. She hated not knowing things. She knew she could just ask her father, but...
She shook her head, then peered at Thorn and Hecate again before she winced when Hecate snapped at her, without looking up from Thorn: “Eyes front!”
Cadence spun back towards the portal, and Hecate's eyes glinted with a hint of amusement as she looked down at Thorn, ordering: “Again.” 
Thorn complied, stretching his mechanical limb upwards before revolving it several times forwards, then backwards, making both the elbow and shoulder joints bend and twist. After a few revolutions in either direction, he relaxed, and Hecate nodded meditatively as she drew her eyes over the thin, steel-blue limb. It was partly powered by Thorn's own body, and partly by his exosuit, and while it wasn't nearly as powerful as his old prosthetic...for now, it will suffice. “Satisfactory. Update me as the situation evolves. I trust your judgment otherwise.”
Thorn nodded, and Hecate simply gestured towards the portal ring, which flared into life in a crackle of electricity that almost knocked Moonflower off his hooves. “Team 0-0! You have your mission, now move out!”
Thorn strode to the front of the line, calling calmly back over his shoulder: “Let's go, single file, the portal is only open for a short time!”
He looked ahead and cantered into the spinning vortex, and the others followed quickly, Cadence letting herself fall behind Moonflower, La Croix and Sombra bringing up the rear, and they passed through the swirling tunnel of light and shadow to emerge into a bright, sunny afternoon in the middle of a dirt highway, Thorn frowning as he called up a holographic map and Moonflower staring nervously around, as if he expected someone to jump out at him.
The portal slammed shut behind Sombra as he emerged, the unicorn frowning slightly over his shoulder as Cadence began to stride ahead, before Thorn said sharply: “Wait.”
Cadence looked up with a frown, and then Thorn looked up towards the distinct shape of Canterlot in the distance, muttering: “I'm detecting a strange energy resonance, but everything else seems fine. Let's head into Canterlot and see if we can meet with Princess Luna and Princess Throna.”
Moonflower gave an awkward laugh at that, mumbling: “Throna's no princess, I can assure you. Definitely not a princess. Definitely... you know, Canterlot is right there, and maybe...”
Thorn looked pointedly at Moonflower, and Moonflower mumbled before he slowly took a long breath, then pushed his chest out as he straightened, cheeks puffed out in a way that would be comical if not for the sheer terror Moonflower was visibly attempting to suppress.
Thorn looked at the stallion for a moment, and then he said, completely serious and deadpan as always: “If you stop breathing you're going to die, and then your friends are going to be very disappointed in you.”
Moonflower wheezed loudly out, before his head whipped around to glare at his satchel as a voice remarked from it: “No they won't.”
Moonflower grabbed wildly at his satchel as Thorn blinked in surprise, before the unicorn ripped open the bag and yanked out- “Toad!”
The frog crossed his little arms, glowering at Moonflower before he winced as Moonflower yanked him forwards, face slamming into the small frog as he shouted: “What in the name of all that is holy are you doing here? Are you trying to embarrass me?”
“Hey, you do a good enough job of that yourself, buddy.” Toad retorted, and then he kicked and shoved at Moonflower's face until the stallion reared back and dropped the frog, who landed on the dirt path with a wince. “Watch it!”
“Why?” Moonflower kicked childishly at the frog, who hopped quickly around the stallion before he hopped quickly up onto Thorn's head, and Moonflower blanched and stared for a moment before he howled: “Get off him right this instant!”
“Oh come on, Moony, I'm not gonna steal your boyfriend.” complained Toad, before he added: “Anyway, look, I ain't missin' this for the world, I don't care if you put me in a blender or nothin' afterward, I gotta see our old friends again.”
“They are my old friends and the last thing they need to see is me carrying you around you... you... you Toad!” Moonflower snapped in frustration, and then he winced when Thorn held up a hoof.
“We're not opening a portal just to send Toad back to Endworld. Let's head to Canterlot. Perhaps you two can fill us in on the way as to what we should be expecting.” Thorn said calmly, and Cadence had to admit he was handling this better than she would: she probably would have made Moonflower eat his stupid pet frog.
“Yeah, sure! I got all kinds of stories!” Toad said enthusiastically as Thorn turned to lead the way toward Canterlot, and then the frog leaned back and stuck his tongue out at Moonflower, who glared furiously at his pet before his horn started to glow, but Cadence quickly stepped forwards and drove an elbow into the back of his neck, making him squeak and cutting off his magic before he could accidentally blast Thorn instead of his obnoxious frog. “Lemme tell you all about the time that Moony tried to steal some gay statue thing – no offense Thorn – and instead crashed headfirst into the Royal Barracks... which he probably liked, considering it was full of big, sweaty dudes, but I digress...”

Canterlot was surprisingly welcoming, but then again, Moonflower did his best to hide behind Thorn, who introduced them politely, and probably didn't realize how intimidating he was in his servomotor-powered exosuit, even with the loudmouthed frog on his head. To their credit, a guard did escort them through the city, although Cadence figured that was more to deter gawkers than anything else.
The guards clearly had no idea who 'Moonflower' was, and Cadence wasn't entirely surprised: she remembered wryly that the stallion had used quite a lot of names when they had first met, after all. She thought about mentioning this to Thorn, but figured he either already knew or didn't care, or even that maybe it was just some weird way to get Moonflower to step forward and take responsibility.
Cadence was surprised when they entered the castle and found a strange, hybrid creature waiting for them: it was like a mix of unicorn and drake, not much larger than Cadence herself, and with a mix of blue and white scales across her slender frame, her mane like glimmering starlight, a tall spire standing from her forehead and two smaller horns sticking out of her glowing locks. She smiled and sketched a simple curtsy to them as they approached, and Cadence couldn't help but note that her dress was short but not immodest, with slits along the sides and tight around her upper body... a battle dress. “Welcome to Canterlot. I am Throna Halfdragon, the last of the Draekin, and I... White Dragon above! Is that you, Morpheus?”
“Um. Hi?” Moonflower said meekly, as he peeked out around Thorn, and Throna laughed loudly as she strode towards him, Thorn wincing as he was bodychecked aside before the Draekin mare wrapped her forelegs around Moonflower and hugged him tightly, half-lifting him into the air as he squawked loudly. “Put me down!”
“And we all thought that you were dead or worse! It's good to see you, oh mighty Lord of Darkness! Have you returned to wreak great villainy upon our nation once more?” Throna teased, and then she laughed loudly and shook her head with a warm smile as she almost slammed Moonflower back down on his hooves, the stallion stumbling dumbly before Throna stepped back and remarked: “And this is quite a crew you have here! Well, Mr. Master of All Evil, won't Luna be thrilled when she hears that-”
“I'm... only back briefly. There's trouble.” Moonflower interrupted, and then he smiled awkwardly as he straightened, Throna frowning at him as he asked: “Can you call Princess Luna? My... my good friend Thorn Blackfeather will need to speak to her. And I need to find Antecedes, and... we need to go to Tartarus.”
“What? What's going on, Morpheus?” asked Throna uneasily, frowning as she straightened and studied him intently. Her horn glowed, and Moonflower winced a bit before she muttered: “No, you're you, I recognize that energy... but what could make you serious? Why Tartarus?”
“Bad things. Very bad things.” Moonflower bit his lip, before he leaned in and whispered: “I need to find the architect. The one who made... the Tablet.”
Throna's eyes widened at this, and then she bit her lip before she said finally: “Your friend Antecedes called Luna to the Black Fortress to talk to her, he said it was urgent and she left without so much as a goodbye, spotty mare. Now I sincerely hope that your business and hers are not the same.”
Moonflower grimaced a bit at this, and then he nodded before he muttered: “Antecedes. Calling to talk to the Princess, really?”
“Of course. He's a good stallion. Oh, sure, he's clearly made his errors, but I think he's paid for them several times over, hasn't he now?” Throna smiled slightly, continuing: “He does good work at the Canterlot Magic Academy, you know, and the Princess treats him as friend and advisor.”
“What? Ridiculous!” Moonflower exclaimed, before he glared over at Toad, complaining: “Look at this mess! I'm away for, what, a few mere years, and now all of my hard work has been undone and... Antecedes is working as a teacher and I bet that Neato Burrito has run away with that trollop of a mare! What's the world come to, Toad, when your friends can't even keep up their promise to destroy a country while you're away?”
Throna smiled amusedly at this, shaking her head slowly and visibly relaxing as she said softly: “It admittedly does me good to see a bit of your old self, Morpheus, whether or not your self-proclaimed King of All Evil shtick was a little annoying or not. And yes, I'll have you know that El Casco and Ex Parte are quite popular these days on their wrestling circuit or whatever it is they call it.”
“Of course they are.” Moonflower threw his forelegs up in disgust, huffing loudly before he glanced over at Thorn, then smiled lamely and shrank his head between his shoulders. “Sorry. Old habits.”
Thorn only shrugged, then he returned his eyes to Throna and said: “We need to leave as soon as possible to meet with Princess Luna. We need access to Tartarus and to coordinate our forces. Do you have any information about dimensional disturbances or any other suspicious activities that have occurred in the area recently?”
Throna scowled and shifted backwards, but when Moonflower nodded vigorously to her, she finally sighed and nodded grudgingly to the sapphire stallion, muttering: “Oh, very well then. I don't know about dimensional disturbances, but we've picked up a lot of strange magic recently, including some powerful pulses that we haven't been able to identify. Perhaps that's what Luna went off to talk to Antecedes about, but those two like to natter and gossip without me, so who knows?”
Throna rolled her eyes sulkily, but Thorn only nodded once before he reached up and pulled his visor down over his eyes, saying calmly: “Moonflower, stay on alert for any pulses of magic. You'll likely be able to detect it before I do. I'm going to set up an open scan for Void energies and antimatter: I'll alert you if I detect anything.”
Cadence shifted awkwardly, struggling not to say something just to be included in the conversation, and Moonflower bit his lip before he asked Throna awkwardly: “The uh... Black Fortress is in the same place, yes?”
“Of course, you idiot.” Throna smiled at him with amusement, before she said quickly: “I'll come with you too. I've been cooped up in this castle for too long and I deserve to know what's going on. Stronghold kept me out of things enough as it was.”
Cadence scowled a little, and the Draekin – or whatever she was – caught this and scowled back, but Thorn drew her attention as he said calmly: “I have no authority to deny you, but I will warn you that we have been pursuing an extremely dangerous target. I cannot guarantee your safety, and if a threat occurs and you fail to obey my instructions, you may suffer severe consequences.”
Throna hufed loudly at this, then she retorted: “You sound as bad as Stronghold. I am Draekin, boy! Do you know what that means?”
“I neither know nor care.” Thorn replied bluntly, and Throna stared at him before Moonflower laughed awkwardly and wiggled his way between the two with a lame grin. 
“Let's uh... just concentrate on going to the Black Fortress, shall we? Thorn, I'm sure Throna can take care of herself, she's a Draekin, Draekin are... Draekin.” Moonflower said awkwardly, and then he cleared his throat and added: “And Throna, Thorn is... well, he's very good. Just very serious. But he takes good care of all of us so... be nice.”
Throna grunted, and Thorn nodded before he turned and instructed: “Escort positions. Cadence, fall back to rear guard. I'd like to move out as soon as possible.”
“Yes, no need to wait. Let's be off.” Throna agreed, and Moonflower gave a lame smile as Toad snorted from where he was still safely perched on top of Thorn's head as the sapphire stallion turned to lead the way out.
Sombra bowed politely to Throna, gesturing at her to go ahead, and the Draekin gave him an amused look before she remarked, as Moonflower spun around to hurry up to Throna's side and La Croix and Cadence fell in pace at the back: “You know, this is far from how I expected to see you next, Morpheus. I always thought that you'd come back in chains, shouting and yelling about how you'd conquered the great evil Hecate with your... whatever-evil.”
“My evil was never whatever-evil, and who is to say that I haven't?” retorted Moonflower, and Cadence snorted loudly as Toad laughed, which made the black unicorn wilt slightly. “I... I have done very good. I am part of something better than just... pointless evil now, though, I am... I am...”
Moonflower quieted, looking away for a moment, and Throna frowned as they exited the castle before he looked back and said quietly: “My name is Moonflower, and I'm just a unicorn, Throna, dear. But I'm trying my hardest to live up to some very great things, and I like to think that I've... become a little better than the silly person I was.”
“It sounds like you have a story to tell, Morpheus... or Moonflower. We have quite a way to go, so... why not tell it?” Throna smiled, adding: “I know you always liked me more than Luna, anyway.”
“Only because you have a better fashion sense than her, of course.” Moonflower replied with a small smile, and then he nodded, looking up and starting to talk.
It was funny, hearing Moonflower tell the story of their lives, and moreover, hearing him do it without too much boasting or exaggeration or silliness. He did seem to really respect Throna, which was the only thing that made Cadence want to trust the Draekin, as the Swan shifted strangely inside of her, whispering of things she had forgotten, of races and gods that had once existed but were no longer. 
When he wasn't trying to impress anyone, Moonflower spoke well: Cadence had forgotten half the things they'd experienced, or how it was really not that long ago that Moonflower had really dropped the act and become part of the team. Not that there weren't still moments where the old Morpheus came out, but Cadence didn't want him to change so much he completely forgot who he was, or who he had been. When he wasn't overdoing it, Moonflower's silliness made her smile.
They passed several hours just listening to Moonflower's stories, until they descended into a natural basin, a gorgeous, dark forest sprawled out in front of them, with a well-trod stone-tiled path marking the way through the marshy forest to the castle that towered above the old, withered trees. It was majestic and beautiful, in a fairy-tale sort of way: it was all so dark, but never ominous; it was a natural darkness. It was a thrilling kind of spooky-scary, the kind where you knew something could leap out and frighten you, but you never had to be afraid, not really.
Cadence smiled at Moonflower: she figured that was probably what he'd always wanted to be. Something people wanted to be frightened by, wanted to have attack them. The 'cool' supervillain. 
“So did you seriously make a road to your evil castle or whatever?” Cadence asked as they stepped onto the stone path, interrupting the end of Moonflower's story, and he huffed loudly even as he blushed a little. “Of course you did.”
“I... well... they never would have found it, otherwise!” complained Moonflower, gesturing violently towards the dark forest. “Do you know how many ponies get lost in these woods?”
“More, now that it's become such a prime tourist attraction.” remarked Throna, and Moonflower groaned before the mare gestured at a sign that pointed in the direction of 'Black Fortress.' “See?”
“Wonderful.” Moonflower mumbled, before he hurried his way up beside Thorn, almost pleading: “Can't I just stay here? I could even go to Tartarus right now and wait for you there! That sounds like a wonderful idea!”
“We're doing this together. You're okay.” Thorn said gently, and Moonflower mumbled under his breath before he nodded awkwardly, looking almost pleadingly at the stallion. “It's alright.”
It was a tiny reassurance, but Moonflower seemed to take strength from it all the same... before Throna asked obnoxiously: “So it's true, you like boys?”
“I like stallions!” Moonflower shouted, and there was an awkward silence for a moment before the black unicorn cleared his throat and mumbled: “Yes. Your sister wasn't exaggerating about that.” 
Throna only shrugged amiably, saying mildly: “No skin off my teeth. Stronghold was the one who had the crush on you, not me.”
“Don't even joke about that.” Moonflower shuddered, shaking his head vehemently before he mumbled: “It's bad enough all these mares always found me so attractive. I could never help the fact that I was perfect, you know! But Stronghold...”
Throna smiled a bit as Moonflower petered awkwardly out, before she glanced up as Thorn explained: “Stronghold Halfdragon was the Draekin who replaced Celestia in this world's timeline. She did so by using the Tablet of Dreams. The same Tablet that we have to ensure has been dismantled and dispelled.” 
“Dispelled, aye. Dismantled, though, nay. The Tablet now serves as a sort of... adviser to Princess Luna. You'll love him.” Throna said wryly, and somehow Cadence felt that she wasn't going to like this 'Tablet' at all. And since when is a Tablet an adviser? They talk about it like... no, I don't want to know. Horses of Heaven, can I deal with just one normal thing today?
Moonflower bit his lip as they approached the Black Fortress, stuck somewhere between wanting to raise his head high and proud and trying to fall back so he could hide behind Thorn and Throna. Cadence couldn't entirely blame him, although by now much of her attention had shifted to the facade of the fortress, which was beautiful and engraved and completely, utterly without any signs of wear whatsoever. And that meant more than just the protective layering of magic to prevent weather damage, that meant this fortress had never seen any siege of any kind. Still, it was almost intimidating... until, that was, they strode into the open stone lot in front of the fortress, and like magic, they found themselves surrounded not by an army of evil, but ponies and... carnival workers?
“Yes, I... I see my evil plan is still... going.” Moonflower declared in a faltering voice, turning beet red as he stared back and forth: stalls had been set up all around the perimeter of the open lot, and while everything was being run by warty green goblins and smelly, rough-looking diamond dogs, everyone seemed happy, Cadence thought with disbelief. Foals were cackling and laughing as they played games, bought weird-looking 'treats,' and rode skeletons of earth ponies with glowing lanterns in their chests, the harmless puppet-undead slowly walking in circles inside an arena as ponies oohed and awed.
“Antecedes got help from some other ponies to run the carnival. But I'm sure they'll be excited to know their Lord Moonflower is back.” Throna said pleasantly, absently waving to a few ponies who bowed or greeted her. “I hope they don't make us buy tickets.”
“Tickets?” Cadence couldn't help but ask as they strode towards the drawbridge, and then she blinked in surprise as a little goblin ran out of a booth in front of them, waving his hands violently. “Are you serious?”
“Hey! You gotta buy tickets if you want to go on the big tour of the boss' castle!” the goblin squawked, and Moonflower stared blankly at the little goblin as Toad grinned from Thorn's head, Throna laughing heartily. “Yes, even you, Lady Throna! You know how it works!”
Throna stopped laughing at that, and the goblin put his hands on his hips, all two lanky feet of fae creature glaring up at the massive ponies and Draekin challengingly. Thorn looked back at him for a few moments, and then he said slowly: “We are here to see Antecedes and Princess Luna on urgent diplomatic business, and-”
“Tickets!” screeched the goblin, before he huffed and crossed his arms. “Five bits for each adult! Two bits for each child! Group discounts available!” 
Thorn slowly closed his mouth, then he looked pointedly over at Moonflower, who grinned lamely before he finally stepped forwards and leaned down, whispering: “It's me.”
The goblin stared at Moonflower for a moment, and then he threw his arms up and opened his mouth to squeal, but Moonflower hurriedly shoved a hoof over his face and snapped: “I don't want to... to... uh... terrify everyone with my magnificent presence, you dolt! Uh... let me in!”
The goblin reached up and grabbed wildly at Moonflower's hoof, then he pushed it away before declaring: “Yes, of course! Fifty percent off!”
“Fifty... fifty percent...” Moonflower spluttered, staring disbelievingly at the little goblin, who nodded vehemently.
“You need tickets to-”
Cadence stomped forwards and punted the goblin out of the way, sending him flying into the moat with a squeal, and all eyes stared at her before the ivory mare grumbled: “Well, it worked.”
Moonflower giggled weakly, and Thorn sighed before he said finally: “Please try and be more diplomatic in the future, Cadence.”
Cadence mumbled something about not making any promises, then followed Thorn as he led the way across the drawbridge to the doors of the castle. There were two tiny goblin guards in armor, but they both only saluted fearfully as they approached.
They entered the foyer of the castle, and somehow, Cadence was unsurprised to not only see more ponies wandering around, but that a room immediately to their right looked like some kind of massive gift shop, and to their left was a cafeteria, where there was some sort of birthday party going on, it looked like. Moonflower was looking horribly embarrassed by now, and as he felt Cadence's eyes on him, he almost spun around as he proclaimed: “The... the castle has to make up its... money... make money! I have to make a profit somehow on more than my dastardly deeds and what better way to do it than by corrupting the minds of innocent children? Ha ha! Ha. Ha.”
“I like the part where absolutely no one recognized you, Moony, because of that.” Toad said blandly, gesturing towards the end of the long hallway, where the intersection was dominated by a massive portrait of Moonflower in regal clothing and a crown, vain and beautiful. Moonflower only blushed at the sight of the painting, however, hiding his head, and shifting in a way that made Cadence soften, as she realized he had just tried to bring a wing forward to cover his face... but he lost those, too.
“Hey.” she said softly, and Moonflower looked back at her, humiliated. “I think this is really nice.”
Moonflower mumbled a little, before he glanced up as Thorn added quietly: “In a way, you've done what both Decretum and Subterra have done. You've helped ponies and their natural enemies to see that they can exist together without hostility. That we have evolved to the point where we can act to assist one-another instead of as enemies, in spite of our natural affiliations. I admire that.”
Moonflower smiled a bit, raising his head slightly, before Thorn asked in his blunt way: “Why are you still hiding your face? You have nothing to be ashamed of here.”
The black unicorn mumbled a little, but he was spared having to answer when a squat, muscular earth pony seemed to appear out of nowhere, charging in with a shout and skidding into Thorn with enough force to knock the sapphire stallion flying. Moonflower winced, then yelped when the mustached earth pony seized him by the face, his beady little eyes staring as he shouted: “Boss! You're back! I knew a stallion with cojones like you could never be crushed!”
“Neato Burrito!” Moonflower squawked, before he hurriedly pried the small earth pony off, wheezing a little as Cadence stared in disbelief. “What are you... where did you... h-how...”
“Of course the moment I heard your hooves, boss, I came running! I am loyal! Nothing is more loyal than the Luchador! It has given me a sixth sense to find you, wherever you may be, whenever you are close!” Neato Burrito proclaimed, mostly in loud shouting that made Cadence want to punch him, as La Croix slowly backed away and Sombra cocked his head, as if he was looking at something even he didn't quite understand. “Senorita!”
Neato Burrito suddenly dipped to the side and swept up Throna's hoof to kiss it firmly, and Throna only looked amused by this before the tiny, furious stallion turned his tiny, furious eyes over the others. “Are these new recruits, boss? Hey, you, new recruits! Have you returned with Throna hostage? This is not how you capture a hostage!”
“Parli spagnolo?” asked Sombra curiously, and Neato Burrito's eyes widened as he spun towards the stallion, who cleared his throat before saying politely: “Lo siento. Hablas español?”
“I speak the honorable language of the Luchador, amigo! The real question is, do you speak Luchador?” Neato Burrito shouted in response, and then he suddenly whirled towards Sombra and dove at him-
Cadence intercepted the small stallion with one foreleg, flipping him backwards before slamming him back-first down into the concrete floor with enough force to shatter stone, the bang that echoed through the hall making everypony stop and stare in shock. Cadence only glowered down at the small stallion as he twitched weakly a few times on the ground, wheezing a little, before he suddenly pointed at her and rasped out: “She speaks Lucahdor!”
With that, Neato Burrito's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell unconscious, and Moonflower grabbed at his head in vexation as Throna whistled a little. “Well now. There's something you don't see every day.”
“Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh, Neato, sweetie, are you okay?” blurted a voice as a pink blur raced towards them, skidding to a halt beside Neato Burrito, and nearly knocking over Thorn again, who had just gotten to his hooves. “Speak to me!”
The pink pony – who could only be Pinkie Pie, Cadence realized – shoved her face almost into Neato Burrito as he barely stirred, his eyes half-opening as he whispered: “I... I am not okay.”
For a brief moment, Cadence almost felt guilty, and then Neato Burrito exploded to his hooves, shoving a foreleg into the air as he seized Pinkie in a one-legged embrace and roared: “I am alive! The boss is back, Pinkie, and he brought a Luchador mare with cojones as big as his! Ex Parte and El Casco will fight beneath the mighty might of Lord Morpheus, and with a new Luchador to complete their trifecta! We shall be invincible!”
“Yay! New friend party!” Pinkie exclaimed brightly, before she leaned backwards into Cadence's face with a wide grin. “Hi new friend Luchador with the big cojones!” 
“I hate everything about this world.” Cadence said moodily, and Pinkie just giggled and Neato Burrito guffawed as Moonflower smiled in apologetic embarrassment.
Thorn moodily brushed himself off, then looked up as a mild voice called calmly to them: “So I take it you're only here for a short visit?”
“Business, Antecedes.” Moonflower replied, but he brightened visibly as he turned to face the red-robed being approaching with Princess Luna at his side: Cadence was surprised to see that Antecedes was little more than the skeleton of a unicorn, red light glowing out of his sockets and wiry crimson veins twisting to and fro across his bare skull. But there was a warmth about him, Cadence thought. 
Moonflower broke away from the group, and he traded a tight hug with his friend as Toad waved cheerfully from his perch, smiling radiantly as he stepped back and shook his head slowly, whispering: “I won't lie. It's good to see all of you.”
“Well, that's a start.” Antecedes said, but Cadence thought the skeleton was smiling, as much as his bones would allow. “Princess Luna, I'm sure you remember Lord Morpheus-”
“Moonflower. Just Moonflower now.” The unicorn reached up and wiggled his helmet off, letting his perfect silver mane spill around his face as he smiled again, bowing his head politely to Luna, who gave him a small smile in response. Then Moonflower nearly stumbled around in a circle as he said hurriedly: “These are my friends! My... I...” 
He cleared his throat, visibly fighting old urges before Cadence was admittedly surprised when he said politely: “This is Team Leader, Cadence Danzsöngr, and uh... La Croix, and Sombra, who are... part of the team. And then me. And this is Thorn Blackfeather! He's the Regent of Decretum and the Clockwork Empire and the son of Queen Hecate, my boss, and-”
“His boyfriend.” Toad said loudly, and Moonflower blushed deeply as he glared furiously at Toad, who only grinned from his safe perch on Thorn's head.
“Boss! I always knew you would find a strong, beefy stallion to... uh... do the things that strong beefy stallions who like other stallions with big cojones like to do with each other, and-”
“Okay Neato thank you!” snapped Moonflower, and then he blushed when Antecedes chuckled and shook his head slowly.
“They must have done quite a number on you to make you, of all ponies, act a little humble.” Antecedes said softly, before he turned his eyes towards Thorn Blackfeather and asked: “Is your magic the source of the pulses of power we've been detecting?”
“Unlikely. We would have caused one pulse on entry that would be detectable through electromagnetic interference: are you detecting beta or gamma wave transformation?” asked Thorn, and while everyone else looked stumped, Antecedes rose his head with some interest.
“Gamma, interrupted, rough rates of around... ten to twelve kilobæns.” Antecedes responded, and Thorn nodded before he created a holographic screen beside himself, and the skeletal mage murmured: “Well, if your armor didn't give it away, that did. You have the same magitechnology as Hecate did.”
“Similar. This is standard issue to all soldiers.” Thorn answered as he tapped quickly over the screen, then he asked without looking up: “Direction?”
“Southwest, within ten miles.” Antecedes paused, then turned his eyes towards Moonflower and added: “That's why I brought her here, yes, before you ask. I thought Luna might be able to help me lock on to the signal, but...”
“I could not. The magic is too strange, too alien.” Princess Luna said, shaking her head briefly, before she added: “I have been rude. I apologize, I have still not yet caught up on the diplomacy of this world. I am pleased to meet you anew, Moonflower, and all your friends: I am Princess Luna.”
Cadence smiled awkwardly, and La Croix tipped his hat politely as Sombra bowed his head respectfully. Moonflower laughed a bit, before he squawked when Throna grabbed the back of his head and said cheerfully: “Isn't this nice? All back together again! Now we just need to get that silly Twilight Sparkle off her rump and to stop moping for once!”
“Please no.” Moonflower mumbled, as he pried himself free of Throna's grip before he glanced up as Thorn's helmet beeped.
The sapphire stallion nodded once as all eyes turned towards him, and then he explained: “I've isolated the frequency. It left behind an echo, which means whatever it is, it's damaging reality. I'm guessing it's a portal point that Loki has repeatedly used: we'll have to investigate it later, but for now, our objective hasn't changed. I should, however, be able to detect anything moving on this frequency if it gets close to us, so the Voidborn won't be able to ambush us.”
“We should probably move this somewhere more private.” Antecedes said mildly, as he gestured around at the gawking ponies and the foals who were all running willy-nilly around. Cadence noted wryly that Pinkie and Neato Burrito had both long abandoned the conversation and were playing with the children, which probably explained why they had managed to get some actual work done.
Moonflower shifted lamely as Thorn nodded calmly, and five minutes later, they found themselves in the throne room of the fortress, where it was quiet, calm, and quite dusty, Cadence was surprised to see.
Moonflower approached the throne sitting on the dais with a faint smile, flicking his horn to blow away the dust with a spell, and Antecedes chuckled before he said quietly: “Hasn't been quite the same without you around, so we shut off this whole... 'bastion of evil' part of the fortress. Kids sneak in every few months. That's about all the activity it sees.”
“It's all changed. And yet nothing really has. What's changed is me. And you, too.” Moonflower said, turning around, before he smiled honestly at Antecedes. “I guess without my evil influence around... or rather, all my whining and complaining... you were able to take care of yourself, yes?”
“It helps, having a reason to be undead.” Antecedes deadpanned, but he seemed to smile as he looked over at Princess Luna, then at Throna Halfdragon. “Teaching has been very fulfilling. Being accepted, having my 'tea parties,' as you call them, with the ponies in Ponyville, and just living a normal life after so many years... I think it's made me go a little soft.”
“Oh, you'll never be soft, Antecedes. Just smarter.” Moonflower retorted with a wave of his hoof and a smile. “But uh... I think that, well, Thorn, you wanted...”
Moonflower looked almost shyly at Thorn, but the sapphire stallion simply gestured back at Moonflower, and La Croix remarked mildly: “Gotta say, Moony, this be pretty disappointing to see. Here I thought you was some evil lord of evil and all that. Seems more to me the only thing you be bad at is bein' bad.”
Moonflower huffed at this, before he glared when Throna said mildly: “He certainly did used to be more of a showpony. I have to agree. I'm a little disappointed myself, Lord Moonflower.”
Moonflower grumbled a little under his breath, before he groaned when Antecedes shrugged, whining: “Oh, not you too!”
“It's nice to see you humble. But is also makes me wonder if they lobotomized you.” Antecedes replied with a shrug, and Moonflower sighed as he lowered his head before the skeleton suddenly asked in a gentler voice: “What happened to your wings?”
“Wow, Antecedes. Let's leap right to the embarrassing personal stories right in front of everyone.” Moonflower grumbled, hugging himself awkwardly, before he rose his head almost defiantly and declared: “I do not need wings! I am Moonflower, the... Master Spellmaster of Decretum and... I do not need silly wings to fly, or do magic, or... for anything!”
“Better.” Antecedes said, and Moonflower blinked before the skeleton turned his eyes towards Thorn, asking almost abruptly: “So why are you here?”
Throna answered for the stallion, saying: “They said something about wanting to go to Tartarus. About needing the architect of the Tablet of Dreams, and wanting to check the Tablet itself.”
“Preposterous.” Luna said moodily, shaking her head vehemently as she looked over the ponies with renewed suspicion: suspicion that ironically was only prevented from boiling over into fear and distrust by the presence of Moonflower, the self-proclaimed nemesis of this Equestria. “The Tablet is harmless, but it is also a source of great information and knowledge. It cannot be destroyed or parted with. And Tartarus is no 'adventurer's dungeon,' like this child's fort. Nor do I feel comfortable allowing contact with the architect: ironically, Tartarus is where he is likely safest.”
“We are more than capable of handling any threats that we may encounter in Tartarus. And whether he's being held as a political prisoner or protected, you need to allow my team to make contact with this architect. If Team 0-0 doesn't reach him first, then Loki and his forces undoubtedly will, and he will jeopardize the existence of this entire world.” Thorn said evenly, and Luna scowled even as she shifted uneasily at the determination and ruthless truth in Thorn's eyes.
“I am not impressed by plots to overthrow the world. I have seen and experienced many in my short time. I have even been unfortunate victim to one myself.” Luna said coldly, turning an ill look on Moonflower, and Moonflower gaped before he gestured helplessly at Throna, who only looked lamely away.
But Thorn only shook his head, saying quietly: “The fate of your Equestria and your world is irrelevant to me. It is also irrelevant to our opponent. And that is precisely why you should be concerned. This is larger than us both, and that is why I am asking you to work with me instead of trying to force your hoof.”
There was silence for a moment, before Luna asked coldly: “If my world doesn't matter, then why are you here to save it?”
“Because the unfortunate side-effect of failing to save your world means our enemy will grow infinitely stronger, and then he will destroy us.” Thorn smiled, saying quietly: “Sometimes the greatest acts of altruism come from places of self-interest. You now know where I stand and why I am here. And you can now rest assured that I will do everything, everything, in my power, to protect your world. Not for your sake. But for that of my friends, my family, and my own home.”
Luna eyed him for a moment, and then she nodded slowly as Throna said wryly: “You remind me of my sister when we first left for the crusades. Careful, there, little one. I'd hate to see you steer down the wrong path.”
“I have Moonflower and my friends to help me when I get lost.” Thorn replied quietly, and Throna smiled at this.
“Precisely what Stronghold was always missing.” Throna agreed, and then she turned her eyes to Moonflower and said softly: “I suppose that's why you turned out alright, too.”
“Nothing was... very boring.” Moonflower admitted, nodding a few times as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. “I was bored. I was successful! But I was also... I mean... it wasn't the greatest idea I have ever had, I suppose I can admit that now.”
“That was what ended up getting you noticed by this Hecate though, wasn't it? So I suppose in the end things worked out for you after all, great and terrible Morpheus.” Antecedes said ironically, and Moonflower huffed before the skeleton added: “I hope you realize how lucky you are, by the way. Things don't usually work out for the 'villain' of any piece very well. Certainly not for Dim Dunn.”
“I am not Dim Dunn!” complained Moonflower, and then he huffed when La Croix looked at him blankly as Throna sniggered and Luna hid a smile behind a hoof. “Oh, of course you don't know the theater. I knew all your culture was false.”
“My culture just be a lot more complicated than you culture, rein de la nuit. In case you didn't notice, I been dealin' with bigger things than what pretty dress to put on in the mornin'.” La Croix retorted.
Moonflower scowled, before wincing as Sombra explained to La Croix – and a lesser extent, Cadence, who vaguely knew the name of the reference – “Dim Dunn is from a famous play, known as Bright's Bewildering Beat. It is a very old play, starring mainly earth ponies: it is the story of Bright, who matches wits with a tyrant who captures the sun in a mirror, named Dim Dunn. Dim Dunn is...” Sombra smiled slightly up at Moonflower, looking at him thoughtfully for a few moments. “Impetuoso.  He is prone to mistakes and follies that... could easily be avoided. And it is always he who defeats himself.”
“I am certainly not. I am no Dim Dunn.” Moonflower said sulkily, and Sombra chuckled quietly as La Croix grinned at him.
“You are not, Moonflower. It is a political story, from a political time, when earth ponies struggled to be known as more than slave. But it is also a story about a very strong but very stubborn pony who could not learn from his mistakes. And I hope you do not think it out of line for me to say that you have clearly learned from yours.” Sombra said politely, and Moonflower blushed a little even as he looked away, but he was clearly touched by the sentiment, especially since it came from a stallion he so obviously respected.
“It sounds like you've grown up a little. Not that I expect that to mean much in the long run. You'll still always be the same old Moonflower.” Antecedes said, and somehow that didn't entirely sound like an insult.
Moonflower only laughed, then he smiled briefly before he looked over at Thorn and asked: “I think he's right, Thorn. We came here for a serious mission and... here I am, making it all about me, getting all these people fawning all over me again...”
Princess Luna rolled her eyes, then she became serious again as she looked at Thorn, saying slowly: “I do not entirely like you or your reasoning. I am wary, but... as you have apparently managed to impress Archmage Antecedes-”
“Oh, Archmage now, is it?” Moonflower huffed loudly, before he winced at the glares he received, shrinking his head between his shoulders. “I'll shut up.”
“Please do.” Princess Luna grumbled, before she resumed, as her eyes locked back on Thorn: “I will not ask you for proof, but do not expect me to extend you unrelenting trust, either. I will permit you to enter Tartarus: Antecedes is capable of showing you the way and of opening the gates. And I am sure that Moonflower remembers its depths well.”
“Too well.” Moonflower shifted uncomfortably, before he added nervously: “It took me five hundred years to escape from there, you know. Not that I don't trust you or anything, but...”
“I'll remain outside. Tartarus is only impossible to escape from: it's very easy to open the gates from the other direction.” answered Antecedes. “As long as you can return to the Gates of Pandemonium, I'll be able to let you out. We've done it before.”
“Yes, but not this deep.” Moonflower said pettishly, shaking his head before he glanced over at Thorn when the sapphire stallion frowned. “Well, yes. There were artifacts in Tartarus I needed when I took over Equestria and destroyed the entire world.” 
Cadence and La Croix both sighed, and even Throna snorted in amusement, the Draekin saying wryly: “The closest you came to taking over Equestria was when you locked yourself in the treasure room.”
“I didn't know only Draekin portals worked! That was cheating!” Moonflower blurted, shaking his head vehemently, and then he cleared his throat and rolled his eyes embarrassedly away when Cadence looked at him dryly. 
“Afterward, it would be best if we spoke to this architect somewhere secure. May I suggest that we bring him either here or to Canterlot, Signora Luna, whichever you would prefer?” Sombra put forward, and Luna looked thoughtful at this before the stallion turned his eyes towards Thorn. “And while I know you cannot give guarantees, if the architect is secure and we are able to counteract his magic...”
Thorn nodded hesitantly, before he said finally: “If we are able to secure ourselves against attack and intercept Loki's forces, then I see no reason why the architect has to come with us to Decretum. We do not wish to create a Tablet or other artifact of our own: we just need to know how to counteract such magic, or at least how it can create such enormous effects.”
“By shifting the threads of the world, it said once. Or something like that. The Tablet can be poetic when it's not being an idiot.” Throna said meditatively, and Luna nodded with a grunt of agreement. “But the damned thing certainly doesn't know what it's talking about half the time, and I doubt it does in this case, either.”
“I am somehow certain my sister knew. That was why she never destroyed it. Or... I do not know. My sister was blessed and cursed with a foresight that most could never imagine.” Luna said, half-grudging and half-nostalgic, smiling faintly before she shook her head and looked at Moonflower. “And I believe to this day you saw her.”
“The Tablet threw up a ghost.” Moonflower said before he could stop himself, and Luna slowly closed her eyes, looking as if she wanted to punch him: an urge Cadence was all-too-familiar with, as Moonflower winced backwards before he nearly leapt ten feet into the air when Neato Burrito almost popped into existence in front of him, shaking a hoof vehemently.
“The boss sees many a thing, senorita Luna! He sees ghosts! He sees the future! He does what is good for all of us in his evil ways!” declared the Luchador, and then he stared when Cadence glared at him, before the squat stallion leapt backwards and thrust a hoof out, shouting: “Be still, be still! No! I will not be tempted by you, Luchadora! For my heart is already taken and held by a mare even mightier than you!”
“Aww, thanks!” Pinkie Pie said brightly as she, too, popped up from seemingly nowhere, and somehow the most frustrating part to Cadence was the way that Throna, Antecedes, and Princess Luna all failed to react at all, as if this was a normal occurrence... oh hell, considering everything else wrong with this world, it probably is. 
Then Pinkie Pie's eyes narrowed even as she continued to smile, her gaze cutting through her like a laser as she said brightly: “And I'm sure you'd never ever try to steal my beefy bean Burrito away from me, right?”
“Your beefy bean Burrito.” Cadence repeated, and Pinkie giggled before the ivory mare rubbed slowly at her face, then she asked tiredly: “Can we please just go to Tartarus now? I feel like if I spend much longer here the Swan is going to make me kill someone.”
Thorn turned his eyes towards Antecedes, and the skeleton nodded. But before they could excuse themselves, Luna rose her head and said sharply: “Wait.”
All eyes turned towards her, and Princess Luna turned her eyes not towards Moonflower or Thorn, but instead to Cadence. Cadence looked back at her, frowning slightly as she rose her head, meeting the mare's eyes for a few moments in silence.
And then Princess Luna nodded slowly, before she asked in a slow, fumbling voice, sounding out the words carefully but surely in a language that only Cadence recognized: “Do you know the stories of our fathers and our mothers?”
“Yes, I do. The Fathers and the Mothers above, the Makers, and the Creators. But we obey them no more.” the Swan replied calmly through Cadence's mouth, and Princess Luna grimaced slightly.
“I do not know what you have said to me, but I also recognize that it was not you who spoke, Cadence. I do not know who or what you are, but I have seen your kind before. Long, long, long ago, when my sister and I were still young and together.” Luna said quietly, and Cadence frowned before her eyes widened as the mare continued: “It was when the Order of the White Dragon-”
“Valthrudnir.” Cadence said, before she looked up in surprise as Thorn shook his head.
“No. Not in the sense you're thinking of, at least.” Thorn corrected, before he gestured towards Thrrona, who reared back moodily. “Early analysis indicates these Draekin are an Ironjaw-unicorn hybrid. We have no records of Valthrudnir being here, but as they carry the vestiges of his genetic makeup, it's likely that-”
“D'you know that it's rude to stare, or to treat people like dogs to be kicked and experimented on?” Throna asked loudly, a clear, sulky childishness spreading over her features as she glared at Thorn.
Thorn bowed his head to her in apology, but the Draekin only huffed before Princess Luna continued irritably: “I also do not know of this Valthrudnir, and my sister and I learned much of the Order in the early days. No. It was a prophet of the White Dragon who told us those words. She said to speak them if a bird came, of either purest white or deepest black. And you called yourself... or rather, that... other inside you... the Swan.”
Cadence was silent, and Luna studied her furtively for a few moments before she shook her head slowly and said quietly: “I do not believe in foretellings. A thousand things were foretold that never came to pass, because Celestia was killed, because I was locked away in stone. And I do not believe the prophet was telling the future with this warning. But it was a warning, Cadence. Do you know what she said of these birds?”
“They bring death?” Cadence asked, and Princess Luna smiled wryly.
“No. She told me that many of them had fallen across many different worlds, and many greedy evils pursued them, wanting to use them for their own ends. She told me that the Order of the White Dragon had seen visions of them: that was part of why they brought their crusade against us, because they knew great warriors might rise from our ranks.” Princess Luna studied Cadence silently, before she looked at Thorn and asked: “Is she a weapon or a tool? Or does great evil pursue her?”
“She is an Orphan. As is every other member of this team. They are all Orphans, working to ensure that no one else has to end up like them. Their past and future do not concern you, and at the present, we are here to stop an opponent who may already be making his move to secure whatever tools or artifacts interest him in this world.” Thorn answered calmly.
Princess Luna grimaced, looking unconvinced, but then Throna snorted before she said finally: “I want to hear more about these 'Ironjaw' and this 'Valthrudnir.' I'll accompany them to Tartarus.”
“I would like to hear more as well.” Antecedes added, looking curiously between Cadence and Thorn before he turned his eyes towards Moonflower, saying dryly: “I really hope this isn't somehow all your fault. Although I suspect that it is.”
“Shut up, Antecedes. It is not.” Moonflower blushed all the same, scrubbing at his face before he winced when he found Neato Burrito and Pinkie Pie both staring up at him, and he carefully pushed the two aside before heading for the door, adding loudly: “And I'm going to leave you all here if I have to because I'm done wasting time and I'm going to Tartarus myself!”
Antecedes sighed and followed, and the others trailed loosely after the skeleton, Cadence bringing up the rear as Princess Luna remained behind in the throne room, sitting back and watching them until they were gone, and dreading what the presence of the white bird she had been warned so long ago about might mean.
The only thing she knew was that there was a storm coming, and nothing she could do to stop it.