//------------------------------//
// Life Lessons 
// Story: Lunar Lights 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
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Chapter Ten: Life Lessons
~BlackRoseRaven

They left Canterlot after a short dinner in Luna’s old quarters, during which Twilight looked moodily at her food as Pinkamena had lingered beneath the surface of Pinkie Pie, visible in her short comments and the way she grouchily knocked her food around between loudly chewing it. Luna and Scrivener were quiet as well, but mostly out of concern for their friends.
Celestia had given Twilight some ancient, heavy spellbooks and scrolls… as well as an odd journal bound in white leather, adorned with the symbol of the sun. With a little prodding, Twilight finally revealed that it was notes and research on friendship, as written by Celestia… and she was both eager and terrified to learn what the contents of this journal could be, considering the way the ivory equine still acted sometimes.
Things had been a little tense as they made their way out of the castle, and more tense as they walked through a city patrolled by Pegasus Guards that either glared at Pinkie or scampered out of the way… but in her Pinkamena-accented state, the female only grinned back at them with her oddly-sharp teeth or shot nasty looks in return, which often made even the hardiest of the guards quail considering what she had done to them. Once back on the road, however, things had loosened up considerably… Pinkamena had once more faded below the surface as Pinkie Pie had bounced along, cheerfully humming to herself.
It was strange, and Luna thought it was not entirely unlike herself, how sometimes Nightmare Moon would linger, or rise up… and yet it was different, too. Pinkamena and Pinkie Pie were two pieces of one pony’s personality, even if they seemed like completely different people… and yet one could not exist without the other in some way, shape or form. When they attempted to even seal the other away, it led to extremes of the personality being unleashed: childlike, unstoppable giddiness or violent, savage rage and despair.
Halfway home, as the sun lowered, Luna called a halt so she could raise the moon… and as she strode off the road and into a grassy field, concentrating as Scrivener Blooms sat beside her, Pinkamena slunk slowly up next to Twilight and whispered a question in her ear, surprising her: “What do you think it would have been like if we had left Discord alive?”
“I… I don’t know.” Twilight muttered, looking back down stoically… and then she grimaced as Pinkamena grinned, her hair flat and straight, her body gray and eyes glinting like sharp sapphire blades as the moon slowly rose. “Are you seriously going to make a nuisance of yourself as often as possible now?”
“Better than biting, isn’t it?” she asked mockingly, baring her teeth for a moment, and then she sat back and said dreamily: “But it would have been wonderful, even for me… now that was a party even I could have liked. Laughing at all the silly ponies being hurt…” She paused, looking quietly up towards the ivory orb as it floated into the sky, then she looked over her shoulder as Luna opened her eyes with a smile. “Or perhaps if Nightmare Moon had ruled, maybe that would have been just as fun. Nothing but one big all-night rave, where the party only stops when there’s no more blood to be bled on the dance-floor.”
“I will not hesitate to bash thee, if that is what thee thinks.” Luna said mildly, and Pinkamena made a face at her before Luna added quietly: “And Nightmare Moon was not a fan of parties, Pinkamena.”
“Perhaps not, but fighting is like a dance I just can’t get enough of. I’m looking forwards to this coming darkness…” Pinkamena licked her lips slowly, murmuring softly: “Oh, I think we’ll all have a part to play, Twilight… and by the end of it, the real laugh will be seeing who ends up being just like me.”
Then she shook her head quickly… and her mane and tail puffed back out as Pinkie Pie blinked a few times, then blushed embarrassedly, murmuring: “Sorry. Still… trying to find the right balance. I… I think in her weird way she’s just trying to figure out where she belongs. I just hope she doesn’t make the others too angry…”
“We’re friends, Pinkie… we always find a way to take care of and help each other.” Twilight replied after a moment with a smile… and then she blushed a bit as Pinkie reached up and silently touched the red slashes across the unicorn’s face, making her tilt her head away awkwardly. “It’s okay, they don’t hurt, really. I guess they look worse than I thought but… you have kind of a worse scar yourself.”
Pinkie Pie blushed at this, reaching up and touching the side of her face that was scared with a permanent sneer… and then she smiled faintly and said quietly: “It’s okay, Twilight. It really could have been a lot worse after all… and I’m only glad that despite everything, despite Pinkamena… we’re all still here.”
“All could have ended far worse, and all too easily.” Luna agreed quietly, approaching with Scrivener Blooms as Sammy chirped from his perch on the male’s back. “We walk the narrow path, but we walk it well. Now come, my friends. Let us resume our journey now that we have the moon to light our way.”
As they walked, Scrivener pushed down his hood, and Luna’s glammer faded as her size returned to normal, even Sammy’s illusionary shell vanishing… and in the night air, the four were comfortable, Twilight smiling a little and Pinkie Pie marveling a little at the constellations that glimmered in the sky as they made their way slowly back home to Ponyville.
Luna and Scrivy hesitated at the gates… but Twilight only smiled to them and reminded them they were safe here, and when they made their way inside, they were all welcomed warmly, even if several ponies immediately made a fuss over the injuries the ponies had taken. Twilight tactfully pushed her way through Ponyville’s streets, however, repeating that she had to check in at the library and that it had only been a scuffle with a creature that wouldn’t be bothering them any longer.
At the library, the four were greeted by an exhausted-looking Spike, who mumbled a greeting and then stomped across the room to flop down on a cushion as Trixie had beamed at them, then winced at the sight of the fellow unicorn and Pinkie Pie as Fluttershy and Scarlet Sage had both gasped quietly… and Twilight had gaped in horror at the fact much of the library had been rearranged, Spike laying face-down in the cushion, too tired to either notice or care what had happened as he pointed a claw at Trixie, and she had grinned and said lamely: “Well, Trixie the Intelligent and Helpful believes that the Genera classification system is much better than the Academia classification system. She read about it in your big helpful book on libraries, after all!”
“You… you reorganized all my books based on the genre instead of alphabetically?” Twilight spluttered, looking disbelieving as Scrivener and Luna both carefully stepped backwards towards the closed door, wincing a bit as Pinkie cringed and Fluttershy slowly reached up to cover Scarlet Sage’s ears.
“And chronologically!” Trixie added brightly, and then she yelped when Twilight let out a furious yell and flung her satchel bags at her with a flick of her head, the pale blue unicorn scrambling away with a squeal of terror as Twilight shot after her, shouting angrily as she tore after the other female before there was a series of loud crashes from the back room, followed by a whimper, then a squeal… and a moment later, Twilight emerged, looking grim and ruffled, her mane slightly unkempt as she picked up her saddlebags and stormed up the stairs to her room.
Sammy peered slowly over Scrivy’s head as Luna and the male grimaced at each other… and then Fluttershy blushed a bit before she dropped her hooves away from the little filly’s ears, saying awkwardly: “Trixie said she got the idea from one of the books in the library on… how to run a library. Spike tried to dissuade her, but… well. She didn’t really listen. And by the time I got back here with Scarlet Sage, she was almost done. She tried really hard, at least.”
She halted, then glanced worriedly over at Pinkie Pie, adding hesitantly: “Are you okay, Pinkie? You and Twilight both, well… Twilight has those nasty scratches, but you have… well…”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I… I just had a little episode, that’s all. I’ll tell you and the others about it later, okay?” Pinkie smiled awkwardly, and Fluttershy softened and nodded before she blushed a bit and glanced over at Luna and Scrivener. “I want to… say thank you to you two, though. You both really helped me pull through things and… you were both there for me, even though it must have been awkward. I really… appreciate that.”
She halted, then smiled a little, walking towards them and hugging them both tightly, and Luna and Scrivener returned the embrace quietly before Pinkie slipped back and said softly: “I’m gonna head back to Sugar Cube Corners now, and… explain a little of what happened to Mrs. Cake, so… so I don’t freak her out if Pinkamena comes out. You two take care, okay? And I can’t wait to see you both again real soon.”
She smiled warmly, then stepped past them and let herself quietly out, Luna and Scrivy barely getting the chance to say their own goodbyes… and then they both looked up as Trixie slowly dragged herself out of the back room, her cloak charred and her hat ripped in half, bruised and a little puffy as Spike looked up and said dryly: “I told you so.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie only wanted to help…” Trixie mumbled sulkily, then she groaned and dropped herself flat on her stomach, blinking through a half-shut eye as Fluttershy winced a little at the sight of her. “I suppose I should start fixing things.”
“We’ll fix it tomorrow, Trixie.” Twilight said tiredly as she made her way down the stairs, and Trixie winced up at her, skittering backwards a bit, but the violet unicorn only gave her a sour look before she gazed over at Fluttershy and Scarlet Sage, who were still resting quietly together on their favorite cushion, the little filly curled quietly up in the female’s embrace, obviously far from wanting to move. “How have things been around here?”
“Safe.” Fluttershy said finally, and then she gazed softly down at Sage as the little girl glanced back up with a blush and a quiet mumble. “Scarlet Sage and I had a nice little walk this afternoon, didn’t we? We looked all around Ponyville, but everyone seemed to be feeling better about things… and we even went out to Sweet Apple Acres to see our friends. Things out there aren’t quite as far along, with how much they have to balance… but Rainbow Dash has been working himself hard, and at this rate they should be well-protected by the time the wedding rolls around.”
She paused, then squeezed Scarlet Sage gently close, murmuring softly: “I haven’t… seen any sign of the animals around the cottage, though. I thought I saw Angel’s tracks, but it was hard to tell… they were very smudged. I’m worried, but the fact that there are still tracks and things… it means the animals are still around there, somewhere. And the food I’ve been leaving out for them was eaten, too, which I think is a good sign. But they’re very scared… and there are a number of hidey-holes around my property they could be in.”
Fluttershy shook her head slowly, and Twilight softened as she gazed to the Pegasus, saying quietly: “We’ll find them once we’re done making sure Ponyville is safe, Fluttershy, if they haven’t turned up by then… I know how important they are to you.”
“Thank you, Twilight… but don’t rush on my account, or worry too much. It doesn’t look like anything awful has happened to them, and maybe it’s better this way for now, that they’re out in the familiar wild instead of in a pen or kennel, still able to eat but… better able to hide themselves if something comes along.” Fluttershy shuddered, shaking her head slowly. “I only hope that whatever is out there isn’t hunting the poor things…”
“Worry not, fair Fluttershy, for these creatures and spawn of darkness alert the senses of the least cautious of beast from many miles away. ‘Tis very possible that they may have known of the approaching darkness before we did, and work now to avoid being caught up in the tide that comes.” Luna said kindly, and Fluttershy gave her a small smile before she glanced towards Twilight, adding softly: “I was very glad to see that Pinkie Pie has recovered much of herself, upon that similar note. Does thee think she will fair alright?”
“I do.” Twilight nodded firmly, as she replied: “We’ll do everything we can for her to help her out, but… just from seeing how she was doing already, I have to say that she seems to be a lot better along than I expected, admittedly. But, Luna, I was wondering… if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind Trixie and me stopping in tomorrow? I want to be as… as well-prepared as possible.”
Luna smiled at this, glancing towards Scrivener Blooms and saying quietly: “By all means, for we do enjoy company, do we not? But if that is the case, then Scrivy and I should also head back to our home, so we may rest and perhaps do another patrol of the area around Ponyville before thy welcome arrival, Twilight… even with thy guest.”
She glared towards Trixie, but the unicorn only mumbled from the ground before Twilight nodded, approaching and trading a firm hug with Luna, then another with Scrivy, saying gently: “Then thank you both, for everything. You’ve really done a lot for all of us today… I really worry sometimes what it would mean if you weren’t here, Luna.”
“Then worry more for what it would mean if Scrivener were not here, for I would not be here without him.” Luna replied with a smile, nudging the male firmly, and Scrivy laughed before he shoved her lightly back, then grunted when she struck him playfully with her hoof. “Take care of thyself, Fluttershy, and goodnight, Scarlet Sage, Spike, and Trixie… and fare thee well until the morrow, sweet Twilight.”
Luna leaned forwards, kissing her cheek gently, and Twilight blushed and smiled a little as the other ponies said their last goodnights as the winged unicorn and Scrivener turned. They made their way outside, Sammy jumping down to curl up on Scrivy’s back with a chirp, and the two quietly proceeded through the village, Luna awkwardly smiling to ponies that waved at her and called to her as Scrivener laughed a little and murmured: “Back to being Miss Popular, huh?”
“Nay, I shall always be Miss Poet first.” Luna answered softly, then she kissed the side of his neck, adding quietly: “And think not that I haven’t noticed that thou hast been quieter than thy usual quiet, Scrivener Blooms. What art thou, jealous of my suddenly positive-repute?”
“Definitely not. You know I feel the less eyes on me the better… ‘cept for yours, of course. I like your eyes on me.” Scrivener smiled a little at her, and then he shrugged a bit as he pressed their sides together, saying softly: “Nah. I suppose a part of it is thinking too much about the events of today. We went through a lot, after all… Pinkamena, Celestia, Canterlot, Twilight… and I even got to hear another story from your past.”
He paused, smiling a little at her. “You know, it’s hard to imagine… big, tough you, getting taken down by a bunch of unicorn mages. It’s easier for me to picture you being whipped, honestly… or rather, allowing that to happen. You have that… sense of honor, after all, and fair play… and well, that really sick, twisted personality of yours, too, that probably enjoyed it to some degree or another.”
“Thou thinks I enjoyed being whipped by chains?” Luna raised herself imperiously upwards, speaking in a serious, clear voice… and then she grinned and leaned down, almost pressing their faces together as she said playfully: “I cannot entirely recall the feelings of such an experience. Wouldst thou like to try it out?”
“Horses of Heaven you scare me sometimes.” Scrivy replied flatly, and Luna threw her head back and laughed before the male shook his own and continued mildly: “Besides, I’d be too scared that you’d decided to try and ‘share the experience’ with me and next thing we know, Twilight’s asking us why my entire back is wrapped in bandages and you’re doing that horrible twitchy thing you always do with your nose whenever you lie.”
“As if I would lie about that to Twilight, ‘twould be too amusing to see the reaction on her face.” Luna replied, and then they traded smiles as they continued onwards in silence for a little while, passing quietly through the open, well-lit gates and heading towards the Everfree Forest before Luna prodded gently: “Well?”
Scrivener only shrugged a little, however, saying finally: “It’s mostly the same things as always. Me… worrying about things I can’t control. Worrying about holding you back, but honestly this time it’s also a lot more… wondering why you hold me in such high value and regard when… well… you know.”
“Oh Scrivener, we truly must do something about thy self-esteem issues. Perhaps we should return to that medical center, drink coffee, and have meaningful discussions with others who are as mentally ill as thou art, as is the apparently-proper term.” Luna said kindly, and Scrivener gave her a flat look before she smiled and said quietly: “My blood flows in thy veins, and thy blood flows in mine own. We are one person, Scrivener Blooms. ‘Tis why we do not argue, even when thou exasperates me and I frustrate thee. I know not why the poet has such difficult fitting a poetic concept into his thick skull.”
“I just don’t think I ever understood how literally you meant that until you had me move the moon, Luna.” Scrivy said softly, and then he glanced at her, asking hesitantly as they came to a halt: “And I’ve been thinking… does that mean…”
“Try it.” Luna invited, smiling at him softly, and Scrivener grimaced at her, but then nodded slowly as he took a breath and faced towards her, lowering his head and closing his eyes… and Luna’s own eyes closed, her head dropping forwards as her horn slowly began to glow, and Sammy leaned curiously up on Scrivy’s back before a faint flash of light burst from Luna’s horn and a short electrical discharge was emitted, the unicorn wincing a bit, then both ponies looking dumbly up as Sammy screeched as the little skeleton was knocked flying from the arc of lightning, crashing into the grass and rolling several times before he hopped to his hind legs and danced wildly around in a circle, chirping furiously.
Scrivy and Luna looked at each other, then back at the faintly-smoking undead pseudodragon as it continued to squeak and chirp at them angrily, and then the two burst into laughter and fell against one another… before Scrivener smiled warmly up at her, and Luna gazed lovingly back down at him before she grinned and pushed him down, and their mouths met…
A few hours later, Scrivy and Luna arrived back at home, content as Sammy grumbled disconsolately on the grass-stained cloak of the male… and then the pseudodragon hopped off his back and darted away with a huff as the winged unicorn called with a laugh after him: “Oh, be not so upset! We apologized several times over!”
“We’re a lot like a couple of teenagers at times, you know that? We really need to stop being so… you know.” Scrivy said mildly, and Luna snorted in derision at this and gave him a flat look, making the male wince back as his glasses fell a bit askew on his muzzle. “Just a suggestion.”
She smiled at him after a moment, then flicked her horn… and his satchel, cloak, and glasses floated off his face, the male blinking dumbly before she leaned forwards and kissed him softly as they all fell in a pile by the door… and Scrivener couldn’t help but kiss her quietly in return before she drew back and said softly: “Let others judge us as they will, I fear them not. We are weird, and we do not fit in, and I refuse to act my age, for that would mean acting like Celestia.” She paused, then shuddered at this thought before firmly shoving the male towards the den, making him grumble under his breath as she chided: “Now forwards, forwards! I wish for tea and to relax a little before we patrol in the early morn!”
“Can I have my glasses back?” Scrivy asked flatly, and she simply gave him an amused look, the equine wincing a little and mumbling: “Well, okay, I don’t need them, but… I dunno, I feel better when-”
“I wish to see thy handsome face uncovered for a few hours, is this so much to ask?” Luna smiled slightly at him, and Scrivy couldn’t help but laugh and smile back after a moment.
“You’ve really been laying the flattery on lately, Luna. Then again, considering the nonsense you’ve also made me do, I guess that it all evens out one way or another.” Scrivener replied after a moment with a smile, and he turned to head into the kitchen as the female gazed after him warmly before she turned towards the fireplace, flicking her horn and sending a gust of blue flames bursting outwards that spread greedily over the logs, crackling and rumbling, yet the magical flames not burning away the almost-pulsing wood.
Scrivener returned after a few minutes, carefully carrying the cups of tea on a tray with several muffins he had already spread jam over… and Luna smiled up at him, looking at him almost strangely as Scrivy gazed awkwardly back, a muffin half-raised to his mouth before he finally asked: “What?”
Luna only shrugged, though, and dropped her head against his neck, her starry mane washing over him and making his back tingle as he smiled a little, the two gazing into the fire as they relaxed… and the night, even as they went on a short patrol through the Everfree Forest, passed in much the same.
When Luna lowered the moon, she grimaced as the sun came up almost too eagerly, looking up into the sky as Scrivener sat beside her on the clifftop and asked quietly: “You know… it’s really starting to bother me how fast Celestia is doing that. It’s like she’s worried that there’s any gap of darkness whatsoever throughout Equestria, but…”
“Yes, ‘tis strange indeed.” Luna murmured, then she shook her head slowly and added quietly: “But it may also be merely nerves as well. Celestia’s magic is affected by her mood… and even if she attempts to conceal it, her emotions can still play havoc upon her spell-casting.”
Scrivy nodded slowly… and then Luna smiled slightly over at him, winking and saying quietly: “I have a job for thee today, Scrivy, and thou will not like it. I wish for thee to take Trixie the Great and Powerful into the Everfree Forest, and to help her retrieve three mandrakes for me.”
“Are you sure about that, Luna? I mean… I know, it’s not that difficult a task, but Trixie, well…” Scrivener grimaced a bit, but then he smiled when Luna leaned forwards and kissed his cheek gently.
“I have faith in thee, my husband, and ‘twill be good training for her. By the end of it, she will at least have learned to not be so brash and loud all the time, I am sure.” Luna replied softly, then she paused before adding meditatively: “And I also shall not blame thee if Trixie ends up sinking to the bottom of a bog where it would simply be impossible to save her.”
“Wonderful, Luna, I’m glad you’re obviously working on you people skills.” Scrivy said dryly, but then he nodded and said finally: “I’d better go get my gear ready then.”
Luna smiled and nodded, then she sat at the end of the cliff as Scrivener glanced up at her, but she only winked to him and said softly: “I shall be along shortly, husband, worry not. I just wish to meditate for a moment.”
Scrivener nodded, giving her a smile in return before he turned and headed slowly down the sloping path, glancing over his shoulder at Luna… but she was still seated at the top of the cliff, rubbing slowly at the black pearl hanging on the ivy band around her neck, her starlight mane and tail floating silently around her as she gazed up into the sky with distant eyes. Yet he knew by now when to press the issue and when to give her space, and he thought that Luna had something on her mind she wasn’t quite ready to discuss yet.
Instead, he made his way to the cabin, heading into their bedroom to sort through their things as he mumbled under his breath, making his mind focus instead on Trixie and the mandrakes. There was a nursery of them, as a large group of the strange, living plants was called, only a short distance away, that not only he and Luna but also Zecora gathered from… but it was guarded by a large nest of nasty spider-beasts called Bitterweavers.
They were odd, mushroom-shaped little monsters with eight eyes and eight long, gangly legs, covered in ugly little bumps and semi-comical, semi-horrifying with their enormous mandibles, tiny fangs, and long, conical stingers from which they released gooey spider-silk… but they were also roughly the size of beach-balls and their bite spread numbness through a victim’s body, paralyzing them muscle-by-muscle. They lived by the mandrakes because it was easiest for them to feed there: any time a mandrake was disturbed, after all, it had a tendency to scream like a baby, alerting everything in the vicinity.
However, Luna and Scrivener knew where the Bitterweavers had located their main nest, and it was easy to harvest a few mandrakes from the far side of the nursery even if the Bitterweavers saw them coming: they were slow and moved awkwardly, and disliked being under the sun for long periods of time. They also hated smoke, fire, concentrated light, and as a general rule, Luna herself: even when they were right next to the nest, all Luna ever had to do was lean down and snarl at them, and the little spider beasts would go scurrying with terror as deep as they could go into their home.
Luna said it was because of Nightmare Moon… but sometimes Scrivy thought it was just because Luna was Luna, as he smiled a little, picking up his satchel after he had tossed a few items into it and heading towards the back of the house, letting himself out into the backyard and crossing the dirt path towards the shed, where they kept the last of the implements he’d need to hopefully harvest the mandrakes safely… except he somehow knew that either way, things would likely go horribly wrong.
“Well, at least we have an antidote for the Bitterweavers here, too…” Scrivy muttered under his breath as he opened the door, letting himself inside… and he paused and smiled a little at the sight of the artist’s easel and Luna’s paints, gazing at this softly before he laughed a bit and walked forwards, quietly picking up one of the brushes with a smile as he looked at the blank canvas and popped open a jar, simply out of impulse.
He jotted a quick something, then closed the jar of paints and turned and quickly gathered the last of what he needed before letting himself out, closing the door behind him. He absently adjusted the satchel on his back, then looked up as Luna poked her head out of the back, blushing a little before ducking back inside… and the male looked at her, nonplussed, before he shrugged a bit as he headed to the cabin.
He slipped inside… and Luna glanced awkwardly up at him, Scrivener tilting his head before she said softly: “Come now. Let’s sit down together.”
Scrivener nodded slowly, walking slowly into the den, and he shrugged the saddlebag off as she looked up at him quietly before the male slipped down beside her… and Luna silently took his hoof, closing her eyes as she bowed her head towards him and murmured softly: “I… wish to see someone about these… well…” She hesitated, then looked up at him quietly, murmuring: “I fear we will never have foals, Scrivener Blooms. It has been a long time, and I feel no stirring inside me, no… feeling of life in my womb. Last night, I looked at thee, and thou looked back, and… I realized again, anew, how much I care for thee. But… imagine, for all thee loves me… what if I could not give thee a child?”
“Oh, Luna, but I’d still have you. And you know how much I care about you… why… has this suddenly risen up in your mind, though?” Scrivy asked quietly, wrapping a limb around her and squeezing her close… and Luna smiled a little as she rested her face against the side of his neck, breathing softly.
“I… I do not know. It has been building perhaps… and perhaps it was seeing that poor filly Scarlet Sage, and our moment of love upon the roadside, and last night when I feel like I saw thee anew for the first time… and perhaps ‘tis something deeper.” Luna shook her head slowly, murmuring quietly: “Or perhaps I am just more a filly than even I thought and am more embarrassed and fearful than I am willing to admit.”
She shook her head a bit with a faint laugh, and Scrivener kissed her forehead before they hugged one another tightly, curling close to each other before the male said quietly: “What matters most to me is that… we have each other. Besides, it could be-”
“Oh ‘tis not thy fault, Scrivener Blooms, I never hit thee down there where it counts.” Luna said crossly, and Scrivener couldn’t help but snort laughter before she smiled a little herself, squeezing him close and muttering: “I fear that Celestia knows something. Perhaps ‘tis paranoia, but… Celestia always seems to know something. Perhaps that was why she was interested in the subject before… she knew that this would happen.”
“I think you just like transferring all the blame to Celestia whenever possible.” Scrivy said quietly, then he kissed her forehead and added softly: “Listen, Luna. I… you’re stressed. We’re stressed. And we have been trying for a long time, but I don’t want you thinking that’s your fault at all. Let’s… let’s see someone if you want to, though, but… all the same…”
Luna nodded moodily, curling herself against him and saying finally: “I… apologize for the timing, Scrivener Blooms. But… ‘tis not easy for me to admit… I may have such an awful flaw. To be able to say I am among the most powerful ponies in Equestria, and to be unable to bear a child… even Nightmare Moon writhes at that thought.”
She stopped, then smiled a little as Scrivy looked up at her softly. “Perhaps ‘tis why I can be so… creative in creation, so adventurous in things other than adventure, and simply so lustful. Although perhaps it does not entirely explain why I like Twilight so… although, ‘tis perhaps an interesting idea to have-”
“Oh Horses of Heaven don’t even say it.” Scrivener said flatly, and then he grimaced at the grin on Luna’s face. “Were we not just talking about… something that had you all depressed and upset?”
“Pardon me for being pleased with thinking of alternate solutions, should a predicament exist betwixt us.” Luna retorted, and then she looked moodily up at him, adding mildly: “Although too, I am sure there is magic to be had that would aid in finding a solution… or perhaps Zecora, with her vast knowledge of herbalism, could provide for us-”
Scrivy dropped his forehead against hers, and Luna laughed before she kissed his cheek, saying softly: “Oh, worry thyself not, Scrivener Blooms. Again, I fear if any fault lay with us, ‘tis with me. Thou art a stallion.”
“And you really are a nightmare.” Scrivener grumbled, then he squawked when Luna tackled him with a grin, pouncing on top of him and pinning him beneath her body as he winced up at her. “Point proven.”
“Oh silence thyself, Scrivener Blooms.” Luna paused, then hesitated, looking down at him quietly and asking softly: “But in the worst case… say that I could not give thee a child. Would thou still love me?”
Scrivy responded by reaching up and grasping her face gently, pulling her down into a soft, steady kiss for a few moments before they drew apart… and then he smiled softly at her, saying quietly: “With all my heart, Luna. If it isn’t to be… we’ll still find a way between us, if you really wanted to. A door closes, a window opens.”
“Perhaps thou art right. I thank thee, Scrivener Blooms, for settling my mind. Even I am not beyond emotion… and this has been weighing greatly on me for a time longer than I wish to admit. I suppose after everything that has happened in the last few days, it just grew too much to hang onto any longer.” Luna softened, then she leaned down and they shared another kiss… before there was a loud knock at the door, and Luna drew slowly back and gritted her teeth, saying disgustedly: “Curse me for inviting them today of all days.”
Scrivy only smiled amusedly up at her, and Luna sighed before looking up and glowering at the door, and it swung open to reveal a grinning Trixie… who then wilted a little at the scorching look she received as she said dumbly: “Twilight told me to!”
“Well, Trixie was the one who was so eager to get out here.” Twilight said flatly, and then she shoved the unicorn out of the way and glanced awkwardly inside as Luna and Scrivener picked themselves up, then the male grunted when Luna flicked her horn and his saddlebag flew into the air and landed firmly on his back, quickly dropping into position and attaching itself over his body. “Sorry to disturb you two if… well…”
“’Tis fine, Twilight, I have some business to speak of with thee anyway.” Luna said imperiously, and Scrivy groaned and dropped his head forwards before the female reached up and slapped his flank firmly. “Oh silence, Scrivener Blooms. Trixie, thy training will begin with thou following Scrivener Blooms to retrieve three whole young mandrakes for me. Thou shall listen to every word that he speaks, and if thy dies, ‘twill be of thine own fault, understood?”
“Trixie the- wait, did you just say I could die?” Trixie winced back at this, and Scrivy shrugged moodily as he walked down the corridor, Twilight snorting in amusement as she tossed an entertained look over her shoulder at the pale blue unicorn before she huffed and said clearly: “Trixie the Brave and Fearless does not fear… dying, no!”
Then Sammy chirped loudly from beside her, and Trixie stared down at the undead pseudodragon before it hopped up and nipped at her cloak, and she screamed and ran into the yard as Scrivener sighed and dropped his head as Samael cheerfully bounced after her, chirping playfully. Then he glanced up in surprise when Twilight gave him a quick hug, saying mildly: “Good luck, Scrivy. Try and take care of her, okay? And I don’t mean kill her, much as I want to say you should do that too.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, Twilight.” Scrivener muttered, and then he leaned forwards and nuzzled her quietly, making the female blush and smile as he muttered into her ear: “Ignore Luna, she’s got evil ideas in her head.”
“I heard that, Scrivener Blooms!” Luna called easily, and then her horn glowed and the door lightly slapped against the male equine, making him wince and stagger forwards before she added: “Now take thy time, so I may be all the more eager when thou returns, preferably without Trixie in hoof!”
Then the door closed, and Scrivener rolled his eyes before he turned around and clicked his tongue, and Sammy immediately popped his head up from the tall grasses, scurrying quickly over as the equine leaned down and said mildly: “You stay here. You can scare her later if you want, but I need to at least get her to the nursery of mandrakes. Go sneak around back and stop Luna from being too much of a weirdo if you can, okay?”
Sammy chirped in response at this, almost saluting with one claw before he turned and bounced off… and Scrivy looked moodily up towards where Trixie was standing apprehensively near the wooden bridge leading over the creek, the female calling quickly: “Trixie is not afraid! Trixie is only… gathering her wits!”
“Well, please gather more than you usually do for today, you’re going to need them.” Scrivy said dryly, reaching up to adjust his glasses… and then he realized he didn’t have them on, so instead he brushed his messy mane embarrassedly back before walking quietly through the grasses towards her, Trixie giving him a sour look. “It’s not a far trek, but we will be going off the main path through the Everfree Forest, so you may want to leave your cape behind.”
“Trixie cannot perform feats of wonder and amazement without her stage gear, it would not be nearly as incredible without her inimitable style.” she replied huffily, then she paused and glanced nervously at him, adding hesitantly: “And she is also curious whether or not… there’s really a chance of death.”
“There’s a chance of death with every breath you take, Trixie, did you know that?” Scrivy responded flatly, and Trixie grumbled under her breath before the male shook his head, saying in a quieter voice: “Just listen, and most of all, keep your volume and flash down. This isn’t a place for sizzle.”
“Trixie is not a complete idiot.” the female mumbled, but she nodded slowly and seemed to calm a little all the same, before Scrivener smiled a bit as he stepped past her to take the lead… then glanced over his shoulder with a sigh as the unicorn fell into step behind him and immediately stated: “Trixie has a question!”
“What is it, little miss third person?” Scrivy asked tiredly, and the female huffed behind him for a moment before she looked at him searchingly, almost accusingly, making the male wince back slightly as he turned his eyes back ahead with a grimace. “Okay, you’re creeping me out now.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie has used her vast array of powerful magic and sharp detective skills – as well as her many, many other talents – to investigate into this, and yet with no real success.” Trixie paused for effect, then asked curiously: “Why are you and Luna together?”
“Because we love each other?” Scrivener said slowly, halting in the middle of the path to look over his shoulder at her, but Trixie only looked at him with pursed lips before the male rolled his eyes, saying flatly: “What, an earth pony like me and-”
“No, no, no!” Trixie reared back, looking surprised and embarrassed. “That is not what the Great and Powerful and Not-Better-Simply-Because-She’s-A-Unicorn Trixie meant at all! She means… more… how did you become a couple?”
“Oh.” Now Scrivener blushed a little, clearing his throat awkwardly as he faced forwards again and shrugged a little, and he lowered his head as he said thoughtfully: “Well… I was originally court poet at Canterlot. Princess Celestia assigned me to look after Princess Luna… sort of a half-babysitter, half-friend at that point. Just… someone to be there for her, and with her… and well, Luna and I slowly warmed up to each other from there. I mean… I was always… fond of her. She was crazy, and tried so hard, and was fighting such a battle against herself, and I saw… admired… the strength in her. Here, we turn off here.”
Scrivener motioned towards a steep embankment, and Trixie looked nonplussed before she winced when Scrivy leapt down, skidding along this… and then neatly coming to a halt on an almost-hidden ridge just above where the embankment led down to a shallow, murky river, the male glancing up and calling easily: “Just don’t fall!”
“Oh, Trixie just admires your wit.” the female muttered, then she grumbled before carefully stepping onto the embankment… and squeaking as she sat back and skidded down on her rear, wincing as her cloak floated out behind her and her hat almost flew off her head before she slowly came to a halt beside Scrivy, the earth pony looking at her with amusement as she glared sourly up at him. “Simple, sure. Trixie demands you continue your story, you haven’t answered her question yet.”
Scrivy rolled his eyes, but he looked a little surprised all the same as he gave a small smile, saying quietly: “Alright, Trixie, if you insist… but yeah. We… we talked more and more. We shared more and more with each other… and I guess we started clinging to each other a little. Suddenly, we wanted to go everywhere together, and Luna would always drag me along on any crazy scheme she had… that’s really how it all started, I think. When Celestia gave us a mission to retrieve some things for her from the vault beneath their old castle… we ran into a group of Nightmares, and Luna had to fight them off.”
Trixie looked up curiously at this, and then Scrivy turned and motioned for her to follow as he started to walk down the narrow, natural path alongside the river, continuing: “Two of them got into our heads, but Luna freed herself, and she helped me escape the one that was trying to dig its claws into my mind. She’s powerful, you know. Strong enough the Nightmares didn’t dare use their own magic against her, to try and stay hidden in the shadows… but Luna blew one away that was left to guard us all the same and then sealed the last inside the vault and just waited for it to die of terror. They’re odd creatures, Nightmares… not quite demon, not quite spirit, roaming the expansive darkness of the night sky but terrified of enclosed spaces. And to them, terror is both poison and pleasure. They love to cause it… but to feel it themselves can literally kill them.”
He stopped, then smiled a little over his shoulder before motioning with his head towards a large, hanging curtain of vines along the wall of the steeper cliffs they were passing… but then Scrivy simply pushed through this, revealing a tunnel, and Trixie hurriedly followed into the short passage beyond, wincing and adjusting her hat as the male reminisced: “Yeah. It helped… bring us together. We learned a lot about each other and we started to really… I dunno, feel that we could trust one another, or maybe something deeper than that. I knew from then on I didn’t want to ever be with anyone else… I didn’t need anyone else.”
“And yet what of Twilight Sparkle?” Trixie asked interestedly, as they emerged from the other side of the tunnel, and Scrivener gave her an amused look as he waited for her, the two falling into step side-by-side. “Trixie has used her awesome detective skills to uncover-”
“You know, you really don’t have to speak so… majestically out here. Just. Talk normal.” Scrivy said mildly, as he led through the clustered trees, sunlight filtering brightly through the sparse canopy above, and Trixie grumbled at him, then looked at him imploringly, and he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Luna… is adventurous. And cares about Twilight very much, and has very, very, very little respect for social norms. Personally, I’m okay with it. You probably don’t have to ask me why I’m okay with it, because I’m a male. But honestly, I also really… am fond of Twilight. Not in the same way as Luna, perhaps, but… enough. That’s a secret I’m entrusting you with, Trixie, don’t ever tell anyone I actually like Twilight Sparkle.”
“Yes, yes, ‘tis fine.” she waved at him grouchily with one hoof, then grimaced and gave a huff when she stepped into a puddle of mud as Scrivy leapt over it, grouchily shaking her hooves off and then leaping past the gunk herself as she grumbled: “Still. Trixie does not know if she would entrust such special things with someone else.”
“Luna threw away her hoof-slippers, her chest-plate, and even her tiara, and wears only that black pearl I gave her, Trixie. If that doesn’t tell you something, nothing does.” Scrivy glanced over his shoulder at her and the female looked at him thoughtfully as Scrivener added softly: “Besides. Luna gave me a gift I can never repay… two, really. We’re connected in a way that means we never can and never will betray the other… so we have a little more room than a lot of ponies for fun and games, and Luna loves to take full advantage of this.”
Trixie looked at him thoughtfully, then she nodded slowly and muttered: “Perhaps, but all the same, it does not mean Trixie completely comprehends this. Are we there yet?”
“Almost, Trixie, keep your horn on.” Scrivy said flatly as he approached a narrow slope between two enormous boulders, pausing for a moment and saying quietly: “We should try and keep the volume down now, though, to avoid disturbing anything. This part of the Everfree Forest isn’t overly fond of visitors, and we don’t want to upset any of the residents.”
Trixie grimaced a little at this, but she nodded rapidly, and Scrivener sighed internally before he turned and headed quietly downwards, the unicorn following with a grimace as her cape fluttered around her. The trees here were more gnarled, darker, and many seemed to have grim faces that leered out of the bark and branches like reaching claws… and Trixie shuddered a bit as Scrivener simply continued forwards, watching not the trees but instead the ground, wary of patches of weeds that might contain hungry serpents or nests of other nasty creatures, and guiding Trixie carefully around large holes in the path, the sounds of the forest strange and muted here.
Thankfully, the unicorn stayed quiet until they reached the top of a shallow, natural basin that was surrounded by towering, gnarled trees, the bowl in the earth elongated and almost J-shaped, with a large, ugly hole at the far side surrounded by thick white webbing and torn-up bits of bark. Scrivener leaned forwards a bit, surveying this past the odd, almost rounded ferns that sprouted from the ground at various states of size and color, and then he nodded after a moment and muttered: “Good. They must be in their quiet phase… now, Trixie, keep your voice low and move carefully. Don’t step on any exposed roots, and I’ll show you what we’re looking for and what to do.”
Trixie nodded nervously as Scrivener carefully led her down into the nursery, stepping over a large, thick purple root that looked more like a cable… and Trixie made a face at the way it twitched before stepping past herself, grimacing at the alien, exotic plants: the smaller ferns were purplish in coloration, but the larger ferns were varying shades of green, the biggest the lightest color, the smallest the darkest. “Are these plants really so important?”
“Zecora and Luna both use them for a lot of different things, so I’m guessing yes.” Scrivy muttered in reply, and Trixie grumbled at him before he halted beside a deep green fern, flicking it once and wincing at the ground… and when nothing happened he nodded and carefully began to move the large, oval-shaped leaf around, saying quietly: “We’re after the ones that have just turned from purple to green, these are adolescents. They still have high potency while being a little easier to work with. Always flick the leaf first, and if it starts moving around in response, then quickly move on to the next plant.
“We have to make sure there aren’t any purple splotches or rot on any of the leaves… and if the ferns are clean, then we have to take it out of the ground.” He paused, then winced and held up a hoof when Trixie’s horn began to glow. “Hey, stop! You don’t listen well, do you?”
Trixie grumbled, but the aura faded from around her horn as Scrivener shrugged off his saddlebag, putting it carefully down before he opened it… and the female cocked her head curiously as he pulled out a large glass jar filled with almost-glowing blue liquid. “First, we have to do this, otherwise the plant will… well… scream, when we take it out.”
Scrivy popped the jar open, then carefully poured roughly half the contents out around the base of the plant, the soil bubbling quietly… and then the ferns began to shudder slowly as several roots churned in the ground around them, Trixie slowly making a horrified face before the strange movement ceased after almost thirty seconds, and Scrivener said quietly: “It’s best to wait one or two moments longer for it to really set in… and then…”
Scrivener grasped the long, thick stalk of the plant firmly, then he yanked upwards… and Trixie wheezed as the plant was torn free, feeding not only into a system of roots that hung like long, dragging hairs of all size and shape and thickness, but an ugly, mottled baby, its limbs gnarled and gross and ending in thick lumps instead of hands and feet, its head malformed and turnip-shaped, black, beady eyes staring as an oversized jaw began to open… but it only released a wheeze as it wriggled a little, as if fatigued.
The color drained slowly from Trixie’s face as she looked over the mottled, brown-tan body of the thing, covered in warts, crawling with a few bugs… and then its beady black eyes thankfully closed, and Scrivener laid the plant down, working calmly as he pulled a large knife out of his pack and cut the stalk and some of the roots away from the ‘scalp’ of the mottled earth-baby, saying quietly: “They look like living things, but they’re only plants, Trixie. Very, very strange plants, and they have a wide variety of uses.”
And then Trixie gargled when Scrivy stabbed his knife into the mandrake’s stomach and tore upwards, ripping it open… but there was only a faint splash of water and a smell not unlike a pumpkin as the male reached his hoof calmly inside and pulled out several large seeds, which he tossed casually into the hole he had torn in the soft soil from ripping the mandrake free before he shoved the broken stalk and ferns into this as well, half-covering it up as he said quietly: “To make sure the nursery isn’t too disturbed, we always bury a few of their seeds, make sure at least one new mandrake… Trixie?”
Then Trixie leaned over to the side and vomited, and Scrivy winced a bit as trembles tore through the female’s body before she looked up, horrified, and rasped: “That… you just… that…”
“Oh come on, at least I’m being professional here.” Scrivy muttered, reaching back into his satchel bag and pulling out a large jar. He quickly spun the lid off this, then folded the mandrake carefully in half and firmly pushed it inside: it was roughly ten inches long folded up, and about as thick as a pony’s leg… and Trixie felt her stomach lurch again before Scrivener said distastefully: “The first time I saw Luna do this, I was a little freaked out too. But then you know what she did? She picked it up and took a big bite out of its stomach to prove it was only a plant.”
Trixie stared for a moment… then her eyes rolled up in her head, and she fainted dead away to the side, landing with a quiet thud, and Scrivy sighed and muttered under his breath, tossing a nervous glance towards the nest… but there was no sign of any Bitterweavers, and Trixie thankfully hadn’t landed on a root or plant. That would have caused the mandrake to shove its head out of the ground and scream, which would have made it all the harder to do anything… and Scrivener instead went about the process of replacing the jar into his satchel bag, pulling two more out, as well as a second jar of blue liquid.
Thankfully, the unicorn recovered shortly on her own, groaning a little and looking dumbly up to see two jars in front of her, one glass and large, the other filled with sleeping juice… and she looked lamely up at Scrivy as he said mildly: “This is your first big lesson and test, Trixie. Magic isn’t always about flash and sizzle and fun, it’s about doing stuff like this, too. Here, take these, and go dig up one of the plants. I’ll come and help you with the cutting after I get another of my own.”
“Trixie can… can handle this, she was just… temporarily deficient in iron.” the unicorn mumbled lamely, and Scrivener smiled a little despite himself before she nodded hesitantly, asking nervously: “How much of the sleeping potion should Trixie use?”
“Half of it usually does the trick, but it’s better to use too much than too little.” Scrivener replied quietly, then he smiled a bit and gestured with his head behind her. “It looks like there’s one over there that’s about right. And keep an eye out for large spiders, alright? If you see one, let me know.”
“I hate spiders.” the female mumbled disconsolately, and then she grimaced a bit and sighed a little, picking up both jars with a flick of her horn as Scrivy smiled a little after her, then turned his attention to quietly hunting out another mandrake.
It didn’t take him long to find one, and he repeated the process, a little more efficient about it now that he didn’t have to teach Trixie at the same time, before he grimaced a little as he heard a whimper… and then he frowned a bit, glancing up as a stuttering filled the air, glaring over at Trixie as she stared at something, pointing a hoof, and the male sighed as he looked towards the Bitterweaver nest, saying mildly: “Trixie, they’re not that-”
And then his eyes widened as the ferns rustled loudly before several mandrakes shoved their head out of the ground, releasing piercing screams that made Scrivener stumble backwards with a curse… and mixed with Trixie’s own scream of terror as not large spiders, but immense centipedes stormed towards them, heedlessly knocking down ferns and ignoring the piercing shrieks of the mandrakes as countless clawed legs propelled their twisting, many-segmented bodies forwards, large, poisonous jaws and mandibles clicking savagely as stupid, vicious eyes glared at them, Trixie staggering backwards as Scrivy quickly threw what was within reach into his saddlebag before he tossed it on his back and ran towards the unicorn, shouting in her face over the screams of the mandrakes: “Run!”
Trixie didn’t need to be told twice, turning and bolting alongside the male as the centipedes chased after their quarry, and Scrivener gritted his teeth, cursing as he looked over his shoulder in horror: there were at least five of them, ten feet long, skittering over and through the trees as well as through the grasses with such awful speed and agility it seemed more like they flew than they ran. And they were picking up speed, as Scrivener cursed under breath as he and Trixie ran down the narrow trail through the forest, wincing as the trees around them seemed to grin and laugh, roots and vines below their hooves seeming to twist mockingly as if trying to trip them up.
Trixie stumbled, and Scrivener dropped his body, catching her against his side, and she recovered her balance with a curse before yelping as her hat caught in a low hanging branch, wincing over her shoulder… but then she screamed at the sight of one of the centipedes lunging upwards to snag it and rip it apart in his jaws, falling behind the rest of the pack as the enormous bugs greedily chased them, slowly catching up. Then she winced when Scrivener checked her, the male ordering quickly: “In my bag there’s a cylindrical object, find it!”
Trixie nodded quickly, dropping back a bit as her horn glowed, tearing the top of the saddlebag roughly open before she gritted her teeth as she shoved her head into this, letting Scrivener blindly lead her onwards as they began to run up the narrow incline… and then she snapped her horn up, and a large, black candle-shaped object floated out and in front of Scrivy’s face before the equine lunged forwards and bit into the end of it, tearing it off with a wince at the hail of sparks before it burst into bright red flames before his eyes, making him flinch and stumble as he was blinded before he shouted: “Toss it!”
Trixie gritted her teeth as she did so, throwing it over Scrivener’s shoulder with a  flick of her horn as black smoke began to pour up from it… and the centipedes were startled by the object as heat and smoke poured up from the flare, Scrivener blinking a few times before he cursed and tripped over a root, sprawling in the middle of the slope… and Trixie ran on ahead for a few steps, then cursed loudly and turned around as the male began to pick himself up, looking with terror towards where the centipedes were studying the flare and clawing at the smoke before one of them lunged forwards and bit into it… then shrieked and staggered backwards when its features burst into flames, the others staggering away… then looking sharply up towards them as Trixie yelled: “Come on, Scrivener, come on!”
Scrivy gritted his teeth, lurching to his hooves and running up the slope after her, the two gaining a short lead on the four chasing them as the last rolled and bucked on the ground… and then the male’s eyes widened as he looked up and saw the boulders, shouting: “Help me push one of those down!”
“We’re not strong enough!” Trixie babbled, then she winced at the glare he gave her and nodded after a moment as they passed between the two enormous rocks… then Scrivener skidded around, gritting his teeth and grunting like a bull before he ran forwards as Trixie lowered her horn, the immense rock glowing and shuddering before the earth pony slammed into it with his full weight and strength, cursing as a sharp edge sliced his shoulder open… but the boulder rumbling as it tore out of position and slowly began to topple before Trixie snarled, her teeth grit, horn glowing brightly as Scrivener leapt up and shoved it as hard as he could.
Then the earth pony winced as he fell forwards, but the boulder twisted out of pace, falling onto the path and rolling down it with a loud rumble… and the centipedes barely had enough time to look up before the huge rock rolled over them, crushing the four flat, carapaces shattering and bodies all but exploding.
The boulder continued downwards, rumbling along the path until it crashed into a tree and almost knocked it over, and the forest went deathly silent for a moment, the only sound the weak chittering that rose up from one of the awful bugs… and then Scrivy grimaced as he looked towards Trixie as she breathed hard in and out, muttering: “Let’s get out of here.”
“The faster the better.” Trixie agreed with a wince, and then she fell into quick step behind the male as he turned and headed back along the familiar, hidden trails through the forest, the wound on his shoulder glinting painfully in the shadowy sunlight as the forest whispered anxiously around them.