Chapter Eighteen: Friendships New And Old
~BlackRoseRaven
The newly-risen sun shone softly down over the black cottage, making it seem to all-but-glow as a soft wind blew gently past. It was the image of serenity, and inside, Discombobulation snored soundly, curled up in front of the still-crackling fireplace beneath a pile of blankets, several more pillows gathered around the Draconequus as he absently hugged one against his chest, drooling a little as Luna stood musingly over the chimerical creature.
Scrivener Blooms, meanwhile, was in the kitchen fixing coffee... and then he winced as there was a loud sizzling sound before Discombobulation hurriedly sat up, then groaned and grabbed at his chest as the blankets fell from around his shoulders before he glared at her, a short arc of electricity twisting along his body as the winged unicorn said kindly, her horn still glowing faintly: “Be not so angry, Bob. I easily could have simply set thee aflame, too. I assure thee, a little jolt is far less painful than fire or hoof.” She paused, then flopped down in the spot where Discombobulation had been laying, adding with a wink: “Thou hast my thanks for keeping this spot warm, though, 'tis my favorite.”
“Six in the morning and already the mare ain't right.” Discombobulation mumbled, and he rubbed slowly at his face as Luna gave him a wry grin. “Did you two come back before curfew last night? Or am I supposed to pretend I'm the stern parental figure and give one of you a spanking?”
“It depends on whom thou wants to spank, Bob. I may be a little more open to the notion than Scrivener Blooms, but if thou really wants to lay thy mighty hands upon the hindquarters of another male, I am sure we can work something out.” Luna replied seriously, and Discombobulation's jaw dropped as he visibly fought to come up with a retort before the winged unicorn leaned towards him with a wink. “Is that why thou art always so stuffy even when I flirt with thee?”
The Draconequus glared at her, and then he reached out and flicked the winged unicorn's nose with his eagle talon, saying grouchily: “As I recall, you were the one constantly trying to make a mare sandwich with Twilight Sparkle.”
“A mare sandwich! Delightful!” Luna threw her head back and laughed, and Discombobulation only looked all the grouchier at the joyful mood the winged unicorn was obviously in, grinning wider as her eyes gleamed in amusement. “Oh, take it not so personally, Bob, I feel very refreshed after my nap. Thou cannot begin to imagine what it was like sleeping out under the watchful eyes of the stars, dreaming lucid dreams with my beloved in the safe shadows of the forest's soul, without having to worry about being eaten alive by monsters or possessed by demons or the world being shorn asunder. I have awoken with renewed health and hope. Can thou not simply be happy for me, insufferable beast?”
“No.” Discombobulation replied in a surly voice, and then he leaned back as Luna only laughed again. Then he rubbed moodily at the back of his neck, adding tiredly: “Although... I suppose I do understand what you mean, Scrivener Blooms. I know that sooner or later I shall have to return to the sanctuary of my glass prison, but for now, I feel... hopeful. And whether or not I also feel nauseated and sore, I suppose the laughing fool was right. Treat the patient, not the disease, and you win every time.”
Luna smiled a bit at this, and the Draconequus fell into almost-brooding quiet for a moment before he looked up as Scrivener Blooms approached carrying a tray. Luna gazed warmly at her husband as her horn glowed, lifting it gently from his jaws, and the male smiled at her with relief as the tray floated slowly past the bedding and settled in front of the fireplace, loaded with three mugs of coffee, a bowl of sugar cubes, and a small pitcher of cream as well as assorted baked goods, jams and butter. “Excellent, daydreamer, thou has my thanks... oh, this is the most wonderful thing about this world. Being able to sit down and gorge ourselves upon sweet treats that otherwise are far too difficult to get our greedy hooves on... incredible that some of the Nibelung have actually learned to bake well enough to replicate the most delicious of baked goods once available in Ponyville, is it not?”
Scrivener gave he an amused look as he laid himself down beside her... then rolled his eyes in entertainment as her horn glowed and she tossed two cubes of sugar into two of the mugs, before adding a dollop of cream to one, then the other. Discombobulation watched the two thoughtfully as Luna fussed a bit over the food, and then the Draconequus said dryly: “A good wife is one who serves her husband in the morning like a mother does, loves him in the day like a sister does, and pleases him like a prostitute at night. It seems you have all three of those bases covered well, Scrivener Blooms.”
Luna paused in mid-spread of some jam over a muffin half, and Scrivener cleared his throat as Bob only calmly leaned forwards, picking up a cube of sugar before he popped this into his mouth. He rolled this back and forth loudly along his teeth before he sipped at his black coffee, and then Luna held up a hoof and said firmly: “Nay, thou may attempt all thee wants, but thou shan't spoil my mood today, Discombobulation. I shall merely thank thee for the insinuation that I am a good wife to my husband, even if thy chosen words are less than complementary.”
“And here I thought you were a fan of prostitutes.” Discombobulation remarked dryly, and Luna looked up at this with surprise... but then snorted in amusement and nodded a few times. “So, as I am curious and a little confused, and I enjoy knowing things that I really don't need to know since I'll be spending all my time here asleep, ignoring annoying ponies and pony-spirits, or trying to carry on intellectual conversations with volleyballs... what is it that you actually do here in this world that seems to need your presence as much as I need to have heard that the bird is the word?”
Luna shrugged as she sipped at her coffee, her horn glowing as she lifted two muffin halves with telekinesis, and Scrivener rolled his eyes as she nudged him firmly with a shoulder before he turned his eyes to the Draconequus and answered: “Not a lot, to be entirely honest. The Nibelung Architects are very detail-oriented and keep to a fast and tight schedule... originally, we used to help oversee Ponyville's construction, but now Ponyville's been completely rebuilt – along with the surrounding area and settlements – we mostly... concentrate on helping out if we're needed for some special construction somewhere, do little jobs for Odin, and spend the rest of our time fixing up our cottage here and getting everything in order. And I guess we talk with the Architects every now and then, too, but mostly our time is spent with the Chief Artificer, Greece... he's been working with us on ways to reconstitute the Pales.”
“Aye, 'tis a daunting task... I have seen incredible feats done with far less magic than Valthrudnir's so-called 'miracles' will provide, however, so I do not worry overmuch. And neither should either of thee.” Luna said firmly, then she ate the rest of a muffin half in one large bite.
Discombobulation looked at her as she chewed slowly... then he nodded and sipped calmly at his coffee before remarking mildly: “Interesting how it took the apocalypse for you two to be able to pursue the vestiges of a normal life. What a grand farce this has all been, however... and I still can't help but worry that the future holds even worse dangers within or without. For is that not the way of things? Time moves on, no matter what we do or say or want. Time moves on, endings trigger beginnings and beginnings trigger endings, and whose to say which is worse when so often, life lacks a middle? It's all well and fine and admirable even to think that the point is in the journey, not the destination... but can you deny that if every checkpoint along that journey leads only to destruction, depravity, death, or – if you'll forgive me the ironic pun – further discombobulation, then can you say that journey has been a good one?”
“Perhaps 'tis the hardest, most painful journeys that have the truest worth, Bob. Aye, the cost is high, the pain is great, but the experience for it? Even intangible as such things are, the experiences brought upon by sufferance are a thousand times more worthy than the experiences that come solely in pleasure, for joy teaches little.” Luna replied softly, glancing towards Scrivy and smiling a bit as she silently took one of his hooves in her own. “Happiness is a good and well goal, do not get me wrong... but I only know that when we are happy, we tend to forget how others suffer. We often become self-focused... we often begin to take things for granted when we are happy, and ironically, look for reasons to become unhappy, see the bad in things when they are far more right than they are wrong.
“And I have come to believe, like my daydreamer, that there must be a balance in all things, one way or another. I do not pretend to entirely know what this means, because I do not think Scrivener even knows what it means.” She smiled a bit at the earth pony, and he shrugged agreeably as Discombobulation sipped at his coffee and studied them thoughtfully. “It does not mean neutrality, that all things should be black-and-white, or live in eternal gray. Perhaps rather, only that everything will work out, one way or another.”
Discombobulation nodded slowly, then he reached down and picked up another sugar cube, tossing it into his mouth. He rolled it between his teeth again, then rose his coffee and said kindly: “I want you both to know that no matter what happens, it's always sunny in Phillydelphia. Cheers.”
With that, he took a deep drink of his coffee, then sighed a bit as he lowered the mug and added mildly: “Now if only I could find myself a goose to lay a few golden eggs. I'd like to skip the part about climbing a beanstalk and toppling a giant, mind you. Although maybe later we'll listen to the story of Snow White and the seven Nibelung... except I heard that Freya was always too good with dwarves, but they were never quite good enough for her.”
“Oh, the sick jokes thou tells. Except I shall be striving hard to remember that one for later use on my sister.” Luna replied thoughtfully, and Discombobulation gave a short, brisk nod before he shifted a bit and rested back against a pillow, sipping at his coffee again as the three sat in comfortable quiet together.
It was a nice breakfast: one of the most pleasant Scrivener could remember, as a matter of fact, and he knew Luna felt the same as she glanced towards the Draconequus every now and then with an awkward sort of pride in her eyes, her smiles relaxed and companionable as the chimerical creature every now and then gave some quip or easy remark he'd stolen from somewhere. To Luna, Discombobulation was like living proof that maybe all that had been stolen could be restored... and even though the Draconequus was tired, a little pale, and quite weak, he all the same seemed determined to survive and like he, too, had been infected by the hope that always spread through both of the ponies whenever they were in this Looking Glass World.
When breakfast was done, the mugs and tray taken away, most of the food eaten, Discombobulation shrank down and allowed Luna to guide him back to his bottle, promising that she would look for 'better lodgings' for the Draconequus while they were in town. Then, before anyone could argue with her, she removed a can of cola from the cold box, cracked it open, and filled the bottle most of the way up with the liquid, leaving Discombobulation moodily floating amidst the foam as Scrivener sighed and finished wrapping up the leftovers as Luna grinned and cheerfully guzzled the rest of the cola from the can.
They spent the next few hours working on the cottage, first concentrating their efforts on finishing off the roof, then doing a bit of work around the far-from-finished bedroom. Once Luna felt satisfied that they had done enough – or more accurately, she lost interest in what they were doing – they headed into Ponyville to find out whether or not Greece had returned, and to see if they could find any traces of Zecora or Pollen, since the Velite seemed to have left the wagon some time ago.
They came across the Velite at the edge of Ponyville, however: her new bones glinted, stark and polished white compared the marred and damaged older bones that made up the rest of her body, and she smiled at them awkwardly as they approached and sat down beside her, looking past the low, but well-constructed fencing surrounding the village: not enough to stop intelligent invaders, but higher than the average pony stood and more than ample enough to keep most wild beasts and most of the lurking creatures that slunk through the night out. “Hi... I didn't see either of you around last night. I hope you don't mind I decided to... wander a little.”
“Not at all, 'tis what I hoped thou would do.” Luna paused, then glanced up towards Ponyville, at the open gates, hearing the faint sounds of construction, but the loudest noises came from the wildlife in the Everfree Forest at their backs, from the wind in the trees, from the thrum of nature as birds flitted overhead and the sun warmed their bodies. “The Nibelung won't hurt thee, thou should know. And if they so much as mock thee I shall pummel them. 'Tis not their job to mock thee, 'tis mine.”
“Thanks Luna.” Pollen smiled awkwardly at her, then she shook her head and glanced towards the fencing, saying softly: “No, I've been sitting out here, watching, because... there, see?”
Luna glanced up... and softened as a group of Pales flickered into existence: three foals that ran by, ghosts that seemed to laugh all the same as they ran through the grass, like they weren't aware they had passed on... but Luna and Scrivener knew they were. The Pales were happy here, though... taken from a nightmare world into a paradise that was slowly becoming a replica of their old home, where what they had known as enemies now worked as allies, and perhaps sought penance in their labors... and Luna knew that somehow, the spirits even knew the hints of rebirth were in the air.
Scrivener smiled faintly despite himself, reaching a hoof up and rubbing it slowly along Luna's spine, and she took a slow breath before gazing up and saying softly: “The Pales are not usually visible here, Pollen, because they... they 'settle.' Oh, I could jar them all out of the ether if I wished, perhaps, with a well-placed spell... but why not let them sleep and rest and relax in this place for now? And admittedly, it can be very hard at times when they do make themselves known... I have seen my beloved sister Celestia, and I have seen my beloved... friend... Twilight Sparkle... and many others all here, too. They do not look at me with blame in their eyes for what happened, but... in some ways that hurts the worse. For I do blame myself over the things that have occurred, Pollen. I cannot forgive myself for allowing my friends, my family, to have died as they did... while I and Scrivener Blooms survived, all because we piqued the curiosity of a wretched Jötnar, and for no greater reason than that. Just as all was almost destroyed solely for the sake of that same foul Frost Giant's wretched ego.”
She stopped, moodily looking towards the grasses for a moment before glancing up and smiling a little as the Velite looked at her and fidgeted a bit. “But 'tis alright, worry not, my friend. When everything is put right, then the guilt, the pain, and the self-loathing will all vanish as well, for none can hold themselves or another accountable for a mistake that is rightly-mended. Or perhaps I am only becoming an idealist, and hoping that all sins can be forgiven, all crimes paid for, and even the darkest of souls redeemed... I think the problem always has and always will be time, more than anything else. Too few of us have the time to make up for what we have done, have the time to repair what must be fixed, have the time to wait out anger, sorrow, and hatred's toil. But we have time in plentiful supply here, Pollen.”
Pollen nodded a few times, rubbing absently at her glistening-white foreleg... and then she looked back up towards Ponyville, asking curiously: “What about that zebra? Did you guys see her at all, or...”
“Zecora can more than take care of herself, from what she has shown... and it sounded as if she had plans of her own to attend to.” Luna paused, glancing meditatively towards Scrivener Blooms as she asked curiously: “What does thou think, daydreamer? Should we leave her be, or seek her out and perhaps help ourselves to her potion supply? All as a means of welcoming her to Looking Glass World, of course. Nothing is more welcoming than a delightful prank.”
“I think you're just mad about the whole shadow-thing.” Scrivener replied dryly, and Luna grumbled a bit under her breath before he smiled towards Pollen. “Don't worry, Pollen. She won't judge you or anything. Anyway, let's head into Ponyville together, maybe we'll even run into her... have you seen any of the Strange Ones yet?”
The Velite shook her head quickly, then added hurriedly, as the three started towards the open gates: “At least, I don't think so. Just Nibelung, Pales, and some wild animals... and I thought last night I saw something like a Phooka. We saw lots of Phooka where I come from... when... when I was alive, I mean, before... before everything that happened. They used to move in big packs, and there were all kinds of stories about them even before everything got so... so...”
“Dark.” Scrivener supplied, and Pollen nodded with a bit of a laugh as they walked into Ponyville, the trio gazing back and forth before the earth pony said softly: “Well, things are still going to be a little... dark... in this world, a little wilder, a little more dangerous... but all the same, we're hoping for a... a middle ground between peaceful, placid Equestria and the wildness and darkness that everything descended into. Not because we want to see ponies suffer... but because we want to see ponies prosper without having to rely on everything being all-but-handed to them.”
Pollen nodded a bit, and then she glanced curiously at the two, asking: “But then, does that mean you brought Phooka and all those things across too, so there's always going to be... monsters in the world?”
“Oh Pollen, no matter what world you go to, sadly, monsters shall always already exist there.” Luna replied with a slight, cryptic smile, and then she shook her head and and continued in a more serious voice: “Nay, there are already shapes of shadow here even in this world. No ponies, perhaps... but dragons, Phooka, hydra, manticore, and countless other things all exist. The same magic works here that worked across our Equestria... if anything, it seems to resonate all the louder in this place, for reasons I cannot begin to guess at.”
“And yet you'll try, anyway, won't you?” asked a mild voice, and the three looked up as they stepped into the center square of town in front of the now-completed library to see the Architect from yesterday in his flowing robes standing moodily next to another Nibelung with cut-down tusks that grinned at them as they approached, a thick jacket of heavy rawhide loose and open over his chest and a kilt of the same rough material around his waist as he leaned forwards with a wink. “I heard you were looking for me.”
“Aye, Greece, and 'tis a pleasure to see thee. 'Tis not a pleasure to see thee, though, Illyria, why art thou not supervising the work crews?” Luna glared at the other Nibelung, but the Architect only rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath. “Oh, fine, I shall permit thy presence if thou does not be a pain. Greece, does thou have time to discuss some business?”
Greece smiled, reaching up and rubbing at the nub of one tusk absently, his dark blue eyes warm and his reddish-black fur almost glowing beneath the light of the sun. “Of course I do, fancy-corn. About contacting Odin, your home, or the Pales?”
“All three, but hopefully we shall avoid the subject of Odin as long as possible.” Luna grimaced a bit, then she shook her head and explained: “I am still uncertain as to how to proceed with the Pales, and it is admittedly wearing on my patience that all courses of action seem to rely heavily upon the favor of fortune. Furthermore, with so many Pales of pony, zebra, and a few others... I wonder if Valthrudnir's miracles will contain enough power alone to grant all of them physical shells. Furthermore, I wonder as to the implications... if the soul is made physical, what will happen? Will they become as they see themselves, or always imagined themselves to be? Will they remember all that happened, and wear the scars of the journey upon their bodies, or will they instead forget, and be as newborn children whom will have to be raised anew all over again?”
She shook her head slowly, Scrivener giving her a soft look, and Greece nodded before he quickly reached a hand up and held Illyria's muzzle shut before the Nibelung could speak, the Architect glaring at the fellow Nibelung as the Artificer said kindly: “Worry not, Valkyrie fancy-corn... or Luna, as you prefer. Myself, Roma, and Illyria here should be more than enough to figure out the calculations, and we have other Architects we can contact if necessary, too. It would help if we could get a measurement of the energy emitted from what you call the 'miracles,' though... they come in the shape of cards, yes? Perhaps Roma could do this... his specialty is enchantment, after all.”
“Perhaps, but I would honestly prefer thee to do it, Greece. Thou art less swindling than Roma and less obnoxious than Illyria.” Luna shot the last mentioned a glare, and Illyria looked back at her with irritation as he finally shoved Greece's hand away from his muzzle. “Besides, Greece, thou art excellent with magic and relics. These cards are more like artifacts that contain vast quantities of unshaped power, and that is more in thine range of specialty, is it not?”
Greece nodded thoughtfully, looking a bit embarrassed all the same as Illyria muttered under his breath, and then he nervously picked at one cut-down tusk before saying slowly: “Well, would you agree to Roma and I taking a look at the cards together, then? And under your supervision of course, fancy-corn. I am not confident that alone, I can assess such powerful artifacts accurately.”
Luna smiled a bit, trading a look with Scrivener Blooms... and when the male nodded, she returned her eyes to the dwarf and said kindly: “Of course then, Greece. 'Tis more than fair enough, and take the time thou needs to prepare... we will be here at least a week, waiting for the Bifrost to stabilize. Perhaps whilst thou art out at my cottage thou will also indulge me and aid me with setting up a few unnecessary luxuries for my home.”
“Of course, it would be my pleasure, Luna.” Greece bowed to the winged unicorn with a smile, then he straightened and gave Illyria an amused look when the Architect glared at him with exasperation. “It's not a problem to be nice, friend Illyria.”
“Yes, yes it is. In our society, the Valkyrie would have been nothing greater than a Guardian, or perhaps a metallurgist with her abilities, but we pride ourselves upon our minds, not weapons and warfare. That is why we remain superior to the barbarian Nibelung.” Illyria retorted, tapping his temple a few times, looking torn between frustration and a strange sort of meekness, raising his hands and then cursing under his breath as he suddenly deflated. “I just wish you would take your position seriously.”
“I know, I know.” Greece smiled consolingly, reaching up and patting Illyria on the head, and the wolf-pig almost snorted steam through his nose as he gave a glare of horrible frustration to the much-more-relaxed dwarf. “Still, if you didn't take these traditions so seriously, I'm sure even fancy-corn Luna would be kinder to you.”
“Nay, I would not, for the foul creature would still be obnoxious and lacking a sense of humor.” Luna remarked mildly, and Illyria crossed his arms grouchily as Greece gave her a half-pleading look. Luna, however, only sniffed disdainfully, arching her back and adding imperiously: “Furthermore, thou art wrong and thou knows it, Illyria. Thee and thine fellow Architects, whatever their specialty – engineering, enchantment, and all that like – would all bow to me before the end of the day 'twere I interested in gaining some sort of rank in thine great pig-pack. Oh sure, all of thee can think and 'tis a nice change from the usual Nibelung, who think only with their mallets and axes, but I can do magic without the aid of tools or supplements. Go ahead and lord thine ability to build and design and decorate, pretty prancing dwarf. I can set everything thou builds aflame and mash it all into the rotten earth with my hooves should I so desire.”
“Oh because there is so much nobility in that.” the Architect retorted, and Greece sighed and dropped his face in a hand as the two glared at one another, before Illyria grumpily crossed his arms and added moodily: “What if we built signal amplifiers? Echo-boards to boost the powers of... whatever magic you settle on to give these Pales physical bodies? Not that I care... but I look forwards to the day when I do not have to wake up in the morning to find ghosts wandering through my room, and when I don't have to worry about superstitious lesser Nibelung bringing my construction sites grinding to a halt because several Pales pass through it and they all have to do some silly little ritual to stop the bad omens from coming true or we'll all be gobbled up by the Black Wolves of Helheim.”
Luna snorted in amusement at this, but then she looked thoughtfully over Illyria before sighing and saying grudgingly: “Well... as little as I like to admit thou has had a good idea.... thou has had a good idea, dwarf. Aye, I shall speak to Odin myself upon this subject, as a matter of fact, and see what he thinks. Perhaps he also has designs from Asgard that he can share with thee... but I do not claim to remember much of that far-flung past.”
Illyria grunted, but he looked pacified and pleased all the same as he nodded once before Greece smiled and gestured at them, saying kindly: “See now? When we put our heads together, fancy-corn and Architect alike, we all do much better.”
“Shut up, Greece, I no longer like thee.” Luna said flatly, but Greece only laughed before the winged unicorn shook her head and asked curiously: “What about Canterlot? How does it stand?”
“The deterioration there is worse than I'd imagined... I was going over it with Illyria just before you arrived, as a matter of fact, to get his opinion on the subject.” The wolf-pig gestured towards the robed Nibelung, and he grunted and nodded, but looked more serious than smug. “It will require years of effort to reconstruct... much of the labyrinth of tunnels running throughout the mountain structure has collapsed, turning the castle and surrounding area into a deathtrap. And while you know much of the city itself had long since fallen apart, we lost another section of it yesterday to landslides and... the simple fact that our attempts to repair the ancient stone are doing more harm than good right now. It may be a shorter – and safer – process to simply demolish and rebuild from scratch, fancy-corn.”
“Aye, it may be, but as much as I loathe Canterlot I do not wish to destroy it, either. We are here to save and salvage, Greece... it may be easier to rip the whole thing down, but... somehow, I do not like the idea.” Luna shook her head after a moment, then she smiled as she met the Nibelung's eyes. “Besides, we have time. 'Tis well and fine if the Pales awaken and Canterlot still lays in ruins, too... 'twill make it all the more convincing that they have all narrowly escaped some dreadful fate, however they may come to awaken.”
Greece rubbed absently at the underside of his muzzle, then he traded a look with Illyria, who sighed and shrugged. “Don't look at me, Artificer, you're the higher rank here.”
“Oh, I wish you would stop thinking like that.” Greece grumbled, then he sighed and nodded, returning his eyes to Luna. “But as you wish, Luna. Odin told us to obey the flying fancy-corn as we would him, after all. Furthermore, after seeing what you're capable of, none of us are exactly willing to go against your orders. Right, Illyria?”
“Yes, yes, yes, right.” Illyria said disgustedly, waving a hand and muttering moodily: “Barbarian Valkyrie. Physical might alone will only lead to death in this world.”
“All roads lead to death eventually, Architect, 'tis only that some paths are shorter than others. Thou can live all thine life in a safe and guarded bubble, and Death will still find thee when the time has come for thou to be taken away... the only difference is that cowards who hide from life are thrown down to Helheim, and the Reaper treats them with haste and disdain, while the brave and the bold are granted prosperity in the Vale of Valhalla, and Death will walk with them as friend to the next life. He may even allow them to linger a moment of their passing depending upon how they died, granting them one last act before they pass on.” She paused, then leaned forwards and grinned as her horn glowed, her ephemeral mane sparking slightly. “Furthermore, I do not have just my hooves and my horn. I also have lightning, fire, and a plethora of far-nastier magic at my disposal.”
Illyria leaned away at this with a grouchy look as Luna glared at him, then she sniffed and sat back, returning her eyes to Greece. “Finally, on the subject I am least fond of, I must contact the old lecherous cyclops as well. Does thou know where he abides?”
“I spoke with him a few hours ago, and he mentioned heading out to check the traps in the wilderness.” Greece shrugged a bit as he glanced over the two ponies and the Velite thoughtfully. “You can probably catch him out there, if you hurry... but then again, I know you're rarely in a hurry to see Odin.”
“Aye, but dealing with him is often like ripping off a bandage. 'Tis best to do it quickly and get it over and done with.” Luna replied in a grumble, and Greece smiled despite himself at this before the winged unicorn sighed and dropped her head forwards moodily with a grunt. “Come, Scrivy, let us go and find the lecher, then, playing with his big-boy toys. Greece, would thou mind looking after Pollen for a little while? She is nervous despite the fact most of the Nibelung are far too dumb to be a threat to her.”
Scrivener was sure that Pollen would have blushed if she could, fidgeting awkwardly, and the dwarf smiled before he nodded, saying kindly: “It is no difficulty at all... Pollen, yes? Perhaps you can help me with some engraving work.”
Pollen mumbled a little, shifting a bit, but then she nodded and said nervously: “If it's not any trouble, I mean, I'm sure I'll be fine either way... it's... it's not like anyone's going to burn me or anything.”
“Not until we must.” Luna replied agreeably, and Pollen looked at her and shifted awkwardly again before the winged unicorn nodded briskly. “Then our business is finished for now, Greece. I shall find thee at some point again, and if I do not, then simply head out to my cottage in a day or so when thou art ready and I am sure we will meet there. 'Tis not as if there stands much to be done, after all.”
The Nibelung nodded, and Luna and Scrivener both gave Pollen a smile before the winged unicorn turned to leave and the male fell into step behind her. The Velite waved awkwardly at their backs as Illyria grumbled under his breath and Greece gave a cheerful 'farewell!' and sketched a salute to them.
The two ponies walked quietly and calmly through mostly-empty Ponyville, side-by-side, bodies almost touching as they traded looks and emotions in a swirl between them... and then Scrivener winced and arched his back as something ground firmly along his spine, skidding to a halt as he shivered before glaring over his shoulder as Luna shot a sour look at the floating Pale of Pinkamena, the half-demon grinning widely as she licked her sharp teeth slowly and looked down at them with entertainment. “What, has thou already succeeded in alienating thyself from the other Pales?”
Pinkamena only laughed silently as she floated backwards, rolling once in midair before she gestured easily outwards with a hoof, the two ponies glancing forwards and then both staring as nine Pales flickered silently into being in a line in front of them, hazy and indistinct, shimmering with frost... but memory filled in the details, memory was enough to make them almost real as Luna whispered: “Oh, most honored friends... darling Twilight Sparkle... beloved sister and cherished daughter...”
The smallest Pale stepped forwards first, smiling faintly, gazing up at them tenderly, without sorrow, without malice, without blame... and without forgiveness, because in her eyes, there was no wrong to forgive, no matter how both Scrivener Blooms and Luna faulted themselves for what had happened. She was beautiful, her eyes so red they almost glowed, and she mouthed the words 'I love you, Mom and Dad' before she flickered out of existence.
“We love thee as well, Scarlet Sage. Always and forever, our daughter... always.” Luna whispered in reply, and then she laughed faintly and shook her head quickly to clear it, looking up with a faint grin despite her over-bright eyes as two more Pales stepped forwards. “And what an embarrassment to allow thee to see this side of me, Rainbow Dash. Although thou could always seem quite the mare still thyself, for all the evidence to the contrary.”
The Pale of Rainbow Dash laughed silently, tossing his rugged mane as he grinned widely: proud and tall and strong, he stood side-by-side with another pony who shook her head with a quiet laugh and nudged the fellow Pale gently. The two traded a quick look, smiles on the faces of the shades before they gazed forwards, and Scrivener and Luna gazed back before the earth pony said softly: “I'm glad you're still there to take care of him, Applejack. You two look happy together even now. I think it's almost enough to make Luna jealous.”
Luna laughed at this as she grinned with entertainment at her husband, and AJ and Rainbow gazed at them with warmth before the two Pales faded out and allowed another two to step forwards. One was a unicorn... the other, however, was a young dragon, his ghost a little more solid, tinged faintly with grayer hues and not emitting the same frosty cold that the pony Pales did.
The unicorn Pale flicked her corkscrewed mane, smiling at them softly as the dragon rose a hand and waved awkwardly at them, shuffling a bit on the spot before Scrivener said softly: “Another couple to make you jealous, Luna. They look good. And they're about as odd a pair as us, huh?”
“Aye, jealous... but happy, all the same. Happier than I can say, to see proven again that nothing can stand in the way of love.” Luna replied softly, not taking her eyes off the two as they both smiled, then bowed their heads to her... but the winged unicorn only laughed before she silently bowed herself low in return, saying quietly: “Nay, bow to me not, friends. If we are not equals, then truly thou art the greater... thou has given more to me than I could ever pay thee back, and done more for Equestria, and more importantly, for thine friends and loved ones, than I ever have been able to give myself.”
Scrivener bowed down as well after a moment, and the Pales of Rarity and Spike looked honored and touched before their eyes roved to one another, and the two shades smiled before flickering out of existence. And when Scrivy and Luna rose, they faced another Pale who gazed at them almost shyly as the ghost fidgeted a bit, then rose her head, studying the two tenderly.
They looked back at the Pale of the Pegasus as she slipped a little closer towards them, and Luna and Scrivener both softened before the winged unicorn said in a tender voice: “Fluttershy, of all the ponies I have known, thou wert always the most gentle, the most kind. And in that, that matchless grace and compassion... such strength thou had. Such resolve, in spite of thine awful upbringing. Such grace, that could tame the most savage beast.”
The Pale shifted with a faint smile to them, humble, beautiful, before Scrivener added quietly: “I'm glad to see you safe. We're not going to let anything interfere with that this time... now, we promise to look after our friends, to be as kind and generous, as you have always been yourself.”
Fluttershy smiled again... then she flickered out of existence, Scrivener feeling both warmth and the faintest twinge of guilt as memories of Sol Seraph twisted through his mind; before Luna could even look towards him, though, a pony Pale sprung forwards and skidded to a halt in front of them, beaming with such radiance it seemed to make the air around her shimmer with more than simply frost, as Pinkamena floated grumpily over and dropped to her hooves beside the Pale, a dark reflection of the bright and happy pony. Parallels, in some ways opposites, but in so many more ways so much the same... and Pinkie Pie laughed as Pinkamena sighed and threw her head back as if in exasperation, trying vainly to hide the smile that lit the half-demon's features all the same.
Then the twinned ponies both looked forwards, and Luna shook her head and said affectionately: “I still believe thou art both insane, so we are clear upon the subject. But thou art good for each other, too... and even with thine endless enthusiasm, I do not remember thee being nearly as cheerful as this before, Pinkie Pie. But I am thrilled to see it... and Pinkamena, lie not to me, I know thou art happy to be here thyself.”
Pinkamena shifted with a grumble as Pinkie Pie looked towards her twin warmly, then leaned over and nudged the dark-tinged Pale lightly with her shoulder. Pinkamena blew a silent raspberry in return, but then she sighed and nodded grudgingly, and Luna nodded firmly as she looked from one to the other before saying softly: “Treasure thy sister. For there is truly nothing more valuable than loyal and loving kin.”
Pinkie Pie nodded firmly as Pinkamena glanced awkwardly away, before wincing when the happier pony Pale threw a foreleg around her neck... but then the half-demon sighed and dropped her head forwards with an almost-embarrassed smile before the twins faded from sight, leaving only two last Pales standing and facing them. Luna gazed at these spirits quietly, then she and Scrivener Blooms both rested back on their haunches as the last Pales looked at one another, seemed to trade some silent dialogue between them... and then the smaller of the two smiled faintly and stepped forwards.
A winged unicorn, her horn tall, her form as large as Luna's, her eyes so alive even now... and the two living ponies smiled faintly before the Pale sat quietly across from them. She was beautiful even now... but more than that, she had always been driven, compassionate, sagacious; Luna had admired her, loved her, applauded her triumphs and helped to catch her when she fell.
But it was Scrivener who spoke first, the earth pony leaning forwards and saying in a gently-teasing voice: “Not driving you too crazy to be unable to control every little thing now, right? We'll clean up the Nibelung hair out of the library before we bring you back, don't worry.”
Twilight laughed silently, then gave him an amused look, and the earth pony only shrugged a bit before he said softly: “Hey, I'd be a hypocrite if I let a little thing like death come between us, right? Don't worry, Twilight... one day you'll be back and able to hit me and shoot magic at me again, just like the old days.”
The Pale nodded firmly at this in agreement, and Luna gazed warmly from her husband to the ghost before she said softly: “Aye. That is right... and 'tis amazing that it is thee of all ponies managed to find the positive note instead of harping upon the cynical.”
“I can always do that later, Luna... besides, it's much more fun to crush hope after building it up as high as you can. Like knocking down a tower of building blocks.” Scrivener smiled despite himself as he rose a hoof, and the Pale of Twilight gave him an exasperated look as Luna laughed and shook her head in wry entertainment.
Then the two looked back towards Twilight, and Luna's smile toned down to a softer, affectionate expression as she leaned forwards, saying quietly: “As always, I want to renew my promise to thee, though, Twilight Sparkle. I want to once more say that I am going to make things right... that everything will we okay in the end. And I want to apologize again for all that thou suffered, everything thou wert put through, even if I know well thy response by now. A shake of thine head, concern for me I do not deserve, never-wavering trust and loyalty and kindness. But let me speak these words, and nod for me: if not because thou believes them to be true, than as reassurance for me, for even a Valkyrie such as myself must need be reassured from time-to-time.”
Twilight Sparkle sighed silently, looking at her almost imploringly, but Luna gazed back, half-pleading, half-glaring... and finally, the Pale nodded, looking a little sullen as Scrivener smiled despite himself before he winced a bit as pain shot through his eyes, and for a moment it was like he was looking at a real, physical pony, with a violet coat and a dark, straight mane, paired lines of brighter purple and pink running through her locks and tail. Her eyes still seemed to almost glow with their amethyst beauty as she looked at him, and when she spoke, he heard her voice... soft and echoing, as if it came from a distance: “Don't push yourself so hard, Scrivener. She chose you for a reason.”
Scrivy closed his eyes with a blush at this, as Luna looked curiously from Twilight to her husband, then leaned towards him as he felt her paging gently into his mind, stroking through his thoughts, sensing the still-fresh memories before she blushed a bit as she glanced towards the winged unicorn... but Twilight only smiled softly as both of the living ponies rose their heads to look at her, then the Pale nodded to them before she faded slowly from existence, and Luna whispered: “Too kind, too sweet, too good for this world, let alone dark creatures such as ourselves, Scrivener Blooms. Her death and Scarlet Sage's remain my greatest sins...”
She shook her head slowly, then glanced up towards the final Pale that remained as it approached them, mane and tail still seeming to flicker with a multitude of colors as the enormous equine's shade towered over them. She was far from intimidating despite her size, however, radiating calm, tenderness, and a strange serenity. “Do not worry, though, sister. I mourn thine own death. At least most of the time, if not all. Sometimes I attempt to make light of it and other times I wonder how thou could permit thyself to be slain by four oversized vermin. 'Tis a most disappointing way for a mighty Valkyrie to fall, Celestia.”
The Pale sighed silently, but it seemed in a strange way to appreciate this all the same as Luna smiled a little, looking lovingly up at her sister before Celestia turned her gaze towards Scrivy. She studied the earth pony, and Scrivener awkwardly looked back at her before she rose a hoof, and the male winced but then bowed his head forwards as a faint golden light twisted through the Pale's body, before he distinctly felt the large hoof settle against his head and he heard the whispered words of a blessing pass through his mind.
“Celestia, thou art no longer Queen of Equestria. Nor art thou Queen Freya of the Valkyries. I demand thou cease abusing thy... no.” Luna halted, glaring at her sister as Celestia drew her hoof back and held it pointedly towards Luna. “Nay, I am a Valkyrie. I was Champion. I am thy little sister, aye, but that does not mean... oh, fine. But thou art overstepping thy bounds.”
Luna grumbled, lowering her head forwards and closing her eyes... and Scrivener smiled despite himself, feeling the flurry of emotions through Luna's body, beneath all of which was humility and adoration and thankfulness as Celestia's hoof settled on her forehead, and the Pale gave a faint golden shimmer as she imparted the blessing of the sun on her younger sibling. Then Luna hurriedly rose her head and slipped back a bit on her haunches with a grumble even as her ethereal locks shimmered faintly for a moment with rosy luminescence as she mumbled: “Thy blessing is nothing more than pretty words, in any event. But the kind gesture... I suppose it is still deeply appreciated, sister. And that thou at least had the courtesy to do Scrivener Blooms first.”
Celestia stepped back, the Pale looking slowly from one to the other with a kind smile lingering over her features before she returned her eyes to Luna, tilting her head... and Luna grimaced a bit, fidgeting on the spot before she finally admitted in a grumble: “We are... doing our best to behave for the cyclops, but... 'tis difficult. And... complications... have arisen with Scrivener Blooms...”
She softened, gazing towards the earth pony, and Scrivy blushed a bit as he glanced awkwardly around them... but the street around them was empty, and the library to their back a good distance away. And when Scrivener returned his eyes to Celestia, she looked at them without judgment, without reservations: only tenderness and concern for them both. It made both ponies feel awkward for their hesitance... for even though Celestia had been the one to give Scrivener Blooms the scar that marred half his features, she had found true balance in herself at the end of her long life, and begun to live up to the repute ponies across Equestria had always seen her with.
“Valthrudnir somehow has... found lodgings in my husband's mind, Celestia. He is... invisible to me, moving slyly, using the Tyrant Wyrm's corruption to hide and poison his thoughts.” Luna said finally, lowering her head silently, and the Pale of Celestia looked startled as she leaned back, then turned her eyes to Scrivener: eyes filled with concern as the outline of the Pale seemed to crystallize and sharpen, and Scrivy blushed a bit as he dropped his own eyes, half-embarrassed and half-touched. “I am... we are both afraid.”
Celestia nodded slowly, then leaned silently down, studying Scrivener quietly... and the male brought his eyes hesitantly up, looking back at the Pale as Luna said softly: “Thou art... wise and strong, sister, even now. And thou will always be my big sister... no matter who thou were in the past, no matter what happens between us, no matter what the future holds. Does thou... can thou offer any advice at all?”
Celestia shifted silently on the spot, looking slowly from Luna to Scrivy... and after a moment of consideration, she only shook her head silently. For a moment, the dark sapphire pony looked downcast... but then the Pale reached up and gently rested a hoof on her shoulder, gazing at her with silent encouragement and a faint smile, and Luna sighed a little and forced a smile in return, but her body loosened slightly as she said quietly: “Of course, thou art right. 'Twill only worsen the situation to worry upon it. Perhaps the echo will fade in time, perhaps it will only live for as long as the corruption wends its way inside Scrivener's mind... aye, let us hope the latter is the case, then. There is no fault, no wrong, in hope, correct? As long as we remember that while hope is a good start, we must continue to strive forwards to follow through with actions as well.”
The Pale smiled softly in agreement, then turned towards Scrivener Blooms, and Scrivy looked back at her before Celestia reached both hooves up to gently rest them on his shoulders, leaning down beside his ear as he closed his eyes before he clearly heard Celestia whisper gently: “You are stronger than you think, Scrivener Blooms. You are not my sister's weakness. You proved that many years ago, when you earned...”
Her voice faded out, and Scrivener blushed a bit as the specter leaned back and drew a hoof silently across the scarred side of his face. He understood, and he looked up at her quietly as Luna smiled faintly, not needing to have heard what her sister had said to murmur quietly: “Wicked Celestia, thou now acts as if thou gave him a badge of honor. Self-justifying, rationalizing creature... 'tis almost as bad as Scrivener himself.”
Scrivy laughed a little despite himself, smiling wider as he glanced towards Luna, then returned his eyes to the ivory Pale as she shook her head slowly before slipping backwards. The tall spirit hesitated, but Luna only gave a short shake of her head and gestured at her gently with a hoof, saying softly: “Go, get thee hence then, big sister. Scrivener Blooms and I have no more need for thee, does thou understand? Return to thy slumber, or find thy friends in the folds of reality... for thou does have friends now, does thou not?”
Celestia laughed silently at this, then she nodded once with a warm smile to the two before bowing her head low, gently touching the tip of her ephemeral horn to the ground. Luna and Scrivener bowed deeply in return, and when the two rose, Celestia had vanished from sight... and the two traded faint smiles before the winged unicorn slipped towards Scrivy and dropped her face against the side of his neck, closing her eyes as he gazed towards her quietly.
She rested like that in silence for a few long minutes, the only sound their soft breathing, the faint ringing of construction in the distance, and the hum of nature around them: the whispering breeze, chirping insects, singing birds. Clouds floated by overhead in the broad blue sky, and the sun shone down around them, warming their bodies, almost making the two glow even as their shadows seemed unnaturally deep, unnaturally dark.
Then, finally, Luna sat back and took a long breath before she nodded firmly once, saying softly: “Onwards ho, Scrivener Blooms. We still have the wretched cyclops to attend to, do we not? Aye, let us get this business with Odin over and done with as quick as possible, so we may spend the rest of this time in respite... I only fear what little tasks he may have for us to do, wretched, lazy old lecher that he is.”
Luna grumbled a bit as she began forwards, and Scrivener fell into step beside her as he gave her a smile of entertainment, tilting his head towards the winged unicorn as he said mildly: “You mean, tasks we'll put off until the very last minute as always? Not to mention the fact he'll probably lecture you about abusing the Bifrost again... or well, maybe he's given up on that, since he didn't mention it last night.”
“Aye, but I was in a rotten mood for his company last night, not crawling through the dirt towards him to beg an audience to the great and mighty Warrior King of the Aesir.” Luna said moodily, and Scrivener fought hard to repress a snort of entertainment as the winged unicorn rolled her eyes and flapped her wings once, looking ruffled and grouchy. “I swear that is the reason he permits me to put off our meetings, Scrivy. For when I have to go and find him, 'tis like I am his handmaiden once more, reporting for duty.”
“Yes, yes, Luna, I know. Odin bad.” Scrivener said mildly, and then he winced when she checked him firmly, knocking him stumbling before he fell back into step beside her and snorted in entertainment. “I think you're just trying to cling to absolutely any vestige of hatred you can for him, to be honest. Maybe this is even his way of doing you a favor and giving you another reason to hate him.”
“Oh, do not speak that way, Scrivener Blooms.” Luna said disgustedly, throwing her head back with a grumble. “Thou fills my brain with paranoid thoughts, and thy spill over not just from thine own addled mind now but begin to twist themselves out of the depths of my own brain. Like tentacles. Wretched tentacles.”
Scrivener gave her an amused look as they followed the path to an open gate at the edge of town, following the dirt road through a short field and into the edge of the Everfree Forest. Eventually, the dirt road became nothing but a grass path that broke apart into half a dozen different, barely-visible trails deeper into the woods and towards a deep ravine, but it ran a good distance on a curving, comfortable trail before it did so, making it a pleasant path to walk.
The twenty minute walk down the wide dirt trail relaxed both Scrivener and Luna, until they reached the end: here, the Nibelung had built a small storage yard surrounded by iron fencing. Inside it, they kept rope, oil, explosive supplies, and other odds and ends... most of which were dangerous and volatile, hence why they were stored out here. Luna, as always, was tempted to set the storage lot on fire just to see what would happen, and Scrivener gave her a flat look before the winged unicorn glanced up at a rustling in the trees on the other side of the lot. “Old lecher?”
“Yes, Brynhild.” Odin said tiredly, and Luna grunted as she strode quickly around the fenced-in lot, Scrivener following awkwardly as they stepped onto a grassy, well-trodden trail. After only a few feet, however, Odin stepped carefully backwards into the path, a thick green rope in his hands as he glanced towards them with a bit of a smile. “Mind your hooves, friends. Some of the traps set here are more dangerous than just rope and vine.”
Scrivener winced a bit as Luna only grunted, then the winged unicorn watched grouchily as the once-god knelt creakily to carefully set the snare in the middle of the path. He worked calmly, ignoring everything around him as Luna fidgeted... then finally asked as her curiosity overwhelmed her: “Raiders or beasts?”
“Thieves, mostly... and a few goblins, which I do not know whether to refer to as animal or troublemaker.” Odin replied after a moment, then he shook his head slowly as he stood up and turned around, cracking his back with a grimace. “I don't know if it amuses or irritates me that no matter how many times I set the same trap in the same place, they always fall for it. I'll be glad when we can move most of these supplies to Canterlot.”
He paused, then gestured gently at them, and the ponies both turned, heading back towards the road as Odin followed them with his hands behind his back, saying moodily: “At the same time, though, I cannot really complain... it's nice that even an old fool like me can be of some use these days, with or without my powers. I only wish the Nibelung were able to catch on to not setting off their own traps as fast as they are in learning to make them.”
“Enough stalling. We are here Odin, what does thou want?” Luna said grumpily as she suddenly spun around the moment they stepped back in front of the fenced-in storage lot, and Scrivy winced as he staggered quickly to the side to avoid running into her, then half-fell to a seated position beside her as Odin only looked mildly down at the winged unicorn. He stopped a few feet away, single eye meeting Luna's dark cyan irises, and then the female asked insistently: “Well? What is it then, sing, old lecher. Thy face is bird-like, 'tis what birds do.”
“Please don't bring up this failed disguise.” Odin muttered, rubbing slowly at the scarred side of his features with a grimace. “One polymorph run afoul for lack of power and here we are. But if you must be so insistent, Brynhild, and you must continue to pretend that I dragged you out here and you did not arrive only seconds ago of your own volition, I do have a few tasks for you and your husband. Nothing strenuous or serious, I assure you. But tasks that you will be able to complete with much greater ease than myself or a Nibelung, and that I also do attribute no little weight to.”
“Oh wonderful, I am an important errand girl.” Luna grumbled flatly, and Odin reached up and touched one of his temples, closing his eye with a grimace. “And just what tasks does thou have for me, then?”
“As soon as possible, I need you to take a message of some importance to the Strange Ones in their village to the west.” Odin began, and he winced a bit at the horrible glare Luna favored him with, but managed to continue calmly all the same: “The trip is difficult by foot. For you, it's three hours' flight. Furthermore, we need certain materials replenished: engraving tools, crystals, rune-stones chief among the list.”
“Wonderful. I am a messenger as well as an errand-girl.” Luna muttered, but she sighed and nodded before looking grouchily up at Odin. “Very well then. I shall go about this task. But listen to me, cyclops: on the subject of restoring the Pales, Illyria – and I do not lie, even though I question the sanity of the world around me that I am here, pushing forwards the Architect's ideas – has come up with the subject of building amplifiers of some sort around Equestria. I dislike enough as it is that I agree with the idea. Do not make me argue against thee that it is a good one.”
“Very well, I will speak to Illyria on the subject, then.” Odin replied after a moment, rubbing at the underside of his beak slowly, and then he frowned slightly as he leaned against the iron fencing, asking quietly: “Are you really so nervous about bringing back the Pales?”
“In this case, it's far better to be safe than sorry, and I do not wish to brashly charge in as I usually do. I cannot bear the thought of failing them... even more, I cannot bear the thought of hurting them.” Luna replied quietly, looking up at Odin and losing some of her aggression as Scrivener gave the female a soft look. “I wish to take every precaution I can with this, so that when we reach that final, crucial juncture... we are able to pass it without hindrance. Then I may look back upon it and laugh, and resume using my horn to solve all my problems, but... until that point and day comes...”
Odin nodded slowly at this, and then he drew his eyes over the two ponies, hesitating... and then only giving a second short nod as he reached into his rawhide jacket to pull loose a thick vellum envelope, sealed with a wax crest. “Alright. If there's no other business, that is all I have for you for now. I would like for you to leave immediately if you're ready: the letter must be hand-delivered to the chieftain of the Strange One's tribe, understood?”
“Then permit me slice off one of thy hands to take it with me, as I only have hooves.” Luna retorted dryly, and Odin sighed before he grimaced when the letter was yanked out of his hand by telekinesis, floating quietly in the air beside Luna as it pulsed with faint sapphire light. “But very well, then I shall go about this task. Come, Scrivy, let us first return to Ponyville and fetch some packs and a few supplies, and perhaps something or other we can trade to the Strange Ones for our own purposes.”
“Thank you, Brynhild, I appreciate this.” Odin said quietly, and Luna grumbled as she turned around, but then sighed and looked over her shoulder when the once-god added: “Do not hesitate if you need anything. I am here to aid you however I can.”
“Of course, of course. As I am here to be thy errand girl.” Luna muttered, and then she turned with a grumble as the letter tucked itself neatly into her ethereal mane, seeming to vanish as her glowing locks rippled over it. “Come, Scrivy, before he attempts to dress us in pretty saddle and vestments.”
Scrivener smiled awkwardly over his shoulder at Odin, bowing his head quickly before he turned and hurried after the winged unicorn as she stormed off, and the once-god made a face at their backs before he shook his head tiredly, turning to head back into the complex catacombs of forest trails. The ponies, meanwhile, strode on in silence for several minutes, even as emotions and thoughts whispered back and forth between them, before Luna finally dropped her head forwards with a sigh and a grumble, saying moodily: “Aye, Scrivener Blooms. It's vexing. On the one hand, I am very glad our task is a simple one. On the other, I am frustrated at being used as a delivery pony. And I have thought upon the words thou has spoken before and further dislike the fact that perhaps thou art much more right than I like to admit, and I... perhaps cling unnecessarily so my distaste of Odin.”
She halted, then shook her head as she murmured quietly: “Still, 'tis hard to think of him as anything but an ally I must be warier of than most enemies. Odin was God of Wisdom... but he was cunning, ruthless, and in a way he killed me not once, but twice, for placing me into eternal slumber for my 'disobedience' to him was a fate far worse than slaughter on the battlefield for a Valkyrie.” She stopped, then grimaced a bit. “And the alternative was no fairer, either. Lecherous Odin. I may not be pure in many senses of the word but nor does that make me a toy for others to use as they please. I am proud of myself, and feel no shame for my desires, for who I am, I never have and never will, but nor does that make me a harlot.”
“Believe me, I know that.” Scrivener smiled a bit over at her, and Luna laughed as she grinned at him, the male adding meditatively: “But what do I really know, anyway? I'm rarely the one coming on to you, after all.”
“Aye, thou would have been risked being considered most effeminate in the old days past, which would have been a terrible dishonor to the macho warriors of Valhalla.” She paused thoughtfully. “'Tis amazing how they all could overlook the fact that while they sat around getting drunk, 'twas us, the Valkyrie females, that did all the work protecting them, and all of us could beat any of these so-called 'masters of battle' into the ground like they were spoiled children. Which, I might add, they were. But worry not. I would have pummeled anyone that dared speak out against thee, beloved wife.”
“I'm so glad I'll always have you to hide behind, my big brutish Luna.” Scrivener replied dryly, and Luna laughed, grinning over at him as the male smiled despite himself. “But tell me more. I like listening to you talk about the old days.”
And Luna smiled softly despite herself, looking strangely delighted with the request as she nodded once and continued to speak as the two ponies made their way back along the dusty road, filling in the time between adventures with stories of the once-forgotten past.