Chapter One: The End, The Beginning
~BlackRoseRaven
Scrivener Blooms threw his head back with a howl of torment, his body convulsing: hooves tore against the ground as the earth pony shook his head wildly, his normally charcoal-colored coat rippling, darkening in places here and there as his white mane and tail sparked with unnatural light. Chestnut eyes snapped open in features marred by a hoof-shaped scar that covered almost half his face, but he only stared sightlessly as a terrible sapphire aura pulsed around his body, shocks of energy and electricity twisting over his warping, distorting form.
His wife, his soulmate, his best friend could only stare in horror as tears fell from her eyes: for all her strength, she was helpless to do anything to stop this, to save him, as the winged unicorn dug her hooves against the dirt road beneath her, her dark-blue body flexing as she tried to push herself away even as she was dragged towards her husband by her glowing, spiraled horn. The corruption that had been tormenting Scrivener Blooms and the machinations of Valthrudnir, a pedantic Jötnar, had poisoned the link that existed between their souls, was manipulating the magic of the once-Princess of the Night and twisting Scrivener's mind and body... and Luna shrieked as she was yanked forwards, her wings spreading and trying to shove herself away, her dark cyan eyes glowing as inside her, Nightmare Moon gave a wordless cry of anger, of confusion, and most of all... of fear.
Her body shivered, making the splotch of black adorned with the symbol of the crescent moon upon her flank seem to ripple, as mane and tail of ethereal, pulsing starlight sparked with electricity. Luna cursed as she was dragged forwards, her head shaking wildly, making the band of ivy around her neck sway as the engraved black pearl that adorned it almost glowed. Like her, the necklace seemed as if it too was being drawn forwards... towards the collar around Scrivener's neck, made of thin steel, but with a thick front in which rested a carved sphere with a crescent of white pearl between two pieces of shaped onyx. The material symbols of the love that existed between them, that even now in spite of the agony, the distortion, the corruption, Luna could still feel...
He was being transformed. Changed, corrupted, warped into a shape akin to the things she had fought more than a thousand years ago: a Tyrant Wyrm. Monsters made from destruction and carnage and unspeakable evil, they had been the parasitic pets of Valthrudnir, used to destroy entire layers of reality with their soul-corrupting Black Verses. And even dead, Valthrudnir's machinations had continued, unstoppable gears propelling his terrible plans forever forwards. And all Luna could do was watch... watch, as Scrivy's body rippled like liquid, as scales ripped out of his coat and then vanished, as he screamed in agony she could feel even through the static surging in their minds and along the connection between their very souls as she was dragged towards him, her own magic and energy fueling the transformation.
Tears fell from Luna's eyes as pain ripped through her body, trying to yank herself backwards again... and then a strong hand seized her shoulder and managed to shove her away, and the aura died down slightly as she was pushed to a distance. Luna looked up with a gasp to see Odin looming over her, the once-god looking with horror towards Scrivener... and the winged unicorn couldn't repress a cry of misery as she saw how he looked awfully... melted, twisted, trying to continue to transform even as he visibly fought against himself.
Odin: once the Warrior King of the Aesir, now only a falcon-headed old man, most of his strength granted by drinking elixirs of Ambrosia. All his powers were gone, his body frail and thin and wrapped in layers of rawhide and furs, heavy moccasins over his feet and thick rawhide gloves protecting his hands. His beak hung agape as he stared with his single eye at the sight of Scrivener Blooms, his hand resting on one of Luna's shoulders both to keep her back and steady himself.
“By Yggdrasil...” Odin whispered, and then he shook his head quickly before Scrivener looked up at him pleadingly, and the once-god gritted his teeth as he reached down and yanked a sword free from where it was sheathed at his side, and Luna's eyes widened as the falcon-headed being quickly drew the blade back, muttering as Scrivener stared at him helplessly: “I am sorry, but this is all I can do.”
He stabbed downwards... and Luna lunged forwards with a shriek, striking the sword with her horn, guiding the deadly, thin blade away from Scrivener's face and instead sending it plunging into the collar around the male's neck, shattering the gemstone and severing the thin metal, but only managing to score a shallow cut before Luna threw herself savagely against Odin, knocking him crashing backwards. He rolled once with a curse of surprise as the winged unicorn stomped in front of Scrivener Blooms, shouting furiously at him: “Monster! Thou wouldst sacrifice us both rather than save him?”
“No, this sword will kill the body but bind the soul.” Odin grimaced as he slowly picked himself up from the ground, but his eye was dark as he rubbed slowly at his chest, the sword hanging loosely from his other hand... but all the same, Luna held herself at the ready as the once-god said quietly: “I have to kill him, Brynhild. He's caught in the middle of some awful magic I recognize all too clearly as Valthrudnir's tampering. It will hurt you, but it will not kill you. Only his body will die, and then your pact with him will be severed. You can visit his spirit here in the warrior's heaven any time you like.”
“Not good enough! I would prefer to die myself than sever that which lays between us, Odin, and if thou tries to harm him, then I will stop thee. I will kill thee.” Luna snarled, leaning forwards as tears streamed down her face, and the once-god looked surprised before the winged unicorn looked over shoulder, trembling, as Scrivener stared back at her helplessly, gargling and shivering before he howled in misery and dropped his head forwards... and Luna moaned in not just pain, but horror at the way his body rippled and shifted.
“Brynhild... look at him.” Odin said gently but firmly, straightening and gesturing outwards with his free hand, and the winged unicorn shivered as her eyes stared helplessly at the pony. “The transformation has already gone wrong... it will madden him or kill him anyway, and you will die if it fails... but if it succeeds, if he gives in to it completely, he will become a Tyrant Wyrm, and we cannot ever permit one of their kind to live. You know this. It will like-as-not consume you; they do not know love, it will not be your husband any longer... and while I admire Scrivener's bravery in battling this transformation, he cannot last much longer. Either he dies... or he becomes a monster.”
For a few moments, Luna could only stare over her shoulder at Scrivener, trembling, as he looked back with his glowing eyes, his body rippling before bulking up, then shrinking downwards, letting out another scream of agony as a hoof split apart into a claw to rip at the ground, then sealed tightly back together into a hoof once more... and then the winged unicorn clenched her eyes shut and bowed her head, whispering: “I understand.”
Odin nodded slowly as he began to stride calmly forwards... and then Luna lunged towards him, and then once-god stared in surprise for a moment before he automatically swung the sword upwards, and Luna snarled as she slashed viciously into this with her glowing horn, shattering the blade of the weapon like glass before her hooves collided savagely with his ribs and crushed him down into the ground, the falcon-headed being coughing blood as he arched his back in shock before Luna pinned him and glared down into his eyes, snarling: “I will not abandon my soulmate.”
Odin stared up at her, panting hard, and then Luna turned around and strode towards Scrivener, the aura pulsing, growing brighter and larger as the winged unicorn willingly stepped towards him now, her own horn glowing more and more as she smiled faintly at him until she was standing with their faces only inches apart. Then, slowly, she lowered her horn towards him, touching it to his forehead, and Scrivener felt the pain dying out as time seemed to slow, both surrounded in a terrible glow of radiance and darkness as Luna whispered: “It's okay.”
She laughed a bit, then closed her eyes and continued softly: “I love thee. Thou art my husband, my best friend, my soulmate, my... my everything. Everything we have done, we have always done together. And now, thou stands upon the threshold of a change but I want thee to know... it's okay. It's okay, whatever happens. I love thee. I am going to stay beside thee, and I am not afraid. As long as we walk the path together, nothing else matters... not what others think of us, not what the world wants us to be or do, not society, not even the gods or the Norns or anything else.
“No matter what, Scrivener Blooms, I am here for thee. Luna Brynhild, Nightmare Moon... I am thine, thou art mine. We are each other's rulers and servants, but we are also always equals. We are also always together, and loyal, and fight for one another, not just beside one-another.” Luna smiled faintly as she opened her eyes, looking slowly up, and Scrivener's own glowing eyes flickered before she kissed his lips chastely, then nodded once and whispered: “I do not care what we become, or what we do. I do not care about Valhalla, or Equestria, or the countless layers. Not if I can spend all that time with thee, together. If we are to become evil... if we are to become villains and destroyers... let it be. We will still be together, even if we are monsters... I would rather be a monster beside thee, doomed to Helheim's torments, than a heroine Valkyrie alone in Paradise any moment of any day. I love thee, Scrivener Blooms.”
Scrivener stared at her, at the depth of her devotion, her love, her indescribable loyalty and affection as his body rippled, feeling their hearts beating in time, their souls mixing together, their gazes locked and countless thoughts and memories and feelings spilling between them... and then, even through the pain, even as the glow built higher, Scrivener smiled with faint but true happiness, and he whispered: “I love you too, Luna Brynhild. Always.”
The glow around them built, swirled with darkness and shadow, and Odin winced back from it even as he sat up with a curse under his breath, covering his features with his arm before there was a terrible burst of light and sound... and when he slowly drew his limb away, he stared in disbelief, whispering: “Brynhild... what have you done?”
Luna's eyes fluttered weakly at the sound of her old name, from her days in a past she sometimes still could barely believe she had lived... and then a hot, rasping breath washed over her features, and slowly, she looked up as her eyes focused. First she saw the scales, a sooty black-gray, run through here and there with streaks of ivory like scars or strange veins... and next, she saw the teeth in the creature's open mouth, deadly, curved blades and spikes around a thick, serpentine tongue.
Her eyes roved upwards as the creature's head fell forwards... and she could only continue to stare, too many emotions running through her body for her to know what she was truly feeling anymore. An immense, draconic head... but this was no dragon that stood, half-slumped, across from her, with its six large, gnarled horns that twisted backwards out of the sides of its head like some barbaric crown. It was too monstrous, too distorted, its mottled, scaly body flexing slowly as immense, twisted claws dug lightly into the dirt road, long, ridged tail flicking behind it like a lethargic serpent.
On either side of its spine, piston-like cones of bone sparked with electricity: there were six in total, three above either shoulderblade. And just below these, the bases of enormous, leathery wings, these flapping once before the creature rumbled loudly in its throat and eyes that were like glowing sapphire lamps slowly opened, spilling unnatural, unholy light out of its sockets.
The creature rasped, raising its head slightly on its long neck as Luna stumbled backwards and Odin cursed, clawing his way to a kneeling position as he stared in disbelief at the two, and slowly, the light in the Tyrant Wyrm's eyes dulled down, becoming a dangerous, sentient luminescence. Its gaze slowly roved back and forth as its jaws closed and a growl rumbled up from its strong, wide chest, limbs flexing as they lifted it slightly and it took in the world around it: the countless rows of apple trees in the beautiful meadows to either side of the road, and past Odin, the enormous, stone castle of Valhalla, with its wide wooden bridge down and stone walls unguarded, the revelers inside likely completely unaware of what was going on.
Luna laughed weakly as she stumbled backwards another step, and the Tyrant Wyrm growled again before it lowered its gaze towards her, gaze locking on her as Odin whispered a denial under his breath, staring helplessly... but fearlessly, Luna only smiled, raising a hoof as her dark cyan eyes looked into the endless blue depths of the creature's sockets, and she whispered: “Scrivener Blooms.”
The monster frowned at her, opened its mouth... and then slowly closed its jaws as it stepped backwards almost uncertainly. And Luna nodded vigorously immediately, throwing her head back and laughing as electricity surged through her ephemeral locks, feeling a twist inside her that she couldn't explain, a wild euphoria better than any adrenaline high she'd ever experienced as she shouted warmly: “I feel thee inside there! What, was thy mind so rattled from the transformation thou hast forgotten thine own wife?”
The Tyrant Wyrm clenched its eyes shut, raising a claw and grasping at its features, a shiver going through it as it rumbled uncertainly... and then its eyes snapped open and Luna glared over her shoulder as Odin shouted angrily at her back: “Stop this, Brynhild! You've already brought a monster into Valhalla, you've... your husband is gone now! While the beast is disoriented, you need to-”
Then Odin looked up in shock as the Tyrant Wyrm slammed its front claws down to either side of Luna, stepping forwards as it rose itself up to its full height and leaned into a furious roar, blue, poisonous vapor steaming up from its jaws as it glared towards the once-god, and he staggered backwards with shock. Shock that only grew greater as Luna slowly turned around, her eyes almost glowing as she stood beneath the Tyrant Wyrm as it loomed over her protectively, and the winged unicorn said in a soft, dangerous voice: “No, Odin. I need do nothing. And my husband is not gone... he is standing right here, and does not appreciate being referred to like a mindless monster.
“Listen well, Odin. Thou can have us as allies or enemies, the choice is thine. But I will not hesitate to make war with thee if thou asks for it... and I feel... strong.” Luna closed her eyes, bowing her head forwards as a shiver spilled through her body. “Yes. Strong, and ready to do whatever must be done to protect myself and my husband. Not that he is in need of protection...”
She grinned slightly despite herself, even as a thrill ran down her spine, and then she slowly, proudly rose her head, her mane sparking as she stepped forwards and out from beneath the Tyrant Wyrm... and then she closed her eyes with a shiver as the immense creature leaned down and slowly nuzzled her back and side, arching her spine and whispering: “Yes, I can feel our link restoring, becoming tighter than ever, my beloved. I feel thee, and thou feels me... we are one, as we have always been. But do not think that I shall permit thee any more privilege than I ever did just because thou art bigger than me now.”
Behind her, the Tyrant Wyrm gave a rumbling chuckle as it leaned back and smiled down at Luna, who couldn't help but look warmly over her shoulder and up at the enormous beast. Thirty feet tall, perhaps sixty or seventy long and with a broad chest and squat limbs, he radiated power and prestige, and yet at the same time, she could feel the same aura of familiarity she had always felt with her husband before he attempted to speak... but instead, she heard a rumbling language she could barely understand, and Odin winced in disgust as he staggered away from them even as the Tyrant Wyrm clamped his jaws shut quickly.
He had spoken in the language of the Wyrms, in which every word held terrible power and promise... and Luna shook her head with a sigh before their gazes locked, and a swirl of emotions and images passed between the two before she clearly heard Scrivener's voice say gently in her mind: Sorry. I guess this is going to take some adjustments.
“Yes. Yes it shall, but we shall make it work.” Luna replied quietly, smiling softly up at her husband... and Scrivener Blooms smiled back, nodding slowly once as his enormous wings fluttered, then furled on his back. They were both aware that his shape was nothing like any other Tyrant Wyrm's ever had been, and both knew why: Valthrudnir's meddling, the way he had been transformed in Valhalla mixing with their desires and Scrivener's warped self-image... all of it had combined to give him the form he had now.
Then they both looked up with surprise as Odin cursed under his breath, and the once-god slowly straightened as he rubbed at the side of his face marred by the lightning-shaped scar that twisted over his blind eye, shaking his head and muttering: “No. Brynhild, I have overlooked many things for you. I have taken your word and your advice again and again, but... this is too far, this is too much. Even if he is conscious now... there is no guarantee he will stay that way. There is no guarantee he will not feel the hungers of the Wyrms... and not even a shred of Valthrudnir's plans can be permitted to continue to exist.
“Scrivener Blooms, look at yourself... if this is truly what you want, if this is who you truly are, then I misjudged you. I thought I saw so much in you...” Odin clenched his hands into fists, looking down with disgust as he whispered: “You killed Valthrudnir, but now... you've... you've become one of his pets, another part of his machinations. And Brynhild... you're encouraging this? How could you, after everything you saw power made me do, after everything that Valthrudnir did with his own strength? What do you two want to achieve?”
“Thou wert weak, Odin, and Valthrudnir was a petty child! We did not ask for this power, but it has come to us and so we have chosen to embrace it... and unlike thee, we share it, as we share all other things, with one-another. We shall balance each other... and even as we descend into darkness, our goal has not changed: revive the fallen world, save our friends... but we will protect ourselves and them from even thou if it is required.” Luna snapped, stepping forwards aggressively as Scrivener growled and narrowed his glowing eyes. “Do not threaten us again, old cyclops. I will not stand for it any longer.”
“I am sorry, Brynhild... I did not want things to come to this. I never imagined, in fact, that it would... that you and Scrivener would be so... so weak. You were a Valkyrie once, talented, strong, beautiful, honorable... and that and my regrets blinded me to what you were becoming.” Odin shook his head slowly, closing his eyes, and Luna snarled, electricity sparking through her mane before the once-god looked up and said coldly: “But I will not permit this travesty. I will not allow you to become the very thing you fought for so long against... even if I must kill you both.”
“It seems, Scrivener Blooms, that Odin once more forgets that he was supposed to be God of Wisdom... not a jealous, petty, pedantic coward.” Luna said darkly, and the Tyrant Wyrm rumbled, lowering his head as he bared his fangs, a shiver of anger and primal exhilaration pulsing through his body, mirroring the emotions in Luna's own even as she felt a eerie, deep betrayal smite her soul... a feeling that fueled her rage all the further. “So listen to me, Odin. To prove my confidence, to prove my honor, and because the thought of killing even thou in cold blood sickens me almost as much as the sight of thy ugly face, I shall give to thee a count of ten before Scrivener Blooms and I hunt thee down and kill thee like the mongrel dog thou art. I would recommend fleeing, and perhaps warning the warriors of Valhalla to stay out of our way. Or they shall feel my wrath as well, and do not think I will stay my horn from killing them if I must... any more than my husband will resist his own hungers.”
Odin winced at this as Scrivener Blooms leaned aggressively forwards, growling hungrily as he realized that he was not only furious... he was strangely eager. Eager to feed the dark appetites he felt surfacing inside of him, eager to hunt down this ancient once-god who threatened them, eager to thrash his way through all of Asgard if need be. For the once-earth pony, it was a strange feeling, and yet strangest of all was the lack of hesitance to give into it: at least before there had always been something inside him, worrying, fretting, perhaps even fearing the consequences of violence... now there was only eagerness and hunger.
Odin cursed under his breath as he carefully stood... and then Luna set herself as her horn and mane both sparked with electricity, her eyes flashing as she said ruthlessly: “The count starts now, Odin. Ten.”
The once-god spun around, hurrying quickly away as Scrivener began to step forwards, a bit of drool dripping from his fanged jaws as he grinned widely, barely able to restrain himself from charging at the falcon-headed entity's exposed back as he stagger-ran away and across the bridge... but Luna shook her head quickly, holding up a forelimb, and the immense Tyrant Wyrm fell still at this single gesture as she said quietly: “Nay, beloved daydreamer. Not yet. We shall give him at least a count of ten, and perhaps ten more on top of that, to prove that even now we shall stick to our word... and to give him a chance to clear the way in Valhalla. I do not wish to kill more than I must, even if...”
She halted, then glanced up towards Scrivener as the now-Wyrm leaned down with a rumble, and the winged unicorn smiled faintly as she whispered: “Aye, I feel it too. The bloodlust. The hungers... they are new and old. Yet I also still feel thou in there, silly poet... and remember it is thou that I love. There is no need to give in completely to the primal, even if we are in a process of... of evolution now, as I feel my own self changing, as inside me Nightmare Moon is changing too, growing so much stronger...”
She breathed softly, lowering her head before blushing and laughing quietly as Scrivener Blooms leaned down with a soft rumble, nuzzling against her side, and she closed her eyes as his voice murmured through her mind: I won't ever forget, Luna, because it's your love that keeps me from giving in completely, and the thought that now... I can finally protect you.
“Silly daydreamer, there is more to the art of war than great size and strength.” Luna chastised gently, and then she shook her head slowly before looking up as there was a thunder of hooves over the bridge, beginning with disgust: “Oh what have we... I...”
Luna's breath caught in her throat, and she only stared as Scrivener rose his own head, glowing sapphire eyes focusing in on a lone figure that charged towards them over the bridge, then leapt off the end as it began to rise, landing at the end of the road and looking from one to the other with his teeth grit. He looked like an earth pony, but he was immense, larger than Luna, broad and muscular, and his mane and tail were both made from thick green vines and ivy tapers, gemstones glinting and glimmering here and there throughout the plant-like locks as his chestnut coat all-but-glowed beneath the bright sun of Asgard.
Lightweight silver armor protected his huge body, chain mesh covering his upper limbs and heavy metallic boots locked over his large hooves. He wore the armor with ease, barely seeming to notice it as he straightened and surveyed the two, then smiled faintly and shook his head slowly as he murmured softly: “Oh, sister, how overjoyed I was to hear thou wert here in paradise... and now, how despairing I am that we should meet like this.”
“Sleipnir.” Luna whispered quietly, bowing her head towards her older brother as she closed her eyes, and Scrivener awkwardly shuffled on the spot, the enormous Tyrant Wyrm looking apprehensively down at the earth pony, surveying him slowly with something like awe: from the engraved ash tree over his armor that matched the emblem adorning the bare flank of the male, to his honest – almost naïve – brown eyes, the Sleipnir the Mighty cut a majestic, regal figure. It was like gazing upon a hero... and Scrivy could feel his emotions influenced all the more by Luna's adoration of her big brother, her memories of all he had done for the world, and all he had sacrificed for his siblings... up to and including his own life.
“Luna, Luna, Luna. Look at thou, standing there beside a Tyrant Wyrm, and of the likes of which I have never seen!” Sleipnir smiled a bit as he straightened slowly, rolling his shoulders as he surveyed the two of them calmly... and yet it was without hostility for all his readiness, as if he was prepared to fight them if he had to, but only as a last resort. His gaze was not accusing like Odin's... it was the concern and love of an older brother for his younger sibling, and it made Luna blush and Scrivener feel even his primal instincts shrink down as if ashamed. “Father... Odin... said some rambling nonsense I could not make out clearly, but said that thou threatened his life. Is this true?”
“Only because Odin has threatened the life of myself and my husband, and declared us enemies...” Luna said quietly, glancing towards Scrivener Blooms silently, and the Tyrant Wyrm nodded slowly. Sleipnir looked up dumbly at this, and then he reared back in surprise as he understood what was going on as the winged unicorn smiled faintly back towards him. “I wish that thou and my beloved could have met under more pleasant circumstances, big brother. This is neither what I longed for nor what I envisioned for the first time thou would meet my beloved Scrivener Blooms.”
“The Wyrm... 'tis the poet? Aye, I see now what Odin meant by a transformation...” Sleipnir surveyed them both slowly, and then a slight smile quirked at his mouth as he looked towards Luna, saying gently: “Thou truly art a fool, sister. Thy husband will no longer fit into a bedroom, much less a bed, much less, well-”
“Oh, Sleipnir, must thou be as filthy-minded as ever?” Luna laughed a bit all the same, however, shaking her head out with a smile, and Sleipnir chuckled a bit and nodded as they surveyed one-another quietly. Finally, the winged unicorn shook her head slowly, then said quietly: “I do not wish to fight thee, brother. My quarrel, 'tis with Odin.”
“Bah, lie not to me sister, we used to fight all the time, and 'twas always enjoyable.” Sleipnir smiled despite himself, and Luna sighed a little, giving him an exasperated look. “I know, I know. I wish not to harm thee either. Even more, I do not wish to be thy enemy... 'tis not something I enjoy. But let us both at least enjoy the battle, little sister Luna... or perhaps I should rightly test thy enormous husband's mettle. Ensure for myself that he is a proper match for my lovely little sister.”
“Must thou make light of everything? 'Tis infuriating!” Luna said grouchily, but Sleipnir only shrugged calmly and looked at them almost benevolently, even if his body remained firmly anchored between them and the half-raised bridge beyond. For a few moments, the two siblings surveyed one another as Scrivener awkwardly shifted to the side, and then Luna sighed quietly, her features softening, her mane swirling quietly backwards as she whispered: “Please Sleipnir. I ask thee as little sister to big brother. Do not fight us.”
“I am so sorry, Luna... but thou knows I must. Aye, loyalty is a harsh mistress at times... harsher than those mountain-whores of the long years past, and I am sure thou remembers how they proved a more grueling task to surmount than crossing the Gray Mountains did.” Sleipnir said gently, and Luna laughed a little despite herself, even as she closed her eyes and bowed her head silently forwards. “Thou art my sister, but Odin, he is my father. Or at least, he was: this business of what we once were compared to what we are now, it makes it difficult to say what is what and who is who at times. But I am sure of one thing, and it is that thou art family... but I cannot let even my treasured little sister threaten Valhalla and those within.”
He quieted, then shook his head and laughed softly as Luna looked at him silently, Scrivener reaching a claw up to gently rub along her back as he looked down at her, feeling her sorrow cutting like a knife into their mixed soul. “Oh, sister, do not cry, it kills me to do this. Come, we may be enemies here but let us still enjoy the thrill of the fight... we are still family, no matter how the tide turns, and if thou wins, I shall compliment and applaud thy victory... if thou loses, I shall help thee back to thy hooves. And nor shall I ever permit Odin to strike thee down or cage thee like an animal but... I cannot permit thee to sack Valhalla.”
“Then we must go through thee.” Luna said quietly, and Sleipnir nodded slowly once, making the winged unicorn sigh and grit her teeth before she glanced towards Scrivener Blooms, the Tyrant Wyrm meeting her eyes, trading emotions back and forth as electricity sparked through her mane. “I... must regain my composure, beloved, although I am sure once despair turns to rage I shall pummel Sleipnir as never before. Put thy new form to use... but do not use the Black Verses, do not use thy poison breath. Do not... we must not kill my brother.” Luna halted, then glared towards Sleipnir even as a tear slipped down her cheek. “No matter how much he may beg for it.”
Sleipnir only smiled wryly, however, stomping his hooves against the ground and shaking his mane out before he straightened and said kindly: “Worry not, sister, I shan't break too many of thy husband's bones. No more than I'm sure thou hast broken thyself from time-to-time, anyway.”
“Be careful, Scrivy. Sleipnir's ability in battle is far superior to his wit. 'Twill not be an easy battle.” Luna said quietly, and Scrivener rumbled in his throat, the enormous Wyrm nodding slowly as the winged unicorn looked towards her brother with a faint smile. “Brother... I am sorry for all this, truly.”
“'Twill be fine, little sister.” Sleipnir smiled, and it was an honest, warm smile despite the sadness in his eyes as he straightened, pawing one hoof slowly against the ground. “There will be time to sort all this out later, I am sure. Come, though, let us see if I still remember how the old dance goes against such a brazen beast as thy husband is! Aye, Scrivener Blooms is it? Attack me now with thy full might!”
Scrivener hesitated all the same, looking awkwardly down at the earth pony as Luna sighed and stepped aside, then half-bowed and gestured irritably with one hoof towards Sleipnir. He could feel warring emotions in Luna's body that made him pause for another moment longer, looking down at her quietly... but the winged unicorn shook her head slowly as she looked up at him, her mane flowing around her as she murmured: “No, we must persevere. Even if we must go through Sleipnir to reach Odin... this is only another reason to punish the old fool, for daring to use my beloved brother as a shield...”
She gritted her teeth, and Scrivener rumbled as he felt her anger growing, turning as his eyes flashed before he leaned forwards and roared towards Sleipnir, but the huge equine was undaunted, only throwing his head back and laughing before his eyes flashed with a grin as the Tyrant Wyrm lunged suddenly forwards, sweeping both claws down in a vicious rend to attempt to pin the warrior to the ground.
Sleipnir leapt easily backwards out of the way, however, then ran forwards with a roar that sounded both courageous and strangely-gleeful before he threw his full weight into a shoulder-check against Scrivener's chest... and the Tyrant Wyrm's eyes bulged as he wheezed in shock at the strength of the blow, feeling his ribs creaking as he half-flopped backwards onto his stomach, front claws grabbing spasmodically at the road before he felt a pair of strong hooves lever themselves beneath his body. “Alley-oop!”
Scrivener yelped as he was thrown firmly upwards, his head snapping backwards and front limbs clawing wildly at the air as he staggered stupidly on his hind legs, barely managing to maintain balance as Luna winced behind him and leapt into the air with a curse, flying quickly out of the way as Sleipnir ran forwards with a wide grin, then shoved himself off the ground into a soaring leap before he slammed all four hooves into the Tyrant Wyrm's stomach, spittle and blood flying from Scrivener's jaws as he gargled in shock as he was knocked off his claws and sent crashing down onto his back, skidding several feet before his head painfully whiplashed into the dirt road. The huge reptile wheezed in pain as his neck twisted awkwardly and his squat limbs flailed weakly at the air, stunned, stupefied and humiliated... and further embarrassed when he realized he couldn't move his head due to the fact that his gnarled horns had buried into the ground.
Then he flinched as something seized the base of his tail in a strong, vise-like grip, before Sleipnir stepped backwards as he hauled upwards, then firmly snapped downwards like he was nothing more than a wet towel, Scrivener's heavy body bouncing against the ground like a as he felt the bones in his tail and spine stretched out painfully before the earth pony laughed and leapt backwards when Scrivener uselessly attempted to flick his tail and kick his rear legs out, his wings spasming against the dirt road beneath him. “What's this? Sister, here I thought I was embattled with a fearsome monster, not a training dummy... I see now, thou keeps him around to ride him like a steed, is that not so? My, perhaps the bedroom shan't be as awkward as I first did imagine!”
Luna only groaned and rolled her eyes as she hovered above Scrivener, the male awkwardly wiggling a bit on his back as he looked up at her with embarrassment. It made Sleipnir grin as he began to reach forwards... before he winced and instead quickly leapt backwards when Luna shot a blast of lightning towards him, cursing under his breath as she snapped: “Can thou cease with the banter about my sex life for but one moment?”
“Nay, 'tis too fun a subject!” Sleipnir retorted, and then he ran quickly to the side of the road before slamming his front hooves into the ground and using them as an axle as he half-spun, slamming both rear hooves in a savage kick into the base of a tree. Fragments of wood exploded in every direction as the force of the blow severed the trunk from the stump, the thick apple tree groaning as it began to fall, and Sleipnir caught it easily on his back before he grunted as he reached up to seize into the leafy boughs and threw it hard forwards with a rolling shrug of his shoulders.
Luna winced as the tree shot towards her, flicking her horn and sending a ball of blue flames rocketing into the branches, and the tree exploded in a hail of wooden shrapnel that rained down around Scrivener Blooms as the Wyrm finally managed to tear his head free and half-roll onto his side. The moment he did, however, Sleipnir shot forwards with all the speed and grace of a cheetah before he slammed into the male's stomach like a charging buffalo, and Scrivener gargled as Luna yelled in pain and frustration in midair, grabbing at her own stomach as the Tyrant Wyrm skidded backwards to the side of the road and Sleipnir danced quickly back with a grin and a challenging flash of his eyes. “Is the warmup done now, sister?”
“Aye, Sleipnir, I think I have let thee have enough fun for the moment.” Luna retorted darkly, and electricity sparked through her mane as she shot down towards the ground as Scrivener crawled slowly up to his claws, snarling and shaking his head as his surprise vanished into frustration and growing aggression.
Sleipnir, however, only grinned widely, tossing his mane of vines and grinding his hooves against the ground, not flinching even as Luna slammed to the ground in a low ready position only a few feet away as Scrivener rumbled ominously behind her. Tyrant Wyrm and winged unicorn faced off against immense earth pony as the equine rolled his head on his shoulders, then he winked towards his little sister and said kindly: “'Twill sting but for a moment.”
He lunged forwards, and Luna winced, lashing her horn outwards as it glowed... but one of Sleipnir's metal-covered hooves slammed into the bottom of her horn, making her curse in pain as her head was knocked backwards before the other hoof crashed into her chest in a vicious, powerful uppercut, sending the winged unicorn hurtling through the air with a curse of pain before she crashed into Scrivener's face, making them both flinch as the Tyrant Wyrm's head snapped back and he staggered as Luna scrambled against his features.
Then Scrivener wheezed in shock as sledgehammer-like blows slammed into his chest one after the other, Sleipnir grunting as his hooves smashed back and forth across the Tyrant Wyrm's breast, gaze intense and focused. Cracks tore their way through Scrivener's scales as pain ignited through his entire body, his claws flexing against the ground as Luna flinched, cuts and slashes forming over her own breast before her eyes glowed white as she snapped her horn back with a raw yell as it gave a single powerful pulse.
Thorny brambles and dark roots ripped out of the dirt road behind Sleipnir as he began to bring a hoof back, seizing around his neck, limbs, and body: he gagged as he fought against them for a moment before they dragged him fiercely backwards into the ground, and Scrivener snarled as he stomped a claw out on primal instinct before the equine could tear free. It crashed down on top of the earth pony, and Sleipnir yelled in frustration more than pain before Scrivener leaned down as he felt a sharp command from Luna in his mind as she anchored herself on his broad muzzle, feeling her channeling magic into him as a rumble spilled up from his chest before he roared furiously.
Toxic blue mist burst from his jaws in a terrible torrent along with the powerful waves of sound, and Luna snarled as her horn glowed brightly... and Sleipnir's curses turned into a howl of agony as the poisonous smog was run through with arcing bolts of electricity before Scrivener was knocked staggering backwards as Sleipnir shoved all four hooves hard upwards against his gnarled claw.
Luna winced as she swayed on Scrivy's muzzle, the Tyrant Wyrm growling and ignoring the painful stings of electricity and magical recoil twisting over his jaws before Luna leapt backwards, flapping her wings once and landing neatly between the uppermost pair of the male's horns, locking herself into place as Sleipnir staggered to his feet and stumbled backwards with a grimace of disgust. He was breathing hard, his body badly charred and armor warped and broken, clutching at his ribs as he coughed a few times. “That was a dirty trick, little sister...”
“Well, we have already been cast in the role of villain, and thou knows I was never shy about cheating to get my way even before 'twas decided I must be evil incarnate.” Luna retorted, and then she gritted her teeth and leaned forwards, adding waspishly: “The saddle came off when thou attempted to attack my husband's core, thou great enormous brute! I thought thou wert not going to kill us!”
“Oh, a thousand pardons, sister, here I thought I was only fighting a Tyrant Wyrm and a Valkyrie, not a mare and her housepet, and I know not which of thee is the mare and which is the housepet!” Sleipnir shot back, and Luna narrowed her eyes dangerously at him as Scrivener leaned down and snorted a burst of blue smoke, but the earth pony only rose one of his front hooves and shook it angrily at them. “Come down here then, little sister, we shall duel fair and square and see if thou art still as feared a fencer as thou ever wert!”
“The horn fencer against the brutal brawler, oh, aye. An old game we used to play often.” Luna muttered, and then she leapt down and gracefully glided to the ground to land in front of Sleipnir as the earth pony glared at her... but she frowned quietly as she leaned forwards, inspecting him, drawing her eyes along the ugly-looking black burns and patches of exposed flesh here and there along his form before she said quietly: “Sleipnir, surrender.”
“Nay, sister, I am thy enemy at the moment, spare me no compassion... 'tis awkward.” Sleipnir replied quietly, softening for a few seconds as well before he shook his head and straightened proudly, slamming a hoof against his chest. “First to fall or concede loses the battle. To flee the area is to concede. Thou may not use thy enormous steed, but magic is fair play.”
Luna snorted at this, shaking her head slowly even as she smiled wryly and Scrivener Blooms snorted behind her, the enormous Tyrant Wyrm moodily drawing its head back as Sleipnir's eyes traveled grouchily upwards. “Great and nasty beast. I cannot believe that was once a pony... and a pony poet at that.”
“Writers are foul monsters, Sleipnir, I have learned this well. Do not ever underestimate the vindictiveness and evil of a writer. Be even more wary of a poet, for they carry even darker secrets in their addled minds.” Luna muttered, and Sleipnir snorted in entertainment at this before the winged unicorn hesitated, then looked up and met her brother's eyes, loosening her stance slightly as she asked softly: “Is there no way to make thee change thy mind?”
“I fear not, little sister. Come now, don't be foolish: thou knows better than to drop thy guard in the presence of the opponent, not all will be so honorable or fair as we have always striven to be.” Sleipnir said gently, and Luna laughed a bit and nodded as she straightened and readied herself, the earth pony smiling across at her. “Better. Come, don't make me pretend I'm Celestia now, and lecture thee up and down upon etiquette and all those other things she always tried to get us to pay attention to.”
“Aye, aye, I am not cruel enough to force this fate upon thee, worry not.” Luna replied quietly, and then she closed her eyes and bowed her head low forwards, and Sleipnir smiled as he closed his own and returned the deep bow. “But thou art my brother, Sleipnir. I trust thee, even though thou art my enemy today. Let us battle as siblings... not as soldiers.”
“The battle will be all the fiercer for it, but that only makes me anticipate it all the more.” Sleipnir replied kindly, head still bowed, and then the two equines rose in time as Scrivener slowly stepped backwards, his primal instincts once more fading with the respect he felt for these two, for admiration of their honor, their loyalty, and their unwavering love for one another even as they stood as enemies.
The earth pony glanced curiously up at the Tyrant Wyrm for a moment, hesitated... and then he threw his head back and laughed, stomping his hooves and grinning despite the burns over his body, then he leaned forwards and shouted cheerfully into Luna's face as she reared back with a wince: “What a handsome couple thou make! After all this is said and done, let us drink and make merry for old times' sake!”
Luna only sighed, however, shaking her head ruefully, and then she leaned forwards and replied in a calm, courteous voice: “By my honor and my horn, I shall fight thee with all my strength: I wish thee luck in battle, brother.”
“By my heart and my hoof, I shall meet thee blow-for-blow until one of us can strike no more! Aye, sister, I wish thee fortune in battle... thou shalt need it.” Sleipnir grinned widely and winked at her, and Luna glared at him before he leaned forwards and pawed at the ground, then exclaimed: “Enough pomp and ceremony! Let the bludgeoning begin!”
With that, Sleipnir laughed cheerfully and leapt forwards, and Luna immediately dropped her body low as she flicked her horn to the side: it was met by one of the earth pony's hooves, and they were both knocked backwards from the clash of natural weapons, Sleipnir catching himself easily as Luna sinuously twisted her body to the side, attempting to flank him as she leapt in and used her wings to propel herself.
For all his size and loudness, however, Sleipnir intercepted her with spooky ease, shoving a hoof just behind Luna's horn and slamming her down to the ground. She crashed with enough force to send up a burst of dust, snarling as her eyes glowed and she automatically released an unfocused blast of telekinetic force: it was just enough to knock the earth pony staggering backwards with a wheeze before Luna threw herself away, rolling to her hooves and then lashing her horn forwards to release a blast of electricity.
Sleipnir barely winced, however, pawing a hoof at his damaged armor as the bolts of electricity raced back and forth over the protective plate, and then he grinned widely and rose his head, saying teasingly: “Come now, sister, thou will have to do far better than that!”
“I did.” Luna replied sweetly, and Sleipnir frowned a bit before Luna reared back, snapping her horn upwards, and Sleipnir stared at her stupidly for a moment before a massive bolt of lightning hammered down from the blue skies, drawn to the positively-charged armor of the earth pony like a magnet and knocking him flat with a yelp as Scrivener winced back in surprise at the power of the massive thunderbolt, Luna dropping back to her hooves with a grimace as arcs of blue and yellow sparked along the ground and through the air. “How many times did big sister lecture thee on shutting thy mouth in battle?”
“Many. Many times.” Sleipnir mumbled as he slowly picked himself up from the ground... and the Tyrant Wyrm stared in surprise as the earth pony shook himself briskly out, his armor falling in jagged, burnt pieces off his wounded body, but the male otherwise seeming relatively unharmed as he grit his teeth and rolled his shoulders, breathing hard as Luna set herself gamely. “She lectured thee upon the same many times as well, however.”
Luna began to open her mouth, then cursed when Sleipnir broke into a sudden charge, dropping a shoulder and attempting to ram the winged unicorn: Luna gracefully leapt into the air at the last moment, however, elegantly half-flipping and digging a slash of her horn along the earth pony's back before she propelled herself away with her wings when Sleipnir cursed and kicked at her wildly, huge hooves barely missing making deadly contact.
The winged unicorn landed a few feet away, and Sleipnir grunted as he dropped forwards almost as if bowing to the air in front of himself, then threw himself backwards as he kicked both rear hooves out, and Luna looked up in shock before the powerful kick collided with her chest, knocking her flying as Scrivener twitched in pain, feeling the distinct snap of bones even before Luna crashed to the ground and rolled several times. And Sleipnir was already in pursuit, charging towards her... but Luna shoved herself gamely to her hooves from the roll, staggering once before she leapt up with her front hooves raised as if to smash in Sleipnir's skull.
The earth pony grinned as he leapt up as well to meet her, swinging a hoof up... and Luna gracefully arched her back instead of swinging down, the earth pony staring in surprise as his hoof missed her completely as she flipped backwards before both her rear hooves slammed into the underside of his muzzle, knocking him flopping onto his back with a gargle of surprise. Then Luna's rear hooves slammed down, and Sleipnir curled his lower legs up with a squeak as they barely missed his crotch, staring up at her as Luna loomed over him, standing easily on her hind legs as he grinned in relief and started to open his mouth... and both her front hooves slammed down into his stomach, making his eyes bulge as the earth pony wheezed and bucked uselessly against the ground, flailing weakly as he fought for breath before Luna dropped her horn forwards even as she clenched her eyes shut and lashed a vicious cut across Sleipnir's throat.
Sleipnir's eyes widened in horror as his head fell back, his hooves spasming at the air as blood welled up... and then Luna's body dropped gently down over his, a tremble running through her as she hugged him tightly and buried her face against his chest, and Sleipnir's eyes slowly closed as the thin scratch over his neck pulsed. He rasped for breath, but even as he struggled to breathe, he wrapped his upper limbs around his little sister and hugged her comfortingly against his body, feeling her shivering as he finally managed to whisper: “What is wrong, Luna? Thou hast clearly won... if not for the fact thou almost made me more of a mare than thou art, then certainly for the victory strike. Thou could have severed my silly head from my shoulders.”
“Aye, and that is what scares me, Sleipnir... I almost did.” Luna whispered, pressing herself down against him as Scrivener hesitantly stepped forwards... and when she glanced over her shoulder at him, trembling, he could feel their emotions swirling back and forth before he reached one huge claw gingerly forwards, massaging quietly along her spine as Sleipnir hugged his sister closer against his body, looking at her with silent compassion. “Thou knows I love thee fiercely, dearly, deeply... but Nightmare Moon, my passions, and worst of all... dark, dangerous love...”
She laughed faintly, then shook her head and slowly pushed herself to her hooves, Sleipnir's limbs falling quietly away as she stepped off him, then smiled faintly and gently settled a hoof on him when he began to climb to his own. “Nay, stay down, brother. Scrivener Blooms and I must now... go and do an awful thing.”
“Please, sister. Please don't.” Sleipnir said quietly, and he rolled onto his stomach, but kept himself low, humble, looking up at her pleadingly even as Luna closed her eyes and turned her head away. “There are better ways than killing Odin, and thou knows that to get to him, thou will have to fight thy way through Valhalla...”
“And I shall. No wall, no warrior, no nothing shall be permitted to stand in the way...” Luna said quietly, turning slowly to face the half-lowered gate as Scrivener Blooms stepped backwards, the Tyrant Wyrm rumbling slowly even as sorrow glowed in his sapphire eyes. “I am sorry, Sleipnir, my brother... but Odin is a threat to us now that I cannot overlook. I know him. I remember him all too well from the past, and I know that now that he has seen not only Scrivener's transformation, but sensed Valthrudnir's meddling, he will stop at nothing to kill us. Therefore, I must kill him first. 'Tis cruel, 'tis hard, 'tis cold... but 'tis also the only way.”
“Sister, it is not! I can talk to him, I... please. He is like my father!” Sleipnir pleaded, climbing shakily to his hooves, but Luna only smiled faintly over her shoulder at him as the earth pony stepped forwards, whispering: “And thou art my sister, aye, my little sister, and it is my duty to take care of my beloved little sister no matter what happens. It is obligation and it is privilege and it is responsibility and I will do it gladly, but... if thou kills Odin, 'twill... hurt things betwixt us.”
“I know, and for that, I am so sorry, Sleipnir. I cut thee deeper now than my horn ever could...” Luna closed her eyes, then she shivered before leaping into the air, wings propelling her as she flew upwards and landed gently between Scrivener's horns, the Tyrant Wyrm straightening as he felt her sadness, her despair, her simmering anger and most of all... her determination to do whatever it took to protect them. To protect their mixed souls, their love, their bond, as she looked down at Sleipnir as he stared helplessly up after her. “Stay out of Valhalla, Sleipnir. I love thee, big brother.”
“As I shall always love thee as well, sister...” Sleipnir said softly, and he stepped slowly back, bowing his head and laughing weakly as he closed his eyes. For a moment, the two lingered... and then Scrivener felt Luna's hooves nudge down gently against his skull and heard a mental command whisper through his mind, and he turned his gaze towards Valhalla.
He started forwards, claws ripping against the road, feeling a tumult of emotion through his body as Luna leaned down against him, trembling... and yet they both knew they were too deep to turn back now. They could feel themselves, falling into the darkness... and yet neither wanted to stop it. They had one-another... and they would do anything it took to protect that: kin, friends, family, the entire world... they would sacrifice it all if they had to.
Scrivener Blooms reached up with his new claws, seized the half-raised bridge, his new Tyrant Wyrm body flexing before he yanked it down with a snarl. Like nothing more than string, the thick chains on either side of the span snapped as the immense wooden bridge fell down into place, and the male couldn't help but smile a bit as Luna glanced up in surprise, and then narrowed her eyes grimly with a snort of dark entertainment. “Perhaps it shan't be without its benefits at least, aye. Onwards, Scrivener. Into Valhalla. Let paradise quake at our coming... 'tis time to exact punishment upon Odin for turning against us.”
Scrivener growled in agreement, his darker instincts rising up through his draconic frame as he stormed over the bridge, a savage steed for a Nightmare Valkyrie invading what had once been her own home and heaven.