Chapter Thirty Two: Fun And Dangerous Games
~BlackRoseRaven
“I really wish you wouldn't smoke.” Pinkie Pie said sourly, looking grouchily over at Pinkamena, but the demon only grinned widely and reached up to pull the cigarette out of her muzzle, leaning forwards and blowing a thick pall of smoke out towards her twin. The pink pony winced and drew back, flailing her hooves at this cloud as she complained loudly: “That's gross, Lemon Drop!”
“You're gross.” Pinkamena grumbled in response, glancing up at the ceiling of the large, dome-shaped room they were in: it was painted like a sunny sky, with the tips of mountains here and there over where curved ceiling met steeper-curved wall; these latter surfaces were decorated not just with sky near their tops, but illustrations of trees, mountains, nature, and what could almost be Ponyville... a section of wall Pinkamena kept spreading graffiti all over. Beneath their hooves, the soft matting that covered the floor was made of woven grasses and ivy, completing the semi-illusion that they were actually outside.
It was an enormous room, with a miniature cottage set up in one corner like a squat little house, and a large, rectangular table in the 'yard' set up with plates, saucers, and teapots. A few large stuffed animals sat in several of the chairs that surrounded the large table, and Pinkamena glowered as she pulled her cigarette out of her muzzle and tapped it off on the plate beside her, making Pinkie cover her mouth before she exclaimed: “You can't do that! Now I need to get Mr. Whiskers a new plate!”
“Sissy, they're just stuffed dolls.” Pinkamena said tiredly, slapping the toy walrus beside her out of its seat, and Pinkie squeaked before leaping out of her seat and charged across the table, knocking plates, cups, and a few of the piles of baked goods flying before she dived and tackled the fallen walrus toy, rolling hurriedly to her hooves and putting it back in her seat before vanishing under the table... and a moment later, popping back up in her seat.
Pinkamena slowly rose her cigarette back to her muzzle, chewing on the end of it as Pinkie Pie glared at her, and then the demon said finally: “I wish to Helheim I knew how you did that.”
“It's called moving. You put one hoof in front of the other hoof until you get where you want to go.” Pinkie replied brightly, raising her hooves and demonstrating, and Pinkamena looked at her for a few moments before she leaned forwards and spat her cigarette at her twin sister, and Pinkie shrieked and leapt high out of her seat to avoid being hit by it, scrambling over the back of it and clinging to the top as she yelled: “That's disgusting on so many levels!”
“No it's not.” Pinkamena grinned widely, then she hopped out of her seat and strode calmly around to where the cigarette was now sitting on Pinkie Pie's chair, and she scooped it up before tossing the still-lit cigarette in her mouth, chewing loudly and then swallowing before belching a short burst of ash, and Pinkie Pie slowly went pale before falling backwards with a loud thunk.
Pinkamena licked her lips absently as she sat back, looking moodily around the area as Pinkie Pie groaned and spasmed on the ground. The dull-pink pony ignored her, however, as she took in the balloons floating around the area, the streamers, the piles of party supplies, the brightly-colored cannon, and all of Pinkie's other odd things. She sniffed disdainfully, then glanced towards Pinkie as the pony sat up and rubbed at her face moodily before the demon said flatly: “Hey, don't cry. It wasn't that bad.”
“Nopony's coming, though.” Pinkie said softly, glancing up at her sister, and Pinkamena sighed even as she softened visibly, walking over to her twin and pulling her firmly up to her hooves as Pinkie smiled a little at her. “I should go back to-”
“No, shut up, sissy. You don't need to go work in the damn kitchens.” Pinkamena said irritably, shaking her head and glaring at her before she reached up and firmly poked the bright pony's breast. “And you listen to me, they are coming. They made a goddamn promise and they aren't gonna break that, not the new guy, not the others. Yeah, I get that you've been feeling a little ignored, and I can't be around all the time with you here, and I get that you wanna be helpful by working in the kitchens, making candy and baking and all that crap, but look. You don't need to. You need to adjust to life here... hell, Fluttershy did!”
“It's... it's just... it's not Ponyville. Pinkamena, I really appreciate everything you did but...” Pinkie Pie hesitated a little, dropping her head forwards as her mane and tail lost a bit of their puff. “No foals, not a lot of ponies, I don't... I don't know many people and it's so so so super hard to make friends here... it's such a huge change. And this, well...”
Pinkie smiled a bit as she glanced back and forth around the enormous room: fifty feet of comfortable space, with the false cottage at her back that was like a cozy little apartment, the lower room a fully-outfitted kitchenette and a ladder leading up to a comfy bedroom with more stuffed toys and a big comfortable bed... “It's nice, and it means the world that you go through so much trouble for me... that you... did what you did.”
She bowed her head forwards silently, and Pinkamena softened, reaching up and gently grasping her twin's shoulders as she said softly: “I have to protect you. I've always been there, protecting you, Pinkie Pie. Even when it seemed like all I wanted to do was hurt you or bleed you or cut that stupid smile off your face, I was there to protect you. I screwed that up in the past. And I'm not like you, good, kind, sweet, gentle... laughter.”
“Yeah, but you've been smiling more often, Pinkamena. I know you like it here... that's a lot of what makes this bearable for me.” Pinkie replied quietly, glancing up with a small smile. “I like it when you smile, really smile. I like it even more when you laugh, but that's so rare...”
“And I ain't about to laugh just to give you your jollies, either.” Pinkamena said flatly, but she was smiling a little before she glanced over her shoulder at the sound of the single black door leading in and out of the room opening in the distance, motioning irritably past the table as Pinkie brightened. “And see? Told you they'd come. Drama queen.”
“Hey, guys! Wow, you did come, you really did all show up!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed brightly, bouncing forwards and hopping up onto the table as Pinkamena sniffed and strode around it, looking towards the group as Sleipnir, Luna, Scrivener, Celestia, Twilight, Fluttershy, Nirvana, Scarlet, Cowlick, and Ross all approached. “Oh wow!”
“So 'tis true, thou art a twin... and obviously the naughty one!” Sleipnir exclaimed cheerfully, grinning widely as he winked at Pinkamena and slipped towards her, and the demon laughed, then winced and covered her muzzle when Pinkie Pie leapt forwards into a chair, staring with enormous eyes down at her sister as she leaned over the back of it. Then Pinkamena flinched when Sleipnir leaned in and kissed her cheek firmly before whispering something in her ear, and then the demon giggled before slapping her hooves over her mouth and headbutting Sleipnir backwards with a curse, several ponies staring in shock at her.
Sleipnir, however, only laughed even as he staggered backwards, and Luna shook her head with a snort of entertainment before she turned warm eyes to Pinkie Pie, adding kindly: “Of course we came, Pinkie Pie, we always have time for our friends. Besides, we could use thy help: we have plans for a far-larger, far-grander party in the not-so-distant future and perhaps thou could lend thy aid...”
“Wow, really?” Pinkie asked brightly, leaning forwards... and then she toppled out of the chair to land with a loud thud on the ground, but she only giggled as she looked happily up at Luna, almost glowing as she hopped up to her hooves. “Wow, we get to have a party and then another big party! I love the sound of that!”
“I had hoped thou would.” Luna said warmly, smiling over at the bright pink earth pony as she sat herself at the table, Scrivener Blooms taking the seat beside her as Twilight awkwardly looked at a large beaver plush in the chair next to the poet. She reached for this, and Pinkie Pie glared daggers past Luna, making Twilight wince and then hurriedly take the seat next to the plush as Luna looked confused for a moment, but then shook her head and continued: “We will of course provide anything and everything thou will need...”
“I got this sweet new sound system I've been working on with Ross, gonna be a real blast. Ain't my usual thing but as long as it makes noise and doesn't start killing ponies, that's good, right?” Cowlick added enthusiastically, and Scrivener gave her an amused look, which made her huff and glare in response. “Don't you go doubting me now, Scrivy, or whether you're the head honcho or not, I will come over there and beat you down.”
“I'll be helping out too, Pinkie.” Fluttershy added, smiling a little as she leaned forwards over the table, and Nirvana rumbled from beside her. “I have to be a little more careful now these days but... I can still help set everything up.”
“We'll all help as much as we can.” Twilight said kindly, nodding and resting a hoof on the table, and Pinkie Pie looked at her warmly before she slowly leaned up and peered down as the violet mare shifted with a squelching sound, then blushed deeply. Then Pinkie blushed as well as she dropped back into her chair, but the Lich rose her hoof quickly, saying in an embarrassed voice: “No, no, it's not... dammit, Luna, stop laughing!”
That only made Luna giggle harder, however, even as Celestia pointedly glared at her from across the table, and Scrivener Blooms hid his own smile before the violet mare grumbled and poked at her stitched body, saying irritably: “Because somepony went and shoved me into the tub last night...” She shot Scrivener a horrible look, but the male only looked innocently up towards the ceiling. “My stupid body is full of water. It's taking forever to drain out.”
“We could cut you open. Wouldn't even hurt you that much.” Pinkamena suggested with a grin, raising a knife, but that only earned glowers before Pinkie Pie daintily reached across the table and took the knife gently away from her, making her huff. “Fine. Losers.”
“But I wanna hear more about this party... I gotta know what I'm doing before I do it or I won't know what I'm doing and everything will end up backwards-upside-down.” Pinkie said quickly, and all eyes turned back towards her as Scarlet Sage giggled a little. “Is it gonna be big, like festival big, or like gala-big? Or like even bigger than that?”
Sleipnir laughed and nodded, saying cheerfully: “The entire nation shall be invited, but if thou art half as talented as I have been told by everypony here, 'twill be a wonderful event! Perhaps nearly as wonderful as my private party with thy beautiful sister.” Sleipnir grinned widely across at Pinkamena, who glared at him even as she blushed and fidgeted, before the male winked over at Pinkie Pie, adding with half-lidded eyes: “But there is always room for one more beautiful mare, thou should know, and I would certainly like to see if thou art truly the 'good' twin of the-”
Pinkamena picked up a fork and flung it at the male as her red-rimmed eyes blazed, and Sleipnir's head snapped back before he squealed girlishly, staring up in horror at the fork sticking out of his forehead as the demon snapped: “What is wrong with you?”
“For starters, there is a fork in my brain! By Valhalla, thou art a wicked harpy!” Sleipnir shouted back, looking horrified before he reached up and yanked the fork free, Fluttershy going pale and Pinkie Pie falling out of her seat as Luna and Scrivener stared, before Sleipnir brandished the fork at the demon and snapped: “'Tis no wonder thou art a demon! Even less wonder that thou had so rarely felt a stallion's touch from thy obvious-”
Pinkamena's eyes blazed as she dove across the table and tackled the enormous earth pony out of his chair, and Pinkie Pie squeaked and leapt up to stare worriedly over the table as Twilight Shadow and Scrivener Blooms both winced, but Luna only calmly looked up and down the table before brightening and drawing a bottle of cola towards her with telekinesis as Celestia looked tiredly towards where her brother and the demon were wrestling.
“S-Shouldn't we do something?” Fluttershy asked nervously, as Cowlick whooped when Pinkamena managed to roll on top of Sleipnir and punch him across the face, but the earth pony gave a half-growl, half-laugh before he yanked her to the side and pounced on her, pinning her back and headbutting her in return, the demon looking stupefied for a moment before she seized him by the face and made him squeak as she twisted his head violently and rolled back on top of him. “I... I mean, they could really hurt each other...”
“No, no, this is fairly standard for my brother.” Luna said gently, smiling as she looked up reassuringly even as Nirvana rumbled nervously beside Fluttershy, standing protectively pressed against her while Ross winced a little and leaned away from the violence. “They are like... roughhousing puppies. See, there is even the biting! I... oh, Sleipnir! No, no, do not bite her back, thou does not know where she has been!”
Then the two rolled under the table, knocking several chairs aside, and there was suddenly silence as the gathered ponies all apprehensively shifted a bit. Scarlet Sage began to slowly lean down, but then Twilight Shadow reached over and carefully pushed the filly's head back up, saying dryly: “Some things are better left not seen.”
Pinkie Pie winced herself... and then stared as Pinkamena and Sleipnir both sat hurriedly up in two empty spots further down the table beside each other, battered and bruised, before Pinkamena gave a dumb giggle, then slapped her hooves over her mouth as Sleipnir grinned cheerfully, saying brightly: “We have resolved our differences through negotiation.”
“A negotiation that makes everypony happy is not a negotiation. It's an agreement.” Celestia said mildly, glancing towards the two, and they both glared at her before the fiery-maned equine sighed and shook her head. “Well, as long as you two don't start fighting again.”
“That wasn't fighting. That was just playing, Princess Sunshine.” Pinkamena said moodily, and then she snorted and added grouchily: “Why don't you go do your concubine duties if you're in the mood for-”
“Party time!” Pinkie Pie shouted immediately, leaping upwards, and Pinkamena huffed but quieted as the bright pink pony smiled down the table and said quickly: “Help yourselves, everypony, but don't eat too much 'cause I got lots of stuff here to have fun with!”
The party was a short few hours, but cheerful, and it was a nice way to renew old friendships. More importantly, it did help Pinkie Pie settle in a little more, the pony smiling the entire time... except for a few moments of utter horror after Pinkamena and Sleipnir both emerged from her cabin, Pinkamena smoking a cigarette and looking pleased with herself, mane almost as rumpled as Pinkie Pie's before she sat down at the table.
But it was enjoyable, and Scrivener and Luna stayed afterwards to help clean up as Sleipnir loitered with Pinkamena, the demon grinning up at him as the two chatted: the others had all left over the last few minutes, Celestia and Twilight to teach Scarlet Sage together and the other ponies on their own duties.
Scrivener carried the plates in and Luna 'helped' by gorging herself on leftover cake, brownies and cola before looking up curiously as Pinkie Pie grumbled as she walked past where Sleipnir and Pinkamena were sitting: “You know it really wasn't that kind of party.”
“Any kind of party can be that kind of party.” Sleipnir said reasonably, and Pinkie Pie huffed a bit before the earth pony smiled and leaned towards her, saying kindly: “Thy party was wonderful though, Pinkie Pie, I did enjoy myself and the fare was most excellent indeed. Why, look, my gluttonous sister is still eating!”
Luna glared at Sleipnir, and Pinkamena snorted as she reached up and brushed her mane back with a grin. “What can I say, Pinkie? I was just trying to throw a party of my own.”
“In my bedroom, though? You guys are gross.” Pinkie Pie complained, and then she turned towards the table to begin neatening it, muttering: “Better not have to change the sheets...”
“Sheets are mostly fine, it's your pillows I'd be worried about.” Pinkamena retorted, and Pinkie winced before she looked up in horror as the demon added with a grin: “And we made Mr. Teeth watch. In fact, we tied him down so he couldn't look away!”
“No, you didn't! Pinkamena, you're horrible!” Pinkie blurted, and then she turned and rushed towards the cottage, shouting: “Mr. Teeth! Mr. Teeth! I'm going to save you!”
Pinkamena laughed and shook her head as Scrivener emerged from the kitchen, cocking his own, and Luna rolled her eyes as Sleipnir asked slowly: “Who is this Mister Teeth? I also do not recall tying any poor souls down. And I was not drunk so there is no chance I am overlooking anything... well, little chance.”
“Oh, Mr. Teeth is that stupid alligator toy. Sissy says it reminds her of Gummy.” Pinkamena muttered, shaking her head briefly before she began to open her mouth... and then two pillows flew down and bounced off her head, and she almost fell out of her seat before glaring balefully up at where Pinkie Pie was leaning in the second floor window.
Pinkamena began to open her mouth, and then Luna rolled her eyes and said wryly. “Lemon Drop, go apologize to thy sister and make amends by helping clean up. Sleipnir, thou should as well, but since thou art not my concubine I cannot order thee to do anything.”
“I... wait, what? Thou art a concubine too?” Sleipnir stared incredulously at Pinkamena, and she shrugged moodily before the stallion glared up at Scrivener Blooms and scrambled around the table, the poet wincing and immediately hurrying away as Sleipnir shouted: “Why in the name of my Father art thou so damnably fortunate? Come here, I am going to pummel the good fortune out of thee and make a pretty hat out of it!”
“That doesn't even make sense!” Scrivener shouted over his shoulder, wincing as Sleipnir scrambled after him and Luna only sat back to watch with a grin, Pinkamena blushing and smiling a little even as she hurried towards the cottage. And then Scrivy yelped when Sleipnir lunged at him before the poet clenched his eyes shut, his black horn giving a sharp pulse.
He vanished in a burst of blue light, and Sleipnir hit the ground and skidded face-first through the grasses as Luna laughed. A moment later, Scrivy reappeared dumbly in front of the door leading out, and then he winced and hurried through this as Sleipnir grinned and leapt to his hooves, shouting cheerfully: “Oh, thou runs from me as many mares have in the past, but believe me, I caught each and every one of them!”
With that, Sleipnir spun around and charged cheerfully towards Scrivener, and the poet squawked as he hurried out into the corridor, sprinting down it and wincing over his shoulder as Sleipnir shouted jovially: “A chase! A game of tag! What is my reward if I catch thee, Scrivener Blooms?”
“Oh my God are you flirting with me?” Scrivener stared in horror and skidded through an intersection, running past several Nibelung as he shouted in a strangled voice over his shoulder: “What the hell is wrong with you and Luna? And it looked like you were really interested in Pinkamena!”
Sleipnir only snorted in amusement, skidding around the corner and then simply plowing through the Nibelung, calling a quick apology over his shoulder before he looked ahead as Scrivener ran through a door and slammed it behind him. Sleipnir, however, only grinned cheerfully before he leapt forwards and smashed the door off its hinges, landing on it and then peering blankly into the storage room behind filled with stacked crates and boxes, but no Scrivener Blooms.
Then the iron door he was standing on wobbled weakly, and he looked down before brightening at the sight of the poet's head and forelegs sticking out from beneath it, saying cheerfully: “There thou art! What a ridiculous hiding place!”
“Yes. That's what this is.” Scrivener mumbled, and then he flinched as Sleipnir hopped off so the poet could wiggle his way out from beneath the door, turning around and cracking his back loudly as he groaned and then shrank back as Sleipnir leaned in with a wide grin and half-lidded eyes. “Please. Please go away.”
“Nay, not until I get what I desire.” Sleipnir said firmly, nodding once, and Scrivener shrank back at this before the stallion declared: “I wish to spar with thee outside!”
“Oh thank the Horses of Heaven.” Scrivener mumbled, and he wheezed in relief, then paused and looked at the floor before wincing and looking awkwardly up. “Wait. Actually. Let me weigh my options here.”
Sleipnir laughed at this, however, stepping forwards and wrapping a foreleg companionably around Scrivener's shoulders as he squeezed him firmly, making the poet wheeze at the clear reminder of the male's strength. “Don't be silly! I said spar, not duel... and anyway, thou art far more durable than the Lich was. But truly, Scrivener, it would be an honor if thou would allow me to test my mettle against thee, now that I know thou art not just stronger, but more in control of thy abilities as a Tyrant Wyrm... and well, the chance to spar with a Tyrant Wyrm freely, without having to fear being dissolved, transformed into a thrall, or devoured... 'tis most rare.”
Sleipnir smiled slightly, and Scrivener hesitated, then reared back as the stallion asked seriously: “Does it help if I offer a tender kiss should thou earn it?”
“I. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?” Scrivener asked finally, and Sleipnir nodded with a grin and a wink before Scrivener rolled his eyes and muttered: “No wonder they used to call you double-swing.”
“What? Curse Celestia! Curse Luna!” Sleipnir shouted as if outraged, stomping a hoof, and then he paused before prancing forwards as he said cheerfully: “Then again, 'tis a new day and age where I do not have to defend my masculinity so strenuously. Besides, I reek of masculine bravado, do I not? Show me a single pony who would deny that I am the epitome of male pride!”
“I bet you are.” Scrivener mumbled, and Sleipnir looked up in confusion before the poet cleared his throat and said quickly: “You wanted to spar outside Enstasis?”
“Aye, if we could, 'tis too small for thee to maneuver properly even in the Garden, is it not? And I am no fool, Scrivener Blooms, however I may act... in a narrow space thou will have a greater advantage over me with thy size and damnable breath.” Sleipnir said cheerfully, winking at him before he smiled and started down the hall, and Scrivener automatically fell in step after him as the stallion continued warmly: “There is no better way to know someone and their intentions than to battle them one-on-one, though. When last we fought, what I felt overwhelmingly from thee, even though at the time I had such difficulty believing a Tyrant Wyrm could feel such a thing, was love for my little sister. Was the need to protect by beloved little Luna from harm. That is what won my blessing over, Scrivener Blooms, and why I have such respect for thee... well, that and those pretty eyes. Like a mare's eyes.”
“Luna said the exact same thing to me once.” Scrivener said flatly, and Sleipnir nodded thoughtfully as Scrivener studied the male and said finally: “You two have way too much in common. It's a little scary, now that I think about it.”
But Sleipnir only grinned wryly, winking over his shoulder at the male. “Do we really? Aye, I suppose we do. But I lack her beautiful mane, mine is all tangles and brambles. It makes it oh so much harder to do nice things with.”
Scrivener only rolled his eyes, and Sleipnir laughed heartily. He kept up pleasant, idle conversation as they walked through the halls of Enstasis, until they emerged outside into the mire... and Scrivener stared at the fact that Celestia and Luna were already sitting outside and obviously waiting for them, Sleipnir saying playfully: “Somepony's been a bad girl!”
“For once, this was my fault, to be entirely honest.” Celestia said calmly, raising her head, and Scrivener Blooms looked at her with surprise as the ivory equine smiled a little, Luna nodded rapidly and looking delighted. “I take these kinds of challenges as seriously as my siblings do... in some ways, perhaps more, after all. And... I was very curious. So I decided to ask Luna if she wanted to sneak out and watch. We... did not try very hard to conceal ourselves, I admit.”
Scrivener only stared for a moment, and then Luna winked and said cheerfully: “Fear not, Scrivener Blooms, we are here to support thee. And not my smelly brother.”
“I smell of strength and virility and...” Sleipnir paused, raising a foreleg and sniffing at himself, then frowning. “Sweat? That is not sweat, it is too sweet...”
He licked experimentally at his foreleg, then smacked his lips a few times as Celestia slowly closed her eyes with a pained expression and Scrivener stared, then the earth pony brightened and declared: “'Tis baking sugar! It must be from when the demon and I were in the kitchen. But that is all besides the point, Scrivener Blooms, come, come on, come along!”
He seized the poet by the back of the mane, making Scrivener wince as he was half-dragged forwards and out into the expansive mire in front of Enstasis, explaining calmly even as he continued to smile: “Now, here are the rules. I fear that I must forbid thee from using the Black Verses, but all else is fair play. Well, almost all else: 'twill be in very bad taste to take high into the air and attempt to drop magic or large objects upon my head, I am not fond of that. This is a sparring session for fun and practice, not a battle between cheap and whiny mages who don't understand the difference between artful strategy and shun-worthy cowardice.”
Then Scrivener winced as Sleipnir cheerfully hauled him forwards, half-throwing him ahead as the stallion stumbled, his cloak fluttering around him and glasses falling askew before Sleipnir gleefully stomped his hooves and shouted cheerfully: “Now transform, Scrivener Blooms! Show me thy face and true brute form!”
Scrivener only sighed a little, rolling his head before he grumbled as he reached up and began to wiggle his cloak off, and then he smiled a bit as Luna tilted her head towards him as her horn glowed, her eyes soft and affectionate as the cloak glowed and was pulled free with his glasses. Sleipnir laughed at this, however, throwing his head back and then winking as he said playfully: “Now, Scrivener, 'tis not that kind of battle, but if it's that kind of fight that thou wants...”
Scrivener only smiled amusedly, and Celestia and Luna traded a look before they both tilted her heads forwards as their horns glowed, Sleipnir grinning for a moment long before Scrivener suddenly dropped low with a grin as his body took on a brilliant blue shine. There was a flash of light as he began to snap his head upwards... and Sleipnir squawked as a full-sized Tyrant Wyrm roared in his face, blowing his mane and tail of vines backwards and sending several large gemstones flying out of his locks, the stallion staring up in shock as Scrivener spread his enormous wings and flapped them once before grinning widely down at Sleipnir, saying mildly: “With all due respect, Sleipnir... I don't really think you could handle me at this size.”
Sleipnir stared stupidly up at him as Luna laughed and Celestia smiled slightly, and then the stallion snorted before he pawed the swamp with a grin, looking up at him and saying warmly: “How cocky of thee!” He paused, turned his head away to giggle stupidly, then cleared his throat and looked up seriously at Scrivener Blooms. “Remember, do not aim to kill. Only to bludgeon, bash, maim, although mutilation is quite rude.”
“Sounds good.” Scrivener grinned slightly, leaning down until he was face-to-face with the stallion, who grinned widely up at him as Scrivener's glowing sapphire eyes lost their hesitance, filled instead with eagerness, with growing desire. His body language changed, became more animal as he dug his claws against the ground and rose himself slightly, his tail snapping back and forth, almost striking the wall of the castle beside them before he growled, blue mist steaming up from his jaws.
Sleipnir didn't move, however, confident, brawny, fearless, his eyes gleaming before he leaned forwards and simply roared a loud, cheerful battle cry, and Scrivener grinned before roaring back, the force of sound waves and the stench of spices and meat washing over Sleipnir before the earth pony leapt forwards through the blast of sound and smashed a hoof into the underside of Scrivener's jaw, sending his teeth clacking painfully together as his eyes bulged before the earth pony ran quickly forwards and slammed into the Tyrant Wyrm's breast, knocking him staggering backwards.
Sleipnir laughed, then darted towards a front claw as Scrivener gritted his teeth, then suddenly flexed as he leaned forwards. The stallion heard the howls of the mutant earth beneath him in his mind, and his eyes widened in alarm as he hurriedly leapt backwards, spinning around and then cursing as the mire around Scrivener's claws rippled violently, throwing him off balance. He recovered by dropping into a roll, lunging back to his hooves with a snarl before swinging both front hooves up to catch Scrivener's foreclaw when he lashed it down towards him.
Scrivener leaned into the attack, not daring to underestimate Sleipnir's strength... and yet still the earth pony held him off, body flexing before he stepped one rear hoof forwards and let out a roar of exertion as he shoved backwards, and Scrivener felt his claw shoved away, the Tyrant Wyrm staggering: more out of shock than being thrown off balance as he stared stupidly down at Sleipnir.
The earth pony breathed hard, grinning widely up at Scrivener Blooms, eyes blazing before he ran forwards... and then yelping and scrambling backwards instead when the Tyrant Wyrm leaned down with a roar and a blast of blue mist, sending out a cloud of sapphire death that spilled along the ground before Scrivener reared back and flapped his wings once.
Sleipnir's eyes widened as the blast of wind sent the cloud of blue smog roiling over the ground towards him, and then the earth pony snarled and charged brazenly forwards, running through this and yelling in pain as it burned and seared against his body. He burst out the other side in moments, his coat scalded as he staggered, and Scrivener immediately lashed a claw forwards... but Sleipnir dove beneath the swing, and Scrivy's eyes widened in surprise before the earth pony kicked both rear legs into the wrist of his extended claw.
It knocked his foreleg high into the air with a burst of pain, and Scrivener cursed in surprise before Sleipnir sprinted forwards and then simply plowed into his other front claw, knocking it up and outwards. The Tyrant Wyrm was knocked sprawling on his front, haunches awkwardly raised in the air as Sleipnir spun around and leapt upwards with a wide grin, leaping onto Scrivener's upper limb, hopping to shoulder, pouncing towards his neck...
And Scrivener dropped his head forwards as the terrible dark obelisk of his horn gave a single powerful pulse, and Sleipnir was sent hurtling up into the air by an invisible wave of force, the earth pony wincing and flailing wildly before Scrivener looked up with a wide grin, then lunged upwards as his jaws opened wide and snapped savagely down around Sleipnir as the earth pony began to fall.
Then Scrivener paused before making a face, the Tyrant Wyrm turning his head to the side and spitting the earth pony out before his tongue lolled out of his muzzle in disgust as Sleipnir bounced painfully off the mire, covered in saliva as he rolled forwards before laying flat on his back with a terrified look on his face, hooves sticking up into the air as Scrivener spat a few more times before scraping at his tongue distastefully.
Then Sleipnir finally shook himself off and glared horribly at Luna as she cackled loudly, rolling back and forth on the ground as Celestia only shook her head with a slight smile. “I... I demand a rematch! 'Twas not a fair win, 'twas... 'twas cheating! And now I am covered in Wyrm goober!”
“Saliva is not goober.” Scrivener said irritably, and Sleipnir stomped his hooves childishly before the Tyrant Wyrm leaned down and said mildly: “Don't worry. I know you could have punched your way out of my mouth. But you tasted godawful.”
Sleipnir mumbled something, and Scrivener frowned a bit before the male said in an embarrassed voice: “I was not afraid, I merely... was tickled! It's thine own fault, 'twas... a defense mechanism!”
“Oh you did not!” Scrivener looked horrified, and Luna laughed all the louder, rolling back and forth on the ground before the Tyrant Wyrm's eyes blazed as he gritted his teeth, glaring horribly down at Sleipnir, who winced back as the enormous horn on Scrivener's skull sparked violently. “Fine, let's finish our sparring, and we'll see-”
“I believe Sleipnir has had enough for one day, Scrivener Blooms.” Celestia interrupted gently, and Scrivener rumbled as the earth pony nodded hurriedly and scrambled to his hooves, scuttling quickly behind his older sister to hide as the Tyrant Wyrm's eyes moodily followed after him before even Luna's laughter cut off in surprise as Celestia bowed her head forwards with a slight smile, asking kindly: “But if you still feel prepared... would you honor me with a sparring session?”
Scrivener looked at her, remembering the last time they had fought, and the first time he had fed off Celestia... the first time he had really fed at all. For a moment, he only breathed slowly, and then Celestia smiled slightly before she reared back, closing her eyes as her horn glowed vibrantly and her mane flared brilliantly around her body as a glow like the sun built around her...
And when she crashed down to her hooves, she was clad in her full golden armor, her mask locked in place over her face, her armor sparking with electricity and aftershocks. A few of the outer plates seemed a little melted, a little worn by the powerful magic as enchantments over the armor glowed, but even as her body steamed faintly, she leaned forwards almost eagerly as three lines of fire twisted out of her thrumming mane into the air around her before transforming into double-edged, brilliantly-gleaming broadswords of aureate metal. “Shall we, Scrivener Blooms? And I will be sorely disappointed if you hold back at all.”
“I feel the same way.” Scrivener replied with a smile, and then the Tyrant Wyrm readied himself, grinning slightly before he teased: “Show me you're a little better than Sleipnir, at least.”
Sleipnir huffed, beginning to open his mouth... and then he only stared as Celestia lunged forwards, her swords glowing brightly as they followed her, responding to will alone before she slammed all four hooves into Scrivener's chest and knocked him rearing backwards before one after the other, the three blades buried savagely along his breast and neck as Celestia gazed up at Scrivener with a smile behind her mask and gleaming in her eyes, and Scrivener stared down with both incredulity and a grin despite the pain. “Proven.”
Then she snapped her head backwards, and all three swords tore free of Scrivener's breast before flying in a wide C to smash firmly into the underside of the Tyrant Wyrm's breast just as he began to raise his claws, Celestia shoving firmly backwards with all four hooves at the same time to knock the Tyrant Wyrm crashing onto his back as her wings flapped hard and propelled her backwards through the air, swords quickly spinning back up to float around her as Sleipnir whistled and Luna spasmed on the ground once, wincing and rubbing at the narrow cuts on her body as she shouted: “Pummel her, Scrivener! Pummel her good!”
“Shut up, Luna! Celestia, 'tis only a single Tyrant Wyrm, thou can mash him!” Sleipnir cried cheerfully, and then Luna growled and leapt up, tackling Sleipnir before the two began to childishly roll back and forth, yelling insults at one another and encouragements to the two on the battlefield.
Scrivener released a blast of toxic mist as Celestia shot down towards him, and she winced and immediately flicked her horn, creating a barrier of golden light... but a moment later, the barrier took on a strange, static-riddled quality even as the mist swirled uselessly around it, as if the holy light were somehow melting before Scrivener rolled over with a wide grin as he quickly climbed to his claws, Celestia snarling as she launched herself backwards and saw the dark aura around Scrivener's horn... but admittedly, she was impressed all the same. Because of their linked horns, he was able to interfere with her magic... “But does that apply to all my spells?”
Celestia's horn glowed as she snapped it back and forth, sending two balls of golden fire towards Scrivener... but the Tyrant Wyrm was unfazed, raising his head towards her as his horn glowed brighter, and both balls of flame simply dissipated before they could touch him before electricity crackled around his horn and he snarled as he released a blast of lightning in response.
Celestia winced, but reacted on instinct as her own horn gave a pulse... and she gritted her teeth as she arched her back, the electricity striking her but drawn up along her body to her own horn, feeling only faint pain as the magic was absorbed before she flapped her wings slowly as Scrivener reared back slightly with a rumble. The ivory winged unicorn only smiled calmly behind her mask, however, eyes glinting as she said quietly: “So we cannot use magic against each other. Very well... it's better this way.”
Without another moment's thought or hesitation, she shot forwards, flapping her wings as one of her swords began to spin rapidly beside her and the other two pointed straight towards Scrivener. The Tyrant Wyrm only growled in response, however, waiting for her to draw in closer before his gaze locked with hers, and Celestia's eyes widened in shock as she felt him ripping into her mind-
She clenched her eyes shut and turned her head away, her swords stuttering in midair... and then Scrivener lunged upwards and slapped her fiercely with one claw, knocking her rocketing down to the mire as her swords fell in a useless hail towards the ground, losing their life and vibrancy. One of them bounced off Scrivener, but it didn't so much as scratch the behemoth as he grinned widely, watching Celestia crash to the ground and skid painfully through the muck as a wing bent beneath her body.
He leaned forwards and slammed both front claws savagely into the dark bog, and it erupted in a concentrated wave that shot towards Celestia as she cursed and shoved herself to her hooves, then her eyes glowed as she slashed her horn down... and even though she could feel the magic being almost immediately interrupted, the raw blast of force was still more than strong enough to blow the wave of mud apart before she broke into a sprint, her wings spreading before Scrivener lunged to meet her with a snarl.
A claw slashed down, and Celestia was knocked flying from it, her armor denting and cracking as she rolled once before throwing herself back to her hooves with a snarl, as Scrivener's other claw lashed downwards, the Tyrant Wyrm greedy for more... and Celestia lunged forwards, thrusting her horn into Scrivener's palm and feeling her neck creak before she released a wild blast of telekinetic force.
Scrivener was repelled with a howl of pain, blood bursting from his wounded claw as he staggered backwards, his entire limb filling with agony as his blood boiled in his veins. He stared for a moment at the wound, concentration lost... and a flurry of blasts of golden flame smashed into his chest and up towards his neck, making him roar in pain and misery as cracks tore through his scales and he reared back on his hind legs.
Celestia charged forwards, and her golden swords glowed brightly as she ran past them before they leapt into the air and shot beside her as she flapped her wings to regain the skies as well... and then Scrivener Blooms flapped his wings powerfully as he shoved himself upwards off his hind legs, and the blast of wind was enough to knock Celestia backwards as Sleipnir and Luna stared in amazement, now clinging to each other instead of fighting as Scrivener rose in majestic, lumbering flight, and Celestia rolled once in midair before she shot skywards like a comet, gritting her teeth as she circled rapidly around him, mane and tail of burning golden flame leaving streaks through the air behind her.
Higher, higher, until they were higher than the towers of Enstasis as Celestia followed him upwards before Scrivener Blooms roared, the blast of sound echoing like thunder over the ground below as Celestia twisted herself in towards his back, but the Tyrant Wyrm's tail lashed viciously upwards, snapping at her and forcing her to quickly back off to avoid being whipped from the air before he twisted towards her, his eyes locking on her as they hovered with only a short distance between them.
Their eyes locked for a moment, and in that split second of time, Celestia felt Scrivener's passion, his power, his roil of instinct mixed with his vicious mind... and Scrivener felt Celestia's heartbeat, her eagerness, and all the excitement she had almost forgotten blazing through her. Then Scrivener's eyes flashed, and Celestia cursed, feeling him trying to dig into her mind before she yanked her head away and instead shot forwards.
She expected him to use his breath: instead, he snapped at her like an animal, and she barely avoided lunging out of the way of his enormous jaws before her three swords lashed out with a series of short, firm strokes of her sword that shoved him away: defensive slashes that left only marginal wounds on his scales. But for how sharp and dangerous and painful her swords were, they were still nothing more than meter long blades of metal stabbing into the body of a Tyrant Wyrm sixty feet long... in other words, a nuisance.
All the same, Celestia lunged forwards when Scrivener Blooms drew back with a wince, slashing her swords outwards in elegant, longer cuts, her horn flicking back and forth like she was directing a symphony and not fighting a monster. She gritted her teeth at this thought, then winced when Scrivener bit at her again, flapping her wings powerfully to shoot upwards as he simply rammed through the swinging blades before she slammed all four hooves into Scrivener's forehead.
His head was knocked backwards... but he released a roar of frustration that sent out a blast of blue mist as his neck whiplashed, and Celestia cursed in agony, flapping hurriedly backwards even as she was scalded by the toxic fog before she threw herself to the side to avoid being slashed by a swing of one of his foreclaws. The attack missed her, but hit one of her swords instead, and it was knocked flying uselessly through the air and dissolved into ashes once the distance grew too great between herself and the weapon.
She quickly propelled herself away from the Tyrant Wyrm, breathing hard... but now Scrivener was on the offensive, flying after her... and while his flight was lumbering, he was slowly gaining speed. Celestia cursed, dropping into a steep dive as he chased her towards the forest, but Scrivener only grinned as he followed her, putting his weight to use as he allowed himself to drop but not to tilt too heavily.
Celestia grimaced at this as she arched her back, shooting steeply back upwards for a moment as they passed over the border of the Everfree Forest, feeling her options rapidly disappearing. He wouldn't take the bait to go into a free-fall, he would disrupt magic that targeted his wings, and while she maintained the speed and agility advantage over him in the air, he was... enormous. Powerful. Godlike. They were only sparring, he was grinning as he chased her, not because he was cocky, but because she could feel that he was eager for more, that he didn't understand that yes, she was now outmatched by him already... and she had helped create him.
And by Mimir's head, was that pride she felt when she thought of that? It made her shudder... and yet she couldn't deny it. He was learning magic quickly, developing at an extraordinary rate. He was becoming stronger, faster, better, just like Luna was... and then she was startled out of her daze when Scrivener roared at her and unleashed a raw blast of sound that almost knocked her out of the air, making her curse as she swayed violently back and forth before rolling to try and maintain her altitude now just above the trees of the forest beneath them, their eyes almost locking...
An idea struck, and Celestia gritted her teeth, not knowing if it would work before she looked sharply over her shoulder, her mane flaring backwards out of the way... and Scrivener grinned as his gaze locked with hers, his eyes glowing sharply.
Celestia felt the link and let him make it, felt him ripping into her mind, her body going limp as it completed, as he began to feed off her as her wings flapped weakly, barely holding her up in air as her swords fell uselessly into the trees below. She could feel him in her mind, biting, clawing, greedily licking up her memories, her thoughts... and in his battle-lust, the images that assailed her were vicious and savage and primal and yet she understood them with her Valkyrie mind and felt his animal pleasure in them, and it made her want to let the feelings, the pleasure, even the pain overtake her before Celestia suddenly yelled and shoved savagely outwards with her mind as her horn gave a sharp pulse, and her wings flapped hard, propelling her upwards.
The connection severed, and Scrivener's eyes widened in shock before his wings spasmed as he clawed wildly at the treeline below him, letting out what was almost a shriek before his heavy body simply dropped and crashed through the trees, chunks of wood flying in all directions as he skidded painfully through the forest. And Celestia shivered as her wings flapped hard, wildly, barely keeping her aloft as she gagged and wretched, then reached up and yanked her cracked facemask back before vomiting blood and bile outwards, body convulsing as she hugged her stomach and rasped for breath.
Luna staggered in mid-stride beside Sleipnir, the earth pony skidding to a halt from his eager run as he grinned towards his sister... then stared in shock as she leaned forwards and vomited black bile, her mane sparking violently before she gargled and then collapsed on her side, convulsing weakly as foam spilled from her mouth. And her brother's eyes widened in horror before he hurriedly reached down and pressed his hooves against her, grimacing as he looked quickly back and forth over her, then shouted: “Celestia! I need thy aid!”
Celestia glanced up tiredly as she slowly descended towards Scrivener Blooms, the Tyrant Wyrm laying unconscious and still, bleeding from the mouth and nose as he rumbled breaths weakly in and out, the blue light in his sockets dim and faded... and she trembled a little, her amethyst eyes horrified as she crawled quietly up onto his muzzle and whispered: “No, no, no... why did it hurt you so badly...”
She pulled herself upwards, breathing harder as Scrivener's horn sparked violently before her eyes locked on this... and she gritted her teeth, cursing herself. Of course... they had the same horn. She had likely amplified and accelerated the effects because of that, or maybe... no. Do not analyze, Celestia. Act.
Celestia silently made her way up onto Scrivener's skull, breathing hard before she pushed her hooves against the obelisk of a horn, dropped her own against it, and closed her eyes tightly... and she could feel his mind, deep and stunned and scared, caught a vision of small, old Scrivener curled up and staring uselessly around at terrible, looming faces... Ignominious, Sol Seraph, Bramblethorn. And she thought she caught a glimpse of what could be herself, too, in the crowd of looming phantasms; it made Celestia grit her teeth, shaking her head before she whispered: “I'm not that anymore, Scrivener Blooms. I... I am not. I have hurt you and sister again in taking a little game too far and I shall not stand for that, I shall not simply fix this problem I have created, I shall apologize for it... I shall make up for it.”
She took a slow breath, gathering her strength, her energies... and then both her horn and Scrivener's began to slowly glow, pulsing, brightening bit-by-bit as she pushed her energies into him. Yet even as she did, thoughts, fears, hopes all whirled around her, as she thought of how terribly powerful he was... as she thought of Luna, smiling, talking about her 'rightful place' at the helm of some dark empire... as she thought of all the ponies of Equestria long ago, when they had all gazed up with terror at the coming of an eternal night, as Nightmare Moon had screamed her pain and promises at the sky above...
And Celestia trembled, knowing she stood on the precipice of a dangerous choice. A choice that wasn't really a choice at all, because in a way, she was just like Sleipnir: bound to rules of honor, bound to her promise, and her word. Even simpler still... she couldn't bear to turn on her little sister again, nor Scrivener Blooms. She wouldn't hurt her family, no matter what they were becoming... especially not when she still believed in him, still saw if not good, then a need to do right, a need to protect the guiltless in them...
Celestia closed her eyes, breathing slowly, shivering once as her horn pushed against the crystalline obelisk that was Scrivener's, and she felt the same core in them, the same pulse, the same strange vitality. Yes, despite everything, they had many similarities, her and this monster she knew she had helped create... that she could kill if she wanted to, that if it died, would result in Luna's death... would even kill Twilight Shadow too, and would do who knew what kind of damage to their concubines, their marshaled forces, everything they had gone to such lengths to tie themselves to...
The ivory equine shivered... then she gritted her teeth, her mane and tail flaring up as she poured her magic forwards into Scrivener Blooms, feeding the spare energy she had into him, and past that, her own vitality, his horn glowing, sparking, acting as the receiver and filter for the powerful energies restoring his strength before the eyes of the Tyrant Wyrm flared back into life, primal, unholy light glowing in his sockets before he snapped his head briskly upwards with a snarl.
Celestia was sent flying backwards with a weak cry before Scrivener's claws raked down onto her, slamming her down into the mire as she gasped and stared up in horror as he leaned down over her, grinning, vicious, the primal Tyrant Wyrm taking over for a moment as their eyes locked... and Celestia had a moment to scream before he ripped into her mind.
And it wasn't like before: this time there was agony, like there was a too-large sawblade spinning in the too-small cavern of her skull, as memories, emotions, passions, the fabric of what felt like both her sanity and her soul were absorbed by the grinning monster over her as it leaned down, down, down, her features paling, her eyes beginning to dull, her fiery mane weakening...
Scrivener flexed and grunted, then convulsed above her, giving a rasping breath of surprise before his eyes widened slightly... and then he leaned down and breathed out a blast of blue mist over the female, and Celestia shivered as this spilled over her frame, numbing out the pain in her body before their eyes locked again, but this time, the ivory equine saw not just the Tyrant Wyrm... she saw Scrivener Blooms, and his emotions, his fear, his need to help, his... love.
She gasped quietly, feeling the pain vanishing now into pleasure, feeling her body relaxing instead of weakening further, as his memories, his mind, flooded into hers: but it was gentle, it was soft, it was without claws and teeth. It was like a gloved hand, wrapping her in blankets, hugging her close to a strong but gentle body...
Memories twisted through her mind, not her own... but even as she saw them, felt the emotions in them, she felt herself fading into darkness. Darkness that was total for a moment before she saw the glimmer in the distance like a flame, before she realized it was a bird. Not flying, only sitting, resting quietly, upon the shoulder of some great and powerful monster that half-slumbered with its fearsome mate and their dark, unseen brood. A bird that found freedom in the air, and safety in the nest of these two creatures, which protected it, gave it a home, shared their bounty with it... and never would it betray them, never would they betray it.