Chapter Forty Two: The Ashen Aftermath
~BlackRoseRaven
In the morning, Enstasis was still smoldering, smoke rising up from the damaged, half-ruined castle. Repairs had yet to begin... repairs could wait until later, as they took care of the wounded and tended first to their dead.
Coffins were being laid out in the former battlefield, of all shape and size: many soldiers had died, and Luna had decided to respect the wishes they had in life or their kin had for their remains. Many of them were to be sent out across Equestria to be buried in their hometowns. Luna would not deny them that wish, after they had died defending her family and her home. Many of the others were to be burned, and only a few buried... understandably, many ponies were afraid of their corpses being shortly dug up and put back to work if they weren't cremated. But Luna wouldn't do, at least not for decades: these dead had earned their rest, their sleep.
It hurt worse to see small coffins amidst the large ones: the coffins of foals, killed in the attack, and among them one of Fluttershy's newborns. The Pegasus was devastated... and she herself had been wounded, one of her wings almost completely torn off as they'd scrambled to find safety and the roof had caved in on her and Virtue. Nirvana had wanted to stay and help her: Fluttershy had shouted at him to take Temperance and Tender Trust and run.
She had been dug out of the rubble by the Greater Nightmares, but while her body would heal, the trauma of losing one of her children would take her much longer to recover from. She could barely believe that Applejack and Rainbow Dash were responsible... she didn't want to believe that it had been from Ponyville that the awful attack had originated.
And Luna had found Pinkamena not long after she had left the courtyard, the dull-pink mare so panicked, so emotional, so upset that she hadn't realized her true demon's shape was showing. The reason became apparent quickly, as she'd dragged her through damaged and wrecked Enstasis to where Pinkie Pie had been laying with her back and one of her front legs broken, a strange look of serenity on her face even as her life slowly ebbed out of her from the cracked skull and internal injuries she had suffered, and Pinkamena could only plead desperately: “Fix her! Save her! Help her! I'll do anything, you know I'll do anything, just save her... don't make me go through this again! I can't go through this again!”
Luna had Pinkie transported gently to the catacombs beneath Enstasis to be kept alive and safe until she and Scrivener and Celestia were strong enough to help, saying quietly: “I shall give thee no surprises and no lies, Pinkamena, I have not the mood nor strength to be coy tonight. The others will keep her stable for now, and then we shall make her Moon Blessed. Unless thou would prefer us infuse her with a demon, and no, I am being neither cruel nor sarcastic. These are the options... there are others, but... thou would like them even less.”
“Don't... give her a horn.” Pinkamena said finally, looking down silently, and Luna had looked at her curiously before the demon had looked up, smiling weakly. “And don't make her one of your toys. Please. For me.”
Luna had been silent... then closed her eyes and nodded slowly, saying softly: “All the same, she will need to be tied to another living being, the ritual requires it. She is thy twin; I shall connect her to thee. Acceptable?”
“Thank you.” Pinkamena had whispered humbly, dropping to her stomach and bowing her head forwards, and Luna had silently kissed the demon's forehead in response and promise. Then she had continued onwards... finding more of the dead, the injured, the broken in the damaged and wounded halls of Enstasis, tending to them as best she could as she felt Scrivener Blooms carefully transporting Scarlet Sage to their room.
The Moon Blessed had all been badly-injured, but none would die. Ross was the worst off: one of his forelegs had been shattered and dangling uselessly from his body, broken horribly, and they'd had no choice but to amputate it. Cowlick needed her horn replaced, but in spite of the pain and the blood, she had already gone to work planning and designing an artificial limb for Ross as she laid beside him in bed in the infirmary, the stallion trembling a bit as he stayed curled tightly up against her side. Flint and Autumn had been burnt by dragon fire, and Fleur had a broken wing and fractured ribs. Not to mention the bruises, lacerations and other injuries, but... almost everypony had those.
Other concubines and concubinus had been killed, old and young had been killed, demons and Nightmares and Greater Nightmares and Phooka and everything else had been killed. Applejack's self-destructive attack had a far greater toll for her own army, and yet for once that didn't help... after all, they could have just as easily been Luna's subjects as Luna's enemies, but for the way all of Ponyville had turned against her... but for what Kvasir and Applejack had done.
Luna couldn't help but grin bitterly: Kvasir, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sleipnir... they were all in the dungeons now. Kvasir in a magic-proof cell designed for holding demons, but it would work well enough to keep a badly-wounded god in place... and Applejack and Rainbow Dash in cells across the corridor from one-another, chained and shackled to the walls so they could keep each other company. Sleipnir, meanwhile, was sitting in the furthest corner of the dungeon, inside a little, dingy cell that wasn't even closed, staring miserably and silently at the floor... or at least, that's what Celestia had told her, after the ivory equine had tended to their brother's injuries. Luna still didn't have the strength to go and see for herself.
But it was either a gift or a curse that all of them had survived. Applejack and Rainbow Dash in particular Luna wanted to make suffer... all the more now after what they had done to Scarlet Sage, not just their home, not just the innocents of Enstasis. They called her a monster, said she was evil? She and Scrivener would be glad to accommodate them, then, and show them what true evil, true monstrosity was...
Among the other prisoners in the dungeon was Big Mac, beaten and injured, and a smattering of other ponies and a few Nibelung. Luna wasn't sure what she wanted to do with them... especially Big Mac. After the war machine they called a 'zeppelin' had been destroyed, however, many of the survivors had turned and fled... and those who had been stupid enough to run into the woods had been killed by the furious living forest, while those that had run down the road had been hunted when Hellhounds had been released from their kennels: and even with their head start, the ragtag survivors didn't get very far. Only twenty or so made it safely back to Ponyville and its piddling population of ponies that hadn't gone out to war.
Luna sighed quietly as she finally pushed through the doors into her quarters: she had spent most of the night pacing, walking around, taking time to think. Scrivener had been kind enough to let her, staying back with Scarlet Sage and tending to their daughter, keeping her alive, giving up his own strength, his own blood, his own breath to help her.
But as she looked up, Scrivener carefully slipped out of the bedroom door, closing it quietly behind himself before he smiled tiredly at her. He was pale, still covered in blood, their worse injuries reflecting one-another's. His wings were gone, scales and coat were back to normal, but one of his eyes had turned completely sapphire, while the other retained its old chestnut iris. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Luna echoed softly in reply, and she smiled faintly as he walked towards her before they nuzzled quietly, then hugged each other fiercely as her starry mane rippled backwards, then swirled forwards and half-wrapped around him as she buried her face against the side of his neck, whispering: “Oh Scrivy...”
“It's... it's going to be okay. Scarlet Sage just needs sleep now... she's alive. We saved her.” Scrivener said empathetically, then he kissed her forehead softly before he grimaced a little, shaking his head slowly as he murmured: “I think we'll both return more to normal... once we get some rest.”
Luna nodded against his neck, keeping herself close and tightly as his claws soothingly rubbed along her back, before he asked gently: “Do you want to see her?”
“Nay, Scrivy. I... I do, but I do not wish to disturb her. And I feel... I feel like such a failure...” Luna clenched her eyes shut, trembling against him as she whispered: “They killed her. They killed so many here. I can understand them trying to kill us but... Enstasis, our home, our citizens, our... our world. They would have brought it all down, had they the chance... and had they more than one of those awful, terrible machines...”
“We should have brought it down differently, even if the demonstration of power did serve its purpose and sent most of them running. But it was stupid and I'm sorry that I didn't do a better job.” Scrivener replied quietly, and Luna looked up at him with a smile both faint and pleading, making him laugh a little. “I... alright. I'll try not to blame myself. But... we've... we've been too lenient with them, Luna. Too kind... when we show them mercy, they call it bribes and manipulations and weakness, and attack us like rabid dogs. When we punish them for their wrongdoing or restrict them for their own good, they call us tyrants, but at least they recognize our strength.”
The winged unicorn nodded slowly, looking up at Scrivener as he looked back at her, cyan eyes meeting mismatched iris and sapphire glow as Scrivener said quietly: “I would rather be a strong king who takes care of his people, who is feared and respected by his people, then a weak king whom his people rebel against and walk all over. Let them fear us. Let them hate us even. But let them know most of all to not attack us... and in time, they will understand how fortunate they are.”
“Yes... I agree. But we must continue to reward our loyal subjects... especially now.” Luna responded softly, resting her head quietly against him, and Scrivener nodded as he reached up and stroked silently through her ephemeral mane. “I bow gladly to thy will, though, my beloved husband, and there is much wisdom in thy words. There is always much wisdom in thee... and so much power, so much strength. I am so glad for thee... I love thee, so deeply, so dearly...”
“I love you too, Luna. I love you, more than anything else in this world.” Scrivener said quietly, reaching up and resting his claws on her shoulders, and then they two traded a slow, soft kiss for a few moments before pulling apart and studying one another silent.
Finally, Scrivy carefully brushed back her starry locks, then asked curiously: “Where are Celestia and Twilight Shadow?”
“Celestia wished for... privacy after taking care of some matters. She was horrified and upset with what happened... she also may go to speak to Sleipnir.” Luna trembled for a moment, glancing down, then she shook her head quickly and returned her eyes upwards, trading thoughts and emotions and images with Scrivener even as she added quietly: “Twilight Shadow is aiding with overseeing both repairs and cleanup operations. She is industrious... but I know that much of it is because it helps her cope with what has happened. We should call her. Bring her to us. Comfort her. I love her almost as dearly as thee, after all.”
“Me too.” Scrivener smiled a bit, gently stroking a claw along Luna's melded collar to the engraved black pearl, and she closed her eyes and tilted her head back before he corrected softly: “Well, no. I love her more than I love myself. But not as much as I love you.”
Luna smiled despite herself, and then she turned, moving in natural synchronicity with Scrivener as they headed out through the open doors and into the halls of Enstasis, not even knowing where they were going as Scrivy asked finally: “What will we do with Kvasir?”
“Ultimately, his end will not be... pleasant.” Luna said distastefully, looking disgusted as she shook her head slowly before she smiled slightly as she glanced towards Scrivener Blooms. “Perhaps we shall feed him to thee. 'Twould be fitting, would it not?”
“Is it cannibalism for one god to consume another?” Scrivener asked curiously, and Luna smiled wider at this, before Scrivy looked ahead and said softly: “And I see so clearly in your mind... what you think we should do with Applejack and Rainbow Dash. That you plan to let me have the honor of punishing them... and I appreciate that, I do. I promise to keep them alive as long as possible... but eager as I am myself for revenge, I know we have other things to attend to before that pleasure.”
“Yes. 'Twould not be right to go about that yet... first we must attend to the dead, the wounded, and our devastated home.” Luna agreed quietly, nodding slowly. “We must also send soldiers to Ponyville... to safeguard the citizenry who were not goaded into this battle, and to ensure there is no second uprising, no second gathering. And I wish to dismantle the military presence there, simply put... I wish to return Ponyville towards the pretty, prosperous and welcoming village it once was, our... ardent sanctuary. That is not cruel, that is not asking much, is it?”
“Not at all.” Scrivener Blooms nodded slowly, and then he and Luna both paused and frowned a bit, looking up as an echo whispered through their minds: a message from Twilight. “Did you...”
“Aye. Let us meet her in the courtyard.” Luna hurried onwards, and Scrivener grunted as he followed quickly after her, the two making their way quickly through the damaged castle as they caught flickers of Twilight's apprehensive thoughts and felt a roil of emotions as they understood why she was calling to them.
They emerged through the battered-open doors to find Twilight Shadow sitting quietly with a forelimb around Apple Bloom, the young female trembling and breathing hard, tears in her eyes and pale from the sight of the battlefield, the state of the castle, the funerary pyres. She looked up at them, half-scared for them and half-scared of the King and Queen before Luna embraced the youth fiercely and Scrivener silently stroked a hand through her mane and rested it on her shoulder, saying softly: “You made a dangerous journey, Apple Bloom. You could have been mistaken for an enemy and hurt.”
“That's why I stuck to the woods. Just like Sleipnir always told me to in case... in case...” Apple Bloom swallowed thickly, looking up at them worriedly as she whispered: “Is... Sleipnir, Big Mac, big sister, Rainbow... and... and Scarlet Sage. Twilight won't tell me what happened to Scarlet Sage, what... what happened to her? I felt... I felt this... this pain...”
Apple Bloom silently reached up, touching her chest, and Scrivener and Luna traded a look before the orange eyes of the child widened and she whispered: “No... n-no, no, no, oh no... I... please, don't tell me that...”
“We'll take you to her. She's... recovering from...” Scrivener fell silent, then he shook his head slowly and met Apple Bloom's eyes silently. “Do you want to know what happened to the others?”
Apple Bloom opened her mouth, trembling a bit, then she asked after a moment in a whisper: “Are they alive?”
Scrivener nodded slowly as Luna gazed down silently at the girl, and then Apple Bloom closed her eyes and murmured: “Then... then I don't right now. L-Later, I know I will, but right now I... I just want... Scarlet Sage...”
“Okay. Twilight Shadow, you need to rest too, your stitches are all coming loose and you look... well... pretty torn up.” Scrivener smiled a bit as he raised his eyes to the Lich, who nodded awkwardly after a moment, then smiled faintly when the starry-maned mare slipped forwards and nuzzled her comfortingly.
“Go and wait for us in the concubines' hall after thou art done here. 'Tis the only place on the higher floors that is relatively undamaged still.” Luna said quietly, and Twilight nodded slowly before she traded a short kiss with the fellow winged unicorn, then turned to Scrivener, and he leaned forwards to share the same gentle affection with the Lich.
“I'll... be waiting.” Twilight said softly, and the two nodded, turning and leaving with a trembling Apple Bloom to head back into Enstasis, and the violet mare closed her eyes as she whispered: “I'm so sorry I couldn't do more...”
Apple Bloom was silent during the trip through the ruined castle, but as they walked through broken corridors, past Nibelung and ponies – many of these injured – who were trying to clean up the wreckage, and servants of the night that were rushing back and forth, it seemed to sink in how much damage had been done... how many people had been hurt. The girl trembled a little at this knowledge as they made their way quietly up to their quarters, before Luna and Scrivener halted outside the door to their bedroom.
Apple Bloom looked worriedly from one to the other, and Luna smiled faintly, saying quietly: “I have failed my daughter. I cannot see her, not yet, not until I have figured out... what to say to her. She.. she rests, and is tired, but it will do her more good to see thy face than anything else in the world, I believe this firmly. Even if she does not awaken, just thy presence, thy touch...”
She closed her eyes, and Scrivener Blooms reached out, resting a claw on Apple Bloom's shoulder and squeezing it slowly as he said softly: “Don't be afraid. Go ahead, Apple Bloom... and... thank you.”
The girl was only able to nod mutely as she faced the door, then slowly pushed it open and strode inside, quietly shutting it behind herself and gazing silently towards the dusty bed. A small figure was curled up on the pillows, and Apple Bloom quietly walked forwards, trembling a little before she carefully leaned up and whispered: “Scarlet Sage? I... can you hear me? It's me... it's Apple Bloom.”
Silence... no, not quite silence. Scarlet was breathing at least, slowly, weakly, but she was alive, and that alone made the girl's heart leap before she hesitated, then finally pulled herself forwards onto the large furnishing. She sat at the edge of the bed, trembling for a moment, brushing a hoof at the blanket... and then finally she reached forwards and gently touched Scarlet's shoulder as she looked at the spill of crimson mane that still faintly smelled of ash, that had been singed shorter, darker...
Scarlet Sage shivered at the touch, half-rolling towards her... and Apple Bloom's eyes widened at the sight of her pallid, seared features as Scarlet's crimson eyes opened and stared at her with shock before she covered her face and rolled hurriedly over, whimpering and crying out: “Don't look at me!”
“S-Scarlet... oh, Scarlet, no, no...” Apple Bloom silently dropped down beside her, then she wrapped her forelimbs around her neck and hugged her tightly, not knowing what else to do... and Scarlet trembled, sobbing once before she rolled over and buried her head against Apple Bloom's chest, curling up against her tightly, clutching at her with raw, badly-burnt forelimbs and ignoring the agony in her body for the comfort of having this pony she loved so dearly here with her...
After a while, Scarlet calmed down, and Apple Bloom silently slipped beneath the covers so she could better curl up with the young mare. They rested together silently, and Scarlet's mangled wings twitched weakly as she kept her head low and eyes down, whispering in a weak voice: “I'm sorry...”
“Don't you apologize, you got nothing to be sorry for, I... I just want to help you get better. I love you, Scarlet Sage. I'm here for you. I'm not gonna abandon you, I... I was so scared when I thought... something had happened, something worse than this, that... that I... when all the soldiers got back and left the gates open, I just ran for it. I had to see you. I had to know...” Apple Bloom trembled a bit, looking down at the filly silently. “I ain't gonna abandon you. No matter what happens.”
Scarlet Sage looked silently up at her, and Apple Bloom gazed back before hugging her fiercely, tightly, the two curling close together in silence and comfort. It wasn't long before both youths were asleep, clutching one another tight, keeping each other close, and Scrivener Blooms checked on them quietly some ten minutes later before he smiled a little, then turned his eyes to Luna and nodded to her.
They left after instructing a Greater Nightmare to keep an eye on the door, and the two made their way silently out into the corridor, sharing thoughts and emotions and memories between them before Scrivener finally asked: “Do you think she'll heal?”
“For the most part. Her wings, though...” Luna closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly as she murmured: “My poor, sweet child. She was already flying, too, and doing so well, so strong, so... confident... perhaps we shall slice off Rainbow Dash's and give his wings to her.”
She gritted her teeth, looking bitterly at the floor, but when Scrivener gave her a soft look, she sighed and nodded, muttering: “Aye. For now, we shall resist the urge to... punish them. We must focus on helping the living, attending to the dead, and everything else that is required. That includes Scarlet Sage... but it will not be an easy recovery for her. Especially not once she understands that... she died, and was brought back. Once she understands that there will be changes in her, even though she lives, is alive, she is also... different now.”
Scrivener nodded slowly, and then he closed his eyes, but Luna only smiled faintly at him. “No, never think such things, my darling, my beloved. Thou did all thou could. Thou gave up much of thy strength, our strength, to save her. And I can only respect, admire, and love thee for it... besides. We have... a special resource in Kvasir as well. Scarlet Sage is a Blood Seer... the god's potent blood will strengthen her. Will strengthen us as well, aye, but first he shall make up for his misdeeds by helping us heal our poor daughter.”
“I agree.” Scrivener nodded again, grimacing a little as he shook his head and opened his mismatched eyes, looking moody before they pushed through the swinging doors into the concubine's hall, stepping onto the plush, comfortable rug and both smiling faintly at the welcome sight of Twilight Shadow resting on a large, soft cushion.
She smiled awkwardly back at them: the rest of the hall, its soft cushions, lush bedding, and various pillows and blankets, was all in disarray, but thanks in part to the heavy pillars that lined the room, it was in much better condition than most of Enstasis. Twilight finished a last stitch as the two approached where she rested on the enormous cushion like it was a neat little island of order amidst the sea of chaos the rest of the room was in, then the Lich bit through the black string with her teeth, horn glowing and holding it up in place for a moment before quickly knotting and tightening it down, saying quietly: “Good to see you two.”
With a tilt of her horn, the needle floated to a small black satchel she kept, full of different-sized sewing needles, spools of thread, and other odds and ends. She absently rolled her head as the pony and poet settled to either side of her, dropping their heads onto either shoulder, and the violet mare smiled a little as she murmured: “You two are so... perfect together.”
“Shut up, Twilight Shadow.” Luna mumbled, and Twilight laughed a little as her wings fluttered a bit, and then she reached her forelegs up and wrapped them around the two, closing her eyes and bowing her head silently against Luna's as the mare's starry mane twisted quietly upwards, tickling against the Lich and her husband. “How art thou feeling?”
“I guess... I'm still a little shell-shocked after everything that happened. Weird for me to be saying that, but...” Twilight shook her head slowly, closing her eyes with a soft sigh. “But it's true. I thought... people dying stopped bothering me. And killing... I understand sometimes you don't have a choice. But what Applejack and Rainbow Dash did, the massacre that followed, and... how she... she gloated about Scarlet Sage...”
Luna swallowed thickly, nodding slowly as Scrivener sighed softly, murmuring: “We stopped her though... we took down that war machine, and you and Celestia knocked them out and captured them. We're both still grateful that you didn't kill them.”
“I... I wanted to.” Twilight whispered, looking down and gritting her sharp teeth as her stitches over her features flexed. “I really, really wanted to. If anything showed that... we aren't friends anymore, that she's betrayed everything we all ever used to believe in... it was that. It was what she did, murdering an innocent filly because she was supposed to be evil. Just like she would have killed me, or you, or Luna. It... it was disgusting. I never, ever would have thought AJ would have been capable of that. Would have stooped so low...”
“The pressure and the war... I only hope that... Apple Bloom will not hold what we must do against us. I do not wish to poison the relationship she has with my daughter.” Luna said quietly, and Twilight nodded slowly before Luna laid down beside her, and Twilight smiled a bit, turning to curl herself down against the dark-coated mare before she felt a strange contentment as she felt Scrivener Blooms snuggle himself half-over, half-against her, his weight comforting as his head laid across the back of her neck. “Poor Apple Bloom... her family lost, imprisoned, and destroyed, and yet her heart belongs to our daughter. It is a sad story... beautiful and touching, but sad.”
Scrivener grunted in quiet agreement, and then he looked meditatively at Luna before he said finally: “Not all her family, at least. We may be able to work something out with Big Mac... he's always been reasonable. He's a good pony, and I have no urge to torture him further than he must already be suffering over what's happened.”
Twilight nodded slowly at this, adding after a moment: “I agree. We should... we should help him if we can. He's always been such a good pony, a strong pony... he'd do good here. He'd make a strong leader.”
Luna looked thoughtful, gazing down and murmuring: “Well... I suppose this is true, aye. And I cannot bear to go against one of thee, much less both of thee, and 'tis not as if I hold any serious grudge myself against Big Macintosh for what has happened. He cannot be held accountable for the actions of his younger sibling, and he did ask us to give Apple Bloom sanctuary should things grow out of hand... so aye. Very well. We shall speak to him about this.”
Twilight Shadow nodded quietly again, then she hesitated before asking softly: “I know that you two have already done everything you could, but... Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie...”
“They will recover. They will both recover, do not fear.” Luna soothed gently, smiling a little as Twilight blushed a bit. “Worry not, I do not blame thee for thy concern, and it is good to see... that thou art still who thou hast always been at heart: caring so much for thy friends, showing them such love and compassion. Never be embarrassed or ashamed of that.
“By tomorrow, we will begin a modified ritual with Pinkie Pie. We shall pact her to Pinkamena in a more-direct way than the twins are already linked. And Fluttershy we shall attend to the every need of, although I think all we can truly do is allow her to... to recover on her own. She lost one of her babies... I cannot imagine the suffering she must be enduring, even with the relief of having saved two of the children.” Luna shook her head slowly, then she nodded once and added quietly: “But we must also recover. 'Twill be useless for us to run out and try to help all these ponies if we ourselves are in no fit state to do anything but... worsen the situation. And we must rejoice in the fact that we have survived, that Enstasis still stands, and take care of business here. We shall not let sorrow overwhelm us. Not when there is work to be done, not when the moon and stars still shine so bright in the comforting darkness.”
The Lich smiled a bit at this, and Scrivener rumbled softly in agreement as he leaned past the violet mare to kiss his wife's cheek gently, Luna giving a small smile as she settled silently, comforted and strengthened by the tender presence of her husband and her trusted, beloved friend.
It took four days for the repairs at Enstasis to begin and things to start returning to normal. In that time, Luna sent soldiers and her Greater Nightmares to Ponyville, and they quickly sent message back that the remaining Children of Equestria had already disbanded and fled the village. At first, the paltry population of Ponyville was scared of what would happen to them... but as Luna's soldiers and forces first destroyed the abandoned encampments outside in the plains, then began to dismantle the defenses and military buildings inside the town walls, they became if not thankful, then at least tolerant of the presence of Luna's forces, finding them a far better alternative to New Equestria or Applejack's regime.
Help flooded in from around Equestria to see to the repairs in and around Enstasis, and Luna smiled, glad for it. She and Scrivener were determined to prove they were strong rulers, and had already sent out messages declaring the attack a failure and that the last known faction of resistance from New Equestria had been destroyed, and Ponyville rightfully reclaimed. She also dispelled the rumors that Scarlet Sage had been killed, saying firmly that her daughter was alive and well despite a cowardly attempt on her life.
Celestia was tireless as she helped tend to the wounded and with other tasks around Enstasis. She was quiet as well, however, like something was bothering her... except every night she always came to Scrivener and Luna, curling up with them tightly, pressing herself against Scrivener and seeming to relax only in the comfortable quiet of her closest family. While Scarlet Sage recovered, the poet and the starry-maned mare had set themselves up in one of the dens, simply throwing some bedding and blankets down in front of a fireplace and reminded heavily of all the days and nights in their old home they had spent with one another curled up together...
Apple Bloom stayed with Scarlet Sage, and she was a welcomed addition to Enstasis. It wasn't official, but when Luna and Scrivener had implied there was a permanent room here for her, Apple Bloom's reply hadn't been no, but instead that for now, she wanted to stay with Scarlet Sage as much as possible. So they let her: their daughter seemed so much stronger in her company, after all, smiled so much more often, and they were glad for it. She needed all the support she could get right now.
Salves, ointments, bandages and splints had been applied to the young mare, and for the last two nights they had given her a bowl of mixed blood: his own, and blood taken from Kvasir. She drank it without complaint, only wanting to know if it would help her heal... and Apple Bloom hadn't questioned it either once Scrivener had nodded.
And it was helping, but it was changing her as well, in ways that were just below the surface. Luna and Scrivy were both well-aware they had to maintain a balance, but thankfully they had both Celestia and Twilight Shadow to help with that, to let them know how much they should give her to help her heal the most while changing her the least. She was still so pure, so good, so innocent, after all... neither of her parents wanted to tarnish that.
Luna looked down moodily as she thought about this, then sighed and pushed these thoughts away as she descended heavy, dark stone steps to a steel door, flicking her horn to open it and walking through to find Scrivener Blooms already waiting for her in the dimly-lit stone passage beyond, the male smiling at her as he said quietly: “Heavy thoughts.”
“Aye. Heavy thoughts indeed, to be heavier still shortly. Let us inspect the prisoners... we shall see if Applejack and Rainbow Dash are ready to see reason, what Big Mac has pondered on since Celestia spoke to him about Apple Bloom, and... I shall finally see my brother, Sleipnir.” Luna fell silent, then she grimaced and shook her head, adding in a mutter: “And Kvasir, too, how could I forget? Pathetic god. Giving up his blood willingly gains him little leniency.”
Scrivener only smiled a little, and Luna sighed and nodded moodily as she turned down the stone corridor, walking through an open barred gate and glancing grouchily back and forth at the prison cells that lined either side of the hall. Scrivener followed behind her, ghostlike in his heavy cloak as he flicked his mane away from eyes that had finally returned to normal. Likewise, his thoughts had settled... although he couldn't help but smile as his eyes drew along Luna's leather outfit. “It's probably not a good thing where my mind goes to with you wearing that. Especially with where we are right now.”
Luna smiled a little despite herself as they continued down the hall, not saying anything in return as the hanging lanterns swayed overhead in the humid draft that whispered through the hall now and then, the swaying shadows only adding to the atmosphere. An atmosphere Scrivener took odd excitement in before they halted between a pair of occupied, locked cells, Luna and Scrivener both calmly looking to either side. “Applejack. Rainbow Dash. Art thou both feeling more cooperative today? We had heard that thou said terrible things to Celestia...”
“Nothing she didn't deserve.” Applejack retorted, grimacing and looking defiantly up: heavy manacles were locked around her limbs, holding her tightly back against the wall with her forelegs raised and her rear legs held almost together, before she leaned forwards and asked coldly: “How's your daughter doing?”
“Fine, thank you.” Scrivener said calmly, reaching up and grasping Luna's shoulder as she bristled in anger, before the poet smiled and added softly: “Your little sister is doing a great job at helping take care of her.”
Applejack snarled at this, but Rainbow Dash only chuckled dryly in the cell opposite, muttering: “Yeah, okay, probably deserved that. But Celestia deserved what we said, too... she had an obligation to us. To Equestria. And once, she exiled you, Luna, just to make sure you didn't bring about eternal night... this, this is a whole lot worse than the sun never rising again. You're going to destroy Equestria. And I wish to the Horses of Heaven that you had never come back from the moon, because if you hadn't, none of this ever would have happened.”
Scrivener only shook his head slowly at this, saying softly over his shoulder: “And I would be without my soulmate... and need I point out that apart from all the things Luna's killed and put a stop to that would have threatened countless lives and the country itself, Celestia would have blanketed the country in light so bright, blinding, and radiant that we all would have been 'cleansed' and purged long ago?”
He paused, then added in a more pointed voice: “And you, Rainbow Dash, would likely still be a mare. Luna and Twilight worked together to give you those changes you desired.”
“Hitting below the belt again, huh, Scrivy? Figures.” Rainbow muttered, shaking his head in disgust: unlike Applejack, he wasn't manacled to the wall, but a harness was locked into place over his body that wouldn't allow him to spread his wings, and several short, tight chains ran from this into secure loops in the wall: there was barely enough length to let him face them even with his rear snugly pressed into the concrete behind him, and he couldn't lower himself from a standing position whatsoever. “But if Luna wasn't around, you would be a whole lot less insane. Ever think that maybe you and Twilight were supposed to be the happy couple, and that Luna actually screwed up everything that could have been between you two?”
Scrivener looked silently, coldly towards the Pegasus, and this time it was Luna that reached up and touched his shoulder, leaning forwards and whispering quietly in his ear: “Not yet, beloved. We shall have time for revenge later.”
“Yes... yes.” Scrivener muttered, shaking his head slowly, and then he snorted in contempt and said distastefully: “I guess they're not ready to talk yet. To explain why they did what they did.”
“You know why we did what we did.” Applejack said disgustedly, and then she spat to the side with a snort and a shake of her head, muttering: “No food, no sleep, no rest, and your damn monsters always watching us... keep it coming, I dare you. You won't break me. You won't break either of us. Separate or together, Dash and I always got each other.”
“Oh, we haven't started to play yet. For now we've left you able to see each other as a courtesy, and tonight we'll send someone by with food and water, but soon you'll both know the real reason you're looking at each other's cells. Soon we'll see just how tough you are.” Scrivener said softly, a smile that was both tender and cruel spreading over his features. “Let's go, Luna. Before I get too excited and we end up starting the festivities early.”
“You don't got the balls.” Applejack hissed, but Scrivy and Luna only smiled to themselves as they turned and headed down the hall, Rainbow Dash gritting his teeth as the stallion shuddered a bit and Applejack's eyes flared with determination and delusion. “I ain't scared of you! We ain't scared, dammit!”
Her voice echoed down the corridor, but the two only ignored her as they made their way to a further cell, both of them softening a bit as they stepped in front of this and the lone occupant looked up silently from where he was sitting back in a rough bed of hay, and the red stallion glanced between them before he said quietly: “I wish you wouldn't tease my sister. She ain't well.”
“I know. We... well, we're not the best people.” Scrivener said quietly, smiling after a moment before he shook his head slowly, his eyes roving towards a metal tray with a few apples and a few slices of bread on it. “You haven't eaten.”
“Not too hungry these days. Why don't you give it to Dash and AJ?” Big Mac replied after a moment, glancing up at them, and Luna and Scrivener traded looks before the red stallion said softly: “I'd appreciate it if you did. Maybe loosen up those restraints, too... doubt the discomfort is helpin' 'em think.”
“Well, we'll have them fed, anyway.” Scrivener said after a moment, then he smiled a little. “But you eat too. We have more than enough food to go around... and you're the rare prisoner we'd actually like to keep his strength up. Mostly because... we don't want you to be a prisoner here forever, or even for much longer.”
Big Mac nodded after a moment, glancing down as he sighed quietly, murmuring: “Yup. Ain't... easy or comfortable for me to consider, though. Not with things the way they are.”
Luna and Scrivener traded a look, thoughts, emotions, and then Luna sighed a little and leaned forwards, saying quietly: “I do not say this out of spite, and I do not wish to be taken the wrong way after thou heard us say but... in all honesty, Apple Bloom could use her big brother. And I do not wish to lead her down into this dungeon to see thee... not like this, especially not with... Applejack and Rainbow Dash the way they are.”
Big Mac grimaced at this, looking apprehensively up at the two, but then he nodded again and closed his eyes, saying quietly: “Yup. Part of why this... ain't easy to think about. I need more time.”
Scrivener and Luna both nodded after a moment, and then the poet said softly: “Alright. And... until then, we'll take care of Apple Bloom like our own daughter. She... honestly is doing wonderfully with Scarlet Sage.”
“Yup.” The crimson earth pony smiled a little at this, looking up silently, and then he nodded politely to them before simply laying his head down, and Scrivener and Luna only stood for a moment longer before they both turned away, leaving the stallion to rest as they made their way along the dark stone corridor.
They turned down a connecting hall and made their way past larger cells with thick iron walls and barred windows. They were for more-dangerous subjects... and they paused in front of a cell halfway down the corridor, Luna leaning up to look through the narrow window and then smile slightly at the sight of Kvasir at the back of the room, the polymorphed god still in unicorn form, still wearing ragged, burnt clothes, and strapped tightly back into a heavy iron chair by enchanted leather restraints with complex runes sewn into them. “Our guest still seems to be comfortable, at least.”
Scrivener smiled slightly as well, then Luna closed her eyes and tapped her horn once against the smooth door, and it unlocked with a series of clicks before swinging open, Kvasir looking tiredly up as the two entered, asking in a mumble: “Already need more of my blood? Or just here to torture me?”
“Fear not, Kvasir, we are simply here to talk today.” Luna replied cordially, bowing her head as the unicorn looked miserably up at them. “We are trying to converse with all our prisoners, giving them a chance to... apologize for their wrongdoing, among other things. To give them a chance to tell us their stories. Scrivener Blooms and I are both great fans of stories.”
“But we're going to die still, aren't we?” Kvasir asked quietly, and Scrivener and Luna traded a look before the poet hesitantly nodded, and the strapped-down god smiled tiredly as he sighed quietly. “Well, I would rather be dead than caged again, anyway. Will you loosen my restraints? I don't have any plans to run... and it's not like I have anywhere to run to even if I did.”
Luna and Scrivener traded looks again, emotions, sensations... and then Scrivener strode forwards and began to undo the enchanted belts as Luna studied Kvasir curiously, saying softly: “Thou art very dignified. 'Tis very different from the god Celestia first described. The god we met ourselves at our Lunar Gala... but of course, thou wert different even at the Coronation.”
Kvasir didn't reply, only closing his eyes as the last of the belts were undone, and then he slipped carefully forwards out of the throne, dropping to his hooves with a wince and a sigh before rolling his head on his shoulders and grimacing a little in distaste. “I don't know if I should be complimented, insulted, or just humbled. I think I'm a little of all three.”
He dropped back on his haunches, rubbing slowly at his aching rear legs as he closed his eyes, and Scrivener and Luna studied the god thoughtfully before the beetroot-colored unicorn looked up and asked tiredly: “What is it? What can I answer for you, then? I... there's not much point in me resisting, after all.”
“Tell us why thou came here. Whom thy allies are, and if we should expect further retaliation for what was done in Valhalla. I wish to know beforehand if Heaven will attempt war upon me.” She paused, then looked almost amused for a moment, adding meditatively: “It is not a thing that should entertain me so but the idea does tickle me all the same. 'Tis not like I am not properly outfitted, after all... I have quite an army of demons and monsters at my beck and call.”
“I came here for the reasons I told you before, albeit I was a little rude about things.” Kvasir replied wearily, reaching up to rub slowly at his face before he smiled faintly. “And I do not think you have to worry about war from Valhalla, Brynhild... Odin's friends were not very good friends, not friends in the concept... this world is so bound by. Nor were they honorable like... like Sleipnir. Like Odin himself may have been, had I not been...”
He closed his eyes, then shook his head quickly and murmured: “I apologize. For being confused and for... what I have done. I was almost glad when I awoke in the wreckage of that monstrosity... the airship plans were never intended to be mixed with... what they did. I do not know how to explain it better, and I'm only... I suppose the word is 'amazed' by the alchemy of the zebra...”
Luna gave a wry smile at this as Scrivener rumbled, then the poet slipped in closer towards the god, making Kvasir wince as the King's horn glowed and his eyes took on a faint shimmer. Luna cocked her head towards her husband, and a moment later Scrivener muttered: “Just as I thought I could smell. You're bleeding somewhere internally.”
“The advantages of having a monster for a husband... a monster now well-versed in my magical arts.” Luna smiled wider at Scrivener, then she glanced towards Kvasir and said gently: “Rest. We shall... invite thee for a more-pleasant conversation later, and have thee better healed.”
“But I'm still going to be killed, aren't I?” Kvasir asked quietly, and Luna nodded calmly, making the god smile faintly and shake his head slowly. “I don't know if this is better or worse than when I was Valthrudnir's trophy...”
“What?” Luna and Scrivener both looked sharply at the god, who winced and leaned nervously away before Luna said slowly: “I would like thee to explain this to me. I did not think thou wert either Aesir nor Vanir... I doubted thy godhood until we tested thy blood. I am interested in thy story.”
“I'm going to be executed no matter what I do...” Kvasir murmured, more as if he was speaking to himself, disconnected from a moment as the two looked at him... and then the god closed his eyes, saying quietly: “Let us work out a deal. I would like to spend my last few days in comfort. Out of this dank, dreary place... I've spent too much time in cells in my life. I would like... a nice room, a nice bath. I have nowhere to go.... oh no, the other gods won't start war with you after you demonstrated what you were capable of, Luna, they're far more scared of you than I was, and that means they were obviously the smarter ones than me... but they have no reason to fear me, a homunculus 'god' created for Valthrudnir's ego. And they won't like that I've failed.”
He grimaced and reached up, rubbing slowly at his chest as he murmured: “And Scrivener Blooms is right. That sweet smell of death lingers around me anyway, if not because my regenerative abilities are slowing down then simply because of a growing lack of will to live. So please. One request: in return, I'll... try and be as dignified and honorable as your brother is. As... my friends are.”
He smiled a little, looking up, and Luna and Scrivener were silent before there was a quiet knock at the door behind them, and Celestia's voice said softly: “Allow me to look after the god. Mercy is a powerful force, Luna... let us show Equestria we haven't forgotten what compassion is.”
“Aye, but only if we make it clear at the same time we are not weak, and will not be swayed from our ultimate course.” Luna replied quietly without looking around, smiling a little at the ground even as Scrivener gazed upwards to smile as well at the sight of the ivory equine standing in the doorway, polished golden armor gleaming over her body. “But I take it...”
“Pinkie Pie is doing better, yes. You told me to inform you as soon as her condition was stable and it has finally stabilized. She and Pinkamena are resting now.” Celestia said softly, bowing her head politely. “We'll know how successful the process was within a few hours.”
“Good. Kvasir, it seems thou art fortunate enough to have attracted the attention of ever-present Celestia, who has a bad habit of showing up exactly when she is needed.” Luna smiled despite herself over her shoulder, then she glanced towards the unicorn god and added quietly: “Scrivener Blooms and I have come to the decision that we shall not torture thee.”
The unicorn smiled wryly, then he bowed his head and murmured a 'thank-you' before looking awkwardly up as Celestia's amethyst eyes roved to meet his own ivory irises. For a moment, they studied each other, and then the fiery-maned mare said softly: “Come with me. We'll take you to get cleaned up first and attend to your injuries.”
Kvasir bowed his head respectfully as the ivory equine turned, and he followed her silently out into the corridor as Scrivener and Luna lingered for a moment in the prison room. Then Luna smiled faintly, glancing towards the male, and his eyes met hers as he smiled back before saying softly: “I know, I know. I'm an animal. A monster.”
“But a handsome one. Come, though, I... I am stalling, delaying what I know to be inevitable, so... let us meet this final fearsome task. The task of speaking to my brother...” Luna shook her head, then finally looked up and took a slow breath, her cyan eyes glowing faintly with her sadness and determination. “I have put this off long enough.”
Scrivener followed her silently out into the hall, closing the door behind him with only a flick of his horn. Luna was already hurrying down the corridor, and yet it was clear how little she wanted to do this, how hard it was for her not to simply turn away, put it off for another day, and then another after that.
The poet followed, sending reassuring thoughts to her even as her nervousness and anger and sadness pervaded and twisted through his mind. But when they stepped through an open gate at the end of the secure hall and into another empty corridor lined with simple barred cells, Luna staggered to a halt, then trembled as she looked down the corridor to where it dead ended, and the single open yet occupied cell.
Scrivener reached up and gently squeezed her shoulder, and Luna bowed her head forwards, taking a long breath before she strode to the end of the hall, trembled, and then finally turned to look inside the empty, small cell. And Sleipnir slowly looked up, his coat still matted his old, dried blood despite the fact his bruises and wounds had already healed for the most part, his front leg crudely splinted and bandaged and already soaked through from bleeding.
Slowly, he rose his head, tattered ivy mane spilling around his shoulders, but he couldn't bring his eyes up to meet Luna's, turning his head as if to look past her shoulder as he whispered: “Little sister... it... I do not deserve to be in thy presence, but truly... does me good to see thee...”
“Sleipnir... I cannot bear to see thee so.” Luna murmured softly, closing her eyes and bowing her head silently as Scrivener quietly stepped up beside her, wrapping a comforting forelimb around her, and Sleipnir bowed his head silently, shamefully. The winged unicorn sighed softly, then she gave a faint smile, eyes still closed as she murmured: “I heard thou resisted Celestia when she tried to heal thee. Even more when she fixed thy leg.”
“I well-deserve these wounds and whatever other costs the battle has had upon myself and my foolish head. Thou and sister... thou art too kind to me.” Sleipnir replied quietly, keeping his head lowered as a tremble ran through him. “I helped in the slaughter of innocents and the murder of a filly, of my own niece. I have done more than tarnish my own honor, I have destroyed it. Oh, aye, I was so proud of myself, so sickeningly, disgustingly proud when I helped poor Kvasir mend his ways, but 'tis all too obvious now I spent too little time trying to help the pony that truly needed my aid. Applejack... I could have saved her. I could have stopped her. I could have ended all this before it truly began, then dueled Scrivener and thee upon the field of honor. Nay, I was a fool instead... I sat back, lazy and content and decadent. I am disgraced and dishonored.”
“Sleipnir, cease.” Luna said gently, sighing softly and looking up at him with a weak smile, and the earth pony shivered a little but quieted as the winged unicorn murmured: “'Tis so much harder to hate thee when I hear thee talking so, brother. My always-happy, always-lucky brother, so broken, so defeated, so lost... this is not what I ever wished to see.”
Sleipnir only chuckled weakly, however, whispering: “And never did I think I would feel so broken and beaten, my little sister, and not by any enemy but instead by myself. I cannot apologize enough to thee for what I have done. Scarlet Sage may live now, but... there is no bringing back the dead without consequence, is there? And even did she come back well and strong and healthy instead of... injured, as she was... I still helped in the events that killed her. I betrayed thee, I betrayed Celestia, I betrayed Valhalla, I betrayed... poor, poor Apple Bloom.”
He fell silent, and Luna looked up at him helplessly before she closed her eyes and murmured: “Sleipnir... I... I love thee. Thou art my big brother and even though I hurt thee and struck out at thee in rage and in battle, I still love thee with all my heart and cannot stand seeing thee like this... I... I cannot stand what I must tell thee to do.” She trembled a little, then stepped forwards and into the cell, hugging him fiercely around the neck and burying her face into his mane as the earth pony shivered and closed his eyes, bowing his head forwards. “Thou... cannot stay here forever. For a time, aye, and thou art no prisoner... the feud between us is over, and it does none of us any good for thee to spend thy time here in these dreary cells.
“But... thou cannot stay here forever. I wish thou could. I wish with all my heart, but...” Luna trembled, drawing back and resting her hooves on Sleipnir's shoulders, gazing down at him and whispering: “Thou died long ago. I still... have trouble accepting this, but this is not the place where thou belongs, especially whilst being used as a pawn in some sick game by weak-kneed gods. And Valhalla cannot be without a ruler, Sleipnir. Heaven will need a guide... dishonored or not thou cannot allow what has happened to break thee and let Valhalla fall to being ruled by... by power-hungry swine!”
“So strange to hear thou speak of such...” Sleipnir murmured, closing his eyes, but then he grimaced and nodded slowly as he slumped a bit, murmuring: “And I know... what thou says is true, aye. I cannot abandon Asgard simply to drown myself in tears but... Valhalla will stand fine for now. The halls will wait for me, the job I never wanted, but what better place for me than a cold and lonely throne now that I must lay down my weapons...” He laughed weakly, whispering: “And Kvasir used to think he was so smart... but I always had confidence that Odin would not choose an unworthy successor. Sometimes I questioned his wisdom but Father was a good person...”
Scrivener smiled faintly as Luna sighed a little, sliding herself back and silently squeezing her hooves against the male's shoulders as she looked down at him, saying softly: “It hurts me to hear thee speak so, Sleipnir. Thou art noble and pure of heart, thou wert used-”
“And it changes nothing.” Sleipnir muttered brusquely, shaking his head firmly as he gave a quiet sigh. “Used or not, I still willingly participated, knowing full-well there would be cost. There would be terror and evil. A warrior is only as good, as strong as his honor, my beloved little sister, and without honor we are not better than mercenaries and brigands. I... I am not as strong as Celestia, to be able to redeem myself and recover from my sins. Nor am I as strong as thee, to turn my darkness into something protective, something beneficial. I... I am sorry.”
He opened his eyes, finally raising them to meet Luna's, and she took his face quietly in her hooves, the two looking at one-another for the longest time in only silence. It was minutes before Sleipnir reached up and gently pushed her back, smiling faintly as he lowered his head and whispered: “And now, my fair and beloved sister, I think... thou should go. There is little we can discuss. Little I can say. Little I can do. I will... try to bring myself out of this cage but there is little I can promise in that regard... for now, my cell seems a lonely and yet comforting place. For now... I must mourn.”
“I... I understand, Sleipnir. I am sorry, but I had to see thee. To speak to thee. And... aye, I cannot say I do not blame thee, but at the same time I understand.” Luna leaned down, kissing his forehead silently before she leaned back with a small, faint smile. “I love thee, big brother. I will be waiting for when thou art ready to discuss this further. For the last days our family can spend together.”
“Aye, aye. Family...” Sleipnir smiled a little, looking up at them quietly with eyes that glimmered with lingering sorrow. “Thou hast all my love as well, little sister. And thou too, Scrivener Blooms, young brother.”
Scrivener only nodded quietly, smiling awkwardly as Luna closed her eyes and turned to stride out of the cell and down the corridor, and the poet hesitated before he turned and followed after her. They were silent as they made their way through the prison, but at the same time, Scrivener could hear Luna's silent screams, her desperation and fury and despair, all too clearly in his mind... loud enough that he was sure they must be echoing through the halls of Enstasis, soundless or not, and it made him understand all too well that this bitter aftermath would hurt just as badly as the battles they had already faced.