Chapter Forty Three: Unrequited Love
~BlackRoseRaven
There was little to be thankful for over the next few days, and often blessings were only a mask for further pain. Among these latter was finding out about Kvasir's past, finding out he could be intelligent without being rude, and enjoyable to converse with. He made no attempts to escape, or even to show off the few powers he had, and he spent much of his time sharing his knowledge and wisdom with Celestia. Yet all the same, Luna knew she couldn't permit him to walk away... and Kvasir had long accepted his fate with grace and dignity.
His final request was a last meal, to be shared not just with Luna and her close family, but also with Sleipnir, Big Mac, and if they would allow it, Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom. And in spite of all her misgivings, Luna had gone ahead and asked Scarlet Sage if she would be willing to join them for the meal with Apple Bloom, reassuring her she didn't have to stay long, and the Pegasus had.
In fact, Scarlet Sage had fearlessly approached the god, still wrapped in bandages and smelling faintly of lavender ointments, and she had thanked him quietly for helping her. The burns had faded from her face now, but her silver coat had lost much of its color, accenting her bright red mane all the more, and Kvasir had smiled faintly at her before patting her gently on the head and saying softly: “Thank you for letting me fix one of my mistakes.”
Dinner had been quiet, almost-solemn, and yet even though Sleipnir hadn't been jovial, had trouble looking around the table, he had been proud of Kvasir, burning with approval for the god, for his friend. Kvasir had held himself up well: there was no insult, no arrogance, no pleading, no wheedling... he had even honestly toasted Luna and Scrivener's success.
And the next day, the god had calmly been escorted by Celestia and Twilight out into the front courtyard of Enstasis. He had climbed the steps to the high gallows they had built without needing to be asked in front of the crowd, and Pinkamena had slipped a noose around his neck as he'd closed his eyes, looking afraid for only a moment before the vine rope had tightened around his throat, and he'd become almost serene, looking out silently as Scrivener and Luna had both stepped in front of them, crowns on their heads. He didn't see the crowd behind them... he only saw Scrivener and Luna in that brief passage of time, as they both thanked him quietly, they both embraced him for a moment, and then they stepped away as Pinkamena gave a gentle reassurance... then hit the lever at Luna's curt nod.
The trapdoor opened, Kvasir fell, the vine rope lost its slack, went taut, jerked firmly upwards, and there was a single loud snap. Hooves dangled weakly a few feet above the ground, one twitching. Eyes fluttered, mouth worked, lips curved as if to smile... eyes slid peacefully closed.
Kvasir had asked for this: a quiet, semi-private execution by hanging, saying softly that he was very well aware he wouldn't survive a broken neck, but it would preserve his body. And his words were true, as Pinkamena gently pulled the corpse down and Sleipnir and Big Mac both lowered their heads in respect and silence, staying long after the others had left. Luna and Scrivener had the corpse transported down into the dark catacomb beneath Enstasis, where Twilight Shadow and the Greater Nightmares silently drained the god's corpse of blood, cleaned him, removed the useless horn from the false unicorn, shaved his mane and cut off the tail... and then left when Pinkamena had calmly entered with a ruthless smile and a pack on her back containing a variety of knives, not even the Greater Nightmares eager to watch what happened next.
That night, Pinkamena served seasoned, delicious steak to Scrivener Blooms and Luna in a private den, and they dined peacefully as they smiled at one-another, neither repenting what they had done. In fact, they justified it: Kvasir had seemed to understand what would happen, after all, had even helped them preserve his own remains. So instead of thinking about it, the ethics, the morals, the quandaries it posed, they quietly clinked glasses of chilled red wine together over their meal and Scrivener said softly, honestly: “To Kvasir, and everything he gave to us. May he prosper in the next life.”
“He already is.” Luna replied kindly, and they had returned to their meal as Pinkamena had gladly continued to serve them. They were eventually joined by Twilight Shadow and Celestia, who Pinkamena brought food as well... but while Twilight ate with a little cajoling, Celestia only looked at the food on her plate for the longest time before simply shaking her head and quietly passing her plate to Twilight. She wouldn't argue with them, she even understood why they were doing this... but she wasn't ready to take part in such things, either.
Luna and Scrivener smiled comfortingly, though, not pushing the subject with the ivory equine, not offended by her sentiments. Instead, they turned the conversation to more-pleasant things, like Pinkie Pie being moved safely back to her quarters, and Fluttershy's slow recovery... but these too were tinged with sadness in their own way, with how depressed the Pegasus still was even as her body healed and how fiercely she cared for her surviving foals, and how Pinkie Pie was slowly trying to adapt to her new life.
Her coat had turned entirely white, thanks to the ritual, and she had a pair of beautiful, large wings now, although as promised, they hadn't given her a horn. She was taller, a bit sleeker, and even her bubbly pink mane and tail had both become a beautiful, flaxen gold; both of these were straight and smooth for the moment as she sat silently in her room, trembling and trying to adjust to her new life and new body, the bounce and joy sapped from her spirit as she tried to adapt to waking up in a new form.
Pinkamena found it bitterly ironic: once upon a time, she had claimed Pinkie Pie was just the invader, that she had always been there first, that Pinkie Pie had been the one to lock her away 'behind the mirror...' and now, here she was, trying to save the thing she'd always claimed to hate over and over again, until they had finally reached this point, where her twin was bonded to her by pact: Pinkie had been saved, but if she was ever pulled too far for too long from Pinkamena, she would die. Pinkamena's strength provided the life for both sisters: as long as Pinkamena lived, Pinkie would live. But the now-Pegasus sibling would feel the demon's injuries... it was like a one-sided version of the bond that Scrivener and Luna shared.
That brought up a moody question from Pinkamena, asking whether or not Pinkie could die, and they had told her not to test the theory because unlike Twilight Shadow, Pinkie could still very clearly feel pain and would likely not be able to piece herself back together. Besides, what the demon's sibling needed was understanding and compassion... although in response to this, Pinkamena had snorted and muttered: “Right. She's always been an angel compared to me and now she even gets to look the part. Sorry, being nice ain't my thing.”
All the same, the demon was doing everything possible to take care of her sibling, although she had several very awkward questions to answer about being a demon after Pinkie remembered seeing her twin sister out in full form. Not that Pinkamena really answered them: Pinkie's shrieks had echoed around Enstasis when Pinkamena had chased her around in demon form, shouting half-threats and mockery after her gleefully until she'd finally gotten bored, resumed her normal shape, and grumbled about the now-Pegasus being an idiot when she'd found her hiding under her bed.
The demon had a little bit of leeway for her grouchier-than-usual behavior, however: Sleipnir had quietly announced his plans to leave for Valhalla within the week, and that he would not be returning. He had to move on... and Pinkamena had seemed heartbroken. Luna had meant to speak with her brother that night... but instead, she had left him in quiet after seeing him sitting on a balcony with Pinkamena, the two looking up at the night sky as stars twinkled overhead and illuminated the sadness in their eyes. Demon and soon-to-be master of Heaven... Luna's concubine and Luna's big brother.
No one wanted to see him go: everyone knew he had to. He had done his job here, and lost everything in the process. He was studious in ensuring he said goodbye to every pony he would be leaving behind, journeying to Ponyville just to say goodbye to Cheerilee and reassure her and the other concerned villagers that Apple Bloom was happy and healthy before going back to Enstasis. Big Mac left his mostly self-imposed imprisonment to spend a few hours with the stallion, drinking, relaxing, talking, and comforting each other; Celestia, Luna, Twilight and Scrivener got their own share of the stallion's time, together and alone; when he found out Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom both wanted to see him, he gladly went to them, apologizing to them for everything again and again and sharing stories with the no-longer-fillies until he left to spend the night with Pinkamena.
They saw him off in the morning, tradings embraces, last goodbyes... and at the end, Pinkamena came forwards, hugged him, kissed him, her features gentle, beautiful, as the demon promised in a whisper: “I'll wait until Valhalla crumbles if I have to.”
“I know thou would, and I know that all the same we may never be.” Sleipnir replied quietly, stroking her face gently before he smiled kindly as Pinkamena glared up at him. “And yet I know that I could tell thee a thousand lies and a thousand reasons and push thee off the face of Midgard, and still... one day I would awaken to the halls of Valhalla burning down around my bed and thou standing there to kidnap me and carry me off forever. And I would not be able to resist.”
Pinkamena only nodded silently, their eyes locking, and then Sleipnir kissed her forehead gently and said quietly: “Thou hast my love, sweet phoenix.”
And with that, Sleipnir had simply turned and walked off down the road, as if he planned to simply let nature guide him back home as Pinkamena stared longingly after him and Pinkie Pie silently hugged her twin sister around the neck, the others sitting in a line behind them before Luna said softly: “I can release thee from being a concubine, Pinkamena, if thou wants to follow him.”
“I don't need your goddamn sympathy.” Pinkamena retorted over her shoulder, but then she smiled even as a tear rolled down her cheek, grinning slightly as she said quietly: “I ain't no little foal who needs you to throw the game just so I can feel like I won. This is for me to figure out. So stay out of it. Nosy goddamn Nightmare Moon...”
Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom were both upset that Sleipnir had left, but both glad that he was still alive... and even more, that Big Mac had decided staying in prison was pointless. He spent a lot of time with the two, sometimes reading to them, carrying Scarlet Sage so she didn't have to strain her sore body, and helping out around Enstasis where he could. He still had mixed loyalties, but at the same time, he knew he had to take care of Apple Bloom first... just as he was slowly accepting that Applejack was beyond help after they began treating him like a traitor when he visited them to try and talk some sense into them, to let them know that Apple Bloom still cared for them and that he was taking care of her.
Big Macintosh became depressed, tired, and anxious as time wore on, and his visits to Applejack were only making things worse, yet he couldn't let go. He couldn't stop trying to help her, and it was beginning to upset even Apple Bloom. And finally, after Applejack and Rainbow Dash had been imprisoned for a month, both of them gaunt and pale and yet Applejack burning with a hatred and pride that kept her terribly-vital even now, Scrivener and Luna finally hesitantly agreed to allow Big Mac and Apple Bloom to talk to her at once.
A Greater Nightmare first knocked out Rainbow Dash with a simple sleeping spell: he was family, but this needed to be between the siblings. Then older brother and little sister had quietly stood in front of Applejack's cell, looking in at her, and for a while, there was only silence as they surveyed each other.
Applejack grinned bitterly after a few minutes, looking with disgust over the two before she said harshly: “So look at what we have here? How's your new family treating you? Must be nice... all you two did was betray everything we ever stood for and gave up your souls and probably your damn bodies...”
“Applejack, look at us. This is your big brother and your baby sister you're talkin' to here. You might be mad at us but keep a civil tongue in your head.” Big Mac's voice was quiet and firm, and the goldenrod mare looked disgusted before she grimaced as he added softly: “Mom and Dad wouldn't want to see you like this. Not in prison, and even worse, goin' insane, letting this madness and anger and hate fill you all up inside. I know my sister is still in there, I seen the flashes of it... I seen it, and I wanna see her now.”
“It doesn't have to be like this. Luna and Scrivener, they... yeah, I been scared of them, I have. But they ain't what you think they are... more importantly, Scarlet Sage isn't what you think she is.” Apple Bloom pleaded, trembling as she looked up at her sibling. “Please Applejack. For my sake and for Big Mac's sake, they haven't killed you or hurt you, but... Scrivener and Luna ain't gonna hold back forever from punishing you-”
“Oh taking their side, that's real cute! Not being punished, where the hell do you think I am every day, some damn sunny vacation or buckin' apples back at the farm?” Applejack shouted, snarling and leaning forwards as a bit of foam dripped from her jaws, eyes maddened as Apple Bloom backed up a step, trembling and staring at her. “Look at me, Apple Bloom! Trussed up like nothing but an animal! I saw them, they wined and dined that bastard Kvasir and then they killed him... they warped that pathetic little weakling Sleipnir-”
“Sleipnir was not weak!” Big Mac shouted suddenly, and his voice boomed through the passage before he snarled and leaned forwards, slamming a hoof into the bars of the cell and warping them as Applejack's jaw dropped and Apple Bloom could only stare as the red earth pony's temper finally snapped. “Goddammit, Applejack! Blaming every pony but yourself for everything that's happened, and you know what? We all got our share, we all got a slice of pie, but no matter what I think of Luna or Scrivener, no matter how evil and cruel they can be, they never made a plan that targeted a child! They never thought of genocide as a feasible option, like you and your goddamn airship that would have bombed Enstasis into the ground. Where the hell is Applejack? Where the hell is my damn sister, who had more of a lick of sense in her hooves alone than you do in your whole damn body? Who knew what integrity, and dignity, and honor were, that they weren't just words, who remembered most of all of us there was more to family and love than makin' sure everypony does and thinks the same way as you do!”
He breathed hard in and out, glaring into the cell, and Applejack trembled violently, shuddering hard and breathing in and out before she whispered: “So... they really got to you...”
“I... I guess they have. And I guess if you feel that way so strongly, Applejack, there ain't no reason for me to act any different.” Big Mac said finally, and even though it was anger that burned through his body, it was the look of a broken, helpless pony that filled his eyes before he turned and dropped his head forwards, saying quietly: “Goodbye, little sister. I loved you and I tried my best for you. I'm sorry I failed you.”
With that, he strode silently away, and Apple Bloom stared helplessly after him before she looked slowly back towards Applejack... but the goldenrod mare only looked at her callously even as tears fell from her eyes, whispering: “What are you waiting for? Get out of here. Go back to your new family, I don't need you, I d-don't need any of you... you'll all be sorry, though, you mark my words... oh just watch, Apple Bloom, because to them you're nothing more than meat and I'm sure that sick son of a bitch Scrivener Blooms already has his eye on you...”
Apple Bloom shook her head weakly, staggering backwards, staring in terror up at her before she turned and bolted down the corridor, Applejack's voice yelling hoarsely after her: “You just wait! You ain't safe, and all I have to do is sit here and laugh at you traitors when those monsters turn on you! You wait and see, you wait and see!”
The young mare ran to Scarlet Sage, who was already waiting fearfully for her in her room, sensing something was wrong... and Apple Bloom almost plowed into her, crying miserably as she buried her head against her chest. She held her close for the longest time, stroking soothingly through her mane, kissing her forehead, whispering soft words to her until she calmed and looked up, whispering weakly: “Scarlet... she... I... I was so scared... and... I mean... she was... is my sister. My big sister. I got... I thought so many mean thoughts but part of me still believes her no matter what she says and wants to love her, and that makes me so scared... what... what if...”
“No, I... Mom and Dad would never hurt you, I'd never hurt you, ever, not ever.” Scarlet murmured, hugging the earth pony fiercely as she looked down into her eyes, and Apple Bloom nodded weakly as she locked gazes with the Pegasus, trusting her even now, loving her, but wanting reassurance, something more than a promise, than words...
And Scarlet Sage smiled faintly, her wings flapping nervously behind her. They were healed, but felt... strange these days. Much of her body felt strange, as a matter of fact, and while most of her body had healed with only minimal scarring left here and there, she was still drinking the elixir made from Kvasir and Scrivener's blood. Her teeth had grown sharper, her senses were enhanced, and her coat was pallid now as she grew larger... and she felt something inside her changing. It was hard to describe, and it wasn't just because she was growing up... it was something that made her worried about suggesting anything even as she and Apple Bloom looked quietly at one another.
Then the earth pony smiled a little, murmuring: “Y'always have been shy, Scarlet... but I guess it's only right that I'm the one asking, not you suggesting. We did it before, not knowing... what it would do, but I think we both know we were interrupted before... it could finish.”
“I... I'm just scared of what it'll mean, Apple Bloom. Tying you to me...” Scarlet Sage glanced down, closing her eyes as she whispered: “What if I turned... bad? What if you stopped loving me? What if...”
“Now stop that.” Apple Bloom said quietly, sitting up and looking silently across at Scarlet Sage, and the Pegasus blushed a little before the earth pony said softly: “We're already connected. We understand each other so well and care so deep... but... I ain't afraid of the future, of what it'll bring, I don't care. I just... I know what I want. I know what feels right. Sure it's big, it's huge, it's scary, but... I ain't afraid of this. I ain't afraid of you.”
Scarlet Sage smiled at this, then nodded slowly before her eyes roved silently towards a metal bowl on the table, filled with the ever-warm blood mixture she was still being given... and after a moment, the Pegasus turned towards this and quickly picking up a sharp, sharp silver knife from the table, wincing as she used this to slice into her forelimb before she held the wound out over the bowl.
Her blood dribbled down, more than a few drops spilling into the bowl, making the liquid inside swirl as if alive as this new crimson was added... and then Scarlet Sage took a slow breath, picking this up and turning towards Apple Bloom, holding the bowl towards her as the earth pony leaned back and stared in surprise before Scarlet Sage smiled faintly and said finally: “I don't know what'll happen. I don't know what it'll do. But my instincts say...”
She quieted, then offered the bowl and the earth pony took it, staring down at her reflection, feeling the metal pulsing as if with a life of its own in her hands as she breathed slowly. She thought of Luna, and Scrivener, and Big Mac, and Sleipnir, and Applejack... and then she trembled a bit, looking up as Scarlet Sage smiled faintly across at her, saying quietly: “Mom and Dad taught me... you share your power with people you care about. You give them gifts. If you love them... you protect 'em, but you also help them... protect themselves.”
Apple Bloom nodded slowly... then closed her eyes and tilted the bowl up, drinking the mixture back, terrified: but trust and love were the overwhelming emotions, letting her gulp down the terrible, warm, thick liquid. Then she gagged and dropped the bowl, grabbing at her chest before Scarlet Sage leaned forwards and pushed her hooves against her, and Apple Bloom cried out weakly as she dropped against Scarlet's chest and nestled herself close as a thousand sensations twisted through her body...
Scrivener and Luna found the two curled up on the floor together, bodies nestled snugly into one another's, the floor stained with blood spilled from the cup as a Greater Nightmare lingered over them and said nervously: “As I said, my lord and lady, I heard a commotion and then found them like this... I sense your daughter... I mean...”
“Fear not. Let us help the children into bed, and let them sleep.” Luna said quietly, shaking her head slowly, and the Greater Nightmare bowed respectfully to them before hurrying to pull the covers back as Scrivener and Luna stepped forwards, each gently lifting one of the youths as the winged unicorn said softly: “I do not entirely approve, but... I do not entirely disapprove, either. We shall ponder on this, on what has been done here, before they come to us... because most assuredly our daughter and her beloved will seek our council.”
“Apple Bloom is changing much faster than Scarlet...” Scrivener pointed out, and when Luna smiled at him as they set the children gently into bed, he nodded with a quiet laugh, murmuring: “Of course. She's a Blood Seer. Much higher constitution.”
He paused, then looked down at Apple Bloom, brushing her mane slowly back. Pretty young mare... but her coat has darkened into a richer gold, and from the grimace of pain she made when she stirred a little, he was willing to bet she would soon find herself with a new set of teeth. But she was still very pretty... and the pain, the fear, the worries, her negative emotions were all being soothed by some gentle force he could feel coming from Scarlet Sage. The two fillies were connected by blood and pact...
“We'd better go.” Scrivener said finally, and Luna nodded, smiling at him lovingly as Scrivener shook his head slowly, murmuring: “At least we already took care of Big Mac... when he comes back, things should be sorted out and he'll be in much better shape to receive this news.”
“He may even understand that it is truly a blessing.” Luna said kindly, and Scrivener smiled despite himself as she looked at him lovingly, saying softly: “Aye, he has lost a sister, but he gained new family, Scrivener. After he is Moon Blessed, he will understand this. We shall make him happy, proud and strong again... he belongs to us now. He will understand there is no greater honor than for his little sister to be connected as she is to Apple Bloom.”
And Scrivener smiled at this thought, nodding slowly in agreement as he said quietly: “True. Now we rebuild everything that was lost.”
That night, Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage came to talk to Scrivener and Luna, and Twilight Shadow excused herself to give them the feeling of privacy... even though she could easily stay aware of what was going on, and already knew the details. She smiled to herself as she walked quietly through the halls of Enstasis, wanting to give the young girls their security all the same, however, at least until they were ready to talk about it.
“But I don't think they'll take it too badly. Sure, it's hard at first to get used to a new-you, but... Apple Bloom didn't look too afraid. Then again, for now the changes are pretty minor... after they really start becoming adults...” Twilight mused to herself, looking down thoughtfully as she walked through he halls, then she blushed a little when a Nibelung gave her an odd look. “Uh. Sorry. Just. Thinking out loud.”
She hurried onwards, heading quickly through the corridors until she finally stepped out through the open double doors and into the night air of the courtyard, taking a long breath and gazing upwards with a smile. Enstasis was still being repaired after the assault on it a month ago and the skeletal frameworks of scaffolding, support structures, and pulley systems added a strange, almost fantastic sense to the slight of them outlined against the stars and resting here and there throughout the building, like they were only actors in some movie... a movie Twilight direly hoped had a happy ending.
She quietly strode through the grasses, glancing silently at the gallows: the noose had been taken down, but the stage still stood ominous guard, the trapdoor closed and the lever gleaming in the light... and then she looked up sharply as she realized there was a figure reclining on the edge of the tall structure, kicking his legs gently as he leaned back and stared up at the stairs, saying in a soft, calm voice: “Gallows, noun. A stage for the performance of miracle plays, in which the leading actor is translated to Valhalla. In this country the gallows is chiefly remarkable for the number of ponies that escape it. But I fear that may be an outdated definition from a dictionary I'm sure that Scrivener Blooms has a copy of somewhere... but I suppose you can't really blame the accountant downstairs for everything. There was no foolish old stallion to trick this time, after all... and our dear friend Kvasir was much more martyr than Tony ever was, Imaginarium or not.”
Twilight Shadow looked silently up at Discombobulation, who smiled back down at her as he knitted his fingers and talons together in his lap, saying softly: “So I've come back, Twilight, for a little while anyway. Now that everything's over... what a hectic time this year has been! Why, I wasn't even to keep up with any of my favorite television shows, or respond to any emails. Not that I ever get many, mind you... mostly silly advertisements. But mostly, I'd just like to put my feet up for as long as they demand rest.”
“We could have used your help here. And... I missed you. A lot.” Twilight said finally, and she sat back as Discombobulation looked down at her softly. “You're a friend. I lost a few friends this last while... made some, sure, but... lost some, too.”
“Balance in all things, Twilight Sparkle... balance in all things.” Discombobulation paused, then he slipped off the gallows and smiled as he landed in front of her, gazing down at her kindly as he said softly: “You should be thankful for losing those friends of yours, cruel as it must sound. But pain teaches us much more than pleasure... I'm willing to bet that you appreciate all the more those around you who are true to you and yours, yes? But perhaps I'm just being prickly, like a cactus. Trying to comfort with a hug but instead giving you quite some nasty scratches.”
Twilight smiled faintly, looking up at the Draconequus and replying quietly: “My name is... Twilight Shadow now.”
“Don't be silly now, Twilight Sparkle. I can call myself Snickerdoodle but that doesn't make it my name, not does it make me a candy bar.” Discombobulation said mildly, flicking a wrist before he meditatively rubbed at his chin. “I think that's what a Snickerdoodle is. I'm not entirely sure now that I think about it. Very well, I can call myself a lollipop but that doesn't mean sucking on me will give you a sugar rush.” A pause, and then he cleared his throat. “That did not come out quite correct either.”
The Lich only shook her head slowly, however, laughing a bit as she glanced up at him quietly. “Well, a lot's changed. Come inside, we'll talk about it.”
“Inside, outside, it's all the same.” Discombobulation shrugged, sighing softly as he gazed up thoughtfully at the sky above. “But I did quite like wandering... and I might be tempted to go on another pilgrimage again shortly. I will be honest, my friend... I have kept an eye and an ear and very rarely a nose or finger on what's been happening here, and it does not... entirely agree with me. I am a creature of chaos, after all... of the neutral, of the... shadow, if you will allow me to make a half-pun, half-flattery, and entirely-unrelated-to-you remark.”
The chimerical creature bowed politely to her, then he straightened and continued softly: “But suffocating darkness is as unappealing to me as blinding light. And this castle is blanketed in darkness... darkness with rules, and laws and secrets, and... well, other things that make me rather concerned. Bad things. Dangerous things. Oh, it's not that I'm unwilling to give it a try, but much like certain things... chocolate pudding, for example... I know very well before I try it there's no way I'll like it.”
“I've seen you eat chocolate pudding before.” Twilight said mildly, and Discombobulation gave her a pointed look, and the Lich sighed a little and lowered her head before she gritted her teeth, then she looked up and said quietly: “I don't want you to go. I don't want you to... get here just to leave again, it's been more than a year...”
“But I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date, and if I don't get there in time it may well be off with my head.” Discombobulation replied seriously, then he reached up and almost gently pushed on the side of his own head, knocking it rolling off the end of his neck. It flipped over in midair, and he caught it easily in his eagle talon, holding his upside-down head up towards her as she said kindly: “Madness comes and madness goes, after all. The only truth of the matter is that you can't go home again, just like the poet said.”
“I'm never away from my home, Discombobulation. My home isn't a place, a city, a country. It's with the people I love, my family. My trusted friends.” Twilight replied empathetically, and Discombobulation bobbed his head in an awkward upside-down nod before he tossed it easily upwards, and it landed neatly back in place on the end of his neck as if it had never been removed. “You... you understand that your home is with us, right? That you're still our friend, right?”
Discombobulation smiled softly at this, reaching up to touch his own chest and saying softly: “That may very well always be true, Twilight Sparkle, and I appreciate it from the depths of my heart, I do... but all the same, look at this.”
He reached forwards, quietly tapping against the stitches on her face, and Twilight blushed a bit as each stitch made a sound like a piano key as he tapped his fingers against them, playing a slow, sad melody as he said softly: “A pretty pony who died to impress and bind herself to the people she loved, losing bits and pieces of herself in the process, making her conscience as faded as an old oil painting. Who was killed, in fact, by the very people she loved and admired so; a King and Queen who think themselves about the rest of the world, and far be it from me to lay judgment upon them for thinking and declaring that because yes, yes, they are. I agree that they are stronger than us, perhaps even that they are superior beings... but does one being superior mean the other must be inferior? If it's true, then aren't all newborns worthless? Why, all they do is eat and poop and cry and make other ponies socially awkward when parents ask them to tell them what they think of their baby.”
He paused, then brushed his fingers along her stitching, playing out an entire scale before drawing his hand away and sighing softly. “Coldly, cruelly, logically, babies are worthless and are an unsound investment unless you have tutors, mentors, and a whip to mold that little lump of clay into a work of art who, as an adult, will benefit society as a whole in some way and not just flop his way through school to spend his nights getting drunk and his days working as nothing but a spinning cog in a broken machine. But that's exactly what I like about ponies: whether they are raised as machines for the best possible outcome or by mister-two-point-five-kids-Average-Joe or by slovenly slops and his limp dishrag, logic doesn't mean squat. Logically, Twilight Sparkle, we shouldn't be here. This makes no sense. This was not the way the story was supposed to go and when it's all over it'll probably turn out to be nothing but a midsummer night's dream.”
He fell silent, looking down and closing his eyes as he rubbed his hands together almost nervously for a moment, then said gently, quietly: “Every fiber of my being tells me that staying here would not be beneficial to my health. You see, chaos and logic are opposites, Twilight, but so many opposites run parallel to one-another, so many extremes run so quickly, so violently in the opposing direction to one another that they go all the way around the world and crash headlong at the same destination. What Scrivener Blooms and Luna are doing here... I smell trouble on the horizon, like wet dog... except instead of wet with water it's wet with fire.”
“Then stay. Help us. They listen to you, we listen to you.” Twilight pleaded, stepping forwards, and Discombobulation winced a little, raising his hands and stepping backwards. “Just see for yourself, things... things aren't that bad, don't have to be that bad! Scrivy and Luna are so strong, so... so wonderful, if only people would take the time to look and see...”
“Yes, yes. The same thing has been said about many political-social-religious movements throughout history. They all have a tendency to end up the same way, though, with a lot of gas... and I don't mean fart jokes.” Discombobulation said mildly, holding up a finger, and then he sighed a little as he looked moodily over the face of Enstasis, saying softly: “But I can stay for a little while, maybe a few hours, maybe a few days. See the sights, pretend I'm a tourist. Many tourists visit dictatorships, war-torn countries, lawless places... why, I'm quite certain that if you had a tour bus to Helheim, it'd be full within the week. See the screaming sinners, smell the ice-roasted flesh, and-”
“I don't want you leaving again.” Twilight Shadow interrupted quietly but firmly, looking up at the Draconequus, and now Discombobulation frowned a little as he looked down at her, tilting his head slightly before the Lich smiled faintly as her horn began to glow. “Sorry.”
She snapped her horn suddenly, firmly upwards, and Discombobulation winced and stepped back as he quickly rose an arm almost too late in front of his face, a blast of blue and purple lightning hammering into this and sending him staggering backwards with a curse as shocks rippled through his entire form. Then Twilight Shadow winced and stumbled backwards, magical recoil twisting through the Lich's form before she looked coldly, calmly up at him as Discombobulation rose his arm... and then simply stared stupidly.
A band of gold had formed around his arm, and Discombobulation frowned as he clawed at this with his talon, then snapped his fingers... and cursed in shock as electricity ripped over his body instead of the armlet vanishing, staggering backwards and looking stunned before Twilight said quietly: “I'm sorry. But I don't want to lose another friend, I don't want you running away... and I guess... I missed that connection we used to have. Knowing you were always there... well, this way, you can always be there again. You can wander across Equestria, but you'll know when I call... and you'll come if I order you to.”
She looked up, and her eyes were sorrowful, resolute, and unapologetic all at once, and Discombobulation shook his head weakly before he touched the golden band and then stared disbelievingly at the Lich. “You... this is an enslavement enchantment.”
“And only myself, Luna, or Scrivener will be able to remove it... well, magically, at least. Physically... you'd have to cut your arm off. I know how your magic works, Bob, I've had a long time to study it because I was always scared it would come to this... but I don't want to lose any more friends. And I don't want you running away... you're not a coward, you don't need to be a coward.” Twilight said softly, closing her eyes and lowering her head forwards. “Please don't... cut it off, though. I'd chase you through all of Equestria.”
“I feel both horrified and touched. This is what being a wanted criminal must feel like.” Discombobulation said quietly, still staring at the simple-looking armlet of gold... the armlet that would serve as a beacon to Twilight if he did try to run away, and... “I suppose if I disobey you, you can punish me through this as well?”
“But I never would. I never would, not unless you tried to run away.” Twilight said empathetically, stepping forwards and gazing up at him pleadingly. “Please understand, I'm doing this for your own good, so you'll stop and see that everything's okay here, and everything is going to be okay. I missed you, we all missed you, we wondered where you were and... after losing Applejack and Rainbow Dash, knowing what's going to happen to them... I just can't stand the thought of losing you too. Because you're right. Losing friends did make me understand and cherish those who I still have here all the more.”
Twilight stepped forwards, leaning up and hugging him tightly around the waist, and the Draconequus only looked mutely down at her as the Lich murmured softly against him: “Be yourself. But be here, too. That's all I want and all I ask. And one day, after you understand, I'll take the enchantment off. I'll even let you go on little trips for a week or so here or there, but otherwise I need you here. We need you here. You're our friend.”
“Friend...” Discombobulation laughed shortly, then he closed his eyes and whispered: “More like fool. I... well, Twilight Shadow, I wish we had met under pleasant circumstances. I understand that you're the successor to Twilight Sparkle, then?”
The Lich smiled faintly as she drew back, looking quietly up at him and replying softly: “I didn't want to resort to this either, honestly. And I am... different, yes. I am Twilight Shadow, and that's more than just... a surface change. No... no pun intended.”
She smiled again up at the chimerical creature, but Discombobulation only looked silently down at her, rubbing slowly at the golden armlet before she closed her eyes and murmured: “I got scared. I panicked, and... I guess that mixed up with this... well, I guess I have Luna's assertiveness and Scrivener's control issues, since... I'm bound to them and all. I know I've become... more like them, and they encourage me and help me evolve... but I do still make mistakes sometimes. I thought the undead were emotionless... I didn't understand until now that... how much I feel.”
Twilight Shadow stepped back hesitantly, then she shook her head before smiling and flicking her horn, and the golden manacle around Discombobulation's arm glowed faintly before becoming invisible. The Draconequus looked moodily down at his limb, still able to feel out the shape of it with his eagle talon as he muttered: “If you're having undead problems, I feel bad for you hon, I've got ninety-nine problems but being a Lich ain't one.”
The violet mare only sighed at this, then she shook her head and turned, saying finally: “Come on inside. Let's go talk to Scrivener and Luna and the others, you'll feel better when you settle in here.”
“I feel like saying 'no' just to be as troublesome and sulky as possible.” Discombobulation mumbled, but he sighed and lowered his head, following and closing his eyes tightly as he fell into step behind her, and she gazed over her shoulder at him softly as he grumbled: “But I also have no wish to indulge either your apparent interests in bondage and electrical play.”
“Come on, it's... it's not that bad. I just need you not to go running across Equestria. You aren't a slave, you still have a lot of freedom, you'll be allowed to wander... but I needed a way to track you, to... to make sure you didn't vanish for another year again. You're very important to me. This will help me keep you safe.” Twilight replied soothingly, and then she grimaced with Discombobulation blew a loud raspberry at her, crossing his arms grumpily... but what hurt more was the way he was looking at her like she was a stranger, as she said in a harsher voice than intended: “Look, it's not as bad as when we first met, is it? You were a literal slave to me then!”
“Was I truly? When I was given to you – or rather, Twilight Sparkle – by Discord's little prank, I had to listen to her every order, her every thought, her every command, but it was not she who enslaved me, and nor was it Discord: I enslaved myself to her, insulted by the fact she was honestly offering me freedom from the first moment I stepped into her life. I served her, but I never once slaved for her.” Discombobulation retorted moodily. “I may have been called a slave, but did that make me a slave? Did we not just discuss the fact that names have as much influence on the state of an object as a caterpillar influences a mountain by its climb?
“And now, Twilight Shadow, the first thing you tell me is that you want me to act like I am free. To speak freely, dance around freely, use my powers freely, and that you will let me travel freely within reason, but I am chaos; what is reason to chaos?” Discombobulation snorted and looked up at the ceiling with a grumble, gritting his teeth for a moment before he continued sharply: “You aren't honestly offering me freedom. You threw me in chains, and then you tell me, 'just pretend the chains aren't there,' and I cannot think of a more atrocious enslavement than that!”
Twilight was silent... and then she turned her head forwards, closing her eyes as she said softly: “You just need time to think. To understand that I mean what I said, all I want is to help you and keep an eye on you and to make sure you don't run away like a coward again. Because, Discombobulation, if I really didn't care about you, didn't want to be your friend instead of your master, and wanted to put that manacle to full use, I could just as easily drain your powers or use it to hurt you, now couldn't I?”
“Watch out, we got a badass over here!” Discombobulation rose his hands and waved them violently, and Twilight Shadow glared over her shoulder at him, her eyes flashing dangerously as the Draconequus said moodily: “I don't like you as much as I liked Twilight Sparkle. And I have a bad feeling you're not going to grow on me like the demon did.”
“Fine, then just go away and we'll talk about this later!” Twilight snapped, and Discombobulation winced a bit as he stumbled backwards, the Lich rounding on him furiously as the stitches over her features pulsed. “I'm trying to help you! Look at you, you're weak enough that a binding spell can lock you down and hurt you... whether your strength recovered or not, you're still weaker than you used to be and I can tell Fafnir's energy is still hurting you after all this time! How the hell else am I supposed to help you when you... you... y-you just deflect or run away...”
Twilight shivered, clenching her eyes shut and bowing her head forwards, and Discombobulation stood silently for a moment in front of her, raising a hand as his jaw worked before he sighed a little and said quietly: “War is peace. Slavery is freedom. Ignorance is strength. No matter how often you repeat these things, no matter how you train society into believing them, at the end of the day something will always happen to trigger an epiphany: that no, all this can lead to is dystopia and destruction. Not disharmony: destruction. Why? Because of course, these concepts will eventually lead to the ultimate, infallible logical conclusion that so many fallen heroes have come to: the only answer to all problems is death. Because the dead cannot be hurt, cannot be made sad, cannot argue, cannot fight, cannot experience all the sorrows and pains the living do. Nor can they experience the joys or meaning in life, but that is easy to rebut, isn't it? The dead have no need for that. The dead are beyond such silly things. The dead are experiencing nirvana: the blissful oblivion.
“But you used to be smarter than that, Twilight Sparkle, to fall for such a deadly and alluring argument, and I think even now you are too. Because you're dead, and yet illogically you insist on continuing to feel, to think, to love. You died... to feel alive. You smote logic with mad heroine passion and knocked it flat on its ass, and that is what makes it hurt so much to see you...” Discombobulation closed his eyes, slowing reaching up to touch his own chest before he nodded solemnly once. “Very well. I'll stay here with you. But because you need me... and angry or not, I am still your friend. Also, in spite of being very upset with you I'm all the same rather impressed you pulled off such a high-level spell. I feel like someone who set up camp in a thought-invulnerable position and ended up getting taken out by a knife thrown from across the map by some very-fortunate or very-obsessed nerd.”
He paused meditatively, then looked down at his arm and shook his head slowly before glancing up at Twilight as the Lich looked up at him silently, smiling faintly as she whispered: “I don't mind when you call me that. But I am Twilight Shadow now.”
“I hope that you learn one day you can be both. Like that guy who dresses up in the bat costume with all the gadgets by night but is a millionaire philanthropist by day. One may be a psychotic crusader who regularly pummels people to the point of senselessness and on occasion goes a little too far, but the other usually does well in making up for his alter ego's transgressions.” Discombobulation paused meditatively. “I meant billionaire. Millionaires are so last year.”
Then the Draconequus straightened, put his hands together, and bowed politely before he vanished in a burst of white smoke, his voice echoing quietly around her: “Be careful how hard and how far you run to impress them, Twilight Shadow, to be more like them. You of all ponies should know... Scrivener Blooms and Luna are very fond of each other, but not always particularly fond of themselves.”
Then he was gone, and Twilight was left sitting silently in front of the doors leading into the garden by herself, her head bowed, her eyes closed, unsure of what to say or even what to do. She sat there for almost twenty minutes, her thoughts racing, wondering what she had just done, why she had lashed out so badly, how much she had put at risk... and most of all, whether or not she should trust his words or if he was just sowing further confusion on instinct or by chaotic accident. Yet she knew either way there was always a message in his words, a method to his madness, and she didn't think she'd ever heard him lie... misdirect, twist the truth, spread gossip and rumor, certainly, but never outright lie...
But finally, the doors behind her opened, revealing Luna, smiling and gentle even in her leathers, and Scrivener Blooms was behind her at full Tyrant Wyrm size, leaning his head forwards and gazing down at her with such affection in those luminescent sapphire eyes. The Lich smiled awkwardly at them in return, and Luna shook her head slowly before she said soothingly: “Come, Twilight. Thou art troubled: tell us what preys upon thou so.”
And Twilight Shadow smiled a bit, nodding slowly as she gladly strode into the Garden, embracing Luna firmly before heading towards the Tyrant Wyrm with absolute trust and adoration in her eyes. No matter what, she trusted them most in all the world, after all. Her friends, her other family were important... but Scrivener and Luna were her life, literally and figuratively, and she was content with that. Glorified in it even, and was eager to share with them, to know what they had to say, to think...
Above, Discombobulation watched from the balcony, leaning over it moodily as he rubbed absently at the invisible manacle clasped tight around his orange-furred limb, and he closed his eyes as he murmured softly: “No matter how wrong or right it is... I can't help but admire it. I only hope, Twilight Sparkle, that you remember how important you were to Luna and Scrivener... because Twilight Shadow seems content to let them eclipse her better judgment entirely.”
With that, the Draconequus leaned back, then shook his head slowly as he vanished from sight to find a comfortable pocket of empty space amidst the pall of all-covering darkness he felt growing over Enstasis.