Chapter Forty Eight: Chivalry's Dead
~BlackRoseRaven
Ponyville was bustling with energy as Nightmare Night deepened and ripened: it was that magic hour, when the darkness had taken over completely but all the foals were still awake and gathering candy happily from all the homes and ponies they could find. Luna had settled enough to at least allow Antares and Avalon to go from house-to-house without scaring too many ponies, and they had been shortly joined by Meadowlark and her parents, who Luna had quickly scolded for not wearing any costumes.
Sleipnir and Pinkamena were following along as Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched with visible relief how Avalon had calmed down now that she understood what was going on. She plainly hated her costume still, and became grouchy whenever ponies tried to squeeze her or called her cute, but her candy bucket was quickly getting filled with treats and this was very clearly putting her in a much more pleasant mood.
Sleipnir had already tried to get candy as well, but few houses would give the giant stallion in his awkward Celestia costume anything but disbelieving stares. So far, he had manged a grand total of one lollipop from an old grandmotherly type who had likely been too blind to see he wasn't a giant foal. He had greedily shoved this in his mouth and sucked on it for all of five seconds before Pinkamena had yanked him down, kissed him firmly as the other ponies stared... and then drawn away with a grin on her face and the lollipop now in her mouth.
It had taken the earth pony a few moments to understand what had just happened, and his giggling had gone to an outraged 'Hey!' before Pinkamena had chewed up the hard candy, papery stem and all, and swallowed it down, much to the stallion's chagrin. Luna felt this had only made the night all the better, however, laughing... and clearly delighted to be in the presence of friends and family as they made their rounds, Twilight and Scrivener trying their best not to encourage her too much.
Other ponies were attending to other tasks around Ponyville as well, keeping the festivities running: Pinkie Pie was overseeing things in town square, Big Mac was helping with the games, and Fluttershy was leading a herd of Phooka around to the delight and amazement of the kids. Even a few demons were helping out, like Hevatica: the Kelpie was singing short songs in her alluring voice to the delight of foals in one corner of the square, looking over them all with deep, maternal adoration.
Foals smiled as they ran back and forth, and even the adults seemed to be enjoying the festivities as well as the joys of the children. The square was packed with ponies, and Vinyl Scratch and several other ponies were on the stage, prepping to begin another short show before it got too late.
Mac glanced up through the crowd as he lounged back, by the wooden tub of water as foals bobbed for apples and a gray Pegasus with bright, crossed eyes eagerly waited her turn. Mac smiled a little over at her, and she caught his gaze before he gave her a nod, and she blushed a little, pawing a hoof at the ground before he looked ahead... then Big Mac frowned curiously at the sight of a large mare striding slowly through the crowd. It was the hat that gave her away, despite the dust and strange costume she had put on: the worn, rugged cowboy hat and the way her tail was braided, except he thought she had tied the braid off with Apple Bloom's bow... “Applejack? When'd you change your costume?”
The mare halted, then turned towards him, keeping her head bowed as she approached him. Heavy iron chains clanked around her forelimbs and some kind of strange, circular device rested across her back: it looked like something from Cowlick's lab, strapped tightly down onto her. There was a vest over her body, and Big Mac's eyes widened as even before she looked up, he realized that she was as big as him, if not bigger. “You're not-”
Her head snapped upwards and silenced him as he looked down with shock into fierce orange irises surrounded by terrible scarring, and then a hoof slammed into his throat as the pony rose itself up on its hind hooves. He gargled as she lifted him easily above her head, eyes wide with shock as he grabbed at the chain-wrapped foreleg... and realized with horror that unlike the rest of her visible body, it wasn't dirt-streaked, bruised goldenrod, but bright red, front limbs just a little too large for her body beneath the countless bands of chains wrapped around them as she asked coldly: “Where's Brynhild?”
Big Mac gritted his teeth, turning his head away before he brought both rear legs up and slammed a savage kick outwards... but in a lightning movement, her other foreleg rose up, blocking both hooves and only making the chains covering the limb rattle loudly. Big Mac's eyes widened in horror as he felt her pushing back against his powerful lower limbs before she grinned widely at him. “Not bad! How about this?”
She shoved his legs hard back and tossed him easily into the air, and Big Mac flailed for a moment helplessly before she slammed a hoof into his stomach. It felt like being hit by a wrecking ball, the enormous red stallion shooting backwards as ponies yelled in shock and surprise before Big Mac crashed into the stage hard enough to shatter wood like glass, falling in an unconscious heap as blood dripped from his jaws and the powerful Clockwork Pony dropped back to all fours, looking back and forth as she shouted furiously: “Brynhild! Come out, come out, wherever you are! Don't make me lose my temper!”
The monstrous pony glared back and forth as ponies scattered and staggered away from her, but a few only stood and gaped before the invader snarled at them, then reached out and seized the tub of water, shouting angrily: “It ain't polite to stare!”
She flung the tub at a group of ponies as if it was as light as a frisbee, sending it hurtling violently through the air before Pinkie Pie collided with one of the ponies on the far side and tackled them flat like dominoes, only a moment before the tub shot past and smashed into a lamppost with enough force to explode into fragments of wood and knock the post into an L-shape that slowly toppled onto its side.
The invader snorted, then spat to the side before grinning viciously and looking over her shoulder when a voice roared at her: “And what wretched monster dares to attack tonight of all nights? Who wishes so badly for death?”
“Well, if it ain't just who I been lookin' for, and a whole bunch of other piles of horseapples!” The creature's orange eyes burned in its scarred sockets as it grinned callously, watching as Luna, Scrivener, Sleipnir, and Pinkamena charged towards her, two still polymorphed, one in his odd, awkward costume. Others were following behind, but the pony only licked its lips eagerly before suddenly spinning when Sleipnir tried to tackle her.
A hoof smashed into his face, cracking his skull and knocking him crashing backwards into Pinkamena, who cursed in shock as she tried to catch him and still found herself slammed off her hooves, both of them rolling violently as Luna leapt forwards in Nightmare Moon shape and Scrivener attempted to flank in from the side... but the monstrous pony nimbly spun on its front hooves, using them as an axle to slam viciously slam a double-kick into Scrivener's side, the polymorphed stallion feeling his ribs shattering as he was knocked flying a good twenty feet away, and Luna gasped in agony, her eyes bulging before she quickly spread her wings and flapped them hard, retreating to land beside her husband unevenly.
She shook herself quickly out, cursing weakly before she flicked her horn hard, and the shape of Nightmare Moon vanished from around her in a burst of light, leaving her back in her natural form. Applejack was circling around towards Big Mac, Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage already by the fallen earth pony stallion, and Pinkamena was shaking Sleipnir as Pinkie Pie trembled beside her. Fluttershy was staring in horror with the herd of Phooka, and Twilight was rushing with Antares and Avalon towards Rarity and Spike.
“Stay back from her!” Luna shouted in a rasping voice when Rainbow Dash snarled, and the Pegasus halted in midair, wincing but then nodding shortly, and Luna breathed hard as she looked at Scrivener as the half-wyrm, half-pony slowly hauled himself up to hooves and claw, the winged unicorn muttering: “She must be as strong as Sleipnir...”
“I am Valor of the Hexad, the Enforcer of Rules!” Valor glared at them challengingly, and then she dropped herself into a ready position before she shouted: “I'm here for your head, Luna Brynhild!”
“Would thou not prefer some suffering instead?” Luna shouted back as her horn glowed, and then she snapped it upwards, a blast of lightning shooting down from the skies... but Valor only grinned as the lightning was deflected before it could hit her body, Luna's eyes widening in shock as it harmlessly struck into the ground around the Clockwork Pony. “Impossible!”
“Don't think I'm like Delight, some weak pushover... I got all my bases covered.” Valor retorted, and then her eyes sharpened as she grinned wider and rolled her shoulders, the chains clinking and clanking before she flicked her forelegs lightly, and there was a heavy thud as the ends of the chain slipped free from where they had been hooked into the wrapped links: both lengths ended in deadly, dangerous hooks.
Valor swung a hoof back, yanking the now-slack chain into the air before she roared as she stepped forwards and swung her hoof out, and the chain shot forwards like a striking cobra, whipping through the air towards Luna as both she and Scrivener Blooms leapt out of the way to either side. The surprisingly-long chain snapped past before Valor snarled as she dragged her leg to the side, and Luna ducked low with a wince as the thick iron links and cruel hook snapped over her head in a wide lash, other ponies yelling and hurrying out of the way even as Nibelung guards charged into the area.
Luna's eyes widened in horror as she caught sight of Valor's bare, exposed foreleg, now that the chain was completely unwrapped from around it: parts of it were raw, with chain link fused in a spiraling pattern from above the hoof all the way to the shoulder, where it seemed almost to be growing out of her, wrapped in bare strings of muscle. And horribly, it looked as if the foreleg had been stitched onto her body and secured with massive surgical staples, Luna hissing in disgust before her eyes widened when several Nibelung tried to run forwards when the length of chain snapped back over Valor's head. “No!”
Valor laughed as she spun the chain in a cruel helicopter, and the charging dwarves couldn't get out of the way fast enough before the iron chain ripped through them like a knife slicing through a paper doll. They fell in halves and pieces before Valor's eyes flicked over her shoulder, and she spun around before slamming the extended chain cruelly downwards towards Applejack and prone Big Mac-
Twilight leapt in front of them, her horn glowing brightly as she flicked it upwards and created a shield of violet energy, and the chain cracked this like glass but bounced off. Valor staggered, and Pinkamena snarled as she leapt immediately forwards, her eyes blazing, but Valor only glared at her and snapped: “No you don't!”
She flicked her other foreleg out, hurling the other claw-tipped chain towards her, and Pinkamena gritted her teeth as she skidded to a halt, yanking her head back before grinning when the chain went taut just in front of her, feeling the force of the wind blowing off it before she seized the chain and tried to pull. Valor only snorted, however, flicking the chain and making Pinkamena stagger, while warding off other possible attackers by spinning the other chain in a rapid helicopter spin around her as she stood back on her rear hooves, shouting furiously: “Don't have patience to play with little kids!”
She flicked the caught chain lightly several times, making a wave grow through it, Pinkamena cursing as the chain seesawed almost gently up and down in her grip before Valor whiplashed the links savagely, and the demon was buffeted backwards when the chain suddenly straightened out and smashed up into her like a cannonball. She was sent hurtling away, ripping through one of the cloth spiderwebs before hitting the ground and skidding painfully on her back another ten or so feet, and Cowlick winced at the sight of this before cursing when both Twilight and Luna fired spells of flame and lightning at the Clockwork Pony, but both again dissipated uselessly before they could hit. “Dammit, uh... Ross, and hey, Rainbow! Gimme a hoof!”
Rainbow winced, but nodded and turned as hyperventilating, panicking Ross spun around to scurry rapidly after the earth pony engineer, Cowlick quickly looking up at the Pegasus stallion and snapping: “Fly ahead to the warehouse and hope that Greece is still there! We need gear that can actually hit that monster!”
Luna gritted her teeth as she flicked her horn, the earth around Valor cracking and then erupting upwards... but again, there was a glow, a pulse of light before the deadly spikes of rock that should have torn into the pony were deflected off to the sides, as Valor let the chains fall to the ground around it with a wide, savage grin. “That the best you got?”
Scrivener breathed hard, looking quickly back and forth and taking in their surroundings: the Nibelung couldn't attack, so instead of trying to intervene or interfere, they were trying to get civilians out of the square. Big Mac was being carried away by Applejack, and Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage were trying to get other ponies away from the area. Cowlick had led off Rainbow and Ross, and Scrivener just hoped that the crazy engineer had some plan in mind as Twilight tried to stay at Valor's back, waiting for a signal, an opening, anything, as the Clockwork Pony taunted: “Is this really the best all of you can do? Come on, come and get me!”
Luna snarled, then she leapt into the air as she gave Scrivener a sharp mental order, and the half-pony nodded as he set himself, focusing on the Clockwork Pony. Valor grinned savagely as Luna shot towards her, snapping a chain up and outwards, but Luna evaded it with ease before doing a barrel roll quickly overtop a second hard lash.
And as she dove in, Valor began to sweep up the other chain in a subtle behind-the-back gesture, snapping the coils of links upwards as Scrivener's eyes widened and he gave the mental warning to Luna... and immediately, she cursed before flying sharply upwards, almost lunging straight up as Valor snarled and lashed the second chain out in a straight, thrusting attack that just missed Luna's hooves. The first chain spun in a vicious helicopter, but Luna twisted her body upwards, just evading this before diving straight down-
“Stupid crowbait!” Valor snapped both her chains to the side, letting them go limp as she reared back on her hind legs and swung a front hoof out in a vicious hook, and Luna and Scrivener both registered this too late before the hoof smashed into the winged unicorn and knocked her rocketing across the area. She crashed to the ground and skidded painfully over her back, one of her wings crumpling beneath her as she howled in pain and Scrivener's eyes bulged in horror and agony at the power packed behind Valor's blow, even as the Clockwork Pony shouted furiously: “You think I'm gonna let you lay even a single hoof on me that easy?”
Valor snarled and leapt forwards, swinging both forelegs in a vicious windmill that tore her chains backwards, then down in dual, cruel hammers towards Luna, who barely managed to throw herself quickly out of the way of the clawed ends. They smashed into the ground like anchors, ripping up the floor of the square in a burst of dirt and stone tile as Valor raged, as if Luna slipping past her chains had been some personal insult: “I'm going to rip you limb from limb!”
Valor snapped one of her chains to the side as she flicked the other upwards, making a wave pass through the second chain before it crashed down as Luna rolled backwards as a second hammer that ripped into the ground where the winged unicorn had been but a moment before. Meanwhile, the other chain had wrapped around a wooden booth... and with a flex and a roar, Valor swung her foreleg out and hurled the rectangular stand at Luna like a brick, the winged unicorn's eyes widening before she leapt to the side, hitting the ground awkwardly and flopping down as the stand flew past and smashed into the floor of the square, bouncing a few times before it blew apart into fragments. “I'm going to-”
With all her attention clearly focused on Luna, it left her back open... and Pinkamena seized eagerly on this chance, tackling Valor from behind, rear hooves kicking firmly at the strange, metal pack over her back and making it spark as one front hoof smashed savagely into Valor's face from behind and the other foreleg wrapped around her throat, throttling her as the demon's eyes glowed.
Valor gave a snarl of rage, staggering back and forth, trying to buck Pinkamena off as she was further distracted, her hat tumbling to the ground and stomped to pieces beneath her hooves as her chains fell limp. Pinkamena hissed as she dodged back and forth as Valor reached up to try to snag her between bucks and kicks, the Clockwork Pony roaring before the demon grinned and seized Valor around the throat with both forelegs, yanking back as hard as she could as she gripped into her sides with her hind legs, and Valor shouted in frustration as she was forced to rear back before registering too late Scrivener Blooms rushing in-
Scrivener lashed his claw against her vest-covered chest, flaying the thick cloth armor before he slammed a hoof into her stomach and then slammed a headbutt into her face, knocking her back a step as she gargled, then suddenly reached forwards, seizing Scrivener's shoulders and slammed her head savagely down into his. It knocked Scrivener senselessly back on his haunches with a grunt of shock dull shock before Valor snapped a foreleg out in a hurried slap that was still strong enough from the incredibly-powerful pony to knock him flying backwards to crash down in a sprawl.
Then she slammed her head back, smashing the back of her skull against Pinkamena's muzzle and sending up a burst of blood as the demon cursed, before Valor's hoof swung quickly up and seized the dull-pink shape by the neck, making her gargle for a moment. “Get lost, crowbait!”
The Clockwork Pony flung the demon savagely, sending her hurtling into the front of the stage. She smashed against this limply, dropping flat with a gargle and grabbing at her bloody, crunched-in features, and then Valor half-turned and snapped both her chains out to seize the hooks into a nearby carriage, roaring as she tore her chains back and yanked it over to her, the hooks popping free in a hail of splinters as it collided with her front hooves before she half-spun and threw the truck-sized carriage through the air, shouting angrily: “Just die!”
Pinkamena looked up blankly to see the carriage flying towards her before it smashed into her, crushing her back against the stage in a horrible crunch as Pinkie Pie screamed, immediately rushing to the side of the fallen, heavy show carriage. Valor only grinned, however, spitting to the side before she half-turned right into a hoof.
It smashed into her face and knocked her stumbling before Luna leapt up and slammed both rear hooves as hard as she could into Valor's head, and the Clockwork Pony cursed as she was sent crashing onto her back before Luna roared to the skies as she snapped her horn upwards, rage and fury lending strength to her as her horn and eyes glowed. A massive blast of lightning erupted from the skies, but Valor only laughed, shielded by a faint, translucent barrier as she shouted: “Haven't you learned anything yet?”
Luna cursed as she staggered backwards from magical recoil, the lightning bolt bursting apart into motes of light before a chain lashed out and smashed into her, knocking her crashing backwards as Valor grinned darkly and picked herself slowly up... and then she was distracted as something pounded into her, bouncing off her side but still hitting with enough force to make her stagger. “Over here, bitch!”
Valor half-turned, eyes blazing furiously as she saw Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Cowlick all with rifles. Several bullets flew past her before another round from Cowlick smashed into her face, tearing a gash on her cheek but otherwise only making her head twitch slightly... and then the Clockwork Pony snarled and lashed a chain backwards towards Luna as the winged unicorn attempted to escape, hitting her in the back with the heavy claw and making her scream and fall forwards, the claw rebounding high into the air as Valor began to raise a foreleg to swing the chain down in a murderous hammer...
“No!” Twilight charged in, spreading her wings and leaping high into the air beside the rising claw, swinging her horn downwards viciously as it glowed brightly and hammering the hook backwards. Valor looked surprised before the end of the chain crunched into her own face, knocking her staggering as she howled in agony before another peppering of rounds from the rifles hit her off-balance body and knocked her crashing backwards, the bullets doing little damage but at least managing to stun her.
As Twilight dropped down and swept up Luna, half-dragging her to safety as the sapphire mare rasped for breath and a short distance away, Scrivener gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the wound that had just formed in his back as he kept his eyes on Valor. Cowlick was snarling at the Clockwork Pony as she snapped open her rifle, ejecting the rounds inside before she swept up a bag of red bullets instead of grabbing more from the boxes of ammo scattered around them, muttering: “Goddamn monster must be made of metal... well, let's see how she likes this!”
She shoved several of the rounds into the rifle, then snapped it closed as Valor sat up with a glare. Her attention began to turn, and then Cowlick rose her gun, aimed down the sights, and fired a perfect shot that smashed into Valor's forehead... and then the bullet exploded, and Valor was knocked in a sprawling heap again as Rainbow gaped in shock and Applejack gritted her teeth in grim gladness. “You got more of those?”
“I got enough for me, you two aim for her body and legs and just keep pumping rounds into her!” Cowlick replied sharply, as Valor rolled quickly to her hooves. The Clockwork Pony looked furious as she snapped a chain outwards, then swept it violently against the ground, kicking up sand before she twisted the chain viciously back and forth to stir dust and dirt into the air around her, and Cowlick cursed even as she fired a round of that made Valor twitch as it hammered against the creature's shoulder before she was hidden from sight. “Son of a bitch!”
A chain shot out of the dust cloud and seized around another wooden booth, dragging it in... and then, as the cloud dissipated, Valor stepped forwards and hurled the booth with a roar at the three rifle-bearing ponies. Cowlick's eyes widened in horror as she grabbed what she could before leaping out of the way, Applejack dropping her rifle and throwing herself to the side as Rainbow shot up over the booth, before his eyes widened as Valor began to charge towards them.
The Clockwork Pony was grinning coldly, eyes blazing, ready to rip them apart... and then the carriage next to the stage all-but-exploded as Pinkamena tore through it, Pinkie Pie staggering backwards before the demon landed with a roar, charging straight at Valor's exposed back as the Clockwork Pony turned too little, too late with an incredulous expression.
Orange irises widened in shock at the sight: Pinkamena was covered in rips and gouges, but her body was larger, her skin had taken on a rubbery texture, her jaws had grown into a death trap of sharp and monstrous teeth as her long, straight mane seemed to writhe with a life of its own... but most striking of all, were the ash-gray wings she flapped hard, propelling herself on instinct through the air as red-rimmed sockets full of sapphire flame locked with the Clockwork Pony's eyes.
Demon smashed into Valor, tackling her before Pinkamena gracefully, sinuously twisted her body past and slammed one of her cloven hooves cruelly upwards, smashing into the metal backpack like it was putty. It sparked violently, and Valor immediately panicked, snapping her limbs back and forth, whipping the chains in a maelstrom around her to drive Pinkamena backwards even as she tore the pack off before hurtling the sparking metal object to the side.
It exploded in a tremendous bang of light and lightning that blinded the ponies in the vicinity, Luna looking up in shock as she felt a distinct ripple of force. Instinct told her that had been what had been blocking her magic... and she snarled, looking quickly over to Twilight as she formulated a plan. “I have an idea, but we must hurry!”
Valor was staggering, stunned as well... but then Pinkamena plowed into her, knocking her rearing back before the demon savagely bit into her shoulder, and the Clockwork Pony howled in agony before slamming her hooves up into the demon's stomach. Pinkamena gagged as she staggered backwards before Valor slammed both front hooves down against her skull, knocking her on her haunches before she snapped an iron chain forwards to wrap several times around Pinkamena's throat and body, shouting furiously: “Helheim whore!”
She swung a limb out, meaning to pull the chains tight and likely rip Pinkamena to pieces with the heavy links, but instead the demon lunged upwards, catching Valor's foreleg in her jaws even as the iron chains steamed painfully against her body. Her maw crunched down, and Valor snarled in rage more than pain as she began to raise her other hoof, but before she could bring it crashing down, another hoof smashed into her face from a goldenrod earth pony.
Valor's head was knocked to the side in surprise before Applejack rained a hail of blows down against the torn and wounded Clockwork Pony, then ducked under a wild swing of the monster's hoof as she spun around before kicking both rear hooves hard up under Valor's chin. It knocked the creature's head back with a burst of blood and spittle as Pinkamena spat out the creature's forelimb and managed to twist her head beneath the half-slack chain, getting the loop out from around her throat just before Valor lashed her limb hard to the side.
The chains went taut around Pinkamena's body, and she was smashed against Applejack like a living weapon, the earth pony battered away before Valor swung the chain-wrapped demon hard downwards into the ground. Pinkamena crunched loudly against the floor of the square with a curse, but then Applejack scrambled forwards again, and the Clockwork Pony was distracted from trying to finish the demon, slapping the earth pony away instead as she snarled: “Weaker than I ever was! Proof we should exterminate every single one of you!”
Applejack crashed down by Cowlick and Rainbow Dash as Valor began to turn her attention back to Pinkamena... and then the demon bit savagely down on the chains restraining her, her jaws steaming as she swallowed back a howl of pain even as her teeth cracked before she tore through the heavy iron links just as Valor began to yank the chain backwards. The Clockwork Pony only staggered in shock, loose, now much-lighter chain snapping wildly through the air as broken links of metal flew in every direction, and Valor shouted in frustration as Pinkamena leapt quickly away, shaking the loose chains from her body as the Clockwork Pony shouted angrily: “Get back here you-”
Then her eyes widened as Twilight Sparkle leapt in front of her, swinging her horn forwards to unleash a fireball. Immediately, instinctively, Valor reared back and brought both forelegs up, chains falling limply to either side of the creature before the fireball hit and exploded not in a blast of flame, but thick smog. Luna tore into this cloud from one side, her horn glowing brightly and leaving a thick stream of blue smoke behind it before she ripped out the other side of the dark fog and hit the ground awkwardly, cursing and rolling as her injured wings refused to carry her any further.
The cloud of smog dissipated quickly, leaving Valor reared back with her forelegs crossed, the Clockwork Pony snarling in disgust... and then she trembled, looking down and staring in shock as she realized that the lengths of chains and her forelegs themselves had been covered in thick frost. She shook her head, cursing under her breath as her eyes widened... and then, even as Twilight began to gather up energy with a snarl to unleash one final spell, Cowlick shouted: “Batter up!”
She tore the pin out of some oval device, tossing it forwards as Applejack grinned and spun around, then kicked it hard with both hooves, sending the object shooting across the battlefield to smash into Valor's forelegs. It struck with enough force to send up chips of metal and ice, Valor's jaws opening in horror before the grenade exploded in a concussive bang that made Twilight wince and stagger, magical recoil tearing over her horn before she stared up in shock at the scream of agony from Valor.
Pieces of brittle chain and broken chunks of ice and frozen flesh hailed down around her as she staggered backwards, gasping hard, still standing on her rear legs as her eyes rolled wildly in her sockets. Then, slowly, she looked down to her forelegs... or rather, where her forelegs had once been. Now, there were only broken stumps, blood and frost and broken bits of metal falling from these as she gargled in horror, then looked slowly up with her orange eyes and whispered, not seeming to notice or care about the broken shrapnel buried all through her chest: “They... they were all I had left of him.”
Valor shivered... and then her eyes rolled up in her head as she slowly toppled backwards, and Scrivener's eyes widened as he could feel
nothing but the agony of defeat. Her pride had long crumbled away to nothing... because she had been left with nothing. No friends, no family, no one: in front of her eyes, she had lost everything. She had watched her home burn, burn just like the fire that had killed her parents. She had watched as he had burned down the orchards, burned down the farm, burned down the village... eventually, burned down the entire country.
She was here, locked up in a cold, desolate prison cell. It was small and cramped and reeked of ashes that floated in from the barred window; she had a perfect view of the smokestacks of the crematorium outside, able to watch as they constantly belched fire and char and ash into the air, smoke that sometimes still contained the screams of those burnt alive bleeding into the sky.
Big Mac was gone. Apple Bloom was gone. Her friends were gone. Valthrudnir had been too strong. He had played with them at first, then driven them apart and destroyed them, one-by-one. She had tried to fight, but he had just laughed at them...
Applejack shuddered, then she gasped as there was a clanking behind her before she spun around and trembled as she saw her cell door was open. She stared at this for a long time, thinking it was some trick, some sick game... and finally, when no one came to close it, when her mind screamed for her to run, she did the only thing she could do and ran out into the prison hall.
Every cell was empty, and she sprinted down the corridors, breathing hard. What had happened? Had they executed everyone else, and forgotten about her? But what did freedom matter without-
She shoved through a door and stumbled into a medical lab... and there, laying on the table, was Big Mac. He was hooked up to tubes and machines she didn't recognize, keeping him alive, and he looked so... so calm. So serene, despite the fact that the world around them had succumbed to a fate worse than Armageddon.
She whimpered at the sight of him, half-glad, and half-despairing all over again. He was alive... but kept alive by machines. She reached up, taking his hoof, squeezing it fiercely before she looked slowly towards the foot of the bed... and then trembled as she whispered: “No...”
Apple Bloom was sitting in a glass prison, rasping for breath, her body frail and broken. Her ribbon was still on her head, sitting as if pasted to her skull... but her pretty locks had fallen away, and most her coat had started... peeling. But her eyes were bright and vibrant... although it was like she couldn't see her through the translucent cube at the foot of the bed.
Applejack trembled, feeling tears rising in her eyes as she squeezed fiercely into Big Mac's hoof... and then she felt a gentle hand rest on her back, and she swallowed thickly as a shadow fell over her, a voice saying kindly: “Your brother suffered brain death. He's alive... but he's also very dead. And poor Apple Bloom has leukemia, and the chemotherapy has only made her worse. Poor, sweet darling...”
“B-Bastard...” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she glared over her shoulder at Valthrudnir, who only smiled calmly as he looked down at her, tilting his head. “You did this...”
“Oh please. If I wanted to make them suffer, I can be much more creative than this. Besides, why would I order the child to be treated if I did that to her?” Valthrudnir said gently, but his voice was mocking, his amber eyes gleaming in this world where everything was dull except them: the playing pieces and victims of Valthrudnir's schemes. “Still, yes. Yes, with ease, I can fix them myself...”
Valthrudnir rose a hand and snapped his fingers... and immediately, Apple Bloom looked up as the hair of her mane and tail grew back, as her body filled with strength, and Big Mac coughed harshly around the respirator before his eyes opened as he blinked a few times, then whispered: “Hospital...”
Applejack breathed quietly, tears flooding down her face as she leaned forwards, and Big Mac's eyes flicked towards her, starting to sit up... and then Valthrudnir yawned before he simply flicked his wrist, and instantly, Mac's eyes were closed again, laying as if he'd never moved, and Apple Bloom's locks burst apart as she collapsed forwards through the red explosion of hair, her body instantly thinning, weakening-
“Stop it! Save them!” Applejack howled like a wounded animal, turning her eyes pleadingly to Valthrudnir, shaking her head wildly as she cried: “You already conquered our world! You already won, now why won't you save them?”
“Because I have no reason to.” Valthrudnir replied calmly, shrugging and looking down at her calmly, as if explaining a simple concept to a stupid child. “Why should I save them? Like you said, I've won. Saving them doesn't benefit me in any way... not unless... I receive something in return...”
“What do you want?” Applejack whispered, her throat going dry as she looked up at him brokenly, pleadingly, and Valthrudnir smiled calmly at this before he reached thoughtfully into his jacket and pulled out a sheet of paper.
He glanced meditatively over this, and then turned it around and held it out, and Applejack stared blankly at a stats sheet, tracking her achievements and ranking through a recent rodeo competition. “This is very good, yes? You're very good at these kinds of games... feats of strength, agility, and athleticism. There's a place for you in my world, certainly... and if you agree to serve me, to be part of this world... you will be allowed to remain one with your family... forever. As long as you live... they will live. You'll save them... and perhaps, in time, you will help me save all your friends, too.”
Applejack stared weakly up at the sheet, and then Valthrudnir smiled slightly, folding this up and tucking it away before he produced a contract and a pen, saying calmly: “Terms of engagement. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be a little formal.”
“I don't care, just... just save them! Please...” Applejack looked up at him, swallowing hard, and Valthrudnir looked at her pointedly as he held out the contract before she cursed and snagged the pen from him, then roughly signed her name on the bottom line without looking. She threw the pen away, then looked up at him... and Valthrudnir smiled calmly as he glanced down at the contract before nodding and turning to walk away.
“Wait! Wait, aren't you going to save them?” Applejack shouted desperately, and the dragon glanced over his shoulder with a slight smile and a shrug.
“Look for yourself. They're already saved.” Valthrudnir said pleasantly as he leaned against the frame of the door, and Applejack turned around... and stared in awe at the sight of Big Mac sitting on the side of the medical bed, and Apple Bloom smiling faintly at her. No, more than that... she saw Granny Smith, and Braeburn sitting in chairs behind the table, and...
Hooves gently touched her shoulder from either side, and Applejack gazed back and forth with shining eyes at the sight of her parents, smiling at her. She reached out, hugging them both around the neck as she laughed in delight... and Valthrudnir grinned coldly as he turned away, silhouetted in the door, his amber eyes glowing as they flicked back and he said softly: “And just like I said. One with your family forever.”
Applejack smiled brightly back and forth as her parents sat her back on the bed, talking eagerly... and then she felt Granny Smith seize her by the shoulder and yank her down with startling strength, slamming her back down against the thin mattress. Braeburn seized one of her legs, her mother the other, her father pinning her by the shoulder as Big Mac leaned over her and said reassuringly even as he held up a bone-saw: “Don't you worry about a thing, little sister. We're going to take care of this.”
“Maybe I'll get my cutie mark for being a surgeon.” Apple Bloom whispered as she crawled slowly up over the bedding, grinning widely, her eyes blazing as Applejack shook her head wildly... and then she screamed when the filly reached out and pulled out one of her own eyes as calmly as she'd pluck an apple from a tree. “First mine... then yours.”
“Stay still now, little sister. Don't make this hurt no more than it has to.” Big Mac said gently, as the saw came down on her shoulder, and Applejack screamed in horror and agony and denial as she felt the saw yank back and rip the first incision...
And hours later, Applejack calmly sat up, covered in blood, grinning corpses laying all around her. The table dripped with gore and crimson liquid, and her eyes were closed as she reached down and gently took the bow from the eyeless filly. She calmly braided her tail, then slipped the bow onto it before picking up the old hat... her father's old hat, fitting it over her head before orange eyes opened, glowing as the fresh stitches and staples that held her brother's arms on flexed, as chains twisted like living snakes slowly up out of flesh, grafting and searing into place as she said calmly: “I asked for mercy for my family, and he said we'd never have to be apart again. I didn't know he meant it literally... but what choice did I have now? Now, I wasn't just with my family... I was my family. And I had to keep moving forwards, for them.”
She nodded firmly once, then reached up and slowly pulled her hat down over her eyes with
that rush, the emotions crashing through his mind as the corruption burned and boiled in Scrivener's brain and black tears began to flow down his cheeks even before the body of the Clockwork Pony hit the ground and began to immediately steam and rot.
Scrivener hissed quietly as he fell forwards, shivering hard as he grasped at his head, shivering violently as the terrible, powerful memories thrummed violently through him and awoke other things in his mind. He felt Visionary's powers ripping in full force through him, and when he looked up, he let out a moan at the sight of the ponies around him, Luna a magnificent, luminescent darkness that was rushing towards him before he closed his eyes tightly, feeling the tarry black tears on his cheeks even as he whispered: “I'm... I'm okay... the others...”
“Fear not, we... we could be much worse off.” Luna shook her head hurriedly, trembling as she dropped down and embraced Scrivener tightly, and the male breathed hard as he rested his head against her chest. She could feeling his emotions, but it was muffled, their mental link again filled with wild, violent static that made her head hurt... but all the same, she could feel him calming, and she forced herself to look up even as Twilight hurriedly approached, saying quickly: “Thou art the least hurt... tend... tend to Pinkamena and those others who were seriously injured! We need healers and to send a letter to Celestia...”
Twilight nodded quickly, and then she stepped forwards and touched Scrivener's shoulder, looking apprehensively at Luna... but the winged unicorn only smiled weakly and shook her head, whispering despite the large rip in her back: “Fear not. Scrivy is not... seriously injured, nor am I. We... we are both more tired, now go, hurry!”
Twilight nodded quickly, but as she began to turn, she found herself almost face-to-face with Pinkamena. She winced, and the demon began to grit her teeth... then cursed when Twilight began to rapidly look over her, whispering: “Oh god, I... I don't know how to heal burns from iron, and... your teeth and... Pinkamena, are you sure you're okay?”
“Shut up, Sparkles.” Pinkamena grumbled in response after a moment, and then the demon glared at her and jerked her head hard to the side, snapping: “Go check on Sleipnir, idiot's still unconscious, and the others need you more than I do. Get lost.”
Twilight smiled faintly despite herself, and then she nodded quickly before turning to head towards where Sleipnir was laying in a prone heap near the side of the square. The others were already filtering slowly forwards, and a few ponies were nervously beginning to step out into the square as well, staring back and forth as Luna carefully helped Scrivener to sit up as he breathed roughly in and out, shaking his head weakly as he murmured: “Valthrudnir... destroyed them all...”
“Yeah, well, usually when I destroy things they don't get stronger and decide to work for me.” Pinkamena muttered moodily, and then the demon licked at her own wounded muzzle with a long, thick tongue, grimacing and wincing a little as she reached up and touched her now skull-like features. “Goddammit. Here I thought being a full demon would give me more of an advantage, and I get squished like a goddamn bug by a jackass hillbilly.”
“I resent that.” Applejack said dryly as she approached, but she was smiling a little, even as she winced a bit at the sight of Pinkamena when the demon glared at her. For a few moments, there was silence as Cowlick and Rainbow joined her, and then Applejack quietly held up a hoof, the demon looking at the raised limb with surprise. “I think I owe you a big thank you. For... fighting that thing as hard as you did, when... it was...”
Pinkamena only shook her head and grunted, the demon standing straight as her powerful, ashen-feathered wings flapped before furling against her sides, and her tail flicked behind her before she sighed and reached out, bumping her hoof with Applejack's. “Whatever. I kill things. That's what demons do. Don't read too much into it.”
“Can you like, fly?” Rainbow asked almost hopefully, and Pinkamena gave him a moody look before she shrugged grouchily, and the Pegasus grinned and leaned forwards. “Come on, we're gonna get you flying, it'll be great!”
“Do you see me?” Pinkamena leaned suddenly forwards, her eyes flaring like flames as her mane swayed backwards, her too-large teeth glinting like spikes and daggers as she asked flatly: “Do I look like someone you should be trying to harass into the air with you, Dashie?”
“You've seen my daughter.” Dash replied moodily, and Pinkamena narrowed her eyes... but then reared back in surprise when Dash reached forwards and squeezed her shoulder firmly, saying quietly: “You're our friend, yeah? So stop trying to scare us off, it ain't gonna work anymore.”
Pinkamena replied by snapping her jaws at his face, and the stallion quailed backwards with a wince before the demon replied moodily: “Seems to work just fine.” She halted, then hesitated as she looked up at the others... before finally sighing and mumbling, turning around and pointedly putting her back to them as she grumbled: “I guess you guys are okay. And... you're welcome or... whatever.”
Dash smiled, and then Cowlick grinned and leaned over to nudge him, saying loudly: “Give you ten bits to hug her.”
“I can be dumb, but I ain't that dumb.” Rainbow retorted, and then he smiled and shoved the earth pony engineer lightly. “And I guess it's a good thing you're such a goddamn mental case, huh? Those crazy weapons of yours came in real handy for once taking that... thing... down.”
He halted, looking over at Applejack, but she simply shook her head before turning her eyes to Scrivener as the half-wyrm, half-pony rested quietly back against Luna: a strange sight, with her smaller than him in this form, but all the same he seemed so much the smaller one as she comforted him and protected him. Dark tears stained his cheeks, and Applejack hesitated... but then Scrivener only smiled faintly, saying quietly: “I'll tell you later, Applejack. But... it's not a story you'll want to hear right now. It's not a story I don't know if I can tell or not right now.”
He stopped, then hesitantly opened his eyes... and he grimaced a bit, rubbing slowly at his eyes with his claw. Rainbow Dash burned with blue light, and Applejack was a golden-red, a ripe and strong and passionate color, and when he looked at her he saw...
Scrivener mumbled to himself as he covered his eyes, closing them to block out the wild images. “Sorry. Lamest ability ever. Rainbow, stop trying to be tough and hiding where you've been hurt, and Applejack, let Twilight take care of those fractures, at least.”
Rainbow was staring at him as Applejack smiled a little, and Cowlick rolled her eyes, asking flatly: “What about me? I got like a goddamn hernia dragging that wagon of stuff over here, or does that not count?”
“It does not count, wretched Cowlick.” Luna replied dryly, and Cowlick grumbled under her breath before the sapphire mare sighed a little and added quietly: “But thou does have my thanks all the same. And once more I find I should not... disrespect thy insipid and terrifying toys.”
“Hey, believe it or not, but I am not a fan of building things that kill everything.” Cowlick retorted, and then she sighed and nodded grudgingly, adding quietly: “But I've been pumping up my usual gadgets and modifying a lot of a lot of older-model equipment lately. Unfortunately, if we're gonna save all the lives we can... it means we're gonna have to be really good at killing these Clockwork monsters.”
“You'll be glad to know that death is a mercy for them, then, after the way that Valthrudnir manipulated them.” Scrivener mumbled, and Cowlick gave him a look, the half-wyrm, half-pony grimacing before he sat up but kept his eyes firmly closed. “I can't see things, but I can sense things. Well. Technically I can see through Luna's eyes, too, if I wanted, but... that's not the point I'm-”
“Oh get off me, sissy!” Pinkamena's shout interrupted, and all eyes turned – even Scrivener's opening in surprise – to watch as Pinkamena staggered wildly around, Pinkie Pie clutching against the demon and trembling, leaving white makeup smeared against her body. “I'm fine! I'm fine, see?”
Pinkie Pie only trembled, burying her face against her twin sibling's neck and clinging against the demon, and Pinkamena finally sighed before moodily looking over her shoulder at the sound of more hooves approaching, and she muttered: “Oh, this is getting better and better.”
Then Sleipnir plowed into her and almost knocked her over as he picked the demon up in a tight embrace, Pinkamena's eyes rolling in her head as she wheezed loudly before he cried miserably: “What a failure I have been! I have not protected thee, my beloved!”
“Put me down, you idiot!” Pinkamena rasped, and Sleipnir huffed even as he buried his face against her for a moment, then finally settled her gently to the ground in front of him, Pinkie Pie finally slipping off her and looking up at her embarrassedly; almost the exact same expression that Sleipnir wore. “I'm going home now. And I'm going to eat all the food I prepared for the party.”
“Scrivener and I shall join thee, Pinkamena, after we fetch Antares from where he is safe. I desire chocolate cake. I think I deserve a little chocolate cake, as a matter of fact.” Luna grumbled, and Scrivener nodded moodily as he closed his eyes again, Luna gazing over her shoulder at him before she sighed a little and looked slowly back and forth, then smiled a little at the sight of Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom helping take care of the shocked ponies around what had become a battlefield. “Perhaps my whole family deserves chocolate cake.”
“Oh screw all of you. Fine, whatever. We'll have an after-party.” Pinkamena said disgustedly, and then she gritted her teeth before flexing and hissing as her body visibly rippled, but then shrank slowly down as her wings melded into her sides, her eyes losing their glow, her teeth settling back into place in her jaw as she returned to normal pony shape. “Don't take too long-”
“I shall carry thee! Carry thee both! I can be helpful!” Sleipnir said almost desperately, and then he threw both Pinkamena and Pinkie Pie on his back, the demon cursing as the bright twin only stared dumbly around before both Pink Twins seized tightly into Sleipnir as he bolted forwards, calling over his shoulder: “I shall see to everything, friends!”
“Poor Pinkamena.” Rainbow Dash said mildly, and Applejack and Luna both nodded after a moment in agreement before the Pegasus sighed tiredly. “Well. Let's go get Avalon, and hope she's settled down. I'd really hate to get through a fight like this with only minor wounds and then end up in the hospital with a concussion from my tiny one year old daughter.”
A few hours later, and Scrivener's vision had returned mostly to normal: he was still seeing auras around things, but he no longer saw otherworldly beasts or unidentifiable, beautiful and terrible things when he looked at ponies and people.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash had gotten Big Mac back on his hooves, although both head and body would likely be wrapped in bandages for a while from the hits he had taken. They had also fetched Avalon, who had seemed to mostly-understand that something serious had happened, and behaved herself for her parents.
Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage had also rejoined them, both embarrassed they hadn't been more help... but in even just helping get Big Mac away, they had done a lot, as Luna and Applejack both reassured them. They were staying out at the farm tonight... although tomorrow, bright and early, they would likely come and find Luna for training.
Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike had secured the boutique during the fight to look after the foals: others had joined them as well, and Fluttershy had gotten the Phooka to help out. Hevatica and Atrus had both also stayed in the boutique to help protect the children... at first, the parents and some of the foals had been a little scared of the demons – not to mention the fact that there was a battle line of Phooka sitting outside silently – but Atrus was silent and dedicated, and Hevatica had reassured the foals with compassion and gentility that helped win even the most worried pony over.
Fluttershy was staying in town tonight to help clean things up with Rarity and Spike, and tend to the scared, wounded and few dead. Phooka and other creatures of darkness were on silent patrol... as were nervous ponies and Nibelung, keeping a sharp eye out for any sign of Clockwork World and their machinations. But more than anypony being worried about what might show up, what might happen next... it was clear they were all going through the motions of trying to move on from what had already happened.
Luna rested her head on Scrivener's shoulder, a mug of coffee in front of her, and Twilight sat beside the winged unicorn, silently holding her hoof beneath the table. They were seated across from Pinkamena and Sleipnir: Pinkie Pie had long gone to bed, not long after Celestia had arrived from Canterlot and hurried to Sugar Cube Corners once she'd discovered what had happened.
The ivory winged unicorn was sitting quietly at the side of the table, looking over the still half-costumed – and in Scrivener's case, polymorphed – ponies before she said softly: “I am sorry-”
“Stop it, Princess Sunshine. It's really goddamn annoying.” Pinkamena grumbled, and then she reached out and picked up her own mug of coffee between her hooves, sipping at it grumpily as Sleipnir squeezed her gently around the shoulders and smiled faintly at her, looking embarrassed still but also trying to be reassuring. “We fought. We made it out alive, minus a few dwarves. Did better without your whining anyway.”
Celestia sighed quietly, and then she shook her head before finally looking across at Twilight, asking quietly: “So it had some kind of shield that protected it from magic?”
Twilight nodded slowly, answering: “Valor was wearing... it looked like a big metal thing on her back. Cowlick said she's going to analyze it with Ross and Greece and another of the Architects... Cowlick has this crazy idea that she can maybe figure out how it worked.”
Celestia nodded slowly, then she looked quietly over at Scrivener, who was slowly running his claw silently around the edge of his glass of cola. He studied this almost intently, and then he sighed softly as he closed his eyes, murmuring quietly: “I know you want to know, but... I don't know if I can tell this story more than once. Even the short version...”
“Then what can you tell me, Scrivener?” Celestia's tone was gentle as she leaned forwards, studying him curiously before she asked finally: “It brought more memories to light, didn't it? Not just images of Valor and her life... or rather, how she came to be Valor, assuming you suffered the same flux that you did when Delight was killed... something apart from that is bothering you, though, isn't it?”
“Memories.” Scrivener smiled faintly and closed his eyes, then he nodded slowly, rubbing at his head and murmuring: “My head is full of memories. And most of them aren't even my own anymore... more of Visionary's life came through and...” He couldn't help but smile wryly. “I keep seeing her... you know, the pony who became Visionary in Clockwork World... around Ponyville. It's driving me crazy. I keep wanting to go yell at her for answers but I know she doesn't know anything about this and... so that would be awkward.
“But now I can see... not just more of Delight's memories, but I see a lot of the memories of things that occurred specifically between Delight and Valor in my mind.” He closed his eyes, rubbing at his face with his claw slowly. “I'm beginning to understand why Visionary gave me this power... at least, I think I do. Through their memories I'm learning more about Decretum, Clockwork World... I'm learning more about how it was ruled, what dangers lurk there, maybe even what vulnerabilities there are. I just... worry that I'm going to be completely insane and thus useless to you by the time it's over.”
Scrivener looked up with a sigh, and Celestia studied him for a moment before she said softly: “Do you know that you're still in your polymorphed shape?”
“Half and half.” Scrivener smiled a little despite himself, then he glanced quietly across the room to where Antares was asleep on a pile of blankets, rubbing moodily at his face. “I guess I'm... too used to this.”
“See, that's why I like you.” Pinkamena said mildly, and she picked up her glass before Scrivener sighed and did the same, the two clinking their glasses together before the demon leaned back and reached up to absently stroke under Sleipnir's chin when he mumbled a little. “Shut up, stud. I like you plenty too, but you're not in the mental asylum with me. You're more of an outpatient.”
Sleipnir huffed a bit, and then he hesitated before looking over at Celestia, asking finally: “Sister, when does thou think we can stage an attack upon Decretum in retaliation for what they have done? Although... 'tis troubling, is it not, that they are willing to wait such periods of times between direct attacks upon us instead of striking again and again once we are weakened... and worse, I have not seen any of their countless soldiers. They have merely sent... what, a mockery of my beloved, terrified a chaos entity into wreaking mayhem, and now this horrid thing.”
Celestia nodded slowly, saying pointedly: “But that is exactly why we must hold off on the attack for now, Sleipnir. Odin and Kvasir are in Valhalla, working hard to try and find a way to gaze into Clockwork World just as the Prophet seems to have the power to gaze into ours. I am looking into ways to do this myself... we need information before we go attempting to wildly break into an alien, hostile realm. Especially with how powerful our opponents are, little brother... something your cracked skull should remind you of.”
“Aye, never before has the crown of my head suffered such injury, and once thou slapped me off a cliff and I bounced all the way down the mountain on my head.” Sleipnir remarked moodily, and Luna smiled wryly as Twilight looked over at Celestia in surprise, but the enormous earth pony only shrugged and said easily: “I have been told I can be very annoying at times. 'Tis probably true, and 'twas probably even worse for my beloved siblings. After all, they had no way to flee from me in the past.”
“Not for lack of trying.” Celestia smiled a bit, shaking her head slowly. “More than once, as I recall, I tried to leave you behind when it was just us journeying together...”
“Aye, and Mother Nature would always lead me back to thee. I think she knew of the wickedness thou had planned for her and desired a preemptive vengeance upon thy rainbow head.” Sleipnir replied cheerfully, and Celestia sighed tiredly before the vine-maned stallion smiled a bit, flicking his still-dyed locks. “'Tis too bad thou did not get to see my costume. I was told I made a very pretty thou. On that note, I have often wondered what thou would look like as a stallion. I somehow think thou would be most handsome, but also in all likelihood of ridiculous size that thou would make me feel most tiny and ashamed of myself.”
Celestia only shook her head as Pinkamena snorted in amusement, then she looked over at him and gave a half-hidden smile. “You're hard to live with.”
Sleipnir nodded in agreement, and then he leaned forwards and kissed her forehead gently, stroking her cheek slowly before he said gently: “And thou art a cruel and wicked demon, sweet phoenix. And I thank Mimir every day I have thee in my life.”
Pinkamena grumbled and looked away, but she was smiling a little wider now before she sighed and gestured violently at the others, saying grumpily: “Alright, enough. All of you losers, get out of my shop. And be quiet about it, don't wake sissy up or I'll kill you all in your sleep.”
Luna sighed and rolled her eyes, but then she nodded moodily, looking over at Scrivener and Twilight. “I suppose the demon is right... we should head home. Scrivener, thou needs to lay thy head down and sleep off the last of thy vision, and Twilight, thy costume cannot seem to decide whether or not it is going to stay on or come off. And... I suppose, Celestia, if thou desires, thou may return with us to the cabin. But thou must not poke and prod with too many questions or I shall pummel thee.”
“You read my mind.” Celestia gazed at her younger sibling affectionately, and then she promised, when Luna gave her a pointed look: “I won't ask too many questions, don't worry. I just... want to make sure that you're all okay, most of all.”
“We're always okay.” Scrivener smiled a bit as he, Luna, and Twilight slid out of their bench seat... and when Celestia gave him an amused look, he shrugged and said finally: “Well, okay, we always find a way to make things okay, how about that?”
“A little better, but still a lie.” Celestia was smiling, though, before she turned her eyes to Sleipnir and Pinkamena, bowing her heads to them and saying softly: “Brother, sister. Take care of yourselves.”
Sleipnir smiled warmly as Pinkamena looked surprised at this, and then she grumbled under her breath and threw her empty mug at Celestia, but the ivory equine easily caught this with telekinesis and set it gently down as the demon grumbled: “Just get the hell out of my shop.”
Scrivener strode over to gently pick up Antares and slip the sleeping foal carefully onto his back as Celestia laughed softly and headed for the door, and Twilight and Luna both smiled to the demon and her husband. Sleipnir waved cheerfully to them as Pinkamena sighed, but rose a hoof and gave a grumpy wave as the group headed for the door, mumbling to herself. “Sister. Sister my flank.”
Sleipnir leaned down and kissed her temple gently, and the demon closed her eyes, but allowed herself to smile after a moment as the door swung quietly closed, and neither pony had to speak as they embraced one-another tightly and curled together in comfortable silence.